Archive of Our Own ^beta

Alex walks into the bar with a grin that can light up the whole room.

The people inside greet him with warmth and smiles. Someone calls out his name from the corner while another guy waves his hand from across the room. He answers them all with high-fives, shoulder pats, and light jokes.

Everyone here likes him. Alex always prides himself on being an amiable and friendly guy who gets along well with everyone.

Well, everyone except one person, maybe.

His smile falters as soon as his gaze lands on the far edge of the bar. There, sitting with that perfect posture and overpriced branded jacket, is none other than Henry Fox, the snob from London who showed up three months ago for some mysterious work assignment and decided to haunt Alex’s favorite bar in Brooklyn.

Alex rolls his eyes, but makes his way to the bar anyway.

“Hey, Mark.” He greets the bartender with a smile while ignoring Henry’s existence.

“Hey, Alex.” The bartender, Mark, greets him back. “The usual?”

“Yeah, one old fashioned.” Alex nods and sits on a stool, but making sure to keep two empty seats between him and Henry.

From the side, Henry lifts his glass of martini and stares at Alex from head to toe as if judging his appearance.

“Alone tonight?” Henry asks with that British accent that Alex can never quite decide if he hates it or not.

“If you’re looking for my sister, she’s on a business trip until the end of the week.” Alex says sharply without even looking over.

“I see.” Henry takes a sip of his martini before murmuring. “Too bad.”

Before Alex can say anything, Mark sets the cocktail in front of him. He gives an appreciative smile to the bartender and lifts the glass to take a sip, feeling the sweet burn of bourbon flowing down his throat.

For a moment, there’s silence, but the tension between them is obvious.

“So, no date tonight?” Alex starts, his voice full of sarcasm. “Or did all the women in Brooklyn finally leave you on read and stop answering your calls?”

“I’ve never needed to beg for company, unlike a certain man here.” Henry sets his martini down elegantly.

“Oh, please. I choose my companion. Something that you won’t understand.” Alex scoffs.

The patrons from nearby tables start chuckling lightly.

“You mean your endless parade of tragic first dates? Yes, I’ve noticed.” Henry hums.

Henry’s words earn another laugh, a little louder this time from a table behind them. Alex whips around to glare at the traitors before turning back to Henry.

“At least I don’t sit in the corner with my martini, acting like I’m above everybody. You just scare everyone off before they get close.” Alex says sharply.

“Or maybe I just have standards and don’t get swayed by a mere pretty face, love.” Henry tilts his head.

Alex’s jaw tightens and his pulse quickens, but not just from anger.

He hates how Henry likes to drop those flirtatious nicknames so casually just to rile him up during their argument. It’s not only just love. It’s darling when Henry wants to sound superior and sweetheart when Henry is mocking him.

Every single time, it makes Alex feel like he’s one second away from either punching Henry or kissing the blonde.

“God, they should just kiss already.” Someone from the corner whispers quietly.

Mark simply cleans a shaker behind the bar, not even trying to intervene. Some of the patrons watch them in amusement while some are minding their own business. They’re all used to this already.

“You like this so much, don’t you?” Alex narrows his eyes at Henry. “Acting like you own the place and always picking a fight with me because you’re dying for attention.”

“If anyone here is dying for attention, Alex, it’s you.” Henry flashes him that infuriating smirk. “You’ve been loud since the moment you walked in while I was quietly enjoying my drink.”

Alex opens his mouth, ready to fire back, but the door swings open with another guest stepping in. He turns his head and sees Percy walking into the bar with a bright smile like he has never had a bad day in his life. Percy waves his hand when he sees Alex and Alex waves back with a smile.

But then Percy walks straight to Henry who’s sitting at the edge of the bar and settles on the stool beside him. “Hope I didn’t keep you waiting too long.”

“Long enough for Alex to start his usual theatrics.” Henry says before taking a sip of his martini.

“You live for my theatrics, Henry. Admit it.” Alex rolls his eyes.

Percy quickly lifts his both hands, looking half-exasperated and half-amused. “Gentlemen, please. Can we have one civilized drink without the two of you biting each other?”

Alex huffs and drinks his old fashioned. Unlike Henry, Percy is charming and friendly. God knows how a nice guy like Percy ends up becoming Henry’s best friend. They’re completely the opposite. Henry must have used his lifetime of luck to get a best friend like Percy.

“You want another?” Mark asks when he notices his empty glass.

“Yes. Old fashioned.” Alex taps the counter with two fingers.

Henry lifts his nearly empty martini glass. “Another for me as well. Extra dry.”

“Of course.” Mark nods before looking at Percy. “And you?”

“Gin and tonic.” Percy grins at Mark before looking between Alex and Henry. “So, who started it this time?”

“That snob, of course.” Alex points his thumb in Henry’s direction.

“Clown over there.” Henry says.

“Honestly, you two are exhausting. Do you realize the entire bar goes quiet when you start up? You’ve got an audience.” Percy sighs dramatically.

Alex glances over his shoulder and sees some patrons watching them with smiles on their faces. A woman even raises her glass in salute when Alex makes eye contact with her.

“Well, they all love me.” Alex turns back around with a smile.

“They’re laughing at you, not with you.” Henry points out.

“Alright, alright. Henry, can you not open your mouth every time Alex breathes?” Percy looks at his best friend before turning to Alex. “And Alex, can you try not to rise to the bait every time Henry opens his mouth?”

Before either of them can respond, Mark comes to the rescue with the cocktails. He places three drinks in front of them and then leaves them to it.

“Alright, here’s to a peaceful night.” Percy smiles and lifts his glass.

Alex and Henry clink their glasses against Percy’s glass before taking long sips of their cocktail. While Percy and Henry are chatting, Alex’s mind slowly drifts to the day this whole thing with Henry started.

It was three months ago. Alex remembers because he knows this bar like the back of his hand. He has been coming here with Nora and June for more than a year. He knows Mark the bartender, Stacey who works the floor, and even Raul the security guy who looks scary but is actually a warm person.

So, when he saw an unfamiliar blonde sitting alone at the bar, he noticed it immediately.

There were new faces from time to time, sure, but Henry stood out like a sore thumb. Maybe it was the polished Prada shoes that he wore or the Burberry scarf draped around his neck, but everything about Henry screamed snob and Alex disliked people like that, because snobs always looked down on people.

June was with him that night, sitting comfortably at the bar with a Cosmopolitan in front of her and a book in her hand, cool and unbothered like her usual self. Alex was chatting with someone at that time and when he turned back, Henry was already leaning toward June and whispering something to her.

He immediately stormed over and stepped between them. “She’s not interested, so why don’t you back off?”

Henry looked at him, eyebrows raised and blue eyes widened in surprise. Instead of retreating, however, Henry’s lips curled into that infuriating smirk before he fired back. “Do you always speak on behalf of women as if they can’t do it themselves?”

That unexpected jab knocked Alex off guard. He sputtered for a second, but quickly fired back. That night, he had decided that Henry Fox was his enemy.

Later that night, June had rolled her eyes at him. “He wasn’t hitting on me, Alex. He just asked about my book.”

“Yeah, right. Pretend to care about what you’re reading and then slide in with a drink offer. I know his type.” Alex crossed his arms.

He thought that one night was the end of it. He thought Henry was just a random snobby Brit who wandered in once and wouldn’t bother coming back to this small bar, but he was wrong. Henry did come back, again and again.

Much to Alex’s annoyance, Henry started making the bar his own place. Henry showed up regularly, sat on the same bar stool, ordered the same martini every time, and even talked with the staff and patrons. Before Alex knew it, Henry had become too familiar with the place.

It didn’t take long for Henry to bring a friend along, a flashy Londoner called Percy "Pez" Okonjo. Unlike Henry, however, Percy was immediately likeable with his warm and bright personality. Alex didn’t mind Percy at all. In fact, Percy even sometimes took his side when Henry was being his usual asshole self.

Still, no matter how pleasant Percy was, it didn’t change the fact that Henry was insufferable.

And now, three months later, nothing has changed between them. He still hates Henry as much as the first night he saw the British blonde.  

Alex rolls his eyes and downs another sip of his cocktail. It will be a shame to let Henry’s existence ruin the good old fashioned that Mark had made for him.

“Alex?”

Alex hears the call and feels a touch on his shoulder, so he turns around to see a beautiful woman smiling at him. He immediately puts on his usual charming smile and greets her with a softer voice. “Hey, Elisa. Haven’t seen you in a while.”

“Yeah, work has been a pain.” Elisa tucks some hair behind her ear and tilts her head. “But I had to stop by tonight and lucky me, you’re here.”

“Your timing is perfect then.” Alex chuckles and leans a little closer. “I like your earrings. Are they new?”

“Oh my God, yes. You noticed?” Elisa beams.

Alex knows how to charm people and flirting is just an extension of that. He knows how to make people lean in without realizing they’re doing it. He knows how to say the right words and smiles in a charming way.

It’s all smooth and effortless, until a British accent cuts through the moment.

“Charming, isn’t he?” Henry says. “He recycles the same lines for every woman who glances his way. It’s actually remarkable how consistent he is.”

Elisa blinks in surprise and turns to Henry. “And you are…?”

“Henry Fox.” Henry smiles politely at the woman. “You must be Elisa. Alex talks about you.”

Alex nearly chokes on air. “I do not—”

“Oh? What does he say about me?” Elisa, however, is already hooked on the handsome British man.

“That you’re smart enough not to fall for his flirty words. I can see that.” Henry says before sipping on his martini.

