Chapter Text
Duncan is walking Thunder the next morning when a clicking sound snatches his attention. He whips his head and there's a woman with a camera snapping pictures of him. And it feels weird. He ignores her but that weird feeling remains in his gut throughout all the morning, when he goes to work and when Aerion picks him up from the garage.
"Someone followed me with a camera this morning," he says casually in the car, Aerion looks at him.
"A paparazzi?"
"I think so. I was just walking Thunder as always, it was so weird."
"Yeah, they tend to do that in your everyday life when you least expect it." He shrugs and picks at his nails. "Don't let it get under your skin."
And he tries.
The rest of the fake dates go in a very similar manner: sometimes they go partying, they go to fancy restaurants, Aerion has a ton of errands and once they went to pick up Aerion's trousers from the tailor. Aerion rarely pays, Dunk notes. People tend to give him things at department stores or when they go out. It's weird for Duncan, he's not used to this kind of life, and people suddenly giving them things for free puts him in a weird place. But he manages to brush it off.
He learns how to wrap his arm around Aerion's waist, when to take his hand, and the exact moment when to kiss him so the paparazzis get the best shot, they even seem less invasive when Dunk's around.
"Must be the scary dog energy in you."
They are front cover of the tabloids a lot, but he kinda got used to it by now. It almost feels like a double life: blue collared mechanic by day, arm candy lover by night.
Well… they still got separate rooms and beds but nobody knew that. Aerion told him they were the 'it couple', and whatever that means he seemed happy telling him that.
It's nice, like having a cool roommate whom you sometimes have to snog.
Dating Aerion gets more and more manageable until it barely feels like a chore anymore, he actually enjoys Aerion's company,—it came as a shock for the both of them—the guy's not a spoiled asshole most of the time. And he's funny and nice sometimes, that also came as a surprise.
One time Duncan had a really rough shift,—one client got really upset that their car wouldn't be ready in that afternoon and they took it against him—he told Aerion once he was home, and he had said "Though luck." In his usual bored manner.
Dunk hadn't thought much about that, it was though luck, after all. Later Aerion had to run some errands so Duncan decided to hit the shower, he heard when Aerion came back, a few minutes later he came out of the shower and there was a pint of chocolate ice cream on the table and a pizza from Napoli's, the place that they went when he got him a sponsorship with Calvin fucking Klein. Aerion was on the sofa with Thunder next to him,—he was spoiling Duncan's dog so much that he wasn't sure how he'd be able to afford the expensive treats that Aerion got him from Petco when they broke up—they both looked at Duncan's frozen figure exiting the bathroom and Thunder waggled his tail.
"You ordered pizza?"
"I felt like eating pizza, and that place wasn't so bad."
"You also brought ice cream."
"Desert is a very essential part of a good meal, Duncan." Thunder barked in agreement and Dunk just nodded. "Bring the things here, we're watching a movie."
Now that was new. "A movie? Us?" Aerion looked at him with irritation this time, and Thunder stopped his waggling tail. Damn, what had Aerion done to his dog?
"I can watch 'Birds of Prey' with Thunder if our company is not pleasing to you."
Dunk placed the pint of ice cream in the freezer and took 2 plates from the kitchen, "'Birds of Prey'?"
"'And the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn." Duncan assessed the box—Aerion had ordered half Marghaerita (with extra black olives) and half Meat Lovers. Duncan smiled while he picked the box and placed it on the coffee table of his living room. Since Aerion and Thunder were occupying all of Duncan's sofa space he sat on his rug, his back to the sofa. He gave Aerion a plate with 2 slices and he took it.
"I didn't take you for a superhero movie kind of guy."
"'Birds of Prey' is what men think 'John Wick' is." He searched for the movie on the tv while he and Thunder arranged themselves so they were kind of cuddling. "Besides, I really love Batman."
Duncan whipped his head. No way. "Christian Bale or Robert Pattinson?"
