Chapter Text
It had been five years since Daemon had been to the hidden nightclub, the Netherland, where he used to perform. The smell of the old fog machine wafted into his nostrils as he and Harwin stepped through the door, which was craftily hidden behind the freezer section of a Bodega. Darkness embraced the duo as they entered, but as the tunnel ended, they emerged into the colorful strobe lights of the nightclub.
Daemon had always wanted to escape the confines of his family name. At eighteen, his friend had shown him the underground music scene, and Daemon never looked back. He donned the moniker "The Rogue Prince" and snuck down to the sewers of the city every other night to perform at some hidden destination. Despite being an A-list celebrity in his day-to-day life, Daemon always kept a low profile by tucking his silver strands under a dark beanie, decorating his face with a little red paint, and never using his real name.
Now, one of the heirs to the massive Targaryen fortune, he had little time to focus on his music. When his father split their company in two, half for Daemon and half for his elder brother Viserys, there was a lot of shock. Daemon vowed not to disappoint his father and retired from his side job to focus on his new-found responsibilities. He moved to London to manage their England branch and had only just now been able to return for more than a week-long stint.
Only in town for a month to celebrate his niece's graduation and catch up with his family, somehow his old friend had roped him into coming to the newest show. Now the duo found themselves facing a new generation of "ravers." The room lit up with the strobes in time with the music.
"This set's okay, but I don't think it was worth me coming all the way to Brooklyn for," Daemon said, making his way to the makeshift bar to procure a few shots. "Liquid Marijuana? What are we, twelve?" The joke made Harwin laugh. The friends slopped back the green juice. It was all a little nostalgic for Daemon. The music, the half dressed girls handing him glasses of questionable substances.
Harwin was all smiles, "I'm telling you, the main event hasn't even started yet," he said, ordering two more shots. This time the liquid didn't pucker their lips. "Want some E?" Harwin asked, pulling out a small container from his pocket.
"Obviously," Daemon replied sarcastically, popping the red domino shaped pill that Harwin offered him. He waited for the drug to kick in during the lull period of the show. Some guy accidentally spilt his beer on Harwins shoes, but the large man just brushed it off. "No biggie!" The drunken man looked relieved, especially as his eyes took in Harwins form. Standing confidently at 6'3 with wide shoulders, Harwin could scare the shit out of most people, though the looks women often gave him weren't that of fear. His dark curls luring most ladies in, begging to be touched.
The music was pulsing with Daemon, the lights wrapping around him like a soft blanket. "Shit, what was that cut with?" Daemon asked, but Harwin didn't answer. Instead, he shoved his slender friend forward to get a better view of the new artist. Unlike most of the other patrons, he was still dressed in his day to day attire. A long red button down shirt, with some black slacks. Their tailored fit a testament to his upbringing.
On stage, a young girl with a cropped pink wig made her appearance, at the same time the crowd erupted.
After a few cords were exchanged, the women in question was plugged into the sound system. Strobe lights dropped off, the only sounds were from the fog machines whirring. Suddenly, a loud dragon shriek shook the air, flames shot up from the sides of the makeshift stage. "What the fuck," Daemon muttered. The entrance was a sort of remake of his own, back when he performed.
A merry tune trickled through the air, something from a robin hood movie, giving the room a medieval vibe. Then, in large pink letters on the overhead screen, the words "Realms Delight" were scrawled out. The crowd was going insane, with girls squealing in excitement and men jumping to get a better view. The performer was hardly visible through all the commotion. Daemon was only able to make out the sight of her pink head bobbing, otherwise the only noticeable thing about her were her half covered breast. Dressed in nothing more than a neon bikini and some to tight shorts, Daemon could almost forgive the fact that she'd stolen from him.
The music shifted slightly, and another familiar sound took over Daemon's ears. The girl was playing his songs! Okay, maybe the word was "sampling," as the songs were clearly reworked and edited into something more unique. She had talent, sure, but originality? Nuh-uh.
