Chapter 1: Prologue - Night Changes
Chapter Text
Louis lost sight of Ed nearly the moment they walked into the party.
It was the type of house party he thought only existed in movies. Music, lights, people everywhere. There was even an office converted into a karaoke room. Ed barely had a chance to introduce Louis to anyone before he was whisked away by drunk friends.
At first it’d been fine. Louis didn’t know anyone else there, but he was pretty good at the whole ‘small talk at parties’ thing. Some might even go as far to say he could be right charismatic when he wanted to be. Not to mention, drunk people loved making friends with the guy that looked totally lost.
So he wasn’t surprised that the moment he found his way to where all the drinks were in the backyard, he’d been simultaneously adopted by a group of girls and dragged onto the dance floor. Later, he talked to a bunch of the people he immediately forgot the name of, and he even ran into another friend from work, Perrie, who introduced him to some of her friends. Eventually though, he was tired of the somewhat superficial conversation.
The joys of trying to make new friends outside of work as an adult.
It sucked.
Starting over in a new city was exhausting, even if he did have Ed and Lottie to help him out. Ed was doing a pretty shit job at the moment though; he still hadn’t seen his friend all night. He was sure Ed would be in the karaoke room, but the man singing was a brunette with a bit of an Irish accent coming through the song.
By the time Louis found his way to the kitchen for a glass of water, he was pretty fed up with Ed for ditching him and was considering skipping the drink and just leaving.
That was, until he saw the most beautiful man he’d ever seen sitting on the counter.
The man looked effortlessly cool, leaning his back against the cabinets and sipping a beer by himself. Louis observed him in a buzzed daze. He had long legs in tight skinny jeans, an aggressively unbuttoned paisley patterned shirt in bottle green that revealed the corners of tattoos hidden on his chest, rings on every finger, tattoos going up his arm disappearing under the rolled sleeve of his shirt… Then Louis’ eyes made it to his face where curly brown hair that just barely brushed the tops of his shoulders framed a sharp jawline and clear green eyes that had definitely caught Louis looking.
“Hi,” the man said with a smirk. His voice was soft, a little husky. “Are you alright?”
Louis blinked and immediately looked away from the man’s jawline so that he could attempt a coherent thought. The man looked like a rock-star Disney prince. “Yeah,” he said in a hopefully casual way. “Just wanted a breather.”
The curly haired man bobbed his head in agreement, “Me too. Want to join me?” He patted the space on the counter next to him.
“You sure? I might not be the best company,” Louis took a step forward to give him an out. “I’m in a shit mood.”
“I’m sure you’ll be perfect company,” the man graced Louis with a smile that revealed dimples in both of his cheeks. Holy fuck.
Louis was an absolute goner.
Well, how could he turn down a two-dimple smile from a beautiful man? He was definitely sitting on that countertop.
“What are your thoughts on time travel?” Curly asked the moment Louis was up on the counter.
It was not even close to anything Louis thought he would ask, but he appreciated that it was more interesting than more small talk about what they did for a living. “Sounds cool in theory, but I probably wouldn’t live long in most other time periods with all the diseases and stuff. There’s something to be said for modern medicine.”
“Hmm, practical answer,” curly nodded. “I appreciated that.”
“Maybe sometimes too practical,” Louis gave him a wry smile that he was sure didn’t meet his eyes.
“Oh?” curly tilted his head, giving Louis his undivided attention.
Louis shrugged, “Not much of a risk taker, I guess. I’m a bit boring.”
He looked at Louis carefully before slowly shaking his head, “Don’t seem boring to me.”
“You’ve known me for all of five minutes,” Louis laughed with a hint of disbelief.
“Doesn’t matter. I’m good at reading people.”
“Like a psychic or like Sherlock Holms?”
The dimples appeared as the man grinned widely, “I’m definitely not a psychic, but I guess I am good at observing and figuring out what’s unsaid.”
“What can you tell about me, then?” Louis couldn’t help but smile back.
“Hmm,” he squinted his eyes and tapped his chin dramatically. “Well, you answered my weird question right away without laughing or asking why. So I think you’re probably trusting and giving.”
Louis titled his head to take in the man relaxed next to him. “I don’t think you’re weird. I think you’re interesting.”
Louis’ heart fluttered when his comment was rewarded with another bright dimpled grin. “And that tells me you’re sweet,” his smile faded a bit, “but uncomfortable with receiving compliments. It makes me wonder if someone hurt your trust along the way. Give me your hand.”
Louis did without question, wanting to know what the captivating man wanted his hand for. He took Louis hand in both of his, turning his palm to face up. Louis shivered at the contrast between his warm hands and the cold metal of the rings on his long fingers. He also noticed for the first time that his thumb nails were painted black. Then, he used one of his hands to delicately trace along the lines of his palm. “Your heart line is very deep. That means you care deeply, so I was right.”
Louis felt himself blush; this guy was spot on with him not knowing how to take a compliment. “So you’re not a psychic, but you do palm reading?” Louis asked in response.
“Not really, I just read a book about it once and wanted to hold your hand.” The curly haired man bit his lip, clearly hiding a smile, and looked down to hide a blush that was forming on his cheeks.
Louis was sure his blush was crimson at that point. “Oh,” he breathed. Everything about this man was throwing him off balance. It had been awhile since he was interested in a guy. Or had a guy interested in him. Dating hadn’t been on his radar at all since he moved to Lamsted to start over a few months ago. He cleared his throat, “What are your thoughts on time travel? You never said.”
It was deflecting a bit, he could admit, but he also didn’t take his hand back. That had to count for something.
“I think the Doctor Who way would be the most fun.”
Louis considered, “Also seems to have the least amount of consequences. No stepping on a butterfly and turning the human race into fish people.”
“There you go talking practical to me again,” curly teased. “And with references to literature.”
“Impressed? Or bored?”
“Definitely impressed,” he said seriously. “I maintain that you could never be boring.”
Louis decided to not bring up that that wasn’t what his ex-boyfriend had said. Instead he changed the subject, again, “If you could have a super power, what would it be?”
That question got him the biggest dimpled smile yet. “I always thought being able to control the weather like Storm in the X-Men would be really cool. Especially because she can use it to fly too. Though Warren’s wings would be lovely too. Or Jubilee’s energy fireworks.”
Louis couldn’t help the giggle that burst from his lips. This man that looked so sexy and cool when Louis first saw him, and still did, was also a nerd for Doctor Who and the X-Men comics. If that wasn’t the most endearing combination, Louis wasn’t sure what was.
“What?” curly said, sounding a little cautious all of a sudden.
“It’s just that, if my answers tell you so much about me, I think yours say just as much about you.”
He seemed to relax again, eyes bright. “Oh? Tell me.”
“You’re…” Louis searched for the right word. “Vibrant. I was going to say something like teleportation or super speed, the basics. Your responses are much more interesting.”
From the look he was getting, Louis was pretty sure he chose the right word. The man shifted on the counter so that he was fully sitting sideways, one leg dangling down and the other bent up under him, head resting on the cabinet. He still hadn’t let go of Louis’ hand.
“I’m Harry,” he said softly.
“Louis,” he grinned.
“Well Louis, what is on your travel bucket list?”
Before he could answer, his phone started vibrating in his pocket. “Hold that thought,” he said, fishing the phone out. It was his sister Fizzy, he frowned. “Hello? Fiz?” He said into the phone, eyes still on Harry who seemed to have noticed his frown and looked concerned.
“Lou?” Was all he could make out before it sounded like she was trying to talk through crying.
He sat up straighter as if that would help, “Fiz, what’s wrong? Why are you crying? I can’t understand you. Are you hurt?”
Harry looked as alarmed as he felt.
Finally, Fizzy calmed down enough to understand. “Jason broke up with me,” she wailed.
Louis sighed in relief, he hated that little shit. “I’m so sorry Fiz.”
“I don’t understand? He said he loved me!”
“I know sweetie,” he soothed. “Is mum home?”
“No, she and Dan are on a date night. The little ones are at their grandparents’ and Daisy and Phoebe are at a sleepover party. It’s just me.”
Louis felt gutted by how sad she sounded. He closed his eyes for a moment trying to think. “I’m at a party right now Fiz, can I call you back in about an hour once I’m home?”
“Yeah, okay,” her voice was thick with tears.
“Get that fancy bubble bath mum keeps under the sink and take a bath, okay? Maybe with some ice cream if there is any. I know mum keeps some behind the frozen vegetables.”
She agreed and they hung up. Louis rubbed his hands over his face, not sure when he had taken his hand back from Harry. Oh, Harry.
He looked at the lovely man who hadn’t stopped watching him. “My little sister, Fizzy,” he explained. “She’s sixteen. Apparently her boyfriend just broke up with her. Her first one.”
“Ah,” Harry winced empathetically. “That hurts. It’s sweet that you’re the one she wanted to talk to though.”
“It might be because she knows I’m normally free to talk,” Louis pursed his lips. “I’m boring, remember?”
Harry rolled his eyes. “Sure.”
“I have to go though, I told her I’d call her to talk and I don’t live particularly close.” He decided to leave out that he lived with another of his sisters. He slid off the counter, Harry mirroring his actions.
“Of course,” Harry said. “Your sister needs you.”
“Can I have your number?” Louis blurted out suddenly. It was not smooth. Not at all. Luckily, Harry didn’t seem to mind.
“Give me your phone.”
He was smiling softly as he entered his number into Louis’ phone. When he passed it back, Louis saw he named himself “Harry ⏰⛈🌈⭐️,” which made him smile.
“I look forward to hearing from you, Louis,” he said almost shyly.
“Me too.”
At that moment, Louis felt lighter than he had in months.
***
Louis was an idiot. A specific kind of idiot. The kind of idiot that didn’t back up his phone automatically so when it crashed before he could call Harry, he lost Harry’s phone number.
Fuck.
He was at the Apple store trying to get everything fixed, but the kid helping him out said anything that wasn’t on the backup was gone.
The universe was obviously telling him that he and Harry weren’t meant to be.
Chapter 2: Chapter 1 - Fireproof
Chapter Text
“Hey, Tommo,” Ed said as they merged paths on the way into the hospital a couple of weeks later. “How’s your sister?”
“Which one?” Louis groaned dramatically. “Fizzy is still upset about Jason breaking up with her and keeps texting me sad song lyrics. Daisy and Phoebe are apparently fighting, but no one knows what about. And if I have to hear Lottie and boyfriend having sex in the next room one more time I’m going rip my ears off. The only sister that doesn’t seem to have something going on right now is Doris, and she’s seven.”
Ed snorted, “Still haven’t been able to find a place of your own?”
They waved to Marcia, the charge nurse of the Jade Memorial Hospital Emergency Department, as they passed her at the nurses station on the way to the breakroom to put away their belongings.
“Nope,” Louis grumbled. “Everything that’s affordable is either impossibly tiny or a literal hell-hole.” There had been one that had multiple cockroaches crawling around as he was looking at it. Hard pass. As much as he didn’t want to live with his sister and her boyfriend while they were sexually active, he didn’t want to live with a roach infestation even more. He’d buy better headphones before that happens.
“Well, then I might have something for you,” Ed said casually.
Louis looked at him sharply. “Really? Why didn’t you say anything?”
“You remember me mentioning my friend Niall?”
“Is he one of the ones you ditched me for at the party?” He raised an eyebrow.
Ed winced. “Technically no, but he was there. Stayed with the karaoke most of the night. Besides, I saw you talking to a bunch of people–I’m sure you made some new friends without me.”
Louis hadn’t told Ed about Harry and how he’d lost Harry’s phone number in the great cellphone debacle. Didn’t seem to matter now anyway. He’d never see the beautiful man with the curls, dimples, and green eyes again.
“I don’t need more friends, you take enough of my time,” Louis snarked.
“Ha ha,” Ed rolled his eyes. “Do you want to hear about the apartment or not? Cause if you want to keep third-wheeling with your little sister and her boyfriend, I can tell Niall nevermind.”
Louis pursed his lips and shoved his bag of extra clothes and scrubs into his locker. Ed certainly had him there, he sighed. “Who’s Niall again? The singer?”
“Yeah, he’s cool, I think you’d like him. Teacher by day, struggling musician by night. He has a place with three bedrooms and one of his flatmates is moving in with his boyfriend, so they’re looking for someone to take over his part of the lease. I told Niall you might be interested.”
Louis blinked in surprise, “Really?” He hadn’t given finding a flatmate much thought since so much could go wrong if you didn’t really know the person. A lot could go wrong even if you did know the person too.
“Yeah, Niall’s real cool. Friends with everyone. You’ll love him. The flat is really nice too, that's why they need three to split it. The other flatmate is great too. He’s a pastry chef. Oh, and he’s gay! Niall just attracts gay friends for some reason. You’ll fit in perfectly.”
“That wasn’t really a requirement, but good to know,” Louis deadpanned.
“I’m just saying,” he shrugged.
“If I were to decide to move in with these guys, I certainly wouldn’t want to date where I slept. If we broke up I’d be in the same position all over again. Dating a flatmate is a terrible idea.”
“So, does that mean you want me to give Niall your number then?”
“Yeah, sure. That’d be great,” Louis smiled genuinely at his friend.
The moment they were back out on the ED floor, a trauma was coming in.
“Tomlinson, with me!” Dr. Song shouted as she rushed past him to the ambulance-bay doors. Louis was quick to follow, the urgency in her voice was clear and made him worry a bit about what was arriving.
Dr. Mei Song was by far Louis’ preferred ER doctor to work with. All the doctors at JMH were great, but he and Song really clicked on a professional level the moment he came to work here. All doctors had their favorite nurses, and Louis was hers. He didn’t let it go to his head too much.
Sometimes he thought about how different JMH and Lamsted were from where he was three months ago and was shocked at how much happier he was. He often thought that his biggest regret of the last two years was forgetting what being happy felt like, verses just feeling settled. He’d mistaken routine for happiness. He couldn’t really call it contentment or comfort looking back, because he was constantly on edge, but he’d somehow convinced himself that that was normal.