Noticing that Elisa is focusing on Henry now, Alex quickly tries to jump in. “So, Elisa, how’s that promotion you were offered? Last time we talked, you said—”

“That’s Missoma’s Savi Signature necklace, isn’t it? Silver looks really good on you.” Henry cuts in smoothly as if Alex isn’t even here.

Elisa beams and starts talking about how she has always liked silvers more than golds or diamonds.

Alex watches as Henry steals the spotlight so easily. Every time he tries to join the conversation, Henry always cuts him off and takes Elisa’s attention again. It doesn’t take long before Elisa gets completely captivated by the snobbish blonde, even sliding on a stool next to Henry when Percy excuses himself to the restroom.

In the end, Alex downs the rest of his old fashioned, grimacing slightly at the burn. He sets the empty glass down, pulls out a couple bills, and slaps them against the bar. Without another word, he gets up and strides toward the door.

Percy sees that, so he quickly follows Alex out of the bar without even asking Henry what happened. He doesn’t need to ask anyway.

“Alex!” Percy calls out.

Alex sighs heavily and turns around to see Percy jogging up to him.

“Sorry about… all that.” Percy gestures his hand awkwardly.

“You shouldn’t be the one apologizing, Pez. Henry was the one being an ass.” Alex shakes his head with a humorless laugh.

“That’s just… Henry. He’s that kind of person.” Percy shrugs helplessly.

“And you’re not tired of him?” Alex shakes his head in disbelief. “Seriously, Pez. Are you not tired of being friends with someone that is obnoxious all the time?”

“He’s not a bad person, Alex. Trust me.” Percy chuckles lightly.

“Not a bad person? Did you not see what happened there? I was trying to have a good time and he just swept in, insulted me, and stole her attention. What the hell was that?” Alex scoffs and throws his arms in the air.

Percy presses his lips together and darts his eyes sideways for a split second before speaking softly. “Henry… actually gets lonely easily. That’s why he does things like that sometimes.”

“Maybe he wouldn’t be so damn lonely if he wasn’t such an asshole.” Alex snorts.

Percy falls quiet at that.

Realizing what he just said, Alex exhales hard and rubs the back of his neck. “Sorry. I shouldn’t have snapped at you.”

“It’s fine.” Percy says.

“No, really. And sorry for talking shit about Henry. I mean, he’s still your best friend no matter what. I get it.” Alex presses his lips into a thin line.

“You’re a good guy, Alex. Really.” Percy smiles appreciatively.

“Thanks.” Alex returns the smile with his own. “I think I’ll just go home now. I’m not in the mood to drink anymore”

“Get home safe, alright?” Percy pats his shoulder.

“Yeah. Night, Pez. Have fun.”

“Night, Alex.”

Percy watches Alex walking down the street before heading back to the bar.

“He’s impossible, June. Every time I see him, he always has this smug little look like he’s the smartest guy in the room.” Alex complains as he sits sprawled on the couch.

“Mmhm. Sure, sure.” June hums without even looking up from her book.

“I don’t know what his problem is, but he’s always pushing my buttons on purpose.”

“If you say so.” June hums again, eyes still on her book.

“Come on, June. You’re not even listening to me.” Alex groans at this sister.

June chuckles lightly and finally looks up from her book. “I just came back here after a week-long business trip and the first thing I heard when you came through the door was you blabbering Henry this, Henry that.”

“Not my fault that guy is always pissing me off.” Alex throws his head back with a groan.

“And yet you always go to that bar and sit near Henry.” June coos sweetly.

“That’s my bar, my territory. I’m not giving it up just because some snobby Brit decided to haunt the place.” Alex frowns.

“Right. Totally about the territory.” June nods sarcastically.

“Or maybe you just enjoy dropping by because you get to fight with him.” Nora chimes in from the kitchen.

“Who in the world likes fighting with other people?” Alex rolls his eyes.

“You, Alex.” Nora walks over to the siblings with a mug of tea in her hand.

Alex scowls, but doesn’t answer. Nora chuckles lightly and sits on the other end of the couch before setting her mug on the coffee table.

“Tell me, though. Isn’t Henry your type?” June asks suddenly.

Alex whips his head and stares at his sister incredulously. “What the hell? Since when do I like snob guys like him?”

“Henry is beautiful and elegant, like a prince straight out of a storybook.” Nora rubs her chin thoughtfully like she’s considering June’s words seriously. “Honestly, I think that’s exactly your type.”

“Give me a break. I may like men too, but definitely not someone like Henry. I have standards.” Alex huffs out an incredulous laugh.

The apartment falls silent for a while. June and Nora exchange a look, their lips quirking like they’re both thinking the same thing, but none of them says it out loud.

Alex notices the look and quickly points a finger. “Don’t. Whatever conspiracy is brewing between you two, don’t.”

Nora grins before taking a sip of her tea while June casually goes back to reading.

“Shit, shit, shit.” Alex mutters as he runs down the sidewalk with his bag clutched over his head in a pathetic attempt to shield himself from the pouring rain.

The weather app said that there would be light pitter-patter showers in the evening, not this disastrous downpour while he’s on his way back to his apartment. Then again, global warming must have fucked the weathers and a lot of things in this planet.

When he turns around the corner, he sees a shop awning with some strangers standing beneath it, but there’s just enough space left at the far end. He quickly runs over and smiles triumphantly when he manages to get a shelter under the awning.

He lowers his bag and turns to the side, ready to start a friendly conversation with the stranger next to him, only to have his smile falter when he sees who exactly is standing beside him.

Of course. Out of millions of people in New York, he has to share a space with the one man who makes his blood pressure spike – Henry Fox.

Henry’s eyes flick to Alex before he exhales sharply through his nose. “Wow. What a luck.”

“Don’t flatter yourself. If I had a choice, I’d be standing somewhere else right now.” Alex scoffs as he runs a hand through his damp curls.

“And yet here you are. Fate can be cruel sometimes.” Henry sneers.

“Fate’s cruel? I think you just follow me around hoping to ruin my night.” Alex rolls his eyes.

“What makes you think your night requires my help to be ruined?” Henry raises a brow.

“Your face is enough to ruin anything.” Alex shakes off the water from his hair like a wet dog, purposely spraying some droplets of water on Henry’s coat.

“Christ, Alex. Can you not act like an animal here?” Henry takes a step side and glares down at his sleeve.

“It’s your fault for existing within a five-foot radius of me.” Alex smirks and leans back against the brick wall.

Silence falls between them, filled only by the drumming sound of rain hitting the awning above them.

“Doesn’t look like it’s stopping anytime soon.” Alex says as he stares at the wall of rain in front of them.

“And of all days to forget my umbrella, it has to be today.” Henry sighs.

“You? Forgetting your umbrella? A perfectly-polished and tight-laced guy like you?” Alex barks out a laugh.

“I was in a rush.” Henry says flatly.

“Uh-huh.” Alex grins.

For some reason, it’s amusing to see this side of Henry. He’s used to seeing Henry as this polished figure who never lets anything slip. But right now, there’s something different about the blonde, like the rain has washed away the restraint Henry always wears.

For once, Henry doesn’t look untouchable. Henry doesn’t look like the posh British ass right now. He looks… like a lonely man, like someone stranded in the rain waiting for someone that never came.

A beautiful, lonely man.

Shit. Stop calling him beautiful.

Alex shakes his head quickly to brush the thought away. Henry notices the movement and stares suspiciously at him.

“Is there something wrong?” Henry narrows his eyes.

“Nothing.” Alex says quickly and blurts out a topic. “So, what do you actually do?”

Henry raises a brow silently.

“I mean, I’ve heard different stories about you. Some people say you’re secretly a CEO and others think you’re running some multinational empire.” Alex shrugs lightly.

Henry is quiet for a moment, like he’s wondering if he should answer the question or dismiss Alex entirely. After a while, he finally sighs and answers. “I work in finance. Investment banking.”

“Oh.” Alex blinks before nodding his head. “Well, that’s not surprising.”

“And why is that?” Henry narrows his eyes again.

“That’s very on brand for a snobbish Brit like you.” Alex laughs and leans back against the wall.

Henry rolls his eyes in response.

“So, why are you here?” Alex asks, watching Henry with curiosity and interest now. “Why did you move all the way to the States when you could’ve just stayed in London sipping your tea?”

“I was offered a transfer to a position at the New York branch. So I took it.” Henry says as he looks at the pouring rain.

“Just like that? You left everything behind for a job?” Alex raises his brows.

“I was actually born in Eton, but grew up in London.” Henry sighs softly. “London can be a suffocating place. So I thought perhaps a new place would be… better.”

“What about your family?” Alex asks. “You left them all behind in London too?”

“My father passed away some years ago. My mother has her own life to keep her occupied. My older brother, Philip, is married. And my sister, Beatrice…” Henry pauses for a second as a soft smile curls on his lips, warmer than Alex has ever seen. “She’s probably the only one I miss terribly.”

Alex stares at Henry for a beat and then he tugs his lips into a smirk. “Huh. First time I’ve ever heard you admit to missing someone. I thought you were devoid of human emotions.”

“You’re insufferable.” Henry rolls his eyes.

“What about me? Don’t you want to ask about me and my life?” Alex grins playfully.

“Fine. What is it you do, Alex Claremont-Diaz, aside from inflating your own ego?” Henry glances at him.

“I’m a journalist.” Alex chuckles. “Still small right now, but I’m aiming for a big paper. I like to write about politics and local issues, but at this moment, I write anything that pays the bills.”

Henry blinks before nodding lightly. “That actually makes sense.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Alex turns to him with a frown.

“It means you talk too much, have strong opinions, and clearly thrive on confrontation. Perfect for journalism.”

Instead of firing back, Alex breaks into a laugh. “Wow. Was that a compliment? Mark the calendar, Henry Fox said something nice to me.”

