i had very high motivation to write last night, especially after listening to vitamin string quartet's covers for bridgerton.
as a side note: casterly rock is a michelin restaurant with a gorgeous outdoor patio, highgarden is a flower shop/event venue and the night's watch is a brewery/barcade. dany and jon also live in a high rise, all glass for windows kinda building.
this chapter does have some small moments of steam towards the end so beware! it isn't full smut but just a warning for those who doesn't enjoy reading it.
this is unbeta'd work btw so if there are any mistakes, pls look away
—
"No one pinch me, but am I dreaming? Robb Stark and Theon Greyjoy at the same table as I'm at? Praise the Old Gods and the new."
Aside from the smashing scotch cocktail he was just served, he's also actually having lunch with his half-brother Robb and their best friend, Theon, at Casterly Rock. Despite the three men all living just on the outskirts of King's Landing, gathering had always been an arduous task.
It would have been dinner had Robb not requested something earlier during the day since his babysitter isn't available during any nights for the rest of the month.
In between tackling being a single parent to a ten year old daughter and the tedious risk analysis he does on a daily basis, it's safe to say that Robb's social life is crumbling even more so than a local hermit like Jon. Though if you ask him, it's likely he'd argue that individualism and solitude is natural to human living. Jon agrees to an extent (he isn't going to go as far as to say everyday though probably at one point during his adolescence it felt that way) but he reckons had it not been for his daughter then things would be looking very different.
Not that his life now isn't bad, just very uptight and strict with schedule. A big contrast to the way he lived in his youth.
As for Theon, his life is anything but uptight and restricted. And for the most part, he lives life as if he's still a youth.
Despite Jon's lack of activity in social media (and his social life in general), he hears enough news of the elite ice hockey league player. From his latest trip to the Summer Sea at the Straits of Qarth from the latest circle of stars he's just befriended at a random club, it's an understatement to conclude that he has a penchant for grandiose amount of self indulgence.
Nothing wrong with it though, he works hard in order to play harder.
"Praise the Old Gods and the new indeed. I'm this close to hanging myself with a necktie if I hear one more question about the reproductive system from Lyarra." Robb holds his index and his point finger to emphasize his point before reaching for the menu.
Theon, in the middle of drinking his whiskey, snorts in amusement. "All the more reason why you need a woman, Stark. She needs a motherly figure, why can't you see that? Take it from someone who was raised by a single dad." As if to encourage his friend, he adds, "Just give me the signal and I'll give you a few contacts."
The auburn haired man looks the least interested at his friend's suggestion. "I don't know whether to trust your contacts or not– you've got questionable taste."
Theon rolls his eyes at this response, turning his attention to Jon instead. "And you, Snow? Seeing anyone? Or are you still brooding over that Ygritte chick?"
"Asshole." Robb squared his eyes at him. "Jon was the one who broke up with her, you imbecile."
Jon shakes his head but is given some time to conjure a response as their server takes the order.
"Are you kidding me?" He says, leaning back on the lounge chair, elbows dangling lazily on the arm rests. "How do I bring a girl over with Sansa living in the same room as me?"
A muffled snort escapes Robb. "I'd like to see that, you sneaking a girl out of your room in the morning while she brews coffee at 7 o'clock, sharp."
"6, actually." Jon says nonchalantly, as if it helps his half brother's point. "Between 5 and 5:30 she's either jogging or stretching or doing whatever the fuck it is she does at the gym with my key card, she'll shower and dry her hair for another 30 and by 6 she's whipping up a breakfast of some sort before heading to work."
Robb whistles out a sigh. "How the fuck does she do that?"
"Beats me."
Theon stares back and forth between the two brothers before finally blinking. "Let me see if I'm following this correctly: Sansa is living with you?"
Jon hums, taking another swig of his drink.
