Brimsley and Reynolds

Chapter 24

Two days.

Brimsley was leaving in two days. 

Since he and Reynolds had made up, they had been trying to ignore his pending departure. And every time Brimsley thought maybe, just maybe he could stay, there was always a rude awakening in store for him. 

So he was leaving in two days. 

Despite the fact he was leaving everything he knew and loved behind, the smallest part of him was ready to leave. Ready to leave this country that never excepted him, never wanted him for who he was. Where he was made to live in secret, to love in secret. 

He had settled on a place to go. Paris. Paris meant freedom, it meant safety. No one would care what he did, and he could live as he pleased. But every time he found himself looking to his future with some excitement, there was always one thing that held him back. 

Reynolds.

He felt the freedom he would have in Paris wouldn't matter, how could he be with anyone else when he had loved Reynolds? He couldn't, it wasn't possible. This love was forever, a lifetime. Even if they would have to spend that lifetime apart.

He was packed, mostly. But he hadn't slept in his room since he and Reynolds stopped fighting, so at least he wasn't forced to face it. 

Brimsley wasn't entirely sure how Reynolds was handling the whole subject of him leaving. It seemed he was more or less in denial, as if he were hoping that Brimsley would just change his mind and they could forget all about it. But Brimsley knew there was no forgetting it. The people of the palace had long memories, and a nearly inhumane ability to hold a grudge. 

This wasn't something anyone would be forgetting about anytime soon. 

"Brimsley? Dinner is in ten minutes," 

Reynolds' reminder woke him from his thoughts. He was sitting on Reynolds' bed, and he must have gone quiet a while ago because he had been thinking quite a lot. 

He nodded, slowly rising from the bed and getting ready. "Are you alright? You've been quiet all day?" Reynolds asked as he combed his hair up into his regular King's man style. Brimsley nodded as he rushed about, pulling on stockings and undershirts. 

"What do you think of art, Reynolds?" He asked suddenly. 

"Art?"

"Art."

"Well, I enjoy it as much as the next man I suppose," he said with a small chuckle

"Well, who is your favorite artist?" Brimsley continued. 

Reynolds paused, taking his time to really think about it. This was something Brimsley always loved about Reynolds, he could tell when Brimsley was being serious about something, and he would always take him seriously too. 

"Rembrandt perhaps, or Vermeer." He said finally, "Why?"

Brimsley shrugged as he finished buttoning up his own outer coat and moved to button up Reynolds'. He was always faster than Reynolds at getting ready. 

"No reason. We should leave, we're going to be late," 

The walk to dinner was quiet, everything they wanted to say but didn't hung heavy in the air. The Queen and Miller were already in the dining room, and Reynolds had split off to retrieve the King. 

After waiting in the dining room for what felt like a while, Brimsley could feel the Queen was beginning to grow irritated. She opened her mouth to speak, but before she could get a word out a footman burst in, heading towards Brimsley. 

"Reynolds needs Her Majesty and yourself right away, it is the King." 

Brimsley felt his chest tighten, he knew what this was about. The Queen looked at Brimsley, her eyes wide but knowing. With a small nod she stood, and he followed her as she rushed to their chambers. 

The King's voice was audible before they had even entered the room. The Queen threw open the door, and Brimsley took in the scene that unfolded before them. 

"You were supposed to be my Father!" The King screamed at a nervous looking Reynolds. "But you never were. You never cared for me, never spoke to me or had time for me,"

The Queen moved to cut in. "George, this isn't your Father. It's Reynolds. You know Reynolds,"

But her words didn't even turn his head, it was like she wasn't even there. 

"You were always the King, never my Father."

Reynolds tried and failed to get his attention. The King's eyes were wide in fury and fear. 

"And now, I have to be a Father and a King. And you were my example. You were supposed to teach me,"

This begun to turn into incoherent babbling as tears ran down his face. The Queen shook her head, moving in front of the King. 

"George, its Charlotte. Your Father is very sorry, right your Majesty?" She turned to Reynolds. 

Reynolds nodded, "Yes, I'm very sorry Your M-, I mean George." 

The King still looked distraught, glancing back and forth between Reynolds and Charlotte. 

The Queen took his arm gently, leading him to the bed. "It's time to sleep now George," She said quietly. She looked at Reynolds and Brimsley, "I can handle it from here,"

"Your Majesty I-" Reynolds began to protest,"

"Reynolds, I can handle it from here," She repeated firmly. 

Brimsley nudged Reynolds, leading him out of the room. They both walked back to their rooms in silence, abandoning the notion of eating dinner. 

Reynolds sat down on his bed, sighing as he put his head in his hands. Brimsley moved to sit behind him, rubbing his shoulders as they sat in silence. 

"It has been so long, I thought-" Reynolds began. He shook his head. 

"Me too," Brimsley said softly. 

Reynolds turned around, tears shining in his eyes at he looked at Brimsley. 

"I don't want you to leave," he said quietly, his voice breaking. 

Brimsley inhaled sharply, this was the first time Reynolds had acknowledged the fact he was leaving without it being brought up beforehand. 

"I know,"  

He wrapped his arms around Reynolds, pulling him in close as he whispered into his soft hair. 

"I know,"

A/N: I know, its been a while since I updated. I've been working crazy hours at my summer job but I'll try to update more often. I hope you guys like this chapter! Let me know what you think in the comments.