#rwrxmas
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twominutxold.bsky.social
Decorations🎄
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day 4 of #rwrxmas
[ #rwrb #firstprince ]
December 4, 2024 at 2:41 PM
twominutxold.bsky.social
🛷
day 16 of #rwrxmas
[ #rwrb #firstprince ]
December 18, 2024 at 3:40 PM
twominutxold.bsky.social
Christmas tree farm🌲
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day 2 of #rwrxmas
[ #rwrb #firstprince ]
December 2, 2024 at 2:46 PM
twominutxold.bsky.social
Ice Skating❄️
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day 6 of #rwrxmas
[ #rwrb #firstprince ]
December 6, 2024 at 2:35 PM
twominutxold.bsky.social
💋
day 24 of #rwrxmas
[ #rwrb #firstprince ]
December 26, 2024 at 2:55 AM
twominutxold.bsky.social
💛
day 14 of #rwrxmas
[ #rwrb #firstprince ]
December 14, 2024 at 3:45 PM
twominutxold.bsky.social
☃️
day 8 of #rwrxmas
[ #rwrb #firstprince ]
December 8, 2024 at 6:23 PM
twominutxold.bsky.social
ugly sweaters💕
day 22 of #rwrxmas
[ #rwrb #firstprince ]
December 26, 2024 at 1:50 AM
twominutxold.bsky.social
🐶🎅🏼
day 18 of #rwrxmas
[ #rwrb #firstprince ]
December 19, 2024 at 7:15 PM
twominutxold.bsky.social
Christmas family pics📸
day 10 of #rwrxmas
[ #rwrb #firstprince ]
December 10, 2024 at 3:42 PM
twominutxold.bsky.social
🔑🐶💍
day 12 of #rwrxmas
[ #rwrb #firstprince ]
December 12, 2024 at 2:54 PM
twominutxold.bsky.social
would you still love me if I was a cookie🍪
day 20 of #rwrxmas
[ #rwrb #firstprince ]
December 23, 2024 at 9:17 PM
apricotstrumpet.bsky.social
All my #rwrxmas fics! Thanks everyone for reading, I will also be uploading to AO3 later
January 3, 2025 at 11:55 PM
twominutxold.bsky.social
#rwrxmas a thread🎄
December 2, 2024 at 7:38 PM
twominutxold.bsky.social
I know ppl have been busy and this is very last min so no pressure! But if you do any of the prompts, pls tag me and use the hashtag #rwrxmas I’d love to see it!! :) If you have any questions pls lmk!
November 21, 2024 at 5:44 PM
tsuother.bsky.social
I been loving all ur rwrxmas drawings 🥺 they are so cute
December 18, 2024 at 4:16 PM
apricotstrumpet.bsky.social
Part 4 of #rwrxmas! Including an additional Pez and David
“Henry, I'm sending you out into the snow for more marshmallows if we run out because you keep eating the snowmen you don’t like.” Henry grimaced, pouting. He looked down at two stacked marshmallows, pretzel sticks for arms and small brown lines of chocolate creating a droopy smile and eyes, and an orange triangle creating a nose that was charmingly too big. He looked at the ones Pez had made, with their perfect proportioned facial features and arms and sighed. “They shouldn't be included, they look absolutely horrendous. Besides, you’ve eaten just as many as I have, I keep splitting them with you.” Pez looked up from the marshmallow smile he was drawing on, indignancy written on every facial feature. “How dare you, Henry James Edwards? I am merely saving them from being within David’s reach. I am here, pre-saving your dog.” Said dog perked his head up at the mention of his name from his round fluffy winter dog bed, small body almost swallowed up by the bed’s fur and stuffing. He looked sharply to the left, sniffing hard and getting up from the bed as the key tumblers in the front door turned. “I’ll be sure to submit your name for knighthood,” Henry said dryly. He looked up at David’s bounding out towards the door, smiling at Alex’s off key singing hello to David. “H! I’m home!” Alex walked into the kitchen, holding several bulging grocery bags, followed by an excited David. He put them down on the counter. “Hi Pez,” Alex said, standing behind Henry and flashing Pez a smile and wink, he leaned down and kissed Henry on the cheek and neck. Henry tilted his neck instinctively, letting Alex have more space, which he used to blow a raspberry into Henry’s neck. “Get offfff,” Henry laughed, pushing Alex away as he cackled. “Couldn’t resist, baby. I’ve brought you more supplies, I had a feeling y’all would burn through supplies.” Alex said, knowing both Henry and Pez had enormous sweet tooths. He raised an eyebrow at their cries of objection, looking to the sid… “Uh-huh,” Alex said as he unpacked the supplies he had brought. He brought a bowl of marshmallows with him as he sat down to help them make more snowmen. “How many do we need for the shelter again?” he asked as he started to skewer marshmallows. “About 100, I think,” Pez said as he started to get up and stretch. “And now that your strumpet is here from the wheeling and dealing of D.C., I bid you adieu. I must see a man and a lady about a cat.” Henry nodded, knowing Pez had taken time away from his busy holiday schedule to come and poke him out of his Alex-less week funk. “I’ll see you in a couple days,” he said as