"Val Kilmer. He was so hot in 'Batman Forever' it's not fair. Pattinson is hot too, in a more broody and emo way, I kind of dig it though." Wow. "I also really love 'The Lego Batman Movie', it makes me laugh."
"No way, I love that movie! We should watch it next, maybe tomorrow after my shift?"
Aerion was silent, the only sound the clicking of the remote control, Duncan felt really stupid for getting his hopes high for a second, then Aerion hummed, "Yeah, sure. Bring some popcorn when you get home."
The music from the intro led to Harley's monologue and Duncan was thrilled, for reasons unknown.
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"You are getting attached."
A screaming kid throws herself against Dunk's legs but he manages to catch her and put her down on the gym mattress.
"What? No I'm not!"
"You so are, you should look at yourself when you talk about him." Another kid came screaming at them, but this time Tanselle managed to put the kid down. "Like little sparks and hearts blow out of your eyes and stuff."
The yoga lesson was already over, and the kids were getting a bit frisky so Tanselle and Duncan both came up with a game where the first kid that managed to get past them would win. They were 12 minutes in and the kids looked entertained enough.
Duncan frowned and blushed a bit. "It's just—he's really cool, that's all. We watch movies and stuff. It's cool." A third kid managed to catch Duncan by surprise and he nearly lost his footing.
"Ha!! I got Mr. Tall I win!!!" A sea of kids erupt in joyful screams and Tanselle just laughs at him.
When the class is over it's just Tanselle and Duncan putting everything in order while they listened to music. Duncan had accidentally told Tanselle that the whole 'Dating Aerion Targaryen' was actually a hoax and that the heir was actually paying him for it. She had pulled a face and told him it was weird but she didn't ask him about it. Until now.
"So, you guys like, sleep in the same bed?"
"No, I got him a mattress, he's sleeping in the gym room." Tanselle quirked an eyebrow.
"That's way too small for a nepo baby like Aerion."
Duncan rolled his eyes while he picked the mattresses from the floor. "I already told you he's not like that. He's alright, Red liked him."
"And Ray is terrified of him."
"Ray would be terrified by his own shadow if it wasn't for Red." He laughed. Then there was silence, he turned in search of Tanselle and she was looking at him with an opened mouth. "What?"
"You are actually defending the guy!" There was mirth and amusement in her tone, it wasn't an accusation, more like a statement of mockery. He blushed again and tossed the mattresses on the corner of the room.
"Well, I'd be a bad boyfriend if I didn't."
"Fake-boyfriend." She points. Duncan wets his lips and nods.
"Yeah, that."
Duncan felt like burning under her knowing stare.
Aerion had to run some errands at Lyonel's office so both Duncan and Tanselle were waiting for him at the parking lot. Tanselle didn't mention Dunk's functional pick up truck, and he didn't either. Aerion's black Porsche stopped right in front of them, and Duncan heard Tanselle whistling under her breath. Aerion came out of the driver's seat and stopped dead in his tracks, his eyes instantly went to Tanselle's tall figure and she just smiled and offered her hand.
"Hey, Aerion right? I'm Tanselle, nice to meet you. Duncan has told me lots about you."
Aerion took his sweet time taking Tanselle's hand, and Duncan could see that Arrion actually squeezed her hand with a bit of force.
"Likewise." It's all he says. He throws his keys to Duncan and heads to the passenger seat without a word. Tanselle looked at Dunk and he just shrugged in confusion; that was weird, Aerion had never acted like that before.
On the drive home Tanselle talked about their next week's class: painting. Duncan could already feel the sticky little hands grasping at his pants and shirt.
"I thought the class was yoga oriented." Aerion's voice stopped the conversation and he felt Tanselle shifting to address Aerion.
"This week's was. But they rotate the teachers and volunteers around, and since I know Dunk they let him join me in my shifts."
