#gendrya gift exchange

[curiousityoctaves]

At last, Due North, my runaway gendrya holiday gift exchange fanfic is complete! Thank you so much for all the shares, kudos, comments, and support! It has meant the world to me. I hope you like this last chapter! 

[lostinmirkwood]

White Christmas

My @gendrya-gift-exchange 2021 fic for the lovely @lumierelalune​! I used the column 2nd to the right (Coffee Shop AU/First Time/Mutual Pining/Coworkers/Miscommunication) for the fic bingo!

Read the first chapter, “Let It Snow” on AO3 here or under the cut! Happy Holidays!

Arya’s train north is leaving two days before Christmas, she knows she told her boss that. “I’m leaving town December 23rd and I’ll be back the 28th,” were her exact words. She’s not sure how Sharna heard, “I can work the closing shift on the 23rd, the one that starts an hour before my train pulls out of the station” but she did and now Arya is trying to get her shift covered or change her train ticket to the 24th and neither of those seem to be happening.

She’s gone down the list of people who can cover her shift but everyone else has left town already (Brea and Talea for Braavos the day after finals ended), is leaving town like she was supposed to (Lommy left for King's Landing early that morning and Alys left at noon to go back to the Reach), is sick (Jeyne came down with the flu and Willow is taking care of her), already worked the morning shift (Hot Pie), or is closing with her (Gendry, and there’s no way she’d leave him alone with the diners). Arya also can’t just quit and go home when she was supposed to. She likes this job. She doesn’t need this job, she recognizes the privilege in that, but she enjoys it and it keeps things interesting at the otherwise quiet Riverlands University. Besides, her parents were always going on about responsibility and she had a responsibility to the Crossroads Cafe. So she sighs and abandons her attempts to get her shift covered, glares at her half packed duffel bag and calls the rail ticket office instead.

“You’ve reached the North Line Ticketing Office. We are currently experiencing higher than average call volume, the estimated wait time is 20 minutes. Your call may be monitored for quality assurance.”

Great. Her shift starts in half an hour and it’s starting to snow. She turns her phone on speaker to let the tinny Christmas music play, interspersed with ads, mentions of using the North Line website, like she’d be calling them if their website had worked, and occasional updates to her place in the queue. Arya continues to throw things into her bag haphazardly until her phone rings through and a very frazzled voice says, “North Line Ticketing, this is Ros. How can I help you?”

Arya scrambles to pick up her phone, nearly sending it sliding off her desk and into her wastebasket in her haste, “Hi! I need to change my ticket from the 3pm Riverrun to Winterfell Station from today to tomorrow. If there’s a different time with an open seat I’ll take it. Arya Stark, ticket number 157935C”

There’s a pause and Arya can hear a keyboard clacking, “I’m sorry ma’am but all trains north between 6am and 3pm tomorrow are full. I can book you on the 5pm train, it will get into Winterfell at 2am and does carry on to The Wall if you need to go points further north, but I’d keep a close eye on the weather, with this storm coming in we’re not sure if the afternoon trains are going to be able to run.”

Arya glances out the window at the snow that’s now beginning to fall slightly harder, “I’ll take the 5pm and keep my fingers crossed. Thank you.”

“I’ve got you booked on the 5pm Ms. Stark. Good luck and happy holidays.”

“Yeah, you too.” Arya hangs up the phone. She now has seven minutes to get to the cafe for her closing shift. Normally she’d walk but waiting on hold and trying to finish packing her bag had taken up too much of her time so she’ll have to drive. And find time to call her family and tell them she’ll be getting in much later than anticipated, if at all. Grabbing her keys from their hook near the door, Arya races down the stairs and out to her little car parked on the street in front of her apartment. It grumbles slightly before sputtering to life, shaking slightly as a gust of wind makes the snowflakes dance across her windshield.

Five and a half minutes later Arya stomps her way in through the back door of the Crossroads, knocking slush from her boots. She tosses her coat onto a rickety chair and grabs an apron off a hook, looping the strings around her waist multiple times as she walks out to the floor. Gendry is already there, glaring at the POS system and Arya pauses for half a second like she always does when she sees him for the first time every day. He’s lit by the glow of the street lamp through the cafe window and the twinkle lights Sharna’s put up for the holidays. His dark, messy hair shines, the sharp cut of his jaw is shadowed by stubble and she can’t quite see his vibrant blue eyes that cause her heart to skip a beat when he turns the full force of his gaze on to her but she’s had their color memorized since the first day she started working with him. It’s fine, she’s managed her little crush on him for the last year and a half. It doesn’t interfere with work. She just has to make sure she doesn’t drool when she watches him pick up large trays of food that would take her multiple trips to deliver and that she doesn’t think about making his hair even messier when she’s on the clock. Those are off the clock thoughts that she tries very hard not to have because then she blushes when she looks at him and she’s been standing here for a moment too long because now he’s looking right at her like she’s a crazy person while she’s frozen, staring at him with her apron strings still in her hand. Shit.

