Work Text:
Dragons were powerful. Fierce. Their fire could burn the thousands. Aerion was one of them, he was always sure of it. He could feel the fire flowing through his veins, he could burn people just with his words. That was why he was feared, even his own brother feared him because he was a monster.
That was all he wanted. If he became a monster, others wouldn’t have dared to hurt him. He was hurting alone, anyway, he didn’t need anyone else. He was destined to burn alone.
“I’m not a prize.” He told his father. Maekar nodded his head.
“Surely you are not,” he said. “You are not that precious. You would be a consolation gift, nothing more.”
Maekar didn’t mean that, he knew the omega prince’s worth was immeasurable as much as Aerion did. Omegas were important, lineage of alphas was dependant on them. If an omega was a prince, princess or some lord, their importance was increasing. That was why Aerion was precious, that was why Maekar was angry that his son spent his heat outside with some unknown idiot.
“Then why are you angry?” Aerion fought back, he was never the one who could keep his temper. “I opened my legs for a commoner; I let him use my cunt as a gift. Isn’t that the best consolation?”
When Maekar hit the goblet to the table, Aegon flinched but omega didn’t look at him. He was big enough to witness Maekar’s anger, he was big enough to hear Aerion’s vulgar words. Aerion pushed the disgusting feelings of maternity back, Aegon was not his child. He would never have a child.
“Is that your rebellion to me? Trying to take revenge from me, Aerion? It will not work.”
Aerion had no doubt, but he pushed. Let him burn others, maybe this way they could feel his pain.
“Are you determined to choose whom I will take his knot? Is that your one of sick fantasies, father?”
Maekar was ready to choke Aerion to the death, the prince could see his clenched fists. If he would give in to his rage, Aerion would win. But unfortunately, his father knew that too, he forced himself to calm.
“If you want a filthy lowlife, that could be arranged.” Maekar said. “A hedge knight would be appropriate for you, wouldn’t it?”
He was bluffing, surely, he was. Aerion spent his heat with a lowlife alpha only to spite his father; there was no way he could share his all life with a hedge knight. A knight would be overjoyed to have the omega prince beneath him, but it would be a horror for Aerion. He had to be a dragon who was feared, not an omega who was a breeding prize.
“Now you want to ruin our lineage, is that it father? Will you not try to find me a respectable alpha?”
“We’ll play by your own rules, son.” Aerion hated to see the amusement in his father’s eyes. “Maybe some commoner would be better at taming you.”
Aerion could ruin all of them, could attack Aegon to prove his point. He was a dragon; he could burn them till they regret. Instead, he decided to leave the room with an undisguisable anger. That was when Daeron snorted and sipped his drink. “He will make this place a living hell thanks to you.”
“He needs to learn there are consequences.”
Baelor who didn’t speak till Aerion left finally opened his mouth. “Was that a bluff, or will you really find a suitor among hedge knights?”
“Has my bluff ever worked with him? He cut the last suitor’s fingers, Baelor. We are in a disagreement with good families because of him. At least, a hedge knight wouldn’t be a big loss.”
It was a cruel decision, but it was the right one. When Aegon said that he was sorry for the future mate of his brother with a tiny voice, nobody disagreed with him.
It was a midnight when Aerion slipped outside.
He was not in his heat, not at all, but he had to leave his home for some time. The nightmares were haunting him, the promise of the cage he was about to put was drowning him. He closed his fingers around the dagger resting on his palm, he was safe. He could protect himself. he could burn the others. As if you want to be protected, a mocking voice whispered to him, as if you care about your safety. He was not, he could agree with the voice. But as an omega, he had to know the dangers lying outside. Maekar was a difficult man, but he always managed to protect his sons from the danger, especially Aerion from the danger of alphas. His poor father, Aerion snorted, he couldn’t see the real danger to Aerion was himself. He walked with quiet steps. The cloak was covering his silver hair.
“What a sweet scent, omega.” A voice crept in the darkness. “Maybe you can give me a taste of it.”
A disgusting alpha, Aerion grimaced. “As if I would let you taste. Go away if you want to live.”
The footsteps increased, the alpha was not alone. When three alphas circled around him, Aerion gripped his dagger tighter.
