HOTD One Shots

It was already three hours more than he was supposed to be home, and he was sure Rhaena had gotten worried. He figured that much from the four missed calls and eleven unread messages she left him. 

He slammed the door shut as he walked into their apartment. God, Garmund hated long days like these.

Juggling between university classes, practices, and long working hours is hard for anyone, let alone someone who had to go through it alone. Garmund managed his busy lifestyle most days, but sometimes he couldn't help but wish life was as easy as it was back when he was a child. 

He just missed the benefits of that kind of life. Being able to do whatever you want whenever you want, without any worries; having actual free time, where you could lounge or nap, not working or studying every minute of every day. He just missed being a careless person who got to flunk school all he wanted and played with his brother and cousins in his free time. Unfortunately, now at twenty-one, he's a young adult with responsibilities, and there's no time or space to mess around.

As soon as he stepped foot into his home, he kicked off his shoes and dropped his bag on the hardwood floors of the hallway, heading towards the kitchen. He immediately opened the liquor cabinet, in need of something strong. 

He poured himself a glass of his favourite bourbon whiskey and sat down, practically dropping into a chair. His head was pounding, and he was so tired he could barely form coherent thoughts. 

"Gar? "Are you home?" Rhaena gently called out from their bedroom, slowly walking toward him. He hummed, acknowledging her. Perhaps he was too tired to say anything else.

"Oh, you are home! I called you four times!"

He took another sip of the liquor and hummed again.

"Mhm, I saw."

"I was so worried, Gar! I thought something had happened to you!"

Of course, she was. Mrs. Perfect, Mr. Goody-two-shoes. She was always so nice to him, dammit!

"I'm fine. Go back to bed." He almost growled, standing up to pour himself some more whiskey.

"Why are you driving me away? What happened to you; are you alright?" Rhaena reached out to touch his shoulder, but he quickly moved away.

"Go to bed, Rhaena! I told ya, I'm fine! Leave me alone!" He exclaimed, much louder and much more aggressive than he intended. He watched as her face went from a shocked to an angry expression, her eyebrows furrowing. 

"Fine, Garmund. Goodnight, I'm going to get some sleep. I'm tired since I waited for you."

With those words, she stormed off to their bedroom. 

Garmund sighed, sinking back into the chair. What he said to Rhaena wasn't right, and he knew it. She deserved so much better than that. For goodness' sake, she was only worried about him! The words "I waited up for you" made him realize that even though his daily schedule was rough, he wasn't alone in it like he thought. He never was! 

When he started this "changing life around, no more playing around thing" his brother supported him and even went through the same things. Now, even when he has these challenges in his day-to-day life, Rhaena loves him every step of the way. No, he wasn't alone in this - so why the fuck did he treat her like he was?

He dared to sit alone in their dining room for only about five minutes more, suddenly feeling very lonely. He wasn't in a better mood, but he really wanted to change his attitude toward his girlfriend. 

"Goddammit…" 

He dragged himself to their bedroom and slowly opened the door, careful not to wake her if she was asleep. It was already 11:30 PM, and with the kind of nerd Rhaena was, she would have been out cold at 9:30 sharp. But she didn't. She waited for him. Worried if he was okay, where he was. It crushed him to realize how he took his anger out on her when she had done nothing wrong.

He went inside and closed their bedroom door as carefully as he had opened, turning to see her. However, he couldn't because she was lying with her back turned to him. Garmund looked around the room, noticing a neatly folded blanket, a pair of reading glasses, and a book on his side of the bed. She must have thrown them there when she decided to go to sleep.

He also noticed that the night lamp next to Rhaena's side of the bed was, even though dimmed, still turned on. She couldn't sleep with the lights on. 

" Aha,"  he thought, " so she's not asleep. Just brooding."

He carefully moved the book and the glasses on his bedside table, knowing damn well that Rhaena would kill him in the morning if he misplaced them. Then, he took off his band T-shirt and work pants, changing into a comfy pair of sweatpants. Finally, he opened the window, knowing Rhaena liked to sleep with fresh air. Besides, since the weather was chilly in April, she'd be practically forced to cuddle up to him.

Finally, he laid down, wrapping one muscular arm around her waist and bringing her close so her back was pressed to his shirtless chest.

"No, Gar, you said you wanted to be left alone, so that is exactly what I'm-"

He pressed a soft peck on the back of her neck.

