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The night had been perfect, Alex and Henry had ordered in from their favorite Italian place, snuggled up on their soft couch, in their brownstone, in front of their warm fire, and watched Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince . They had slowly started a marathon planning to watch one movie a week until Halloween. They had both seen all of the movies multiple times, read all the books, and even once went down a rabbit hole of wolfstar fanfics together. So it wasn’t their first marathon but it was definitely a fun way to get into the cozy, comforts of fall while also enjoying pre planned weekly date nights.
Tonight after the movie had ended, the fire had been put out, the kitchen had been cleaned, and the downstairs lights had been turned off, Alex and Henry made their way up to their bedroom. It was less than a minute after they entered their room that Alex passionately kissed Henry pushing him back towards their bed as Henry’s fingers worked to undo the buttons on Alex’s shirt and pants. Once Henry had managed to strip Alex of his clothes, Alex followed suit stripping Henry of his as well.
After that Alex’s brain went blank, the only tangible thoughts bouncing around his brain were how much he loved Henry, how beautiful Henry was, and how lucky he was to have Henry.
All that had been over an hour ago though, now they laid under their warm sheets Henry’s arms wrapped securely around Alex, both had already cleaned up and said their goodnights and while Henry’s breath was slowly evening out in a sure sign of sleep, Alex was staring wide eyed at the ceiling.
Usually with Henry’s warmth surrounding him, Alex was able to sleep quickly, it seemed tonight would be an exception to ‘usually’.
Tonight his brain wouldn’t shut up about Harry Potter, he had so many fan theories, opinions, and critiques on the Half Blood Prince that it all jumbled together in his sleep deprived mind. One of his biggest curiosities that seemed to have been underlying his thoughts all night was Amortentia - the love potion. He wondered what it would smell like to him, more so he wondered what it would smell like to Henry.
Logically he knows he should let his boyfriend sleep unless he has a life or death problem, but also he feels like this is a life or death problem, at least life or death of his sleep schedule if he doesn't get an answer. So he proceeded to test the waters, see if Henry was still awake or not.
“Baby?” he whispered.
“Yes love?” Henry replied, voice full of sleep as if he had just been teetering on the edge and Alex was physically pulling him away from it.
“What would Amortentia smell like to you?” Alex asked, bringing his elbow to prop up his head on his pillow and turning to look Henry in the eye.
Henry blinked at him a few times as if he was crazy for asking him such a question at one in the morning, but the look of confusion on his face only lasted for a few seconds. Henry had been dating Alex for two years now, he knew him, he knew that Alex’s brain was awake and that unless he got some of his thoughts sorted, sleep wasn’t going to come anytime soon. So if he could help by genuinely answering Alex’s question he would. So he sighed and propped himself up on his elbow, mirroring Alex. He sat there for a few minutes just staring at Alex, at his beautiful eyes and the long eyelashes that curtained them. He thought about how Alex smelled to him, thought about how Alex tasted to him, thought about how Alex felt to him.
“To me Amortentia would smell like you, obviously, would smell the way you taste, the way you smell, the way you feel, the tangible scent of the indescribable love I have for you.”
Alex smiled softly and tangled his hand into Henry’s.
“And that tangible scent would probably smell of the lake - specifically the one by your dads house in Texas, cinnamon coffee - the kind you like that I make, santal 33 - your perfect cologne, my vanilla body soap - that I know you secretly use when I am abroad, firewood - like the nights we’ve spent in front of warm bonfires, clean linen - specifically cleaned in your gain washing liquid, and buttercream- like the 75,000 £ cake you pushed us into.” Henry said, and even through his joking Alex could see the genuine thought and love Henry put into his answer. And it made his heart stutter, unable to handle the amount of love he felt for Henry.
“You mean the 75,000 £ cake you pushed us into,” Alex corrected with a laugh. Henry opened his mouth to argue but Alex cut him off with a light kiss, before whispering “thank you, baby, I love you,” against his lips.
“I love you too Alex, more than I could put into words,” Henry whispered back, unwilling to break the quiet and peaceful haze that had befallen their room.
Alex laid back down, his brain seemingly satisfied with Henry’s answer to its curiosities, and pulled Henry along with him until his forehead was settled against Alex’s.
In the morning Henry would return Alex’s question and Alex would happily answer. Alex would tell him how Henry smelled of tea - specifically the earl grey that he has Alex brew for him while he makes Alex’s coffee, vanilla - like his body soap, rain - like the rainy night they danced in the VA museum, fresh paper - specifically the smell of the paper Henry nervously gives him after each new chapter for his book, champagne - the kind that lingered on his breath the first time they kissed, Alex’s clean linen - that Henry wears more of than his own linen, cornettos - the ones they share for late night snacks way too often, Jaffa cakes - Henry’s favorite snack and buttercream - like the 75,000 £ cake Henry pushed them into.
But that would be Henry’s question in the morning, for now he was tired and happy Alex seemed to be finally falling asleep, so he closed his eyes, basked in the feeling of the love of his life in his arms and breathed in his Amortentia, his Alex until sleep finally came for them both.