Chapter Text
It was fifteen minutes past two in the morning according to the pig shaped clock that never failed to put a smile on Arya’s face. She had been studying, or trying to study at least, for more than four hours now, but she just couldn’t concentrate anymore, especially since it started to rain. Her brain and her eyes were too tired to continue, and the sound of the rain was lullying her to sleep.
"More coffee?" The middle-aged waitress asked her with a kind smile.
The best thing about Hot Pie’s Corner, apart from the location and the twenty four hour service, was its “all the coffee you can drink for five bucks” offer. The owner understood the students and their pockets pretty well.
"Please." Arya smiled back. No matter how tired or angry or sad she was, she would always offer a smile to any person, stranger or not, who tried to help her. Her father had taught her that.
"Do you have an umbrella with you?"
Arya shook her head.
"Oh my, you can take mine if you like, my shift ends at eight, I don’t think this rain will last that long."
"Thank you, but I rather stay and wait, I don’t live that far from here anyway."
"You sure?"
"Yes, thank you."
"Alright," the woman took a couple of sugar packets out of her apron’s pocket and put them over the table, "enjoy your coffee!"
"I will."
As Arya took sips of the hot beverage, she looked out of the window. Her favorite booth at Hot Pie’s Corner gave her a perfect view of the streets and, if she moved her body a little, she could even see her dormitory from there. She entertained herself by watching how the few passersby who were still out tried to escape from the rain. After a few minutes, the streets were completely empty.
Absently, she started to follow with her fingertip the patterns the raindrops were making on the window. She was so tired and lost in her thoughts, that when a figure appeared suddenly on her field of vision, she got a bit startled. The figure then slipped a few steps before reaching the door, falling fast and hard to the ground, losing his umbrella in the process. Arya couldn’t help but laugh when the figure, a guy who looked a few years older than her, stood up quickly looking around to see if someone had been witness to his misfortune.
For a reason she would never be able to explain, she ran to the door and opened it for him.
“Are you all right?” She asked him.
"Did you see that?" He placed his big umbrella on the holder next to the door.
"I did." The second thing Arya noticed about him were his gorgeous blue eyes.
"Fuck, that was embarrasing." He cursed, trying to shake off the water from his hair and clothes and rubbing his boots on the mat.
"It was." A smile appeared on her lips. "It was funny too."
"You’re so courteous, m’lady." He teased her.
"Does it hurt?" She asked him, pointing discreetly at his wet backside.
"Not much. My pride hurts the most."
Arya laughed for a moment and then bit her lip. “Well, I’m glad you’re fine.” Really, -really- fine. She went back to her booth, a bit disappointed when he didn’t stop her nor asked for her name. Oh, for fuck’s sake! Don’t be pathetic! She told herself. She grabbed her book and forced herself to continue reading.
"Is this seat taken?"
Arya looked up slowly from her book, not believing her eyes and ears. The handsome guy with the wet backside was standing in front of her, waiting for her answer. He must have taken her slightly shocked expression the wrong way.
"Um, I see you’re busy, I’ll sit somewhere else."
Wake the fuck up, Arya! “Wait, no, stay, please.” Ugh, I’m a fucking idiot!
"Really? Aren’t you busy?"
"No way, I was just reading some boring stuff."
He sat down in front of her and extended his right hand. “I’m Gendry.”
Arya hoped her hand wasn’t too sweaty. “I’m Arya, nice to meet you.” When their hands touched, Arya felt like she was going to poop rainbows and butterflies. Poop rainbows and butterflies? Really? That’s disgusting!
But he must have felt something similar, since he blushed a little and took a bit too long to let go of her hand.
They started to talk, of this and that, of nothing and everything. The conversation flowed easily and next thing they knew, they were ordering sandwiches and more coffee and even dessert before dawn.
Her cheeks and belly hurt from laughing too much and her throat was sore for talking almost non stop since he sat in front of her. He was funny and grumpy and a bit stupid. She liked his smile, it was honest and kind. She liked his bushy eyebrows and big hands. She liked him.
She was doomed.
*
Oink, oink, oink, oink…
The silly sound interruped their conversation.
It was now eight o’clock in the morning. The piggy’s grunts let the employees know that one shift had ended and a new one was starting.
Time passes really fast when you are happy, she considered.
"If you want, I can walk you to your dormitory."
Arya looked outside. The weather proved the waitress wrong. It was still raining, although it was just a drizzle. “Sure, I would like that.”
