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1
Deep down Aemond knew he wasn't going to win in a swordfight against Daemon. Daemon had been the best sword-fighter in the realm, Commander of the City Watch and a ruthless bastard for longer than Aemond had even been alive. However, he needed to vent some steam before yet another attempt at a happy family dinner and he eagerly accepted Daemon's offer of fighting with him and even more eagerly accepted Daemon's light-hearted challenge of seeing if he could best him.
He couldn't.
After the third time of winding up flat on his back, winded, his sword lying uselessly on the ground beside him, he conceded defeat.
"You know," he scowled up at Daemon from his position on the ground, "I did think you'd pretend to let me win at least once. Just so I didn't look utterly pathetic."
"Oh my dear nephew," Daemon grinned down at him, "You are pathetic."
Aemond gathered a handful of small stones.
"But," Daemon continued, moving delicately to the side to avoid getting hit in the face, "Answer me this, how do you expect to be a better swordsman if your opponents keep going easy on you? You won't get better if Ser Criston is your only opponent. He's not that good."
"I am not going to admit I lost this challenge," Aemond said, stubbornly, "You cheated."
"Cheated by having much more experience than you?"
"Yes. You could have given me some pointers."
"And then you'd have cheated."
"Doesn't count if it's me."
Daemon chuckled, a deep rich sound that Aemond couldn't help but enjoy listening to. It wasn't that Daemon never laughed, it's just there were few people who could make him genuinely laugh. Viserys and Rhaenyra were the only ones before Aemond started spending more time with him.
Maybe it was that thought that made Aemond accept Daemon's outstretched hand. He was just about to let Daemon pull him to his feet, trusting his uncle wouldn't drop him onto the ground when two dark-haired blurs collided with Daemon and he let go of Aemond's hand to greet Jacaerys and Luke.
Aemond hit the ground with an undignified thud.
"My Prince, are you..." Ser Criston hurried over to help him up.
"I'm fine," Aemond said, pushing himself to his feet, "It's not that Daemon deliberately let me fall."
Daemon heard that and simply winked at him over Ser Criston's shoulder.
Aemond wondered what Ser Criston would do if he accidentally stabbed Daemon in front of him.
Actually, he strongly suspected Ser Criston would stand back and do nothing. Maybe even enthusiastically cheer him on.
He was just weighing up his options when Viserys and Alicent called their names.
Next time, he thought even as he quickened his pace to fall into step beside Daemon and engage him in conversation, there's always next time.
2.
"I fucking hate weddings," Aemond complained to Aegon who had slid into the empty seat beside him, very pointedly not looking at Helaena who was talking quietly to Rhaena and Baela, her blonde head close to theirs, "They're always full of idiots dancing."
"And you just hate seeing people be good at something you've got no skill in whatsoever," came a familiar voice and a warm hand landed on his shoulder, "Hello nephews."
Aegon merely grunted and raised his goblet to acknowledge Daemon.
"Hello Uncle," Aemond kept his voice as calm as he could and refused to look up at him, "I regret to inform you but I am actually an excellent dancer."
"Probably the only thing you are good at," Aegon muttered and yelped as Aemond kicked him under the table.
Daemon leaned down to grab Aegon's goblet from him, casually batting away Aegon's hands as he tried to get his drink back, "I bet I could drain this in one and still be better than you at dancing even though you're sober."
Aemond ignored Aegon's petulant mutterings next to him and stood up to meet Daemon's eyes, "I'll take that bet. You just don't have the moves anymore."
"Is that so?" Daemon smirked then drained the goblet, placed it back in front of Aegon and extended one hand to Aemond.
"What are you doing?" Aemond looked from Daemon's hand to Daemon's face.
"There's a leader in this type of dance," Aegon said reaching across the table to grab another goblet, "He's saying you follow better than you lead."
"I do not," Aemond scowled at the pair of them, "And anyway I'm not letting Daemon dance with me. He'd just drop me on the ground if he dipped me."
