Christmas au part 5. Party chapter. Merry christmas. We’re still going so hold on for the rest of the ride
Gendry straightened his bowtie, looking in the mirror, then glancing down to the phone leaning against the wall next to it. Arya waved her head back and forth, as if thinking on it, then smiled and nodded. Gendry sighed in relief, glad this little fashion show was over.
“Alright, I’ll see you soon!” She said, clearly about to shut off the call.
“Hey wait!” Gendry called, scowling. She held up, tilting her head as in a question. “Don’t I get to help you now?” Gendry said, calling foul. Arya blushed sharply, and shook her head.
“I have a sister. You have me, and jacksquat else. Unless Hot Pie knows how to wear a bow tie?” Gendry rolled his eyes and sighed.
“Hot Pie ties wonderful bow ties. I’ll see you there milady.” Her sharp cry of protest was cut off as Gendry did the hanging up. He smiled wryly at the black screen, the tease still sinking in satisfactorily. Fuck did he enjoy Arya. He liked her a lot, too much. It was no good. But they were friends, and he wouldn’t risk that for anything.
Gendry pulled up, driving through his father’s hallowed gates, the mansion lit up like a christmas tree. “Hmph,” Gendry thought it looked nice enough, but it was a little conspicuous. Seemed to him like it aimed to make anyone who wasn’t there for the party feel bad. Not his problem for now though. Because he was at the party.
He entered through the door, allowed in by a butler/bouncer (dressed very nicely, but very burly, hard to tell). Christmas music was played by a live band, instrumental of course, these people weren’t monsters. Gendry had to stop himself from scoffing as he moved in further, the whole atmosphere at once feeling shallow and overgrown with weeds. He didn’t like this kind of thing, but Arya had been right. Friends.
He was tackled by a small frame, and thus didn’t move an inch. “Gendry!” The voice cried. Gendry looked to his little friend, and saw Tommen, who was still small despite being mid-high school by now.
“Hey bro, how you doing?” He really didn’t see his half-siblings often enough. Mostly because one third of them was a horrible monster, and because their mother was a sea witch.
“Merry Christmas!” Tommen replied, skirting the question, presumably not because things were bad; Tommen’s life as far as Gendry could tell was kittens and roses.
“Merry Christmas to you too,” Gendry said with a soft smile, ruffling his hair, then looked up. Myrcella approached, in a much more dignified manner. She did look… exactly like her mother, to the point it was almost startling. But she was kind, and peaceful. Gendry gave her a nod and a wave and a smile, and she was glad to give the same before being distracted by others. Tommen had let go by now, and hurriedly told Gendry they’d have to talk later, which was for the best, he was barely in the door and there were other people he wanted to find. Primarily Arya because he lived for when he saw her in fancy dresses. Part of it was of course the elegance of the gown, and another part was seeing her in this state of irritation at the whole world around her, which was Arya at her most honest and beautiful. It was the Arya who wanted to demolish society, with both hatred for those who had and love for those who didn’t have.
“Wrench boy, get over here!” The sharp voice belonged solely to Theon fucking Greyjoy, his middle name as far as Gendry was concerned. Gendry rolled his eyes and moved over, puffing up his chest and rolling up his shoulders as he turned towards Theon. Theon raised an eyebrow, then pushed Gendry in the chest with a single finger. The bugger was wearing a sleek outfit, fashionable and outstanding to the nth degree, and wore a grin the size of a country mile. “Push-ups?” He asked curiously. Gendry let go of his breath and laughed loudly, clapping Theon on the shoulder.
“Where’s the rest of the mob that has to deal with you?” Gendry asked, looking around, knowing anywhere Theon was to be seen, Robb would surely be coming. And Robb was responsible enough to know where the rest of his family was. Theon shrugged, slinking up against the wall, pressing a drink to his lips. It was a martini glass, clear alcohol.
“Robb went to go introduce the rest of the world to his wife, I stuck around here. Third-wheeling isn’t my thing, you know?” Gendry nodded vaguely, though he wasn’t really listening to Theon, just looking for a spritely girl shouting at someone. Theon sighed, and shook his head.
