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"I never intended to take your eye, or your life."
The words of sincerity came unprompted, they could only survive in the shine of the moonlight they found themselves in.
Aemond was never a man of words, he preferred to let his actions speak.
But, with the cowering figure beside him, he saw no other way.
They sat outside on one of the balconies of the Red Keep.
It had almost become a daily ritual for them.
Watching how the day bled out and gave birth to the night.
They seldom spoke more than a few words, preferring to accompany each other in silence.
Being alone together.
His nephew wrapped himself up in a light blanket today.
Summer coming to an end.
Aemond preferred to feel the change in temperature as the sun faded and with it, its consoling warmth.
Lucerys looked up, then.
The full moon reflected in his eyes as they traced over his uncle's face for a sign of deception.
"You were very convincing."
Aemond could only make out the ghost of a chuckle on his nephew's features.
His ability to laugh buried somewhere beneath the sea, unable to reach the surface again.
The war had taken its toll on the both of them.
Buried between the waves and sand, a dragon and the future.
The Fall serving as a sentence for the havoc that ensuite it.
"All I've ever wanted, was for you to be sorry."
Aemond couldn't stand the deafening silence that covered them.
Couldn't stand being a slave of patience.
"I would have already forgiven you many a years ago".
He wanted to ensure that there was no trace of animosity or accusation in these words.
For they were his, and they were his truth.
Lucerys gave up on staring at the stoned ground beneath them and met his uncle's eye.
Their gazes locking almost immediately, effortlessly.
As if he'd make out his sapphire amidst the entire deep sea blue.
Aemond felt a shiver crawling up his back and blamed the accompanying goosebumps on the breeze that just passed them.
Lucerys tugged the blanket that covered his slim body closer.
As if he could feel it too.
"Aemond."
His name was as sweet as honey on his nephew's lips.
The syllables were soft but firm, almost a whisper.
He wanted to continue hearing it until both of their voices eroded in the sand.
"You know that I'm unable to do that."
Lucerys swiftly lowered his head, breaking their gaze apart and allowing Aemond to finally breathe again.
"Even if it is your only desire."
Aemond felt his body shiver again but it was different this time.
The pent-up resentment and ire transforming into something more akin to desperation.
Clouds starting to hang themselves over the pale lady of the night.
"I would never apologize for protecting my family. As I know neither would you."
Lucerys offered him a truce with these words and looked at him again as he started to shuffle on the ground he sat.
Something resembling warmth emitting from his facial features at a trait they share in unison.
Aemond only hummed at the added clarification.
He expected Lucerys to answer something akin to this.
He couldn't blame him, either.
As he know he spoke with sincerity.
"But.."
Lucerys tentatively spoke again.
The thoughts visibly raced across his mind, eyes wavering, as he carefully constructed the next sentences he spoke.
"I am sorry."
Unexpected determination was seeping into his nephew's words.
"For everything that came after."
Aemond felt his entire body tensing up, as if he prepared himself for an upcoming battle.
The boy before him managing what no other opponent he faced before was able to do to him.
"For the Fallout of our mothers.
For the condescending treatment you've endured.
For you having to study and train and work more vigorously than if you were not -. "
There were careful pauses between each of his statements.
The words were starting to choke in Lucerys's breath, actively fighting their way out into the night.
Lucerys searched and made sure to entertwine their gazes before speaking again.
"For all of the pain you've endured."
Violet meeting brown.
Lavender meeting its soil.
Aemond was never defeated on a battlefield as he was now by his nephew.
Tearing him apart limb from limb with every word he spoke.
He could only watch as his one eye began filling itself with water and his limbs starting to tremble.
It was a ridiculous sight really, the way Lucerys played his heartstrings like a harp.
"It's ok."
Lucerys started reaching out for him.
His tone and manner giving away that he was an older brother.
"It's ok."
Aemond felt delicate hands tracing along his brow and the back of his neck.
Their warmth a welcome gesture amidst the chill of the night.
He had to restrain himself to not fully give in to it.
Aemond was unable to read his nephew's mind, why he chose to pull him down so his head was resting on Lucerys's chest.
Lucerys's heart beating firm and determined, only serving to make Aemond more agitated.
For the fracture of a moment, he attempted to escape the embrace, an instinctual response really, but his nephew applied unexpected strength to keep him in his hold.
"It's ok. I'm here."
Aemond closed his eye, surrendering.
A part of him considered tearing out his own beating heart and offering it to Lucerys with his last breath, it would have the same effect.
He felt his face becoming wet.
He let out a small whimper, then, almost inaudible but not to his nephew's ears who only brought up one of his hands to caress the back of Aemond's skull.
His legs were torn from him.
He let out another whimper, then, louder this time.
Lucerys aided him all the way through, accompanying each step with his consolating words and touches while Aemond only grasped at his tunic.
They stayed like this for what seemed like a lifetime.
Aemond felt his cheek glazing from the salt.
"Lucerys."
He was unsure on how to start, reflecting upon his cracking voice that almost gave up on the last syllable.
"I-."
A gulp, the lump that built up in his throat doing its best to keep him from speaking.
He could sense his nephew quietly anticipating his words, even though Aemond couldn't bear to meet his eyes.
"I'm sorry."
Aemond let out the breath he was holding.
"I'm so sorry."
He only grasped harder at his nephew's chest, as if he was drowning in his own sorrow, while Lucerys's hold was unchanged.
He would repeat it until the words lost their meaning and only his actions count.
"I didn't want any of this. Please-. "
The words clogged in his throat.
He couldn't bear to speak another syllable.
Lucerys placed a soft kiss on his brow and joined their foreheads together.
"I know."
Aemond wasn't sure what kind of response he had hoped to receive from his nephew.
As big of a fool he was, he didn't expect forgiveness from him.
Only he himself was guilty of his guilt.
Lucerys's own wounds still red and angry themselves.
It would take their time until the blood washed away and they turned into scars.
Aemond would give himself up entire if he'd be the one to stitch him back up.
Begging for absolution like this was uncharted territory for him.
Willingly offering his pride and dignity to the boy before him.
He'd kiss the ground Lucerys walked on if it meant his forgiveness.
That night Aemond Targaryen bled out in his nephew's arms.
With only the stars as their consolation.
He realized, then that the tragedy in dying lies in the optimism of death itself.