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Arriving back at King’s Landing happens sooner than Aegon is ready for. Still shaking and unsure. He barely has time to get off the dragon before Jace is dragging him away. His nephew shouts at Daemon about getting ready for dinner.
Once they are far enough ahead of Daemon Jace starts up on his plan. His plan to get them out of Westeros. Aegon’s mind stops, and he follows obediently. Because surely Jacaerys is bluffing. Surely the heir to the Iron Throne is not actually going to leave with him.
They make it back to Jacaerys room. Aegon starts dressing in a daze while Jace starts packing some bags. Making a list of things they need to take with them. Everything's happening so fast Aegon feels numb to it all. Can feel an eerie feeling.
Once Jacaerys is done, he grabs Aegon’s hand and heads for the door. The white-haired boy is not at all surprised when Daemon is standing on the other side. Dark Sister is missing from his hip, and the mess of him has been whipped away.
Aegon had cleaned his own face, though his body still aches. Their uncle glares at the two of them and looks disapprovingly at the bag. Jacaerys places himself in front of Aegon and braces for a fight, they all know he cannot win.
“Sit down boys.” Daemon growls, “It’s time to explain something to you.”
****
Daemon explains that Aegon is an omega. He tells them of the soul bond Targaryens, omegas and Alphas. Explains that he himself is an alpha, which is why he already knows. The thought that he was suggesting Aegon may be his omega was stomach turning for the younger of the two.
That thought was short-lived when Daemon explains that Aegon’s alpha was most likely his older brother, the babe that killed Aemma. Though that was not the news that was the most traumatic for Aegon.
Because according to Daemon Jacaerys does not love him. In fact, the other probably feels nothing for him at all. Everything, the devotion, the sudden feelings are all the results of his pheromones. All Aegon’s fault, for kissing the other.
Aegon, as a newborn, would have already felt a part of himself missing. As he aged, he would have been looking for that piece, replacing the alpha he lost. According to Daemon that is the difference between an alpha and an omega.
Omegas need a mate to feel complete, if their alpha dies before they are bonded, then they will find the next closest person. Alphas on the other hand will always find non-omegas to be inferior and will find themselves unsatisfied.
That is why, despite Laena being a good mate and a strong woman he was never satisfied with her. Why he is not satisfied with Rhaenyra, though his alpha prefers her. Chose her.
Daemon explains that Aegon most likely chose Aemond, until Jacaerys was born, and his scent was closer. He explains that it is an instinct thing. That if someone else comes along later with a closer scent to the dead alphas then Aegon’s affections for Jacaerys will vanish.
According to his uncle, Jacaerys is being forced to feel the way he does. While Jace rejects that statement, demands he has always had some feelings for Aegon. Aegon knows the truth. They’ve not seen each other in years, yet…
With his aphrodisiac saliva he would actually need someone to fall in love with him without even a kiss for their consent to be real. The only one immune to him would be Daemon. A fact that is cruel.
Aegon and Jacaerys are left alone after the ‘talk’ to figure things out. The only way to break the bond that Aegon forced on his nephew is for him to fuck another person or leave. Being apart long enough and the bond will break if Aegon feels rejected.
Instead of figuring out how to break the bond. Jacaerys insists that he feels like himself. Insists that he is fine, and they should still leave together.
Aegon convinces him to go to dinner with him. Where Daemon, Aegon, and Jacaerys avoid questions of where they were and why they are so messed up. Aegon’s own injuries are easy to play off as his drunkenness. While Daemon and Jacaerys just say they were talking.
Aegon watches Daemon with Rhaenyra, watches both the affection, yet coldness underneath. They look good together. Always have. Like they were built for one another, yet she cannot satisfy him.
He cannot even fathom being that wanted, the way Daemon is. Desired by women all over. Jacaerys looks tense throughout dinner, unhappy about him watching Daemon. He knows. Everything was him.
Jacaerys feelings, his desires, everything was just Aegon being a desperate whore. He hates it. Hates everything about this. Because he never wanted to be a cage for Jacaerys. Never wanted to be the other undoing.
After dinner ends, he kisses Jacaerys goodnight and promises to talk to him about everything in the morning. Once he is in his room he starts packing. Stealing gold, jewels, clothes. He steals away into the night, heading for the dragon pit.
Aegon is saddling Sunfyre when a hiss has him jerking around. There standing in the shadow watching him is none other than Daemon. He is leaning against the wall, just watching. Aegon feels fear race down his spine.
“Take this.” Daemon throws him a bottle of some black liquid.
“What’s this?”
“For your hair, it’ll turn it black.” They stare at one another for a moment.
Daemon is an alpha but has always hidden that fact first for his brother and then for Rhaenyra. As an alpha he could have been there for Aegon. Could have been the father he needed or just the helpful uncle. Instead, he has always hated Aegon. Perhaps because he knows Aegon is the only omega he will ever meet. A cruel irony.
“Uncle?”
“Hmm?”
“Don’t let Jacaerys follow me,” He turns and mounts Sunfyre, scanning the area. Afraid Caraxes will pop out of the shadows too and force them to stay.
“You’ll want to get a place to rest through the pregnancy.” Daemon’s eyes scan Aegon’s stomach in interest. He jerks and touches his belly with a shudder.
Finding out he could get pregnant was probably the hardest part of the talk. Could already be pregnant.
“Pray Jacaerys’ seed is STRONG.” That gives Aegon pause. Hearing Daemon of all people admitting Jacaerys blood. But then he realizes what his uncle means. His hair. Black hair. Targaryen hair stands out, and he needs to vanish completely. Sunfyre will make that harder.
Sunfyre takes to the sky and Aegon heads toward Essos. FINALLY.
Aegon has lived his entire life drunk or spaced out, thinking about the What Ifs. It is time for him to move forward and live in the right now. He needs to put as much space and time between King’s Landing and all those who would wish him harm.
He was never meant to be a Targaryen. Never truly a part of the family. Now he would be free. Free from their hands, their abuse, their neglect, their disappointment, their hatred, and their betrayals. Aegon could find a place for him and Sunfyre, and potentially a babe.
********
A Year Later
Aegon groans as DaeJaega’s cries wake him up in the morning. Turning over to pull the babe from her crib. She is red faced and screaming by the time he gets her to his tit to be fed. Her black curls bounced around her little head.
She squirms in his arm, and he shushes her gently. Light is pushing past the cloth opening of his tent. He stretches one arm as he walks out of his little home. Sunfyre is sleeping right in front of the door, snoring softly.
The mountain they live on is gorgeous, all green, and they are surrounded by trees. Life is good, isolated, lonely, but no more than King’s Landing had been. Aegon smiles as DaeJaega coos against his chest, happy for the milk.
It is peaceful here, he is happy. There are days when the loneliness is suffocating and days Sunfyre will cry out for Caraxes, but they are happy. They are safe. And they are free.
A thundering screech calls from the distance, a dragon approaching has Sunfyre up and growling in the direction. Aegon can see the wings flapping hard, but the beast is too far to identify. As he watches the dragon approach them, he feels a sense of peace.