"While that does sound fun," Daemon conceded, "There's just simply no way we can compare who's a better dancer if we're not dancing together. I mean I know I'm probably going to be who everyone is staring at as I'm a better dancer but..."
Aemond reached out and deliberately laced his fingers through Daemon's. He was gratified to see a momentarily surprised expression flicker across his uncle's face, "We will see who they're looking at in a few minutes, won't we? However, there's still no fucking way you're leading."
No one so much as glanced their way as they made their way to the dancefloor. He supposed that Daemon would kill anyone who dared comment about him dancing with one of his male family members and Viserys would just turn a blind eye and ear to any whispers anyway.
Aemond discovered to his annoyance that he automatically let Daemon take the lead the second Daemon whirled them into the right position.
Daemon, to Aemond's surprise, was an excellent dancer. Effortless, smooth, graceful. He was a good partner and Aemond tried to not look as though he was enjoying himself.
"People are staring," he said just so he could lean in closer to Daemon's ear and possibly tuck a few blonde strands off his face.
"No one is sober enough to care," Daemon murmured quietly, "Besides, in this light you could almost pass for..."
"If you say a woman... I'll punch you in the face."
"I was actually going to say my wife."
Aemond didn't punch Daemon, he did however stamp down as hard as he could on Daemon's foot. Daemon didn't wince, he just smirked.
"So, are you going to admit you've lost yet?" Daemon stepped closer still.
"I'll never admit you're better than me at anything."
"Even when I clearly am?"
"Even then."
"Age has taught me there will come a time when you just have to concede defeat," Daemon said, thoughtfully, "You'll have absolutely no choice."
Aemond opened his mouth to respond but then Daemon was dipping him, eyes narrowed speculatively. Aemond felt a tingle of anticipation as Daemon leaned in closer.
"Uncle Daemon, will you please dance with me?" Helaena‘s voice broke the moment. She sounded painfully hopeful.
"Of course, my darling," Daemon replied and before Aemond could blink, he was being gently tugged upright, Daemon ensuring he was steady on his feet before he spun Helaena into his arms. Soon he was twirling his sister expertly around the floor, his sister's blonde hair flying, a happy, carefree expression on her face.
Aemond stood and silently watched them. He wasn't going to admit it out loud to anyone for as long as he lived but Daemon definitely was an exceptionally good dancer. Maybe even slightly better than him.
But he did only have one-eye, he argued to himself even as he watched Rhana and Baela jostle each other to get to dance with Daemon next, he couldn't see as well as his uncle could.
He was not entirely sure if that was the best argument he'd ever made.
He was also not sure if the pang he felt when Daemon left the room, hand-in-hand with Rhaenyra, without so much as a glance in his direction, was one of hurt or jealousy.
Maybe a little of both. Not that it mattered.
Not that he cared.
If he fell asleep and dreamed of Daemon closing the gap between them during their dance well no one would know.
3
It definitely wasn't Aemond's most brilliant idea.
Then again, if his uncle wasn't also completely deranged, nothing would have happened in the first place.
Aemond arrived at the dragon pit early one morning to see Daemon mounting Caraxes.
"Are you leaving then?" he asked, hoping he sounded eager and excited and not a little disappointed.
"No," Daemon shook his head, "I'm too restless to sleep."
"So where are you going on dragon back then?"
"Just exploring. Want to come along?"
"Only if you admit I am a better dragon rider than you."
"We both know you're going to come along whether I say that or not."
Aemond inclined his head to concede the point and went off to get Vhagar.
**
Aemond had never flown side by side with someone before.
Granted he hadn't had many opportunities. By the time he claimed Vhagar, Aegon had lost most of his interest in flying and he would never have flown with Aemond even if he hadn't. His nephews and cousins were also too angry about the incident to want to spend any time with him on dragon-back.
