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Henry sipped at the tea with a theatrical grimace, and Alex couldn’t help but grin. For a guy who had survived brutal royal schedules, state dinners, and relentless public scrutiny, Henry was shockingly bad at being sick.
“I don’t understand how this happened,” Henry muttered, his voice hoarse. “One minute, I was fine. The next—” He waved a weak hand in the air, letting it flop dramatically against the couch. “This.”
Alex sat back on his heels, looking down at Henry with something caught between amusement and sympathy. He gently tugged the mug from Henry’s hands and placed it on the table before pulling the blanket tighter around him.
“The flu doesn't usually come with a warning, sweetheart.” Alex said with a laugh, brushing a stray curl from Henry’s forehead. “But don't worry, Your Majesty, I'll nurse you back to life in no time."
Henry let out a soft laugh, but it quickly dissolved into a cough that wracked his body, leaving him shivering under the blanket. Alex’s heart clenched, and he shot Henry a worried glance over his shoulder.
“Just take it easy, Hen” he said softly, grabbing a water bottle from the fridge and walking back over to the couch. He handed it to Henry, who took it gratefully, his fingers trembling slightly as he unscrewed the cap.
The thing was, Henry wasn’t fragile. He was strong in ways most people couldn’t even begin to understand. But Alex knew the weight Henry carried, the constant pressure of royal life, the way he held himself together for the world. And maybe that’s why seeing him like this—oft and unguarded in a way only Alex got to witness—hit Alex so deeply. It made something tighten in his chest, this sudden awareness of just how much he loved the man lying in front of him.
Henry eventually set the water down and rested his head against the back of the couch, closing his eyes again. Alex reached out, resting a hand on his shoulder, feeling the tension there, the fatigue settling into his bones.
“Hey,” Alex said softly, his voice gentle. “Why didn’t you tell me you were feeling this bad? I would’ve come home earlier.”
Henry opened his eyes slowly, a weak smile tugging at the corners of his lips. “I didn’t want to be a bother.”
Alex’s heart squeezed. “Baby, you’re literally the opposite of a bother. You could’ve called me, and I would’ve been here in a heartbeat.”
"Your mock trial is less than a week away and I know your team is counting on you. I didn’t want to interrupt your plans for the sake of a sniffle.”
Alex scoffed, shaking his head. “A sniffle? Hen, you’re burning up. You’ve been running yourself ragged between the shelter and all flying back and forth. You’re allowed to say no, to be tired. You deserve to be taken care of. You're allowed all of it, Hen.”
Henry blinked, surprised by the sudden intensity in Alex’s voice. For a moment, he didn’t say anything, just stared at Alex with those deep blue eyes that always seemed to hold a thousand unspoken thoughts.
“I know,” Henry said quietly, his voice barely a whisper. "I miss you. I miss being home,"
Alex softened, leaning in and brushing a gentle kiss against Henry’s temple. “I miss you too,” he whispered. “I'm so proud of all the work you're doing, but I need you to put yourself first. You're my whole world, baby.”
Henry closed his eyes again, but this time there was a warmth in his expression, something softer. He leaned into Alex’s touch, his head resting against Alex’s shoulder, the weight of it feeling so natural, so right.
For a while, they stayed like that—Henry nestled into Alex’s side, breathing slow and steady, Alex’s arm wrapped around him, holding him close. The TV played some random show in the background, but neither of them was paying attention. The world outside could wait. Right now, it was just them.
After a few minutes, Henry stirred, his voice soft and drowsy. “You know, in the movies, the prince usually rescues someone. Not the other way around.”
Alex smirked, pressing another kiss to the top of Henry’s head. “Well, this isn’t a movie. And besides, I've stormed castles for you, baby.”
"I adore you." Henry smiled against Alex’s chest, his body finally relaxing fully, the fever pulling him deeper into sleep. Alex watched him, his heart full, a quiet sense of peace settling over him.
Alex leaned down and pressed a soft kiss to Henry’s forehead, feeling the faint pulse of warmth beneath his lips.
“I’m not going anywhere,” Alex whispered, his voice barely audible in the quiet of the room. “Not ever.”
Henry stirred slightly in his sleep, a soft murmur escaping his lips, but he didn’t wake. Alex smiled, his heart full as he stood and quietly retrieved a few more blankets from the linen closet. He draped them gently over Henry’s sleeping form, making sure he was warm, comfortable, protected.