Chapter Text
I was standing above the pool, completely naked and wet, wringing water from my clothes. And the whole time, I was looking at Luke, who was turned back, leaning on the edge of the pool, making sure he’s not peeking.
I was shy like a maiden before her first night with a man, just without the bedding in my case. I was nervous so much that the clothes almost fell from my hands back into the pool. I wasn’t naked infront someone for the first time. I was in the brothel with my brother on my fourteenth name’s day and I got used to walk and sleeping naked in my room within our keep.
Someone would call me crazy, because at Dragonstone, even the summer wasn’t as warm as in the rest of the Seven Kingdoms. But I didn’t mind it at all. Alyn used to say to me that I am trying to show off and give him depression, as even he agreed that of all three of us, he’s the ugliest. I always chuckled at that, but he was right on that a little.
Over those years, my look and posture changed. Before Rhaenyra arrived at Dragonstone, I wasn’t really a case of the pretty boy. My face was rounded and slight sight of fat was on them, all though nobody could say I was fat. I was always pretty much thin. My posture was weird, I slouched a little, my back was rounded too. I really had a problem.
My brothers always tried to help me, helping me to get rid of the bad posture I had. After Barrick left and Alyn getting to a Dragonstone guards, I pretty much had nobody to help me. But I was lucky. Over the years, ser Steffon not only trained Luke and Jace, but also helped me a lot. My posture problems disappeared after some time.
But not only that changed. I was so determined to defend my family and I knew for that I need to work harder. Over those almost six years, my body got stronger and more muscular. My legs and arms were thicker and stronger, the fat of my face disappeared, though I still had a gentle traits. My torso was strong and well defined, all though I’d not call myself a mountain of muscles. I was not the one to praise myself, but even I had to admit I didn’t look half bad now.
Sometimes when I was here, all alone, laying on the blanket I sometimes brought here, looking at my own body, I had to smile at how I have grown to look. But I did not do it for myself, but to be strong to protect those I love and care about. Alyn, father, Barrick, royal family, princess Rhaenyra, even Jace…and most importantly, Luke.
After I finally got the water from the clothes and placed them near the exit of the cave so the wind would dry it a little, I slowly slipped into the hot water, groaning blissfully. Luke, who still had his back turned to me giggled and spoke finally.
„Can I turn around?“ I made an approving sound and watched as he turned around, his eyes instantly focusing on me. There wasn’t much to see of us, as we both were neck deep in water. But still, his face was red like a strawberry and his smile was large like a Bravossi Titan.
His eyes were shining like two stars on a bright night. I saw happiness and joy in them. But even more was visible. I was not sure what it was. Maybe admiration, maybe amazement, maybe…genuire love and care? I was still kind of nervous and shy and I turned away my head.
„If…you’ll feel uncomfortable…t-tell me, right?“ I mumbled, hugging my own shoulders. He was adorable, but his look… Even that he meant no harm, it somehow filled me with uncomfort, turning my stomach upside down. Even I was used to be naked infront of my family, this was different.
I felt vulnerable when I was like that, exposed from head to the toe infront of him. My whole body shook and my fingers scratched my shoulders. My own lips were shaking and I felt I’m gonna cry again.
Why am I feeling like this, I asked myself. The answer was simple. I felt like I am not worthy of being here, in this pool with him. And most importantly, I wasn’t still sure if he is trully honest with me, on how he feels about me. The fear started to take over me again. I closed my eyes, pulling my knees to my chest, my lips were shaking and my breath as well.
„What am I doing here?“ I howled in my thoughts. I was again drowning myself in my fears, unable to stop it.
„Yoren…? Are you alright?“ a soft voice sounded in my ears. I openned my eyes and saw Luke as he slowly swims to me. He moved in the water with ease, as if he was just a small wawe, water not even making a small sound as he moved towards me. He stopped right infront of me, putting his hands on my shoulder.
„Yoren, what’s wrong? Tell me.“ He said again. His soft voice was slightly shaking. He deffinetly thought he did something wrong again. It only filled me with anger. I hated when he feared. He had no damn reason to fear. He was just so, so perfect in my eyes. He had nothing to fear, he was a prince after all.
I had all the rightious reasons to be afraid. If I hurt him somehow, in the slightest, it can be my end. I looked into his eyes and stuttered silently.
„It’s…alright. I am f-fine, it’s just-.“
Before I managed to pull out the words, Luke raised his hand and slapped me across my cheek. I yelped in surprise and pain. The slap hurt even more as his hands were wet and the sound of a slap did spread across the whole cave. I touched my cheek, stroking it with my fingers, feeling the burning pain in it.
„W-why did you do that?“ I stuttered, tears about to roll down my eyes again. I looked at him again. His look was sterm, but still somehow caring.
