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nightswatchdisbandmentera · 2 months

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Prince Rhaegar as a character often gets some deserved criticism - and a lot of underserved hate. And one of the things that I think he unfairly gets blamed for is Elia Martell's tragedy. Elia's death is one of the primary objections people have towards Rhaegar and Lyanna being depicted as a romance, with readers believing that if they were just tragic lovers, then that diminishes Elia's own tragedy.

I...disagree. It is understandable (and honestly right) that readers would rally behind Elia. Not only was she horribly brutalized and murdered, but her children suffered absolutely terrible fates as well.

However, in trying to center Rhaegar and Lyanna's doomed dalliance in this, a lot of readers are missing the answer that has been already provided to us within the narrative. Not only that, but this line of thinking also ignores the key context in which Elia's senseless murder is portrayed.

As far as the text goes, Elia’s death is laid squarely at the feet of Tywin Lannister and his men, Ser Gregor Clegane and Ser Amory Lorch. It's House Lannister's burden to bear.

Doran for one, Elia's brother, directly blames Tywin Lannister:

“You mistake patience for forbearance. I have worked at the downfall of Tywin Lannister since the day they told me of Elia and her children.”

The Princess in the Tower, AFFC

Even Oberyn agrees:

“Dwarf,” said the Red Viper, in a tone grown markedly less cordial, “spare me your Lannister lies. Is it sheep you take us for, or fools? My brother is not a bloodthirsty man, but neither has he been asleep for sixteen years. Jon Arryn came to Sunspear the year after Robert took the throne, and you can be sure that he was questioned closely. Him, and a hundred more. I did not come for some mummer’s show of an inquiry. I came for justice for Elia and her children, and I will have it. Starting with this lummox Gregor Clegane … but not, I think, ending there. Before he dies, the Enormity That Rides will tell me whence came his orders, please assure your lord father of that.” He smiled. “An old septon once claimed I was living proof of the goodness of the gods. Do you know why that is, Imp?”

Tyrion IV, ASOS

“Is that the game we are playing?” Tyrion rubbed at his scarred nose. He had nothing to lose by telling Oberyn the truth. “There was a bear at Harrenhal, and it did kill Ser Amory Lorch.” “How sad for him,” said the Red Viper. “And for you. Do all noseless men lie so badly, I wonder?” “I am not lying. Ser Amory dragged Princess Rhaenys out from under her father’s bed and stabbed her to death. He had some men-at-arms with him, but I do not know their names.” He leaned forward. “It was Ser Gregor Clegane who smashed Prince Aegon’s head against a wall and raped your sister Elia with his blood and brains still on his hands.” “What is this, now? Truth, from a Lannister?” Oberyn smiled coldly. “Your father gave the commands, yes?” “No.” He spoke the lie without hesitation, and never stopped to ask himself why he should. The Dornishman raised one thin black eyebrow. “Such a dutiful son. And such a very feeble lie. It was Lord Tywin who presented my sister’s children to King Robert all wrapped up in crimson Lannister cloaks.”

Tyrion IX, ASOS

“Elia Martell, Princess of Dorne,” the Red Viper hissed. “You raped her. You murdered her. You killed her children…“I came to hear you confess.”

Tyrion X, ASOS

Varys and Tyrion both understand that House Martell (but more specifically Doran) hates the Lannisters.

“The Dornishmen thus far have held aloof from these wars. Doran Martell has called his banners, but no more. His hatred for House Lannister is well known, and it is commonly thought he will join Lord Renly. You wish to dissuade him.” “All this is obvious,” said Tyrion. “The only puzzle is what you might have offered for his allegiance. The prince is a sentimental man, and he still mourns his sister Elia and her sweet babe.” “My father once told me that a lord never lets sentiment get in the way of ambition … and it happens we have an empty seat on the small council, now that Lord Janos has taken the black.” “A council seat is not to be despised,” Varys admitted, “yet will it be enough to make a proud man forget his sister’s murder?” “Why forget?” Tyrion smiled. “I’ve promised to deliver his sister’s killers, alive or dead, as he prefers. After the war is done, to be sure.” Varys gave him a shrewd look. “My little birds tell me that Princess Elia cried a … certain name … when they came for her.” “Is a secret still a secret if everyone knows it?” In Casterly Rock, it was common knowledge that Gregor Clegane had killed Elia and her babe. They said he had raped the princess with her son’s blood and brains still on his hands. “This secret is your lord father’s sworn man.” “My father would be the first to tell you that fifty thousand Dornishmen are worth one rabid dog.” Varys stroked a powdered cheek. “And if Prince Doran demands the blood of the lord who gave the command as well as the knight who did the deed …” “Robert Baratheon led the rebellion. All commands came from him, in the end.” “Robert was not at King’s Landing.” “Neither was Doran Martell.”

