Work Text:
"Alex," Philip says, knocking on the open office door. "What are your plans for this weekend?"
"...aren't you married?" Alex replies, scepticism already on his face.
"Yes, but I'm not asking for me, I'm asking for my brother. He's gay and I thought, having spent some time talking to you, that you and he might be at least somewhat compatible."
Alex makes a face. "Thanks, but no. I appreciate it? But really, I don't think your brother would be for me."
With a sigh, Philip goes back to the drawing board. The thing he's stuck on is that Alex and Henry would be good for each other. Yes, okay, Martha had to point that fact out for him at first, but once she did, he could see it. Compatible temperaments, common interests, even similar senses of humour.
And yet.
He spends his lunch break texting Martha out of frustration.
Alex said no before I could really explain.
Did he say why?
Just that he didn't think my brother would be for him.
I would like him to take interest, though. I'm just not sure how to go about it.
Do you still have that picture of you, Bea and Henry?
Set it up on your desk so the next time he stops by, he can see it.
Maybe it'll get his attention.
The picture in question was the three of them after one of Henry's polo games, Henry windswept and grinning from winning the game, bracketed by Philip and Bea. If the comment was about Philip's appearance not being to Alex's taste, the photo would be a good one to test that with.
I love you. How did I find you?
You tripped over me in the school library, broke the strap of my bag and tried to fix it with the dental floss you kept in your bag.
I thought it was adorable. Especially when you were so busy apologising that you ran into another bookshelf.
It was very endearing.
Every time, I manage to forget how embarrassing that was. Please never tell my siblings.
I have tea with Bea this week, though. I thought we could swap stories about you.
He takes it back, his wife is terrible and his siblings are an awful influence on her.
Still, he does as she suggests and sets the photo up so it'll be visible to someone coming into his office and he waits.
Alex doesn't come in until nearly the end of the day, but Philip is gratified to see that his eyes immediately lock onto the photo.
"Who, uh, who's that?" Alex asks, nodding at the picture.
"Bea. I've told you about her, didn't I?" Philip says, keeping his face as blank as possible.
"Not who I was referring to. Who's the guy?"
Philip suppresses the smirk that wants to unfold. "Oh, that's my brother, Henry."
"...that's Henry?"