Renly was almost glad that he had taken Penrose's advice by the time they reached the inn. Had they pressed on to Storm's End, he was quite sure that there would have been a definite possibility of him falling asleep in the saddle.

They dismounted wearily and Renly glanced round at his men. They looked as tired as he felt, dead on their feet as they handed their horses to waiting stableboys. They seemed in good spirits though, laughing and joking and complaining about how empty their stomachs were.

Renly found himself agreeing. The generous lunch they'd been given at Evenfall Hall seemed in the distant past now. He'd obviously become accustomed to the lavish feasts each evening.

He was just about to make his way inside when he was startled by someone calling his name from one of the inn's windows.

Renly couldn't help grinning even as he looked up. There was only one person audacious enough to call him Renly in public and it was the person he most wanted to see.

Sure enough Loras was leaning lazily out of the upper windows, smiling down at him.

Renly could only grin back at him, his tongue tied suddenly in knots.

His squire laughed. "Are you coming up or should I come down?"

Renly found his voice. "Come down." he said laughing. "I fear I'm going to have a mutiny on my hands if I don't feed these men soon!"

Loras laughed and disappeared from the window.

Penrose turned to him as they walked in. "If you don't mind me asking my lord, what on earth is Loras doing here?"

Renly shrugged, still grinning. "I've genuinely no idea Penrose." He laughed. "I certainly had no part in it that's for sure."

Penrose raised an eyebrow. "If you insist my lord." He said, shaking his head in exasperation as he made his way over to the innkeeper to discuss having a meal prepared.

Renly left him to it, surveying the room for Loras.

It didn't take him long to spot him,standing as he was some way across from him with his arms folded and leaning casually against a table. It had been over half a year since Renly had last seen him and yet he looked just as he remembered him. He was a few inches taller perhaps and his hair a bit longer and more unruly, but for the most part he looked exactly as he had when Renly had left him.

Renly wasted no time in heading over to him. Loras seemed as pleased to see him as he was to see Loras and for one gloriously terrifying moment Renly thought he was going to embrace him, in full view of the entire inn. He was mildly disappointed when he merely grabbed Renly's wrist impatiently and pulled him onto the bench beside him.

Renly laughed. "What in the seven hells are you doing here Loras? You're supposed to be at Storm's End are you not?"

Loras grinned. "You're not going to try and scold me again are you Renly? Because it really didn't work." He lay a hand on Renly's arm. "I thought I'd surprise you is all."

Renly grinned. "How did you even know I was going to be here though?"

Loras smirked. "Well you see Borrys there?" He gestured over to a plump boy sitting nearby that Renly vaguely recognised. Loras leant up to whisper conspiratorially in his ear and Renly was pleased to note that Loras was still significantly shorter than him. "Well he was Ser Gladden's squire but he was dismissed when he got too fat to sit properly atop a horse, and since Maester Jurne's eyes are growing weak, the old man took pity on Borrys and gave him the duty of reading his letters for him. And yesterday he received a letter from dear Penrose over there saying that you would be spending the night here." He threw a scathing glance in Penrose's direction.

"So you decided to ride out and meet us?"

Loras shrugged. "It's not like there was anyone to tell us not to."

Renly laughed. "And I doubt you'd have listened anyway if there had been."

"Probably not." Loras admitted."You don't mind do you?"

"You know I don't." Renly couldn't help but roll his eyes at the ridiculous suggestion.

Loras just smiled, brushing his curls out of his eyes.

"Your hair's got long." Renly commented

Loras shrugged, smirking slightly. "I seem to remember you being rather alarmed when I last spoke of cutting it. So I left it." He sighed. "I can't leave it much longer though. I can barely see a thing though during practice. I've had to resort to having to tie it up. You can only imagine how ridiculous it looks."

Renly couldn't help but laugh at the thought of Loras with a sword in his hand and a ribbon in his hair. "I imagine it's very intimidating." He told Loras. "You'll be giving the hound a run for his money soon."

Loras sighed dramatically. "I'd show you but I don't think I could bear the shame, what with so many people around. And besides I am currently ribbonless." He held up his hands, laughing. "I'll make sure to show you later sometime though, when we don't have such a large audience."

