perfectlyportia (perfectlyportia) wrote in valarlogs, @ 2013-10-10 22:52:00 |
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Entry tags: | !complete, portia, renly baratheon |
Who: Renly and Portia
When: 20th September
Where: Renly’s place
What: Comforting a heartbroken friend
Rating/Warning: Low/None
Status: Complete
Portia thought she had been dealing with the end of her relationship fairly well. She’d gone to work, spoke to friends and continued on but when she had gotten home that afternoon she’d found a jumper of Alex’s in the laundry basket and the dam had broken.
She didn’t want to upset Renly, after all he had recently gotten engaged, but she couldn’t think of anybody else she’d go to. As much as she loved Haymitch he would probably want to punch Alex and it wasn’t really his fault. Callisto was recovering from the recent craziness and Thor was sorting out his wedding, one Portia was attending on Saturday. So she found herself outside Renly’s place. Hoping her friend was in and wouldn’t mind her using his strong shoulder to cry on.
Renly had just come in from being outside in his tent when he heard a knock at the door. Loras would have simply used his key and everything considered, he wasn’t even sure Loras would be coming over that night, so he was able to eliminate him from the people he knew that it could be. That still left quite a few people, so it was simply easier to answer the door then to guess who it could be.
Crossing through the living room, to the door, glanced through the peephole and seeing Portia, he smiled as he pulled the door open, but that smile soon faded when he saw the look on her face, “Portia, what’s wrong?” He reached out and wrapped an arm around her, gently pulling her inside the house.
“I’m sorry for not calling, I just got in the car and drove” Portia explained with a watery smile of apology, “I hope I’m not interrupting anything or disturbing you” Renly’s arm around her was quite comforting and it was so tempting to just close her eyes and cry in his arms. When had she let herself become such a girl. She’d promised herself after her last disastrous relationship she’d take things slowly and carefully. And while Alex was still miles better than her abusive ex she’d ignored her own warnings and fell hard and fast.
“You’re not disturbing me at all.” Renly said, leading Portia towards the couch, “What happened?” He’d become so good at reading Loras and knowing when he was upset that it was easy to tell that something was wrong with Portia and he longed to help her in any way that he could. If she had started crying into his arms, he would have just held her and comforted her until she felt better.
“It’s over” Portia said as she sat on the couch with Renly, “Alex and I broke up” Those words said aloud for the first time were all it took. The dam burst and Portia felt the tears flowing down her cheeks.
Renly stared at her for a brief moment, trying to understand what she had just said then quickly wrapped his arms around his friend, "What happened? I thought everything was going well with you guys." While Portia had looked upset when he'd opened the door, this was the last thing he had expected.
"It was" Portia said, wrapping her arms around her friend and snuggling into him. "Alex got offered a chance to attend a symposium in Germany which lasts a month which was fine but he also got a four year scholarship to a university in England" she explained through her sniffling, "And I'm not in a position with work and everything to go with him"
“Portia, I’m so sorry.” Renly held his friend close, wanting to do whatever he could to comfort her. Considering the recent fight he’d had with Loras, it wasn’t hard for Renly to feel for her. Of course if he or Loras were in the same situation there was no doubt that they would do whatever they could to go with the other. But that wasn’t always the case, “You didn’t want to try a long distance relationship?”
Portia shook her head, "It wouldn't work" she told him shakily, "We both get so caught up in work so easily that it wouldn't be long before one of us forgot to call or couldn't visit when we said we would..." It would be easier in the end to do it this way, at least that's what they were telling themselves.
Renly nodded as he rubbed Portia’s back, “Are you gonna keep in touch at least?” He wished he would have been able to keep in touch with Loras when he was forced to go back home, but that didn’t really matter now because everything had worked out in the end for them.
