A/N: Hello faithful readers! Third chapter for you. Enjoy :)
Disclaimer: I do not own HBO, A Song of Ice and Fire Series, or anything that resembles content from the book or show.
As I grilled the steaks the way I liked them, Jon was in charge of chopping up the veggies for a salad. I had to set them out and wash them, but he was getting better at chopping. I chuckled to myself as I cooked, watching the sunset over the mountains. Jon knocked on the patio door, still confused on how it opened.
"Yeah?" I said, poking my head inside.
"Anything else I can do?" He asked. I know he felt useless here. A different world, no one he knew, and the weight of his world on his shoulders.
"Did you want another fizzy drink for dinner?"
"Yes, it was quite soothing to my stomach," He said, a less broody look on his face. I smirked, "They are in the basement fridge. The white door, and should be in a green box, or you can try the other kind in the red box. Don't shake them. You don't want to find out what they do then," I said, motioning for him to get going. He moved, and I was able to check out his butt in retaliation for earlier. Not that he noticed, as I slid the patio door shut.
Opening the BBQ again, I pulled the steaks and the baked potatoes off the heat and turned off the gas. Jon wasn't up yet, so I set the table, pulling glasses and fixings out of the fridge.
"Which one do you want?" He asked, having brought up two of each.
"The red," I said, sitting down. He sat quickly too, looking at the spread I prepared.
"Baked Potatoes, salad, grilled green beans, and a medium rare steak."
"What does that mean?"
"It means that the inside is warm and red-ish pink. It melts in your mouth," I explained. After he dished himself up, he carefully cut through the steak, and popped a piece in his mouth. He chewed thoughtfully, before swallowing and smiling at me.
"That is the best meat I've ever had in my life," He said, joy exuding from his face.
"Well, its cow. Beef is what we call it."
"Have you had boar, or stag?"
"No boar, but I've had venison, moose and wild turkey," I said, "My Dad was a hunter. Taught me how to hunt too. The best thing he taught me thought was how to grill the perfect steak. Refused to believe that a woman couldn't use a BBQ."
"Do women not normally cook in your world?" He asked confused.
"Yes, but men cook too. The barbeque was essentially a male way of cooking. Standing around with the guys, drinking a beer or ale, talking about women and cooking meat. Kind of a caveman thing to some, but I prefer it."
"Cave man?" He asked. I took out my phone and called up a picture from the internet.
"It's what we call our first 'men'. We eventually evolved a bit more into normal looking humans."
He nodded before remaining silent a few more minutes. And then he asked the question I had expected for the last two weeks.
"Destiny, why do you live alone?"
"Well, to put it simply, I'm a strong, independent woman who don't need no man," I smiled at his confused look, "But seriously, I've never had a lasting relationship, nor have I ever wanted to live with any of them. I work, and make enough money to live by myself. I did the roommate thing once, but I was too freaked out about sharing space. I like my quiet, and I don't like to bother people. But I like to be loud sometimes, and living with people usually means I can't sing out loud, or use that bag downstairs."
"That makes sense. Though I…"
"What?" I smiled, teasingly.
"I like to hear you sing. It's uplifting after all the years and events since I parted from my family… from my cousins and uncle."
"Oh, thank you," I said, looking down at my lap. I didn't know if he heard me singing to myself as I folded laundry or showered.
"Your voice is beautiful," He blushed, realizing what he just said aloud.
"Well thank you, Your Grace," I said bowing my head. He blushed further, coughing, "I'm not a King."
"But the Northern Lords will name you King in the North. And you are the true heir to the Iron Throne."
"I'm still trying to wrap my head about it," He sighed.
"Imagine how long it would take for you to notice a girl was into you," I whispered under my breath, before saying, "Well, get used to it. You may not want that ghastly looking throne, but it's yours."
"All done?" I asked, wiping my mouth daintily, hoping I didn't have any food remnants on my chin.
"Yes, thank you," He nodded. I grabbed his plate, and put it in the dishwasher, along with my own. He helped, by putting the leftovers in containers I set out and telling me a story about Robb and him getting drunk on wine when they were 10.
"How about a movie?" I asked after the table was clear.
"A what?" He said.
"Like the show, only longer and about different things. My favorites are Disney movies. They are more for kids, but sometimes the storytelling is too amazing."
"Okay," Jon said, unsure, "You pick."
"Got the perfect one in mind. Trust me, it's good," I said, pulling up Netflix.
As it started, Jon watched enthralled. He was leaning forward, watching the movie intently, so I sat back and watched him. At one point during the movie, I moved out of the room to change into my pajamas. As I came back in with my hair tied up, humming along to a song during the movie, I saw Jon's gaze follow me out of the corner of my eye.
"Did you want a snack?" I asked without turning back to him.
"Um, sure," He said as the movie progressed.
I put in a microwave popcorn bowl, and grabbed a couple of drinks. I snuck an emergency chocolate bar from the freezer, and added it to the plate of goodies. As the microwave rang out, Jon jumped a bit. He still didn't like how loud things were in this world.
"Destiny?" He asked, coming up behind me.
"Yeah?" I said turning with the plate of goodies, and stopping short as I noticed how close he was. His eyes looked conflicted, and I felt my heart race as they softened and then looked down to my lips.
"I was wondering if tomorrow we could go over the… the Battle of the Bastards. That way I can plan a counter attack to Ramsay's counter attack," He said, grabbing the food tray from my hands. I nodded, scared my voice had left me. I felt my body flush, as I thought of his lips. Shaking my head internally, I said, "Of course. I find drawing things down and making lists helps. I've got a board in your closet that will help with visuals."