Tyrion IV, ACOK

Really, all the nobles know where to look at when assigning blame for Elia's murder. Tywin.

“Prince Doran comes at my son’s invitation,” Lord Tywin said calmly, “not only to join in our celebration, but to claim his seat on this council, and the justice Robert denied him for the murder of his sister Elia and her children.” Tyrion watched the faces of the Lords Tyrell, Redwyne, and Rowan, wondering if any of the three would be bold enough to say, “But Lord Tywin, wasn’t it you who presented the bodies to Robert, all wrapped up in Lannister cloaks?” None of them did, but it was there on their faces all the same. Redwyne does not give a fig, he thought, but Rowan looks fit to gag.

Tywin, for the most part, quite shamelessly tries to disassociate himself from his own moral failings; this is nothing new, because he follows this same MO with squarely blaming the Freys for the Red Wedding even though he played an integral part in planning for it.

“Then why did the Mountain kill her?” “Because I did not tell him to spare her. I doubt I mentioned her at all. I had more pressing concerns. Ned Stark’s van was rushing south from the Trident, and I feared it might come to swords between us. And it was in Aerys to murder Jaime, with no more cause than spite. That was the thing I feared most. That, and what Jaime himself might do.” He closed a fist. “Nor did I yet grasp what I had in Gregor Clegane, only that he was huge and terrible in battle. The rape … even you will not accuse me of giving that command, I would hope. Ser Amory was almost as bestial with Rhaenys. I asked him afterward why it had required half a hundred thrusts to kill a girl of … two? Three? He said she’d kicked him and would not stop screaming. If Lorch had half the wits the gods gave a turnip, he would have calmed her with a few sweet words and used a soft silk pillow.” His mouth twisted in distaste. “The blood was in him.”

Tyrion VI, ASOS

“And when Oberyn demands the justice he’s come for?” “I will tell him that Ser Amory Lorch killed Elia and her children,” Lord Tywin said calmly. “So will you, if he asks.” “Ser Amory Lorch is dead,” Tyrion said flatly. “Precisely. Vargo Hoat had Ser Amory torn apart by a bear after the fall of Harrenhal. That ought to be sufficiently grisly to appease even Oberyn Martell.” “You may call that justice …” “It is justice. It was Ser Amory who brought me the girl’s body, if you must know. He found her hiding under her father’s bed, as if she believed Rhaegar could still protect her. Princess Elia and the babe were in the nursery a floor below.”

Tyrion VI, ASOS

Tywin tries to alleviate himself of any responsibility by blaming his men, but the narrative actively calls bullshit on this (through Tywin's own son no less).

So the narrative shows through multiple POVs that Elia's murder is contextualized exclusively as a failing on Tywin Lannister and his men; not only was it a moral failing, but Tyrion also questions if it was politically necessary in the first place. It's also important to note that ASOS is when we really dive into the matter of Elia and her children (mostly through Oberyn), but we also have to remember that this is the same book as the Red Wedding. The Red Wedding, another one of Tywin's senseless massacres that he tries to postulate as politically necessary.

So, we have agreed that the blame and context for Elia's (and her children's) murder is presented through the lens of Tywin as an immoral politician who often makes politically unnecessary moves. But then we ask ourselves, can the responsibility of this tragedy be extended? Well, yes it can. And it has been in the text.

Ser Barristan extends this tragedy beyond Tywin and his men

...to King Robert.

