Chapter Text
Daeron arrives late, as he often does these days, in an attempt to spend as little time as possible in his brother's apartment.
At first glance, it was a prudent suggestion on his mother's part. He was barely eighteen and had only visited the capital two times before he enrolled in the university here, and Mother was vehemently against him living in a dorm where all the “bad influence” was.
As if Aegon was something else.
She might have thought she still had enough authority over him to make her oldest son behave, but it became clear soon enough after Daeron moved in that Aegon just didn't care.
And it's not a bad thing in itself.
Being mostly left alone surely beats being mocked, like Aemond was when they were younger.
And despite Mother's fears, Aegon doesn't throw parties every day or even every week. But what Mother doesn't know is that he doesn't really live alone.
Aegon having a boyfriend wasn't really what Daeron expected moving to his apartment from Oldtown. And aside from the initial surprise, it could actually be considered good news, because Jace, as far as Daeron's concerned, is infinitely better than any other girlfriend or boyfriend he ever had before.
He's indifferent to alcohol, doesn't smoke, doesn't do drugs and takes his studies very seriously.
It would be surprising Aegon of all people was in a relationship with him if he weren't unfairly gorgeous as well.
Daeron can't think of any reason why Aegon is still hiding their relationship from the family despite it apparently being far from new. Aside maybe from one thing.
Jace is a year older than Daeron, which makes Aegon seven years older than him. It's not a big difference in itself, but could certainly raise a few eyebrows. He also doesn't know how long it's been going on, and it makes him sick to his stomach every time Jace or Aegon vaguely refer to something that they did together a year ago or even earlier.
Aegon realized the source of his discomfort pretty quickly, but only smirked at him, pressing a kiss to Jace's cheek while Jace tried to move away, whispering something to him and glancing worriedly at Daeron.
That is the true reason he tries to spend less time in the apartment.
Not because he and Jace don't get along - they do, and surprisingly well. Jace is calm, friendly and even nice enough to nip Aegon's attempts to mock his little brother in the bud. He's always ready to help whenever Daeron needs something, which is everything Alicent hoped Aegon would do.
Daeron dares hope they actually like each other.
Which is the reason why he can't watch Aegon grope his pretty boyfriend whenever he feels like it, his shame as non-existent as it always was.
Jace tries to get him to stop, but it seems to be in vain, either because Aegon actually enjoys making his little brother extremely uncomfortable, or he knows exactly how much Daeron likes his boyfriend, and that is his petty way of putting him in his place.
Or maybe he suspects something else Daeron would never admit.
The thing is, the apartment isn't big by any means, and the walls are thinner here than they were at home.
And he can hear almost everything.
He's lost count of the number of times he lay in his bed with his cock painfully hard, biting his lips, listening to the sounds coming from his brother's bedroom.
They weren't by any means so loud he couldn't stop them by plugging his ears with earphones, but something masochistic in him made him lie wide awake, catching every sound, a wave after wave of wet heat washing over his body every time he heard Jace's stifled moans. Aegon was louder, because he truly didn't give a shit.
He couldn't hear what they were saying - thank Gods.
But he could recognize the tone, which was sometimes even worse.
One night, after they came back from a party, waking Daeron up by loudly slamming the front door shut, proved to be the hardest test for his will than ever before. Maybe because Jace was slightly drunk too that night he didn't hold back as he always did, and the sweet needy sounds he made went straight to Daeron’s cock.
And when they became more intense and almost pained, Daeron had to bury his face in a pillow, rock hard but uneasy. Something inside him demanded to barge into his brother’s room and stop him from making Jace whimper like that, but no matter how hard he strained his ears he didn’t hear anything resembling a plea to stop.
How humiliated would he be if he barged there like a virgin idiot who couldn’t tell apart a person enjoying rough sex from someone being assaulted?
He didn’t know how long it lasted, but when they finally quieted down he felt like he’d run a marathon, a sheen of sweat coating his body and his heart thudding painfully in his chest.
At noon, when Jace finally walked into the kitchen, his curt nod made Daeron’s heart sink, but then Aegon joined them, much more cheerful than he usually was in the mornings. He tried to steal Jace’s salmon and avocado sandwich, and Jace slapped his hand away with a bit more force than necessary, but Aegon made sad puppy eyes at him and pressed his cheek to Jace’s arm. The corners of Jace’s mouth twitched at first, and then he smiled, looking almost angelic with his dark curls falling in his beautiful sleepy face. He pushed the plate to Aegon and started making another sandwich, all while Aegon stuffed his mouth, leering at his boyfriend’s ass in tight blue shorts, completely ignoring his brother.
“Daeron, do you want one? Since I’m apparently so kind today. But don’t get any ideas.”
Daeron winced, blushed, muttered something vaguely resembling a polite refusal and all but ran out of the kitchen, mentally cursing himself.
Since then he couldn’t help looking at Jace differently. He felt so stupid, worrying for him while the little slut simply enjoyed being fucked by his boyfriend, not caring about being heard.
He knew that rationally it didn’t make much sense to be angry with Jace of all people, but it was the final nail in the coffin. He didn’t know how many times he could jerk off to the sounds of his brother’s boyfriend getting railed before all that frustration boiled into resentment, mostly towards himself, but a small part of it was Jace’s fault too, because he knew.
Daeron was sure he did, ever since Jace brushed past him in the kitchen and Daeron had to grab the edge of the table behind himself to stop himself from touching his hips as he often saw Aegon do, and the way Jace glanced at him…
He knows. There is little doubt about it.
The apartment is eerily quiet aside from the muted sounds of the tv in the living room. Daeron washes his hands and face with cold water, trying to wake himself up because he still has a few assignments to complete for tomorrow.
On the way to his bedroom he checks the living room, and what he sees makes him stop dead in his tracks.
The dim glow of the tv is the only source of light there, casting soft shadows on the walls. It looks like there is some detective movie on, but it isn’t what attracts Daeron’s attention.
Jace is sprawled on the sofa, seemingly fast asleep, a fluffy blanket pooled on the floor beneath. His head rests on a hard cushion, one hand tucked under it, dark curls partially hiding his face, but he looks serene and relaxed.
Daeron quietly approaches with the intention of picking up the blanket and covering him, but when he gets closer it slips his mind completely. Jace’s lips are slightly parted, and his hair pools around his head like a dark halo. He’s dressed in a plain blue t-shirt, which rode up slightly, revealing his thin waist, and denim shorts stretched tightly over his round ass.
Despite all his efforts Daeron can’t take his eyes off him, so beautiful and vulnerable in his sleep. He slowly sinks into the nearest armchair, digging his fingers into his knee, resisting the urge to rub his swelling cock.
His heart is pounding so hard it’s almost surprising Jace doesn’t wake up.