Work Text:
Alex hated blind dates, he thought it was a thing for desperate people looking for love, but he had to admit, he was desperate. Alex sighed drinking his water while looking around the bar, Nora said his blind date would be late and that didn’t help his nerves at all, God why am I here? Why can’t my feelings just go away…I’m really not thinking straight he chuckled at his bad joke, if it wasn’t for his stupidly handsome roommate he wouldn’t have to be there, on a fucking blind date , he sighed, the thing is Alex realized not so long ago that he wasn’t as straight as he thought, and his feelings for his roommate are ruining his life.
Alex has always been sure that he was straight, like 100% heterosexual, but then Henry entered his life, in his tall, strong, handsome, and British glory. And at first, Alex hated him, Henry was a very quiet person when you first get to know him, and he can seem arrogant, especially when added to his sarcastic remarks and sense of humor. That hatred slowly faded when they found a common ground, Star Wars.
It happened when he got to their dorm exhausted after long classes and boring teachers, he opened the door and noticed that Henry was nowhere to be found, only his laptop on his bed open seemingly in a movie or a series, Alex was always a very curious person, especially when it comes to his very closed of roommate, he couldn’t help but want to see what Henry was watching, he clicked the mouse pad and saw that he was going to start Return of the Jedi, Alex smiled, not the best movie of the series but at least he has a good taste in movie series, before he could get away from Henry’s laptop Henry opened the door, he was holding popcorn and a coke and had a very serious face, "What are you doing?", Alex blushed, "Oh…sorry I just…" he didn't have any excuse, he shouldn't be snooping around Henry's stuff, he took a deep breath, "I was just curious, I wanted to know what you where watching…" Henry's face seemed to become a bit less serious, and Alex took it as permission to keep talking, " I love Star Wars, tho I prefer Empire Strikes Back" He finished with a grin, Henry seemed a bit shocked, “Return of the Jedi is my favorite.” he answered Alex, Alex chuckled, “Really? Empire is waaayyy better!” Henry crossed his arms, “And here I thought we were having a nice moment…” Alex giggled, Henry looks at his laptop then back at Alex, "Do you want to watch it with me?", Alex just grinned and nodded, and that was the start of their friendship.
After the Star Wars incident, they became best friends fairly quickly, always doing stuff together, always talking about everything, if you met them you would never guess there was a moment they hated each other. After that living together became very easy, too easy, Henry and Alex fit like weird puzzle pieces that at first don't seem to fit but once you put them together they suddenly make sense.
At first, Alex didn’t even realize his crush on Henry, and now looking back Alex feels dumb for not noticing, it was pretty obvious, his heart skipped a beat when Henry got his coffee right without Alex having to say anything, he sometimes couldn't pay attention to whatever film they were watching because he was too busy watching Henry's reactions, that was more interesting than any movie, he lost himself looking at those blue eyes too many times, he lost arguments with Henry because he got distracted, but in his head, It doesn’t mean anything! . Every occasion came with its own set of excuses, I’m just happy that I have such a good friend , or, Henry is going to make his unsatisfied face now, and his favorite excuse, Well of course I lost myself in his eyes, only an idiot wouldn’t agree that Henry is the most beautiful man ever… but I’m saying this as a friends, I can compliment my friend it doesn’t mean anything , he had a lot of excuses.
The push that he needed to get his brain working on that realization came when one day Pez, Henry’s best friend, started talking about how Henry needed to get laid, “Come oonnn! Henry it has been months! Please let me set you up with my classmate, he is cute!”, Henry laughed and shook his head, “Leave me alone Pez, I told you I’m not in the romance mood!” Alex wanted that conversation to be done, “Please just one date and I’ll leave you alone if it doesn’t work!” Henry sighed, Alex felt like vomiting, “Do you promise that you’ll stop trying to set me up?” Pez jumped at Henry hugging him, “YES!!! You won’t regret it, he is very handsome, and polite, I’m sure you two will hit it off!”, Alex got up from his bed and left the room throwing an excuse that Nora called him over to help her with something.
He slowly made his way to her dorm room, which was a few floors above his, Why did I need to leave? It shouldn’t bother me that my friend is getting with someone! I should be happy for him , Alex sighed and pressed the call button of the elevator, I just don’t want him to go out with some guy….Wait! Am I homophobic? , Alex was horrified, he entered the elevator and pressed Nora’s floor number, I never cared about that type of stuff…Why do I care now? , he was panicking when he got to her floor and walked quickly to her door.
