ELLIPSISM, aemond targaryen

[044] lost and found

TW: sexual assault, blood, death, detailed description of violence. Please avoid reading this chapter if any of these topics trigger you.

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"YOU," AEMMA SAID quietly, her eyes harden almost immediately and her breathing stopped for a moment.

Gared obviously did not run away from the man's attack in the alley, as he had bruises on his face and dried blood under his nose, his right eye so swollen that he could barely keep it open. Nevertheless, a cruel smile appeared on his face.

"What? Were you expecting someone else?" he asked her mockingly. "Perhaps your friend?"

"What did you do to him?" Aemma asked him before she could stop herself. She felt like she had no control over her own actions as her mind screamed at her to run but she couldn't move. "He was supposed to be right behind me."

"Aw, is that what he told you?" he grimaced in mock sympathy before his lips lifted into an even bigger grin. "I hate to disappoint you, love, but as soon as your friend saw us, he went in the exact opposite direction from you. Probably decided to put himself first. Not that I blame him."

"He wouldn't do that," Aemma snapped back.

He merely chuckled at her words. "You're probably not from here, so let me explain to you: when a person gets into a situation where he has to choose between himself and someone else, he always chooses himself. Always."

Aemma didn't say anything to that, as she knew that he was partially right and the rule applied in most cases. Especially when it came to her. But that's why she knew that there were people whom she would have chosen over herself against her will, especially her brothers. And even though she still didn't quite know exactly how much she meant to Aemond, if Aemond was willing to jump into the water in that cave after her despite not knowing how to find her and whether it was safe, he would certainly not leave her to the mercy of a few thugs . . . right?

She didn't even realize that she was immersed in thoughts again and stopped noticing her surroundings until she felt Gared's hand move to her neck, his fingers moving the hood a little on her head. Her eyes pierced him like a thousand knives and yet when she wanted to push him away she was frozen in place, too startled by how close his sweaty face was and what was happening to be able to defend herself. She didn't know this feeling, but it was sickening and paralyzing.

And Gared looked at her just as longingly as before at the store, taking a strand of her hair between his fingers and then sliding them down to her neck and collarbone as if relishing the softness of her skin. Such a small action and Aemma still wanted to throw up from it.

"His loss," Gared whispered, his gaze slowly traveling over her body in such a way that Aemma didn't want to know what was going on in his head. "If he was reasonable and cooperative, maybe I'd let him have his turn with you."

It seemed to her that his last words finally broke her out of the trance she was in, in which it seemed to her that she was not even herself, but was observing the whole situation from the outside as another person. Her eyes widened and she took a sharp breath, immediately aware of both of his hands sliding to the clasp on her cloak, desperately trying to undo it as quickly as possible.

But suddenly his groan was heard, his eyes closed in pain and he pulled his hands away from Aemma to place them on the crotch where Aemma had kicked him. Aemma didn't stop there though, she clenched her fist and punched him, Gared staggered and then Aemma put her hands on his shoulders and swung him to the ground with all her strength.