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Luke watched Aemond stoke the fire, eyes half lidded, drowsy from the warm wine in his hand. "More?" He heard Aemond ask in a near whisper. Almost as if he didn't want the rest of the house to hear.
It was a sentiment Luke could understand. He had no desire to have their family intrude upon their little alone time. Their nephews and nieces had gone to sleep, Aegon, and Helaena as well, tired out by their kids. Jace and the twins still hadn't returned from their work party.
"I'm good." Aemond nodded, pouring himself another glass of the mulled wine. It was spicy and warm on his tongue. A welcome note on his palate. Luke sighed as he leaned back against Aemond when the man returned.
It was a rare night. Quiet and serene, untouched by the mayhem that usually engulfed their family. The holidays made everyone extra nosy, with everyone up in everyone's business. It was a miracle Luke and Aemond had a moment to themselves like this. Theirs to savour alone as they so pleased. And so they did. They kept the fire lit, warmed the wine and huddled together under a blanket, watching the embers of the fire crackle in the air, as the snow lightly cascaded down the night sky.
It was a precious moment, untainted and unsullied.
"Aemond," Luke spoke into the soft wool of Aemond's sweater.
"Mm," Aemond hummed, voice relaxed and steeped with comfortable ease.
"Dance with me?"
Luke felt Aemond move beneath his weight. The blanket shifted from its place as Aemond turned to get a good look at Luke. Seeing Luke's genuine eyes, Aemond breathed in and stayed silent for a while.
A few seconds ticked by before Aemond took both their glasses and put them down.
Luke watched in silence as Aemond divested himself of the blanket. "Well?" Aemond asked, hand extended for Luke to take as he stood there. Silver blonde hair a bit messy, wearing the christmas sweater Helaena bought for them all, pants wrinkled, no shoeson, with only the grey fuzzy wolf socks he'd gotten as a present from Aegon.
Luke stared at the stretched hand, studying the lines on Aemond's palm, not believing that Aemond had given in so easily.
"Luke?"
"... yeah," Near breathless Luke answered dumbly.
Luke's feet moved on their own, his hand connected with Aemond's as he heard his own breath hitch. His body felt not his own in that moment yet at the same time, he could feel every nerve in his body sing.
It was a strange sensation, for Luke to be able to feel every touch on his form, every little gasp he let out, to be able to see the flecks of silver and blue in Aemond's eyes but somehow feel unfettered and detached from the world. He watched the silver lashes quivering as he skimmed a hand over a brow. He could see his own reflection in those violet eyes, mouth slightly agape, mesmerised by the indulgence of that moment.
With nothing but the sound of the distant holiday cheer seeping in through the walls of their family home, they began their secret little dance, cocooned away in a pocket of time unbeknownst to all but them.
The cacophony of faraway traffic, the chatter from private parties nearby and the dull white noise pouring out from the radio became the symphony to which their feet glided to on the floor, in an unconsciously well attuned rhythm.
Luke let his body move on its own, his mind too distracted to remember the correct moves to a dance he was taught when he was young. He trusted Aemond's lead, the warmth of his palm burned through his clothes and Luke shivered at every turn Aemond made where he pulled and carried his being through the small space. He was unaware of his own reasoning as to why he'd asked Aemond to dance with him. He'd scoffed at himself the moment the words escaped his lips.
Expected a swift rejection.
But Aemond surprised him.
Perhaps it was the wine, or the intoxicating gentleness of the warm fireplace, perhaps even the complacency of indulging in the giving spirit of the holidays. Perhaps it was none of these. The reason why Aemond held him so close, violet eyes burrowing the depths of Luke's soul as they swayed to a music they couldn't hear, in the end wasn't all that important.
Luke felt ecstatic yet heartbroken at the same time as he drowned in those eyes, the flesh around it marred by the deep scar that encircled his left eye, the angry red line of raised skin running from his brow to his cheek. He felt guilt and relief. He'd done that. Guilty that he'd been the one to etch that mark on that handsome face. Relieved because the eye had been spared from his violence that night.
