Archive of Our Own

"Hen? Henry, are you home?" Alex called out as he stepped into the modest apartment that he and his best friend shared. Usually the man in question would be sitting on the couch, reading a book or watching GBBO but the space was empty. 

"Hen?" He called again, peering around the corner. Their place was decently sized but not so big that Henry could get lost in it. Alex paused to review their shared calendar that hung in the kitchen.  It was Thursday which meant that, yes, Henry should be home. He had book club last night and tomorrow was drinks with Pez. Tonight was their night. Thursdays were reserves for take out and a movie, they swapped who picked what each week and Alex was starving. 

"You can't hide just because I ordered pho!" He knew that Henry hated eating with chopsticks, he found it too messy. Alex, by contrast, loved it. He could move so much faster with them and they were a built in fidget tool. Win win as far as he was concerned. On his way home he'd stopped by their favorite place and picked up two containers of warm soup to accompany whatever movie Henry had picked. Mostly likely a romance where someone tragically died at the end. 

But first he had to find Henry. He had just pulled out his phone, about to send him a text, when he heard it. A low moan coming from Henry's room. Alex dropped the food on the counter and went to Henry's door, knocking gently. 

When no one answered he asked, "H? Are you sick?"

"I am - not feeling well." Henry answered. It sounded strained, like he was in pain and Alex was instantly concerned. Henry had a habit of hiding his illness, a life with his grandmother had taught him that any weakness was bad, and he still hadn't managed to shake off that lesson. 

"Did you try to eat something from the authentic side of the Mexican menu again?" He joked. 

"No. I didn't. Not after last time. I remember the consequences of that night all too well." 

The answer was a bit of a relief. If Henry was snapping at him he couldn't be too sick. Alex opened the door a crack and peered inside. Henry was on the bed, curled up. He didn't look sick, just unhappy.

"What is it?" He asked, stepping inside. 

Henry looked away, his eyes trained on the ground. "I need you to leave." 

"Ouch." He moved closer. "Why?"

"Because I can't be around you right now." 

"That- explains nothing." Alex was at the foot of the bed now and he sat on it. "Are you worried about throwing up on me? Because been there done that." He poked Henry's foot, hoping to make him laugh but instead he shied away. 

"No. I'm not that type of ill. I'm- " He paused, his brows furrowing. "I want to be alone." 

"Again, why?" He reached over and pressed the back of his hand to Henry's forehead. He wasn't warm. If anything he was a bit cool. 

But in response to his touch Henry moaned. Not a fevered moan, no. If Alex didn't know any better he'd think that it was a-

"Henry, what the hell is going on?"

Henry sat up, moving further away from Alex. His lips were turned down and his frown lines were on full display. Alex would have been hurt if he wasn't so confused. Henry was clearly in distress but it was strange for him to refuse to tell Alex why. The two of them were open books with one another ever since they became friends in college. After a brief spurt of hating each other they got over it and realized how well they worked together. Now they were living together as Alex went to law school and Henry got his masters. 

They were opposites but they worked. Henry was cool and collected while Alex was fiery and disordered. Alex was outgoing, Henry was introverted. On paper it didn't make sense but neither of them cared. They were best friends and Alex couldn't imagine his life without Henry. 

Which is why this was so annoying. 

"You know I'm not going to leave until you tell me so-" He shrugged and pulled his legs onto the bed, sitting cross legged. 

Henry was full on pouting at him now. "That only works for David and you know it." 

"He does do the best puppy eyes in the building." 

Alex sat there, trying his best not to fidget. He could see Henry wrestling with himself. Both of them were stubborn but Alex was hoping that he could win this one, just based on the fact that Henry wasn't feeling well. 

And he was right. It took a few minutes but finally Henry spoke again. 

"I -" Alex's attention snapped to him as Henry paused. "I opened a package from Bea." He pointed to his desk, where Alex could see a small box, a drink and a letter. 

"Okay?" 

"The drink- she teased me about it. Saying that it would- help me."

"Help you?" 

Henry huffed at him. "Let me speak, Alex." 

He raised his hands in the 'don't shoot' pose. "You are cranky tonight."

"I'm ill, I told you." He snapped. "Let me finish. Please." 

Though it wasn't easy Alex kept his mouth shut. He even mimed zipping his mouth shut, which didn't even draw a smile from his friend. 

"I thought it was nonsense. It had to be. She said that she got it from one of her odd friends who made it themselves. Please. But I drank it and now- now I can't- I'm unable to-" 

He couldn't stop himself. "What? Can't what?"

