Work Text:
𝒉𝒆𝒍𝒍𝒐
• ———— •
Romeo sat in awkward silence, with nothing else to do he gazed at the passing scenery out the car window.
Anya was up front, one leg raised against the door, her arm stretched across her knee. She was speaking languidly to her mother, slipping into her native language as her mother’s English was a bit broken, and she always preferred to speak Malay. Romeo didn’t mind so much, he had always been on touchy ground with Anya’s mother so wouldn’t dare to speak up and ask what they were talking about.
Anya’s mother didn’t like Romeo at all in the beginning, outright refusing to allow her daughter to befriend the son of two gay men. However, Anya was hard headed and did things her own way. Eventually, her mother had to come around because Anya wasn’t letting him go.
While he was a little offended, Anya’s reaction and persistence to keep their friendship made him feel cherished. And if she wouldn’t, he wouldn’t allow her opinion to deter their friendship, either.
The world outside was cosy. A honey warm day, the sky bathed in a deep, translucent blue. Almost as if it was reflecting the Caribbean Sea.
People strolled down the street with friends, partners or pets, basking in the glowing sun and gentle breeze. He unfortunately had to keep half his face hidden behind a baseball cap because Anya’s mother’s car didn’t have tinted windows, and one glance from the public could spark news outlets chasing down their car for an impromptu photo shoot, or worse, interview.
He’ll never forget the stark panic that shoots down his spine when he notices a camera crew, the hungry look in their eyes to make bank from his existence alone.
He always tried to get away, sometimes it worked, other times it wasn’t so seamless. However, Driss does his work in keeping them at bay, giving Romeo space.
He doesn’t spend much time outside, regardless of Driss. Anya never complained, she was more of an indoor person anyway.
At least, that’s what she told him. She may very well enjoy the outside world, but understanding the hassle, never brings it up.
Romeo flicked his gaze to her and smiled. He really, really appreciates her.
It’s been two days since the incident with Moreau, and Romeo… was still wrecked because of it. He can’t stop thinking about his mother, can’t stop worrying she might do something to him when he returns home. His nails have been chewed down to the tip of his fingers just imagining it.
He could still hear his voice. His fearful voice over the call, his cries for help, for something, anything, because he didn’t know what was wrong but my chest hurts so bad .
He didn’t think it would go away anytime soon.
Henry and Alex wanted to be there badly, take him to their home the day of his discharge and just talk, but they’re back in Washington today. Turns out, leaving the art gallery without so much as a goodbye didn’t put them in the good books with a lot of people. Yesterday was spent smoothing collateral damage and dealing with a phone call from a retired-yet-still-fiery Zahra.
Today, they’re spending a few hours with the artists, the gallery owner, and giving a very basic explanation of what happened, respecting Moreau and his privacy.
Regardless, they sent their love.
Well, Henry sent his love, Alex begrudgingly wished him well.
Romeo wanted them to be here because he doesn’t think he can persuade Moreau to move in with them. Alex might. He was a lawyer, after all, not only was he good in arguments slash debates, but he could wrangle the legal ramifications too.
He slumped in the chair, resting his head on the door. Moreau didn’t want to move in with him. That was a pretty obvious fact. He didn’t want to lose his mom because he’s already lost his dad and being parentless at such a young age wasn't bearable.
Romeo understood, he didn’t want to push him but at the same time he knew letting him stay with his mom was worse than the emotional turmoil he’d experience over losing her.
He just didn’t know how to make Moreau realise that.
The conversation upfront faded back in and he spent the rest of the drive piecing together bits of their language, trying to decipher what they were talking about.
It was useless but something to distract himself with.
“Thank you, mama” Anya leaned to kiss her cheek once she parked outside of the hospital. The tall building loomed over them, blotching out the sun and trapping them within a dark shadow.
She replied back in Malay, Anya rolled her eyes and opened the door.
“Thank you” Romeo murmured before he left too, gently shutting the door behind him.