He's always been aware of the soft spot the other had for his younger sibling and vice versa, hers for him. If he didn't know any better, he would have read in between the lines of all the sneaky glances the two shared in a crowded room whether they were in the same space. It isn't his place to say much though, and neither does he want to overstep.
"For the next three months or so– not unless she decides to renew her contract at U of W for another three months. There goes any hope of bringing women to my apartment."
There's a glint of curiosity in Theon's eyes but within a blink of an eye, it's gone. Jon glances at Robb to see if he's picked up on it but daft as ever, he's too busy scanning the restaurant's outdoor patio and its decor.
"And you?" Jon probes, arching an eyebrow. "Which a-list celebrity is on the Greyjoy radar this month?"
The blond scoffs, running his fingers along his unruly locks. "Fuck off, Snow. I go out to lunch with one friend and the tabloid makes it seem like I'm jumping from one woman to another."
This time it's Robb who strikes with, "And you aren't?"
He stretches his arms overhead and his response almost makes Jon choke on his own laughter. "I've been celibate for a year now, I'll have you known. I swore on The Drowned God that I'm dating someone serious and for the long run the next time I allow myself to get invested."
"Theon Greyjoy, joining the dating market for something serious?" Robb says incredulously. "I'll get in touch with one of your contacts if you last longer than a month in that hunt."
Jon wants to join the teasing but his attention is clipped when he catches a familiar sight inside the restaurant, nimble fingers brushing through the back of silver blonde tresses loosely curled to perfection. He recognizes his neighbor Dany even from a side view and through a distance, her brows knitting together while the companion she had across from her talks. He watches as her features break into a brilliant smile, all teeth, happiness reaching to her eyes.
"You know her?" Robb interrupts Jon's quiet observation and both him and Theon follow the line of his gaze.
"Ah, sorta, yeah." He gives a one sided shoulder shrug, clearing his throat in hopes that he hadn't been caught staring too long. He reaches for the box of cigarettes snuggly fitted at his back pocket, dragging the ashtray from across the table. "Neighbour."
Theon squints. "She looks a bit familiar.. I think I might actually know her. At least I'm pretty sure I've seen her somewhere."
"If you went to KLU and took up pre-law, perhaps you've seen her in the halls." He pads at his pockets for his lighter, igniting the end of a stick as soon as he finds it.
His eyes trail to her fingers again, oddly fascinated with her every movement. She's lightly scratching at a spot on her collarbone, exposed in a cream coloured linen cami. Her toned, slender legs are exposed in the white belted skirt she's matched it with and his eyes are helplessly glued to them as she gathers her belongings. She turns away from the ceiling length windows, exposing the low cut of her top from the back. His blood flow is definitely intact as he feels himself get heated while she scoops her curls into a high ponytail, his gaze now wandering from her exposed spinal column, to her hamstrings and down to the very sole of her ivory espadrille flats.
Jon clears his throat again, dry and suddenly in need of some hydration. Instead of reaching for the glass of water though, he opts for the alcohol. He tries to focus on the nutty sweetness of amaretto but instead, he's unable to stop himself from stealing another glance at Dany.
He catches Theon's eyes but quickly looks away. If he noticed him ogling at Dany's body line, he made no indication of it whatsoever. Which is relieving, knowing just how much Theon likes to tease.
"Did you say pre-law? Doesn't dad teach that department?"
Robb's voice brings Jon's focus bacl, just at the same time as Dany starts to follow the other woman she's with.
"Aye." Jon narrows his eyes at his now empty shot glass, hovering it to the waiter to indicate he'd like a refill. "She told me she had Dad for a few classes, actually."
"Did you get her name at least?" Theon asks.
"Daenerys." His voice comes out more hoarse than expected, wishing the waiter could just serve him another glass already.
Instead he not only serves him his drink, he also serves them their meals.
The rest of their conversation is far away from the topic of Daenerys or Sansa or anything related to the questions Lyarra had asked Robb regarding the reproductive system (although Robb did share a few more questions that had all three men wondering what exactly is discussed in a health class of ten year olds nowaday).