"I look forward to it." Renly grinned. "But I can't promise you that I wont laugh."

Loras just rolled his eyes, leaning back on his stool. "You know from you told me in your letters I expected you to come back the size of your brother."

Renly laughed. "Thankfully I'm not. Though I admit I feel myself quite the expert now on feasting. That's virtually all we did throughout the whole trip. "

Aside from sorting out those thieves at Summerhall though." Loras commented lazily.

Renly regarded him curiously. "I most definitely didn't tell you that in my letters." He said slowly.

Loras laughed. "I know you didn't. But you're not the only person who writes to me you know. It seems like you made shoddy work of it Renly. The thieves turned up in Ashford a week ago. My brother was sent to deal with them."

Renly grinned sheepishly. "I hope Garlan had more success than we did?"

Loras laughed. "I'd love to say that he did, but it seems they're rather elusive buggers. He settled for driving them up into the red mountains. They're Dorne's problem now." He smirked. "I admit Renly, Garlan tells me he had half a mind to drive them deliberately back over the border into the Stormlands just to give you a taste of your own medicine, but alas it seems that you made a good enough impression on him to stay his hand."

Renly joined in the laughter. "Well I'm very grateful that your brother desisted. You'll have to pass on my thanks for me."

"I shall." Loras assured him.

It was then that Renly caught sight of the table next to them. It had been piled high with food and already the squires and knights had gathered around, hurriedly tucking in. "Food?" Renly asked Loras.

Loras nodded eagerly and they made their way over to the table. Loras sat down with the other squires, and Renly found himself joining him. Usually Renly would be expected to sit with the knights as was fitting of his station and yet this was an inn and Renly hardly felt that social etiquette applied in places such as these.

The squires seemed mildly surprised at their lord sitting himself down in their midst, but they smiled and shifted along the bench hurriedly to make room for him.

The talk was as lewd as Renly had expected it to be. They were eagerly discussing one of the tavern girls there at the inn, one of the boys sharing the sort of vulgar things he fancied doing to her.

Renly nudged Loras next to him. "So who's this beautiful wench they're all gushing about?"

Loras laughed and gestured over to where a young girl was standing at the bar wiping plates with a very dirty looking cloth. She indeed was rather attractive Renly thought. Her long dark hair fell down her back in waves and she had a very lovely smile.

"She is indeed pretty" Renly conceded, thinking he may as well say what was expected of him.

"Pretty my lord?" One of the boys boomed "She's bloody gorgeous. What I'd give to have her warm my bed tonight!"

The table erupted into laughter, the boys making crude innuendos that Renly pretended not to hear but couldn't help smiling at. He glanced at the boy who'd spoken. It was the fat boy that Loras had pointed out to him earlier.

Renly bit back a sigh. Somehow he didn't think Borrys was the sort of boy a pretty peasant girl like the tavern girl would go for.

"You'd be lucky Borrys!" one of the older boys quipped, echoing Renly's sentiments exactly "She wouldn't give you the time of day even if you were as rich as a Lannister!"

Boris guffawed "A man can try can't he!"

The older boy snorted. "Try all you like Borrys, but you know as well as I that the wench has only had eyes for Tyrell all evening!" He laughed, giving Loras a pointed look.

Loras merely rolled his eyes while the other boys laughed.

Renly forced himself to laugh along with them, ignoring the sinking feeling in his chest. He glanced back over at the girl, studying her, trying to find some flaw in her that would make him feel better. He frowned as he found none, the girl indeed was very pretty. She was dressed like a harlot though and Renly liked to think that Loras wouldn't go for a girl who made herself so easily available.

It seemed true enough though what the boy had said. She kept shooting hopeful glances in Loras' direction, flipping her hair in that irritating way girls seemed to do. She was most definitely interested Renly conceded bitterly.

The girl seemed to notice him watching her, so he turned back to the table. He bit back a sigh when he realised the boys were still teasing Loras about the girl.

"You interested?" One of them was asking Loras.

"I don't know." Loras shrugged non-committally. "Probably not."

"Why are you always no fun?" One of the boys laughed, clapping him on the shoulder as he got to his feet.