Daemon was growing more aggravated with the situation, especially after the next song started and the crowd began chanting her name. "Realms Delight. Rogue Prince. Similar, right? I thought you'd get a kick out of this!" Harwin was practically shaking with giddiness. "I saw her show last Tuesday, and it was way better than this one. There was a bubble machine, and she wore the most insanely hot outfit. I swear to god, I think I'm in love with her." Harwin was foaming at the mouth. "Well, congratulations. I'm going to go give her a piece of my mind after her little show. You can introduce yourself when I tell her to stop playing my fucking set!" Daemon felt his pale cheeks warming.
It wasn't that she was bad; no, the problem was that the girl was actually good. Far too good, in fact. Her singing had transformed his work into something more tangible than just regular beats, something more akin to actual music. The issue Daemon had was that it was HIS music. HIS talent. He had to meet her, speak to her, and tell her to quit.
The set was going to end eventually. Gathering his rage, he grabbed Harwin's arm and tugged the man toward the side stage. "Sorry, buddy. Performers only," the security guard grunted out at them, a brunette douchebag wearing a "Realms Delight" t-shirt that was way too tight.
Grinding his teeth from the ecstasy and frustration, Daemon hissed, "Do you know who I am? Let me through. I need to speak with that girl!" The guard rolled his eyes. "Yeah, you and every other dude with eyes and a functioning dick. Kick rocks, scumbag." Harwin was trying his best not to laugh, but the twenty-something-year-old telling his friend to "kick rocks" tipped him over the point of no return
Daemon spat, “Cunt,” at the bodyguard, carting Harwin back to the entrance. “That fucking punk. You’d think they’d show some respect to the older generation.” Harwin snagged a few shots from a passing woman in an orange tube top. “Thanks, love,” he said with a wink, and the curly-headed girl smirked at him.
There was no way Daemon wasn't going to meet that girl. Resigned to waiting out the crowd of fans, the duo moved outside of the bodega in hopes of catching her on her exit. Of course, it was already 1am somehow before her set was finally wrapping up.
Excitedly, Daemon stood guard, his fingers frozen from the shitty November weather, arms crossed in aggravation. “Harwin! I thought you said this was the only exit,” he yelled out. Nearby, his friend stood with the server from earlier. “I thought it was!” Harwin snapped back, returning to his conversation.
Daemon frowned. He wouldn’t be able to see her tonight, but that didn’t mean she wouldn’t pop up again. No, he absolutely would not let this girl get away with stealing his fucking set.
The graduation ceremony was slow, ridiculously slow. Rhaenyra’s feet were sore from standing too long in front of her classmates. “And so our journey begins!” she finished cheerfully and threw her cap in the air. Naturally, she had given the final speech as class valedictorian.
It hadn’t been easy juggling her internships, schoolwork, and hobbies, but somehow she’d done it. Now the rest was cake, Rhaenyra thought dryly.
The heels of her shoes cut deeper into her skin, but there were several more photo ops to take before she could remove them. Her parents were waiting excitedly at the end of the line, discussing business with some of the other adults. Even though Rhaenyra was 22, she still felt like a teenager when Viserys and Aemma were floating around.
Eagerly, her violet eyes skimmed the crowd. “He promised to come,” Rhaenyra thought, trying to keep her mind from racing. Her uncle Daemon had assured her that he would be in attendance for her big day, and Rhaenyra couldn’t be more excited.
Thick as thieves, peas in a pod, the two had a sort of natural chemistry. Outside of Laena and Alicent, Daemon would be considered her closest friend. Or he could have been a few years ago. Ever since he’d moved to London, they had grown apart.
It wasn’t on purpose. He was busy with work, and Rhaenyra was doing her damndest to earn a place in their family business. Then there was also her side project, something just for her. Only Laena and Alicent knew about it, and only Laena had seen it up close.
Those late-night study sessions at the Velaryon house were much less innocent than what Rhaenyra would have her parents believe.
It had started as a way to escape the drowning sensation that was taking her over, a fifteen-year-old preparing to conquer the world. Constantly stressed about meeting the demands of her almost-overbearing father, constantly wanting to prove herself to the misogynistic assholes who worked for her father.
