Fire And Blood

The Search

Jon IX

Even though quite some time had passed since watching Dany leave for the Red Temple with no one but Ser Jorah, it still did not sit all that well with Jon. However, they would have to do things by themselves at some point. They, of course, functioned best when working together. It was a new and exciting experience for him, without a doubt, but becoming too dependent on each other's presence would not help them in the long run.

So, he saw this as a first step for them to take their individual paths, even when together. What was it Dany had said? 'The dragon has three heads?' That may be the case, but each head was still an individual entity and they had to learn that.

"Well, little brother," Rhaenys said, letting herself fall onto the bed, "it has been a while since it had been just us for more than a few short minutes." She rolled to her side and stretched an arm out, inviting him to join her. "Come here."

He did so eagerly and she quickly latched herself against him and rested her head on his chest. Wrapping his arm around her, Jon pulled Rhaenys tighter into his side. Sometimes it still felt like a marvel that this was the same woman who had warred with herself over hating or not hating him; love had not even been an option then.

"Who is your favourite cousin?" Rhaenys suddenly asked him.

Jon glanced down at her with a raised brow, her amber eyes locked on his face as she was sporting a small, innocent smile. "I don't have favourites."

She snorted at him. "Ridiculous. There's always those you are closer to. You can love them all, but not all of them will be your closest confidants or friends even."

"I don't feel closer to you than to Dany or closer to Dany than to you. I genuinely care for each of you equally."

Rhaenys thought for a moment. "But that is what I am saying. Perhaps my wording was wrong, however," she admitted. "Maybe you do not have 'favourites' as such. However, I know for a fact that you are emotionally more invested in Dany than you are in me."

He looked at her with shock and felt himself start to sweat. "Th-that's…"

Rhaenys just chuckled and climbed on top of him, straddled his hips, cupped both his cheeks and pressed a soft, tender and loving kiss on his lips. She smiled at him once she withdrew. "It's fine, Aegon. I'm not mad and you are not hurting my feelings. I feel the same way about Dany." She shrugged. "Our dear aunt makes it easy to confide in her, to share our fears and woes...she makes it easy to love her. I genuinely do love her. Do you?"

He opened his mouth to answer, then closed it again. Rhaenys smirked with a raised brow, folded her hands flat on his chest and rested her chin on them while he ran his hands up and down her sides.

Did he love Dany? Did he truly love her the way a man loves a woman? Jon had lusted for her for a long time. There was no shame in admitting that anymore. He remembered his nervous blushing when he had sat down next to her the very first time they had met. Even then, he knew that she was a beautiful, beautiful young woman. She had only added to that impression by proving herself to be a wonderful person as well. She had accepted him with open arms, she took hold of the reins in their small family when no one else would, she would lend them an ear during times of trouble. Dany was not without her flaws, however, but even her bouts of volatile moments, even her – albeit rare – explosive moments of anger only added to her charm.

"Your heart is racing, brother," Rhaenys teased him.

Jon chuckled and squeezed her thighs, his hands long since slipped under her dress. "Aye. She is...difficult not to love."