The other boys were quick to follow his example and together they wandered over to the bar in the hope of soliciting the girl's company, leaving Renly and Loras alone at the table again. Renly glanced back at his squire who seemed lost in thought.

He wondered bitterly whether he was dwelling on the girl who seemed so interested in him. He tried to push the thought out of his mind. Loras had made an effort to come and meet him tonight and here he was, seething silently over some girl who had happened to take an interest in him.

He was brought out of his thoughts by Penrose, who had tapped him on the shoulder. He turned to face him.

"Your rooms have been made up on the top floor my lord, to the left of the stairs." He said. "I might turn in my lord. It's very late."

Renly nodded, suppressing a yawn as he did so. He was tempted to join Penrose in calling it a day too. He was all but completely worn out and the thought of bed was a very enticing one.

He watched Penrose ascend the stairs wearily. His mind was made up when his eyes fell on the tavern wench and jealousy coursed through him once more. He bit back a sigh. Perhaps it was his exhaustion that was making him quite so bitter that evening.

He turned back to Loras. "I think I might turn in for the night too Loras."

"You've no stamina Renly. But if you insist." Loras laughed. "Do you need my help with anything before you go to bed?"

"It's fine Loras" Renly sighed. He'd have very much liked Loras to come with him. And yet he knew that Loras would probably end up staying like he did in his rooms at Storm's End. Such behaviour was hardly appropriate in an inn. He gestured over to the group of boys and young men at the bar. They were laughing jovially, all with pints of ale in their hands and a lucky few with a girl on their knee. "Stay Loras. Enjoy yourself. Everyone else seems to be."

Loras rolled his eyes. "I didn't come to enjoy myself. I came to see you."

Renly laughed. "I see those two things are mutually exclusive then?"

Loras shoved him in mock irritation. "You know I didn't mean it like that. I was just making a point was all."

Renly grinned, his smile quickly turning into another yawn. He stood up, putting a hand on Loras' shoulder. "I'll leave you youngsters to it then shall I?"

"If you're completely sure you don't want me to come with you?" He asked.

"I'm sure Loras. I'm going to go straight to bed, and likely I'll fall asleep instantly I'm so tired."

Loras grinned. "Don't speak too soon Renly. You haven't experienced the beds in this place yet." He gestured over to the other squires. "It took us only moments sitting on mine this afternoon to tell that they're unbelievably uncomfortable!" He laughed. "Most of us made the instant decision not to go to bed."

Renly laughed. "I assure you that I am so tired I could sleep on the floor."

Loras smirked. "I'll take your word for it!" He got to his feet to head over to the squires. "I'll be down here if you change your mind and fancy some company."

Renly just laughed and made his way over to the stairs. He stood watching the squires for a few moments before heading up. They seemed to be getting rowdier by the second, many of them on their third or fourth cup of wine.

The tavern girl however had made an instant beeline for Loras. She was standing next to him now, practically hanging onto his arm.

He glanced up to look at Loras' face. He seemed to be listening politely enough to whatever she was saying but he didn't seem to be giving her his full attention. Nevertheless, her face was tantalisingly close to his and she'd only have to shift slightly to lean in to kiss him.

Renly sighed, suddenly wishing he was somewhere else entirely. He turned wearily to climb the stairs.

He found his chambers easily, and collapsed onto his bed instantly.

Loras had been right about the beds. Considering that he'd allegedly been given the best room in the inn, he dreaded to imagine how uncomfortable the beds in the worst rooms were. Still, he pulled the covers up over him and shut his eyes, determined to at least get some sleep.

He tossed and turned for what seemed like hours, the slats beneath the mattress digging uncomfortably into his back before he finally fell into a restless sleep.

…...

He'd only been asleep for a few hours when he was awakened sharply by loud shouts from downstairs.

Rubbing his eyes, he sat up, wondering sleepily what all the commotion was. He was sorely tempted to ignore it and try to go back to sleep, but his curiosity got the better of him.

Rising from the uncomfortable bed, he pulled on his a tunic and breeches over his small-clothes and exited the room.

He ran into Penrose on the floor below, also looking as if he'd just climbed out of bed.