Rhaenyra had no time for faults, no moments to show vulnerability. And why should she? She was perfect.
Blessed with beauty and natural wit, Rhaenyra longed for a place to take the edge off and hide from her responsibilities. "There you are. I thought the speech was lovely." His voice always slipped carefully through the haze of her thoughts. "Uncle Daemon!" she squeaked out excitedly, turning to see her favorite person. "Little Dragon!" he said with just as much enthusiasm. He stood with his arms outstretched, the blackness of his suit contrasting against his silver cropped hair. Rhaenyra wrinkled her nose. "Your hair!"
Daemon laughed at her reaction. "I couldn't keep it long forever. I like change too much." His lilac eyes scanned over her dark black graduation gown before landing on her face, making Rhaenyra's heart race a little.
'He's your uncle!' she reminded herself, despite her body's reaction. "Did you see Mom and Dad yet? I'm sure they'll be thrilled you're here." Daemon smiled softly at her, bringing Rhaenyra in for a hug.
'God, he smells amazing,' she thought, the familiar scent overwhelming her as his arms wrapped around her small frame. "I haven't seen them yet, but I imagine we will be celebrating? Not every day that a Targaryen graduates from college." His words were muffled, then gently he placed a kiss on her forehead before releasing her.
The blush spread quickly across her cheeks. "My girl!" the sound of Aemma's voice made her step back nervously, as if she was caught doing something horribly inappropriate.
Daemon felt the tense energy and cocked a brow at her, curious about her actions. "I'm a graduate!" The family came together, four silver heads sharing in a wonderful moment. "Your speech was lovely, honey. Daemon! I'm so glad to see you, little brother!" Viserys practically tackled the younger man into a hug, always over-affectionate with his family members.
"Are we still going to meet grandpa later?" Rhaenyra asked as she locked arms with her mother. "Of course. Papa Baelon would burn the city down if he didn't get to celebrate this occasion with us." Viserys said and Daemon laughed. "My father will be there too, honey. Grandpa Arryn is very proud of you! I believe he and your papa Baelon have been setting up the party."
A small affair at their country house, the Targaryen family would gather together for the simple fete. Often forced into expensive galas and over-the-top fundraisers, when the Targaryens were able to keep their events small scale, they were much happier.
"How about you ride over to The Keep with me?" Daemon inquired as the family reached the parking lot. "God, they still let you drive?" his niece poked fun at him, causing Daemon to react with fake hurt, clutching dramatically at his heart. "Of course not! I had to bribe the DMV guy into renewing my license," he said proudly.
Aemma shared a laugh with her husband. "Alright, we will meet you two there! But no pit stops. Your grandfathers are going to be heartbroken if we get there before you!"
Daemon let his hand grab Rhaenyra's, leading the way toward the corner of the parking lot where his old M3 was parked. "Isn't that car a little dated?" Rhaenyra scowled at the man. "It's been here waiting for me. I'm not just going to trade it in for a new model. I respect it far too much," Daemon retorted. Rhaenyra rolled her violet eyes at the man.
He held the door open for her, letting the girl slide effortlessly onto the leather in the front seat. “So.. how was London?” Rhaenyra asked, unable to let their ride slip into awkward silence. “It was fine. I’m happy to be back for now though, glad I got to see you graduate.” His lip twitched at the corner, a small smile just for her.
“And you? How have things been here since I left? New friends? Boyfriend?” Rhaenyra glanced out the window before responding nonchalantly, “Same old. Laenas still doing her thing, she just got a motorcycle. Alicent is interning under Otto, the man hasn’t given her a day off in a month. No boyfriend, I’m too busy.” An understatement, and an excuse. Plenty of men would have been able to wrap around her schedule, but she didn’t have eyes for them.
The only two men Rhaenyra had ever felt attracted to were the man in the black BMW next to her, which was an issue in itself. The fact that she had a long-standing crush on her uncle was something she had never shared with anyone, not ever her overpriced therapist.
