[HE IS NOT DROPPING HIS CLEANING EFFORTS FOR WHATEVER YOU ARE THROWING HIS WAY, and the ID badge stops and floats mid-air when it arcs closer to Henry.
Except... he knows the shape of it. The logo printed in plain black on the back, nestled at the bottom. Even the degree of the rounded, charred corners makes something familiar flicker in his memory. He knows it because he carried an ID badge like that once, too, clipped to his belt. His photo, coupled with a fake name: Peter Ballard.
Henry immediately loses interest in the cloth, in his shirt. He drops the former and extends a hand to pluck the badge out of the air, turning it over in his fingers.
The information there stares up at him. It feels like an electric shock, the charged burn of adrenaline running through him at the sight alone. Security clearance information he never could dream of possessing as a prisoner-orderly. A familiar photo. And a name: Dr. Martin Brenner.
Alec just sort of waits for the revelation to land as Henry turns the badge over in his hands. ]
I got a series of texts a little while ago, essentially asking me to name my price in exchange for turning you in. I decided to go tell him "no" in person.
[Eyes flick up to Alec, strange in their intensity. Surprised, even, as this information settles itself into his mind, and the very obvious implication.]
You did what?
[But it's less how dare you and I am being hit with this big revelation as if you were casually talking about the weather. Henry runs a thumb over the ID card again, feeling where the plastic curls up from being nearly melted.]
He... contacted you? And thought you'd trade me in?
[Of course he would. Brenner always thought of him as a thing more than a person. A first number in a series of numbers.]
[ Alec steps into the room, moving to the side of Henry's chair. He spares a brief glance to the canvas before settling himself into a crouch beside Henry. He rests one hand on Henry's leg. ]
[The canvas itself is just blocked out with color, with vague shapes. Red, midnight blue, black. Whatever is there is just a concept more than an image, at least right now.
But he's not thinking of that anymore. He twists his body to face Alec, his free hand gripping the one on his leg.]
Alec...
[Searching his face. Clearly this is worth a response worthy of the event, but everything is fighting for dominance, and he almost doesn't know which one to pick. Give him a second.]
[Does he want to see what happened? Of course he does, he wants to see every moment, draw out every single detail, be present as though he were actually standing there-
His breath hitches, and words find him. Speaking of being there:]
Why didn't you- [Now his hand raises up to fist in Alec's shirt. Not harried, just hit by that sudden, wild surreality of knowing this happened probably less than an hour ago and he wasn't there. SIR!!!] -take me with you?
[But he also doesn't give him a single moment to reply, because then he's leaning forward, quick and heated, to kiss him. The ID badge clatters to the floor.]
[ Well, you know, the thought did cross Alec's mind, but then that whole lab situation cropped up and he had no idea if they knew where he and Henry lived and—
Oh. Henry's kissing him now. Alec eases up from his crouched position just a little, leaning into that kiss, matching heat for heat.
Truly the best outcome he could hope for, coming fresh from the murder of Henry's father figure. ]
[Beneath the heat, or perhaps intermingled with it, there exists a deep gratitude that is full to bursting. A warmth that he has long learned to identify as a deep love for this man, who has done so, so much for him. And yes, that includes killing his shitty father figure. Lancing that ghost away from the pieces of his past that might want to catch up to him -- what very little remains of it, anyhow.
(And relief, too. Even if Henry is less inclined to acknowledge that, as though it might give even Brenner's ghost a scrap of power over him. That he had once existed as a shadow hanging over his new life with Alec, one that might eke in between the cracks at any moment.
Well, no longer.)]
I hope you made him suffer.
[A murmur into his lips, the hand at his shirt now reaching up to stroke his thumb along his jaw.]
[ What a combination of emotions to be carried in the sound of laughter, but he would expect no less of Henry. Somehow, coming from him, it's a perfect symphony. ]
You didn't need to make it up to me.
[ He leans in to steal another quick kiss. ]
But if you wanna help me clean out the lab they got set up outside of town, I wouldn't say no.
It isn’t long before they’re leaving to visit this new lab, and to be fair, they make quick work of it. Armed guards don’t stand much of a chance against Henry Creel and Alec Brennan. Harried researchers, less so. But the end result is still oddly exhilarating even if it is swift; knowing that he’s stamping out the worst remnants of his past instills a deep satisfaction in Henry, one that lingers in his bones when they return to the apartment.
And after that? He wants to pick up where he left off, when his lips had crashed into Alec’s before. He’s heated and hungry for his touch, and he makes that more than clear — and eventually (and perhaps predictably), they end up in the bedroom, lost in each other yet again.
And after that, when they’re done, with sweat still dampening Henry’s skin, he turns on his side to look at Alec, arms gathering up his pillow to bunch under his head, propping him up a little.]
…Every day is a day I enjoy with you, Alec. But I think this is one of my favorites so far.
[ They are very romantic and there is absolutely nothing weird about this scenario.
Alec, meanwhile, having just settled back onto the the bed, turns over to his side, head propped up in his hand as he looks Henry over, one eyebrow arching. ]
Seriously? If I knew all I had to do was kill your shitty Papa, then I'd have done it a long time ago.
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finalflight2023-02-25 01:18 am
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I had to make a house call. [ lol ] Catch.
[ He tosses the charred ID badge Henry's way. ]
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Except... he knows the shape of it. The logo printed in plain black on the back, nestled at the bottom. Even the degree of the rounded, charred corners makes something familiar flicker in his memory. He knows it because he carried an ID badge like that once, too, clipped to his belt. His photo, coupled with a fake name: Peter Ballard.
