ALEX LICKING BARBECUE SAUCE OFF HENRY'S FACE AND HENRY TRYING A HONEY BUTTER ROLL!!
I know this is new for me, but this is JUST fluff. No smut, nothing. Just improper use of barbecue sauce. And a fair amount of British concern.
Tags: Fluff, Domestic Fluff, Fluff and Humor, Banter, Henry Fox Loves Alex Claremont-Diaz, Alex Claremont-Diaz Loves Henry Fox, Established Alex Claremont-Diaz/Henry Fox, Gay Disaster Henry Fox, POV Alex Claremont-Diaz, A Fair Amount Of British Terror, And A Healthy Dose Of Southern Smugness, No Smut
Summary: Alex makes good on a promise he made via email, and discovers something interesting about Henry. (Somewhat based on an anonymous prompt, and on one of Alex’s canon messages to Henry in the book. Hope y’all enjoy!!)
Alex had just been teasing when he sent the email, but the more he thinks about it, the more he wants to follow through on those words: “I’ll fly to London right now and pull you out of whatever pointless meeting you’re in and make you admit how much you love it when I call you ‘baby.’ I’ll take you apart with my teeth, sweetheart.”
And so, the next time Henry is around, Alex decides to do just that. They’re making out in a hotel room, as they’ve done plenty of times before, but the time they’ve spent apart adds to the desperation of it all.
Kissing at Henry’s neck, Alex experimentally nips at the pale skin, resulting in a small gasp. He knows it’s a terrible idea, but he isn’t thinking about paparazzi or makeup artists or public appearances as he begins to worry a bruise on the side of Henry’s throat.
“Marking me up doesn’t seem very wise.”
Mind-reader. “I promised to take you apart with my teeth, though.”
Henry’s cheeks flush a deeper shade of pink. “Do it somewhere that I can hide, at least.”
Alex pouts but complies, pulling away from his neck and observing the red spot — it should fade quickly, but Henry is so pale, the mark sticks out. Oops!
“Where do you suggest I go, baby?” he asks, smirking as the pet name results in a shiver. “I believe I also promised to make you admit how much that gets to you…”
Henry covers his eyes with one hand, smiling like a fool and shaking his head. “You’re incorrigible.”
“You know it turns me on when you use big words.”
They both laugh, easily switching between dirty talk and silly banter. Since Henry failed to answer his question, Alex takes it upon himself to gently sink his teeth into Henry’s right shoulder, resulting in a groan.
His mouth wanders, trailing kisses, nips, and licks along smooth skin. He even dares to dart his tongue out to tease one of Henry’s nipples, which causes a hilarious noise somewhere between a moan, a gasp, and a giggle.
It’s a ridiculous sound, so why does Alex find it so fucking hot? He trails kisses past Henry’s sternum and down his belly, pausing to nip the softness below his navel, just above where his pantline would be, if he were wearing any pants.
Henry squirms, and it's the first time he’s put up any sort of physical resistance so far, and it stops Alex in his tracks.
“Is this alright?” he asks.
Henry nods. “Yes, it’s perfect.”
“You just got a bit wriggly there, I wasn’t sure if you were trying to tell me to stop.”
“If I wanted you to stop, I’d tell you,” Henry assures him, reaching a hand out to stroke the side of his face. “It just feels…odd, in some places, I suppose.”
“Odd?” Alex quirks a brow. “Odd how?”
Even in the low lamplight, Alex observes Henry’s blush darken even further.
“It’s just…sensitive.”
Alex is about to snark at how unspecific of an answer that is before an idea pops into his head. “Did that tickle?” he asks, unable to hide the mischievous smile that curls on his lips.
“No,” Henry replies, far too quickly to be believable, and Alex is clambering on top of him in an instant, trying to hold his hips and legs in place. He returns his mouth to Henry’s belly, barely ghosting the skin with his lips.
Perhaps it’s the light, playful mood, or the anticipation of the inevitable, but Henry starts to giggle after just a few moments. It’s completely and utterly adorable, and Alex just about melts.
“How did I not know about this?” he asks. “How dare you not share this important information with me, your best friend. How will the tabloids believe that we actually like each other if I don’t know everything about you, Your Highness?”
Henry’s hands do little to bat him away, twitching beneath each brush of skin. Alex can’t stop grinning like a dumbass.
“Cut it out,” Henry whines. “You’re killing the mood!”
“I disagree,” Alex replies. “I have the Prince of England helpless under my touch, breathless and blushing. I’m tickling a member of the monarchy! Is this some kind of crime?”
As he talks, his fingers join the game, spidering up Henry’s sides and keeping a steady stream of laughter pouring from his lips.
“Yes! This is punishable by death!” he cries.