"I'm... I'm sorry, okay? I'm just really tired. I shouldn't have taken it out on you, sweety. I'm sorry..."

He kissed her neck again, moving her long hair to the side so he had more space to kiss. He could tell she was trying to stay mad but simply couldn't.

After a few moments more of him kissing her, she sighed and turned around. Once they were face to face, she looked deep into his eyes. God, he was exhausted. Trying to comfort him some more, she placed a palm on his cheek.

"You are such a grumbler sometimes" She chuckled sleepily.

"Oh, yeah? Sorry if I'm too much of a grumbler for you after working six hours after my class and getting no sleep last night."

He sarcastically said, turning around not to face her. 

"Gar, I didn't mean it like that!"

Garmund was pouting, but Rhaena saw right through him. He was being like this because he was worried she'd think he was weak if he admitted he sometimes couldn't handle the pressure. But she wouldn't, of course she wouldn't! Her boyfriend was the strongest person she knew; both mentally and physically. 

She was sad that Garmund felt like he couldn't open up to her about his daily challenges. Rhaena wanted him to feel loved and comfortable and to know that she was always there for him, no matter what. 

"Gar..?"

He got the covers over himself in a swift motion, but she protested almost immediately.

"Gar, Darling?"

Now she was playing mean. She knew very well that Garmund couldn't resist when she called him pet names, especially not when her voice was extra sweet.

"What?" He groaned sleepily.

"Come here!" She grabbed him by the shoulders and rolled him over so he was lying between her legs, with his head on her chest. He was about to protest and get away from her, but he couldn't because he melted into her as soon as she put her hands on him. That's just the effect she had on him: she was the only one who could get the tall, muscular guy to turn into mush under her fingertips.

She gently caressed his naked back and pressed kisses to his temple, trying to relax him as much as possible. Rhaena undid her boyfriend's hairstyle and started massaging his skull, to which he groaned in pleasure. 

"Did you have a hard day?"

"You have no idea…", He sighed, getting comfortable in her arms.

She twirled a couple of his red strands around her fingers, trying to think what to say.

"You know, you can always talk to me about your hard days…".

"Pft, because you like it so much when I'm hard!" He snickered, earning a little smack on his shoulder from his girlfriend.

"Gar, I'm serious!" I won't judge you for having troubles like these! When have I ever judged you?"

"Oh, I don't know, half of my life?" He looked up at her, a smirk on his lips. She smirked as well, kissing him on the forehead.

"Yes, well, that is what usually happens when we were preteens and our family were sworn enemies at the same time! There's no way to avoid some judgment for a guy like you!" 

"Aw, you liked me even when we were kids? That's  adorable, sweety."

She blushed, again reminded of how badly she tried to hide her crush on him while they were still in their Targaryen VS. Hightower relationship. In her defence, Garmund was really cute at twelve. Who could ever resist that shaggy hair and a constant frown?!

"I like you a lot more now!" She smiled softly, caressing his hair. 

He sighed deeply. Was it really okay for him to share these thoughts with Rhaena? What if she thought of him differently? What if she realised they weren't a good match for each other after all?

"I sometimes miss it, ya' know? That kind of life." 

Her eyebrows scrunched.

"What do you mean?"

"Just… Being careless, I guess, me and brother had fun all day and did nothing! We had no worries at all!"

His girlfriend giggled.

"Well, you had to worry if you were gonna get thrown in jail, with all the trouble you caused!"

He let out a laugh, wrapping his arms around her waist.

"That's fair."

After a long pause, he continued: "It's not like I want to go back to being a child! I just... I sometimes wonder how my life would've turned out if I didn't change!"

"We can't be sure of that, Gar, but I know your life turned out just how it was supposed to. Believe me, if you continued the path you were on before, you would probably be sleeping in a jail cell now!" 

She was right: this life was much better. He could've been a troublemaker who didn't have any responsibilities or care in the world, but he'd also probably be locked up and have to sleep on the hard, uncomfortable prison beds. Instead, he has worries for the future and hard days, but he also gets to share an apartment with Rhaena and fall asleep in the arms of the woman he loves. 

"Yeah, you're right. You're right, Rhae. This is much better."

He hugged her tighter, pressing a peck on the valley between her boobs. Garmund snuggled his head in her chest, taking in her sweet scent of strawberries and vanilla;  everything was nice. Just as she always was.

At that moment, lying in her warm, gentle arms in their bed, Garmund realized that he would give up his old, careless life for a life with her any day.