"I've got an idea," Aemond said, practically shouting over the sound of the wind and dragon wings.
He wasn't sure Daemon had heard until Caraxes stopped moving forward. He urged Vhagar to move forward until he and Daemon were side-by-side.
"Have you ever tried going from one dragon to another while in mid-air?" he asked Daemon.
"A couple of times," Daemon shrugged, "Why?"
"Wanna do it now?" Aemond asked, hoping he sounded casual instead of excited and gleeful, "See who can do it most often without falling?"
"This is a stupid challenge and if it goes badly we could both die. I'm in."
They did however, on Daemon's insistence, fly lower which was good as when they collided in mid-air trying to jump from one dragon to another at the same time they did end up crashing to the ground.
**
"Whose idea was it to jump from one dragon to another in mid-air?" Viserys asked.
Maesters were carefully bandaging Daemon's leg and Aemond's arm. Alicent and Rhaenyra were standing behind the king, Alicent looking shocked and horrified, Rhaenyra looking amused.
Daemon and Aemond glanced at each other.
"Mine," they said at the same time.
"You're both fools," Rhaenyra shook her head, still unable to stop a smile from escaping.
"Never do it again," Alicent said, warningly, "You could both be killed."
"Yes," Viserys said, "Next time you jump from one dragon to another, it could prove fatal to both of you. Promise you won't do it again."
"Brother, you know we'd be lying if we promised that," Daemon said, managing to sound almost apologetic.
"He's right, Father," Aemond shrugged, "We can promise we won't do it again anytime soon."
"Considering Daemon can't walk properly," Rhaenyra said, shooting her husband an affectionate look, "that's probably as good a deal as we're going to get."
Alicent and Viserys exchanged despairing looks.
"One question for Daemon though," Aemond said, thoughtfully, "I don't think there's a clear winner in this bet."
"You risked your lives for a bet?" Alicent's voice rose in outrage.
"One that I clearly won," Daemon muttered.
Hours later, after Viserys and Alicent had shouted themselves hoarse, Daemon and Aemond left the room with Rhaenyra in tow.
"So who did win this challenge?" Aemond asked, quietly as they made their way up the stairs.
"Clearly me," Daemon said, insistently, "I was closer to Vhagar than you were to Caraxes on that final jump."
"Only because you got in my way," Aemond said in tones of mocking outrage, "I would have made a clean jump if you'd not drifited off course."
"Can I just say you're both stupid?" Rhaenyra cut across Daemon, "Considering you're both going to be lying in bed resting for weeks, you both lost this challenge."
"You're wrong," Daemon said just as Aemond muttered, "That's not true."
Rhaenyra just rolled her eyes.
4.
Aemond genuinely thought he was finished with competing with Daemon. Although he was never going to admit it out loud in case it got back to Daemon, Daemon was actually better than him at a lot of things. He did naively think that his youth would be an advantage but Daemon had age and experience on his side and the determination to remain the best at whatever he put his mind to.
He had thought of just meeting Daemon when he was confined to his chambers and telling him the challenges were over, but he'd heard Rhaenyra and Daemon were keeping themselves entertained and decided he'd stay away.
However, when Daemon intercepted him on the way to the banquet hall, a grin on his face and a wicked gleam in those eyes, Aemond knew he was not going to be able to resist going along with whatever Daemon had planned.
"I bet I can drink more than you tonight and still remain standing," Daemon said, happily, taking hold of Aemond's arm.
"I bet you can't," Aemond retorted immediately as they entered the banquet hall.
Rhaenyra eyed them suspiciously as they sat down together at the table and Daemon immediately leaned over to grab two goblets and a flagon of wine.
"No," she said by way of greeting.
"No?" Daemon smiled at her.
"If either of you two end the evening by vomiting or passing out," she said, warningly, "You're not going to get any sympathy and you will be left here. We all thought you'd learned your lesson about how pointless all these competitions were after the crash-landing incident."
