#ugh firstprince I miss you

[noodles-and-tea]

I’m apparently a year late to this concept, however …

[typicalopposite]

💧 & Firstprince please 😄 x

Ok so this might be a little different than what the original prompt meant... BUUUUUT here you go :) I hope you like it <3

<3<3<3

Henry stands in front of the large tank of water, eyeing it suspiciously. “What’s wrong, H… you scared?” Alex comes up behind him, wrapping his arms around Henry’s waist. “It’s just water.”

“It’s just going to be the headline of every newspaper, magazine, and podcast for weeks…” Henry sighs. “Here and back in London. Grandpa is going to have a heart attack…” He hears Nora and Percy’s voices, and turns to see them coming back with Henry and Alex’s goggles. “Remind me why I agreed to this?” 

Alex presses a kiss to the back of Henry’s neck. “It’s for a good cause,” he laughs. 

“Okay, one for you,” Nora says, handing a pair of goggles to Alex. “Aaand one for you.” Henry takes his goggles and looks at them, dreading this decision immensely. “Now get ‘em on and get in the hot seats people are already lining up.” 

“Good luck, mate…” Percy says, trying not very hard at all to hide his gleeful grin. He pats Henry on the shoulder and takes off after Nora into the crowd of people gathering around the dunk tank. 

“You ready?” Alex asks, already climbing the ladder up to his side. 

No… Henry thinks, but follows Alex’s lead and gets up onto the little drop down seat. It’s rickety and feels like it might just give from his weight alone. “Ugh I’m just ready for this to be over…” he sighs, looking down into the water just past his dangling feet. 

“Okay, okay, okay!” Nora’s voice rings out. She’s got a mic and is walking back up to the dunk tank. “Hello, Houston! How is everybody doing today?” The crowd cheers loudly. “Alright, that’s awesome! Well in keeping with the summer fun we are here to get a little up close and personal with everyone’s favorite international power couple, the faces of the infamous Cake-Gate, and newlyweds… often known as FirstPrince; Alexander Claremont-Diaz and His Royal Highness Prince Henry.” 

Again the crowd goes wild. 

The rules are simple. It’s $5 to get a question and a toss. There are three targets in front of the tank, one directly to Alex’s chair, one to Henry’s, and one to both. They are positioned very unfairly—in Henry’s opinion—in a small triangle so it’s really up to chance (or luck that the pitcher has good aim) on who gets dunked. Nothing too personal, nothing disrespectful, nothing vulgar… just common sense, really ask decent questions and try to dunk the former president's son or the prince of England. The end of the pitcher line is nowhere in sight. 

Beside him Henry can see Alex’s smile stretching out across his face. The first person in the line walks up. A teenager; they lean towards Nora’s mic and say that their name is Cale, and they want to thank both of them for their courage and their influence in the community. They say they are so inspired by them and just love them so much. Henry feels his heart swell. Suddenly he doesn’t dread the headlines anymore. He and Alex both thank the kid for their kind words, causing them to blush. 

They take the ball and toss it; it hits Alex’s target, and he drops into the tank. The crowd erupts into laughter, and Henry can’t suppress his own as Alex bobs up and shakes the water from his curls. 

The next, a young woman, comes up to the mic and asks if they are enjoying married life. They give each other jokingly disgusted looks, but both say they are happier than they have ever been. The woman smiles, thanking them for their answer. She tosses her ball underhanded… and again Alex gets dunked; this time Henry doesn’t try to hide his laughter. 

“Oh you enjoy it now,” Alex teases, shaking his curls off towards Henry as he comes up. 

More people come up, more people take shots at the targets. If it’s not a miss it’s Alex that drops into the water, until they get to a point Alex is bargaining with the pitchers to aim for Henry’s. Henry laughs and argues back that they shouldn’t break the streak clearly being made for Alex. They are playfully bickering, and bargaining, and Henry is having so much fun. 

Alex climbs back onto his seat. Water drips from his drenched curls onto his long lashes. He looks so handsome regardless of his wet stature, Henry has to stop a moment to stare. The next question asked, and the next ball is tossed and it smacks the double drop target hard. 

Henry braces himself… and only Alex drops. He shoots back out of the water like a torpedo. “No hell!” He says lunging over the side of the tank and slapping Henry’s target, finally dropping him into the water. He holds his breath as he sinks into the tank, even fully submerged he can hear the crowd screaming and laughing. He pops back up and runs his hands through his no longer styled hair. Alex looks very satisfied with himself, so Henry feels compelled to splash water at him. The action is repeated back and then they are playfully wrestling in the tank, while the crowd continues to cheer and root for one or the other. 

By the time the line has dwindled down, they are both shriveled up like prunes, but they have raised an insane amount of money for the shelter’s, and shared a ton of fun stories with their community. Both of them pose for the photographer that wants one more picture of them together before they leave. Henry leans in towards Alex and smiles big at the camera, waiting until he’s about to snap the picture to tug Alex off his seat, sending him back into the water. That one’s gonna make a nice front page story… Henry thinks. 

[bitbybitwrites]

Ugh - life is so crazy, got to this really late. Sorry!

Thanks for tagging me in this and past six /seven/several sentence sundays and WIP Wednesdays that I've missed!:

@porcelainmortal, @alasse9 @sheepywritesfics @softboynick @forabeatofadrum

@daisyishedwig @sophie1973 @taste-thewaste @14carrotghoul @wordsofhoneydew

If I forgot anyone, I apologize!

