Red, White & Royal Blue Stories

• Father Figure • Alex § Henry § Romeo § Moreau •

𝒉𝒆𝒍𝒍𝒐

Something sweet for Moreau, because he deserves it. The next couple of parts will be a bit more dramatic and won't entirely be focused on Moreau-angst. Stay tuned.

Also, in this universe Pez is non-binary, but they use he/they, just to clarify.

• ———— •

Romeo sat in awkward silence, with nothing else to do he gazed at the passing scenery out the car window.

Anya was up front, one leg raised against the door, her arm stretched across her knee. She was speaking languidly to her mother, slipping into her native language as her mother's English was a bit broken, and she always preferred to speak Malay. Romeo didn't mind so much, he had always been on touchy ground with Anya's mother so wouldn't dare to speak up and ask what they were talking about.

Anya's mother didn't like Romeo at all in the beginning, outright refusing to allow her daughter to befriend the son of two gay men. However, Anya was hard headed and did things her own way. Eventually, her mother had to come around because Anya wasn't letting him go.

While he was a little offended, Anya's reaction and persistence to keep their friendship made him feel cherished. And if she wouldn't, he wouldn't allow her opinion to deter their friendship, either.

The world outside was cosy. A honey warm day, the sky bathed in a deep, translucent blue. Almost as if it was reflecting the Caribbean Sea.

People strolled down the street with friends, partners or pets, basking in the glowing sun and gentle breeze. He unfortunately had to keep half his face hidden behind a baseball cap because Anya's mother's car didn't have tinted windows, and one glance from the public could spark news outlets chasing down their car for an impromptu photo shoot, or worse, interview.

He'll never forget the stark panic that shoots down his spine when he notices a camera crew, the hungry look in their eyes to make bank from his existence alone.

He always tried to get away, sometimes it worked, other times it wasn't so seamless. However, Driss does his work in keeping them at bay, giving Romeo space.

He doesn't spend much time outside, regardless of Driss. Anya never complained, she was more of an indoor person anyway.

At least, that's what she told him. She may very well enjoy the outside world, but understanding the hassle, never brings it up.

Romeo flicked his gaze to her and smiled. He really, really appreciates her.

It's been two days since the incident with Moreau, and Romeo... was still wrecked because of it. He can't stop thinking about his mother, can't stop worrying she might do something to him when he returns home. His nails have been chewed down to the tip of his fingers just imagining it.

He could still hear his voice. His fearful voice over the call, his cries for help, for something, anything, because he didn't know what was wrong but my chest hurts so bad .

He didn't think it would go away anytime soon.

Henry and Alex wanted to be there badly, take him to their home the day of his discharge and just talk, but they're back in Washington today. Turns out, leaving the art gallery without so much as a goodbye didn't put them in the good books with a lot of people. Yesterday was spent smoothing collateral damage and dealing with a phone call from a retired-yet-still-fiery Zahra.

Today, they're spending a few hours with the artists, the gallery owner, and giving a very basic explanation of what happened, respecting Moreau and his privacy.
Regardless, they sent their love.