Caught
Relationship(s): Brennan Sorrengail/female!Riorson!reader, Bodhi Durran & Xaden Riorson & Garrick Tavis & sister!reader
Summary: Your older brother and closest friends get overprotective when they find out you've started dating your mentor Brennan behind their backs.
Warnings: Age gap (reader is 20, Brennan is... however old he canonically is. 29? 30? Idk), being caught making out, threats and teasing. First time I'm writing for Brennan, so pls don't judge too harshly.
Anonymous requested: Heyy can you make a platonic fic where Xaden is y/ns brother and she gets her signet which is kind of similar to brennan's so y/n and brennan start hanging out and they start liking each other so they start secretly dating. But one day Xaden, Bhodi and Garrick catch them (the three can be protective)
Afterwards, you can't even say which of them caught you first, because your eyes were closed when they walked in. Had they been open, you probably still wouldn't have noticed, busy sticking your tongue down Brennan's throat as you were. It wasn't until you heard the noise of disgust from the doorway that the two of you realized someone had walked in. You immediately sprang apart, but it was too late.
The secret is out, and now you have to deal with the consequences of not locking the door in form of the three overprotective guys standing in the door to Brennan's office.
"What the hell," Xaden growls, and for maybe the first time in your life, you understand why people are afraid of him. That is murder shining in his dark eyes, directed straight at your secret boyfriend.
For a tense few seconds, everyone is silent. You find yourself wishing you had a signet like Imogen's to simply erase what they just saw from their memories, but of course you would have never gotten so close with Brennan in the first place if you weren't a mender.
"Could we just pretend you guys didn't see that?" you try to diffuse the tension.
Xaden, Garrick, and Bodhi answer as one without even looking at you. "No."
Their furious expressions are so similar that if you squint, it almost seems like your brother has multiplied. As if one angry Xaden wouldn't be trouble enough.
"Thought so..." you sigh, and exchange a look with Brennan, who gives you a tight-lipped smile that you assume is meant to be reassuring. You're too nervous to be reassured, though. This situation has a huge potential to get very ugly.
"Care to enlighten us on what exactly it is that we just saw?" Garrick challenges, cocking his head at you.
"It's called kissing," you retort. Maybe being snippy isn't the best idea, considering how pissed they are, but you can't help how annoyed you are by the interruption. "If you're not familiar with the term, we have a library where I'm sure you'll find a dictionary to look it up."
"Really," Xaden growls. "You sure about that? Because it looked like a lot more than kissing, considering where he had his hands."
Damn it. You were hoping none of them had noticed Brennan's hands under your shirt, or the way you'd been perched on the edge of his desk with your legs on either side of his hips, but of course you couldn't be so lucky.
Thank gods things hadn't gone far enough for any clothing to come off yet.
Even as it is, you're not sure how the fuck you're going to keep your brother from murdering Brennan. There can be no doubt he wants to, not with that look on his face. It's a testament to Xaden's self-restraint that he isn't at his throat already.
You take a step to the side, positioning yourself in front of your boyfriend, just in case the situation escalates, but Xaden isn't having it. His shadows wrap around your arms and pull you away from Brennan, not releasing you until you're right in between Bodhi and Garrick with Xaden in front of you.
"Hey! What the fuck, Xay!" you yell, only to be ignored. When you try to walk back over to Brennan's side, a waist high wall of shadows blocks your path.
Brennan asks, a lot more calmly than you, "Don't you think you're overreacting a little?"
In your opinion, Xaden is overreacting a lot. This is ridiculous. The three of them have always been very protective of you, but this is a whole new level of overprotectiveness, even for them. Maybe it's because they've never had the chance to give someone the shovel talk before, since both of the two relationships you've had so far — if you can even call them that, considering they consisted of no more than a handful of dates each — had taken place while the boys were already away at Basgiath. Or maybe it's the suddenness of unsuspectingly opening a door only to be met with the sight of you and Brennan making out.
If you'd just told them you're dating, it might have gone better. You had meant to tell them — eventually.
You had known all along you wouldn't be able to keep your relationship hidden forever. Xaden has a talent for sniffing out people's secrets — probably a side effect of having so many of them himself. You didn't want to keep it secret forever, only as long as the relationship was still fresh, until you figured things out a little more. The problem was the question of how to tell people without them making a big deal of it. Both of you knew right from the start people would judge you once they found out — because of the age difference between you, because he is a Lieutenant Colonel and you're just a first-year cadet, because he is the one instructing you as a mender.
Of all the ways your brother — or rather brothers, since Bodhi and Garrick are just as close to you as Xaden — could have found out, this is just about the worst.
"Overreacting?" Xaden asks in that deceptively soft tone that usually promises a painful death. "I catch you being all over my fucking baby sister, and you think I'm overreacting for putting some distance between you and her until I know what the fuck is going on here?"
Brennan rubs a hand over his face and sighs. "No. I get that. But it's not what it might have looked like."
"Isn't it? Then please, do tell me what the fucking hell you think you were doing with my baby sister."
Before Brennan can do so, you snap, "I am not a baby! I'm twenty!"
