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From the minute their plane touches down on the Summer Islands, Aegon’s already being insufferable.
“And so, what, we’re going to be sleeping in huts for a week?” The disdain in his gaze is palpable, even from behind his sunglasses, as they disembark from the jet.
Their mother sighs, long and hard, as she points their bags towards the waiting chauffeurs. “No, Aegon. There are no huts.”
A sleek, black car carries them from the airfield. Above them, palm trees reach towards the cerulean sky, sun beating down between the fronds. Birds and insects clamor in the distance, hidden amidst lush foliage. Helaena gazes out the open window with a dreamy look in her eye, and father sits in the front seat, chatting with the driver.
Aemond’s seat rocks forward violently as they round a corner, and it’s all he can do to keep his neck from snapping as he turns to face Aegon in the furthest back seat, crammed next to the suitcases. He’s got one leg up nearly at Aemond’s headrest, bouncing his foot periodically, shaking Aemond where he sits.
“Cut it out .” He seethes under his breath, pushing a strand of hair from his face. He can feel Alicent’s gaze shoot towards him as he says it.
“Aemond, you heard of mekhong ?” Aegon acts as if Aemond hadn’t said a word, a grin splitting across his face. “No, of course you haven't. It’s the liquor they make here. Can’t get it anywhere else. Leon told me about it, said he had it once and got so drunk he couldn’t see.”
Scoffing, Aemond turns away, trying to ignore the way Aegon’s seat-kicking increases in intensity. “That’s because Leon is an alcoholic, brother.”
Multiple voices throughout the car erupt in exclamations, and Aemond clamps his mouth shut for the rest of the drive.
-
The Lotus Port Resort rests behind acres of natural landscape, nestled up against the coast and away from any sort of town, a paradise of its own. They drive through a gate that is graciously opened for them, right up into a circular driveway that is barricaded by a group of staff.
Helaena is the first to jump from the car, rushing over to the greeting party with a bright smile, Alicent climbing out after her. Aemond can’t hear the words his sister says to the group of staff, but he watches her dip into a respectful bow.
When Aemond unfolds himself and steps out of the car, he veers right towards the trunk, watching some of the staff flock to the opened hatch, pulling out their luggage with delicate hands. He lunges for his own bag as soon as it’s within reach, yanking the suitcase close to his body.
Viserys exits the car much slower, grabbing onto Alicent’s waiting, insistent hand before he can reach for his cane. His voice crackles in that old-man way it’s newly adopted, eyes tracking the staff that pull their bags towards the entrance. “This is just wonderful. Such hospitality.”
Aegon, always predictable, beelines straight towards the pretty, young greeter who’s holding a tray of beverages, standing much too close to her as he speaks. “This is alcohol?” His grubby hands latch onto a glass without waiting for the response, smile lascivious.
“ Aegon !” Alicent goes to swat at him, but is stopped by Viserys’ hold.
The young woman shakes her head, and Aegon’s face immediately morphs into a scowl, dropping the glass back onto the tray and departing, ignorant of the way the cup sloshes and spills down the girl’s arm.
Aemond sighs.
Following their luggage, they step through the resort entrance.
The building is open and bright and airy, dark wood and tall ceilings blending the lobby right into the emerald jungle outside. A soft trickle of water resonates through the space, along with the thrum of some sort of lute that a young man plays in the corner. Voices murmur amongst it all, quiet and peaceful, upholding the sanctity of the hushed space.
“Holy shit!” Grating, sharp, Aegon exclaims the moment his eyes land on the ocean view out the window, luggage squeaking as he hauls it after him. Heads turn in their direction, eyebrows raised at the noise, and Aemond watches Alicent pinch the space between her eyes as she walks up to the check-in desk.
The grounds are even more extraordinary than the lobby, and they are led through weaving stone pathways and perfectly manicured greenery to their own private residence within the resort. It’s an entire house, equipped with a kitchen and a pool, that is perfectly secluded from other resort-goers. Birds screech up in the trees, and in the distance, the ocean crashes rhythmically.
“Wow.” Father is the first one through the door, following close behind the resort attendant accompanying them, spry and eager even as he leans against his cane. “This is even more spectacular than the photographs.”
“Thank you, sir.” The attendant smiles, bright and genuine, as she ushers them inside. “There are three bedrooms, and any amenities you may need can be found in the cabinets. If you find something to be lacking, let me know and it will be procured for you.”
She leaves swiftly after the conclusion of her speech.
Alicent turns to her children, voice firm. The circles under her eyes speak for themselves.
“Helaena gets the single room. Aegon, Aemond- you’re sharing the double. Go put your things away and be ready for dinner in a couple of hours.”
Aemond and Aegon both tense where they stand, mouths opening to retort, but Alicent’s icy glare has them backing off, rolling their eyes. Helaena skips off to her room without a care in the world, skirt flowing around her ankles, while Aemond and Aegon tromp down the hall to find their shared quarters.
Shoving past Aemond, Aegon muscles through the door, immediately claiming the bed by the window. He flings his suitcase to the ground and falls face-first onto the mattress with a groan.
Carefully, Aemond picks his way across the room to his bed, which rests its head against the wall of the bathroom, with a perfect nightstand to store his bedtime read. There’s a closet, too, with hangars, so he takes the time to gingerly unfold all of the shirts in his suitcase and place them in the closet.
Aegon watches him the whole time, eyes piercing the back of Aemond’s head.
Eventually, enough time has passed and they’re ready to head to dinner, hair combed (well- Aemond’s is) and t-shirts exchanged for button-ups. Aemond’s is a plain blue, dark like the night sky, and Aegon scoffs when he comes out of the bathroom wearing it.
“That’s not very vacation-y, brother. Still have a stick up your ass, even in the tropics?” He laughs as he says it, pulling a bottle of cologne from his bag and proceeding to gas the whole room with the musky scent. Aegon’s shirt is garish and nearly offensive to behold, bright green and patterned with tigers and leaves, but Aemond can’t bring himself to retort. Instead, he leaves the room with a scoff, traveling towards the foyer, where the rest of the family is waiting.
-
Dinner passes almost without a hitch, until a masked woman makes the mistake of engaging Aegon during her traditional dance performance and nearly has to call security to remove him from the stage. Alicent practically melts into her chair. Father chews joyfully on his mango rice dessert, oblivious to the discomfort, as Helaena and Aemond grit their teeth and try to wave Aegon back over.
Aemond is charged with dragging Aegon back to their rooms once dinner is over, nose wrinkled from the sheer amount of alcoholic smells that float from his sweaty skin. The humidity has Aemond’s shirt sticking to his chest, too, and his hair feels frizzy, and everything is just too much enough to have him throwing Aegon to the floor the moment they stumble into their bedroom. Aegon yelps when he lands on his side and swears Aemond to hell and back as he stomps into the bathroom.
A full thirty minutes in the shower calms Aemond down, and another fifteen blow drying his hair has the world feeling right again.
Then, he walks back into the bedroom, getting an eyeful of his brother, butt naked, with his cock in hand.
“God damnit , Aegon!”
Aemond slams the door behind him as he flees to the living room.
-
They tour a monastery, Viserys and Helaena silent and contemplative, while Alicent curses the blasphemy of it all. Aegon’s drunk and stumbles through most of it. Aemond just counts the minutes until he can retreat back inside the air-conditioned resort.
They lounge by the pool. Helaena reads, Aegon stations himself at the swim-up bar, and Alicent places a large sun hat over her eyes and gets a couple hours of sleep. Aemond watches a pair of monkeys up in the trees as he sits, shaded beneath an umbrella and refusing to change into a swimsuit. The monkeys swing between branches and scream and pick at each other’s backs, and he isn’t sure if he’s intrigued or disgusted by it.
Everyone but Aegon gets massages (Alicent had the foresight to bar the resort from booking him such treatments), and Aemond leaves his session with a newfound softness in the lines of his back. Different lotions and tinctures are offered to them throughout their stay, smells that relax and invigorate, and Aemond discovers a new hair oil that helps smooth down flyaways.
Helaena makes a friend, some young woman also interested in the local religion, and her uber-rich father invites the whole family onto their yacht. It requires a sickening amount of socialization from Aemond, because Alicent instructs him to impress the family, so he’s forced to put up with the attention of two women who run their long nails through his hair and compliment his forearms.
The moment they turn in for the night, back in their room at the resort, Aegon picks a fight with him.
“Are you a fucking idiot?” Stomping up to him, Aegon pokes him meanly in the center of his chest, nearly nose-to-nose.
Aemond swats the touch off like it’s a fly, moving to turn away. “Whatever this is, I’m not entertaining it, Aegon. You’re drunk.”