he got up to hug Pez goodbye. “Lock up behind you.” Alex yelled out a goodbye to Pez as he focused on assembling another snowman. He finished the snowman he was working on, grinning at the small pile he had completed. “Look baby, I am on a roll!” he said with a flourish as he placed the snowman in the pile. “I can think of other things to be on a roll on,” Alex heard Henry behind him as he wrapped his arms around his shoulders. Alex stilled, knowing what the tone in Henry's voice meant. “Oh really?” Alex said as he got up and turned quickly, a smooth move Henry didn't see coming and had his lower stomach tightening. Alex grabbed his hips, pulling him closer. “You missed me, baby?” “Maybe,” Henry said, voice attempting to stay stoic as his cheeks started to slowly readen. “I know David missed you desperately,” he looked at David’s head poking up and shushed him back to sleep. “Desperately?” Alex said, as he grabbed Henry's hand and started to speed walk towards the stairs. “Let's fix this desperately then. Be good David!” he shouted as he led a laughing Henry up the stairs, leading David to once more look up at his name, confused at the empty kitchen.
December 9, 2024 at 6:58 AM
apricotstrumpet.bsky.social
Second part of #rwrxmas! A little late but better late than never!
Bringing several trees in from upstate was half the battle. Henry and Alex had decided to have the biggest trees in the most trafficked areas of the brownstone, totalling up to three trees- one in the living room, one in the den, and one in the master sitting room. Bringing them in took all of the PPOs on duty, as well as Henry and Alex. They had also brought in several smaller trees for the kitchen, the game room, and another for the gym after Henry had insisted there needed to be at least some acknowledgement of the holiday in there. Decorating turned out to be a bit more complicated than they had anticipated. Because they couldn't decide on how to decorate. Henry was long used to extremely polished traditional English decorations. Where nothing changed every year and he couldn’t even tell one year from another, apart from the change in photography quality. Everything was old and used and not to be touched, for it belonged to someone's great great grandmother and was worth this much money. Long gone were the days when the Fox’s had decorated his father’s Welsh home in a riot of colors and textures, laughter and joy. Alex remembered the laughter as they pulled out boxes filled with old ornaments and clay hands made in school. He remembers the laughter as they decorated and strung garlands across the staircase. He also remembers the slammed doors, the heavy silences, and poisoned shouts. Then half done decorations once the divorce was done and to elaborate themes in the White House where his input was never needed. Suggestions were thrown fast here and there, and rejected just as quickly. “Maybe a no theme would help?” Alex said as he lay on the living room floor staring up at the large trees' empty branches. He looked to the side, catching a glimpse of Henry’s feet as he walked over and handed him a cup of coffee, keeping his own cup of tea still as he sat down cross legged next to him. “What does no theme entail?” Henry sipped his tea carefully, humming in comfort at the warmth enveloping him. He was quite enjoying making these decisions with Alex, having this repertoire, making his voice heard. Alex turned around to lay on his stomach, absentmindedly swinging his legs up back and forth, cradling his head in his hands. He looked at Henry, taking in the sight of him as he sipped his tea, sweater paws holding on to the mug. His fuzzy large hoodie had once belonged to Alex, but it looked infinitely better on Henry, Alex decided. Alex scoot in closer to lay his head on Henry’s thighs, turning once more. “No theme is we buy anything that catches our eyes, and then we just put anything we like up. No rhyme or reason. If we don't end up using something, we can take it to the shelter or donate it somewhere else.” Henry mulled over the idea, running his hand through Aex’s hair and scratching lightly. “No, keep thinking.” Alex sighed deeply, rolling his eyes, “Alright, baby
December 5, 2024 at 6:38 AM
apricotstrumpet.bsky.social
Cribbing off @firstprnce.bsky.social Christmas fic activities list for mini fics! Hopefully I can keep up and do all of them lol #rwrxmas
