Crowned Stag (rhaenyra targaryen x male oc)

I See You, Rhaenyra

The door opens and Rhaenyra walks in, a soft smile on her face.

With his chest exposed, Mace pulls the soft blankets over him and turns the other way. The maester frowns, "I still have to do the ointment treatment, Ser Mason."  as he looks over to the Princess.

"How is he, maester?" Rhaenyra asks as he steps over to her.

"Ser Mason is healing well, Princess," The maester tells her and she smiles gratefully.

"I am happy to hear that," Rhaenyra sighs as she looks over at her friend, who looks the other way. She notices the bowl of ointment in the maester's hand and takes it.

"Can we have the room?" She asks him and the maester nods, leaving the two of them alone.

Rhaenyra steps over to him, putting on her fingerless glove.

"I thought I told you that you do not have to hide from me," Rhaenyra calls out to him and Mace shakes his head.

"I know," Mace mutters as he sighs deeply, "I just...still feel embarrassed, Rhaenyra."

She sits on the bed, holding the bowl and reaching to remove the blankets. Mace swiftly turns his head and gently grabs her hand, pushing it away.

"Don't," Mace pleads and Rhaenyra tilts her head.

"You heard the maester," Rhaenyra tells him, as she dips a finger into the bowl, "You have to do the treatment."

"I know but—"

Rhaenyra ignored his pleas and placed a hand on the blanket, "May I?" He thinks on it for a moment and realizes she won't ever back down from this.

He appreciated Rhaenyra's presence, yet part of him felt uncomfortable with the vulnerability she witnessed.

Mace placed his hand on hers and just as she thought he was going to push her away, he guided her hand in moving the blanket away.

Rhaenyra flashes him a genuine smile as she removed the blanket, revealing Mace's bare and bruised chest. She gasped softly but kept a firm expression as she applies the warm ointment on the bruises. Mace tenses up as her fingers trace his bruised skin.

Deciding to change the subject and make him feel comfortable in her presence, she brings up her Uncle Daemon.

"My uncle has stirred some more conflict," Rhaenyra reveals, "He might just be driving my father mad."

"Why am I not surprised?" Mace laughs as Rhaenyra remains silent. He observes her face and squints at her, "What did he do?"

"He stole my brother's egg and has declared himself the rightful heir to the Iron Throne," Rhaenyra informs him and Mace rolls his eyes.

"Is he still on about that?" Mace wonders and Rhaenyra clicks her tongue.

"I had offered a possible solution on how to deal with Daemon to my father during his council," Rhaenyra told him and Mace grins.

"Really? I told you your moment would come, Rhaenyra," Mace commented and Rhaenyra sighed.

"Do not get too excited. It was not considered," The Princess retorted and Mace laid his head back.