"Yeah, we're both tall so they give us the biggest groups, Cee once had to help 2 kids at the same time while we were teaching them how to swim. They perched at her shoulders like parrots and never let her go." Tanselle barks a laugh at that memory, since the group was very numerous they ran out of kick-boards so they had to get creative.
"Dunk stole a bunch of foamy squares from the meditation room so the kids could float around, the director found it so ridiculous that she just laughed it off. Only you could get away with that by charms alone."
Dunk scoffed and shrugged, "She was in a great mood, that's all."
"So Duncan is a volunteer, and you are a teacher there?"
"Yup, tomorrow we're having arts and crafts with macaroni." She declared solemnly. Aerion hummed and didn't ask further questions.
They arrived at Tanselle's place and she waved them off. "Goodbye guys, thanks for the ride."
"See you later Cee!" She turned around and when Duncan saw that she was inside they left.
He was about to turn to their apartment when Aerion spoke: "I'm hungry."
Dunk glanced and Aerion looked stern despite that it was just the two of them now.
"You want me to cook something?"
"No, I want Chinese. Drive to Hua's"
That was a new spot. He knew where it was despite never actually going there.
"Okay, ummh… can I change first?" Aerion assessed him—he was wearing a simple white shirt and his black jeans. Aerion was wearing a blue sports polo and some faded jeans with a belt. Wait. Duncan frowned and pointed at Aerion. "Are those my pants?"
Aerion didn't answer, instead he turned and looked for something in the backseat. The movement exposed his waist and belly, and Duncan tried to focus. Aerion was wearing his beat up pants. The guy was practically a model and he was wearing Dunk's working pants.
"No, you can't change. I'm starving, drive." He retrieved some paper bags and sat back down. When the car didn't start moving he gave Duncan a look and he drove.
Duncan has never been to the Chinese Theater, but this place looks pretty similar, at least on the outside. Before they come out Aerion puts a hand on his chest to stop him.
"Here, wear this." He hands one of the paper bags and Dunk opens it.
"A jacket?"
"Ralph Lauren. It's getting cold and you lack jackets. You can't always wear hoodies. Here." He gives Dunk another 2 bags, these ones are smaller but heavier. He opens them and he doesn't say anything. "What's wrong?"
"You got me perfume?"
"I was getting sick of your old smell, these ones are really good." Duncan took one of the bottles in his hands and read the label: Le Labo's Santal 33. "It's unisex. Put it on, keep the sex part."
Duncan nearly choked, Aerion takes his time brushing his hair with his fingers in the mirror of the car and Duncan takes the chance to spray the perfume on him and he carefully rips the tags off his new jacket. It's black denim and it's beautiful. Aerion exists the car and Duncan follows him. He sniffs himself and the perfume is actually pretty good, he smells like woods and leather, a bit fresh but dry at the same time.
"You should use The Noir 22 when we go to a club, it's way more refreshing, citrusy."
He took Aerion's hand and walked by him. He remembered when they got real close and he caught a whiff of Aerion: he had smelled like vanilla and tobacco.
"And what perfume do you wear?"
"Le Male Elixir, Jean Paul Gaultier."
"Cool."
It sounded expensive, and knowing Aerion it probably came in a black and golden packaging.
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Dunk caught Aerion checking his phone for the millionth time in the last hour, and it would have been normal Aerion behavior, except that he wasn't typing or talking to anyone. He was just staring at his screen like he was waiting for something to happen, or someone to reply. He was tossing noodles around his plate while his eyes were fixed in the screen. He knew that it was his father, Maekar Targaryen.
Aerion was very proud of their relationship making it to every tabloid in King's Landing, and he had mentioned that his father would reach out in no time. But then he never mentioned it again, and Duncan didn't dare to ask. Parent talk wasn't exactly his forte.
Still, it moved something deep in Duncan's chest watching Aerion's disappointment leaking from his face.
Well, he could try.
"No response from your dad?"
Aerion didn't move or reacted for a few seconds, then he sighed and blocked his phone.
"He'll reach out. He's busy."