The other man she had be into to was someone she hadn't seen in years. It wasn't a case of a whirlwind romance that ended in ghosting. The situation was, unfortunately, less complicated than that.
The car ride was pleasant enough, with the two Targaryens sinking into their natural rhythm. Rhaenyra kept tabs on Daemon religiously, following every exploit she could find online. She knew about his divorce from Rhea Royce, his affair with Mysaria, and his most recent string of eye candy that happened to have blonde hair and be only a few years older than Rhaenyra herself. On the darkest nights, she would slip her hands between her thighs and think of him, her uncle, longingly imagining that those women were just there because they resembled her.
As they pulled up to the large mansion, Daemon parked his car behind her father's red Mercedes. "How did they beat us here?" he tutted, then got out to grab her door. Rhaenyra took his hand, and they both rushed to the door. Still dressed in the long black gown, her arm slid into the crevice of her uncle's elbow effortlessly. Knowingly, Daemon held her up, probably guessing that her heels were screaming from the long day.
Without knocking, the duo entered the large house to be met with the popping of champagne, a confetti cannon, and an insanely large number of balloons. "Congratulations!" Her entire family shouted, but the loudest of all were her grandfathers. Both were dressed in typical Bahama-style shirts and looked a tad ridiculous with their matching bucket hats. Whoever had decided her face looked best on a bucket hat needed to pay, Rhaenyra thought.
Fast friends from childhood, Rodrik Arryn had happily married into the Targaryen family by wedding Daella, Baelons sister. The two had always kept a good relationship despite their obvious personality differences. Baelon often considered fun spirited, while Rodrik was seen as stuffy.
Beside the old men stood her aunt Rhaenys and her cousins, Laena and Laenor. Laena Velaryon was wild, reckless, and brilliant. A true Targaryen. While her brother Laenor was prissy, never wanting to get his hands dirty. Literally, he was a germaphobe. He was also an in-the-closet homosexual, but everyone in their family except for Corlys, his father, seemed to be aware.
Alicent, of course, stood entirely too straight beside Laena, her arms full of flowers to give to Rhaenyra. "We were at the ceremony, but it was so crowded. Laena and I decided to just meet you back here." The three girls hadn't grown apart since they had graduated high school, a testament to their deep friendship.
Rhaenyra was overwhelmed by the support her family showed, tearing up a bit. "I didn't need such a big party! Besides, it's only my bachelor's. I still have more to learn." Laenor rolled his eyes. "Just take the damn flowers, Rhaenyra. Nobody likes false humility." The group laughed at the man's candor as Rhaenyra plucked the bouquet from her friend's hands.
The party was a low key event, with Laena shoving Laenor into the pool after a few glasses of champagne. Daemon and Rhaenyra posted themselves up on the deck that overlooked the backyard, while Aemma, Rhaenys, and Alicent shared their most recent thoughts on the latest novel they'd read in their book club.
"Okay, now it's your turn."Rhaenyra smirked, causing her uncle to groan, "Alright, I've got two points so far, and you're at one. Here I go." Daemon took a large sip of his orange-colored drink before grimacing, "Gods, that is disgusting. So far we've got orange, cinnamon, and I'm gonna guess grapefruit juice?" Rhaenyra frowned, "That's impossible. Are you sure you didn't see me pour it?" The girl questioned, the casual red sundress flowing effortlessly around her.
Daemon smirked, "I've got a natural affinity for flavors. What can I say? Alright, three to one, your turn." Eagerly, the man watched his niece slurp the brown liquid, "Ugh, it gets worse with every sip!" Puckering out her lips and making a face, "Okay, so far I got coke, you promised there was no cherry. I'm gonna guess tequila?"
Daemon laughed and nodded, "Yes, yes. What's your question then?" The two had been playing one of their favorite games - they'd each make a disgusting concoction for the other to drink, and if you guessed the right ingredients, you could ask the person a question and they couldn't lie. "I've been dying to know - that tattoo I saw in the tabloids, the one just above your-" Happily, Daemon lifted his shirt before she could continue.