Arya clears her throat and finishes tying her apron. She turns away from him to get herself under control under the pretext of checking the dining area. It’s completely empty.

“Thought you were headed north?” Gendry’s voice rumbles from across the counter.

Arya sighs and turns back to him. It’s going to be a long night, “I was. My train is leaving in an hour but Sharna put me on the schedule to close and I couldn’t get it covered, so here I am. I was able to change my ticket to tomorrow evening, though.”

Gendry looks out the window at the falling snow. The wind has picked up and it swirls around the sidewalk, “It’s supposed to storm for two days.”

That’s Gendry, succinct. Arya uses five words when one will suffice. She probably drives him crazy with how much she talks, “Yeah, the ticket gal said she didn’t know if the trains will get out tomorrow but she changed my ticket for me anyway. Do you mind if I step out and call my folks and let them know? I was on hold with the train line for so long I didn’t have time to call them before I had to leave to make it here in time.”

Gendry looks around the empty cafe, “I dunno, it’s pretty busy… I might have to talk to someone if you step out.”

Arya grins at him, “I think you will survive, it will be a short conversation, I just need to let them know my new arrival time.”

Gendry smiles, just slightly, back at her, “No conversation is short with you, Stark.”

Arya tries to rein in the flutter in her stomach. Gendry rarely smiles at other people but always seems to have one for her when he’s giving her a hard time. She doesn’t want to think it makes her feel special but it does, just a little bit. She spins on her heel and steps back into the back room, fishing her phone out of her jeans as she goes. She dials the house phone, hoping someone will pick up there and can spread the word so she won’t have to play Asshai roulette to try and get a hold of just one person she’s related to in Winterfell.

“Hello? Stark Residence.”

“Dad! It’s me,” helpful that her dad picked up the phone, since it will probably be him picking her up at the train station early in the morning anyway. Rickon would have taken a message and then forgotten half of it and she wasn’t in the mood for a game of Stark Family Telephone if it was going to end with her stranded at the Winterfell Train station at 2am Christmas morning.

“Sweetling! Are you on your way home? The train just left Riverrun, yes?”

“About that… Sharna mistakenly put me on the schedule to close tonight and I tried to get my shift covered but wasn’t able to and I can’t just leave them high and dry. North Line was able to get me on the 5pm train tomorrow but they’re not sure if the trains will be running with the storm. I’ll let you know. If I can get out on the new train I’ll get in at 2am on the 25th, otherwise I might be stuck here over Christmas.”

“Hmmm… Let’s hope that doesn’t happen, your mother and I love when you’re all here for Christmas. Thank you for calling, sweetling. Keep us posted. Love you.”

“Love you too, Dad. I’ll talk to you later. Bye.” Arya hangs up the phone and heads back out to the counter. Gendry is leaned over his order pad doodling something as she approaches, but quickly flips to a new page as she slides onto a stool across from him.

He glances at her, “Everything good at the castle?”

Arya sighs, “Not a castle,” she knows he knows it’s not a castle, he just likes to call it that, “and yeah, everyone’s probably already home. Someone will have to draw the short straw to pick me up at the station at 2am but there’s plenty of us to go around. What about you? Any plans for Christmas? Siblings to spend time with? Do you have siblings? I’ve never asked.”

Gendry’s jaw tightens slightly and Arya wants to… do something inappropriate about it.

“No,” is all he says.

“No? No, what? No plans? No siblings?” Arya presses.

“Why do you want to know?”

“Just curious? I mean, we’re so busy I figured I’d make that table wait to take their order. That woman’s just awful,” Arya gestures at a large table in the empty cafe.

Gendry sighs, “Yeah, she looks terrible. A real Cersei. No. No plans. I have siblings but it’s complicated.”

Arya raises an eyebrow at him, “Complicated how?”

He gives her a long look before sighing again and pouring them both a cup of coffee from the carafe next to him. He adds a dash of cream to one and slides it to her, along with a sugar packet and a spoon. She’s a little surprised he knows how she takes her coffee.

“Complicated in that I have at least four half siblings who I had no idea about until a few years ago because my bio-dad was a lecherous bastard who couldn’t keep it in his pants and we all found out about it because he died.” It’s the most words Arya has ever heard Gendry speak in one go and he looks uncomfortable at having said so much, “Also, my mum passed when I was a kid so I stay here for Christmas. Jeyne, Willow, Hot Pie, and I usually order Yi-Ti takeout and watch action movies.”

“Well that sounds fun. Are you still going to do that this year?”

Gendry shrugs, grabbing a rag off the counter and beginning to wipe down the already clean surface, “Depends on how Jeyne is feeling. Willow told Hot Pie to bring her some soup when he left.”