Henry immediately loses interest in the cloth, in his shirt. He drops the former and extends a hand to pluck the badge out of the air, turning it over in his fingers.
The information there stares up at him. It feels like an electric shock, the charged burn of adrenaline running through him at the sight alone. Security clearance information he never could dream of possessing as a prisoner-orderly. A familiar photo. And a name: Dr. Martin Brenner.
Papa.]
Where... did you get this?
[Alec WHAT is HAPPENING]
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Alec just sort of waits for the revelation to land as Henry turns the badge over in his hands. ]
I got a series of texts a little while ago, essentially asking me to name my price in exchange for turning you in. I decided to go tell him "no" in person.
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You did what?
[But it's less how dare you and I am being hit with this big revelation as if you were casually talking about the weather. Henry runs a thumb over the ID card again, feeling where the plastic curls up from being nearly melted.]
He... contacted you? And thought you'd trade me in?
[Of course he would. Brenner always thought of him as a thing more than a person. A first number in a series of numbers.]
Wait. So he's...
[Super dead?]
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He's dead.
[ Super dead, even. Alec made sure of that. ]
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But he's not thinking of that anymore. He twists his body to face Alec, his free hand gripping the one on his leg.]
Alec...
[Searching his face. Clearly this is worth a response worthy of the event, but everything is fighting for dominance, and he almost doesn't know which one to pick. Give him a second.]
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If you want to see what happened...
[ The door is always open. ]
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His breath hitches, and words find him. Speaking of being there:]
Why didn't you- [Now his hand raises up to fist in Alec's shirt. Not harried, just hit by that sudden, wild surreality of knowing this happened probably less than an hour ago and he wasn't there. SIR!!!] -take me with you?
[But he also doesn't give him a single moment to reply, because then he's leaning forward, quick and heated, to kiss him. The ID badge clatters to the floor.]
no subject
Oh. Henry's kissing him now. Alec eases up from his crouched position just a little, leaning into that kiss, matching heat for heat.
Truly the best outcome he could hope for, coming fresh from the murder of Henry's father figure. ]
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(And relief, too. Even if Henry is less inclined to acknowledge that, as though it might give even Brenner's ghost a scrap of power over him. That he had once existed as a shadow hanging over his new life with Alec, one that might eke in between the cracks at any moment.
Well, no longer.)]
I hope you made him suffer.
[A murmur into his lips, the hand at his shirt now reaching up to stroke his thumb along his jaw.]
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Oh, you know. I electrocuted him.
[ It felt like the thing to do. Poetic, in its way. ]
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Good. [He draws his thumb lightly against his cheek this time.] How fitting for a man who loved to do the same to his beloved "children".
[And he's sure Alec's version of electrocution was far, far worse than anything they ever suffered in the lab. Good.]
A weight's been lifted. It's almost impossible to believe. Everything you've done for me, this included... At this rate, I'll never make it up to you.
[Not that he feels he owes Alec anything, either. That, too, just makes him love him more.]
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You didn't need to make it up to me.
[ He leans in to steal another quick kiss. ]
But if you wanna help me clean out the lab they got set up outside of town, I wouldn't say no.
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Henry nearly chases after that kiss, tempted to say that the clean-up can wait, but… Maybe they shouldn’t wait on this for too long.]
Just outside of town? They really must have thought they were going to steal me away and lock me up right in your backyard.
But sure. Let me help you. Then you can show me how you killed Papa.
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They really did. Shows how much they know.
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[He assumes their confidence hinged all on the fact that Alec was a mercenary. Eager to offer Henry up for the right price.]
After all, how could they ever possibly consider that you could be in love with me?
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I thought the old man was gonna drop dead just from the revelation.
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[But maybe after their little lab raid.]
Well. Let me change my shirt and we can get going, if you want.
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Of course. Might as well look your best.
[ This is A Date for them. ]
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It isn’t long before they’re leaving to visit this new lab, and to be fair, they make quick work of it. Armed guards don’t stand much of a chance against Henry Creel and Alec Brennan. Harried researchers, less so. But the end result is still oddly exhilarating even if it is swift; knowing that he’s stamping out the worst remnants of his past instills a deep satisfaction in Henry, one that lingers in his bones when they return to the apartment.
And after that? He wants to pick up where he left off, when his lips had crashed into Alec’s before. He’s heated and hungry for his touch, and he makes that more than clear — and eventually (and perhaps predictably), they end up in the bedroom, lost in each other yet again.
And after that, when they’re done, with sweat still dampening Henry’s skin, he turns on his side to look at Alec, arms gathering up his pillow to bunch under his head, propping him up a little.]
…Every day is a day I enjoy with you, Alec. But I think this is one of my favorites so far.
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Alec, meanwhile, having just settled back onto the the bed, turns over to his side, head propped up in his hand as he looks Henry over, one eyebrow arching. ]
Seriously? If I knew all I had to do was kill your shitty Papa, then I'd have done it a long time ago.
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He arches a brow in turn.]
And I'm sure you would have, if he had made himself known before now. [Wry, but it's not like he doesn't mean it:] You're very thoughtful like that.
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[ Smug. Remember Henry, you chose this. ]
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And so humble.
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[ And, as seems to be the norm anymore, he reaches for Henry to pull him close. ]
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