"What is going on down there?" Renly asked him, yawning.

Penrose muttered something very rude under his breath, before answering him properly "The youngsters have been enjoying themselves my lord. I had assumed you were with them."

Renly smiled. "Sadly I seem to be too tired for such amusements."

"You should thank the gods that you were on the top floor then my lord and at least managed to get some rest." He sighed. "This racket has been audible all night from this one. You've missed very interesting renditions of the Dornishman's Wife, the Bear and the Maiden Fair, and even, dare I say it, the rains of bloody Castamere."

Renly laughed, "Shall we go and check they haven't drunk themselves to death then?"

Penrose followed him downstairs, still muttering under his breath.

The scene downstairs was something Renly imagined Robert would be proud of. Most of the youngsters were no longer standing but leaning heavily on the stools at the bar, nursing cups of wine, and those that were still on their feet were swaying wildly.

Renly picked his way across the room with Penrose at his heels, the floor sticky under their feet from the copious amounts of alcohol that had evidently been spilt. Renly wondered vaguely how much money the inn had taken this evening. More than he cared to imagine.

He was pleased to see though that Borrys, the fat dismissed squire who'd been eyeing up the tavern girl daughter earlier, had succeeded in persuading a girl to keep him company. She was a plain thing, with a dull complexion and lank hair, but he seemed not to notice or care. She was sat on his lap, her browned arms around his neck, hanging onto his every slurred word, and planting kisses every now and again on his fat cheek. Renly chuckled as Penrose merely shook his head in dismay.

"They're not even supposed to be here." He muttered. "This is what happens my lord when you fail to instil any discipline in squires."

Renly just grinned. He could see most of the Storm's End company by the bar and headed over to them. He scanned his eyes over the group but Loras didn't seem to be among them.

"Have you seen my squire?" Renly asked one of the more sober looking ones, a soon to be knighted lesser member of House Wylde.

"Tyrell my lord?"

"Yes Tyrell"

"Yes my lord, I've seen him." The boy laughed, "I've seen him look better though my lord, he might have drunk a little too much this evening."

The group erupted into laughter.

"Yeah Tyrell's taking a nap at that table over there my lord." One of the older ones quipped in, words slurring slightly. "Loras's never been able to hold his liquor. I think he may have passed out poor thing."

"Don't feel sorry for him!" another retorted, gripping a fellow squire's arm for support. "Did you see that wench he got his hands on? She was a right catch!"

Renly grimaced as the young men continued to roared with laughter. He turned to Penrose, ignoring the sinking feeling in his stomach. "Come on Penrose, lets go and sort him out shall we."

Penrose raised an eyebrow but said nothing, following Renly duly over to the table the squires had pointed out.

They found him as the men had said he would be, leaning heavily against the table, with his head in his arms and looking rather worse for wear Renly thought.

"Loras?" Renly shook his shoulder gently "You ok?"

Loras lifted his head slightly and looked up at Renly, eyes slightly unfocused. He managed to nod though, before laying his head back down on the table.

Renly exchanged a glance with Penrose, and Penrose dragged Loras to his feet. The two of them then half carried him, half dragged him up the stairs.

"Lets put him to bed then shall we then my lord." Penrose muttered.

"Yes, I think that's for the best Penrose" Renly said, shaking his head at the state of his squire. "I think I'll sit with him for a while though."

"If you're sure that's a good idea Renly?"

Renly ignored him.

When Loras was safely in bed and Penrose had left Renly perched himself on the edge of the bed, stroking Loras' hair softly. He bit back a sigh, cursing Loras for how devastatingly attractive he remained, even when practically passed out.

He stirred after a time, opening his eyes and gazing up at Renly.

"That feels nice" he said, gesturing to Renly stroking his hair. His words were rather slurred but the fact that he was at least managing to form words was reassuring Renly thought.

"How are you feeling?" Renly asked gently, one hand still twisted in Loras' curls.

Loras groaned. "Ask me again in the morning" he mumbled. He groped for Renly's arm in the darkness, eventually finding his target and tugging roughly on Renly's tunic until Renly consented to lie down next to him.

