Work Text:
He had been in a bad mood ever since.
As he sparred in the practice grounds, talked strategy with his brothers, even whilst he ate. Davos couldn’t shake the feeling for more than a fleeting moment.
“You look sour,” Samwell had said as they trained in the courtyard. “Like you’ve been sucking lemons.” The comment only made Davos slash at the straw practice dummy with even more ferocity.
Two days had passed since that day at the boundary, the encounter with the Bracken patrol and all that had happened after.
Even now he was not sure why he did it. Opportunity perhaps? It had all been too tempting when he had caught sight of Aeron Bracken sitting alone and sulking. A bit of fun, he had thought to himself. Nothing more. Poke and prod at him a little bit, get him all riled up only to knock him down whilst Davos laughed and laughed.
Of course, it hadn’t gone like that at all.
Maybe it was the way Aeron’s eyes seemed to flicker with hesitation as he pulled out his sword. The way he stared across the boundary, long hair fluttering in the breeze like a maiden in one of those songs. Davos had never really been one for songs before.
And then when Davos had gripped him by the hair, when Aeron would tip his head back and cry out so prettily. When their lips had met in a clash of teeth and tongue and it made Davos completely rethink what he’d wanted to do in the first place.
He only wanted him.
But then Aeron had to say it, didn’t he?
You’re a Blackwood.
That was the root of it all wasn’t it? Brackens and Blackwoods, forever entwined in a dance of hate, a blood feud. Davos wouldn’t have minded it staying that way. The hate fuelled him sometimes. It was something to think about, to seethe about as he walked on the edge of Blackwood land, looking for any reason to start a fight.
Because it was rejection that sat deep in his stomach like heavy stones, poisoning his mind and body and soul. Plain and humiliating rejection. And it had stung. It had hurt, because for a moment he thought that Aeron had forgotten what they were too, was willing to look past their houses and take this moment as what it was.
But no. Aeron could not forget and now Davos could not forgive it.
His brother grew tired of him after a while. “Go and get this out of your system,” Samwell told him with an angry gesture at his person. “Go and watch the boundary, terrorise some poor Bracken Squire, whatever! You’re pissing me off now.”
Davos had bowed back with badly restrained mockery. “As my Lord commands.”
Now he lingered by the boundary stones, shimmying his knife at a stick of wood trapped between the gaps of the stones and relishing in the scraping sound as dusty shavings gathered at the edge of the blade.
He’d only looked up for a second when he saw him.
Stood watching the Bracken cattle, smiling slightly as a dam fussed over a young calf. Davos had to stop his whittling just to look at him.
It was almost unfair, how beautiful Aeron was. Features fair and lovely, skin pale against his warm yellow cloak and light brown hair. Davos thought all Brackens an ugly lot, even the women were plain and not much to look at, yet Aeron was the comeliest of them all.
He only lasted a minute or so before he grew tired of only looking. He had to be near him, be touching him, had to get his attention. All the time Aeron did not look a him was wasted potential and Davos could almost forget his own pain if only Aeron was to say his name.
Before he could think better of it, Davos bent down, scooping up a small stone and throwing it past the Boundary and towards the group of cows. It sailed through the air, missing the animals of course; Davos had a good aim and he wouldn’t hurt the poor creatures without reason; then it hit the muddy ground with a wet thud. Right at the foot of the tree where they had met that fateful evening.
Aeron’s head whipped around to look in the direction the stone had landed, then he turned back to look towards the boundary. Davos bared his teeth in a grin, relishing in the way Aeron’s eyes fell upon him, then he started to stride towards Davos.
“What are you doing here?” Aeron demanded, his steps becoming more like stomps as he got closer towards the boundary.
Davos cocked his head. “Aw, you’re not happy to see me?” He asked with as much saccharine sweetness as he could inject into his words.
Aeron’s stare was withering. “Anyone from your side of the boundary lingering by the stones means nothing good, Blackwood.”
The use of his House name, said with so much animosity, like nothing had ever happened between them was almost too much to bear. Davos dropped the nice act immediately, the sting of rejection tainting his words as he cut back scathingly. “Back to Blackwood now, am I? Because I remember you screaming my name only days ago, Aeron.”