The scar on his face might've been the only physical one he gave to Aemond but there were far too many scars he'd carved into his uncle's heart. Ones that he could not gently caress in the dead of the night in repentance and place kisses upon in a silent plea for forgiveness. Many a night his apology bubbled from his heart and died on his tongue. Tonight, it seemed that it would be the same case. The moment was far too fragile to utter the words he wished to tell Aemond.
Aemond never once took his eyes off of Luke's face, eyes unblinking, only the slight curve of lips betraying his emotions as he led Luke through the steps of the dance. An arm around Luke's waist, another moving from his shoulder to his face. A face that held such sway over his heart. Drinking in the sight of dark brown eyes that could be as cruel as they were kind, lips that could spew such sweet delights just as they spat out venomous curses. Lucerys was capable of undoing him so violently, then putting him back together with such care.
It scared Aemond, the power the boy had over him, but he was addicted to him. If getting hurt because of Luke meant he would get Luke to tend to the wounds he himself created, Aemond would happily get hurt a thousand times over. Some days Aemond wished to lay bare his thoughts and confess his sins and desires, but the words were heavy on his tongue. His sweet, cruel boy wasn't ready to face the weight of his feelings. Aemond doubted Lucerys would ever truly be ready to hear the secrets he bore inside his heart. So, it was a confession he would take to his grave.
The two of them were wholly unfit to be together but it was not in their nature to do what was the right thing, what was begged of them, even when it concerned their own sanity. Every time they touched, they burned one another, yet somehow they were the only ones to know each other so well, of how best to soothe the burn. The good, the bad and the terrible. They both relished in the pain they inflicted upon the other. Bathed in it and then sought pleasure in the hurt.
All the pain was worth it however, if just for the short time they could bask in instances they let go of their weapons of choice and curled up against each other under the sheets, those few moments when they woke up, masks uncovered and vulnerable, for the stolen glances and kisses they shared where none could see them.
They were both thankful their family let them be. Having come to terms that neither of them could live without the other, regardless of how bad they were for each other. Both would willingly suffer a lifetime of paper cuts if it meant they could be together. Just so they could enjoy the rare days of peace spent alone together, without words wrapped in barb wire and poison-laced glances.
Threading one hand through Aemond's hair, Luke traced patterns on the back of Aemond's neck with the other, eyes closed and a smile tugging at his lips as be bent down to place kisses along Aemond's shoulder.
The radio crackled in the background as Aemond pulled Luke along what could only be called swaying rather than dancing. If he could stay in this moment forever, he would. Holding onto the love of his life, savouring the taste of the sweet wine on his nephew's lips as he bent down for a lazy kiss. No worries for what tomorrow would bring. No hurt, no pain, no need to fight the desire to afflict torment onto each other.
They stayed that way, in the dark room, with only the dim orange glow of the fireplace shedding light to their softened features, with no one privy to their secret dance. Except for the eyes of a small child entirely unaware of the significance of the moment.
"Darling, what are you doing out here?" A quiet voice spoke.
Young Jaehaera looked back at her mother, eyes wide, a finger pressed to her lips as she signalled at the two people oblivious to their surroundings.
Helaena looked at where Jaehaera was pointing and she let out a fond sigh, a smile gracing her lips. Placing a finger against her own lips, mimicking her daughter, Helaena whispered, "Let's get you to bed, sweetling."
Quiet, odd and eccentric as most people thought her to be, she was also observant, keenly aware of her brother's affection for his nephew. Mired with conflict, their relationship maybe, Helaena could easily tell if the love that people professed was true. And the love her brother and nephew held for each other was indeed true. If only they could see it for themselves instead of denying the blatant truth.
Ushering Jaehaera out of the room, Helaena looked back one last time, a faint crimson quickly rose on her cheeks as she looked at them. Holding onto each other, they were blind and deaf to the world around them. It felt far too sacred a moment for anyone to intrude upon. In time, they'd get to a point where they would realise the truth. But for now, the best she could do was give them their time and space.
Aemond and Lucerys continued their dance long into the night. Unhurried and content. They'd get there eventually. Perhaps even sooner than anyone thought.