“Prince Rhaegar had two children,” Ser Barristan told him. “Rhaenys was a little girl, Aegon a babe in arms. When Tywin Lannister took King’s Landing, his men killed both of them. He served the bloody bodies up in crimson cloaks, a gift for the new king.” And what did Robert say when he saw them? Did he smile? Barristan Selmy had been badly wounded on the Trident, so he had been spared the sight of Lord Tywin’s gift, but oft he wondered. If I had seen him smile over the red ruins of Rhaegar’s children, no army on this earth could have stopped me from killing him. “I will not suffer the murder of children. Accept that, or I’ll have no part of this.”

The Kingbreaker, ADWD

Ned Stark does as well.

Ned did not feign surprise; Robert’s hatred of the Targaryens was a madness in him. He remembered the angry words they had exchanged when Tywin Lannister had presented Robert with the corpses of Rhaegar’s wife and children as a token of fealty. Ned had named that murder; Robert called it war. When he had protested that the young prince and princess were no more than babes, his new-made king had replied, “I see no babes. Only dragonspawn.” Not even Jon Arryn had been able to calm that storm. Eddard Stark had ridden out that very day in a cold rage, to fight the last battles of the war alone in the south. It had taken another death to reconcile them; Lyanna’s death, and the grief they had shared over her passing.

Eddard II, AGOT

And so does Tywin, who uses Robert's tacit approval as justification for this senseless act.

Lord Tywin stared at him as if he had lost his wits. “You deserve that motley, then. We had come late to Robert’s cause. It was necessary to demonstrate our loyalty. When I laid those bodies before the throne, no man could doubt that we had forsaken House Targaryen forever. And Robert’s relief was palpable. As stupid as he was, even he knew that Rhaegar’s children had to die if his throne was ever to be secure. Yet he saw himself as a hero, and heroes do not kill children.” His father shrugged. “I grant you, it was done too brutally. Elia need not have been harmed at all, that was sheer folly. By herself she was nothing.”

Tyrion VI, ASOS

So if we can't extend the blame to Rhaegar, because the narrative doesn't do so either, what can we hold him responsible for? Let's take a step back and look at Rhaegar's culpability in this whole thing.

Was Rhaegar (and Lyanna) responsible for starting the war that would eventually lead to Elia's murder?

No. GRRM doesn't think so. The war actually started when King Aerys murdered the Lord of Winterfell and his heir, a bunch of other northern nobles, and then called for the heads of Robert Baratheon (Lord of Storm's End) and Ned Stark (the new Lord of Winterfell). Aerys broke the feudal contract, and so Jon Arryn declared war.

I don't think I would have stayed loyal to the Mad King. Do I think they were justified? Yes, and no. [...] There was no doubt that the Mad King was mad. He was paranoid and he was abusing his power. And Westeros has no Magna Carta or anything like that. There was no way to handle this within the rule of law. But was what they do justified? Especially when you consider that it was triggered by a personal grievance. The execution of Ned's father and brother was really a thing that radicalized Ned and put him in opposition to it. Robert was just rolling for a fight and didn't like the fact that he'd lost his girlfriend. So you know, the personal informs the political.

source

Rhaegar and Lyanna's disappearance was merely the spark - it led to a misunderstanding that caused Brandon Stark to ride to Kingslanding. What really caused the war was Aerys' Targaryens subsequent actions as the king. So if we want to blame someone for causing the chain of events that led to Elia's death as well as her children's, the author himself says to blame Aerys; even though I don't think this is right either because we once again stray from the necessary (and sole) context of Elia's murder - Tywin's bloody hands.

Fine. Rhaegar was not responsible for the war. But surely he is responsible for leaving Elia in King's Landing, right in the clutches of Mad King Aerys. Well, this again, is not true. As far as Rhaegar knew, Elia was in Dragonstone with Aegon and Rhaenys where he left them.

As cold winds hammered the city, King Aerys II turned to his pyromancers, charging them to drive the winter off with their magics. Huge green fires burned along the walls of the Red Keep for a moon’s turn. Prince Rhaegar was not in the city to observe them, however. Nor could he be found in Dragonstone with Princess Elia and their young son, Aegon.

“The Year of the False Spring”, The World of Ice and Fire

At some point, Elia was called to King's Landing. And it was Aerys who kept her hostage there as insurance against possible Dornish betrayal (remember, he was paranoid).

