Chapter Text
Maekar Targaryen sat at the head of the truthfully enormous and probably oversized dining table he and his children sat around most evenings, just like today, except out of the six children- whom he'd all kill for despite what anyone, including said children would say- only five were there today at the room that forever felt empty. The hollowness always creeped up on him here, and not necessarily because of the empty seat of his eldest, off to college even if on a silly degree in literature. More so from the other empty seat to his right, empty for seven years now, and Maekar wondered again and again how many more it’d take to fill the gaping hole she left in not only him, but all of them.
It would be easier if she was still there, easier to deliver the News, easier to come to an agreement and way less of…
-But Daaad! Do we have to go?
Maekar opened his eyes, which he only shut for a second after delivering the News. He took a deep breath, remembering the techniques they taught him on family counselling.
-Yes, Aerion as much as I’d love to say “no we don’t” sadly we have to. Your Grandfather has already paid for the hotel so we will just spend a fun vacation with Uncle Baelor, Aunt Jena and your cousins! It’ll be fun!
-Fun, if your definition of fun is being stuck in a hotel in the middle of nowhere Turkey where there’s literally nothing else but tourist traps! Yes, Dad FUN!-his second oldest rolled his eyes, lounging back in his chair, which was rocked back to the point where he was quite concerned, he’d lose his favorite son-though it was strictly private information- to a sudden head injury any moment. Luckily, he had two more sons and the youngest, bless his heart chimed up.
-I don’t know why you all are so mad! It has big slides! And all you can eat! And we’ll see the ocean too, right Dad?
The rest of his children present, aside from Rhealle, who like Aegon was too young to understand this vacation was less of a gift and more of a fire being put out, rolled their eyes.
-Is granduncle Bloodraven coming at least? -Daella asked, seemingly teetering between the two camps that were clearly forming around the table.
-No, he’ll be on tour all summer and please Dae don’t call him that weird stage name of his, he has a Christian name.
-A boring one! Bloodraven is a cool name, unlike “Christian names” and forced family vacations!
So, it was settled Maekar thought, he lost his sweet girl too. He tried still. -Daeron is coming!
-Oh joy, Daeron is coming, let’s rejoice! -Aerion’s chair scraped against the floor as it rocked back into place, standing on all four of its legs like God intended it to stand- As if we couldn’t just call him any day! He lives two hours away for fuck’s sake and you act like he moved to Siberia! Besides last time I talked to him he went on and on about some weird poet who wrote dickpoems but is still regarded as some nation’s big poet! Daeron coming is not a selling point Dad!
Maekar sighed. Don’t yell at the children, his therapist will say, but I ask you: does that therapist have to live with not one, not two, but seven children as annoying as Maekar’s? No! In fact, they were blessedly child free! But they sure got rich from all the money he was forking up for these “advices”. On the other hand,…Maekar’s oldest son was… truly not exactly a selling point, even if he knew-yes, from checking phone logs, but sue him he was just concerned-that his second oldest was calling his elder brother at least once a day for absurd amounts of times. He supposed his son has to miss his brother a little if they talked for about an hour on a daily basis. But Maekar won’t point that out, because that would bring the inevitable question: how does he know it and that would bring a fight about,, boundaries” that he was not ready for today.
-I’ll tell Daeron you were talking shit about him behind his back! -his youngest screeched with the undertone of pure joy at the drama- And then he’ll spend the entire vacation with me because-
-Oh fuck, go on tattle, then but don’t be surprised if your bed wi- Maekar cut off his son by a sharp look.
-CHILDREN! Noone is tattling, no one does anything to Aeg’s bed and no one is fighting about this trip! It is settled we are going!
He looked over his sons and daughters all surprisingly quiet, all of a sudden, surveying their plates with newfound interest or in Rhae’s case kicking the leg of the table with her lightup princess shoes when she thought no one was looking…then he saw a hand riase midway up in the air: Aemon. He let a breath out. - Yes, Aemon?
-Why do we have to go on vacation? I mean…Grandpa doesn’t usually…
Maekar sighed once more. Sighs will be on his grave he thought, by now they were as much of his calling card as his “Targaryen blond”. He rested his forehead in his palm.
-One of the companies we oversee was…caught embezzling state funds. By news reports. So, Grandfather thought a vacation may not only serve to strengthen FAMILIAR BONDS but possibly help the media presence of the family.
