Red, White & Royal Blue Stories

• Take Time to Smell The Roses • Henry § Alex § Romeo •

𝒉𝒆𝒍𝒍𝒐

I couldn't for the life of me think of a good title for this part.

Also, this part will work as a sort of filler. Next part will get a bit more dramatic.

• ———— •

Amidst the comforting silence encapsulating Romeo, Alex and Henry who all lavished on the living room couch, the T.V a gentle background noise to their quiet musings, the shocking screech of their doorbell shattered the peace and made Alex flinch.

"I told you to call someone to repair it" Henry deadpanned as Romeo sprung to his feet and darted to the front door. Alex scowled.

"I can fix it myself just fine!" He insisted, like he had been repeatedly insisting over the past month, yet absolutely nothing had been done to counteract the piercing screech their once calming ring had turned into.

Romeo flung open the door wide, dragging Moreau inside and kicking closed the door. Once it was shut and their privacy was sealed, he tore him into a hug, kissing his lips apparently four seconds too long.

"Ah, ah! Enough!" Alex called, snapping his fingers in their direction. Henry rolled his eyes and poked at Alex's shin with his toes, silently telling him off.

"Baby" he whined, pouting.

"Lovely to see you too, Alex. Henry" Moreau beamed their way, taking Romeo's hand and sitting beside him on their corner couch.

"Hello, Moreau," Henry said warmly. They had gotten so close he didn't feel the need to behave 'royally' around him, which usually included squaring his shoulders and sitting ramrod straight, keeping his expression neutral and smiling just slight. Alex had managed to wrangle those habits out of him over the years they had lived together and finally allowed him to find comfort when in public, but according to royal decorum, he still kept it up in small amounts.

Moreau was one of the lucky few outside of their family to see him truly relaxed, when Romeo pointed that out to him he definitely didn't cry and would starkly go against anyone who tries to suggest otherwise.

(He definitely cried)

"Moreau" Alex muttered bitterly, although their behaviour towards each other had fallen into an act, Moreau knew that, deep down Alex knew that but subconsciously wouldn't believe it. "Why're you here?"

"Romeo invited me," he explained, making a show of stretching his arm across his shoulders and tugging him close. Romeo leaned into him, laughing at Alex's off-put expression.

"I can't recall giving permission" he pointed out, slicing his eyes to Henry who smirked.

"Baby?"

Henry hummed, "whatever's wrong, dear?" He replied, faux innocence. Alex's eyes narrowed and the two teenagers cackled, inside Alex was positively beaming. That's all he wanted to do for them, be a show, or a spectacle, almost, and make them laugh amongst the lesser things occurring in their life.

Not that Romeo was in a particularly bad spot; Moreau unfortunately was. But Alex would never admit he was doing something simply for Moreau's sake. Since they came back from Buckingham last month his mother hasn't been exactly kind. She's been pushing him more and more; relying on the fact she allowed him a "break to England" (even if it wasn't exactly a break, per se) as a weapon to guilt trip him.

Henry and Alex both felt horrible, and on separate occasions quietly offered their place as a reprieve if he needed it. He thanked them both graciously yet never took the offer unless Romeo invited him over.