“The weather forecast was right.” Henry said as he climbed out of the back of the SUV, Alex rolling his eyes at his statement. Henry smiled at him, smug in the knowledge he was correct. They walked towards the side entrance of the Christmas tree farm, trailed by their respective securities. Alex huddled deeper into his multiple layers, still not used to the winters in New York, especially in Upstate New York. But Henry had wanted to visit a Christmas tree farm and pick his own trees for the Brownstone and the shelter. So here he was. Freezing for his baby. As they entered the farm, Henry grew more and more excited, though strangers would hardly be able to tell, the public mask long entrenched into Henry’s bones. But Alex knew. He saw it in his eye squints, the small wrinkles around his eyes folding a little deeper, a bit longer. He saw it in his smile lifting his right cheek a little higher, the one with the slightest dimple. The smile lines around his mouth looking a bit longer. All together making a picture Alex loved. A picture of his amor enjoying himself without the burdens he had usually carried weighing him down. Alex smiled at the enthusiasm, laughing slightly at the reddening of Henry’s ears and nose. “Did you bring your earmuffs?” Alex asked, interrupting Henry as he tallied up how many trees he would need. Henry was determined to enjoy the season as much as he could, a 3 day trip to Sandringham notwithstanding. Christmas had long lost its flavor, the holiday's downfall starting with having to survive the holiday shortly after his fathers diagnosis. The following years did nothing to turn that around, from missing his mother's spiritual presence even though she was physically there, to Bea being physically and spiritually absent as she went on a bender. But here in New York, he was determined to enjoy it. Embrace new traditions and create his own with Alex. He was excited to experience a Christmas with him, from las posadas and tamale making, to celebrating the 24th in the morning before he had to leave for England. He had been secretly calling Oscar to wheedle out his mother’s tamale recipe, even though he knew he had nowhere near the cooking experience required to make them. But knowing how was half the battle. “No?” he half asked in reply to Alex’s question. “I forgot them after David needed to be let out one more time.” Henry resigned himself to being cold, the path to the trees they would be cutting feeling even more cold as they walked away from the warming lanterns. Henry stopped abruptly when Alex grabbed his mitten covered hand, and turned him. He turned to look at him with a question on his lips when he felt Alex shove down a pair of earmuffs on his head. “Brought an extra pair, just in case. Can’t have you dying of consumption, mi amor.” Alex continued walking, picking up the lost conversation of the trees needed as Henry smiled and laughed, walking quickly to catch up to his darling.
December 3, 2024 at 5:44 AM
apricotstrumpet.bsky.social
Part 3 of #rwrxmas! Late affff 😭
“Are you sure this is safe?” Henry asked, his voice pitched a bit higher as he held onto the side of the ice rink with glove covered hands, body stiff as he tried his hardest to maintain his balance on the slippery ice. His feet shifted back and forth as he tried to turn to face Alex, who was effortlessly standing up. “It’s perfectly safe, baby. Here gimme your hand so you can let go of the wall,” Alex said, holding out his hand with a grin as he watched Henry cling onto the side of the ice rink harder. “Unless…” he trailed off, looking around slyly as if there were other people around them aside from the Secret Service and the PPOs. Alex had rented the rink for the rest of the night, assuring them as much privacy as they could. “Unless you want one of those kiddie ice walkers?” Henry straightened up, feet slipping out slightly from under him before he caught himself again. “I most certainly do not.” Henry took a deep breath, and slowly shuffled off the sideline, moving centimeter by centimeter until he could reach Alex and cling onto his arm. He moved in closer and pressed his head to his shoulder, not so subtly signaling to Alex he wanted his arm around him. Alex complied immediately. “Was getting me on the ice rink and watching me flail about part of your dastardly plan to get me into your arms?” Henry muffled into his shoulder. Alex laughed, slowly moving them forward in an effort to glide them around the rink. “No, but I won't turn my nose at any other benefits it might bring me. Though, baby. Why didn't you tell me you didn't know how to ice skate? I asked you before I booked it if you could.” Henry blushed, ducking his head into his thick scarf, trying to hide the redness and his cold nose. He looked around, looking at all the beautiful twinkling lights and their reflections off the snow. He sighed, mumbling slightly under his breath. What's that, baby? I couldn’t hear you,” Alex said, bringing them into a gentle stop. He turned to look at Henry, pulling his scarf down slightly. He looked at Henry, taking in his red nose and cheeks, his mouth pulled to a pout at being put on