-So, we are Grandpa’s show ponies- Daella nodded and honestly…Maekar couldn’t even find it in himself to disagree with her.
-Kind of. But it’ll be…fun! Some sun for all of us, God knows we deserve it!
-Yeah, some three weeks of sun! -Aerion pointed out under his breath-Out of my summer break!
-You’ll still have six more left!
-But I had plans! -the boy slammed his fork down into his meat.
-Me too, yet I’m not complaining- Aemon pointed out. He probably wasn’t complaining for Aeg and Rhea’s sake, but Maekar knew as soon as he left this table these three would be on a call with his eldest complaining.
-Yes, and you get off school a week earlier, so you’ll have an entire week to relax before we go! - Dae snapped- Why does your weird Christian school finish a week earlier than any other high school?!
-It’s not my fault I chose a school I like, stops earlier and doesn’t have Aerion in it or Daeron’s “history” in it! You chose that school, deal with it Dae!
One day, Maekar thought as his children descended into their usual arguments…one day he’ll just lay down, and she will be right next to him once more.
-
Daeron Targaryen was way too sober for all this. Fuck exams and having to stay sober to study for them! And while we are at it fuck Uncle Aerys, he had one job and it was to make sure the business gets into no scandal, but seemingly, despite being a single man in his forties this was beyond his abilities! So fuck him, because him being a single man in his forties also meant that he will not take the fall, but his siblings with marketable children and families will…children including Daeron who was until a week ago was planning to go on a roughly two weeklong bender after his exams before going home for the summer.
Instead, here he was, sneaking his last gulps of gas station vodka, before the bus with roughly thirty screaming nine-year-olds would roll into the parking lot. Thirty screaming nine-year-olds, hyped up from sleepaway soccer camp -because that hyped up some people- including Daeron’s youngest brother: Aegon.
He probably jinxed it with the thought, because the bus showed up in the distance. He tossed the half empty bottle into the trashcan next to him; he probably wouldn’t look like a responsible adult ready to not only drive but take his brother on an international flight if they caught him day drinking.
About ten minutes later a bouncing ball of energy that was his baby brother crashed into him. -DAERON!
-Hi! - he chuckled, because despite all his misery Dearon did love his siblings- You grew since Christmas! I can’t even spin you around anymore! Can I even swing Rhea around or is she a giant too now?
The boy giggled in pure joy as he pulled Daeron towards the luggage by his arm- I’m not a giant! If anything, I’m small, look at the others! And Rhea isn’t a giant either! C’mon, we have to collect my suitcases, you have to sign me out and we have to catch a plane! To Turkey! Isn’t it cool? We are going to Turkey, Daeron!
Daeron just smiled, offering his brother silence as agreement, instead of voicing his humble opinion that Turkey was in fact very cool except only in Istanbul where the parties are, not Antalya’s shores where the slowly rotting away luxury hotels, photo-opts and tourist traps are. There’s no need to spoil the kid’s fun he thought, at least he was still young enough to enjoy it if the rest of them were going to suffer.
So, he entertained to boy’s endless rambles about waterslides, fantasies about the sea (as if they haven’t seen it before, but when he mentioned that he was told “but not from Turkey!”. Daeron doubted it to be any different than from Greece or Tunesia.), at least ten matches of a weird Roblox game and a way too in-depth recounting of soccer camp until they landed in Istanbul Airport.
He was never meant to do what he did, he truly wasn’t planning on it. Daeron Targaryen for once wanted to be a good son and take his younger brother straight to the transfer plane to the hotel, wanted to check in and wait for the rest of the family to arrive the next day but…Istanbul was so full of life. So colorful, so tempting, so the opposite of what a luxury family vacation was to offer. And Daeron Targaryen thought he wanted to be responsible, especially since he promised HER he’d look after all of them but… he was never a good or a strong man.
-Aeg- he turned to his baby brother equally at awe the city on the other side of the large glass windows of the airport- Would you like to do something fun?
The boy, poor innocent boy looked up at him with sparkling eyes so full of trust he was about to betray-Yes!
-Well for that…-he gently plucked the boy’s phone from his hands- we’ll have to put this-he held up the phone before sliding it into one of Aeg’s suitcases before it disappeared in boarding- here.
-WHAT? Why? That was my phone! - the boy, being as chronically online as any of the other Targaryen’s screeched. Daeron quickly covered his face.
