Renly Tyrell né Baratheon

He stood silently as Mance arrived, trying to observe as much about the man and his colleagues as possible.  Going into this meeting, he wasn't entirely sure what he was going to be sharing with the other man, he needed to garner as much as he could and try to gauge the situation now.

As much as he enjoyed hearing the name 'Tyrell' when being addressed (a quirk he never expected to get over), the manners that had been drilled into his mind from an early age required him to accept a common title, "Right, Mance, nice to meet you.  Call me Renly, of course."

Following Mance to his office, he was helped with his deductions by the other man immediately stating his expectations.  While Renly wasn't entirely ready to rule out a run for the office on his own, he knew revealing that to Mance would shut out any possible advantage to be gained here.  "No, that ship has sailed, and thanks to my brothers, it won't be sailing again.  One Baratheon sending us into social and economic disaster was bad enough...but two?  It won't matter how different I am, or what policies I represent, there is no way the people of the UK will elect another Baratheon."  It pained him to align himself with his brothers, even if just hypotheticals.  He could change his name, but he'd never really be able to truly shed his family.

He took a seat across from Mance and got right to business, recognizing that the other man had no desire for niceties or small talk.  "I'm here because I will not sit idly and watch Stannis destroy the country.  If I can't be the man to stop him, I intend to find someone who can and see to it that they succeed.  I may no longer be electable, but I do still have a lot of political clout.  I think that, combined with your appeal to the people could be what is required to right the wrongs my family has done."  

Renly Baratheon’s Rainbow Guard

"With all due respect, I don't find you trustworthy.  I don't find anyone trustworthy anymore.  This is politics, that is a word that has no place in our lexicon.  All I can do is consider the benefits, and right now I don't see how being on Stannis' side could be in anyone's best interest.  He may be the one with the title, but he's losing power by the minute.  Your a smart man, you already know this."  

He leaned back into his chair, crossing his arms and letting his perfect posture and well calculated public persona rest for a moment, "Besides, I'm past the point of caring what Stannis knows or doesn't know.  My brother tried to kill me.  He deserves every bite of ire I might have for him, and if he thinks that I would somehow be able to find even an ounce of forgiveness for him after what he has done...he really doesn't know me at all."  

"Being a Baratheon means this kind of shit is going to be a lot more frequent in your life.  You wanted me, you've also got saddled with the rest of this.  But luckily, I've been dealing with this family drama for decades, and I can provide you with some good advice."

He nodded, "I'll send the reports over personally, there are few hands I trust them in."  The only person that even knew of their existence outside of himself and Loras was Margaery.  He intended to keep it that way.

The idea of seeing footage of his accident brought him pause.  He fought back the urge to visibly react to the offer, focusing on keeping his breathing even and his face carrying the same pleasant smile he always did in public.  But inside, all he could do was replay the few seconds he remembered before being slammed into by the black sedan.  He didn't want to relive that moment anymore than he already did every time he looked down at his scars.  "Yes, I suppose the CCTV footage would be helpful.  Your assistance in retrieving that would be much appreciated."

 Pulling away from Renly’s touch, Loras crawled off the bed and sat on the edge, knobby knees curled up to rest against his chest, toes wiggling against the side of the mattress. He didn’t want to talk about Cersei— he didn’t have to talk about her. Their meeting had nothing to do with Renly. “It was nothing. She wanted nothing. Nothing that concerns you," he finally mumbled, chin resting on his knee. Staring at the curtained windows, he sighed. All the self-righteous annoyance was gone in a quick huff, and Loras was left feeling deflated and foolish. 

 He really was a child.

Pushing his fear aside and he tried to stay level headed, knowing Loras was not going to walk out the door over a simple argument.  He sat up and sighed audibly, trying to keep his frustration hidden, but as Loras said "nothing that concerns you," that became impossible.

He sat up even further and huffed, "Nothing that concerns me?  Loras...please.  You are my husband, and the only thing I care about left in this world.  You are my chief concern, and running after someone that has used you in the past and continually proven to be untrustworthy certainly fucking concerns me."

He pulled his good leg up towards his chest and hugged it close, trying to quell his desire to reach out for Loras.  "I'm not saying you can't see her, I'm not stopping you from doing anything, I didn't mean to sound so upset," he slowly calmed himself, his voice returning to just above a whisper.  "It's just..this is the first I'm hearing about this, and to me it seems like a big step."

