To Take What Is Rightfully Ours

Chapter 49. Turning a New Leaf

TW: mentions of rape

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'You agreed to what?!' Diane exclaimed, her face showing almost pure anger, and Otto barely suppressed an urge to take a step back.

They were in one of the tents at the Tourney grounds. Everyone else was in the process of socializing, having dinner, and celebrating Gwayne's victory so there weren't a lot of people around to overhear them or even notice they were missing.

As soon as the tournament was over, Frella came to collect Aegon, and Otto knew he had to talk to Diane as soon as possible. Because it was only when Aegon was out of sight that he realized what exactly he agreed to and what implications it had. He also realized that Diane might very much not like it (which he seemed to be right about) so he needed to tell her immediately. Because he didn't want to risk her thinking he kept it from her on purpose.

'I agreed... to be his father,' Otto said, finding it hard to speak under such an intensity of Diane's gaze that he unironically started to fear he might catch on fire. 'And Aemond's because they are a package deal, as I was reminded.'

Diane took a deep breath, walked up to him, and asked very calmly, 'Why?'

Otto didn't know what the fuck to say to that because not like he thought this all the way through, alright? He knew he should have gotten out of answering somehow. He knew it wasn't a smart decision for so many reasons. But... but Aegon looked up to him and he liked that. He never knew he would like that. He never craved this weird sort of validation but it felt good to know that Aegon waited for him to come and read him and his brother a bedtime story on the evenings that Otto did that. Or wanted to tell him about a random thing he found exciting that day. Aemond wasn't this excited about him but he didn't scream bloody murder if it so happened that Otto had to hold him or watch him for a few minutes which was a plus. Also, let's not forget that Diane was happy with him when he spent time with her and the children.

Well...

She didn't seem all too happy with him right now.

Apparently, Otto stayed silent for too long because Diane huffed and walked away from him to the other side of the tent. He didn't dare to move, trying to find the words to make this situation better and failing spectacularly. He always knew the right thing to say to get what he wanted but then why couldn't he find words now when it really mattered?

Diane looked at him, leaning with one hand on the table. 'I don't understand,' she said, and it was hard to read her face just then. Anger wasn't gone - Otto wasn't dumb to think it was gone - but there were other emotions mixed with it now. He hoped it was not disappointment. He prayed to all the Gods he did not believe in that it was not disappointment. Because if it was, he was done. He would never be able to come back from that.

'Diane, I-'

'What in Fourteen Flames were you thinking?!' she interrupted him. 'What in the world possessed you to agree?!'

'I-'

'He already has one absent father, he doesn't need another one!'

Otto pursed his lips. He couldn't blame her for calling him out. After all, Diane knew just how uninvolved of a father he was with Gwayne and Alicent.

'I wasn't absent for Aegon,' Otto said. Because he wasn't. He truly wasn't. He was there way more than he was supposed to be. And now, for some goddamn reason, he wanted to keep being there.

'He is not your toy, Otto! He is not yours to use as you please! You want to put him on the throne? Fine, I knew that before. You can try as much as you want but I will not let you break his heart because you are hungry for power!' Diane approached him again, holding eye contact and making Otto feel extremely intimidated. He hadn't felt like that in a very, very long time.