****

What's been up with writing:

Well I recently posted my latest chapter in my Klaine fic, If I Can Make Your Heart My Home. I have quite a few writing asks to tackle (I'll get to them, I promise) and my immensely large WIP list . . .

But of course, because I'm a sucker for punishment, I started, what I am jokingly referring to as - one prompt, 2 ships 😂.

Basically saw a writing prompt on Tumblr and loved the idea so much I could see it fit in both for Klaine and FirstPrince.

So I started writing something for both because my brain won't let it go.

Both stories are fantasy AUs, each with a little "saving someone from a dragon" element aspect to it - we'll see where they go.

Pardon the silly fire themed titles - thought they went well with the dragon aspect of the story 😂

Really rough snippets are below:

baby won't you light my fire - Klaine WIP

“I’m not sure I understand, Sir, “ Blaine said, as he shifted uncomfortably in the heat of the summer sun, his leather jerkin feeling a bit stiff and uncomfortable. The sword strapped to his side grew heavy after his long journey from Westerville. 

Perhaps it was just the fatigue.  Perhaps it was his lack of a morning meal, thanks to him leaving at the crack of dawn to avoid his brother Cooper’s incessant questions about his latest quest.  Whatever the reason was, Blaine unable to focus on the words coming out of the other man’s mouth.

Burt sighed as he pushed his cloth cap from his head, rubbing his forehead.  “Perhaps it’s best I show you son.”

The blacksmith paused first to call out to dark innards of the forge.  “Finn!” He shouted “Finn!”

A tall, lanky young man emerged, a leather apron wrapped around his frame and a smear of soot across his forehead.  He removed a pair of thick gloves, also leather, from his hands as he squinted in the bright sunlight, spying Burt and giving him a bright smile.  “Yes, Burt?” He asked.

Burt nodded towards Blaine.  “This is Blaine.  He’s here to help your brother.”

For a moment, the younger blacksmith looked puzzled.  Then after noticing the sword at  his belt, the furrow on his brow smoothed. 

“OH . . .” Finn’s eyes lit up with understanding, and then softened a bit with sympathy just a moment later.  “I’m glad.  Don’t let Kurt intimidate you.  He’s got a . . um . . strong personality.”

Blaine nodded.  “I’ve had to rescue many a temperamental damsel in distress,” he confided, thinking back to Lady Kitty and the Baroness Sugar de Motta.  Those quests were nothing but headaches.  He tolerated it for the pay though.  “I think I should be fine.”

Finn’s eyes shifted from Burt to Blaine.  “Yes . . .” he said, appearing as if he was unsure how much farther to explain.  “Well, Kurt’s situation might be a bit different that any other ladies in ivory towers that needed saving,” the young blacksmith told Blaine cryptically.

“Well,” Burt said, as he coughed  and nodded, looking about nervously.  “I think we should get going before nightfall.  Tell your mother I may be home later for dinner.”

Finn nodded as he held out his hand to the visitor.  “Um . . .good luck, I guess,” Finn said.  “Safe travels and . . uh,” Finn straightened, puffing out his chest and lifting his chin.  “You make sure to treat my brother right, or you’ll have to deal with me.”

Blaine stared up wordlessly at Finn, clueless as to what he was trying to convey.

Burt snorted in the background.  “Finn,” he gently chastised his step-son.  “I think Kurt can take care of himself . . don’t you?”

“But I’m still the older brother . . .”

“Kurt is older than you.”

“Bigger brother then . . .“

With a chuckle, Burt gave his step son a look.  Finn begrudgingly sighed, his shoulders deflating a bit as he gave in.

“Fine . . .”  Finn still tried to give Blaine an intimidating glare.  “Just, be nice to Kurt, ok?” he asked.  “He’s been through a lot lately.”

Blaine nodded at the puzzling request.  “I promise.”

*****

2.) burn baby burn - FirstPrince WIP

“I think you’re crazy.”

Alex snorted as he shoved a few more items into his rucksack “You would," he countered.

His best friend rolled over from her position lying down. Her gilt embroidered slippers glinted in the early morning sun as she waggled her toes while she perched precariously on the bed. Her head hung over the edge and her dark curls reached downwards toward the floor. Nora continued watching him pack, with a smirk on her face. 

“Only you, Alejandro, would accept this sort of one-man-needed, dangerous, save-a-damsel-in-distress type of job”.  she said, still very amused. "Just face it, you’re hoping the princess is pretty and you might get a roll in the royal bedsheets before accepting payments and heading off on your way.”

A soiled shirt flew across the room and hit Nora squarely in the face.

Alex sighed.  “We are not discussing my love life right now.  I have to prepare for this job.”

“What love life?” Nora teased.

“Lalalallalalalalala . . .” June sang loudly as she entered, her hands full of items.  “No talking about my little brother’s love life.  Don’t want to know the details.”

“You sure, because there was that one time . . “ Alex began as he smirked.

June let out an exasperated sound and tossed the armful of items at her brother.  He quickly cursed, dropped what he was holding to attempt to catch everything hurtling his way. What items he failed to grasp floated in the air before him. June’s eyes twinkled as she wiggled her fingers causing them to dance around her brother’s head, inches out of his reach,  occasionally making  one or two dip down and smack him in the skull.

Nora cackled as she watched the siblings from her upside down position.

“Why on earth do I need all this , Bug?” Alex said exasperated, trying to jump up to catch a floating bundle of herbs, but failing to reach it miserably.

“Because you can’t go in and face a dragon by yourself (which is INSANE) . . “

“Told him that already!” chirped Nora

“ . . And not have some magic in your pocket. Since you won’t take me with you, I'm stocking you up on herbs and crystals.” June said firmly.

