Feelings Sold Separately - Aemond Targaryen

Chapter Eight - The Hug

Aemond Targaryen

"What do you mean?" Aemond hated seeing the defeated look on Maysie's face.

"Nera said that I'm the only fat and the only poor sugar baby that you've had." She explained, her gaze not leaving his.

Aemond huffed, he hated the fact that they had to have this talk, but he understood her worry. "I had a type." He admitted, Maysie nodding. "I always went for women in my social circle. They were all older than me, they all looked the same, and acted the same." Maysie nodded again, though this time slower. "You don't fit into that type." He said simply. "And, I don't want you to."

"Oh." Her eyes lit up.

"I've had more fun with you today than I ever did in the past, and I don't want that to end because of some jealous woman." His hands landed on the junction between her neck and shoulders, her pulse beating beneath his fingers. His thumbs brushed against her jaw. "So erase whatever doubt she's planted in your mind. It has no use being there."

Before Aemond could continue his best attempt at comforting her, she shot into his arms, hers closing around his back as his landed the same. "I wasn't doubting anything." She muffled against his chest. "I was just curious." Aemond wasn't sure that last time someone had hugged him, at least not with this much umph. Her fingers traced imaginary patterns against his sweater, her face pressed into his chest. "Thank you, Aemond." She began, pulling away from his chest. "Thank you for the shoes and the clothing, but thank you for letting me see the real you."

Aemond's eyebrows raised. "The real me?" He was confused.

"Yeah," She stepped away from him, hands fiddling with each other. "You put on this mean face and play into the reputation you've been given." She shrugged. "I'm just glad I get to see the man behind the facade."

He hated how she had been able to read him this well within a few hours. But at the same time it made his heart beat faster. He hadn't meant to let her in behind his built up walls, walls made out of necessity, yet she slipped past somehow. "Let's get going." He grabbed her hand, not ready to admit or talk about his little revelation, and Maysie seemed to understand that.

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"You still haven't eaten your bagel." Aemond took note as he started up the car. The crinkly wrapping, still encasing an untouched bagel, sat on Maysie's lap. "Do you not like bagels?" He had begun to wonder if the barista wasn't a friend, maybe she gave him Maysie's least favourite food as a joke.

"No. No, I like bagels, and I'm sure it's good, it's just." She paused, looking out her window.

"I let you behind my walls, let me see behind yours." He laid his hand on her thigh, hoping his touch would help sooth her like it had earlier, or at least he thought it had.

She sighed. "I don't like eating in front of people." Maysie said, still looking out her window. "I've been that way ever since I was a kid, it's just, it's something I still can't do. I've tried, it's not that I haven't." She sighed again. "It's just hard, but I promise to eat the bagel when I get home." Her voice wavered a little bit, and Aemond didn't push. "Where are we going now?" She asked, adjusting in her seat as she changed the conversation's topic.

"We've got to stop by Dalton's so he can get your ID photo." Aemond answered. "Then I'll drop you off at home and go get your bank account set up." He left out the part where he had made reservations for dinner. "Are you free tomorrow?" He asked, looking to Maysie for a split second.

"I have an errand to run, but I should be free by the afternoon."

"What's the errand?"

Maysie laughed. "Boring stuff. I just have to go grocery shopping."

"I'll pick you up at nine and we can go together." He said sternly.

"You don't have to go grocery shopping with me." Maysie assured him. "Really, it'll just be boring." She shrugged her shoulders, the bagel's wrapper crinkling with her movements.

"Maysie, I say what I mean. If I didn't want to take you grocery shopping I wouldn't have invited myself along." Aemond pulled into a parking garage below a tall building. "When I say something, I mean it. So instead of trying to get me to back out, just say 'okay'."

"Okay." She smiled.

"Okay." Aemond parked, the sign in front of them reading 'visitor'. "Now let's go get this over with." He grumbled, wishing he could have sent Dalton a picture instead.

✩ . ☽ . ☼ . ☾ . ✩

Maysie went rigid beside Aemond as the elevator doors opened to Dalton's penthouse. It was significantly smaller than his, and Maysie's reaction made him wish to see her reaction to his own. "It's huge." She said, eyes wide as Aemond squeezed her hand chuckling.

"Thank you, Darling." Dalton's deep voice drawled as he walked towards them. He was a few inches taller than Aemond, broader too, but the biggest difference between them was Dalton had a buzz cut and Aemond had longer hair than Maysie. "Aemond, Pretty girl." He smiled, welcoming them.

"Enough." Aemond snapped. "Did you finish everything I asked for?"

"He's so mean, huh?" Dalton fake whispered to Maysie. "He needs to get his attitude checked." Maysie giggled, making Aemond hate Dalton even more. Sure he was funny, but he didn't get to make his girl laugh.

"Dalton." Aemond Barked.

"Right." Dalton nodded. "This way." For the head of King's Landing's biggest crime syndicate, he sure backed down fast when Aemond put his foot down. A fact that made Aemond smile.

Dalton and Aemond were like brothers, the two of them meeting as kids. Both from broken and messy families, both born with a wish to control and lead. They became best friends, basically brothers, when everyone around them thought they'd become enemies.

Even though Dalton was two years older, it was always Aemond who led the two through life. Even though they both had short and violent tempers, Dalton was far more unpredictable than Aemond. "If you could stand right there, Pretty Girl." Dalton smiled, pointing to the professional grade photo set up he had. "Relax your face." He instructed, taking a few shots of her before he was satisfied.

"I just have a few extra questions regarding your ID." Dalton mumbled as he typed and clicked away on his computer. "Where were you born?"

"The Iron Islands." Maysie said after clearing her throat. "Specifically Island Harlaw." She added.

"A girl after my own heart." Dalton laughed. "I'm from Pyke." He added, the two of them falling into a conversation about the similarities and differences of their islands. "All done, Pretty girl." Dalton walked towards his printing machines, her government grade birth certificate and ID handed over to her.

Maysie scanned them with an awe in her eyes. "Is this legal?" She asked quietly, as if someone was listening in on them

"I won't tell if you don't." Dalton yelled as he walked out of his office, Maysie and Aemond trailing after him.

"He's ... different." Maysie whispered to Aemond.

"He's Crazy." Aemond assured her.