Work Text:
Aemond sat down on the sofa after setting the timer for the last time. Luke had been right, making the puff pastry from scratch had been a lot of work, especially for the amount they'd had to use. He wouldn't tell him but now he was glad Luke had put his foot down and they had bought the potatoes already chopped instead of having to peel and chop them themselves.
They had intentionally chosen something easy and simple to do even when there were many people who would come and yet he had already been awake for almost six hours. He closed his eye and fell into a sleepy state, a state he had mastered in his college days.
The recipe for the puff pastry included various waiting times, Aemond had been tempted to curl back up in bed around Luke while he waited but the clock chiming and Aemond going in and out would surely get annoying very quickly and it was possible that the warmth and comfort of his partner and the soft bed will take you back to the realm of dreams.
Aemond could not allow that. This meal was very important. Nearly two weeks earlier during an investor dinner Daemon, Daeron, Rhaenyra, and his mother had found them making out in a room where they had gone to talk to some investors [1]. His mother had first turned very pale and then very red. Rhaenyra had never looked more terrifying, and Aemond remembered when she had suggested “discipline him for outright lying” when he had lost his eye [2]. He had never been grateful to Daemon and his protective psychotic ways until he burst out laughing and told them they would let them go on alone by shooing everyone out of the room and almost dragging his wife with him. Daeron had done the same for his mother and just shot him a doe-eyed look over his shoulder.
It had been embarrassing to say the least. Luke had buried his face in his hands as he cursed under his breath, Aemond's blood wasn't quite sure where to flow and he wasn't sure he had regained his full mental faculties between Luke short-circuiting his brain and the unwelcome interruption. .
"Eventually they had to find out," he pointed out because they had been seeing each other in secret for four months and Aemond would really like it a little more. Perhaps a date or being able to hold his hand on the street.
“Yes, but I want us to tell them when we were ready." Luke lowered his hands and wrapped them around his neck.
"And what would we tell them?" Aemond didn't want to get his hopes up, with Luke he always felt like accepting whatever his nephew gave him always wanting more but afraid to ask for it.
Luke had looked at him with his wide, bright eyes, vulnerable to Aemond's words, and it was almost intoxicating, seeing Luke as worried as he felt. He bit his lips and licked them before searching Aemond's face for something he seemed to get.
"What are we dating?" Maybe that we are boyfriends?... only if you want. We could also…”
Aemond hadn't let him continue to steal the words that were tripping over each other and pick up where they left off. They had already been discovered, what was the worst that could happen? [3].
Luke and he had returned hand in hand and somewhat flushed but with their clothes neatly arranged [4]. Rhaena, Joff, and Daeron were the only ones who had smiled at them [5], but they all managed to focus more or less [6]on the conversations they had to have with partners and investors.
Three days ago Aegon had let it slip that he and Luke were already living together [7]to the horror of the mothers and delight of Daemon who had reminded Luke that it was his turn for the weekly family brunch.
That was how Aemond had found out that his boyfriend's side of the family had these little family gatherings once a week that were much less organized than his mother's monthly family dinner. It was Luke and Aemond's first event as a couple and it had to be perfect .
Part of the point of Aemond making the puff pastry from scratch was to have a bit of time to himself to cool down, he wasn't sure what he would do if something went wrong when he knew Jace and his sister were waiting for him to fail epically . The presence of his mother [8], who seemed barely refrained from dragging Aemond back to the family mansion for an operation [9], had been an extra weight on him and Luke.
Warm hands trailed over his chest with a touch as light as feather. As clumsy as Luke could be when caught staring, he was actually pretty quiet when he wanted to.
"How's your super special dough going?" he whispered warmly in his ear, placing a small kiss on his earlobe. Amond sighed. He could have been in bed with Luke enjoying waking up together and some morning sex but he had been stubborn [10].
"Almost done." He turned to catch Luke's lips for a lazy kiss.
"Could you take a few minutes? Maybe come take a bath with me?” Luke kissed along his jaw and down his neck as best he could when he had to lean over the back of the couch.
"Mmm…" Aemond hummed and checked the timer. 45 minutes. And it was nine in the morning, everyone would start arriving after 10:30 and he still had to get out of his pajamas.
He used his bent leg on the seat to twist around and draw Luke into a full-blown kiss, coaxing little sounds from the lowest.
"We have a tight schedule" he reminded him because he refused to let them arrive and find them in the middle of another kisses session.
"We'll have to count every second" he replied flirtatiously. Aemond wanted to groan. That smile was nothing but trouble.
Luke's moan turned needy as Aemond wrapped a hand around his throat, barely squeezing.