“It’d be worth it,” Alex says without thinking, and then, since that feels too sincere, too vulnerable, he leans down to blow a small raspberry on Henry’s stomach, a stupid thing that June used to do to him when he was a kid, and it just seems like a natural way to distract from his words.
Henry didn’t react too strongly, but Alex could feel his muscles twitching under his lips. “Please—”
“Begging already?” Alex asks. “Tell you what: I’ll stop tickling you if you say you love being called ‘baby’. And, add that I’m awesome in there somewhere.”
Henry's laughter kicks up a notch as Alex’s fingers find the soft curve of his waist and squeeze. “Never!” he still manages to reply.
Alex takes his time exploring different spots, poking and pinching all over the torso before him. There’s a charming, almost boyish quality to Henry’s laughter, mainly when Alex focuses on his ribs.
“Okay, okay!” he finally gives in, hands batting uselessly at the offending fingers. “I’ll say it!”
He could be really mean and make Henry spit his confession out between those sweet giggles, but he’s feeling generous this evening, and slows his touches to a stop. “I’m all ears.”
Henry refuses to look at him as he catches his breath before murmuring, “I like it when you call me ‘baby’…And, you’re awesome, I suppose.”
“A little cheeky, but I’ll accept it.”
Henry slumps back against the mattress, and Alex moves to lie down beside him.
“You are a menace to society,” Henry says.
“I got you to admit it though,” Alex replies, smug as ever.
“You used more than your teeth, though.” It almost sounds like a challenge.
Henry is captivated by Alex Claremont-Diaz, there's no other way to describe the heat in his belly or the instant infatuation. For a long time, Henry is hopeless, dreaming a dream that seems so far away. When a media disaster strikes and things change for the better, Henry is left overwhelmed by the intensity of Alex - the man himself is a force to be reckoned with. In their heavier moments, Henry leans into the soft grip of dark curls, leans into the feeling of being grounded by another. Read to find out how Henry navigates all the big moments in their relationship, one hair pull at a time.
Caught Beneath the Landslide
What if Henry hadn't been emotionally unavailable leading to him being rude to Alex upon first meeting him in Melbourne? What if, instead of hating each other, their relationship starts right then and there? Come find out what happens when Henry and Alex find themselves growing up together, nursing a connection, and navigating hurdles in life without the fear of being alone in the fight. What could our boys possibly get up to now?
When Everything's Made To Be Broken
Henry is happy to be back at Etton College for his senior year but that's thrown off course by the president's son untimely arrival. A personal catastrophe brings Alex to England to rain on Henry's parade - at least, that's what the Prince thinks when the First Son arrives. Soon, Henry finds that there's a lot more to Alex and the relationship meant to exist between them.
Keep Breaking Me In
After a long night, Henry isn't expecting Shaan to knock on his door to bring bad news. Yet, his equerry stands there with a sheepish look on his face, nonetheless. Henry is quick to find out that Phillip got his hands on a damning video and plans to use it as a way to dishonorably discharge Henry from military service. Too bad Phillip doesn't recognize the other man in the video - Alex Claremont-Diaz is a high caliber Civil Rights lawyer just waiting to defend instances just like this.
Try To Document This Light
Buying the brownstone is both the start of Henry's path away from the crown and a concrete future for himself and Alex. It's a place he can call home with the man that he loves, a place where they can grow, change, and shift into the men they're going to be for the world to come. After a lifetime of not really belonging anywhere, Henry finds a space that's truly his. Read to catch little peaks into his life with Alex and what the future has in store for them between the walls of that simple little brownstone.
Just the Thought Of You (Gets Me So High)
"Amy helped me plan it."What went into Henry's ocean crossing surprise? What were his thoughts going to the DNC where he'd finally see Alex on the stage, doing what he loves & looking amazing while doing it? Read to find out Henry's side of things as the night of the DNC unfolds.
I Like That Thing You Do
Ever since the first polo match Alex attended, his obsession with Henry on a horse has only grew. Years into their relationship, Alex is still hanging onto the pitch's fence, watching with rapt fascination. Read to find out what happens when Phillip asks a question that creates a lust monster Alex can't control. No one ever said those white pants Henry wears aren't meant to be destroyed.
With the View In the Morning (You Won't Ever Go Back)
Despite being together just shy of a year, the night of the election is a first for both Alex and Henry. After sneaking away to linger in their victory, Henry is surprised by Alex's initiative. They're on his home court so Henry is expecting the usual but Alex has something different in mind. The shift is enough to knock Henry's world off kilter in the best of ways. Read to find out how Henry survives his first time topping.
Can We Dance In the Dark?
"Who would you be?""Be a writer. Live in Paris."Inspired by this beautiful quote, this fic follows Henry Fox, a writer who's famous for crafting stories about a fictional prince - The Royal Blue series follows James through the trials and tribulations of being young, royal, and gay as a maypole. He loves what he does but inspiration is dry. He can't find the words and is severely stuck in a bout of writer's block. To try and abate it, Henry takes David for a walk - fate, the dear she is, finds a way to intervene. After a collision, Henry comes face to face with Alex Claremont-Diaz, law student and first son of the United States. Read to find out how their relationship develops into something worth writing about.