-Don’t yell! And I took you to see Zootopia 2 before Christmas! What did we learn from it that I told you to remember very well because of Dad?
The boy’s face smoothed with joy of knowing an answer to a question. Daeron truly wished he’d stay that way- They always check the phones first!
-Yes! -he cheered- They always check the phones first! Especially Dad! So if we want to do something fun, we’ll have to make sure he can’t track us!
-But…you still have your phone! - the boys blond eyebrows knitted together. Daeron rolled his eyes.
-Oh, Grandmother taught me how to kick Dad off of any of my devices years ago!
-But…Dad still tracks Aerion, he brought him home from a party just two weeks ago, it was two am, but I was up secretly-the younger frowned-Why doesn’t he know how to make Dad stop tracking him!
-Well…-Daeron grinned-Grandmother doesn’t like Aerion as much as she likes me. Or at all! Anyways, if you’ll be good, I’ll give you this secret knowledge when you are old enough! Now- he took his little brother’s hand turning towards the city- Let’s have fun!
-
This was so not fun! Aeg was lied to and he knew it now! He was lied to, betrayed, fooled and currently sitting in some dingy room with a bunch of man yelling in a language he didn’t understand eating weird food and drinking foul smelling stuff which Dearon joined gladly. But Aeg was BORED! They were supposed to be by the sea by now, he knew because Dad told him when they’d got there and the clock on the weird, carpeted wall was showing a time way past that. So, he was lied to, and their adventure was only fun until Daeron stopped showing him things and running around with him in alleys and began drinking the foul stuff that definitely contained alcohol.
And he was grinning! Grinning into his cup, happy as a pig in the mud while Aeg was dying of boredom. Which he decided to be very vocal about. But Daeron just flashed his stupid grin and hazy eyes on him.
-If you stop complaining I’ll let you drink the foam off the top!
-I don’t want your stupid foam-Aeg stomped his feet by the table-I want the sea!
-Damn…-his brother just shook his head, still not taking Aeg seriously. Sometimes Daeron was the coolest but sometimes he was just utterly useless- Aerion said it works on Rhae!
-But I’m not Rhea, I’m not a baby like her and you can’t trick me into trading away my sea for some foul, smelly foam! - Aeg declared as he shook his head wildly. Then he had an idea. He stopped his stomping and straightening up he declared- I’m going to the sea myself!
-What? -Daeron laughed, yes laughed at Aeg as he drowned another cup of the stuff- And pray tell me how?
-Well, Dad gave me money,, just in case” and he wrote me down the city and the hotel,, just in case” I’ll just…go by bus!
-No, no you won’t, you are like nine years old Aeg, sit back down, you can’t go alone and sure as fuck I’m not going with. - Daeron laughed once more, pulling his little brother to sit with him.
But what Daeron seemingly forgot during his spring semester away was the fact that Aeg may have been the second youngest, but he also was in fact not stupid. He of course didn’t argue with his stupid, useless big brother while he could argue back so…he just kind of waited until he fell asleep. Or whatever they call when adults drink enough to pass out over the table.
Anyways he took the silence of his brother’s snoring as permission and slipped away into the bustling city to find himself a ride to see the sea and the slides. And possibly reunite with his phone.
Even if the city was big, kind of scary and people barely understood him. He’ll get his slides; he’ll be brave and Dad’ll scold Daeron for Aeg having to grow through all this trouble.
-
Duncan Pennytree was kind of having the time of his life but also was totally out of his comfort zone. As he wondered around his latest “concur” the large and bustling city of Istanbul one last time before he went to buy his next random bus ticket he thought about good old Arlan at home. Oh, what pictures he showed him of his travelling days (which were way before he became a dojo’s janitor) and Dunk, despite never being the brightest of the flames burning, was always in awe of the idea: taking a bag, packing it full and concurring the world. Thought he’d never thought he’d actually do it. He didn’t think it was a possibility for him at least not for now…that was until the good old man welcomed him home from his first year at university with a backpack, a plane ticket and a visa on the tiny kitchen table.
And that is how Dunk found himself here. Before this he spent a week travelling trough Greece by dirty distance buses and on feet, only to eventually end up here. He loved each second of it and he sent good old Arlan as many pictures as he could. But it was now time to move on. He only had three more weeks before his summer job was bound to start so he had to say farewell- to way too pricey in the long run- to Istanbul after three days and decided he’d head South.