Finally moving past his initial shock of Loras meeting with Cersei, he considered the actual content of their conversation.  Tommen.  He was conflicted on the topic.  He really cared about Tommen, his favorite nephew, and he seemed to be happy at Margaery's.  He wanted to respect Tommen's wishes to be away from his family, but at the same time he was so young...a mother had a right to her child.  As much as he hated to admit it, Cersei had a point.

As if on cue, Loras started in on a perfect example of the kind of inane chatter they traded all day by recounting his day.  Renly relaxed into his arms and listened intently, finding himself being lulled to sleep by the sound of his voice--until he mentioned Cersei.

He immediately shifted so he could look at Loras, a hint of anger creeping onto his once serene face.  He was about to sit up and confront him, but Loras was quicker, already on top of him.  His attempt at a distraction would normally have been tempting, but the mention of that particular Lannister had killed any mood that might have existed moments ago.  

 ”It will only be for a little while. I’ll talk to my therapist about it— see if she agrees. I mean, she didn’t suggest this; this was my idea. I just think it would be… good.” Shrugging, he kissed Renly sweetly, taking his time with it, hoping that when they pulled apart Renly wouldn’t look so scared. It seemed to help— just slightly— and that was enough for Loras, the worry wrinkles on Renly’s forehead gone. “I’ll go to Highgarden and sit in the garden, even though it’s going to be hibernating round this time.”

It hadn't always been like this between them.  Just half a year ago they'd gone almost a month with out seeing each other.  It had been hard at the time, but the idea alone hadn't reduced him to cold sweats and tears.  Something had changed in their relationship after his accident.  Somewhere along the line it'd become a bit unhealthy.  Loras was right, they needed to find a balance again.

He dropped his head back to Loras' chest and closed his eyes, attempting to fall asleep.  It was Loras' suggestion of time apart that thoroughly shook him back awake.

He instinctually grabbed at him, trying to hold him closer.  The very mention of time apart so distressing that he felt his own anxiety levels rise.  

That was how he knew it exactly what they needed.

Neither of them were going anywhere.  They were married now, and clearly too madly in love to ever leave one another.  This clingy codependence was brought on by underlying disorders they both needed to work on.  

Time apart really was a good idea, but that didn't mean it didn't hurt like a bitch.  Renly wanted to nix the idea instantly, and take tomorrow off of work so he could be with Loras 24/7 and wash away the anxiety that the mere mention of being away from him brought.

 He hadn’t expected to admit that right then and there, but it seemed he wasn’t done talking about himself for the day. Swallowing the thick wad of spit that had collected in the back of his throat, he opened his eyes and stared intently at Renly, trying to memorize every single thing about his appearance, even though he’d learned and remembered every inch of him long ago. He couldn’t forget Renly’s face— even in death he’d remember it.

Loras wouldn't be in this kind of pain if he hadn't have been so careless.  If he had taken his security a little more seriously, or god forbid he slowed down for a second and looked both ways before he had crossed that street...

Even deeper than that, there was the problem of how damn codependent they'd become.  He was incapable of imagining life without Loras.  It'd gotten to the point where he couldn't last more than a few hours without him.  His eight hour workday was painful at times.

Their relationship had become unhealthy, that much was clear.  If the concept of being without him nearly drove Loras over the edge something needed to be reevaluated.  If he had died back in July he wouldn't have wanted Loras' life to just end along with his.  He needed to know he could go on without him.  They had to be strong on their own if they wanted to be able to survive together.

But in order to help him he'd have to take a step back, and Renly didn't know if he was strong enough for that.  He was at a loss for what to say.

"You were the one that saved me.  The thought of you kept me alive...I know that.  I could have so easily just let go that day, but I kept thinking of you and how I had to hold on so I could see you again."

"Of course I feel safe, Loras," he brought himself in even closer so Loras could feel his entire body against him.  "I've got the best security team possible.  Brienne is a friend, and she wants me safe just as much as you do.  I get rides to and from work in an armored car...most of my meetings happen in my own office.  Ostensibly I'm on the same side as the person that hurt me the first time, so that threat is removed...no new ones are going to materialize.  If anything, the accident made me even safer, because now everyone's guards are up and we're hyperaware of everything going on right now.  But most importantly--" he leaned in for another kiss, "I spend every single night here next to you in bed.  I couldn't feel any safer than I do right now."