TPASD 35
Everyone was talking over everyone else as Nora returned to the room. She let out a loud whistle with two fingers in her mouth to settle the cacophony of voices trying to talk over someone else. It was so loud that Nora was forced to take charge and rein everyone in.
Everyone was still loud. Everyone was still talking over one another. Everyone ignored Nora. Except Alex. He sank into the seat next to him, bowing his head and began gasping. It was Philip beside him who first supported him with one hand on his shoulder.
Nora let out a second whistle and this time everyone stopped talking and exchanged guilty looks with one another. "Finally." She breathed out loud, uncovering her covered ears. "Now, one at a time. What the hell is going on?" She asked, as she went to Alex.
That was when Henry noticed Alex was quiet. One by one, Raf, Ellen, Shaan, and Zahra began filling Nora in, allowing Henry to slip into her spot to focus on Alex.
"You're doing great, Alex." Philip encouraged him. "Keep breathing." Henry heard Philip instruct him as he got close enough to Alex.
"Good boy, Alex. That's it, darling." Henry added, rubbing Alex's back. At the sound of Alex's voice, his body shot upright, and he threw his arms around Henry's neck and let Henry hold him close. Rubbing his back in comfort and murmuring soft words of support in Alex's ears, Henry finally felt useful again. Like his presence here was actually helpful and not a hindrance.
"I just want it to stop, Hen." Alex told him. His voice was muffled, and the wrecked sobs heaving from his chest left Alex's body shaking, and the shaking made Henry certain that Alex was crying. "I'm scared, baby."
"I know, love." Henry held him tighter. "I know you are. I can't promise it's all going to be okay. But I am going to be here for you every step of the way, and you always have my love and support."
To Henry, it seemed like a no-brainer that Alex was scared, and he did not judge him. From what Henry had read while Alex was recovering from his panic attack a couple of days ago, he knew that most men who were raped or sexually assaulted did not report or come forward because they feared they would not be believed. Or because they feared they would be teased, ridiculed, or laughed at. Henry had been expecting Alex to feel like this at one point, and he was ready for it. Alex had already been braver than most.
"Henry?" Nora asked softly, after Alex and Henry subtly shook his head no.
Nora was not a big hugger, but she pulled Henry and Alex backwards and into her outstretched arms, covering Alex's back with her small, lithe body. "I'm here too, Alejandro. So is June." Nora whispered, low enough for Alex and Henry to hear her. "We love you, Alejandro. We're not going to let anything happen to you."
Alex sank into the hug, and the physical feeling of being surrounded by the people he loved most on the planet.
"Gab-?" Alex managed to ask Nora, before another sob wracked his body.
"She's with June in our room, Ale. She's safe." Nora whispered into his ear, and she felt Alex melt further into Henry. "She fell asleep after the mall and June wants her to nap. She's okay. I can go and check on her again if you like."
Alex nodded, and Henry looked up at Nora. Tears filled her hazel brown eyes, and Henry felt every iota of what Nora was feeling too. "Thank you." He mouthed to her in a whisper, not making a sound, and she blew Henry a kiss.
Nora returned only minutes later, she gave a thumbs up to Henry and left Alex in Henry's capable hands. Pulling back, Henry looked at Alex, finding his eyes and holding them as he gave Alex a small, reassuring smile. "Nora and June have Gabriella, she is okay. She is safe. Philip and Shaan are here with your parents and Leo. None of us can do anything else until Hatley arrives. He is two hours from here in West Hollywood. What do you want to do?"
"Can we just go back to our place and be alone?" Alex whispered, and Henry gave him another smile.
"Sure we can, my love." Henry caught Nora's eye and she sent him a nod in understanding. Besides Alex, he had never had anyone be able to read him as well as Nora did. It was intimidating.
Inside the apartment, Alex didn't let Henry go. Keeping a firm grasp on him. But Henry's touch did seem to settle Alex's body and mind. "When you're touching me, my mind doesn't race." Alex explained to Henry once they were settled in together, laying side by side on the bed. "It's peaceful and calm inside my head right now. I need that quiet right now."
"In that case, let me hold you for a lifetime." Henry let out a small joke to ease the tension of making such a statement, and Alex joined in.
