Who: Henry and Alex When: Backdated to after the zombie plot Where: Henry's house What: Henry is alive and Alex goes to console him Status/Rating: Complete GDOC/PG-13ish Warnings: None
Henry: Henry had been giving Alex some space because he himself didn't know how to process everything. He felt that he had betrayed him by leaving even if he did die. He had no idea that those mushrooms were deadly in a way until it was too late. Being cooped up in a locked room and having Nick come and let him out all he wanted to do was go to Alex but he didn't want to get in the way if Alex didn't want to see him. So he continued to go to work even if he himself couldn't concentrate and his students could tell that he wasn't himself. When he had gotten home that evening he made himself a fire, a nice cup of hot tea and he sat in a chair with his papers trying to grade them. David came by and looked up at him. "I'm alright. Thank you David." He gave him a quick pet before trying to go back to his papers. But, he had lied to his dog and the dog knew it as he went and laid beside the chair. All Henry could do was stare in the fire. Was this it for him and Alex?
Alex: He'd been in a state of shock after Henry died, he knew that, if it hadn't been for the boys he probably would have laid down next to the body and waited. But Charlie and Nick had needed him so he'd gotten them to Nick's place, and then he'd found himself at his own apartment and he'd shut out the world. That explained why he hadn't known at first that the crisis was over, and that the dead were alive again. Then it had taken him a while to come to terms with the reality that Henry was alive again. He wanted to see him. Needed to see him the way he needed to breathe but he also needed to not have a panic attack about it. It was late by the time he was letting himself into the house, and not finding Henry in the bedroom made his way to the study, he watched the blonde from the doorway for a long moment as he sat and stared into the fire. Then he just walked across the room and climbed into his lap and wrapped his arms around the other man.
Henry: Just sitting there with his papers in his hand and his pen not doing anything. The crackling of the fire was all that could be heard. All he could do was think about his relationship ending because he died and ruined everything. He thought he was imagining things when in the corner of his eye he saw someone coming in and sitting in his lap and had their arm around him. Henry didn’t even look at him. This was a dream right? Alex wasn’t here. He closed his eyes and shook his head and then opened them back up and Alex was still here. He took a loud deep breath and he couldn’t say anything. All he had was tears coming down his face as he started weeping. The papers and pen falling to the floor.
ALex: He might have been crying as well. He wasn't really aware of it if he was. He wasn't aware of anything except the fact that Henry was warm where their bodies pressed together. And breathing, each breath sounding in his ear as he pressed his face to Henry's throat and clung. And his pulse was beating under Alex's palm where it pressed against his chest. He was alive. He shuddered and started to shake, possibly still in shock.
Henry: Still not thinking that this was real. He let the tears run down his face. He kept his eyes closed just to feel Alex. He knew that Alex was there but to him his mind thought he was dreaming. This was not how they were supposed to be living their lives happily. Not this…..eventually he wrapped his arms around Alex. Feeling guilty he let his tears still come down. “I’m sorry….I’m sorry…..I’m sorry” was all he was saying over and over again. “Once again I betrayed you.”
Alex: "No." He shook his head, burrowing impossibly closer. "You didn't betray me baby. You died Henry." He lifted his head finally, hands coming up to cup Henrys face, wiping away the tears, and pressing his forehead to his. "You died."
Henry: When he felt Alex’s hands on his he looked up at him. He knew that dying wasn’t something he planned but he still felt awful. “But, I left you. Again…..I know that dying doesn’t count but I feel like I did in fact betray you.” He said as he dried his eyes. “What matters here though is you…..are YOU okay?” He asked emphasizing the you.
Alex: "If it doesn't count," he protested with a soft kiss to Henry's temple. "Then it wasn't a betrayal." He didn't get out of the other man's lap, but he settled more comfortably, letting his knees slide to either side of Henry's hips as he sat back on his thighs to look down at him. "I'm... not okay." He admitted, stroking hair back off the blonde's brow. "But I will be because I have you back. When I thought you were gone forever..." He shook his head, not quite able to put into words how broken he'd been. He'd survived Henry leaving him at the lake house, maybe because he'd been as angry as he'd been upset. Maybe because he'd needed closure. But this time was different. He didn't think he'd have survived it and if he had he wouldn't have wanted to.
Henry: “Then why does it feel like it is. I don’t like seeing you hurt.” He said as he looked directly into Alex’s eyes. He knew the hurt that he had caused him when he left and had gone back home. He knew this was different but the feelings were the same. Running his hand through his hair he put his forehead on his and sighed. “This place keeps messing with us. And we really don’t know what’s going to happen. We will be okay…..I’m here. And I’m never going anywhere anymore.” He said as he gulped. “This is a promise I’ll make. I will stay clear of things. Even if I have to wrap myself in bubble wrap. And I will go to any lengths to protect you.” He said looking at him once more. “You mean the world to me Alex.”
Alex: "Don't promise," if the last week proved anything, it was that they couldn't control things like zombies, or costumes that made you crazy enough to think you could fly. "I know you won't leave me if you can help it any more than I'll leave you. That's enough H." He bent to kiss him, a soft brush of lips that didn't push for more, comfort instead of passion.
