Hey Stephen / Larys Strong (3)

5. Fertilizer

"Only child."

"I felt like an only child most days, even when Harwin was here." Larys remarked.

"How come?"

"We werent close. I always loved Tully but... I became more of a father figure to her at a young age, it was less like she was my sister and more like she was my world." Larys offered, that was a statement that easily made any woman swoon. Willa believed him when he said it too.

Larys loved his little sister with everything in world. They were extraordinarily close and rarely kept secrets from each other. It had often been the two of them against the world, no matter what. She was Larys favorite person and his most trusted confidant. Even with mallory around, Tully still loved her brother larys most in the world.

Larys spoke so romantically. It was something that any other man, Willa would have assumed was just another line to get into her skirts but with Larys, she believed they were uniquely for her. The stories he told her about his sister and himself, she knew it wasnt for brownie points, he just truly loved his little sister.

"Anyone special in your life?"

"I dont have any siblings and im not close with my parents which is why im here and not home." willa offered.

"Where is home?" 

"You have walked my home." Willa answered. 

"Right," Larys whispered.  "It's different without Tully home anymore. She was always chattering with Mallory until late into the night and now they have both grown up and are married with children on the way." 

"You are a good brother, taking care of her, you ever think about having children of your own one day?" Willa pondered. 

"I hadnt for a long while but knowing Tully is okay, I would be open to the idea if the right woman made it clear to me that she..." Larys smiled softly back at her. Willa blushed. Larys knew she wouldnt have brought it up if she wasnt thinking the same thing, right?

"It's getting late." Willa remarked. 

He hated that she always had to leave. 

"I will walk you-"

"Larys!"  Tully called out. 

"Go be with your sister." Willa assured. "Goodnight Lord Larys." She added heading off. 

"Goodnight, Lady Willa." Larys looked to Tully. "Really bad timing." 

"It's great timing." Tully countered. "Look! The baby is kicking! Feel!" Tully squealed grabbing Larys hand. "Isn't that amazing?" 

"It is." Larys agreed holding onto his little sister. "You are growing life in you."

"It's weird and amazing." Tully agreed. 

The next day larys was on a mission. Pamela. Where was the bitch? Barking orders and making commands, yep, this was her. Larys could do this a few ways. 

Killing was the easy part. But knowing that this woman made his Willa cry, literal tears, Larys wanted her to suffer. WIlla was a hard worker and this Pamela woman was the problem.

"Where is Swann? That slacker." Pamela hissed looking around. 

"Stephen was sick last night, she was tending to-"

"I dont want excuses." Pamela shouted. "She wanted more money for showing up late, she wanted more hours and yet she isnt here for her assigned duties." 

"Ummm," Luke looked to Tully. "Swann, thats Larys' girl right?"

"Yes, why?" Tully questioned. 

"Her boss lady is screaming." Luke answered. Tully moved around the corner. 

"Oh thank you lady Willa!" Tully said loudly, all eyes snapped to her. "I will need you all day. Being this pregnant I'm quite useless." Tully went on. "Oh hello, I'm stealing Lady Willa, she has been with me for hours, she surely goes above and beyond." Larys knew what Tully was doing but she seemed to fool Pamela. 

"Of course, my lady." Pamela didnt like authority. She didnt like people above her. She was an uneducated woman that got lucky and worked her way up by bitching around others. 

Larys could see her eye roll, hear the disdain in her voice as she looked to Tully. Larys hated that with a burning passion. His Tully was perfection and she was a monster. 

"Larys, if anyone asks-"

"You were with Tully this morning for hours." Larys answered hugging her. 

"What?" Willa countered. "My... what?"

"Pamela was shouting and Tully covered for you. Whatever you had to do this morning must have been important." Larys assured. 

"It was." Willa agreed. "I'm assuming Tully covered for me because of your fondness for me?"

"Tully is just sweet like that." Larys countered. "But it might have helped..." He added. "You dont need to worry about Pamela, shes not going to bother you anymore." Larys assured. 

"Oh did she get switched departments?"

"Working with dung." Larys agreed. More like she was the fertilizer. "And Tully and I suggested to the queen- whom didnt care and directed us to someone else-" Larys admitted. "That you would be a good boss. Make your own hours, help the-"

"Are you serious? I can't tell if you are saying what I want to hear." Willa rasped. 

"I'm completely serious." Larys assured. "you are the boss now." Larys agreed. She hugged him. 

"What did I do to deserve you?"

Oh how desperately he wanted to kiss her.