Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Jacaerys was tired. Tired of the war, tired of his mother not taking him seriously and most importantly, tired of loving the usurper king, Aegon, who took his mother’s throne.
Jace knew that Aegon had nothing to do with his sweet brother’s murder, he knew it that it was all his uncle Aemond.
He was starting to shiver as he waited near the grand sept, waiting for his lover.
Aegon was supposed to show up and flee with Jace. He didn’t want to be a king. He didn’t want all of this, he never meant to take his sister’s throne. So they would flee, down to the north, never to be seen again. Hide and drink wine, Hide and make love, Hide and enjoy life as commoners not as the king and prince.
Jacaerys has loved Aegon since he was just a boy, no more than nine. He has loved him and he would always love him. He wouldn’t let his mother kill him because of the stupid throne. And in fact, he never wanted it. He doesn’t want it. All Aegon does want, is to be a free man with his lover. He spent years wishing his dearest uncle to be born a girl so he could wed him. But it didnt matter now. They would be free and together, they would be at peace, and his mother would take what was hers, the iron throne, rightfully hers.
- Jacaerys Velaryon, is it? -Jace hears behind him, he slightly jumps, not expecting to hear his name.
Jacaerys turns and sees that a man is towering over him. The man is maybe in his thirties. The man looks likes a bear, Jace thinks.
-Yes?
-His grace has demanded me to take you with him.
Jacaerys raises an eyebrow. Aegon sent him? He has never done this before. Why would he do that? But it makes sense, he was supposed to meet him hour ago. But what did that man know? What did he tell him?
-He did? -Jace asks, still unsure.
-He did. Follow me, please. We shouldn’t let the king wait for long. -the man says, his voice cold, turning his back on the boy and he starts to walk.
Jacaerys follows the man, questions gathering in his head. Why would Aegon send this man? Couldn't he approach him himself? They said they would meet up and flee that instant. They couldn’t waste more time, what was the reasoning behind all of this? Maybe he needed help? Maybe someone found out?
Jace realized that the man was leading him towards the dungeon, where they keep dragons. He remembers how they made a prank on Aemond, giving him a pig instead of the dragon.
Jacaerys hates this place, The hallway is long, dark and cold. Dim lights, rotten smell in the halls, he hears something wet dripping. Dragon’s growl echoes in the walls.
Jace shivers, still following the man. He trips on something and almost falls, not expecting it, little scream escapes from his lips. The man turns, looking at him, a smirk on his face.
-Watch out, Child.
Child? And what's with that smirk? Jacaerys gets a bad feeling, Maybe he should turn around and leave? But he said that Aegon demanded... If Aegon is really there...
They reach the end of the hallway, approaching a chamber, the Giant man opens the door and smiles.
Jace realizes that he has never seen the end of the dungeon. And he has never seen the chamber either.
-After you.
Jace looks inside the room, dim light is there too, he see's a shadow of a man, sitting. Is that Aegon? he gulps, passing the man, he enters the chamber.
As he enters, he can now see clearly. Aegon is not there.
Another man is standing at the end of the room, same size as the first man that brought Jacaerys here. Third man is sitting on a wooden chair. Jace has never, ever seen them before.
He hears a door close loudly behind him, footsteps approaching him. Jace quickly turns, facing the first man. He realizes the big mistake he has made.
-Where is Aegon?- Jace asks, fear settling in his body.
All three men burst into laughter, Jacaerys shivers. Their laughter is full with evil, hatred and irony. He feels his eyes sting, as tears gather in them.
-You are so naive, kid. You must be really in love with the king since you believed me so easily. I thought i would had to come up with more excuses.
In love? How does he know? What the fuck is happening here?
-Who the fuck are you?! -Jacaerys shouts and men laugh once again, first man taking a step towards Jacaerys.
-Don't fucking come near me, im warning you! -Jace growls, as he reaches his back to grab his dagger, but he only touches an empty pocket.
-Looking for this?-Man holds up Jace’s dagger, smiling. He must have stolen it from Jace when he passed him.
Jace's whole body is trembling. He is all alone without a weapon with three men, Twice his height, Three times more his weight.
What if they have Aegon? What if they have done something to him? Anger takes over him.
-Where is Aegon Targaryen?! -He screams at the men, looking around the chamber.-I swear to god if you have done something to him i will...
-Calm down lover boy. Your lover king is not with us.-The man behind him laughs. Jace freezes again. He has to come up with something. They cant know.