Xaden only spares you the barest glance, but that's enough for you to realize he's not just angry with Brennan, but with you, too. His curt answer confirms that. "You're grounded is what you are."
You gape at him, not sure you heard him right. "You can't ground me!"
"Watch me."
Just like that, he dismisses you, turning back to Brennan and demanding he explain himself. As if nothing you have to say about this even matters.
"You're being ridiculous, Xaden! What I'm doing with my boyfriend is none of your fucking business!"
Damn, it feels good to actually call Brennan that out loud.
Your brother looks momentarily put off by your giving Brennan that title, but ultimately ignores the statement. He doesn't even turn to look at you again. "I'd like to talk to Brennan alone for a moment, Y/N," he says. His voice is calm, but you can hear the fury simmering just beneath the surface.
"Absolutely not!"
"I promise I won't kill him... for now."
"How reassuring." You hesitate, knowing this is a fight you can't win. "Promise you won't punch or otherwise hurt him, either?"
"That depends on him."
"Go. I'll be fine," Brennan says.
You wish Xaden would let you near him. If you were in reach, he would doubtlessly be giving your hand a reassuring squeeze like he's taken to doing lately when he notices you're nervous, and right now, nervous doesn't even begin to describe how anxious you are. It's impressive how Brennan manages to stay so calm with Xaden trying to glare holes into him. Maybe his near death experience during the rebellion has made him immune to fearing for his life. Or maybe he's just good at hiding his nerves. He certainly isn't so stupid to think your brother is not a threat just because he's younger than Brennan.
"Alright." You point a threatening finger at Xaden. "But I want him back in one piece."
"Yeah, I gathered as much," he says, which isn't exactly agreement, but better than nothing.
Bodhi and Garrick lead you from the room, taking you in the middle. It simultaneously makes you feel like a child and like you're a criminal being escorted to prison. They lead you to the kitchen, the silence between you heavy like it's never been before.
"Guys—"
"Save the excuses for when Xaden is done with Brennan," Bodhi advises. He doesn't really sound angry, but when you risk a glance at his face, he's still wearing that scowl that looks like it belongs on Xaden's face instead of Bodhi's.
"I don't know why you guys are making such a big deal of this," you mutter as you take a seat at the kitchen table. "I'm more than old enough to have a boyfriend."
"That's not the point," Bodhi says. "The point is that he's too old to be your boyfriend."
"Bullshit. You're making it sound like he's ninety. Or like I'm ten."
Bodhi and Garrick shake their heads and refuse to say any more for now. You should probably be glad for the relative peace while it lasts. Once Xaden joins you, you'll be getting an earful, no doubt.
The waiting is bad. The not knowing what Xaden and Brennan are talking about, exactly, is worse. And the worst of it all is your own imagination running wild with all the horrible things that could be happening inside Brennan's office while you sit here, thinking they're just talking. Logically, you know Xaden won't attack Brennan, no matter how much he might want to. By now, he probably already realized Brennan holds no bad intentions toward you, and has calmed down. Even if he were to get violent, your boyfriend is perfectly capable of defending himself. None of these facts stop you from worrying, though.
After what feels like an eternity, Xaden walks into the kitchen. To your relief, you don't see any blood on him. That doesn't necessarily mean anything — you know he's perfectly capable of slaughtering someone without getting any of the mess on himself — but it's a good sign nonetheless. He doesn't look quite as furious anymore, either.
But not furious anymore doesn't mean his anger has evaporated. He's still far from happy, that much is evident by the look he gives you when he takes a seat across from you, folding his arms on the table. You know that look very well; it always means you're about to get lectured.
But before he can start, you can't stop yourself from asking, "You didn't hurt him, did you?"
"No," Xaden says, drumming his fingers on the table. He exchanges a look with Bodhi and Garrick, and adds, "Apparently, they're in love, so I decided to let him live."
Garrick snorts. "Well, clearly having a thing for Sorrengails runs in the family."
You ignore Garrick and glare at your brother. "If you'd just asked me, I could have told you that too. You didn't need to make such a scene."
"Watch it, or I really will ground you."
Rolling your eyes, you ask, "Why are you so mad about this, anyway? Aren't you and Brennan, like, friends?"
"That doesn't mean I want him dating my sister. He's too fucking old for you, not to mention he's supposed to be your mentor."
"I know it's not ideal. But you're not in the position to talk, considering you were Violet's wingleader when you two got together. And Brennan never gave you shit for that."
At least not as far as you know.
"Xaden and Violet are almost the same age, though," Bodhi points out. "Brennan is like, a decade older than you."
It does sound kind of bad when he phrases it like that, which is probably why he did it. Still, it's not the world-ending issue they're making it out to be.
"I'm aware. And I know that kind of age difference is a bit... unusual—"
"It's fucking weird is what it is," Garrick interjects.
"Fine, whatever. But I'm an adult, in case you haven't noticed, so—"
"A very young adult," Xaden corrects.
"Stop interrupting me! What I'm trying to say is, just because Brennan is a few years older than me doesn't mean he's taking advantage of me or anything like that. I'm not a little kid."
"No, but you're young and inexperienced. Even if he doesn't mean to take advantage of you, it's a fact that he's in a position of power over you, and you've never even had a proper relationship before."