"Sansa's having a birthday bash at The Watch next month by the way, don't forget." Jon reminds the both of them before parting. "I think the actual party is at Highgarden though."
There's an immediate groan from Robb, asking for the details and its date. He couldn't make it any more obvious that he had forgotten despite Sansa reminding them every week in their family group chat.
"Mind punching in your address?" Theon asks, motioning for him to take the phone.
Jon looks down at it, and sees it open to his contact details on Theon's phone. "I'm not sure I'll be able to make it to The Watch and I'll try to go to Highgarden, but just in case I don't make it, I'll be sure to send a care package for the birthday girl."
—
Dumbfounded, he stares at the package handed to him in his bedroom, droplets of water from his damp hair piercing through the brown parcel. There's plenty of things about Theon that Jon will always fail to understand but at the moment, he's unable to piece together how he was able to get Dany's home address. What stalker skills did the man have? Did he actually personally know her or had that been a jest? Or was it an actual error from the man's end, scribbling her unit number instead of his?
All of these questions are running through his head but he sets it aside to momentarily pull on a pair of sweatpants, as well as snatching a clean tee from the basket of unfolded clothes to don.
"Hey, dinner's ready and I refuse to feast alone." Sansa calls loudly from the kitchen and he grumbles an acknowledgement, reaching over for the hairbrush. Giving the back of his head several strokes before deciding it good enough, he grabs at the parcel with one hand as the other slides across his bed for his phone.
The two huskies sprawled outside his bedroom door stand in unison, both of their tails wagging at him. He brushes the top of Ghost's head first before giving Lady a scratch beneath her chin.
"I swear my apartment is 75% you and 25% dogs." He's complaining to his sister but he actually doesn't mind the company. If anything, it's made him realize just how much he enjoys having someone to eat dinner with in comparison to being alone.
Not to mention the delicious breakfast he actually gets to eat now that she's around to cook.
Sansa sticks her tongue out as she sets two plates onto the table.
Jon scrunches his nose in return before pulling a chair out, joining her in preparation for dinner (though she's doing all the work and he's minding his own business). He starts to work on opening the package until he's staring at a matte black box tied with a red ribbon.
Sansa, whose eyes catch a quick glimpse of it, raises an eyebrow. "That looks like a box of lingerie and honestly, just the kind of prank up in Theon's alley."
He rolls his eyes because at this point, he wouldn't even be surprised if that happened to be true. Carefully tugging at the ribbon, he delicately pulls on the top lid and is instantly floored with confusion.
Inside were several contents and none of it made sense: A white ceramic mug with the text 'queen' in all caps and a small drawing of a bee underneath it, topped with a yellow crown mug topper. A circular glass container filled with assorted sweets, mostly consisting of twix and kit kats. Several bath bombs and other bath assortments Jon didn't really know what for. A three wick scented candle. A birthday card.
Reaching out for the card, Sansa opens the flap. Her lips curve into a smile so fast that Jon doesn't almost noticeit. She straightens up and turns around right when Jon catches a glimpse of her expression, busying herself with taking out food from the oven.
"Why did he name the package for you when this card says it's for me?"
—
The first thing Jon thinks about when he sees Dany at the waiting shed is that she's wearing the same exact skirt she had on that one time she was at Casterly Rock when he had lunch with Theon and Robb. Today it's paired with a neatly tucked cream coloured cardigan, matched with layered jewelry along her neckline and a pair of flats in the shade of coffee. Her long strands are tousled in similar loose curls to that day and, a true vision in this gloomy, August evening.
His expectations are low when he invites her to dinner and she says yes.
But one topic leads to another and the hours flashes between the both of them under what feels like a short timespan. He's surprised at his ability to make her laugh so much. She, on the other hand, talks like she has no idea every little thing she has to say is either impressionable or utterly hilarious. She has a lot of thoughts and plenty of opinions— and for a woman her size, he's surprised at the way she's so forward and blunt.