This Happily Ever After
For such a natural, easy sort of relationship like Alex and Henry's, there is a lot of weight on their shoulders. Despite themselves, they're making history with each new step they take in their relationship. It's a good thing, then, that neither man is a stranger to the limelight. When Alex teases about them making history, Henry doesn't know how deep that comment will run or how true it actually is. Read to catch a few pieces of Alex & Henry's relationship where they make their own history. Sometimes, two people are meant to shape the world, no matter the circumstance.Or - 5 times Alex jokes about making history and 1 time Henry reciprocates.
I Get Lost, I Get Washed Away
Law school is stressful from the start but it reaches a fever pitch during Alex's last semester. He decides Henry's birthday is the perfect excuse to get away from it all so he hatches a plan to not only be there for Henry's birthday but surprise him with his presence, too. They're on the cusp of something in their relationship and Alex is ready to help whatever it is along. Everything works out perfectly, down to the moonlit car ride they take at the end of the night. Read to find out how an overstimulated Alex pampers the birthday boy - in the end, they both take care of each other.
I Got A Girl Crush
Alex Claremont-Diaz has been the object of Henry's affection for longer than the prince cares to admit. He's usually pretty sane about it but his brother's wedding has put everything on high alert. After reading a particularly upsetting gossip rag, Henry is distraught by the idea of seeing Alex with her - Nora Holleran - everything that Henry is not. He decides he wants what she has as the night goes on and her closeness with Alex becomes apparent. Though, Henry is quick to learn that not all things are what they appear. Sometimes, it takes a little frosting on the cheek to realize how wrong one can truly be.
Then Wiggle With It
What if, instead of balking at the request, Henry takes Alex up on his offer to dance during 'Get Low'? Alex has been wondering why he feels a little funny whenever Henry is around but an errant touch while their bodies are close causes him to reevaluate everything he's come to know about himself. Can the simple bump and grind of a raucous club song really change everything for Alex? And does their relationship shift now that Alex comes to a groundbreaking realization much quicker than ever imaginable? Read to find out!
The Perfect Genius Of Our Hands and Mouths
The first time they make love, that soft press of Henry's hand to the small of Alex's back is a guiding light. He's not a fumbling boy learning how to walk - he's a man with someone showing him the ropes. It's a wonderful thing that Alex never forgets. In fact, he comes to rely on that hand on the small of his back leading him through the ups and downs of life. Read to see a few slices of Alex and Henry's time together where making love and feeling that touch play starring roles in the biggest instances of their relationship.
A Solid Embrace
Despite the not so good nature of the holiday, Thanksgiving has always been special to Alex. Throughout the years, he learns things, eats good food, and grows into the man he is today. This year, Henry gets the freedom to spend the holiday with Alex and his family out at the lake house in Texas. Determined to make it the best yet, Alex goes through all the motions, perfecting them along the way. Somewhere throughout the day, his priority changes, however - Henry in a striped rugby shirt is suddenly the object of his fixation, food and tradition forgotten. Read to find out how a little football makes Alex realize his family is finally complete.
Summary: BREAKING NEWS: White House Reports That First Son, Alex Claremont-Diaz, Has Been Shot
CONTENT WARNING: This deals with/describes shootings/gunshot wounds. Nothing is explicitly described, but proceed with caution if this could be triggering to you
A/N: I'm writing part 2 to this as we speak
Insomnia was nothing new for Henry, though after having a few blissfully restful nights in Alex’s arms, sleep was more elusive. The Prince sighed, rolling onto his side. The alarm clock read 11:25 PM, and normally, Henry would drag himself to the kitchen and make himself a cup of tea, maybe crack open his book, try to distract himself from the sleep that wouldn’t come. But something in him was telling him to turn the T.V. on. So Henry did, and he nearly vomited when he processed what was on the screen.
BREAKING NEWS: ALEX CLAREMONT-DIAZ SHOT. Henry barely managed to keep his late night snack of Jaffa Cakes down as he cranked the volume up, listening intently to the newscaster. “We are just receiving confirmation from Washington that Alex Claremont-Diaz, son of President Ellen Claremont, has been shot amidst gunfire in Georgetown. Information is still coming in, but we can confirm that Mr. Claremont-Diaz was life-flighted to Walter Reed Medical Center, and…”
Henry was no longer listening. He was throwing clothes into a bag, not bothering to fold them, barely looking at what he was packing. Then, his phone started buzzing. Texts from Bea, June, Pez, and Nora, but none from the one person he desperately needed to hear from. Henry pulled his charger from the wall and shoved it in his bag, zipped it shut, and threw it over his shoulder before he was running.