the spot, his hat with a bobble at the end that had been knitted by one of the older ladies that came in on Saturdays to teach knitting classes at the shelter. He looked, and couldn’t help but press a kiss to the tip of his nose. “C’mon, spit it out. Why didn’t you tell me?” Alex said smiling, eyebrow raised at the evasion. “Because you were so excited to come skate here for your first Christmas in New York City.” Henry said softly. “You looked absolutely ecstatic and kept going on about it, how you haven’t skated since you were a child and didn't have the chance to do so in D.C. You were all smiles and laughter, and I would have done anything to keep that smile on your face.” Henry turned away, bashful to have revealed so much to a man that had seen him in so many forms of debauchery. Alex laughed slightly, putting his finger to his mouth and yanking his glove off. He used his free hand to cup Henry’s cheek and turn his face towards him. “Babyyy. I was excited to spend time with you. We could watch paint dry and I’d have a good time. Because I’m with you.” “Now,” he said, pulling Henry along to the side wall, leaning against it so he could pull Henry in and have him standing between his legs, “do you want to leave and go and get a hot chocolate or something? We don’t have to stay here if you're not going to enjoy it.” He tucked his bare hand into Henry’s coat pocket, seeking warmth. Henry bit his lip, smiling. “No, you went through all this effort for this, I want to stay and learn. Though,” he looked up through his lashes, grabbing the hand that was his coat and running his glove-covered fingers over it in a feather light touch, “you're going to have to take care of any bruising that may appear.” Alex threw b…
December 8, 2024 at 8:40 AM
apricotstrumpet.bsky.social
Part 8 of #rwrxmas! A lot late lol
“Baby, it’s too cold,” a voice rasped out from underneath a pile of blankets on Alex and Henry’s bed. It shifted slightly, making a small hole from which an arm shot out towards where a sturdy leak proof mug with coffee was being held. Henry had enough experience with a still sleepy Alex that he knew to hold the cup by the body so Alex’s chameleon tongue act ended with minimal casualties. “Come back to bed,” the voice said, trying to sound alluring but ending up sounding petulant. “It’s too cold.” “Time to get up, love. Shaan will be coming over with the driver in half an hour.” Henry tugged lightly at the blankets, trying to dig out Alex from underneath while letting him have his warmth as long as he could and sparing him from the morning’s chill. He was bundled up in a thick dressing gown, an early Christmas gift from Alex, who remained unconvinced that Henry was okay with the bitter cold. He shook Alex's identical dressing gown at him, trying to entice him with its thick quilted warmth. The bundle of blankets shook in an approximation of a no, and burrowed in deeper, trying to curl up tighter. Henry sighed, rolled up his metaphorical sleeves, and went to sit by the head of the bed. He slowly unrolled the top of the blankets until curly tufts of hair were visible, and kissed them. That caused the pile of blankets to wiggle down a bit until a forehead was visible and it tilted towards him, a silent plea for a kiss. He obliged, chuckling softly at a cheek and then lips coming out from underneath. He pulled back, laughing softly at the small moue of disappointment. “Get up, Alex. The children will be disappointed at a lack of their favorite volunteer at the sledding hill. Up and at them.” A grumbled out, “For the children,” came from Alex, who was finally getting up from the bed with one of the smaller blankets and shuffling his way to the bathroom. “Did I say an hour? Because I mean an hour and a half. Now what will we do with that extra hour?” “Henry watched from the bed as he spoke, and smiled, a whole gums out smile when Alex did a neat heel turn and sped back towards the bed, tackling him down into the mattress with an exhaled oomph. Aight baby, let's get you warmed up and limber for sledding because I'm not carrying you back when you’re too sore to walk back inside,” Alex said as he crawled up over Henry and framed him with his arms. “ I will have no such problems. Now, come here.” “What happened to having no such problems, baby?” asked Alex to a cold, wet, and sore Henry on the car ride back from the shelter’s sledding excursion. The car’s backseat heater was blasting at top speed, and Alex had stuffed half a dozen hand warmers into Henry’s clothes and had tossed a blanket over him. He was listing to the side, leaning all his body into Alex, who wrapped an arm around him, regardless of how his jacket was absorbing the wet, cold, snow covering Henry’s. “When did I say I was sore? I’m just very