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Quality Time
Henry is not much of a runner but when Alex asks something of him, he finds that he often has no choice but to do it.
His husband is the only person who can get him to be up at the ass crack of dawn, in dusty gym wear that clings to his tummy and sneakers that hadn’t seen the light of day in about a year when they moved in.
Alex is bouncing on his toes, excited to take the show on the road while Henry is a bit more wary, carefully trailing behind him.
He’s not sure what sparked this, Alex wanting him to follow along, but any time to spend with his man was quite alright with him. So he took a deep breath and followed Alex out the door, jogging steadily by his side, and increasing his pace whenever Alex did.
Unfortunately, about mid-way, his body seems to remember that he hadn’t worked out consistently in more than a year, and his breath starts to leave a bit faster, causing him to lag behind his husband who hadn’t even broken a sweat yet.
Alex was just like that, in the sense that he had an overwhelmingly large amount of energy constantly stored in every cranny of his body, and usually expelled it by shaking a leg or doing something athletic.
Or fucking Henry until he was a crying mess but the point was, Alex loves stuff like this.
Henry decidedly did not, but again, what wouldn’t do for his husband?
Eventually, he lags so far behind that Alex notices. His curls bounce as he keeps his pace, and his ear twitches, almost like he can just sense Henry’s exhaustion.
Henry’s mouth is dry, he’s panting like David when he wants a treat, sweat is causing his clothes to cling to him in an overstimulating way, and he hears a distant ringing in his ears.
But Alex reaches back and beckons him with a strong hand, slowing down his pace and Henry is suddenly full of the fire of a thousand suns.
He gets his second wind and grabs Alex’s hand, smiling when his husband simply pulls him along, smacking a kiss to his forehead like a small greeting.
An, “Oh, there you are.”
Later, when they are staggering into the shower to wash off the stench of their excursion, Henry feels a little embarrassed.
“I haven’t worked out in years. I’m sorry if I slowed down your usual workout.”
Alex gave him a weird look, gently touching his waist to turn him into their shower space and scrubbing his waves with capable hands.
“You didn’t slow me down, sweetheart. I wanted you to come.”
“Why?”
“Cause I love you. And I like spending time with you. Duh,” he said, grinning when Henry pulled him into a kiss.
"Okay, but next time you wish to spend quality time together, can we just go to a cafe or something?"
"Yeah, okay baby."
Words of Affirmation
No longer constantly in front of the magnified lens of society, Henry had noticed some changes in his husband.
Good ones, he will admit, but changes nonetheless.
He’s grown out his curls, allowing them to be as wild and as free as he’d like. He posted on the internet for pleasure and not for an election or political event unless he was directly involved. He was more eager to truly and fully be himself, without watchful eyes or strings pulling at him in their desired directions.
But Henry’s favorite change is easily Alex’s voice. Or more specifically, his accent.
Henry had always been charmed by the slow drawl of his husband’s accent, but it had always been pretty muted, even when they had first met. Alex was the picture of Southern charm and hospitality, but in public, he spoke slowly and deliberately; sharpening his vowels and lengthening his pronunciation.
Henry had been in love with that version of Alex’s voice, wholly and completely, but now that they were 3 years away from the stress of their old lives and were getting into the rhythm of living for themselves, Alex’s accent had morphed and changed.
Where his accent usually only came out in full force when he was sleepy or angry, it was out all the time now. Whether it be wishing the cashier at the grocery store a good day, kissing Henry goodbye at the door, or excitedly yelling when they went out with their friends, his accent was strong and dreamy as all hell.
Where Henry’s words were clipped and sharp, Alex’s words were syrupy smooth, slurred, and patient. They filled Henry up with warm heat and love, hanging on the edge of his seat to hear the next thing Alex had to say.
If the man had noticed his increased willingness to let him talk his ear off, Alex never said. Just smiled, and kept going, words molten and slow.
They’re on the couch, watching The Devil Wears Prada and pausing every few minutes so Alex can talk about it as they usually do on a Sunday evening. His husband is curled on the other side of the couch, hands wildly flying as he critiques the actions of Andy’s boyfriend ( the real villain), Henry’s legs in his lap forgotten to get his point across.
Henry hummed along, discreetly using his feet to poke at Alex’s stomach to get him to continue with the foot massage.
“And the worst part is that he acted like she was so- oh, I’m sorry baby, here-” he blinks, grabbing onto his ankle and yanking him into his lap, barely pausing in his rant.