The bell tinkles over the door as a small family is blown in for dinner, breaking up their conversation while Gendry busies himself at the register and Arya takes care of the table. She hums along with the Christmas music quietly playing over the speakers as she dishes soup and toasts sandwiches for them. When they leave with a “Merry Christmas!” Arya pulls her phone out and glances at her weather app. The winter storm warning is set to last through midnight of the 24th, with blowing and drifting snow in the Riverlands all the way north to The Neck. A quick glance at Winterfell tells her the storm would roll through there over Christmas before dissipating somewhere past The Wall. There’s a notification from the North Line telling her all trains north have been cancelled for the next three days due to weather. It is going to be a White Christmas everywhere this year and Arya can stop holding her breath about making it home in time for Christmas. With a sinking heart she sends a screenshot of the cancellation notice to her family, tucks her phone back into her pocket and goes to clear the table.

[mrbinglee]

The King’s Landing Post: Sevenmas Edition | AO3

Arya and Gendry are reporters at the King’s Landing Post. When their editor asks them to cover Tywin Lannister’s Sevenmas gala, they realize it’s the perfect opportunity to get new leads on the mining tycoon’s shady business deals. If they have to sneak into his office to do it, well, they’ve never been afraid to get their hands dirty.

For @aemondtargaryen for the 2021 @gendrya-gift-exchange! (I am so, so sorry this is late; I had a schedule planned out and then some unexpected work/personal things wrecked it all. But the fic is here now!)

I chose most of row 4 from the bingo board—I Love You, Coworkers, Historical AU (~late 1940s/early 1950s Westeros), and Lace Fabric—plus A Nice Oak Tree, First Kiss, and the requested prompt, Set on Christmas or Westerosi holiday. Hope you enjoy it!

[gendrya-gift-exchange]

The Gendrya Gift Exchange is back for 2021! Join us for a fanfic trope bingo event as we celebrate the holidays with a Gendrya gift swap.

We’re changing things up this year. Instead of using a prompt list, we’re playing trope bingo! Use the prompts on the bingo board in any row, column, or diagonal combination to create a story guideline. If none of the combinations suit you, you can mix and match however you like, or even try to use every single one if you feel like a challenge! The person you write for will be able to add a suggestion of their own for you to include too.

You have one week to register, so be sure to spread the word so as many people as possible can join in

When you register, you’ll let us know your bonus prompt request that you would like to receive and anything you don’t want, and your Secret Santa will choose a bingo combination to write for you

You’ll be assigned someone to create a gift for and you’ll pick a bingo combination from the board to write for them, making sure to try to include their bonus request (you can swap out one of the bingo board squares for their request, or you can include it in addition to the combination you choose)

You’ll have two weeks to write a fic of 2,000 words or more for your recipient

Between 17 – 19 December everyone will share their works and we’ll all enjoy some new fics for the holidays

REGISTER NOW

You can find more information about the event on the ABOUT page, including the trope prompts on the BINGO BOARD.

If you have any questions please get in touch by sending a tumblr message or emailing gendryagiftexchange@gmail.com

Registration Opens — 24 November Registration Closes  — 1 December Prompts Distributed — 3 December Writing Period — 3–16 December Posting Period — 17–19 December

|  ABOUT  |  SCHEDULE  |  BINGO BOARD  |  REGISTER  |  FAQ  |

[lumierelalune]

northern storms in the sea 2k

Being snowed in sucks. Being snowed in with your crush who you're pretty sure has a new girlfriend sucks more.

My gift for @curiousityoctaves for @gendrya-gift-exchange

[wynebceffylarya]

Thoughts Like These

My story for @psychvamp25​ as a part of @gendrya-gift-exchange​

I hope you like it. Unfortunately I didn’t get as much into it as I was originally planning to - I’ve been a bit exhausted and fuzzy headed since I had covid! I still put hours into it, but I just wish it was better, anyways, enjoy and have a merry and safe Christmas!

Also on AO3

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“Arya, wait up!” she halted her footsteps at the sound of her name being called, turning her head over her shoulder to see someone rushing towards her. 

She sucked in a deep breath in an attempt to compose herself, pulling her scarf tighter around her neck and adjusting her bobble hat as he slowed his pace down to a normal walk.

“Hey,” he smiled when he reached her side.

“Hey yourself.” she replied, lightly, or so she hoped.

“You heading to uni?” he asked.

“Yeah, you?” she responded, beginning to walk once more.

“The gym.” he said, rotating slightly so she could see his duffle bag.

She stole a glance at him when his gaze moved away from her, she couldn’t help but think about him at the gym. Or even better, at the pool. Or.. no Arya, no! she internally scolded herself.

 “You look like there’s an entire conversation going on in that head.” he chuckled.

“Hm?” she murmured, wide-eyed.

