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It's the king's XX nameday, and there's a grand feast and tourney in his honor. Even with his failing body, he's quite energetic in his enthusiasm about the festivals. Or more like, he's happy to see his favorite child returning to King's Landing.
And Rhaenyra's brought her brood back from where they've been hiding away in Dragonstone, probably in fear of her birthright being stolen if she neglected to honor her father publicly. At least every year before his inevitable death.
But it hasn't been that long since they've seen her children, especially Jace since he'd been visiting more frequently on his own by riding Vermax to King's Landing.
Then he'd proceed to seek out Aegon like a needy babe in need of constant attention. The moment those two saw each other though they were immediately attached to the hip, to father's delight, and mother's scathing disapproval. Aegon didn't even notice though, too caught up in their nephew as he was, and their nephew-
"He wants to fuck you," Aemond says bluntly since no one else is willing to. It's just them two off to the side, with his brother drinking a whole barrel of wine for himself after he's gotten tired of dancing with the noble ladies while Aemond stands next to him to keep him from doing anything more embarrassing.
Grandfather had given him that sort of look, too, so he'd obeyed.
There's a lot that gets ignored around here until their backs are turned and people start to gossip. Their father is willfully blind, and others seem to find it more unnatural that a man is lusting after another man rather than the fact that said man is the other man's nephew.
The Targaryen dynasty is built on keeping their bloodline pure anyway, and outsiders won't truly understand them. But it's been accepted as their tradition since Aegon's Conquest.
Aegon doesn't immediately react, in fact, after he seems to consider the words, he just rolls his eyes and takes a chug of his wine.
Belatedly realizing that he hadn't been specific enough, since Aegon does have a reputation of whoring around, he helpfully clarifies, "Jace wants to fuck you."
His brother promptly chokes, then coughs. Pounding at his chest as he does so until he regains a steady breath.
"What?" He sputters out afterwards, eyes wide and shiny, and mouth agape as his cheeks bloom scarlet.
"Our bastard of a nephew," Aemond tonelessly clears up.
"I- why would you think-" Aegon says indignantly and his eyes frantically dart around the room since there are many people surrounding them, yet no one seems to be listening. Even if there was, they wouldn't be so obvious about it.
Undoubtedly, someone's caught their conversation because the walls have ears, but Aemond doesn't care.
It's not really a secret when the whole realm perceives it too.
"It's the way he looks at you," Aemond says quietly when his brother quickly looks away from the direction where Jace happens to be standing with his cousins as they giggle at whatever stories he's telling them. At first he'd been annoyed to discover Jace staring at Aegon so much, he'd wondered what the boy was plotting in that little brown head of his. The boy always had that hungry look on his face, like he was greedy for something he couldn't have so Aemond had assumed their nephew was up to no good.
There isn't a lot to be jealous over Aegon about really but there hadn't been any reasonable conclusion at the time. Until he observed some more and figured out that Jace was…pining.
After Aegon.
For whatever reason.
And everyone knew.
He's overheard his mother muttering about it like a madwoman, Helaena had given some cryptic talk about how a cock could make peace, or something along those lines, then their father, ever willfully blind about the truth of Rhaenyra's bastard children, had even looked mildly uncomfortable whenever he spotted Aegon and Jace interacting in some way.
Laenor always looked so confused or perhaps disbelieving, and other than that he carefully didn't react. But the man was obviously deeply troubled yet trying to be supportive as he patted Jace on the back. Consternation was all that Rhaenyra had on her face whenever she deigned to pay attention. She'd pursed her lips in slight disapproval while her brows furrowed. Most of the time however she seemed to prefer pretending that it wasn't even happening. She'd even push Jace to spend more time with his cousins to no avail. Jace would get along well with Baela and Rhaena but he obviously liked Aegon's company a lot more.
After observing and gathering what everyone in their family possibly thought about Jace's focused intensity and brewing lust for Aegon, Aemond realized he found the whole thing funny enough to laugh about.
Because of how absurd it was.
Aegon's been trying to be a good uncle these past few years, because of the rising tension between their already split family. Instead of heeding mother's warnings, his older brother decided to get close and form a bond with the Strong bastards. Aemond had contemplated sometimes too about doing the same, but then decided it wasn't worth the effort.
Rhaenyra's children didn't need any coddling from him since they seemed to have enough father figures in their lives and didn't lack any affection. Aegon however didn't seem to mind as he got all eager and jolly about it. Actually ruffling their brown locks, and swinging his arms around their shoulders to pull in close- specifically Jace who he seemed to genuinely have a fun time with. If he wasn't fucking whores or drinking then he was laughing with Jace.
And Jace was always staring.
"I- what?" Aegon repeats at a loss as he rapidly blinks out of his drunken stupor. Then he idly smirks, " Hah , is this because I told you that marrying you off to baby Luke would solve all our problems? Brother, I'm not stupid. I won't believe in this nonsense."
Aemond has truly forgotten all about that. But now that he's been reminded of that humilating moment he does feel a bit spiteful. Aegon had teased him about a lot of things, about lacking a dragon, then for a day where he might end up becoming a Velaryon bride since he had no betrothed and even looked the part-
"Fine," he says agreeably as he clenches his hands, because he's done his part. If Aegon wants to be ignorant about the dragon in the shadows watching his every move with his fire being stoked every year, then that's his brother's choice.
He hadn't done anything but tell him the truth. But now he doesn't feel inclined to try so hard to convince him that it is.
Deep down, he might still hold a grudge over that pig prank.
Then Aegon shrugs with a pleased/relieved look on his face before he chugs down more wine without a single care in the world since the red liquid drips down his chin and leaves trails.
A glance in a certain direction exposes Jacaerys Velaryon blatantly staring like a hawk, his eyes darkening as he follows the bobbing of Aegon's pale throat. He even licks his lips.
The boy doesn't care about his surroundings at all as he lacks the spaital awareness for discretion. Whenever Aegon is around, he doesn't even seem to care who'd find out.
Bold one might say, but foolish is the accurate term.
His brother should rule the day that he gets married to Helaena, because at least then he won't be a clueless sheep tottering into the dragonspit being ready to be devoured whole.
Jacaerys Velaryon might actually be dangerous in that regard, if he's half of his mother.