Shaan met him halfway down the hall. “I need to get to–” “I know, sir,” the equerry interrupted, turning on his heel, now jogging alongside the Prince. “Ms. Bankston phoned. There’s a car waiting to take you to Heathrow.” Henry nodded, quickening his pace, nearly diving into the waiting car. The ride to the airport was torturously long, and the flight was unbearable. All Henry wanted was to see Alex, to touch Alex, to know that Alex was alive. The headlines kept rolling in, none of them confirming anything, and the Prince was beginning to spiral.
Ellen’s number was in his contacts, but she hadn’t called. Nor had June or Nora. Henry didn’t blame them, of course, their attention was likely on Alex. But he was going half mad with worry and speculation. Eventually, Shaan pressed Henry’s emergency medication into his palm–pills he seldom had to take, pills he needed when anxiety and panic overwhelmed him–and he took them with no questions, dropping into a dreamless sleep soon after.
***
This wasn’t how today was supposed to go. Alex had set out with the intention of scoping out a new bookstore for when Henry came to visit, grabbing some lunch, and heading back to the Residence. Instead, he found himself lying on the pavement, a bullet wound on his lower abdomen, screams and pops filling his ears. Alex was by no means a medical professional, but he knew when he lifted his head that that was far too much blood.
Amy was at his side immediately, her gun drawn. Cash was there too, tearing open a package of what looked like gauze. “Sorry kid,” he said. “This is gonna hurt like a bitch.” He then began packing the wound, and Alex screamed, stars popping before his eyes. Then the tears came, both from pain and from fear. Would he see his mom again? June? Henry? Alex brought a shaky hand to his face, seeing Henry’s signet ring there, flecked with blood. “Baby,” he whispered, kissing the ring. “I love you. Henry…” Everything went black.
***
There was another car waiting when Henry landed at Ronald Reagan. The Prince was barely sitting down, Shaan climbing into the other seat, when he barked an order, one he had no real business giving. “Drive.” As the car pulled out of the airport, it was flanked by five other vehicles, all black, red and blue lights flashing. At Henry’s questioning look, Shaan spoke. “Extra security, sir,” he said. “We cannot take any risks.”
Henry was anxious for the entire drive. At his request, Shaan had confiscated his phone, cutting him off from any and all communications. He had texted Bea, though, telling her he was going to D.C. and that he would be in touch. “Any word?” he asked, and the equerry shook his head. “I know as much as you, sir.” Finally, the motorcade pulled up to Walter Reed, and Henry almost fell in his haste to get out of the car.
Four Secret Service agents were waiting at the entrance, as was Zahra, who looked flighty and anxious and very unlike her usual self. “Thank God you got here safely,” she said, offering Henry a soft smile before turning and entering the hospital. She led him to an elevator, which after inputting a passcode, took them up to the President’s private wing.
Ellen was pacing back and forth, June was staring blankly out a window, Oscar was talking to someone on the phone, and Leo was watching his wife, looking helpless. When Henry appeared, Ellen startled before pulling the Prince into her arms, holding him like her life depended on it. “Oh darling,” she said, and Henry broke. Choking, ugly sobs left his mouth, and his knees gave out. Ellen maintained her grip on him, sinking to the ground with him.
“I know, baby, I know,” the President soothed, and Henry burrowed into her arms. After several minutes, Henry calmed, sniffling and wiping his eyes. “Is he…” “He’s in surgery, darlin’,” she responded. “Has been for hours. Doctors have been out a few times, so far he’s stable.” Henry nodded, trying to process everything. “W-what happened?” Ellen shrugged. “We don’t quite know. They don’t think Alex was targeted, which is something…”
Henry almost laughed. His boyfriend was lying on an operating table with a gunshot wound, he had nearly died. What did it matter if he was the target or not? But he only nodded. “Have you eaten, Henry?” The Prince shook his head. “Do you want anything?” Another shake of his head. “Alright.” They fell silent, and after several minutes, Henry extricated himself from Ellen’s embrace, moving to sit next to June.
She said nothing, but took Henry’s hand, squeezing hard. Henry squeezed back, resting his head against the window. Alex would be alright, he had to be alright. He laid a hand on his chest, feeling the chain and key there, tears pricking at his eyes. “My love,” he whispered. “Alex…” Maybe he dozed off, maybe he didn’t, but when a doctor walked in, Henry bolted upright, his heart in his throat.
“Madame President, I’m Dr. Lewis,” she said. “I was the attending surgeon on Alex’s case.” Ellen nodded, her arms crossed over her chest. Dr. Lewis saw Henry, and her eyes widened slightly, but she pressed on. “I am pleased to tell you that Alex is stable and out of surgery.” Ellen let out a sob, and Henry let out a shuddering breath, gripping June’s hand even tighter.