chilled,” stuttered out a slightly congested Henry. “Uh-huh.” “Just go to sleep, H, I got you.” Alex ran his fingers through Henry’s hair and added another hand warmer to Henry's coat pocket. As they parked at the Brownstone, the SUV’s partition rolled down an inch as one of the PPO’s asked if Alex needed help getting a knocked out Henry into the house. Alex waited for Cash to open the door and said “Nah, I got H.” As he slid out, he pulled him forward and helped him to his feet. Once he was on solid ground, he squatted down and with an arm under his knees and back, scooped him up. Henry briefly woke up with a startled noise, as Alex quieted him down with a few softly murmured words. He waited for Cash to open the Brownstone front door, and made his way inside, already planning on drawing his baby a hot bath and rubbing and massaging him down to soothe any pain. H deserved it after having the quickest sled time, and a historic screaming picture as he wiped out that he needed to get from Pez to have fr…
December 18, 2024 at 10:22 PM
apricotstrumpet.bsky.social
Part 6 of #rwrxmas! Stockings and a secret!
“Henry, how many types of stockings did you buy??” Alex put down another halfway open box on the floor, adding to the pile of half open boxes he already had there. He looked up, wincing at the fingerprints he could see on his iPad. He had forgotten to clean it up after his late night FaceTime call with Henry, who was doing some Crown mandated appearances in Ontario and Montreal. “I wasn't sure which ones I wanted to use,” Henry replied, looking shiftly at something off-screen in the hanger he was at. Henry was waiting for the all-clear to board his flight, and was killing time with him, exhausted after several days of stacked appearances. He looked back at Alex, a slight pout on his lips that Alex couldn’t wait to kiss. He knew he wouldn't have to wait too long, but sometimes even a few hours of separation felt like too much to bear. Henry continued, “We went so…eclectic…with our decorations, I wasn't sure which stockings would fit. I haven't had them embroidered yet, I will take them to Lionel’s tomorrow since I have to pick up our alterations anyway.” Alex smiled at the way Henry still seemed delighted at everyday errands, no matter how many PPOs had to follow him like ducklings as he did them. “Okay baby, sure. How many more boxes are coming in?” Alex asked, as he started to take everything out and break down boxes. “I..kind of lost track of how many I ordered.” Alex looked up disbelievingly at Henry, who had raised his hands in response, looking sheepish as he said “In my defense, it was when I started the new sleeping pills. We can donate the ones we don't use? Plus! These will be stockings for the living room fireplace. I already have stockings for our suite’s fireplace.’ Alex cocked his head in confusion. “Why didn’t you just get the same set for the living room? Did they sell out?” Henry bit his lip, visibly nervous. Alex put down the boxes he had been cutting up to squat down in front of the ipad. “Baby?” He reached over like he could cup Henry’s cheek through the screen, cursing internally that he wasn’t there with him while he was looking like that. “I tried to pick up some knitting. Percy’s grandmother tried teaching me years ago, but I couldn’t really wrap my head around it beyond casting on. But I was FaceTiming her and Percy for her 94th birthday, and she offered to teach me again after I mentioned you were on a trip with your dad. And it clicked. I’ve been practicing, and I usually just take whatever I make to the shelter’s clothing pickup box. I’ve been working on a set of stockings for us three since October.” Henry exhaled, slightly out of breath after spilling everything out rather quickly. “Henry, why didn't you tell me? Did you think I would…disapprove or something?” Alex asked, hurt at the secrecy. He wasn't sure if he had done to make Henry not tell him, but he was determined to find out. “I wanted to keep it to myself until I was making halfway decent things, and then I just kept…not telling you.” Henry looked at Alex, nothing but love in his expression and a sense of shyness. Alex couldn't help but smile back, Henry’s face giving in to his excitement. “Plus, you would have taken me to a yarn store and given me your card and spending carte blanche! I’ve resisted the yarn hoarding as it is, I didn’t have a chance if you encouraged me.” “Okay, fine. We can talk about remodeling one of the rooms into a craft room for you when you come back. And don’t feel the need to hide anymore if you don’t want to. I want to hear you talk about your projects. Can I see the stockings?” Henry grinned and said, “I have them packed in my carry on. I can show you once I get home.” “Can’t wait, baby.”
