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Alicent was currently twenty two minutes late to meeting her friends at the pub.
If there's one thing that she despises, it's people that aren't punctual. The mere thought of being late sends a shiver down her spine. On the rare occasion that it does happen to her, it makes her feel like a snooker ball that's just been broken from the rack and is bouncing around the table.
Earlier on in the evening, Alicent had gone for her monthly dinner with her father, at a gastro pub that recently opened up near Otto's house. It was a lovely meal—the shepard's pie had been truly mouth watering, if she was being completely honest. Her father insisted that she needed to try the lemon cheesecake and now she was paying the price for her indulgence.
Realistically, she knew that her being late to the pub wasn't a big deal as the quiz didn't start for another few minutes. Alicent's main problem was that she had built up a solid routine over the past few months that she liked to stick to, and tonight would be the first time she couldn't do it.
They would all arrive thirty minutes before it started, grab a round of drinks, catch up on any news headlines that they might have missed, and most importantly—Rhaenyra would make silly jokes and remarks, trying her best to loosen Alicent up while they waited for the quiz to begin. It always worked like a charm, leaving her in fits of giggles by the time the quiz master had all his gear set up.
Alicent loved quizzes, she truly did, but she was mostly here for Rhaenyra. The quiz was simply just another excuse for them to spend more time together. They'd been friends for eight months now—hitting it off a week or so after Alicent began her editorial job at Targaryen Publishing House—and she still got nervous asking Rhaenyra to hang out with her. The best she had managed so far was a few trips to the cinema, Saturday coffee dates every once in a while, and evenings walks during the summer when the weather was particularly nice.
She wanted to ask Rhaenyra out on a date, desperately so, but she couldn't gather up the courage. Every time Alicent thought about it, she worked herself into a cold sweat. What if Rhaenyra laughed at her? What if she only saw Alicent as a friend? What if she said no and it ruined their friendship? It kept her up at night.
Rhaenrya was so lovely—her sweet gummy smile, the crook in her nose, and her soft blue eyes all made Alicent's heart ache with affection for her. There was also a certain ease that she felt around Rhaenyra that she had never experienced before. She had a couple of close female friends over the years, but none of them compared to Rhaenyra and how cared for she made Alicent feel.
Every time Rhaenyra goes to the break room, she brings Alicent back a cup of tea or a couple of biscuits. When Alicent stays back late, Rhaenyra waits with her and orders a takeaway to the office for them to share. If she knows Alicent is stressed about something, she pops down to the cafe across the road and gets her an almond croissant. The simple acts of kindness made Alicent fall for her even more.
After what feels like ten years, she pushes open the pub doors at six minutes to eight. This officially makes it the latest she's ever been to anything. It makes her skin crawl.
She brushes through the small crowd gathered around the entrance and makes a beeline for the bar, her nerves somewhat settling at the familiar smell of beer mixed with cheese and onion crisps.
The barman takes a glance at her, halting his gaze at what she assumes is a mess of curls on top of her head (she may or may not have jogged for the last couple of streets) and offers her a small smile.
"What are you having, love?" He asks.
"Just a pint of Guinness and a bottle of dark fruits Magners, please."
He tuts and gets started on the Guinness. "We're all out of that one. I sold the last bottle a couple of minutes ago."
"Shite," Alicent runs a hand through her messy curls. It's Rhaenyra's favourite cider. "Have you got any Kopparberg? The strawberry and lime one."
"Sure," he smiles. "That'll be twelve pounds all together, whenever you're ready."
Alicent taps her card and takes the two drinks, careful not to let the foam of her pint spill over the rim of the glass. She spots the group easily enough—there’s a very cozy booth in one of the corners that they’ve claimed as their own over the past few months. Laena sees her first and points her out to Rhaenyra, a wide grin taking over her face as she locks eyes with Alicent.
“We were starting to get worried that you wouldn’t make it,” Rhaenyra says when she gets close enough.
“As if I would miss it,” Alicent sets the drinks down on the table, sliding the bottle of cider over to Rhaenyra. She notices that she’s got an almost full bottle of Magners in front of her—she must have been the person who got the last one. “You fools would lose without me.”
