Chapter Text
Luke stops talking to him, anattitude that infuriates Aemond. He prefers his nephew to be shouting insults in his face rather than complete silence.
When they returned to the castle after the disastrous trip to the gardens, it was a silent and tense walk, his nephew exuding bitterness, his cute face contorted in a sullen frown, Aemond did not try to make conversation, already imagining that he would not be welcome. Luke entered the room without saying a single word and practically slammed the door in Aemond's face. The alpha took a deep breath and told himself that he just needed to give his nephew some time to calm down, unfortunately, Luke has the dramatic streak of the Targaryens.
That night, Aemond personally brought Luke's dinner, fearing that he might go on another hunger strike, but Luke simply pulled the tray towards him and began to eat, barely glancing in his direction, an attitude that touched a sensitive nerve in the alpha. Aemond tried to talk, even teased him a few times trying to get some reaction out of the omega, but Luke continued to ignore him.
Aemond left the room stomping his feet on the floor, aware that he was behaving like a child, but he was completely frustrated.
Why did Luke have to be so... so stubborn?
Aemond didn't do anything wrong this time, he even defended him from that son of a bitch Lord Kattleblack, who dared to call him a bastard. Omegas usually liked alphas who could defend them, so why is Luke acting like it was Aemond who had offended him? It's fucking unfair.
Aemond slept badly during the night and when the day came, he went straight to the kitchens and almost terrorized the cook so that the food would be prepared perfectly.
"This cake is very dry." Aemond says coldly, after tasting a small piece of the fruitcake. "Can't you follow simple orders? You useless person!”
The cook swallowed hard, completely nervous when he was in the sight of that sinister gaze, the other servants barely dared to look in the prince’s direction, ever since Princess Rhaenyra’s son arrived at the castle, Prince Aemond began to intimidate all the cooks to prepare the meals to perfection.
“I… will prepare another one, your highness, don’t worry…”
“No!” Aemond interrupts him, his voice cracking like a whip. “Lucerys should be waking up by now, just put this crap on the tray with the rest, did you at least prepare the chamomile and fennel tea? My nephew only drinks this in the morning.”
“Yes, it’s here, your highness.” A servant answers shyly and a little shakily, she places the steaming teapot on top of the tray.
‘Hmm’ is all Aemond says, before finally leaving the kitchen. The servants sigh in relief.
Aemond makes his way to Luke's room, holding the tray carefully, hoping his nephew is in a good mood. When he opens the door to Lucerys's chambers, he finds him already awake, unsurprisingly. Aemond can't tell if it's habit or because of the whole situation, but Luke wakes up with the sunrise.
He hadn't combed his hair yet, his curls are tangled, Aemond places the tray on the table near the fireplace and flexes his fingers. The urge to run his fingers through that mass of brown curls is too tempting, Aemond wants to know if it's still as soft to the touch as in his memories, but Aemond is sure Luke would bite him if he tried to touch it. In the back of his mind, he wonders what it would be like to have those curls spread around his bed or what it would feel like to pull them between his fingers while he...
No! Aemond stops himself. I'm not controlled by my dick like Aegon, don't think about it. But it was hard to control his less noble thoughts, not when Luke's scent drives him crazy every day.
A scent he has enjoyed since childhood.
Luke inspects the contents on the tray and without saying a single word, he pulls up the chair in front of the table and begins to eat.
"We can take a walk around the garden again." Aemond suggests, he remains standing, his posture rigid. Luke begins to pour tea into the cup. "Or we can go to the library."
Luke doesn't answer, remaining silent.
"How long are you going to keep up this childish attitude?" Aemond snaps, finally losing his patience. Luke takes a sip of the hot liquid. "You're acting like you're five years old, you're completely immature."
Brown eyes glare at him, but Luke remains silent.
"I saved you from a miserable death and I've treated you with all the courtesy and politeness you don't deserve, what more do you want? I never thought you could be so ungrateful!"
Luke's jaw clenches and Aemond hopes it will explode, but Luke takes a deep breath and shoves a huge piece of cake into his mouth and begins chewing furiously. Aemond growls.
He always manages to throw me completely off balance.
“Okay, maybe I’ll ask the silent sisters to sew your mouth shut, since you won’t say anything.”