“Don’t get used to it.” Henry chuckles lightly.

They end up chatting with the sound of rain as the background, sharing bits of their lives between sarcasm and laughter.

Alex tells Henry about the nightmare professors he had at university and how his mother tried to force him to become a doctor. Henry then talks about his boarding school days and how he and Beatrice used to sneak out of the house at night to play in the park.

“You? Sneaking out of the house at night? Yeah, sounds believable.” Alex laughs in disbelief. He can’t imagine someone as tight-laced and rigid as Henry doing something as mischievous as sneaking out of the house at night.

“It was the only time we got to have the park all for ourselves.” Henry rolls his eyes, but there’s a smile on his face, the kind of smile that makes his eyes crinkle at the corners.

Alex realizes that this is probably the first time he’s actually talking to Henry like a normal person. Right now, Henry isn’t a posh snob with a cocky smile or condescending look. Henry is just a guy; an attentive, thoughtful, and sensitive guy. He notices how Henry nods along when he talks and tilts his head slightly whenever he hears something questionable. Henry also asks questions that show that he’s paying attention to the words he’s saying. Henry also laughs at his dumb jokes, not in the forced or polite way, but like Henry actually thinks that they’re funny.

And when Henry laughs heartily, it’s like something cracks open. His blue eyes gleam, his face lights up, and his soft laughter almost sounds like a melody. Alex has never seen Henry like this before, so warm and open. He didn’t expect that Henry has this side of him that’s hidden underneath his polished and cold exterior.

No wonder Nora and June like having Henry around. Alex finally gets it.

He finds himself staring at a strand of damp blond hair that sticks to Henry’s forehead, at the way Henry’s lips move when he speaks, and the way his eyelashes flutter when he blinks.

Damn it, Henry really is beautiful. It’s the kind of beauty that makes his chest feel tight, makes him want to keep on staring, and makes him want to lean just a little closer. He doesn’t even realize how long he’s been staring until Henry turns his head and their eyes meet.

Alex quickly snaps his head toward the street and realizes that the downpour has eased into light drizzle. People are starting to move again, leaving only the two of them under the awning.

“The rain’s stopping.” He says, trying not to glance at Henry.

“Indeed.” Henry hums as he gazes at the street.

“Guess I should, uh, head back.” Alex rubs the back of his neck, suddenly sheepish.

“Do you live nearby?” Henry asks.

“Yeah, in an apartment just down the street.” Alex gestures vaguely with his hand.

Henry hums, and then silence settles between them. Alex opens his mouth, wanting to ask Henry about stopping by for a drink, a quick dinner, or anything that won’t end their conversation right here, but the idea feels like he’s going to step over a line he doesn’t fully understand yet.

Before Alex can decide, Henry straightens his coat and nods his head. “Well then. Goodnight, Alex.”

And just like that, Henry walks away, leaving Alex standing alone under the awning and staring after him.

The bar is more lively on Friday night. Alex, June, and Nora are sitting at the corner of the counter, chatting while sitting with their drinks.

“Henry’s usually here by now.” Nora hums as she looks at the empty seat on the other corner where Henry always sits.

“Maybe he’s not coming tonight.” Mark glances at the clock.

“Maybe he has a date tonight.” June tugs her lips into a teasing smile and flicks her eyes to Alex.

“Imagine Henry on a date. I bet he opens the door and pulls out chairs for you.” Nora grins, realizing what June is pulling on.

“He’ll sit in front of you during dinner and look at you like you’re the only person in the room.” June nods, playing along. “Oh, it will be so dreamy.”

“You two watch too many dramas.” Mark chuckles lightly and shakes his head.

“Hey, you never know.” Nora’s eyes sparkle mischievously. “He might be swooning someone or getting swooned by someone, at this moment.”

Alex, who has been listening the whole time, finally sets his glass down a little too hard. “Jesus, he’s not some kind of prince in a period drama. He probably just has overtime.”

The three of them immediately turn to look at him. June raises her brows, Nora tries not to smirk, and Mark looks somewhat amused.

“Or… whatever. He told me that he got offered a transfer here and he took it, so he’s probably swamped with work.” Alex plays it cool and takes a sip of his drink.

“And how do you know that?” June asks.

“He told me.”

“You talked?” Nora’s voice pitches up. “Like an actual civil conversation without a fight?”

“When exactly was this? I don’t remember a moment where you and Henry didn’t try to tear each other’s throats out.” June asks, barely containing her grin.

“You’re all so dramatic.” Alex groans. “We bumped into each other on the street. It was raining and we talked while waiting for the rain. That’s all.”

Just in time, the door swings open with Henry and Percy walking in.

“Speak of the devil.” Mark murmurs.

Alex rolls his eyes, but his heart skips a beat when he sees Henry.

Henry meets his eyes for a second, but quickly flicks his gaze away. He smiles politely at Nora and June before slipping into his usual stool at the bar while Percy heads to the restroom. Alex watches as Henry orders his usual martini with that smooth British accent that turns some heads.

His eyes linger on Henry’s profile, from the sharp line of his jaw, the bridge of his nose, the curve on his lips, and the way his blonde hair gleams under the lamplight. He tries not to stare so much, but fails. 

When Henry turns to him, he immediately narrows his eyes. “Are you going to stare at me all night or should I start charging for the privilege?”

Alex can feel warmth creeping up from his neck, but he covers it with a smirk. “I was just trying to figure out how someone can make breathing look so pretentious.”

Henry scoffs and sips on his drink, but there’s the faintest curl at the corner of his lips like he’s holding back a smile.

And that makes Alex’s heart skip a beat.

He glances down at his old fashioned, his fingers tapping restlessly against the glass. Then, with an intake of breath, he drinks a mouthful of his old fashioned before walking over and dropping himself on the stool right next to Henry.

Henry nearly chokes on his martini, startled. Nora and June pause their conversation, their eyes wide in surprise. Percy, who just comes back from the restroom, stops beside June and Nora to watch the scene too.

“What is it? You’ve decided to torment me from closer range?” Henry keeps his composure.

“Don’t flatter yourself. Watching you nearly choke on your fancy martini was quite entertaining for me.” Alex smirks.

“God, are you drunk already?” Henry can’t help but to huff out a laugh.

“From a single old fashioned? Don’t underestimate my tolerance.” Alex grins wider.

They start throwing jabs at each other again, but it feels more like a banter this time. Their snarky remarks are laced with humor and amusement instead of irritation. Alex leans closer and Henry laughs openly, like they’re genuinely having fun.

From the other corner, Nora slowly leans into June. “Okay. Am I drunk, or are Alex and Henry actually laughing together?”

“No, you’re not drunk. I’m seeing it too.” June smiles, still watching them intently.

Percy, who has been observing quietly, breaks into a knowing smile as he mutters. “About damn time for Henry to be honest.”

Both June and Nora whip their heads toward him in unison. “Being honest about what?”

Percy stares at the two women and slowly places a hand over his mouth, knowing that he accidentally blurted something he shouldn’t.

Meanwhile, Alex’s attention is fully on Henry. His one elbow is propped on the bar and his eyes are locked on the blonde’s face. “So, did you leave some heartbroken girlfriend back in London when you took the job here?”

Henry freezes momentarily. His eyes flick down into his glass and then away, like he’s not sure how to answer the question.

“No girlfriend. Never had one, actually.” Henry says with a quiet voice.

Alex blinks and then barks out a laugh. “You? Never been in a relationship? Do you think I’m that dumb?”

Henry doesn’t laugh along. His lips part as if he’s trying to say something, but then presses them shut again. His fingers tighten around the stem of his martini glass and Alex notices it too. He wants to ask Henry another question, but before he can get a word out, a hand suddenly hands on his shoulder.

“Hi, Alex.”

Alex turns to the familiar face next to him and then smiles. “Miguel? Didn’t know you were back in New York.”

“Well, you stopped replying to me. I didn’t get the chance to tell you.” The man, Miguel, smiles teasingly at Alex.

“I still have your number saved. You could’ve called me anytime. Unless you already deleted my number from your phone.” Alex says playfully.

Miguel chuckles lightly. His hand slowly slides down from Alex’s shoulder to his forearm, lingering there with his thumb brushing against the inside of Alex’s wrist. Henry sees everything. His eyes are locked on Miguel’s hand, how it moves deliberately and how Alex accepts the touch so easily.

Alex doesn’t pull away at all. Even when Miguel leans in a bit too close, Alex doesn’t shift back. He keeps on smiling as if everything’s perfectly natural, as if he doesn’t notice Miguel’s obvious flirtation, as if he’s actually welcoming it.

Henry swallows hard. His eyes narrow when Miguel leans even closer to whisper in Alex’s ear, like they’re sharing a deep secret. Alex tips his head toward Miguel, listening attentively and smiling in amusement. He can feel his heart hammering and his chest burning. He brings the martini glass to his lips and takes a big gulp, letting the alcohol burn down his throat.

Finally, Miguel’s gaze flicks to Henry like he only just noticed him. He looks at Henry up and down before turning to Alex. “This guy’s with you?”

Henry’s stomach sinks a little, but he keeps his cool.

“Just someone I drink next to.” Alex answers with a casual smile.

Alex isn’t lying at all, but the words land sharp. Henry feels a sting in his chest. After all the banter and everything, he’s nothing more than a fellow customer at the bar whom Alex happens to drink next to.

When Alex turns his attention back to Miguel, Henry sets his glass down sharply.

“Someone I drink next to. I imagine that’s what you call most people after you’ve had your fun. Easier than remembering names, isn’t it?” Henry hums.

Alex blinks, caught off guard. He turns to Henry and furrows his brows. “Excuse me?”