“Don’t worry about it,” he smiled, his blue eyes shining like the bay of White Harbor, “I get like that too.”

The rest of their walk was less awkward, it fell back into their old regular routine, just without her older brothers.

Gendry had been a fixture in her life for as long as she could remember, since her two older brothers brought him home from primary school one day. Arya had always hung onto her brother's shadows as a child. She never felt that she fit in with her sister and her friends, Rickon was too young and Bran usually had his nose stuck in a book or was shadowing mother around. But her older brothers were always up to something interesting, the something interesting seemed to increase once Gendry was around. 

 “So, how’s uni actually going?” he asked, pulling her away from her memories.

“Yeah, it’s fine.” she shrugged.

“How’s it really?” he pressed.

“I said it’s fine.” she retorted. 

“Arry, it’s me.” he nudged her with his elbow, “C’mon.”

“My grades are fine, I have friends, what more is there to say?” she shoved him away.

“Are you going out much?” he asked.

“Have my brothers asked you to check in on me or something?” she scowled, halting her steps.

“No,” he responded hesitantly, rubbing the back of his neck.

“You’re lying,” she cocked an eyebrow.

“They.. Jon just asked if I’d seen you lately.” he awkwardly tried to avoid her gaze.

“So you’re just lookin’ out for me?” she chuckled glumly.

Of course, she felt almost bitter. 

“Arry,” he sighed, reaching towards her, “it’s not.. We’re.. I..”

She lightly chewed on her lower lip, feeling awkward about not knowing what he was thinking.

 “Hey, sorry, I do really have to go,” she placed her hand on his arm momentarily, her heart feeling like it was about to beat out of her chest, “I’ll be late for class.”

“Yeah,” he nodded, rubbing his neck once more, “but.. Don’t be a stranger, Arry.”

“You have my number.” she stated plainly before turning to walk away from him.

It took him 8 days to use the number.

Arya sighed in frustration. She hated the way she felt. She knew she shouldn’t feel this way about him. Not only was he her brother’s best friend, and one of her oldest friends, he was entirely out of her league. She’d always endured people talking about Gendry, about how fit he was, about how badly they wanted to date him. At first she just rolled her eyes.

Then she began to get frustrated, why was it that they only saw his looks, not his personality. She knew that to most people Gendry came across as grumpy and even rude at times. But, to those who knew him, he was one of the friendliest, most caring men around.

Of course she wanted to hang out with him. Yet, she wasn’t sure if she would be able to manage without making a fool out of herself.

You used to be able to. 

“Urgh!” she groaned, half smothering herself with her pillow.

“What’re you doin’?” came the voice of her youngest brother.

“Why are you in my room?” she snapped, automatically sitting up and throwing the pillow that had been over her face at her brother.

“Shittin’ hell!” he yelled in response.

“Don’t swear.” she responded.

“You do.” he countered.

Touché. 

“Yeah, well I’m 18, I’m an adult.” she rolled her eyes.

“Uh, huh. Sure whatever you gotta tell yourself.” he muttered.

“What do you want?” she asked.

“Mum said you gotta help set the table for dinner.” he responded before turning to retreat out of her room, her pillow still in his hand.

“Rick, give it back!” she yelled after him.

“Why? So you can use it as a weapon again? Or use it to kill yerself?” he asked, chewing at his lower lip.

Shit, she thought, realising he’d picked that up from her.

“I wasn’t..” she groaned, before bending down a little to meet his eyes “Rick, I was just trying not to scream out loud. I wouldn’t.. I was just frustrated, okay?”

“You sure?” he asked.

“I’m sure.” she nodded.

“Isi a boy?” Rickon asked, wide eyed.

“What?” she gulped. 

“I heard Sansa say Marge made ‘er frustrated before.” he shrugged, “So is it a boy? Or.. a girl? I dunno, do you like girls like Sansa?”

“No.” she answered, “To both - it’s just a friend, okay?”

“Sure, ‘kay.” he handed her pillow back to her.

 “Didn’t think you’d come.” Gendry beamed up at her, his blue eyes shining like clear water on a summer's day.

“That’s why you have two drinks?” she cocked an eyebrow.

“Hm,” he smirked, “these are both mine.”

Arya rolled her eyes as she lowered herself into the chair next to his, before reaching for one of the drinks.

 “How’d you know?” she asked after taking a sip of her drink.

Gendry looked at her with a mischievous glint in his eyes, “It’s a secret,” he said quietly, almost whispering.

Her insides liquified at the tone he used.

Arya was half gaping at him, when he smirked once more, motioning for her to get closer to him, “It’s a secret, do you wanna know?”

She studied him momentarily before leaning in for him to whisper into her ear.

“Do you want the truth?” he whispered, sending a shiver down her spine, “Or the better story?”