The problem was, though, that Henry was serious. If he could hold Alex and keep him safe for the rest of his life, he would. He had admitted to himself that he was pretty much done for in the romance department. He was deeply and irrevocably in love with Alexander Gabriel Claremont-Diaz.
He had been attracted to Alex from the very beginning, still closeted and deeply gay. From the moment he saw Alex, he smiled broadly. The smile may not have been on the outside, but it was one from within; deep down inside. It had been one of the worst times in Alex's life.
In the Charles Dickens novel, A Tale Of Two Cities, he said it best … "It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of light, it was the season of darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair."
Not that Henry was a Dickens fan, but the Dickens quote was apt. Henry was more into Jane Austen, the Brontë sisters, and Oscar Wilde. He adored Lord Byron's poetry, and in his early friendship with Alex, they would often share book and poetry recommendations with one another. Holding a master's in English literature, Henry's favorite was most definitely Jane Austen. However, Madame Bovary by Gustave Flaubert held a special place in his heart, and he supposed it was because he could relate to it. Living under his grandmother's thumb, closeted and afraid, Henry could relate to it in a way that very few people could. His grandmother had always told him that he would have to marry a girl of a certain social standing and have the required heir and spare children. That, as a prince, it was his duty, both to his family and to his country. Naturally, Henry had resigned himself to the mundanity of marriage. It would not be a romantic love story but a story of boredom, mediocrity, and disillusionment. The banality of everyday life in such a marriage would have been the death of Henry and the romantic notions he valued.
But as luck would have it, he met Alex and his whole world view was tilted on its axis. Alex came in, like a wrecking ball and ran roughshod over him, his gran, Philip, the establishment, and everything in Henry's way. With Alex, he brought Gabriella into Henry's life. Sweet, adorable, and perfect little Gabriella. A child Henry would literally walk through hot burning coals for. While Henry adored his nephews and was a loving doting uncle to them, with Gabriella, he felt a new level of awe. He didn't know if it was because she was born a girl, or if it was because she was born early; or because she was small. Or perhaps, it was because she was a carbon copy of her beautiful father. All he knew was that he would go to war for this child. And he would do everything in his power to win that war.
Alex was in his arms, letting himself be held. Alex rarely sat still, so for him to be quiet and pliant in Henry's arms was a sight for Henry to behold. Kissing Alex's curls and then his forehead, Henry could feel Alex relax further against him.
"Do you know what we should do?" Alex murmured, sighing in the contentment of the moment. He sat up and turned to face Henry. "We should get Gabriella from June and Nora and bring our girl back here with us. The three of us should order a pizza and snuggle in together. Maybe watch a movie."
"Or...?" Henry offered, pretending to weigh up his options. "We can do all of that. But first, do you need to go for a swim to deal with some excess energy? Or do you want to luxuriate in a warm bubble bath? I know water helps calm your mind and I feel like it might be still racing a bit."
"A bubble bath?" Alex asked incredulously, with a small laugh. "Like running the water, putting soap in it, and soaking in the tub?"
"I thought I'd adult it up a bit and add some botanical bath oils and use a bath pillow to rest your head on." Henry explained, tracing lazy circles over the back of Alex's hand. "You know, really relax in it. You never know, it could be fun."
"Sounds romantic." Alex murmured, leaning closer into Henry. His voice was low and the timbre of it almost vibrated onto Henry's body pressed up against him. "I couldn't persuade you to join me, could I?"
"I'd be amenable to that." Henry replied, pressing his lips to Alex's in a brief kiss. Alex pressed his lips back to Henry's, using his tongue to open the seam of Henry's lips. With Henry's lips open, the chasteness was abandoned for something more passionate.
The noise that escaped from Alex's mouth as Henry erotically sucked on his tongue as they kissed, had Alex moaning further. No one had ever kissed him so sensually, drawing such a sound from him before.
"Baby." Alex breathed between their lips as Henry adjusted himself under Alex, who had casually slipped Henry further back into the sofa as they exchanged kisses.
Pulling back fully from Alex, Henry sent him a wink and a wide-beaming, shit-eating grin. "Are you ready to get naked with me and climb into the tub?" Henry cheekily asked Alex, slipping out from beneath Alex's hard body.
"I'm always ready to get naked with you." Alex teased, visibly adjusting his firm manhood through his clothing in an attempt at seduction.
"Menace." Henry laughed at Alex's bad joke as he playfully swatted in the direction of Alex's behind, not making bodily contact.
