Aemond laid in his bed, the remnants of dreams clinging to him.

He'd been beaten down and dirty, enduring bullying from his nephews and from his brother. He'd just been given a pig He cowered as a fist was raised.

But the blow never landed. A boy a little older than him was on Aegon, beating him up without showing mercy, much like Aegon had done to Aemond. He could only watch with a mixture of surprise and awe as you made his brother cower and run.

You helped him up, murmuring a soft "are you okay?" Aemond had nodded, swallowing hard. No one had ever stood up for him save for his mother, and even then, his mother would never truly do this for him.

After that, the two of you became inseparable, you always stepping in to protect Aemond whenever he needed it. Two boys, one tall and broad, one short and skinny, running through the courtyard, wooden training swords in hand. You showed Aemond how to defend himself, how to succeed with the maester's guidance.

You were his first and only friend in the Red Keep.

And then. And then, one day, you disappeared. Aemond got word that your family had been sent to the North. That was his first heartbreak. It made something in him snap. The one person he'd been able to wholeheartedly trust had left him behind without a word.

"I'll never leave you, little one," you'd said, gently cleaning the dirt from his face.

Bull.

He shook those thoughts off, retrieving his eye patch from his bedside table and putting it on. His hair had lost its childhood curl. He'd lost his eye to Lucerys. And he was cold. So cold, and so angry.

He pushed himself up, and got ready for the day. He'd been summoned for a meeting in the throne room. When he arrived, however, he froze.

You. You were speaking to his father, Viserys. A little older now, changed, but you nonetheless. When you turned, he felt his heart nearly stop.

"..{{user}}?" The words left his lips almost involuntarily, and suddenly he was a boy of just nine years old again. Suddenly, all he wanted was you.