Aeron paled, glancing around warily. “Be quiet! My cousins are not far up the slope.” He said with panicked desperation, his voice much more hushed. “They could hear.”
“Let them.” Davos stepped towards him, crowding Aeron’s space as he raised his face so their lips were inches away. “Let them hear how you let me push you up against that tree, how you cried out my name like a whore as I Kissed your neck, whispered in your ear- “
“Please, Davos!” Aeron’s eyes glistened and he turned his face to the side.
Davos raised his hand, gently cupping Aeron’s jaw as he turned his face back towards him, thumb caressing the smooth skin of Aeron’s cheek. “What I don’t understand,” he murmured, “Is that you want me, just as I much as I want you. Yet you’re the one who hides behind our Houses rivalry. I asked you to be mine, and you said no.”
“It wasn’t like that!”
“Wasn’t it? I got the message clearly enough,” Davos said bitterly, dropping his hand and stepping away.
Before he could move far, Aeron’s hand closed around his wrist, keeping him close. “Wait!” Aeron slid his hand down his wrist to hold Davos’s own like a lifeline. “I was confused. You had just insulted me! You called my knighthood into question before taking liberties with my body when we are supposed to be enemies!”
“That’s out families! Why does it have to be us too?!” Davos didn’t know when he had started yelling.
Aeron ran his fingers over his palm in circles. It felt nice and Davos could not help releasing a sigh of pleasure.
Aeron’s lips twitched into something of a smile. “Look, you really should not be here. After what you Blackwoods pulled, sacking our lands and raiding our farmers, they’ll kill you as soon as they see you.”
Like Davos was afraid of any Bracken men! “Then come with me here, behind the stones.” He said. “No one will see us there.”
Aeron looked hesitant, so Davos took charge. Holding both of Aeron’s hands in his, Davos led him across onto the Blackwood side of the field, ducking behind the rocky pile and helping Aeron down so they sat side by side.
The ground was soft after a night of rain. They would both get mud on the back of their clothes, but that wasn’t something that bothered Davos all that much. Aeron’s hand lay flat against the grass and Davos hastily placed his own on top before he lost the nerve.
“My uncle’s planning something. Some sort of retaliation I suppose. It will not be pretty.” Aeron leaned his head back against the stones, staring up at the sky with resignation.
Davos laughed mirthlessly. “Your uncle’s been itching for a reason to attack us, over something more serious than land disputes. Of course he is planning something.”
“Well, what about your brother?” Aeron turned his head to look at Davos, a perturbed look on his face. “He hides behind Rhaenyra’s cause to carry on with this feud. They’re both just as bad.”
“They’re Blackwood and Bracken. It’s what they do.”
Aeron huffed a laugh, but it was bitter, devoid of all joy. “And us?”
“I know what we could be.” Davos sat up, moving closer before he could lose all nerve. Aeron’s soft eyes tracked his movements as Davos leaned in close, their faces a hairs breath away.
He paused giving Aeron a final chance. To pull away, to stand and leave, hells, hit Davos across the face for daring to sully his honour a second time. Aeron closed the distance, their lips meeting at last, leaning back against the stones and spreading his legs to let Davos in.
He didn’t waste a second.
Davos swung his body over, coming to kneel between Aeron’s opened legs. He leaned in again, one hand at the back of Aeron’s neck, the other cradling his cheek as he pulled him in into another kiss, their mouths moving together.
Aeron’s hands found Davos’s waist, fingers clutching at the sides of his leather jerkin. He moaned and Davos smiled against his lips, pulling away to pepper kisses down Aeron’s neck. Aeron’s hand scrabbled to pull at his cloak, tearing the pin from the yellow fabric causing it to fall open and expose the deeper parts of Aeron’s slender neck. Then he went back to holding Davos’s waist, like his life deepened on it. Davos pushed the cloak down and away, breathing in Aeron’s scent as he pressed his nose to his skin.