Alex reached forward and laced their fingers together, as Henry led him into their bedroom and into the ensuite with the oversized, antique-looking clawfoot tub. Once Henry got the water running and reached over for his shower kit, fumbling through his bag, he found the small brown travel bottle. "This is a blend of some lavender oil for relaxation, some ylang-ylang oil for soothing stress, anxiety, sadness, tension, and sleeplessness," Henry leaned down into Alex's ear, "They say ylang-ylang can boost your libido too."
Alex gives him a wide grin and wink, before letting out a small chuckle. "Oh sweetheart, I've never had a libido problem." Inhaling the open bottle once more, Alex asks, "Does this have vanilla in it too?"
"The vanilla is soothing." Henry grinned at Alex, flirtatiously. "Oh, and it's good for arousal."
"Oh, I see how it is," Alex teased in a sing-song voice using his hand to encourage Henry to put the oil in the water. "This is part of a whole seduction scene. Entice me into a bath and seduce me into bed."
"You've only got it half right." Henry teased, his hot breath tickling the skin on the shell of Alex's ear as he spoke in low and husky tones. "I'm going to fuck you over the side of the tub, my love."
Despite the tanned colour of Alex's Texan-Latino skin, the red hues that flushed over Alex's skin was obvious. Alex could feel his dick twitch in the confines of his pants as the warm breath ghosted Alex's ear.
The pleasant and sensually enticing aroma penetrated Alex's nostrils and assaulted his senses in the best possible way. It was alluring and captivating, but Alex always felt like that in Henry's presence. Sure, Henry could be playing out some elaborate seduction scene, or it could be just an ordinary Wednesday for Alex. A situation as simple as the sky is blue, the sun is bright, and Alex loves Henry.
Alex loves Henry.
That thought feels like it's threatening to explode out of Alex's brain, as Henry works his way through kissing down Alex's torso. The white noise of the tub filling in the background and the dimmer switch on low, combined with the scent of the blended bath oils, is almost an attack on Alex's senses.
His heart is beating too fast, and every now and then, it is skipping a beat. His pulse on a constant thrum, vibrating under skin. The thrum underneath the skin on Alex's neck, against Henry's wet, plump lips. Blood rushed to other parts of his body. Henry's hands found his hips and his hands splayed across his abdomen, his fingertips tracing the contours of his well-defined abs and pecs.
"Fuck…" Alex panted out, breathlessly. Henry's hard length was pressed against the crevice of his cheeks. Leaning over Alex to turn the tap off pushed Henry's firm member up against the taint of Alex's ass. "Baby…."
Henry's lips were back on the shell of his ear. "Are you going to take off your clothes for me?" His splayed hands now moved southward palming through the chinos, to Alex's granite dick. Not seeing Alex make any move, Henry's hand halted and ripped itself away from Alex's body.
Alex's hands worked on autopilot, ripping his tee over his head and shimmying out of those extra tight, tan coloured chinos, leaving Alex without a stitch of clothing on. This was the first time that Henry had ever seen Alex go commando before. Sheepishly, Henry sent him a coy grin, before slipping out of his own clothing.
"Where do you want me?" Alex asked, his tone amused, and Henry swatted at him playfully.
"Just get in the damn tub and scooch forward." Henry chuckled, following Alex into the tub, scooching into the tub behind Alex and pulling Alex's body back into his embrace.
The heat of the water was biting on their skin, but not scalding hot. Just the perfect temperature for soothing away stress and worries. Henry held Alex close to him, caring and lovingly.
Feeling relaxed and satiated, Alex was sprawled out on the bed in that vague state of consciousness between awake and asleep. June and Nora had dropped a sleeping Gabriella off and Henry was just finishing resettling her in her room, before returning to Alex.
Alex was dozing on the top covers of their bed. The sight made Henry smile.
A soft rap of knuckles, jolting Alex out of his slumber and Henry wanted to groan. He was all blissed out and relaxed, now he was awake and tense once more. Not expecting anyone, Alex peeked through the door. He had only slipped on a pair of boxer briefs, as it was late. They could have pretended they were all asleep, but he didn't want them waking Gabriella up. Checking the peep hole, Alex let out a small breath of relief, when it was only Alex and Oscar.