With a few swift waves of her hands all the items bounced into the air into a open bag of holding that dangled between her fingers. After peering inside, June sniffed, contented that it was ready. She tied the drawstrings of the velvet pouch shut and held it out to her younger sibling who took it reluctantly.  

It wasn't that Alex had anything against magic. But he was a more of a practical, hands-on swordsman for hire. Steel blades, arrows, maces . . working with any sort of weaponry was his forte, along with being devastatingly handsome and charming, the combination of the all of that usually was all that he needed to get the job done.

Magic had its own place, he figured. And he'd do anything to placate his sister's worries. So he tossed what he often referred to as June's "bag of rocks and weeds" into his rucksack.

“I’m not sending you out there unprepared, Lil Bit.  I’d like for you to come back in one piece . .  .“ June continued as she began weaving a spell to ensure his traveling cloak would be impervious to weather.

“And sexually satisfied . . “ crowed Nora.

June groaned, stopping mid way through her motions. “Did I not say I didn’t want to hear anything about that.”

*****

Tagging to share their WIP ( writing or art or anything) (if they want to and they haven't done so already!) :

@kirakiwiwrites, @madas-ahatters-world, @caramelcoffeeaddict @little-escapist @littlemisskittentoes

@datshitrandom, @justgleekout, @mynonah, @esilher

@myheartalivewrites @kiwiana-writes @spaceorphan18 @annepi-blog @special-bc-ur-part-of-it

@sarkyblueeyes @blueeyedgrlwrites , @gleefulpoppet and an OPEN TAG for anyone else who sees this.

[onthewaytosomewhere]

✍️ and firstprince please and thank you!!

okay emily this got a lil bit of angst bleed-over form Ashleigh's fic and well that was not the plan but here we are lolz - but on the plus side yours is the fist done (as i bounce around between them all lolz)

also Morgan this is yours too i doubled up the prompts and went a bit longer lolz @suseagull04

can also be found on ao3 if ya'd rather

“Ugh!” Alex plops onto the couch next to Henry, turning to curl into his side.

“What’s wrong, love?”

“Stupid therapy assignment.”

“Oh? What did they assign for you?”

“Journaling.” The silence following Alex’s words tells him that Henry will be another on the list of people who don’t understand his frustration with this assignment.

“Okay, and why is that a bad thing?” Alex sighs and buries his head further into Henry’s shoulder; he just needs a moment to wallow before he has to hear another person tell him it won’t be as bad as he thinks; he’s already heard it from both June and Nora.  Henry runs a hand down his back, and Alex can feel some of the tension from the day being pulled away. He pulls back and sees an actual look of concern; he should have known Henry wouldn’t brush his concerns aside so quickly, but it’s been happening so much of his life.

“I just …” Alex trails off into a sigh, “I’m not a writer, not like you or June. I don’t know what journaling is going to do for me other than give me another thing to feel inferior about.”

“Oh, Alex, journaling isn’t about writing well. It’s about having another way to get out the thoughts in your head. It doesn’t have to be the next Casey McQuiston novel. It just has to help you get things out of your head and find a place to process them. But I happen to know that when you want to, you can write amazing words. I’ve read them when they’ve been written to me.”

“June said something similar to that, but it was a lot harsher and had no mention of our emails.” Alex chuckles.

“Well, she is a big sister. They’re known for their tough love and wanting to avoid discussing their brother’s love lives. Whereas I, the man who loves you, want to support you. Not that June doesn’t want to support you; siblings just do it in a different way.”

Alex does start journaling, and he finds the words come easier than he thought they would—he’s not writing a New York Times Bestseller, but his therapist has told him over and over that what he has is more than enough. Along with making him remind himself that he is enough.

He gets an idea a month in; his writing is coming so easily, and it’s made him realize how much he’s missed writing, especially writing things for Henry. He finds a fancy leather-bound journal and starts writing in it. It doesn’t replace his therapy journal. This one has a different purpose. He writes his thoughts and feelings about and for Henry in the new journal almost daily. He brings them both along to therapy and occasionally reads from the one that’s for Henry. The first time he does so, he asks his therapist as they’re wrapping up what she thinks of the writing in the book for Henry; he wants it to be perfect for him. She, of course, gives him homework to think about why Henry might think it was perfect even if the writing isn’t that of a published manuscript. He does think about it. He thinks about how getting something like it from Henry would feel, giving him another idea.

It's only a matter of weeks before Alex has the journal half-filled, and he’s sitting watching a movie with Henry when he pulls it out of the place he had stashed it. Alex hands it to Henry and watches him look at it, turning it over in his hands.

“This isn’t your therapy journal.”

“No, it’s not. But it definitely happened because of that. I’ve been thinking a lot about what you said when I started, about how we used to write to each other. So, I wrote to you. I filled the first half of this journal with things for you—my thoughts about you and my feelings for you. It’s all about you and how I feel about you.” Alex pauses, taking a moment to collect himself, watching Henry still looking at the journal in his hands. If Alex is honest, it’s a little nerve-wracking, but he waits for Henry to process what is in his hands.

Henry looks up at him finally, asking, “Why only half of it?” Henry’s voice is thick with emotion, and Alex wants to pull him into his arms, but he doesn’t. He doesn’t pull Henry into his arms, and he doesn’t run his hands through Henry’s hair, down his back in the way that they both use as a comfort.

Instead, he answers, “I was hoping you might want to take the other half. You can write whatever you want in it, of course. But I was hoping it could be something we could look back at later, a reminder of where we started, one that can’t be taken from us.”