“We need all available hands on deck,” Marcia, the charge nurse, shouted from her station. “We’ve got a big trauma coming in.”
“What do you think it is?” Ed asked, coming up beside him as they waited behind the doctors crowding around in the entrance of the ambulance bay.
“No idea, do you think ‘big trauma’ in this case means one really bad trauma, or a lot of traumas?” Louis wondered.
The ambulance arrived quickly before he and Ed could theorize more. The doors opened to reveal one of the paramedics Louis had come to recognize, a man around his age named Liam. He was an attractive guy with a gorgeous smile, nice hair, and muscular physique. Not that Louis was at all interested in jumping into a relationship just yet. He just liked to look.
Harry had just been a moment of… something.
“We’ve got a seventeen year old man, trapped overnight in cement up to his waist.” Liam said as several firefighters came out to help them get the gurney from the ambulance.
The first thing Louis noticed, besides the large lump on concrete surrounding the boy’s lower half, was that the boy looked extremely distressed.
“Please don’t tell my parents, this is so embarrassing,” was all he kept saying on repeat. Poor kid.
The weight made getting the boy into the trauma room a bit slow, even with several people pushing. If it was this hard to move him on wheels, Louis was worried about the pressure the concrete was placing on the kid’s bones and organs.
Once in a trauma room, Louis got to work checking the boy’s vitals while the doctors met just outside the room likely discussing how to best approach getting the boy out of the cement. The boy was starting to panic and was mumbling to the point of being incoherent. Louis quickly set up an IV to keep him hydrated as the cement sucked moisture from his skin, keeping careful track of how much fluid he was giving because at some point relieving his bladder would become an issue, and they had no way to get a catheter in.
“What’s your name,” Louis interrupted the boy’s muttering to try distracting him.
“Ryan,” the boy sighed.
“Does anything hurt, Ryan?”
Ryan gave a dry laugh, “Just my dignity.”
“How did this happen?” He asked soothingly. “Do you want to talk about it?” The boy’s heart rate was a little elevated, but not concerning. Still though, he didn’t want to distress the boy even further.
“I’m not usually this dumb,” he gestured to his lower half. “I spend all my time studying and working on school work. So I figured, hey, it’s almost the end of junior year, I’ll go to Shawn’s party with the rest of the junior class. Get out, have some fun, maybe make more friends. I don’t really have many, and I wanted to do something more than just sitting at home with my sister.” The boy choked up a little and Louis rubbed his shoulder. He didn’t say anything, not wanting the boy to feel like he had to tell the story if he didn’t want to. But fuck if that didn’t sound strangely familiar to how Louis ended up at a different party a few days ago.
“Chad, one of the most popular guys on the basketball team, and his friends invited me to join them to keep the party going when it was starting to die down. I thought it was a dream come true: hanging out with the basketball team, the coolest guys in school, when I’m just a nerd. We went to this construction site near the party, they were laughing and climbing on things, so I joined them. They were very drunk, I was a little bit but not nearly as much, so when I lost balance and found myself stuck in cement, they didn’t hear me shouting and didn’t remember I was ever even with them. I’m invisible. They probably just invited me because I was standing there when they made the plans,” the boy cried.
“Hey, none of that, mate,” Louis passed him a tissue. “You’re going to be fine, the doctors are figuring out the best course of action and you’ll be out in no time. And people that treat you that way aren't worth your time, you deserve friends that will care about you more than that.”
“It doesn’t matter now.” He sniffed. “Everyone at school is going to know what a loser I am. I’m forever going to be known as that kid that got stuck in concrete. No one is going to want to be friends with that kid.”
The boy’s heart rate was rising and Louis knew he needed to keep him calm. “Hey, It’s almost June though, right? You just have to finish this school year and then after the summer, so much other drama will have happened, you’ll be old news. ”
“Sure.”
“No seriously–”
But Louis’ uplifting speech was interrupted by a knock at the door and a dark skinned boy with curly hair shuffled in.
“Chad?” Ryan croaked.
“Hey, Ryan,” he rubbed the back of his neck. “How are you doing?” He winced.
“How do you think?” Ryan snapped.
“Right, sorry, dumb question–”
“Why are you even here? It’s not like you care about what happens to me, clearly.”
That was when Louis saw Chad’s face crumble unexpectedly, he was devastated. Maybe this was what Ryan needed. “Would you two like to talk alone? I can step out,” Louis said.
Ryan bit his lip. “Yeah, thanks for staying with me and trying to cheer me up.”
From outside the room, Louis stood at the nurses station subtly watching what was happening through the windows. Eventually, the two boys were both crying and hugging. He hoped Ryan wouldn’t completely let the other boy off the hook, but the look on Chad’s face made Louis think he’d realized how shitty he had been for leaving Ryan behind and wanted to make amends.
Maybe Ryan would come out of this with friends after all.
Eventually, the doctors got Ryan out of his cement casing. He had some chemical burns, but would make a full recovery. He was taken out of the ED, so Louis didn’t know exactly what went down, but Chad stayed the whole time gone with Ryan when he was moved to a room upstairs in the burn unit.
Louis enjoyed working in the ED– it was a bit of a rush not knowing what the next ambulance was going to bring–but sometimes he wished he could know more about what happened to the patients after they were moved to another floor. He’d gotten used to it though.
“Oh, Louis, perfect,” Marcia called to him as he walked up to the nurses station in the center of the room. She gestured to the doors that led to the ambulance bay. “We’re about to get a man that fell off his two story roof trying to get rid of a wasp's nest.”
“Oh shit,” Louis said as he put on a new pair of nitrile gloves. “Wasp allergy?”
“Thankfully no, but that doesn’t mean getting attacked by a nest of them hurts any less.”
Louis winced. He’d been stung once as a child and he’d certainly never desired to repeat the experience.
An ambulance pulled up, and Louis ran out to meet it with Dr. Song.
The doors opened and Louis recognized Paramedic Liam once again as the one helping to pull the gurney out of the truck. “Patient is Scott Lang, forty-one, fell off a roof and was attacked by wasps. Multiple stings. Superficial lacerations to arms and face. Severe break in the left arm at the elbow. Possible concussion.”
“Thanks, Liam, we got it from here,” Song said. Louis nodded at the man and followed Dr. Song into the Emergency Department.
The man was moaning loudly and clearly in a lot of pain. Louis set up an IV with practiced ease and administered the proper dose of morphine to help make the man more comfortable.
Some days, all Louis would do during his shift was diagnose stomach pain, look at strange rashes, and put casts on broken bones. Other days, like today, were more high-stress with things like car accident victims, the occasional gunshot wound, and heart attacks. After being in nursing for 5 years, Louis had seen all kinds of injuries. Though kid-in-cement was certainly a first, people falling off of roof’s and ladder’s was pretty common.
As Dr. Song assessed the man’s condition, Louis patched up the cuts and scrapes the man had from the fall and applied some numbing cream to the wasp stings littering his face, neck, and arms. Then, he brought in the portable X-ray Dr. Song requested.
“Mr. Lang, your ribs are bruised, but not broken, and surprisingly you have no concussion. However your elbow is going to need surgery in order for it to heal correctly. You should most likely be able to regain full function after it heals and some physical therapy,” Dr. Song said. An OR nurse came up to them. “There’s an opening in the OR now, so Nurse Joy here will take you to the operating room so that you don’t have to wait around.”
Joy smiled at Louis and pulled the lever to unlock the wheels of the bed and rolled Mr. Lang out.
“Great working with you Louis,” Dr. Song said as they took off their gloves and disposed of them. “I’ll let you know how things go.” She knew he liked to keep track of his patients.
“Thanks doc,” he grinned.
“You did a great job with that kid earlier too. Keeping a patient like that calm, listening to them, talking to them–those things go a really long way in patient care.”
Louis blushed, “I just didn’t want him to feel alone after going through that.”
“You’re a good nurse, Louis, and you have good instincts–trust them.” Song smiled and patted Louis on the shoulder. “We’re really lucky to have you.”
Back at the nurses station, Louis had a rare moment to sit and felt his phone buzz in the pocket of his scrubs.
Hey, this is Niall Horan, Ed’s mate. He said you might be interested in taking over our third bedroom’s lease? Let me know when you’re free and want to set up a time to come by and meet.
***
Louis was on the fence about whether renting a flat with strangers was a good idea or not. Seemed risky.
Lottie, however, had different feelings on the matter. “Text that Niall guy back right now. You need friends besides me that don’t wear scrubs more than real clothes.”
“How dare you insult my wardrobe,” Louis gasped at her with mock outrage. “I’ll have you know my arse gets loads of compliments in those scrubs.”
“How many of those compliments are from old ladies high on morphine?”
Louis paused and considered.
“That’s fair,” Louis conceded. The old cougars with no filters loved him. He didn’t mind. Except for that one that actually pinched his arse so hard it left a bruise, that was just unnecessary. “I already texted him back though so you can stop your nagging, I’m meeting him tomorrow for an ‘informal flatmate interview.’”
“Great! I’ll help you pick out an outfit!” She stood to walk towards his room.
“It’s not a date, Lottie,” he groaned and leaned his head on the back of the sofa. They had been eating pizza while binge watching Stranger Things when Louis told her about the potential new flat situation.
“You’re meeting someone to see if you’d get along with each other long term. That’s basically a date without sex on the table.”
She had him there, but he wasn’t going to let her win two points in a row. She’d start getting an ego, and it was his job as big brother to make sure she stayed humble. “So I’ll just wear jeans and a shirt.”
“But you have to make the right impression! You need to wear something that says ‘ hey, I’m a cool, totally normal dude. I clean up after myself, and I’m not going to murder you in your sleep or trim my toenails in the kitchen.’ ”
“And jeans and a shirt won’t say that?” He might not be the most fashionable guy out there, but he was pretty confident that he didn’t give off serial killer vibes.
“It depends on the shirt. Also on what you do with your hair, it’s getting a bit long on top,” she hummed, studying him like he was one of her projects. “Keep the scruff though,” she added pointing to his face. “It suits you.”
Lottie, of course, was working in marketing with a side of fashion, and apparently that extended into marketing him as a good flatmate.
“My hair is fine,” he pointed a finger at her. “Now sit down so we can finish the show, I want to know what happens with Eleven.”
Lottie huffed, but agreed.
A few minutes later though, she paused the show again. “You know I’m proud of you, right?”
Her sudden change in tone caused Louis to look at her searchingly. “What do you mean?” He furrowed his brows.
“You’ve come a long way in the last few months, Lou. You got out of an, honestly very unhealthy, relationship, started your dream job in a new city and are a total rockstar at it, you’ve made some good friends… I’m just proud of you.”
Louis smiled softly and leaned forward to hug his sister tightly.
He and Lottie had always been the closest as they were the oldest of the siblings, her being 24. They would help out their mum whenever they could by helping to take care of the little ones when it was just the six of them before their mum remarried.
When she pressed play on the show again, Louis let his mind wander.
An unhealthy relationship.
They hadn’t talked about it in such explicit terms before, but he guessed that is what it was. Ethan never hit him or anything, or did the types of things he’d classify as emotionally abusive… except maybe it was. Emotional abuse that is. Ethan didn’t forbid him from speaking to his family or friends. He didn’t explicitly call Louis names. But now that he’s a few months removed from the situation and has had the opportunity to reflect?
Yeah.
His ex-boyfriend was a manipulative, narcissistic, gaslighter and he wished he had realized it sooner.
It was little things like giving Louis the silent treatment if he forgot to text saying he’d be home late from work. Or looking at an outfit Louis was going to wear and saying “are you sure you want to wear that?” or even “are you sure you want that dessert? Maybe we should go on a diet.” Or “you’re overreacting, it’s not a big deal,” invalidating Louis’ feelings. It was all seemingly innocuous on its own, but when looked at as a body of work over a couple years, it was clear that it added up into Louis internalizing some of the comments Ethan would make.
He never seemed to pass up an opportunity to put Louis down and make him feel like it was own fault.
The feeling of uncertainty Louis got with Ethan that made him feel like he needed to proceed with caution to avoid setting him off was one thing, he recognized now that that was not okay and that a relationship shouldn’t make him feel that way, but it was the comments on his mannerisms, his style, and his weight that seemed to mess with Louis the most. He didn’t even realize he had let Ethan change him until Lottie mentioned something.
As a kid he had dressed a bit more on the flamboyant side: colorful pants, suspenders, scarves. He had toned things down in college a bit, wearing hoodies, band shirts, and skinny jeans, but he liked to experiment some still. He particularly liked to wear fitted pants that showed off his bum, many agreed it was his best asset (pun intended) along with his cheekbones and blue eyes.
However, when Ethan started suggesting that he was acting and dressing too… loudly to go with him to his law firm happy hours and spouse dinners. Louis readily agreed. He thought it made complete sense, and he certainly didn’t want to embarrass his mature older boyfriend. So, he let Ethan pick out his outfits so that he fit the correct “image” Ethan wanted to put out for the world. He toned himself down.
How had he become such a passive participant in his own life?
Somehow, Ethan had become the one to make decisions about everything. And Louis had let him.
The only place Louis felt… himself? Competent? Capable? Was at work.
When he was working he knew exactly what he was doing. He knew exactly who he was. He was confident at work.
Maybe that was why Ethan’s reaction to possibly transferring to JMH set things in motion for Louis to realize it was time for him to leave: nursing was the one place Ethan’s influence couldn’t touch him, and by Ethan essentially saying “no” to JMH, he tried inserting himself in the area of Louis’ life he wasn’t allowed into.
“Earth to Lou-Lou…” Lottie poked his shoulder, hard, drawing him out of his thoughts.
“Ow!” He rubbed his shoulder. “That hurt.”
“Where were you? I don’t think you paid attention to that whole episode.” Her lip pouted with worry.
“Just thinking,” he shrugged.
