Chapter Text
Rhaenyra sat in her father’s office, glancing ever so often at the people who worked outside the glass windows around her. It was no surprise you’d find her here, her father rarely showed up to his office. The only visitors she ever got here were the people that worked under them or Alicent.
Alicent had been her friend when she was younger, but they never were that close. Then a few years later, after Rhaenyra’s mother died, Alicent was reportedly talked into marrying her father, Viserys. Rhaenyra isn’t sure if it was Alicent’s choice or her father's.
It made sense that Alicent’s father, Otto Hightower would want her to marry into their family. They were a huge ruler in business right now and the Hightowers were right on their heels. It only made them more powerful to combine together.
Viserys had thought about marrying Alicent and Rhaenyra, but Rhaenyra had been wild and crazy in her younger days. There wasn’t much that could’ve slowed her down, but now that she’s older she could only wish she’d made different choices.
It had become a horrible mess with them now. Rhaenyra and Alicent had begun to sneak around a year or so ago and it made everything hard. Rhaenyra used to love to be around her father, but now she could hardly look him in his eyes. It felt like a betrayal.
The clicking of the keyboard came to a halt as Rhaenyra finished the email she had been typing up to send to one of their business partners, requesting a meeting. Then she spotted the cause of all her problems and pleasures.
Alicent walked swiftly through the desks that lined the walkway towards Viserys’ office. Rhaenyra let her eyes travel from the perfected hair all the way down her legs which were shown off by the short dress she wore. The clicking of the woman’s heels got louder as she approached the office. Simultaneously, the beating of Rhaenyra’s heart was pounding harder against her chest.
The door swung open and Alicent made her way inside, the door falling closed behind her. She stopped in front of the desk and leaned on it, her hands flat on the desk. The low cut of the desk put her cleavage right in Rhaenyra’s line of sight.
Rhaenyra looked away to stare at her blank computer screen. Alicent wore a smirk on her face, she’d watch the little moment they’d just shared and she knew what she was doing to Rhaenyra.
Alicent spoke first, “What are you still doing here, Rhaenyra?” Her voice was like silk, it always came out that way when she spoke to the girl.
Rhaenyra looked up to meet her eyes, “Working unlike some people in this family.” She said, playfulness evident in the comment as she continued, “The real question is why my stepmother came all the way back here to see little old me?”
Alicent bit her lip at that, “I figured I’d take you home?” to that Rhaenyra shook her head.
“I have my own car to get home in.” She said, crossing her arms over her chest and pushing the office chair back a bit from the desk with her foot.
Alicent looked the girl up and down before making her way around the desk, “Why are you being like this lately?” She asked as she grabbed the back of Rhaenyra’s chair and spun her towards her.
Rhaenyra looked up at the woman who now stood between her legs, glaring down at her. She remembered all the times before this.
It had all started at a party Viserys had thrown when they reached a milestone in the company. Everybody had been drinking that night and before they knew it Alicent and Rhaenyra had made their way up to Rhaenyra’s room. There were soft touches and kissing, and she’s sure you could imagine the rest.
They hadn’t spoken about it the morning after that, but advances were made by both of them from that point forward and it gradually went from hotel rooms and their own rooms to meeting in their cars in the parking garage of the family business.
“I don’t want to do this anymore Alicent.” Rhaenyra let the words fall out her mouth unwillingly. She watched the hurt build up in Alicent’s eyes as her hand dropped from the back of her chair to the arm of it where her actual arm was resting.
Their skin meeting that once felt like fireworks now felt like a burning pain.
“What are you talking about?” Alicent asked, her eyes filling with tears that beg to fall, “Why are you doing this Rhaenyra?”
The girl in question shook her head, her own eyes filling up, “I don’t want to hurt anymore. I can’t even look my father in his face.” She said, her voice small and fragile.
Alicent brought a hand to her face, “He’d know you never meant to hurt him. I’ll take the blame from you.” She said with no hesitation found.
Rhaenyra shook her head, “It’s not just your fault though! It is my fault. I should’ve never let this happen Alicent.” Now anger was building up in her. They both knew she was just like her uncle, Daemon. Anger would come and go in them like an ending fire that had a flare up.
Her eyes looked like they held fire in them, but Alicent had never been afraid when Rhaenyra acted like this. She loved her in all her ways. They both knew this was just another episode she was having and it was neither the first nor last. They knew the truth of it was that they had fallen into a cycle of hurting each other and themselves at the same time.
Alicent said nothing, she just let her hands rise to grip Rhaenyra’s face and make her look up at her. The fire burning behind her eyes still flared as she pushed her hands off of her, “Get off of me.”
Alicent took a step back from between the other girl’s legs, “You know you don’t mean it, baby.”
“Don’t call me that!” Rhaenyra shouted, standing from the chair she was in, “Don’t call me anything.” They were both crying now.
No stranger to what was happening, Alicent sucked it up and wiped her tears away, “I’ll be in the parking lot.” With that she walked away, her heels clicking the whole way. The office had cleared out by now, they also were no stranger to the yelling and it usually meant the day was officially over.
Rhaenyra had sneered out an, “I don’t care.” to the other girl as she left, but they both knew she didn’t mean it. She looked down at the desk she had sat at and out of anger she flung the papers on it to the floor with a swipe of her arm.
Her breathing had become erratic and she stomped off to the bathroom. Looking at herself in the mirror, her makeup was running and her eyes were puffy.
Rhaenyra wiped the makeup from her face and fixed her hair that had become wild in the fight of the day. Then she stared at herself for a moment longer, she didn’t even recognize the person staring back at her.
She took a deep breath in and out and then exited the bathroom. As she made it out she came face to face with none other than Daemon Targaryen. He looked her up and down and smirked.
“It gives you quite the rush doesn’t it?” He questioned. Rhaenyra sneered at him, “The same one it gave you i’d assume.” They both chuckled at that point. Daemon had been sleeping around on his wife, but the only difference was he didn’t hide it by now.
“I’m going home.” Rhaenyra stated and he gave her a knowing look, “Don’t get lost in the parking lot, niece.” She huffed at that and he gave her a smack on the shoulder as he walked back towards his office.
Rhaenyra took a breath again, releasing it in a mixture of annoyance and stress. With that comment she went back into her father’s office and collected her things. Turning the computer off, shutting the blinds, and locking the door behind her.
Then she headed down to the parking lot, knowing she wouldn’t be leaving it any time soon.