“He lost a substantial amount of blood, but we have a transfusion running and we’ll be monitoring his numbers.” “How bad was the injury?” Ellen asked, worrying her lip between her teeth. “The bullet struck Alex’s right kidney. Now, the kidneys are very vascular organs, which accounts for his blood loss. We were able to remove the bullet and attempt to reconstruct the kidney, but there are no promises on that front. The good news is that we all have two kidneys, and you only need one to survive. Of course, we’ll be keeping a close eye on Alex’s renal functions and other things like his blood pressure, but in my professional opinion, he is out of the woods.”
Ellen surged forward and shook Dr. Lewis’ hand, tears in her eyes. “Thank you, doctor,” she said. “Thank you so much.” “It’s my pleasure, Madame President. He’s still asleep, but he should be awake soon, if you’d like to see him.” Ellen nodded, looking back at Henry. “You comin’, Sugar?” It took a moment for Henry to realize she was talking to him, and he nodded, slowly getting to his feet. Side by side, the President of the United States and the Prince of England made their way to Alex’s hospital room, equal parts nerves and excitement filling their minds.
I know hyacinthus, whom apollo loved so madly, was you in greek days
AO3
A RWRB FirstPrince fic
2k words
no warnings
A/N: in honor of the movie, I'm rereading RWRB and decided to dabble in some firstprince fic. enjoy!
3:18 a.m.
The digital clock on the nightstand blinks at Henry as he blearily rolls over, reaching an arm out to grasp for Alex on the other side of the bed only to run his hand over cold sheets.
He was a proud self-proclaimed insomniac, but Henry's sleep depravity had slowly waned as he had gained someone to share a bed with. It turns out that being awake into the night when the rest of the world was asleep and unaware of his unfortunately large presence in their lives was some kind of strange comfort to Henry. It felt like the only time when he was able to simply be without a camera or a fan or the Queen of England monitoring his every move. With Alex, though, everything had changed. He now had someone to be unapologetically authentic around whenever he wanted, someone to allow the royal barriers to come crashing down around be it morning or night in either country. And while he was still a sucker for the occasional late-night foray with his Cornettos, he preferred being well rested now in a warmed, occupied bed.
Alex, however, was letting old habits die hard.
He wanted to run for his mom's old seat in the House of Representatives in 2024. It was 2022. Whatever Henry thought he knew about American politics and government from his various electives at uni and briefings growing up had been thrown out the window as soon as he stepped foot in Alex's chaotic world. Alex had plenty of time to get the jump on his campaign, especially since he had just gotten an offer on the brownstone only a week ago and legally changed his residency to their lake house in Texas days after. Surely, there would be a settling period before he dove into a distant election head first.
But Alex was Alex, which meant that immediately catapulted into a research-based spiral as soon as he committed to the race.
Henry was definitely wrong to assume that there would be any peace between this transition period and the official kickoff of the campaign, especially given Alex's unhealthy habits of overplanning and overindulging in as much information as possible as quickly as possible. He hadn't properly spent time with Alex since all of this was set into play last week other than quick showers together in the morning and sporadic meetings for late dinners. There was a sharp ache that consumed him with every waking moment that he was deprived of being attached to Alex's side. If this was just considered political pregaming, he didn't know what he would do when this election thing went full force in the months to come.
Tonight, enough was enough, Henry decided pointedly. They had just gained enough stability in being out to the world that they didn't have to dodge paparazzi every time they opened a curtain, and the recent pandemic had done wonders for their exposure to publicity, or the blessed lack thereof. They had finally found a generous amount of acceptance both in America and Britain in the two and a half short years that they'd been together. He was not going to allow such a fresh peace unlike any that he had previously known to be whisked away for two years without a proper respite before the real chaos began.
Henry rolled out of bed, wrapping his fuzziest blanket around his shoulders, and headed toward's the brownstone's office with David close at his heels. He knew without a doubt what he would find there.
Alex was hunched over the large desk that may or may not have been smuggled from the White House late one night, having lost all regard for good posture at this hour. His hair was tousled, glasses askew. He still had on his khakis and smart navy button-down from the day, though his first three shirt buttons had found themselves undone as the hours passed. It was dark save for the glow from his desktop-laptop-tablet setup, and a heavily highlighted stack of papers littered the remaining desk space and floor surrounding him. He gripped a half-empty cup of coffee in his hands, softly reading aloud whatever article had caught his attention.
Despite looking absolutely exhausted, there was a sort of ethereal glow around him that never failed to make Henry melt. He didn't know if it was the faint cast of the moon from the skylight overhead or the casual domesticity of the moment, but Alex looked positively angelic, and Henry didn't think it possible to love a person more than he did his boyfriend right now.
