#with a side of protective bestie elide | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

leiawritesstories · 1 year

Text

illicit affairs, 2

PART ONE

Word count: ~2.2k

Warnings: angst, language, degrading terms, mentions of domestic violence

@rowanaelinn once again thank you for inspiring this au, i hope you love it ;)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Aelin swore she didn't breathe for the next four or five days, half expecting to come home and find Chaol standing in the kitchen with that accusatory look of his on his face. He'd worn that look when he told her they didn't talk anymore--when he'd blamed that problem on her. He'd worn that look the last time she saw him.

Then he'd disappeared from the house.

She hadn't seen him in the weeks since he left. Which was odd, considering their workplaces were on the same city block, but she supposed she shouldn't be surprised. And thank all the gods he hadn't been out for a drink that night--that night.

The night she'd gone out for a girls' night and gone home dripping a stranger's cum down her thighs.

Days later, she was still thinking about it. The memory alone was enough to get her riled up, to have her core heating and warmth pooling deep in her stomach. She had to force herself away from those thoughts, especially when she was at work--she was far too professional to be taking a "bathroom break."

Hell. She was thinking about it.

Muttering a curse under her breath, Aelin turned back to her computer, pulling up the quarterly reports to drive her mind away from its traitorous fixation. As one of the head accountants, she and her partners split the report-checking duties, and this quarter was all Aelin's. She shook her head, tugged her reading glasses up her nose, and focused on the columns of numbers, scanning for any errors or anything that seemed off.

The distraction worked--the next time she glanced at the clock down in the bottom corner of her computer screen, nearly four hours had passed. And it was almost five o'clock, thank the gods. She closed the file, logged off, and shut down her computer, making sure to wait until it was past five before she clocked out. Damn picky boss. She grabbed her ridiculously expensive designer tote bag and slung it over her shoulder, heels clicking smartly against the smooth flooring of the office as she walked out.

Elide met her by the elevator. "Long day, Ae?"

"And then some," Aelin grumbled. "Hate quarterlies."

The petite woman huffed in agreement. "Don't know much about that myself, but HR's been a real bitch lately."

"I swear I've got no idea how you manage to stay in that job, Ells," Aelin returned. "I'd probably go stark raving mad after an hour."

"I just yell at people," Elide smirked.

Aelin chuckled and bumped her friend's shoulder. "Hey, want to grab a drink?"

"Gods, absolutely!"

"...and then I wake up and he's just fucking gone." Aelin hadn't expected the venom to slip into her tone. She took another sip of her vodka tonic, relishing the burn of the alcohol. Shit, Fenrys knew how to make a good drink.

"Asshole," was Elide's simple, emphatic reply. The brunette's dark eyes flashed dangerously. "Y'know, if you ever need anything..." She sipped on her Long Island. "I'm always here, babes."

"Not yet," was all that Aelin said. "But if it ever--oh, fucking hell!"

Elide followed Aelin's gaze, finding none other than Chaol Westfall himself at the receiving end of Aelin's fury. Before the blonde could get up and storm over to him, Elide grabbed her sleeve. "Hold on a fuckin' second, Ae."

"I'm going to fucking castrate him," Aelin growled, tugging free of Elide's grasp.

"Yeah, but wait a goddamn minute!" Elide hissed. Aelin stopped, raising a brow at her.

"Why?"

"Because we're in a public bar, and you don't need anyone trying to film you giving that jackass a piece of your mind. You know how horrific the internet is."

"Dammit," Aelin sighed, settling back down. "I hate it when you're right, Ells."

"It's my job, Ae." Elide clinked her glass to Aelin's. "Wait until you leave, then go rip his balls off."

Before she could snark a reply, Aelin froze with her drink halfway to her mouth, staring at the other figure who'd approached Chaol.

Where the hell had Rowan come from?

Rowan had decided to stop by Fen's bar for a quick drink before heading home, hoping to toss back a good strong drink and swap a few jokes with his friend before going back to his too-empty house and dreaming of Aelin. Probably with his cock in his hand. And that plan had been going flawlessly, until he spotted a certain someone.

