#grandor

A/N: Heh this was really cute omg. Here's my masterlist!

Warning(s): Uh nothing really...just fluff :D

Pairing(s): Sandor x Grizel

•───•°•❀•°•─── ᴍᴀʏ ɪ ʜᴀᴠᴇ ᴛʜɪꜱ ᴅᴀɴᴄᴇ? ──•°•☁︎•°•───•

It was late, around 11 pm, as Sandor made his way to the gates of Everglen. He mentally told himself to never engage in a bet with Grizel again, annoyance prickled in the corners of his mind as he shifted his weight again, the tight pants that he was forced to wear was restricting his mobility. To his side stood Sophie, smiling brightly as she pushed the gate open. The moon lark had given him an embroidered jerkin that was a brilliant shade of deep blue, despite his protests of how it "hindered his ability to protect her". Thought after a lot of prepping and staring into the mirror (plus LOTS of feedback from Sophie's 2D friend Vertina), he had to admit, some small part of his was excited to see Grizel's reaction to him in this regal Elvin attire. And another part of him dared to dream about what the female goblin in question looked like herself.

And it was so much better than he expected.

Both of their charges, plus Diana, Linh, Dex, Keefe, and even Ro, were adamant that they do things properly, thus the seven of them set to work to turn Evergreen's reception hall into a temporary ballroom. The sparkly room was completely transforms, even the huge Vacker family portrait was taken down for the time being (thanks to Della's heavy persuasion). Small crystals were placed strategically around the room to refract the moonlight that shone through, giving the space an ethereal glow. But despite the splendor surrounding Sandor as he stepped into the euphoric room, all he could see was Grizel.

And she looked breathtaking.

And severely out of her element.

She adorned a shimmering rose-gold dress that almost looked like is changed colors as she moved through the moonlight. Her silky black hair was pulled back into an elegant updo, no doubt the handiwork of the youngest Vacker daughter. Her lips were painted a deep red, and her captivating dark eyes were lined with the same color as her dress.

But Sandor didn't know that the light pink that dusted her cheeks wasn't makeup. It wasn't normal for the agile bodyguard to dress up in this way, but she couldn't imagine doing it with anyone else.

To Sandor, she looked like a goddess, as he stood there speechless, until Sophie elbowed him gently, a wide grin plastered on her face before she bolted to her friends, who were motioning hurriedly to get her outside to give the two goblins privacy.

The only person left was Linh, who messed around with a small enchanted instrument that started to trickle out a sweet symphony, as she gently set it down on a small stand before hurrying out of the room to join her friends. All that could be heard was the echoes of the door shutting and the faint melodies that filled the silence.

Both stood there, unsure of what to do (they were bodyguards, they don't really dance), before something Sophie had said about human dances clicked in his head.

So he extended his hand, a small smile forming on his lips.

"May I have this dance?"

I feel like a lot of their relationship is defined by temperance. By caution, but also by confidence. They're both incredibly disciplined, and that included how they interact with each other. They care deeply for each other and have for years, and yet each scene we've gotten between them is a controlled, intentional interaction (the confession scene being the one exception). They expertly draw that professional line between work/their charges and their personal lives.

I suppose in that sense, we can't truly know their dynamic. Seeing them through Sophie, we have only ever seen their professional personas, so they may behave entirely differently around one another alone. Doubly so since they're adults dealing with children.

Based on what we do know, though, I enjoyment seems to be a major part of it all. That may seem like a given in many relationships, but that's not always the case for fiction; Grizel gets genuine delight out of teasing and playing with Sandor, and Sandor sees her enjoying herself and enjoys that, even if games aren't his forte. They push each other to be better, but there's a clear respect for each other's boundaries. I have no doubt if Sandor genuinely didn't want to wear the silver pants, Grizel wouldn't make him, for example.

We could also say they strengthen each other, both in terms of skills--Grizel teaching Sandor to be sneakier--and in terms of mental/emotional fortitude. They are someone for the other to think of and fight to return to, a grounding home away from home.

Sandor: *comes in through door* yeah

Sophie: you and grizel huh?

Sophie: *wiggles eyebrows*

Sandor: *flustered*

well, someone woke up and chose violence this morning! /j

I'm curious what tropes this would fit. is this like a forbidden romance kind of thing because they work near each other and need to be professional but they both feel this pull they try to ignore. or are we talking more a friends to lovers kind of thing? building up a relationship and then realizing there's something more between them

question: does this make Sophie Sandor's daughter now? Do they do father-daughter bonding activities to build a relationship outside of him protecting her? rn I'm imagining them at like a pottery class and Sandor is just hunched over the table in a chair that's comically to small for him, but idk why that's what I thought of.

wait hang on height difference. tall, strong Sandor having to lean down to reach Grady, otherwise Grady is just staring at his bare chest all the time. he tries not to notice when they hug.

I'm also just imagining Grady in Sandor's home and just climbing around on the large furniture. it wouldn't be quite as bad as Sophie, who is a lot short than him, but I think it'd still be like aww look at this little elf just fumbling around the big things