Almost proudly showing off the red-colored dragon that he'd gotten in Chinatown on a dare. It danced playfully at the waist of his pants, the bottom half covered by a dark belt and his wrinkled red shirt. "I got it years ago. I named him Caraxes," Daemon gleefully exclaimed, unashamed of his drunken mistake.
Snorting into the murky drink, Rhaenyra blushed. "What's your question then, Uncle?" Violet eyes begged the man to change the pace of the game and set the tone to something more adult. Instead, he asked, "What happened to Old Man Mellos's cat?"
Rhaenyra cocked her brow, then thought about lying. It wasn't the nature of the game, though. "How'd you know about that?" She asked her uncle, rather than answering his question. The man simply shrugged, "I've got my sources."
Letting out a heavy sigh, "Fine. I was pretty tipsy after a night out with Laena, the cat ran in front of my Uber. When the driver hit it, I made him pull over. It felt wrong to just leave a dead cat there, so I put it on his porch. It was NOT a threat from the mob." The explanation satisfied her uncle for the most part, "And the tie-dye shirt?"
That part was less explainable, "Well, you see, I didn't want to touch the cat with my hands - I mean, it was super gross. So I took off my shirt and used it. I didn't want to take the bloody shirt back into the Uber, so I thought it was best to keep it with the cat." Rhaenyra spoke casually, as if the whole thing was a normal occurrence.
Daemon brought his glass up to toast her, "Well, the damn thing was a menace, so good riddance!"
Their smiles were too wide - Rhaenyra could feel it. The strange bond that had developed between the two of them, always so proud of their heritage yet feeling like they skirted just along the outside of their family's view. Something made them pause - perhaps it was that Rhaenyra let herself stand too close to him. Maybe it was that Daemon didn’t push her away, but rather let his arm drape easily over her shoulder. The two of them looked over the ‘kingdom’ that surrounded their family mansion.
"Will you return to London soon?" Daemon didn't need a taste of the disgusting mixture in front of him to answer the question. He nodded, "Yes, but I promise to miss you." Rhaenyra sighed, leaning into his warmth. "I'm all alone here."
It was a half-truth. She had Laena, Alicent, and their entire family. Yet, she still felt a strange void, and Daemon knew exactly what she meant. They were one half of the same coin, one piece of the same puzzle.
They always seemed to accidentally match at events, enjoyed the same kind of movies, and somehow just fit together. Even her parents had said Rhaenyra was Daemon reborn. It was no wonder she harbored such wrong feelings.
Daemon hummed lightly next to her, "Do you have plans tonight? I'm traveling into the city later for something. You're more than welcome to join me." His arm slid down Rhaenyra's back, causing an involuntary shudder. "Oh, I can't. I promised I'd go over to Alicent's with Laena to celebrate," Rhaenyra nervously replied.
Although she would have loved to join her uncle in his escapades through the slums, Rhaenyra had her own plans. Daemon seemed satisfied with her answer, but not happy. He slid away from her, and at that moment, Viserys appeared, eager to show his uncle the new entertainment center he'd installed a few weeks prior. They wouldn't find themselves alone for the rest of the evening.
After Rhaenyra, Laena, and Alicent left the party, the girls headed to Laena's apartment to get ready for the upcoming evening. "I can't believe I'm finally doing this. I feel so... bad," Alicent said. Laena snorted, "Live a little, Ali geez."
Rhaenyra was packing her equipment into a duffel bag, "It's going to be great!" Laena hopped herself into a cute cow pattern bikini with matching pants. "God, you look super hot, but I will NEVER understand what made you buy that," Alicent said, blushing.
Laena grinned wickedly, "Just wait till you see yours," and pushed a small black bag into Alicent's hands before dragging her into the bathroom. Alicent was too modest, never wanting to change in front of the two of them. "Oh my god, no. I can't. No no no," she protested from behind the door.