“Oh, Alex.” Henry places the journal on the coffee table and turns to him. Alex is in arms before he’s fully turned to him. He feels the release of tension he didn’t even know he had in his shoulders. Henry kisses his lips, and Alex attempts to deepen the kiss, but Henry pulls away.”I love it, it’s a wonderful idea. More importantly, I love you.”

Alex can feel the moisture pooling in his eyes but smiles through it, “I love you, too.” He can’t wait to read what Henry adds to it.

[heysweetheart-writes]

20 questions for fic writers

I was tagged by @daisymae-12 @happiness-of-the-pursuit @read-and-write- @suseagull04 @myheartalivewrites & @inexplicablymine thank you so much!! Im procastinating wrting the halloween fic because I got to the smut and suddenly all these past like 3 years of practice I had vanished from my mind and I can't seem to be able to write anything.

1. How many works do you have on AO3?

28

2. What’s your total AO3 word count?

The last time I checked it was 256,455.

3. What fandoms do you write for?

Just finished my last Borhap fic so only rwrb now

4. What are your top 5 fics by kudos?

Ever since New York

Sign of the times

A Kind of Magic (borhap)

Parallel Hearts (Hardzello)

Against my better judgment

5. Do you respond to comments? Why or why not?

I was rereading old fics the other day and I noticed I didn't use to??? idk why but yes, I respond to comments now, love getting them!!

6. What is the fic you wrote with the angstiest ending? 7. What’s the fic you wrote with the happiest ending?

The fleabag AU for hardzello

8. Do you get hate on fics?

No but I used to get a lot of criticism for who I chose to include in fics.

9. Do you write smut? If so, what kind?

I have in the past, trying to get back to it but I'm finding it really hard ugh- Halloween fic, I'm sorry. (looking for a beta for it if anyone is interested?)

10. Do you write crossovers? What’s the craziest one you’ve written?

I have written one. A 6 Underground x GI Joe crossover HAHA GOD it was good thou. Pure filth.

11. Have you ever had a fic stolen?

I don0t think so.

12. Have you ever had a fic translated?

Nope

13. Have you ever co-written a fic before?

Yes! Have in the past, I miss @halfasleepoetry every day of my life. And I'm cowriting one now.

14. What’s your all time favorite ship?

Honestly, I don't know. Probably Nine x Rose or Twelve x Clara from Doctor Who but I've never written for them or even read fics.

15. What’s a WIP you want to finish but doubt you ever will?

There's a Warewolf!Ben AU on the docs and the Balcony AU but I'm no longer writing for borhap. All the wips for FirstPrince, I'm really hopeful Ill eventually finish them.

16. What are your writing strengths?

Plot, outline and dialog.

17. What are your writing weaknesses?

I have the attention span of a squirrel and Im very self concious. Also I hate describing actions and places, be in my mind and see what I see already.

18. Thoughts on writing dialogue in another language in fic?

The best part about rwrb is that Alex speaks spanish <3

19. First fandom you wrote for?

Bandom, MCR

20. Favorite fic you’ve written?

Days of our lives series and Parallel Hearts. For rwrb, I'd say Sign of the times and against my better judgment was so much fun to write.

No pressure tag: @bellamysgriffinprincess @hypnostheory @kiwiana-writes @hgejfmw-hgejhsf @pridepages @captaincoffeegirl515 everyone else I would tag already did it and tagged me so I leave the tag open for anyone who wants to share! Tag me so I can see!

[nyxvrse]

firstprince for the ship asks?

Fuck ya, I love FirstPrince! LET'S GOOOOOO

Gets hella aggressive while playing uno: Alex, he may or may not have thrown many objects at Henry for placing a +4 when he was on uno

Starts randomly rambling: Henry, if he starts talking about something he loves he cannot stop and its very adorable

Texts with more emojis: Both of them but mostly Alex just because it pisses off Henry when Alex uses more emojis than words

Forgets to eat: Bothhhhh, the stress of being them- usually its Alex but sometimes Henry too when he's travelling a lot

Force feeds the other: Henry like you can clearly picture him yanking Alex out of his chair for working so much and force feeding him

Paints their own and their partner’s nails: Henry! Bea taught him to do his nails as a 12yr old to piss of their grandma and now Henry does very nice nails and Alex loves getting his nails done.

Has a stan twitter acc: Alex I think this is canon lmao

Can sing the periodic table song: Both of them- Alex learnt it for fun when he was bored Henry was forced to because of Alex

Plays a musical instrument: Henry, its canon he plays the piano 🥰(i think because sunny has had my copy for like 6 months and I haven't reread it in a while)

Has a playlist for literally everything: Alex but only coz he stole half of them from Nora

Organises dates with other couples: They both prefer going on dates alone but June sometimes wants to go on a double date with them so Alex coordinates (through bribes and threats from June)

Is more physical: Alexxxxx, he will literally cling to Henry like a koala whenever he can

Steals the other’s clothes: Henry, he likes Alex's comfy ass clothes

Has random objects for sentimental reasons: Both, they just like keeping things

Will randomly bring animals home: Probs Henry lmao

these we super funnnnnnnn ugh i miss firstprince 😩

[arse-crack-thistle]

rwrb winterfest - day 10 - snowflakes

@rwrb-fests

in which firstprince goes to a middle school dance bc i love little alex and henry so much!!

Alex knows tonight is going to be awesome! Normally, he wouldn’t be excited for a lame middle school formal, but he’s going to ask Nora Holleran to slow dance. She’s way too smart for him, but he can make her laugh like no one else can. It sounds like a bird, and being twelve, Alex can’t resist. If she says yes, this Winter Formal nonsense will all be worth it.