He knocked and his sister answered, “June? What are you doing here?” June crossed her arms, “Nora is my friend too you know? I could ask you the same thing!” Alex sighed, “Whatever I need her help…honestly, It will be good to have your opinion as well.” June motioned him in, “Hello my second favorite Diaz! How may I help you?” Nora cheered from her bed, he sat on the floor facing both of them, and he sighed again, “Am I homophobic?” Nora looked at him like he was crazy, “What?”, he placed his face in his hands, “Pez and Henry were talking about how Henry should get laid, and that one of his classmates is Henry’s type, and that made me feel uncomfortable…I don’t know why…I knew that Henry was gay, that never bothered me!” Nora and June shared a look, “What?” questioned Alex slightly annoyed, “Just..just think about what you said…” said June talking to him like he was a child throwing a tantrum, Alex looked extremely puzzled, “What are you talking about?”, Nora placed a hand in his shoulder, “Alex, think about it…You aren’t bothered by Henry being gay, but it does bother you that he might go out with some guy…” Alex tilted his head thinking, he had never been so confused, “Okay…think like this, you know a girl and she is thinking about going out with someone and you get mad and uncomfortable, what can that mean?” Alex thought for a bit, “Well it either would mean that I don’t like the guy and think he is a bad person or that I like her, but why is tha-” Alex stopped suddenly, you could hear the gears in his brain working, “OH!” his eye widened, “Yeah, OH!” remarked June, Alex looked at the floor and then back at the two, “Oh my god I like Henry!” he placed a hand on his face while Nora and June petted his head.
After that realization, his feeling became extremely obvious to himself, God how did I believe my excuses, HOW??? , he sighed as he lay in his bed. Henry was out with Pez and the Cute Classmate, and Alex wanted to murder Pez for making that happen, and then he felt guilty for thinking that, because Pez just wanted his friend to have fun, plus he didn’t know about Alex’s feelings, and even if he knew, Henry was more of a priority to him then Alex.
He tried everything to distract himself, tried reading, tried to watch a movie and a series, tried to sleep, tried to study, but nothing took Henry out of his head, Does Henry like him? Did they kiss? Did Pez leave them alone? Is Henry developing a crush on the guy? , before he could spiral more the door opened, and it was Henry, “Oh hey! How was your evening?” asked Henry politely, “It’s fine, I’m a bit bored tho…”, Henry chuckled, “Awwww, you missed me that much?” Alex sighed, Oh you have no idea, “You wish!” Alex forced a laugh, Henry sat on his bed laughing, “How was the date?” Alex tried his best to seem like he was cool with it, “It was fine…I guess…” Alex had to hide his grin, So it sucked! YES! , “What happened?” he tried his best to seem sad about it, “I don’t know…I guess we don’t fit…He is nice and all but...we aren’t meant to be.” Henry didn’t seem to care that much about the date not working out, but he had a sadness in his eyes that Alex couldn’t quite read, “I see…Well, do you want to watch something, so that our nights aren’t completely wasted?” Alex asked Henry beamed, “Sure, what were you thinking?” he asked as he made his way to sit next to Alex.
Since Henry had the shitty date Alex let him choose what they would watch, and he choose Star Trek Next Generation. Henry has been educating Alex on Star Trek, as he emphasized when he found out Alex just watched the recent films, “It’s a crime that you call yourself a nerd and never watched ANY of the series! Lucky for you, I’ll be nice and educate you!”, and Alex would be lying if he said he wasn’t having fun watching it, the series is fun and he loves when Henry rants about the episodes or something of the sort, his favorite still is when Henry ranted about the nature of Spocks and Kirk’s relationship, “I don’t care what Shatterner says, Kirk is bi! It’s not my fault he chooses to make Kirk gaze lovingly at Spock all the goddamn time!!” Alex chuckled at Henry’s arguments, he looked over at Henry as he hit play on the episode they were going to watch, How did I ever think I’m not in love with him ?
They were all cuddled up watching when Alex noticed tiny snores coming from Henry, he slept with his head on Alex’s shoulders, and when Alex tried to move Henry buried his face in his neck, and his arms wrapped around Alex’s waist, Alex, on the other hand, was trying his best not to freak out and break this nice moment, at that moment he was sure that what he felt for Henry was stronger than he first thought.
Alex quietly moved his hands, he needed to pet Henry’s hair, it always seemed so soft, he slowly closed the distance between his hand and Henry’s head, and when he was almost reaching it Henry moved, Alex quickly moved his hand back to its place and pretended to be asleep. He felt the lack of one of Henry’s hands on his waist, he seemed to be rubbing his face but he didn’t get too far from Alex’s neck, he might’ve gotten to his senses since he heard a small gasp and quiet “Oh!”, He felt Henry slowly trying to get away from him, he didn’t know if it was the lack of sleep or if having Henry so close unlocked some bravery in him, he still pretended to sleep but he whined and grabbed his arm, he heard Henry chuckle softly and for a second he almost regretted it, but then he felt the laptop in his lap being lifted probably being placed somewhere else, he then felt a pair of strong arms lifting him slightly so he could lay down properly, pulling Alex into his arms and sighing, Alex didn’t know what he expected to happen but he knew it wasn’t that, not that he was complaining, he fell asleep in Henry’s arms listening to his breaths and heartbeats, he never slept so well.