“So?” Aegon follows him, belligerent, as Aemond goes into the bathroom. “Doesn’t mean I’m wrong. You’re always an idiot.”
Ignoring him, Aemond turns on the tap, methodically washing his hands and ignoring the burning focus of Aegon’s gaze in the mirror.
A sharp jab hits right in the pit of Aemond’s knee, and he bites down on his lip to keep the surprised shout from escaping his throat as he lurches to the side in a near fall. Instead, hands still dripping, he whips around to pin Aegon with a glare. He’s leaned against the doorway, smug as can be, pulling back the foot that had almost sent Aemond to the ground.
“So,” Aemond can hear the petulance in his voice, but he doesn’t care, can’t care about anything, until Aegon leaves him the hell alone. He crosses his arms. “You obviously want to tell me why I’m an idiot. Go on.”
Aegon pushes off from the doorframe, grin instantaneous across his face, and steps closer to Aemond, voice falling to a whisper. “Those old ladies wanted you, man. You couldn’t tell?”
“Good god.” Aemond sneers, rolling his eye. “That’s what you’re mad about? That they were talking to me and not you ?”
“I’m just saying,” Poking at Aemond’s chest for a second time, Aegon shrugs. “It’s vacation. Why are you so scared of getting your dick wet?”
Again, Aemond shoves him away, scoffing. “Gross. You go sleep with some divorcees if you’re so desperate.”
Aegon stands fast against the force of Aemond’s push, a strange flash of genuinity lighting up his face. “No, no- Aemond, that’s not what I’m saying.” Thoughts flicker behind his eyes, and Aemond feels his heart drop into the pit of his stomach. That’s never a good sign. “I’m saying , is you should let loose a little. ‘Cause, you’re still a virgin, right?”
He feels his heart fully stop, where it rests in his gut. Darkness surrounds the whole room, pulsing and dangerous until he can blink it away. Images, scrolling quickly through his recollection, of trysts in the dorm bathroom with a hot guy from the soccer team. And, another in someone’s hot tub after a party. Aemond certainly is no virgin.
But, to Aegon-
“I mean, come on, Aemond. I can smell it on you. You’ve never fucked a woman.” He mistakes the widening of Aemond’s eye as embarrassment, and claps a friendly hand onto his shoulder. “It’s okay. Nothing to be ashamed of.”
Beneath Aegon’s hold, Aemond tries to control his heart rate, sucking slow breaths in through clenched teeth, loosening the white-knuckled fists his hands have folded into.
Aegon nods, smiling. “And, now, the opportunity has fallen into your lap! A two-for-one with experienced women.” He removes his hand from Aemond’s shoulder in order to clap his palms together, gleeful. “It’s perfect for you, Aemond. You always liked the more mature side of things.”
“No.” Aemond shakes his head, hard. Best to shut down Aegon’s idiotic ideas before he gets too excited. “No, I’m not doing that-”
“Come on .” Aegon clasps his hands together, like in prayer. “Come on, Aemond. Do it for me. It would be the best vacation ever if I could help my baby brother finally get laid.”
“No-”
“I’ll beg.”
Aemond groans, slamming his eye shut. “Don’t-”
With a loud thud, Aegon throws himself to the floor, wincing as his knees slam onto the bathroom tile. He shuffles forward, eyes wide as he looks up at Aemond, and loops his arms around the backs of Aemond’s legs in a desperate hug. “Aemond, I beg you. Fuck some cougars on vacation, and you’ll make me the happiest man in the world.”
Shaking his head, Aemond feels an ache starting to build behind his eyebrows. “Do you even hear yourself?”
In a flurry of motion, Aegon’s back on his feet, hands fisted in Aemond’s shirt. He’s breathing hard, puffing right in Aemond’s face, eyes wet like a pitiful kitten. “Please. Aemond. Please, please, please, please-”
“Would you stop-”
“-please, please, please, please -”
“-how would that even happen, anyways? I’m not going off by myself-”
“-please, Aemond, please, please-”
“Holy shit .” Shoving hard, Aemond sends Aegon crashing into the bathroom wall, face hot with frustration. “Fine, fucking fine. Fine . I’ll think about it. Happy?”
Bouncing back effortlessly from the impact, Aegon nearly leaps with exhilaration. “ Yes , perfect, Aemond, thank you -” He’s nearly out of breath as he retreats from the bathroom, smiling. “I’m going to make this happen for you, trust me.”
“I said I would think about it-”
With a wave over his shoulder, Aegon lets the bathroom door slide shut behind him.
Slowly, Aemond turns back around, nails scratching against the bathroom countertop as he levels himself with a glare in the mirror. He shakes his head, huffs out a sharp breath, and tries to will his heartbeat down to a normal rate. His ears prick at the sound of Aegon moving about the room, slamming drawers, and opening up the window.
Likely, Aegon will forget the whole conversation in the morning, and Aemond can put the entire thing behind him.
“Thank god he’s a drunk.” Aemond whispers to himself, before leaning down to take a drink from the tap.
-
Something prodding Aemond in the forehead rouses him from sleep, and he opens his eye with a start.
Aegon leans over him, blocking the sunlight streaming in through the open window, digging a nail into the skin of his face. He smiles, almost kind, and leans further onto Aemond’s bed.
“Wake up, brother.” Mischief twists his voice, hands jittery like he’s just downed a pot of coffee. “I’ve got a surprise for you.”
Dread slithers down Aemond’s throat.
“What?” His voice scratches as he speaks, rough from sleep, as he shoves himself up onto his elbow. Aegon backs off, inelegant as he jumps from the bed and onto his feet.
Standing there, Aemond sees that Aegon is already dressed for the day in a loose button up and his nice shorts, like he’s ready to go somewhere. He’s got jewelry on, too, a stack of necklaces around his neck, and a couple string bracelets on his wrists. Sunglasses perch on his head, pushing his hair back in a carelessly relaxed sort of way, and the smell of sunscreen is pervasive throughout the room.
Aemond lets the blanket fall down his chest as he sits up, adjusting the collar of his sleeping tshirt. The braid keeping his hair back starts to loosen as it’s subjected to gravity, so a few rouge pieces fall forward over his shoulders. He blinks sleep from his eye. “Where are you going? Has mother planned something?” Anxiety swims in his chest, and he wracks his brain trying to remember if Alicent told him something yesterday that he had forgotten.
“Nope.” The ‘p’ pops loudly as Aegon says it, and he plants his hands on his hips. “I got something special planned.”
“You?” Aemond swings his legs over the edge of the bed, relinquishing any desire he had to return to sleep. “A plan?”
Aegon’s grin catches a glint of sunlight as he twists to wrench something from his pocket. His wallet.
Aemond raises an eyebrow.
“Shopping, Aemond.” Aegon shakes his wallet in the air, knees bouncing. “Father’s credit card. Get dressed.”
-
A driver from the resort deposits them on a bustling downtown street with strict orders for pickup in a couple hours. The car peels off, and Aemond stares wistfully behind it until Aegon latches onto his wrist and wrenches him into the fray.
As always, birds screech overhead, small and large varieties equally ambitious as they dive towards children holding food, hoping for dropped morsels. Old women pull small carts for shopping behind them as they move between stands, where fresh produce is piled high. It’s too early to be sweltering, so air whisks through the market area in a refreshing breeze, carrying the scent of the ocean and greenery with it. Instruments play lowly in the distance, buskers hoping for a coin from passerby, and small motorbikes zoom by with hums of their engines.
It would be nice, without Aegon’s voice in his ear, grating even amidst the early-morning bustle. His brother tugs him closer, and they’re nearly joined at the hip as they walk. The closeness instantly has Aemond’s spine going rigid, neck tight as they step in tandem.
“Okay,” Aegon says, holding tighter around Aemond’s wrist. “The resort told me about a shop up this way with clothes, so first we’re going to-”
Aemond interrupts him. “Why are you bringing me clothes shopping?” He digs his heels into the dirt road, stopping Aegon in his tracks. “My clothes are fine.”
The scathing look Aegon sends to Aemond’s feet is palpable as it drags back up to his shoulders, like pinpricks along his skin. Aegon raises one blonde eyebrow, a sneer bending his lips, and Aemond sighs.
“Okay.” He acquiesces, jaw clenched as Aegon pulls him along once again. They dodge children that run practically between their legs, and at one point a chicken crosses the road in front of them, almost bringing Aegon to tears from laughter.
The recommended clothing store is in a small awning, covered with a canopy, boasting bolts of cloth and premade items. Young locals flit between the shelves, holding up pieces in exclamation and chatting with the shop owners, who grin with pride each time someone steps out of the dressing room in order to show off the item they’re wearing.
