𝐮𝐧𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬 // 𝐡𝐚𝐭𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐭𝐟𝐢𝐞𝐥𝐝

7. it started out with a kiss

the art above is by @ thoriffix on tumblr, all credit to them, the art is awesome!!!! give them a follow if you're on tumblr. thought the art fit the chapter. anyway have fun, enjoy <3

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A full month had passed at the compound house. Henry had stockpiled enough food for all of them but it wasn't planned for him to have six other people inside. They quickly started to run out of food, but Henry revealed that he had also had seeds for all sorts of plants for this exact reason.

Was there anything that he hadn't thought of?

Things weren't all great though. Ted hated it for one reason; now he was pining after Henry. He'd see Paul and Emma and have to stop himself from thinking about it, then he'd see Alice and Deb and the thoughts would be back.

God, he told himself when Charlotte died that he'd give up on trying. Even though it hadn't been that long since, he tried to stand by that, he really did.

But fuck! How falling in love has a way.

Ted was in the kitchen preparing some omelets, and one vegan one, for the rest of the group. He put the last one on the plate and set them on the counter. He heard footsteps, and looking up to see Henry walking towards him.

The tension had been thick since the morning they woke up accidentally kinda-cuddling.

"Hey, Ted, come help me out in the garden, would you? I cant plant all the seeds myself, and I want to get these done in a day," Henry smiled and held up a bin of seed packets. Ted, who was hopelessly smitten for him, agreed immediately.

They went outside and sat in the very-fenced-in yard, next to some raised garden beds. Henry threw Ted half of the packets and a small shovel. He caught them both and thanked him.

They started planting, Henry across from Ted with packets of red peppers and Ted with broccoli plants.

"So," Ted began, "may as well talk about something interesting while we're here, right?"

Henry looked up, still working. "Yeah, you're right. Anything interesting?"

"Hmm... I don't know. Icebreaker questions? Feels like we never really got to introduce ourselves, y'know?" How was Ted talking so smoothly? He didn't know, but he appreciated it.

"Fair enough. I'll start. Favorite and least favorite colors?"

Woah. That was fast. Henry felt really confident as well in the situation, and he even started planning out some questions to ask on his next turn. He eagerly awaited Ted's response. He wanted to learn everything about him.

"Hm. Favorite is green, least favorite is hot pink."

"Good choice, your turn."

"Okay. Uhh, favorite kind of weather?"

This went on for a solid two hours of planting and talking, laughing, cracking jokes, everything.

At one point, Henry accidentally said "Yeah, well, you're cute enough to get away with it" in regard to some joke Ted had made. This time, the sun was bright, so Henry could see Ted's face turn red.

Henry realized, and chuckled.

"I mean it."

God, Ted hated being flustered.

"You're not too bad yourself, Hen."

Oh god, and now he called him a nickname.

Henry was about to say something in response, but Emma called for the two from inside to play Uno with her, Paul, and Deb. Henry turned to walk inside but something told Ted to stop him.

So he reached out and grabbed Henry's hand, just staring him in the eye. Henry stared back, not pulling away.

"I-"

Ted didn't think about what he was going to say after stopping Henry. He panicked and let go, but Henry kept a hold.

Both went to say something, but stopped, causing them both to laugh.

And then Ted said, out loud, "Fuck it", and kissed Henry.

He panicked when Henry didn't kiss back at first but then he did! He was ecstatic. The kiss in question went on for a solid thirty seconds before they pulled away.

"I- woah. Okay. I did that," Ted said after a quiet moment. Henry let out a light laugh.

"I'm glad you did. I would've never had the guts."

Both were surprised that the other felt the same, and then they laughed together again. Henry held out his hand and Ted took it, and they stood like that for a moment.

"Okay. So. What now?"

"Now?" Ted's smile faded. "Fuck, I don't know."

"Me either. Shit."

"Listen, Henry, I don't want this to be an affair or anything."

Henry sighed.

"Neither do I. I think I really like you. A lot."

"Hidgens, you coming?" Emma called again, not seeing what happened outside.

"Talk about this later?" Ted asked, squeezing Henry's hand.

"Absolutely."