The thing was, Henry absolutely detested Alex being consumed in his work to the point that they were pulled apart. But he was equally obssesed with Alex's big heart and work ethic. There was nothing like the privilige of seeing him after hours when no one else was granted the luxury - messy, disheveled, and totally engrossed in the night's topic. He hadn't a clue that such affection for someone else's passion could so completely encapsulate him.
He laid a gentle hand on Alex's shoulder, folding over him to place a soft kiss on his cheek.
"Whatever it is will still be there in the morning, baby" Henry whispered.
Alex melted ever so slightly, though he didn't remove his eyes from the screen closest to him.
"I'll be there later. I just need to finish this one thing."
"Alexander Gabriel Claremont-Diaz, you're boyfriend is very lonely, and he will soon start to seek out another bed fellow if you don't get your contrary arse up" Henry joked, nuzzling into Alex's neck.
"I promise I will. Please just give me five minutes" Alex replied, sliding his non-scrolling hand up Henry's bicep.
"Darling, you've all the time in the world," Henry said, "but I am absolutely withering away waiting for you."
Alex pushed back his chair, eyes tired but wild.
"Henry, please. This is what I've worked toward my entire life for, and I can't waste a second when it's this close." Alex asserted, "This is my life now. I don't have time to just sleep and lay around whenever. Please, just let me do my thing, okay?"
Henry stood up slowly, removing his arms from around Alex's neck. He didn't fully know why, but his words had stung.
"Yeah, sorry" he said hoarsely. "Take all the time you need with your future."
He deeply admired Alex's passion, though he must admit that nights like these frustrated him. He had more than accepted both his own and Alex's political obligations, and he wouldn't trade any of it for the world. But it didn't stop him from feeling slighted on nights like these when all of the other couples in the world didn't have the barrier of a high stakes Congressional campaign keeping their partner from spending quality time with them.
Sometimes the mundane made something deep in him ache, and he mourned for a life that could never be. Why couldn't he have been born a normal man with a normal life without the tremendous burden of carrying a good part of Britain on his shoulders? Why must the great love of his life be burdened with a heart of gold and such suffocating political obligations? They could be wild and free now. Two young men with the whole world in front of them, madly in love with nothing holding them back.
He didn't know why he was so bothered tonight. There was nothing new to throw him off. Alex was just being Alex, his Alex, and really, this shouldn't be catching him off guard. He also rarely allowed himself the luxury to wallow in the lives forfeited because of their birthrights, so why was tonight different? Though he tried to convince himself he was overreacting, he knew why he kept beating himself up over his lack of a normal life.
The ring.
He had been eyeing it for a month or so now, but he couldn't quite make himself buy it yet. Not because of any doubt related to Alex. If it were just the two of them to worry about, he would've done it a long time ago. Probably too early, if you asked anyone other than his raging heart.
No, it was the crown. It was the presidency. It was the campaign and the publicity and the protocol and God knows what else. And of course there were the press junkets and the royal tours and the bombardment of well wishes from every citizen of both England and America. Something in him physically hurt at the thought of having to ask permissions and get clearances and sign papers, all to pop the question. Few others in the world had to worry about such a hassle. Alex had told him about the campaign on the very day he was working up the nerve to start the ring designing process, and he took that as his sign that the universe didn't think it was quite time.
Now, as he lay pitifully in bed with all of this swirling around his head, he thought of what Alex had said. This was his - their - life. Like it or not, this was the calm before the storm, and it was likely a new kind of chaos that would plague them until his political career ceased. Not to mention his own half-assed involvement with the crown. While he was still using his royal funding to run his various projects, he wasn't spending much time fulfilling any princely duties. However, he knew he'd still have to carry the weight of whatever traditionalist bullshit his grandmother and eventually Phillip held over his head. None of that was going to be changing anytime soon.
Fuck it.
Henry rolled out of bed again, this time with more determination in his step.
He had spent his whole life being forced to suppress most of the key parts of him for some reason or another. Alex had, too, in his own ways. They had fought to hold onto this. Now that it was all out on display for the world to see, why wait another second?
He grasped Alex's shoulder and spun him around in his office chair.
"Henry, ple-" He abruptly stopped, stunned by the sight before him.
Henry was on one knee now, empty-handed in his sweats but overflowing with love and pride and every other positive emotion that he could possibly hold for Alex.
"No, I know that you're busy, but it can wait for this, for us. I've been thinking about our future and our past and everything in between. I know that you and I both are perpetually busy, but that is simply the cards that have been dealt to us, and I don't see why we should endure the prospects of our success apart for another minute. Alexander, you are the great love of my life, and I simply cannot wait another minute to solidify such love tethering us together. As Oscar Wilde wrote to Sir Alfred Douglas: Your slim gilt soul walks between passion and poetry. I know Hyacinthus, whom Apollo loved so madly, was you in Greek days."
He was sobbing, and Henry didn't know if he could go on without completely dissolving in this passionate whirlwind.