Aegon makes a beeline to a rack of shirts, confident in his direction.
It does not take long for Aemond to end up with an armful of clothes, primarily a variety of button-up lounge shirts made from sleek, dark fabrics. On top of the pile, Aegon tosses one last item, a pair of shorts that look much too short for Aemond’s taste level, but he just follows as Aegon leads them to the shop owner’s table.
Forgoing the dressing rooms all together, Aegon butchers any sort of verbal communication with the shop owners and instead elects to throw a wad of cash at them. Aemond hadn’t realized he’d gotten a supply of local currency, but decides not to ask, instead shoving the purchases into a paper bag and nodding his thanks to the owners.
Once again, Aegon leads them fearlessly through the street, which is slowly growing busier as it approaches the afternoon. They’re got time to kill before the resort picks them up, so they stop by a stand selling fried bananas, and Aegon chats up some tourists who look like they’re on spring break. Picking gingerly at his food, Aemond watches motorbikes speed by, until someone tries to come up and speak to him and he has to shoo them away with an icy stare.
Getting into the resort’s car is seamless, and as they are driven back towards the coastline, Aegon tips his head close to Aemond’s, voice low.
“You should put your new shorts on.” Aegon leans over to rustle in the shopping bag, fishing out the garment. He slaps them against Aemond’s thighs a couple of times, giggling to himself. “We’re going to the pool, and you’re going to get too warm wearing these pants.”
Shaking his head, Aemond leans away. “I don’t want to go to the pool.”
Lips morphing into a pout, Aegon fills the space again, nose nearly bumping into the side of Aemond’s face. “I don’t care what you want, brother. It’s all part of my plan .”
There’s nowhere else for Aemond to retreat to, so he tips his head as much as he can, desperate for space. His eyebrows furrow as he does, contemplating Aegon’s words. “Are you talking about last night?” He can hear the disbelief in his own voice. “You remember that?”
“Duh.” Aegon pinches at his knee one time, before chucking the shorts right in Aemond’s face. The tag smacks harshly along Aemond’s skin, and he grumbles to himself as he snatches them out of the air.
“I’m not doing that, Aegon-”
“You said you would think about it!”
“Well, I have, and I’m not-”
The driver’s throat clearing interrupts Aemond’s argument. It’s then, too, that he notices the car has stopped. Someone outside approaches the door, and before Aemond gets the chance to shut Aegon down once and for all, they’re being ushered back into the resort.
-
He fails to get Aegon’s mind off of the pool, but manages to negotiate the visit to be after lunch, when Helaena can accompany them. Placing Helaena between them on the lounge seats allows Aemond to actually relax, hoping Aegon will set his sights upon her, instead. It works, too, for a while, until Aegon’s tired of swimming alone, and Helaena refuses to get her hair wet.
“Aemond!” His brother shouts from the pool, splashing wildly. “Aemond, come over here!”
Feigning deafness, Aemond lifts his book higher in front of his face, blocking his view of the pool. The lounge chair’s material digs into the backs of his bare thighs, and he’d considered standing up to get some relief, but now? He’s prepared to withstand the torture, rather than give Aegon any hope that he would listen to such a command.
In response, Aegon’s pleas take on a sing-song quality, horribly lilted and slightly slurred as he increases in volume. “Aemond! Yoohoo!”
Next to him, Helaena leans closer, voice soft. “People are starting to look. You should go to him.”
“ No .” Aemond barks back, shifting in his seat.
“Aemond! I want to see your new shorts again!” Water crashes loudly against the side of the pool as Aegon’s gesticulation increases in intensity. “They’re so sexy on you!”
The sheer volume of Aegon’s declaration gets Aemond to his feet, fast enough that he hardly feels the way his skin seems to rip as it’s lifted from the chair. He slams his book onto the ground with a thud, casting his gaze harshly to Helaena for one second before stomping, barefooted, towards his brother.
“Wait, wait.” Aegon grins as he approaches. “Slower. And, do a spin. I want to see!” He motions in a circle with his pointer finger, and Aemond feels his eye start to twitch.
Like a pole, Aemond stays rigid as he approaches, before his toes lick up against the side of the pool and he leans over, hair nearly slapping Aegon in the face as he does. He pins his brother with a glare, jaw clenched, until the grin slowly fades off Aegon’s face.
“Jeez.” Retorting before Aemond can even say anything, Aegon splashes a wave of water up against Aemond’s shins. “Can’t take a compliment for shit, no wonder you never get any girls-”
In a flash of adrenaline, Aemond’s foot leaves the ground and connects right with the center of Aegon’s forehead, shoving him under the water with a shout. Aegon thrashes beneath his hold, and Aemond lets him, before pulling back with a smug tilt to his lips. His brother sputters and spits as he resurfaces, glowering once he’s able to catch his breath.
“Fuck you, Aemond.” Aegon seethes, before moving to float away.
He stops right in his tracks, though, when his eyes land on something behind Aemond.
Steeling himself, Aemond glances over his shoulder, and meets the focused gaze of a woman approaching him.
Shit .
Dark hair, down to her waist. Big glasses, and an even bigger sunhat. Long, black nails.
One of the women from the party.
Aemond can hear Aegon laughing, somewhere in the distance, just beyond the ringing that’s started up in his head. His brother speaks, too, shouts a greeting to the woman, but Aemond can’t make out the words. His heart pounds in his chest. Bile seems to close off his throat.
In desperation, he turns back towards Helaena, ready to beeline to his seat.
He’s stopped by a pair of arms snaking around his waist. They pull, forcing him backwards, sending him careening to the side, weightless, until he slams head-first into the pool.
Ever since losing his eye, he’s hated the water. Hates the way it distorts his depth perception, his sense of direction, tricking him into believing one way is up, when in reality it’s the opposite. Hates the way being submerged feels like dying.
Kicking awkwardly, Aemond rights himself and bursts through the surface of the pool with a loud gasp, blinking hard to clear water from his eye. His hair is plastered to his head, snakes down his forehead, and he can feel rivulets of pool water streaming between his eyebrows. The world is loud around him, boisterous, and he can hear Helaena shrieking his name. Behind him, Aegon cackles.
Hands reach towards him, two pairs, and slice at his skin with their nails.
“Oh, you poor baby!” One woman coos, working to lift his hair out of his eyes. He tries to push back and away, but he just sort of floats without moving, falling victim to the touch.
The other grabs at his shoulder and pulls him towards the side of the pool, where she is crouching. “Are you alright?” She asks, the one with the long hair. Her sunglasses are removed, so Aemond can see that her eyelashes are long, too.
“Your brother seems like a jerk.” The second woman, older but no less expressive, continues to push at his hair. She crouches, too, and the tiny bikini she’s wearing leaves nothing to the imagination as her breasts nearly touch Aemond’s face from the angle.
He still hasn’t quite caught his breath, so he just nods.
“For the record, though,” the second woman continues, “I like your short shorts, handsome. Where were you hiding those yesterday?”
“Sylvi, cut it out!” The long-haired one laughs, releasing her hold on Aemond and leaning back. “He’s too young for you.”
A splashing sound precedes Aegon’s arrival, manifesting as two wet arms slinging themselves around Aemond’s neck. He smiles at the women over Aemond’s shoulder, unabashedly shameless in the obviousness of his evesdropping. “He’s nineteen! Tell them, Aemond.”
The ringing in his ears still hasn’t gone away, and there’s a buzzing beneath his skin from all the hands on him. He just nods, dazed, blinking hard against the sunlight.
“Well,” again, the long-haired one laughs, offering a friendly wave in Aegon’s direction. “I’m Alys. You guys should come party with us. We’re getting some people together for a bonfire tonight down at the beach.”
“We’ll be there!” Aegon exclaims without a moment’s hesitation. His hold tightens around Aemond’s neck. “Won’t we, Aemond?”
“Sure.” He croaks in response, throat still scratchy from inhaling the pool water. Anything to end the conversation and be left alone.
The women smile, showing off bright teeth. “We’ll see you later, then.” Sylvi says, releasing the strands of Aemond’s hair she had been holding and moving to stand.
“Yeah!” Aegon shouts after them as they walk away. “See you!”
They stand at the side of the pool, Aegon still clinging to Aemond’s back like a monkey. His entire front presses against Aemond’s back, sticking to his waterlogged shirt, and Aegon’s damp arms dig into Aemond’s collarbone.
Shaking his shoulders, Aemond attempts to dislodge him. “ Get the fuck off of me .” His teeth chatter as he speaks.
With a laugh, Aegon pinches sharply at Aemond’s cheek before shoving off of Aemond’s back and disappearing beneath the pool’s surface.