Aemond was much and perfect and drove Luke crazy in the best possible ways. He wrapped one leg around his boyfriend's waist to give him better access. Each thrust hit the perfect spot.
Aemond's hips stammered nearing climax. Luke tugged on his damp silver hair hard.
“Stop. Don't move" he demanded. Aemond snarled but complied, the hand on his neck tightening for a second but it could have been an accident.
Luke was very proud of his flexibility, especially since he knew it would drive Aemond crazy to see how far he could spread his legs and what positions he could put him in. That was just because Luke felt like he couldn't think of Aemond's strength without going half hard right away.
With his hands on Aemond's wet shoulders and still keeping his leg on his hip, Luke brought the other up so that he could fully wrap around Aemond's hip. His breathing was labored, more from the maddening brush of Aemond's penis in his loins than from the effort. Aemond used a hand on Luke's buttocks to help him balance against the slippery tiles.
“Now. Move on.”
Aemond chuckled against his neck and licked the trail of drops. Luke gave him better access and tried to push his hips. Aemond kissed his neck, leaving little bites in his wake.
"Aemond." It was almost a plea. He could not move and Aemond did not move. This had been a bad idea “Aemond, please.”
"I thought you wanted me still," he teased, rising to his lips. Luke admired the wet face, the picture the water painted running through his hair and down his luscious skin, and the two eyes, one violet, the other sapphire. Waited with bated breath. He wanted, no, he needed to kiss him, tease him, but hi boyfriend kept barely touching his lips.
"Aemond, don't be mean." He tried to sound demanding but the interrupted pleasure made him sound whiny and needy.
Not knowing how, because Luke was sure he must have slipped on the damp wall, Aemond dropped his hand to his behind and brought it up again to slap him. Luke choked, the movement causing him to tighten around Aemond's cock.
"Don't be capricious" Aemond chided breathlessly.
Luke wasn't being capricious. Aemond was being mean. He needed him and he needed him now .
He clenched his lower muscles. Aemond groaned and pushed forward so deep that Luke let out a sound that sounded like a meow. He did it again. Aemond's control crumbled.
With his hands on Luke's buttocks he thrust in hard, powerful thrusts over and over again until Luke was a sobbing mess of overstimulation and they both came together.
When Luke's vision returned, the first thing he felt was water running over him as Aemond supported his weight and stroked his hair.
"Back with me?"
Luke groaned something, still too boneless for words, and Aemond laughed. He liked Aemond's laugh, it made him feel warm and blissful.
Aemond's alarm interrupted them and with a last kiss they both got up from the floor and finished bathing. They still had a lot to do.
Luke prepared the mixture of butter, egg, and parsley that would be spread on the dough to brown while Aemond rolled it out. They had decided that it was best to work in series so as not to get in each other's way and to do it faster. The advantage of this recipe is that it was quick and easy (as long as you weren't crazy who decided to make the puff pastry) and that they could have it ready if they needed to heat more. Knowing his family, especially the teenage Aegon and Viserys, they would probably need it.
"Was it really your turn, or was Daemon screwing us over?"
Luke grabbed the brush and began adding the batter while Aemond washed the rolling pin and picked up the ham and cheese.
“Oh no, it really was my turn. I didn't know what I was going to tell them. Maybe my apartment had flooded.”
"You're a terrible liar" Aemond pointed out, placing the ham and cheese perfectly aligned. Luke would have done it as fast as possible, as long as there were no lumps there would be no problem. One time he had no slices and had shredded both pickles, folding the dough was difficult and didn't line up well other than the cheese coming off, but not bad . Aemond's order freak would surely have hated it.
“I think it's lucky then that they know now.”
Luke caught Aemond's pleased smile.
“I was thinking…”
“Hmm?”
Luke stopped admiring Aemond's arms to concentrate on his task.
“There's a new movie, I think you mentioned it, the horror one.”
“You don't like horror.”
Aemond could be difficult at times. Luke was aware of his likes and flaws, thank you. He didn't have to point it out, especially when he was trying to make a nice gesture for his boyfriend.
"Maybe I just need someone to hold me." he glanced at Aemond out of the corner of his eye. He had stopped so he could watch him. Stubbornly Luke kept spreading the butter, praying his hands wouldn't shake or drop something. “Someone to hold me really tight in the scary parts and snuggle with me at night when I can't sleep because I'm terrified that the big scary monster is coming for me.”
"Maybe someone to distract you from the scary things." Aemond's voice was tentative and a little embarrassed despite the fact that they had just had sex less than an hour ago.