"Marry me?"
Alex had tears streaming down his face, and he was holding onto Henry's hands as though his life depended on it.
"Yes," Alex whispered, "always, yes."
He tackled Henry then, knocking him to the ground with a fierce kiss.
"I haven't a ring," Henry breathed into Alex's neck.
"It's okay. I've got one for you in the back of my sock drawer" Alex laughed breathlessly.
Henry fully broke down then in a puddle of tears and laughter.
They stayed there for a long time, too absorbed in each other to even properly get up. Henry was right. There's no time like the present, as they say. And now that he had a firm grasp on the reigns of his own destiny, he couldn't imagine that there was anything better to be doing with his own free will.
So they laid there wrapped around each other in the soft moonlight until dawn. Not princes or Congressmen or sons of presidents. Just two men, happy, free, and in love.
Background- Second year in Ellen's second term. They are at the White House and have been busy all day and this is the first time they see one another all day.
Thank you for asking <3
...........
"Hey, baby!" Henry exclaims as he passes by Alex without any other recognition. That wouldn't do, how dare he just ignores Alex with nothing more than a greeting.
He gets hold of his sleeve and drags him in front of him. When Henry is standing right in front of him, he takes hold of the lapels of his suit. He presses his lips deftly to his and Henry deepens the kiss.
Some part of his mind reminds him that they are standing in the middle of the corridor in the White House and anyone could walk past and see them kissing but the larger part of his mind just shushes it. The world and the White House staff for that matter could go fuck themselves for all he cares. He can make out with his beautiful boyfriend anywhere he likes. Isn't that the best part of being out? He personally thinks so.
"Al, we need to stop," Henry says in between kisses but then starts marking up his neck. Alex in return tugs at his blond hair and moans loudly.
Henry widens his eyes at him and captures his lips. That way he won't be calling anyone's attention.
"We should take this to your bedroom," Henry suggests, at last, no longer reasoning. Unfortunately, that is too far so Alex shoves them into the next bedroom he finds. It's one of the lesser-used ones, as far as he remembers it was last used three years ago when they had too many delegates over.
Henry for his part doesn't even bat an eyelid but rather hurls Alex on the mattress and wraps his body with his own. He takes hold of Alex's lips with his own again but this time he rhythms it with the grinding of his hips.
Henry attacks Alex neck next. Biting, marking and kissing endlessly on the area that extracts the most filthy sounds out of Alex's month. He is just unbuttoning the first button of Alex's shirt when all hell breaks loose.
Zahra enters the room with the sharp click of her high heels and a horrifying gasp.
"What the fuck are you both doing here?" she screeches at them as they start. By the time she is halfway into the room, they both are standing next to each other by the bed.
"Alex explain now "
"Well I- we were just-" Alex starts but Zahra holds up her hand.
"I have zero interest in knowing what you were doing, I want to know why we're both of you doing it in this room? You have a perfectly adequate room just on the other side of the building."
"We-" Henry starts explaining but one glance of Zahra is enough to silence him. It makes him feel like a small kid in front of his principal, not the fucking Prince of Wales.
"Both of you will get out of my sight at this exact moment and I won't be tempted to murder."
They both follow her orders gladly and escape the room. They are almost in front of Alex's room when they glance at each other and start laughing.
"That was fun!" Alex exclaims and Henry starts shaking his head.
"No that was bloody terrifying. Now I know why you're so afraid of her."
"Wasn't the last time at the hotel enough then?"
"It was but now I have a better understanding of it." Neither of them comments on the fact that Alex did not deny being afraid of Zahra, and it's the truth. You would have to be God to not fear that woman, maybe even then you won't have an escape.
They stop talking pretty quickly as Alex starts on his earlier attack in the corridor but this time they are safely behind the locked door.
umm so first time writing for this fandom, hope y'all enjoy!!
Henry and Alex attend their first pride together!! that's it, that's the fic
Word count- 1102 words of fluff
not tagging anyone...but tell me if you wanna be tagged in any future fics
Morning at the brownstone were sometimes lazy, Henry with his sleepy eyes and mussed hair, Alex with a cup of coffee glued to one hand and his phone in the other, blearily scrolling through his news alerts, kisses traded between two joined souls as they made their way through their daily routines. Other days, it was rushed, beeping alarms and text messages from Zahra, telling them to get their asses to the gala, or trans-atlantic flights and hurried kisses before one of them runs out the door, and then doubles back for one last kiss.
This morning, though, it was different, there was such excitement and nervousness in the air. It was the day of the famed NYC pride parade, Henry’s and Alex’s first pride and also their first pride together. Pez, June and Nora would be here anytime to go with them.