“Do you want to talk about it?” Her brows furrowed and she set down her plate that had just the pizza crust left on it.
“Not really. I’m fine, just… realizing some stuff.”
“Was it helpful stuff?”
“Yeah, I think so,” Louis gave her a small smile. “I’m going to get some more pizza. Catch me up on what happened that episode?”
“No, we're watching it again, you have to witness it for yourself.” She set up the screen to start the episode over. “And bring me some more pizza too.”
“Shouldn’t we save some for Michael?” Louis asked. Michael, Lottie's boyfriend of three years, was an engineer and had a big deadline coming up so he was working longer hours than usual that week.
“A couple of slices, but he just texted saying the team is ordering takeout and going over the presentation again.”
“More for us then,” he grinned mischievously and brought the whole box to the living room. As well as a bottle of wine and two glasses.
Later, tipsy on wine and looking at his sister laughing with her face stuffed with pizza, Louis had one more realization. He was happier here with her than he had been in who knows how long with Ethan. He was happier. He was finding his way back to himself.
There was just a little twinkling in the back of his mind of something missing.
He was happier. He was finding his way back to himself. And he still wanted to find his person. A partner. An epic love.
God damn he was a sappy fucking drunk.
When he let himself think about it, things had been bad between him and Ethan for a long time. How had he’d just ignored the red flags?
Of course, he knew he ignored the signs of their relationship crumbling because he wanted to make a relationship finally work. Any relationship. He didn’t want to have to start over again. He was 27 years old for Christ's sake. Most of his friends from high school and college were already married and a lot were having kids. A couple of them even had more than one kid.
He didn’t feel ready for kids in general, but just the thought of that with Ethan? Louis shuddered.
He met Ethan when he was 25 and Ethan was 30. Everything seemed perfect. A mature older man who wouldn’t play games, had a steady job, who would want to settle down one day and have a family and pets and a cute house. They would watch home improvement shows together and argue lovingly about the backsplash for their future kitchen.
Louis wanted a fantasy and that was all he saw, and all he wanted to see.
But his relationship with Ethan wasn’t a fantasy. Not really.
At least he figured that out eventually.
And now, maybe, with the potential of a new place to live that wasn’t his sister’s extra bedroom, he was finally getting the chance to start fresh.
Chapter 3: Chapter 2 - Midnight Memories
Chapter Text
Chapter 2 - Midnight Memories
Ed wasn’t kidding when he said Niall lived in a nice place. When Louis saw the upscale apartment building in walking distance of the Hospital, he almost worried that maybe he should have dressed nicer like Lottie wanted.
Once he found apartment number 1D (Niall informed him that the numbering in the building was strange, they were actually on the fourth floor, not the 1st), Louis took a deep breath, and knocked.
The door opened in a rush and a man with bright blue eyes, short brown hair that was poofed a bit on top, and a huge smile greeted him. “Louis, right?” He whispered quickly.
“Uh, yeah,” Louis said. Unsure of why he was whispering.
“Thank god. I’m Niall, I need you to help me get her out of here. Now.”
“What--” Louis started, but Niall grabbed him by the center of his shirt and pulled Louis into the apartment.
The apartment was spacious and tastefully decorated. He was pulled into a huge room that was a combined living room, dining room, and kitchen. A very impressive kitchen, he didn’t really cook, but he recognized a nice kitchen when he saw one. In the living space there was a large flatscreen TV and possibly the biggest sectional sofa he’d ever seen in dark emerald green velvet with mismatched throw pillows. While the sofa looked chic and expensive, the pillows looked like they were found in thrift shops or a flea market.
He was so busy taking in the eclectic decor, that he almost missed the angry red haired woman standing by the dining table.
“Oh, and who is this?” She shouted, finger pointing sharply at Louis. “If you think you’re going to use one of your friends to get rid of me you have another thing coming! I’m not going anywhere until you tell me who the text messages are from!”
What the fuck? Louis glanced at Niall. As someone who had been cheated on, he wondered if he should be on the woman’s side, regardless of wanting a new place to live. It was the principle of the thing, right? The woman was throwing the pillows dramatically around the room and screaming now though, which was kind of crazy.
Was she… chanting a spell? Well, he didn’t know the whole story.
“Uh, would you like some tea?” Louis asked hesitantly.
The woman paused and looked at Louis and then to Niall, then they both looked back at Louis, surprise written all over their faces.
“No one’s ever taken that approach before,” the woman said to Niall, suddenly completely calm. “I like him.”
What the fuck?
Niall swung an arm around Louis’ shoulders and gave him a squeeze, “You’re all right Louis, I think this is going to work out swell.”
“What the fuck?” Louis said, this time out loud.
“I’m Emma, Emma Stone. Friend of Niall’s, aspiring actress, nice to meet you,” she stuck out her hand and he dumbly gave it a light shake gaping like a fish.
“Came up with this great plan of staging an angry girlfriend debacle and seeing how potential new flatmates react in times of crisis.” Niall said. Louis just now noticed the thick Irish accent. “You passed with flying colors mate, I like a guy that’s cool under pressure and shows compassion. Didn’t jump to conclusions over me being a cheater or her being crazy.”
“Even when I started throwing the pillows and chanting,” Emma added.
“Yeah, even then,” Niall’s grin grew even wider, if that was possible.
“Shame I didn’t get to use the voodoo doll though,” she said as she reached into her bag and pulled out a little fabric doll that Louis assumed was supposed to be Niall.
Niall nodded in agreement, “I’d say next time, but I think we found our guy.”
Emma left soon after, saying that she had an audition for a car insurance commercial and thanked them for a great warm up exercise.
“So she was acting,” Louis clarified after she shut the door.
“Yep,” Niall looked pleased as punch.
Louis considered for a second and nodded, “She’s actually pretty good.”
Niall doubled over in laughter, “Right? She’s had every guy totally convinced she was fuckin’ nuts. It’s been great. She’s totally going to make it big.” He swung his arm over Louis’ shoulders again, “Let’s get you some of that tea, mate.”
***
“So I already know the basics about you from Ed, and I trust his opinion, but did he tell you anything about me?” Niall asked as they sat down at the dining table with their tea.
“Just that you’re a teacher, failed to mention you like pranks.”
Niall grinned, Louis wondered if the man was ever not smiling in some form or fashion. “Yeah, I’m a middle school music teacher. Though right now during the summer I’m doing a mix of summer school and being a camp counselor. I play at some pubs too, actually.”
“You any good?” Louis questioned good naturedly.
“Ha! Yeah, I like to think so. I’ve actually been getting requests from some of the regulars to put my stuff on Spotify to get my name out there more. For now you’ll have to come to one of my gigs and see for yourself. Ed plays with me sometimes too.”
“Sounds great.” Louis could already see himself easily being friends with this bubbly Irish ball of sunshine.
“So, I have one more serious question for you. My other flatmate, and best friend, is gay. Is that a problem for you?”
Louis amended his earlier thought about questioning if Niall was ever not smiling. His face had become hard as stone in an instant.
“It’d be pretty hypocritical of myself if it was,” Louis shrugged. “I’m gay too.”
“Oh perfect!” The smile was back on the Irish man’s face in an instant. “All my best friends are gay. I’m unfortunately cursed to only like women and be continuously baffled by their ways.”
“You and Emma?” Louis questioned.
“Ah, no. Hooked up once, was great, just friends now though.” Niall took his and Louis’ empty tea cups to the sink.
“That’s mature of you.” Louis responded.
“You might be the first person in the world to ever call me mature. Want to see the rest of the place and then play Mario Kart until H gets home so you can meet him?”
***
About an hour later, Louis felt like he’d been friends with Niall all his life. After he’d shown Louis what Niall already referred to his room, as if he already knew Louis would be living there, (the room was spacious enough for a desk or reading-nook in addition to a bed and dresser. It was down the hall to the left of the living room across from the equally spacious bathroom he’d share with Niall. The other bedroom was at the other end of the apartment behind the kitchen with an attached bathroom.) Niall proceeded to whoop Louis’ arse in Mario Kart, resulting in Louis challenging Niall to FIFA.
Louis, of course, won at FIFA and proceeded to make an overly dramatic victory lap around the couch feeding off of Niall’s enthusiasm and the two beers he’d had.
And that was when the most beautiful man Louis had ever seen walked through the front door.
Harry.
His mind was definitely not processing as Harry walked through the door and started talking off his shoes without looking up. Louis took note of how he neatly lined his shoes up next to a couple other pairs that were on their sides in a pile. He guessed the disorganized ones were Niall’s.
“Niall,” Harry said, voice smooth with a hint of frustration. “Can you please, for the love of god, not leave your shoes in a pile in front of the door? We are not in college anymore. Oh–” he finally looked up and saw Louis.
The both just kind of… froze. Which at least gave Louis more of a chance to just look at him. Harry’s luscious brown curls were pushed back with a headband scarf type thing wrapped around his head. He had forgotten how tall Harry was too–definitely taller than Louis. He looked a little tired, but then the gorgeous man smiled, rewarding Louis once again with the greatest set of dimples in the history of the planet. To think, he might have never seen that smile again.
It was Harry that found his voice first, while to Louis it felt like they were standing there in silence for ages, he was pretty sure that in reality it was only a few seconds. “You passed Nialler’s ridiculous test then?”
“Oh definitely,” Niall said, bringing Louis out of his daze. “He asked Emma if she wanted tea!”
“Really?” Harry raised his eyebrows at Louis in a way that showed he was intrigued.
Were they… pretending to not have met each other before? Was Harry mad that Louis never called him? Was he actually so drunk that night he didn’t even remember?
“I like tea,” Louis said, panicking internally. Maybe the ground would open up and swallow him whole and put him out of his misery.
“Me too,” Harry's eyes were bright with a smile tugging at the corner of his mouth.
That was promising, Louis thought. Maybe he didn’t completely fuck everything up?
That was when everything came crashing down for Louis.
Harry, the cute, interesting guy from the party who was the first guy Louis had felt any kind of connection with in ages, was going to be his flatmate.
Fuck.
“Louis’ kicking my arse at FIFA, want to join H?” Niall said, grabbing the control, completely oblivious to Louis’ mental breakdown. Which was for the best, really.
“Sure,” Harry rocked on his feet. “But do we have anything for dinner though? I’m starved.”
“You work in a bakery.”
“That doesn’t mean I eat pastries all day,” Harry said incredulously.
“How about I go pick up Thai from the place down the street and you and Louis can get to know each other. Oh, and he’s gay too, isn’t that great!”
Niall was out the door before either of them could respond.
“Does he do that a lot?” Louis broke the silence.
“Enter and exit like a whirlwind? Yes.” He chuckled. “Hope you like Thai, because you’ve been given no option.”
“Yeah, Thai’s great.” Louis’ mouth was dry, why was his mouth so dry? “Want some tea while we wait?”
The corner of Harry’s mouth twitched again. “Sure, tea would be great. How about jasmine?” He led Louis over to the cabinet that Niall had shown him earlier that had all the tea.
As the tea was steeping, he finally found his voice, “My phone crashed the day after the party and my contacts hadn’t been backed up. Just, uh, so you know. Not sure if that makes things more or less awkward.”
“Ah,” Harry seemed to sigh in relief. “That’s a bit of a relief for my ego.” Then he shifted around a bit and fiddled with his spoon, looking a bit unsure. “Um, I didn’t mention us meeting to Niall, and now that you’re here–”
“Pretend we just met?” Louis finished.
“Yeah,” Harry gave him a half-hearted smile. “If we’re going to be flatmates, it’s probably best to… just forget it, I guess? Have a ‘no dating flatmates’ rule?”
“Yeah,” Louis echoed. “I mean, you seem great, but–”
“It would get so messy–”
“Exactly,” Louis pointed at him in agreement. “Just friends?”
“Absolutely.”
“Great.”
Louis sighed in relief. At least that was settled. They were both in agreement: Friends only. Piece of cake.
The timer for the tea went off and they added their preferred amounts of milk and sugar. Louis with just a splash of milk, Harry with milk and an amount of sugar that made Louis cringe. “So you're a baker?” He gestured to all the sugar.
Harry gave him a look, “Being a baker isn’t the reason I like sugar in my tea. I just think it tastes like hot leaf juice without some additives.”
Louis gasped and clutched a hand to his heart, “Hot leaf juice?! Are you insane?”
“Am I insane for liking sugar in my tea, or are you insane for not? You don’t drink black coffee too do you? That might be a new flatmate rule if so–no normal person should have taste buds that tolerate that liquid bean acid.”
Louis laughed loudly, possibly louder than he had in a long time. “I don’t really drink coffee at all unless I’m in a rush and don’t have tea, so I guess you’re not rid of me just yet.”
“Good, you seem alright, despite your strange tea opinions,” Harry grinned.
“So,” Louis prompted again after a beat. “You bake?”
“Yeah, my friend James and I co-own Olivia’s around the corner.”
“No shit?” Louis said, his eyes meeting Harry’s beautiful green ones, “Someone left a box of your blueberry muffins and banana bread at the nurses station a few weeks ago, they were amazing! Best I’ve had. Even better than my mum’s, though I will deny I ever said that to my grave,” he pointed a sharp finger at Harry.
“Thank you, my lips are sealed,” and Harry mimed locking his lips and throwing away the key. Louis was delighted to see his cheeks turn a little pink.
“So, how’d you get into baking?”
That was all they needed to break the ice, Harry clearly loved talking about his job. Louis couldn’t help but find it endearing. He needed to get a grip though, they’d literally just decided anything more than friends would be too messy. That had been shut down.
He’d just watch Harry’s lips as he spoke in a totally platonic way.
“My mum said I needed a job when I turned fifteen, so I started working in a bakery near our house as the cashier. The longer I was there I got interested in the behind the scenes stuff and how things were made. The chemistry parts were interesting, but my favorite was the creativity that could go into it once you figured out the basics. I loved seeing people smile when they ate something I made… everyone loves food, you know?” Harry’s whole body seemed to move as he spoke, hands moving about, curls bouncing around the ridiculous headband.