-
After dinner, Aemond stands at his closet, contemplating the clothes before him. Across the room, Aegon is vaping out the window, face lit harshly by the screen of his phone as he types. The sun is setting outside, casting the jungle in deep shadow, while the sky erupts into stunning oranges and purples between the clouds.
Aemond’s full, happy, and warm from a glass of red wine. His bed beckons like a siren, and he nearly falls for it, until Aegon snaps his fingers in his direction.
“Dude, hurry up. We’ve got to get going.”
Shaking his head, Aemond sighs. “Aegon, I really don’t-”
Aegon stops him by holding up a hand, whipping to face him. “Nope. Aemond, you said you’d go. Can’t back out now. Not when I’m so close to sealing the deal for you.”
“You haven’t done anything, actually-”
“ God !” Jumping to his feet, Aegon’s bracelets clank on his wrist as he tosses his vape onto the bed. “Just lighten up, honestly! You’re being fucking annoying.” He storms off into the bathroom, rummaging around in the drawers, shouting through the wall. “Always thinking about yourself, haven’t you considered how horny I am?”
Face folding into a grimace, Aemond turns back towards his closet, looking between his shirts. “Gross, Aegon.”
“No, no-” He emerges from the bathroom, sliding a comb through his hair. “Listen. I can’t jack off because you’re always here -”
“I literally walked in on you the other day!’
“-and the two sluts in this entire place want you -”
Aemond scoffs.
“-just imagine how hard this is for me!” Aegon punctuates his words with a stamp of his foot, and Aemond rolls his eye. “So, we’re going to the bonfire. Let’s hope they bring some hot friends.”
-
They do.
Along the water, a crowd surrounds a glowing fire, music thumping through the peacefulness of dusk. Aemond can see cups in hands, and the scent of weed tickles his nose as they pick their way down to the shore. Sand gets in his sandals as they approach, and he tries to casually flick it out from beneath his toes, but fails. He instantly regrets acquiescing to Aegon’s desperation.
People chatter all around them as they head towards the fire, locals and tourists alike, beautiful women and handsome men in all varieties of swimwear and beach clothes. A tall woman with a shaggy haircut smiles at Aemond when they make eye contact, and he turns away as fast as possible, staring at Aegon’s back until they come to a stop by the bonfire.
“I need a fucking drink!” Aegon shouts over the noise, lunging towards the cooler setup they’ve got going. Aemond ignores him as he does, watching the flames of the fire dance and spark in the sand.
A dripping can is pressed into Aemond’s hands, and his gaze jumps wide-eyed to his brother as Aegon cracks his own open, downing the entire thing in a few quick gulps. Tossing the empty can to the ground, Aegon stomps it with his foot, watching Aemond expectantly.
“I don’t like beer.” Aemond tries to say, but he’s not loud enough. He turns the can over in his hands, which isn’t helpful, because the label is entirely in a different language. He sighs.
With a hiss, he cracks it open and brings it gingerly to his lips, tasting the foam as it bubbles into his mouth. There’s a hint of some sort of fruit in it, which intrigues Aemond enough to take a bigger gulp.
“That’s it!” Aegon has moved closer, watching. His hand lifts up to nudge at the bottom of the can, just slightly, tipping more liquid into Aemond’s mouth. “Come on, we’ve got to catch up to everyone else.”
And, with a shrug, Aemond does.
He doesn’t hate it, actually. It takes two more cans, but then he’s buzzing, and can sit just at the edge of the water and watch the waves lick up to his toes. Doesn’t care that there’s sand in his shoes, or that his hair is getting tousled by the wind, or that Aegon’s left him to do god knows what. Looking out over the dark water, watching a boat stream by and planes blink overhead, he almost feels like he’s alone. Like he’s relaxing.
The can in his hand is dripping onto his leg, cold from the melted ice, but he hardly feels it as he takes another sip. Watches the droplets run down the side of his bare thigh, where his long shorts have ridden up, until they fall onto the sand in dark blots. Firelight dances in his peripheral, almost on beat with the music, and he tips his head back to count the stars in the sky.
A hand interrupts his view, long nails waving down at him. Then, a face.
“Alys.” Aemond says in greeting, sitting up straight to watch the woman fall onto the sand beside him. Her knee brushes up against the side of his leg as she folds into a criss-cross, but he doesn’t move away. She’s holding a nearly empty plastic cup, smudged with lipstick, and looks at Aemond over the rim as she takes another sip.
“Hey.” Her voice is steady, even though her eyes look dilated and she sways a little in her seat. “Why’re you all alone over here?”
Tearing his eye away, Aemond stares at his own drink. “Just sitting. Aegon left me.”
Giggling, Alys nudges him in the shoulder. “He’s actually with Sylvi, told me you were over here.” She sucks in a deep breath. “They’re hitting something harder over by the fire, if you want to join them.”
Shaking his head, Aemond can’t help but laugh, dry and tense from between his teeth. “God no. Fuck, he’s going to become insufferable for the rest of the night.”
“He’s not already insufferable?” Alys quips, and that gets Aemond laughing from deep in his chest.
They fall into silence, watching the waves crash and pull against the sand.
Alys’ knee still presses against Aemond’s skin, smooth and soft as it brushes against his leg hairs. She’s pale, as pale as him, like she’s got a similar aversion to sun damage, even on vacation. Her skirt is long and flowy, collapsing into the sand around her as it splits from a leg slit. It’s something Helaena would like. He wonders where she got it.
Her feet are bare, too, and black painted toenails dig into the sand. They match her fingernails.
“How old are you?” Aemond blurts out, instantly embarrassed by his own lack of decorum. He tears his gaze away from her, back into his own lap.
She tenses next to him, like she’s sucked in a sharp breath. “Oh. Yeah, I just turned twenty-seven. That’s why we’re here, actually. A birthday trip.”
Aemond shakes his head, hair flowing over his shoulders. “Wow. Aegon had me convinced you were old. Some sort of divorcee.”
“Well,” Alys chuckles, shifting in the sand. “I am divorced. So, he was right about that.”
“What?” Aemond turns to meet her eyes, which are fanned with neatly mascaraed lashes.
“We got married young.” She pulls her gaze away to watch the ocean again. “Didn’t work out, obviously. This is my first vacation without her.”
The words send a jolt through Aemond’s chest. “Oh. I’m sorry.”
“It’s okay.” Nodding to herself, Alys sighs. “But, you know what, I need another drink. You coming?”
She climbs to her feet and offers her hand to Aemond, silver rings glinting in the moonlight. Staring for a moment, Aemond gapes like a fish, heart loud in his chest. He takes the last swig of his beer and grabs her hand, hauling himself to standing.
They don’t let go as they pick their way back towards the bonfire and through the crowd.
Aegon and Sylvi are sat on the ground next to the fire, heads bent close together, deep in discussion. Pieces of ash have landed in Aegon’s hair, and Aemond almost considers removing them, but decides his brother doesn’t deserve the courtesy. The pair looks up as they approach.
“Alys!” Sylvi exclaims, pulling away from Aegon to smile at her friend. Her eyes flick down to where Aemond’s hand wraps around Alys’. “We were just talking about you.”
“Oh?” Raising an eyebrow, Alys pulls her hand away and reaches towards the drink cooler. “What about?”
Aemond flexes his hand from where Alys had been holding it, shifting back and forth on his feet. Aegon watches him with a smug look on his face, eyes sleepy. His button up has come undone, and one sleeve falls down his shoulder.
Stepping closer, Aemond leans down to speak quietly to his brother. His words blur a little at the edges from his drinks, but he thinks he manages to maintain sternness in his tone. “What did you take, Aegon?”
“Pfft.” Aegon smiles, now, wide and lazy. “Something random that Sylvi had. Don’t worry.”
Shrugging, Aemond straightens back up, ultimately uncaring. If Aegon finds himself passed out on the beach, it’s not really any of his business.
“Hey,” Sylvi leans over to get their attention, eyes bright in the firelight. Aemond turns to face her, casting a quick glance at Alys, who doesn’t look back at him.
“So,” Sylvi continues. “We’re going to go back to our rooms. You guys should come.”
Aegon kicks his foot aimlessly in the sand. “For what? You guys got a bar in there?”
“We can get something from the resort bar.” Sylvi wags her eyebrows, looking at Aemond. “I heard you like wine.”
Aemond crosses his arms, chewing on his tongue. He doesn’t need another drink, but the prospect of something good…
“Okay.” He says, nodding, and avoids the stunned slap Aegon aims to land on his bare legs. Everybody gets to their feet, Alys wrapping her arm through Aegon’s, Sylvi falling into step with Aemond as they travel back towards the resort.
