Work Text:
Henry’s stupid. That’s all he is, a stupid fucking idiot. He just left behind the single most incredible thing he could ever ask for.
All he wanted, his entire life, was to be happy, to be loved and to be in love. And he had that, didn’t he? He loves Alex with every fiber of his being. If he lets himself think about that moment on the dock, he thinks Alex loves him too. No, he knows Alex loves him too.
As stupid as he’s been, he likes to think he’s rather brilliant on a regular day. It did not take a genius to realize that everything Alex ever did for him was done out of pure love.
Growing up, Henry had always followed the rules. His childhood was filled with the words “yes, sir” “no, sir” and “i’m sorry, sir.” He did everything right, everything he was supposed to. He never had a rebellious phase. Never even had friends to go out and do reckless things with. He just sat up in his castle, doing his princely tasks, never having any fun. Henry wasn’t sure he had ever even been truly happy.
Until Alex. Alex is fun and exhilarating. Being with him makes Henry feel like he could do anything he set his mind to. It makes him feel real and alive and free. To be with Alex is to be immensely, consumingly happy.
Henry just gave that up. And for what? For someone who’s mindset and world views were set so far in the past he probably didn’t even know what year it is? That’s not okay with Henry, not anymore. If he was any younger, he would happily accept whatever was thrown at him, and forget about anything else.
But he’s not younger. He’s grown now, and he knows better. He knows that he’s allowed to feel things that go beyond terror, and the fear of being a disappointment. He’s allowed to want things and to go after them. He’s allowed to be happy.
He’s allowed to go back to Texas and tell Alex how much he loves him, wants him. So, that’s what he does. He calls Shaan and tells him he needs to be back on the plane as soon as possible, and he leaves. Only this time, he’s leaving something that’s not good for him, and running towards the thing that is.
_________________________
Landing in Texas again feels like coming home. It’s weird because this is Henry’s second time being in the state, and it’s certainly nowhere close to home. He thinks it might just be his heart knowing what’s here for him. Texas may not be his home, but it’s Alex’s, and if Henry is honest with himself he’d say Alex is his home.
So, yeah, landing in Texas feels exactly like coming home.
For all his excitement, the ride to the lake house has Henry’s anxiety at its peak. He didn’t really think this through until now. Alex is probably so angry and upset with him. He’ll probably turn him away at the door, refusing to even see him let alone hear him speak.
Henry may not have a history of being tenacious, but there’s a first time for everything. Alex is far too important to give up on.
As they pull up to the house, Henry takes a deep breath and wipes his hands on his pants. He gets out of the car and rushes to the door, leaving the PPOs and his bags behind. He may not end up needing them anyway.
Oscar Diaz opens the door and Henry nearly pisses himself, full of fear. They both just look at each other, not saying anything, until Oscar finally gives him an easy smile.
“Kid,” he says, “I am so glad to see you. Get in here and fix whatever this is, please. If you do it now, I won’t kill you later. Alex is in his room, you know where.”
Henry wants to rush to the door. He wants to throw it open and immediately declare his love. Instead, he walks slowly, and cautiously knocks on yet another door.
“June, I’m really not in the mood.” comes Alex’s voice, slightly muffled.
“Uhm, it’s not June.” Henry calls through the door.
There’s only the slightest moment of complete silence before the door is flying open so hard and fast Henry is amazed it’s still attached. Alex is looking at him, eyes rimmed with red like he’s been crying, and Henry’s heart shatters.
“Baby?” Alex says, uncertain.
“I am so, so sorry.” is what Henry says first.
He enters the room at Alex’s insistence and paces the floor as the other man shuts the door.
“I shouldn’t have left. I panicked. You were saying all these things, and I was realizing you felt the same way I did, the way you were never supposed to feel about me, and I just. I panicked. That’s why I left.”
“Okay, then why are you here now? If I’m not supposed to feel this way about you, why did you come back?” Alex asks, tone demanding.
This is it, the moment of truth. The moment that will completely change their lives, no matter what way it goes. Henry can only hope it goes the way he’s been imagining.
He takes a deep breath and says, “I love you.”
Alex says nothing, just looks at him with his beautiful eyes, so he continues.
“I have wanted you from the very moment I saw you. I have loved you since the moment we first spoke, and you insulted my shoes. I love you, I have always loved, and I will continue to always love you for as long as I breathe.”
“Then why did you leave? When I was trying to tell you that I love you, why did you leave?” The desperation is clear in Alex’s voice. Henry has a lot of regrets in his life, but leaving that night will always be his biggest one.
“I’ve never done anything for myself.” Henry explains. “All my life, I have always had to do what the king wanted, and what was expected of me. I was never allowed to want for things, and if I did, I wasn’t allowed to have them. I knew that if I let you tell me how you felt, if I knew you loved me, I would want you even more. And then I’d have to give you up. I don’t want to give you up, Alex. I want to hold onto you forever. I’ve realized that I am allowed to do that. I’m allowed, now, to want things, to want to be happy.”
“You’ve always been allowed.” Alex whispers to him.
“It’s never felt like that. It’s never even really mattered until you. I want to be with you and I don’t want to let anyone stop me from that. I will not let them keep me from being happy any longer. So, Alex, my love, if you want-”
“Of course I fucking want. Are you kidding? I don’t know exactly when I fell in love with you, years ago I’m sure, but I know how long I plan to be in love with you, and that’s for fucking ever. Don’t ever doubt for a second that I want to be with you because there is quite literally nothing in this world I could want more.” Alex says all of this with absolutely no room for argument. Not that Henry would argue any of it anyway.
Henry doesn’t say anything for a moment. He’s trying to think of something that Alex could maybe want more. Before he can put any ideas out there, though, Alex speaks again.
“Baby, if you don’t kiss me right now, I might fucking die. Full cardiac arrest.”
“Well,” Henry grins, “I’m always happy to save a life.” he says before kissing Alex and actually taking his breath away.