Side Note: Aerys kept another important political hostage in King's Landing along with Elia - Jaime Lannister; this is to deter anyone from trying to blame Jaime for doing nothing. He was a teenager and a hostage himself!

“My Sworn Brothers were all away, you see, but Aerys liked to keep me close. I was my father’s son, so he did not trust me. He wanted me where Varys could watch me, day and night. So I heard it all.” He remembered how Rossart’s eyes would shine when he unrolled his maps to show where the substance must be placed. Garigus and Belis were the same. “Rhaegar met Robert on the Trident, and you know what happened there. When the word reached court, Aerys packed the queen off to Dragonstone with Prince Viserys. Princess Elia would have gone as well, but he forbade it. Somehow he had gotten it in his head that Prince Lewyn must have betrayed Rhaegar on the Trident, but he thought he could keep Dorne loyal so long as he kept Elia and Aegon by his side. The traitors want my city, I heard him tell Rossart, but I’ll give them naught but ashes. Let Robert be king over charred bones and cooked meat. The Targaryens never bury their dead, they burn them. Aerys meant to have the greatest funeral pyre of them all. Though if truth be told, I do not believe he truly expected to die. Like Aerion Brightfire before him, Aerys thought the fire would transform him … that he would rise again, reborn as a dragon, and turn all his enemies to ash.

Jaime V, ASOS

Ok, fine. So Rhaegar did not abandon her with Aerys then run off to Lyanna. But he should have done something when he came back, right? Why didn't he leave more Kings Guard with Elia and the children?

Well....this is a war. The knights of the KG are important assets on the battle field. Kings Landing, at the time, was not the most dangerous location. The KG were better off at the Trident, as a victory there would protect those who were left behind in KL.

And it's not that Rhaegar didn't do anything. Beyond going off to lead the battle himself, he tried to make moves that would help those who were back in KL (Elia and the children included).

He floated in heat, in memory. “After dancing griffins lost the Battle of the Bells, Aerys exiled him.” Why am I telling this absurd ugly child? “He had finally realized that Robert was no mere outlaw lord to be crushed at whim, but the greatest threat House Targaryen had faced since Daemon Blackfyre. The king reminded Lewyn Martell gracelessly that he held Elia and sent him to take command of the ten thousand Dornishmen coming up the kingsroad. Jon Darry and Barristan Selmy rode to Stoney Sept to rally what they could of griffins’ men, and Prince Rhaegar returned from the south and persuaded his father to swallow his pride and summon my father. But no raven returned from Casterly Rock, and that made the king even more afraid. He saw traitors everywhere, and Varys was always there to point out any he might have missed. So His Grace commanded his alchemists to place caches of wildfire all over King’s Landing. Beneath Baelor’s Sept and the hovels of Flea Bottom, under stables and storehouses, at all seven gates, even in the cellars of the Red Keep itself.

Jaime V ASOS

And Jaime's POV once again shows us that Rhaegar banked on victory at the Trident, and was fully expecting to come back to KL and amend the fraught political situation.

The day had been windy when he said farewell to Rhaegar, in the yard of the Red Keep. The prince had donned his night-black armor, with the three-headed dragon picked out in rubies on his breastplate. “Your Grace,” Jaime had pleaded, “let Darry stay to guard the king this once, or Ser Barristan. Their cloaks are as white as mine.” Prince Rhaegar shook his head. “My royal sire fears your father more than he does our cousin Robert. He wants you close, so Lord Tywin cannot harm him. I dare not take that crutch away from him at such an hour.” Jaime’s anger had risen up in his throat. “I am not a crutch. I am a knight of the Kingsguard.” “Then guard the king,” Ser Jon Darry snapped at him. “When you donned that cloak, you promised to obey.” Rhaegar had put his hand on Jaime’s shoulder. “When this battle’s done I mean to call a council. Changes will be made. I meant to do it long ago, but … well, it does no good to speak of roads not taken. We shall talk when I return.”

Jaime I, AFFC

So Rhaegar wasn't leaving with no care about what happened back in King's Landing. We don't know what he wanted to do with Aerys, Elia, Lyanna, and the aftermath of the war because he died at the Trident. But we do know that he, at the very least, was planning to do something.

So we can't blame Rhaegar (and Lyanna) for starting the war and we can't blame him either for abandoning Elia in King's Landing with no care about what happens next. So, again, what can we blame him for?