He can smell liquor on Sylvi’s breath as they climb over a patch of rocks. She leans into Aemond as she gets her feet steady beneath her.
“Say,” she says on an exhale, adjusting her bikini top to keep it from slipping. “Aemond. Tell me the truth.”
Casting a glance down at her, Aemond watches as one of her false eyelashes sags at the corner of her eye when she blinks. He waits for her question.
In response to his silence, she moves closer, lips brushing against his ear as she speaks, stumbling slightly from the angle. “Your brother, he told me. You’re a virgin?”
A steady heat starts to build in Aemond’s chest. He can feel his pulse racing, and there’s sweat behind his knees. Swallowing, hard, he shakes his head. “I’m not answering that.”
“Come on.” She whispers, a hand sliding around Aemond’s back to grab at his waist, One of her nails snakes perfectly beneath the hem of his tshirt, and he stiffens from the touch, a tingling sensation shooting up his side. They manage to keep walking, following behind Alys and Aegon, but they slow drastically. “You can tell me, no need to be embarrassed.”
Sighing, Aemond shakes his head, feeling his hair scrape along her bare forearm. “I’ve never,” he chews his words carefully, “slept with a woman.”
Sylvi’s arm around his waist tightens. Her breath puffs against his neck. “Well, Aemond, I’ll tell you: you’re the first man Alys has had any interest in since she was a teenager.”
A jolt descends through his body. He coughs around nothing. A strange sort of fluttering starts up in his chest, but it’s not interest. More like flattery.
“And, you know, she’s been so timid since the divorce…” There’s a smile in Sylvi’s voice.
“Ask my brother.” Aemond blurts out, reeling. “He’s desperate.”
“No, no,” Sylvi waves with her free hand, stepping in time with Aemond up a set of stairs. They’ve reached the outskirts of the resort, and will have to walk through the pool area to get to the residential zone. “That’s why she likes you. You’re quiet, and interesting. Not to mention the hair- look, Aemond, do you know you’re sexy?”
He stops in his tracks, finally dislodging himself from her hold. There’s nothing for him to say, so he just stares, an eyebrow lifted.
She crosses her arms as she looks at him, and it pushes her chest up in a way he’s not sure is unintentional. His eye jumps down for just a moment, and she smiles like she’s won. “I can’t believe no girl at college has pinned you down yet. You really are handsome.” She skates her gaze down to his feet and back up again, chewing on her bottom lip. “I’d fuck you too, if older women are your thing.”
“ What .” He mostly says it to himself, but Sylvi laughs, leaning forward on her toes.
“The offer’s there. Let’s get you your wine.”
They walk up to the resort bar as a group, and Sylvi chats with the bartender for ten minutes before securing two bottles of red wine and a handle of vodka. Then, they travel through the resort’s exterior pathways to the women’s quarters, which is tucked within a grove of gigantic palm trees. A pool greets them, and a set of lounge chairs, which they pass by in order to walk through a wall-sized sliding glass door.
Sylvi and Alys point out the bathroom as they walk in the foyer. The space is smaller than where the Targaryens are staying, but it’s two floors, situated like a townhouse that has Sylvi on the ground floor and Alys on the second. Their kitchen is dark and luxurious, dark cabinets and dark tile on all sides, with a large, circular dining table that’s covered with makeup and spare clothes.
Laughing, the women clear off their mess. “We weren’t expecting guests!” Alys says, as Sylvi fetches some glasses and juice for their drinks.
Aemond is poured a large glass of red wine, which he lifts to his mouth immediately in order to down a few gulps. Everyone watches him with curiosity in their eyes, but they say nothing, tending to their own drink mixing.
“So,” Sylvi starts, once they are all settled. Aemond is sitting rod straight in one of the dining chairs, while Aegon’s got his feet up on the table next to Sylvi, who sits atop it. Alys is rummaging around in the fridge. “Should we play a game or something?”
“Let’s at least turn on some music.” Alys responds, slamming the fridge closed and bouncing over to the in-room sound system. She powers it on with a click, and a local radio station fills the room with an upbeat song. It’s just quiet enough to keep the hush of nighttime wrapped around them, and Aemond nods his head slightly to the beat.
“Yes, a game!” Aegon’s words slur, his face red. He lifts his glass in a mock toast, and some of the liquid sloshes onto his shirt. He doesn’t notice.
Laughing, Sylvi tosses him a napkin from the table. He doesn’t notice it, either. “Okay, truth or dare, everyone is in.” She wiggles her eyebrows. “Even you, Aemond.”
Aegon laughs, too, loud and drunk, at the look of horror that crosses Aemond’s face. “Aemond, don’t be a pussy and play the game!”
“Okay, okay.” Alys walks over, sipping at her drink, and sits in the chair next to Aemond. “Sylvi- truth or dare?”
“Oh- truth!” She laughs to herself, flicking her hair over her shoulder.
Humming, Alys taps at her chin, contemplating her question. “Okay. Wow, I haven’t done this in a while. How about-”
“How old are you!?” With a shout, Aegon cuts her off, waving wildly in his seat. “That’s the question. Answer.”
Exchanging a glance, Alys and Sylvi share a private smile, before Sylvi trains her gaze on Aegon. “How old do you think I am?”
Shrugging, Aegon rolls his eyes. “That’s not how the game works.”
Laughing again, Sylvi tips her head back. “Well, since you’re dying to know- I’m forty-one.”
Everyone nods, and Aegon snorts a laugh, before Aemond leans forward and cuffs him on the back of his head. He rocks forward from the contact, sloshing his drink again, and the women both giggle when he turns, offended, towards Aemond. “ Hey !”
“Don’t be rude.”
The chuckling dies down as they look towards Sylvi, waiting for the next challenge.
“Okay, Aegon: truth or dare?” Something hot burns behind her eyes, and Aemond leans forward in his seat, excited.
“Dare!” Aegon exclaims, punching a fist in the air.
Sylvi grins. “Kiss my feet.”
The wide-eyed disbelief that crosses over Aegon’s face has Aemond cackling a loud laugh, setting his drink down on the table. He leans back in his seat, extending his legs out long, and crosses his arms, waiting for the show.
“What?” Aegon sputters, eyes jumping down to Sylvi’s tanned, manicured feet. Her toes are painted neon pink, and she’s got a ring on one of them. He stares in silence for a few moments.
Wiggling her toes, Sylvi does not bend, watching Aegon intently.
A loud sigh puffs out from Aegon’s cheeks, and he tips over to place his drink on the floor. Everyone leans closer in interest, watching as he lowers himself to the ground, grimacing as his knees make contact. He slides forward, bare skin squeaking against the hard wood, until his face rests perfectly between Sylvi’s feet.
She smiles down at him, and Aemond notices how she’s holding her breath, curious.
Pursing his lips, Aegon stares up at her from beneath his eyebrows as he presses them to the bridge of her right foot, then the left. For a second, too, he lets his tongue flick out to lick at the left foot, and Sylvi squeals, laughing as she shoves him away by the shoulder.
“Okay, okay, that’s good!” She shrieks, grinning as Aegon climbs back into his chair.
“You taste like tanning lotion.” He retorts, but he’s smiling like an idiot, proud for no reason.
Aemond rolls his eye.
Turning to Alys, Aegon’s still grinning foolishly, and points a shaky finger at her. “Alys! Truth or dare.”
She shakes her head, but there’s a smile in her eyes. “Truth. An easy one, please.”
Aegon puts on an elaborate performance of contemplation, rubbing at his temple and twisting up his mouth, but Aemond knows it’s a feint as soon as he opens his mouth. “Would you fuck Aemond?”
Howling with laughter, Sylvi falls onto her back across the table, ignorant to the way that Alys chokes on a sip of her drink. Aemond considers patting her back in assistance, but decides to keep his hands to himself, willing the burn of his face to go down.
“Um,” Alys coughs around her words, cheeks burning. “Well, I thought I’d tell you with some more tact, but yeah. I would.” She looks at Aemond out of the corner of her eyes, scared to face him fully.
And, throwing her a bone, Aemond smiles. Nods, politely, before turning away to focus on his glass of wine.
“Well!” Aegon, shouting, claps his hands together. “I mean, are we going to keep playing this game, or are you two going to get a room?”
“No, no.” Sylvi kicks at Aegon again, but he manages to dodge the blow. “We’re just starting the game, and have drinks to finish. Don’t get ahead of yourself.”
Clearing her throat, Alys catches Aemond’s attention. Her face is still red, but she’s smiling more naturally, so he relaxes a little into his seat. “Truth or dare, Aemond.”
He thinks for a moment.
“Truth.” He says, heart picking up speed in his chest.