Henry let them in, while Alex went in search of a tee. If it was only his dad, he wouldn't have bothered. "Sorry to interrupt, Mijos." Oscar apologised, looking around the apartment as Alex emerged from the bedroom in an old ratty tee that bore Henry's old university Oxford, in faded printing. "Just thought you'd like to know that we're meeting Shaan's friend tomorrow morning at 8am, if you want to join us."
Raf took a closer look around. A closer look. Sure, he had known Alex since he was a kid, but he didn't know the version of Alex who was bisexual. By the time Alex had come out, he had been in DC and although he had flown to Texas for the weekend of Alex's going away party at the Lake House, they didn't get a chance to talk about it. Alex and Erica were on a plane to London the day afterwards. Sure, over the years one of them would mention it, but only ever in passing. To Raf, this was an opportunity to get to know the new version of Alex. The one who had a boyfriend and a child.
He kept an ear on the conversation between the three of them, while he scanned the apartment. Alex kept a clean place. Gabriella's toys were all picked up. As were any stray articles of clothing like a sock and their shoes were all neatly stacked by the door. As his eyes landed on the prince, he had to admit that he was pleasant looking. He had seen the looks that the two men shared, and he had to admit, they were so stinking cute together.
As his eyes landed on Alex, he began to really take note. He had never really studied Alex up close before. Never thought to. He had always seen Alex as Ellen and Oscar's kid, later he had mentally added Leo to the list of parents. But Alex wasn't a kid anymore, sure he would always be a kid to Raf; but the human who stood before him was a man now. He had glanced chiseled abs before Alex had found a tee. He had a strong jaw and nice cheekbones. Alex was well toned all over. The ripcord muscle in his neck was definitely one of his attractive attributes and if he was any other man he could be swayed. Of course, the deep red and petechiae filled hickey forming on the prominent ripcord was a deterrent.
Smirking to himself, Raf realised that the hickey he had been trying not to focus on was growing more purple with every minute they were standing there; meaning that was fresh. A single thought realisation entered Raf's mind, they had interrupted the two men in a few moments of alone time they had. Raf wanted to haul Oscar out of there. Like his son Alex, Oscar could be oblivious sometimes and at the smallest lull in conversation, Raf was telling Oscar that they had to go before physically hauling Oscar out of the apartment.
Raf thought Alex had grown up into a good-looking man, but it was still hard for him to wrap his head around the fact that Alex was a father now. Raf could have been tempted to make a move; to take a bite.
If only Alex was any other man.
But he wasn't any other man. He was Alex. Ellen, Oscar and Leo's kid. His own Sobrino, of sorts.
Henry had clocked Raf's interest in both the apartment and Alex's body, before a definite signal that Raf could look, but never would touch. If Henry had been a little bit more territorial in Rafael Luna's presence, that was his business. Deep, masculine laughter could be heard in the hallways, as Alex closed the door on Raf and his father.
"What the hell was that?" Alex gasped at Henry as soon as the door was closed behind his father and Rafael. "Baby, you're not so normally touchy-feely, especially in front of my dad."
"Yes, well you were being eye fucked by Rafael Luna." Henry retorted, his voice coloured jade with envy. If Alex didn't know better, he'd swear Henry was hallucinating. But he had felt hot under Raf's lingering gaze. "I think, darling, that your politician friend has just realised you're no longer a kid, but a man. A desirable one. One he might want to get to know. In a more intimate way."
"What?!" Alex exclaimed in shock. "No, no, no." He denied. Raf couldn't possibly….
"Yes dear, he was" Henry whispered. "He was looking at you like he might want you. I was merely informing our dear friend Mr. Luna, that you are already spoken for."
"I am." Alex confirmed with a wide cheeky grin. His eyes were crinkled in the corner and Henry thought his heart would just explode with love and happiness.
The following morning was unorganized chaos in the worst possible way. They were woken to banging on the door, and a subsequent screaming tot. Overnight an article from Miguel Ramos of Politico had been released claiming that Alex Claremont-Diaz and the Prince of England had been following him. That was why he was hiding out in Mexico for his own safety. Then came further accusations on social media that the authorities weren't helping him because of who Alex's parents are. Ramos went further, telling his followers that Alex Claremont-Diaz has been trying to buy his silence on their affair in light of his new relationship with the prince.