Her body froze over the fact that he’d actually thought about it, she tried to respond, but nothing came out. Her entire body had gone numb, bar the part of her upper arm that he lightly held and the left side of her face where his breath had brushed upon her cheek. She had to freeze, if she didn’t exercise total control, she didn’t know what she’d do.

“I-” she almost squeaked, “I need to go to the toilet.” she pulled away from him, before almost running away from their table at the pub, cautious not to trip on the old weathered floorboards.

 “I asked Jon by the way.” Gendry said, almost shyly when she settled down next to him at their table.

“I gathered.” she gave him a small smile.

“Out of interest,” she glanced at him sideways, “what was the better story?”

“Shut up and watch the game.” he chuckled, shoving at her shoulder, lightly.

“Oi!” she laughed, returning his push.

If she was being honest, the entire first half of the game passed in a blur. She never actually registered anything that happened. Her entire attention was on Gendry. Every slight movement he made sent shockwaves through her body. Every time he tilted his head towards her, or looked towards her, she froze up in anticipation of what he might say. But the two of them passed the first half in silence, it turned out as uneventful as their conversations.

As the halftime whistle blew both of them jolted forwards, reaching for the empty glasses on the table. 

“I- sor-”

“I’ll-”

“No-”

“You got the last one,” she managed to get in, placing a hand on top of his.

“Okay,” he nodded, reluctantly. But he twisted his hand below hers, threading his fingers through hers, “but I’m getting the next one.”

“The next one.” she smirked and nodded before turning to move towards the bar.

 “Two JD’s and coke please.” Arya ordered, leaning against the large wooden bar.

“ID, love?” the bartender looked skeptically at her.

Arya laughed, well of course, before handing over her drivers license. 

Arya was under no illusion that at 5ft 1” and her plain dressing she would be ID’d. It always happened, not that she minded.

 “Bit young ain’t ya?” she heard from behind her.

Arya looked over her shoulder to look at the bloke who had spoken. He was a couple of years older than her, he was standing far too close for her liking. His clothes were designer and he held himself like he thought he was the Gods gift, his dark hair was pulled back behind his ears and his pale face was covered in pink blotches. Just looking at him made her skin crawl.

“None of your business.” Arya responded, turning back to the bartender as he handed her ID back before going to make her drinks.

“Hm, well aren’t you spiky.” he replied, licking at his wormy lips, and laying a hand on her shoulder.

“Get off me.” she shrugged her shoulder.

“Nah, c’mon babe, don’t be like that.” she felt his hand grip around her shoulder.

“Get your hand off me,” she growled, “before I make you.”

“£7.” the bartender's disinterested voice made her turn back around.

“Here,” she handed her cash over.

“One of them for me ‘en?” worm lips licked his lips again, reaching out towards her.

“Lay a hand on her again and I’ll throw you to the ground so hard you won’t be able to walk.” Gendry’s voice interrupted the panic building inside her mind. 

“And who are you?” worm lips snarled up at Gendry.

In comparison Gendry looked like an entirely different specimen of being. He towered over both Arya and worm lips. His brows were pulled together, his forehead crumpled. His jaw and fists were clenched tight. 

Arya saw Gendry’s eyes flash to her briefly before glancing back to worm lips, “I’m her boyfriend, that’s who I am. Now piss off.”

Arya froze, she knew he was only pretending, but the words still ignited something within her. She felt Gendry move towards her, then he put an arm around her shoulder, pulling her in close to him whilst picking up the drinks.

“C’mon, let’s get back.” Gendry said before pulling her back towards the table with him. 

 “Why’d you say that?” she whispered as the players came back out onto the pitch on the televsion.

“Which bit?” Gendry murmured. 

“You know which bit,” she twisted in her seat to face him.

“Well.. what did you want me to say, Arya?” he rubbed the back of his neck.

“I could’ve handled it.” she bit out.

“I know.” he snapped, “Gods Arry, don’t you think I know you could handle it. You can handle anything. Doesn’t mean I’m gonna sit here and let a sleeze like that treat my mate that way though does it?”

“Well, no, I..” she frowned, “sorry.” 

 “I messed that up, didn’t I.” she murmured to herself as they left the pub.

“What? What do you mean?” Gendry asked, stopping outside of the old stone building that housed the pub.

“Just killed the vibe didn’t I?” she shrugged.

“The vibe?” he asked quietly, wide-eyed. 

“The second half seemed tense, and it wasn’t really to do with the football was it?” Arya worried at her lower lip.

“You didn’t kill it.” he shook his head, pulling her against his chest, wrapping his arms around her.

“Thanks.” she sniffled, before breaking away to make her way home.

“Knew I’d get you without your boyfriend at some point.” worm lips sneered as Arya came out of the library late on Thursday evening.

Arya narrowed her eyes, and peered around the courtyard to see if there was anyone else around.

Spotting a few people milling around near the Student Union she returned back to the creep, “Leave me alone.”

