brickbybrick | [closed; take a chance 'verse] dear god this thing is huge

[You stupid, Arya says, when he's finally managed to swim back to consciousness and out of a drugged haze, to find himself surrounded by his family and friends.

Arya! Don't you see, that was brave of him. Sansa, always the romantic. He risked his life to save his love!

You mean it was stupid of him, Arya retorts, and Robb just laughs.

Stupid! Rickon echoes, but he's clinging to Robb's bedside all the while and refusing to let go.

Asshat, Theon remarks, earning himself a glare from Robb's mother and a reminder that there are children here, Greyjoy. Not that it would've stopped him, anyway. Don't you do that again, you were all over the news.

He spends more than a few hours talking with them all and explaining himself, while Dany stands guard at the door. It's only when the day is winding down and they're all filing out, one by one, that he asks his mother what happened to Une.

She's worried about you, she tells him. She hadn't left your bedside in days.

It's a surprise to him, really, and he's still shocked by the time his parents leave (with reminders never to do that again). Gods, Une had...she'd stayed. She'd stayed. It's more, he thinks, than he ever thought to be able to get from her.]

[When she steps into his room, the harsh scent of antiseptics hits her hard. The room's all white walls and white sheets on a white metal bed frame bearing a patient who shouldn't be as pale as he is. The IV drips into fine clear tubing hooked into his arm and she can't help but tremble slightly as she steps toward him. He's awake now, just as his mother had told her. She'd gotten the call in the middle of a press conference and dropped everything to go to him. As always, she's smartly dressed in a black skirt suit but it's not as perfect as usual. The wrinkles on her outfit serve to match the ones on her brow as she takes her seat by his bedside. Half of her wants to slap him while the other half wants to kiss him and tell him she never wants to be parted from him again.

She does neither of these things.

Instead, she does her best to school her face into a blank mask, afraid to touch him in case this is just some cruel dream. She knows what she's here to do, and she has to do it no matter how painful it may be.]

I'm terminating our contract.

[She isn't the only one who's learned to mask her feelings. Robb doesn't let any of his feelings show on his face, and instead only looks up at her, his own expression carefully neutral.]

How come? I thought I did a good job.

[There's so much she wants to say. If she had the luxury of being true to her heart, she would never let him go. She'd find a way to keep him at her side and damn the consequences. But such selfishness can't be allowed to take hold. There's more at stake than just her happiness. She wants him to live a long and happy life, to find a girl who won't drag him into this mess of intrigue and potential harm.

I can't let you risk yourself for me again. You're far too important.

It had been painful watching him writhe and scream and groan in his sleep. All that suffering because of her. Sometimes he'd mutter unintelligible things in his drug induced haze.

Jeyne, Grey Wind, Lannister...

What did any of these things have to do with each other? Who was Jeyne? Why was he calling for his dog? Did he know more about the mayor's family than he led her to believe? So many questions. She wasn't keen on getting the answers. He owed her nothing after what she'd put him through.]

We found a better position for you in the company. Think of it as a promotion.

[After he'd saved her life, she owes him something even as she's pushing him away.]

It even comes with your own apartment.

And if I don't want a better position? If I want to stay on with you instead?

[He lets out a breath. She can't get rid of him so easily, not now. He needs to make sure she stays safe, even if something happens to him in the process.]

You know I don't forget easily.

We'll still be able to see each other.

[A necessary lie. She fully intends to dodge him at every opportunity once this is done.]

Don't let this opportunity slip past you. It's my father's way of extending his thanks. It would be the height of foolishness to let this chance go.

I've been pretty foolish before, what's another one?

[No. No, he isn't going, father or no father, promotion or no promotion. With the Freys and the Lannisters and all of those up against her, he can't simply stand by and watch.]

I won't have you reduced to stealing wishes out of fountains again. Please consider it. For your sake and mine.

[She'll fire him outright if she has to. He'll be back to his impoverished life but at least he'll be safe.]

And I'm not going to have you die.

[There. That's out.]

Do you think they're going to let up on you? They'll keep finding ways, and one day the bodyguards aren't going to be enough. [A deep breath.] And I won't let it happen.

It's not your job to keep me safe, Robb. Manage your own mess of a life before you even think of meddling in mine.

[Her words are meant to hurt him, to push him away. Please. Please Please. Don't make this any harder than it already is.]

[Swords cut, but words cut deeper, hurt more. He knows his life is a mess, but it hurts to be reminded of that.]

You think I don't know that already? My life's a mess, I get it, but I'm not about to stand by and watch if you lose yours. [A breath, then he runs a hand through his hair.] And I know it's not my job to care, but I have.

[There's a lump in her throat but she chokes it down. He's offering his heart up on a silver platter and all she can do is refuse it, break it so he doesn't lose it.]

Don't. I can take care of myself.

[Things were so much easier when she was alone in this world. No one had to suffer for her sake.]

I know that. But what if they go for the head, this time? What if, I don't know, they hire a Faceless Man to kill you instead?

[The Starks are too loyal, is the thing. Robb, broken and scarred though he is, is no exception.]

[Faceless Men were nothing more than an urban legend. Maybe he's still strung out on all the drugs.]

Robb, stop it. You're delirious. Nothing's going to happen to me. The Freys already apologized for the security breach. I've got the bridge deal in my pocket. Things are looking up.

Edited (ugh words) 2013-03-26 05:45 (UTC)

They meant it, I'm sure of it. Or was the security less tight than what I was led to believe, that an assassin could get past as a violinist?

[He lets out a sigh. Faceless Men are supposed to be an urban legend, but he's met some one too many times to believe so. Always it was by coincidence, and always they let him go. He thinks maybe it's because of Arya.]