Sitting across from her at a dingy bar right at the corner of their block, he's bowled over by this absolutely stunning, petite girl with a wicked sense of humor. In this instant, he doesn't want the night to come to an end.
And for a moment, he's certain it wont.
Their quick night stroll to continue their conversation ends up in a long path along the riverwalk just a few blocks from their apartment building. At this point, it's inevitable that they continue, walking side by side along the trailed route, moving out of the way when necessary for bikers and joggers and others minding about their business during a beautiful autumn evening. In return they dissolve themselves in their own conversation, truly in their own little world as their arms brush ever so casually and occasionally against each other.
Dany laughs and clutches at his forearms when he shares that Theon named a care package for his sister to him. He joins in the laughter as she shares how they actually met, through the founder of the restaurant and party venue Sansa had her birthday celebration in, Highgarden.
Turns out, Theon has a knack for floral arrangements and had stuttered in explanation that it's for his dining table and not for anyone special when Dany pointed out how lucky his significant other is with the amount of bouquets he purchases from her best friend. The man of the hour is probably choking on whatever it is he's eating as Jon continues to speak about him, telling stories on how the two used to get on each other's nerves to his suspicions of unspoken feelings regarding Sansa.
On and on about what it was like for him to grow up in Winterfell as the moon hung high in the sky, close enough to grab if he really dared.
It's close to 10:40 when they make it back to the apartment building and Dany groans in frustration, tugging at the sleeves of her cardigan. She's got classes tomorrow but she tells him the night is enough to make up for the bad day she had. Jon offers the books he's been carrying for her, a small smile pulling at the corners of his mouth.
"I don't think these flats have a sole anymore." She says in a questioning tone but her voice is filled with playfulness. Had it not been a joke then he would have probably felt a little worried.
"Make sure to wear sneakers next time, yeah?"
The next time he sees her, he asks her out properly for dinner. Much to his amusement, she shows up in a pair of trail running shoes.
—
The month of November comes in a quick haze and the next thing he knows, it's the week of his birthday.
The first snow of the season comes slowly this week, flakes of white falling to the ground as the city is lulled into a quiet hush. He spots a few cars braving the weather and his thoughts gloss over Sansa for the briefest amount of time. It's been two weeks since she's settled in her new apartment unit a block away from the hospital. He wonders how convenient it must feel to be that close to her work place, specially during days like these.
Of course she's got him to thank for recommending that place in the first place and he makes a mental note to text her as soon as he finishes his cup of coffee.
Ghost is curled into a soundless sleep beneath his computer table at the other corner of the room, stirring every once in a while.
In the midst of his admiration for the white surface of snow now blanketing the town, he feels Ghost getting on his hind legs, tail wagging eagerly. Jon watches as his dog paddles towards the direction of his door, sitting down halfway to stare at it blankly until a faint knock is coming from the other side.
The dog starts barking, even whimpering as a plea for whoever it is to be welcomed in.
He takes a quick look at the clock, reading 8:12am. If it hadn't been for the infectious morning routine Sansa had in the four months she stayed with him, he would probably still be deep in sleep.
Still, he wonders who it could be knocking so early.
To say he's surprised when he sees Dany standing on the other end is an understatement.
Ghost is barking at the door a little louder now, pacing, sitting down patiently to look up at him, only to pace once more after several seconds. He repeats this while Jon contemplates. Despite the fact that she's seen him looking so beat down after work or after a sleepless night in the morning, he still often wonders whether she'd be thrown off by how unruly he looks.
Taking a deep breath and deciding, fuck it , he finally reaches for the door knob to yank it open. He has to wrap his hand around the girth of Ghost's collar to keep him in place and the canine whines feebly.
"Hey."