Henry: Giving him a confused look but he then relaxed his face. This was true. Because honestly things could happen and it would be a promise he would not be able to keep. “I would never leave you. Not voluntarily.” Returning the soft kiss he gave a sigh. “The scary thing is….I remember everything. How sick I was. How I tried to hold on but I was just too weak. I don’t even know where I went though all I know is that I didn’t turn. First thing I wanted to do when I woke up was run to you but the door was barricaded. I get it….Nick let me out. But I was just as scared as you. I know that you probably didn’t want to hear all that but I want to be honest and I didn’t want to just keep it to myself because if this causes me to have anything like panic attacks or PTSD of any sort you’ll know why.”
Alex: "I was not in my right mind, we were told to destroy the bodies or move them outside and I couldn't..." after Henry had died he'd barely been coherent enough to get the boys safe. If he'd had to do anything to the body he'd have gone mad. "We barricaded the door because... if you turned I knew you would want the boys safe." He wrapped his arms around Henry and tucked his face against his throat again, "Since I had a bit of a panic attack before coming here I understand completely."
Henry: “Hey, it’s alright. I understand what needed to happen. Honestly if it was you, I would have done the same thing. I know you were only protecting the boys and everything.” It was good they were having this conversation. “I’m not upset. I was confused at first and had a small panic attack but I am fine.” He sighed. “The only thing I had thought I lost and put my anxiety up was the thought of losing you.” Holding his closely and not letting him go. “I love you. It’s okay to have a panic attack. You’re here now with me and that’s all that matters at the moment.” Alex was the only one who could calm his nerves.
Alex: "Takes more than death to lose me." It wasn't quite a promise, but it was the truth. He might not be down on one knee or moving in but this was it for him. And being together was all that mattered, it was all he was going to allow to matter. "I love you more."
Henry: “I hope that we never have to prove that to each other. Cause I already did the death thing.” He said smiling as he put his fingers underneath Alex’s chin. Scrunching his nose and giving an airy sigh he looked at him. “I think that’s up for debate.” He said as he leaned over and gave him a kiss. He didn’t want to move or anything from this spot. Alex was his home and he had returned home indeed.
Alex: He didn’t particularly want to move either, but they would regret spending the night huddled together in this chair. Even if it was a very comfortable chair. After a few long moments he pushed to his feet and stepped back putting out a hand, “Come to bed?”
Henry: Looking at Alex get up he almost made a pouty face but he didn’t and managed his composure. When he asked to go to bed he gave him a little smirk. And he protested a little bit… “I still have these nasty papers to grade. I have not been myself and now I have a whole stack. What should I do?” He said in a playful manner and sighed in a dramatic sigh.
Alex: "Give them all an A?" He teased back, pulling Henry along with him, keeping him close. Privately he thought the other man had been dead, everyone would understand if they got their papers back a little late. He pressed a quick kiss to Henry's lips, and stepped back again moving toward the door. "But if you'd rather grade papers than come to bed with me..."
Henry: He laughed. “They’d definitely think there is something wrong with me.” He knew that his paperwork could wait. He wanted to be with the love of his life. Returning the kiss he shook his head. “It can wait. I just want to be with you.”
Alex: "Good," he pulled him along to the bedroom because he was getting what he wanted and what he wanted was to be with Henry too. He toed off his shoes once in the room, and finally let go of Henry's hand to strip off his sweatshirt.
Henry; As they got to the bedroom. He stood there just admiring Alex for a few minutes. To think that this place could be so cruel he just wanted to know what he would have missed if he was truly dead. Then he took off his own sweater and his shoes. He didn’t say anything he just wanted the moment.
Alex: For once Alex didn't say anything either, and they could marvel at that together later, for now he reached for Henry and undid his trousers and pushed them over his hips and off. Then his own before leading him to the bed and pulling him down with him wanting him as close as he could get.
Henry: Letting Alex do his thing, he didn’t have anything on his mind. He just wanted to hold or be held. To hear his voice to know that this wasn’t a dream and the nightmare was over. He laid on the bed and just held Alex. Wanting to feel him. He really didn’t know what to say. So all he did in that moment was kiss Alex’s shoulder tenderly.
Alex: He didn't know what to say either, or maybe he just didn't have the words for what he needed to say. So he just pulled the covers up over them and wrapped his arms around Henry curling close. He pressed his face to the other man's throat and inhaled deeply, closed his eyes and let himself rest.
Henry: As they snuggled into each other. Henry didn’t want to sleep. What if this was a dream and he was still dead? He didn’t want to wake up and it to be all over. He ran his fingers through Alex’s hair. “You get some rest. I don’t think I can sleep right now…” he said as he kissed his head softly.
Alex: "Not tired," the close eyes and soft voice told the lie. He was exhausted, emotionally if not physically, and content to lay quietly as he was until he slept.
Henry: He let out a small airy quiet laugh. “Liar….” He said as he played with his hair. “And that is fine. It’s been quite a stressful few days. Plus, I like listening to you sleep. I don’t even care if that sounds creepy” he planted another kiss to his forehead. “I love you. I wish we could stay like this forever” he whispered to him.
Alex: "People would talk," he snuggled closer and let himself fully relax though because he had permission. ANd that was all he needed. "Love you."
Henry: Snuggling Alex tight he smiled. “I don’t care. Let people talk. We can be safe in here and together.” He said looking at him. “Love you more sweetheart” he said as he sighed as he closed his eyes and eventually drifted off to sleep with Alex in his arms.