“Yeah,” Louis nodded, hanging on his every word. “Why Olivia’s then?”
Harry took a sip of his tea and smiled softly. “After my grandmother. She’s the one that encouraged me to pursue baking as a career-- turn my passion into more than just a hobby, you know? When she died she left me quite a bit of money with the caveat that I use some of it to open my own bakery.”
“She sounds like she was a great woman,” Louis offered. He didn’t mean to bring down the mood.
“She was,” Harry cleared his throat. “So you work with Ed at JMH?”
“Yeah, token male nurses of the Emergency Department,” Louis joked, accepting Harry’s change in subject. “We were destined to be mates.”
Harry laughed, Louis tried not to love it.
“So why nursing then?” Harry asked, with a bit of a glint in his eye.
“Well,” Louis started, leaning back in his chair, “It’s kinda a long story actually. I tried to kiss a boy I was on the footie team with when I was seventeen and he told everyone, totally outing me--”
“Shit,” Harry ruffled his curls with the hand not holding the tea cup. “I’m sorry.”
“Eh, it is what it is,” Louis shrugged. Then he smiled slightly thinking about the tattoo on his chest. “After that though I quit the team because they made it pretty uncomfortable. So suddenly I had a lot of free time in the afternoons and I was kinda depressed, so my sister, Lottie–”
“Was she the sister that called you upset? How is she?” Harry asked. His acknowledgement of their first meeting threw Louis off for a moment.
“No, that was Fizzy. She’s still heartbroken, but she’ll be okay. First heartbreak, you know?”
“Yeah,” Harry looked into his cup of tea. Something in his face made Louis think he definitely did know, and maybe it still kind of hurt. “So what did Lottie do?”
“She made me hang out with her and watch Grey’s Anatomy.” He said matter of factly.
“So, you became a nurse because of Grey’s Anatomy?” Harry chuckled.
“More or less. The summer before college I did some volunteer work in a hospital too, that’s how I decided on being a nurse as opposed to a doctor. Nurses get to spend more time with the patients.”
Harry looked at him intensely, considering. “I can definitely see you being good at putting people at ease.”
“So not boring?” Louis bit his lip, he didn’t mean to blurt that out.
Harry didn’t seem to mind acknowledging their first meeting though, despite not wanting to tell anyone about it or act on it. “No, not boring at all.”
Louis wasn’t sure what he was going to say, so he was thankful when Niall came back at that moment with way too much food.
“I wasn’t sure what you liked, so I got a few things,” was his reasoning as he piled the dining table with takeaway boxes.
***
Louis couldn’t stay with the lads too late as he had a shift early the next morning, but they set a time the following weekend for him to move in. He’d have to buy a bed. He couldn’t just take the one from Lottie’s guest room.
“So? How was it?” Lottie asked the moment he was through the door.
“Were you waiting up for me like a mum waiting for her kid to get back from their first date?”
“Told you, this basically was a date. Now tell me. Did you like them? Did they like you? Of course they liked you--” she answered her own question.
“Yeah, they’re great. I’m moving in next weekend.”
Lottie squealed, “That’s great! I’m going to miss you though.” She looked at him more closely. “What’s that look?”
“What look?” Louis’ head perked up. He was definitely thinking about how cute Harry looked as he was falling asleep on the couch, game control in his hand, trying to stay awake.
“You look like you just saw a video of little kittens napping with baby ducklings.”
“I do not!” He threw a couch pillow at her.
“Tell me about your new flatmates then,” she sounded suspicious. Damn.
“Niall is hilarious, Ed said he’s friends with everyone he meets, and I definitely get it. Apparently he’s a musician too.”
“And the other one?” Lottie prodded.
“Ah,” Louis paused, and he knew immediately that was all it took to completely give him away to his little sister who was too damn perceptive for her own good. “Harry…”
“Oh shit, you think he’s cute.” She brought her legs up to the couch so that she was sitting cross legged on it facing the other end, which she patted for him to take. “You think he’s really cute.”
Louis obliged and sighed heavily. “He’s bloody gorgeous,” he mumbled into his hands.
Lottie squealed even louder than she did before.
“It doesn’t matter though,” Louis clarified. “I’m not going to hook up where I sleep, finding a place was hard enough this time. And I just got out of a pretty messed up relationship.” He briefly thought about telling Lottie about meeting him at the party and deciding to pretend it didn’t happen and just be friends, but a part of him wanted to keep it to himself.
In some ways, the conversation they had sitting on the kitchen counters, talking quietly in the middle of a raging party seemed like a dream. It had been so full of potential in a way Louis had never experienced before. It didn’t matter now though. He didn’t want to dwell on it too much. All he knew was that moment was his and Harry’s, no one else's.
“All I’m hearing are excuses,” Lottie said in a sing-song voice. Louis glared at her and she held her hands up in surrender. “Okay, I won’t say anything more. I’m glad you found some new friends though, and a place to spread your wings a bit.”
Louis gave her a kiss on the cheek, “Thanks Lot, I’ve got to go to bed now. Next shift bright and early in the morning.”
Louis definitely did not dream about curls and dimples and tea.
***
Harry wasn’t there Saturday when Louis moved into the flat. Niall said that while he and his business partner James shared a lot of the work, Harry was a bit more involved on the baking side while James, who had studied business, was more involved in the business side of things. Which meant that Harry was often at the bakery for long stretches of time baking things for the display case, working on custom orders, and crafting new confections.
“Wow,” Lottie looked to Louis with raised eyebrows as they all piled back into the elevator to get more of Louis’ boxes from his and Lottie’s cars. “I’ll have to stop by his bakery sometime.”
The elevator doors opened then to reveal… Paramedic Liam?
“Payno!” Niall shouted as he bounded out of the elevator. “This is Louis, the guy taking over your lease, and this is his sister Lottie.”
Liam looked like he recognized Louis the same moment Louis recognized him. “We know each other actually, in passing anyway.”
“Yeah,” Louis smiled and shook Liam’s hand. “Passing, in that he passes me patients out the back of an ambulance on a daily basis. Nice to meet you officially though.”
Liam had the decency to chuckle at his bad joke.
“You’ll probably be seeing Liam a whole lot more now,” Niall said as Liam followed them to help with bringing in Louis’ things before his new bed was delivered. “While you are taking his room, he hasn’t gone far.”
Louis gave him a questioning look.
“I moved in with my boyfriend, Zayn, who already had a flat on the 6th floor.”
“That and neither of them really like cooking, so they keep coming down to see what Harry is making.”
Louis thought it was kind of sweet. He’d never had close friends like that.
Louis asked if Zayn would like to come join them for beers while they wait for the bed, but apparently Zayn was a successful international model and was currently in Berlin for a photoshoot. Which explained how the two of them could afford the rent in this pricey building with Liam on a paramedic’s budget.
Upon hearing that, Lottie Googled “Zayn model” on the spot and “ohh-ed” and shoved the phone in Louis’ face. The man was definitely attractive. Not really his type though. Lottie then had the audacity to congratulate Liam on his hot boyfriend. Luckily, Liam seemed pleased rather than offended.
“You should ask Liam to help you get a hot boyfriend too, Lou-Lou,” she teased. “Your game is kind of lacking.”
“Excuse me,” Louis whirled on her. “I can pull just fine when I want to, thank you very much.”
“I’m an excellent wingman,” Niall volunteered. “I’ve gotten Harry a couple of dates before.”
The gleeful look on Lottie’s face was terrifying. Louis did not want those two becoming friends. Not at all.
“Oh look,” Louis said extra cheerily as his phone started ringing. “The mattress delivery people are here, let’s go let them in.”
After that, it didn’t take long for Louis to be completely done unpacking. He really didn’t have that much stuff. Lottie left not long after, giving the three of them big hugs on her way out. Then, the three boys sat down on the couch and started to play FIFA.
***
A few hours later, Harry came through the door and Louis’ stomach flipped at the sight of him all over again.
This time he was wearing a colorful button-up shirt with a few too many buttons undone once again. Was that a giant butterfly on his chest? His hair was also pulled back into a bun with smaller pieces flying around instead of wrapped up in a headscarf.
He looked exhausted again too.
Harry mumbled a hello and collapsed on the couch next to Louis, letting his messenger bag drop to the floor by the couch. He was definitely sitting closer to Louis than most people would go for. Louis didn’t know what that meant.
“There’s leftover pastries in the bag if anyone wants to take them to the kitchen,” Harry mumbled. Niall moved to the bag with exceptional speed.
Harry’s eyes were closed for a few moments, head leaning over the arch of the cushion on the back of the couch exposing his beautifully long neck. Then he opened his eyes and turned his body sideways to face Louis like he did on the kitchen counter at the party, pulling his gangly legs up under him.
“How’d the move go?”
God, his sleepy voice was sexy. “Not bad, don’t have much stuff really, so it was pretty quick.”
“Oh?” Harry asked.
Louis heard Niall and Liam saying something to each other about the food, but he ignored it. “Didn’t even have my own bed until today actually,” Louis grinned. “When I left my ex I just took my clothes and personal belongings. Didn’t really care about furniture and stuff. It was all his style anyway. And I certainly didn’t want the bed after walking in on him in it with some other guy.”
Louis hadn’t meant to share so much, not really. He wasn’t typically one to freely volunteer personal details like that. Something about Harry just made him easy to talk to. Oh boy.
Harry’s eyes bugged. “Fuck.”
“Yes, they were.” Louis joked.
“Are you okay?”
“Yeah, I was actually on my way home early to break up with him when I caught them, so that’s not really the biggest issue I had with that relationship.”
Harry looked like he wanted to ask, but thought better of it. “Well, I’m glad you’re here now.” His tone was sweet and sincere and made Louis melt just a little.
That was when Louis caught sight of the smudge of flour just below Harry’s ear.
Without thinking, he reached out his hand to Harry’s neck and gently brushed the smudge away. Harry shuddered. Louis’ brain blinked out of existence for a split second.
“Uh, sorry,” Louis muttered and held up his thumb that held traces of the flour. “There was flour…”
“Yeah,” Harry breathed. “Side-effects of working in a bakery. Everything gets covered in flour no matter how hard I try. I’m also told I smell like dessert.”
It took everything in Louis not to lean forward and smell the man to find out for himself.
Harry’s attention was pulled away by Liam, but Louis continued to observe him. The man was devastatingly gorgeous, but finding someone attractive didn’t mean he needed to act on it. He could find Harry aesthetically pleasing and just be his friend. He’d respect the boundaries Harry asked for. Fuck, maybe living with him would make Harry infinitely less attractive. He probably had some weird or annoying habits that would drive him crazy and he’d never believe he’d once thought the man was cute.
He wasn’t going to fall for a fantasy again. Especially when the fantasy didn’t want him in the first place. He’d learned that lesson the hard way already.
***
The next morning, Louis flipped the light switch in the bathroom several times hoping for something to happen. “Hey guys, I think the lightbulbs in the bathroom are all out. Do we have extra bulbs or should we put in a maintenance request?” Why pay for bulbs if you can get them for free?
“No!” He heard both Harry and Niall shout from the living room.
“The lightbulbs are fine,” Harry said walking down the hall to Louis. “It’s the switch.”
“Huh?”
“Something is wonky with the wiring,” Niall called. “Watch–turn the switch now.”
Louis did, and the lights in the bathroom came on. He looked to Harry for an explanation.
“The light in this bathroom will only work if the light in the entryway is also on,” Harry shrugged. “It’s been that way since we moved in.”
“Why haven’t you just put in a work order to have it fixed?” Louis frowned. They’d just been, what? Walking over to the front door to turn on the bathroom light for three years?
Harry’s eyes widened and Niall came rushing around the corner into the bathroom shaking his head wildly. “It hasn’t been a problem. It works fine, it’s just a little… quirky,” Harry said calmly. “No need to get maintenance involved.”
“Definitely not,” Niall agreed. A little too quickly, in Louis’ opinion. He studied the two of them for a moment. Harry kept messing with his hair and looking away. Niall kept fidgeting with where to put his hands, going as far as trying to casually lean against the doorframe only to lose his balance and pat the wood as if he was asking it to not move. They were definitely trying to avoid something.
Louis crossed his arms and leaned against the counter. “Okay, what are you two hiding?”
“Nothing,” they both said at the same time, then sighed at Louis’ raised eyebrow.
“The maintenance guy is a literal serial killer,” Niall caved.
Harry ruffled his hair again and winced. “He’s terrifying. Has spooky vibes. Lurks around. We do not put in a maintenance request under any circumstances.”
Louis looked between his two new friends and flatmates. They both looked legitimately scared of the idea of putting in something as simple as a maintenance request. “So what have you been doing this whole time instead? This weird light thing can’t be the only thing that’s ever needed fixing.”
“We hire someone or do it ourselves of course,” Harry seemed a bit proud of that statement.
“You pay extra to have someone come in to fix things or risk messing things up yourselves instead of just using the free maintenance guy that lives and works in the building?” Louis said slowly.
“Yes.”
“Have you told the management company about your concerns?”
“No...” Harry and Niall glanced at each other.
“I’m calling him. You two are being ridiculous–he can’t be that bad.” Louis made to pull his phone out of his pocket, but he barely had it out before it was suddenly in Niall’s hands.
“Absolutely not. You are not inviting a serial killer into our home. We are not a buffet of dumb college kids in a horror movie.”
Louis rolled his eyes, “Niall, give back my phone.” He held out his hand.
“No.”
“Harry,” Louis said, turning to the man. Harry was biting his lip, still avoiding eye contact. “Make Niall give me back my phone.”
Harry squirmed under his and Niall’s gazes. “I’m sorry Lou, but I’m with Niall on this one.”
“Two-to-one, majority rules.” Niall pumped his fist and left the bathroom, taking Louis’ phone with him.