December 14, 2024 at 12:05 AM
apricotstrumpet.bsky.social
Part 5 of #rwrxmas! Will I ever post these on their designated days? Stay turned to find out 😭
“Any ideas for our Christmas pictures this year, love? We’re running a bit behind schedule, they should have been published already but I told Shaan we could use outtakes from either our Trooping or our pictures from Mum’s birthday if we didn't have time to take new ones.“ Henry kept flipping paperwork as he spoke, wondering how it seemed that his paperwork multiplied every time he opened his email, and trying to figure out if Pez was slipping him some of his. “Let’s do something different this time. We’ve done outtakes for the last couple years, and that first Christmas we had together, your Christmas card was you and Bea.” Alex's voice the floor where he was spread out, finishing the last of his first spring semester assignments. Normally he stuck to own study after sharing one was deemed impossible after several incidents of the sun hitting Henry’s hair just right, causing Alex to simply have to stop his work in order to show Henry how he appreciated the sun loving him. But he had made an exception that afternoon, having only to need to give everything a final look through and needing to practice some of his oration skills on Henry for mock court. Henry looked down, smiling slightly at Alex, who was now lounging on the plush carpet with his closed books and David for company. “Cutting it close, but we can pull something together quickly depending on what you want, I believe.” “Oh I don't think there'll be much difficulty in what I'm thinking. Just a quick trip to the pet store.” After a trip to the pet store, security in tow, they returned home with their goods. Henry was still feeling a little skeptical of the plan, but Alex kept assuring him it would turn out cute. Shaan had scheduled the photographer to come that very same afternoon, so they had to move quickly to get ready. Henry had axed the ugly sweater idea, reminding him that they had an ugly party scheduled for the shelter. They ended up reusing the Fair Isle hand knits Catherine had given them for Christmas morning in Sandringham. Now the task at hand was to get David into his reindeer headband, scarf, and twinkle lights. David was normally fine with clothing and hats in public,the epitome of canine manners, but the moment he was put into a holiday themed article of clothes and was inside his home, all bets were off. This time he at least felt the pressure of the time crunch they were under, and tolerated them putting on his headband and scarf, until the time came to wrap the small rope of battery operated twinkle lights around him. “Henry to the left!” Henry darted to his left, losing his balance and almost falling, missing the racing beagle by inches as David bobbed and feinted. Alex was sitting on the floor where he had already fallen when he tried catching David. Henry loathed to command David to sit, feeling crummy every time he had to heel David when he misbehaved at home. But time was running out and they needed these pictures today. Moving to sit on the couch to catch his breath, he helped Alex get up from his sprawl to sit with him. “Every time. Why does he hate the holidays, it's the 4th of July all over again.” Alex blew out a breath, staring at the dog across the living room who was calmly looking back at them. Henry groaned, tossing his head back and looking up with frustration. “I think he correlates holidays with my elevated stress levels with having to spend time with the Queen and Pip, which. Not wrong.” Henry turned to look at Alex, who was trying to fix his sweaty curls. “Maybe we should just not have him in the picture?” “Not have him in the picture? Henry, that's our child! He has to be in the picture!” Alex exclaimed, looking indignant at the thought of David not being in their holiday card. Henry couldn't help but really look at Alex, who was gearing up for an extended rant on how they absolutely could not exclude David. Look at this man who dealt with all of his problems and issues, who loved him regardless of who his family is and was, who treated his dog like his own as well and who he had spent the last 30 minutes chasing said misbehaving beagle with him, and couldn't help but to lean in and kiss him. Alex kissed back with a fervor, their lust for each other always banked embers ready to ignite. Henry raked his fingers through the curls Alex had just arranged, tugging lightly when he felt a tiny warm body work their way between them. They broke apart to look down at David who was sitting between them, placidly looking between them. “Henry, grab the lights.”