"It would be nice to have someone like that" Luke agreed. “I wouldn't have a problem watching a horror movie then” that may or may not be true. Only once had Luke seen a full horror thriller. He and Jace didn't sleep in a week much to Baela's amusement and, worse, Rhaena's who treated it like it was a comedy. Her sister was crazy “…If I met someone like that…”
"I could meet someone like that."
“…It would be a date, then.”
He and Aemond looked at each other. Luke looked away and Aemond lifted his chin. He had a smile that softened his entire sharp face. Luke handed it back. It was ridiculous how fast her heart could beat over something so simple.
“An date. I would like very much.”
Luke went to lean in for a kiss but dragged the bowl of the mixture away and remembered what they were doing. He took a step back, clearing his throat.
He set the bowl to one side and began to roll the dough in the parchment paper while Aemond finished filling the others. He washed his hands and put the ones Luke had already finished in the freezer.
"Shall we start with the potatoes?" Aemond asked, diligently putting the fifteen minutes on the timer.
"We should wait for them to arrive... Aegon will steal some for Vis and Senya as they leave. Just to let you know. "
Aemond rolled his one eye in a complacent smile that he tried to hide.
“Jaehaera does too. She assures that they are for her brothers but I have never seen her share.”
Luke gave a small laugh. It was interesting that separate meals unlike Alicent's monthly family dinner were more… well, family. It always ended with a fight or insult breaking out when they were all together, even when they tried otherwise.
Hell, Luke and Aemond had already been together when Aemond instigated the latter over a misunderstanding with Jace's friend Cregan Stark, and the following month Luke had made an offhand remark that made Daeron annoyed, apparently still unsure after spending most of his time life away at a boarding school, and he and Helaena had retired before dessert.
That didn't mean there weren't fights when it was just them but they were…less tense and vicious.
Luke wasn't sure this wasn't the case but he really wanted it to work out.
"You know," Luke fiddled with one of the tea towels "technically you're the first boyfriend my mom has ever met. I think that's why he's freaking out a bit. "
"Oh?"
There was a great deal of smugness in Aemond's voice, Luke didn't need to see him to know.
“Yeah.”
"You're the first boyfriend I've 'introduced' to my mom and the first one I've moved in with," he confessed back.
Luke bit back the urge to tell him that he hoped to be the last as well. Just like saying the terrible two words Luke felt like it could break the pretty illusion they lived in, he was already surprised that Aemond didn't run when discovered and that he agreed when Luke pushed the boyfriend tag.
They both waited in comfortable silence and soon the alarm went off. Luke turned on the oven to preheat. Aemond took out the first few rolls and began to chop them up, Luke spread the mixture out on the tray and proceeded to place them on after applying a good layer to them as well.
"Mmm…I was thinking." Luke's mind was wandering slightly, half concentrating on the task and half thinking about his family. “Do any of your brothers cook?”
"As you know this apartment was Aegon's…oh, shut up."
Luke had started to laugh at the reminder.
“I said nothing!”
“You did not have to do it!”
Aemond had started to turn red. Making him blush was remarkably difficult. To really get any big reaction out of him, Aemond was only expressive if you knew where to look, but his embarrassment was very clear now.
Aegon had laughed himself breathless the morning after imposing his presence on them. He was very surprised at the room that Aemond had turned into the main room…because it was originally Aegon's sex dungeon. That's why the ample space, the mirrors, the multiple shelves and supports and the very nice table at the perfect height. But, above all, that's why the room was soundproofed with only one monitor connected to the alarms to avoid incidents.
Luke couldn't resist laughing too, but he was quick to kiss Aemond on the cheek and tell him he liked it, it made it so easy to sleep undisturbed. Aegon had of course dropped a vulgar insinuation before laughing with glee as they both exclaimed “shut up, Aegon” at the same time.
A bit like they had forgotten that he was present. Aegon, being Aegon, had sworn to secrecy in the face of Aemond's threats and Luke's pleas.
In retrospect that the apartment belonged to Aegon explained a lot, though it left Luke with questions about Aegon's job as an interior decorator. His uncle didn't really have bad taste, Aemond had barely made any alterations when Aegon decided to get a house and move.
"Go on, I'm not kidding, I promise. It's just…”
"Shut up." Somehow the color deepened. Aemond was much paler than Luke and the color contrast was very noticeable. He had to resist not to approach and bite his cheek. He looked away to put the temptation out of his mind. “Like I was telling you. This all used to be Aegon's. It was a disaster the first years living alone, he drank a lot and forgot to eat. Finally the therapist Mom got him helped him get into a routine. He is lazy to cook so he carve out a space once a week and he would really make a lot of food that he could defrost and reheat with no problem. That is why the fridge and oven are such large models.”