Alex makes his way downstairs to the kitchen where Henry was making their morning drinks, he was caught up in the glorious sight that was Henry, the way only he ever got to see him, all rumpled clothes and blond hair catching the sunlight streaming through the kitchen window. He stood there for a second taking in the gloriousness that was Henry Fox-Mountchristen-Windsor. And then Henry was turning towards him and smiling, that godsdamned glorious smile that still made his heart stop, and Alex was crowding him against the kitchen counter, kissing the living daylights out of him.
“Excited for your first pride parade?” Alex mumbled against his lips, trying not to break away from him.
“Yes, of course” was Henry’s answer, before he went back to kissing him.
Alex, in his years of planning, had never thought that this would be his life. Making out with Henry in their little brownstone kitchen, getting ready for their first pride parade, kissing him whenever he wants to, being happy and confident and for the first time feeling something slot into his heart.
The bell rings, pulling him out of his thoughts. Henry slips away from between him and the counter and backwalks to the door with a wink, Alex’s laughter following him out of the kitchen and to the door.
Voices spill from the entryway, June, Nora and Pez, they argue their way into the kitchen talking over one another. Henry laughs at something Pez says and Alex feels so so happy. He probably has a dopey smile stuck on his face but he hardly cares. June comes up to him and hugs him.
“Long time, no see, baby bro.”
“That’s because you’re so busy writing that book of yours, how’s it going? Have you written anything amazing about me yet?”
June hits him on the shoulder and laughs, “I don’t need to help you grow that big head of yours, anymore!”
They dissolve in laughter, and the brownstone kitchen is filled with friends, laughter and the sounds of love. In seconds, Pez’s voice cuts over the cacophony, “Come on kids, Auntie Pezza’s gonna give you a pride make over” he says with a dangerous twinkle in his eyes.
Nora brings out her phone in a flash and snaps a picture of the gang, all bright smiles and twinkling eyes. Alex will later print out the picture and use it as a bookmark, but right then his eyes find Henry’s and the brilliant smile on his face almost knocks him off his feet. The only person missing right then was Bea, but she hadn’t been able to come, they’d placated her last night with promises of a gazillion pictures and at least one embarrassing video.
And then Pez drags them away and sits them down on the assorted furniture in the living room, and attacks them with colourful paints for an hour straight, by the end Alex has the bi colours smeared across his cheeks in a messy pattern, and Henry has the gay flag neatly coloured in on one of his cheekbones. Alex is half tempted, to kiss him on the flag and maybe make it messier, but the glare Pez shoots him at his look is enough to turn his thoughts away from Henry and his cheekbones.
They video call Bea, and all of them scream something unintelligible at each other, before they calm down and then Bea has them cat walking down the hallway in their outfits, showing off their flags and colours.
The bright colours and glitter and paint is everywhere, and so is the laughter and the love and right then, if the world stopped spinning, Alex would be very very happy.
They somehow finally make their way out of the brownstone, pride flags trailing behind them like capes and heads held high, and feeling invincible in a world that feels like it was made just for them. Like some kind of modern gods in their own world, the sun streaming down on their faces and arms around each other, ready to celebrate their love in a Dionysian parade across the streets of one of the world’s most famous cities.
Nora’s continuously clicking pictures as if anyone can ever encompass what they feel into a couple of square inches of the phone screen, and then June grabs the phone right out of Nora’s hands and kisses her, while simultaneously snapping a selfie. Alex yells at them to take their PDA elsewhere and Nora just sticks her tongue out at him.
And then there’s more selfies, and more laughter and finally, finally they reach the parade, and it’s an explosion of bright colours, loud sounds and gorgeous smiles. Alex buys a bi pin and tacks it onto his shirt with a wide grin on his face, Henry puts on a weird wide brimmed rainbow at Pez’s insistence, and June immortalizes the moment in a picture.
Nora drags June off to get more merch, and Pez goes to get a few flags, and Alex is left with Henry. Henry pulls him in by his belt loops and kisses him hard under the shade of the tallest buildings, they’re smiling too much, it’s more of a clash of teeth than a proper kiss, but right then it doesn’t matter.
“We broke down that wall, didn’t we?” Henry says in his soft voice, the one reserved only for him, and Alex’s mind flies back to a crumpled note in Henry’s handwriting that he’d found, professing their love to be a tragedy.
“Yes we did, baby” Alex says onto his lips and slips his arms around him and holds him tight.
People come up to them and tell them that their story has inspired them to be themselves, and Henry, for the first time, doesn't mind the attention. Alex sees the way he’s relaxed, even though there are people taking pictures of them, and he can’t help but feel as if he’s on fucking cloud 9.
The day’s perfect, streaming colours and happy faces and later when Alex looks through the photos, he’ll see one taken by Pez, one of Henry kissing him with the rainbow flag surrounding them like a blanket of safety, and he’ll smile, and then save it as his lock screen, ready to fight all the injustices of the world as long as he has his perfect piece of heaven in that cozy brownstone.