“Thanks for gracing us with your presence, oh wise one,” Harwin does a mocking bow from his spot at the back of the booth.
Rhaenyra tugs at her hand, demanding Alicent’s attention. “I already got you a pint,” she gestures to the Guinness near the edge of the table. “Did you not see my text?”
Alicent looks down, eyes fixed on Rhaenyra’s thumb as she runs it over the back of Alicent’s hand. “No, sorry. I was in a bit of a rush.”
Rhaenyra smiles at her, eyes flicking up to Alicent’s hair. “I can see that.”
Alicent huffs and slips her hand out of Rhaenyra’s warm hold, instead taking a long sip from her drink. She goes to sit down only to find out that there’s no seats. There’s no free stools or seats around them—the bar now full as everyone gets ready for the quiz to start. It takes everything in her not to have a breakdown at the thought of standing up like a twat for the next sixty minutes.
“I’m going to kill my father,” Alicent says suddenly.
“Why, Luke?”
Alicent chooses not to comment on Rhaenyra’s silly joke and crosses her arms indignantly. She’s been told that the pose often makes her look like an angry little kitten. “He made me late and now there’s no chairs left for me.”
“Oh,” Rhaenyra looks a bit sheepish, almost shy as she chews at her lip. Alicent can’t recall ever seeing her nervous before. “We saved you a seat but someone snatched it. I thought— I thought that maybe you could sit in my lap. If not, we could, um—”
“Okay,” Alicent says a bit too quickly, her voice coming out as more of a squeak than a word.
Rhaenyra’s signature grin is back on her face, the nervousness of a few moments ago gone as quickly as it came. She pats her lap. “Your throne awaits.”
Alicent takes a moment to appreciate Rhaenyra’s outfit. She’s changed out of her office attire—a dark red blouse matched with a pair of fitted black slacks—and gone for a much more relaxed look, wearing an oversized jumper with Snoopy across the front of it, and an old pair of jeans. Rhaenyra always looks lovely, gorgeous even, but Alicent thinks that she looks her best when she’s comfortable like this. All she wants to do is kiss her.
Alicent slips her coat off and puts it on the back of the booth. She didn’t have time to go home and change before meeting her father so she’s stuck wearing a skirt and blouse, envious of everyone else in their jumpers and trousers.
“Alright, everyone,” the quiz master, a kind man named Orwyle, says. “The quiz is about to start so please take your seats.”
This is it. The end of her life.
She forces a smile and sits down sideways on Rhaenyra’s lap, maneuvering herself so she’s facing forward. To her detriment, it’s Laena that’s she facing and she’s got a shit eating grin on her face.
“Comfortable, Alicent?” Laena asks pointedly.
“Like you wouldn’t believe,” Alicent lies.
She’s sitting completely straight, the only part of her that’s touching Rhaenyra is her legs. The urge to lie back into her embrace is very, very tempting but Alicent is forcing herself to show some self restraint. She stiffens like a board when she feels an arm casually slip around her waist.
“Relax,” Rhaenyra laughs. “I’m not going to bite you.”
Alicent hums, allowing herself to slouch (only very slightly, thank you) in Rhaenyra’s hold. “I don’t believe that for one second.”
“When have I ever lied to you?” Rhaenyra tightens her hold on Alicent, pulling her more firmly against her. The pen twitches in Alicent’s hand as she feels Rhaenyra’s breasts brush against her back.
“Yesterday, when you told me that there were no fruit scones left after the meeting, but really you just wanted the last two—”
“Listen up,” Orwyle says into the mic. “The first question of round one is: which leader defeated the Holy Roman Empire?”
Alicent wrote down the answer without consulting the group. History was her bread and butter.
“Who was it?” Harwin asks, trying to take a peek at the answer sheet. “Churchill?”
Alicent shakes her head in disbelief. “Was that a joke? Please tell me it was.”
“Yeah,” Harwin says, eyes flicking around the group. “I definitely know who it was.”