“Like I said, you two are ridiculous,” Louis fought back a smile as he looked at Harry again. He was in a plain gray shirt and green plaid pajama pants. His hair was all wild curls. “If he was a serial killer, he’d be in jail. I’m sure the landlord or management company does background checks, this building is part of a chain around the city.”
“That just means he’s never been caught, which is worse,” Harry pointed out. “But if the light thing really bothers you, we can always try to fix it ourselves. I’m sure there are some videos on YouTube.”
“We are not doing electrical work with YouTube videos as our only guides. That’s a terrible idea. Professionals get paid to do things for a reason.”
“Or,” Harry’s mouth quirked up into a smile. “It could be fun and like… manly. Like ‘roar I am man, I create fire’ or some shit.” Harry beat his chest halfheartedly like Tarzan and Louis snorted at how adorably dorky he looked.
“I don’t think I need to risk electrocuting myself to feel manly,” Louis shook his head. “I don’t think you do either.”
“Thank you,” Harry gave him an over exaggerated flirty wave and wink over the back of his shoulder. “I do have tools though, and I’m pretty good with my hands. I have put together IKEA furniture. And I hung the curtains in the living room. How hard can a light switch be?”
Louis, very deliberately, did not comment on Harry saying he was good with his hands. “Both of those things are a bit different and a lot less dangerous than trying to do electrical work with no training.”
“Could be fun though. A flatmate bonding activity,” Harry tapped his chin thoughtfully.
“Or, we could bond some other way?” Louis tried, but he already knew where this was going and Harry didn’t seem like the kind of person that could be stopped–for better or worse.
“Too late,” Harry spun on his toes and started walking out of the bathroom. “I’ve made up my mind, we’re fixing it ourselves. Niall is going to agree, and majority rules.”
“Niall agreeing isn’t as comforting as you seem to think it is!” Louis called behind him. “Harry!”
***
The three of them were crowded around the light switch in the entryway, the cover to the switch was off and wires were poking out.
“Okay, I think if we put this wire there, it should work,” Harry sounded a lot more confident than Louis felt. At least no one had been injured so far.
Harry moved the wire into place and… the power went out in the whole apartment.
Louis put his head into his hands with a groan.
“I can fix this,” Harry said quickly, his phone was already out and he was scrolling through search results. “I swear.”
Instead of responding, Louis grabbed his own phone and started to wordlessly walk to his room. At least it was still bright enough outside that he could see easily.
“Louis,” Niall called suspiciously. “Where are you going?”
Louis ran the last few feet and locked his door. “I’m calling maintenance so you two don’t end up electrocuted or start a fire!” He called once he was safe inside.
The door handle shook and there was banging on the door. “No Louis, don’t, you’re going to make us become the subjects of a true crime podcast!”
“Louis, what about flatmate bonding time? We can’t do that if we’re dead.”
Once Louis made the call and opened the door, Niall was gone and Harry was laying on the floor surrounded by the items from the toolkit they had pulled out of the hall closet earlier. “Where’s Niall?”
“He left. Said we were on our own and that if we end up murdered he’ll tell the police everything he knows in order to avenge us.”
“And you stayed?” Louis sat on the floor next to him.
Harry lulled his head to the side to face Louis, “I wasn’t going to leave you to get murdered alone. We’re supposed to be bonding, not abandoning each other.”
He was so fucking endearing that Louis wanted to melt.
“That’s comforting, thank you,” Louis grinned. “I still think you are both being a bit dramatic though. He can’t be that bad.”
“Still so practical and logical. It’s not going to apply this time though,” Harry moved to stand as there was a knock on the door. “Don’t say we didn’t warn you.”
Louis rolled his eyes, “When everything turns out fine, I’m definitely saying ‘I told you so,’ for the record.”
“And when everything gets weird and you finally agree with Niall and I, you get to pay for the repairman the next time something breaks,” Harry countered with a mischievous glint in his eye.
Louis loved a good wager, especially when he was sure to win. He smirked, “You’re on. And when nothing happens and everything is perfectly normal, you and Niall have to call maintenance the next time something breaks and do my share of the cleaning for the rest of the month.”
“Done,” Harry smirked. “I’ll let you get the door.”
The man standing there when Louis opened the door looked to be somewhere in his fifties and was in coveralls with a toolbelt around his hips. He seemed like an average maintenance guy as far as Louis was concerned. Just had a bit of an odd look in his eye and was maybe carrying himself a bit awkwardly. Maybe he wasn’t in the mood to interact with people? Louis could certainly understand that feeling sometimes.
“So,” the man drawled. “You tried to do the electrical work yourselves and made things worse.”
“It was a mistake,” Louis smiled welcoming the man in. “Can you fix it?”
“What you going to give me in return?” The man asked casually with a bit of a dark leer. Louis blanched. Then, the man’s demeanor instantly changed back, “I’m just kidding, show me the spot.”
Harry caught Louis’ eyes and made a ‘see!?’ face at him. Louis gave him a ‘don’t be silly’ look back.
As the man, Mick, worked, he asked Louis and Harry to hand him various tools and called them things like “doll” and “sweetcheeks.” It was weird, and a bit inappropriate, but it didn’t make the man a serial killer and Louis was not losing this bet.
“And then,” Mick continued the story of how he’d been married three times and each woman disappeared or died (which, yes, okay, that was weird but Louis would deny ever thinking it). “After Jan died in that skiing accident, I realized I was bisexual.”
“Oh really? That’s great, Mick. Good for you.” Louis said encouragingly. Coming out to strangers was always hard.
“Mick,” Harry interrupted suddenly. “We’ve been terrible hosts, would you like something to drink?”
“Yeah sure, a soda would be great if you have one,” he nodded while keeping focused on the wires coming out of the wall.
“Great, Louis, come help me look.” Harry didn’t give Louis a chance to respond and pulled Louis forcefully past the kitchen and into Harry’s bedroom. Louis started to speak, but Harry pressed a finger to Louis’ lips before shutting the door very quietly.
“Harry, what–”
“That man killed his wives and now he’s going to kidnap us and make us his sex slaves!” Harry whispered with wide eyes.
“You’re overreacting. He’s just had a hard life.”
“Three dead wives is not a hard life, Louis. Have you never watched Dateline? Three dead wives is a pattern. No one is that unlucky. His first wife went missing while on a solo meditation retreat in the woods. His second wife died of a brain aneurysm. His third wife died in a freak skiing accident. And he had two pet hamsters as a kid that also died, and then he wasn’t allowed to have any more pets,” Harry ticked each off on his fingers. “Harming small animals is like the number one sign of a serial killer, Louis! And now he’s suddenly into men? Did you see the way he looked at you when he said that?! He wanted to eat you. Like in that cannibal movie!”
Louis placed both his hands on Harry’s biceps, “Harry. Calm the fuck down. He looked at me because I’m the only one contributing to the conversation. Not to mention, many people discover their sexuality later in life.”
“Louis, we need to get him out of here. I bet he has dead insects displayed on his walls like trophies.”
“Not until the power is back.”
As if on cue, the lights came on.
“Oh thank god,” Harry’s shoulders sagged in relief. “Let’s get him out of here.”
Louis opened the door, and… there was Mick. With his coveralls suddenly very unbuttoned, hands in his pockets, rocking on his toes. “I’ve never had a threesome before, but I’m willing to give it a shot.”
Louis could only describe the noise that came out of Harry’s mouth as a mix between a laugh, a cry, and a pterodactyl screech.
“What-t?” Louis stuttered.
“That’s why you two ran off after I mentioned I like men, right?”
Louis couldn’t breathe. He did not see this coming. At all. He was about to say ‘no’ when Harry found his voice.
“Could we talk a little bit more, Mick? Thanks!” Harry shut the door and pulled Louis into his attached bathroom to put more space between them and Mick. “We need a strategy that gets him to leave without him murdering us for turning him down.”
“He’s not going to murder us Harry, Jesus. He’s lonely and misread the signals. Though I could see how he got that impression. He’s probably not used to people being nice to him.” He gave Harry a pointed look.
“Are you serious?” Harry hissed. “I’m all for treating people with kindness, but I’ve obviously won this bet, he’s creepy as fuck. Admit it.”
“I will do no such thing. He’s a perfectly normal guy. We’ll just let him down gently and it’ll all be fine.” Louis tried to convince himself as much as he was trying to convince Harry.
“Oh, why do that? If he’s such a good guy, why don’t you give him a shot?”
“I don’t have to sleep with him to prove he’s not a serial killer, Harold.”
“Could do worse, he has a steady job, all of his hair…”
“If I’m doing this, you’re doing this,” Louis pointed at him.
“Fine.”
“You’ll seriously do this to prove a point.”
“I won’t have to do this. Because you’re not going to do this.”
“I’m stubborn. In case you haven’t noticed. We’re doing this.”
“Fine,” Harry’s voice wavered slightly, but he held Louis’ gaze.
“Fine,” Louis backed out of the bathroom and went to open the door. Mick was still there, leaning against the kitchen counter, running the tip of a chef’s knife under his fingernails. What the actual fuck?
“Heyyyy Mick, we are.. Down for the… threesome.” Louis forced the words out of his mouth. What the fuck had he just gotten himself into. He couldn’t do this. He turned to face Harry so that Mick couldn’t see his face and mouthed ‘you win, help.’
Harry’s eyes widened when he saw the large knife in Mick’s hands. Louis turned around and placed himself between Mick and Harry. “What I mean is, we are down for the threesome… eventually. Maybe not right now. Harry was just going to leave and get help–I mean kelp! For his, uh, fishtank.”
Louis winced at how dumb he sounded.
“What?” Harry said from behind him. “I’m not leaving you.”
“Boys, boys,” Mick waved the knife. “There is plenty of me to go around, no need to fight–”
“Hey guys, I brought help! Oh, the power is back, is he gone already?”
Louis and Harry sighed in relief. Niall had come home.
Mick put the knife down and turned around as Niall, Liam, and a tired but beautiful looking man who Louis suspected was Zayn, walked into the kitchen.
“What’s going on?” Liam asked, looking at the three of them with his brows furrowed.
Mick held up his hands and started to walk around the three and towards the door. “Okay, I’m willing to try a threesome, but not a whole orgy. Power and lightswitches are fixed. I’ll see you around.”
And he was gone.
“Did I… miss something?” Zayn looked at Liam, who shrugged.
“You just saved our lives,” Harry fell back on his bed. “And Louis lost our bet, next time something breaks, he’s paying and we are never calling maintenance again.”
Niall looked between them. “I’m going to need this whole story. In detail.”
***
After spending the rest of the afternoon hanging out and laughing at Louis’, and somewhat Harry’s, expense, Louis and Harry were eventually the only ones left after Liam and Zayn (who Louis liked a lot) went home and Niall went to meet a date.
Louis started to help Harry clean up the empty beer bottles and paper plates. “Sorry for almost getting you killed in a murderous threesome,” he said, only somewhat joking.
Harry failed to fight back a smile. “At least we still got in our flatmate bonding time.”
“Nothing forms the bonds of friendship like saving a life,” Louis nodded and a closed lip grin spread across his face. “Thanks for not running like Niall.”
Harry let out a bark of laughter, “Next time we say someone is creepy, will you believe us?”
“Absolutely.” Louis said quickly. “Should we tell someone about his wives?”
“Maybe if there’s an anonymous tip line. But we shouldn’t do it right away. He could figure out it was us and break in and murder us in our sleep.”
“Good point.”
“Also,” Harry’s face turned serious. “Next time don’t try to sacrifice yourself by telling me to go get kelp for my fish tank.”
“We didn’t both need to die,” Louis crossed his arms.
“But we would have stood a better chance together. Two against one and all that. I’ve seen a lot of movies, we could have told him we were kinky and tied him up.”
Louis hummed and nodded thoughtfully. “That’s actually not a bad plan, very creative.”
“I know.” Harry winked. “Is it weird that now I want to watch serial killer documentaries?”
Louis considered for a moment. “Let’s do it. I clearly need to brush up on my warning signs. What if I come across another one and you’re not there to save me?”
“I guess I’ll just have to be nearby at all times, or I’ll put together a syllabus and teach you what I know. We can start at the classics and move on to the latest in true crime…” Harry started rambling off names that meant nothing to Louis. Though he had heard about Jack The Ripper before.
What about both? Louis thought. He didn’t think he would mind having Harry around at all times. “Wherever you want to start is fine with me.”
“Now that’s what I love to hear!”
Chapter 4: Chapter 3 - Change My Mind
Chapter Text
Chapter 3 - Change My Mind
Louis quietly walked into the kitchen to find something light to have for breakfast before going into the hospital. He liked to have small snacks and light meals when working. Nothing too heavy to weigh him down. However, he needed more than nothing , which since he didn’t think to make anything ahead of time, was what he had. Looked like he was having shitty cafeteria food for lunch.
That was when he discovered that Harry was also up this ungodly early for his shift at the bakery. He was wearing green skinny jeans, sneakers, and a white shirt with a leopard print button up worn unbuttoned over it. He looked up at Louis from the bar stool at the island counter in the center of the kitchen with pleasantly sleepy eyes, curly hair loosely brushing his shoulders. Something about seeing Harry this early in the morning, a time where he usually didn’t see another person until he got to work, felt strangely… intimate.
Intimate in a platonic way. He reminded himself.
“Morning,” Harry said softly, siping a cup of tea and munching on half a muffin. Louis swears he saw Harry’s eyes give him a once over, and Louis had never been so glad that he looked good in scrubs. “I have some more blueberry muffins in that box if you want one for breakfast.”
“Oh, yeah, thanks,” Louis’ voice was hoarse from disuse overnight.
They sat comfortably in silence for a few moments picking at their muffins, neither much for chatting in the morning, which Louis appreciated.
“Do you have lunch?” Harry asked suddenly.
“I’ll probably just get something in the cafeteria,” Louis shrugged, a little unsure of why Harry was asking.
“I brought home some bread the day before last that was going to go to waste. It’s still good, but had some imperfections so we couldn’t sell it. I was going to make a sandwich to take with me… I could make you one too?”
