Chapter Text
Percy Okjano’s phone book was the who’s who of well… anyone. You need a late night jet? He’s got a friend in Portugal who owes him a favour. You’re a bad dad who really needs to pull out the stops for his daughter’s 16th? Harry Styles is in Percy’s DMs on the daily. In need of a golden peacock statue for your sanctuary opening in less than a week? Percy has a tailor in Shoreditch who dabbles in sculpture.
Percy is that guy. Except his lavish tendencies aren’t a cover up for his lack of a personality. He was a genuinely the sweetest bloke and that’s why he was Henry’s best friend. (Alex claims it's him, Henry doesn’t agree or disagree because he can’t be bothered with the argument quite frankly.)
When the super six were finally reunited in London, Percy had an evening of British drag lined up just as requested. They gathered in his hotel suite for some drinks, Nora almost hosing his bed down with champagne.
‘Can’t take her anywhere,’ Alex quipped, making Henry’s brow rise.
‘You can hardly talk, shall I remind you of how we got into this mess?’ He wagged a finger between them, a hint of a smile on the corners of her mouth. Alex rolled his eyes and kissed Henry, a little teeth dragging on his bottom lip.
‘Erm hello, sisters present!’ June coughed from the sofa, Bea and her exchanged similar disgusted glances. Henry began to apologise but then Alex kissed him again while flipping the bird, mainly in June’s direction.
‘One bottle in and we’re already feeling feisty. Tonight’s going to be fun!’ Percy announced, his perfect smile practically glistening. The girls cheered, Nora was drinking from said bottle. Alex was attempting to get Henry to dance, his hands splayed out on his hips. Percy was having flashbacks to watching them at New Year’s, his heart felt warm at the sight. Henry, his best mate, his gentle, kind, witty best friend. He’d come so far from that quiet boy at Eton.
After an hour or so of drinking games (Nora is insanely good at fuzzy duck considering she only learned it that night), Percy went to the bathroom to freshen up before they would leave for the bar. He enjoyed playing around with colour, his hair was currently a deep shade of purple and he had decided on some gold eyeliner this evening. As he carefully swept the liquid brush along his lid to a cat eye shape, Henry walked in, nearly making him jump.
‘Sorry Pez, didn’t realise you were in here.’
‘I’ll just be a second. Don’t want the queens reading me for filth.’
Henry looked down at his outfit, a khaki shirt and beige chinos and gulped.
‘I didn’t know we had to dress up, I should have at least wore a suit, oh go-’
Percy put his hands on Henry’s shoulders, planting a light kiss on his forehead.
‘Henry, dear, calm down. You’re fine, I’m just messing around.’
He hoped that would pull him off the edge, Henry stared at him momentarily before looking over to the eyeliner sitting on the counter.
‘Why do you wear it?’
Percy dropped his hands and stepped back, his brow scrunched bewildered. Henry never questioned Percy. He accepted him, no questions asked. He’d always liked that about Henry, he never felt judged around him no matter how dramatic or flamboyant he was.
‘Um, I suppose I find it aesthetically pleasing. Makes me feel pretty. I mean look at me, I’m gorgeous right?’ He put his chin on the back of his hands, presenting his face to Henry with a coy smile.
‘Beautiful. As usual.’ Henry chuckled, his heart wasn’t in it though. He took the eyeliner, the lid making a satisfying pop as he took it off the pencil end. Percy watched while Henry looked like a baby deer trying to walk for the first time, he was studying the pencil.
‘Can you put some on me? Only a little bit.’
Percy felt his eyes bulge, that was not what he was expecting from the prince. He got his composure back, Henry already stepping back like he’d made a mistake.
‘Of course. We’ll underline your eyes, bit more subtle. Sound good?’