"Just because my previous relationships ended before they really started doesn't mean they don't count. Besides, there's a first time for everything."
"Sure, but—"
"No but! Stop treating me like a godsdamned child, Xaden! I'm only three years younger than you. And I understand why you're... concerned... about the age difference between Brennan and me, okay. But—"
"Then why didn't you tell me?" Xaden interrupts. "Tell us?"
"Because I knew you'd freak out!"
"We're freaking out because you kept it from us so long! How are we supposed to look out for you if we don't know about the shit you're getting yourself into?! If you really understood why we're concerned, you would have told us."
"I was going to tell you! Just... not yet."
"You should have told us the moment this started," Garrick says.
You cross your arms and lean back in your seat, glaring from one of them to the other. "Why? So you could have meddled and stopped us from getting together?"
"So we could have made sure you're safe," Bodhi insists. "We're just trying to look out for you!"
You soften a little at that. It sucks having to justify your relationship like this, but you know they're not arguing with you just to make you feel bad. They only want your best, even when they're being unreasonable and overbearing.
"I know. And I appreciate it. But there really isn't anything to worry about. Brennan is very gentlemanly, you know."
"Well, that's good."
You think maybe they'll leave it at that, but then Garrick asks, "How long has this been going on for, anyway?"
"A few weeks."
It had started innocent enough. When your signet manifested, Brennan was the obvious choice to mentor you. Before that, you'd only known him fleetingly, from Battle Brief and through Xaden. But once you started spending time with him honing your signet, your admiration for his strategic brilliance quickly grew more personal and turned into a full-blown crush.
After months of unsuccessfully trying to fight your feelings, you'd been baffled to find that Brennan returned them.
In your mind, your chances with him had seemed practically non-existent. After all, he is a revered strategist, a war hero and member of the Assembly, while you're just a cadet, constantly overlooked in comparison to your brother. You're nothing special — a good fighter, but not exceptional, bonded to a dragon that is big but not huge nor legendary. Your signet, while useful and not overly common, is nothing out of the ordinary, either. Not even your appearance is anything special — you wouldn't go so far as to call yourself ugly, but you don't have the kind of striking beauty that turns heads wherever you go, either. It's always your brother who draws everyone's eyes, while you fade into the background. Xaden is the powerful one, the brave and selfless one, the pretty and charismatic one, the leader. Meanwhile you're absolutely average in every possible way.
And yet somehow, you'd been lucky enough to earn Brennan's affections; Brennan's, who is way out of your league! You'll be damned if you let these overprotective assholes ruin that for you.
"Weeks?! You've kept this from us for multiple fucking weeks?"
"Yes, Bodhi, I did. Because I don't fucking owe you guys a report about my love life."
He winces. "Of course not. But usually a new relationship is something you tell your friends about, don't you think? Like Xaden said, we can't keep you safe if we don't know what's going on."
"I know. I'm sorry I didn't tell you, okay?" You sigh. "I just wanted to avoid this very argument we're having, but I should have known that wouldn't be possible."
Bodhi smiles, and it feels like a peace offer. "Well, it kind of is our job to worry about you."
"Yeah, yeah. I know. And you don't have to like that I'm with Brennan, but you do have to accept it."
The three share a look, and then Xaden nods. "Okay. But we'll be keeping an eye on him."
That was to be expected. You can live with that. Unnecessary as their concern seems to you, it's kind of nice to know they're watching over you.
"Okay. Then if you don't mind, I'm going to go talk to my boyfriend now." You love calling him that. You're going to do it every chance you get for the foreseeable future.
"Talk to him, yeah?" Garrick teases. "Let me guess, you mean the same kind of talking you were doing earlier?"
You ignore the gagging noises Bodhi and Xaden make at the idea, flipping the three of them off as you walk away.
Brennan is in his office where you left him, and true to Xaden's word, he's unharmed. Closing the door behind you, you let out a deep breath and slump your posture.
"Well, that was..."
"Stressful?" Brennan suggests, crossing the distance from his desk to where you stand with three long steps.
"Yeah. That sums it up." You smile. "Definitely not how I meant to spend the afternoon, but at least that matter is out of the way now."
"Did they give you a very hard time about it?"
You shake your head, fidgeting with Brennan's fingers. "They're overprotective to an unhealthy degree, but it was nothing I couldn't handle. If it wasn't so annoying, it would almost be sweet how worried they were. What about you? How many death threats did Xay make once I was out of the room?"
Brennan chuckles. "Oh, a bunch. But they'll only take effect should I mistreat you in any way, shape, or form. Nothing to worry about. It wasn't easy to placate him, but we talked for a while about what I see in you, and I guess in the end I convinced him that this is serious."
"Good." You place your hands on his chest and give him a playful grin. "Now, where were we when those idiots interrupted us?"
Brennan pulls you against him, both hands on the small of your back. You slide yours to the back of his neck, and he presses his lips to yours.
"Right here," he mutters into the kiss. "And this time" — you feel his hand shift, followed by the sound of the lock clicking as he uses lesser magic to lock it — "no one will walk in."