"They're not pointless," Aemond said, indignantly.
"I didn't know everyone knew we were having competitions," Daemon said, vaguely, concentrating on pouring wine into goblets.
"I knew," Rhaenyra said, wryly, "And I let my father and Alicent know."
"Traitor."
"My point is," Rhaenyra continued, "Please don't let this challenge ruin tonight for Luce and Rhaena. It's their official engagement banquet and they are really excited."
"So murdering any of the guests is a no-no," Daemon said, raising his voice as Ser Criston walked past with Alicent, "Does Ser Criston know?"
Aemond hid his grin behind his goblet as Ser Criston glared in Daemon's direction.
"Behave," Rhaenyra said, leaning down to kiss him, "I'm going to see if my son needs anything."
She hurried over to Luce and Rhaena.
"I'm still up for your challenge if you are," Aemond said, quietly.
"I'll toast to that," Daemon grinned and leaned over to clink their goblets together.
**
Many hours and goblets of wine later, Aemond looked blearily at his uncle. Daemon drained his goblet and pushed himself to his feet looking triumphant. The banquet hall was nearly empty, the lovebirds had disappeared to get ready for the next day. No one had died or even gotten punched. The evening had been a success.
Aemond wondered if this was the most successful and peaceful wedding occasion since Daemon and Rhaenyra had gotten married. He knew that occasion had been peaceful only because they had not invited anyone in the first place.
Aemond tried to get to his feet and promptly collapsed onto the floor.
"How are you feeling beloved nephew?" Daemon asked, standing over him.
"I hate you."
"There's no shame in admitting defeat," Daemon grinned.
"Not this time maybe. Help me up."
Daemon laughed and leaned down to tug Aemond to his feet. He kept a steadying arm around him as they left the banquet hall and headed up the stairs.
"I will admit to one thing," Aemond said as they stumbled into Aemond's chambers and Daemon dumped him unceremoniously onto the bed.
"What's that?" Daemon leaned against the doorframe.
"I have stopped wanting to feed you to Vhagar," Aemond said before rolling over and burying his face into his pillow.
"What a relief," Daemon responded, drily.
"Fuck off, uncle," Aemond murmured, his eyes drifitng shut.
"Goodnight nephew."
5
"What brings you here?"
"What brings you here?"
Aemond and Daemon stood facing each other, arms folded.
"Well, I did ask first," Aemond said, petulantly.
"I came here to gather information," Daemon said with a gleam in his eyes.
"What sort of information?"
"That's not your concern, nephew," Daemon reached out to tuck one loose strand of Aemond's hair back under his hood, "And I'd be careful if I were you. Our family does have a history of getting into trouble in brothels."
"You mean you have a habit of getting into trouble wherever you go."
Daemon chuckled.
"Are the challenges over for you?" Aemond suddenly asked as Daemon turned to walk back to the castle.
Daemon turned back to face him.
"You're not suggesting we have a competition in a brothel."
"Might be. You going to hear me out?"
Daemon smiled slowly.
"Terms are simple. Whoever has the most encounters..."
"Sexual or violent?"
"Sexual," Aemond gave his uncle a look, "Wait you got into fights in a brothel?"
"It happens," Daemon shrugged.
Aemond tried not to smile and just continued, "Whoever has seduced the most people at the end of an hour wins."
"Why an hour?"
"Because," Aemond said, shrugging, "If we're any longer your wife might ask questions about how long it takes you to gather information."
Daemon eyed him speculatively.
"What does the winner of this challenge get?"
"I'll let you know later."
Daemon chuckled, "Very good."
He held out his hand and Aemond shook it.
"Good luck, uncle."
"I don't need it nephew,"
They split up.
**
It didn't take Aemond long to realise that he didn't actually want to bed any of the people here.
Well, that was a lie. There was one person in this place that he wanted, wanted more than he ever wanted anything in his life, and he couldn't deny it to himself any longer.