Loras smiled and wrapped his arms around him."Stay." he mumbled into Renly's shoulder.

Renly sighed and let him rest his head on his chest. He resumed stroking his hair softly, listening to Loras' breathing until it was clear he was asleep. He thought back bitterly to what the other squires had said about Loras and the tavern wench. He liked to think that it had only been a few kisses Loras had exchanged with the girl but he knew it would be naïve of him to assume so. Most boys Loras' age would have taken a girl by now and many would have already fathered bastards.

Renly supposed he ought not to be so bitter about it. As far as he knew, Loras' flirtations with girls had never led to anything more in the past, but it had always surely only been a matter of time. He glanced down at Loras beside him, fast asleep now. Somehow he felt slightly less jealous of the girl now that Loras was curled up against him, his arms still wrapped loosely around Renly's chest.

Renly smiled into Loras' hair and pulled him closer. Drunk or not, Loras had wanted him to stay. It was him that he was lying next to, not some tavern girl.

It wasn't everything Renly desired, but it was something, and most likely it was the best he was ever going to get.

…...

The ride back to Storm's End was not a pleasant one. It took near all morning to coax many of the young knights out of bed, they were so worse for wear after their heavy night of drinking the night before. Even when they were mounted up and ready to go, most looked like they were cursing their existence.

Renly didn't think he'd ever seen Loras look so unwell, nor so ill at ease in the saddle. He was rather more quiet than usual this morning and in a strange reversal of roles, Renly had had to forcefully drag Loras out of bed and help him get dressed, seeing as his squire had seemed rather incapable of doing it himself.

Renly rode over to him when Ser Gladden requested that they stop, claiming to have suddenly come over all queasy. Renly couldn't say he was surprised. The young knight had been knocking back cups of wine last night as if it had been water. He dared to day that Ser Gladden would have given his brother Robert a run for his money.

"How are you feeling Loras?" Renly asked gently.

"I've been better." Loras mumbled.

Renly laughed. "That's what you get Loras for not being able to hold your alcohol."

"Well we can't all be Baratheons." Loras retorted feebly. "Robert was probably spoon feeding you liquor when you were still in the cradle."

Renly snorted. "Robert was rarely around when I was a very young. And as if Stannis would have allowed it if he had been. Stannis would have probably outlawed wine by now if he was king instead of Robert."

Loras gave a ghost of a smile.

Renly just patted him on the shoulder and they fell into silence once more.

It was afternoon by the time they reached Storm's End, and Renly wasted no time in putting his squire immediately back to bed. To his great amusement, many of the other young men appeared to be doing the same, stumbling to their chambers, their faces pained.

Renly returned to his own rooms as soon as Loras was asleep and immediately climbed into bed himself. He had savoured lying so intimately beside Loras last night but it had exactly not been conducive to getting a good night's sleep.

It was evening when he awoke and the castle was still largely deserted, only servants seeming to be up and about.

He contemplated going to find Loras but suspected he would still be sleeping. Sighing, he went off in search of some other form of company.

He eventually found Penrose in the solar, going over letters with Edric. Renly sat down opposite them, watching the pair quietly for a while. Edric was a nice boy, but Renly had always been rather bemused at quite how much care Penrose seemed to take over the young bastard child that wasn't his own. He was surprisingly patient with the child, correcting the mistakes he made without losing his temper.

Renly thought back to when he too had been first been taught his letters. Maester Cressen had been beyond patient and had used to sit with him for hours, teaching Renly to read and write. Renly smiled, lost in memories. He wondered whether he would ever see that kindly old Maester again.

Penrose glanced up at him, leaving Edric to copy out some of his mistakes. "How is Loras feeling?" He asked.

Renly laughed softly. "He's paying the price for over indulging yesterday, but I dare say most of the squires and young knights are."

Penrose shook his head wearily. "It serves them right." He muttered. "Especially the knights. I'd have thought that having been feasted in every castle in the Stormlands during the past few months that they wouldn't see the need for such amusements at the moment."

Renly smiled. "Try telling my brother Robert that. He feasts and drinks and whores every evening and still feels the need to do the same on the morrow."

Edric raised his head. "What is it that my father does uncle Renly?"

