Comfort --RWRB College AU

15. Secure

Alex regrets his earlier decision to drive here himself: Henry is inseparable now. All the way from the terminal to Alex's car, Henry stuck to Alex like a shadow by his side. When Alex stuffs Henry into the passenger seat and is about to close the door, he sees Henry's gaze on him, the amount of insecurity breaks Alex's heart. He bends down to peck his lips, then runs around the car after closing the door.

"You hungry? Here are cookies my Mum made and some hot cocoa." Alex hands over the bag which Henry takes over. He's silent for a moment, gripping the bag.

Alex doesn't notice, still babbling while texting Ellen about Henry. "The cocoa is still hot I think, it goes well with the cookies. Those cookies are delicious, my Mum always kno-"

"Alex." Being called his name, the curly-headed boy turns around and is immediately silenced by the pair of soft lips on his. The kiss is almost desperate, and it feels so good. Alex just realized how much he missed kissing Henry. It's like he has been living in the dark for the past few days and now the sun rises. He feels Henry nipping at his bottom lip, biting even, as if his life depends on this kiss. His hand holds the nape of Alex's neck, fingers tugging on the curly locks.

Alex soon wins the fight for dominance. His arm snakes around Henry's waist and pulls the boy closer to him. This kiss is almost suffocating, but Henry loves it. God knows how much Henry misses those pair of strong arms, that skillful tongue and lips, and the scent floating around this boy.

Henry thinks that the scent of the reed diffuser is still different from the scent around Alex. No matter how he adjusts the fragrance, how he controls the temperature of the room, he can never feel the comfort he feels when he's around Alex. After all, comfort is because of that person.

When Alex finally lets go of Henry, the boy in his arms is already flushed. His cheeks tinted pink with red swollen lips. Alex can't help but peck Henry again, and again, and again. Sensing Henry's gaze lingering on himself, Alex chuckles.

"Hey... Wait a min-" Alex fixes his eyes on Henry's right ear, where a tiny silver stick pierces through the earlobe. The earlobe is still swollen, clearly it is newly pierced. Alex stares at it, involuntarily raises his hand and touches it.

"Ouch. Hurts." Henry hisses. Alex immediately retreats his hand and grips his hoodie's hem. His eyes wander away but he quickly looks back at Henry's ear. Seeing Alex acting like a puppy being scolded, Henry chuckles, can't help but tease Alex more. "Don't you like it?" He pretends to be hurt and insecure. "This is something marking my rebellion a-"

"No no no no no!!! I like it! A lot! I love it! Babe, I really love it. Wait." He looks up, eyes glancing between Henry's eyes and the piercing. "Rebellion? Is it why you're here early? Is it the rebellion that I'm thinking of?" He asks carefully.

"Maybe... But I don't know what you're thinking about." Henry tilts his head, a smirk appears on the corner of his mouth.

Alex's mouth drops open, making him even sillier. He blinks his eyes so fast, his eyelashes fanning like fluttering butterflies. "So. You. Came out? To your parents? And got your ear pierced?"

Henry can't wait till the end of Alex's stumbling sentence and he is nodding frantically. His grin so wide that his face hurts. The next second, Alex's arms are all over him, pulling him into the tightest hug he's ever experienced. He can hear Alex mumbling beside his ears. "Baby, you always bring me surprises. I'm so so so so happy. The best Christmas gift ever."

A sudden phone ring interrupts the lovely scene. Alex reluctantly grabs his phone with one hand, his body still leaning on Henry. "Tell me you are already on the highway and not in the airport's parking lot." June's sarcasm is loud through the speaking in the car.