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“You need to think with your head sometimes brother.” Aemond jumped down from Vhagar, looking at Aegon, rocking back and forth on his feet. A look he knows all too well, signs of his elder brother's boredom.
“Mother insisted we spend more time together, I think our time spent together is up, and satisfied.” Aegon retorted back, looking anywhere but at his younger brother.
“Mother wanted to impress upon you, the new sense of responsibility since you are soon to be a father. For some reason, she still has it in her mind you listen to anyone at all.” Aemond walked past his brother to head to the stairs leading to the Keep.
“Well, I have never been good at taking responsibility. You’ve always been better at finishing the requests set forth.” Aegon teased his brother a knowing smile, making Aemond turn to glare at him with his one eye.
“Be careful what you say brother, I’m taller.” Aemond gripped his gloves tighter, a staring match between the two. A roar of fur interrupted their fight before it started, as Dreamfyre suddenly began to tug on her chains. Handlers began to run towards her, yelling commands for her to be calm, yet the dragon began to shoot fire. The roaring was something neither brother had heard before coming from any of the beasts. She sounded in pain.
“Helaena…” Aegon whispered, voicing what they both thought. Aemond grabbed his brother's arm, dragging him to the red keep. “Aemond, really brother, there's no reason for us to both be there-'' Aemond slammed his brother against the wall.
“If it is to be believed that you are the father, my dear brother-” He pressed him harder against the wall. “Then you must go to your wife . I will be there to support my beloved sister and my beloved brother as any good brother should be. I let you play your games and I keep quiet. For this you will be there when they are born.”
“Why must everyone go through this torture with themselves in order for me to aspire to something I do not want.” Aegon hissed out.
“Because, you just happened to be born first, dear brother. Now you can go walking freely, or I will make you with a dagger in your back. Pick one.” The roars of the dragon could still be heard shaking the foundation from the dragon pit.
—
When they arrived, Alicent was already pacing outside the birthing room. Her head shot up to her sons, her hands immediately going to Aegon, a smile wide on her face.
“It is time, you’re about to be a father.” Her hands grasped his face, while Aemond schooled his expression. Helaena’s cries could be heard through the door, along with a nurse talking to her calmly. The only indication if anyone dared to look at Aemond, was how tightly he had held his arm, his knuckles white, with every scream.
Time seemed to pass slowly for them, until finally cries could be heard, then another joined. Alicent burst into the room, followed by the two brothers. Alicent and Aegon both went to the babies while Aemond walked straight to Helanea’s bedside. Her breathing deep, while they pushed on her stomach for the afterbirth.
“They are beautiful.” Alicent cooed at the young child in her arms, while Aegon didn’t know what to do. Aemond brushed a piece of hair from his sister's forehead, her eyes meeting his one.
“Did I do good?” She whispered, tired from the ordeal.
“Perfect.” Aemond kissed her forehead. For a moment, Alicent saw what they all denied, a panic coming over her while she held the newborn, a knowing look Aegon recognized.
“Aemond, would you like to hold your Nephew? I would like to see how my wife is doing.” In one of the rare occurrences, Aegon knew when to play the game. Aemond’s head shot up to see the brief look of recognition on his mother's face. Aemond stood, letting go of Helaena’s hand after squeezing it briefly and taking his nephew into his arms. Aegon sat beside the bed, Helaena giving him a soft smile. Aemond bounced the newborn in his arms while the young thing reached out to touch the mask hiding his sapphire eye. Earning a smile that only a child could gain from his father.