Work Text:
“So you’re denying that’s how you feel?”
Mikayla wasn’t sure herself, she was confused. The dream she had about Brady, their kiss, it all messed with her head. There was no lie in that she found Brady immature, but that wasn’t why she refused to go out with him. Candis was just digging for material for the show she hosts, and Mikayla knew that.
“Well, I…”
“Hah! You hesitated. Hesitation’s confirmation,” Candis said, interrupting her.
Before Mikayla could argue, a sound came from the bushes nearby. She carefully went to the source, but to her luck, no one was there. Usually, she’d let it go, but something made her want to pursue the whatever, or whoever, made that noise. She took off into the jungle, leaving her friend, Candis, on her own. Just as she was about to give up, she heard the sound of crushing leaves.
“Who’s there?” Mikayla called out.
There was no answer, so she carefully made her way to the direction of the noise. A shadowy figure slowly stood up in front of her, and she got ready to punch whoever it was back to the ground. That was until the moonlight hit the person’s face.
“King Brady?” Mikayla said, surprise apparent in her voice. “What are you doing here?”
Brady sighed, avoiding eye contact. He knew he couldn’t resist those brown eyes, and he had already made up his mind. “It doesn’t matter, I’m leaving before Boomer wakes up.”
“Leaving where?”
“I said it doesn’t matter.”
“I know it’s not unusual for you, but you’re not making a lot of sense,” Mikayla mocked him.
The King looked hurt, making Mikayla regret her comment instantly. In normal circumstances, he would’ve brushed it off and maybe even laughed with Mikayla - but not after what he had just heard.
“Yeah, I’m so immature and stupid, aren’t I?” Brady said with a frown.
Mikayla’s face went red, she couldn’t help but feel guilty and embarrassed.
“My king, I-“
“Save it!” Brady snapped. “I know that whatever you say right now, that’s how you really feel about me.”
Before Mikayla could say anything else, Brady took off, leaving her alone with her thoughts. She figured that giving him some space wouldn’t hurt — it wasn’t like she had an answer for him anyway. As Mikayla walked to the castle, she tried to understand her own feelings. Brady was childish, stupid, gross, borderline creepy and used his powers as king in a selfish manner. Despite all this, Mikayla enjoyed his company. Although Brady’s aim since day one was to be more than that, she liked having him as a friend.
Was it all she felt about him, though? She wondered if they’d be more than acquaintances if Brady had not been a king. Did working for him and Boomer affect how she viewed them? No, that couldn’t be a reason. After all, she wasn’t overthinking her relationship with Boomer, only Brady.
Once Mikayla reached the castle, she spotted Mahama. Thankfully, he agreed to switch shifts with her, and Mikayla could now watch out for Brady. Even though she doubted that he was serious about leaving, there wasn’t any harm in taking precaution. For an hour, she scouted all the exits, often asking the other guards if they had seen King Brady around. She contemplated on going home for the night, thinking Brady had probably fallen asleep, but she decided against it. Instead, she walked up the stairs, heading to the kings’ room.
That’s when she bumped into Brady, who came out of a corner.
Mikayla’s eyes widened in surprise as she noticed the straps of his backpack on Brady’s shoulders, the guitar in his hand and the absence of his ring on his finger.
“Brady?” Mikayla whisper-shouted.
“Shoot, you weren’t supposed to see me,” Brady cursed as he averted his gaze.
Mikayla’s shock turned into fury as she pushed him, hard enough to knock him back a couple steps. “I can’t believe this, you were just gonna leave in the middle of the night without telling anyone? You can’t be serious.”
“Hey, that’s not true,” Brady started, rubbing the spot on his chest where Mikayla’s hit landed. “I left a note for Boomer.”
“A note?” Mikayla exhaled in disbelief.
“Look, you’re the one who thinks I’m immature, and I doubt you’re the only one. I’m leaving so I can be a better king for the people of Kinkow,” he explained.
“Will you stop it with the immaturity stuff? You’re worried about being immature but you’re trying to leave without an explanation. That's immature,” Mikayla said, with an emphasis on that . “The people of Kinkow need you, and you can’t just turn your back on them.”
Brady took a deep breath, putting his guitar down against the wall before he looked up at Mikayla. “Then what am I supposed to do?”
Brady looked like he was about to start crying, and the expression on his face made Mikayla feel for him.
“Stay,” Mikayla said softly, taking a step towards her king.
“You’ll never go out with me if I do that.”
“Is this what this is really about?”
“It’s part of the reason,” Brady shrugged. “You didn’t deny the rumours.”
“Brady, that’s because Candis put me on the spot and I didn’t want to open up to her before I talked to you. Candis can’t keep a secret and you know it.”
“Talk to me for what, to tell me that I’m a terrible king in person?”
“No, to tell you that I won’t go out with you because I’m confused. I want to be sure of what I’m feeling before anything happens because I don’t want to break your heart.”
Brady didn’t say anything for a moment, taking in her explanation. “Well, what do you need to be sure?”
Mikayla licked her lips as only one thing came to her mind. “This,” she said before closing the gap between them and connecting their lips.
The kiss was different from their first one, as Brady was fully conscious of his actions and there was no audience watching them. It was just Mikayla and Brady, alone, as they got lost in each other’s lips. Mikayla had used her love for the country after their first kiss as an excuse, but this time, she knew that it emerged from her love for her king.
Once they parted, they gazed into each other’s eyes. “My king, will you go out with me?” Mikayla asked.
“Whoa… Hey, that’s my line!” Brady exclaimed in disbelief.
Mikayla smiled. “I’ll take that as a yes.”
Brady smiled back and soon they were kissing again, and again, and again until their lips were sore. Unfortunately for the young lovers, Mikayla had to get back on the clock to keep the castle safe. After they parted, Brady went back to his room, taking his stuff with him. He dropped his backpack on the floor and got changed before discarding the note he wrote for his brother and putting the ring back on.
“Mmm what’s happening…” Boomer mumbled in his sleep, his eyes closed.
Brady chuckled softly at his brother. “Nothing, Boom. Go to sleep.”
And so he did. Brady couldn’t help but giggle and kick his feet when he got to bed. Eventually, after tossing and turning countless times from excitement, he fell asleep. The day had not turned out the way he expected, and Brady couldn’t be happier.
Mikayla felt the same.