- you do not call your so called king my lover. My mother is the rightful heir to the throne and I am her heir, I have come here to…
-Oh shut the fuck up -The first man smirks, his voice full of disgust – the queen mother knows everything , you know... About your lovely love story. How tragic of you two! The hand of the king is the one who hired us, kid. We know, she knows, he knows.
Jacaerys feels dizzy. She knows, how? How could this happen? How did Aegon let that happen? If Alicent Hightower’s father hired them for Jace, what will happen to Aegon? Jace suddenly sprints to the door, hoping for an escape, but the man grabs him by his throat within seconds, dragging him to the end of the room. Jace gasps for air as suddenly he cant breathe at all. He throws Jace, slamming him on the wall. Before Jace can even blink, the man is infront of him, he grabs Jace's hands and pins them above his head with his one hand.
Jace's breathing fastens, as fear settles in every single inch of his body. He has never felt this helpless before.
-You two really had a great love story, kid. But every story comes to an end you know? Some of them have tragic, sad endings, just like yours. -He smiles -You hid very well, but nothing stays hidden from the red keep you know. That was so foolish of his grace as well, making love to his enemy’s child.
-Where is Aegon? - Jacaerys manages to say in between pants. – Does Aegon know about this?
-His grace has no knowing about this, the queen mother and her father, sir Otto were so frustrated when they found out about you. We have never seen the hand of the king so angry before. What his grace did is the highest treason and He planned killing you both. But Aegon is his grandson and he is the king. He couldn't do that. So his grace will think that you just vanished, fled on your own and for you... Yeah for you things won't be pretty, kid.
Jacaerys feels a relief, so Aegon will live. He will be okay. If his death will bring peace to Aegon's life, he is ready to die. But he cant die without talking to him for the last time. He cant die without feeling his skin for the last time. He cant die without tasting Aegon's sweet lips for the last time. They were supposed to leave today, they got so close. But what will his mother do to take the throne back from Aegon? If Aegon will think that Jace betrayed him, he will definitely start a war. No. He has to see him for the last time. Jace's breathing speeds more, as he's panting, another set of tears roll down to his cheek.
-Please... I Beg you. Please, let me see Aegon, let me talk to him I...
-You will never see him again, Kid. And now, lets begin, shall we? -The man grins and before Jacaerys can speak, he punches Jace in the stomach with all his strenght.
Jace gasps, his vision suddenly turning black. He can't see. He can't breathe. Wave of the unbearable pain hitting him. Before he can take a breath, man throws another hard punch to his stomach.

He hears all three of them laughing, echoing in the room. Jace starts to pant again, his vision coming back to him, black dots dancing in the air. His abdomen is on fire.
The man throws a third, strongest punch to Jace's stomach. Jace screams from the pain, he has never felt this type of pain before.. And somehow, emotional pain was much stronger. He gags and coughs, he feels like he will vomit his organs out.
Fourth punch comes and he screams again, his vision going black again. He tries to breathe, he's panting, gasping for air, but he feels like there's absolutely no air. The man grips Jace's wrists with more force, almost breaking them.
Fifth punch comes and suddenly, Jacaerys gags and he throws up. He throws up everything that he has ate or drank, and throwing up has never been so painful before. He coughs hard.
He cant help but think about Aegon. His face is in his mind, smiling at him softly. He tries to remember all their moments together, he tries to give his brutal death something peaceful, and that peace would be thoughts of his lover. His Aegon. He tries to not to think about whatever is happening, he tries to not feel the pain. But he fails. Vision of his dearest Aegon vanishes.
Sixth punch comes, and the hand is replaced by a mace. Jacaerys tries to scream, but wheeze comes out instead. seventh and eight follows immediately, not allowing Jace to even take a small breath. And on eight punch, he feels something crack inside him. He feels his ribs shatter. The pain is bewildering. Getting stabbed? He can take that, a hundred times. Take that and be grateful. Shot with an arrow? He can take that, a hundred times. Be burned by a dragon? He can take that, a hundred times. Take that and be grateful. But not this. Something is wrong, something is very, very wrong.
- Wait! - Jace manages to scream, gasping for air.
The man laughs, and Jacaerys feels a rough hand squish his cheeks.
-Wait? We are just getting started kid.
He throws another punch to Jace, and suddenly he lets go of his hands, as he drops on all fours. Another burning pain hits him as he drops. the mace drops next to him, rolling away to the door.
