Chapter Forty-Six: Growing Up

Renly's Point of View

Graduation is around the corner. I am graduating university and Robb is graduating from high school. That's why we're on a date, so to speak. Robb is in my life whether I like it or not so I might as well be chummy with him.

I'm buying. I watch the redheaded thorn in my side feed his son, who is actually one of the cutest baby's I have ever seen. I place my order. Robb makes his. The waitress ogles Torrhen. Robb ends up with her phone number. He is going to give it to Aegon.

"You look nice," I say. Damn it he really does.

"So do you, I guess."

"I wanted to ask you if you want to keep Margaery around when Loras and I get married in August. She can live with us, but I wanted Loras and I to be alone for a while."

"Gendry is moving in with me, she won't have a bedroom unless I move Tor into my room and give her his."

"Why is Gendry moving in wih you?"

"Because he knows you and Loras want to be alone."

"I guess you're a better option than Stannis."

"Thanks."

"I just need a place for Margaery."

"Maybe we can sleep together," Robb jokes, at least I hope he's joking. He smiles, so I know he is joking.

"That's my future sister you're talking about."

"She's hot."

"Yes, she is, but watch it."

"Okay."

"You're still into her," I say.

"No, I am not. I'm not lying this time. I am over her. Torrhen, don't play with that." Robb pushes the salt shaker out of Tor's reach.

Robb and I discuss the wedding. He speaks of Loras with genuine affection. That makes me respect him. He really does care about my little flower. Robb and I have that in common.

"He kissed me," says Robb.

"Did he?"

"It was almost a month ago and when Margaery was back to staying with you. I made a joke about us being like boyfriends and Loras kissed me."

"I wonder why he didn't tell me."

"Don't be upset with him. It meant nothing."

"I'm not upset with him. He liked you for a long time, he needs closure. He probably felt it was something he had to do. Besides, you're not exactly in a position to steal him away."

"He said you fear you don't have all his heart."

I don't know what to say about that. Loras gave me his whole heart when he agreed to marry me the second time. I felt all his love. Maybe that's why him getting closure from his old love doesn't bother me.

"I love that boy more than I can say," I admit.

"Why do we love him so much?" Robb asks.

"Because he lets us," I say, "and he loves us."

"I guess."

We eat in silence when our food is brought out. Robb and I have been through a lot together. After lunch we walk around talking about the future. Robb admits he doesn't really want Loras to get married. He feels like he is losing his best friend.

I reassure Robb that Loras will always want him in his life. We get in our cars and go different places. Robb goes home. I go to pick up Loras from his dental appointment. Loras and Robb were wrestling and Loras cracked a tooth.

Loras is a little out of it because they gave him laughing gas. He keeps giggling and talking about things that don't make sense. But that makes him even cuter to me.

We drive to the park and walk around. We hold hands. Loras eventually regains his common sense, bit his face is still half numb. I catch some drool coming from his mouth.

"I feel ugly today," says Loras.

"You could never be ugly," I tell him. And even though he can't feel it I kiss him. We end up making love in a plastic piece of play ground equipment. The thing rattles like it's going to break, but neither of us stop. I curl Loras's hair around my fingers as I thrust in and out slowly. Loras moans, purrs, and grunts. We kiss as we make love.

When its over we lay in the tunnel-thing and caress each other. I wipe the blood from the teeth marks off Loras's shoulders and give him more kisses and bites the way he likes.

"Its a good thing I can't get pregnant," says Loras putting his hands on my private parts and massaging it until I come in his hand. I move down to take his in my mouth.

When I finish he looks peaceful and satisfied. His face is still a little numb so his smile is crooked. I kiss the tiny group of hairs growing around his nipples.

Loras asks me to kiss every place on his body where hair is growing. I have no problem with that. My favorite place has a few. I take it in my mouth again and do something with my tongue I have not done in a long time. Loras bites his hand to keep from screaming.

"Take me. Take me, please," Loras begs.

And I do, but I make him beg for it. He grabs my cock and pulls it to him. He wants me. I give him what he wants. I kiss his stomach. He wraps his legs around my waist. I hold on to him as I thrust and heave harder than I ever have, but I try not to hurt him. He falls back when I release my seed in him.

We get dressed. Its a task that proves difficult inside the cramped tunnel. We end up hitting our heads and elbows and each other in the process. We laugh. There is a park officer, an unofficial cop, waiting for us outside the tunnel. Loras laughs.