“Yeah,” Louis found himself saying. “That’d be great. Thanks.”
The following smile from Harry was worth it.
“How do’ya feel about mozzarella, tomato, and pesto?” Harry asked.
Louis blinked, he would have been fine with anything. “Sounds great. Whatever you were already planning on.”
Watching Harry make something as simple as a sandwich felt sweetly domestic to Louis in a way he definitely wasn’t going to think too hard on. He watched as Harry expertly sliced four even pieces off of the loaf of bread. Slicing something that evenly was a skill in itself as far as Louis was concerned–no matter how hard he tried, things he tried cutting evenly never came out that way. The bread looked like perfect sandwich bread: crusty on the outside, soft on the inside. He wasn’t sure what imperfections Harry was talking about until he saw a small burnt spot where the crust looked like it had bubbled up.
He guessed when it came to bakeries, that counted as an unsellable imperfection. Louis had a feeling Harry hated mistakes like that, even when it wasn’t something he could’ve done.
Then he watched Harry slather some pesto on the slices of bread; pesto that clearly looked like it had been homemade and not from a jar at the store, he then quickly sliced some fresh tomatoes, and layered on the creamy mozzarella as a final touch.
Louis was already excited for lunch.
“Thank you,” Louis said softly as he took the sandwich Harry had wrapped up for him in an eco-friendly reusable lunch bag.
“Told you,” Harry shrugged, seeming almost embarrassed. “I like feeding people.”
They walked out of the building together, still not awake enough for much conversation. And then went in opposite directions to their respective jobs.
***
“Wow, that’s a nice looking sandwich Louis, want to trade?” Perrie asked and gestured to her cold leftover pasta. The microwave was broken. Louis had learned his lesson trying to fix things though. That would be someone else's problem.
“Nope,” Louis responded pleasantly. He’d been looking forward to trying this for seven hours.
Taking a bite, it was everything he imagined. Was it amazing because the ingredients were fresh? Or was it because Harry made it? Louis decided it was probably both.
“You seem... very taken with that sandwich. Anything you want to talk about?” It was just him and Perrie today for lunch. Ed was called away and would have to eat later without them.
Since Perrie didn’t know his new flatmates the way Ed did, he said, “Harry made it for me this morning.”
That sounded nonchalant, right?
Perrie paused digging around her container of pasta to look at him closely. Eyes narrowed. “Ohhh, I see.” She finally said, lips pursed trying to hide a smirk. “The cute baker. I’ve seen him at parties before.”
“Technically he’s a classically trained pastry chef,” Louis added.
“Hmm, my mistake.” Perrie was clearly trying to hold back a laugh. “So will this become a regular thing then? The cute classically-trained-pastry-chef making you lunch?”
“I doubt it, he was just being nice.”
“If you say so, sweetie.” She patted him on the cheek and he tried to lean away.
The rest of Louis’ shift was not a good one. He lost two patients within an hour of each other before doctors could even get them to operating rooms. None of his pens would work. And his least favorite trauma surgeon was on-call, Dr. Simon Cowell.
The man was an arrogant fucker, and liked to pick on Louis and Ed in particular for being male nurses because of course he was that kind of cliche human. All the nurses hated him, but unfortunately he was very good at his job. So while he toed the line, since he never jumped off of it he was still around.
The worst part of his shift that day, worse than Cowell’s snide remarks, was waiting for the third shoe to drop. ER deaths and mishaps always happened in groups of threes. It was the rule of the universe. Just like how everything was always crazier when it was a full moon.
Louis wasn’t much for superstition before he became a nurse. He had some things he liked to do before a football match, but nursing definitely brought out his superstitious side on days like this.
The fact that he was going on hour fourteen because one of the nurses on the next shift was trying to find a last minute change in baby sitter for her kid didn’t bode well either. Not that he blamed the other nurse, not at all, it just seemed like whenever Louis ended up covering past his twelve hours, something always went wrong.
He had just finished putting a cast on a woman’s broken wrist when he was asked to take the next patient coming in. With Dr. Cowell.
He nodded to Liam as the muscular man opened the doors to the back of the ambulance.
“Found him wandering around the park shouting at people. Nothing he says really makes much sense. We think he must’ve taken something.” Liam said, passing the man off.
The man was quiet and still at first, eyes glassy and unseeing, but the moment the wheels of the gurney touched the ground, he started flailing around. That explained why Liam had him in restraints.
“Sir, can you tell us your name? What did you take?” Louis tried to ask.
“He’s obviously not going to respond, you imbecile,” Cowell drawled. “Take him to trauma room one and order a stomach pump.”
Liam raised his eyebrows at Louis and Louis rolled his eyes back and mouthed “asshole” when Cowell wasn’t looking.
“Dr. Cowell,” Louis said as kindly as he could muster. “Shouldn’t we confirm it was something he ingested before we pump his stomach?”
Cowell glared at Louis, “How many years of medical school did you go to? How long have you been practicing medicine?”
Louis clenched his jaw and said nothing. He should keep his mouth shut.
“That’s what I thought,” Cowell said smugly.
Louis had never been good at keeping his mouth shut though. “With all due respect, doctor, skipping steps in patient care is reckless and I will be making note of this in my report,” he spat.
“You do that,” Cowell glowered. “Now take him to trauma one.”
“Sir yes sir,” Louis said with a salute and so much attitude that he heard Liam try to cover a laugh with a fake coughing fit.
In trauma room one, a room on the ED floor that offered patients more privacy than the beds separated by curtains, the man had calmed down again and was simply mumbling softly.
Louis couldn’t make out if he was speaking English, another language, or just complete gibberish. He talked to the man though as he went about taking his vitals and setting up an IV. He wanted to do a blood test to see if the man had taken a drug intravenously, but without a doctor’s orders all he could do was search the man's skin for needle marks.
“Ah, he seems to have calmed down,” Cowell said brightly as he walked into the room. “Let’s remove the restraints then so he’s more comfortable.”
Louis raised an eyebrow, “Are you sure? He seems to turn at the flip of a switch.”
“Do it, Nurse Tomlinson. Or I’ll write you up.”
Louis gritted his teeth and undid the velcro restraints.
That was when everything went to shit.
The second he undid the second restraint, the man started flinging his arms around wildly and shouting once more. Louis tried to step out of the way of one of the arms, only for the other to come out of nowhere and hit Louis right under his eye, hard.
Louis stumbled back and saw stars for a moment. Fuck that man packed a hard punch. He doubled over, only being able to focus on the pain in his face.
Luckily the man’s feet were still restrained and he didn’t have the presence of mind to undo them himself, so a couple of other nurses and doctors were able to quickly restrain him and get him with a sedative.
Marcia came over to him, “Oh let me see,” she said, angling his face towards the light. “That’s definitely going to bruise,” she pressed on it lightly and Louis hissed. “Doesn’t feel broken though, so that’s good. Come on, I want to make sure you don’t have a concussion.”
“I don’t have a concussion,” Louis groaned.
“Like I think you’d tell me if you did.”
She sat him on an open bed and shined a light in his eyes. “Reaction is good. Okay, how many fingers?”
“Three.”
“Okay, I think you just took a hard hit. I saw that Dr. Cowell ordered you to remove the restraints without sedating the patient even though he had already demonstrated volatility. I’ll definitely be putting that in my paperwork.”
“Yeah,” Louis grumbled darkly. “Me. Too.”
After Louis filled out his incident paperwork making sure to be very specific about everything that happened, especially on Cowell's part, Marcia took one look at Louis and told him to go home and put some ice on his face. “It’s already bruising. Do you want some meds?”
“Nah, I’ll be fine. I just want to go to bed.”
“I’ll rearrange the schedule and have you on again on Wednesday and Friday instead of Tuesday, Thursday this week. How’s that sound?”
Louis readily agreed. He’d never been more thankful for having the next two days off.
***
Walking into the flat, Louis was still in a sour mood, and now that any adrenaline had worn off, his face was really starting to hurt. He should have taken the meds Marcia offered.
This was certainly not the first time Louis had been injured by an unruly patient. It happened more than people thought it did. Usually it wasn’t a punch to the face though. Most often it was shoves or just threats, Louis was actually trained in de-escalation techniques for those reasons. The hospital was a place most people didn’t want to be in, and the fear that came with that, especially if a patient was disoriented, could make some people lash out even if it was totally out of their normal character.
Harry was on the couch reading a book, and by the look on his face when he looked up at the sound of Louis entering the room, Louis could only assume he looked like complete shit.
“Oh fuck, what happened!” Harry threw the book down and rushed over to Louis lightly touching his chin to put his face towards the light. “Were you mugged? Was it Mick? Are you okay?”
“Rough day at work,” Louis said more pitifully than he meant to.
Harry took his hand and gently brought him to the dining table and told him to sit. “I’ll get an ice pack.”
Louis leaned the uninjured side of his face into his hand as he watched Harry rush around the kitchen putting a kettle on and pulling an ice pack out of the freezer.
Coming up to Louis, he pulled his chair so that their knees were almost touching and delicately placed the ice pack to Louis’ cheek bone.
“Sorry, did I press too hard,” Harry pulled away like lightning when Louis winced a tad.
“No, no, just cold.” Louis would very much like Harry to lean that closely to him again.
“Have you taken any meds?” Harry asked. Louis wondered if he noticed how the hand not holding the ice pack was running through Louis’ hair. Louis definitely noticed. And he liked it. A lot.
“No, should have, but I just wanted to leave…” he mumbled.
“I’ll get you some. Hold this,” Harry grabbed Louis’ hand and placed it on the ice pack, and no, Louis wanted to take it back, he didn’t want meds if it meant Harry was getting up. Lack of sleep or stress of a busy day was clearly making Louis forget all reason. My god, when did he become such a sap?
Harry gave him a couple of pills and a glass of water, Louis took them without even looking at what they were.
“You sure you trust me not to give you the wrong thing?” Harry smirked.
“Yep.”
Unless Louis was mistaken, Harry seemed quite pleased by that.
“You want to talk about it?” Harry finally asked as he set a cup of chamomile tea in front of Louis.
Louis gave his usual noncommittal shrug, “Patient was high on who knows what, or having some kind of episode. I didn’t get out of the way fast enough because I was the one ordered to remove the restraints by an asshole of an ER doctor.” Louis wondered briefly if he should start coming up with more creative names to call Cowell now that it seemed he was headed for arch nemesis status. Spawn of Satan, maybe? Satan himself?
“Explain please,” Harry said. His brows were furrowed and his stare was intense. Louis took a sip of tea, to distract himself from the butterflies that gaze gave him.
“Alright curly,” Louis said, smirking when Harry smiled at the name. Good. “To get the full effect you need to know about the hospital rule of threes…”
So Louis started telling Harry about everything that had gone wrong all day. Harry listened, nodded, asked questions when appropriate. He showed more interest in what Louis did in one hour than Ethan did in two years.
“In all honesty, I think the only good part of my day was your sandwich,” Louis chuckled with a smile.
The smile on Harry’s face was possibly the biggest he’d seen yet, “I’m glad.”
“Oh shit,” Louis said, looking at the clock on the microwave. “It’s midnight. I shouldn’t have kept you up talking, you’re going to be dead on your feet at work tomorrow.”
“I’m off tomorrow actually, but thank you for thinking of me,” Harry gave him a small, quiet smile.
“I’m off too,” Louis said as he took his and Harry’s empty tea cups to the kitchen and leaned against the sink. “I hope me being around doesn’t ruin your plans to spend the day with the place to yourself.”
Harry made an awkward motion that looked almost like he was going to step closer to Louis, but then thought better of it. “Not at all, I’m looking forward to the company.”
“I’ll see you in the morning then?” Louis swallowed.
“See in the morning, Lou,” Harry said as he walked to the door next to the refrigerator that led to his bedroom.
***
Despite being exhausted and going to bed somewhat late, Louis still woke up the next day on the earlier side. He missed being able to sleep in till noon like he did on the weekends as a teenager.
Looking at himself in the sliding mirror doors of his closet, he winced at the state of his face. There was a dark purple bruise from his temple spread across his cheek bone under his eye. The swelling wasn’t bad at least, probably from Harry’s thoughtful use of ice.
His hair was also in a state, but that was just the result of going to bed with it wet. Running a hand through it only made it worse and he sighed. Maybe it could be considered “purposefully messy.”
Opening his door he could see the door to Niall’s room open; he’d probably already left for work. There were just a couple lights on in the main room and he could hear the low hum of the TV. On the sofa when he walked in, was Harry. Hair pulled back into the little ponytail, black lounge pants, loose black shirt, leaning over the coffee table where his right hand was surrounded by two different colors of nail polish, watching Grey’s Anatomy .
He heard Louis’s footsteps and looked up immediately, eyes going straight to his face. “Good morning, how are you feeling?”
“Eh, I took some Advil, looks worse than it feels at this point.” Louis shuffled over to sit next to Harry on the couch.
“You should get some more ice on it for a little while. The pack is in the freezer. I’d get it, but--” Harry held up his hands looking so sweetly concerned.
“The colors suit you,” Louis said fondly. And they did, he was painting his nails in alternating shades of pale blue and green.
Harry blushed, looking slightly embarrassed. Louis enjoyed the shade of pink spreading across his cheeks, but he didn’t want Harry to be embarrassed about painting his nails, especially not around him. They were becoming friends, weren’t they?
“Let me help,” Louis said, pointing to the polish that Harry was trying to use while also trying not to smudge what he had already done on his other hand. Without waiting for Harry to respond, Louis started to gently pull Harry’s hand to him.
Harry gaped at him like a fish. “What?”
“I have five sisters. I know how to paint nails,” Louis said with a smug closed lip grin stretching across his face.
“Five sisters?!” Harry looked stunned. “I only have one and she’s enough to drive me up the wall.”