December 12, 2024 at 2:13 AM
apricotstrumpet.bsky.social
Part 7 of #rwrxmas! Gingerbread houses!
“Baby, I'm home!” Alex closed the door quickly with his foot, not wanting for the cold wind to get into the warm house. He put down the large bulky boxes he was carrying and toed off his shoes. He bent down to greet David who was patiently waiting, tail wagging fast enough it was a blur against the flooring, and looked up to see a pair of legs encased in comfortable joggers leaning against the wall. He followed their path to see a comfortable warm and old NYU Law hoodie and Henry’ smiling face, a streak of flour against his cheek. Henry had been determined to hand out Christmas cookies to their near and dear, and was a week into recipe testing and tasting. Alex mentally added miles to his run and sets to his lifts if the delicious vanilla, cinnamon, and cloves smell was anything to go by. “Hello, love. You're home early.” Henry grabbed Alex’s hand as he stood up and stumbled a little, legs feeling stiff from the cold outside. He pulled him closer, putting his arms around Alex’s shoulders, a “Hi, love” whispered in the space between the two, a tiny pocket where nothing else but them existed. Alex put his arms around his waist and pushed him against the wall, Henry's shoulder pushing back against it as he arched slightly. “Hi, baby,” Alex whispered back, slanting his head to kiss Henry’s lips, faintly dusted in sugar. He kissed his lips softly, with no rush in the world, a gentle touch. Alex left his lips briefly, licking the sugar and spice off Henry had left behind, and leaning down to kiss him, this time a shriek interrupting them as Alex moved his cold hands from his waist to under Henry’s hoodie, cold freezing hands making contact with Henry’s toasty warm skin. “Get awayyyy, you tosser!” Henry shrieked out as Alex cackled, pushing against him as Alex held on harder and rubbed his cold nose into his neck. Alex finally let him go when the laughter got the best of him and he had to sit down to recover. Henry looked down at him, unamused, as David jumped on Alex’s lap, trying to lick at his face and yipping. “You cretin, you can just stay down there.” He turned on his heel sharply, walking into the kitchen with the stiff steps of a Prince Henry with his hackles up. “Aww. I’m sorry, baby, you were so warm and smelled so good, I couldn't resist,” Alex said as he grabbed the boxes he had come in with and followed him into the kitchen. He tried his best to look innocent and get Henry's forgiveness, and as he turned away from the kitchen’s island towards him, a slightly raised brow and pinched pouted lips that were holding back some amusement, let him know he had succeeded. “You are terrible and I hate you,” Henry said, rolling his eyes at Alex's smirk and pointed look at his neck where he knew a hickey from a couple days ago was hiding. Henry felt his ears grow red at that, as he spied the boxes on the counter, took the chance to change the conversation. “What are these then?” “Gingerbread house kits! Me and June used to do them as kids and would compete to have the best one! We haven’t done them in a while once June started college, and the White House always had the kitchen staff assemble them, so when I saw the whole kits on sale I grabbed a couple for us. Might be fun to do tonight if you’re not too tired of baking today,” Alex said as he looked around the kitchen, sheets of cookies cooking on the counters. “That sounds like fun, but-“ “On second thought, let’s do them-” Alex and Henry laughed as they talked over each other, each trying to postpone the house making in light of Henry’s not unsubstantial batches of cookies. “Let me help you put these away, and we can make the gingerbread houses tomorrow. I want you fresh and rested for me to kick your ass tomorrow.” Alex laughed, thinking Henry would too, remembering the time they decided to build David’s lifeguard stand doggy house for the lake house-and the ensuing frustration, screaming, and smashed thumbs. He turned, glass storage containers in hand to Henry biting his lower lip in amusement. “Is that so,” he said, amusement dripping from every word. He leaned over, elbows on the counter and his fist propping his face, and repeated “Is that so? You think your house is going to be better than mine?” “I know it is,” replied Alex, putting down the container and matching Henry’s posture. “Care to make it a wager then, love?” Henry smiled, showing off his gums,normally a sight Alex loved, but combined with the look in his eyes, did nothing but send a shiver down his neck. Still he gathered his wits and continued. “What are your terms then, H?” “If you win, I’ll do that thing you like. Yes, that thing,” he replied at Alex’s look of excitement and heat. “And if you win?” Asked Alex, trying to dampen his visible excitement and remain cool headed. “A boon. An IOU to cash out later. Within reason, of course,” he added smoothly at Alex's skepticism. “Within a six month time frame and comparable to the thing,” Alex bargained, trying to narrow down the bets limit. Henry rolled his eyes, a mumbled “fucking lawyers,” dropped under his breath. “You have yourself a deal, my love.” They shook hands as they each tried to look nonchalant, though each knew the other had already started mentally planning. “Now, will tomorrow's loser please help me put away these cookies?” Said Henry as he grabbed the container and started layering cookies carefully. “Sure thing, ba-Hey!”