"Good afternoon, boys."

"Afternoon, Officer," I say.

"Renly Baratheon. Haven't I arrested you here before?"

"Yes, sir, but this time I have diplomatic immunity," I say.

He looks at Loras. Loras nods.

"I'll be damned."

"Sorry, Officer Tarly, my father made a lord out of him," says Loras.

"And he made you his bitch," says the officer. I put my arm around Loras protectively. Loras doesn't get that the officer was mocking him. He smiles and accepts it as if its a normal thing to say.

"We're getting married," I say. You're the bitch, not Loras.

"Is that so? They let people like you get married?"

"What does he mean?" Loras asks.

"Nothing, my flower," I say, "I think we'll be on our way."

"I don't want to catch you in this park again, Baratheon. And watch your pretty little fuck buddy, there are predators in these parts."

I can't tell if he was threatening me or if he was genuinely trying to warn me about sexual predators who might want Loras. Either way his words have me freaked out.

Loras asks me a bunch of questions I don't want to answer. I am scared to tell him what the officer meant by predator. Loras is under the impression the cop meant an animal.

Back at my apartment, I take Loras on the kitchen counter to stop answering his questions. He likes the change of location. We do it against a wall standing up. Loras is pinned against the wall with his legs wrapped around me.

When its over, we fall on the floor together. Loras kisses my neck and asks me for the truth. He is starting to get mad because I won't answer.

"He means a sexual predator. He was warning me to keep an eye on you so no one rapes you. Is that the answer you wanted?"

"Why would someone do that?"

"You're pretty like a girl, you have soft skin, and you're jailbait."

"Jailbait?"

"Yes, you're under age and someone could go to jail for having those feelings for you, or for being with you in that way. If your parents didn't approve of us I would be in jail and Willas would because of Sansa."

"I'm so stupid. I can't believe I didn't know any of this."

"You're not stupid, my flower."

"Yes, I am. My parents kept me ignorant. Its not fair. Willas and Garlne knew so much more when they were my age. I am such an idiot. No wonder Robb acts so protective of me. I know nothing about human behavior."

His accent was so thick just then. It makes me tingly. I try to kiss him but he rebuffs me. He pulls his knees up to his chest. I stare at him. I rub his back, but he isn't enjoying it.

"What else is there?"

I explain why people think its weird he shares a bed with his sister. That one blows Loras's mind. He looks like he's going to be sick. I tell him why its not okay for him and Margaery to be naked around each other.

"But she's my sister. I can't believe people actually do that."

I explain a lot of things to him and he really listens and takes it all in. I answer all his questions. It quickly takes me out of the mood. I realize quickly just how much my flower doesn't know.

"I feel so stupid."

"You're not stupid, honey. I already told you that."

"Don't patronize me, Renly."

"I wasn't, my flower."

He settles down against me. Naked flesh against naked flesh.

"I just want to go home," Loras says.

"Okay," I say. I kiss his shoulder. I watch him put his clothes on. He is quiet in the car, but he holds my hand.

Back at Robb's Loras yells at Willas for not telling him anything. Willas in turns yells at me for telling Loras. I shove Willas. He shoves me back. I punch him. I could have handled this like an adult but he's pissing me off.

"What gives you the right to do that?" Willas asks grabbing a handful of my hair.

"He asked. Let go of me. My hair, what are you a girl?"

"Maybe my parents kept it from him on purpose."

Willas releases my hair and slaps me.

"You hit like a girl. Loras is seventeen. He's not a child. Bran Stark is eleven and he knows more about this stuff than Loras."

"Its not your place."

I push Willas and he loses balance because of his fake leg. He falls trying to get up and hit me. Margaery gets in the way and would have been hit if Robb hadn't grabbed her. Robb grabs my wrist as Loras helps Willas up.

"Enough!" Robb says, "You hit Margaery."

"Sorry, princess," I say. My lip is bleeding.

"You're not a member of this family. You'll never be worthy of your title or Loras's love," says Willas as Loras helps him adjust his fake leg.

"Stop it, Willas. That's for me to decide not you."

"You're acting like children," says Margaery. She is supporting one arm. She acts like nothing happened, but apparently it did.

"What's wrong with your arm?" Willas asks.