Henry gulped but nodded. Percy could see his mouth twitching to form a smile and his heart warmed. Henry sat on the toilet seat as Percy guided him through what he was doing, slicking the liner onto his water line. The first eye took a few attempts, it was alien to Henry. He’d had make up done for appearances but nothing quite so invasive. The second eye was easier. Percy stepped back with a proud grin. Henry stepped back up to the mirror, he inched closer as he took in the subtle shine his eyes now had.
‘What are you two doi- Oh.’
Alex hovered in the doorway as he caught a glimpse of Henry.
In eyeliner.
His mouth hung open and his eyes lasered in on Henry. In that moment, Percy could tell Alex had gone offline and knew his work here was done.
******
‘What flavour is this supposed to be?’ Henry held the blue shot in front of him dubiously.
‘Blue, duh.’ Nora replied nonchalantly before downing her shot. Percy cackled, toasted with Henry and they down the electric blue liquid together. Percy blinked over and over, it was somehow sweet and sour. Henry was shaking his hands out as he gagged. Alex pushed Henry’s hair out of his face and pouted at him childishly.
‘Poor baby…’
Henry pushed his face away as he rolled his eyes, but Alex was back planting kisses on his neck. Nora and Percy looked at the couple and then to each other. Nora pointed at her eyes and cocked her head in Henry’s direction. Percy nodded with a grin. June and Bea got up when Vogue started playing, pulling Nora with them. She leaned into Percy’s ear as she passed.
‘Good work. We’ll have him in full drag soon enough!’
‘The night is young my dear!’
Nora laughed and held out her hand.
‘Let’s leave them to it, that eyeliner is like fucking catnip to Alejandro.’
Percy took it and slid out of the booth, he smirked as he looked back. Alex was in Henry’s lap now, he had unbuttoned some of Henry’s buttons and was attacking Henry’s collar bones. Henry’s hand tugged through Alex’s curls, his lined eyes twinkling as he melted into a tipsy, horny mess.
******
‘Please give a warm welcome to Tia Kofi!’
The crowd went wild, Percy screamed along with Nora and Bea. He looked back to see Alex, Henry and June gazing down at the stage from the safety of their booth. Henry's tooth grin glinted under the dim light and Percy swore his heart expanded with warm fuzzies.
As Tia started singing through a Eurovision medley, he found himself in a dance sandwich between the girls. Tia pointed to the crowd, even Nora was singing along to Waterloo. Percy laughed when she stumbled on a word and looked back to the booth where Henry was stuck with two rather bewildered Americans. Alex had the spirit at least, June bopped her head and slipped her tequila sunrise.
After signing in, Percy strutted through the studio. He loved the chaos, the colour. He felt at home. His admiration was cut short when Sally came at him in a blur of black and white.
‘Percy! My absolute hero. Can you please reassure our special gue-’
‘Of course, on my way to Henry now!’
She took a step back and paused.
‘Oh Henry's fine, it's Alex.’
‘What do you mean?’
‘He’s going to do the run through with Ru.’
Percy blinked and blinked. This was a surprise.
‘He’s down the hall, dressing room six. Some scary secret service bloke reassured me he'd manage but Alex is very quiet and what you've told me… that's rather…’
‘Uncharacteristic.’ Percy completed the sentence. Sally nodded, before answering someone on her headset about sewing machines. Percy waved her off then went to find a large coffee and made his way to Alex's dressing room.
‘Alexander, how are we doing sweetie?’
Alex sat at a dressing table. There was a half drunk coffee and a croissant with the end ripped off, next to him. His phone was left on the sofa.
Percy pulled up a stool next to Alex, who seemed to be staring himself down in the mirror.
‘Are you taking a vow of silence I don't know about?’
‘When did you know you were queer?’
Percy wasn't expecting this but he takes the question in his stride. He leans an elbow back on the dressing table.
‘Hmmm, let me see. Might have been when I fancied Daniel Radcliffe in Harry Potter. Or Keira Knightly and Orlando Bloom in Pirates of the Caribbean. Might have been when I got my first hand job at Eton.’