Bright green eyes greet him as she breathlessly smiles at him and he just stands there at his doorway, swallowing the sight she offers. He realizes she's got that effect on him, like she's taking the air out of his lungs in exchange for her presence.
She's looking extremely cozy in a zipped cream coloured puffer jacket, olive green beanie and in her hands is an enclosed box of..
"Hey." He gestures for the item she's holding, brows furrowing as he asks, "What'cha got there?"
For a moment he thinks there's worry in her eyes and that it's penetrating through him. He almost asks out loud if anything is wrong. She takes a deep breath before he can, taking one step forward towards him with an unreadable expression on her face. He frowns, waiting impatiently for her to speak.
"Um. I baked this. For you. I bumped into Theon at Highgarden and he sort of hinted at your birthday being this week–" She says matter of factly and he just looks down at the box that she continues to hold up, then back at her.
He doesn't know when a smile starts breaking out, but he feels it while listening to her continue.
"I don't exactly know yet if it's something I'd eat. It was my first real attempt at making a cake that isn't out of the box.." At this point she's clearly waiting for him to say something but he's unsure how to react in a way that would assure her it's the thought that counts.
"If by any chance you accidentally substituted sugar for salt, I promise you won't catch me reacting." He teases before gently squeezing one of her arms, tugging her closer to his middle so that he can pull her into an embrace. She bites down on her lower lip and he thinks she hears her giggling, musical and light and exactly what he needs to start his morning.
He gets a whiff of her shampoo, peonies and all floral if he's correct. He also gets a whiff of her perfume, fresh with oceanic hints of the summer breeze.
"I was worried you were already at work and that the cake would be sitting inside my fridge until I got back from classes."
"I've got a day off." Visible lines begin to crease at his forehead and he looks down at her quizzically. He pulls away just the slightest. "You mean they didn't cancel your classes this morning?"
She shakes her head, shoulders rounding as she heaves a sigh. "I wish."
He does what anyone else would, insists on giving her a ride to the university instead of leaving her to wait for the bus across the street. She tells him it's okay and that she's fine commuting, not wanting to bother the solitude of his quiet morning. But he's already grabbing at his car keys and wallet, quickly donning his coat from the closet.
"You're so stubborn." She murmurs while he guides her forward towards the elevators, both hands on each side of her shoulders.
So she complains, but doesn't show an inkling of disapproval.
"Didn't you say Thursdays are your short days?" She turns to him while jerking at the front passenger seat belt, one eyebrow arched. "What time do you get off? I'll come and pick you up."
"Jon, no– it's already enough that you're dropping me off."
He turns his head to check the back of the parking lot, reversing the vehicle out of its spot. "I'm not hearing a time. Give me a time, woman."
"Jon."
"Dany."
"Jon."
"Dany."
" Jon."
" Dany. "
She mutters something incoherent, smiles and looks away. She thinks she's winning (she isn't) because she eventually tells him she's unsure, that she's got some research to do at the library for a formal, graded debate this upcoming weekend. He insists regardless, telling her he's got some billing and accounts to sort so a productive afternoon at the library sounds exactly like what he needs.
"You're insufferable." She tells him with an incandescent smile and he's feeling struck by her thousand-watt smile.
He ceases to an orange light, vehicle slowing down as a comfortable silence fills the space between them. Under the red light, he reaches for her hand for the first time, delicately and careful. Bringing it to his mouth, he kisses the back of it and she watches him with a beam while he murmurs lowly, "Thank you."
He holds her hand for the rest of the car ride, enjoying the momentary warmth and missing it almost immediately when she leaves. His patience is rewarded at the end of the day when he walks her back to her apartment and she initiates a kiss on his lips.
—
One minute Jon is being pulled from all corners of his own brewery, the next he's competing to keep his clothes on in a game of giant jenga. The Night's Watch had been closed for the night in lieu of his birthday's eve celebration. What he thought would be a small group of people coming for some drinks and games is turning out to be anything but. Family members and friends traveling from Winterfell are the biggest surprise yet, with both Ned and Catelyn throwing their arms around him in a tight hug the moment they find him.