When he woke up, Henry wasn’t there, and if what happened yesterday wasn’t so ingrained in his head, he would’ve thought he dreamed the whole thing. When he finally got up, he noticed a note on top of his laptop, saying, “Went out with Pez, I don’t know when I’m coming back” Alex felt a pang in his chest, Shit, why did I put Henry in this position he probably hates me now , he buried his face in his hands, “Fuck…”, he cursed to the room.
After that Alex could feel that something shifted in their relationship, Henry seemed distant, they barely hung out and when they did Henry always seemed to put a distance between them. The breaking point for Alex was when he found out that Henry was talking to Pez’s classmate, a stupid guy named Brian, “Who are you texting?”, he asked from his bed, as he stared daggers at Henry’s phone, “Oh…Brian, the guy of the date that Pez set me up.” Alex immediately got up from where he was laying, “The guy you said that you two didn’t fit? That the date was bad?” Henry grimaced, “I…I decided to give him a second chance…” Alex stared at Henry dumbfounded, “Why?”, Henry crossed his arms, “Because I wanted to.” Alex was fuming, “But why would you want that?!” Henry got up from his bed, “Because I’m tired of being alone! He is my only current option, so that’s what I’ll work with!” Alex couldn’t help but get a pang in his chest, “Sorry…I just…I just worry about you…you are my friend!” Alex missed the pained look that quickly crossed Henry’s face, “Sorry for getting heated…” Henry looked down to his feet, then sat back down on his bed, and went back to texting, Alex couldn’t handle that, he got up slowly, “I’m going to Nora’s room…” he then left kinda dazed, toward her room.
He knocked on the door and the person who answered was Nora's roommate, a girl named Julia, she took one look at Alex and he must look like shit because all she did was tell Nora that she would be out and let Alex in, Nora looked at him and motioned him to her bed, with his eyes stinging he went straight to her arms, she held him awkwardly with one hand while she probably texted June with her other hand, Alex chuckled wetly, she was so bad at comforting but he appreciated that he tried.
June arrived a few minutes later and sat on the floor in front of Alex, “What happened?” she petted his knee, “It’s stupid…” Nora pinched him lightly, “If it made you sad it’s not stupid!” she chuckled, Alex took a deep breath, “Henry is going out with this guy…that Pez set him up with, and…I just…I’m just so mad…of all the crushes I could have, I had to have a crush on one of the best friends I ever had.” he buried his face on his hands, “I just want to get over the stupid crush…” Nora and June shared a look, they were definitely having a silent conversation, he turned to them, “What are you two scheming?” Nora turned to him with a smile, “Trust us?” and that is how he ended up on a blind date.
He couldn’t help but rewind the conversation he had with Henry before he left, Alex told Henry that he was leaving for a blind date, Henry seemed shocked, “I thought you hated that kind of stuff?” Alex chuckled dryly, “I do…but you know I decided to give it a shot…” Alex was trying to style his messy curls in something he was pleased with, “I have a date today too…a friend of Pez, but he won’t tell me who it is.” Alex did notice that Henry was dressed up, but he thought he would be going out with Brian, “What about Brian?” Henry shrugged “He noticed that I wasn’t actually interested in him…and he said that he didn’t want to be a bandaid, and I get it…it was shitty of me to use him like that.” Alex just nodded, “Well…how do I look?” he turned to Henry, who looked at him with an intense stare that gave Alex shivers, “You look beautiful…” Alex could feel his cheeks burning, “Thanks…you look beautiful too…” Henry seemed like he wanted to say something, both of them staring each other in the eyes until Alex phone rang breaking the moment, “Its Nora, she wants me to go to her place before I leave for the date.” Henry just nodded, “Sure…I hope you have a good date!” Henry gave him a tight smile, one that Alex knew was fake, he just couldn’t understand why, “You too!” Alex hoped he looked at least a little happy, when he left he couldn’t help but notice that Henry had a constipated look.
Alex looked around the restaurant, Nora told him that his date was a tall, blond man, he rolled his eyes at her when she told him, “Really? My date is an off-brand Henry?” she laughed at him, according to her maybe his brain will make him like his date a bit more if he looks a bit like Henry, he thought that was bullshit but he decided to give it a try anyway. He looked at his watch, his date is supposed to be there soon, he keeps glancing at the door waiting for a tall blond to appear until he noticed a guy like that at the door, it was Henry, he groaned, Great, all I wanted was to try to forget about my feelings for Henry, how can I focus on anyone when he is here? , he sighed, when he looked back he noticed that Henry saw him and is coming his way, “What a coincidence, huh?” he had a small smile in his face, Alex chuckled, “Yeah…” Henry sat at the table in front of him, if Alex ignored the chairs and the space between them he could pretend that they where on a date, he shook his head, daydreaming wouldn’t help him.