Jace can taste the metal in his mouth, not sure where it's coming from. He breathes in quick, startled pants, trying to touch his own stomach with one hand, as he does, he almost faints from the pain. Even a slightest touch brings him agony. His vision comes back, blurry. He raises his head, as he sees two pair of feet in front of him. He also sees a door, but it's so far away.
The man kicks Jace's stomach with his feet three times, and suddenly Jacaerys vomits a fountain of blood.
As Jace sees the dark red liquid spill all over the floor, His eyes widen and he screams. He screams from pain and from the fear. The man kicks him again and Jace falls down, rolling to the side, he coughs hard and more blood splashes from his mouth.
He wipes a bit of blood from his mouth, staring at his now bloodied hand. He feels something burst in his stomach.
Pair of hands suddenly grab him and makes him to lay on his back, as his body moves, he feels something move and crack inside his stomach, he cries out in pain, cold sweat covering his forehead. Black spots cover the light in the room as a cold point of new pain stabs icily into Jace's stomach. It feels so wrong . He has heard of plenty of torture methods but this? this is way too slow. way too painful. way too disgusting. Jace screams in pain.
-Shhh..Shhh.. It's okay, it will be all over soon, shh...- the man cooes at him, caressing his thumb over Jace's bloodied lower lip, he keeps his finger there, as Jacaerys coughs and more blood escapes from him, blood goes all over his thumb.
-So let it be over! - Jace manages to scream out, but his voice comes out as wheeze - Havent you had enough?
The man grins and licks the bloodied thumb. Jacaerys has never been scared of a person before. He is a monster. Literal monster. Licking his blood. And he will die by the hands of a monster.
-You taste marvelous, kid. -He laughs as Jace cries out in pain, holding onto his stomach. The man grabs Jace's hands in his, holding his shaking wrists tightly again. -Your pretty hands are getting in the way. -He whispers and pins Jace's hands above his head again. On the movement, Jace feels the burn and twitch inside him again, and he screams in agony.
The man suddenly brings a sharp dagger close to his face, Jace gasps, his breathing speeding up more roughly. The man presses the knife on Jace’s throat and travels the knife from his neck to his chest, from his chest to his stomach. The man lets go of Jace's wrists but another pair of rough hands replace him, pinning him again on the ground.
He is pressing the knife, the fabric of his silky shirt slightly ripping. Jace can't take the pain anymore. He wishes the man to stab him and kill him already.
the man places the knife down and rips Jace’s shirt open.
he can see the new dark bruises and small cuts forming on his pale skin.
And the man starts licking his cut above his belly button. Jacaerys groans from disgust.
The man then licks his newly formed bruises, then fresh cuts, he sucks off the blood. Jace tries to jerk the man away, but from the movement, the pain almost blinds him.
-Stop! Stop! -He manages to mumble in between pants. But the man laughs and sucks on his navel, biting it, causing Jace to scream.
The man punches Jace once again and he hears more cracks inside him. Something else bursted inside. He feels his organs being stabbed. Bit of blood escaped from his mouth again. He wants to scream. To beg for someone to kill him now, before he lives one more second in this pain.
All he wants is to die. To never have been born.
-Has that joke of a king Aegon fucked you good, Baby boy? hm? -He asks, grinning, Jacaerys’s eyes going wide and wild. -I don't think he was. So you will be fucked by a real man before you die and I will use your fucking blood on my cock to slide in.
No.
No.
No.
No.
It's not real. Not real.
The man starts undoing Jace's pants and he snaps, as he screams in terror.
-No! Please! Dont! I beg you! No! Just kill me! Kill me! Please!-He cries, almost choking on his own blood. Jerking and trying to get away, ignoring the blinding pain.
The man laughs, shaking his head, still undoing Jace’s pants.
-It's a shame that you have to die. You are so beautiful, mouthwatering. I bet his grace will mourn and weep. What a shame.
- Im begging you! Kill me! Kill me! Fuck you! Fuck you! -He screams from the top of his lungs.
-Shhh, Shhh... Relax. I bet you'll love it. -the man whispers, caressing Jace's cheek and bloodied lip.
No! He thinks, as tears and pain are blinding him, Let me die, let me die, let me die.
Jace suddenly hears a very lound bang.
Another very loud bang.
And
The door bursts open, figure of a slim man sprinting inside the room.
Jacaerys focuses, finally seeing something.
It's Aegon.
And behind him, lord Larys Strong and sir Criston.
It's really him.
Aegon stands there for a second, frozen, his face shocked, pained and angered all at once. He’s trembling, fist closed so tightly that his bones almost rip from his flesh. His eyes looking around, examining the situation. He looks like a mad man.