Outside, the D.C. air is chilly but bearable. Alex, his lacrosse friends, and their parents stand in front of his house, about to take pictures. His mother adjusts his red striped tie as he fusses with his black curly hair. June waits inside; she’s a high school volunteer tonight—much to Alex’s protests.

He shoos his mother away, slings an arm around his friend Liam, and smiles. His parents ready the camera, and Alex thanks Jesus they never fight in public.

Just behind closed doors when they think he and June aren’t listening.

The white Christmas lights shine behind the boys. His father tells them to focus and takes the picture. It catches Alex laughing at some joke Liam told, his eyes scrunched closed.

•••

Henry wouldn’t go to this thing if his mother weren’t forcing him. She reminds him it’s good practice for his future as he heads out the door to Bea’s car.

He hates these kinds of functions and having to socialize with people he doesn’t know and couldn’t be bothered to know. Because his mother is the British Ambassador, he’s gone to a few, but he doesn’t want a career in public office like the rest of his family. The Mountchristen name means something back home—they’ve had a few MPs, secretaries, and prime ministers—but that’s not Henry. He wants a quiet life away from the fuss.

A life in which he can finally be himself. And tell the truth. The Fox side of him.

Henry misses his father more than ever as Bea drives. Thank god, she’s here and playing Sufjan Stevens to match their moods. If his mother had been appointed any later, Bea would’ve been an ocean away like Philip—not that Henry misses his posh, Oxford brother all that much.

The buttons of Henry’s Burberry suit reflect the soft yellow glow of the streetlights outside. He knows he’s overdressed and that this will be the most expensive suit in the room, but it’s what his mother picked out. Yet another thing his classmates will pick on.

Especially Alex Claremont-Diaz.

Bea wishes him luck, and Henry groans as he gets out of the car. He really doesn’t want to be here.

•••

Alex dances in the center of the gym floor with his buddies to an Imagine Dragons song. Blue and white lights shine down on them. The whole place is covered in fake snow and light blue fabric. Shimmery snowflakes dangle from the ceiling. It’s cheesy, but Alex doesn’t care because he’s having a blast.

He just hasn’t been able to talk to Nora yet.

She’s been huddled with her friends from Tech Club all night. They’re watching something on a dude’s phone, and Alex knows that’s his in. He just has to make himself move in that direction.

An eighth grader, Pez, starts a dance circle and busts a few moves in his fluorescent clothes. Alex watches and cheers him on because everyone loves Pez. But they don’t love his best friend.

Ugh, Alex can’t stand that British guy, Henry. They may not be in the same grade, but they do Model UN together, and everything he says in that dumb accent riles Alex up. Partly because the girls—and some guys—swoon over him, taking some of the spotlight from Alex, and partly because Henry’s existence just irks him.

His perfect blonde hair. His judgmental blue eyes. His rich-boy wardrobe. The fact that he gets the right answer to every question asked of him. And the fact that he rides horses—like, riding outfit and everything.

Alex hates it all.

When a slow song comes on, he goes for Nora. She looks beautiful in a pale pink dress and with her hair done up in a bun. Alex feels stupid in his black church pants and white button-up.

Why didn’t he get June to help him pick out his clothes?

He asks Nora what they’re watching, and she tells him it’s an anime and laughs at something on the screen. After an awkward pause, he stutters out an invitation to dance. Thank Jesus, she says yes.

On the dance floor, he puts his hands on her waist, and she puts hers on his shoulders, and they sway to the music. A disco ball from the center of the gym casts sparkles all over them. This is their moment.

Which is why Alex asks her to go out with him.

Nora won’t meet his eyes, and Alex knows he screwed up. They’re just friends, she tells him.

His stomach hurts.

Alex misread the situation. He could puke right now. Nothing has felt this embarrassing. Not even last year when he dove for a volleyball in P.E., smacked his face on the floor, and chipped a tooth or in second grade when he called his teacher “mom” and the entire class laughed.

Nora comments on June’s dress to move the conversation forward, but Alex just nods. They finish the dance in silence, avoiding eye contact.

Alex’s face is hot and red. He doesn’t want his friends saying anything, so as soon as the song’s over, he thanks Nora and runs out of gym to the bathroom.

•••

For the most part, Henry is ignored by his classmates, which is good. He’s left to sit by himself at one of the tables. Someone sprinkled glitter all over the tablecloth, and flecks cling to his jacket sleeves. The speakers blast him with music, and the whole event is rather annoying, especially when chaperones bother him to ask if he wants anything or to encourage him to dance. Luckily, the high school girl serving punch just gives him a cup and tells him there’s only a few more hours left until they’re free.

Pez checks up on him every once in a while, but he craves a good party wherever he goes and only stays for a few seconds. Henry doesn’t mind. He scrolls on his phone, catching up on social media and eventually settling on a new Wolfstar fanfic. He peaks up from time to time to watch Pez try to impress the punch girl, but his eyes always end up on Alex.

He moves so easily. Whether it’s shaking his hips or fist-pumping to the beat or letting his head fall back in laughter, he just seems to handle everything so carelessly, so happily.

Henry envies him—can’t stand him because of it. There’s a ping in him every time he sees Alex.

Those curls. And soft brown eyes. The undeniable charm.

He walked into a Model UN meeting in glasses once, and Henry had a coughing fit and had to leave the room.

Don’t even get him started on the Spanish.

God, Henry cannot deal with these feelings right now. And he can’t find Alex in the crowd.