“Yeah, and a little brother. They can be a handful, but ages range from 7 to 23, so that helps. I did a lot of babysitting though. So trust me, I am much more knowledgeable about painting nails than I am about serial killers. I’m happy to paint your nails for you.”
“Really?” Harry asked. “You don’t think it’s… too girly?”
Louis looked at him, eyes trailing over the curves and sharp lines of the other man’s face. “Not at all. Kind of hot actually.”
Oh god, did he say that out loud?
Luckily all Harry did was nod and seem to relax. Good, the last thing he wanted was to make Harry feel uncomfortable.
“Some guys think it’s too girly,” Harry said, watching Louis’ face closely. “It’s kind of why I stopped using dating apps.”
“What do you mean?” Louis frowned.
Harry looked down and fiddled with the fabric of his joggers. “Got tired of guys telling me that they liked how I looked in pictures, but that I was a little too ‘feminine’ for them in person. Then of course the guys that like a more feminine partner think I’m too masculine. What does any of that even mean?”
“They’re idiots,” Louis said quickly. “It means they’re all idiots.”
Harry smiled shyly. “I just decided that I didn’t care about feminine or masculine… I’m just going to wear what I want.”
“I’m glad,” Louis said. He paused for a moment, not knowing what to say that wouldn’t potentially cross the new-friend line with his new flatmate that he barely knew. He just wanted Harry to know he supported him. “So do you want the alternating colors on this hand to match the other, or do you want it reversed?”
“Reverse please,” Harry’s smile widened considerably, so Louis figured he’d made the right call.
So there Louis was, delicately holding Harry’s hand and painting his nails. He should have thought this through more. Holding Harry’s hand meant that Harry was close to him. And now he knew what Harry’s hand felt like in his own hand. Warm. A little rough where there were some calluses. Bigger than his own. Fingers long and thin.
Fuck.
“What are the calluses from?” Louis asked, clearing his throat and absolutely refusing to look at Harry’s face as he continued his work.
“Guitar, I played a lot when I was younger, still do sometimes.”
“You’ll have to play for me sometime,” Louis said, again not thinking before opening his damn mouth. Stop flirting with your flatmate, Tommo.
“Whenever you want,” Harry responded sweetly. Louis fought back a grin.
Safer subject, safer subject… “So, Grey’s Anatomy?”
“Yeah, you mentioning it made me want to give it a go. All the seasons are on Netflix.”
“Wait, you’ve never watched it?” Louis paused his painting and looked up at Harry in shock.
“I’ve seen a couple of episodes, but never the whole thing,” Harry looked back at him in amusement. “You look like I just told you I’ve never read Harry Potter or don’t like chocolate.”
Louis frowned in all seriousness. “You have though, right? And isn’t it illegal for bakers to hate chocolate?”
Harry burst into laughter, head dropping back showing Louis his gorgeous neck again. “Yes, I’ve read Harry Potter and I do like chocolate. It’s not illegal though.”
“That’s good then. Might have been a dealbreaker,” Louis smirked. “I will absolutely join you for your first time binging Grey’s though.”
Harry smiled broadly, dimples showing, “Sounds like we have our day off all planned out then.”
Louis couldn’t help but think back to an article Lottie had emailed him once about how couples that binge watched together had stronger relationships. She had sent it to him as a joke, suggesting the two of them were the couple, but the prospect of spending the whole day on the couch with Harry made Louis feel warm and fuzzy on the inside. Not that he’d ever tell Lottie. Or Harry for that matter.
He really needed to get it together.
Louis looked at the screen, “Ah you’re only a few episodes into season one. You know there are like seventeen or something by now right?”
“I guess we’ll be spending a lot of time together,” the corner of Harry’s mouth twitched. “With this and your lessons on true crime.”
“I guess so,” Louis gestured for Harry to switch hands, it was time to add a second coat. When Harry let the hand Louis had just finished painting rest on Louis’s thigh, Louis short circuited for a moment. “So, what do you think so far, who’s your favorite?” His voice might have come out at a slightly higher octave than usual.
“Christina,” Harry said decisively. “I like her sass.”
About ten minutes later, Louis had finished adding a top coat to Harry’s nails and told him very sternly that he wasn’t allowed to use his hands for at least two hours. He better not ruin Louis’ work.
Harry, the little shit, smirked and responded, “So you’ll be my hands then? What if I need to wee?”
Though the comment made Louis’ imagination run absolutely wild with possibilities (about touching Harry’s dick. Not Harry peeing. He wasn’t into that.). Louis was never one to let the opportunity for a sassy comeback pass him by.
“Well, if you wanted me to touch your dick, all you had to do was ask. No need for the elaborate nail polish ploy.” Louis made sure to dramatically let his eyes roam over Harry in a way that could be seen as joking… even if he also kind of meant it.
He thought maybe Harry would laugh off Louis’ comment, or maybe sputter in embarrassment. He was not expecting for Harry to call his bluff and very obviously start checking Louis out in return with no small amount of heat in his eyes as they trailed over Louis’ exposed arms and collar bones.
“Good to know.” Harry said with a husky voice and devilish smirk slowly forming on his luscious lips. “I definitely would rather have you touch my dick than Mick. Heh, that rhymed.”
Louis sputtered in surprise, “That is–uh–true. Understandable.”
Harry laughed, “I’m pretty sure I’d rather anyone touch my dick before I let Mick anywhere near it.” Right, of course it was just a joke between mates. No need to make it awkward. He was getting the impression that Harry was just a bit flirty.
Luckily, or unluckily, Louis’ stomach chose that moment to growl.
“Oh you haven’t even had breakfast!” Harry said, he slapped a palm on his forehead causing Louis to make a noise of warning. “I made some breakfast sandwiches, they’re sitting on the counter. Have as much as you want and we can freeze the rest to have on mornings we’re in a rush,” Harry smiled brightly.
Louis had the thought that those damn dimples would kill him one day, but thanked Harry profusely, commenting that living with a professional cook was going to ruin him for anyone else for life.
He missed the wistful look that passed across Harry’s face at that comment before Harry added that he should also get the ice pack for his face.
“So you paint your nails often?” Louis asked curiously as he brought over one of the delicious looking breakfast sandwiches to eat on the couch.
Harry nodded, “Yeah, I like to think of it as another way to express myself, like with tattoos but less permanent. I’ve gotten pretty good at it, though the help was appreciated,” he winked.
“Why blue and green today then? What is that expressing?” Louis turned to face Harry with the side of his body leaning against the back of the couch. Harry had his legs extended in front of him, feet on the coffee table, hands dutifully resting on his thighs.
Harry turned his head to Louis and gazed into his eyes for a moment. Louis let himself get lost in the beautiful green of Harry’s eyes for a moment, his mouth going dry.
“No particular reason,” Harry eventually shrugged. “Just liked the combination.”
***
Over the next few hours as Harry’s nails dried and they continued to watch Grey’s Anatomy , Harry and Louis seemed to migrate closer and closer to one another on the couch. Louis wasn’t sure how it happened, or if he was part of the migration or if it was all Harry, but he definitely didn’t mind it.
They were almost done with the first season when Harry’s phone rang.
Louis saw Harry frown at the screen and immediately reached for the remote to pause the episode so Harry could answer.
“Yeah?... Oh, shit, yeah I forgot… Yeah I’ll go now.” Harry talked a little longer, vague answers Louis didn’t understand, before hanging up the phone and starting to stand up.
“I have to go run an errand for work. Our supplier of goat cheese has an order ready for pick up today and we have to get it today because I need it for a custom order later this week. I'll have to catch up on Grey’s later.”
“Goat cheese?”
“Yeah for some little cheesecakes and savory tartlets. We try to get as many of our ingredients locally as we can, all our fruit desserts are seasonal too. There’s a dairy farm outside of town that makes the most excellent cheeses, we get all our supply from them, really high quality.”
Louis smiled at the excitement in Harry’s voice. “Do you think I could come?”
Harry’s eyebrows went up a little in surprise, “You’d want to?”
“Yeah, I’ve never been to a dairy farm or seen cheese made. Sounds like a fun reason to not stay home all day. That is, if you don’t mind me tagging along,” Louis said, suddenly a little unsure. He didn’t want Harry to feel like he had to say yes just to be nice.
“I don’t mind at all,” he smiled. “Company would be great, actually.”
“My face won’t scare away the cows?” Louis tried to joke.
Harry shook his head emphatically, “Never. I’ll introduce you to the goats and cows, they’ll love you.”
The drive to the dairy farm was an enjoyable one, Louis thought. The farm was only 30 minutes outside of town, but the two of them spent the whole time talking about music and telling stories from when they were kids. It was honestly turning into one of the most fun days off Louis has had in a while.
“Here we are,” Harry said as they pulled up to the farm.
As they got out, a man came out of the building they parked in front of and came to shake Harry’s hand. “Harry! Great to see you!”
“Damon,” Harry nodded and shook his hand. “This is Louis, my new flatmate. I promised to introduce him to some animals.”
Damon smiled, “Go ahead, you know where they are. I’ll have the boys get your order together and pack it in your trunk?” His eyes unabashedly trailed up and down Harry’s frame and Louis instantly decided he wasn’t a fan of this guy.
Harry seemed to ignore the look though and simply said, “That’d be perfect, thank you.” Then, to Louis' surprise, he quickly took Louis’ hand to lead him around the back of the building. “Come on, Lou, let’s get you some baby goats to cuddle.”
Louis brightened up even more than he did at the sensation of holding Harry’s hand, “Baby goats?”
As Harry led Louis to the baby farm animals Louis couldn’t help but let his gaze go to Harry’s bum. The jeans Harry had changed into showed it well. Louis also noticed that when Harry walked, he had a little twist in his hips that was going to drive Louis absolutely bonkers wild if he kept looking. Holy fuck.
Louis reminded himself to focus on baby farm animals.
There were, in fact, baby goats. Before getting to the babies, Harry showed him some of the adult farm animals as they walked, but he seemed to know that baby farm animals trumped all others and didn’t spend too long with them.
“See, I told you they’d like you. Hello kids,” Harry said while waving to the goats and laughing at his own pun as he watched the goats crowd around Louis.
“Yes, I’m sure it has nothing to do with the food I’m giving them,” Louis sassed as he tossed food pellets Damon had given them to the baby goats.
“Oh hush.” Harry said, throwing some of the food pellets in Louis’ direction. Pretty soon, Harry and Louis were running around throwing goat food pellets at each other with a trail of baby goats running behind them for snacks on the go.
Sitting on a bale of hay with a goat in his lap, Louis looked towards the barn and saw Damon watching them while pretending to do something with a tractor. “Based off of my new serial killer knowledge, either Damon is staring at you because he wants to kill you or because he wants to fuck you.”
Harry sputtered with laughter, making the goat in his lap run away. “As far as I know, he’s not a serial killer. We used to hook up occasionally, but he wanted something serious and I… didn’t.”
“Oh,” Louis pried subtly.
Harry shrugged. “Owning a bakery takes up a lot of my time. Sure, I have random days off, but it’s a lot of early mornings, long days, and late nights… I’m not really interested in any other relationship at the moment, but sometimes I just need to let off some steam. You know?”
Louis did know, kind of. He’d known once up a time, but he’d moved past it. “Yeah, I get it.”
So that was why Harry just wanted to be friends: he was just into the occasional hookup, no relationships. It stung, just a bit, thinking that when Harry gave him his number at the party, it was just for a hookup, nothing more. But at least Harry didn’t try to hide his views on relationships or string Louis along now.
“If you’re interested though, I could give him your number?”
“Um,” he glanced back at Damon. The man was hot, with smoldering blue eyes, but he wasn’t sure if he wanted something with his new flatmate's ex-hookup… even if said flatmate was clearly fine with it. “I’m not really looking for anything right now either. New city and all.”
Harry nodded in understanding.
***
“Alright,” Harry said later after they pulled up behind the bakery. “Let’s get this goat cheese into the refrigerator. You can meet James too while we’re here, he’s been asking why my new flatmate hasn’t been to my bakery yet.”
Louis helped Harry carry the coolers full of fresh goat cheese through the back door of the bakery. He wasn’t sure what most bakery kitchens looked like, but Harry’s looked basically how he’d imagined a bakery to look. There were huge commercial sized electric mixers, pallets of flour and sugar, a ginormous walk-in industrial refrigerator room, shelves and shelves full of spices and sprinkles and food coloring, and so much more.
A plump blond man with a joyful grin came through the swinging door that Louis guessed led to the front of the shop, “Ah, Harry! So sorry you had to go get the goat cheese on your day off.”
Harry waved off the apology, “I don’t mind James, you know I love to see the goats. This is my new flatmate, Louis, he kept me company.” He said as he opened the door to the refrigerator to place the goat cheese inside. “Louis, this is my business partner, James Corden.”
“Ah, Louis the off-limits flatmate,” James said, coming over to shake Louis’ hand. “What happened to your face?”
“Work hazard, unruly patient. What do you mean off-limits?” Louis questioned.
Harry came over quickly and interrupted whatever James was going to say next, “Just for him to leave you alone. He likes to pull pranks even more than Niall if you can believe that.”
“Hmm, yes, off-limits to me and my pranks , that’s exactly it,” James muttered, giving Harry a knowing look. Knowing what, Louis didn’t know. “Well,” James faced Louis. “Next time my wife and I have a cookout, you should definitely come with the rest of the boys.”
Louis bobbed his head up and down, “Yeah, that’d be great, thanks.”
“Sounds good, James,” Harry said as he took Louis' hand again to start pulling him towards the swinging door. Maybe Harry was just the kind of person that liked platonic physical touch? That was definitely the impression he was getting. “I’m going to show Louis the front and then we’ll head back home and be out of your hair.”
The front of the bakery was unlike any bakery Louis had ever been too. Not that he’d been in that many, but typically when he thought “bakery” he pictured, well, pinks and pastels and lace and stuff.
He should have known Harry wouldn’t do what was expected. Nothing about Harry was expected.