“Don’t look so offended. You wear the reputation well enough. The charming fuckboy act. Always smiling, always flirting, always saying the right words.” Henry’s lips curl into something that doesn’t look like a smile at all.

For a moment, Alex looks dumbfounded. Then he lets out a snort before staring sharply at Henry. “Wow. Okay. What the hell is your problem?”

Miguel’s eyes dart between Alex and Henry, noticing the sharp tension in the air. He grimaces and steps back before he gets dragged into the storm. He mutters a quick excuse to Alex before retreating to the other end of the bar.

From the other side of the bar, June and Nora also sense the sudden tension.

“Alright, what’s happening now?” June whispers. Nora presses her lips tightly while Percy watches with worry.

Henry’s lips move as if he’s biting back words, but when he speaks again, his voice is sharper.

“My problem is you, strutting around like the world exists for you. You love it when people fall for your charms and give you attention. You bask in it.” Henry shakes his head and huffs out a bitter laugh. “Do you ever stop to think that not everything is about you, Alex?”

“Oh, that’s rich coming from you, the guy who treats everybody in the room like they’re beneath him.” Alex scoffs. “Do you ever realize that you’re very unlikeable?”

Something flickers in Henry’s eyes, something like hurt, but he smooths it out so quickly that Alex barely notices it.

“Better that than being a shallow charmer who burns through people like matches. At least I know who I am.” Henry spits coldly.

“Yeah? At least people actually want me around.” Alex says sharply, sharp enough to turn some heads in the bar. June and Nora make a move to stand up, wanting to stop the fight before it can escalate, but Alex already says his next words. “Can you say the same, Henry? You’re just alone, and maybe that’s exactly what you deserve.”

The words hang in the air.

Henry goes completely quiet. June’s hand flies to her mouth and Nora drops her mouth open, like they can’t believe Alex actually said those words. Percy winces like he just watched a blow land exactly where it hurts the most for Henry.

It only takes a second for Alex to realize what he just blurted out, but it’s impossible to take those words back. The bar seems to freeze, like the whole room is holding its breath after hearing his words. He shifts in his seat, wishing that Henry would bite back and throw another jab just to break this silence, but Henry doesn’t say anything.

Henry lifts his martini glass, finishes the rest in one swallow, and sets the glass down slowly. He  then reaches into his pocket, places his bill on the counter, and thanks Mark for the drink. Without sparing Alex a glance, he rises from his stool and walks out the door.

Alex stays frozen on his stool as he watches Henry leave. There’s a strange hollow feeling in his chest. They had been arguing and throwing jabs every night, and there were times where Alex wished that Henry would just walk out of the bar to give him some peace for the night, but now that Henry actually did it, he doesn’t feel happy at all.

Mark stares at the closed door for a moment before turning to Alex. “That wasn’t very nice, Alex.”

“He started it first!” Alex says defensively, but he can feel guilt gnawing at him from the inside.

“I should go.” Percy murmurs and slides off his stool. “See you all later.”

June and Nora watch Percy go, not trying to stop him because they know he’s going after Henry. They both then turn their heads toward Alex before storming over to him.

“What the hell is wrong with you?” June stops in front of him. “What you said to him was cruel, Alex.”

“You know he moved across the ocean, started over here, and tried to find friends. What did you do? You basically told him he’ll never belong here.” Nora crosses her arms.

Alex opens and closes his mouth, but no words come because they’re right. He knows they’re right.

June doesn’t let him sit in silence for long. She shakes her head and sighs audibly, almost like she’s disappointed. “Henry’s been trying, genuinely trying. Have you not seen it?”

Alex opens his mouth, but June doesn’t wait for an answer.

“I’ve seen him talk to Raul about his newborn daughter.” June continues. “Raul said Henry even remembered the baby’s name the next time he saw him. Henry actually cared enough to listen and remember.”

“Stacey told me Henry got her that limited-edition Hello Kitty keychain. Do you know how hard it is to get them? He said he saw it in a shop and thought of her.” Nora adds.

“There was that one night where a woman came in here drunk out of her mind. She’d just lost her best friend to a cruel accident. Henry sat with her and didn’t leave until she calmed down enough to get home safely.” Mark says. “Henry is a really good guy.”

Their words pile one on top of another and Alex feels his chest tightening. His guilt feels heavier with each story.

“And you.” June jabs her finger against Alex’s shoulder. “You enjoy your banter with him more than you admit.”

“W-What?” Alex blinks.

“Your eyes light up when he throws something back at you. I’ve seen it.” June presses.

“And don’t get me started on how you keep looking around whenever Henry isn’t here, like a kid waiting for his playmate to show up.” Nora huffs.

“You two are just making things up.” Alex says, still defensive.

“Are we?” Nora shoots back. “Or are you always excited to talk to him every night?”

“And this is the first time he didn’t talk back. He just left.” June sighs again. “You crossed the line, Alex.”

Every word feels suffocating and Alex eventually snaps. “Alright, alright, I’m sorry. I was wrong, okay?”

“Don’t say it to us.” June says flatly.

“Say it to Henry. He’s the one who deserves it.” Nora nods along.

Alex looks between the two of them. He knows they’re right, but at this moment, he’s not sure if Henry will even want to hear an apology from him.

“You know what, June? I don’t feel like drinking anymore.” Nora turns to her best friend.

June lets out a long sigh and turns to Mark. “Put it all on my tab.”

“June—” Alex starts, but his sister cuts him off with a raised hand.

“You really need to think about what you said to Henry tonight and reflect on it.” June says before grabbing Nora by her wrist and guiding her toward the door.

Alex watches the two of them leave, his shoulders slumped and his chest heavy. He stares at the closed door for a moment before turning to Mark who’s standing behind the bar. “Sorry for the scene.”

“It’s fine.” Mark nods. “Just… remember that you can’t take your words back once they’re out.”

Alex winces, but nods his head. Just as he’s about to slide off his stool and leave, Miguel suddenly appears beside him.

“So, is that posh Brit out of the picture now?” Miguel asks with a suggestive smile. “Because if he is, maybe you and I could go somewhere else, somewhere quieter and more private?”

“Not tonight. I’m tired. I just want to go home.” Alex shakes his head.

Miguel blinks, clearly not expecting rejection. “Oh... Uh… Sure. Whatever you say.”

Alex nods at Mark and bids Miguel a quick farewell before making his way to the door and walking out of the bar. The night air feels colder than usual, so he shoves his hands in his pockets and walks away.

He wonders if his steps always feel this heavy.

Henry doesn’t come to the bar anymore.

Every time Alex steps inside, he automatically glances to the corner of the bar, hoping to see Henry in his usual spot with a martini glass in his hand, but the stool is always empty. Alex sits down, orders a drink, and pretends that he’s enjoying the night, when really he’s waiting for Henry to step through the door.

But Henry never does.

Nobody seems to know how to reach Henry. Percy stops coming ever since that night, Mark shakes his head, Raul shrugs, and Stacey says Henry never gave his personal information to anybody. Henry never left a number or mentioned an address. He just appeared when he felt like it and now, he doesn’t.

Alex used to think that Henry was a constant presence in the bar, someone who would always be ready to spar with him, someone who could throw his cockiness back at him with twice the force, someone who would always be there. He thought that if he waited long enough, Henry would show up and he could apologize, but Henry is gone like he was never here to begin with.

Every night when Alex closes his eyes to sleep, his mind replays the words he said to Henry that night. He can’t shake the image of Henry just walking out without talking back to him, as if his words had cut too deep. The guilt feels heavier each time he wakes up in the morning.

The worst part? He realizes that he actually likes having Henry around, more than what he’s willing to admit. The banter has become something he looked forward to whenever he stepped into the bar. He pretended that he hated to see Henry in the bar, but he was actually expecting to see the blonde every time he pushed the door open.

But it’s too late now.

“This is your fault.” June says from his right side.

“You have to fix this.” Nora says from his left side.

Alex sighs and drags a hand down his face. “I don’t know how to reach him. Nobody knows his number, his address, or anything about him.”

“You know his job. Can’t you find him from there?” Nora tilts her head.

“With the amount of investment banking in this city? Sure. Piece of cake.” Alex snorts before turning to June. “You don’t happen to have Henry’s number either, do you? I mean, he tried hitting on you once.”

“For the hundredth time, Alex, he wasn’t hitting on me. He was asking about my book.” June rolls her eyes exasperatedly.

Before Alex can say anything, the bar door swings open. He whips his head immediately, hoping to see the man he’s been looking for, only to see Percy walking in with his usual bright smile.

“Pez!” June and Nora call out in unison as if he’s a beacon of hope.

“Good evening, ladies.” Percy smiles at the two ladies before nodding at Alex. “Hey, Alex.”

“Where’s Henry?” Nora doesn’t waste a second to ask.

“Is he still mad at Alex?” June leans forward.

“Well… he’s fine. He’s just seeing other bars around the city. Just hopping around, you know.” Percy scratches the back of his head sheepishly.

“Which bars?” Alex asks immediately.

“There are no specific bars. He just wanders around.” Percy shakes his head.

“Great. So I’m supposed to walk around the entire city each night hoping to bump into him.” Alex groans in frustration, only to whip his head to Percy when he realizes something. “Wait. You do have Henry’s number, don’t you?”

“I do, but Henry is a very stubborn guy.” Percy shrugs lightly. “There’s a chance he’ll just block your number if you try to contact him.”

Alex groans again and drags a hand down his face. That really sounds like Henry. In fact, he can picture Henry reading his message and immediately pressing the block button.

“It’s your fault anyway.” Nora points a finger at him.

“Alright, alright. Fine. I’ll walk around the entire city every night if I have to.” Alex throws his hands up.

