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Mario Kart
Henry was in the kitchen getting himself a glass of water when he heard the cacophony of noise that is Alex coming home for the day. The turn of the lock, the loud clink of keys hitting the ceramic bowl with a little too much fervor, a heavy bag filled with books hitting the floor. Alex rarely came in quietly, always thrumming with energy and Henry loved it.
“Baby! I’m home!” Alex calls out to him, just like every day when he knows he’s arrived after Henry and doesn’t see him immediately upon opening the door.
Henry walks into the living room to the sight of his boyfriend grinning back at him, though interestingly enough, Alex is holding his hands behind his back. His curiosity is piqued but he doesn’t let it keep him from pulling Alex in for a quick welcome home kiss, though Alex pulls back sooner than he usually does to grin back at him and usher him to the couch.
“I bought us something.”
He smirks back at him, thinking of all the different times he has heard that particular phrase and the pleasure that followed. “Oh, is that so?”
“Not that kind of something.” Alex laughs, a smirk on his face. “Well, at least not this time.” He amends with a tilt of his head.
Now that he knows the gift is not that kind of gift, Henry doesn’t really have a guess as to what it could be. Alex’s impulse purchases really have no pattern, it could be anything. Alex doesn’t make him ponder for long before he’s pulling a bright red rectangular box from behind his back for him to look at.
“A video game?” Henry is surprised, Alex had never mentioned being interested in gaming before.
“Okay, technically, this is a video game console. But this one does already come with Mario Kart.” Alex rolls his eyes at him fondly.
Henry, still a little confused, must show it on his face because Alex goes from excited to a bit nervous and starts rambling away.
“I was in the library today getting some studying in before taking my last final and I looked over and saw this guy playing on his Switch at the table next to me. It reminded me of playing the Wii with June after school when we were little. It’s been so long since I let myself do something like play a video game, and I really wanted to play it with you…” Alex trails off, looking vulnerable and starting at Henry earnestly. “You’re my best friend, Hen.”
Alex says this sometimes, after one of them makes each other laugh so hard they cry or when they’re lying in bed and talking for hours about anything under the sun. Alex will stop what he’s doing, look at Henry with so much love in his eyes, and say “You’re my best friend, Hen.” Each time it makes him absolutely melt.
Henry smiles at him, cupping Alex’s jaw his hand and letting his thumb smooth out the anxious tilt of his lips. “You’re my best friend too, darling. Of course we can play.”
Alex nuzzles into his hand with a big grin, turning to give a kiss to the inside of his palm. “I can’t wait to see which character you choose.”
Once everything is set up and they’ve had dinner, they’re racing through Mario Circuit side by side on the couch, their legs crossed with their hands on their knees clutching the joy cons. Henry had chosen Princess Peach, much to Alex’s delight.
“Since when are you good at Mario Kart?” Alex huffs. He’s trailing behind, 3rd place to Henry’s 1st, on the last lap of the course.
“I went to a boarding school, dear. We had a common room where we played video games all the time.”
“I went to an English boarding school, dear” Alex mocks him in a terrible excuse for Henry’s accent. “Never thought I’d hear that one again.” He snorts.
Henry rolls his eyes and knocks his shoulder against Alex’s, causing him to rock to the side slightly and move his character on screen.
“Hey! That’s cheating!” Alex chances a look at him with mock outrage before turning back to the tv.
“I’m already winning.” Henry brags.
But as soon as the words leave his mouth, he’s hit by a blue shell out of nowhere, causing him to spin in circles and be passed by both Alex and another character. His smirk is wiped off his face as Alex lets out a triumphant “Ha!” before crossing the finish line at 1st place.
Henry stares at the screen in shock. He coasted that entire course at the top just to be bested at the last possible second and come in third.
“It’s okay, baby. Maybe you can come in 2nd on the next one.” Alex teases him, a way too smug look on his face for someone who was losing for most of the course. But Alex is competitive, both of them are, and Henry will be damned if he let his boyfriend best him again no matter how hot he was when he got cocky.
The next course starts, and before they know it, they’re playing Mario Kart for hours. Neither one of them can settle when they lose, wanting to go another round to prove themselves. The night is filled with laughter and dirty tricks to distract one another from the screen to get the upper hand. There is one memorable make out session in between cups that almost had them abandoning the game entirely before Alex realized Henry had the most wins overall and that simply wasn’t acceptable.
They do finally go to bed though, way past the time they should seeing as Henry does have work tomorrow at the shelter, but they never were the kind of people to care about going to sleep at a decent hour. They’re tucked into bed, their legs intertwined with Alex laying half onto Henry. Surrounded by the dark and quiet, they share languid kisses that melt the excitement of the night into sleepy tranquility. Alex pulls away to nuzzle his head into Henry’s neck, getting comfortable for the night.
“I had so much fun with you tonight, Hen.” Alex whispers into his neck.
Henry squeezes his eyes closed in an attempt to contain the emotion that rushes over him. This love that Alex shares so freely with him will never fail to blow him away. He moves his hand from where it was resting on Alex’s back and brings it up to run his fingers through unruly curls. Tilting his head down just slightly to press a long kiss to Alex’s forehead, he whispers back to him in the dark in reverence.
“Me too, darling.”
Luigi’s Mansion 3
Three weeks later, Henry finds himself absolutely exhausted walking into the brownstone after work. It was a long day filled with many meetings, and while he knows they got a lot done today, there’s still so much to do tomorrow that it prevents him from feeling much accomplishment over the day’s productivity.
Getting home helps, though. There’s never been a time where coming home to Alex hasn’t immediately made him feel better. They’re several months into living together but the novelty hasn’t worn off, he doesn’t think it ever will if he’s being honest.