Once she pulled away they stood on the edge of the pavement, Anya fixing some hair behind her shoulder.
“She’s starting to like you,” she said.
Romeo managed a small smile at that, “wait until she finds out I’m trans”
Anya snorted, “well, what’s another few years until she begins to accept you again?”
Romeo chuckled but couldn’t find the energy to keep up the back-and-forth.
Anya noticed and frowned, crossing her arms.
“You can’t help someone who doesn’t want to be helped,” she reminded.
They talked about this yesterday evening. Romeo explained the entire situation while Anya sat in patient silence, nodding along every so often.
In the end, she told him what she just said then. And Romeo didn’t like the statement then as much as he doesn’t like it now.
“That’s not-“ he sighed, “that’s not the point. He wants help, he just loves his mom”
“For whatever reason” she grunted. Anya saw the world through a black-and-white lens, unable to understand emotionally driven people. If Moreau was in such a terrible position, she couldn’t grasp why he wouldn’t just leave. Romeo insisted it was more complicated than that, and for others it’s harder to drop people they’ve known for so long, even if they’re not good for them.
“Anya” he frowned, “he lost his dad, cut him some slack. He doesn’t want to lose another parent”
“Romeo” Anya copied his tone, “he’s already lost her”
Romeo turned away from her, trying to dismiss the thought. The only reason she was even allowed to come with him was because he made her promise she wouldn’t say such things to Moreau. While she didn’t understand, she respects both him and Romeo enough to let them deal with it alone.
A black SUV pulled up behind them and Driss quickly stepped out, flicking out the arms of his sunglasses and sliding them onto his face.
“Sorry” he said as the car pulled off, “we got caught in traffic”
“You’re fine” Romeo dismissed and they finally entered the hospital. The piercing smell of sanitiser filled their noses, the constant flow of chatter from patient’s and nurses echoing against the white walls.
They headed up to the receptionist desk. The same lady from two days ago greeted them with a smile, visibly more relaxed lacking the presence of Henry and Alex. Romeo understood; they could be intimidating sometimes.
“For Moreau Winter’s?” She guessed, clacking away at her keyboard with her long, blue nails.
“Yes” Romeo answered, hating the way his voice sounded so light. That’s a new development recently. His voice. He’s become more aware of it, how soft it is, airy, not manly at all. Couldn’t even pass for it.
His dysphoria was itching but he couldn’t start yet. His seventeenth was coming up, they had set out plans, he could wait.
“Room four ‘B’, remember where it is?” She asked.
“I do. Thank you” Romeo nodded and took Anya down the hallway, stepping into the elevator that was still very obvious and hard to miss. He clicked the second floor, the doors slid shut. They stood in silence, Anya pushing some of her hair over her shoulder distractedly.
Romeo knew Anya. Knew her well enough to know she didn’t do emotions, she didn’t necessarily feel bad for people, and found it hard to reach for empathy. But in her own ways, she was expressing something along the lines, remaining silent, not pushing, giving Romeo space and a moment to reprieve.
He appreciated it.
The doors slid open with the robotic ladylike voice exclaiming ‘second floor’.
He looked down the new hallway, room four ‘B’ stared back.
“Down here” he said, Anya walked beside him, Driss walked a couple paces back, hands crossed over his front. If a nurse passed, they made a quick glance before ducking their head and continuing with their work. Romeo was so used to people looking he’s managed to tune it out. Anya’s still a little miffed about it though, and often glares at people whose eyes linger for too long.
There have been a few pieces about Anya in the media, but she, surprisingly, adores them. Not the good ones, the bad ones. The ones who call her rude and unfit for the royal family image. They’re hilarious, she showed off her very first one to all of her family.
Romeo was glad he found Anya. He couldn’t imagine how different his life would be without her; or with a friend who distanced themselves due to the media.
Romeo opened Moreau’s door and he was inside, sitting up in bed and reading from a book he had been given. As soon as he heard he looked up, grinning brightly.