Since she didn’t have a coat, he offered her his jacket. He placed it over her shoulders, adjusting the garment gently to her small figure. It was too big for her, but it would do the job just fine.
And even though his umbrella was large enough to cover the two without much trouble, he made sure they walked really close to each other all the way to her building. To prove she wasn’t imagining things, she tried to put a bit of distance between them more than once. He stopped her each time by pulling her gently by the elbow. ‘Stay close, you don’t want to get wet,’ he told her every time she tried to move away from him. She bit her lip to stop herself from smiling. She felt so silly.
They finally said goodbye in front of her buidling. Arya wasn’t a shy girl, but she didn’t know exactly what to say to let him know she wanted to see him again, to ask him if he wanted to see her again.
She stood by the door, watching him walk away. She hugged herself for a moment and that was when she felt it. “Wait! Gendry!”
He stopped and turned around. “Yes?”
"Your jacket!"
"Keep it! That way I’ll have an excuse to see you again," he smiled.
Her heart started to beat faster. Just do it!
She ran down the front steps and continued running until she was in front of him. She refused to look at him for a moment, biting her lip. When she looked up, his hopeful expression was all the encouragement she needed to do what she had to do. Arya stood on the tip of her toes and gave him a quick peck on the lips. ”Now you have a better excuse to see me again.”
He laughed. “I think I can come up with a better one.”
"Which is?" She was genuinely curious.
He hugged her close and lifted her up a little, kissing her hard on the lips for the gods know how long.
That’s definitely a better excuse.
(Some months later)
They had planned to go out, but the sudden storm took them by surprise forcing them to stay at his place.
It didn’t bother them. It was a blessing in disguise actually.
"Fuck, Gendry!" She was panting, moving incenssantly on top of him. "Yes, yes, yes…"
He groaned, grasping her hips, caressing her breasts, touching her between her legs.
"There, don’t stop," she bit her lip the way she knew made him mad with lust. "Don’t you dare to stop!"
He didn’t stop, but he did change his position, sitting up so his mouth could be closer to her breasts. “I won’t, m’lady,” he said before sucking her nipples the way she liked it.
"Gen!" When the sensation became too much, she pulled his mouth away from her breasts, but didn’t allow his lips to rest for long. She kissed him, and kissed him hard. Biting, sucking, licking, everything was allowed in their kissing game. She hugged him close to her, encouraging him to go faster, deeper. "You feel too good. I love the way you feel inside me," she would tell him when she knew they were getting close. "I love you, Gen." That always did the trick.
His hips moved faster, his arms hugged her tighter, and his lips became even hungrier. Then it was over. Arya followed him a moment later.
He didn’t let her go after they were done, he never did. He would always keep her close for at least a couple of minutes telling her how much he loved her and how much he liked her… unless they were too tired, then they would playfully congratulate each other for their good job and drop to bed immediately, satisfied and exhausted.
Right now, they were sweaty and almost without breath, but also content.
Her head was resting comfortably on his shoulder, her right hand was tucked against her chest, the other was busy tracing patterns on his wet chest. A memory hit her in that moment and she laughed.
"What’s so funny?"
"You." She looked at him.
"Me? Why? What did I do?"
"I was remembering when I saw you for the first time."
"That’s not funny, m’lady. I could have hurt myself real bad."
"Stupid." Her expression went from happy to serious in a second.
"What is it, love?" He asked her.
"When I talked to you the first time I became very sad, you know?
"Really? Why?"
He was worried, Arya knew, but she couldn’t help but tease him a little.
"Because I knew I had fallen in love with a silly idiot."
The worried look on his face disappeared almost immediately once he realized she was teasing him. “So, was it love at first sight then?” He asked her, turning on his side, his face was a few inches away from hers.
"Oh, definitely." She placed her free hand over his hip. "Once I took a look at your backside," she said caressing his butt, "I knew I could never let you go."
"You’re a pervert, Arry."
"Oh, that I am. But don’t blame me, it’s just that you have the most beautiful butt I have ever seen."
"You’re such a romantic, m’lady." He pulled her close to him. "Honestly, yours is cuter."
She laughed and, as Gendry started to shower her neck with kisses, she said a little prayer to the old gods so the rainy season would last longer than usual.
(Ten years later)
In Gendry’s dream, something was poking his eyes and pinching his cheeks and nose without mercy.
"Papa, papa, wake up!" The voice whispered with insistence.