Aemond slams the bedroom door so hard as he leaves that the guard standing in the hallway jumps in fright.
Aemond storms off to his own room, which is in the same wing as his nephew. When he enters the chamber, he kicks the first thing he sees (a chair), but it’s not enough and ironically only one thing calms him down.
Stored in the trunk at the foot of the bed is the dark red cloak Lucerys wore on the catastrophic night at Storm’s End. He unrolls the fine fabric carefully and without holding back, he sticks his nose in and inhales the scent of apple and honey.
His alpha shudders.
There are so many people in the kingdom, omegas, betas, even other alphas. Why is it that only Lucerys attracts him?
Of all people, the person who mutilated him and never gave him a reasonable apology. Aemond must have a serious problem or he is a masochist, only then would he explain so many feelings for Lucerys.
He doesn't know when he started thinking about him that way again, or maybe he never really stopped.
Until the eye incident, Aemond and Luke used to get along well, unlike Jace and Aegon, Luke didn't think he was weird or a failure for being the only one without a dragon, Luke often praised him for his intelligence and never tired of saying he was his favorite uncle, something that made Aemond extremely happy, even if he didn't show it much. He liked his nephew's smell, something innocent at the time, he liked it so much that he would even sneak into Luke's room to sleep with his nephew at night and Luke happily accepted his company, he only stopped when Alicent found out and gave him a mile-long lecture, spitting out things that Aemond didn't understand at the time, but reluctantly he complied with his mother's order.
After Driftmark, Aemond began to hate the image of Luke and everything related to him. More than the loss of his eye, Aemond felt completely betrayed by the boy he considered a friend... the boy who did not hesitate to stick a knife in his eye and never apologize. Aemond became more bitter and hostile, even Alicent became concerned about his behavior.
Aemond thought of nothing but revenge, he swore that the next time they saw each other, he would gouge out Lucerys' eye and leave him in agony in pain as he had been. The violent images made him smile, a sick satisfaction. He became obsessed.
The opportunity arose five years later, at the tournament honoring another year of his father's reign. At the time, Aemond was fifteen years old, almost a grown man. He anxiously awaited Lucerys' presence. He was thinking of a way to corner his nephew without being noticed and finally collect his debt. But when he saw Lucerys, and especially his scent, Aemond was caught completely off guard.
Lucerys' scent was sweet and inviting, a newly blossomed omega. Aemond's alpha roared inside him, urging him to take the omega, but Aemond held himself back. Luke was thirteen years old, his beauty still blossoming. Aemond did not understand how he could have those thoughts with his mutilator. He must have wanted to claim one of Luke's eyes and not...want to mate with him.
He spent the rest of the tournament watching Lucerys from afar, yearning and tormented.
Aemond did not collect Luke's debt, and he did not do so even in the next meetings they had in the future.
When Vaemond Velaryon tried to contest Lucerys’ inheritance, it had been two full years since he had seen his nephew in person.
And maybe, just maybe, Aemond was in love with Luke.
It was a stupid idea. Why on earth would Aemond want Luke? The bastard who crippled him, it made no sense at all.
Days ago, in Shipwreck Bay, Aemond had been almost certain of his feelings. He had felt so terrified, so desperate when he realized that he had almost killed him, all because he had lost his temper. Aemond would never forgive himself.
He inhaled the soft scent of the blanket again. Aemond was being selfish, he knew it. He should let Luke go home, but Aemond was a selfish person. What if Rhaenyra married any alpha just to form a war alliance? What if she sent him to the battlefield? Arrax was a young and inexperienced dragon, and Luke got seasick sailing, imagine how he would be in a fight? And he is an omega, an omega among soldiers is a recipe for disaster.
No, he is better off here with him for now, until Aemond thinks of a solution, Luke will not leave his side, whether his nephew likes it or not.
Daemon claimed Rhaenyra, why can't I do the same with Lucerys?
Aemond smells the scent one last time and puts the blanket back in the same place.
He should be attending the emergency council meeting soon.
Aemond tries to compose himself before leaving the room.
...
“The princess has not yet responded to our message?” Tyland Lannister asks anxiously.
“Not yet.” Otto answers, quite dissatisfied. “Dragonstone and Driftmark remain silent, that is a bad sign.”