Une, you're up against Cersei Lannister. From what I heard, she'll do anything to keep her seat. What happened at the fundraiser won't be the only attempt, I'm certain of it.

And you think putting yourself in harm's way will make any difference? If I'm meant to go down, I will. But I'm not taking you with me.

Maybe I do. Maybe it's the only difference I can hope to make.

[He pauses. Then:]

You said my opinion counted. And now, my opinion is that I'm staying. Does it still count?

Your opinions counted back when they were sane. You can make more of a difference if your life doesn't end abruptly. Don't you understand?

[Don't make me have to spell it out for you.]

[He wants to laugh, at that. It already did, once.]

I do understand. And I'm telling you I don't care, because... [he pauses. Well, it's now or never.]

I'm not losing you.

[It's both everything and nothing she wants to hear. There was a time when she sought to know what it felt like to be wanted by another. She didn't realize just how painful it could be. The gods are cruel. Why did they have to test her this way?]

You have to.

[He opens his mouth, about to argue back, when the door opens.

Miss Une, his mother greets her, stepping into the room, and Robb has never felt so grateful for being interrupted. Forgive me for the interruption, I'd forgotten my purse.]

It's over there, on the table.

[Seeing his mother here makes her grow uneasy and she considers leaving. A part of her still wonders if Catelyn blames her for the harm that's come to him. It's hard for her to look the other woman in the eye.]

I should probably excuse myself.

[If she goes now, this will be the last time she'll see him. Whether he likes it or not, she'll find a way to get him settled even as she walks out of his life. Once he quits the company, she'll see what she can do by calling in a few favors with associates. With any luck, he'll meet someone worthy of his heart at his new job.]

[Why don't you stay instead? his mother asks, making her way to the table to pick up her purse, and--okay, Robb wasn't expecting that. I do hope it isn't too much of a bother.]

It's fine by me.

[The Stark matriarch has a way of being both gentle and firm. Une was raised to be polite and proper so it's near impossible for her to refuse the request.

Well, this is awkward.]

But won't you be needing this seat?

[It's only polite to give up her chair and go, right?]

[I can stand, and I'll be leaving in a moment, comes the answer. But I would like to know--what were you two arguing about, that I could hear you both from just outside?]

My job. [And that is all he's willing to offer.]

He's getting a promotion, actually. One that he's refusing to accept despite the significant bump in pay.

[Maybe his mother can steer him in the right direction.]

I get paid enough already as a PA.

[His mother sighs, glancing between the both of them. Why not? she asks him, though he's certain she already knows the answer.]

Because I don't want anyone to die. [Not this time.

Robb, his mother sighs, you're a brave and stubborn fool, and he can't help but huff out a laugh as she turns to Une.

Keep him, she tells her. He's likely to ignore any advice to the contrary. And this way, you can make sure he doesn't do anything like it again.]

[It's hard for Une to understand what exactly Catelyn and Robb are doing. Refusing Robb's mother isn't something she can do easily considering the circumstances.]

Mrs. Stark, if he comes to any harm on my watch again I...

[I don't know what I'd do. It would hurt to much.]

[He won't, I can promise you that much.]

Mother--

[Your life is not for you to throw away, she says, and it's a reminder of her words thousands and thousands of years ago. (your life is not worth a song--)]

So you're trusting me to keep him from another bad decision then? Is that it?

[Like it or not, Catelyn had a point. Even if Une dismissed him, it was no guarantee that he wouldn't persist in trying to protect her anyway.]

[Exactly. Gods know he's likelier to listen to you. She says this with a pointed glance at Robb, who huffs in response, then she walks toward the door.

She pauses, turns around. And Robb?]

Yeah?

[Never do that again. Your life is worth more than you think it is.

She leaves, and he glances towards Une again.]

So do I get to stay on?

[Losing this argument definitely wasn't on Une's agenda when she walked in and there's a resigned sigh as she stands and walks toward him. Her hand ghosts over his forehead, brushing his hair from his eyes so she can meet his gaze.]

Why are you doing this?

Because I care. Yeah, maybe it's a little too much, but I do.

[He lets out a breath. Gods, he's tired. He hadn't even known it was possible to be this tired, and he's still bedridden.]

[He's always been so earnest. Far too earnest. And though she now has the excuse to keep him at her side, she knows she still can't let him get too close to her.]

Rein it in. The things we care for tend to kill us in the end.

[At this rate, you'll be my demise.]

[He knows it, far better than she's aware of, and yet here he is again. It's the same song all over again, but this time he can change it.]

I'll keep that in mind.

[Sighing, she shakes her head. This is a decision she'll probably regret but she has no choice.]

I'll see you tomorrow morning and you can come back to work in two weeks. I won't have you tearing your stitches and bleeding all over the place.

[As much as she tries to put on the mask of coldness, she's pretty sure he sees right through her.]

[He nods in reply, and he can tell that she's hiding something. His sisters are so much better at lying than she is.]

I understand.

[She's tempted to lean in and leave a chaste goodbye kiss on his forehead but she thinks better of it. Maybe he'll outgrow his fondness for her if she makes him think it'll lead nowhere. Only time would tell.]

Until tomorrow.

[As much as she wishes she could stay by his side until sleep comes to claim him, she turns to leave.]

[He wants to ask her to stay, but he knows he can't. He's pushed too much already, too far, so instead he keeps silent and watches her leave, ignoring the heavy weight settling in his stomach. Gods, what has he managed to get himself into this time?]

[closed; take a chance 'verse] dear god this thing is huge

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject