It Was You - Davos Blackwood x Aeron Bracken

Chapter 8 - Falling Out

    Aeron stood in the cabin, back with his chain around his ankle. He wore the Blackwood house colors. The clothes fit well, as the boys were similar sizes, however, Aeron was a few inches taller. He always teased Davos about it, back when they were friends. After their simple meal of the days catch, fish, he Blackwood had excused himself to the barn, with Phantom. He had been sleeping in there, which Aeron understood completely. He wouldn't want to be strangled in the middle of the night either. The blonde tied his hair back with a simple string, too keep it out of his face, and not as tangled. He had been able to keep the brush after Davos had used it on his hair earlier, which Aeron was grateful for. He hadn't realized until then how he missed the simple luxuries in life, that he now didn't have. He trotted over to the cot, lowering himself down onto it gently. He stared up at the ceiling, his gut dropping. That bath awoke the memory he fought to suppress all those years ago; that fateful day him and Davos became enemies. 

    The two were inseparable for years, and after Davos had found the cottage in the woods, they made that their meeting space. The raven-haired boy would simply tell Lord Samwell, his brother, he was heading out on a hunting trip, stay gone for a little while, and return with abundant game. He was never questioned.  On that fateful day, Davos was on the brink of turning seven and ten, while Aeron was six and ten. The Blackwood had been at the cottage for a few days already, Aeron coming and going here and there. This time, however, Davos picked up on something. The blonde was being clingier, yes, he was always around the Blackwood, but this was different. He was close to Davos. At the table, he wouldn't sit across from him, he would be right next to him. Frankly, it annoyed Davos. He was the type to like his space, no matter what, no matter who it was. He was keeping his cool, though. Even as hardened as Aeron was, he was still emotional at times, sometimes too much for Davos' liking. Davos was a weird personality, it really depended on the day with him. 

    The pair had waded in the water, up the stream to a spot they had found. It was a good sized pool that was connected to the stream. It was fed by a waterfall, not very big, but good enough size to sit under. They could go waist deep into the water, but Aeron usually chose to stay in the shallower parts. Not today, however. The Blackwood boy let himself step back into the waterfall, the cool water rushing over his body. He let out a sigh, it almost felt as if his muscles relaxed instantly. It was a decently hot day, and they were trying to keep cool. Aeron sat on the bank, with his feet dipped in the water.

    "Aeron, why don't you get in? Your ass is just getting dirty!" Davos laughed, lifting his head to let the water run over his face. He wiped at his eyes, looking back to where Aeron had been. He had disappeared. The raven-haired boy looked around quickly. Aeron stood in the water next to him, grinning wildly. He pounced on Davos' back, laughing. Davos knew what he was going to do, he instinctively swatted at the boy, not enough to hurt him. Aeron hooked his hands in the other boy's armpits, tickling him wildly.

    "Stop! Please Aeron I yield!" Davos was laughing, trying to catch his breath.

    "No can do!" The Bracken boy ravaged him, but faltered. This gave Davos enough time to fling him off into the water. Aeron went under, emerging from the crystal clear water quickly. He gasped, clutching onto Davos. His hair was plastered to his face, making it hard for him to see. The raven-haired boy gently wiped the strands of hair from his face, and over his shoulder. His hair was longer then than what it is at his age of eight and ten. 

    "Do you want me to braid your hair?" Davos asked, "Just so it will be out of your face, of course." He had braided the other boy's hair multiple times before. Aeron looked up at him with his large hazel eyes, nodding. Color spread across his cheeks. He spun quickly, moving to the more shallow water. Davos followed, moving to sit behind him. He slid in close to his back, his legs engulfing his small figure. 

    "Do you have it?" Aeron didn't speak, instead lifted his wrist to reveal the leather string tied around his wrist. The Blackwood took it, gingerly parting Aeron's hair into three sections. He began weaving them together, until he got to the end. He tied a loose knot, then wrapped the remainder around the end, tying it once more. He jiggled it, deeming it secured. "I don't know what it is, but I like your hair, its very silky, reminds me of a woman's."  Aeron nervously laid himself back onto Davos' chest, placing his hand on the other boy's knee. His hand gingerly moved up it, as if testing the waters. He should have stopped there, and maybe they would still be friends, but no, he was stupid. Davos sat, stiff as a board. He didn't know what Aeron was doing, but it was new to him. The Bracken angled his face up, inches from Davos'. Their breath intermingled. A fired burned deep within Davos, while Aeron's flame was lapping at the seams, threatening to burst forth at any minute. And that it did. He glanced down at the black-haired boy's lips, and then back to his dark green eyes, which felt as if they were piercing him. He lifted his hand, which hand been on Davos' leg, wrapping it around the other boy's head. His hand laced with his drying locks, pulling him in. Their lips crashed together, Aeron kissing him tentatively. Davos was slow to respond, but that he did. He hungrily grabbed him, wrapping his arms around his waist. The two had never kissed another, so it was new to them. Suddenly, something snapped in Davos. He roughly pushed Aeron off of him, standing.

    "You cunt, get away from here, now! I wish to never see you again. If you set foot in that cottage, or even near it, I will have your head!" He seethed. Yes, Aeron had seen him mad like this before, but not towards him. 

    In that moment, Aeron's heart shattered, he was utterly confused. Davos had kissed him back. He stood, standing there in shock.

    "What do you not understand, I never want to see you again!" Davos shoved him once more, water splashing all around them. Aeron broke down into tears, running up the embankment back to the cabin to get his horse, and belongings. He left Davos there, and that was the last time he saw him in months, the next time he did, Aeron had chopped his hair off, hoping all of those memories of Davos would go with them.

    Aeron blew the candle out, which sat in the window sill above the cot. In the darkness, he allowed tears to fall down his cheeks, pooling in the dip of his collar bone. "What did I do?" he whispered, "I thought he loved me, but not as I loved him."