His siblings, of course, are in complete attendance. Robb's free for the weekend from single dad duties as his ex-wife's parents have agreed to babysit Lyarra. Sansa is off duty and is sighted for once wearing something other than her navy blue scrubs. Arya is actually with them, without an excuse (but she usually never does if it means spending time with her favourite brother, but Jon knows she'll refuse it every chance she's got. That's okay, he accidentally overheard her discussing it with Sansa so he knows the truth). Bran and Rickon too, who his parents still think of as children despite being 25 and 22 respectively.
Even Theon is there and he claims he wouldn't miss it, being the Honorary Stark that he is.
The next crowd he sees are his motley college crew and he's sucked into another set of embraces and endless cycles of how have you been 's and it's been a long time' s. He's elated to see Sam and Gilly and is surprised to learn that she's three months pregnant with their second child.
"Off with you then," Jon dimisses in a banter, pointing her towards the exit sign with one hand as the other gently pokes at the front of her stomach. Alcohol always made him a lot more frank despite not being as close to Gilly the way he is with Sam."You should be at home making sure this little one's well rested and content."
There's also Grenn and Edd who, while being regular customers at the pub, are always a delight to talk to. If Jon wasn't so occupied most of the time with paperwork in the back office, he'd probably be making more effort to chat with them whenever there was a game playing on the telly.
And of course there's Tormund who exists to be unbearable like always.
"Aren't you looking dapper, with your hair and beard trimmed so cleanly?" He runs a hand to tousle Jon's hair and he groans in return, attempting to keep him off it. The only way to really ease into conversations with him was if he had a glass full of alcohol and a lit cigarette between his fingers.
"Well who's that pretty little thing over there?"
Jon's eyes narrow and he turns to a sight he doesn't realize he's been hungry for until it's right in front of him. Until she's in front of him. Tormund is gesturing towards Dany who's pulling away from greeting Theon with a hug, finally coming to join the party.
"Be right back." Jon excuses himself before his friend could even utter a reply.
"Ya better, Snow. I'm expecting proper introductions between me and the little lady!"
He shakes his head at the holler, voice booming over the loud music. But he's only got eyes on Dany as he takes another drag of his cigarette, eyeing the thin back crisscross straps of her white mini dress. And when she turns around as if on cue to his presence, he almost loses it. His eyes taper at the ruched side detail with the front left leg slit, pursing his lips together to hide his smirk.
"Think I could cut in?"
Theon holds both hands up helplessly, grinning from ear to ear as he steps aside. "She's all yours mate."
Dany reaches out to playfully tug at his suit, grazing the side of his forearm languidly. He flashes her a wink but he knows it looks far from it since he's actually unable to wink without blinking both eyes. She laughs and he swears the night is complete.
"Don't you look sleek in this blue ensemble you have going on?" He thinks she's reaching out for his hand to hold in her own but instead she snatches the cigarette from his grasp, giving him a stern look of disapproval.
Perhaps it's liquid courage or just sheer possessiveness, a need to assert in public that this sight in white is his. He tilts her chin with his thumb, the rest of his fingers splaying at the base of her neck. "Got something to say about my smoking?"
She purses her lips together and looks up at him, pretending to be affronted. "One or two things about it, yes."
His lips part, tweaking into a wicked smile before closing the gap between the two of them. There's no hesitation as he captures her lips and gets a sweet taste of her mouth, drawn into the warmth of her cavern. He feels her pressing a hand against his chest, maybe even a hum or a quiet moan repressed into a quiet sigh.
"I can feel people staring." She murmurs softly against his lower lip when she breaks the contact, bashfully laughing as she wipes at his lower plush for him.
He pulls away and looks around, not meeting any gazes in particular because he knows she's right. "At you? As they should be."