Alys is still smiling, her eyes raking over his face. She clicks her tongue. “Your hair- is it real?”
“Oh, come on!” Aegon moans.
“That’s too easy!” Sylvi agrees, shaking her head.
Shushing them, Alys waits for Aemond’s answer. He doesn’t say anything, just nods, and she claps her hands together, pleased.
Aemond clears his throat. “My turn.”
He opts for an easy one.
“Aegon- pick.”
Groaning, his brother rolls his eyes, slumping in his seat. “God, you’re so boring , Aemond. Dare. Do your worst.”
The corner of Aemond’s lips tick up, but he tries to keep his voice level as he speaks. “Kiss someone. On the mouth.”
Aegon slams his hand down on the table, making the women jump. “ So boring, Aemond. You’re like a middle schooler- kiss someone - shut the fuck up.” Amidst the complaints, though, he pushes to his feet and surveys the room. His eyes land on Sylvi, and he steps towards her for a second, before stopping. Flicks his gaze to Alys. They both hold their breath through his deliberation, and Aemond watches attentively.
Stepping forward, Aegon weaves past Sylvi, who pouts a little as he moves by, but grins at Alys as he heads in her direction.
Turning his head towards Alys, Aemond sees her straighten up in her seat, lips parted as she watches Aegon move.
Hands slide along the sides of Aemond’s jaw, tilting his face forwards once more.
Sylvi and Alys gasp, loud and unrestrained.
Lips crash onto Aemond’s, crooked and uncoordinated, noses mashing together. The lips are dry and chaste, but still send a harsh swoop through Aemond’s stomach. His heart pounds. He can’t do anything but sit there, stunned, eye wide, before Aegon pulls back with a put-upon smack . Grinning. Mouth pinker than usual from the friction.
“Holy shit.” Next to them, Sylvi whispers to herself.
Aemond blinks, hard.
He can hear Alys breathing heavily.
In a bark of laughter, Aegon erupts into a fit, tromping back to his seat with triumphant swagger in his steps. His knees spread wide as he situates himself in the chair, grinning, like he’s won the lottery.
Music fills the room, moving into the space of silence Aemond, Sylvi, and Alys let grow.
Aggressively, Aemond avoids making eye contact with anyone, gaze dropping down to his hands before he lifts his wine to his lips and drains the rest of the glass.
Crickets chirp outside.
“Well,” Sylvi breaks the silence once more, setting her glass down hard on the table. “Damn. Should we just fucking do this, then?”
Her voice pinches on the last few words, and it draws Aemond’s attention just in time for him to watch her launch off the table and in Aegon’s direction. She steps over the chair in order to straddle him while she stands, head tilted to look down at him. Aegon’s mouth drops open as she fists her hands in his hair, bending over to connect their mouths in a loud, firm kiss that goes on long enough for Aegon to get the memo and lift his hands to her waist.
“What-“ Aemond chokes on the word as he turns to see Alys staring expectantly at him, sitting at the very edge of her seat. Her feet are just about close enough to nudge against Aemond’s, and she tucks her hair behind both ears with a sly grin. She shrugs, shirt billowing around her shoulders.
He can hear Aegon laughing, until the sound is broken off by a soft whine. Sylvi lowers herself onto his lap, and their kiss grows louder, wetter. The back of Aemond’s neck prickles.
Alys pokes him with her foot. He chews on his tongue.
The drinks make him bold. Make him shove down the voice in the back of his head that screams this is a very bad idea .
It’s easy to lean forward and nudge Alys’ nose with his own. He watches as she sighs, smiling, and her eyes flutter shut. The tops of her cheeks are pink, and her lips purse before Aemond closes the gap between them.
It’s not unfamiliar to kiss a woman. He’s done it before, can bring himself to enjoy it. Especially now, as Alys pushes back against his mouth, reaching her hands up to card through his hair. Her nails catch on the strands and pull, just lightly, but enough to have a drunken gasp rising from Aemond’s throat. Alys takes it as encouragement, and slides her tongue along the line of Aemond’s lips until he lets his own touch hers in return. They kiss slow, and heavy, puffing breath into each other’s faces as their mouths slide together. It’s wet, Aemond can hear it even over the ferocious beating of his heart, and he’s starting to sweat beneath the collar of his shirt.
Alys tugs him closer, and he pitches forward, nearly falling out of his chair. He catches himself with a hand on Alys’ thigh, landing a little too hard, and she yelps into his mouth without breaking the contact. Aemond huffs a breath out of his nose, but lets his eye fall closed, tilting his neck to adjust the angle.
They find a rhythm. Hot and patient, they move in tandem, and Aemond feels emboldened enough to skate his tongue along Alys’ teeth. She grips harder into his hair in response, and a flash of pride fires up in Aemond’s chest.
He loses himself in the feeling of her lips for a while, until a shadow crests over them.
Opening his eye, Aemond looks up at Sylvi, who’s standing with her hands on her hips. He pulls away from Alys, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand.
“Up.” She orders, cheeks pink. “We’re doing shots.”
Next to him, Alys groans, detangling her hands from Aemond’s hair. She crosses her legs, shifting in her chair, and slaps her palms against her face. “Shots, really?”
Motioning sharply, Sylvi coaxes them to their feet. They leave the dining area of the home and approach a long, emerald couch. Rounding the armrest, they meet Aegon, sat on the floor with his legs out long, sniffing something quickly off the coffee table.
“Hey!” He looks up at them with a sniffle, eyes red. There’s a bruise forming at his collarbone, and his hair is tangled.
Sylvi slams four shot glasses down onto the coffee table, and Aegon’s face brightens. She fills each to the top with vodka, and Aemond has to keep himself from retching just from the thought of it.
He takes it, though, when Sylvi passes him one. Clanks it in cheers with the rest, and tips his head back to let the liquid fall down his throat. The whole group has to pause for a moment to cough away the burn, but then they’re turning back around and getting poured another.
Aemond’s not sure how he goes from standing to sitting, legs splayed on the couch, but he does. Alys and Aegon are pressed up against his sides, giggly and loose as they encroach upon his space.
Standing before them, Sylvi sways to the beat of the music, which has grown steadily louder, arms in her hair. She drags her fingernails down the column of her throat, and they watch intently as she snakes her hands around the back of her neck, moving towards the tie holding her bikini top up.
To whistles and cheers, Sylvi picks the knot apart, slowly lowering the bikini top down, exposing the tops of her breasts. And down, until the fabric hangs by the band, and she’s fully topless.
Alys whistles again, jumping in her seat. Aegon’s mouth hangs open in a gape, eyes glued to the pink nipples in front of him. Aemond skates his gaze along Sylvi’s tanline, a sharp contrast of light and dark, where the straps of her bikini had been.
She smiles beneath the attention and keeps up her hypnotic dancing, swaying and turning, even grabbing at her chest for a moment.
The song changes, and she moves closer.
“ Fuck yes.” Aegon hisses as she approaches, spreading his legs and beckoning her between them. He can’t get his eyes to leave her chest, but it doesn’t really matter, because he buries his face between them as soon as she’s within reach.
“Oh!” Sylvi laughs, and wraps her hands around the sides of Aegon’s head, pushing him harder against her skin. She exchanges a glance with Alys and they break out into loud laughter after a moment. For another minute, she holds Aegon against her chest, before shoving him back with another laugh. His back slams into the couch cushion, and he flops over to rest his head on Aemond’s shoulder, small noises coming from his mouth.
Stepping sideways, Sylvi approaches him.
“Okay, handsome.” She smiles down at him, and Aemond stiffens in his seat, hands clutching at the skin of his knees. “You want to grab some tits?”
He gulps, focus glued to Sylvi’s face. “Uh, no, it’s okay-”
Lunging forward, Sylvi pulls his hands from his lap and clamps them firmly over her breasts. Aemond’s fingers are stiff and frozen where she holds them, but she looks down at him with softness in her eyebrows.
Aemond can feel his face heating up, and he tries not to twitch as he sits, arms out, hands full of boob. The skin is soft beneath his finger tips, which is nice, and the weight of them is heavy against his palms. He wonders if they’re real, if he’d be able to tell or not.
“Very…” his voice sounds stuck in his throat, “...impressive.”
Sylvi wiggles her shoulders a little, and Aemond is mesmerized by the way his hands jiggle from side to side with the force. “Thanks!”
She releases his hands, and he pulls them back down to his lap, grateful to be freed. His heart hammers in his chest, and he watches Sylvi finally end up on Alys’ side of the couch. The women smile at each other, communicating with their eyes, before Sylvi steps forward again and moves to straddle Alys’ lap.