"Lie." Henry's eyes finally met his. "I can't lie, Alex. In fact I feel compelled to tell the truth, no matter how harmful it is. I already called Pez, and I ended up telling him how much I hated the outfit he wore last week. Thankfully, he laughed it off but it confirmed my fears." 

Alex let out a chuckle. He couldn't help it. "Henry, that's ridiculous, come on. There's no way that you- did you drink a potion? Come on." 

"Believe me, I wish it weren't real. But it's true. Painfully true. And because of it I need you to go away before I say something foolish."

Alex raised an eyebrow. Even though this was completely ludicrous Henry seemed to be taking it seriously. Which made him want to test it. 

"Who ate the last cookie my abuela sent?" 

Henry pursed his lips and then the words erupted from him, clearly coming out without him wanting them to. "Me. I ate it."

"And you blamed poor sweet David!" Alex cried, hitting his shin. 

"I knew you wouldn't be upset with him! I even sprinkled some crumbs near his dog bed." 

"Okay. Shit." Henry had been denying it for weeks, saying over and over that it had been their ancient dog. "I'm starting to believe you."

"Lucky me. Now will you leave?"

"No way." He leaned back against the wall, grinning at Henry. "This is my chance to ask you all the things I've been dying to ask."

To his surprise Henry looked worried. What secrets could Henry possibly have from him? They told each other everything. He even knew about the time when Henry's grandmother had walked in on him jacking off when he was twenty two. 

"I am begging you to leave." 

"What are you so worried about?"

Henry bit his bottom lip, clearly trying to hold the words in. "Alex-" His voice was strained again, like it was hard to keep them in. 

"I was teasing. I'll go." As much as he wanted to stay, it was obvious that Henry didn't want him there. It stung a bit but as a good friend he knew he should leave and not tease the man any more. 

The look of relief was instantaneous. "Thank you." 

Alex stood, walking to the door. He had his hand on the door handle then paused to ask, "Can I get you anything?"

"Just your cock."

He reeled around, gaping at Henry. "My- what?" He must have misheard. There was no way that Henry had said what he thought he'd said. 

Henry was bright red and hiding under his hands. "This is exactly what I meant. Please go before I say anything else."

But he was frozen in place. "Did you say my-"

"Cock." He squeaked out. "Or your mouth. Or hands. I'm really not picky. Any part of you on any part of me." Henry squeezed his eyes shut. "This is exactly why I wanted you to leave."

Alex was hot all over. "Henry what- why?"

"Because I'm in love with you. I have been for ages. I want to kiss you, date you, snog you, all of it." Each time Henry spoke he looked more and more unhappy. 

"But you- Henry, that's impossible." He would have known. They were best friends. He would have seen the signs. 

"Believe me it's not. It's in fact very possible." 

"For how long?"

Henry bit his bottom lip, trying to stop the words from escaping. It didn't work.

 "Since the beginning."

"Henry!" He said it a bit too loudly, making them both flinch. "You never said anything. We both dated other people!" 

Henry gave him a look that told Alex what he thought of that statement. "I had to try and get over you. I couldn't keep mooning over my best friend for my whole life." 

"I-" He blinked. Internally he was freaking out, rewriting all the interactions, every moment they'd spent together.  Henry's confession didn't make sense. 

But also, it did. Henry had been tentative to be friends. Alex thought he was stuck up but now he saw it through new eyes. Henry was trying to have some self preservation, to save himself. But Alex had forced his way in, forcing Henry to be his friend, telling him about all his crushes and dates, about the people he thought were hot and why. 

"That must have been so hard for you." He said quietly. 

Now Henry looked at him. "You have no idea."

Alex swallowed. "I'll go. I'm sorry." He felt awful. He should have left when Henry had asked. Now he'd made his friend confess his deepest secret and Alex had no idea how to handle it. 

He stumbled out of the room, closing the door behind him. Then he fell to the couch, the realization sinking in. Henry was in love with him. Always had been. He'd told Alex under duress. He clearly hadn't wanted to, had wanted to take that secret to his grave. 

But why? It wasn't as if Alex would be upset about it. In fact he was honored. Henry was a catch. Not only was he smart and passionate but he was also sexy as hell. Alex had seen every face of Henry, from his bedhead in the morning to when he was dressed to impress and each one made his heart flutter a bit. Numerous times he'd had to stop himself from reaching for Henry, or from biting off the head of someone who was flirting with him. Henry deserved the best, nothing less. 