Aeron sighed his name, one hand straying to grasp the back of his head, fingers toying with the short strands of his hair. Davos nosed against Aeron’s neck, mouth open against his skin as he nipped and sucked at that sweet spot at the junction of Aeron’s shoulder and neck. He sunk his teeth in deeper, heat flooding into the lower part of his body as Aeron made a high-pitched noise, fingers tightening in his hair. Davos could taste Aeron’s blood.
Slowly withdrawing his teeth, Davos straightened back up, pressing one more kiss against Aeron’s open mouth. Aeron kissed back with more ferocity than Davos had ever seen in him, and it was with great regret that Davos finally pulled away.
Aeron had never looked more lovely, all dishevelled, his chest heaving as he looked up at him, cheeks flushed. A stray strand of hair fell across his face, and Davos carefully tucked it being his ear, once again marvelling at how soft Aeron’s hair was.
“Davos,” Aeron's voice was little more than a sigh. He moved his hand away from the back of his head, and Davos already missed the touch.
How could he feel such affection for one person? A Bracken of all things? But Aeron wasn’t just a Bracken to him, not anymore. All that pain, the hate and loss between their two families, it all went away when Davos could just hold him.
Davos knew he couldn’t give this up. “We could go.” He said quietly.
“Go?” Aeron’s brow creased in confusion, pushing his body back and further up against the stones. “Go where?”
Davos took Aeron’s hand in his. He had removed his gloves revealing remarkably soft and slender hands for a knight. They were a welcome contrast with Davos’s own which were more calloused, fingers thicker and sturdier. “Something is building, you said it yourself. Why let ourselves be caught up in it? Why be Bracken and Blackwood, when we could be us, instead? Aeron, let me take you away from here. We can go somewhere where no one even knows our names! No duty, no family ties, we can just be. You and me.“
Aeron’s mouth opened and closed a few times, like he couldn’t decide on the words. Finally he said, “I can’t leave. My uncle, he needs me. I’m a knight of the seven kingdoms.” He pulled his hand away.
Davos felt his heart falter. “Listen, you don’t have to decide now.” He said quicky, scared Aeron would refuse him fully this time. He glanced around, his eyes locking onto something he saw nearly every day and was struck with an idea. “See that old mill? Meet me there, in three days’ time. I’ll be waiting. Just, promise me you will think about it.” He leaned forwards, pressing their foreheads together, noses brushing. “Please?”
Aeron closed his eyes, exhaling like he had the entire world upon his shoulders. Then he nodded, a small, hesitant movement. “Alright. I promise.”
Davos grinned pulling their faces apart. Aeron smiled back and Davos couldn’t help himself, leaning in to steal another kiss from his lips as he caressed Aeron’s long hair.
“Aeron?” a voice called out, startling them both into pulling apart. It sounded fairly distant, but still too close for Davos’s liking. “Where’ve you gone to?”
Aeron’s face was apologetic as he pushed himself up into a crouch, gathering his undone cloak around his shoulders. “I have to go.”
Davos grabbed his arm before he could move from his reach. “You’ll be there? At the mill?” Davos asked, his voice embarrassingly desperate.
Gently prising Davos’s hand from his arm, Aeron nodded again. “I will.” Aeron stood up fully, straitening his cloak and fastening it with his pin. He shot one last look at Davos, then he walked around the side of the stones and disappeared from sight.
“I’m here!” Davos could hear Aeron call. His voice faded gradually as moved away from their hiding place and further away. “The cattle, they were startled. I had to go and see what disturbed them.”
Davos slumped back against the stones. His eye caught sight of the mill once again, standing strong and sturdy. A promise. I’ll be waiting, he thought. Davos knew he had already decided and with one word from Aeron he would leave everything behind gladly. Now it was down to him.
He looked down, noticing something dark and flat besides his leg. It was Aeron’s glove. He must have forgotten it in his haste. He picked it up. In his fantasies Davos could pretend it was a favour, Aeron gifting it to him as a token like he were a lady and Davos some romantic hero. It was a nice thought.
Davos lifted the glove to his face, breathing in. All it smelt like was earth and leather, but knowing it belonged to Aeron was intoxicating enough. He lowered the glove, turning it over in his hand.
Three days. He told himself. Only three more days.