He stands up. Maybe he will dance. Maybe if he tries, he can think about something else. His father would want him to try. He’d give him a pep-talk and a hug that smells like his cologne and send Henry on his way. It’s how he convinced him to try polo and ask a girl to dance at his first gala.

Maybe this is good practice. To try to do things on his own.

But as Henry approaches a girl in his English class, someone scoots out their chair and trips him.

And Henry falls face first into a pile of fake snow.

The music still plays, but the students and chaperones are silent as Henry comes up covered in white clumps. It’s worse than the glitter on his suit, and it sticks to the gel in his hair. He feels the very last thing he wants: everyone’s eyes on him.

Henry excuses himself and leaves as fast as he can, stumbling into Pez and shirking him off on the way out.

•••

Alex finally feels cool again. He splashed some water on his face, unbuttoned his top button, loosened his tie, and rolled up his sleeves. He looks impossibly chill considering he was just dumped.

Okay, not dumped. But he definitely feels better. Like Rafael Luna, his dad’s best friend. Luna carries himself with a swagger that Alex can’t resist.

After he tousles his hair one last time, Alex walks out of the bathroom, only to find Henry covered in faux snowflakes, looking like the abominable snowman from Monsters Inc. But he’s not cheerful like the yeti. He furiously swipes at his pant legs with one hand and curses at his phone in the other.

“Oh, man! Rough night, huh?” Alex says.

Henry freezes. He sizes up Alex and scowls. “Could you not?” He goes back to his phone, “Bea, just come pick me up when you get this, all right? Please,” and then hangs up.

“You’ve never looked better, honestly. I dig the winter chic vibe,” Alex teases. This is best thing that could’ve happened; his friends aren’t even going to mention the Nora thing when he gets back in the gym. For once, he’s not upset Henry has upstaged him.

Henry mumbles something and shrugs off his suit coat to wipe it down. Snow flurries from his clothing onto the cream linoleum flooring.

“What was that?”

“I said, ‘Unbelievable!’ As in, ‘Of course, the universe hates me enough to put you here right now!’” Henry’s face reddens.

Alex can’t believe this guy. He’s practically a prince! What could be wrong with his life? Well, his father’s death, but that was a few years ago. 

Alex googled Henry once or maybe twice—it’s irrelevant—and read about his famous father, who is Alex’s favorite Bond, for sure.

“So you messed up your suit? Big whup. I’m sure you have hundreds just like it. If not, the Fox-Mountchristen estate could probably cover it,” Alex says, crossing his arms. He’s surprised no adults have come to check on Henry. He’s not really sure what happened, but it was probably hilarious and well-deserved.

“You insufferable prick!” Henry shouts and throws the jacket at Alex. Before he can duck, it thwacks his face. He tastes the bitter snow in his mouth.

Alex scrunches it and throws it back. “You dickish, little drama king! You can’t handle the slightest bit of imperfection, can you? Heaven forbid, you’re knocked from your pedestal, and the rest of us mortals crack up!”

He knows this is stupid; he wouldn’t want people laughing at him either, unless it was intentional. In fact, he fled before his charismatic reputation was tarnished. Henry just brings something out of him—not the worst of Alex exactly, but the fight in him. Many a Model UN debates can attest to that.

Henry turns around and slams his fist against the black lockers. He flings the coat to the floor and leans on his forearm. “You haven’t got a clue, Alex,” he says. He sounds tired.

The muffled music from the dance echoes down the hallway. Posters on the walls and lockers advertise the dance, midterm tutoring, and the school-sponsored Spring Break trip to Peru. Alex watches Henry’s back go up and down with his breaths. A toilet flushes, and the sink is run before a girl walks out of the bathroom, past the boys, without a second glance.

Henry is right: Alex doesn’t have a clue. He knows people can hide their home lives. He hasn’t even told Liam about his parents fighting. How he’s heard the word “divorce” from both of them more than once.

And he’s pretty sure losing your father is worse than that; he wouldn’t know what to do without his own, no matter how much time had passed. And then to be moved across the sea to a new school, let alone a new country.

Damn. Alex sucks. And now he has to do something that would’ve made him throw up yesterday.

“Henry,” he says, “I’m sorry.”

•••

Henry can’t believe this—any of it.

Firstly, Alex Claremont-Diaz comes out of the bathroom as if he knew his nemesis was out there and wanted to catch him off-guard with his beautifully disheveled look. Henry blushes at the thought.

Secondly, after a row of which no teacher heard apparently, the aforementioned Alex Claremont-Diaz apologizes for the things he said. “Even though some of it was true,” he clarifies. Henry knows he’s right.

Thirdly, he and the godforsaken Alex Claremont-Diaz have been sitting next to each other on the floor for the past five minutes, just talking. Occasionally, Alex’s arm brushes against his and sends a tingle up his back.

If Henry didn’t know he was gay after consuming hours of Drarry and Wolfstar content, he knows now. As in, he finally realizes why he always looks for Alex in every room and why that boy gets under his skin so easily. 

He definitely cannot go to a lacrosse game, ever. He might die.

The bright bulbs from the bathroom and the blue hue from the gym doors’ windows light the otherwise dim hallway. Henry can make out the Coldplay song coming from the dance and plays the piano chords on his knees. The smell of old sweat and cleaner lingers in the air.

Henry likes that Bea insisted on a normal American education for the two of them and that his mother actually agreed; he just doesn’t enjoy the smells that accompany the experience. Or the horrid cafeteria food, for that matter. He tells Alex as much.