“C’mon love,” he leered, reaching out to grab her arm.

“Get off me.” she yanked her arm back.

“C’mon, I bet I can do better than him.” he reached for her again.

“I can take care of myself.” she growled at him.

He chortled in response, “Girls like you only go out with big blokes like him for one thing.” 

“Leave me alone.” she grunted, ramming the heel of her hand upwards to meet his nose.

“You bitch!” he yelled, stuttering backwards, holding his face.

Arya could see blood pooling and seeping between his fingers.

“It’ll be worse next time!” she spat at him before running off away from the scene. 

 Arya ran away from the campus as quickly as she could, awkwardly shifting her heavy backpack over her left shoulder.

She couldn’t face going home, her parents or younger brothers would know something was up. She didn’t want to be alone though. But she also didn’t want to have to explain all of this to any of her friends. That left only one person to turn to.

“What happened?” Gendry demanded as he opened his front door.

Arya froze, staring up at him. His inky black hair was disheveled, as though he’d been running his fingers through the locks. She chewed lightly on her lower lip as her eyes met his ocean blue ones. Briefly she thought she saw his eyes flicker down to her lips, an urge to push herself up onto her tiptoes, and to press her lips to his was strong within her.

“Can I come in?” she asked in a small voice.

“Always Arry,” he lightly touched her shoulder, causing her to jump backwards.

Wide-eyed she looked up at him, “Sorry.” she whispered.

“Something is wrong.” he observed, “Ar, you know I’d never hurt you, don’t you?”

She nodded before passing him by, moving into his flat, pausing next to the sofa.

“My roommate is out.” he responded softly, “D’you want a drink?”

“Uh, yeah, sure.” she responded before lowering herself onto the sofa.

 When Gendry made his way into the living room carrying two glasses she peered up from her position of her legs pulled up to her chest with her chin atop her knees. 

She noted the worried look on Gendry’s face as he set the glasses down on coasters on the coffee table.

“You’re worrying me.” he said as he sat down beside her.

“I saw him again.” she replied in a small voice.

“What did he do?” Gendry asked, his voice low, his fists clenched tight.

“He-” she snuck a glance at him, noting how angry he looked, “he grabbed me.”

“Did he hurt you?” Gendry asked, his voice full of concern, but much softer now.

“I’m okay, he’s not though.” she responded.

“What did you do Arry?” he asked, the corner of his lips twitching upwards.

“Smashed his nose in.” she laughed.

“That’s my girl.” Gendry beamed at her, leaning in to wrap his arm around her shoulders.

Arya looked up at him. She wasn’t sure what she was feeling, but she certainly was feeling a lot of it.

“What?” he asked, moving away from her slightly.

“You.. you called me ‘your girl’.” she said quietly, uncertainly.

 “Oh.” he blushed, rubbing the back of his neck.

When Arya was ready to go home later that evening, Gendry insisted on walking her back to her parents house.

“Tell me if he comes near you again.” Gendry said as they reached the end of her street, “I’ll do a lot more than break his nose.” he muttered under his breath.

“Gen,” she turned to face him, laying a hand on his broad chest, “I can look after myself.”

“I know.” his voice was soft, “But it doesn’t stop me wanting to kill him too.”

Her lips quirked up into a smile, “Thank you.”

“You’re still coming tomorrow, right?” he asked as they arrived at the turning into her family's drive.

“I am.” she nodded.

“Good,” he beamed, “I’ll see you tomorrow Arry.”

 When she arrived at Gendry’s the next evening, he quickly ushered her into the flat, past the living room where they had been just the previous night and into his bedroom.

“Sorry,” he said, looking almost shy, “my roommate is hanging around still, and he’s really annoying.”

“It’s okay.” she shrugged, “We can hang out here if you prefer.”

“Okay.” he responded, his eyes fixated on his shoes.

“Gen?” she said his name lightly, taking a step forward towards him.

He raised his head slightly, their eyes locking on one another's.

“Are you scared of me or something Gen?” she asked, taking another step towards him, bringing them toe to toe. 

“Not scared of you-” he froze, indecision showing on his face, “scared of what I want with you.”

Her head snapped upwards, a small squeak coming from her lips, “How?”

Gendry stared at her, wide eyed, taking a step backwards. 

Arya sucked in a breath, deciding to commit to it, deciding that it was now or never.

 Cautiously she took a step back towards him, he looked at her with a look of almost awe, again he stepped backwards, tumbling back onto his bed. He shifted himself to prop himself up on his elbows. He looked up at her from his position, his mouth was hanging open, a slight stubble dusted his jaw. She’d never seen a sight as stunning as the one before her. Her heart thumped in her chest as she flicked her shoulder length hair back over her left shoulder, taking the final step towards the bed where Gendry was. He was half sitting, half laying down as she moved down towards him. He reached out to wrap his arms around her, pulling her down towards him on top of the bed.