“It's not entirely correct that the Martells stayed out of the war. Rhaegar had Dornish troops with him on the Trident, under the command of Prince Lewyn of the Kingsguard. However, the Dornishmen did not support him as strongly as they might have, in part because of anger at his treatment of Elia, in part because of Prince Doran's innate caution.”

SSM, 09/11/1999

GRRM states that Dorne was angry about Rhaegar's treatment of Elia. What is this treatment, though?

Ned remembered the moment when all the smiles died, when Prince Rhaegar Targaryen urged his horse past his own wife, the Dornish princess Elia Martell, to lay the queen of beauty’s laurel in Lyanna’s lap.

Eddard XV, AGOT

Specifically, Rhaegar riding past Elia to crown Lyanna the Queen of Love and Beauty. Yes, that is a humiliation. And it's undeniable that no one was happy.

The crowning of the Stark girl, who was by all reports a wild and boyish young thing with none of the Princess Elia’s delicate beauty, could only have been meant to win the allegiance of Winterfell to Prince Rhaegar’s cause…Yet if this were true, why did Lady Lyanna’s brothers seem so distraught at the honor the prince had bestowed upon her? Brandon Stark, the heir to Winterfell, had to be restrained from confronting Rhaegar at what he took as a slight upon his sister’s honor…Eddard Stark, Brandon’s younger brother and a close friend to Lord Robert, was calmer but no more pleased.

“The Year of the False Spring”, The World of Ice and Fire

But, humiliating Elia is not the same thing as being responsible for her death. The narrative never equates these two things in any way. Elia's death is about Tywin's immoral and blood thirsty political actions. It's about Dorne's desire for justice (or is it vengeance?) which they know they will not get from the Lannister regime. House Lannister's downfall in King's Landing will be brought about by Prince Aegon's rise - Aegon who is proclaiming to be the long lost son of Prince Rhaegar, and who is being supported by House Martell as of now.

We can criticize Rhaegar for some things, but Elia's death is surely not one of them.

#I generally don't like talking about the whole rhaegar-lyanna-elia stuff partly because I don't really care for either of them #but mostly because these topics often devolve into extremes that help absolutely no one #but I just wanted to hop on here and say that blaming rhaegar for elia's death is imo not cannon compliant #the narrative already give us an answer to this - THE LANNISTERS but more specifically TYWIN and GREGOR and AMORY #it's not rhaegar or lyanna or their child Jon to bear any of the blame in this #dorne's decision to join the war against the crown is entirely because it's in opposition to the lannister regime #that's not to say that rhaegar cannot have responsibility for the humiliation of elia - because even grrm says he does #but saying he bears the blame for her murder is just a bit.....😕#also rhaegar is one thing but blaming LYANNA of all people is ummm well #rhaegar targaryen #robert's rebellion #tywin lannister #ser gregor clegane #ser amory lorch #house martell #elia martell #asoiaf #valyrianscrolls #pls forgive any spelling and grammatical mistakes its midnights and I'm tired af thanks #my stuff

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momotonescreaming · 1 year

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More domestic Steve/Barb for my co-captain of this ship, @findafight

Barb wakes up slowly, lazily, eased into it by the sun peeking through the curtains and not the blaring of her alarm clock. She can take her time, let the heaviness of sleep slowly lift from her bones. Bleary and still half asleep — she stretches, groaning — feeling the gentle pull of her muscles. Her arms stick out from underneath the blankets as she does so, her bones clicking, and she feels the sting of the chill in the air.

It was starting to get colder out now, the wind whipping up a frost in the early mornings. She could feel the cold, feel it pressing at the windows. Seeping into the air and leeching all warmth. Steve's curtains did little to keep in the heat. She quickly retreats under the cover, into the pocket of warmth her and Steve have created.

Rolling over, she blinks and finds Steve’s side of the bed empty. The sheets are cool, but they’re still rumpled in a vaguely Steve-like shape. He always was an early riser, but she can’t help but feel the anxiety starting to twist in her gut. Leaning over to turn on the bedside lamp, she forces herself up and into something vaguely resembling a sitting position. The light is harsh, but warm, Barb scrunches her eyes shut as the light floods her vision.