Alicent stares at him for a moment. “I don't think that you’re cut out for this.”
Rhaenyra pinches Alicent’s side. “She’s joking, Harwin. Don’t listen to her.”
“Next question,” Orwyle announces. “What two teams took part in the Women’s World Cup final in nineteen ninety nine?
Laena leans across the table so she can speak quietly. “The United States were one team, but I’m not sure about the other one.”
“It was China,” Alicent says as she writes the answer down.
Rhaenyra kisses Alicent’s cheek and she feels as a pink flush spreads across her face. She’s never done that before, plenty of hugs and casual touches but never a kiss. Alicent hopes that she does it again.
“You’re very smart,” Rhaenyra whispers into her ear, breath warm as it fans against her cheek. “Have I ever told you that?”
“Yes, plenty of times,” Alicent forces out through gritted teeth. “But it doesn’t hurt to hear you say it again.”
“I think I’ll have to tell you everyday,” Rhaenyra says. “So you don’t forget.”
“Question three: what is the largest island archipelago in the world?”
“It’s Indonesia,” Rhaenyra answers.
“Really?” Alicent asks. “I would have said the Philippines.”
“Nope,” Rhaenyra pops the ‘p’ and Alicent likes how it sounds in her ear. “I know that it’s Indonesia.”
“I’m starting to feel pretty useless,” Laenor moans from across the table. “I haven’t known the answers to any of these questions.”
“Don’t worry, Laenor,” Laena pats him on the back. “I’m sure a question about one of the world wars will come up.”
“Question four: in what year was the Magna Carta established?”
Laenor groans and takes a long sip from his pint. Laena and Harwin stay silent, waiting for Rhaenyra to say the answer.
“Do you seriously not know?” Rhaenyra scoffs. “It’s twelve fifteen.”
“I knew,” Alicent says quietly.
“I know you did, honey,” Rhaenyra pauses for a moment as she presses her nose to Alicent’s neck, inhaling deeply. It catches Alicent by surprise and she drops the pen. “Your perfume is really nice.”
“It’s— it’s the one that I always wear,” Alicent feels her cheeks get hot as her blush deepens.
“Really?” Rhaenyra gently brushes her nose against Alicent’s neck again, little puffs of air hitting her each time Rhaenyra sniffs. “It smells even better today.”
“Th—thanks.”
“You’re blushing.”
Alicent swallows hard. “No, I’m not.”
“You are,” Rhaenyra says and Alicent can hear the grin in her voice. “It’s very sweet.”
Rhaenyra has distracted her so much that she’s missed the next question. Alicent looks down, focusing intently on the quiz sheet. “Can we just answer the question, please?”
“Sure,” Rhaenyra splays her hand across Alicent’s stomach, gently rubbing in soft circles. “The answer is Sabalenka.”
"Is she your new flavour of the week?” Alicent blurts out without thinking.
Rhaenyra doesn’t answer her for a moment, letting the question hang in the air. “No,” she says eventually. “I prefer redheads.”
Oh.
That was definitely flirting. Alicent’s heart thumps wildly in her chest, threatening to burst. First the kiss on her cheek and now the blatant flirting—Alicent wasn’t sure how much her heart could handle in one night.
Feeling a bit cheeky, she says, “You think Mysaria is a redhead? It sounds like you need a trip to Specsavers.”
“Mysaria?” Rhaenrya repeats in bewilderment.
“She’s been flirting with you a lot at work lately,” Alicent puts her hand over the one that Rhaenyra has pressed to her stomach, and intertwines their fingers. “Haven’t you noticed?”
“I have noticed,” Rhaenyra hooks her chin over Alicent’s shoulder and looks down at their hands. “But I don’t care.”
“That’s a shame,” Alicent says. “She’s very pretty.”
“Question six: what words are written on the gates of hell in Dante’s Inferno?” Orwyle asks. “I’ll accept a few different variations of the translation.”
“Abandon all hope, ye who enter here,” Alicent mutters to herself. “Very fitting, don’t you think?”
“What do you mean?”