-Your grace! No! It was an order we-
Aegon grabs the same mace that the man beat Jace with, his movement is so fast Jace cant even see how he hits two of them in the head, caughing them off guard, as they really could overpower him in seconds. Cole joins him, cutting of one the man's legs. Aegon leaves the one torturing Jace for the last, he slams his legs and both of his arms, breaking them.
Then, he grabs Jace, making him to stand up, sharp burning pain makes Jace scream. Aegon grabs Jace's face in his hands, staring at him, fear written all over his face.
-What did they do to you. Baby what did they do.-He whispers, but he turns his head quickly as he hears one of the men groan. Aegon kisses Jace's forehead strongly and throws him to the door. Another cracks inside his's stomach. Blood drips from his mouth.
-Go! Go! Get out of here right now, Jacaerys! Get out of here! -Aegon screams from the top of his lungs, crying.
Jacaerys obeys, as he limps away from the room. Larys Strong catches up to him, offering himself to as support. That surprises Jace, as Larys Strong is known cripple.
Aegon grabs the mace again, hitting one of the men with so much force, his head cracks open. he punches another man in the face, screaming, the man tries to grab Aegon, but the Cole comes sprinting, beheading him on the spot.
The man in charge is the last one. He drops the mace down. He kicks the man with his leg, growling.
Cole approaches him but is stopped by Aegon’s roar.
-I Will kill him myself!
-Get up! Get up and fight me! Get up! -He roars, as he kicks him more, bending down, he punches his face and jumps on his neck with his feet, with all his strength. He hears and feels his neck break. - How dare you to touch my baby?! How dare you?! How dare you to hurt my baby?! To lay a finger on my baby?! Fuck you! Fuck you! Fuck you!
Aegon is now on top of him, screaming, punching his face. He needs to die.
He will die.
He will die.
He will die.
He dies right now.
He grabs the man's head and smashes it on the ground few times, his head finally cracking open, river of blood flowing, and brain pieces too.
He doesn't stop. Aegon smashes the man’s head until there’s nothing but weird oatmeal like thing is there. That looks nothing like a head.
Aegon stands, sprinting away from the room.
Jacaerys.
He needs to find Jace right now.
He's running, already by the stairs. He can see fresh blood stains on the floor and few steps. He sprints on the stairs, making his way on the first floor.
Hall is empty. No one is here. Jace is not here. He can see another stains of blood. He runs towards the exist.
In seconds, he's outside. He looks around, panicked and finally, he sees him.

Chapter Text

In seconds, Aegon is outside. He looks around, panicked and finally, he sees him.
Jacaerys is limping, supported by Larys. He suddenly leans on the wall and vomits.
He's vomiting blood.
-Jace! – Aegon screams, running towards him. Jacaerys doesnt turn. -Jace! Hey!
Jace tries to continiue to limp away, but Aegon approaches him in seconds.
-Here, baby.. Here let me...
Jacaerys yanks his hand off him, finally facing Aegon.
He doesnt look alive. He is as pale as the ghost, his mouth, neck and stomach covered in blood, his belly is bruised and cut. Aegon wants to die.
-Jacaerys…
- Where have you been?! – Jace manages to yell..
Aegon just stands there, hot tears burning his cheeks. Jacaerys whimpers, trying to turn his back on Again and walk away, but Aegon snaps, he grabs Jace and hugs him tightly, Jace lets out a pained cry.
-Im sorry! Im sorry! Jace, Im so sorry! I didn't know... I didn't know they would do this to you! I had no idea! Aemond came to me, he kept me busy, he distracted me! I didn’t know! I swear this to you! -Aegon sobs, hugging him, Jace sobs too, hugging him back. – If I only knew, id kill them. Id kill them all I swear this, with bare hands, Jace, I didn’t know.
-Aegon, I - He tries to speak, but Jace gasps in pain and he goes limp in Aegon's arms.
- Hey!- Aegon screams, as he looks at Jace's face, his eyes wheeling, his teeth clenched. He almost falls down from Aegon's arms, but Aegon catches him in second, laying him down in his arms.
Jace is trembling in Aegon's arms, his whole body shaking. He gags and gasps, he breathes quick pants as his eyes turn back and forth.
-Jace! Baby! Look at me! -Aegon sobs
-Ae.gon. - Jacaerys moans out a strange weak croon.
-Im right here baby! Im here.. what did they do to you! What did they do! Honey answer me!
-They. They...-Jace groans painfully.
