Work Text:
Feyre
Feyre stepped into one of the many sitting rooms in the house of wind. Placed on a mahogany table in the centre of the room was a pile of board games.
Specifically human board games. Feyre recalled Mor, a few days prior, had visited a small town in the mortal lands and was sent back with a variety of gifts. Food, fabrics, small trinkets, gems and games. Mor had left the games here claiming that they could play them together. Sometime soon.
Feyre herself had burned in shame as they had all looked at her when Mor exclaimed that she would know how to play and could teach them.
She had never learned how to play any of these human games that the children in her village favoured. Her sisters had also enjoyed them and often passed the time by playing them before they had to move into their cottage. She had been too young to learn when her family had access to them and not enough money or time when she was old enough.
But now as she stood in front of the games she wished that her childhood was different. That if her life had been different she wouldn’t have had to spend all her time in a forest hoping to put food on the table. To have had an actual childhood that allowed her to play games and do things children did for fun.
She picked up one of the wooden boxes and flipped it over, it was painted with tiny delicate flowers. Daisies and roses. Something Feyre could have seen herself painting at one time. She took a seat and lightly traced her finger over the design. Caught up in her thoughts she didn’t hear the footsteps coming up behind her.
“Darling?”
Feyre jumped up and blushed deeply at being caught. She pushed away the board games and turned around, facing Rhys.
“Oh I-“
She trailed off not even sure what excuse she had meant to say.
“Do you want to play?” Rhys asked softly, moving closer. “A game?,” He clarified.
So softy it made Feyres cheeks burn with embarrassment.
“I’ve never had a chance to.”
“I’ll teach you. I know most of these games. It will be fun,” Rhys rambled, his eyes fixated on her, judging her reaction.
The way he was studying her, it was as if he knew every insecurity that was flying around her head and wished to soothe them and make them disappear.
“Rhys, you don’t have to waste your time,” Feyre argued, wringing her hands together.
“It wouldn’t be wasting my time if I got to spend it with you,” Rhys countered with a grin.
Feyre paused and relented allowing Rhys to guide her to sit down in one of the plush chairs by the table. He then drew one out for himself. Pulling a wooden box labeled “Checkers” towards him, he started to set up by placing red and black stones on opposite sides of a board.
As he explained the rules, Feyre could tell how excited he was to play. He kept drumming his fingers on the table in excitement and looking up at her with a small smile betraying his nerves.
He then gestured for her to start the game. So Feyre pushed a stone forward. Then quickly looking up at Rhys. He smiled and didn’t make a correction, pushing one his own forward as well.
She relaxed into the chair feeling relaxed that Rhys wasn’t being a prick about her not knowing how to play and how he didn’t ask why she wanted to. He was instead kind, calm and it made her feel safe and content to just sit here with him.
They both kept taking their turns and Feyre was feeling good about her chances until she realized that Rhys had set her up and she was about to lose three of her pieces.
Rhys smirked “I’ve got you cornered there darling”
She let out an exaggerated gasp, “You prick, when you are teaching someone something you let them win!”
“Not in Prythian love,” Rhys chucked his voice deepening, “Though I could be persuaded to make another bargain, to help you, of course.”
“What sort of bargain?” Feyre asked, frowning.
“Five more games of my choice, whenever I choose,” Rhys said lounging back into his chair looking like a dark prince out of a storybook.
Feyre lifted a brow “And what do I get out of this?”
Rhys pressed a hand to his chest, “You want more then spending time with me? You wound me darling.”
She sighed unimpressed.
“Well I know you are always trying to bargain your life away to me,” He said with a smirk pushing a curl away from his forehead “This way you won’t be horribly beaten at the mandatory inner circle game nights Mor is planning.”
Feyre let out a horrified gasp, “No.”
Rhys smiled and leaned in closer “I’m afraid so darling.” He leaned in close enough to count her freckles, to kiss her stubborn mouth, “And I know how competitive you are.”
“Five games that’s it,” She shot back, leaning away quickly hoping he wouldn’t notice her blush at his closeness and words.
“It’s a bargain then. Our next game will be tomorrow,” Rhys murmured, reaching for her arm and brushing his thumb over the new tattoo that appeared there.
A small star representing hope was newly laid on the freckled skin.
He leaned back, made his move and took three of her pieces.
Feyre scowled at him, before taking her turn.
Rhysand
He wondered in the quiet of this room with the slight upturn of her lips. If this was the time to tell her. Though it wasn’t quite the smile he hoped to earn one day it was close enough for the raging beast inside of him to settle. For him to think this was the perfect moment.
He opened his mouth to do so, to tell her she was the most beautiful person he had ever seen and he was hopelessly in love with her. To tell her he was under her spell and he hoped to never be free. To tell her they were mates, that he never wanted to be apart and he hoped one day she could see him, love him as he did her.
“Feyre did I ever tell you the story of how Cassian burned down a building in the Summer Court?”
He was shocked himself; he had no idea where that came from. But he was relieved as he could feel his nosy family approach and he knew this was not the time to tell her. How her eyes brightened and met his, made it worth it as he launched into the tale wishing that one day he would be able to tell her the truth.
——————————————————
Has he told her yet?” Cassian asked, trying to peek his head around the door to get a glimpse of the couple.
Mor laughed, running her hands through her long blonde hair, ”No.”
“He can’t honestly still think that she hates him? Can he?” Az mused, pulling Cassian back by his collar.
“I think he is scared she won’t like him that way,” Mor sighed.
Amren snorted, raising her glass, “To the day those idiots get a clue.”
They all raised their glasses to that and toasted to hope that one day the two stubborn fae inside would finally accept their bond.