Work Text:
It started with a gala in support of the arts. Henry and Pez met Alex and June at the bar, toasting each other, before Alex and Henry went off in separate directions so as not to raise suspicion. It hadn’t taken long though for Alex to catch Henry’s eye, and they snuck off to an empty stairwell. They made out until they were both panting, then snuck back in giggling like school boys.
“And where have you been?” June had asked him, sidling up next to him at the bar.
“Oh you know, circulating.”
“Mm-hmm. And has my brother also been circulating? Because I just had to tell him his shirt is buttoned wrong.”
“I’m sure I have no idea what you speak of.”
June snorted and took the offered glass from the bartender.
Henry left first with his PPO, heading to their hotel. He was halfway there when his phone buzzed.
Alex ❤️: Leaving now, be there in a few
HRH Prince Dickhead 💩: we’re in room 1224, I’ll be waiting for you 😘
Henry let himself into their room, called down for a bottle of champagne, and hung up his jacket and tie. As he waited, he went to the bathroom mirror, attempted to tousle his hair just enough to look sexy without being obvious and unbuttoned the top few buttons of his shirt, then unbuttoned a few more. Champagne arrived, and he poured two glasses. He checked his phone. No new messages.
Henry turned down the sheets and sat on the end of the bed, one foot tapping anxiously.
He lived for nights like these. The anticipation stretching out like taffy, hidden glances, stolen kisses, all leading up to finally being behind closed doors, when it finally exploded between them. Then it would be over too quickly, and Henry would be back to mundane daily life, but that night might be enough for a little while. Then Alex would email him another love letter from Alexander Hamilton or Oscar Wilde or text him a selfie wearing nothing but his glasses, and suddenly all he could think of how Alex tastes, they would start figuring out another plan to get across the ocean and get into each other’s arms.
He checked his texts again, and then tried calling Alex. No answer.
He checked his Twitter, scrolled some of the photos from the evening. He saved one of him with June, Alex and Pez.
He stood again and went to the window, watching the rain fall on the downtown streets. He watched an ambulance drive by and tried calling Alex again.
He thought about going out to look for him, but where? They were probably stuck in traffic. Judging by the flashing lights he’d seen go by, there had likely been an accident causing traffic delays and soon, Alex would walk in.
But he didn’t. Henry’s hair had gone from casually tousled to just a plain mess, when his phone finally rang.
It wasn’t Alex though. It was June.
“Henry, you need to get to Mercy Hospital right away. It’s Alex.”
He ran out the door, his PPO trailing behind him.
He found June and Pez on the second floor, his patent leather loafer skidding on the linoleum as he ran. Tears were running down June’s cheeks as he hugged her. Her eyes were bruised, a patch of gauze taped to her forehead.
“There was a drunk driver,” Pez said numbly. “Went through a red light.” Pez was as bruised as June, plus he also wore a sling from a dislocated shoulder.
“Where’s Alex?” Henry asked, his voice cracking.
“The driver hit his door, he took the worst of it. He’s down the hall. He was knocked out and he’s probably going to need surgery to put pins in one leg.”
“Can I see him?”
“Yes, but he’s probably going to be out for the night.”
The lights were dimmed in Alex’s room. His eyes filled at the sight of him. One eye was swollen and purple, a line of staples closed a jagged laceration along his hairline, and one leg was splinted.
Henry sank down in the seat next to him. He took Alex’s hand and closed his eyes, took a deep breath, then opened them again, smiling sadly at him.
“Hello love,” he said softly. “I was wondering where you were. I’m so glad I found you.”
In the hallway, June paced, talking quietly on her cell.
“Well, dear, what shall we do, since our original plans are out of the question. Play a game?” He tightened his grip on Alex’s hand and made a show of looking around. “I spy with my little eye something that is as bruised as an old banana.” He paused, pretending to listen. “That’s right, it’s you, darling!”
Henry sighed, wiped his eyes.
“Alex. Can I tell you a story?
Once upon a time, there was a prince whose heart was on the outside of his body. His family spent years trying to protect him by covering his heart in rags and armour and clothing. That was until the prince traveled to a faraway land. There he met a boy. It was love at first sight for the prince, but he feared that the boy would see his heart and be horrified, that he would tease him or even just be indifferent. So he took that love in his heart and hid it in plain sight, by planting it in the ground. It grew into a sprawling garden, and the prince would walk among the trees and flowers and shrubs, where he could gaze at all of its beauty. He would find an oak tree and take comfort from his love’s limbs. He would lay in the grass and ground himself in his love’s strength. He would pick ripe berries and his love would nourish him. The garden continued to grow and grow. He feared that the boy would see the garden and would be suspicious, but as the years passed, the boy planted his own. The boy and the prince stood side by side and watched their gardens grow, until one day, it was impossible to tell where one ended and one began.” He sighed, pressed his lips to Alex’s hand, whispered into his wrist, “I love you.”
