Chapter Text
Aemond took a deep breath, letting the salty air fill his lungs. They were back in Dragonstone for a visit. The king had called it a small reprieve from court.
Aemond’s mother had grumbled about duty and responsibility, but Aemond knew she just did not want them to spend too much time with Rhaenyra’s side of the family. Goldwing had smoothed a few things over, but there was too much between the two women for them to be truly at ease with each other yet.
Aemond felt a bit sad for his mother. He wished she could enjoy the island the way he did. No court, no politics. Just their family, dragons and the best part-
“There you are, Uncle!”
Aemond turned around just in time to have little Luke collide into him. As he had grown more mature, he had wondered whether his friendship with Luke would wane. But Little Luke had shown at the Keep with a present for his name day just a few moons ago, twelve different shells for his twelve name days, and all the worries had flown away. Luke might be little, but he wouldn’t be forever, and eventually they would take to the skies together. Until then, it was nice to have his little nephew look up to him.
“Come,” said Luke, “I want to show you something further down.”
Aemond had become so engrossed in listening to his nephew that he did not notice someone sneak up on them.
“Well, look what we got here,” said a low voice, “Two little princes,”
The next moments became a blur. A knife. A man grabs Luke, Luke biting him, a dagger in the air, pushing Luke away.
Pain. Then darkness.
X
Luke had not been allowed to see Aemond. His mother had tried to reason with the queen but had been denied.
“Her son is hurt, Luke,” said Rhaenyra, “I cannot say I would be behaving any better if it had been you. Let us give her time,”
Four days after the incident, a maid came to collect him for Aemond.
Luke could not have moved faster.
He paused in the doorway, stunned as he stared at his uncle’s face. He had been there when it had happened, the blood had stained his hands as he had held his uncle while waiting for help. But looking at the world was another thing entirely. The scar was still an angry, more akin to flesh than skin; the stitches stood out and made for a haunting image.
He must have stood there for too long. Eventually, his uncle spoke.
“Is it really that ugly?” he asked. The tone was meant to convey a jest, but Luke could see the slight shake in Aemond’s hand, the tremble in his lips that had nothing to do with pain.
That would not do. He never wanted to make Aemond sad.
His feet carried him forward until he was standing by the other boy, able to take his hands in his own.
“Can I hug you?” he asked
Aemond nodded and smiled. “I would like that,”
Luke carefully got on the bed and curled himself into his uncle’s side, careful not to jostle him too much.
“Thank you,” he whispered, “For saving me. I am sorry this happened to you because of it.”
“No need,” Aemond whispered into his hair, “You know I would do anything for you.”
When the Maester came to check on Aemond, he found both boys curled up together, asleep in each other’s arms.
X
Luke hugged Aemond as soon as the man was off his horse. The scent of dragon be damned; Luke had missed him.
“Careful there, or I am going to assume you missed me,” said Aemond as he pulled away. Luke grinned and took a good look at him, noting all the changes. There wasn’t much. The hair was a little longer, eye patch a different colour, his handsome face was the same, as was the smile that caused a flutter in Luke’s belly.
“Come in,” he said, “We have much to discuss.”
After Aemond had given the customary greeting to the rest of the Velaryon family, both decided to head out to the beach to have their supper.
“What is it that you wanted to discuss with me?” asked Aemond. “It seemed important,”
Luke nodded, “It is. Lord Corlys has decided to retire from sailing long distances. However, he wants to do one last long voyage, and I will be going with him. He plans to go to Yi-Ti and then Asshai. Depending on our progress, we will make stops at prominent ports along the way.”
“Oh,” said Aemond, “I suppose I won’t be seeing you for a long stretch then.”
Luke smiled at the obvious disappointment.
“Oh, do not look so low,” he said, “That is what I want to discuss. I want you to come with me.”
Aemond looked stunned.
“You want me to come with you,” he said, “But this is supposed to be for you and Corlys.”
Luke took his hand in his own, “I have sailed as part of a crew before, but it has only been as far as Dorne. Grandfather is taking me to see the world. I’ll get to be a part of a bigger crew, to prove myself, and I want you there. You are my dearest companion, Aemond. I want to do it all with you.”
Aemond stared at him for a bit and then leaned forward, pressing his lips to Luke's. Luke responded by putting his arms around his uncle’s shoulders and deepening the kiss.
It was their first kiss, filled with clumsy moves and the bumping of noses. But it was not unexpected for him. It had been years in the making, something Luke had been calmly waiting for.
Luke had known for years that, beyond duty, Aemond was the only one he wanted by his side. He also knew he could not rush the other man.
Luke had grown with his mother’s gentle care for his father, whose love had always been somewhere else, buried in the ground. He had grown up with Daemon sneaking into his mother’s room one night and his father’s room the next, and had grown up hearing all three of his parents giggling behind closed doors. He had seen his father hold Daemon’s hand every time Aunt Laena was mentioned, had seen Daemon kiss the same hand when he didn’t know Luke was watching.
In contrast, Aemond had grown with the Hightowers' vitriol, with the snide comments about sword-swallowers. He had grown up with Alicent, who had always had duty but rarely love, with Aegon and Helaena in a marriage that should not have happened when it did, if ever. He had grown up with a father who had already been dying when he was in the womb.
So, Luke had waited patiently, and now it seemed he was finally being rewarded.
They pulled away, breathing hard and grinning at each other.
“Does that mean you agree?” said Luke, “Will you come with me?”
“I will go wherever you will go,” said Aemond, gently kissing his hand, "Always."
Above them, Arrax and Goldwing danced together, bathing the sky in fire.