Chapter Text
I didn't remember having uncles, or any other family members aside from Grandma, who refuses to talk to Dad over some family drama I knew nothing about. I bit the inside of my cheek softly as Stannis made his way to the right side of my hospital bed. I have never seen this man before in my life, in person that is. I still had no idea why he was in the middle of a siege, and what did he mean by guardian?!
"Uh, how come I've never heard of you then." I said defensibly as I pulled the lone blanket covering me up higher.
Stannis seemed rather annoyed at my question, but he took it in stride.
"Our parents did not agree with Annette's choice of husband." Stannis said simply. "After her elopement she cut off all contact with us. Naturally, Robert and Renly, your other uncles were offended and did the same. Thankfully, their temper has cooled over the years."
"All except you huh." I replied bitterly. I never knew any of that stuff, Mom rarely spoke about her side of the family. She never mentioned having any siblings!
"I did my duty well enough as her older brother, who do you think paid for her funeral? Your Father and his coworkers? They can barely afford to pay their bills, much less a funeral. Annette may have been a Hebert by marriage, but she was a Baratheon by blood." Stannis shot back, his deep voice essentially slapping me. "I kept watch over you and Hebert, even when he didn't want us meddling in your lives. Robert even offered to sponsor pay off the house you're living in as an apology."
I felt something start to stir within me as I balled my bandaged hands into fist, blinking in order to stop my eyes from producing any tears. Hardening my face, I sat up straighter.
"That still doesn't explain why you're acting as my guardian." Just because he was related to me by blood didn't mean that we were family.
Stannis' lips formed a thin line as he pulled out a folder from the briefcase I didn't notice he was holding. Handing it to me with a hard expression, I took it as best as I could, bandaged hands and all that.
I felt a pit in my stomach start to form, which was an unpleasant feeling when combined with hunger. I opened the folder to the first page clumsily, my eyes scanning each work carefully. The pit in my stomach became a gorge.
"D-Dad signed away his rights…" Each word felt like someone was stabbing my heart, dragging it out with slow motions. Not even my wounds from being stuck in that locker hurt as bad as this.
This time, I couldn't stop myself from crying, water droplets fell onto the official sheet of paper, staining it.
"He did his duty as best as he could, but there was little he could do in the matter." Stannis continued, but this time his voice sounded awkward. "CPS did an investigation of your situation while you were asleep, and declared him unfit to raise a child."
Please shut up, those words died before they could even touch my lips. The room was filled with the sounds of Stannis talking and my sobbing.
What was the point of living anymore…
Eventually, I ran out of tears to cry, leaving my face red and puffy and my nose running with snot. The taste of salt was a familiar one. If I kept crying at the rate I've been, I'd probably cause my tear ducts to shut down. Stannis kept standing there, awkwardly watching me break down.
"So what now?" I croaked eventually, wiping my snot with the sleeves of the hospital gown.
"Now you shall be moving in with my wife and I. We have a house just outside of the city, you'll be allowed to pack the essentials from your home. Once you're eighteen you'll inherit your childhood home and never have to see another Baratheon again." Stannis must've prepared that line before coming in here. "Though I doubt that will be possible."
"And why's that, 'Uncle'?" I said that last part sarcastically. The man was rude and straight to the point. D-Dad would've liked him.
"You look just like your Mother, her Baratheon blood runs through your veins, your black hair and blue eyes being evidence of that."
I started giggling softly, each sound causing my throat to ache. "You're crazy, I don't have blue eyes." No friends, no blue eyes, no Mom, no Dad.
'Uncle' Stannis frowned, and said nothing as he reached for the folder in my lap, returning it to his briefcase. "Doctor Luwin told me that you were in perfect health, aside from your injuries. It seems I may have to put off your dischargement. Would you like to see a mirror then, Niece?"
"Sure, I doubt it has the power to change people's eye color, unless you're a cape or something." I leaned back against the raised hospital bed, my strength fading. If 'Uncle' was offended by what I said, he didn't show it, only nodding curtly.
"Very well. I shall leave you to recuperate, I shall return later with Shireen, your cousin, to discharge you." Stannis straightened his perfect PRT uniform. Oh sh**I forgot to ask him about that.
"Yeah yeah." I mumbled as I felt sleep try pulling me into its cold embrace. Uncle Stannis left without another word, leaving me alone once more in the silence.
His eyes were sunk in deep pits, his close cropped beard no more than a shadow across his hollow cheeks and bony chin. Yet there was power in his stare, an Iron ferocity that said this man would never, ever turn back from his course.
A/N
Another short chapter, but I hope it was an enjoyable one. I had planned on updating Not an Egg before this update, but I found myself writing this instead.
Stanman the exposition man.
Next up shall be one of my two RWBY crossovers!