Used to it, Henry curls around him, tucking his head into Alex’s chest, smiling at the vibration of his steady voice and moving hands. One of them rests firmly on his backside while the other is jerking a thumb at the television in true frustration.
He’s so calmed by his husband’s drawl and warmth that he kinda…floats. He doesn't even realize Alex has asked him a question until his lashes are fluttering closed.
“And don’t even get me started on her friends! They’re all pieces of shit! How are you mad that your best friend is serving because now she gets paid a living fucking wage and…H? Baby, are you awake,” he asks, humor in his voice as he turns his head, curls brushing Henry’s brow.
“Mhmmm. Yes. Just really love your voice,” he mumbles against the warm skin of his neck.
Alex pulls back, gripping him by the shoulders and holding him. Henry frowns, makes a noise of disapproval, and tries to cuddle back up to him.
“Huh?” Alex asks, looking stumped. His eyebrows are furrowed in confusion, a frown settling on his lips.
Henry reaches up to smooth the divot and lets his hand rest, pushing back his wild curls.
“I said I like your voice. Is that weird? I don’t know if that's weird," Henry said, nervous that he had somehow unknowingly crossed a line. His husband slowly shook his head, a faint blush covering his cheeks.
“Uhm, it's not weird? I've just…never had anyone say that to me before.”
Henry pauses, delighted at how flustered Alex looks (it’s honestly hard to fluster him) but a little startled at his statement. He lets his hand slide down to cup his husband’s flushed cheeks.
“Really? It’s an exceptionally nice voice.”
Alex turns, placing a kiss on his palm and smirking at Henry's resulting blush.
“Nah, usually I get the redneck or hillbilly comparison. I’ve never…no…yeah, I don’t recall ever being complimented on it. I mean, it’s probably why I had to tamp it down when my ma was running for president. Didn’t want to trigger people’s negative bias too badly. I get it though,” he shrugged.
“Well, I’m glad you’re comfortable enough to not dampen it around me. I love your accent. I love everything about you. Even if you talk funny sometimes,” he teased, pressing a kiss to his warm lips.
Alex laughed, nipping at him with a low growl.
“You’re the last one to be talking about a funny accent Mr. Pip Pip Cheerio.”
“You take that back,” he gasped, trying to scramble away from Alex’s ticklish hands.
When Henry finally gets him to stop, they’re still curled up in each other, pressing slow and steady kisses to each other's lips.
“Hey,” Alex says, pulling back with a wet smack. Henry blinks, hazy and unsure of why their lips are no longer touching.
>“Wuh?”
“Thank you for saying that.”
“Saying what?” Henry mutters, leaning up to kiss him again. Alex indulges him before pulling away again, snickering.
“Thank you for saying you liked my voice...uh, I kinda forgot that I had some unsolved insecurity about it and you kinda just affirmed that there’s nothing wrong with it. I mean, it’s a part of me?”
Henry blinked, suddenly more serious as he processed what his husband was saying.
“You don’t have to thank me, my love. But I’m so proud of you. It is a part of you and that only makes me love it even more,” he promised.
Alex grinned, blinding and giddy before pulling Henry into another kiss.
Physical Touch
Henry had never realized just how often and how much Alex and him touched until now.
He knew that Alex was naturally rather tactile and enjoyed hugging and kissing and hand-holding more than anyone Henry had ever met, but after years of being together, it felt too natural to be alarmed by it. He was desensitized to the eager way Alex reached for his hand whenever they were out.
He didn’t notice much of the slumped satisfaction that exuded from Alex when he had an arm around Henry’s waist or the way their feet naturally gravitated towards each other during dinner.
He was so desensitized to it that he hadn’t noticed the sure grip Alex had maintained on his uncovered thigh at the lake house a month ago, causing him to have a tan line in the shape of Alex’s hand for about a week. His husband had been beyond pleased while Henry had to stick to long trousers in the climax of summer.
And that’s not to say he isn’t also giddy with happiness that somebody wants to love and hold him in public and with pride. No, that’s not it at all.
But Henry is just so comfortable in it, that he doesn’t even notice. And he doesn’t think Alex does either.
It’s brought to their attention a week after Pez’s monthly cookout extravaganza. He had recently purchased a Vintage Camcorder and had spent the entire day shoving it into people’s faces and filming anything with a pulse. It had been hilarious to see Nora look up from devouring a plate of wings and seeing Pez zooming in on her.