“You should join him, Pez.” June chuckles lightly and glances at Percy.

“Let me go to the restroom first.” Percy says jokingly and sets his phone on the bar table before walking away.

Alex swirls the old fashioned in his glass and stares at the amber liquid. His mind starts mapping the city, thinking about the possible bars Henry might be at tonight. As far as he knows, there are more than a thousand bars in New York City alone. He doesn’t even know where he can even begin.

His thoughts are momentarily distracted when Percy’s phone screen lights up. He doesn’t mean to look, he respects privacy, but his eyes are instinctively drawn to the light.

The notification on Percy’s screen makes him freeze.

Henry: I’m at The Copper Lantern at the moment.

Without wasting any second, he sets his glass down and slides off his stool. “I have to go now.”

“Where?” June looks up with a slight frown.

“Something urgent.” Alex places his bill and strides to the door without even sparing another glance, leaving June and Nora staring at him in confusion.

Alex moves like he’s on auto-pilot and by the time he reaches The Copper Lantern, he’s out of breath from sprinting all the way from the station. His shirt is clinging damply to his back and his hair is sticking to his forehead, but he doesn’t care. He rounds the corner to reach the bar, but then freezes.

Henry is standing outside the bar, but he’s not alone.

There’s a man standing close to Henry, smiling and laughing at something Henry says. The man reaches out to hold Henry’s wrist and Henry doesn’t pull away. Instead, Henry leans in toward the man and smiles softly, softer than anything Alex has ever seen. Those usually icy blue eyes are now warm and alive.

Alex feels like he can’t breathe. His legs are locked in place and his chest is tightening with disbelief, shock, and something else he can’t register yet. He watches as Henry leans in to whisper something into the man’s ear, he watches as the man grins at Henry after hearing the whisper, he watches as the two of them flirt openly.

When a cab pulls up, the man places a hand at the small of Henry’s back and guides him into the car. The man climbs into the cab after Henry and closes the door, and then it drives away, taking Henry with it.

Alex stands there, his heart thudding painfully in his chest. It takes him a few seconds before the realization finally hits him.

The Copper Lantern is a well-known gay bar.

Alex steps into the bar with Nora and June. The bar is buzzing and alive at this hour, yet he’s anything but it. It’s been a week, yet he can’t shake off the image of Henry leaving with a man in a cab, going to places he doesn’t know.

“Oh, it’s Pez.”

Nora’s voice snaps him out of his trance. When he lifts his head, he sees Percy leaning against the counter and chatting with Mark. Nora quickly walks over to Percy while tugging June along. Meanwhile, Alex walks a little slower behind them, each step feels a little heavy.

Percy greets the ladies with a smile before nodding his head to Alex. “Hey, Alex.”

“Hey, Pez.” Alex stops in front of Percy and shifts the weight between his feet. “Can we… talk?”

“Sure. What do you want to talk about?” Percy tilts his head.

Alex glances around before lowering his voice. “Privately?”

Percy blinks and glances around the room. After a beat, he flicks his eyes back to Alex and asks. “Outside?”

Alex nods quickly before walking to the door with Percy. June and Nora exchange a confused look as they watch the two men walk out. Once outside, they stop under a streetlight and stand facing each other.

“Alright, what’s on your mind?” Percy asks.

Alex opens and closes his mouth, like he isn’t sure how to start this, but then blurts out. “I saw Henry last Friday night.”

Percy’s brows lift slightly, a little surprised. “I see.”

“We didn’t talk. I didn’t talk to him.” Alex clarifies quickly. “I just… saw him from a distance.”

“And?” Percy hums.

“And… he was with someone.” Alex looks away.

“Uh huh?” Percy tilts his head, trying to figure out where Alex is taking this.

“Henry was… with a man.” Alex swallows the tightness in his throat before continuing. “They were standing in front of a gay bar.”

“And your point is?” Percy crosses his arms.

Alex opens and closes his mouth again, struggling to find the words that make sense. “I just… I didn’t know Henry swings both ways. I mean, I’ve only seen him flirting with women at the bar.”

Percy stares at him for a moment before letting out a long sigh. “Henry doesn’t swing both ways, Alex.”

Alex frowns at first, confused by the words, but then realization hits him quickly. His lips part in surprise and his eyes widen before he mutters. “Henry’s… gay?”

“For as long as I’ve known him, and I’ve known him for a very long time.” Percy says.

“I… I didn’t know…” Alex mutters as his mind tries to fit the new piece of information into everything he thought he knew.

He suddenly recalls the first night he met Henry. He remembers how Henry tried to talk to June about the book and how he jumped in and accused Henry of trying to hit on his sister. He remembers Henry’s offended look and the sharp words he threw like knives. He thought Henry was mad that his flirting attempt had been disturbed, but Henry wasn’t flirting at all. Henry was really asking about the book.

Alex presses a hand to his forehead and groans softly. He feels so stupid and so embarrassed now. Percy studies his reaction for a moment and then smiles almost sympathetically.

“Henry’s not really hiding his sexuality.” Percy says. “But he doesn’t go around parading it either. It has always been a sensitive topic for him, even at this age now.”

Alex looks up to Percy. He wants to ask, wants to understand more, but he doesn’t think he has the right to know more. Perhaps seeing the look on his face, Percy sighs in resignation and sympathy.

“I shouldn’t even be telling you this.” Percy admits as he glances away. “But Henry’s life hasn’t exactly been easy. He might have been born rich with a silver spoon and all, but that doesn’t mean much when your family can’t accept you for who you are.”

Alex feels his chest tightening because he can sense where the story is going.

“The reason he moved out of London wasn’t just some whim. His family couldn’t come to terms with his sexuality. His sister, Bea, is the only one who accepted him.” Percy’s gaze flicks back to Alex. “That’s why he came here. He wanted to try and find new people, the ones who would accept him for who he is.”

Alex recalls the words he threw at Henry, how they sound even crueler now that he knows Henry’s story. His chest aches, his stomach knots, and his breath hitches. He realizes just how deep he has wounded Henry without even knowing it.

He remembers the way Henry had gone quiet like he couldn’t breathe, the way his hand trembled just slightly when he placed the bills, the way his voice shook a little when he thanked Mark, and the way those blue eyes looked a little too glossy under the dim lights of the bar.

Alex presses his palms hard against his face as guilt twists inside him, so heavy that it feels like it might swallow him whole.

“Henry doesn’t hate you.” Percy says suddenly, trying to be reassuring as if he can sense where Alex’s mind is heading. “But Henry is very sensitive. He knows how to step back when he feels unwanted.”

He’s the one who made Henry feel unwanted. He’s the one who told Henry that he deserved to be lonely. He takes in a shaky breath before dropping his hands to look at Percy. “Does that mean he’ll never want to talk to me again?”

“After he’s healed, he’ll see you again.” Percy gives a bittersweet smile.

Percy is trying to reassure him, but the words only make his chest ache even more. The thought of Henry having to heal from what he did makes him feel even worse. He doesn’t feel reassured at all.

After a long silence, Alex finally speaks. “Can you tell Henry that… I won’t be coming to the bar anymore? Tell him that he’s free to come back and enjoy his martini without having to see me there.”

Percy blinks in surprise. “Alex, you don’t have to do that.”

“Yeah, I do. It’s the least I can do.” Alex presses his lips. “I don’t want him to feel like he has to stay away because of me. He’s not unwanted. Everybody misses him there.”

Percy looks at him for a moment longer as if he wants to argue, but something in Alex’s expression stops him. In the end, he sighs and nods his head. “Alright. If that’s what you want.”

“Thanks, Pez.” Alex forces a thin smile. “Let’s get back inside.”

When they get back inside, June and Nora immediately turn toward them from their table, curiosity written all over their faces.

“What were you two talking about?” June asks.

“Nothing.” Alex slides back into his seat and casually picks up his half-finished drink.

Percy slides back into his own seat and winks at June. “It’s a secret.”

June narrows her eyes suspiciously while Nora rolls her eyes. Alex just drinks quietly, pretending that the burn from whisky can wash away the heaviness in his chest.

Later that night after they leave the bar, June drops by Alex’s apartment to grab some of the books she had left behind. While June picks the books from the shelf, she glances over at Alex who’s sitting on the corner of his bed, shoulders hunched and eyes staring blankly at the wall. She doesn’t say anything at first, but when the silence drags on without Alex moving, she finally sighs and turns to face him.

“What’s wrong?” She asks.

“Nothing.” Alex shakes his head too quickly like he’s been pulled out of a trance. “You should just stay here tonight. It’s too late to call an Uber.”

“Don’t change the topic.” June narrows her eyes. “What’s wrong, Alex? Does it have anything to do with that little chat you had with Pez earlier?”

Alex looks away and stays quiet for a long moment. His lips move back and forth, like he doesn’t know how to put it into words. After a few seconds, he finally sighs.

“I found out that… Henry’s apparently gay.”

June doesn’t look surprised at all. She just hums like it’s something she already knows. “Yeah, I’ve had a hunch.”

“How? He’s always stealing the ladies who are talking to me.” Alex looks at his sister with a frown.

“You’ve always been so oblivious, Alex.” June lets out a short laugh. “Sure, he talked to those women, but did you ever actually pay attention? He never looked at those women the way a guy does when he’s interested. He never touched them and never even tried to get closer. Even Nora also thought the same thing, but we didn’t ask him outright.”

Ales registers the words like he’s arranging puzzle pieces in his head. He then lets out a dry laugh and shakes his head. “When we first saw him, I really thought he was hitting on you.”

“For the love of God, Alex, I told you he wasn’t flirting with me.” June groans tiredly.