—
He didn't mean to drink so much, especially not when he promised Dany he'd be their designated driver. But it's a quarter past eleven and he thinks his world is being shaken to its core. That or Tormund was being too rowdy, shoving another shot glass of vodka his way. Or is it Grenn? Edd, maybe? He can't even tell anymore, they're all starting to look the same.
"I really should be sobering up now." He retreats from the offer and shakes his head, firmly standing his ground.
In the gist of it all, he hears Theon and Robb's voices and he follows it. He doesn't understand very clearly though, with veryone talking all at once and over the blaring music of the brewery.
"What's that?" He tries to confirm, leaning sidewards.
"I said–" Robb raises his voice, ushering a drink towards his hand. "You should really drink this. Ygritte, 2 o'clock. Make it quick, Snow."
It takes a moment for Jon to pick up on what his brother is talking about but he feels his body sobering up as soon as he picks up on his cue. Dressed in a black jumpsuit and red pumps to match the fiery shade of her hair, Ygritte pans at his vision, a soft smile at her features.
"Jon."
He takes a deep breath. "Ygritte."
She's quiet and for some time, all she does is look up at him. He can feel her searching through his eyes but instead of saying anything else, she smiles apologetically. "I hope you don't mind that I dropped by– I.. Gilly had insisted I come and my, you're a hard man to catch. Happy birthday."
Theon, who's standing right behind him, clears his throat and greets Ygritte with a small wave. Sensing Jon's thoughts without it being said, he starts patting him on the back and chimes, "If you're not at the bar in 5 minutes, it's your loss."
"Aye, I'll be there."
Ygritte smiles at him one last time before she hums in thought, tucking a loose strand over her neck. "Well listen, I won't keep you long. I just wanted to come by and greet you. I'll get going and find Sam and Gil."
A pang of guilt tugs at Jon's chest. Putting the past relationship he had with Ygritte aside, it isn't like the two aren't on good terms. So he shakes his head and gives her a reassuring pat to the small of her back.
"No, no. Fill me in on what's been goin'–" Guiding her to the side to sit, he adds, "How's uh– I forget his name, your husband's. How are things with the both of you? It's been a while."
—
It's close to 5:45 when he stirs awake. The events of last night are a blur and while Jon is trying to remember how he ended up passed out on his sofa bed with Dany curled to his chest in the living room, there's also a nagging ache at the back of his head. There's a faint flashback of Theon and Robb struggling to sit him up on the toilet seat last night as Dany brushes his teeth, with Ghost circling at the crown of his feet. The giant dog had a habit of inserting himself as much as he could in every situation involving Jon. Other than that, nothing comes to mind.
Running a hand through his features, he stretches his limbs upwards, careful not to wake up the sleeping beauty beside him. It's then he notices that she's wearing nothing but an oversized shirt of his and her white dress is laying across the back of his computer chair.
He's shirtless but clad in a pair of gray sweats. He can still faintly smell the nicotine and alcohol on his skin and Dany's floral perfume.
Taking a deep breath, he allows himself to relish in the warmth of her body and admires her sleeping form. He thinks he could get used to this. He thinks it the best sight to wake him up in the morning, definitely heaps better than being woken up to Ghost's slobbery kisses on his cheeks.
But mostly he thinks how good it is to have a birthday like his.
Being born in the last week of December has its perks every now and then. He may have been getting one present for both Christmas and his birthday the past twenty something years of his life but at least it falls during Christmas break. That means Dany actually being able to stay the night without having to worry about school work the next day.
A shudder runs down his spine when her hand unintentionally brushes against the area between his legs. He attempts to wrap an arm around her shoulders while kissing Dany on her temple but she begins to rustle some more in place, eyes cracking open one at a time.
He swallows thickly before smiling softly at her, fingers dancing along the slope of her spine. "Hey." He murmurs gruffly. Her expression remains unchanged, even turning to her other side. Eyebrows knitting in confusion, he asks, "What's wrong?"