There, over in a booth, was Aelin. She sat with a petite brunette Rowan vaguely recognized--her coworker, probably--and she was staring burning daggers across the bar. Following her gaze, Rowan located a brunette man of average height and build, who seemed to be doing his utter best to hide from Aelin's wrath.

Fuck, he wasn't sure how that man was related to Aelin, but he knew one thing--if she was glaring murder at him like that, he didn't deserve her.

Before his mind caught up with him, Rowan strode over to the brunette man, sticking his hand out to introduce himself. "Name's Whitethorn."

The other man shook Rowan's hand warily, his forehead creasing in confusion. "Chaol Westfall. Do I know you?"

Rowan shook his head. "Nah. I'm a friend of Fen's, he said something about how we have a mutual friend?"

Chaol frowned. "Not sure who that'd be; I've never seen you before."

Rowan flicked a covert glance at the shorter man, unable to help his detective's instincts. He was dressed in a normal suit, had a briefcase at his feet, and wore a plain gold wedding band on his left hand. Something about that ring looked familiar...well, shit.

Aelin hadn't been wearing a ring when he...met her, but on her left ring finger had been a band of paler skin just the right size for a wedding band, indicating that she typically wore a ring.

Rowan shrugged. "Hmm. Well, maybe someone you know comes to this bar often, and Fen knows them."

"Well, my wife likes this place," Chaol mused. "But I don't see why you'd know her; she doesn't tend to keep company with other men. She's taken."

"She wouldn't happen to be here now, would she?" Rowan deadpanned.

Chaol's glance darted over to Aelin, finding her burning gaze averted but no less furious. "Yeah, she's with her friend."

As much as his rational brain screamed at him to restrain himself, Rowan couldn't resist. "So you're Aelin's husband, then?" he asked with a slow, insolent smirk. "Wonder how she ever settled for someone like you."

"How the hell do you know my wife?" Chaol snarled, fists clenching.

"Didn't seem to be very interested in your marriage when I met her," Rowan shrugged, casually draining the rest of his drink.

"She what?" Chaol spat, incredulous and enraged all at once. "I--Aelin would never--"

"Seems like you don't know your 'wife' very well, Westfall."

Chaol's eyes narrowed. "I certainly didn't know she'd actually go and be a whore."

The only sound in the suddenly-silent bar was the crack of Rowan's fist smashing into Chaol's face. "Keep that fucking word out of your worthless mouth," he snarled, vicious rage coloring his tone.

The other man lifted his hand to his swelling cheek, furious. "It's the fucking truth," he growled.

Wordlessly, Rowan grabbed Chaol by the collar, shoving him up against the wall. "Don't you fucking dare speak like that--shit!" Fenrys and Lorcan appeared out of nowhere and dragged him away, hissing at him to back the hell off, goddammit! He shook himself free, glaring daggers at Westfall. "That piece of shit is Aelin's husband?"

"Yeah," Fen snapped, "and he's goddamn proud of it." He handed a plastic bag full of ice to another staff member, who rushed it over to Chaol. And Aelin, who for some impossible reason was by her husband's side, placing the ice pack on his bruised face.

Rowan suppressed a growl, his keen gaze noticing how Chaol allowed Aelin to help him up, draping his arm around her shoulders, and lead him out of the bar. Fen swatted him upside the head. "Get your raging ass out of my bar before you pull something even worse, Whitethorn."

"Sorry, Fen," Rowan muttered. He dropped some cash on the bartop and left, muscle memory leading him to mount his motorcycle and drive home. There, he grabbed a bottle of cheap whiskey from his liquor cabinet and drained three or four shots, only stopping when his vision blurred.

He was so utterly screwed.

Aelin stared blankly at the door in front of her, twisting a ring around her right middle finger. The lettering on the glass stared her back in the face. Cadre Private Investigation. Elide had slipped her the address, saying that the firm was one of the best in its field, known for being as discreet as they were good.