“Yeah, I know now.” Alex drops his gaze.

June studies him for a long moment before speaking with a softer voice this time. “What are you planning to do now?”

“I told Percy that Henry can come back to the bar. I won’t be going there for the time being.”

“You won’t?” June's brows raise in surprise.

“I don’t want to take it away from him. He deserves to have that place without me making it worse.” Alex says firmly.

June stares at Alex for another long moment, and then she walks over before flopping next to him on the bed. “Tell me something, Alex.”

“What?” Alex turns to her.

“Why does this revelation matter to you? Why do you seem to care so much about Henry’s sexuality?”

Alex looks away immediately. He stares at the floor, at the wall, at the ceiling, at anything but June’s face. He opens and closes his mouth with no words spoken, his eyes darting around the apartment as if he can find the answer if he looks hard enough.

June watches him with a knowing smile before asking. “Do you have feelings for Henry?”

“I… I don’t know.” Alex sighs heavily. “I always thought of him as a straight man and I don’t go after straight men, so I never even let myself think about it.”

“And now that you know he’s actually gay?” June tilts her head.

“I don’t know.” Alex mutters quietly, sounding so lost with himself.

Not wanting to push, June just smiles gently and pats his shoulder. “Take your time thinking about it, but don’t take too long. Henry might get taken away by another man if you’re taking too long.”

Alex opens his mouth, but June is already on her feet. She gathers her books from the shelf before glancing over her shoulder.

“Good night, Alex.”

With that, she walks out of the door, leaving Alex sitting on the bed with his own thoughts.

Alex actually stops coming to the bar.

He spends the first few nights going to other bars around the city. He orders his usual old fashioned and tries to enjoy the night like usual, but something feels wrong every time. It’s not the taste of the drink or the different music, it’s the absence of a certain snarky British voice beside him.

On some nights, he considers visiting the gay bars downtown, just in case Henry might be in one of them, but he has decided not to disturb Henry. He’ll wait until Henry wants to see him again. If Henry doesn’t want to see him, then he will make sure not to appear in front of him.

That is until one night, his phone buzzes with a new message from Nora.

Nora: Henry’s here!

Alex doesn’t think. He drops everything he’s doing at the moment and grabs his jacket before rushing out of his apartment.

When he finally reaches the bar thirty minutes later, his eyes immediately land on Henry’s usual spot near the corner. There Henry is, sitting with his usual martini and chatting happily with June and Nora beside him.

Alex feels his heart slamming against his ribs at the sight. There’s a strong feeling of longing, almost like a punch to the gut, and for a second, he lets himself feel everything.

As if sensing the stare, Henry turns his head towards the door and sees Alex there. His smile falters slightly, just a flicker, but it’s enough for Alex to understand that Henry still doesn’t want to see him.

Nora turns her head and then freezes when she sees Alex standing there. She quickly glances over at June who shares the same look of surprise, but unlike Nora who looks completely startled, there’s a small smile curling on her lips, like she knows Alex can’t stay away from Henry for long. Percy, who’s sitting nearby, darts his eyes between Alex and Henry like he’s watching a tennis match.

Alex doesn’t tear his gaze away from Henry even after Henry looks away. He takes a deep breath to steady himself before walking over. Each step feels heavy, like he’s dragging the weight of his guilt with him.

As if on cue, Nora and June slide off their stools and take a few steps back, giving Alex the space he needs to stand next to Henry. Alex stops, shoves his hands into his pockets, and clears his throat lightly.

“I see you’re back to hog the martini supply.” Alex starts with a teasing smile.

Normally, Henry would say something back, but tonight, he just hums softly without even looking at Alex. The silence that follows next feels heavy.

“Wow, did they replace you with the quiet and docile Henry clone while I was gone?” Alex tries again.

Henry gives another hum and nods his head lightly, not saying anything more.

The silence feels worse than any sharp retort he has ever gotten. Alex can feel regret, embarrassment, and frustration all churning together until it’s making him hard to breathe, but he can’t blame anyone else. This suffocating silence and cold shoulder from Henry is all his fault.

Alex opens his mouth, ready to throw one more pathetic attempt at conversation, but then Henry’s phone rings in his pocket. Henry pulls his phone out and Alex manages to catch a name on the screen.

Jack - Copper Lantern

Alex feels his stomach sinking because he knows who Jack is without even needing to ask. He must be the man from that night, the one who had his hand on the small of Henry’s back, the one who Henry smiled and whispered to, the one who Henry cares enough to save his number.

Henry picks up the call and presses the phone to his ear as if Alex isn’t right beside him.

“Hey… Yeah, I’m at a bar downtown.” He glances at Alex before turning his attention back to the call. “Later tonight? Yeah, I’m free. What time?”

The words twist inside Alex so violently that he can’t think anymore. Without wasting any second, he throws his hand to snatch the phone from Henry’s grasp. He jabs the screen to end the call and holds the phone tightly in his hand as if keeping it away from Henry.

Henry stares at him, shocked, and then frowns. “What the hell was that for?”

Alex knows he shouldn’t start another fight when he originally came here to apologize to Henry, but he can’t seem to keep everything in anymore. “Will you stop talking to random guys you met at bars?”

“Excuse me?” Henry’s voice rises in anger. “Who the hell are you to tell me who I can or can’t talk to?”

The bar goes still as everybody watches from their seats. None of them dares to move or make a sound, not even June, Nora, and Percy.

Alex knows he’s about to cross another line, but he can’t stop it, he can’t reel it back in. “I’m saying that you shouldn’t just throw yourself at anybody just because you’re lonely!”

“Throw myself??” Henry snaps. “You’ve got some nerve, Alex. The last time we spoke, you told me I deserved to be alone and now you’re suddenly lecturing me?”

Alex’s mind is swirling with guilt, anger, and frustration until he doesn’t know where one ends and the other begins. “That’s not—”

“Oh, but it is.” Henry cuts him sharply, his hand visibly trembling against the counter. “You don’t get to push me away and then control who I choose to spend my time with.”

Alex can feel his jaw aching from how tightly he’s clenching it, but his words still spill out before he can think about them. “For someone so picky, your taste in men is really questionable seeing how you easily left with that guy the other night.”

Henry freezes at the words. His eyes widen for a second before they narrow again. “You… saw that?”

“Yes.” Alex steps forward to close the distance between them, his chest heaving with barely restrained emotions. “I saw you leave with him in a cab, with his hand on your waist and your lips on his ear.”

For a second, Henry falters, but then he straightens himself and gathers his composure. “And why the hell do you even care who I go home with?”

The words seem to snap the last restraints Alex has. His chest feels like it’s about to split open and before he can stop himself, he blurts everything out through his mouth.

“Because if you’re lonely, then you should have gone home with me!”

Everything stops.

Henry stares at Alex like he just grows another two heads. His mouth hangs open, his eyes wide, and disbelief is written across his face. 

Alex feels the realization of what he’s just said crashing down on him, but it’s out there now and he doesn’t want to take it back. He doesn’t want to hide it anymore.

“Screw that. Not just if you’re lonely. Even if you’re not lonely, even if you’re perfectly fine on your own, you should’ve gone home with me still.” Alex continues to spill everything out.

The bar is still frozen with every pair of eyes on him, but Alex doesn’t care anymore. His chest feels like it’s on fire and the only way to breathe is to let it all out.

“This place isn’t the same without you.” He goes on. “No one else makes me feel this way before. No one else banters with me the way you do. No one else makes me actually want to stay until closing.”

From the other end of the bar, June and Nora take long sips from their glasses like they’re watching the best kind of drama live. Meanwhile, Percy has his hand pressed over his mouth, but his eyes sparkle like he’s physically holding in the urge to cheer.

“I like your presence, Henry. The way you roll your eyes at me but can’t help smiling after. The way you laugh heartily. The way you smirk when you throw a snarky jab at me. The way you sip your martini like some sort of secret ritual.” Alex keeps going, hands moving helplessly as if trying to make his words mean more. “I like everything about you, Henry.”

Henry blinks dumbly like Alex is speaking another language. He hears every word, but none of it sinks in yet. When Alex finally stops to catch his breath, the silence hangs between them.

Then, Henry swallows thickly before muttering. “What are you saying, Alex?”

“What I’m saying is…” Alex pauses and then lowers his voice, as if he’s finally admitting something that’s been inside him for far too long. “I want to be with you, Henry. I’m in love with you.”

There’s another silence, like the world is holding its breath.

And then there’s a voice.

“Finally!” Nora slams her glass down on the table so hard that it sloshes.

“Good grief.” June smiles and nods like she’s been waiting for this exact outcome since forever.

“About damn time.” Mark mutters behind the bar.

Percy laughs and claps his hands like he’s giving an applause for the show.

Alex ignores the noisy reaction in the bar and keeps his eyes locked on Henry, who is still completely stunned.

“What’s your answer, Henry?” He asks, almost sounding desperate.

Henry opens and closes his mouth while blinking rapidly. He looks dazed and flustered, stammering like he has never been caught so off guard in his life. “I… Alex, I… I don’t—”

“Oh, come on, Henry. Stop hiding it already!” Percy cuts in with a knowing grin.

Alex whips his head to Percy. “Hiding what?”

“That he fell in love at first sight the very first night he saw you here.” Percy jerks his chin toward Henry, still grinning from ear to ear.

The bar erupts in low whistles and teasing words, including Nora and June who are giggling with their drinks, but Alex barely registers them. He immediately whips his head back to Henry.

“Is that true?” He asks, eyes sparkling with hope.

Henry’s face flushes red all the way down to his neck. He opens and closes his mouth, but there’s no denial, no witty retort, and no snarky jab. He just sits there, eyes wide and face flushed.

