Work Text:
Henry straightens his royal blue suit jacket for the thousandth time as the elevator doors slide closed. Excitement boils in his veins, and it’s making him jumpy. Shaan rolls his eyes and releases a long and exasperated sigh as Henry brushes his fingers through his hair again.
“Do I-” Henry starts, but before he has time to ask his question, Shaan interrupts him, “Yes, sir. You look decent.”
“Yes, you’ve said that, but-”
“Henry,” Shaan says, “You look good. Alex will be delighted to see you, I can assure you of that.”
Henry has been busy filming in London for the last two months. Him and Alex have been long distance since they wrapped up filming for Red, White & Royal Blue. Before Henry left for London, they spent most weekends together. Henry was in New York for a project and Alex was back home with his mother in Washington, DC, they had only been a four hour drive away from each other. It’s been harder for them with Henry in London, but they made it work. It’ll be over soon, Henry reminds himself. They won’t need to be apart anymore. Tucking a last loose strand back behind his ear, Henry bites his lip anxiously. His foot taps eagerly and he counts the seconds before the elevator doors slide open. After a quick glance at the sign on the wall, Henry steps out of the elevator and turns left down the hall of the hotel. His eyes fleet over each room number until they hit room 810. With clammy palms, Henry knocks on the door. A few seconds pass before the lock clicks and the door opens.
“I didn’t order room service,” Alex is saying before he notices who exactly is at his door. “Henry?”
“Surprise,” Henry smiles. It takes a moment for Alex to take in the sight of the six-foot fall man, but then he’s wrapped around him, Alex’s arm pulling Henry’s body into his. Henry reciprocates and reaches his arms around Alex’s waist, he breathes in the warm smell of his lover and smiles. There’s something warm and fuzzy about Alex’s cologne. Henry has tried it on himself multiple times, but he can never seem to get the same scent. Alex smells like summer rain and honey.
“You didn’t tell me you were coming,” Alex whispers into the crook of Henry’s neck.
“Did you really think I wouldn’t?” Henry whispers back. Shaan coughs somewhere behind Henry and tells them he’s going to go for a walk. They release each other and close the door behind them.
“Well I didn’t want to assume,” Alex smiles and looks Henry up and down. “You look fucking amazing, baby.”
Henry is wearing a royal blue suit with a similar coloured shirt underneath. Returning the statement, Henry's eyes glaze over the deep red suit Alex has on. The buttons of the blazer are undone and showing off the white shirt underneath, that only has half its buttons done up resulting in Alex’s chest being perfectly visible and leaving nothing for Henry’s imagination. He reaches for one of the lapels and pulls Alex in. He catches Alex’s mouth with his and kisses him hungrily to make up for all the lost time. Henry’s hand reaches up and up and fumbles with the buttons of Alex’s shirt. Alex’s hand reaches for Henry’s, and halts him.
“I love you, Hen, and I really want to undo everything about you right now, since you look all done up and fancy. But, we really don’t have time. We have to be at the premiere, remember?”
“I love you too and I don’t care,” Henry murmurs against Alex’s lips.
“Henry. We can’t right now, but I promise you, we will the second we get back.”
“Fine, but you have to promise.”
Alex smirks and brings his hand up, “I pinky promise.”
---
The lights are blinding as Henry steps out of the car and onto the red carpet. Through the crowd of the management team gathering around them, Henry can see the flashing cameras and paparazzi behind. Turning back around, Henry smiles and reaches out a hand for Alex. He rolls his eyes playfully and takes it, “There’s no need to stay in character, H.”
“I’m sure I don’t know what you mean, love,” Henry grins.
“Sure you don’t, Prince Charming,” Alex laughs. He takes Henry’s hand and steps onto the red carpet. June, Alex’s sister and manager, appears and rushes them down the red carpet and towards the cameras. After her successful release of her book, June wanted a change of scenery and when Alex mentioned he needed a proper manager, June was right there and ready to be whatever he needed.
Alex steps out first, smiling handsomely at the cameras. Henry once told Alex he was born to be in front of the cameras, and now, smiling his dazzling movie-star smile, Henry knows he wasn’t wrong. It takes everything in Henry to not pull Alex in and tell him the news right then and there, but he doesn’t. He’s waiting for the perfect moment. After a few more moments of gawking, June rushes him forwards. Henry smiles and poses, his lips pinching at the corners. Somewhere over the buzz of the paparazzi, Alex calls his name and reaches for him. Alex pulls Henry in by his waist and they smile simultaneously for the cameras. There is a rush of cheer and excitement when Henry takes one of Alex’s hands and kisses his knuckles. They continue down the carpet. Near the end, they easily spot Pez, who is wearing an extravagant suit in a wild range of bright pink shades that contrast his skin perfectly. He’s even dyed his hair bright pink for the occasion.
