Chapter Text
By their third meeting- not a date, Asha -Theon realized that Robb Stark was unaware he was god-touched. He was not completely oblivious that something mystical was inherent in his nature, but he certainly didn’t know he was descendant from first disciples or gods like Theon and the rest of the Greyjoys. Robb Stark thought he was normal. Theon had no idea how he could possibly think that when Theon thought Robb was extraordinary beyond rational belief.
Robb called it luck, smiling brightly whenever that “luck” would strike. Theon couldn’t believe such a naive, pure being lived with those whimsical thoughts of luck yet on the same note; Theon was utterly enchanted by him.
It was on the fifth coffee- platonic -date that Theon confirmed his suspicion that just like himself, Robb’s “luck” was influenced by his emotions. The happier he was, the more strange and unusual events took place. It was nothing so extraordinary that it couldn’t be written off by someone unaware that he was fucking god-touched. It was little things. Little sparks of luck and good fortune that were too coincidental to just be teased out by pure fate.
On the seventh meeting, Robb came to their coffee shop pissed and angry; the glowing light that usually surrounded him had turned sharper and vicious. Apparently, Robb had lost his wallet. Theon bought his coffee that day in hopes to get Robb to smile again and just as they were leaving to take a walk through the park, a man came in holding the very wallet Robb had lost. Now, it wasn’t that it couldn’t be possible for that event to happen, but the chances were completely unlikely. Especially when they found out Robb had left his wallet on the other side of the city, nearly a three-hour walk away.
On their tenth meeting, Theon watched as Robb won fifty dollars with a scratch off lotto ticket, got free coffee for being the 100th customer of the day, got the last napoleon at the bakery next door, and tickets to see a play that had been apparently sold out. Theon wondered how Robb could be so oblivious to his obnoxious luck. Robb only shrugged it off and invited Theon to the play, smiling as brightly as the heavenly glow that followed him.
On their twelfth coffee meet-up, Theon was watching Robb vigilantly to see if there were any other indicators for being god-touched like Theon. Other than the golden light that seemed to surround him and his impeccable luck, Theon was going to count unfair persuasion to the god gifts Robb was blessed with. How else was Theon going to explain unwittingly accepting a dinner date- the romantic kind, Robb had clarified blushingly –for the very next night? He barely remembered it happening until he was in his apartment and a text ding on his phone with a time and date.
That night, Riverrun was hit was a gentle rain storm that lasted all night.
On their thirteenth meeting and their first official date, Theon wondered if it was Robb Stark that had his heart racing or it was a side-effect of being in the vicinity of someone who was god-touched like Robb. The only other god-touched people that Theon had interacted with were his own family members and they mostly struck fear and animosity inside him, not nervous butterflies and racing hearts (thankfully). The only other god-touched person Theon ever felt comfortable around was Asha and he never felt like this before.
It was when they fell into Theon’s bed together later that night, with the rain tapping on his window and Robb’s golden glow turning soft that Theon went with the guess that his racing heart had a deeper meaning than simply meeting another god-touched individual.
It was confirmed when Robb asked Theon about coming over for New Years and a strange tingling sensation burst in his chest. Happiness, you dope, Asha’s winds whispered in his ears, an ever constant reminder than sister-dearest was always watching with the winds.
“My family wouldn’t mind,” Robb rushed in saying, a pretty little smile coming on his lips. “I mean, my family is already big and my mother’s side of the family is pretty extended and they are all going to be there and well if you aren’t doing anything…maybe you’d want to stop by?”
Theon had only known Robb for less than a month. They met up nearly every day and were texting whenever they weren’t. Theon knew Robb would be going home soon; he had only been down visiting his mother’s side of the family who was based on Riverrun and Theon hadn’t really given it a whole lot of thought of what they would do once Robb went back home, which was up north.
“I’ll stop by for a bit,” Theon had brushed off, ignoring the tickling wind of Asha’s teasing and how the rain outside picked up a bit.
“That’d be great!” Robb grinned, pressing a quick kiss to Theon’s cheek. “Hopefully it won’t rain too badly,” Robb glanced nervously at the sky. “My little sister and brothers bought a bunch of fireworks. Oh! You’ll get to meet them too!”
Theon smirked, half at Robb’s excitement over the matter but also because Theon would be able to fact check the depth of Robb’s family’s god-touched extensions…
Turns out they are all just as fucking oblivious as Robb, which Theon thought was near impossible.
As he was introduced to each sibling by Robb, Theon could see the faint glow taking different colors and intensities on each of the Starks. He had begun to associate them more by color than by their name.
