Chapter Text
It was just past 3 a.m.
Aemond smiled at the clock. He was officially eighteen. Well, as of 1:37. He missed the actual moment because he and Aegon passed out around 11.
His party with his closest friends was on his boat. The Vhagar, Vhagar was one of many ships his family owned. Aegon has his own just mere feet away. Sunfyre. A golden boat that reflected the morning sun beautifully. However, no boat could compare to Aemonds. The Vhagar was the biggest. It was a shade of green with golden accents. It was by far the most beautiful ship Aemond has ever seen. Even it did make him biased.
Everyone on Vhagar was passed out from the night before. Everyone, except Aemond. Who lied awake starting at the ceiling. His one eye tracking the movements of the fan blades. Beside him, Aegon, his twin brother, laid, snoring obnoxiously with his mouth wide open. The sound wasn't enough to drown out the constant thumping coming from the outside of the boat.
Thump thump thump
That's all Aemond could hear. A constant rhythmic thump. Like waves smacking the dock. It was maddening.
"Does no one else hear that?" He groaned, throwing his hands over his face.
No one stirred when he spoke. Not even Aegon, who was mere inches from his face. Aemond blamed their deep sleeps on the alcohol and drugs consumed the night before. Aegon broke into their fathers liquor cabinet on the boat, and Criston brought marijuana. Helaena, the sweet girl she was refused the alcohol but enthusiastically accepted every joint passed her way. Aemond only allowed himself a little indulgence. He wasn't much a fan of how they made him feel. He hadn't had a single drink since he was sixteen. When he and Aegon got a little too drunk at Helaena's house. It ended with Aemond crashing into a tree with his new car. Viserys was furious.
Thump thump thump
Aemond slammed his hand down on the cushion under him.
"Criston, wake up." Ameond demanded, looking down at his best friend who was sprawled out on the floor.
Criston made no notion that he heard Aemond speak at all. He barely even looked like he was breathing.
"Criston," Aemond said louder this time. Loud enough that he was sure everyone would have heard. Especially Alys who laid tucked in his side. Her breathing ghosts his face. "Are you seriously that fucking trashed Cole?"
No one made a move.
"Fine, I'll go look for myself." He huffed, getting up out of the blanket.
Aemond contemplated kicking Criston in the side on his way to the sliding door. He didn't, but he really wanted to. Instead, he quietly opened the door to the deck and stepped out into the crisp August air.
It was mid-August, senior year started in a week. This party doubled as an end of summer and birthday celebration. Next summer, they'd all be going their separate ways. Aegon and Helaena were most likely either going to be married or pregnant by then. Criston would be going to Dorne to study, Alys was going to Harrenhal College. And Aemond was going into the family business. Aegon was supposed to be the successor, but Viserys, his father, was dead set on passing the business to his eldest daughter. Rhaenrya Targaryen.. or Velaryon. His eldest sister from his father's first marriage. The reason their family was at odds with one another.
As Ameond walked the deck towards the dock where his boat was tied up, he pulled his new leather jacket tightly around him. It was enough to keep the bite of the air off him.
Hopping from the boat to the dock, Aemond waited to see if he could hear the dreadfully annoying sound again. He knew it was most likely just a stupid fish, but he had no issue with killing a fish with his bare hands if it meant he could go back to sleep. However, that wasn't the case.
Thump thump thump thump thump
Pearing over the dock towards the dark water below, Aemond couldn't hold in the shout that escaped him.
Wedged between his boat and the dock was a body. The body was upside down, and the insistent thumping was coming from the black boot trapped between the post of the dock and the fiber glass outside of the boat. Aemond felt his legs give out from under him at the sight. Not because it was a dead body, no, because Aemond knew that body. The white hair that slayed out in the water, coming loose from the bun that sat on top. The leather jacket that was given to him just yesterday.
Aemond felt his heart quiver slightly at the ghastly sight in front of him. The water logged body in front of him mirrored the very body that stood on the deck.
"Holy fuck." Aemond whispered to himself. His eye never left the body in the water.
His body.