He was everything to Alex. His roommate, best friend and- Alex let out a deep breath. More. He was more. Alex had always known that but somehow it had never fully translated for him. But after hearing Henry's confession it all felt crystal clear. He was in love with Henry. It had taken hearing Henry say it for him to realize it but now it was so painfully obvious. 

Alex sprang to his feet and ran back to Henry's room, throwing open the door. 

Henry started. He had a book open in his lap but Alex suspected that he wasn't actually reading. "What the hell Alex? What is it? Did you need another confession from me for your ego?" 

"Ouch but I'll let it go." Alex went to Henry's bed and knelt by it, putting a hand on his knee but otherwise not touching him. "I realized something and I had to tell you."

"Is it that you're a bloody nuisance sometimes?" Henry said then frowned. "Sorry. I - well I want to say that I didn't mean it but I did. But I also love that you're a nuisance. There's very little about you that I don't love. Often to my detriment. I would like to stop speaking now." 

Alex smiled. He was probably enjoying Henry's honesty too much but he couldn't help it. 

"I am a nuisance. I'm your nuisance. Hen," He looked up, waiting until Henry's eyes met his. "I love you too. I'm in love with you."

He'd expected Henry to be delighted, to maybe pull him into a searing kiss, but instead his mouth twisted into a frown. "Oh Alex. I- I appreciate what it is you're trying to do but please don't coddle me. I don't need your false confession." He patted Alex's hand before taking it off his leg. 

"It's not fake!" He practically yelled. "Henry, I love you! I know it took me longer and it's sudden but I do!" 

Somehow that only made Henry look even more unhappy. "It's kind of you to pretend but I'm telling you I don't want it. I would prefer if we simply acted like none of this ever happened." 

"But I don't want to act like it never happened! Why won't you believe me?"

His friend looked near tears. "Alex, I can't afford to believe that you're telling the truth. It's bad enough that I feel this way about you. But you coming back here five minutes later and claiming you feel the same? I'm sorry love, but it's too good to be true. Things like that don't happen to me." 

Alex leapt to his feet, his brain going a million miles an hour searching for ideas on how to convince Henry. It wasn't just that he wanted to tell Henry this thing he'd only recently realized now felt like an eternal part of him, a bit of him was also annoyed that Henry thought he'd lie about something like this. 

"I'll prove it." 

"How?"

Alex whirled around the room, his eyes settling on the open drink. He lunged for it and brought it to his lips. "Like this." 

"Alex, no!" Henry scrambled to his feet but Alex was quicker. He drank deeply. The taste surprised him. It was like cool spring water mixed with peppermint and lavender. All together it wasn't a bad taste but he could feel it as it travelled down his throat and into his stomach, the icy feeling remaining. 

"Ugh." Alex said as he finished, shuddering. "I'm going to need a beer after that."

"You complete ninny. Why did you do that?" Henry cried, looking from him to the bottle. 

"So you'd believe me!" He licked his lips. The taste of the drink still lingered on them. "How long does it take to work?"

Henry huffed, crossing his arms.  "How am I supposed to know?"

"Well how long did it take for you to call Pez and insult him?"

He thought about it.  "Maybe five minutes."

"We'll wait ten. Then you'll see that I wasn't lying."

Henry took a step back, shaking his head. "I'm so upset with you. You're impulsive and foolish. What if that's poison? What if it only works on me? There's a million factors to consider here."

"If it's poison then we'll die together, like Romeo and Juliet. It's romantic." Henry opened his mouth but Alex put up a hand. "Yes, I know that only one of them was poisoned. I don't need the lecture. As for it only working on you-" A sudden cramp appeared in his stomach and he doubled over, groaning. It felt like something cold was piercing him, ramming through his entire body and turning it into ice. 

Henry was at his side in a heartbeat. "Alex! Are you alright?"

"I just drank fucking truth serum so my gorgeous but stubborn roommate would believe that I'm in love with him. No, I'm not alright." 

His head snapped up and he looked at Henry with wide eyes. "I - I didn't mean to say that."

The corner of Henry's lips turned down. "Well, it would seem that you aren't immune."

"I knew it." He straightened and looked at Henry. He now understood what Henry had meant. He had the sudden urge to say every little thought that came to mind. He managed to contain it but had a feeling it wouldn't take much for him to spill his deepest secrets. 

"Now do you believe me?" 