That rouses Aegon. His head lifts from Aemond’s shoulder, and he’s practically vibrating with excitement. It’s disgusting, honestly, so Aemond turns to pin him with a glare. Wisely, Aegon keeps his mouth shut, watching wide-eyed as Sylvi pulls Alys into a tender kiss.
It lasts for a while, and Aegon grows antiser with every passing second. Sylvi and Alys smile between each other as their lips connect, and Aemond sinks deeper into the couch, warmth fluttering in his chest.
His head spins slightly, feet tingling. The alcohol in his veins tempts him to tip his head back and close his eyes, but he manages to stay awake, focusing on the music that bursts from speakers overhead.
After another long stretch of quiet, Alys and Sylvi pull apart, looking over at them. Alys and Aemond lock eyes, and her face is flushed, hair mussed. She looks good, looks relaxed, chewing on her lip with a hint of impatience. Above her, Sylvi shifts, getting more comfortable before gesturing in Aegon and Aemond’s direction.
“Are you waiting for an invitation or something?” She quips, looking between them.
Raising an eyebrow, Aemond ignores how his heart thumps in his chest. “For what?”
Sylvi blinks at him like he’s dense. Then, she sighs, waving her hands in the air. “It’s, like, so hot when guys make out. Super sexy.”
Right by Aemond’s ear, Aegon bursts into laughter, spitting while he talks. “Aemond!” He hiccups, words tumbling over each other. “I think she wants us to kiss each other.”
“You already did it once.” Alys pipes up, shrugging.
Aemond’s heart thumps louder, up in his throat, preventing him from speaking. He knows his eye is wide, that it flashes between the women, gauging what they’re saying. He can’t quite pin down his thoughts, though, feeling them slip just out of his reach, muddy from alcohol.
Next to him, Aegon shifts in his seat, getting up on his knees.
Aemond’s neck nearly snaps as he turns to watch him. Their faces are close, close enough that Aemond can see the bloodshot streaks in Aegon’s eyes. That Aegon can, no doubt, see the way Aemond’s pulse beats in his neck. That Aemond watches the way Aegon’s gaze jumps down to his lips, then back up to his eye. Wheels are turning somewhere in Aegon’s head, and the mere fact of it has Aemond sweating.
“When I squint,” Aegon’s voice is quiet, for Aemond only. He narrows his eyes to demonstrate. “You sort of look like a girl.”
“What are you talking about?” Aemond hisses, feeling twitchy.
“We’re so close, Aemond. These girls want to fuck us.” Aegon scoots closer, his knees pressing into Aemond’s side. “Let’s just do it.”
“Okay, you are way too drunk-”
He’s cut off by, once again, Aegon’s lips pressing against his own. His mouth is half open from speaking, which has Aegon kissing his bottom teeth until Aemond can manage to clamp his lips shut against the intrusion. Fire shoots down the back of Aemond’s spine, and he can’t bring himself to close his eye, staring at the gleaming white of Aegon’s hair, and how his lashes brush against his cheeks.
After a long, silent moment, Aegon pulls back.
Immediately, Sylvi and Alys object.
“No, come on!”
“We need more than that, boys.”
Aemond’s lips seem to vibrate from where Aegon had been, and something deep in his chest hurts at the loss. His mouth is slightly slick from the contact, catching a glint of light, entrancing as Aemond stares at it. Finds himself leaning back in, encouraged, and shutting his eye this time as he lands softly against the lips before him.
Body odor and men’s deodorant fill his nose, and he can feel stubble scraping against his chin. Firm hands grip at his knees for balance, and that is how a kiss is supposed to feel. Aemond’s hungry for it, suddenly, and pushes harder, nipping with teeth. He wants to lick the stubble with his tongue, feel the scratch of it, but refrains, instead sliding his lips down to run through it. Follows the trail of spikes to the jaw, and gasps through his nose at the smell of cologne that meets him there. Familiar, masculine, delicious.
He’s biting before he realizes, digging his teeth into the meat of the jaw, ignoring the way it twitches beneath his hold. Blood moves under the skin, he can feel it, but he holds on as long as possible. Until a hand crawls up to his collarbone and shoves, forcing him back, forcing the skin from his teeth. A whine punches out of his chest, uninhibited, but is swallowed by lips and teeth that crash against his once more. The slide is rough, sharp, and he can feel himself growing hard in his shorts because of it. Can hear himself panting, but doesn’t care, doesn’t care -
A different pair of hands loop around his shoulders and pull him away. He protests as he goes, a yelp escaping him, but he’s unable to resist the tug. He turns to see the source, and is immediately folded into another kiss. Wet, glossy lips press against his, a tongue slides into his mouth, and he’s barely able to keep up as they start to move. A sickeningly sweet perfume poofs around him as he gets a handful of hair, scraping his nails along scalp. Rough, heavy hands still lean onto his thighs, and nails scratch the back of his neck. A shiver starts up the length of his spine, morphing into a tremble, as each touch against his skin feels hot as a brand.
Another hand begins to card through his hair, stray tangles getting caught on each finger, and it’s enough for his awareness to short out in a black burst of nothingness. Sparkles swim behind his eyelid, and the world seems to spin. He’s still being kissed, but his mouth grows slack.
The touches back off after a moment.
Everyone moves, people climb over him, and when he begins to be able to feel his limbs again, Aegon is flat on his back across the couch. Alys is nearly seated on Aemond’s lap, but leans over to kiss Aegon. Sylvi’s between Aegon’s legs, hands crawling up his chest in order to slowly remove his shirt. His cock is hard in his shorts, and the soft fabric leaves nothing to the imagination.
Aemond shifts in his seat, drawing Sylvi’s attention.
“You alright there?” She asks, soft, not wanting to interrupt the kiss happening in front of her.
Nodding, Aemond blinks, trying to reorient himself. Alys is perched on his thighs, but he refrains from reaching out to touch her, zipping his arms close to his sides and twisting his neck to get a better angle.
Aegon moans beneath the dual touch, wiggling on his back like he’s about to rip out of his skin. He babbles something against Alys’ lips as she kisses him, but it’s impossible to make out the words.
When Sylvi gets his shirt down to his elbows, Aegon whines, bucking his hips upward and nearly smacking Sylvi in the chin. She looks up at Aemond again, rolling her eyes with a smile. Her hands move down to his waistband, and his chest heaves, any sound only blocked by the way Alys is kissing him.
Tearing his gaze away, Aemond tips his head over the back of the couch. The ceiling pattern swoops and swirls, moving in ways it’s not supposed to, and Aemond closes his eye again in order to prevent getting dizzy. He listens to the music, a soft beat that’s drowned out by the sounds of movement next to him, but it helps him to breathe. Remember himself. Get feeling back into his toes.
On his lap, Alys finally moves, rousing him from his peacefulness. She climbs off his legs and comes to sit next to him, watching as Sylvi takes her place, pressing simple kisses against Aegon’s throat. From where he sits, Aemond can now see the large mark beneath Aegon’s jaw that he had left with his teeth, purple and blotchy, and gets the urge to reach out and touch it.
He doesn’t realize he’s doing so until Aegon’s eyes meet his.
Aegon blinks up at him, eyes glassy, somewhere else entirely. His lips look bruised, parted to pant harshly, and his hair piles messily around the crown of his head. He responds to Aemond’s touch, wincing and twitching, but doesn’t move to push him away.
A wail falls from his lips as Sylvi snakes a hand into his pants. From head to toe he tenses, as if he’s about to lift off the couch, while she murmurs into his ear and her touch skates over his pelvis. Aegon’s eyes slam closed, and Aemond holds his breath as Sylvi’s hand draws circles on Aegon’s skin.
“ Fuck .” Aegon hisses into the air as Sylvi’s fingers finally come to wrap around the base of his cock, hips jutting into the air. Aemond bites hard at his lower lip, slamming his mouth closed to combat a groan bubbling in the back of his throat. His eye is glued to Aegon’s erection, where he can see Sylvi’s hand moving slowly beneath his shorts, and it’s like molten lava drips down his body.
Breath against his ear districts him, momentarily, and he whips his neck to turn towards Alys, who is blinking sleepily at him. She crawls a hand onto Aemond’s thigh, absently tracing shapes onto his skin with her fingertips, before inching towards the crotch of his shorts.
He nearly chokes on his own tongue, eye wide, but does not stop her from firmly sliding her palm over the fabric. His thighs quiver beneath the touch, and his breath puffs shortly from parted lips, eye glued to the way her nails look as they slide back and forth. She explores the length of his dick, which quickly excites it to hardness, and does not stop until Aemond is shaking and sweating. Doesn’t stop until a small damp spot appears on his shorts.