Henry carefully laid his head on the bed, his hand laying loosely on Alex’s hand. Alex would be ok, but what if he wasn’t? What if it had been worse and he had to watch him be buried, without anyone knowing that this was the man he loved, the man he wanted a life with, the one he wanted to build a home and a family with? Suddenly, it seemed so clear.
He wanted to come out. He wanted Alex to sit for the suitor portraits and be on his arm at the galas and fundraisers and the royal christenings and every other public event. He wanted to kiss him in front of the paparazzi, and let the whole world know that he loved Alexander Gabriel Claremont-Diaz. He wanted to figure it all out and finally, finally be himself.
He didn’t realized he was crying until he felt the tears dampening his sleeve.
“Henry?” June’s soft voice from the doorway.
“Yeah?” He said, sitting up, wiping his eyes. He followed her out into the hallway.
“I talked to Zahra. Mom and Leo are in China until Tuesday but she’s getting in touch. Nora and my dad are on their way.”
Henry nodded numbly.
“Pez and I are going to get some sleep and will come back in the morning. Will you -?”
“I’m staying,” he said, before she even finished the question.
Just then, a woman with a long, grey braid and scrubs approached them.
“Miss Claremont-Diaz? I’m Dr Franklin, I’d like to speak to you about Alex.” Her eyes cut to Henry. “And you are?”
“Henry. Alex’s boyfriend.” Saying that for the first time, it sent a giddy flush through him, but it quickly faded.
“I’ve reviewed the CT scans, and Alex has no bleeding on the brain.” Henry and June sagged against each other in relief. “He does have a concussion, so when he wakes up, no screens and we’ll keep an eye on him closely. As for his leg, he’ll be going into surgery to have pins inserted to stabilize it. He’ll likely be here for a few days while he recovers.”
“Thank you, Doctor,” Henry managed as June hugged him.
“Go,” Henry said after a moment. “Get some rest. I’ll call if anything changes.”
Henry took his seat by Alex’s bed and took his hand again.
“All right, darling, what should we talk about next? How about New Year’s? I know I told you I was jealous of you kissing Nora. How about how I ran back inside, grabbed Percy and we flew home? I spent every minute of that flight replaying that kiss in my mind, thinking about how your lips felt on mine. They were so soft and warm, and you tasted like champagne. The thing that kept me up every night was that you kissed me back. I felt your mouth responding to me and it would leave me feeling sweaty and so aroused I could barely think. I was in such a state and so useless. Pez would listen to me talk about you for hours. He’s electric, I told him.”
He shifted in his seat. “I fell in love with you in Rio. The thought that I might have a little piece of you, even momentarily, well, it would set me on fire. And I think that’s true. I burn for you. Always.”
He glanced up at the clock. Just after 3 am.
“You like lists. How about this, a list of some of the things I love about Alex. One, your bravery and how you share it. Two, the way your hair looks first thing in the morning. Three, the way you wrap yourself around me in the night and I sleep better than I ever have in my life. Four, the way you insult me but it always makes laugh and my toes curl. Five, the way you bite your lip when you fuck me. Six, your curiosity. Seven, the way your legs look in your ridiculous little shorts. Eight, how you meticulously organize your closet. Nine, how you ramble nonsense while I go down on you. Ten, how when you wake up, you’re going to tease me and call me a sentimental prick.”
Henry lay his head down again and squeezed his eyes shut. He was exhausted, and he felt an ocean of unshed tears pressing against the back of his eyes. “Eleven, I love that when I’m with you I feel alive for the first time, that I only feel complete when you are near. Everything felt crooked and didn’t quite fit until you came into my life. You straightened all the pieces and sealed them with a kiss and a crooked smile.”
Henry was quiet again, and after a few minutes, he was drowsing, sitting up. He almost missed the squeeze to his hand.
His eyes popped open. “Alex? Are you awake?”
“Hurts.” Alex slurred.
“It’s ok, love, I’ll call the nurse.” Henry quickly pressed the call bell.
“Henry,” Alex said, blinking owlishly at him.
“Yes, my love, I’m here. I’m not leaving.”
“Good.”
“Do you need anything?”
“Water.”
Henry snatched up the glass on the side table and held it while Alex sipped carefully through the straw. The nurse arrived with an injection of painkillers, and Alex was falling asleep again.
“Love you,” Alex murmured, as his eyes drifting shut again.
Alex woke up again just before 8 am. Henry has dozed off and on in his chair; he guessed he’d gotten maybe two hours. He tried not to think about Alex telling him he loved him.
“I see you got dressed up for me,” Alex said, as Henry rubbed sleep from his eyes. He glanced down and remembered he still had his shirt unbuttoned to his sternum.
“Oh yes, I suppose I forgot.”
“Never apologize, you look so slutty, I fucking love it.”
It was at that moment a nurse walked in to check his stats. Judging by her raised eyebrows, she caught what Alex said, and Henry turned beet red.
The nurse checked his blood pressure, pulse and temperature as she informed them that they would be taking him to surgery shortly.
“You’ll wait?” Alex asked, suddenly sounding frightened.