Henry still looked wary. "No. I need other proof." 

That was his Henry. He really did believe that he didn't deserve good things. Even now, when Alex couldn't lie, he couldn't accept the truth. 

Alex spread his hands out wide. "I'm an open book, baby."

"Let me think." Henry bit his bottom lip and Alex reached out, thumbing at it. It surprised them both.

"I've always wanted to do that. You've got this sexy lower lip and when you bite it drives me absolutely crazy."

Henry flushed. "Goodness."

Alex grinned. Any other time he would have been mortified but given what he was trying to prove this was perfect. "Do you want to hear what else I like about you?" His mind was running with a dozen things, each one dirtier than the last. 

"In a moment. First," Henry thought for a minute then snapped his fingers. "Why did you and Julia actually break up?"

He gulped. The reason he'd given Henry that he and his sorta girlfriend of three months had broken up was that Julia wanted him to move in and Alex had refused. But, as Henry clearly suspected, that wasn't the real reason. 

"She said I was in love with you and demanded I cut you out of my life." Henry's mouth dropped open and Alex stepped in, bringing a hand to his jaw. "I broke up with her immediately. Anyone who tries to make me choose between them and you will always lose."

"Alex-" Henry's eyes were scanning his face. He clearly wanted to believe but wasn't there quite yet. Alex would just need to do more to convince him. 

"Henry, I love you. I do. It took me longer to get here but I promise my feelings are real. I'll do whatever I have to do to convince you." His eyes flicked down to Henry's lips. The same ones he'd stared at so many times, always convincing himself that it was normal to think your best friend was the hottest man alive. Fuck he was a fool. "And I really, desperately want to kiss you now."

"Alex-" 

He watched a sea of emotions crest Henry's face. He still seemed a bit unsure but Alex's touch and words seemed to reassure him. 

"Please." 

He dove in, his fingers curling on Henry's jaw as their lips met. Henry gasped into the kiss, immediately arching into Alex. Alex had thought about what it would be like to kiss Henry- another clue that he'd missed- but it was nothing like the real thing. Henry's lips were plush against his, a lovely contrast to his hard body. He'd meant for the kiss to be soft, an introduction into what they could have, but it quickly turned heated. Lips parted and tongues dove in, both licking at the other as they pressed together. 

"Alex, I need you please." Henry gasped, breaking the kiss as he grabbed Alex's hips, grinding desperately against him. "I want you to fuck me."

The words short circuited his brain. It took a minute for his words to work again but then he said, "Yes, god yes Henry. I want that too. So badly." 

Henry took Alex's hand, leading them both to his bed. Then Henry started to unbutton his shirt but Alex swatted his hand away. "Me. I want to do it. I want to touch you, Hen."

Henry's hands immediately dropped, his eyes locked on Alex as he stepped in and undid Henry's buttons. His hands shook as he did, something Henry clocked immediately.

"If you don't want to do this-" Henry's hand covered his, pausing his actions. 

"I do!" Alex's reply was fiercer than he'd intended. He took a breath and met Henry's eyes. "I'm just- I'm nervous." The words fell out of his mouth. "I don't want to mess this up. It's you Henry, you matter more to me than anyone else and if this is bad-"

"It won't be." Henry gently squeezed Alex's hand. "I can't imagine a world where this isn't spectacular."

He let out a weak chuckle. "Knowing that you can't lie makes me feel a little better."

Henry kissed him, far more gently this time. "Even if I could, I wouldn't. But I also don't want to do anything you're not comfortable with. We can just cuddle or-"

"No! Henry once you asked me to fuck you- I need that. I want to be inside you so badly. It's- I- fuck." It wasn't often that he was at a loss for words but nothing felt like a good enough explanation. Everything felt inadequate to explain just how badly he wanted this. "Henry, I don't know what to say. I want this so bad it almost hurts." 

Henry bit his bottom lip. "I can't believe you want me as much as I want you. I'm a bit overwhelmed by it. I never thought I could have you like this."

"You can have me any way you want."

Henry's eyes darkened at that, their minds running away with all the things they could do. 

"I hope so." 

The words spurred Alex back into action. He was going to do everything he could to convince Henry that he wanted this. He took a breath then undid the rest of the buttons, letting Henry's shirt fall to the ground. 

"Look at you." Alex muttered, running a hand over Henry's chest. He arched into the touch, letting Alex run his hand down his chest, playing with the sparse hairs there. "You're like a painting."

