linndechir (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
linndechir) wrote2012-02-24 04:10 pm
linndechir) wrote2012-02-24 04:10 pm
Entry tags:
Fic: A Place to Stand (Stannis/Jon)
Title: A Place to Stand
Fandom: A Song of Ice and Fire
Pairing: Stannis/Jon
Words: 1007
Rating: G
Summary: They never needed words to understand each other, though Jon wasn't sure if that made it harder or easier.
A/N: Some context for this scene: this is set in a happy future in which Stannis took the Iron Throne and made Jon Lord Commander of his Kingsguard after the war against the Others. That's really all you need to know. This is just a scene with them in King's Landing after the war, when Stannis is busy running the kingdom. No real spoilers for anything. Thanks to![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
outboxed for coming up for a title, because I am unfortunately too dumb for titles.
Jon straightened his back as he watched – tried not to watch – his king undress. Stannis disliked having servants around him all day, and he only ever let his squires help him dress and undress when he was wearing armour. Jon was quiet. He knew that the last thing Stannis needed after a long day was more talking.
He wasn't happy, Jon knew. Wasn't happier as king than he had been fighting for the throne. Jon had heard Lord Tyrell grumble a while back, complaining, wondering why Stannis had even fought so hard for a throne that didn't seem to bring him any joy now that he had it. Lord Tarly had replied that it must have been a matter of pride, of principle, that a man like Stannis Baratheon wouldn't just back away from his rights. Jon had smiled. They all didn't understand. It had never been about happiness nor even so much about his rights for Stannis, but about duty. The throne was his duty, and Stannis Baratheon was not a man to leave his own burdens to others.
Remembering that helped Jon whenever he missed the North, whenever the intrigues of the court made him wish he had remained a simple man of the Night's Watch. Just like the king belonged to the realm, Jon belonged to his king. His place was where Stannis went, whether it was the Wall during the war, King's Landing now, or even Storm's End that one time he had accompanied Stannis to his family's castle. His joyless, dour king had become as much his home as Winterfell or the Wall had once been. Maybe even more so, because unlike his family and unlike the Night's Watch, Stannis truly wanted him. Jon was here because Stannis had chosen him, not because he had nowhere else to go.
He averted his eyes from Stannis' bare chest. Once he had looked away for fear of Stannis noticing his thoughts, but it was almost worse now, knowing that Stannis knew, knowing that his king might not even forbid him to look. There was a quiet understanding between them about this thing, whatever it was, an understanding that they both wanted the same, but that it would never happen. That it wouldn't even be mentioned.
"You're quiet today," Stannis observed when he was done changing. He took a sip of lemon water from his cup, blue eyes meeting Jon's in the dim light of his bed chambers.
"I did not wish to disturb you, Your Grace."
"It wouldn't hurt me to hear something sensible at least once a day," Stannis snorted. Jon would have smiled at the grumpy tone, but he knew that Stannis was more discontent than usual. Lord Davos had been gone for two weeks now, tending to his lands and visiting his family. Stannis missed his Hand sorely, Jon knew, a void that even Jon's presence couldn't fill.
"Something sensible, Your Grace, would be for you to get some rest." Jon made sure not to sound too worried, knowing that Stannis hated that. His king slept only a few hours every night, and restlessly at that. Sometimes Jon wished he could just stay with him for the night, some childish part of him hoping that his presence alone would soothe Stannis' nightmares and concerns, but he could very well imagine his king's reaction if he ever suggested it. The mocking words, the insulted tone asking if he was a little child who couldn't be left alone in the dark.
For once Stannis didn't argue with him. There was a knock on the door before Jon could say any more. Ser Rolland Storm, come to relieve Jon for the night. The King's Bastards, some people called them, and the disrespect, not towards them, but towards Stannis, always made Jon bristle. But of course those lordlings would complain about Stannis' chosing two bastards for his Kingsguard, picking them over the trueborn sons of great houses. Ser Rolland would stay outside and guard the door for the night, while Jon would return to the White Tower. Truth be told, he needed the rest himself. Keeping up with Stannis was no easy task.
As if he hadn't heard the knock, Stannis walked over to Jon, standing too close to him, nothing inappropriate, but just a bit closer than he stood to other people. It always made Jon's heart jump a little, with a mixture of fear and awe and longing.