She blinks again, rubbing away the sleep as her eyes adjust to the light. Her glasses are neatly resting atop the bedside table, next to what looks like a yellow blur. A note? Putting on her glasses, her vision clears, and Barb finds that it is in fact, a note. Steve’s left her a message in his familiar, scratchy, handwriting.

Gone for a run, back by breakfast. Love you! <3

Smiling, she runs her hand over the yellow paper, thumb brushing against the heart Steve had drawn. Her chest flutters at the sight — at the silly heart, at the note itself. A little reminder that he loves her, and he’s thinking of her. Smoothing out the paper, she opens up her book and tucks the note inside.

Throwing off the covers and swinging her legs out of bed, she feels the chill ripple across her skin. Seeping straight through the worn fabric of her pyjama pants and an old gym shirt of Steve’s she had stolen to wear to bed.

Staying in bed alone, isn’t as pleasant as it was before Steve, she’s found. She can’t feel his radiating warmth, feel his breath on her skin, his cute snuffling snores. She knows what she’s missing now. Waking up on an early Sunday morning, feeling Steve pressing gentle kisses to the back of her neck, his strong arms wrapped around her waist, legs tangled with hers. It was everything.

Waking up in his bed, knowing he’ll be back, and thinking of her — was still nice, but wasn’t as good as when he was there with her. A shiver runs down her spine, and she gets out of bed.

It’s still early morning, and everything is quiet. Barb can’t hear Steve in the shower, or listening to the TV downstairs, but she doesn’t worry. She knows where he is. He’s safe, and he’ll be back.

In an attempt to fight off the morning cold, she pulls on a pair of fuzzy socks she had left here last time, and one of Steve’s oversized Pacers hoodies. Barb used to judge girls who were obsessed with stealing their boyfriend’s clothes, thought it was a possessive ‘staking their claim’ thing. She knows better now. She gets it.

It smells like him.

Pulling open the curtains, the light floods in. It doesn’t feel it, but it looks warmer already.

She heads downstairs, socked feet padding against the carpeted floors. It’s colder down here, with the large open spaces, and the central heating turned off. She could turn it on, Steve wouldn’t blame her, he knows how much she hates the cold now — plus his parents were the ones paying the power bill anyway, and they could afford it. But it felt weird without Steve there.

So she opens more of the curtains, letting the light in so the sun can slowly warm up the hallowed halls of the Harrington house. It helps.

The first time she was alone in Steve’s house without him, it felt weird, and thrilling, nerve-wracking all at the same time. She had a boy, who liked her, who trusted her enough to leave her alone in his house.

Now, she was more calm about it. Used to it.

Barb heads to the kitchen, to the now familiar beige cupboards and dappled countertops. Steve’s moved the spare radio onto the windowsill, likes to listen to tapes, or whatever sports game was being reported on as he cooked. She likes it too, the noise making it so she doesn’t suffocate in the empty echo of a house without Steve. Turning it on, she switches until she finds a station playing music she recognises, and lets it play.

The coffee machine hums as she turns it on, a fancy thing her parents would never spend money on — Barb making sure she’s making enough for two.

Turning to the clock — some fancy one Steve said his mother spent far too much money on for something designed to go in the kitchen — Barb debates whether to start breakfast. She has the time to actually start cooking something, and not just putting toast in the toaster — depending on how fast and how far Steve decides to run today, of course.

Steve likes to come home and cook her breakfast — has even bought her breakfast in bed a few times — and has admitted as much to her. It’s just another way for him to take care of her.

But she’s awake, and out of bed, and has the time. It might be nice to surprise him for a change. Cook him breakfast. She doesn’t get the chance often — he always wakes up before her.

Nodding to herself, she opens the fridge to see what she has to work with. Not a lot, in all honesty. But enough for eggs. No bacon. Maybe toast on the side? Steve really needs to do a grocery shop. The vegetables he has are still fresh, and he has plenty of cheese — so Barb settles for omelettes. She’s decent at making them, if she says so herself.

So she pulls out everything she needs, turns the volume up on the radio, and starts cooking.