Toeing his shoes off, hanging his jacket up, and putting his keys into the bowl (way more gently than Alex) he can see his boyfriend laying on the couch from the foyer before Alex can even turn around to look at him with a bright smile. Henry, despite his exhaustion, gives him one just as bright back.
“Hey, baby. Welcome home.” Alex is already tilting his head up for a kiss by the time Henry makes his way to tower over him.
He can’t help but melt into it, letting the remaining tension ease out of his shoulders with the slide of their lips. The sound of video game pause music fills the room. Alex has been letting himself enjoy free time more often, actually taking the spring break to relax a little bit. He’s still getting ahead for next semester, looking up syllabi and reading chapters from his textbooks every day, but it’s considerably less than usual. It eases Henry’s worry knowing that Alex is taking more frequent breaks and giving himself time to recharge from the long semester. Right now, Alex is the picture of relaxation laying on the couch with no shirt on, sweatpants low on his hips. Henry just wants to join him and start his evening.
“I’m absolutely exhausted.” Is all he says before he starts literally stripping right then and there.
Alex watches him from his place on the couch, eyebrows raised and an amused smirk on his face as Henry unbuckles his belt and drops it on the armchair. His shirt and pants follow, leaving him in his undershirt and boxers. He wastes no more time before climbing onto the couch and laying on top of Alex, covering his body with his and finding that favorite spot in his neck. He’s lucky Alex is leaning against the arm rest, allowing him to lay chest to chest like this without Henry’s legs dangling obscenely off the other edge. Alex immediately wraps his arms around his back, letting one hand come to hold the back of his head and pulling Henry into him even more somehow.
“Long day, sweetheart?” Alex murmurs, his cheek coming to rest on his head.
“Yeah.” Is all Henry can muster, letting the comfort of being in Alex’s arms consume him.
“I’ll turn this off and we can watch something on tv, okay? We can relax tonight.” Alex starts absentmindedly scratching his head, just the way Henry likes, and he could literally stay in this spot forever.
“No, you can keep playing, darling. I like watching you.” It’s true. He’s seen the kids at the shelter watch youtube videos of other people playing video games and never understood the appeal, but there’s something oddly fun about watching Alex play something on the tv.
“You sure?”
“Honestly, I’m probably going to drift off anyway. Keep playing.” Henry assures him, letting himself settle more from his spot on top of Alex. A nap does sound really appealing, and the rise and fall of Alex’s chest could easily soothe him to sleep.
Alex drops a kiss to the top of his head, pulling the blanket they keep on the couch over Henry before grabbing the controller back and bringing his arms around Henry to rest his hands on his back. Cocooned by the blanket and the circle of Alex’s arms, he feels so utterly content.
There is a little while where he does drift off for a little bit, but ultimately, he stays awake to silently watch Luigi make his way through floors of the haunted mansion. Henry knows Alex likes this game because it’s really almost like a puzzle, figuring out which items to fiddle with in order to make your way through the rooms. There are hidden gems to find that can either be really obvious or really well hidden that Henry likes to help Alex look for. He never would have though video games would be something they would enjoy together (or by themselves, if he’s being honest) but it’s nice having this other option to occupy their time.
Henry nuzzles his nose into the crevice between Alex’s pecs, letting the chest hair tickle his nose as he breathes him in.
“Enjoying my tits, baby?” Alex asks, and Henry doesn’t even have to look at him to know there’s a smirk face.
“Always.” He gives the left one a little kiss before snuggling back into it. “You should check that tuba for a Gem.” This is a sentence he never thought he would utter.
“You’re a genius, sweetheart.” Alex tells him when there is, in fact, a gem hidden inside the tuba.
“Well, that’s not news to either of us, is it, dear?” He teases.
Alex snorts but says nothing else while he focuses on a ghost that pops up. Henry expects him to continue into the next room but instead the menu screen is coming up and Alex is saving the game and turning the switch off. He drops the controller onto the coffee table and brings his hands to rub over Henry’s back in soothing circles.
“Come on, let’s go make dinner.” Alex says, coaxing him into getting up. Henry gives himself one more moment before giving in and lifting himself up.
“Alright but you’re doing most of the work.” He says as he offers his hand for Alex to get up.
“Obviously.”
Overcooked 2
Alex had been determined for them to play a game where they worked as a team instead of against each other, so that’s how they found themselves playing an absolutely absurd game with an Onion King and a storyline about defeating zombie… toast? Henry stopped trying to find logic and just went along with it.
Regardless, the game is intense.
“Hen, you focus on cooking the rice and stay on the left side while I chop the veggies and throw them over to you.” Alex says from his spot on the floor, in full strategy mode.
“Okay, got it. But you need to keep on the dirty dishes then because they’re on your side.”
Alex nods resolutely, and Henry can’t help but think of how cute he looks all determined and sitting on the floor by the coffee table, the blue light from the screen casting over his face. They’ve been trying to beat this level for 20 minutes, redoing it over and over again but only managing to get one star each time.
They’ve had a lazy Sunday, staying in bed for most of it. But after a certain point, they kind of had to give themselves a break before either of them could get it up again, which led to them in the living room playing video games in nothing but their underwear.
“Alright, ready, baby?” Alex waits for confirmation before pressing ‘retry’ and then it’s full-on focus from the both of them.
It’s an intense four minutes after that. There’s a lot of holes in the ground that both of them have fallen into at least once, but Henry is better at dodging them than Alex and also better aim when it comes to throwing ingredients back over the side. They make a good team, they always have, and now that they’re familiar with the level it’s much easier this time around.
When they finally make it to a 2-star rating, successfully beating the level and getting enough stars to move on, Alex is scrambling up from his spot on the floor and pushing Henry into the couch cushions for a celebratory kiss.
They do really love to win, after all.