“Thank god” he groaned, reaching out towards him. Romeo mirrored the look and rushed into his arms, squishing his face into his shoulder. “I thought you might’ve been another nurse”
“When was the last time you showered?” Anya pulled a face, keeping a distance between her and the bed. Moreau rolled his eyes.
“Nice to see you too, Anya. Hey, Driss” he nodded towards the bodyguard. He waved his hand in a slight wave. Romeo had told him upon introduction that body guards don’t usually like being spoken to while on duty, however, Driss was the exception, and found it sort of nice. Moreau kept that in mind ever since. He likes Anya too, months ago when Anya visited Buckingham for the grand dinner with all the family they played chess for the majority of the flight.
“Henry and Alex send their love” Romeo said once pulling away, unable to not lean in and kiss him but Moreau stopped him at the last second.
“Hey, no spreading germs. I still have the flu” he pointed out fondly. Romeo groaned.
“It’s only mild. Besides, if I catch it I can spend days off school too!” Even still, Moreau continued to push him away until they weren’t touching.
“How are they?” He continued,
“Good. Soothing out relations with snobby artists” he smiled. Moreau laughed, setting the book aside. The Great Gatsby.
“I’m still sorry for interrupting-“
Romeo groaned, “stop apologising. You know they’d drop anything for you”
“Henry would” Moreau joked. Romeo snorted, sitting down on the bed and running his hand over the smooth fabric.
“Alex would, too” he said offhandedly.
Moreau pulled a face. Romeo furrowed his eyebrows.
“You… Alex cares about you, you know that, right?”
Moreau appeared confused, Romeo’s heart sank. “He-well” he coughed, “I… I know he likes me but he doesn’t really care for me”
Romeo’s jaw slacked open, “what about that phone call? Of course he cares about you” he insisted because he had no idea Moreau felt this way. Hadn’t even hinted at it. They’re always involved in witty back-and-forth, sharing softer smiles when they thought no one else was looking. How could Moreau think Alex didn’t care?
He croaked, rubbing his neck. “It’s-it’s nothing, baby, it doesn’t matter” he dismissed. Romeo wanted to press, he did, but he understood with Anya and Driss in the room it was awkward. With a curt nod he dropped it, the room fell to silence.
Anya cleared her throat, “anyway, when can we leave?” She prompted.
“Oh- now, actually” Moreau said, slipping his legs over the side of the bed. “The inflammation around my heart has gone down, I have to take these…” he grabbed a plastic cup filled with pills, shaking them slightly. “Over the next few days and I’ll be fine. Plus, the flu symptoms have actually gotten much better. Yesterday I-“ he paused, flickering his eyes towards Romeo.
He looked away quickly. “Yesterday I threw up a bit” he continued, “but other than that it was fine. The doctors were great. But we can go now” he said insistently. Romeo glanced at Anya who shared the same expression. He was hiding something. He wanted to ask but at the same time how could he without being utterly disrespectful to his privacy?
But, on the basis of their relationship, does he have a right to know?
He felt his shoulders deflate.
“Alright. Cool” Anya nodded, slowly meandering towards Driss who was expressionless. Moreau quickly made the bed and grabbed his things, the door slipped open as he swung his bag over his shoulder.
The doctor appeared, surprised to see more people. He searched wildly for Alex and Henry, visibly relaxing when he couldn’t find them.
“Ah, Moreau,” he smiled, clutching his clipboard. “Ready to go?”
“Yes, thanks for everything” Moreau smiled, slipping his hand into Romeo’s for a second before drastically pulling away. How could he forget their relationship was a secret?
Thankfully, the doctor didn’t notice.
“Oh don’t mention it. I’m glad your mother came yesterday, eased my worries” he chuckled heartily, gazing down at his board.
Slowly, Romeo turned to him, eyebrows furrowed. Moreau’s face paled.
“You told me your mom didn’t visit” he said out loud, because he was growing a little tired of this.