-Shh! Okay! I get it! Baby it's okay! It's okay! You're okay! hush now.. Tell me later alright? We will talk later about this. Its all gonna be okay! You're okay!
- Just lets go as you promised -Jace cries out. – Take me away.
-We will go! i swear to you! But first, we will go to the maesters and they will fix you up in no time! I promise you! You're gonna be okay! You're gonna be perfectly fine! Im gonna make it go away Jace.. Im gonna make it go away.. You're gonna be okay... fine... just fine... -Aegon starts to mumble. -It's not that bad! Not that bad at all! Maesters will fix this! Larys, tell them! Tell them the king has demanded their service. Right this moment Larys. Go now!
-We can leave now, Aegon. Please I can do it. Take me away – Jace cries out again
-Okay! okay! okay! we will! Just wait a little bit okay?! We will go away!
Jace coughs again and groans, he gags and vomits more blood. How much blood has he lost? Why is he vomiting again? Aegon thinks, panicking.
-You stay with me now Jace! You hear me?!-Aegon screams in terror, grabbing his face -You stay with me now! Don't stop breathing! Please! Breathe honey i beg you!- Aegon leans in and kisses his forehead strongly. He kisses his forehead couple times and caresses his face, he looks so beautiful, even now, dying in Aegon’s arms.
-I love you so much honey I - Jace cries as his eyes widen, he makes a choking sound.
- Hey! you wouldnt dare! Dont you dare now!-Aegon screams from the top of his lungs, as his eyes wheel, he's trying to stay awake but failing. -Jacaerys look at me! Look at me! Now! you look at me right now!
Jacaerys chokes, as he jerks in Aegon’s arms, he loses all the color on his face, his eyes turning.
- Hold on just for a little while! Please fight for me! Jacaerys, baby, please!
Jacaerys was turning blue, his eyes wide and staring. Aegon tries to lift him up, but he hears shattering crack inside his body, so loud that Aegon froze in shock waiting for his answering shriek, but Jacaerys didn’t scream. His eyes got wider and inhumanly groan left his mouth, his eyes turning from the pain. Blood escaped from his mouth again.
-Breathe! – Aegon yells at him – Breathe, Jace! C’mon now!
And then Aegon bends over his head. He presses his lips to his and blows a lungful of air into it. Aegon feels Jace’s twitching body expand, so there was nothing blocking his throat.
Jace coughs back at Aegon, his eyes blinking, rolling blindly.
-C’mon now baby, you can do this. You can do this – Aegon cries – Keep breathing. Just like that honey.
Aegon looks around, searching for Larys, or Criston Cole, or Maesters. No one in sight.
-Cole! – He screams, getting back no answer.
Aegon looks back at Jace, The boy trembles, his whole body shaking, his breathing temp picking up and slowing down each minute, his body becoming still in Aegon’s arms every second.
-They are all dead, honey. I killed them all myself. No one will hurt you anymore. They are dead, honey. My sweet boy – Aegon mumbles at Jace, caressing his face as Jacaerys became still in his arms, his breathing shortening.
Aegon hugs him tightly, as he is limp in his arms, not admitting to himself that it was too late.
-I need someone! Please! Help me! - Aegon cries out, his voice cracked, he kisses every inch of Jacaerys's face, non stop. -You're okay! You're okay baby! You're fine! My baby, you're okay! All of them are gone. And everyone who will ever touch you will join them.
Aegon caresses Jacaerys’s face. His eyes halfway shut, color leaving his face every minute, his mouth and chin bloody mess, as blood still dripped from the corner of his mouth. His body in Aegon’s arms, no sign of breathing.
This was it, then. The ocean of pain. The other shore so far away across the boiling water that Aegon couldn’t imagine it, much less see it.
He felt empty again, now that he’d lost his purpose. Loving and protecting Jace was his purpose for so long. And he wouldn’t be saved. and so the fight was lost. It was all over.
He kissed Jacaerys’s forehead strongly few times and rocked him like a baby. Larys was not coming. Maesters were not coming. Cole was not coming. They all knew that he couldn’t be saved. And they thought that maybe him dying was for the best.
Aegon wanted to somehow pour molten gold inside his head and let it fry his brain. To burn away the images left from Jace’s final minutes. He’d take the brain damage if he could get rid of that—the screaming, the bleeding, the scarily fast panting, the blood vomiting, the pleading.
The waves of pain that had only lapped at him before now reared high up and washed over his head, pulling Aegon under.

he did not resurface.