Red // Otto Hightower (1)

11. Love Language

Otto had been thinking about Aelsa constantly since their little adventure. It was hard not think about her when he spent most of every waking hour in the same room as her.

Tyland cocked his head at her when she returned. He looked at her smile and thought this isnt good.

"You know if you get married your husband will not like you and your co hand flirting." Tyland offered innocently. Aelsa didnt even try to deny it.

"What future husband?" Aelsa countered.

"I put the proposals I have recieved from your mother on your desk yesterday." Tyland countered. "Have you gotten so behind?" He tsked.

"I clear my desk of everything i can every night before I leave." Aelsa was a very organized person. She liked order. Everything had a place and it needed to go in its place. She always burned the papers in the trash bin at the end of the day too never having any reason for handmaidens to be snooping about the office. Otto thought that was a good idea but they had the office cleaned of dust and the floors washed down occasionally otherwise aelsa and otto kept their office space clean and organized. Aelsa would even organize ottos desk when it wasnt to her liking.

Otto had leaned back in his chair as she sorted and organized his work. She pushed back his chair standing between his legs. He watched her hips move as she worked. It took a lot of restraint to keep from reaching out to touch her. To hold her.

"I put a few there. Hard to miss Aelsa." Tyland countered.

"Did you put it on ottos desk?" Aelsa countered.

"Otto and viserys." Tyland chuckled. "Whatever happened to formality."

"Formality doesnt matter for the beautiful." Aelsa countered bluntly.

"Right my mistake." Tyland agreed.

"What do you want Ty?"

"Nothing. Your family wants an answer miss Hand." Tyland remarked heading off.

Yes. Otto burned those scrolls when he happened to be snooping. He got to the office before Aelsa most mornings and he saw the stack on her desk. It wasnt like her to leave an unorganized pile scattered over her desk so he was merely going to tidy it up for her. Like a good co hand but then he unscrolled one. There were quite a few perhaps it was for the both of them. It wasnt.

Marriage proposals. Otto huffed at the thought. He didnt want Aelsa to get married. She belonged here. A man would steal her away make her give up her job and become a baby maker and Otto didnt want to lose her. So he might have started a fire early that morning saying there was a breeze when there wasnt and tossed the proposals in. When aelsa came in that morning and the next otto knew he would burn every proposal he could to keep her near.

"I dont know what to tell you Ty. I have no answer for my mother besides I dont want to marry a stranger. I like my job- dont give me that look." Aelsa demanded as she headed on her way.

"Lady Aelsa- my lady hand," larys altered.

"Hello Larys." Aelsa answered. "Did you need something?"

"Just you." Larys answered.

"Just me?" She countered stopping before him. Larys smiled taking a step closer. She watched how hard he gripped his cane and offered him her arm.

"Thank you." Larys whispered. She led him to her chambers. "I make it my business to know everyone business." Larys remarked.

"Have I dont something scandalous?" Aelsa mused offering him a seat and some wine. She didnt know much about larys figured a man that knew secrets would be good in the capital.

"No. Of course not." Larys answered.

"Then you are not doing a good job." Aelsa mused. "Everyone has secrets Larys. Mine are especially juicy." Larys smiled back at her shifting on the couch.

"Maybe I do some digging into you then." Larys half teased.

"I wish you luck then." Aelsa purred taking a sip of her wine.

"I got word from down south that the dornish princes are looking for a bride. They wanted if rumor can be trusted... you." Larys remarked.

"Thats sweet. I got no proposals though and im not in the market for a husband yet." Aelsa answered.

"You are a peculiar young woman." Larys remarked. "In the best way possible of course."

"Of course." Aelsa agreed.

"Most women just want a family. To settle down and you want to conquer the world." Larys deemed.

"Very observant my lord." Aelsa agreed. "I can do real good in the capital as hand of the king. Co hand but still I hold power. Wives dont hold power. For the first time in forever a woman can make a difference, a true difference!" Aelsa declared. Larys found himself smiling back at her giddy smile. "I am the future here. Not in dorne. Not in winterfell. Not storms end or harenhal." She added giving him a pointed look. Larys rose his hands up. He would never presume to think himself worthy of her.

"If any non marriage related news comes your way that you think I might like though..." aelsa pondered.

"I will let you know." Larys agreed. "Thank you for your time."

"Thank you for your candor Larys." Aelsa agreed.

Larys headed out as otto knocked on the door. Larys offered a coy smile as he passed. Murmuring a formal hello to otto. Otto peered into the room seeing aelsa nursing a glass of wine.

"Come in come in. Waht do I owe the pleasure?" Aelsa questioned. "Im quite popular today."

"What was lord larys doing here?" Otto questioned instead. Aelsa look a long sip of her drink. "None of my buddies. You are right." Aelsa nodded rising from the couch. "Care for a game?" Otto questioned nodding to her chess board.

"Speaking my love language." Aelsa purred.

Their Chess game ran late move after move. Aelsa swirled her wine in her glass before finishing it. When Aelsa made her move, Otto filled her glass and his own.

"Checkmate." Aelsa declared proudly and she looked up to otto as he leaned in kissing her. He pulled her closer and her hand dropped on the board scattering pieces as she leaned into his touch. He needed more but there was a knock at the door.