The doctor heard, he looked over, paling himself as he realised he definitely shouldn’t have said that out loud. Anya whistled lowly, made a motion at Driss and they both quietly left the room.
“Ah-uh-oh-um… you’re free to go when you’re ready” the doctor with his danish accent rushed before he sprang away. The door shut. They were alone.
Romeo crossed his arms. “Why did you lie?”
Moreau turned to him tensely.
“I didn’t- it…” he struggled, “she wasn’t even here for long-“
“But she was here” Romeo cut him off. “I’m not upset. I’m just confused. What’s going on?”
Moreau sighed, rubbing a hand over his neck. He looked like he’d rather be anywhere than here. Romeo didn’t know what to think or how to feel.
If he wanted to keep what happened a secret he could’ve said and Romeo wouldn’t have pressed, but he didn’t have to lie about it.
“Nothing, baby it’s fine-“
Romeo took a step back, Moreau made a broken noise. “Baby-“
“Stop calling me that when you’re lying to me” Romeo snapped, Moreau rubbed his neck with more urgency.
“I just didn’t want to tell you because she wasn’t-“ he searched for the right word, “wasn’t nice, yesterday. I knew you would’ve been upset and I just-“
“I won’t break, Moreau” he cut him off again, “I appreciate it but I’m not a child. I can handle it. I’m here for you, remember? You can tell me about these things” he said, soothing out the stern tone in his voice to that of something gentle. Coaxing, almost.
“What happened, babe?” He said quietly.
Moreau frowned, turning halfway. He stayed silent for a bit, flipping the copy of the Great Gatsby over in his hands. The cover was worn, the pages old and yellowing. It’s been loved by many, obviously. Romeo never had the chance to read it; he saw the movie, though.
Sunlight pooled in from the windows across the room, the shades were pulled down just enough to have avoided shining directly in his face when he was sitting on the bed.
It was a nice warmth. With the air-con battling the worst of it, leaving behind something gentle. Something to settle in with a light blanket and a book.
“She came around twelve” he started, voice lower. “She waited until the room was empty before… yelling. But quiet yelling. Which is somehow even worse. She told me she knew me and you were-“ he gestured tiredly, “together. She never believed the statement. I sort of guessed she wouldn’t” he clutched the book tighter before finally letting it down, leaning on the edge of the bed, keeping his eyes zeroed in on the floor. Romeo wanted to step closer but at the same time wanted to give him space.
He stayed still.
“Then she told me she was in my school earlier to explain I’ll be ill for the next few days. On the way out she overheard a conversation between the receptionist and someone- she heard that, uh, Alex was-…” he drifted. Romeo already knew his mother had lied to him because Alex hadn’t said anything publicly about Moreau, and he was very careful with his private life.
“That Alex didn’t like me” he forced out, “or doesn’t care for me. Whatever. It just- sort of made sense?” He expelled a breath of air, lifting his head to watch the ceiling. “Because sometimes it’s hard to tell when he’s joking or if he’s serious,” he finished.
Romeo shifted on his feet, then slowly walked to him and cupped his cheek, bringing his head down to stare at him. He looked worried.
“Moreau” he said, “Alex fucking loves you”
Despite himself, his breath hitched.
“The things he’d do for you- I can’t begin to even describe it. Whatever your mom said she heard wasn’t true. Regardless if she actually heard it or not. Alex would ever say something like that, everything he does it’s just jokes because he’s so protective” he explained, beginning to stroke the bone in his cheek. “But I promise he loves you. Henry does, too” he said earnestly. Moreau stared at him for a moment, then leaned into his palm, sniffing as he began to tear up.
“I’m sorry, baby”
“Hey, shh,” Romeo soothed, kissing his forehead. “You’re fine. Just don’t lie again like that, alright? You don’t have to tell me everything that happens between you and your mom” with his free hand he reached down and squeezed Moreau’s, “but don’t lie, okay?”
Moreau nodded. Romeo smiled.
