Chapter Text
You and Piers had been dating for about six months, and though he had known you for even longer, he had never seen you like this. Irritated a lot of the time, sometimes snappy, and overall stressed. He knew some shit was happening with your family, but the more that these small outbursts happened, the more that he would start to get concerned.
And he knew you and himself well enough to know that this smile you had on at this moment was entirely fabricated. He could see the anger in your eyes as you lovingly smiled at your mother and father, both of which were evaluating Piers heavily.
What he didn’t know before you two started dating was that you came from a prominently rich family, and one that valued the whole “arranged marriage” situation more than most folk would. He remembered when you called your mother, telling her about this whole ordeal, that you two started dating. And he remembered that her screaming over the phone drove you to tears.
Ever since then, you had been stressed and angry, with only Pier’s arms as a comfort. His cuddles were the only way that you got sleep now, and his songs and kisses were what made you smile. You body language was tense, even as you held onto his hand, and as he watched, he squeezed your hand. You glanced up, confused for a second, but he sent you a reassuring smile. Finally, a real smile from you, and your shoulders slumped. This man certainly knew how to ground you.
“So, this is the man you claim to love,” your mother all but snarled out, bringing your attention back. She picked up her teacup, sipping from it and sending a pointed look at Piers. “He’s… exuberant, to say the least.”
You stiffened. “You’re the one who said you wanted to meet him.” Ah yes, that’s why he loved you. Despite all this rich upbringing, you were feisty and refused to give in.
“I did, yes, but I didn’t expect you to find a diseased zigzagoon.”
You were about to throw hands with this woman, but he just squeezed your hand again and chuckled. “I’ve heard worse.” He looked dead on at your mother, who seemed to be more the head of this household than the father, who stayed quiet on the couch beside her. “If I may be so bold, what did you intend to get out of this meeting?”
He heard a chuckle from the father, who was given a glare by the matriarch. “I wanted to see if you were a good fit for the family line. We already had a suitor picked out for her, one of proper stature and renown. And then, she calls me and says that she found one herself? Disgraceful. I wanted to see you to get a proper reading. She’s my daughter.”
“She’s not your property, though.”
The air in the room was tense, and the entire family looked towards Piers, the mother more in shock that he would talk back, and the father more amused than anything.
“Come again?”
“She’s not your property. You can’t sell her off to the highest bidder like she’s an antique.” He wrapped his arm around your shoulders and pulled you in close. “And I’m sorry, but I’ve no intention on letting one of the greatest lights of my life go just because you found someone who would take the highest bid and then some.”
Your mother looked like she was about to spit fire at him, but the father burst out laughing just as she stood up to retort back. She looked at her husband, enraged. “Why are you laughing at this?!”
After the father wiped away the tears from his eyes and calmed down, he just smiled at Piers. “Dearest, I don’t think anyone would be a better fit for her. Out of our three, she shall never be tamed. Ferocity thrives on boldness, yes?” He waved his hand, dismissing the two of you. “Go, I’ll talk some sense into her.” He sent a wink to you, and the breath you had been holding in broke through, causing you to run away from the situation.
Piers stood, bowed slightly to the dad, and went to find where you were at. He learned from some servants that you had run into the yard, where a bunch of the rose bushes were. He had to admit, it was beautiful, almost sickeningly so. The nice, marble paths leading to a gazebo, the fountains on either side of him, and the well taken care of fences all screamed entitled. He was honestly amazed you even came from here, what with some of the nasty things that your mouth uttered during intense battles and such.
He found you crying in the gazebo, and immediately sidled up next to you and wrapped his arms around you. Like a learned reaction, you melted into his chest, taking the thumping of his heart not a slight bit for granted.
“Wh… why?” you managed to get out.
“Why not?”
“Do you know what she’ll do to make you go away…?”
He rubbed your back and kissed the top of your head. “Don’t know, don’t care.”
You looked up at him, confused.
“I’m in love with you for you, not some dumbass rich kid shit you might have. And lets be real her, if I didn’t fight your mom, you would’ve.” He looked down at you, seeing that finally the tension you had held for so long had been released. He chuckled. “If your mom disowns you, doesn’t that mean I get to freely marry you?”
“PIERS!” Your sobs were instead replaced by you laughing, hiding your blushing face in his chest.
“Just sayin’.”
“You’d need my father’s blessing.”
“Pretty sure I already do.”
At this point you were just a melted, blushing mess, but the smile you had on and the laugh you gave were both genuine. From the courtyard entry way, your parents were watching this exchange, and the father chuckled as he watched you get tickled and almost fall off the gazebo bench.
“She hasn’t laughed like that in a long while,” he said smiling.
“Hm.” Your mother sighed, conflicted in her emotions.
“Reminds me of us, back in the day.”
“Does it? I’ll say your sense of fashion was much better than his.”
“True, but that means nothing to his heart. I didn’t think I would ever see her smile like that again.”
“I don’t like him.”
“I do.”
“I know. He’ll stay… for now.”
“For now?”
“We’ll see if he wins me over in the future…” Your mother turned and walked back into the large estate, a small smile over her face. Ferocity favors the bold, that much was for certain. Yet those who are ferocious always need a landing point to return to. Maybe he was yours, like your father was hers.