Work Text:
Alex, no matter how many times he’s told that it’s bad for him, will always stroll through Twitter before bed. He knows it’s bad, but he doesn’t care enough about that fact to change. It is as much of an essential part of his routine as brushing his teeth or kissing Henry.
He switches back and forth between his timeline and his notifications. His mentions have always been a space for chaos to ensue, no matter how many times he tries to set boundaries. Some people will never listen and will always feel entitled to every aspect of his life that just so happens not to be shown on a silver platter for the world to devour.
His timeline is filled with tweets from his friends or celebrities he has become acquainted with over his years in the spotlight. A tweet from Zendaya showing off her latest photoshoot, a tweet from June reminding people to donate to charity whenever possible, a retweet stating why Jeff Bezos is a horrible person, a promotion for the new movie adaptation of a musical.
Another tweet for June.
@cjclaremontdiaz My brother @aclaremontdiaz and I will be in LA next weekend for @SenRafaelLuna’s reelection campaign speech. I hope to see you all there.
It’s all normal. He likes a few things, retweets a few things, and it’s all fine.
When he opens his notifications, he’s greeted with a frenzy of mentions, dozens within a minute span of one another. One in particular stands out and makes his stomach twist.
@waterloobot // today, august 10 at 1:04 am, marks the one-year anniversary of when @aclaremontdiaz famously sent the words: “History, huh? Bet we could make some.” It is also the day where @hrhprincehen said “Should I tell you that when we’re apart, your body comes back to me in dreams?” 1/5 show this thread
Call it morbid curiosity, or self destruction, but he clicked the button to view the whole tread.
@waterloobot // today, august 10 at 1:04 am, marks the one-year anniversary of when @aclaremontdiaz famously sent the words: “History, huh? Bet we could make some.” It is also the day where @hrhprincehen said “Should I tell you that when we’re apart, your body comes back to me in dreams?” 1/5
@waterloobot within the email chain consisting of four emails with the subject “a mass of fools and knaves”, the couple discussed various topics ranging from Alexander Hamilton and John Lauren’s letters to henry’s brilliant pose and fantasies. henry offered alex an out and alex declined. 2/5
@waterloobot alex wrote, “Please don’t be stupid. No part of any of this will ever be uncomplicated.” cheers to that, sir. in the beginning of the last email of the day, henry states, “If I’m north, I shudder to think where in God’s name we’re going.” 3/5
@waterloobot i hope the two of them are happy and safe wherever they ended up. we all know the road has been tough. 4/5
@waterloobot now back to our regularly scheduled quote bot bullshit - admin 5/5
Alex wonders if it would do him any good to block that account. He mutes it instead. It’s disheartening at the least to see some twitter account that only post lines from his private emails, get hundreds of thousands of likes and just as many followers. His words, on display, constantly. For free and without consent.
He goes back to his notifications.
@norqhollerqn look at these photos of @aclaremontdiaz! he looks so GOOD! i love him!!
He does a double take before realizing that it was a fan account tweeting pictures of his latest photoshoot with teen vogue. He sends a screenshot of the tweet to the group with the caption nora, we broke up years ago. you gotta move on! She sends back a middle finger emoji and June tells them both to shut up and go to sleep. Nora sends another middle finger emoji.
@frstprncstan . @aclaremontdiaz hey bestie! can you wish me a happy birthday?
@saysmthingalex replying to @frstprncstan and @aclaremontdiaz cough cough @hrhprincehen @aclaremontdiaz @hrhprincehen @aclaremontdiaz @hrhprincehen @aclaremontdiaz @hrhprincehen @aclaremontdiaz @hrhprincehen @aclaremontdiaz cough cough
He will not, and neither will Henry, who has already passed out beside him.
@ablesister4 TODAY IS THE ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF HISTORY HUH??? OMG! I’m going to wear my shirt today in celebration. i love you @aclaremontdiaz
@noraholleran yo @cjclaremontdiaz @aclaremontdiaz why wasn’t i invited to LA?