“Come on, let’s go home, yeah? Pez is coming to pick us up”
Moreau managed a smile at that, wiping away his unshed tears. “Pez is cool,” he commented. Romeo laughed.
“Pez is really cool” he agreed and they walked out of the room, Anya and Driss were sitting further down the hallway, chattering quietly.
“You two made up?” Anya called carelessly. Romeo rolled his eyes.
“Yes” he said, smiling up at Moreau. He mirrored the look, visibly more relaxed after their talk.
“Good. Don’t go doing that again when I’m there” she made a disgusted noise and stood up. Driss barely concealed a chuckle.
“The day you get a boyfriend-“
“Never gonna happen” she dismissed as they headed down the hallway.
“They day you get a boyfriend” he insisted anyway, “and the day you have your first fight, I’m going to comfort you to make you feel bad”
She deadpanned him. He laughed loud and brightly.
On the walk through the parking lot, Moreau leaned down and whispered. “That wasn’t a fight… was it?”
And Romeo smiled, kissing his cheek. “No, I was kidding” and Moreau found his smile again.
“Darlings!” Pez called, stepping out of their pink convertible, sparkling sunglasses matching his deep red dress.
“Pez” Romeo looked over him, “you’re… dressed up”
“Of course” Pez grinned, opening up the back door for Anya and Moreau. Driss got into the black SUV once more. “A trip to the hospital is an important affair” they clarified.
Romeo snorted and slid into the front passenger seat.
“Why do I have to sit next to the kid with the flu?” Anya grimaced as she tugged on the seatbelt. It had a pink, fuzzy neck comforter wrapped around it.
Mockingly, Moreau pretended to cough on her. She punched his arm. Hard. He clutched it the entire drive home, pouting.
“Apparently your daddies are arriving home sooner” Pez said as they drove, loosely holding onto the hot pink steering wheel. “Either because Moreau has a feeble cold or they’re worried about me and my disastrous broken toe” he frowned, slumping in their seat.
“You broke your toe?” Romeo questioned, “how?”
“A terrible accident” he drawled, “so horrible I couldn’t repeat it”
“He stubbed his toe” Anya called, “fifty bucks they stubbed their toe”
“I did not!” They sat up, scandalised. “I was in a fight-“
“With what? Your chair leg?”
Pez huffed dramatically, “I’ll turn this car around”
“Back to the hospital?”
Pez made a noise, glancing at Romeo. “Your friend- so rude”
He and Moreau laughed as the two verbally fought each other, until eventually, Pez groaned.
“I did not stub my toe!” They insisted, swirling to face Anya once they reached a red light. “If you’re dying to know- I fell out of bed last night and my toe collided with the ground”
Anya burst into hysterics. Pez glared. “That’s it! You’re scratched off the list of guests to my birthday party!” He slammed his hand against the steering wheel, and Anya began to wheeze.
Romeo grinned brightly, watching Anya so vibrant was enough to make him start giggling.
“Oh don’t you start” Pez sliced his eyes towards him. “I’ll leave you all behind and drive myself home”
“Henry would kill you,” Romeo pointed out.
Pez hummed, “I miss the days I mattered more to him than his child with rude friends”
Quickly, they were dropped off at Henry’s brownstone. Pez had work with the shelters so couldn’t stay, but genuinely wished Moreau better before he left.
Inside, Anya stretched her arms above her head, groaning. “I’m going to your room” she pointed at Romeo, “because I got fuck all sleep last night watching reruns of Family Guy. You two… talk. Or whatever. Don’t disturb me” with a menacing glare she stalked off up the staircase, leaving both Moreau and Romeo alone.
Moreau dropped his things onto the coffee table, gently sitting at the couch.
“We’re okay, right?” He asked after a moment. With the silence broken Romeo moved from his rooted spot to beside him, smiling.
“We’re okay,” he promised. Moreau leaned back, relaxed. “Good. I love you, baby” he said with that soft look Romeo always misses.