The blues of his eyes were all but invisible, his tongue came out to run along his lips. Arya felt as though she couldn’t breathe as she straddled him.

Gendry settled himself back onto the bed, using the pillows for support, holding onto her all the while. Arya lowered her forearms down to either side of his head, bending in towards him.

“Ar,” he sighed breathily. 

She smiled at him sweetly before bringing her lips to his, ever so gently. The moment their lips met her erratic heartbeat became even more erratic. 

Arya felt Gendry’s hands drift lower on her side, coming to rest upon her hips. Arya chased Gendry’s lips, their tongues dancing with one another. At last they pulled away, both gasping for breath. Arya leant her forehead against Gendry’s momentarily, closing her eyes to try to imprint the moment permanently within her mind.

 After a few moments she moved and settled to lay down next to him.

“You’re a good kisser.” Gendry shattered the silence as their heart beats began to calm down.

“Am I?” she blushed.

“No one ever told you that before?” he smiled before capturing her lips between his.

“No one’s ever had the chance.” she chased his lips.

“That- it- this was your first kiss?” he asked.

She worried at her bottom lip, concerned that he might judge her, eventually she nodded in confirmation.

Gendry’s small smile exploded into a grin, “You’re amazing.” he beamed, pulling her body back on top of his. 

“Am I?” she laughed, pressing kisses to his jaw.

“The best.” he added, seeking her lips out once more.

“Gen,” she sighed softly, moving on top of him.

“Gods!” he blushed, “I’m sorry.. I..”

Arya grinned wickedly at him, before shifting her hips against his, “Don’t be.”

“Arya,” he sighed, beaming against her lips.

Suddenly he flipped their positions over, so that she was now under him. He held himself up on his forearms, bracketed either side of her head. She gazed lovingly up at him, her whole world had been turned upside down, but in a good way.

“Arya I-” he paused, a look of worry flickering over his features.

She lent up in an attempt to chase the worry away, “Don’t be scared of me.” she said softly against the shell of his ear, before trailing her lips down his neck.

“I- I think I’m in love with you.” he said, uncertainly.

Her lips froze on his neck for a heart beat. 

She gasped, before composing herself, “You think?” she asked, meeting his eyes, cocking one of her eyebrows.

“No,” he gave her a small smile, “I love you Arya.”

“You do?” she smiled, almost mischievously. 

“I do.” he chuckled, before kissing her softly.

“I love you too.” she responded, “I think I have for a while.”

 “So, you know how we were fake dating? Were we really dating then?” Arya asked as they finished off their pizza.

“Were we actually fake dating?” Gendry laughed, leaning over to kiss her for perhaps the thousandth time in the past two hours.

“I say we were,” she poked her tongue out at him, “I mean, you said you were my boyfriend, numerous times.”

“Hm. Guess I did.” he laughed, “So, what you’re saying is that we’ve actually been dating since that night? Without knowing?”

“Oh shut up.” she chuckled, burying her face against his chest.

“Make me,” he challenged, his hand drifting towards her arse.

“Fine.” she snorted, pushing him onto his back, before coming to settle atop of him. She reached up to remove her shirt and threw it down onto the floor.

“Ar, we don’t have to rush things.” he gently grasped her wrists.

“What,” she started breathlessly, “if,” she brought his hands up to her breasts, “I want to?”

Gendry looked at her with his mouth agape, his hands cupping her breasts.

She frowned at him, “You don’t want me like that?” 

“Gods!” he gasped, “I want you Arya! Can’t you feel that I want you.”

Arya shifted herself in his lap ever so slightly, feeling his erection pressing into her thigh. 

“Then why are you holding my tits like they’re a pair of oranges?” she challenged.

“I- huh..” he trailed off, before beginning to caress her breasts over her bra, “Can I?”

She nodded, giving him permission to remove her bra, “Take your shirt off too.” she added.

“Of course, M’lady.” he snorted, removing her bra, before sitting them both up to remove his own shirt.

Gendry shifted backwards with her in his lap, his bare back resting against the headboard of his bed, their bare chests pressed together as she surged her lips forwards to meet his once more.

“Gendry, please.” she groaned against his lips, her fingers skimming at the waistband of his jeans.

“Please what?” he asked, grasping her hips in his large hands.

“I want you,” she murmured, trailing her lips along his jaw, down his neck, to his chest.

“Want me how?” he asked, cupping the side of her face.

“I need you.” she sighed, drunk off of the feelings he made her feel.

“Need me, how?” he asked, “I need you to say the words Arry.”

Arya sat up right, looking him directly in his eyes, “I want to have sex with you Gendry.”

“That’s all I needed to hear.” he responded before sucking against her neck, both of them reaching to remove one anothers jeans.

[psychvamp25]

A Christmas Game

This is a little story I have written for @lostinmirkwood for the @gendrya-gift-exchange.