Alex doesn’t need the words to know the answer. He slowly breaks into a grin and gently places his hand over Henry’s on the bar counter. Henry doesn’t pull his hand back.

“How about you come home with me tonight, Henry?” Alex murmurs, his gaze locked on Henry’s blue eyes.

Henry stares back at him, completely vulnerable. Alex knows this look of Henry is something he’ll never forget.

As soon as the door closes, Alex barely has time to turn around before Henry grabs him by the collar and pushes him back against the wall. The next thing he knows, Henry’s lips are on his.

Alex smiles and kisses Henry back just as eagerly. His hands slide down Henry’s sides, tracing over the lines of his waist before settling lower on his ass. He grabs Henry’s ass with both hands and pulls him closer until their hips press together.

Henry gasps into the kiss, his one hand curling into Alex’s hair and tugging it hard enough to make Alex grunt. The sound seems to fuel Henry even more as he kisses Alex almost desperately. Their mouths keep finding each other again and again like they’ve been holding this back for years.

When they finally break the kiss, both of them are breathless.

“How long have you been wanting to kiss me?” Alex huffs out a breathy chuckle.

“Shut up.” Henry mutters before kissing Alex again, harder this time, like he’s determined to make Alex shut up for the whole night.

Alex doesn’t stay in the same position this time. With a swift motion, he flips them around and presses Henry against the wall. Alex hears a startled gasp slipping from Henry’s lips before he muffles it with his kiss. He pins Henry against the wall, one hand pressing on Henry’s shoulder and the other one gripping the blonde’s hips firmly.

When they break the kiss again, both of them are panting with their foreheads nearly touching. For a moment, they just stand there with no words spoken, eyes dark as they stare at each other.

Then, Henry’s gaze drifts past Alex’s shoulder to finally look at the inside of the apartment. “So… this is your place.”

Alex glances over his shoulder and winces when he realizes how messy his apartment looks. There’s laundry on the couch, papers and mugs scattered across the table, and a stack of books around the corner. He didn’t get to clean anything up since he immediately rushed to the bar as soon as he got the text.

“Welcome to my totally organized home.” Alex steps back and gestures vaguely with a sheepish grin.

Henry lets out a soft chuckle and steps away from the wall. His eyes scan over the space as he walks further into the apartment. He walks slowly, taking in every detail like he’s trying to read Alex through each item and each mess. Everything is so Alex.

“I quite like it.” Henry comments, but there’s no sarcastic tone in his voice and Alex notices it too.

“So, where do you actually live?” Alex walks over to the blonde.

“Near Brooklyn Bridge Park. You can see the bridge lights from the balcony at night.” Henry hums as he glances toward the window.

“Wow. Fancy place.”

“Perfect for a snobbish Brit like me, isn’t it?” Henry glances at him with a faint smirk tugging on his lips.

Alex chuckles and steps closer to Henry, close enough to hear Henry’s breath hitching a little. “You know, I still don’t know a lot of things about you, not even your phone number.”

Henry smiles softly and leans in until their lips almost touch. “Sweetheart, you’ll have time to learn all about me.”

Before Alex can reply, Henry pulls him into another kiss, the kind of kiss that makes Alex forget that there’s still laundry on the couch and empty mugs scattered around the table.

They stumble through the apartment between kisses and laughter. Alex takes off his jacket and Henry unbuttons his shirt in between, bumping into furniture along the way. Henry trips over the edge of the rug and Alex catches him quickly, but they both end up tumbling onto the bed in the process.

Henry ends up sprawled on his back while Alex props himself up with one arm braced beside Henry’s head. He’s grinning at first, but then his smile slowly fades as he stares at Henry’s face up close, taking in all his features.

Henry’s own smile falters when he notices the shift. “What is it?”

“Your eyes…” Alex murmurs as he stares into those blue eyes. “They’re mesmerizing.”

Henry seems caught off guard by the words. He quickly looks away, but Alex notices the faint pink spreading across his face.

“What? Did nobody ever tell you that?” Alex’s lips twitch into a teasing smile.

“I get that a lot, but they’re mostly just flattery or flirting remarks, not something genuine.” Henry says, trying to act nonchalant but obviously failing at it.

“And how do you know if I’m being genuine or just flirting?” Alex teases.

Henry turns back to look at him and then whispers. “Because your eyes are honest.”

Alex’s teasing smile fades as he stares at Henry.

“I can see it. You’re genuine, Alex.” Henry brings his hand to trace his fingers over Alex’s cheekbone. “And it’s rare to find someone who’s still so honest and genuine like you.”

Alex leans down to kiss Henry, hard and deep, pouring all this tangled thoughts and emotions into the kiss. Henry’s hand slides to the back of Alex’s neck, pulling him closer until there’s no space left between them.

Still with their lips locked, Alex’s hand comes up to slide off Henry’s shirt completely. Henry does the same by pulling Alex’s shirt up. Alex breaks the kiss momentarily to pull his shirt over his head and throw it on the floor, and then he leans down again.

This time, his mouth finds Henry’s neck. He kisses the skin gently at first, and then harder, enough to leave a hickey on its wake. Henry tilts his head back with a gasp, giving Alex more place to mark.

“Your skin’s so pale.” Alex murmurs against him. “It’s so easy for me to leave marks.”

“Don’t leave them in visible places.” Henry gasps out at another prickling kiss. “I still need to go to work and all.”

“Can’t promise that. I’m kind of a possessive guy.” Alex teases.

Henry grumbles something under his breath before suddenly leaning in and biting at Alex’s shoulder.

“Ow.” Alex blurts out, more startled instead of in pain, and then laughs when he realizes what happened. “Did you just bite me?”

“You deserved that.” Henry says before kissing over the bite mark he left.

“Didn’t think you could bite like that.” Alex grins. “You’re always so composed and stoic every time we meet.”

“I can bite when I want to.”

“Oh, yeah?” Alex hums, still grinning. “Me too.”

Before Henry can react, Alex bends down and takes a nipple into his mouth. Henry gasps and arches his back, his hand flies up to curl into Alex’s hair. The reaction only feeds Alex’s confidence. He sucks the nipple deeper into his mouth and sinks his teeth around it, not hard enough to tear the skin, but enough to pull a reaction from Henry.

“Alex…!” Henry gasps out as he tugs on Alex’s hair.

Alex looks up, his eyes gleam with both amusement and hunger. “You like that, don’t you?”

Henry hesitates before admitting with a small voice. “Yeah.”

Alex smirks and bends down again, taking the other nipple into his mouth. He sucks hard and flicks his tongue over the bud until Henry arches beneath him, and then scrapes his teeth against the sensitive skin. He can feel Henry’s trembling under him, can hear the gasps and soft moans falling from his lips, and every reaction just riles him up even more.

“Alex—ah! You’re going to make them swell…” Henry grits his teeth to bite back another moan.

Alex pulls back with a chuckle and licks over the perked nipple. “But that’s what I’m planning to do.”

When Henry tugs his hair in protest, Alex laughs and finally leaves the poor nipples. He moves his lips lower, tracing the lines of Henry’s body, following the dips of his abs and down to his navel. When his fingers start undoing the button of Henry’s pants, he finds another pair of hands stopping him.

“Wait.” Henry looks down to him. “Do you have—”

“Lube? Condoms? I have them all.” Alex grins, already anticipating the question.

Without giving Henry the chance to reply, Alex swiftly undoes his pants and pulls them down together with his underwear, leaving the blonde naked under the lights. Henry gasps in surprise and his hands instinctively fly down, but he can barely cover himself at this point.

“God, you could at least turn off the lights first.” Henry mutters, half-groaning.

“Nope. I want a good view.” Alex grins as his eyes roam shamelessly over Henry’s body. “You’re already hard, you know.”

Henry doesn’t need to be told. He glares at Alex, his cheeks reddening even more, but there’s more embarrassment instead of anger. He then flicks his eyes down to the obvious bulge under Alex’s pants.

“Your fly’s about to burst open.” He retorts.

Alex laughs, not embarrassed at all. He sits back on his knees and starts taking off his own pants. Henry watches every movement, every flex of Alex’s muscles and every curl of his fingers. Alex notices the hungry stare and he almost laughs at the sight. He can’t believe he had no idea about Henry’s feelings all this time when Henry is actually this easy to read if he tries hard enough.

When Alex pulls his pants down, Henry’s breath hitches. He tries not to look startled, but the look in his eyes says it all. Alex’s size is… impressive. It's even bigger than what he imagined, and his imaginations are already pretty wild.

Alex notices the stunned look on Henry’s face and he misreads it as hesitation. He’s aware of his size and he knows not everybody enjoys something that’s too big.

“Hey.” He leans forward and places a gentle hand on Henry’s hip. “I don’t have to put it in if you don’t want to.”

“No.” Henry blurts out quickly, eyes determined. “I want it. I want you.”

Alex seems stunned for a moment, and then he smiles, almost like he’s relieved or maybe in awe. He leans down to give Henry a quick peck on the lips before reaching to his bedside table. He opens the drawer, pulls out a small bottle, and tilts it upside down to watch the clear liquid slide slowly toward the opening.

Henry’s gaze follows the liquid movement before he asks. “…Is that plain lube?”

“Well, yeah. How many kinds of lube are there, anyway?” Alex glances at Henry with a puzzled look.

There’s a beat of silence. Henry presses his lips together and looks away, like he’s keeping himself from saying something. Alex watches the reaction for a moment before something clicks in his head.

“Wait.” Alex starts grinning. “You’re not telling me you like those fruity scented lubes, are you?”

“There’s a reason companies keep producing them. There’s clearly a market.” Henry says stubbornly, still keeping his gaze away.