“Totally,” Alex says. “It must’ve been hard moving here. Even if I think you and your uppity family are ridiculous, leaving your home behind would suck for anyone.”

“Yes, it does. But Mum got this great job, which she wasn’t going to take until my grandmother and my brother Philip encouraged her to. ‘You need a fresh start,’ they said. She agreed, though I think her attitude is more about survival rather than actual happiness,” Henry says. “I, for one, would prefer to be home where Dad taught me to play cricket on the back lawn.”

He sighs. Alex doesn’t need to hear this, and giving him more information to use against him or to poke fun of is a disastrous idea. But it does feel good to talk about his father with someone who doesn’t know him and barely knows Henry.

“I’m sorry about your dad,” Alex says. “I looked him up once, and he seems pretty cool.”

“He was, yes.” If Henry lets himself get too close to the cliff of grief, he’ll jump off and never be able to recompose himself, so he looks at Alex. “You looked me up?”

Alex sits up straight. “No, no! Your father!”

“You looked me up.” Henry smirks. His stomach flutters, and he doesn’t know what that means.

“I wanted to know what your deal was!” Alex says. “It’s not weird like that! I wasn’t stalking you or whatever.”

Henry laughs hard for the first time in a while. “I can’t believe I have enchanted you this much, Alex. What must I have done to peak your interest? Was it the defeat in during the foreign aid debate?”

“Okay, one, don’t flatter yourself, sweetheart,” Alex says, holding up a finger to silence Henry’s laughter, which it doesn’t. “And two, you were arguing on the behalf of an imperialist, asshole country. How was I, the humble yet fiery Mexican delegate, supposed to get you off your high horse after you started barking about your country’s economy?”

“Accept that I am the better diplomat.”

“I accept that you’re the bigger—what’s that British word? Wanker.”

Alex shoves him, but Henry shoves him right back. The two laugh together, and as it fades, Henry thinks that maybe they can finally get along—be friends, even. Though, he doesn’t know if that’ll make his heart race more or less when Alex is around.

“Want to go back in there?” Alex asks. “I know you’re still covered in fluff, but it’ll add to the ambiance.” He wiggles his eyebrows.

Just then, Henry’s phone rings, and Bea’s name flashes on the screen. When he answers, she tells him she’s outside. Henry looks at Alex. While he has relaxed since the incident because of him, he’s not quite ready to face the rest of the school.

But the hesitation is duly noted and will be thoroughly examined tonight as he tries and fails to fall asleep.

He tells Bea he’ll be out in a minute and hangs up. “My sister’s here,” he says.

Dare Henry say Alex looks a little disappointed? The space between his dark eyebrows crinkles, and he shoves his hands in his pockets after they both stand up.

“Well,” Alex says, “maybe you and I could prepare for the meeting on refugees together when we get back from winter break.”

Henry blinks. “All right. We could do it at mine if you like.”

“Sure. I’m dying to see the palace,” he says. “Let me just get your number.”

After they exchange phone numbers, Henry watches Alex walk back into the gym. Thank god, he isn’t wearing better trousers, or Henry might’ve blushed. Actually, it doesn’t matter; Henry feels his checks get hot.

Outside, real snow dusts the school’s steps. Henry spots Bea’s headlights and walks to the car, enjoying the cool night air. He slips inside as his sister asks what the hell happened.

He knows it’s not the question she meant, but in his head he answers, “Alex Claremont-Diaz.”

[hms-chill]

Am I too late to request prompts from that list? If not 57 and 67 with firstprince please 😊 thank you if you do it but don't worry if you can't x love ya 😊💕💖

Not at all! Enjoy!

57. “Is that my shirt?”

67. “Stop being so cute.”

Alex is practically vibrating in the car. It’s only been two days, but he feels like he hasn’t seen Henry in forever. They’ve barely even stopped at Kensington when he’s out, taking the steps of the grand staircase two at a time, his weekender thumping against his legs. He just has time to curse Kensington for being so big when he’s getting to the door of Henry’s room. It’s open, golden light spilling out into the dark hallway. Alex kicks off his shoes and comes up quietly, leaning on the door frame

Henry’s there, the lamplight casting warm shadows on his face. He’s reading something, socked feet pulled up beside him on the big armchair, David in his lap and an ‘out of the closet’ mug resting on a coaster beside him. There are rainbow checkout cards on his socks, beagles on his pajama pants, and he’s rinsed the product out of his hair, leaving it a touch wild, but Alex knows it will be soft. He shifts the book to turn a page, and Alex sees a big red “A” that he’d recognize anywhere. Henry’s wearing an Austin High School lacrosse t-shirt. It’s a touch small on him, clinging to his biceps and chest in just the right way, but Alex can’t find it in himself to complain. He can’t find it in himself to do much at all, aside from staring at Henry, trying to take this all in and commit it to memory. A photo would never capture it, and he doesn’t want to get his phone out anyway. He wishes he could paint; this is a scene that needs to be captured in oils, not pixels. 

When he’s stared long enough, when the image of his perfect boyfriend in his natural habitat has etched itself into Alex’s soul, he asks, “is that my shirt?”

Henry looks up, a smile spreading across his lips. He finds a bookmark and sets the book down, then holds out his arms for a hug. “David’s trapping me, but hello, sweetheart. I missed you.”

“I missed you,” Alex says, coming to bend down for an approximation of a hug. He rubs David’s ears, too, and David lets out a little sleep woof. “You two are… just… I love you so much.”

“How was class?”

“Ugh, H. We’re on vacation.” Henry yawns before he can respond, and Alex smiles. “Time for bed?”

