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Henry stirs, still wrapped in the warmth of sleep, when he hears the door opening. He grumbles inconherently, thinking it's Shaan coming to wake him up. It's probably well past the time he usually gets out of bed, but he supposes he deserves to sleep in a little bit since yesterday event was so tiring and he won't have any scheduled for today.
When one side of the mattress dips, though still half-asleep, Henry knows something is off. David is not that heavy, and Shaan rarely sits on his bed. His brows furrow while his eyes are still snap shut, trying to figure out the intruder of his sleep. He gives up thinking after five seconds. Whatever or whoever this is, a prince's beauty sleep shouldn't be interrupted. "Lemme sleep s'more," He mumbles, words slurring together.
"Morning, baby," A familiar chuckle, followed by slightly husky voice, lingers in the quiet atmosphere.
Henry groggily opens his eyes, squinting at the flood of sunlight streaming through the windows. Christ, it must be noon already. "Alex?" His words come out in a morning rasp, his gaze settling on the figure perched on the bed. Gorgeous brown eyes meets his, a cascade of luscious dark curls framing his forehead—it's like waking up in the middle of a dream. "What are you—" His sentence comes to an abrupt halt as he fully takes in the person sitting beside him.
Is Henry already pining for his boyfriend, who is over 3,000 miles away, after they just had a phone call twelve hours ago? Yes.
Does he secretly wish for a magical teleportation spell to whisk Alex right into his arms for some intense kissing and cuddling action? Absolutely.
Has his wish somehow become reality already? Well, if Henry isn't still in dreamland, it's quite possible.
But is he remotely prepared for Alex to actually materialise, and on top of all, looking like this ? Oh hell no.
Alex sits in the midday light, looking effortless in jeans and a white t-shirt that fits him a little too well. The sun makes his skin look almost golden, but that isn't really what distracts Henry—well, normally, yes, but it's not the main star today. It's the beard. The stubble darkens Alex’s jaw just enough to look rugged, adding a sharp edge that makes Henry’s breath hitch.
Henry has always known he kind of hit a jackpot having such a gorgeous man to his own. But this, God, this is another level.
"Speechless already, baby? I thought I'd have to put in more work," Alex is smirking at him, amusement dancing in his eyes.
Henry props up on the bed, feeling his face heating up pretty fast, "With the amount of body hair you have and those damn eyelashes of yours, I should have expected this sooner," He mumbles, fingers trace the contours of the beard that frames the jawline that could rival any sculpture, savoring the tingling sensation beneath his touch. "The last time we had video called, you looked so clean-shaven," And it was like, forty-eight hours ago?
He knows Alex shaves frequently and can effortlessly sprout a charming slight stubble overnight, but seeing him letting it grow further is quite new.
Henry can't help but admit to himself—he's really taken with this look of Alex's.
"Do you not like it?" Alex fidgets, a hint of uncertainty flashing across his brown eyes. "I hopped on a plane last night and came here right after landing, didn't have time to shave."
"What are you talking about, Alex? I fucking love it," A grin spreads across his face, reflecting his genuine appreciation for the unexpected ruggedness.
Alex visibly relaxes after hearing Henry's response. "And just so you know, this is like, two and a half days' worth of beard."
"I know you're on the hairier side of humanity, but growing this much in two days is a bit unbelievable," Henry replies,
"Sometimes I do shave twice a day if needed," Alex shrugs with a nonchalant grin.
"Twice a day. Seriously, how do you not end up with razor burns?" Henry exclaims, a mixture of amazement and disbelief colouring his voice.
"Moisturizing, sweetheart," Alex replies with a cheeky grin.
"I guess my follically challenged self will never quite grasp that," Henry chuckles. He's a twice-a-week shaver himself, but more out of routine than necessity, because nothing really grows there. Occasionally, he does wish he could don a more mature look, but he figures he's content with his straightforward grooming routine after all.
Alex grins, his eyes sparkling with a mix of amusement and affection at Henry's comment. "Well, darling, not everyone can handle the high maintenance glamour of a twice-a-day shave. It's an art, really," He quips, running a hand through his stubble with an exaggerated flourish.
Henry rolls his eyes, a chuckle escaping him. Alex is really an art. Leaning in, he presses a sweet kiss on Alex's lips, savouring in the new tingly feeling, morning breath be damned, "God, I've missed you," He admits softly, feeling Alex's hands snaking around his waist, drawing him closer in a tender embrace.
"I've been here for a solid—" Alex glances at his watch playfully, "—ten minutes, and only now do I get my welcome kiss. I should stick to clean-shaven, it seems the beard gets all of your attention," He remarks, his tone a perfect blend of mock disappointment and amusement. A mischievous grin plays on his lips, his eyes twinkling in clear enjoyment of Henry's reaction.
Henry laughs softly, his eyes dancing with affection. "Oh no, don't you dare. The beard suits you, and you know it," He insists, running a gentle hand over Alex's stubble for emphasis. "But you always look gorgeous to me," He punctuates by another round of kisses.
Alex chuckles softly, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "Alright, noted. Stubble it is," he replies, a subtle flush of pleasure colouring his cheeks at Henry's compliment. They share another sweet kiss, their laughter lingering and their lips meet.
As they break away, Henry chirps with a playful glint in his eyes, "So, where is your travel bag?" Alex, a little bit puzzled, gestures to the brown bag resting next to the door.
"I think it's time to bid farewell to your razors," Henry declares with a mischievous smile, "We are officially on beard duty from now on."