Brimsley and Reynolds

Chapter 23*

A/N: Steamy moments ahead, Ik you some of you guys love it lmao I see the reads on the steamy chapters ;) Anywayyyyy, enjoy sweets😘

Brimsley spent the rest of the day locked in his room. He was so tired of everything. It seemed easier to just avoid it. It being Reynolds, of course.

It was always about Reynolds.

 His duty was to the Queen. His loyalty to the Crown. Every fiber of his being was supposed to be utterly and solely devoted to the Queen's safety and satisfaction. 

But that didn't stop the fact that Reynolds was always on the back of his mind, like a pesky bug buzzing in his ear. Of course, the analogy isn't even close to accurate. A bug does not consume ones thoughts day and night. Reynolds wasn't just a pest, he was everything. An entirety of colliding relationships mixed into one experience of equal confusion and excitement. He was his closest friend, his most trusted companion, his lover, and the most controlling, frustrating man he'd ever met.

And now it was over. 

Their lifetime was cut short, and every time Brimsley stepped outside and had to feel the eyes on him, watching him, he was reminded why. 

So he stayed in his room. 

He knew he'd have to attend dinner, it would be highly offensive if he didn't. However, that didn't mean he had to do a thing until then. He looked around his room, undecorated and unloved. It had served its purpose, he supposed. Not that he had used it often, until lately. 

He began a halfhearted attempt at packing, but gave up before he even really started. Instead, he pulled out his sketchbook, landing on one he had done sitting outside the cabin in the countryside what was hardly two weeks ago. 

The moment he had drawn this was easy to recall. He had woken up early, the sun was barely painting the sky with its soft color. Reynolds had still been asleep, and the morning had been so still, so quiet. Brimsley felt like he was breathing for the first time. In the palace, everything was moving, rushing, at all times of the day and night. But this was still, calm. 

The drawing was of the small meadow-like area behind the cabin. Small, whispering flowers dotted the fields, with a heavy backdrop of forest surrounding the field.

As Brimsley stared at the drawing, he felt like he could smell the air of that field. The perfect feeling that moment had. Knowing that they were safe, it made a bigger difference to their relationship than they realized. 

A soft drizzle had started to fall, and Brimsley set down his book, watching the rain. He felt his eyes grow heavy, but didn't remember making the decision to lie down.

A gentle knock woke him up. The bleak cloudy sky outside his window had faded into a darker gray.

 "Mr. Brimsley, it's Miller. Dinner will be served in five minutes time," 

Brimsley fought back a yawn as he responded, "Thank you Miller, I'll be out shortly," He heard Miller walk off and quickly began to ready himself for dinner, trying to shake the sleep out of his face. It wasn't doing much. 

He nearly ran into The Queen as he sped to dinner, Miller his designated five paces behind as they walked to the dining room. A small nod passed between the himself and The Queen, and the three made their way to dinner. 

As everyone took their places, Miller stood on the other side of the room, leaving Brimsley alone with Reynolds. Lively conversation quickly ensued between The King and Queen, as always. 

Reynolds glanced at Brimsley, but kept his head forward and high as he spoke with a mocking smirk. "Someone looks tired, did you just wake up?" 

Brimsley had to look up, just to confirm the smile he heard in Reynolds' words. "I am allowed to sleep, you know? The Queen gave me the afternoon off," he said, a little annoyed Reynolds noticed the sleep in his face.