Chapter Text
6 months later
The notification comes through while he’s waiting in line for coffee.
Alex - 7 Hour Sleep Story
Description: I believe I owe you one of these. Terribly sorry it’s so late. ❤️
Alex might actually collapse. He manages to pay, collect his drink and stumble over to a miraculously free booth before dialling Henry’s number.
‘Motherfucker,’ he whispers before Henry can even say anything.
‘Hello, love, how are we this morning?’ Henry asks, entirely too amused.
Alex closes his eyes and smiles. ‘Why do I have a fucking seven hour video in my subscription box?’
‘I seem to recall you asking for one.’
‘I am just swamped right now, can I get back to you with my review?’
‘You are a royal pain in my backside.’
‘I’m in public, quit talking dirty to me,’ Alex murmurs, taking a sip of his coffee. ‘How the fuck did you ramble for seven hours? I’m out in minutes after you start waxing poetic about Jane Austen, I don’t think your listeners need that long to pass out.’
Henry sighs fondly. ‘I may have taken some ridiculous liberties with dead air between sentences to make it reach your initial specification.’
‘If I get a boner right now, it’s because of you using ten words to say two.’
‘As a dearly beloved internet author, I’m finding it very hard not to be offended.’
‘At least I get a boner out of it though?’ Alex smirks, taking another drink of coffee. ‘In public, no less.’
‘Crass bastard,’ Henry mutters. He takes a breath before continuing. ‘I’m not sure if you realise, but it’s been a year since you left that comment.’
‘What? No way!’ Alex exclaims sarcastically. He rolls his eyes and continues. ‘I’m actually pretty pissed at you right now.’
‘Whatever could I have done?’
‘You beat me to it you beautiful, romantic dickhead.’
‘Is it an issue that I’m sort of aroused from the mixed signals?’
‘We’ll unpack that later.’
Henry laughs. ‘Okay, well what did I beat you to then?’
‘I was gonna tell you, I’m applying for that prelaw summer program. The one I mentioned before?’
Henry doesn’t respond for a moment, but Alex can hear the jingle of David’s collar (equipped with a metal bone engraved with ‘help me, I’m lost, please call Henry’, a fact that Alex has not been able to recover from learning), a sure sign that Henry has him in his lap and is soothing him with strokes.
‘You’ll be… in New York… for six weeks…’
Alex bites at the rim of his coffee cup. It’s takeout so he’s very aware of the baristas eyeing him taking up a valuable table in the midst of the morning rush. He’s not sure he can stand quite yet, though. ‘If I’m successful… Nora’s going to Cali to be with June, so there’s nothing really keeping me here. So what I’m trying to say is, is the right side of your bed still free?’
Alex can hear the stuttering breath Henry takes, but he’s not surprised when Henry opts for lightheartedness.
‘Angus was using it for midnight grape fermenting, but I’m sure he’d understand.’
‘What a fucking shame, I heard bedsheet wine was all the rage.’
‘I’m sure he’ll recover… Alex, I love you. You’re getting into that program.’
‘I love you too,’ he exhales, still in awe that they can say that to each other. And they do, every day.
‘I’ll reserve the Pinot Noir for your move in date.’
‘A fine vintage.’
‘When will you learn that you’re terrible at doing my accent?’
‘I’ve learned, I’m just deciding not to give a shit.’
Alex does stand up then, waving apologetically at the baristas before exiting the shop. The autumn air feels sharp as he breathes it in, and he remembers this time last year when he was just getting used to Henry’s voice, to him pulling him into sleep. Alex of last year had no fucking idea where he’d be at right now.
‘What are you up to then? Other than avoiding the beautifully crafted story I made for you, of course.’
‘I regret inflating your ego, Fox.’ He drains the rest of his coffee, Henry laughing at Alex almost choking to death on the last sip. ‘Five star boyfriend behaviour, laughing at me while I perish.’
‘You do understand that a full cup of coffee doesn’t have to be one mouthful,’ Henry says, still with a smile in his voice.
‘Quicker drink coffee, quicker focus happen.’
‘Gorgeous vernacular.’
Alex throws the cup in a trash can and continues on his way home. ‘Anyway, I’m going back to my apartment so I can listen to the love of my life in peace before my next lecture.’
‘David’s busy, I’m afraid.’
The coffee shop’s only a few blocks from Alex’s place, so it doesn’t take long for him to reach his building. Henry chats to him about Pez’s upcoming visit before quieting just as Alex starts up the stairwell.
‘You okay?’
Henry hums, pausing for a moment before it comes out in a rush. ‘I thought you should know, I didn’t put everything in that upload.’
Alex squints as he turns his key in the lock. ‘What do you mean?’
Henry clears his throat as Alex enters the apartment. ‘I mean, the… the pieces that are particularly personal or special to me, to us. I didn’t include them on my channel.’
Alex’s heart is fucking racing.
‘So how the fuck did you write exclusively about my eyelashes for seven hours?’
Henry’s laugh chimes in Alex’s ear, carefree and gorgeous. ‘I could write endless sonnets about your fucking eyelashes, Alex, don’t try me.’
‘Well, okay, I have like two hours before my lecture, if you wanted to read me any outtakes from the eyelash saga in that time, I’d be happy to listen.’
‘I hope you’re not serious.’
Alex is hitting the FaceTime button as soon as he makes it to his bed.
Henry’s face pops up on his screen, for the millionth time, and it takes his breath away just as much as it did the first time.
‘Hello, love.’
Alex beams at his phone, so brightly his cheeks hurt. ‘Up for a story, Fox?’
‘What would you like me to read?’