---

Steve loved an early morning run. The rush of endorphins, the gentle burn of his muscles, the wind rushing past him. When most people were still asleep, he could enjoy the quiet streets of Hawkins without interruption. Barb was safe, the demogorgon was dead, there was nothing hiding in the shadows waiting to catch him alone. It was a step back to normal, and it was nice.

The best part of an early morning run was being able to go home afterwards. To hop in the shower and feel the warm water ease his muscles, to feel the sweat wash off of him, to fill up on breakfast, to relax. Satisfied.

It was even better when Barb was there. She was fast asleep when he left for his run that morning, face slack, hair messy, and had shuffled into the warm spot he’d left as soon as he was out of bed. He could kiss her goodbye when he left, and could kiss her good morning as soon as he returned.

He would always return to her.

Unlocking the front door, Steve lets himself inside. He can see the sun streaming through the large windows in the living room, visible from the front door. Music is playing faintly from the kitchen. Barb is awake. He can feel himself smile at the thought of her.

Toeing off his shoes as fast as he can, Steve throws his keys onto the hall table and makes his way to the kitchen. He’s eager to see her, of course he is. The excitement of seeing her again still hasn’t worn off, even after months of dating. Everyone said he’d leave the honeymoon phase, that the shine would wear off — but it hasn't yet and he doesn’t want it to. He’d only been on a quick jog, all things considered, and he was still thrilled at the thought of seeing Barb again.

Steve almost runs inside, but instead he pauses at the entry to the kitchen, leaning on the propped open door. He watches her fondly, his eager grin settling into something softer, fond.

Barb didn’t hear him come in. The music is louder now, his radio set to some top 40’s station with the volume turned up. He recognises it— it’s a love song that’s been playing pretty regularly lately. She’s humming to herself at the stove, swaying and singing along with the music. God, he loves her. She makes him so fucking happy. The sun lights her hair up like a sunset — or a forest fire — outlining her against the window.

The song picks up with the chorus, and she starts to dance in place, poking at her food with the spatula as she wiggles along with the beat. He tries to hold back a giggle as she shakes her butt, following the motion with his eyes. She looks happy. If he wasn’t all sweaty and gross from his run, he’d drape himself over her back and hold her tight. He might just do it anyway.

He approaches her from behind, careful to make sure she’s not holding a knife or the hot pan — and places his hands on her hips, feeling the soft fabric of her pyjama pants under his hands. Her pyjama pants are pink, fitting comfortably on her hips, with multi coloured spots. He smiles everytime he catches sight of them, because it means that Barb has been there.

Hooking his chin over her shoulder, he looks down at what she’s cooking. She jumps, but quickly settles when she realises it's him, and he can feel the motions of it under his hands.

“Morning, Barbie,” he greets, pressing a gentle kiss to the side of her neck.

She turns to look at him, face melting into a smile as they lock eyes. Her voice is still rough with sleep, warm and scratchy. “G’morning. I made us breakfast.”

“You didn’t have to do that,” He says, kissing her neck again, but lower this time — his face almost buried in the hood of his Pacers hoodie. It looks better on Barb. “I could’ve made something.”

“But I wanted to,” She says simply, with a small shrug of her shoulders. His heart swells. At how easy and obvious she makes it sound. As if caring for him was an easy decision. Steve presses his face into her neck, inhaling. Kisses her again, feeling her soft skin against his lips.

“Thank you,” he mumbles, pressing himself closer against her back, snaking his arms around her waist.

“My pleasure,” Barb replies, quickly looking back at the stove to make sure her food doesn’t burn — and then back up at Steve. She tilts her head, the hint of a smirk on her lips. “Now go shower before it’s done, you’re so sweaty, it’s disgusting.”

He just smirks back, squeezing her waist. “ But I thought you liked it when I’m all sweaty?”

She laughs, and it’s everything. “Not like this. So go shower. Shoo.”

Pouting, but not all that serious about it, Steve pulls away from Barb and retreats out of the kitchen. He watches her as he goes, walking backwards, and she’s watching him back. “Miss you already.”

“Get out of here,” She laughs, shooing him away with her spatula.

#Stranger Things #Steve Harrington #Barbara Holland #Barb Holland #Starbara #Hollington #steve x barb #i love them a lot #if anyone needs a sign to jump on this ship #this is it #pls join us #my writing

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