The blue one was Bran and his light swirled around him clockwise in even strides like the passage of time.
The yellow one was Sansa and Theon swore he could hear chirping birds and maiden songs in the faint light.
The silver, dull light belonged to Arya and her light grew in intensity as the night grew nearer.
Rickon’s light was a vibrant green and fluxed with his excitement, churning like a chaotic force.
It was Jon that Theon noticed the difference. The light around him was unlike his siblings more than just color and intensity- no, his color ran like flames, flickering and moving constantly. Theon wasn’t sure how to even ask about it since none of the Starks seemed aware but Robb’s luck seemed to be rubbing off on Theon.
“He’s not my nephew,” a woman with graying red hair and pale skin sniffed. Theon had been getting a drink, leaving Robb to talk to his uncles when he was accosted by the elder woman. He didn’t mind the interruption but he was curious at the woman’s disgust.
“He’s not?” Theon planned dumb and curious.
“Heavens no! Cat doesn’t like to talk about it, how her husband had an affair, but that child was the product of it. Of course, Cat raised him as her own, or as much as she could.” The woman’s eyes drifted past the subject of their conversation and onto her own child, an even paler child with thin limbs. “Now, my little sweetrobin on the other hand…”
Theon’s eyed the child and noted there was no light or other godly properties. Come to think of it, most of the people here had no light or any other indicators of being god-touched. Just the six Starks and their father. Theon could see it was much like his own situation: god-touched on his father’s side, mortal on his mother’s.
Theon walked away from the rambling woman. She didn’t even seem to notice as her eyes were only on her sickly child. He approached Robb who turned and smiled brightly at Theon.
“I see you managed to escape Aunt Lysa, hopefully with your sanity.”
“She’s…” Theon paused, trying to think of the right word but Robb was ever helpful.
“Crazy?”
Theon raised a fine eyebrow and grinned. “That’ll work.” As happiness soar through his chest, the rain began to pick up.
“Damn it,” Robb muttered, looking out the window. “Hopefully it’ll lighten up soon.”
It took a conscious effort to override the emotional response but twenty minutes later the rain ceased and Theon was being kissed under the erupting fireworks in dewy grass.
“There’s something different about you,” Robb murmured against Theon’s neck as they held each other under the night sky.
Theon glanced down with interest- perhaps Robb could sense Theon’s own godliness even if he didn’t fully comprehend it. “How so?”
Robb shrugged and made an abort sound. “I dunno, just is…I’m going to miss you.”
A pang of sadness hit Theon’s stomach and thunder rumbled in the distance. “I’ll come visit if you’d like.”
“Oh, I most certainly would.” Robb’s hands found Theon’s. “I just wish we lived closer.”
A month of knowing each other was too soon for Theon to readily move to a new town miles away but it didn’t hurt to being planning the event and thinking about the options…especially since Theon had no intention of letting Robb go…as long as Robb was willing to keep him too.
“It won’t be so bad,” Theon promised and sealed it with a kiss. “We’ll be seeing each other before we know it.”
Turns out two months after their heartfelt goodbyes over one last cup of coffee, Theon got a promotion.
“If you don’t mind moving,” his boss stipulated. “We are opening a branch up north and need someone up there to oversee the transition and run it.”
“Where?” Theon asked but he knew the answer before his boss even uttered the words.
“Winterfell.” It didn’t take a genius to figure out Robb’s lucky god-touched abilities were in play- they had to be or fate was just taking matters into its own hands.
Two weeks later, Robb was helping him move in, the golden glow around him glimmering with pride as if Theon needed any more proof of the cause of his move and promotion.
“I can’t believe you are here,” Robb sighed happily as they settled on Theon’s couch. It was the only thing that was unwrapped, everything else in boxes and moving cloths. “Seems like a miracle.”
“Or luck,” Theon suggested, gaging Robb’s reaction. Still nothing, but it never hurt to check.
“I’m pretty lucky,” Robb nodded his head before resting it against Theon’s shoulder. “Bit further from your sister, though, huh?”
Theon had taken that into consideration when contemplating the offer but Asha put all worries to rest as the wind nearly shoved him toward the car and a letter three days later urged him to take it.
The letters never ceased, although the time between them was a few days longer. The comforting winds Asha brought were weaker and sparser as the distance was too much, but the connection between the siblings was still strong and true. As was Asha’s support of the blooming relationship.
“Invite him to Easter,” Asha demanded over the phone. It was easier to talk little details when calling each other but somehow the letters were still the main form of communication between the two. “I won’t bite.”