I used the prompts of best friend's sister, mutual pining, playing a game, smut, and first time

Summary: Gendry has spent the last nine Christmas seasons with Starks, the last few have been harder to stand though, as his feeling for the younger Stark sister are becoming harder to ignore. What he doesn't know, is that isn't alone in his affections, and Arya has a plan.

Read it HERE

[keepthemclose]

“Well, don’t just stand there. Kiss her already!”

Heat rushed to Gendry’s face. Arya managed to keep her expression neutral, but he swore he saw the corners of her mouth lift in an imperceptible smirk.

He wasn’t sure how he ended up here, in an inn with frilly lace trimmings and dead animals mounted on the walls in the middle of nowhere, peering down at his supposed wife. A woman he’d known all of three days.

“We take Christmas tradition very seriously around here,” Mrs. Smallwood tutted, reminding him of the mistletoe they were currently standing under.

Gendry glared at the small bunch of plants dangling above them.

Damn Christmas tradition.

so far so fast || 9k

for @go-catch-a-chickn for the @gendrya-gift-exchange

When their flight is canceled, two strangers drive north for Christmas. Along the way, Arya and Gendry stop at diners, motels, and rest stops, but ultimately end up stuck in a small town where the only inn is run by prudish owners. Crafting a believable lie may force them closer to the truth about their developing relationship.

Response to the prompt: Gendry is trying to help Arya get home to her family. Along the way they find a small inn they can stay at, but the owners clearly frown upon renting a room to an unwed couple. So, they pretend to be married for the night, and try to put on a convincing display for the innkeepers.

Read on AO3

[huffletiika]

‘Tis the Season

My Christmas present for @lostinmirkwood for the @gendrya-gift-exchange <3!

From the prompt: Gendry takes his niece to the local library for story time [every tuesday morning]. He honestly loves spending the time with Barra... but he also likes seeing the cute librarian who reads the stories.

Made a minor change to the prompt, hope you don't mind.

Read it on AO3 here

Hope you like it!

[thereluctantbadger]

Here is my gift fic for the amazing @thetruthisinthetooth as part of the @gendrya-gift-exchange !

I'm so sorry that it's coming almost last minute, but I really hope that you still like it! I was able to combine two of your prompts for this one.....and it's basically PWP, so hopefully you and your pregnant hormones can have fun reading!!! Thank you for being such an amazing friend!

[curiousityoctaves]

Chapter 6 of my runaway Gendrya Gift Exchange fic is up! Ufda this was a hard one. But we finally got to the “nice tree” scene that I’ve been dreaming of since I started. Would love to hear how it landed with you! 

[iheartbookbran]

Bells jingling in my hat

For @aemondtargaryen​ for the @gendrya-gift-exchange​ 2020!

Prompt: Santa’s Little Helper – Gendry reluctantly takes on a job as a last minute replacement mall Santa. Arya is an uncheerful elf, but she’s brilliant with the kids and she helps Gendry feel more at ease with them. After hours, they find themselves alone in Santa’s cottage.

Happy Holydays!

[mrbinglee]

A slow, dumb show (to crack you up)

When Gendry’s upset, Arya finds creative ways to cheer him up.

For @bigdaddib for the 2020 @gendrya-gift-exchange! I hope you have as much fun reading this as I did writing it <3

Prompt: Lap Dance - Arya was only joking when she offered to cheer up her best friend Gendry with a lap dance. She isn’t so confident when he says, “Sure, why not.”

(Title from “Slow Show” by the National, Photos: 1, 2, 3)

[gendrya-gift-exchange]

The Gendrya Gift Exchange is over for 2021. Thank you so much to everyone who took part in the event. You’ve created some wonderful new fics for us to enjoy and chose some really interesting bingo combinations! This was a great way to end the year and I (@forge-heat​) want to thank everyone who was involved, and all my fandom friends who supported me behind the scenes. This fandom has been so special to me, and it wouldn’t be what it is without you.

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[lumierelalune]

holidays past

"Is your dad Santa?” At fourteen they are the first words Gendry ever says to her. When he's thirty-one he finally gets his answer. 

written for @gendrya-gift-exchange prompt: Warden of the North Pole – Not many people realize that the legend of Santa Claus actually originates from the ancient Starks. No one knows how the Stark family toy store can make so many toys each Christmas, but one year, Gendry discovers the truth about their family’s magic. 

for  @aryasbadbenergy 

[jjofalltrades]

Im taking the weekend to read and comment on some fics. My Ao3 Bookmarks are filled with goodies I’ve been meaning to show attention. Excited to read through the Gendrya Gift Exchange.

One of my resolutions for 2021 is to give back as much as possible. It takes a community to keep a fandom going. I want to make sure I’m doing my part as well.

If you have any fic recs, drop them below. Let me show some love.