December 16, 2024 at 2:41 AM
apricotstrumpet.bsky.social
Part 9 of #rwrxmas! We ignore the date 🙂‍↕️ 🙂‍↕️
“Oh c’mon, baby! Think of how cute it's gonna look! We can dress him in his antlers with the twinkling lights and his scarf again. We have plenty of time to catch him.” Henry stared at Alex, then looked at David who was looking at Alex with a very unimpressed face. “Are you sure? What are these pictures even for? We’ve already mailed out and posted our holiday cards?” Henry was quite confused at why Alex had burst into his study, frantically waving a JCPenney mail flyer and talking about pictures. He had plucked the flyer out Alex’s had to see advertised Santa pet picture hours with a stately looking basset hound wearing quite a silly hat. “My ‘buela Marta keeps albums, right? I remember she took them out and showed them to you last time we were at her house. But she also keeps holiday albums full of studio pictures of everyone over the years. June and I went to the JCPenney to take the pictures up to when my mom was gearing up for the primaries and we hit the road with her. And I dunno, I thought maybe it would be a good idea for us to have one too,” he tapered off his monologue, looking at Henry who was looking at him with a soft expression on his face. “Stop looking at me like that, I will fall in love with you.” “That's not an incentive to stop. Clear it with security, I’m fine with going in before or after hours.” Henry pulled Alex between his legs, wrapping his arms around his waist, resting his chin on his stomach and looking up at him. Alex took the chance to run his fingers through Henry's hair. It was getting a little long, just enough to give Henry a beautifully relaxed look. “We can go online and pick out an album later. Maybe something leather? With some engraving?” “Okay, love,”’ Henry said, voice faint and sleepy. The shelter was having a wave of new residents and temp lodgers due to the holidays bringing out the worst of people. Henry had been putting in the extra hours to help out, as well as covering for the staff that had been slowly falling one by one victim to the seasonal cold and flu. Alex slowly hoisted himself on top of the desk, taking care to not jostle Henry too much as he did so. Henry went with the movement, burying his face further into Alex’s stomach once he was sitting. He bent down to adjust Henry’s head so he wouldn't wake up with a crick, and settled in to stay there for the foreseeable future. “Well, now what?” Henry said as he held an antlered, twinkling, and scarfed David in his arms. They had come in in dark jeweled colored blue and green matching thick cable knit sweaters from Grandma Fox, ready for a photoshoot. Their security had arranged it with the store so that they came once the store closed its doors late at night for privacy and security. But once they were there, they were informed that the Santa on shift that was scheduled had unfortunately fallen ill after eating a dubious lunch. Alex paced back and forth, trying to reach a last minute Santa. “I don't want to reschedule so close to Christmas, but we might not have another choice.” sighed Alex, hanging up his call after yet another fruitless call. He turned towards Cash, who was standing tall behind him, hands clasped in front. Without taking his eyes off Cash, who raised an eyebrow questioningly, he beckoned over the studio employee with a question about the costumes they sold. Henry took the picture Alex had just finished trimming and mounted it onto the album, pressing hard to get it to stick. Alex peered over his shoulder and exclaimed “They didn’t turn out too bad! Though, we owe Cash an extra gift this year. Extra big.” They added another picture, in which picture!Henry and picture!Alex posed goofily next to a slightly lumpy and grumpy costumed Santa Cash, David laughing delightedly in his lap.
December 23, 2024 at 7:27 PM