Disclaimer: I don't own anything. This story was written purely for entertainment purposes.
Warning: This story uses information from spoilers for Series 3. It may contain (very mild) spoilers.
Thomas' POV
Thomas dreams of Jimmy that night. He pictures Jimmy's grey eyes fixing his with a burning intensity, with longing and need. He dreams of Jimmy's hands stroking his hair, of his fingers grazing his lips and cheeks. He envisages Jimmy pressing his soft lips to his own and of Jimmy holding him close. He feels the warmth of Jimmy's body pressed against his own…
And then he wakes up. He's left wondering why all his most pleasant experiences surrounding Jimmy end with him waking up, disgruntled. When the sleep is sufficiently out of his eyes for him to open them properly, he glances over at Jimmy's bed and sees him lying there, in his crumpled sheets, still slumbering peacefully. He has an urge to go over and sit on his bed and pet his head, but he doesn't. He rises and makes his way to breakfast.
When he opens the door, he finds no one else there – not even Daisy. There's an eerie and empty feeling to the room at this time and he shivers. He realises that he's just woken up terribly early, and he decides to go back to bed.
Taking his shoes off and climbing in to bed, he can hear Jimmy turn and sigh in his sleep. His breath is so soft that Thomas couldn't hear if he weren't listening for it. Lying down, he ponders how he's supposed to go to sleep again. Nothing he can think of makes him feel particularly calm or peaceful. Anything which comes to mind merely makes him angry.
It occurs to him to be embarrassed about what he's been dreaming about. He almost scared of feeling like this, even though he has many times before. It puts him in such a fragile position. He knows this is one of his greatest weaknesses, but he can't help himself. One day, it'll land him serious trouble.
Somehow, he must have managed to drift off because when he awakens, it is to the usual hustle and bustle of early mornings. Mrs. Patmore seems to be in a rather foul mood today, Thomas notes. Daisy is scurrying about like a squirrel, busying herself with various pots and pans.
He takes his seat beside Jimmy, who is sitting reading a newspaper intently. His forehead is pulled into a slight frown, as though he is concentrating hard. He doesn't even tear his eyes away from it for a second when Thomas sits beside him.
When a slight level of calm has descended on the kitchen, Thomas digs his spoon into his porridge. It looks rather unappealing today. He really isn't hungry, which is strange considering how famished he felt yesterday. Yesterday, he could have eaten a horse; today, he can't even take a spoonful of porridge.
When the dishes are cleared away the Countess's bell rings. Sarah rises immediately and goes to attend to her. She looks at Thomas for a moment, an expression of sadness visible on her face. These days, Thomas doesn't want to look at her; he almost avoids her.
Mr. Bates sets to work polishing Lord Grantham's shoes. Thomas makes sure to send him a glower. Mr. Bates obviously notices, but he just continues polishing, smiling faintly. The smile makes Thomas hate him even more. He feels sure the bastard is laughing at him, but he doesn't have much time to dwell on it because Jimmy and he have work to do.
Clearing away breakfast dishes is an art form when you're doing it as a footman. Carson's standards are annoyingly high, and he won't accept anything below par. At least he has Jimmy to keep him company – if that's actually a good thing.
"Don't like Bate; do ya?" says Jimmy casually, while they are ridding the table of all its plates and dishes.
Thomas is both annoyed and impressed by Jimmy's perceptiveness. "Wha' if I don't?" he replies coldly.
"Nothin'. I was only wonderin'," says Jimmy, his voice going a little high. Maybe he thinks Thomas' words are meant as an accusation. He bites his lip and, for some strange reason, Thomas finds his mouth is watering. He takes in Jimmy's perfectly formed cupid's bow, his soft lips…
It's only when he notices Jimmy looking at him strangely that he becomes aware that he's been staring. He feels like hitting himself.
"Wha's the matter?" Jimmy asks, clearly perturbed. "Wha' is is?"
"Nothin'," Thomas mutters, ashamed of his daydreaming.
"It don't matter anyhow," says Jimmy.
"No, it don't," Thomas agrees. They've cleared away all the dishes. "We shoul' get on with the polishin' now," he adds.
Polishing cutlery is no easy task when you're sitting opposite someone who makes your hands shake. Thomas never normally finds it this hard.
Jimmy's hands are slender and dexterous, and they work quickly, with grace and ease. He can be rather quiet when he wants to be, and they finish the work in silence. However, when Thomas goes out to the courtyard for a cigarette, Jimmy joins him without asking. Thomas would never say, but he doesn't really mind. Jimmy is good company.
Once outside, he hears the click of hard concrete under his shoes. It's raining outside, and they sky doesn't look very promising. Looking across the yard, he sees Sarah standing by herself. She looks a little forlorn, all by herself.
Jimmy speaks first. "Why don't ya' like the valet?" he asks.
He blurts out his answer without stopping to think."He's most self-righteous bastard as ever walked the earth; that's why," he grunts.
"He does seem rather please wi' himself and all," Jimmy concedes.
"You don't like him either," Thomas says.
"Na. What's the matter wi' him?" Jimmy says, the pitch of his voice rising dramatically to express his indignation.
"You're right not ta," Thomas says.
Inwardly, he sighs with relief. It's nice to have someone his side for a change. That bloody bastard has enough high and mighty followers. But Jimmy doesn't seem like a follower; he seems like a leader. And as he's standing there, smoking with Jimmy, he knows that wherever Jimmy leads, he'll follow.
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So, what do you think? Do you like what I've done so far? Do you have any ideas for where this story should go from here? Please leave me a review to let me know your thoughts. Thank you for reading! xxx