Chapter Text
Today marks one month since the day Alex Claremont Diaz has gone missing.
Today marks one month since Henry had last seen the love of his life.
One month since he went out for a “criminal midnight raid of doughnuts and coffee” and never came home back to Henry.
One month without seeing him, without waking up to his face looming over Henry’s with a smile that made Henry feel like the entire world was just theirs, without hearing his laugh that never failed to dig one out of Henry even on his worst days. Especially on his worst days.
One month since he had last stepped foot in his and Alex’s place.
A home haunted by the memories that threatened to strangle him to death as his foot hovers over the threshold.
“At the back?” Shaan’s urgent voice startles Henry out of his trance. He whipped in his direction, watching his tense face and his hand hovering over his earpiece.
“Are you certain ?” His voice is stern, almost angry, and Henry’s heart quickens in his chest like it has only been a minute. Like it has only happened within the span of seconds his mind could count—like he could still feel Alex’s hair brushing his cheek, the heat of his body close to his, the comfort he had been trying to face the world without. And failed miserably.
So miserably that he didn’t wait for Shaan to be done with his security check.
It wasn’t like security mattered anymore.
They still took his Alex away from him.
He sprints to the back of the building where he sees a group of Secret Service agents standing in an arc with their backs to him, blocking his sight.
“Move,” his voice is steely, though his insides are swaying like a tree in a violent storm.
“Sir, le—”
“I said move ,” Henry pushes them aside, shouldering his way past them.
A figure is crumpled on the pavement, slightly rocking back and forth. He could make out the shape of hunched shoulders and a spine that protruded in an unhealthy way, covered in a dark hoodie that looks darker at places where sweat—hopefully—spread in uneven spots. The figure is hooded, Henry can’t see their face, but as he slowly kneels down, he feels his heart in his throat.
He could see little past the hood. It is so dark, and Henry’s hands are frozen on his knees. A pebble screeches under his feet, and the stranger jumps in fright, a low whimper escaping him.
This is a moment he has been through and through more times than he could count. Images of him running up to Alex and scooping up in his arms. Images of Alex smiling so brightly at him that the sun shied away, Alex laughing, Alex back, Alex healthy, Alex with him. All crumbling down to dust in less than a moment.
Henry doesn’t know how longer he could keep his vow. He doesn’t know how much longer he can bleed while Alex is still out there, unknown to be alive or… he still couldn’t bring himself to think of it.
Alex is alive. Henry knows it in his restless bones.
Because Henry is alive too, and Alex isn’t allowed to leave him behind in this life.
A low humming sound that Henry suddenly realizes is a series of murmurs catches his attention.
“….Claremont Diaz, First Son… Alex, United States,”
“Alex?” Henry’s voice seemed to be a separate being out of his body. “Love?”
At his voice, his head snaps up in Henry’s direction. Henry still can’t see clearly, all he can see is shadows. Shadows of Alex’s features, of tears, of— blood .
“I’m Alex Claremont Diaz,” he whispered, his head bowed down. “First Son…” he gulped, pausing.
Alex Claremont Diaz, First Son of the United States, and my first and last ever love.
“… of the United States,” he nodded frantically to himself as if he was having trouble figuring it out.
Henry feels like the world is spinning.
“And you,” he whispers and the world stops. Everything including the blood rushing through Henry’s veins seems to freeze. “You—you are—” Alex chokes, and when Henry reaches forward, Alex shrinks back, shaking his head.
“It’s Henry,” Henry has his hand on his chest where he can hear his heart breaking into a million pieces.
Alex’s hood falls back, and a gasp goes through the prince like a shard of glass tearing through his flesh.
Alex blacks out.