Work Text:
“I’m a trending topic on TikTok again,” Alex says in lieu of a ‘hello’ when he steps through the front door.
Henry looks up from his assortment of papers on the coffee table. Half of them are logistics for the shelter, the other half are reading materials and notes for the Queer Literature graduate program he started last month. He moves some papers off the couch and onto the table, making room for Alex. Henry’s sure this conversation is going to be much more interesting anyway.
“And is it your own fault again?” Henry asks as Alex throws himself down on the couch, so close to Henry that he's practically in his lap.
“No. Rude,” he answers and presses a quick kiss to the corner of Henry's mouth before he keeps talking, “So there's this actor on some HBO show who people think looks like me - I mean I don’t see it, I think that we are just both brown, but anyway, not the point - so his character in the episode last night had an epic bisexual threesome and people started talking about how they were picturing it was me, and now everyone is speculating about which young hot celebrity couples I’ve had threesomes with, and now there are a ton of edits where it looks like I’m between Tom Holland and Zendaya and like, I don't know, it all feels kinda biphobic.”
“I agree,” Henry says, only having time to speak because Alex had to stop talking for a second to breathe.
“I mean, I'm not having threesomes just because I’m bi, and even if I was, who's to say it would be with a straight couple? Maybe it’d be with two girls, or guys, or any other assortment of gender varieties. And why is it assumed that I would want that? I mean, God, a threesome sounds like a lot of work.”
“Yeah, I never cared for them much.”
“Wait, what?” Alex's eyes widened.
“You’re right, they are a lot of work, and there are just so many limbs,” Henry shrugs, waiting for Alex to keep going. Henry would never tell Alex, but Alex coming home from class full of chaotic energy and talking at Henry about whatever he was obsessing over at that particular moment was Henry's favourite part of the day.
“You’ve had a threesome,” Alex states, more than he asks, as he shifts sideways on the couch so he’s fully facing Henry.
“Yes, Alex,” Henry reaches over to pull Alex's legs onto his lap, “I’ve had several actually.”
Alex just stares at him, looking stunned. It seems the talking at Henry portion of their routine is over.
“What?” Henry asks, “You know I used to be a slut.”
“Used to be?”
“Oh sod off,” Henry laughs and pinches Alex’s thigh, making him squirm a little.
“You know I’m not judging you babe, I’m just a little surprised, and a lot curious.” Alex takes Henry's hand and starts playing with his fingers, “I mean that sounds like an NDA nightmare.”
“Not really. It was easier in some ways. It was usually with couples, high enough status that they also had something to lose if rumours about them inviting a third into their bed got out. You know, gay couples toeing the line of respectability in high society.” Alex nods, and he looks like he’s thinking more about the legal contract aspect of it all than Henry wants, so Henry adds, “But one time, I was just stupidly horny and let a couple of strangers push me into a club bathroom.”
“Jesus, how many threesomes have you had?” Alex looks, well yes, he looks a little turned on, but mostly he looks excited that he’s learning something new about Henry. Henry hums for a second, taking a quick assessment of past sex life, of his ‘messy slag era,’ as Pez calls it.
“Six,” Henry answers, but he knows Alex will want more details, “four times with couples and twice with other single guys”
“That’s a lot of threesomes for someone who claims they ‘never cared for them much’ don't you think,” Alex teases.
“Yes well, I was exceptionally lonely and horny at the time, love.”
Alex squeezes Henry’s hand, and Henry kinda wants to explode because Alex is looking at him, and Alex knows. Henry never thought he would have this, have someone. Someone who he could actually be with. Someone who would stay long enough that they could have conversations like this. Someone who has stayed long enough that when Henry jokes that he ‘was exceptionally lonely and horny at the time’ they know that it's not a joke, not really. Someone who knows about how Henry was chasing any moment of freedom he could find, and that those moments were normally found in the arms of someone who was more excited to fuck a prince than to care about one. Someone who knows that Henry thought that was all he could have, all he would have, maybe all he should have, too. And Alex fucking knows.
“Baby,” Alex moves his free hand to Henry’s neck, “were they good experiences?” He asks because he knows.
“Yeah, yeah they were. They were Alex. It just wasn't my favourite thing. Probably would have only done it once or twice if I wasn’t so desperate.”
They sit for a moment, Alex’s hand on Henry’s neck, his legs over Henry’s thighs, one of Henry's hands in Alex's and the other rubbing circles on Alex’s ankle. Then Henry remembers that Alex is the one who started the threesome conversation in the first place.
“Hey, I am open to it if you want to try one. I’ve never done it with a partner before, it might be nice,” Henry offers, and Alex pulls a face.
“No, like, I actually really am not interested.”
“Is there a reason, love?” Henry asks, but he’s pretty sure he knows why.
“I mean, babe, you're already enough of a handful to deal with. And mouthful.”
Henry pins Alex to the couch and Alex basically screams when Henry starts tickling at his ribs and calling him an “absolute fucking menace” into his neck.
And it's okay that Alex didn’t really answer him, he doesn't have to, because the other thing that Henry didn’t think he’d ever have was the ability to fully know his partner. And Henry fucking knows Alex.