Penrose shot Renly an exasperated look. "Never you mind Edric. It's nothing that would interest you."

Renly grinned sheepishly, he'd quite forgotten the child's presence. It was probably not the wisest idea to discuss Robert's wenching and drinking in front of him.

"What have you got up to in our absence Edric?" He asked, trying to distract him from the topic.

"Lots uncle Renly. Maester Jurne taught me all about how my father became king, and how the Targaryens kidnapped his betrothed. It's sad uncle Renly isn't it, that the Targaryens murdered the woman my father loved?"

Renly sighed. "Yes it is sad Edric. But your father acted honourably, he did all he could to save her."

Edric smiled and turned to Penrose as if he'd suddenly thought of something exciting. "Ser Cortnay? Can we visit the Ruby Ford sometime?"

"We'll see" Penrose sighed. "Perhaps when you're older."

Edric frowned. "I'll be able to go by myself when I'm a knight." He turned to Renly. "Did I tell you uncle Renly that I'm going to be the best knight there ever was? Just like my father."

"Is that so?" Renly grinned at him.

"Definitely" Edric said confidently, drawing himself up to his full seven year old height."I've even started learning to joust."

Penrose spun round. "What's this Edric?"

"As I said Ser Cortnay. I've been learning to joust."

"And who's been teaching you?" Penrose raised an eyebrow. "I refuse to believe the master at arms has made time to instruct you on such matters."

"The squires have been showing me how to do it." Edric said happily.

"What sort of fool thinks it's a good idea to put a lance in the hand of a seven year old?!" Penrose said, jaw clenching. "Come to think of it, I take that back." He looked pointedly at Renly."I know exactly who would think it a good idea."

Renly grinned. Penrose had taken the words out of his mouth. "Don't look at me Penrose. I had no hand in this."

Penrose turned back to Edric. "May I ask which squires Edric?" He asked tersely.

"Many of them." Edric told him cheerfully. "But mainly Loras."

Penrose groaned. "I should have known."

Renly shrugged, still grinning. "Well no harm done Penrose. Edric seems in perfectly good shape. He's probably sensible enough to start learning anyhow."

"Perhaps." Penrose muttered. "But it wasn't Loras' decision to make. Edric's not his child."

"He's not yours either." Renly reminded him fairly.

"True." Penrose sighed. "I suppose you're right my lord. No harm done even if Loras is as reckless as he is stubborn."

"Speaking of the devil, I should probably go and check on him." Renly said, laughing. "He was in a bad way this morning."

"You do that my lord." Penrose said wearily.

Renly grinned and took his leave, ascending the stairs to Loras' chambers, passing a chambermaid on the way. She was carrying several baskets and Renly knew her to be the girl that took charge of the part of the castle where Loras' chambers were located.

He called her over, smiling. "Do you happen to know if my squire is up yet?" He asked.

She beamed. "Yes m'lord. I brought him some water for a bath an hour ago m'lord."

Renly thanked her and continued up to Loras' chambers, glad to know that he would most likely not be waking Loras up.

Indeed Loras was sat up in bed when Renly came in, his curls still slightly wet.

"Feeling better?" Renly asked, standing at the foot of the bed.

Loras yawned. "The bath helped. But I don't think I'm ever drinking wine again."

"I'll hold you to that Loras." Renly said, laughing. "I've heard a lot of people say that and somehow they never follow their words through."

Loras rolled his eyes. "Come keep me company Renly?"

Grinning, Renly went to join him, leaning back against one of Loras' pillows lazily on the other side of the bed.

Loras sighed and closed the gap between them, moving to his side and resting his head against Renly's shoulder, his curls tickling Renly's neck slightly.

Renly glanced down at him. He had his eyes closed and Renly wondered what he was thinking about. He felt a stab of jealousy when he wondered bitterly whether his mind was on the tavern girl of last night. Assuming Loras remembered it of course. He'd seemed so worse for wear this morning that Renly wouldn't have been surprised if he didn't.

He bit back a sigh. The squires who had enlightened him about the girl and her success with Loras had been very vague. He couldn't help but wonder what exactly had gone on. He wasn't quite sure whether he wanted to know the answer, but eventually his curiosity got the better of him. He mustered up the courage to ask.