„You still have doubts, right? Even after all we did and said today…you still do not believe me?“ he asked, looking into my eyes, piercing my whole soul with his stare. That look, it was so strange and stunning in all the good ways. I wasn’t used to see Luke like this.
Normally, he is scared and I am calming him down. Now, the tables have turned. I am at my lowest and he’s offering me a comfort. He gripped on my shoulders, digging his fingernails into them.
„Answer me, Yoren!“ he shouted suddenly. I twitched in fear and sobbed a little.
„D-Don’t…please dom’t yell at me…“ I said in a quiet, sobbing voice, my body trembling in fear. „You… Yes, you are right… I have doubts. I am terrified…but can you…blame me? You are a prince. A royal. And I? Not long before I was just a third son of an unknown house, that somehow gained your friendship. And I still am not sure how did I deserve it. And now, I am your sworn shield, sitting in this hot spring pool, kissing with you. It’s just…“
I felt like my insides are on fire in that moment. My stomach was hurting me and I had a struggle to breathe clearly. My heart was beating so fast I thought it will break out from my chest.
„It’s just too much to take in, Lucerys… I am just scared…“ I couldn’t look at him anymore, so I turned my look away, burying my face in my palms. Lucerys started caressing my shoulders, as if he tried to calm me down.
„I thought…you wanted me to be with you… That you love me… So what is wrong?“ he asked softly. I looked at him through my fingers, tears running through them.
„I do… I really want to…but at the same time… I am scared that I will…hurt you. That I will destroy this friendship we made…by saying or doing something that will bring you down… I am scared of it, Lucerys. So much…“ I sobbed, my voice cracking again. Luke grabbed my hands gently and moved them from my face.
„Yoren, look at me. Please, just look at me.“ He said, the urge in his voice, but still he sounded softly as always somehow. I looked at him, seeing blurry again thanks to tears. Luke squeezed my hands and his look again pierced into me.
„Yoren, listen to me. In this whole world, there is no such a thing you could do to destroy our friendship. You are the kindest, bravest and most friendly person I’ve ever met in my life. Gods, Yoren, I even owe you my life. There is nothing that you could say or do that’d destroy this friendship. Is it clear now?“ Luke said in a silent, low but sterm voice. He was talking serious.
But even though I still could not get rid of my doubts. Luke saw it in me and squeezed my hands even harder.
„Yoren, for gods’s sake! Stop having those doubts! I even told you that I am no Velaryon! I am a…bastard…with no pure Velaryon blood in my veins…“ he continued. I was staring at him, unable to find the right words to say. Luke was holding on my hands so hard it started to hurt a little and in his face I could see traces of sorrow and even self hatred. He hated himself for who he was.
„If anyone else heard me saying this, my mother’s claim to the Iron Throne would be destroyed… And yet, I told you that… I believe you more than anyone, Yoren. You are worthy of being my friend and more. You will not hurt me in any way, I know it. So stop with those doubts...I beg you, Yoren…“
Luke finally releassed my hands and I could see small tears coming from his eyes. For a moment, we looked at each other, completely silent, only sound of water falling into the pool echoed through the cave. The moment could last for just seconds or maybe hours. I wasn’t sure. It took some time before I spoke again.
„I’m…sorry that I panicked so much… I still fear, I admit it. I still fear I might screw this up…but not as much as before… I believe you that you mean it. All of it. And I just want to say… Thank you.“
I wrapped my arms around his waist and softly pulled him closer to me, into the hug. He didn’t wait long to return the favor and wrapped his arms around my neck, hugging me back. I could feel hus heart beating as fast as mine. No wonder. We were both nervous and shy. I could feel my face becoming red when I realized again we are naked.
But this time, I finally casted my fear aside and just embraced the feeling. His skin was soft to touch and feeling of it on my own skin was so…beautiful. I looked at Luke and smiled nervously.
„Do you…mind me…touching you?“ I asked quietly. Luke’s face got Dornish Red shade of red in that moment.
„Y-You... How do…you mean it…?“ he stuttered. It took me a while to realize how it sounded. I burst out in nervous laughter.
„Oh, you thought I’d… No…not like that… Not yet…“ I said, chuckling nervously. „I meant…can I… Caress your body?“ I almost whispered, feeling weird to ask that.
„Oh…like that. Heh…of course you can.“ He smiled at me. Even I asked him if I can do it, it still took me a while before I got myself to move my hands from Luke’s back on his chest and stomach.
Luke wasn’t exactly a muscular type, his stomach was flat, but not exactly firm. After all, he was stil two and half years from becoming a man. His chest was flat, not much bigger than his stomach and deffinetly was stronger.
Muscles around his shoulders and neck were stiff and tensed up. No wonder with all the weight that was put on his back by his family, I thought.