"That's wonderful," He said, ducking his head, "I truly thank you for your help this past fortnight. I don't know where I would be without you, and you've helped me so much with knowing where to go after we retake Winterfell."
"Yes, you and Sansa, and the Northern Lords do squabble a bit when it comes to how things should proceed. This way, you have a clear path and goals before the Battle for the Dawn. You and Dany-"
"Daenerys Targaryen? My… Aunt?"
"Yes, well, you… I don't want to spoil that quite yet," I blushed.
"Please. If it is important," He implored.
"Well, you know how Targaryen custom allows marriage within families, cousins and siblings?"
"Yes… Oh. Oh!" He said, face scrunching up slightly in confusion, as if he couldn't believe he would marry his aunt.
"Well, if would have been before you discovered your heritage, but you and her… laid-," I swallowed, unsure of the term, "-together."
"Couldn't I find someone else?" He said, not really believing it.
"In that version, everyone believes you are a bastard, and though you are King in the North, you bend the knee to Dany, which confirms things for her that you love her. Mind you this is after you capture a Wight to bring to King's Landing to convince Cersei."
"Is she the only option? I have heard she is beautiful, but I do not feel right about a union with a relative," He said as we sat down on the couch again.
"Unless you wanted to marry Sansa," I teased. He face screwed up in disgust, "She's my sister. Well, my cousin. It's wrong."
"By then, Margaery Tyrell might be dead, but she is too power hunger anyways. And there is always a Frey. Actually no. Arya slaughters the whole house."
"Arya?" He asked, shocked.
"Yeah, when she went to Braavos, she became an assassin at the House of Black and White. She has a list of people she is going to kill. Cersei, The Mountain and Ser Illyn Payne. Oh, and Thoros of Myr, Beric Donarrian... It goes on."
"Oh great. A murder happy cousin, one who is running from an abusive husband, my cousin the Three Eyed Raven and the prisoner. Sometimes, this doesn't seem real."
"Let's not talk about it until tomorrow. Here, close your eyes and try this," I said, breaking off a piece of chocolate. He teased me by raising an eyebrow warily.
"Oh come on, would I poison the future King of Westeros, when he was already dead?" I laughed. He smiled, before opening his mouth slightly. I popped the piece in, watching his expression turn into relief.
"That… is exquisite. What is it?"
"Chocolate. At one point it was only for the rich, and the beans they are made of were used as currency," I stated a little known fact.
"That is amazing. Could… I have some more?" He asked.
"Of course," I said, before moving to break off another small square. His fingers brushed my own as he took the square, making my heart jump. I cast a quick look up at his face, and saw his eyes darkening slightly. I coughed, diffusing the tension and said, "Another movie?"
"It's over already?" Jon asked, not meeting my eyes as he popped the chocolate in his mouth. I was thankful, as I wasn't trusting of myself at the moment not to plant one on him. God, did I want to.
"Let's try... this one. Beauty and the Beast. The original was an animation. Like drawings but moving. This is actual people, and a bit of movie magic to make certain characters look real," I said, crossing my legs on the couch on my end. Jon was sitting stock still on his end, almost tense.
"Hey, relax."
"I'm trying," He said, keeping his hands in his lap. I nodded, handing him some more chocolate as I sang along to the opening song. He laughed a little as I did all the voices, and actually followed along. He was enjoying the movie so much that he forgot to be tense. I put a pillow on his lap, and moved to lay my head on it, explaining that I needed to stretch. He didn't flinch, but he was unsure of where to put his right arm.
After stretching it over the back of the couch, he relaxed some, even going as far as to rest his arm on my waist after I turned on my waist. I had to control myself, and goose bumps erupted across my flesh. He wondered aloud if I was cold, as I shivered.
"Maybe just a small blanket," I said, moving to get up, but he stopped me by pulling a spare throw over my body. I snuggled into the warmth and sighed in content as another of the songs came on. I sang along, making him laugh harder, and every love song was unsung, because I felt foolish and embarrassed. If he picked up on the tension, he didn't comment or give it away. I remember that he is usually stoic like Ned was, so it shouldn't be surprising.
"Wow, that was great," He said when I turned the TV off.
"One of my favorites. And then there is Hercules. That is an animation, so it will be fun to see how you like it."
"Did you want to watch it?"
"Tomorrow. I need a little air and then I should get to bed," I explained, getting up and slipping outside.
Pulling my boots on, I walked down the patio stairs to be out of sight of Jon. I took several deep breaths, before calling out with my mind, "Bran! Three-Eyed-Raven! I need guidance."
"Destiny, your heart will lead you," Bran's voice echoed in my head.
"Problem being it isn't my heart that is leading me, it my hormones," I mumbled. I waited for a moment listening for a response.
Nothing. Silence.
"Thanks for the help guys," I grumbled, rolling my eyes. I looked up at the stars, wondering what would happen after Jon left. MY life would go back t being boring and predictable. It wouldn't fill the hole in my heart, the longing to belong somewhere. The cold air did the trick in cooling my overheating body, and quenching the blush that he created every time he looked at me.
I felt myself thinking about him again, so I held my hands to my cheeks, willing them to cool down. He was leaving, and it wasn't as if I could go with him. He wouldn't even choose me in the end if I did.
"Destiny? Are you alright?" He voice called out into the night.
"Yes, thank you. I just needed a moment alone," I responded, trying not to think about how his eyes were probably worried.
"Alright."
As my heartbeat sped up again, I sighed quietly, "Don't fall, don't fall. It will never happen. All it can lead to is heartbreak."