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Henry closed the door behind him and collapsed against it, his legs shaking as he slid down onto the floor. He brought his right hand up, slowly opening up the tight fist, hissing as the ridges eased from his flesh.
There, in the middle of his palm, was Alex’s key.
The metal shone as the dimming sunlight reflected off of it and Henry’s breath stuttered in his chest. He couldn’t believe Alex had given him something so important. Henry knew what the key meant for Alex, why he kept it close all these years, and yet, he’d given it to Henry as if it were the most simplest thing in the world. Like it belonged with Henry , instead of with Alex.
Henry could feel tears springing to his eyes. How had he managed to end up with a man like Alex? An unyielding man that didn’t let anything tear him down. Instead of cursing Henry out for leaving like a thief in the middle of the night, he’d come after him and told him he loved him. He fought with a blazing fire that could outshine the sun, and somehow, that man was Henry’s .
Alex loved him, just as much as Henry loved him.
Never in his wildest dreams could he imagine that Alex would love him back, would love him so fiercely.
His resolve to not give up had given Henry the strength to stand up for himself and what he wanted. And what he wanted was Alex, to be with him and love him freely, just as he deserved. Alex shouldn’t be locked up in a tower, forever hidden and kept in the shadows. Alex should be proudly shown off to the world, brightly shining as a star. Henry would tear himself apart before he would bury Alex in the darkness that he’d been a prisoner of for far too long.
So, he’d asked Alex to be patient and promised him he’d be brave. He’d given his ring to Alex as a promise, a promise that he would do as he said, that he would fight for them, for himself.
He hadn’t expected anything in return.
And yet.
And yet, Alex had given him his key.
It was the first key Henry had ever owned and it would be his most prized possession. He would give it the care Alex gave, he would keep it safe for his boyfriend.
Which was another thing, Alex was his boyfriend . Henry had never had one, all his past relationships too casual to have a label even closely resembling that. But here Alex was giving him another precious gift; himself.
As Henry had given Alex his ring he had made a silent vow with himself. That he would not be scared off, that he would no longer run away when things got complicated or too real. That he would stand tall and proud of who he was and who he was with. That he would fight for what he deserved but also what he and Alex deserved. They deserved to be free and open just like anyone else. Henry deserved to be able to walk hand-in-hand with Alex through the streets of London, Washington D.C, Austin, etcetera, without a care in the world of who would see.
He deserved to be free .