There was just something about Daemon that had gotten under his skin. The way he carried himself or the way his eyes always gleamed with amusement or how he always always treated Aemond as an equal. The way he seemed to enjoy their conversations and games but always ensured Aemond never got seriously hurt.
Well except the dragon incident and Daemon did not mean for that to happen.
However, a challenge was a challenge and Aemond did not want to lose this time.
He quickly came up with a sob story that proved so effective that it moved not one but three prostitutes into coming over to cheer him up. A sob story over how he was attacked 4-on-1 by his nephews and cousins and lost an eye as a result.
He supposed he should thank Luce for that after all when he was gently nudged onto a bed and one woman was peppering kisses into his neck while one unfastened the laces of his trousers and the other began unbuttoning his shirt.
He looked up and saw Daemon leaning against the opposite wall, hood still covering his hair. He gave a half-smile when he realised Aemond had spotted him and gestured for Aemond to pay attention to the women around him.
Aemond decided to disobey.
"I feel better actually," he told the women, standing up and gently batting their hands away, "I think I should go home."
The women looked disappointed.
"Here's some gold for your trouble," Aemond said, tossing them a bag of gold.
Their disappointed looks disappeared at once.
Aemond walked over to his uncle rebuttoning his shirt and tugging the hood back over his hair.
"Problem nephew?"
"We are going back to the castle," Aemond said, so softly that no one but Daemon could hear him, "And as you didn't even try this challenge I think I won fair and square."
"Well if I didn't try... you can't possibly say I wouldn't have won."
Aemond folded his arms, "Okay then let's say you won... What would your prize be?"
Daemon eyed him speculatively and then gave a slow smile that made Aemond's heart beat a little quicker.
It took a monumental effort on Aemond's part to not just sink to his knees then and there.
When they were in Aemond's chamber with the door shut and bolted behind them, that's when he shoved Daemon up against a wall.
"Here's a new challenge," he said, resting a hand on Daemon's throat and squeezing slightly. Daemon just eyed him lazily, totally unconcerned, "I bet that you'll be moaning my name long before I moan yours."
Daemon raised one eyebrow, a smirk on his face. Before Aemond could say or do anything, Daemon had moved and Aemond found himself pressed against the door, the handle digging into his back and his trousers loose around his ankles, Daemon putting that wonderful, clever, dangerous, amazing mouth to good use for once.
Aemond lost the last bet too.
And 1 time they spent time together just because they could
Aemond reached out and knocked on the door.
"Come in," came a voice.
He walked into the chamber Daemon shared with Rhaenyra. Rhaenyra was dozing, her long hair falling into her face, Daemon was sitting up rocking a baby in his arms.
"Hello nephew," he said without looking up from the baby.
"Go away," came a sleepy mumble from Rhaenyra.
Aemond ignored her and moved to sit beside Daemon.
"This baby is definitely yours," he said, looking at the baby's face, "Although he actually looks physically stronger than the actual Strong boys..."
"Be careful nephew," Daemon said, warningly.
"Yeah," Rhaenyra piped up, "Even if he doesn't stab you I will."
Rhaenyra sounded far less sleepy now.
"I apologise for making references to your infidelity," Aemond said, solemnly.
"You keep sleeping with my husband," Rhaenyra pointed out, sitting up in exasperation.
"I never said I was going to apologise for his infidelity, sister."
Daemon laughed at that and even Rhaenyra let a reluctant smile escape.
No one said anything else. Rhaenyra just lay back down apparently deciding to get more sleep, Daemon rocked his child in his arms, singing softly to them. Aemond hesitated then scooted closer so he and Daemon's thighs were touching.
"I bet I can wake him up and make him cry first," he said, softly.
Daemon's lips twitched.
"Turn that into one of your childish challenges and I will kill you both myself," Rhaenyra murmured without opening her eyes.