#targcest

First of all, the real reason that Maekar has his armour in Ashford? Because he knows, even years later, that Baelor still finds it hot when he watches him fight and it's a point of pride for him to be able to show off like that.

So they get to Ashford. Daeron and Egg still having gone missing, Maekar still worrying about them and Baelor still having faith that they're going to turn up. But also Baelor being a bit more pushy about saying that they never should have brought Daeron with them and Maekar snapping that he doesn't need an "I told you so" (because it was Maekar's idea to bring Daeron because he thought that leaving him behind at Summerhall was an even worse idea), but Baelor gets to soothe him with pet names ("beloved") and physical touch- it definitely helps and Maekar is still salty about how quickly Baelor can affect him like that.

Daeron disappearing because he still doesn't want to enter the tourney, not because he has a Dream of Baelor dying because Baelor was never going to die in this version.

Baelor and Maekar are away on a break together for the first time in who knows how long, even if it is a PR mission for the family, too, they're away from court and have no real duties to attend to so they're planning on doing what anyone would in that situation- sleep.

Dunk throwing a wrench in those plans at least as much as their kids going missing (because even if it's not a version where the kids are biologically both theirs, at this point, they both think of the entire brood as theirs all the same).

So Dunk still turns up, still unaware that his new squire is one of the missing princes and he ran into the other at the inn and also unaware that Baelor and Maekar are both taken with him. And he's also stammering through his speech even more because of his own "oh no, they're hot" internal monologue. He's heard talk of both of them for years, of course he has, but up close and personal they're even more of a sight. Thinking somewhere at the back of his mind that he knows it's a bad idea to get caught between a hammer and an anvil, but that might be exactly where he wants to be anyway and then wanting to make a swift exit before they notice quite how red his face has gotten.

Baelor and Maekar not having planned on falling into bed at every available opportunity while they're basically on holiday, but that night is when they can't keep their hands off each other the second that the bedchamber door swings shut behind them, desperate in a way they haven't been in years.

After is when they address the hedge knight in the room (and how they're already both wishing that wasn't a metaphor).

Also, imagine for this conversation, Baelor's head is in the middle of Maekar's chest, simply because I love the visual of Maekar looking down at the back of Baelor's head (he doesn't know that anything was ever different, that in another universe, this all had a much worse ending, but we do so we can enjoy this soft moment).

Baelor trying to make clear that the fact that he's so taken with this new person doesn't mean that there's anything wrong with Maekar or that he doesn't love him anymore or that he wants out. (Maybe Maekar doesn't even need to hear this, but Baelor needs to say it).

Maekar saying that he's spent his entire life wanting Baelor, in one way or another, and that's not about to change now (that will never change, he feels that in his very core), even if it turns out he wants someone else, too.

Maekar has been running his fingers through Baelor's hair and speaking more softly than he does with anyone else. While Baelor has been tracing random patterns across Maekar's stomach. Just the way they've always been when they're together.

There's comfort in the reassurance that they're still them.

And when the soft reassurances of continued love are done is when Baelor moves. He just turns over, head still resting on Maekar's chest, but now he's looking up at his face. He's showing more than a hint of teeth and he's got a glint in the corner of his eye.

Maekar knows that look. Has seen it on Baelor's face too many times to count by now. Planning something. A scheme. Trouble.