After a week of editing the film and converting it into a shareable format, Henry and Alex wake up to their group chat blowing up.
After grumbling once they realize nobody has died or been hurt, they sit up against their headboard and open up the attachment, volume turned up to make up for their loud fan. It was muggy and hot, often in New York and they were both not used to it.
The video starts with a mischievous shot of his best friend talking about the cookout and how he plans to follow everyone around with it. He laughs, endeared by how amused Pez often is with himself and seeing it in real-time.
The video continues with a wide shot of his backyard, full of music and love. There are so many parts of Henry’s heart and home pictured that he feels a little teary.
“Woah,” Alex murmurs at the shot of Philip and Martha dancing, bright joy on their faces. Henry silently agrees. It’s not often his brother's face isn’t pinched in displeasure.
He’s almost zoned out with all the bright colors and screeches of laughter when Alex brings him back out.
“Oh God,” he groans with humor, and Henry jolts, locking back into the video.
“What? What is it? Did Pez catch you picking your nose?”
Alex glares at him before scrolling back 1 minute early.
Pez is giving June a faux interview (that she takes very seriously) when suddenly the camera pans to Alex and Henry.
Specifically, Alex and Henry drunkenly grinding on each other in broad daylight.
Henry gasps, covering his face in embarrassment before peeking through his fingers again. It’s worse when Pez and June start commenting.
“It’s been a year already. Why do they still act like they’ve just married?” June groused, gagging.
“Young love. They’re so romantic,” Pez answered with a dreamy sigh.
“Oh God, why is Henry’s thigh so close to- GUYS STOP IT PEOPLE ARE EATING!!!!” June yells, voice pitched high as they start to make out.
“Oh god,” Henry moans, falling onto Alex’s shoulder with a humiliated laugh.
“Are we really that terrible?” Alex asks, laughing as well.
And clearly, that opens the floodgates.
Within the next 10 minutes of the video, there are shots of Alex and Henry touching. Whether it be swinging hands together as they walk around, sharing kisses near the campfire, Alex hugging Henry from behind as they engage in conversations, and possibly the worst is Nora and his mother of all people talking on camera with Alex in Henry’s lap in the background, aggressively making out.
“I need this scrubbed from the earth.”
“Aw, honey. It’s ain’t that bad,” Alex tries, throwing an arm over his shoulder and rubbing.
“See! This is what causes this!!” He yelps, grabbing Alex’s hand and putting it back in his husband's lap.
Alex frowns. “Well, that’s not fair. I like touching you. And you like me touching you, too.”
“Well.”
“And!” Alex continues loudly. “They’re just jealous of how insanely hot and compatible we are.” He slowly maneuvers Henry into his arms like a spooked cat, gently brushing his hair.
“Yes… yes, I suppose that is true. We can’t help that we love each other so much.”
Alex grins, lips pressed to Henry’s forehead. “Exactly, babydoll. Now, what picture should we send in the group chat to get those lugs to fuck off?”
Acts Of Service
Henry looks at the mess his office is, breathing deeply through his nose.
He is swamped at the shelter and it’s translating to his home life. It's around Thanksgiving so Pez is off with his family while most of the employees have called out. The ones who haven’t, Henry has sent home because it’s no use for them to be stuck at work when they could be traveling home to family.
He briefly laments the fact that he decided to leave and work from home but shakes his head. There were plenty of overnight employees who watched and took care of the children in the home.
He repeated that to himself to block the impending anxiety but it didn’t actually do much. He looked around for the mints that he took to help with the burning weight of anxiousness that threatened to overwhelm him and groaned when he realized they were finished and he had forgotten to pick more up at the store.
Currently, if anyone walked in, it would be to him aggressively pulling at his hair after reading an email about a sponsor pulling out their monthly donation due to “differing beliefs”.
“Fucking bastard,” he muttered angrily before closing his eyes and attempting to take deep breaths.
“Damn, what’d I do?” a familiar voice asked. Henry looked up to see Alex leaning against the doorway of his office, eyebrows furrowed in concern with a half smile playing on his lips.
“Oh! Oh, hi,” Henry stutters, startled. He glances at the clock on his table and sees it's 9:45, much past dinner time.
“Hey, honey. What’s going on?” he asked, making his way over to Henry. He wiggles his way into his large office chair, somehow managing to get Henry sideways on his lap. He’s so tired, he’s limp in his husband’s arm, with zero will to move from his warm comfort.