Not something, someone, he thought, still half asleep
"Gendry, your daughter needs you." His wife mumbled.
"What is it, sweetie?" He asked her, still with his eyes closed.
"There’s a monster in my room, go kill it!"
She’s as demanding as her mother. “A monster?”
"Yes. It’s hairy and big and noisy and it has a red nose, like grandpa Bob."
His wife snorted at that. She turned around and hugged him from behind. “The last monster that appeared in her room looked like Jon,” she whispered in his hear, “don’t take it to heart.” He smiled when he felt her warm lips kiss him below his ear.
A flash of lightning, followed after some time by a loud rumble of thunder, made his daughter jump into their bed, and then he understood. A storm is coming. Their little girl wasn’t very fond of them. In fact, the only time the monsters seemed to appear on her bedroom was whenever a storm fell during the night.
He took a sitting position and tried to bring his daughter closer to him to embrace her.
"There’s no time for hugs, papa." She stopped him, placing her little hands against his chest. "You have to kill the monster before it escapes."
"I have a better idea, why don’t you stay here? Your mama and I will protect you from the monster."
His daughter looked at him with suspicion. “Papa, are you afraid?”
His wife laughed.
"No, but-"
"Oh Gendry, for the gods’ sake, don’t be lazy and go kill the monster!"
He took a deep breath and finally stood up. Before he walked out of the room, his little girl stopped him. “Wait, papa!” She was standing on the edge of the bed.”
"Be careful, Lya." His wife said.
The girl grabbed the small plastic sword she had left on the nightstand. “Here, papa, you can take my sword.”
"Oh this is nice, who gave it to you?"
"Auntie Mya."
"Well, I gotta go, wish me luck!"
"Papa, don’t go yet!"
He let out a groan. “Now what?”
"Come here."
He walked a couple of steps.
"Closer, papa!"
He stood in front of her. “What is it now?”
She roughly tugged his arm, forcing him to bend down a little. His little girl was strong for her age. She gave him a kiss on the cheek.
"What was that for?"
"It’s for good luck, papa."
"And who taught you that?" He frowned and crossed his arms.
"Uncle Bran read me a story in which the princess kissed the prince for good luck before he left to fight the dragons."
Gendry and Arya shared a curious look. “Oh really?”
"Yeah, I thought that was really stupid, but I love you too much to let you go without a good luck kiss."
That’s my girl.
"Now kiss mama!" She demanded.
"As m’lady commands."
"Don’t call me that, papa!"
He moved to give his wife a hungry kiss that lasted too long for his daughter’s taste.
He finally walked out of the room, leaving the door half-open, and stayed there for a few minutes.
When the rain and the constant thunders became too much for his girl to handle, she slipped under the blankets, looking for her mother’s comfort. His wife cuddled their girl close to her chest and kissed her several times on the forehead.
"Mama?"
"Yes, Lya?"
"I don’t like the rain."
"I love it."
Lya lifted her head and looked at her mother’s face with awe. “You do? Why?”
The look on his daughter’s little face tugged at his heartstrings. He loved her fiercely. He loved them more than anything.
"Because the rain it’s good for us. It gives us water to wash our clothes, water to drink…"
His daughter didn’t look very convinced.
"…we need water to swim, don’t you like swimming?"
Lya smiled. “I do, I do!”
"See? If you like swimming, then you have to like the rain. Those are the reasons why I like the rain, but do you want to know why I love it?"
She nodded.
"Because thanks to the rain I had the chance to meet your papa," she said, caressing her daughter’s chubby cheek.
The little girl gasped. “Did papa fall from the sky?”
His wife smiled. “Um, something like that, he certainly fell to the ground.”
Gendry chuckled, remembering his bad luck… or good luck, really.
"Mama?"
"Mm?"
"I know another reason to like the rain."
"Really? Tell me."
"The rain gives us cats and doggies," she said, a solemn expression on her cute face.
"Oh, I didn’t know that."
"It’s true! When there’s a storm, grandpa Ned always says that 'it's raining cats and dogs.' I always look for them after the rain stops, but I can never find them, I guess other kids must have caught them first. Uncle Jon said he’s going to get me a puppy for my next birthday.”
"Oh, he did?"
"Yes, and papa said-"
"I’m back! I got rid of the monster!" Gendry interrupted the conversation for his sake.
Arya looked at him with narrowed eyes. Lya started clapping.
When the three were finally settled, Gendry hugged his ladies close to him.
The rain continued to fall.