“My men have seen Meleys patrolling the skies near Dragonstone.” This time it is Jasper Wylde who speaks up. “Along with the dragon of one of Prince Daemon’s daughters.”
They must be up to something.” Tyland continues. “Waiting is not in Prince Daemon’s nature.”
“And Lord Corlys’s sea blockade continues.” Larys Strong says, as if no one is aware of the fact. “Perhaps it is time for the Lannisters to use their famous warships…”
Tyland shifts in his uncomfortable chair and Aemond knows why. No one wants to directly face the greatest sea power in Westeros. Coward.
‘Well, we need to prepare…” Tyland starts to speak, but the hand of the king interrupts him.
“Rhaenyra will not act while we have her son in our possession, nor will Lord Corlys attack when the heir to Driftmark is being held hostage.”
“And the omega will still be the Velaryons’ heir?” Lord Jasper asked with slight contempt in his voice. “Besides his gender, the boy is clearly a bastard, everyone can see that.”
There is a wave of murmurs of agreement. Aemond clenches his fist under the table. If that imbecile opens his mouth to insult Lucerys one more time, I will rip out his tongue and teeth together.
Out of the corner of his eye, Aemond notices Criston staring at him, there is a huge purple bruise on his face and a bandage on his nose, the sight of which makes Aemond incredibly pleased. No one dared ask what happened.
“It will not make any difference.” Otto replies. “Corlys named him as his successor and nothing we say now will change that.”
“Perhaps if we can persuade Lucerys to write to Rhaenyra,” Alicent suggests. “But without violence.” She adds firmly, her eyes darting between her father and Criston.
Tyland smiles mockingly.
“I know the queen’s nerves can be sensitive…” Alicent glares at him indignantly. “But these are trying times, we can’t waste time. Nothing a firmer hand won’t persuade the omega to…”
"Prince Lucerys is still recovering from the injuries he sustained in the fall.” Maester Orwyle retorts somewhat coldly. “What you suggest is abominable.”
“Abominable?” Tyland scoffs, not taking the maester’s words seriously. “The boy is an omega bastard, he is a hostage, not a guest, why should we show mercy to a traitor?”
Aemond slams his fist on the table. Everyone looks at him in surprise.
“If you keep talking, ser…” Aemond smiles cruelly. “You will find the consequences will not be good.”
Tyland pales completely.
“Aemond, control yourself…” Alicent hisses, but Aemond ignores her.
“If anyone tries to torture Prince Lucerys, well… Vhagar is eager to feast.”
At the mention of the massive dragon, Ser Tyland and Lord Jasper’s courage weakens. Otto is furious.
“You are behaving pitifully, threatening our allies…”
“Aemond is right.” It is the first time Aegon has spoken. Until now he had seemed completely bored and Aemond was sure his brother was drunk. “I do not want my sister to spread the word to the entire kingdom that I am torturing an omega, my nephew. Lucerys must not be harmed.”
Otto frowns in displeasure.
“I do not want to torture him either, but if the boy needs persuasion…”
“Lucerys must not be harmed, under any circumstances.” Aegon repeats again and looks at his grandfather. “I made myself clear.”
Everyone agrees, even Otto, although reluctant and obviously irritated that Aegon has the final say. Aegon winks discreetly in Aemond’s direction. What is he planning?
“Well, perhaps Prince Aemond can succeed in convincing Prince Lucerys to write to his mother.” Larys suggests with a smirk. “The princes seem quite close.”
“I thought Prince Aemond hated the omega.” Tyland whispers to no one in particular.
If Tyland says anything else I’ll throw him in Vhagar’s mouth.
Aemond doesn’t like Larys’ tone of voice, he completely forgot to keep an eye on the frog.
Aegon laughs and claps his hands.
“That’s a great idea, Lord Larys.” He says enthusiastically. “I’m sure my brother has great powers of persuasion.”
Criston looks worried and Alicent doesn’t look very pleased either, Aemond himself doesn’t know what to think.
Lucerys doesn’t even talk to him these days, so how was he going to make him write to Rhaenyra? Besides, that was the last thing Aemond wanted to do, trying to make Luke beg for surrender to Rhaenyra would make him hate him even more.
“Fine.” Aemond agrees. “I will speak to Lucerys.”
For now, Aemond would play their game.