"I hear that girl gave you a fair amount of attention last night?" He asked mildly, fighting to keep his tone light, to give no indication of the jealousy that was coursing through him.

Loras tensed beside him. "Who told you that?" He asked stiffly.

"One of the squires. They were jesting about it last night while you were passed out on that table."

Loras chewed on his bottom lip. "I suppose she did." He frowned. "If draping herself across my lap and trying to kiss me counts as giving me a lot of attention."

"Well surely you kissed her back though?" He knew that whatever Loras told him would most likely twist the knife further and yet he couldn't help himself.

"No" Loras said simply. He glanced up at Renly mildly. "Unlike some people I don't just kiss people because they're there."

Renly frowned, trying to remember why that phrase sounded familiar. He bit back a sigh when he recalled that those were in fact his own words, the words he'd told Loras when his squire had asked why he'd found himself in a compromising position with that dornish boy after the feast.

He squirmed uncomfortably. "I thought we'd moved on from talking about that god forsaken dornish boy? Do you have to bring it up now?"

Loras shrugged. "It always just seemed rather ridiculous to me."

"Well he was there." Renly retorted indignantly.

Loras gave him a scathing look. "Well would you kiss anyone who was there then?"

"It's not like that Loras. Just try to understand that."

Loras sat up, eyes flashing. "Well explain it to me then Renly. Because I'm quite sure that I don't understand."

Renly just fidgeted nervously, not quite sure what Loras was getting at. He sighed. "What are you trying to insinuate Loras? That I'm wanton? That I have loose morals? That I'd kiss anybody just because they were there? You know that's not true."

Loras regarded him coolly. "Well I'm here now. Would you kiss me?"

Renly laughed nervously. "It's different. The dornish boy wanted me to kiss him. He made that very clear. It's not like I'd just kiss anyone."

Loras leaned forward so they were almost touching, his curls brushing ever so slightly against Renly's cheek. "Well then" He sighed softly, reaching up and twisting one hand in Renly's hair. "Just quite how clear do I have to make it Renly?"

Renly's breath hitched as Loras lips met his own, softly, hesitantly even. His thoughts raced, he'd imagined this moment so often, vividly, almost desperately, and yet now all he could do was reel in shock, frozen to the spot.

Loras pulled away moments later, his eyes full of confusion. "Renly?" He looked up at him, biting down on his bottom lip, his voice soft, painfully plaintive.

Renly just stared at him, his voice failing him.

A look of hurt passed across Loras' face and he suddenly he seemed smaller, nervous even, very much four years Renly's junior. "Is that not what you wanted?" He asked in a small voice when Renly said nothing, looking down at his hands. "I wont do it again if its not."

Renly shook his head wildly, his breath ragged. "Don't be ridiculous." He whispered.

"Was it bad?" Loras asked quietly, all the usual bravado gone from his voice. "I can't say I have much experience with such things."

Renly didn't answer him. He just reached over to him, looping his fingers around his wrists gently as he pulled him back into his lap.

His breath hitched as guided Loras to him, one hand finding the small of his back while the other twisting in Loras' curls, brushing them out of his eyes. Loras gazed up at him, his breathing uneven as he leant in closer, allowing Renly to tilt his head ever so slightly to the side, exhaling softly against Renly's cheek as Renly closed the gap between them.

There was no hesitancy this time and Renly's heart raced as Loras pushed himself up against him, his hands tangling in Renly's hair as he returned the kiss desperately. He gasped slightly as Renly trailed his hands down his back, sliding one ever so slightly up Loras' shirt, feeling silky smooth skin under his fingers.

Tipping Loras' head back, Renly moved to kiss his neck, his breath coming in ragged gasps as he felt Loras pulse racing under his open mouth. Loras melted underneath him, collapsing back against the pillows and tugging Renly down on top of him, sword-roughened fingers clumsily trying to unlace Renly's shirt.

Renly had to remember to breathe as Loras arched up against him, warm and solid underneath him, his curls falling back into his eyes as Renly leant in once more to kiss him.