She curls even further on her side. "You passed out last night."
"Shit." He pinches at his nose bridge and closes his eyes, pulling himself up. He scoots closer to her, muttering a series of apologies. "I didn't mean to– I really did mean to sober up but–"
"But you saw Ygritte and then got too occupied with more drinking." Her voice is strained as she sighs heavily before pulling herself up too. She folds her arms across her chest as he chews on his lower lip, anxiously waiting for her to finish. She doesn't.
"Dany.. baby. " It's the first time he uses a term of endearment with her and he can feel her going pliant as he pulls her into his chest. Taking her face between both hands, he asks, "Were you jealous?"
He forces her to look at him and her eyes bore through his. She isn't going to give an answer. She might just look away, or maybe peel away from his grip. So when she answers with, " yes" loud and clear, he almost feels relieved.
Dark eyes remain stagnant on her features, taking in her porcelain complexion, sleep deprived eyes and pink lips. Then his gaze slips over her shoulder and to the glass windows of the living room, hints of dawn breaking in small rays. His mind is racing but he mutters the first thing that occurs to him. "Why? Were we not already together this entire time? There's nothing to be jealous about. She's married."
He gets nothing but silence for a long beat, and he wonders if it's the right statement to point out at the wrong time.
Dany responds eventually, though not with the words he expected to get. Instead she's pouring every emotion she's been holding onto with her lips, latching onto his own in a heated kiss. She wraps both arms around the back of his neck and she's toppling over his lap. His hands find a home behind the flesh of her thighs, urging her to straddle him. The groan he responds with is almost immediate, though it's more of a reaction to her sudden weight being hurled at him.
Welcomingly, of course, in all of their morning glory (the last thing on his mind as he devours the taste of her tongue, a cocktail mix of honey and peaches from a drink she probably had last night). And as much as he needs to hear her answer vocalized, he didn't mind this either.
He can't say the same for the morning wood that's brushed flush against her arse but he'll survive this. He's been through several fucked-up blue balls situations in his life to know that this won't break him. He'll get through it. Even if it means a morning of exactly that, painful, inevitable blue balls.
But then she grinds down on him in an ever so subtly shift, one hand tracing his shoulder blades down to his arm. The manicured nails of her other hand are scraping at the point where his neck meets his earlobe, her thumb grazing at his bearded jaw before tenderly brushing along the bottom of his plush.
She pulls away from him in a ragged breath, his own hands dipping experimentally to her rear. She drives her hips in approval and his fingers dig into her clothed flesh, teasing himself with the thought of her bare skin being inches away from his touch.
"You're making things very hard for me." He whispers against her mouth and she lets a breathless laugh. An impish smirk paints at his features. "Is that a yes?"
Very gingerly, she reaches downward to trace the hem of his sweatpants. Her lips depart his and she's pressing chaste kisses to his neck, speaking in between each one. "No. Yes." Her head dips to look at him. "I think it's something we need to talk about some more after this."
His birthday morning ends in a way he thinks it should. Tangled limbs on top of one other, lungs heaving with their bodies flushed together in the aftermath of a heated dance. He pulls her to his side and watches as the sunlight kisses her face, her eyelids fluttering close at the brightness of the sky. He tucks tendrils of loose ringlets behind her ear, his mouth outlining the orange hues of morning's shadow on her neck.
"Since we've confirmed that you're my girlfriend now," he murmurs hoarsely against the hollow of her throat. "I'm sure we can hold off on that talk just a bit more, right?"
—
that first bit of this chapter is inspired from emilia clarke's look from 07/22/2021. she has a similar look that inspires the look i described for that dinner/walk she has with jon that's also *chefs kiss*
jon's birthday look is inspired by kit's look during the 20th afi awards. he just looked soooo good that night.
do drop by the comments section and tell me what you thought!
