How To Fall From Grace [MxM]

Step 32: Fall out of bed

Frey's pillow order had been disrespected.

Perhaps Marius had thought he was joking back when he explained his elaborate thought process, but why would Frey joke about something like that?

Because look at him now. Lying uncomfortably on the floor with only one leg still up on the bed.

The bed where no rectangular, blue, somewhat dense pillows had been crammed in under the mattress to keep Frey from rolling off. No pillows had been crammed in under there at all. He'd been left defenceless against the treacherous bed in cahoots with the floor that seemed to exist purely to make Frey's back miserable.

And of course, he knew who was to blame.

"Marius!" It had been a while since he'd had to raise his voice to a scolding-servants-volume, but it had always proven effective, so now all he had to do was wait.

It still took an undesirable amount of time, and Frey glared at the ceiling. He could get up, of course, but he wanted Marius to see the damage he'd done, so he'd suffer for a bit longer.

"That was impressive," Marius said as he finally entered the room with a tray in hand. "I was all the way in the ki—"

He looked down at Frey on the floor, uttering a low 'hm' before daring to speak up.

"I think I can guess what this is about."

"You think?"

"I didn't think you'd actually fall out," Marius tried to defend himself in vain. "Most of your pillow placements are unnecessary, so I assumed the ones under the mattress were as well. It's not like you're a sleeping rolling pin."

"Unnecessary?" Frey narrowed his eyes further, and Marius sighed.

"You got a stiff neck from keeping your balcony doors open during the night once. When you were twelve. Your balcony doors aren't even open now but you still need to pile up an extra fluffy down pillow wall to stop potential drafts?"

"Well, why risk it?"

"And you were worried about someone jumping out of the wardrobe in that corner when you were six." Marius pointed at an empty wall. "So you built a round, periwinkle cushion wall to cover that as well, but even if you'd still been scared, you don't even have a wardrobe there anymore."

"I didn't say anything about your one pillow at your place, so I don't need to hear your opinions on this either." Frey pouted. "Also, I noticed you moved the pillow above my head yesterday, but I didn't even say anything."

"We've been here for almost two months and you've been fine. What are the odds that you'll keep accidentally bang your head against the headboard that often?"

"Higher than if I wouldn't keep a pillow there."

"Well, perhaps it was for the best that you woke up, anyway," Marius suggested before bringing the tray over. "I was just about to wake you. Figured you'd want some time to get ready before we go."

"I suppose." Frey still pouted, but nodded at the tray containing his breakfast. "And thanks."

"I was gonna go down to the river to take a bath." Marius helped him up from the floor after putting the tray down. "I can wait for you if you want to join me."

Frey suppressed a shudder, recalling the last time they tried bathing in the river and how he'd learned that summer did not equate warm water.

"I'd like to give the sun a chance to heat it up." He picked up a hand mirror from the nightstand to inspect his chin. "And I think I'll shave first, anyway."