It’d been a long while. Impossibly long, especially for the young.
Canary dejectedly knocks on the door, heart in his throat.
It’d been a couple years ago, now. He stood on this doorstep in the snow, older brother urging him to get in the car. Only a few moments ago, then. His boyfriend admitted to hiding someone from him. He remembers staring at the door, committing it to memory on purpose. Just in case this was the last time he’d see it. The splintering wood. Where the paint chipped.
In the 5 or 6 years since he’d been here last, they repainted. They must have. It skews more an ivory, versus an eggshell. Or perhaps it’d simply aged that much.
The weight of the silence from behind the door begins to weigh on his shoulders. Maybe they moved? What if they no longer reside here, and hadn’t for years? What if not a soul remembers them, either? What then? Would he have to result to finding Alicent on facebook, and go from there?? The trail of sickly dispositions is quickly put to an end by the door creaking underneath the heavy locks coming undone.
Canary swallows, pushing a stray hair behind his ear. Posture now straight. The door slowly peers open to reveal.. Who is that? Canary squints. “ Aemond ..? “ He blinks a few times.
“ The surprise is mutual. “ Aemond responds. Canary cannot believe his eyes. This boy grew overnight! And.. “ Your eye– “ “ Fishing incident. “ Aemond can basically read minds now, he knew what he was going to ask. “ Right.. You’re so tall! “ Canary quips next. Aemond gives a dry laugh. “ You haven’t been around. “
Canary nodded, sighing as he decided he couldn’t beat around the bush anymore. “ Where’s Aegon? “ Aemond knew it was coming, only a matter of time. He rolls an eye as he responds. “ At home. “ Canary looks around expectantly. Aemond shakes his head. “ No. His new home. The lakehouse. “ His eyebrows furrow. “ Oh.. Viserys.. “ Canary frowns. “ I’m so sorry, Aemond. “
Aemond could care less. He shrugs. “ Don’t pity me. Send your condolences to my mother. “ Canary shakes his head. “ I mean, I will.. But he was your father! “ Aemond stares blankly. Canary sighs. “ If you say so, I suppose. Wasn’t the lakehouse going to Rhaenyra? “ Aemond nods. Canary becomes visibly concerned and Aemond is quick to correct his implication. “ He changed his mind. “ Canary smiles. “ What’d she do? “ Aemond shrugs again. Helpful.
“ So..” Canary laughs. Nothing was funny, he was just uncomfortable. “ ..Do you have the address? “ Aemond scoffs. “ You still want to see him? “ Canary nods, and he can feel the displeasure radiating off of the taller boy. “ If you’re going to call me something, get it out and give me the address.” Canary huffed. Aemond sneers. “ I didn’t say anything..” “ Yet.” Aemond smirks, though still wordless. “ You still can’t drive, can you? ” Aemond looks around behind the blonde, affirming that there were no vehicles in sight. “ You plan to walk to the lakehouse? “ Canary hesitates. “ I guess. “ He didn’t think about it much. Tyland was a little busy to be driving him around. Aemond crosses his arms, shaking his head. “ Helpless.” Canary furrows a brow. “ There it is. “
Aemond lets out a big sigh before leaving the doorway, leaving Canary confused. “ Where –” It isn’t long before he returns, a lanyard in hand. “ Come on.” He pushes past the confused bird, closing the door behind. Canary squeezes a confused blink. There is no way baby Aemond was driving before him. Right? Aemond waltzes over to a old, huge, death trap of a car. Canary winces at how unapologetically obvious it was that it belonged to Aemond. He scolds himself as he follows.
Continued.