“He’s probably got plans with his family,” Theon countered swiftly, not wanted to mention the real reason for Theon’s reluctance. It wasn’t Asha, she was fine…it was the two angry gods looming in the Ironman’s Bay.
“And if he doesn’t?” Asha pointed out. “Do it, Theon. Or you’ll feel my wrath.”
“What?” Theon sneered playfully, “Your little breezes. I’m shaking in fear.”
"You’ve already angered the Drowned God and the Storm God with your disappearing act; do you really want to add me to that list?”
"You just want to see if he really is god-touched.”
"Sue me. Better yet? Be in Seagard with your little boyfriend for Easter or I’ll drive up to wherever the hell Winterfell is and drag you back home myself. Understand?”
It didn’t matter what Theon had to say because Asha’s decree was final as she hung up the phone.
Naturally, Robb was all on board with meeting Asha.
“You’ve talked about her so much, how could I not want to see the famous sister?” Robb smirked, packing his overnight bag the night before. “What? Some deep dark secret you don’t want to tell me?”
Okay, so maybe Theon hadn’t really gotten around to talking about the whole Drowned God vs. Stormed God ancestral debacle…or the fact that Winterfell was facing unseasonable rains. To be fair, bring up your own demi-god status was an awkward subject to handle, if not a tad egotistical.
Asha didn’t help the issue, gushing winds greeting them as they got out of the car in Seagard, Asha standing there with both hands firmly planted on her hips as the wind whipped past her. Glad to see the flare for the dramatic hadn’t escaped Asha, no matter how cool like played.
The worst part? Robb and Asha got on ridiculously well. One minute, they were awkwardly shaking hands, ten minutes later the two were talking about how god-awful the Viper’s football team was and how they’d never make it to the top eight.
The week in Seagard wasn’t a complete disaster in the end. Robb and Asha got to know each other fairly well, neither Drowned God nor Storm God killed them (which had only been a slight worry on Theon’s part), and Asha got to see for herself Robb’s light.
“And he doesn’t notice it?” she asked on their final night in, Robb sleeping early as he was taking the first shift of driving in the morning. It was a long way to Winterfell and the two planned to one-shot it.
“None of them do.”
“Must be older gods,” Asha mused. “The line goes back so far down that even the tales of the disciples and their ways have been lost in history.”
“He doesn’t seem to notice anything strange about us,” Theon added.
“Probably doesn’t have a clear sight for it like us. Hard to see something when you don’t know it’s out there.” Asha paused before adding in, “I doubt he is completely oblivious. He might not know what is weird about us, but he knows something is up.”
“You think his gods are like ours?”
Asha laughed, throwing her head back as the winds swirled around the two of them. “Fuck no! Our two gods have been warring for centuries and nearly demolished the entire Iron Islands in the process. They are lucky there are still even descendants after we’ve all gone and killed each other over a stupid dispute of seas vs. skies. No, his gods must be kinder than ours or at least not as fickle as ours.”
“You willing to say that so freely?” Theon raised his eyebrows.
“They won’t cause a fuss,” Asha waved off. “They know it is true. As long as they keep their hold on us, they can careless about what we do or say. Loyalty means more than snide remarks, brother.”
The goodbyes the next morning were brief, even as the wind and rain pick up.
“This was not in the forecast,” Robb mentioned in passing as they drove back north, Theon lounging in the passenger’s seat, looking at the mirror to see swirling dark clouds and chop seas curse his disloyalty.
“It wasn’t that bad,” Theon shrugged, knowing how bad it could be. Puberty was a hard time for all Greyjoys with emotions in flux and powers slightly unstable.
Robb hummed in agreement, something about harsh winters at home, something Theon had only experienced the tail end of.
Theon wondered how long Robb could remain ignorant of Theon’s god-touched abilities. Asha had claimed if Robb didn’t know about his own, she was doubtful he’d ever realize a little bit of rain was Theon’s doing.
It didn’t stop people from noticing the parallel.
“What? Does your bad attitude attract bad weather?” Jon would grumble on particularly rainy days…little did he know those storm clouds meant he had just gotten laid.
“Seriously, do you plan it so it’s always raining?” Rickon whined when trips to the park would have to be canceled.
“I bet you do weird voodoo to cause it,” Arya accused when Theon managed to keep Robb in his apartment because the storm is too bad to drive home in (like Robb needed an actual excuse when half his stuff was already in Theon’s apartment).
“I kind of like it,” Robb murmured softly, the two forced to spend the day in bed and rain pelted the windows. “It’s nice.”
The rain hit his windows harder as Theon tried to stop the affection from blooming in his chest.
No one had ever said that about his rain before.