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Aemond glared hard at the book clutching tightly in his hands, he was on edge and pissed off. There was an ache behind his teeth, making him want to bite something, or more specifically, someone. A laugh rang out in the air and Aemond's hands clutched the poor book tighter. His gaze moved, now glaring straight at the scene unfolding three benches next to him, ignoring Aegon's yapping. His nephews and cousins were there, but his eye only stopped on one of them.
Brown curls cascading softly down his nape, shiny and silky. Soft hazel eyes, glinting gold in the bright sunlight. He was laughing, his voice high and clear, like a bird chirping in the blue autumn sky. His smile had always infuriated Aemond with its softness, with how his corners curved up, small and dainty. His pink upper lips gently pulled up, showing two stupid bunny teeth. His cheeks glowed, rusty like peaches, just waiting for a bite.
All of it infuriated Aemond further and the poor book in his hands paid the price for it. Another laugh rang out and Aemond decided enough was enough and slammed his hands down on the table (it fucking hurt) and stood up, broodily stormed off in a brooding way, ignoring the cackles and squeaks behind him.
He huffed and huffed and huffed even harder when the tiny voice of the bane of his existence perked up. "What's his deal?" the shortass asked, voice all sweet and confused and all, but there was an underlying mirth there, as if Lucerys knew what had happened.
That brat, Aemond thought, and walked into the school. Lucerys' laugh followed his mind all day.
Aemond didn't understand why this was happening to him. He prayed (almost) everyday. He did not indulge in anything sinful (not yet anyway). He was (not) courteous to everyone. He even helped an old lady cross the street once (it was because of her dog but whatever)!
So he couldn't understand the situation at hand right now. The Seven must have truly despised him.
The paper in his hands crinkled with a big red bold D that stood out eye-sorely in the upper corner.
In all his academic journey, he had never had a test this low on score. Not to brag or anything but Aemond had always stood on the top of the school, sometimes even surpassing Jacaerys with his dumbass hair. But this, this big red bold D stamped on the corner of his High Valyrian test would surely drag him down, it could even get him kicked out of the top five!
What would his Grandsire say? What would his Mother say? Oh my gods, what would Aegon fucking say?
He had already tried his best not to beat the shit out of his brother whenever he opened that hole he called a mouth. He did not want to test anymore of his patience.
Aemond knew what he needed to do and oh boy, he did not like it at all but, this was the only way.
This is the way.
Aemond solemnly swore as he turned on his phone, hand wavering on the message he just typed. He gritted his teeth, fuck it, this need to be done.
He hit the send button.
Hi, his phone said, the name on the top of the chat was Lucerys Velaryon. I need your help.
Aemond twitched, his ass was not at all comfortable sitting in the plush chair, for his mind was so warped over the D in the corner of his text.
He sipped his caramel frappuccino with extra chocolate crumbs and once again glared at the bane of his existence, Lucerys Velaryon. His nephew was sitting on the opposite of him, his hair was soft and his face was soft, everything about him looked soft and Aemond wanted to bite that softness. That boy was truly a blight.
The boy had a frown between his brows, his lips biting gently on the pastel blue pencil with various stupid-looking penguins on it. He clucked his tongue and jotted the pencil down onto Aemond's test, another circle added to his hall of shame.
"So, professor" he started, arms crossing, subtly showing the muscles in his biceps (to threaten the wimp of course), "what's the verdict?"
"So, your main problem isn't vocabulary, so that's a plus," Lucerys replied, his eyes darted quickly over Aemond's arms before returning to the paper, a light pink dusting over his cheeks. "But your grammar is horrendous. It's like you were translating each word individually and then slapped it together to form a sentence."
Aemond could do nothing but glare harder, he had no words to refute because Lucerys was right. Grammar had always been his weakness, he could have gotten a higher score had it not been a writing test.
Depth perception lost and dumb at grammar? Aemond could really not pick any easier struggles.
Aemond was now lost in his own mind. This was a disgrace to him. How could he rub his academic achievements into that bowl-cut hair Velaryon nephew of him if he had a big fat red D? Nothing could be more shameful than being laughed at by someone with such an ugly haircut, a fuckass bob, some might even say.
"Uhm, so, uh, do you need help with this?" His other nephew with the prettier hair and prettier face spoke up, the sunlight was dancing on his soft curls, painting it a soft glowing halo. He hated it.
"Your hair is so fucking ugly," Aemond blurted out, his fingers drumming on the table with no rhythm at all, "just fucking shave it or something, you'd probably look better bald."
The infuriating brunet did nothing but give him an amused smile. His lips, pink and plump, curved gently at the corner. He raised a hand up to his nape, fingers idly playing with the curls there. "Really? Dalton said it was pretty just the other day."
"Greyjoy must have been blind then!" Aemond fumed, arms crossed even more tightly, he saw Lucerys smirked, impish, and looked like it wanted to be hit, with a fist or a kiss he didn't know yet.