“Come on dear, it is your fault wandering alone in the darkness. Your cunt wants real cock; I can smell it.”
When Aerion revealed his hair, he hoped that they would gasp and step back. One in the right mind would. Instead, the tallest one showed his teeth with an excited smile.
“We have the prince for the dinner, how exciting.”
“I’m sure you know this prince has no mercy,” Aerion showed his dagger to them. “I can cut your disgusting cocks for your own dinner, be careful.”
“Feisty,” The one in the right licked his lips. “Just how I like them.”
Aerion lunged.
The alphas were not as weak as Aerion hoped, they were strong. Probably their upcoming rut made them reckless with lust. When Aerion managed to stab one of them, his howl broke the night but instead of letting the prince go, he gripped the omega’s throat. Was he about to die, Aerion choked. What a shameful death it would be, he tried to push him away but it didn’t work.
“Release him!”
The unknown voice was his saviour, Aerion stumbled when the alpha let him go. The prince had to sit on the ground; he had to fight but his energy was gone. He breathed hardly and caressed the bruise on his throat.
“Are you alright?”
When he lifted his head, he met with concerned looks. Other alphas were not here now; he must’ve left when Aerion tried to breathe. How pathetic. He let out a sigh when he recognized the face.
“How wonderful. Didn’t you try to break my nose days ago?”
“You cut some innocent’s fingers that night,” Dunk added with a flushed face. “My grace.”
Aerion snorted. “Did you let them go?”
“They will never touch you again, my prince.”
Aerion was stunned. Not because of the words, because of the way Dunk said them. He gave the prince a vow with a determined face, he was sure that he scared them off. Aerion let out a surprised laugh.
“How weird you are. You just should’ve let them rape me, isn’t that what you wished of me?”
Dunk’s face was full of disgust; he shook his head frantically. “I would never. We, alphas, should protect omegas not hurt them.”
Most alphas wouldn’t agree with him, that was the nature’s rule for them. Alphas could take whatever they want from an omega, even if it was a prince. Aerion opened his mouth to say it, but the words died in his tongue when Dunk kneeled to inspect the bruises on his throat.
“They look nasty,” He tsked in concern. “You should put on some ointment.” His calloused hand was wandering on the prince’s neck gently. How easy it would be if he wanted to break his neck, his hand was so big that it could break Aerion with one move. Aerion pushed his hands away to get rid of these thoughts as well.
“It is nothing,” He got up. “I’m not fragile.”
“Of course not.”
Why was he so understanding, Aerion clenched his fists. He could do with rage, with sadness, with madness. But not with affection. Not with pity.
“Why are you outside at this hour?”
“I should ask this to you, my prince.”
“As if you have the right to ask, you big oaf.”
The insult didn’t seem to affect Dunk, he was thick as a wall. When he got up too, their height difference became so obvious. So embarrassing, that man was as tall as a giant. When Aerion started to walk with a huff as an answer, the knight followed him too. He was neither too close nor too away.
“Don’t follow me,” Aerion spat with anger.
“I need to make sure you are alright.”
Was that man real; Aerion wanted to punch him, stab him, rip his head apart from his body. Aerion turned at him with furrowed brows.
“You hate me.”
“I hate your fury, my prince, not you.”
The omega snorted. “It is the same thing.”
They were still walking, but this time Dunk closed the distance. They were walking side by side as if they were equal. Aerion thought of pushing him behind, but he was sure that oaf wouldn’t move even an inch.
“I saw your soft side nights ago, my prince, I know it is not.”
When Aerion grabbed his collar, Dunk didn’t resist and let the prince push him to the wall. Aerion didn’t think about this submission, he was too furious.
“Was that you?” He hissed. That nameless alpha he shared his heat with, was that this oaf? That night was in haze but he remembered grabbing a man’s big hands, he remembered the heavy height on him. Soft eyes stepped in to his memory, it was Dunk’s eyes. Dunk nodded, he didn’t try to push Aerion away. Aerion’s hands were still resting on his collar. He had to lift himself on his fingertips to grip him better, it was so embarrassing.
“I didn’t know you weren’t aware that was me.” His eyes were filled with guilt now. “Your grace if I forced myself on you-“
“Don’t flatter yourself.” Aerion interrupted him. “I would’ve killed you if you did that.”