“What with Mysaria being a redhead and all—”
“Alicent,” Rhaenyra squeezes their joined hands. “I don’t fancy Mysaria.”
“I know.”
She hears as Rhaenyra’s breath hitches. The silence stretches for a moment, then, in a move far more daring than what Alicent expects, Rhaenyra lets her free hand rest lightly on Alicent’s knee, fingers grazing the exposed skin of her thighs just beneath the hem of her skirt. Her hand was hot against Alicent’s skin, blazing across her like a brand.
“Has anyone in the office caught your eye?” Rhaenyra murmurs, her lips barely brushing the curve of Alicent’s ear.
Alicent bites her lip, heart hammering. “That’s not... that’s not fair.”
“Come on,” Rhaenyra kisses her softly just beneath Alicent’s ear, sending a shiver down Alicent’s spine. She feels extra shy all of a sudden, despite the fact that the others aren’t paying any attention to them, too engrossed in their own conversation. “Tell me—”
“Question seven: what did Marie Skłodowska-Curie name the element Polonium after?”
Rhaenyra kisses her cheek again and the pen skids across the page as Alicent tries to write ‘Poland’.
“Rhaenyra,” Alicent says breathlessly. “I’m trying to concentrate here.”
She moves her hand higher up Alicent’s thigh, her thumb rubbing back and forth along the inside of her thigh. “Oh, please,” Rhaenyra laughs. “You could answer these questions in your sleep.”
“We don’t know that, he might throw in a curveball. I can’t—god—it’s very hard to think with your hands all over me.”
Rhaenyra’s hand gives a gentle squeeze at her thigh, fingers brushing the curve of her knee. “Want me to stop?”
“No,” Alicent says quietly. “I like it.”
Rhaenyra takes her hand off of Alicent’s thigh and she finally feels like she can breathe again. Her relief is short-lived as Rhaenyra brushes Alicent’s hair back from her neck, baring the expanse of her throat to her. Alicent gasps as Rhaenyra kisses the side of her neck, her lips lightly dragging up to just underneath her jaw.
“We’re onto the final question for this round,” Orwyle announces. “Which American president was the first one to be born in a hospital?”
Alicent quickly writes down ‘Jimmy Carter’ and feels as Rhaenyra chuckles against her spot at Alicent’s neck.
“How the fuck do you know that?” Rhaenyra asks.
“I… I read a lot of Wikipedia pages,” Alicent says sheepishly.
“God,” Rhaenyra breathes, “You’re so cute.”
“I can’t be cute, Rhaenyra,” Alicent insists. “I’m a twenty eight year old woman.”
“I disagree. Quite a bit, actually.”
Orwyle stands up from his chair and smiles at the crowd. “Alright, everyone. I’ll collect your sheets and then there’s going to be a ten minute break,” he says. “Second round for this week is a themed one, it’s going to be all about Ancient Greece.”
Alicent pushes the piece of the paper away from her and gets up so quickly that she knocks her knees painfully against the underside of the table. She ignores Rhaenyra’s words of concern and weaves through the tables, heading for the smoking area. There’s a couple of people outside and they spare her a quick glance as the door slams shut behind her. She didn’t grab her coat so she stands under one of the electric heaters and lets the warmth wash over.
The past thirty five minutes have felt like a crazy fever dream. She tries to think of anything else, anything at all, but all she can focus on is how nice Rhaenyra felt pressed up against her, how her tender kisses made Alicent’s stomach fill with butterflies. A few neck kisses have never managed to rile her up so much before.
Alicent’s not sure what she’s going to do when she goes back inside, should she pretend as if nothing happened? Rhaenyra doesn’t seem like the type of person that would let her sweep it under the rug. In truth, Alicent doesn’t want to forget about it—she likes Rhaenyra and now she’s sure that Rhaenyra likes her back.
She jumps slightly when she feels a hand on her shoulder. It’s Rhaenyra.
“Are you okay?” Rhaenyra’s brows furrow in worry. “You practically ran outside.”
“Yeah, sorry,” Alicent sighs. “I just needed some air.”