He sighs, cuddling into the warm space between Alex’s jaw and shoulder, taking a deep breath as his warm hands rub up and down his leg.
“Long day,” he grumbles, cuddling even closer at the coo Alex lets out, turning slightly to press a kiss to his forehead.
Henry has no choice but to melt further.
“My poor baby,” he drawls, warm and sweet. Henry finds himself making a noise back, involuntarily.
“And I’m starving,” he added, hoping for more sweet sympathy. He thinks Alex is catching on because he presses a lingering grin on Henry’s cheek.
“Yeah? That’s good 'cause I made enough lasagna to feed an army.”
Henry jolts, paling when he realizes it is his night to cook dinner.
“God, darling I’m so sorry! I don’t know how-“
“Hey, hey, sweetheart. It’s alright. I’m not upset, honestly I didn’t mind. Besides, you can always make it up to me,” he said, wiggling his eyebrows.
When Henry didn’t grant him a laugh he sobered up, pressing a short but loving kiss to his pouting mouth.
“You go down and warm up your plate, alright? Don’t worry about the dishes alright, we can tackle that in the morning.”
Henry wanted to cry. He had never met someone as considerate and as loving as his husband was and it made him feel undeserving of his sweet sweet man.
“Thank you,” he murmured after Alex shooed him down the steps.
“You’re very welcome sweetheart. Now, go eat, make yourself a cup of leaf water, and come back up to me, alright?”
Henry snorted, dragging his feet as he left. His stomach grumbled a warning for him to hurry.
He took the time to eat dinner in silence, needing to decompress from such a long day. He pushes work from his mind and focuses on the warm meal and the soft music floating down the steps.
He hummed along, a little confused because that was Alex’s cleaning music and it was way past cleaning hours. He eventually forgot about it as he cleaned up, brewed his tea, and stumbled up the stairs.
He takes one look at the closed door of his office and sighs. He should clean it now before he sleeps instead of letting it wait until tomorrow. He was sure waking up to his messy office would send him into a meltdown that would take more than a peppermint or his medication could take care of.
He pushed open the door quietly, not wanting to alert his husband of his sneaking ways when he gasped, mug almost dropping at the sparkling cleanliness of his office.
He blinks, wondering if the lack of sleep is finally catching up to him. He remembers leaving the office filled with old paperwork he was too lazy to file, books strewn across his desks and table tops, wrappers overflowing his trash can, and his tangled PC wires that surely had a mind of their own.
Now, he saw cleaned and sparkling tabletops, neatly arranged files and paperwork, and his shredder emptied out. He saw his bookshelf perfectly organized and his trash can empty as well. His wires had been untangled and neatly laid under his desk. But the most jarring thing was the fresh tin of sugar-free peppermints sat on his table.
Henry had no other option, but to burst into tears. He’s still sobbing, snot and wobbly lips and all as he immediately collapses into a shocked Alex’s arms, wailing even louder when Alex simply wraps him up.
He grew up with people constantly doing things for him. He had people wait on him, people feed him, people drive him and sometimes even dress him. But that’s all because they HAD to. It was their job. None of them had done it because they wanted to. They hadn’t done it out of pure love for Henry. Not the way Alex did.
“I love you,” he sniffled pathetically, clinging on to his husband with all his might.
Alex, who was used to his snot and tears, wiped them away with a careful smile.
“Alright. I love you too, baby. But take some breaths for me?” He asked.
And so Henry did.
Gift Giving
If tasked with the challenge, Henry could find any reason to bring Alex up. It wasn’t hard. The man was constantly at the back of his mind and sometimes at the very forefront. It wasn’t a task to think of him.
“Oh, you work part-time at a stable? That’s lovely, my husband loves horses. It’s a bit of an obsession, really.”
“Congrats on your baby. You know, Alex, my husband, is always talking about how much he loves kids, I’m starting to wonder if he’s trying to send me a sign.”
“Me? No, can’t say I’m much of a gym fan. My husband, Alex, is a certified gym rat. He even makes those disgusting green smoothies, it’s abominable.”
So yes, he enjoyed talking about his husband. He loves thinking about him even more.
So when he saw something that not only gave him reason to think about Alex but to talk about him as well, he had no choice but to buy it and present it to his husband like a dog bringing back a tossed stick.
“What’s this?” Alex would ask, looking at the object over his glasses.
“Just saw it and thought about you,” Henry would answer with a sweet smile. Alex would always return the smile, grateful and a little blushy too.