They chatted a bit from their tables, Alex looked back at his watch, his date is very very late, he sighed, “I think I’m going to text Nora, to see if my date will show up or not.” he said grabbing his phone from his pocket, Henry nodded looking the time on his phone, “I think I will text Pez too, my date is also extremely late.”, Alex opened the message app and there was a text from Nora, “Liking the date? ;)” he rolled his eyes, “He is not here yet” “Are you sure he is coming?” he looked back at Henry he seemed to be in a discussion with Pez if he would guess from his tipping, “Henry is here, he also has a date, please kill me!” Nora answered right away, “He is there already…Henry is your date!” as soon as he read it he dropped his phone and when he looked up, Henry was already looking at him his cheeks a lovely crimson shade, Alex opened and closed his mouth a few times, he then looked back at his phone and there was a text in all caps “TALK TO HIM!!!!” he grabbed his phone and moved to Henry’s table.
They stared at each other for a bit waiting for the other to break the silence, “Alex…” “Henry…” they said at the same time, which made them laugh, “You go first…” said Henry quietly, “No you go first!” Alex couldn’t help but start a small argument, Henry chuckled, “Fine…well you probably know, since you came to sit with me that we were set up but our dear friends…” Alex nodded his heart almost exploding in his chest, “Well you must know that I… that I like you… romantically.” Alex couldn't help the smile that bloomed on his face, “Well, you must know that I like you romantically too.” Henry chuckled, “I’m glad that I can stop going on stupid dates to try to get over you.” Alex blushed, “Really?” Henry looked at the napkin on his table, he chuckled, “I don’t think there is a universe where I meet you and I’m not completely bewitched by you.” Alex gave him a sweet smile, “I think so too…also I must say…I love when you talk Jane Austen to me.” that got belly laughter from Henry, he then suddenly stopped, looking at Alex, “Wait! I thought you where straight?”, Alex chuckled, “Oh yeah! I was so caught up in the fact that it is reciprocal that I forgot to tell you, I’m bi…but I realized it not a long time ago.” Alex scratched his neck, “When did you realize?” Henry asked softly, “When you and Pez were discussing your date with Brian…” he chuckled, “You were jealous?” Henry was smiling, that sweet smile that Alex desperately wanted to kiss, “Yeah…”, Henry giggled, “I can’t believe that Pez’s plan worked…” Alex frowned tilting his head to the side, making Henry chuckle again, “I had this hope that maybe you felt the same…and Pez had the plan to talk loudly about a date and then making me go to the date to make you jealous, I can’t believe that it worked, it sounded like such a cliché…” Alex grabbed Henry’s hand that was resting on the table, making Henry stop his rambling, he giggled, suddenly a waitress appeared, “Are you two ready to order?”, Alex coughed trying to hide his smile.
The night was getting to an end as they left the restaurant and made their way to their dorm, holding hands, “I got to say this was the best date I ever had.” Henry said stopping their trek, “Yeah..me too.” Alex smiled brightly, “Well…there is something that could make this night better tho…”, Henry arched an eyebrow, “Oh really?” Alex placed both arms around Henry’s shoulders while Henry automatically place his on Alex’s waist, “Really!” they both chuckled drunk on their feelings, Alex pushed forward and Henry meet him halfway, it was an explosion, both of them never felt anything like that before, Alex darted his tongue and Henry opened his mouth just enough deepening the kiss, Alex's hands went from his shoulders to his annoyingly pretty hair, messing it they way he always dreamt of doing and pulling it a bit, that elicited a moan out of Henry, who pulled Alex impossibly close, Alex pulled back for air and Henry chased his lips like he was in a daze, that makes Alex giggle, “I was that good, huh?” Henry looked like a god of lust, hair a mess, lips swollen, pupils blown wide, and full of desire, he comes back to his sense and pushes Alex weekly, “Oh shut up!” he chuckled, “Make me!” Alex challenged, Henry grabbed Alex's waist a bit roughly so they were pressed chest to chest, he lowered his head to reach Alex’s ear, “Oh I will sweetheart, I just don’t think its proper to do what I want to do to you here.” he finished his statement by kissing Alex on the neck right bellow his ear, “Let’s go then!” said Alex excitedly, he grabbed Henry hand and started to run laughing like a maniac, while Henry smiled brightly trailing behind him.