"You look tired," Stannis said, his voice the smallest bit softer than before. Such a meaningless little sentence, but coming from Stannis it meant so much more. Meant that he had even bothered to look, bothered to notice, bothered to care. On most days, Stannis looked at him the way he looked at a subject, a servant, a knight sworn to him by duty. Sometimes he seemed to see a trusted advisor in him, maybe even a friend, and then there were those moments in which Stannis looked at him like a man, full of a longing he would never admit to.
But it were these moments Jon cherished most, when Stannis looked at him like a father would look at his son, stern, but concerned, caring. Like Jon mattered to him beyond being a loyal knight and advisor. Jon wanted to say something, wanted to touch Stannis, but he did not want to risk getting pushed away. So he bit back his smile and met Stannis' eyes, calm and serious, just quietly showing that he understood all the words Stannis left unspoken. This was all they would ever allow themselves, but it was enough, because somewhere between looks and half-sentences and unsaid words, they understood each other.
It had to be enough.
His king nodded and stepped away.
"I will see you in the morning, Ser Jon."
"Your Grace." Jon bowed and turned to leave. The dismissal had been as harsh as always, all warmth gone from Stannis' voice. Yet he felt his king's eyes following him, and allowed himself to smile.
Fandom: A Song of Ice and Fire
Pairing: Stannis/Jon
Words: 1007
Rating: G
Summary: They never needed words to understand each other, though Jon wasn't sure if that made it harder or easier.
A/N: Some context for this scene: this is set in a happy future in which Stannis took the Iron Throne and made Jon Lord Commander of his Kingsguard after the war against the Others. That's really all you need to know. This is just a scene with them in King's Landing after the war, when Stannis is busy running the kingdom. No real spoilers for anything. Thanks to
outboxed for coming up for a title, because I am unfortunately too dumb for titles.Jon straightened his back as he watched – tried not to watch – his king undress. Stannis disliked having servants around him all day, and he only ever let his squires help him dress and undress when he was wearing armour. Jon was quiet. He knew that the last thing Stannis needed after a long day was more talking.
He wasn't happy, Jon knew. Wasn't happier as king than he had been fighting for the throne. Jon had heard Lord Tyrell grumble a while back, complaining, wondering why Stannis had even fought so hard for a throne that didn't seem to bring him any joy now that he had it. Lord Tarly had replied that it must have been a matter of pride, of principle, that a man like Stannis Baratheon wouldn't just back away from his rights. Jon had smiled. They all didn't understand. It had never been about happiness nor even so much about his rights for Stannis, but about duty. The throne was his duty, and Stannis Baratheon was not a man to leave his own burdens to others.
Remembering that helped Jon whenever he missed the North, whenever the intrigues of the court made him wish he had remained a simple man of the Night's Watch. Just like the king belonged to the realm, Jon belonged to his king. His place was where Stannis went, whether it was the Wall during the war, King's Landing now, or even Storm's End that one time he had accompanied Stannis to his family's castle. His joyless, dour king had become as much his home as Winterfell or the Wall had once been. Maybe even more so, because unlike his family and unlike the Night's Watch, Stannis truly wanted him. Jon was here because Stannis had chosen him, not because he had nowhere else to go.
He averted his eyes from Stannis' bare chest. Once he had looked away for fear of Stannis noticing his thoughts, but it was almost worse now, knowing that Stannis knew, knowing that his king might not even forbid him to look. There was a quiet understanding between them about this thing, whatever it was, an understanding that they both wanted the same, but that it would never happen. That it wouldn't even be mentioned.
"You're quiet today," Stannis observed when he was done changing. He took a sip of lemon water from his cup, blue eyes meeting Jon's in the dim light of his bed chambers.
"I did not wish to disturb you, Your Grace."
"It wouldn't hurt me to hear something sensible at least once a day," Stannis snorted. Jon would have smiled at the grumpy tone, but he knew that Stannis was more discontent than usual. Lord Davos had been gone for two weeks now, tending to his lands and visiting his family. Stannis missed his Hand sorely, Jon knew, a void that even Jon's presence couldn't fill.