“Thank you, baby love. Let me set it down somewhere safe.”
This time, Henry had found something different.
Lately, Alex has been complaining about how terrible and uncomfortable the chairs at his workplace were. Not often enough where he was truly and genuinely angry, but enough for Henry to notice the slow way he sometimes had to get up from the couch after a long day at work.
So, he pocketed it.
It was a solo day out and about when he was pulled into a furniture store.
Buying Alex a whole new chair and having it delivered to his office was way too much, but finding a cushion to soften the pain would definitely help. So, he had talked to an employee, and they had shown him a memory foam cushion that could be easily snapped onto office chairs and removed.
Henry pulled out his phone, wanting to get the correct size of the chair without alerting Alex. His husband would just yap about how he didn’t need it and Henry was wasting his money and if Henry really wanted to buy it for him, he had to use Alex’s card.
Just a bunch of nonsense.
So, he played to his husband's ego instead.
To Alex:
Hi Darling.
From Alex:
hey sweetheart.
how’s ur solo date going
To Alex:
It’s going well.
I miss you.
From Alex:
aw, I miss you too H.
I’ll be home soon, little spain for dinner? I’m in the mood
To Alex:
Yes, that sounds yummy.
Send me a pic of you.
From Alex:
yummy? lol ur so cute i love you
also
attachment-of-alex.jpeg
To Alex:
You’re so handsome. I love you too. Come home soon.
He zoomed in on the picture of his husband in his office chair and showed it to the employee.
“Yup, I’d say that’s about 12x3. This should be good for his chair.”
“Thank you so much,” he grinned before immediately purchasing.
Once he got home, he walked into Alex’s office, placed it on his desk wrapped nicely in a red shiny ribbon, and closed the door with a small smile.
….
Henry smiled, munching on a bag of crisps as we listened to the sound of David’s eager barking and Alex’s happy greetings to him, the sound of kissing and sweet words filling their home.
He watched as Alex came around the corner, David wriggling in between his long legs as he made a beeline to Henry, dropping his bag and lifting Henry into his arms with a satisfied groan.
Henry, who was used to being manhandled, let his crisps rest on the countertop as he wrapped his arms around his husband with a happy sigh.
“Hello, darling," he said giddily.
Alex made a muffled sound of joy, nuzzling and sniffing at him.
“I could fall asleep just like this,” he said.
“You can’t, actually. We have a reservation in an hour.”
“30 minute power nap?” He asked, pulling back with wide eyes.
Henry smiled, shaking his head.
“No, because then you won’t be able to sleep at all tonight. So, go put your stuff in your office and freshen up!” He said, tapping his backside.
Alex groaned, pressing a kiss to his cheek before picking up his things and dragging himself up the steps.
Henry smiled to himself when he heard the sound of his husband's footsteps pause.
“Baby!”
“Yes, love?”
“There’s something suspicious on my desk. Should we call someone? Or was it you?”
“It was me, Alex,” he said, rolling his eyes.
“Oh!” He yelled excitedly before going silent.
Henry patiently and a little nervously waited. Picked at his fingernails. Played with his hair. Petted David as he waited.
He looked up at the sharp crack of Alex coming down the steps. Alex had the memory foam cushion held in his hands, looking at Henry with wide eyes.
“You remembered?” He asked, his voice wobbling a bit.
“Yes. Why would I have forgotten?” He asked, a little confused but pleased nonetheless when Alex pulled him into another all-encompassing hug, tight and warm.
“You are so fucking…I don’t know what I did to deserve you,” Alex muttered pressing a flurry of kisses on his face.
Henry laughed, leaning up to catch his lips and pull him into a deep kiss.
“I just…well, I was out and remembered how bad your back hurts because of your terrible office chairs so…it’s not that big of a deal, honestly.”
“Well, it is. Because you listen. And you always think of me, all the time. It’s so lovely. You’re so lovely. Best husband ever,” Alex said, eyes squinting with how wide his grin was.
“I’d better be,” Henry grinned back, delighted at how softly Alex looked at him.
“You’re so fucking lucky we’re already married and have been for almost 2 years now. Because if we weren’t I’d propose right fucking now,” Alex swore.
“Hmmm, well. There are always vow renewals if you so desire.”
His yelp at being picked up and tossed over Alex’s shoulder was drowned out by Alex’s roaring laughter as he carried him up the stairs.
And, if they’re a little late for their reservation, it’s so completely worth it.