Alex throws his head back with a laugh. “Oh my god, you’re so cute.”

“I’m not.” Henry snaps his gaze back to Alex.

Alex laughs again and pours some of the lube over his fingers. “I’ll buy you all the fruity ones you want.”

Henry glares at Alex and opens his mouth, clearly prepared to say something snarky, but it dissolves into a gasp when Alex presses his slicked fingers against his rim. He closes his eyes and tries to steady his breath as Alex pushes his finger inside.

Alex watches him intently, taking in every reaction etched across Henry’s face. He moves slowly at first, testing and teasing at the same time. Henry is tense at first, but after a moment, his body begins to relax and open up. Noticing that, Alex wastes no time to push two fingers in, ripping out a sharp gasp from the other man.

“Wow.” Henry breathes out, his tone filled with sarcasm despite being breathless. “What a gentleman.”

“Oh, I know what you can handle.” Alex smirks, clearly pleased.

His fingers move faster and deeper now, stretching and spreading Henry open. He keeps his eyes on Henry the whole time, noticing how Henry’s breathing turns uneven and how little moans spill from his lips despite his attempts to stay composed.

Alex slowly eases his third finger in, pausing momentarily to make sure Henry is alright, and then moves them again. He spreads his fingers and twists his wrist to reach all the spots inside, as if searching for something.

Then his fingers brush that spot.

Henry gasps out a moan, his hips jerking slightly before he can stop himself. Alex’s lips curl into a satisfied smile and he does it again, pressing that spot a little harder. Henry’s reaction is almost instantaneous. A choked moan spills out of his throat as his hands fly up to clutch at Alex’s shoulders.

“Alex…” Henry breathes out, almost like he’s pleading for something.

“You like it here?” Alex smirks and leans closer. “I’ll memorize it.”

With that, he starts plunging his fingers faster and deeper, making sure to rub that spot every time. Instead of moving away, Henry pushes his hips back against those fingers, showing how eager he is. Alex watches as Henry’s body arches and writhes beneath him. The sight alone is enough to make the heat coil tight in his stomach. To think that the stoic and snobbish British guy can turn like this under him…

Alex grits his teeth, biting back a growl rumbling deep within his chest. His cock is twitching so much that it’s starting to ache, and when it becomes too much, he pulls his fingers out hurriedly.

Henry gasps at the sudden loss. His brows furrow in frustration as he looks down, ready to complain, but immediately shuts up when he sees Alex tearing open a condom with his teeth. Henry swallows thickly and watches as Alex rolls it around his thick length, slowly and teasingly. Henry can feel his throat going dry, yet his mouth is watering.

“You’re drooling.” Alex says casually.

Henry instinctively wipes at the corner of his mouth, but then freezes when he realizes that Alex is just teasing him.

“You’re such an arse.” Henry grumbles.

“Hey, don’t get grumpy on me now.” Alex laughs lightly and reaches over to pour some lube over his cock.

He then fits himself between Henry’s legs, close enough to feel each other’s body heat. Henry sucks in a deep breath when he feels something hard pressing against his rim, his body tightening in anticipation.

“Relax.” Alex whispers.

Henry closes his eyes when Alex leans down to press gentle kisses along his neck. He exhales shakily, his body loosening as he melts under the kisses.

And right at that moment, Alex pushes himself in.

Henry gasps sharply as his hands fly up to clutch at Alex’s broad back. He can feel himself being stretched open as Alex pushes deeper, sliding in inch by inch. It’s so big, perhaps bigger than anything he’s ever had inside him, but God, it feels so good. Henry’s mouth drops open, his chest is rising and falling fast, and his lashes are fluttering as he tries to catch his breath.

Alex lets out a breath once he’s all the way in and then looks down at Henry. “Does it hurt? Is it too much?”

“No.” Henry breathes out. “You’re just… ridiculously big.”

“Why, thank you.” Alex grins smugly.

Henry rolls his eyes, but Alex can see the tip of his ears turning red and it makes him smile. Henry is prideful, but if he looks close enough, he can see that Henry has such honest reactions. He feels stupid for not noticing anything until now.

“I’m going to move, alright?” Alex says and then starts to move his hips, slow and careful at first, letting Henry adjust.

Henry’s breath stutters during the first few thrusts, but after a minute, he manages to catch his breath.

“I’m okay. Go faster.” Henry murmurs.

Alex slowly pulls back and then slams in hard, hard enough to make the bed creak loudly. The reaction is immediate. A sharp cry tears from Henry’s throat as his head tips back against the pillow.

“Alex…!” Henry cries out, but Alex drives into him again.

Alex sets up a relentless pace, driving harder and deeper each time. The bed is creaking with every movement and the headboard is knocking against the wall. The room is soon filled with the sound of skin slapping and breathless moans as Henry finds himself being fucked open. His fingers dig into Alex’s back, clawing at the skin and leaving faint red lines across it.

Alex keeps his eyes on Henry, watching the way he reacts. Henry’s pale skin is flushed and sheening with sweat, his lips are red and parted open, his blue eyes are glossed and hazy, and he looks so vulnerable it’s beautiful. Henry has always been beautiful ever since the first time Alex laid his eyes on the blonde, but right now, he looks breathtakingly beautiful.

“Fuck, Henry.” Alex groans. “You’re driving me crazy.”

Henry can see sparks shooting across his vision. His prostate is taking a battering and he can’t even control his body anymore. Every thrust knocks the breath out of his lungs and rips a moan out of his throat. Before he can even catch his breath, Alex drives into him again, over and over until Henry feels his head getting lighter.

“Alex—ahh! Alex…!” Henry gasps out between his moans, his toes curling and his back arching off the bed.

Alex can feel Henry getting closer to the edge. His eyes gleam as he leans down to Henry’s ear.

“Go ahead. Come.” Alex murmurs in both encouragement and command.

Henry screws his eyes shut. With how close they are, he can feel his cock being rubbed between their bodies with each movement. When another few thrusts, Henry cries out sharply and spills his release between their bodies. His entire body trembles and his breath turns into stuttered gasps.

Alex groans when he feels the tightness squeezing his pounding length. His own hips begin to stutter before he pushes as deep as he can go and spills himself into the condom. He can feel Henry’s walls pulsing along, milking his orgasm until the last drop. When his arms begin to tremble, he collapses on top of Henry, pressing the other man into the mattress.

They stay like that for a while, bodies pressed together and breaths slowly evening out. The room is quiet except for the soft hum of the city outside and the sound of their breaths.

Alex is the first one to move. He just his head just enough to press a kiss to Henry’s temple. “You alright?”

Henry exhales, half a laugh and half a tired sigh. “Ask me again in a minute.”

Alex chuckles lightly and nuzzles closer. “You staying the night?”

Henry blinks and then tilts his head slightly. “Here?”

“Well, I only got one apartment and one bed. Nothing like your fancy place, I know.” Alex rolls his eyes playfully.

“My apartment is mostly empty anyway. Haven’t really had the time to decorate since I moved here.” Henry huffs.

“I can help you with that.” Alex’s eyes light up.

“Help me with what? Buying furniture?” Henry looks at him skeptically.

“Yeah, we can go to Ikea or West Elm, or even CB2.” Alex grins at the idea.

“I don’t usually buy mass-produced furniture.” Henry snorts.

“There you go again with the snobbish behavior.” Alex groans dramatically.

Henry huffs out a chuckle and pushes Alex lightly. “Get off me.”

“Nope.” Alex immediately wraps his arms around Henry and keeps him close.

Henry laughs and tries to squirm away at first, but eventually relaxes into the hold and stays right where he is.

After a beat, Alex lifts his head again. “Hey, give me your number.”

Henry looks at him and smiles softly as he whispers. “Alright, sweetheart.”

Alex walks into the bar with a grin that can light up the whole room.

He greets the familiar faces before making his way to the edge of the bar where a certain blonde sits with his perfect posture and overpriced coat. He sits onto the empty stool next to Henry and stares at the glass of martini on the table.

Henry doesn’t look at him immediately. He simply lifts his glass of martini, eyes flicking sideways with the faintest hint of a smile.

“There are better drinks than martinis, you know.” Alex snorts.

“And there are also worse tastes like yours.” Henry says before taking a sip of his martini.

“That’s funny. You didn’t complain about my taste the other night.” Alex smirks.

Henry chokes on his martini and quickly sets the glass down before breaking into a cough.

“Oh my God.” Nora, who’s sitting nearby with the others, immediately raises both hands. “No. I absolutely did not need to hear that.”

“Well, took you both long enough.” Percy smiles and raises his glass as if cheering for them.

“Please flirt appropriately.” June scrunches her face.

“I am being harassed by this man right now.” Henry turns to the ladies, his cheeks already red.

Still smirking, Alex leans closer to whisper in Henry’s ear. “You love me though.”

“You’re insufferable.” Henry hisses.

A moment later, Mark slides a glass of old fashioned without being asked. Alex thanks the bartender and lifts his glass toward Henry. “Cheers?”

Henry narrows his eyes, but still clinks their glasses. Alex smiles as he watches Henry taking another sip of his martini. The bar carries on around them. The glasses are clinking, laughter is rising and falling, and conversation is filling the space. For once, they aren’t the center of the storm anymore, just a pair of lovers enjoying their favorite drinks in a nice bar.

Alex smiles in satisfaction and puts his glass down before leaning closer to Henry, voice dropping just enough to keep the conversation to themselves.

“So, my place or your place tonight?”

Henry gives him a quick glance before muttering. “My place.”

“Alright.” Alex grins and lifts his glass again for another sip.

This is exactly how it’s supposed to be.