"Something sensible, Your Grace, would be for you to get some rest." Jon made sure not to sound too worried, knowing that Stannis hated that. His king slept only a few hours every night, and restlessly at that. Sometimes Jon wished he could just stay with him for the night, some childish part of him hoping that his presence alone would soothe Stannis' nightmares and concerns, but he could very well imagine his king's reaction if he ever suggested it. The mocking words, the insulted tone asking if he was a little child who couldn't be left alone in the dark.
For once Stannis didn't argue with him. There was a knock on the door before Jon could say any more. Ser Rolland Storm, come to relieve Jon for the night. The King's Bastards, some people called them, and the disrespect, not towards them, but towards Stannis, always made Jon bristle. But of course those lordlings would complain about Stannis' chosing two bastards for his Kingsguard, picking them over the trueborn sons of great houses. Ser Rolland would stay outside and guard the door for the night, while Jon would return to the White Tower. Truth be told, he needed the rest himself. Keeping up with Stannis was no easy task.
As if he hadn't heard the knock, Stannis walked over to Jon, standing too close to him, nothing inappropriate, but just a bit closer than he stood to other people. It always made Jon's heart jump a little, with a mixture of fear and awe and longing.
"You look tired," Stannis said, his voice the smallest bit softer than before. Such a meaningless little sentence, but coming from Stannis it meant so much more. Meant that he had even bothered to look, bothered to notice, bothered to care. On most days, Stannis looked at him the way he looked at a subject, a servant, a knight sworn to him by duty. Sometimes he seemed to see a trusted advisor in him, maybe even a friend, and then there were those moments in which Stannis looked at him like a man, full of a longing he would never admit to.
But it were these moments Jon cherished most, when Stannis looked at him like a father would look at his son, stern, but concerned, caring. Like Jon mattered to him beyond being a loyal knight and advisor. Jon wanted to say something, wanted to touch Stannis, but he did not want to risk getting pushed away. So he bit back his smile and met Stannis' eyes, calm and serious, just quietly showing that he understood all the words Stannis left unspoken. This was all they would ever allow themselves, but it was enough, because somewhere between looks and half-sentences and unsaid words, they understood each other.
It had to be enough.
His king nodded and stepped away.
"I will see you in the morning, Ser Jon."
"Your Grace." Jon bowed and turned to leave. The dismissal had been as harsh as always, all warmth gone from Stannis' voice. Yet he felt his king's eyes following him, and allowed himself to smile.
no subject
Oh, shit. I think I ship it now. There's SO MUCH going on in that short scene: Sansa's gratitude, Stannis's protection, the comfort Sansa takes in Stannis not oogling her.... And finally, Sansa can stop pretending.
And of course, no Stannis writing is complete without a beautiful description of his face and eyes. <3 I see why you ship this so hard- it's so layered and complex! Even just this little bit showed that. I'd assume their relationship gets simplified as time goes on- they come to trust each other, love each other after a fashion, etc.
no subject
THAT IS AWESOME! Because I'm trying to get veryone to ship these two. ;) I really think it would help a lot that Stannis, unlike all other men Sansa has been around recently (Sandor, Tyrion, LF, and just about every other guy), would not look at her like she's just some pretty girl he wants to bang. It's not that Stannis doesn't find her attractive, because I'm sure he does, but he would never allow himself to show it, not even towards his own bride. And I think she'd just feel safer with him not perving on her. And she would appreciate that he wants honesty and not polite phrases.
I had so much fun writing that description. ;) And, yeah, their relationship will get simpler over time. I honestly think they could be fairly happy together. Stannis has all the really important traits Sansa wants in a man, even if he's lacking the good looks and the easy courtesies. And I think Sansa could actually get through to Stannis over time, through the lobster-y, distant demeanour down to the man who just never expected to be loved by anyone. Of course, their relationship would still be a disaster if they had no sons, but that would just be too much bad luck even for Stannis. And I think once they'd have children, things would only get better for them.
sorry for the rant. oO I love this ship so much, but somehow I haven't got around yet to writing actual fic, so I need to put all my feelings and thoughts into long rants. I guess I just have no idea how to write het, least of all since I'd have to write porn - their wedding night is just way too important for their dynamics to skip it.