There’s a prominent pout on Rhaenyra’s lips and Alicent hates how sad it makes her look. She takes Alicent’s hand and flips it over, running her thumb over the lines of Alicent’s palm. It’s such a sweet gesture that it makes her heart ache for her even more.
“Did I— was it too much?” She asks, voice small. “I’m sorry if—”
Alicent takes a step closer, their hands now pressed between them. “It wasn’t too much. I was just… surprised.”
“I could tell,” Rhaenyra lifts their hands up to her mouth and kisses along Alicent’s knuckles, her eyes twinkling in the orange light of the heater. “You wouldn’t stop squirming the entire time.”
“Well, if I recall correctly, a certain someone wouldn’t stop kissing me.”
Alicent cups her free hand around Rhaenyra’s neck, thumb dragging back and forth across the harsh jut of her jawline. She looks so soft, cheeks flushed deep pink, her mouth slightly open, and lips shining from her lip gloss.
“Would it…” Rhaenyra trails off as she drops Alicent’s hand, both of hers now coming to rest on Alicent’s biceps, fingers pressing into the soft flesh. “Would it be okay if I kiss you again?”
She tugs Rhaenyra forward by the hand on her neck and presses their foreheads together, breath stuttering as their noses brush.
“I don’t know,” Alicent says lowly. “Would it?”
“Please,” Rhaenyra pleads, hands moving up to run through Alicent’s hair. “I’ve been waiting for months. I think I deserve a reward for my patience.”
“Patience?” Alicent drags her lips over Rhaenyra’s cheek, pressing a quick kiss to the corner of her mouth. “You practically jumped me in front of our friends. I wouldn’t call that patience.”
“You’re killing me here, baby.”
The pet name sends something hot and unbidden through her body, every nerve ending on fire as Rhaenyra tugs lightly at her curls.
“Did you like that?” Rhaenyra asks. “I’ll call you baby as much as you like if you let me kiss—”
Alicent kisses her suddenly, their teeth clacking together from the sheer force of it. Rhaenyra tastes sweet, like the cider she had been drinking, and Alicent is desperate for more of it. She slips her tongue into Rhaenyra’s mouth and moans as Rhaenyra sucks at it a little bit, the sensation shooting straight to her clit. The kiss gets sloppier, Alicent feeling almost greedy in her desire as she runs her tongue all over the inside of Rhaenyra’s mouth.
A lightbulb goes off in her brain and she realises that they’re making out like teenagers in a pub at eight thirty on a Thursday evening. She pulls back slightly, breath coming out in short pants as she tries to regain her composure.
“Sorry,” Alicent gasps. “I don’t know what came over me.”
Rhaenyra kisses her softly, and then again on her cheek, a lazy grin on her face as her eyes trace over Alicent. “Who knew you had a wild side? I thought you were trying to suck the life out of me.”
Alicent lightly shoves at Rhaenyra’s shoulder, cheeks blooming with heat as she glances at the people nearby. None of them are looking at them, but a pit of embarrassment still opens up inside of her.
“Stop teasing me—”
“I’m not teasing you,” Rhaenyra brushes her thumb softly over Alicent’s cheek. “I liked it very much. I would like it even more if you did it again.”
Alicent looks down at the ground. “Not here.”
“Okay, I can live with that,” Rhaenyra says. “What if I took you out tomorrow?”
“Like on a date?”
Rhaenyra looks at her like she’s grown a new head. “Yes, on a date, Alicent.”
Her heart thumps in her chest as she processes Rhaenyra’s words. It only took eight long months but it finally happened—she asked her out. Alicent leans forward and kisses her deeply, both hands grasping at the front of Rhaenyra’s jumper.
“I’d love to go on a date with you,” Alicent says earnestly. “But I can’t— I can’t do casual with you, Rhaenyra. I’ve had feelings for you for months, it would—”
“Hey, relax,” Rhaenyra runs a gentle hand down her arm. “I like you too, quite a bit, actually. I want… I want to do this properly.”
“Three dates, and all that?”
Rhaenyra grins. “Maybe just two.”