Hopelessly Devoted ~ Garroth x F!Reader

Ch 45: Her Shock

*needs to be rewritten HELLA badly*
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***

The sun barely rose, and you were woken up by a rooster. It wasn't a very delightful morning greeting, but it was fine when you were able to melt into Garroth's arms instead of getting up right away.

Sunlight filtered through in strips, illuminating the inside of the barn with an orange glow. It may not have been entirely private in the loft, but the hay bales you stacked up around the perimeter of the straw mattress felt vaguely wall-like.

In your little blocked off space, Garroth's chin rested on top of your head, your face dug into the crook of his neck while his thumb traced circles around your back.

Some footsteps passed from behind, but neither you or Garroth wanted to move out from the cover.

"I'm . . . so hungry," Travis announced, peeking his head around the side of the hay, showing zero concern for the scene he was witnessing.

Garroth made eye contact with Travis, but kept his arms fastened around you. "I don't know when we're getting food. We might have to stop at a cafe later."

"Ugh, fine. I'm gonna go bother Katelyn then." Travis groaned, then lumbered away down the ladder.

With the nuisance gone, you nestled back into Garroth.

From the bottom level of the barn, Katelyn shouted, "—Travis, I swear, it's too early!" Her voice was distant, but laced with all levels of annoyance.

You stifled your laugh, before your smile dropped. "If we go back into the village, that'll mean you need to wear your helmet, right?" You couldn't bear watching him cover up the beautiful-ness that was his face.

"Yeah, I will," he answered distantly, but not from proximity.

"Why do you need to wear your helmet again all of a sudden?" you asked as innocently as possible.

Garroth sealed his eyes tightly, his forehead scrunching up.

"I'm sorry for asking, I was just-"

"No, it's okay. You deserve to know." Garroth swallowed. "I was actually—"

"Guys! Breakfast is being served in the house!" Lord Aphmau's voice rang through the barn, loud and clear.

Garroth looked at you with genuine sympathy in his eyes, tempted to stay behind. "I'll fill you in later, alright? We've got food to eat."

Your eyebrows hung low above your eyelids, and you reluctantly nodded, following him down the ladder. He didn't grab his helmet on the way down, so you took that as a minor victory. It bought you some more time to memorize his facial features before passing through the village.

***

Among the four tables set up in the living room and dining area, one was the actual dining table, and the other three had been pulled out of storage and unfolded. You got placed at one of the foldable tables, where the seating correlated to which group you were in, so you plopped yourself down next to Garroth.

The food was delicious, and you couldn't help but think how kind Katelyn's dad and his staff were to cook all of it for such an army of people.

You had finished half of your plate when Aaron spoke up. "I can't believe we went all the way to Scaleswind," he swallowed his bite, "then Nahakra, then to O'khasis. I'm gonna take a nap once we settle down in the new Phoenix Drop."

"At least it wasn't for nothing. We have Travis now, and we have-"

"JEFFORY?" Katelyn shouted, finishing your sentence and silencing the room. You turned your head to see the commotion.

Katelyn ran Sonic speed towards a man with dazzling green eyes. Katelyn gave him a quick hug before joking around with him by calling him a doofus and messing up his brown hair with her hand.

Katelyn's POV:

I couldn't believe it. I haven't seen this dork in years.

Jeffory stared in shock before opening his mouth. "Katelyn? What are you doing here?"

I ignored the surrounding voices and the few pairs of eyes on us. I giggled. Something I was repulsed at hearing escape my own lips. "The village I was stationed in is relocating. What are you doing here? You'd never show up at my dad's in a million years."

"I've been visiting every morning so I could get to know him, waiting for the day that you'd come back to O'khasis and he'd give us his blessing. I had no idea that day would be today." Jeffory scratched the back of his neck, which made me gush on the inside at how cute he was.

"His blessing for what?" I asked, with a few of my own guesses in mind.

"Well first, I think I should tell you I dropped out of the Jury of Nine. Zane wasn't happy, but he seemed preoccupied anyway, so it was easy to get away with," Jeffory finished.

I wasn't going to tell him just yet what had happened to Zane, half because I wasn't sure I believed it, and half because it was obscure to describe.

"And second, I wanted to do this." Jeffory stopped talking and smashed his lips into mine. My eyelids fluttered closed as I awkwardly moved my lips. It was my first kiss. I was nervous and startled and I had no idea what to do. When our lips separated, I stood back and blushed. I made eye contact with my dad. He was smiling, which meant he didn't care.

Everyone else had gotten their reunion. This was mine.

Second Person:

You were so happy for Katelyn. You looked at Garroth, who was looking at you. You smiled at him before noticing someone from the corner of your eyes. It was Travis. He peered down, almost disappointed.