“Of course, love. How does your face feel?”
“Hurts, but not too bad.”
“Can I kiss you?”
“Yes, please.” He kissed Alex softly, and he could feel Alex relaxing as he did.
Moments later, an orderly arrived, and Henry dropped another light kiss on his lips before they whisked Alex away.
Henry sat in the surgical waiting room, his hands steepled in front of his lips. He might have looked like he was in prayer, but really he was talking to his father. He told Arthur all about Alex. He thought maybe they would have really liked each other.
His cell rang; Shaan was wondering where he was, as he was due to fly out at 9:30 am. He had a hushed argument in the hallway. He was not leaving Alex, and Philip and Gran and everyone else could go to Hell.
June and Pez arrived minutes later with donuts and coffee. Henry was almost delirious from lack of sleep and emotion, but June pressed a cup of Earl Grey in his hands, and he cried into her shoulder for a minute.
Alex pulled through fine, and the three of them met him at his room.
“Baby!” Alex cried giddily when he saw Henry.
“Yes, love, I’m here,” he said, biting his tongue. Alex was high as a kite, and he was fighting the urge to kiss his big silly smile.
“Hey! What about me?” June asked playfully.
“Bug! I love you! Did you bring me Mr Snugglepants?”
June snorted. “No, Alex, Mr Snugglepants is in Texas.”
“Who or what is a Mr Snugglepants?” Pez asked.
“His teddy bear from when we were kids.”
There was a tap at the door, and Nora and Oscar were there, asking for an update and giving kisses and hugs. Henry walked to the corner and pretended to look out the window, but instead let his tears fall.
He felt a hand on his arm and he turned to find Pez. He let Pez gather him a one armed hug and cried into his shoulder.
He heard Pez quietly inform the others he was taking him to get some rest.
Alex spotted him moving toward the door and cried, “No, don’t go, baby! Please.”
Henry saw Oscar startle, obviously unaware of their relationship, but still he went to Alex, gave him two kisses, one on his forehead and one on his lips. “I’ll be back soon, my love.”
Alex said it again, the words that made his heart ache. “I love you, baby.”
Henry gave him a watery smile. “I love you too.”
Henry let Pez put him in the shower, then to bed. When he woke up three hours later, there was food waiting for him and a clean outfit laid out.
Alex was awake, eating a pudding cup, when Henry arrived, June, Oscar and Nora sitting around the bed. Oscar was telling the story of how Alex had broken his arm as a kid falling off the roof of their shed.
Alex grinned when he saw Henry walk in and said, “H!”
“Let’s let these guys have a minute,” June said, standing and shepherding every one else out.
“How high are you?” Henry asked, sitting on the edge of the bed.
“It’s mostly worn off,” Alex said, with an embarrassed smile.
“Did you mean what you said earlier?” Maybe this wasn’t the time for it, but he felt wrung out and a little broken. He had managed to avoid the paparazzi outside, but that was going to be obstacle for the next few days.
“I heard you, while I was sleeping. I started my own list of things I love about you: one, you sat by my bedside with your slutty shirt and made me a list and told me stories while I was asleep. Two, you stayed. Three: the way you’re looking at me right now. I love you, Henry. I’m sorry it getting hit by a drunk driver to make me say it.”
The tears were threatening again, but Henry blinked them away and kissed Alex instead. They tipped their foreheads to rest against each other, and they just breathed each other in.
“God, I can’t wait until you’re home and I can just feel your body against mine,” Henry murmured. “I’m going to stay while you recover.”
“Baby…”
“I’m going to stay. If I go back to England, I’ll go completely mad.”
Alex smiled gently, eyes drifting shut. He looked completely content.
“I do have some bad news though,” Henry continued. “There’s paparazzi all over the parking lot. We’re going to need a plan.”
“Do what you need to do. I’m tired of being in the shadows with you.”
Alex’s eyes were starting to droop.
“We’ll talk later, you just rest.”
Alex was released two days later. They decided to stay at the hotel for another day or two to let him recover a bit more before making the trip back to Washington. Henry stayed to care for him, while the others returned to their normal lives.
“Aw, you’re not wearing your slutty shirt,” Alex pouted when Henry arrived with the wheelchair to take him to the hotel.
“I will be as slutty as you’d like once you’re at the hotel,” Henry said patiently, helping Alex sit up.
A PPO was pulling around with the SUV when they came out front. A half dozen photographers were waiting for them.
In the past few days, there had been a few photos of Henry published, coming and going from the hospital, generally looking exhausted and harried in jeans and hoodies. The rumour mill was spinning. Social media was split between Henry just being there for his best buddy, and there being something more.
Henry kept his hands on the handles of the wheelchair as they waited. Alex twisted to look up at Henry, gave him a little crooked smile, and covered one hand with his own. Henry smiled back. It felt like a Moment, with a capital M. Henry wanted to kiss him full on the mouth, instead he kissed Alex’s forehead carefully.
He could hear the camera shutters click as the SUV pulled up, then finally they were on their way.