The last one elicited a tiny chuckle from Alex, Percy’s chest loosened. Percy rested a hand on Alex’s shoulder. He could see Alex studying it in the mirror, his eyes fleeting between his sparkly pink nails.
‘Why do you ask?’
Alex’s throat bobbed as he swallowed hard.
‘I was late to the party. And I don't entirely feel invited.’
Percy’s mind whirled, the roots of internal biphobia were excavated out mostly. It wouldn't stop the occasional weed growing though. He felt for Alex, he squeezed his shoulder to get Alex to focus on him.
‘I don't know if you've brought this up to Henry but I understand that he might not be as helpful as he tries to be.’
‘Yeah, is it weird that I'm sorta jealous of him being gay?’
Percy couldn't keep his laugh in but he nodded enthusiastically when he saw the panic in Alex’s eyes.
‘I can't believe I just said that, oh my god.’ Alex covered his face with his hands and groaned. Percy peeled those hands away but held them tightly. He smiled, softening his gaze.
‘Tell Auntie Pezza all about it.’
‘Let me introduce you to Sally!’ Percy presented his friend to the table, her blunt fringe was flawless, along with her eyeliner that peeked out from behind her glasses. She gave a small wave before everyone shuffled inwards to make a space for her. When they seemed to be one space short, Alex untangled from Henry to grab a stool. If he happened upon the bar and ordered another round of shots, well that was just a coincidence.
He stumbled on a small set of steps down to the main bar area, thankfully it was packed enough that nobody noticed. There was glitter on his skin, it hung in the air and it felt like some sort of queer magic. He was inebriated to the point of enjoying himself, he felt loose and realised how little he felt this way in queer spaces.
Alex enjoyed the odd night at a gay bar before his bisexual awakening. Nora would take him to drag bingo with the promise of tequila. But then, he was a guest, a plus one. And despite how much he had learned about himself since diving in with Henry, he couldn’t always shake that feeling off. Like he was trespassing.
The bar was full but they filtered through customers quickly. The British service may not have always come with a smile, but it was fast, Alex appreciated that. He ordered a tray of shots, telling the bartender to surprise him. She raised an eyebrow, a piercing in it glinting under the dim lights but soon started pouring rainbow shots.
‘Oh my god, you’re Alex Claremont-Diaz?’
A guy not much older than eighteen shrieked in Alex’s ear, Alex nodded as he tried to recover his hearing. The guy was patting his much taller friend on the shoulder to get his attention but he was too preoccupied with arguing with the bear bartender.
‘Nice to meet you, what’s your name?’
‘Danny.’
‘Having a good night Danny?’
‘Much better now! You’re so much hotter in person ya know.’
Danny’s hands crept onto Alex’s arm, his grip on the stool below him tightened. He glanced at the bartender who was nearly done with his order.
‘Thanks, you’re too kind.’
Danny cackled like Alex had said the funniest thing in the world. Alex nervously chuckled.
‘How does it feel to be a gay icon?’
‘Um wel-’
The bartender leaned over with a card reader and Alex could have kissed her. His chest was restricting, why was this so damn hard?
‘Shame, you aren’t gold star babes. But you’re fit so we’ll let you off.’ Danny uttered, he was quieter but had got close enough for Alex to hear. He was close enough for Alex to feel incredibly uncomfortable. He closed his eyes for a pause before he focused, he could speak, he would-
‘What century are you stuck in? Your biphobia is showing, dearest and it isn’t cute.’
Alex turned around to see Bea, her face was like a sunrise in winter. She pressed through and slid in between Alex and Danny, her hand squeezed Alex’s cheek a moment.
‘Let’s get these back, Percy’s friend left so we don’t need a stool anymore.’
Alex followed Bea, faces blurred around him and colours merged together. His head was swimming in what felt like a pride parade full of sharks. He longed for the feeling he had not five minutes before.
Safe. Free. Belonging.