The sight of it excites her, has her jumping for the band of his pants and underwear, shoving them down just enough for her to get her hand beneath. Aemond sucks in a loud breath the moment her palm slides down his stomach, and cannot stop the way his hips twitch into her when she brushes her fingers against his bare cock.
Alys moves closer, kissing chastley at his neck as she picks up speed, not interested in preamble. Aemond doesn’t really need it, either, with arousal coasting through his body, enhanced by the numbness of his intoxication and exhaustion. Sparks shoot behind his eye from her touch, and he thinks he whines out loud, but can no longer hear anything beyond the sound of skin on skin all around the room.
On his back, Aegon thrashes beneath Sylvi’s touch, crying out wantonly as her hand picks up speed. Alys, eyes jumping towards them, exhales hard before mirroring the pace. She moves faster, and Aemond bucks into her hold, stomach muscles clenching tight as a shudder wracks his body.
Relentless, Alys keeps up with Sylvi, lips brushing against Aemond’s neck as she does. Her arm cramps up at one point, Aemond can tell, even as his vision winks in and out, from the way her hand twitches over his cock. She powers through, though, gritting her teeth and panting hot, wet breath against Aemond’s skin.
“ Fuck !” Echoing around the room, Aegon’s voice rings from deep in his chest. He’s breathing through clenched teeth, tensing across the couch, head rocking back and forth as his back bends off the kitchen.
Fire shoots along Aemond’s body, Alys’ touch suddenly red hot, and he clenches his hands at his sides, nails biting into his palms. A moan wrenches itself from his throat, he can’t breathe, his eye falls closed. His consciousness narrows to the hand on his cock and the way Aegon’s moans bounce through the room, around his brain, gratingly masculine in its lowness.
The rasp of Aegon’s voice manages to let words escape, even though they’re stilted and get caught in his throat. Aemond only hears one.
“ Aemond ?”
He comes hard, with a single pump of his hips, into his pants.
The world goes dark.
-
Sunlight streaming through a window rouses Aemond to wakefulness.
His face is crushed into the crevice of a couch, breathing in the fabric as he blinks awareness into his body. He’s too tall for the seat, limbs folded and sore as he unfurls them, stretching his feet over the armrest.
A glass clanks near his head, making him jump.
Turning over, he meets Alys’ eyes as she leaves a cup of water on the coffee table beside him, smile soft. The sight of the liquid sloshing in the glass awakens him to his own thirst, and he shoves himself up to sitting to lunge for it. Gulping, he downs the glass effortlessly, save a couple drops that spill down his chin.
Leaning back into the couch, he surveys the room. Remembers entering Sylvi and Alys’ hotel suite after the bonfire. Remembers downing multiple shots of pure liquor shortly after.
Explains the way his head’s splitting at the seams.
A low groan from the floor draws his attention.
Aegon, head on a pillow and covered with a thin throw blanket, rolls over on the hard floor. Swears under his breath as he comes too, before he tugs the blanket over his face.
“Shut the blinds!” He cries, kicking his feet. “It’s fucking bright in here.”
From behind Aemond, Sylvi and Alys giggle in the kitchen.
Lurching over on the couch, Aemond grabs hold of a throw pillow, launching the thing to land with a smack on Aegon’s face. Aegon grunts from the impact, but doesn’t move.
“Get up.” Aemond grumbles, twisting his neck in an effort to stretch. Sleeping curled up on the couch left a stiffness in his bones. “We should get going. Mom’s probably blowing a gasket.”
“Yeah, yeah.” Aegon grumbles, but also pushes up into a seat, letting the blanket fall off his body. He’s shirtless, and notices the same time as Aemond, looking down at his chest. Raising an eyebrow, he lifts the blanket off of his lap, clicking his tongue. “Where are my clothes?”
Jolting, Aemond catalogues his own state, patting down his chest and thighs. He’s missing his shorts, but still in his underwear and shirt. Relief settles behind his ribs.
He stands, turning to Alys and Sylvi as Aegon hunts for his clothes, clearing his throat with a cough. “Thanks for, uh.” Images of alcohol and naked breasts and hands in pants flash through his mind, and he shakes his head to dispel them. “The hospitality.”
“Of course.” Sylvi’s smile is bright. “You seemed like you enjoyed it.”
Heat ignites over Aemond’s cheeks, and he nods. Can’t bring himself to say anything, and doesn’t have to, because Aegon appears at his shoulder, fully clothed.
“We’ll see you around, yeah?” Aegon says, a grin in his voice.
“We hope so.” Sylvi responds with a wink, and Alys nods in agreement.
They make their leave quickly, even through the headache of hangover, already anticipating the wrath of their mother.
Luckily, though, the family is still asleep when they step into their quarters. It’s early enough, then, that they can fall back asleep, too.
Aegon sighs with relief as he jumps onto his bed, not bothering to get under the blankets. “God, I feel like shit.” He laughs to himself, turning to look up at Aemond. “Worth it though. Yeah?”
And, Aemond hates to admit it, but he had a good time. “Yeah.”
“Yes! I told you.” Aegon waves his hands in triumph, before his phone dings, loud as it resonates through the room. He pulls it roughly from his pocket, blinking in the light of it, as he opens the message. “Oh, it’s Sylvi.”
That catches Aemond’s attention, and he stops changing into fresh clothes in order to take a step closer. “Did we forget something over there? I can run back-”
Throwing one arm up, Aegon silences him with a stiff palm. His eyes are wide as colors flash over his phone screen. His lower lip falls open, even, in unusual and heavy silence.
Aemond’s heart thumps in his chest. “What is it?”
Slowly, Aegon turns his phone to face Aemond. Presses play on a video, arm shaking.
He has to blink a few times to get the screen and focus, and then to decipher what exactly he’s seeing. Bodies, writhing together, hordes of bare skin-
The camera looks down at Sylvi, fully nude, as she slides her knees into place over a mop of white hair. Aegon’s eyes a screwed shut, his nose poking up between her thighs, as she rides his face. Her hips rock aggressively, a crude smirk on her face as she looks between Aegon and the camera. There’s no sound on the video, but her lips move as she talks to Alys behind the phone, chest shaking with laughter.
“I don’t- when was this?” Aegon, shaking his phone in Aemond’s face, draws Aemond’s eye from the screen.
Blinking hard, Aemond tries to recall anything past coming in his pants, but can’t. Shakes his head, ignoring the redness blooming over Aegon’s cheeks, and turns back to the video.
The camera quickly pans past Sylvi, capturing something with rattled, shaking excitement.
Aemond sucks in a sharp breath. Sees himself approach, not bothering to look at Alys behind the camera, eye trained solely on the bottom half of Aegon’s body, past where Sylvi leans back on her arms. His eyebrows are lifted, mouth parted as he breathes, and in a long, fluid movement, he sinks to his knees.
Stilling, Aemond’s gaze flashes to Aegon behind the phone, who watches the video with a pinch between his eyebrows.
His heart pounds in his chest as he watches himself tentatively reach out to skate his fingernails down one of Aegon’s thighs. Sees himself smile, just slightly, as the skin jumps beneath his touch.
Sweat builds on the back of his neck, prickling and hot. He keeps looking between Aegon and the screen, heart thumping in his throat. Disbelief spinning between his ears.
Watches himself as he settles further onto the floor, hands skating up Aegon’s leg.
Wills himself to stop, to get ahold of himself, to find some sense.
Watches his fingers wrap around the base of Aegon’s cock, his brother twitching from the legs down in a full-body spasm, Sylvi turning her neck to look with raised eyebrows. His hands moves up, slowly, then back down, before adopting a quick rhythm, matching the pace of Sylvi’s hips.
“ What ?” Aegon wails, pulling the phone closer to his face, watching with wide eyes. “Aemond-?”
“ Aegon .” Aemond’s voice is in his throat, and he can’t move, can’t do anything but watch the image of himself jacking his brother’s cock, triumph behind his eye. “Turn it off-“
With a shriek, Aegon tosses his phone onto the bed. It slides beneath a pillow, hidden from view.
They breathe in tandem, heavy and loud, avoiding each other’s eyes.
Aemond chews on his own tongue, revulsion in the back of his throat. Looks at his hand, flexes his fingers, and then wrenches his eye shut in an attempt to forget. An attempt to stamp down the flicker of arousal in his gut, to shut out the images that move behind his eyelid.
A moment of silence passes between them, before Aegon jumps to his feet, voice tight. “I’m gonna go sleep on the couch.”
Aemond doesn’t respond. Lets him storm from the room, slamming the door behind him, before he pushes a long breath out from between clenched teeth. Ignores the way his stomach flips, and his hands burn. Flops back onto the bed, hair splaying over his pillow, and listens to the faint sound of waves crashing against the shore.