“Hazza!” Pez exclaims loudly when he sees him approach. He grins wickedly and claps his hands together, “Oh, and you’ve brought your scrumpet.”
“Hello to you too, Pez,” Henry replies and pulls him in for a hug. Alex gives him a hug too.
Alex laughs and quips back at Pez, “You do remember that I am the lead character, right? If anything I’m bringing Henry.”
“Darling, how could I forget, with all your reminders?” Pez smirks back.
After the photos have been taken, and the interviews have been filmed, the main cast are ushered into a back room, waiting for the theatre to be filled. They mingle and chat, catching up with everyone after having not seen each other since filming ended. Henry hangs back, chatting with Pez and Alex’s favourite makeup artist, Nora, while Alex floats around the room. He smiles and watches his love light up the room.
When it’s time, they go out into the theatre and give their thank you speech, most of it is just Alex going on about how proud he is of the film. Henry grins with pride as well. After, some of the cast return to the back room, but Henry and Alex find their seats as the movie starts. Usually, Henry doesn’t watch his films during premieres, he opts to hang back and relax. He’s not a fan of seeing his own face for two hours. Alex, however, is a narcissist and loves it, he has annoyed Henry into watching with him. Henry, of course, couldn’t say no. He would give Alex the moon and the stars if he could.
---
When the first scene where Alex and Henry’s character are both on screen, glaring daggers at each other, Alex pulls up the armrest and leans into Henry’s space and whispers into his hair, his breath warm on Henry’s ear, “You can just see the love in Elliott’s eyes.”
Henry grins, “I dare say, Chris looks pretty down hard for Elliott in this scene, wouldn’t you say?”
“Hmm, maybe you’re right. Chris is just a little confused right now.”
The screen's light casts a wash of grey over Alex's face. He’s smiling softly in the screen light at Henry. He pulls Henry’s hand into his lap and turns back towards the screen.
---
Later on, when Prince Elliott runs away from Chris after kissing him in the gardens, Alex pulls up the arm rest and whispers, “You and Eli have that in common, running away after accosting your lover.”
“I accosted you, did I?”
“Something like that,” Alex says before closing the distance between them and kissing Henry softly. “You gonna make a run for it now?”
“Perhaps I will if you continue being such a prick.”
Alex has the nerve to grin like the demon that he is and says, “You love that about me. Another thing you and Prince Charming have in common.”
---
During the next scene, their characters are pressed up against each other, bodies moving and everything is hot and messy, Henry leans towards Alex and murmurs, “You have no clue what you did to me when we filmed this scene.”
“Just this scene?” Alex perks up.
“You know what I mean, you demon.” Just to tease him for his comment, Henry kisses Alex’s jaw and shifts his hand down to his thigh. Alex stifles a groan when Henry lowers his mouth down to his neck. “Henry, do not start something you can’t finish.”
Henry pulls away, and smirks, “Now you know how I felt filming those scenes.”
Alex glares, “You are such a motherfucker.”
---
“I fucking love you,” Chris screams at Elliott. Beside Henry, Alex whispers, “No homo, though.”
Henry laughs and smacks his shoulder.
---
Henry bites his bottom lip and grins widely at the sound of cheers and applause when the credits begin rolling. Alex, beside him, is on the verge of tears. He smiles and kisses Henry, “That was amazing, baby.”
“We did that,” Henry says in amazement.
They wait for the theatre to clear, until it’s only them. Alex is pressed up against Henry’s side, his head tucked warmly against Henry’s throat. They’re whispering quietly to each other, little I love you’s and comments on the movie. When the last person closes the exit door behind them, Henry shifts in his seat to fully face Alex. He’s going to tell him. They’ve got a few moments more before the rest of the cast will come looking for them. It’s the perfect moment. “I bought a brownstone.”
Alex stares at him, and Henry can basically see everything he’s thinking, because he’s thinking it too. There’s a clear image of them curled up on the couch watching the movies Henry starred in as a kid, waking up beside Alex every morning and making him coffee with sugar and cinnamon, and wrapping his arms protectively around his waist. It’s disgustingly domestic, and it’s perfect.
“Really?” Alex asks, astonished.
Henry nods. Alex smiles, but it doesn’t quite reach his eyes, “That’s great, Hen.”
“Just ask. I can see it in your eyes that you want to,” Henry teases.
Alex dramatically looks away, “I don’t have a clue what you’re talking about.”
Henry grins and takes Alex’s hand, kissing every knuckle before looking up. “Will you move in with me?”
Alex surges forwards and kisses Henry. “I thought you would never ask.”
“Once I’m finished in London, it’ll just be us.”
Alex smiles and nods, “The next chapter, in the history of us.”