"And you're a sculpture." Henry's hands reached for Alex, tugging off his shirt then soaking him in. 

Alex was torn between taking his time and savoring this and his desperate desire to be inside Henry. In the end he was somewhere in between, running his hands over Henry's exquisite thighs while also tugging off the rest of his clothes. 

Soon they were both naked and Alex was pressing a lubed finger into him. Henry gasped at it, thrusting down onto him. 

"Another, please." 

Alex hesitated. He was no expert in this but he'd done it before. Henry seemed tight and not ready for another. 

"Won't it hurt?"

Henry bit his bottom lip and Alex paused his actions, suddenly worried. "Hen?"

"It might but I want you inside me before you change your mind." He blurted the words out, looking unhappy. He clearly hadn't wanted to admit that.

"Baby." Alex leaned in, brushing his lips over Henry's. "I won't. I swear. I know it took me longer but whatever proof you need I'll do it. Twice."

"I want to believe you but I can't let it set it."

Alex kissed him again. "I won't hurt you. I'm in this Henry, until you get tired of me." He meant it as a joke but it came out a bit too honest. Damn that drink. 

And Henry heard the truth in it. "Impossible. I've stuck around this long love, I'm not going anywhere." He said it with such conviction that Alex couldn't help but believe him. 

"Me either." He kissed Henry as he got back to work, opening Henry up slowly and carefully. He needed the man to know how much he cared, that he would never hurt Henry in any way. 

And he was soaking in the noises that were coming from him. All the groans and gasps made the slow progress worth it. He was careful to only brush against his prostate, not wanting him to cum too soon.

Then, finally, he was three fingers in and both their cocks were weeping. 

"Alex, I'm ready. I swear. I need you inside me." 

He nodded, pressing one more kiss to Henry's cheek before pulling out. He rolled on a condom and then lined up, staring greedily as his cock disappeared into Henry.

"You are spectacular."

"I could say the same about you."

Alex was buried in Henry, willing himself to last more than a minute. 

"I'm sure you will." He flushed. "I didn't realize I said that out loud."

"Effects of the potion." Henry pressed a foot to Alex's back. "Now fuck me, please. Hard and fast Alex. I  want to feel you tomorrow."

He groaned. "How are you real?" He bent down to kiss Henry as his hips started to move. The sound of skin slapping and gasps soon filled the room. Alex's brain didn't slow down for a minute and words kept spilling out. He couldn't stop himself now, not with Henry so hot and compliant under him, arching up to meet Alex's thrusts. 

"I'm so close. Alex, touch me."

He did, reaching down and grabbing Henry's cock. It only took a few strokes for Henry to come, coating both of them. 

He started to pull out but Henry shook his head. "No, I told you. I want to feel it. Make me ache, love."

"God damnit Hen." He started to thrust faster, losing all rhythm as he chased his orgasm. 

It only took another minute for it to hit as he buried himself inside Henry with a gasp. 

"Fuck." He muttered, pressing his forehead to Henry's. "I love you."

"I love you too." 

Once recovered Alex cleaned them both up and moved to lay next to Henry. "How long do you think this stuff lasts?"

"About four hours, I'd say."

The preciseness of the answer surprised him. He rolled to look at Henry, who shrugged. "I felt it wearing off mid-coitus."

Alex swallowed. "But you still said-" His mind flashed back to all the mind-blowingly sexy things that Henry had whispered to him. 

"Because I wanted to. They were all still true, they just weren't forced from me."

He snuggled closer, his head on Henry's chest. "That makes it even better." He wanted Henry to tell him things because he wanted to, not because some drink compelled it.

"I have to agree." He kissed the top of Alex's head. "Though I did think of a list of other things to ask you while you're still under the influence…"

He groaned. "So long as it's not about Pez's fashion choices." 

"No, I don't think either of us need to discuss those." He brought Alex's hand to his mouth, kissing his knuckles. He felt relaxed, boneless.
"Do you believe me now?"

Henry looked down at him. It occurred to Alex that he could like but somehow Alex knew he wouldn't.

"I do. Completely." 

Alex arched up to kiss him once more, relief and excitement flowing through him in equal parts. "Good. But like I said, if you ever need more convincing-"

"We still have about half of the drink." 

He laughed. "I was thinking more along the lines of sex but if that's what it takes." 

"I suppose sex will do." Henry said, a huge smile on his face. Alex didn't need a potion to know that all of this was real, that they were both telling the truth.