Margaery doesn't answer. Now we feel bad. Margaery winces when Loras hugs her. We know something is wrong then.

"Did I crush you?" Robb asks.

"No, no. Its not like that."

Willas dials a number on his phone. Several security guards come in and escort her to a limo. He leans on Loras and goes with her. I stand beside Robb feeling like a total ass for hurting my little princess.

"I can't go. I have to stay with Torrhen, but make sure she's okay," Robb says. I squeeze his shoulder and ruffle his curls.

"Worst case scenario its broken," I say.

"You were right to tell Loras."

I nod at Robb and leave. I get in the limo and look at Margaery who fan barely lift her arm. Loras is being the overprotective big brother. He is also ignoring me and Willas. I don't blame him.

"Did you see how sexy Robb looked savkng me?" Margaery asked Loras.

"I didn't notice, but now that you mention it, he was quick to rescue you."

"He does that, though. He rescues girls when they're in danger," says Margaery.

"He rescues me and I'm not a girl."

I don't want to hear this "Saint Robb" crap. I tune it out. Loras is doing it on purpose to get back at me for injuring his sister. It bothers me more that Margaery is playing along. She has no sexual interest in Robb, but she is talking about him as if she does just to bug me.

"We should stop, its not nice," says Margaery.

"He hurt you. He can deal."

"No. He didn't mean to hurt me."

"But he did hurt you."

I'm not apologizing to Loras. It wasn't him I hurt. It was Margaery. I reach for her hand. She gives me a smile that turns my heart into butter. I love this girl. My little sister.

"I'm very sorry, sweet sister," I tell her. Loras claps a hand over his mouth.

"You think of her as a sister?" Loras asks.

"When we marry she will be my sister."

A tear falls down Loras's face. He hugs me. Win Margaery, win Loras. That's how it works. And it works every time. I mean what I say about her being my sister.

Margaery broke her arm. Correction, I broke Margaery's arm. It was an accident but Willas doesn't see it that way. Back at Robb's house I thoroughly apologize to Margaery and Loras.

"I forgive you," says Margaery.

Loras hangs around. He kisses my swollen lips.

"A boy at school kissed me on Valentine's Day. I never told you."

"Did you enjoy it?"

"Not really, but I did kiss back as part of the act."

"He was acting?"

"Let me start over. These boys wanted to kiss me or date. They gave me chocolates, and one was bold enough to kiss me. In order to get away I pretended I love them. As part of the act I kissed back."

"I see."

I should be mad but for some reason I'm not. Maybe its because I know at the end of the day Loras is mine. I'm not sure. I kiss Loras. He seems surprised.

"I love you, Renly."

"I love you, my flower."

I leave. I look back over my shoulder at Loras. I turn around and walk back to kiss him again and again. I pin him against my car and devour his mouth with my own. I stare into his eyes when I'm done. Our fingers entwine. I can feel his heart pounding.

"You're mine," I tell him. Something is pressing against my hip. I grin. A flush fills Loras's cheeks. I bite his bottom lip. He looses control and his body shudders. "Do you like that?"

"Yes," Loras breathes. The wind blows his curls as I touch my flower's abdomen under his shirt. His muscles feel hard and lean. I caress each one. Loras gives in. He makes noises that do things to me.

"Do you want me, Loras?"

"Yes," Loras breathes.

I lay him down in the grass in the yard, not caring that people can probably see us. I pull off his shirt and kiss him all over. I tickle his sides and he laughs and moans at the same time.

"Please, Renly."

He gives himself to me in the grass. Its sweet and tender and blissful. I take my time. Loras comes early, but I keep going. He comes again, but I still keep going. The last thrust I come and kiss Loras to stop his screams.

I clean up where he squirted on me. He lays on the grass panting. I tickle his sides, but it only arouses him. I finish my flower off with my lips on his stem. I take in his honey and swallow. He gets dressed. I walk him to the door, he is a little light on his feet and dazed and confused. My work is done here.

"Oh, Renly," Loras says with glossy eyes.

"Yes, my flower?"

"Oh, Renly, I'm swept off my feet."

"See you later, my flower."

"Renly," Loras cries out. He won't let me leave. I smile. He must have liked what I did. "Love me."

"I have places to be, my sweet flower."

I leave him standing there even though I ache from it. My hormones want me to go back and love him, but I know I shouldn't. I watch him from my rearview mirror. He watches me drive away.