Dalton. Dalton. Dalton. That fucking squid with his fuckass undercut should go the fuck back to his ugly island.
But since Aemond was a kindhearted, sweet, and generous uncle, he warned Lucerys, "He has the fashion style of a dehydrated squid, if he told you it was pretty then it was more than enough to shave it."
Lucerys laughed again, his voice rang out like a windchime, high and melodic. A warmth bloomed inside of Aemond's sternum, like the flowers in spring, just waiting to burst into various colors. Or was it like a fireplace? Cozy and bright with a sense of familiarity, a bright spot in the midst of wintertime.
Aemond didn't care about it, not at all, the place was just a tiny bitty hot, and he felt nothing, just like an iceberg.
"Yeah yeah, whatever you say," Lucerys nonchalantly said, the smile was still there on his face, unwavering. "Come, I'll walk you through your mistakes. You'll catch on soon enough, being a smart boy and all."
Aemond perked up and preened at the fact that his intelligence was acknowledged. He turned his face to where the test was, eye lingered on the pale hand pinning it down. His fingers tingled, wanting to touch, wanting to hold, so, he not casually put his hand down near Lucerys', their pinkies grazing each other. His nephew said nothing but his hand wormed closer, warm skin against warm skin.
Aemond pretended not to feel the blush on his face, just as he pretended not to see the pink dusting on Lucerys' ear.
He cleared his mind and paid attention to whatever Lucerys was saying. The sound of High Valyrian soon occupied their table.
They sat there for another hour, fingers never strayed too far from one another.
"Do you want to eat anything?" Aemond grumpily asked when they headed over to the door exiting the café. "There's a Thai place a couple blocks away."
Lucerys smiled and scooched over to him, their arms grazing. Aemond could feel the heat radiating through layers of sleeves, he shivered but stayed still.
"I know that place, I like the papaya salad there," Aemond knew, he also knew other food that Lucerys liked just as Lucerys knew the same about him.
"That shit is so spicy I don't even know how you can eat it," he grabbed his nephew's arm and steered him in the right direction. "You'll develop some stomach problem for sure."
Lucerys did nothing but smile, he adjusted Aemond's grip so that he could twine his hand inside of Aemond's hand. Lucerys had dainty hands, pale and thin, smaller than that of Aemond, and yet they fit perfectly, like two puzzle pieces made for each other.
When they got to Lucerys' home, Aemond was gracious enough to escort him straight to the door.
Lucerys still had the little smile on his lips. His face was flushed, making all the freckles and beauty spots stand out on his milky skin.
"Next time," Lucerys spoke up, his little finger hooking around Aemond's, a gentle embrace, easy to break, and Aemond clutched it harder. "Just ask me out like a normal human being, no need to bring your grade into this."
It was quite flattering that Lucerys thought Aemond would jeopardize his own grade like that, he was actually dumb about High Valyrian but Aemond wasn't going to say that.
"Your face was ugly," Aemond grumbled, "I'll be doing everyone a favor by taking you out so that no one has to see it all the time."
The smile on his nephew's face now transformed into a full-blown grin, likely caused by Aemond's stupid statement. "Do you want to do that again next week? There's an Italian place near your house."
Aemond knew that Lucerys knew that he liked Italian food, just like how Lucerys knew that Aemond knew that he liked Thai food.
He hummed, finger tightened around Lucerys' clutch. The answer had already formed in his mind even before Lucerys asked but he needed to act a bit nonchalant, this was his pride on the line.
"Fine," Aemond replied, failing miserably at playing hard to get, downcast eye glaring at their intertwined hands. "If you're so desperate for it, wanting to date me and all," he hurriedly added, as if he also didn't want it.
Lucerys must have seen right through his bullshit because he let their hands go. Aemond almost had a heart attack right there before his nephew's shoes entered his vision. Aemond lifted his face up and felt a kiss, chaste and short, upon the apple of his cheek.
His face burnt hotly as Lucerys pressed another soft kiss (with his lips curved up into a smile, Aemond felt it) underneath his eye.
"I really do," his nephew murmured, eyes warm and bright, like pools of molten gold. He was beautiful like this, flushed face and shy smile. Aemond felt a rush of heat enter his chest, curled tightly inside layers of skin and sinew, nestled next to his beating heart. "And I hope you do too."
Aemond grumbled, face inched down, and pressed a rough kiss against Lucerys' softer cheek. "You're lucky," he murmured, lips still on his skin, a mark imprinted, "that I want it too."
He stepped back, hands shoved into the pockets of his jeans, "Now get inside before your father chases me down with a broom."
The boy obliged and moved back into the door, he turned his head and gave Aemond another smile, "See you tomorrow uncle. Have a nice night."
"You too," Aemond replied and abruptly walked away, Lucerys' laugh rang in the air as usual.
He made his way back to his house, the warmth of Lucerys' hand and kiss still pulsating gently on his skin.
Maybe next time, his nephew would even kiss his lips.