Laena and Rhaenyra laughed, "Come on Ali! Nobody we know is going to be there!" The sound of a zipper could be heard through the wood, and the two Valyrians shared a sinister look.
After some time, nervously, Alicent slipped out in a leopard print cat suit. "Isn't this a little over the top?" she asked as she placed a black headband onto her auburn head, with fluffy ears taking their rightful place. "You said you didn't want to show too much skin. This is puuurfect for you!" Laena cooed, being serious. Rhaenyra rolled her eyes at the duo, "You can still back out Ali. We aren't pressuring you to go."
Of course, this was a lie. They had been bothering her for weeks to join them in celebration of Rhaenyra's graduation. The fact that Alicent had to request two days off was an annoyance to her father, but Otto could manage the company without his daughter.
The trio loaded themselves into Alicent's mini cooper, giggling with anticipation. They looked ridiculous, with no real uniform to their costumes. The theme was "Animals," something easy for a cheaper show.
Arriving at the back entrance of the old brick building, the group exited slowly. Rhaenyra stood in the cold November air, her blue wig dancing just below her shoulders. A snug, cotton ball-covered white dress was secured in place around Rhaenyra's body, and a dainty golden collar held the outfit in place. Atop her head were clip-in round ears.
The irony of dressing as a sheep while performing her dragon-themed set was not lost on her, but Rhaenyra liked to spice things up in her performances. Plus, she was saving her new dragon outfit for ValyriaFest later that summer, a volcanic island-themed bash that would be held on a remote island. Few were fortunate enough to secure a ticket, but Rhaenyra had been wowing people so much lately that she was personally invited by the host, Reggio Haratis, to perform. Of course, it was the highest honor, but Rhaenyra knew better than to slack off now.
The ladies moved to the door, spotting a dark-haired man with a "Realms Delight" shirt on. "Criston!" Rhaenyra called out happily, waving to the man. His usual stoic demeanor was broken, and a large smile replaced the scowl. "I thought you were going to be late. Who's this?" His brown eyes fluttered to Alicent, making the girl blush. "I'm Alicent," she said softly, extending her hand forward. Criston eyeballed her suspiciously before grasping it and shaking gently. "Great, let's get you ready for the show!" Criston beamed at Rhaenyra, always happy to help his favorite performer.
The two met when Rhaenyra was just fifteen, at her first show. The one where she fell in love, not with Criston though, but with her muse, the man who'd forced inspiration upon her.
Years ago, Rhaenyra had snuck out with Laena to attend a secret rave. The music was loud, and sweaty bodies pressed against one another, swabbing neon paint across uncovered skin. In the darkness of the room, beyond the jungle of strobe lights, behind the curtain of fog, she saw him, or more accurately, heard him.
The dragon-like shriek at the beginning of his set tore through Rhaenyra's soul. "Who is that?" Rhaenyra asked her cousin, but Laena only shrugged, too busy rubbing her delicate hands across the body of a tall, muscular man. "The Rogue Prince," Criston said from beside her, seemingly just as entranced as she was. "He's amazing, isn't he?" Rhaenyra nodded in response, unable to pull her eyes from the mysterious figure that sported a pair of dragon wings on stage. There was something familiar there, something that made her whole essence ache.
Trying to push past the crowd, she was only greeted by lust-hungry fans pooling themselves up at the bottom of the stage. That night, Rhaenyra decided that rave life was her purpose, that she needed to be a part of it in some way.
Now, several years later, she was. After The Rogue Prince retired, her heart broke. Rhaenyra had always longed to meet him, to tell him what exactly his set did to her. Instead, though, she decided to dedicate herself in a different way, keeping some of his dragon aspects in her costume and at the beginning of her tracks. Rhaenyra even sampled some of his best songs and added her own lyrics. It wasn't hard, as the music had been practically crafted to suit her voice.
Setting up her laptop with practiced speed, Rhaenyra prepared to start her show. The loud cry of a dragon rang out, causing her heart to pump. "All Hail The Realms Delight!" one of her fans cried out, causing the audience to scream. Show time, Rhaenyra thought.