He was planning on walking to the market one last time before buying his ticket…well that was until he saw the tiny, blond boy way too out of his place and all alone in front of a very sketchy man.
Over the nineteen years of Dunc’s life two things tended to prove truthful: people feared his size and he had, as Arlan called it a “savior complex” …or whatever. So, when he stepped behind the boy the man took one look at him and scrambled away. Only for the boy to look up at him offended.
-You scared him away! I almost got him to get me a ticket and he spoke English! -the boy said in a voice that could’ve easily meant Dunc just offended ten generations of his family by saving him from getting his intestines harvested.
-He was a sketchy man kid. -Dunc answered trying to match the offense in tone-He was not buying you anything! Were you not taught about stranger danger by your parents? Besides, where are your parents?
-Why? - the boy crossed his arms. Dunc crossed his.
-Because you are like three apples tall and if they left you to wander around the city, they are very irresponsible.
The boy narrowed his eyes (which were a strange mix of purplish-blue Dunc has never seen before) before his face smoothed. -They are by the sea.
-The sea? -Dunc frowned, because he thought he was missing something. The boy rolled his eyes in the way people did when they were indicating Dunc was slow.
-Yes, the sea! We got…separated by the airport! -the kid claimed but Dunc was not entirely sure he believed him. - But I know where by the sea and my Dad gave me emergency money but no one wants to let me buy a ticket! And you scared off my man for the task!
It was Dunk’s turn to narrow his eyes. - Money...?
But to his absolute horror the kid dug into his pocket producing at least ten hundred-dollar bills- Oh God, put that away- he scrambled-We’ll both get cut into peices!
-No we won’t, I’ll just get to my family if a bus driver finally lets me buy a ticket. -The boy shrugged then looked up with Dunc with the biggest, brightest eyes- Or you could help me sir! You aren’t a kidnapper, right?
Dunc tried to resist, he truly did, because he had the sinking feeling that the strange kid is more trouble than he looks like, but also…the other option was to leave him here, all alone and Dunc…was not bad enough to do that. He sighed and held out a hand. The boy raised his eyebrows-I’m not giving you, my money!
Dunc rolled his eyes- I don’t want your money; I don’t even know how you are running around with someone’s monthly salary I wanted to shake your hand boy! I’m Duncan Pennytree. But you can call me Dunc.
The boy’s eyes brightened once more as he reached out his tiny hand enthusiastically shaking Dunc’s-Hi, Dunc! You’ll help me, right? Yay! I’m…Egg!
Egg…Duncan frowned a little, thinking what family both names their son “Egg” and then leaves him alone in Istanbul while they are already at “the sea”, but also…he sounded American just like Dunc so…he could be named Dobby too so maybe he got lucky with Egg. Dunc knew a lot about cookie families, he saw enough of those growing up. He sighed.
-Show me your bus…We’ll buy two tickets and get you to your family and “sea” …
-Yay! -the boy jumped in excitement to which Dunc once again thought no one really thought this kid what stranger danger is, because that tiny boy was now dragging him away towards one of the distance bus’s stops rambling on about how Dunc sighs like his Dad and asking him if he played soccer because “You are huuge, sir, Dunc sir? ”. Dunc Pennytree knew at that moment that whatever he got himself into…was at the very least a story to be told to Arlan.
-
-MOTHERFUCKER!
Maekar Targaryen roared standing at the front desk of Horus Hotel Paradise Luxury Five Star Hotel, being informed that their suits were not only not in the main building but also were not yet checked into by anyone. The staff was apologizing profoundly, though they themselves didn’t know why as they even took the suitcases sent ahead to the rooms.
Maekar however… he knew that with the headache of an eldest son he had it meant one single thing. Maybe he should just cut off their money and let them starve in whatever hole of Istanbul- because Maekar would bet his head that his good for nothing son was there- he chose to crawl away into but also… he would not. Mostly for Aeg in his current emotional state, but if he was honestly for Daeron’s wellbeing too.
-Dad what’s a “motherfucker”? -his sweetest, loveliest Babygirl asked taking his shaking hand into hers only to continue with a serious face- There’s a shitstain on the carpet in the lobby.
Maekar exhaled. She loved her truly, so she didn’t deserve the anger he was bottling up currently for when he saw his eldest. - It’s probably not that, Rhae couldn’t it be…hot chocolate?
-Aerion said it’s definitely shit.
-Of course he did…