She just hoped whoever worked here would be able to help her gather the evidence she needed for her divorce.

Steeling herself, Aelin entered the office. The reception area was small but cozy, paneled in warm-toned wood and smelling ever so faintly of evergreen forests. The redheaded woman sitting at the desk glanced up, offering Aelin a professional, polite smile.

"Welcome to Cadre Investigation. May I help you?"

"I--yes." Aelin laid her hands flat on the edge of the desk, willing her voice not to waver. "I'd like to speak with an investigator about a potential contract."

The receptionist clicked a few things on her computer. "Would this be an introduction, a consult, or...?"

"Just an introduction."

"Alright." The woman tapped a few more keys. "Come with me, then. I believe Agent Doranelle is available." She led Aelin through a set of doors and down a quiet hallway, stopping at one of the office doors. "Knock three times," she said. "I'll leave you to it--privacy rules and all that."

Exhaling deeply, Aelin knocked three times. The door swung open, revealing..."You?"

Rowan looked just as stunned to see Aelin standing there. "Aelin?" he whispered. Swiftly, he guided her into his office and closed the door, offering her a comfortable chair in front of his desk. He raked a hand through his pale hair, concern and confusion warring in his eyes.

"Forgive me, I--"

"I need--"

They spoke at the same time.

Rowan gestured to her. "Please."

Aelin took another deep, deep breath. "I need...your help. Ells recommended this place, said it's one of the best investigative firms in the city." She clutched her hands together. "I need help getting evidence for my--for my divorce case."

Rowan waited a few seconds before responding, forcing himself to be calm. "You've filed for divorce?"

She nodded. "I have, yes. It's a long story." Again, her gaze flicked downwards. "Chaol and I married young. Our marriage isn't working anymore." Such a simple, sanitized explanation.

Something dark, almost violent, crossed his face. "What kind of evidence are you needing, Aelin? We're a detective firm, not a law firm."

"I have a lawyer," she replied. "Chaol has decided to contest the divorce claim, so I need--" Her throat clogged, shame and pain choking her voice. "I need to prove he--he--hurt me." The last two words were a bare whisper.

Rage glittered deep in Rowan's emerald eyes. His gaze swept over her, cataloguing the sweater she wore--unusual for late spring--and the silk scarf draped around her neck. Also unusual, more of a fall fashion than a spring one. He stood, walked around to her, and leaned against the front of his desk. "May I?" he asked gently, touching the corner of her scarf.

Fear--terror--flashed bright and swift across her stunning face, but she masked it behind a blank look and nodded. He couldn't stop himself from softly caressing her shoulder as he reached for her scarf, carefully lifting the material from around her neck, relieved when she arched ever so imperceptibly into his touch. Nor could he keep his detective's mind from noticing the thickness of her makeup, enough to not quite match the color of her neck.

Before he looked at her, Rowan instinctively slid his hand down to wrap around hers. Aelin tucked her slender fingers into his and straightened her posture, her spine going steel-stiff. He brushed his thumb across the back of her hand, steadying her, steadying himself, and swept a probing look over her.

White-hot anger rippled across his features when his keen eyes landed on her collarbones and throat. When he saw the purple-blue patterns splotched across her skin. When the pieces clicked in his mind and he knew what those bruises meant.

"He did this to you?" The question was no more than a vehement, deadly whisper.

Not trusting her stone-faced façade, Aelin just nodded.