“I hope so” she said after taking a deep breath, “I don’t want to lose him as a friend too” In fact that would be dreadful and who knows if they kept in touch as friends maybe things would still work out. Though she knew she shouldn’t cling to that idea. “I’m sorry to dump all this drama on you” she said with a rueful smile at her friend.
Renly shook his head, “What kind of friend would I be if I didn’t let you dump your drama on me?” After all, wasn’t that what friends were for? To be able to talk to about anything? Even the bad stuff. “Do you want some tea or something? I have beer too, if you want something stronger.” Helping Portia helped him to take his mind off the fight with Loras.
Portia smiled at him hugging him close, “Thank you Renly, I’m glad you’re my friend” she told him. “Tea would be good. I don’t want to start on the slippery slope of alcohol” at the end of the day it wouldn’t actually help anything.
“Right. You stay here and I’ll put the kettle on,” Renly squeezed Portia’s hand before getting to his feet and went into the kitchen. He felt horrible for his friend, but he was glad that she’d come to him instead of moping at home or anything like that. He knew that she had other friends besides him, but it meant something that she’d come to see him. Once the water for the tea was on the stove, Renly went back into the living room to wait for it, “Can I get you anything else while that boils?”
Portia still felt bad for coming to Renly with bad news but he really was doing a sterling job of being a fabulous friend and she did feel slightly better. Which was more than she had thought she would. She took the time while he was out of the room to grab a tissue from her bag and mop up her tears, she must look a complete state. When he came back she shook her head, “No, just tell me how you’ve been” she requested.
Renly sighed as he sat back down on the couch, “I’ve been better.” He hadn’t wanted to burden Portia with his own problems when she was going through her breakup, but she had asked. “Loras and I had a bit of a row a few days ago.” Deep down Renly knew this wasn’t a deal breaker or anything, but he still hated the fact that they’d fought.
"Oh no, I'm sorry" Portia said, distressed that her friend was upset and that she had brought her troubles to him on top of that. "What did you fight about?"
“Me asking him if he’d been with anyone while we were apart,” Renly greatly regretted the way he’d brought up that conversation and could see why Loras had gotten so upset, “He never talks about that time and I figured that if we’re going to get married then we shouldn’t have any secrets. That we should know everything.” He left out the other reason he’d brought it up. “Suffice to say, he got upset.”
"Oh dear. I am sorry, though I have to say it's a valid question even if it is one he'd rather not answer" Portia told him, "Has he calmed down yet?"
Renly nodded, running a hand through his curly, dark hair, “He hasn’t really spoken to me in the last few days. I know I should go apologize, but we were both at fault. I shouldn’t have brought it up the way I did and he shouldn’t have overreacted.” Renly knew he’d have to go talk to Loras soon if his fiance didn’t do it first. They were both incredibly stubborn men.
"Don't leave it too long" Portia advised, reaching over and squeezing his hand, "You don't want it becoming bigger than it really is"
“I know. If he doesn’t come here soon then I’m going over there.” Renly squeezed her hand back just as the kettle whistled, “I can’t wait till he finally moves in here. Then he’ll have nowhere to run off to. Well, except Obi-Wan’s or Marg’s, but hopefully he won’t. I’ll be right back.” With that, he went into the kitchen to prepare the tea.
"I doubt either of them will let him hide for long" Portia smiled, she didn't know either of them personally but had heard enough to think it was a safe assumption.
Renly nodded as he came back into the living room with two cups of tea and handed one to Portia before sitting back down, “I know. It’ll just be nice when this is our house.” Of course first they had to resolve their fight.
Portia nodded, “I know what you mean” she said, “It’s nice to know you’re coming home to the one you love”
Renly nodded, “And it may not seem like it now, but I’m sure you’ll find love again. Whether it’s someone new or you and Alex stay in touch and reconnect, it’ll happen for you.” He really did hope that Portia found love again.
She smiled and nodded, “I can’t think about it right now but thank you Renly” she told him gratefully. Her head was still full of Alex and the love and pain that went with him in her mind now.