He smiled, snuggling into his chest. “I love you too, babe”
That was the position Henry and Alex found them in two hours later. They stepped inside the brownstone and silenced upon seeing them cosied up, asleep.
Henry checked in on Anya upstairs to see she was, too, asleep.
The thought of having a place in which Romeo and his friends felt comfortable and safe enough to fall asleep in made both Henry and Alex warm, incredibly and irrefutably warm. Something so passionately gratifying about being a parent to more than just their actual kid.
Thankfully, everything was sorted and sealed in Washington. Zahra didn’t hate them as much than before, and Alex’s dad wasn’t laughing hysterically over the situation anymore.
“Do you think we should go with chicken or beef?” Henry asked, peering at the receipt in the cook book they had bought months ago.
They had done almost all the meals inside of it; most of them were good, some less so. But recently they had wanted to get into cooking, and working together made them feel close. Plus, if they passed each other, they could leave lingering touches and soft kisses.
“What a choice” Alex whispered to himself, tying the back of his apron securely. “Beef” he settled on seconds later.
Henry hummed. “I want chicken”
“Then why did you ask?” Alex retorted. Henry grinned at him.
“To annoy you”
Alex scoffed and walked into his space, “we’re not twenty five anymore, Fox” he said, taking the book from him and sliding it closer.
“And somehow you still act like it” he fired as if he hadn’t done the most childish thing.
Alex squawked indigently. “You—“ he stopped, eyes training on the sleepy figure of Moreau wobbling in the doorframe.
“Moreau” he said, rushing around towards him but keeping a slight distance. “Feeling better?”
He nodded, tiredly rubbing his eyes. “Yeah I’m fine… can I uh, stay for dinner?” He requested.
“You can stay the night,” Henry offered, still bent over the counter.
Moreau smiled, “thanks. I think I will. I-“ he paused, shifting on his feet. For a moment he took a quick glance over his shoulder, contemplating, before he let out a breath.
“Safe space..” he whispered. Alex’s heart clenched.
“Can I speak with you? Quickly?” He said upon turning to Alex.
“Sure. Hen, will you-?”
“I’ll hold the fort” he cut off, smiling. “Go ahead”
Alex nodded and the two walked out, through the living room and down a hallway into Alex’s office. He shut the door, catching sight of his apron and inwardly cursing.
He kept it on regardless.
“What’s up?” He prompted, crossing his arms.
Moreau stood in the centre of the room, eyes trailing over everything for the first few minutes. He could see the life Alex and Henry had built into this place. The marks of them. Jane Austen stacked with law books on the shelves, the sticky notes plastered with all sorts of scribbles. The small stain in the carpet towards the desk. The knitted blanket folded across the brown, worn leather chair. Something Henry must’ve done in his spare time.
It felt loved.
Moreau wished a part of his house could feel at least a little of what this home did.
He rubbed his neck.
“This is dumb” he said outright, “and I’m only really saying it because I’m tired and weirdly confident? And Romeo said something earlier that sort of- made me want to say this. And I want to get back at my mom some way” words tumbled from his mouth quick, as if he was rushing to get to the part he wanted to admit before he would back out.
“And this is so dumb” he repeated, slowly crossing an arm over his stomach. “And I’m sorry if it makes you uncomfortable. Because this probably isn’t an everyday occurrence”
“Moreau” Alex could tell he was stalling as much as he was rushing. “Safe space, remember?”
“Yeah” he breathed, looking down at his socked feet. “So um. I lost my dad when I was young” his voice lowered to something vulnerable, “I-I remember him, he was great. We spent a lot of time together, and I loved him. But then he… left. For years I didn’t know what happened to him until I found out he died a few years later from cancer. My mom didn’t let me attend the funeral-“ he brought in a sharp cut of air, tears brimming in his eyes. “I don’t even know where his grave is. But that’s besides the point”
Alex felt a pang of anguish and pure, unbridled hate for the woman who thinks she’s in any place to call herself a mother.