Rowan's expression settled into grim determination. "When we're done with that fucking bastard, he won't be able to come within fifty miles of you, Aelin."

~~~

TAGS:

@live-the-fangirl-life

@superspiritfestival

@thegreyj

@wordsafterhours

@elentiyawhitethorn

@morganofthewildfire

@backtobl4ck

@rowanaelinn

@house-of-galathynius

@tomtenadia

@julemmaes

@swankii-art-teacher

@charlizeed

@booknerdproblems

@chronicchthonic14

@earthtolinds

@goddess-aelin

@sweet-but-stormy

@clea-nightingale

@autumnbabylon

@darling-im-the-queen-of-hell

@llyncooljones

@silentquartz

#my writing #aelin galathynius #rowan whitethorn #rowaelin #rowan x aelin #rowaelin fanfic #with a side of protective bestie elide #rowaelin fanfiction #rowaelin angst #yes this is frederick #tw: mentions of domestic violence

67 notes · View notes

summerbummin · 6 years

Text

Rowaelin Pregnancy Headcanons

I have also made some headcanons about the inner circle from acotar here

-A couple years after the war and hopefully with Maeve's decapitated head hung on the wall, Aelin decides she wants to start trying for a baby

-Rowan of course agrees

-Aelin "subtly" suggests it means more sex

-That's a lie

-She leaned over so her hot breath was tickling Rowan's ear and said "it also means more sex for you" and bit his earlobe

-They couldn't get to a bedroom fast enough

-Cue them trying for months and still nothing

-No baby

-Aelin starts to feel like maybe she's incapable of having a child

-Maybe there's something wrong with her

-Rowan wants to smack her upside the head for thinking like that, but instead opts for wrapping her in a hug

-Might I add the size difference so Rowan basically encases Aelin in his body

-He says they can just keep trying, then continues to bite her earlobe

-More naughty shenanigans, including touches under tables in inappropriate places, Aelin coming to bed wearing only socks, whispering dirty things in the other's ear in public, and a quickie in a carriage ride that emotionally scarred the poor driver

-One day Aelin runs up to Rowan in tears and he asks what's wrong and immediately grabs her arms assessing her for injuries

-"I'm not hurt you stupid buzzard" and she takes his hand, laying it on her stomach

-Rowan's knees almost gave out

-After a year and a half of trying they were finally blessed with a baby

-Rowan sweeps her in his arms twirling Aelin around, princess style, then sets her down to plant a kiss on her stomach

-Aelin grumbles about how she doesn't have a baby bump yet but is actually preening like a peacock

-They told the others together

-Aedion nearly fell out the window when he tried to lean back against the wall in his emotional state

-Lysandra shrieked so loud that guards came running

-Gavriel smiled at him and wished him good luck in fatherhood

-Fenrys clapped Rowan on the back and said the baby would be proof he had sex with the queen of Terresean

-Lorcan smacked Fenrys upside the head

-Elide hugged the queen and both of them ended up in tears

-Both were tackled to the ground by a ghost leopard that wanted to join in on the group hug

--Aelin gets awful morning sickness and Rowan holds back her hair as she barfs in a bucket while simultaneously cussing like a sailor

-Elide brings her some cool towels and saltine crackers to help

-Rowan thanks the gods for Elide in that moment

-Rowan can not stop touching Aelin's stomach

-He leaves kisses on the baby bump when it starts to form and Aelin says he's freaking her out with being all "mushy" but secretly loves it

-Rowan refuses to leave her side especially as the pregnancy progresses

-He's terrified of something happening to her after Lyria

-It's only because of that Aelin bares with it

-she still complains about what a stubborn overbearing bastard he's being, but he's her stubborn overbearing bastard

-Fenrys and Lysandra get into an intense stare down on wether the baby will be a boy or a girl

-Lysandra thinks it'll be a girl

-Fenrys guesses it'll be a boy

-with the help of Aedion they make a bet

-If Fenrys wins Lysandra has to shift into Lorcan wearing a lime green tank top and bright pink shorts and walk around the castle like that

-If Lysandra wins Fenrys has to get a pedicure, complete with nail polish the color or Lysandra's choosing and flower designs

-Lorcan doesn't know about this bet

-For my baby Fenrys' safety you better hope he doesn't find out