Duncan couldn't help but notice how Aerion shrinks his shoulders as he says that, his voice a thread. He frowns, as if he's angry at himself for reacting in such a physical way to this.
"Yeah, of course."
Aerion pays the bill and they drive home. There was no desert this time.
When they arrive Aerion heads straight for his room and Duncan doesn't think before he says: "Aerion, wait."
He stops, but doesn't turn. Duncan swallows and breaths deeply. He's not sure what is making him do this, he feels weird and stupid.
"My dad,—the biological one—I never really knew him well. He was a drunk and a gambler, we had a house, and he lost it to some criminals ages ago." Aerion doesn't turn, and that makes it easier for him to keep talking. "We lived on a motel for some months before they arrested him for drunken driving and possession of drugs. I was 11 at the time. Arlan took me in because he knew my old man and he felt pity for me. When I got old enough the bank actually reached out to me to inform me that my father had a ton of debts; he had tried to write my name as a witness or something, so he could take more loans when I was 8 or 9. I don't know if he's still in prison or if he's out, and honestly I don't care. I don't wanna know. I guess that what I'm trying to say is… sometimes dads suck, and that sucks. But we're not just our father's children, you'll be fine."
Aerion doesn't move, and Duncan prays that he didn't overstep when Aerion sighs, he heads to the kitchen and takes the pint of ice cream and a spoon, he walks back to the living room and sits on the sofa, Duncan joins him.
Aerion takes a spoonful of chocolate delight to his mouth, then he hands it to Duncan, he sheepishly accepts it while Aerion sinks on the sofa.
"This is ridiculous."
"What is?" Duncan takes a shy spoonful and hands the pint back to the sulking boy next to him.
"Just… everything. It sucks balls."
Duncan smiles and laughs softly, "Your eloquence never ceases to amaze me." He doesn't get a response this time, just Aerion's right side of his serious face. "What is the final goal here? Like, when you hatched this plan, what was the result you wanted?"
Aerion frowns a bit and takes a spoonful of chocolate.
"For my father to drop the whole 'Lys' thing."
"I've heard Lys is nice." Duncan tries.
"Yes, for holidays and partying. My father wishes to exile me to a paradise on earth so I can work for my fuckass cousin,—golden boy extraordinaire and apparently the second coming of The Father himself." He huffs in disgust and shakes his head while taking another spoonful.
"Work in what, exactly?"
The Targaryen family had their noses in half the business of Westeros, so it could literally be anything.
Aerion was reluctant, Duncan could tell, he twirled a string of Dunk's sofa for a bit before softly murmuring: "As a lawyer."
"Oh?"
Aerion's thunderous eyes made their way to Duncan's own, "Business lawyer. If you think I don't have a heart or soul you've never met a business lawyer."
"Oh." The passionate response threw him off a bit, then he processed the whole speech and he frowns. "Hey, I don't think that. You do have a heart and soul."
Aerion frowns in return but stays silent, and Duncan closes his mouth. Despite the fact that Aerion loved to comment on his virtues, Duncan notices when he earnestly tells him truths about himself in the shape of compliments, Aerion seems to shut off and become hostile.
"You're such a weird little man."
Aerion turns at him with murder in his eyes and he takes a pillow and starts hitting Duncan with it, he tries to cover himself and his growing smile. "Ouch! Hey, sorry! I take it back, I take it back."
"Do you yield?"
"Yes, I do. Gosh."
Aerion drops the pillow on his lap next to the ice cream and he drops himself on the sofa again, this time he's shoulder to shoulder with Duncan. But he doesn't move and Duncan doesn't mention it.
"He'll call." Aerion breaks the amiable silence and resumes his ice cream time. "He always does."
Duncan hums and nods deep in thought. "So, what? I'm like, a 'fuck you' to your old man?"
Aerion scoffs and shakes his head. "Something like that. You might be my ticked out." Aerion hands him the pint of ice cream back and that's the end of the matter.
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