“It’s been me and mom for the longest time. Then I met Romeo, and you and…” he went quieter and quieter, “and Henry, too, but you- this is so dumb” he closed his eyes, “but you make me feel like I have a dad again” he breathed, taking in a big sniff through his blocked nose.
Alex stared at him.
“And I don’t know if you’re comfortable with that but I just wanted you to know that I… love you. And thank you for… um. For everything” he finished, eyes still shut, body ridged. Tears slipped down his cheeks.
This feeling, he didn’t know how to describe it. It was overwhelming. It was similar to those times when Romeo was young and paparazzi would flash cameras in his face, and Alex wanted to curse them out to hell. It was similar to those moments when someone’s touching Henry, his elbow, his forearm, when they’re leaning in and he’s uncomfortable but they don’t stop and he wants to rip them away and hold Henry close.
It’s not just a sheer strike of protectiveness. It’s love. A loving sense of not wanting any drop of harm to come to this kid. Because no matter how he acts, how he insists he doesn’t like him, it’s all a farce. All something dumb because he knows it makes Moreau laugh.
Maybe he should’ve realised from the start it would’ve eventually come down to this. He didn’t know what to say. So he didn’t. Instead, he stepped forward, curled his arms around his shoulders and tugged him into a hug because fuck it , if Moreau saw him as a father figure, he was damn well about to be the best father he could ask for.
Plus, it wasn’t like he didn’t see Moreau as a son from time to time.
They hugged. Moreau pressed his face into his chest and cried.
Afterwards, Alex noticed the tear stains against the apron, but Moreau didn’t mention them, so he didn’t either.
“Mijo”
Moreau made a strangled sob.
“If you repeat this to anyone, I’ll kill you” he smirked. Moreau’s laugh was watery. “But, I love you too”
Moreau sniffed, wiping his face. “You wouldn’t mind me staying here for a couple days..?”
Alex wanted to scream. He wanted to demand him to move in and never deal with his mother again.
But he recognised that wasn’t what Moreau wanted or needed right now.
“I want you to know something” Alex said, keeping a heavy hand on his shoulder. “I don’t care what day it is, what time it is, if you want to come over and spend the night, you do it. Don’t even ask Romeo. Just come over. Understood?” He raised an eyebrow. Moreau tipped his head to look at him, saw he was serious and this wasn’t a joke, and nodded slowly.
“Yes, sir…”
Alex chuckled, “c’mon, call me Alex. Or dad -“ he teased. Moreau blushed.
“Shut up! I knew I shouldn’t have said anything- oh my god shut up” he insisted, rushing around him towards the door. Alex laughed heartily behind him, keeping close the walk back to the kitchen.
“I hate your husband,” Moreau called to Henry before he returned to the living room. Romeo was still asleep and he easily returned to his place against his side, cuddled up cosily.
“What did you do?” Henry hummed, accepting a kiss from an Alex who had seriously brightened up.
“Fucking hell, Hen” he whispered. Henry furrowed his eyebrows and stood up straight. “He said he sees me as a dad”
Henry’s eyes widened. A grin stretched his face.
“Love that’s-… amazing. And so sweet, too”
“I know,” Alex grunted, “we’re getting there. He’ll be living with us in no time”
Henry rolled his eyes fondly, “did he tell you about his…?” He trailed off. Alex frowned, nodding.
“He passed away from… cancer” he hesitated. Henry’s face fell. He nodded grimly.
“I see. Well” his hands clasped over Alex’s, “you better be the father he needs”
Alex scoffed, leaning against him. “I’m going to be the best father he deserves. And mom. I’ll be both. Mom and dad combo. He won’t see it coming, won’t know what hit him”
Henry laughed fondly, “he’ll appreciate it”
Alex sighed happily.
He hated how much he’d do for that stupid kid.
• ———— •
𝒈𝒐𝒐𝒅𝒃𝒚𝒆