“Haven’t seen her my friend. And I don’t know man, might be time to let this one go? You’ve been at it for a while and made little ground.” Gendry shifted his gaze sharply to Theon, glaring intensely. Theon shrugged half-heartedly. “Just a thought.” Gendry sighed, then looked away, back into the mob of low-backed gowns and tuxedos. Theon was wrong, but for reasons he couldn’t quite express. Maybe another time. For now, he had to find Arya. Theon pushed himself off the wall, hitting him lightly on the shoulder. “I’m going to go find a wonderful young maiden to share a drink with. If you want to, join me, you could use a good wing man. It’ll be no problem too, look at this big burly frame, chicks dig it.” Theon shot him one last grin and a finger gun, then moved towards the crowd.
“Just not my sister! Or your sister for that matter!” Gendry called back. A middle finger was raised in return, and Theon was gone. Gendry breathed. He’d find Arya, and then everything would be okay. This whole… thing would be easier with her around. Because at that point, she’d be causing trouble and he’d just be an accessory. Gendry roamed about the party, engaging delicately with strangers, eating weird food samples Tommen would bring to him then vanish into the party again. He fortunately didn’t find Joffrey or Cersei, or his father for that matter (not that his father was so cruel, but it was not an encounter he wanted to do without Arya by his side). It was getting late and he still hadn’t found her. The party wasn’t dying down by any means, but fuck did he wish she’d just show up. He moved out onto the balcony, breathing deeply the chilly air, and stepping out onto the stone. A woman turned, and he realized he figured out this fucking puzzle.
“I’ve been looking for you dummy!” Her anachronistic voice as she moved away from the railing and towards him, moonlight illuminating her from behind, glimmering off a silver gown that went from her neck to her feet, slim fit and long sleeved. Gendry breathed deeply. She moved to him, taking him by the hand and pulling him back towards the end of the balcony.
“Didn’t seem like you were looking very hard if you’ve just been out here,” Gendry grumbled.
“Shut up. Let’s just… stay out here. In there it’s hot and crowded. Out here it was lonely, but now, conveniently, it’s not.” Gendry looked at her. She seemed in duress but he couldn’t quite tell, not with the starlight.
“All cool?” Gendry asked, curiously. Arya looked to him, and immediately he could see there was something there. It was the face someone had when they were breaking up with someone. Which of course, made no logical sense, as they were not together. She pressed her hand to his cheek, which was grizzled with half a beard.
“No,” She whispered, and pulled his head down and kissed him. Arya’s touch was precious, not soft but rough, callused from the work that she did, martial arts, engineering, punching bullies. It was needy but independent, fiercely so. She needed things but she would never admit it. Gendry gave and gave and gave, pressing his hands to her back, pulling her closer to him as she did the same. Her breath quickened, or was that his? His heart beating rapidly, he didn’t let his mind work, just allowing the moment to fill it. The winter winds blew around them, which made Arya’s body seem only warmer. He touched her hair, moving his fingers softly through her hair, lingering at the nape of her neck. Breaths lengthened to minutes, and everything stopped, until Gendry felt a snowflake hit his hand on the back of her head. And slowly it fell, sprinkling them, and Arya pulled away. She looked distraught now for sure, if she hadn’t before, and she ran off.
“Arya!” He called out, damning her for her sensible footwear, if she’d worn heels he’d be faster for once in his damned life. But she slipped back into the mansion. Gendry tried to follow, but there was no way. He sighed, the snow falling on him still. Confused and high on the fulfillment of a dream, Gendry lingered, until Sansa passed, popping onto the balcony.
“Have you seen Arya Gendry?” She asked, and Gendry shrugged. Sansa, perceptive as usual in an orange dress, shorter than Arya’s but he noticed little more about it, pushed him. “Did something happen?” Gendry had no reason to hold back the truth.
“She was upset. Then she kissed me. Then she was more upset, and left.” Sansa stood at the doorway, looking at Gendry who sat on a balcony bench, snow covering his suit and close cropped hair.
“Go home. I’ll, um, text you later. Or I’ll get someone to.” Gendry nodded, and stood, unfolding from the small seat. Sansa watched him for a little longer, then slipped away. Gendry wandered back into the party, which was now beginning to disperse. He… hadn’t hurt her had he? Had he done something wrong? He didn’t think so… but there wasn’t much another answer.