-The word gets to Dorian and he sends a trunk full of children's books to read to the child, his personal favorite being "green eggs and ham" by Dr Seuss

-Not recognizing this tale Rowan asks how eggs can be green and Aelin laughs herself hoarse

-Sartag and Nesryn send a gift as well

-A cute stuffed animal that looks suspiciously like Rowan's other form

-Aelin wants to go out with Lysandra and shop for the baby because she needs some time with her bestie

-Rowan insists that he comes with or Aelin shouldn't go at all

-Aelin relents saying that he has to go into every shop she wants to go in, and no complaints

-Rowan scoffs at the request, as if he wouldn't go into a store with her

-He nearly throws up when Aelin and Lysandra enter a store that is a death trap of the most absurd shades of pastels

-he doesn't want to see another onesie that says "I wuv hugs" for the rest of his life

-Aelin's food cravings sends the cadre on errands across the continent

-Because the baby absolutely needed peanut butter covered strawberries from Fanharrow

-When Aelin is in the third trimester Rowan starts snarling at everyone who even comes near her or says one thing with a hint of disrespect

-He even snarls at Lysandra but Aelin flicks him on the nose for it and tells him to cool down or she'll send him to sleep with the dogs since he snarls like one

-speaking of dogs FLEETFOOT!!

-fleetfoot follows Aelin around and makes sure she's okay and brings her "presents"

-Rowan did not find the dead squirrel in their bed amusing

-Rowan is constantly asking her if she needs anything, more chocolate? A foot rub? Help tying her shoe laces?

-Aelin takes the first two and smacks his hand when he tries to tie her shoe laces for her

-Alein starts feeling the baby kick and is nothing short of cranky

-Despite that she lets Evangeline feel the baby kick her stomach, much to the girl's delight

-Aelin doesn't show it but she's both terrified (but excited) about having a baby/being a mother

-Aelin confesses this all to Aedion because she doesn't want any more worry on Rowan's shoulders

-Aedion reassures her she'll be an excellent mother and the child will have the best uncle in the world

-Rowan and Aelin sleep cuddled together in bed

-including massages for her back aches and Aelin melts into pure bliss under his firm hands

-Luckily Aelin wears his oversized shirt to fit over her enlarged belly and not her nightgown

-Rowan always has a hand laid on her stomach as if to assure himself her and the baby are still safe

-Aedion is playing a game of cards with his cousin, because they're both awful at cards so it's an even match of go fish

-Rowan is prowling the room like a panther because she's so close to the healer's best guess of a due date

-Aedion gets her jack of spades much to Aelin's glowering

-Then her water breaks

-She doesn't even tell them until she finished the game

-"Oh yeah by the way my water broke"

-Rowan's head whips around so fast it cracks

-Aedion's jaw drops "What? Just now?"

-Aelin shrugs. "No about five minutes ago"

-"WHAT!"

-Aelin is rushed to a room filled with midwives and Aedion calls Yrene from her room to come just in case anything goes wrong

-He had sent a message a couple weeks before so Yrene was staying in the castle while Chaol stayed to help Dorian

-Rowan doesn't know if he's breathing as he's waiting for the birth to start

-Aelin is pale and sweaty gripping Rowan's hand for dear life as she goes into labor

-Hearing her scream of pain as she pushes out as Yrene instructed sends Rowan's protective instincts into a frenzy

-He hates not being able to do anything to help take away her pain

-The baby comes out after multiple pushes and Aelin sobs through it, cussing Rowan out because the fucking baby needs to be gods-damned born already

-Rowan sends all the power he can into Aelin, anchoring her to the world, to the him; with their bond

-Then Rowan hears a cry not from Aelin but from his newly born daughter

-Yep it's a girl

-Fenrys is getting a peticure

-Aelin stops sobbing and falls back against the pillows, panting with exhaustion

-Rowan cradles the baby in his arms and hands her to Aelin after being snarled at "give me my daughter you buzzard"

-Aelin looks down at the bawling baby with its scrunched up face and meaty hands but nothing could be more beautiful

-"her name is..."

24 notes · View notes