"And Helaena and Daeron?"
“Mom continues to send Daeron's meals and drop them off at his address for the week.”
"Alicent doesn't cook, right?"
"Nope, it's all the service." Aemond shot him a quizzical look across the table. "You're not going to tell me that Rhaenyra does cook."
“Actually… Daemon is the one who does it.
“No!” Aemond seemed delighted with the news.
It was certainly fun to imagine one of the toughest men known for his short temper doing any chore but Daemon liked to cook and had learned when his grandfather cut off his family money in an attempt to make him "reconsider" and " mend the course of his life”, which apparently meant marrying a woman from a good family who had been his bitter and vicious enemy during his high school and college years.
“He has several aprons. Remind me to show you. There are those of ‘kiss the cook’ that leads us all to evacuate the kitchen so that he and my mother have... a moment alone and the typical ones such as ‘best cook in the world’ and one that he later gave to Baela that says ‘the that cooks does not scrub’.”
"I never would have guessed."
Aemond finished and went to scrub the knife and chopping board, still grinning in amusement. Luke could also feel the happy smile on his lips along with the color on his chest.
“Well, I imagine that everyone cooks otherwise these brunches would be takeout or the family cook would do it.”
“The idea is to do it ourselves,” Luke clarified, “but if it's Rhaena's turn be prepared. Everything is either very spicy or lacking in flavor. There is no middle ground.”
"I'm sure we can skip that day."
"Yeah, no chance." Luke put down the first tray and started the second.
"And Jace?"
Luke shrugged.
"Also a bet. Jace cooks very well but he has weeks where nothing goes right. The rice is hard or lumpy, the pasta is both rubbery and raw, the meat has no flavor... "
"I like the idea of these meals less and less."
Luke chuckled seeing Aemond now leaning against the counter.
"It's part of the fun."
Just at that moment the doorbell rang. Luke looked at Aemond and Aemond stared back, there was a bit of fear in his eye. Luke could understand it, his heart was pounding like a drum and his stomach turned.
“Ready?” Aemond asked, addressing him.
Luke hurried to wash his hands and dry on the cloth. The first two trays were done and it may or may not be enough. All that remained was to put them in the oven for twenty minutes and put the potatoes in the fryer. From experience Luke knew that for the next few minutes his family would talk in the kitchen about everything and nothing while the younger ones sat in the living room and helped set the table when it was time.
The whole experience was familiar, long practiced and well known movements. The only difference was that this time he would share her with Aemond, not as her uncle but as her boyfriend. I was nervous, I was excited.
“Ready.”
Aemond laced their fingers together and pulled him to the door, both of them clinging to each other tightly.
They would be fine. They were together.
[1]Aemond would like to clarify that it was Luke's fault. It was a bloody work dinner, nothing to do with his shirt open or his hair looking like he just came out of the bedroom. Aemond had simply had to justify his appearance. And Luke wasn't innocent! He hadn't kept his hands to himself either and “you look great in that suit” is a shitty excuse when Aemond wore suits almost every day.
[2]It was now a widely discussed and accepted fact among all of them (from Aegon the eldest to Lucerys who was the youngest until Joff was born) that it had all been a shit show handled in the worst possible way by the so-called adults. Now everyone was better. Or they were until Rhaenyra and Jacaerys clamored for the desecration of the sweet child of the family (he wasn't family, he was Aemond's but that wasn't a discussion either wanted to hear right now).
[3]The answer was to allow the news to spread unchecked among their very gossipy family and give them time to plan the worst threats to both of them. Helaena's had been especially touching as she casually mentioned the new species of poisonous spider she was studying while smiling sweetly at Luke.
[4]He couldn't say the same for Luke but in his defense he had been messy enough before.
[5]Baela was cackling behind one hand while holding Jace down with the other. It would be five days before they found out there was a bet and Jace lost colossally because “even if the world turned upside down, hell froze over and the gods went mad” they wouldn't be together.
[6]Once again: creative threats.
[7]That was why no gift from his brother could be trusted. He could lie that he had handed over all the sets of keys and then show up in the middle of the night because "your apartment is closer and I'm too drunk and…oh, hi Luky."
[8]Aemond was not going to allow the first meal he and Luke had to be one to which his mother was not invited, the relationship between the families had improved but there was still a bit of "friendly" competition that tended to become very vicious .
[9]It wasn't dramatic, she called it “quality mother/kids time” and all of her had been through the “it's for your own good, I'm your mother” at least twice.
[10]Hindsight is always 20/20