@cjclaremontdiaz replying to @noraholleran you were. I called you and Alex about it together and you said you were too with math and numbers.
@noraholleran replying to @cjclaremontdiaz no. nope. that doesn’t sound like me at all.
@aclaremontdiaz replying to @cjclaremontdiaz and @noraholleran you said you would only come if we begged you so june and i hung up.
@noraholleran replying to @cjclaremontdiaz and @aclaremontdiaz now THAT sounds like me.
@cjclaremontdiaz Didn’t I just tell you two to go to sleep?
Henry grumbles next to him, mumbling something about Alex needing sleep before he goes quiet and still again. His breath evens out into the rhythm Alex knows so well. He’s asleep again.
As he goes to turn off his phone, the screen refreshes.
@alexgcds do we think if @hrhprincehen wasn’t such an ass at rio, he and @aclaremontdiaz would have just become passing acquaintances rather than “sworn enemies”? We never would have gotten the letters </3 i love this timeline.
He closes the app with a sigh and cuddles into Henry’s chest. He really needs to rethink his social media habits.
“Hey!” June squeaked as Nora lightly punched her arm.
“Come on! You know you wanna.”
June shook her head and rubbed at her arm. “I am not about to go up to the Prince of England and introduce myself. That has to break like… seven hundred protocols.”
“He’s just a person,” Alex reasoned.
“He’s not just a person, Alex.” June snapped. “He’s the Prince of England.”
Alex only laughed. “No, he’s a Prince of England. There’s been like… thousands of them. He’s nothing special. Just say hi.” June groaned in frustration. Alex only mildly gets it. She didn’t ask to be thrown into the view of the entire world like this, and she’s nervous about messing up their mother’s chances at winning. Still, they’ve been doing this for over a year now, all part of the campaign process, and yet she still has not gotten used to it. “Would it be better if I went with you? I could introduce all of us and all you have to do is stand there.”
“And look pretty, but you do that naturally.” Nora adds with a wink.
June takes a moment to consider then nods. “Yeah, that would be fine.”
They make their way over to where the Prince and possibly his bodyguard are standing. It’s the diving finals, but Alex never really cared for the water sports - unless you count figure skating, which is on top of frozen water. Nora said it didn’t count. - so making friends was a better use of his time.
He walked up to the prince and stuck out his hand for a handshake. He could hear June’s gasp at his forwardness, but he kept pushing forward. “Hello, I’m Alex Claremont-Diaz. Son of the future President of the United States.”
June gasped louder as the man in front of him laughed and shook his hand. “I’m Henry. Son of the future Queen of England.”
Alex smiled, feeling a rush course through his veins. “This is my sister June.” She smiled and waved, clearly still working through her nerves. “And our friend Nora.”
“Nice to meet you.”
“You as well. Both of you. Well, all of you.” He smiled at Alex again and he doesn’t need to smile back, he hasn’t stopped smiling.
“Okay, well. It was nice to meet you. We should be heading back now.” June rushed out, grabbing onto Nora’s hand. “Hopefully we will see you again.”
Henry nodded, “I’m sure you will. Your mother looks like an amazing candidate.”
They do see Henry again. They see him a lot over the eight year their mom is president. They exchange pleasantries at banquets and a few quotes at galas. June, having finally gotten used to all the attention, even danced with Henry at his brother’s wedding. It was nice.
Sometimes, Alex would catch Henry staring at him from afar and Alex would simply smile at him. Henry would smile back before turning away and Alex would get the same rush he did the first day the meet. And at night, he would imagine what it would be like to kiss that smile, but he never does. He barely knows Henry, Henry is just some nice guy he talks to sometimes.
Alex wakes up with a start. The alarm clock on his bedside table reads 4:18 AM. Henry’s arm is around him and his breath is warming his neck.
There are many things in their relationship that Alex hates or regrets, but at least he knows that they went through all of it and ended up here. Together.
Maybe he really should reconsider his nightly routine, especially if they are giving him nightmares.