“But David,” Henry says. “He’s sleeping; I can’t move him.” He’s turned big blue eyes up to Alex, and Alex is helpless to do anything but kiss him, running his hands through Henry’s hair, which really is as soft as it looked from the doorway. 

“I’ll move him, and I’ll be gentle,” he says, and Henry watches as he carefully lifts David, carrying him to a dog bed next to the chair. They both watch for a bit as David settles in, his paws twitching as he runs in a dream. Then Henry holds his arms up again, and Alex goes to pull him up and into a hug, Henry nuzzling into his hair as Alex presses a kiss to the place where Henry’s shoulder meets his neck. 

“Tired,” Henry says, and Alex chuckles a bit.

“I bet; it’s late. We’ll get you to bed, then I’ll change and be there.”

Henry mumbles his agreement, and Alex half carries him to the bed, where Henry curls up on top of the blankets because “that way if I fall asleep and you’re not here, I’ll wake up and then I can fall asleep with you.”

Alex is surprised he can still lean in and press a kiss to Henry’s forehead, seeing how his heart has exploded. He changes and brushes his teeth as quickly as he can, and then he’s digging a big southwest blanket out of his bag and going to find Henry still somewhat awake on top of the sheets. Alex comes to rest beside him, pulling the new blanket over both of them, and Henry cuddles up in it. The sight of Henry, so cozy in so many trappings of Texas, does something to Alex’s insides.

“Hey, H? Can you do something for me?” Alex whispers, and Henry nods, yawning. “Stop being so cute.”

Henry laughs a bit and just cuddles in closer to Alex, kissing his forehead. “No.”

“You’re a menace,” Alex tells him, and Henry hums, smiling. He has the audacity to run his fingers through Alex’s hair, and the audacity to fall asleep cradling Alex’s head, and with how much Alex’s heart has grown, he’s surprised his lungs have room to breathe as he falls asleep, too.

On AO3

I would like to thank my muse and savior, the OG lesbian, Sappho, for possessing me and writing this tooth-rotting fluff through me.

--

Want to support the Hannah Makes Art fund? You can tip me in ko-fi here!

[nyxvrse]

I posted 1,363 times in 2021

453 posts created (33%)

910 posts reblogged (67%)

For every post I created, I reblogged 2.0 posts.

I added 1,487 tags in 2021

#incorrect quotes - 254 posts

#hoo - 239 posts

#pjo - 238 posts

#toa - 237 posts

#incorrect riordanverse - 219 posts

#leo valdez - 78 posts

#percy jackson - 72 posts

#source: brooklyn 99 - 53 posts

#annabeth chase - 52 posts

#nico di angelo - 45 posts

Longest Tag: 106 characters

#'suga didn't attend the concert because he knew the boys would throw him on stage during watermelon sugar'

My Top Posts in 2021

#5

This is your friendly reminder that you are valid and amazing and I love you very much and you got this and the future is bright and waiting for you 🥰

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AND THIS IS YOUR AGGRESSIVE REMINDER TO DRINK WATER AND TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF OR I WILL PERSONALLY COME AND MAKE SURE YOU DO SO 😠

107 notes • Posted 2021-08-26 08:45:25 GMT

#4

Alex: Henry cut his hair and he looks so cute kinda like his dad and it is SO not helping me with my feelings

June: what feelings-

Alex: stupid feelings I hate my feelings

June: what TYPE tho

Alex: IF I KNEW WOULD I RLLY BE IN THIS MESS

127 notes • Posted 2021-07-31 08:38:13 GMT

#3

firstprince for the ship asks?

Fuck ya, I love FirstPrince! LET'S GOOOOOO

Gets hella aggressive while playing uno: Alex, he may or may not have thrown many objects at Henry for placing a +4 when he was on uno

Starts randomly rambling: Henry, if he starts talking about something he loves he cannot stop and its very adorable

Texts with more emojis: Both of them but mostly Alex just because it pisses off Henry when Alex uses more emojis than words

Forgets to eat: Bothhhhh, the stress of being them- usually its Alex but sometimes Henry too when he's travelling a lot

Force feeds the other: Henry like you can clearly picture him yanking Alex out of his chair for working so much and force feeding him

Paints their own and their partner’s nails: Henry! Bea taught him to do his nails as a 12yr old to piss of their grandma and now Henry does very nice nails and Alex loves getting his nails done.

Has a stan twitter acc: Alex I think this is canon lmao

Can sing the periodic table song: Both of them- Alex learnt it for fun when he was bored Henry was forced to because of Alex

Plays a musical instrument: Henry, its canon he plays the piano 🥰(i think because sunny has had my copy for like 6 months and I haven't reread it in a while)

Has a playlist for literally everything: Alex but only coz he stole half of them from Nora

Organises dates with other couples: They both prefer going on dates alone but June sometimes wants to go on a double date with them so Alex coordinates (through bribes and threats from June)

Is more physical: Alexxxxx, he will literally cling to Henry like a koala whenever he can

Steals the other’s clothes: Henry, he likes Alex's comfy ass clothes

Has random objects for sentimental reasons: Both, they just like keeping things

Will randomly bring animals home: Probs Henry lmao

these we super funnnnnnnn ugh i miss firstprince 😩

129 notes • Posted 2021-08-23 03:42:39 GMT

#2

Will: *to Nico* There’s something called being careful. Try that sometime

142 notes • Posted 2021-03-29 08:13:34 GMT

#1

Nico: Straighteners are not worth your money, I’ve been using one for 3 weeks and I’m still definetly gay

197 notes • Posted 2021-03-22 15:30:02 GMT

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