It was true, Aerion might not have remembered the alpha, but he wanted it. He begged for it, whined for his cock like some wanton whore. He was not ashamed of that; the prince was never a prude. He stepped back, letting the knight’s collar go. The thing that he was embarrassed was that begging some hedge knight. That was the embarrassing one.
“Is that why you are following me? Wanting another night?”
Dunk’s face flushed more, he was acting like a virgin. If Aerion didn’t have bruises on his body proving the otherwise, he could believe him.
“I just want you to be safe.” The knight blurted out. “I’ll bring you to your home, it is not safe for an omega to wander outside at night.”
Aerion didn’t mention how many people’s lives turned into living hells because of him, he was sure Dunk knew all of it. The rumours were wandering around fast here.
“Did you know that night?”
“Know what?”
“That it was me. You could’ve killed me if you want, why didn’t you? I was defenceless, high from my heat.”
“That wouldn’t have been honourable.”
Honour. The knights would always look for the honour, but they wouldn’t have one, Aerion knew that. But Dunk was not like that, he was a fool who still believed the good in the world.
“Your brother, Egg,” He was talking about Aegon. “He is terrified of you.”
Because Aerion was burning all of them around himself, because he was a dragon who had no mercy inside. “I would kill you to protect him,” Dunk continued. “But I’m not sure if I’m capable of it anymore.”
“Ridiculous,” Aerion shook his head. “Just because you got to fuck my cunt as you pleased.”
“Because I got to spend a night with you.”
Aerion didn’t snort this time; he didn’t attack with his words either. Just looked at the man in front of him. Such sincere words, he had to understand if the knight was lying. But there was no dishonesty in his face, only determination. When Dunk changed their positions and leaned the prince against the wall. They were much closer now, Dunk’s hands were on the wall, between his arms Aerion was staying. He didn’t try to get out.
“You are telling me that I hate you.” Dunk whispered. “Alright, I admit, I hate some of you. You cut a woman’s finger who had done nothing to you. You terrorized your little brother who needed you. You keep hurting people even when they are not a threat. I hate these parts of you.”
“But there are other parts of you.” Dunk wandered his thumb on Aerion’s face. That was brave and stupid of him; if the prince wasn’t stunned, he would break his finger. “You don’t remember saying that, but your name fit like music on your lips. That night, your eyes shined begging me. Your hair was so messy, but still so pretty. You leaned on my body while sleeping, grabbed my arm. It is fun how you are spiteful too, when you are not hurting anyone. You are ready to shine but scared if shining brightly would make people like you.”
“I’m a dragon, Duncan the tall, not a star.” Aerion whispered back. “You want to bring a human out from a monster, but you will fail. I’ll burn you too and you will regret saying all of these things.”
“Oh, I know I’ll burn all right.”
Dunk kissed Aerion.
His hand grabbed his neck while other wrapped his waist. It was not an innocent kiss; innocence would never fit Aerion anyway. It was full of spite, lust, but also kindness. When they got apart, they were breathing heavily.
“Father will marry me to some hedge knight.” Why did he say that to Dunk, that was ridiculous. Maybe he wanted to warn him, maybe he wanted the knight to be jealous. Aerion didn’t know. Dunk scowled.
“Why?”
“Because of us having a night, idiot. He will wed me just to give me a lesson.”
“Then, I will be that hedge knight.”
“What?”
That determination in his eyes again. He was set on his new goal; it was so obvious.
“I’ll be your alpha. Should I win the big tourney for it, because I will. If being a knight was enough, I will make sure your father will choose me as a good suitor.”
When he started to walk, Aerion called after him.
“You are being an idiot.”
“That’s not new, my grace! Now follow me, I must make sure that you’ll arrive your home safe first.”
“Duncan the tall!”
Dunk stopped walking to look at the prince. Aerion shook his head.
“I really will ruin you. I won’t change; I always will be feared. I will always be a dragon who has claws and fire. Give up before it is too late.”
Dunk’s tiny smile was surprising but not unwelcomed.
“You don’t know me yet, my prince, but I won’t give up that easily.”
Aerion’s lips tingled slightly. What a turn of events, he followed Dunk.
Maybe burning together would be not that bad, he would learn that later.