I felt his legs wrapping around my waist. By the grip, I could tell his legs were really strong. Deffinetly from spending many hours on dragon back. I didn’t need to touch them to recognize it.
I took a look at his hands, that were placed on my shoulders. They were thin, but not weak for sure. With a chuckle, I looked him in the eyes. My look was full of admiration for him. He was blushing even more but smiling blissfully.
„You feel so…so beautiful for a touch, Luke.“ I whispered. Luke didn’t answer, just let go of my shoulders and moving his hands around my own body. I might have skipped a few breaths, as I didn’t expect that. His hands traveled all over my body, my stomach, ribs, chest, back, shoulders, neck… And I let him.
I didn’t want him to stop. He was gentle with me, as well as I was with him. I grabbed his hands and gently squeezed them.
„You are so gentle, Luke.“ I whispered. Luke smiled and placed an awkward kiss on my cheek.
„And you…are too really beautiful, Yoren.“ That made me smile even more. I was flattered. „Thank you…my prince.“ I said, not breaking an eye contact. He frowned and tried to make a serious face, but it looked stupid and funny.
„Call me Luke in private. Luke or Lucerys.“ He said. I grinned and poked him in the chest with my finger.
„I will call you how I want in private.“ I said jokingly. We both awkwardly chuckled and looked into each other’s eyes.
„That’s how you talk with your supperior, my sworn shield?“ teased Luke, leaning forward.
„That’s how I talk…with the one I am madly in love with.“ I answered, leaning forward to meet him. We then kissed. It was a long and passionate kiss, non of us willing to break it. But we had to, as we both were running out of breath.
„I love you, my dearest sworn shield. I love you…Yori.“ He whispered in my ear. Tears again rolled from my eyes as he called me by that name.
Nobody called me like that since I was a small kid. Grandfather used to call me like that most of the time. It brought many memories of him back. I missed him so much. I quickly wiped the tears off my face and whispered my answer.
„And I love you, my dearest prince. I love you, Luke.“ And with that we kissed again.
For the rest of the time spent in the cave we briefly spoke. We just kissed and explored each other’s bodies. After some time we decided we should return to the castle. We got out of the pool draining ourselves with the towel and picked up our clothing, still not looking at each other from respect of privacy.
„My clothes are still wet.“ I groaned when I was dressing up. „Thank you really much for that, Luke.“
Lucerys giggled.
„I‘m sorry. But you gave me no other choice.“
I chuckled on that.
„You sneaky little thing.“ I muttered under my nose.
„I heard you.“ Said Luke, holding back his laughter. He was really enjoying my troubles. I was determined to give him a payback when I’ll get a chance. When we got dressed, I hid all the things I had here for a future visit and went to the cave entrance. I looked outside and noticed that a small storm is coming.
„Damnit! A storm is coming. We have to hurry if we don’t wanna be wet.“ I grunted. Luke burst in laughter. I looked at him in utter disbelief and confusion. It was like I was staring at a jester. And in fact, Luke was like one. And I loved that about him.
„Something funny I said, ey?“ I asked with „serious“ tone, crossing my arms on my chest.
„At least you have an excuse for the wet clothes now.“ Luke choked on his laughs. That sent me over the edge and I fell to my knees, laughing my guts off.
„Yeah, you’re right!“ I answered, trying to catch my breath. We laughed there for at least five minutes before we calmed down. By that time, the rain arrived. It was a proper rain, no chance of getting to the castle with a single dry spot. We got out of the cave and slowly walked our way to the castle.
It was pretty long way and there was nobody living in the near of Dragonmont. So we held our hands in the rain, smiling at each other, knowing that we both have finally found another reason to be happy in life. Or at least that was my side of the view.
As we walked, I felt that my life is becoming complete. That I have a reason in this world. And that reason was holding my hand, walking in the rain with me. I stopped suddenly and looked at Luke.
„What’s wrong, Yoren?“ he asked, confused a little. I wrapped my hands around him, placing one hand on back of his head.
„This.“ I answered, leaned forward and kissed him on lips. He quickly wrapped his hands around my neck, returning the kiss.
As we stood there, kissing in the rain, raindrops hitting us and soaking into our clothes and hair, I felt another wave of pure joy, feeling my fears I had before finally fading away. We were one soul in that moment and nothing would make me to leave him. Nothing. I pulled back and whispered.
„I will never leave you, my sweet little dragon. I swear upon everything that is dear to me…that I will always be there for you, Lucerys."
Luke stroked my cheek and answered in a soft, loving voice.
„And I promise you that I will always be grateful to Gods for sending you to me. I will always love you, my lovely sworn shield.“
And with those words, our lips colided again and our lives became intertwined forever.