A crisis meeting was immediately called and Hatley had come in. He was a stocky man, but tall. Easily towering half a foot over Henry and Philip. He had an air of danger about him and it set the tone of the room. "The man is mentally deranged." Alex ranted to Henry and June, while Nora bounced an upset Gabriella on her lap. "How the hell did he even know we were here? We landed in fucking Austin."
"Can't you calm him down for Christ's sake, Henry." June begged Henry in a hissed whisper. "Do something, hell do anything. Drag him out of here, before I kill him, myself. He's stressing me out."
"Drag him out of here, Henry and do that thing you do to him that makes him look all soupy." Nora threw in from five feet away.
"Eww," June protested and fake-gagged before taking the tot from her wife's arms and letting Nora take her spot.
"Probably from the passenger manifesto, Ale-." Leo interjected, coming to step between Alex and Nora and Henry. June and Henry had been trying to calm him down since they found out about the article.
"Hijo de puta." Raf seethed from the chair nearby. (Son of a bitch)
Raf had been watching Henry and Alex, in particular, with great interest. Mostly at how Henry managed to corral Alex, in his chaotic state. Rafael smiled to himself, seeing that the prince seemed to be able to contain Alex when he was at his most neurotic; both in his exuberant highs and his excessive lows. That pleased him immensely, he was glad Alex had finally met someone like that. He deserved someone like that in his life.
Hatley commandeered the room, and everyone went silent. Alex felt Henry's hand slip into his own and lace their fingers together. "As of right now, given Mr Ramos's involvement in certain activities, I will be taking over the investigation. Mr. Claremont-Diaz, I will need to speak with you and I would advise you to bring an attorney with you."
Alex wanted to panic. Why the hell would he need an attorney? He was the victim.
Henry had to admit he was trying really hard not to panic too. He always remembered Officer Hatley as a reasonable man, but for some reason, the man that stood before them was hardly reasonable. That man was cold, controlling and spiteful.
"I'll go with you, as well, Mijo." Oscar added, vehemently by the time a very pregnant Zahra had arrived at Alex and Henry's side.
"Do not say a word, Alex." Zahra told him and shot harsh looks at the three of them.
Shaan and Henry exchanged frowns and when he caught his brother's eye, Philip was frowning too. Henry realised this was very out of character for Hatley. "Alex, I'll look after Gabriella." Henry rushed out, seeing the panic written on his face, but knowing that Alex, as an attorney himself, knew not to say a word. "I won't leave the building. Maybe June and your mom can come over and hang out with us."
Alex nodded at him. Raf was by Alex's side too, offering to come along, but Hatley shook his head no. He didn't even seem pleased that Oscar was coming along too, but he didn't fight it. He did draw the line at anyone besides Oscar and Zahra.
Admittedly, it amused Alex when Hatley looked hesitantly at Zahra's extremely well-rounded stomach. Catching Shaan's eye, Alex smirked, and Alex could have sworn he saw Shaan's facade falter in amusement.
"You're not in trouble, Alex." Hatley told him, as the three of them got settled into a conference room at the FBI office in downtown San Diego. "We just need to clear up the allegations that Mr. Ramos has made against you in today's press."
Without verbalizing a word, which was extremely difficult for Alex, he managed to help the FBI and Hatley out with the allegations Miguel had made against Alex. Alex declined anything to drink, on Zahra's advice. He wasn't bar certified in the States, but wherever he and Henry ended up settling down, he knew he would have to take the bar.
No one mentioned the rape to Hatley, or in the FBI office. Hatley knew about it, but no one brought it up in conversation. Alex was grateful for that. The last thing he had wanted to do was talk about it with a bunch of federal agents. Local police were going to be bad enough. After Henry was asleep one night, he had foolishly looked up male rape victims and the results had scared him.
Henry had woken and chastised him for looking at that, before distracting him, but what he had seen had stayed within his memory bank.
Most men don't report sexual assaults for fear of not being believed, ridiculed, or judged negatively by others. The societal norm that men should be stoic and tough, deters men from seeking help and reporting their abuse.
When the FBI agents had left them alone to check out Zahra's and Oscar's answers, the three of them were alone in the conference room with Hatley, his entire demeanour shifted. He didn't say a word, but he left his phone unlocked and on the screen in a blank text message screen, he showed the three of them the message he had typed out.
'Don't say anything else.'