The shopfront had a bit of a soft eclectic industrial chic feel to it. Was that even a thing? As far as Louis was concerned, it was. Everything was modern clean lines, but with vintage twists-- not too overly modern and trendy that the design would go out of style in a few years. The light fixtures looked to be made out of things like pipes. There was a display case next to a large concrete slab counter. Behind the counter were what was left of the day’s freshly baked bread. There were some sets of perfectly mismatched tables and chairs for people to sit and relax and enjoy a cupcake or pastry. And around the room on the exposed brick walls were beautiful pieces of art that seemed to be for sale, Louis would his right arm that they were done by local artists. The ceiling was covered in white art deco style ceiling tiles that somehow tied all the different styles together.
“This is gorgeous, Harry,” Louis said genuinely, looking around in awe. “It’s very you.”
“Thank you,” Harry’s cheeks pinked up to a lovely rosy hue that made Louis’ heart flutter. “Since we’re here, would you like to pick something to take home for dessert? So far you’ve only tried my breakfast foods.”
Louis wavered, for some inexplicable reason suddenly thinking about Ethan’s comments on not needing dessert. “Would you pick for me?”
“Sure, we’ll get an assortment so you can find a favorite,” Harry teased and went to get a box. It wasn’t what Louis meant, but Harry’s delight in getting Louis to try his food was infectious.
“How do you have the time to make so many things?” Louis asked, looking around at the options in the display case. There were many types of desserts Louis recognized -- mini cheesecakes, mini custard and fruit tarts, cupcakes, lemon bars-- but they all had some kind of twist to them. All of it looking as if it was ready to be on the cover of a fancy food magazine.
“Most of our desserts are seasonal,” Harry explained. “So right now we only have the two adventurous cupcake flavors, pistachio and chamomile honey, plus we always do classic vanilla, chocolate, and red velvet. The cupcakes are usually our biggest seller. Since lots of fruits are still in season we have a lot of tarts which are easy to prepare ahead of time, same with the cheesecakes. We just do things in shifts, and when we’re out, we’re out. It took some practice, but James and I have good employees and we’ve made a good system.”
“It’s incredible,” Louis said to him. Harry beamed like pure sunshine and continued to add to the assortment of treats he wanted Louis to try. Louis couldn’t help but beam back, Harry’s passion for his creations was infectious.
Chapter Text
Chapter 4 - Little Things
“Umm why’s everyone so dressed up?” Louis asked Perrie at the nurses station. The waiting room and a couple of the beds were full of women in wedding dresses in varying degrees of disarray. Some with red stains that were undoubtedly blood. Some with black eyes, too–luckily his bruise had nearly fully healed and there was just barely a hint of yellow left.
“One of those dream wedding competitions,” Perrie said as if that explained everything. It did not.
“And that is…?” Louis gave her a confused look.
She put down her chart to give him her full attention. “Weddings are expensive.”
“Alright.”
“Some companies will hold these competitions to win fancy things for weddings. They can get violent. Lots of scratching and hair pulling. Never underestimate the power of free stuff,” she implored, pulling up something on her iPad. “Here, look.”
It was the website for the wedding convention apparently being held at the conference center. “This thing is huge.”
“And all those vendors were offering free goodies. But the crowning jewels were the competition to win a complete wedding package. Dress, venue, flowers, honeymoon, all paid for.” She raised her eyebrows.
Louis looked at the women receiving stitches, a couple getting x-rays, and one… “Is that a shoe going through her face?” The pointy stiletto heel was lodged in her cheek. “This is crazy.”
Then, he caught sight of a woman in workout clothes passing around fliers and little gym bags that seemed to contain a water bottle and towel. It was all hot pink. He’d rather avoid a repeat of whatever had happened at the convention center, so he went over. Cautiously.
“Um, excuse me,” he said, approaching the woman and the very, very muscular man helping her pass out bags. “I’m going to have to ask you to not do this in the ED, it’s already getting crowded and we don’t want to rile people up.”
The woman turned to face him with a brilliant smile of gleaming white teeth. Her lips matched the hot pink of the towels and water bottles. “Hi! Yes, of course, you’re right. So sorry.” She started making her way towards the door, but in the roundabout way so she continued to pass out bags while walking. He should really be getting security to help with this, but their security guard was already occupied with an argument that had broken out between shoe-face and a woman being fitted for a cast on her arm.
“Ma’am, please,” Louis asked nicely, but firmly.
When they got to the door she gave him a sheepish smile. “I’m sorry, really. My boss said I had to pass out as many of these as possible today. Do you want one? It’s not just for brides. There’s a discount coupon in there for memberships too, available to anyone. The gym is trying to expand its clientele.”
Louis took a bag and before he could thank her, she was approaching someone outside with another bag.
“She’s not kidding about the discount,” a bride whose hair resembled a bird's nest with a cut on her cheek told him as he turned back into the waiting room. “The Paradise Gym is to die for. They have everything , and they never offer discounts so this is a really big deal. People probably would have fought over these bags if it wasn’t clear they had so many or that the discount was on their website too.”
Looking at the flier with the discount, Louis got an idea.
***
“Harry!” Louis shouted as he walked in the door.
“What! What’s wrong?” Harry came running out of the kitchen to meet him near the couch in a panic.
“I’m a genius and I need your help,” he shoved the flier at him.
Harry took the flier and read it out loud. “Paradise Gym Couples Discount… They have hot tubs and an on-site spa?”
“Yes. Isn’t it outrageous? I looked it up and the crazy brides said it was legit. They have every type of gym equipment you could ever want, even the new things we’ve never heard of. They have complimentary personal trainers. They have a fully functioning spa. Tons of classes–”
“Crazy brides?” Harry interrupted.
“Battle of the brides for fancy wedding goodies. Did you know businesses give engaged people all kinds of free stuff before their wedding?” He handed Harry the little gym goodie bag. “Free stuff just for being engaged!”
“Oh, this is so cute,” Harry cooed, taking out the water bottle.
“It’s yours,” Louis waved. “But read the rest of the flier.”
“40% off a six month couples membership… normally costs–” Harry’s eyes bugged as he made it to the bottom of the page. “For that much money they should also have a space program. Do they have diamond studded weights or some shit like that?”
“But if you get the couple membership discount, then split between two people… you see where I’m going with this?”
“Noooo?” Harry drawled cautiously like he knew exactly where Louis was going with this.
“I need you to pretend to be my fiance so that we can get a fancy gym membership for a discount.”
Harry bit his lip. “I’m not a very good liar Louis. They’re going to like, quiz us, and I’ll crack under pressure.”
“They’re not going to quiz us. Don’t think about it lying, think about it as justice. It’s completely unfair that this discount is only for couples.”
“You’re sure?”
“‘Course I’m sure, I know you love fancy gym equipment and those zumba classes on YouTube.”
Harry blushed. “Yeah, I do… Okay. But if we get kicked out and banned for life I get to say I told you so.”
“Fine,” Louis agreed. “But this is definitely going to work.”
***
“Wait,” Harry stopped them as the gym came into sight down the street. “We need like, a cover story. How did we meet? How long have we been together?”
Louis blinked. “Well,” he cleared his throat. “We could say we met at a party… stick to the truth, sort of?”
“Yeah,” Harry nodded, moving to run his hand through his hair before realizing it was in a little bun. “That sounds good.”
“We’ve known each other for… a year.” Louis said resolutely. “It was a whirlwind romance. I proposed over breakfast.”
“Why couldn’t I propose over breakfast?” Harry pouted, momentarily distracting Louis with his plush bottom lip.
“Fine, yeah, you proposed over breakfast.” Louis forced his eyes away quickly.
“We should hold hands,” Harry mused. “And maybe kiss.”
“Wha–what?” Louis sputtered.
Harry snorted and rolled his eyes fondly. “To sell us being a couple, doofus. We have to act like we’re together.”
“Right, well,” Louis took Harry’s hand in his and scooted marginally closer, closing his eyes and lifting his chin. “Okay, lay it on me.”
There was a beat where nothing happened and he was wondering what Harry was thinking about, then, he felt soft lips brush his before disappearing. It was barely a peck, not even a proper kiss, but Louis swore his heart stuttered.
He opened his eyes, and Harry was still standing somewhat close, but his face was blank. “Okay.” Louis gave a nod. “Ready?”
“Yeah.” Harry’s tongue darted out to lick his lips. At least Louis thought that was what he saw. He could be imagining it. “Oh, rings?”
Louis shook his head. “I thought of that and I think we’re fine, they’ll be too worried about offending us to ask.”
Harry’s laughter broke through any remaining awkwardness. “True!”
The gym was very sleek looking inside. White and neutral color palette, a lounge area with a fancy juice bar, a long white desk for reception that made him feel like he’d walked into an Apple store by mistake. Luck was on his side though, because the woman at the desk was the same woman from the hospital.
“Hi!” She greeted, “I recognize you, did you decide to come in for our membership discount?”
“Yes,” he said smoothly, releasing Harry’s hand and wrapping his arm around Harry’s trim waist instead. “This is my fiance, Harry.”
Her face lit up more than Louis thought was possible. “Oh that’s wonderful! You two look perfect together. I’d be happy to get you all set up, follow me.”
And they were in, Louis grinned mischievously at Harry as they followed her to a desk.
Thirty minutes later, they had a couples gym membership and more complimentary water bottles, protein shake samples, and towels.
“Say, ‘thanks Louis, you really are a genius,’” Louis said as they walked home with their new gear.
“Thanks Lou, you really are a genius.” Harry hip-checked him and giggled. “That zumba class looked incredible. And everything was so clean…”
***
Besides the oddly charged moments the morning Louis helped Harry paint his nails for the first time, and the random pretend kiss by the gym, nothing out of the realm of casual new friends had happened over the next couple of weeks and Louis was okay with that. More than okay, it was exactly how things should be, obviously.
He really was, and it wasn’t even in a “convincing himself” kind of way. He was really enjoying Harry’s friendship in addition to getting to know Niall, Liam, and Zayn more. He’d never had a group of close friends where there was always someone around to do something with. They’d accepted him into their group immediately without hesitation. It was like they’d been friends for years.
It was… nice. More than nice. He always knew that leaving Ethan and moving to Lamsted was a good idea, but now he was really feeling like things were better.
Things were finally looking up for him. He had great new friends, a great job, a fancy gym membership, and he hadn’t seen Cowell at work since the incident. Whether that upward trajectory continued or not depended on how awful camping with his new friends in the middle of a summer heat wave would be.
The trip was Niall’s idea. He wanted to take a friend-cation (a friend vacation, according to Niall) while he was between jobs as a summer school teacher and a camp counselor. Louis wasn’t hugely interested in camping when it was so hot out, but he’d also quickly learned that what Niall wants, Niall usually gets.
“Serious question,” Louis said, looking at the pile of things they were going to be stuffing into two cars. “What are the chances of being attacked by wild animals on this trip?”
Harry gave him a goofy smile from his space on the floor where he was trying to stuff things into a duffle bag. “No bears or mountain lions. There might be some coyotes, but they’re more scared of us than we are of them.”
“As far as camping locations go,” Niall tossed a sleeping bag onto the pile. “This is as tame as you can get without having to call it ‘glamping.’ Don’t worry your pretty little head, we’ll protect you from the deer and squirrels.”
“I’m not worried,” Louis crossed his arms. “I’m wondering if I should bring supplies from the hospital in case of a bear attack.”
“Sounds worried to me,” Harry said in a sing-song voice. Louis just stuck his tongue out at him. “Don’t worry, Lou, I’ll protect you. You’re still okay sharing a tent, right?”
“Oh yeah, no problem,” Louis brushed off. “Thanks.”
He was glad that Harry mentioned his tent was big enough for two and that he had an extra duffle bag so Louis wouldn’t have to buy new ones of his own. Louis did have to buy a new sleeping bag and hiking shoes though–he wasn’t kidding when he told Harry he didn’t have much stuff, and his family was never the camping kind.
So, would he have to constantly remind himself that he and Harry were never going to be a thing while they slept inches apart? Yes. Would it be hard? Probably. But he would do it, because when Harry had made the incredibly sweet offer he’d had these puppy-dog eyes and Louis couldn’t say no.
“Alright,” Liam said, walking into the flat with Zayn without knocking. “Our stuff is packed in my car, so we can help you pack the rest. There’s some room left in mine, but the rest of that should be able to fit in Harry’s.”
“Wait, we should go over the packing list one more time to make sure we have everything,” Louis opened up his phone to the list he’d put together.
“I think we have everything, Lou,” Harry patted his shoulder. “It’s just two nights and there’s a convenience store just outside the park if we need it.”
The others were already grabbing things and walking towards the elevator, so Louis knew this was something he was going to have to let go. God, he hoped he didn’t look like an uptight loser for being worried about forgetting something. Something must have shown on his face because Harry bent a little so that his face was level with Louis’.
“You’re not being silly for having a list.”
Louis startled, “What?” How did he know that was what he was thinking? “Are you reading my mind?”
Harry laughed and shook his head. “I told you before, I’m good at reading people. And I’m definitely good at reading you. Your list is great, that’s how I know we have everything already. Now come on, let’s pack up the car. I’ll let you pick music first.”
The way Harry understood him and reassured him while also not making it a big deal made Louis beam.
***
Lamsted was a thriving city that also had easy access to nearby green spaces, including a National Park that was popular for camping a little over an hour outside of the city.
“Did you go camping a lot as a kid?” Louis asked as Harry tapped the steering wheel along to the beat of the music Louis’ had chosen.
“Eh, kind of,” Harry shrugged. “Not so much as a kid with my family, but my friends and I did go a lot as teenagers,” a sad look flashed across Harry’s face as his words trailed off. Normally, when Louis and Harry talked about things, whether it was serious or casual, Harry was an open book. He’d elaborate on things, ramble, tell stories in that round-about circular way of his. So Harry’s pause seemed… strange to Louis. He was just about to ask Harry if he was alright, when Harry shook off the look and continued speaking.
“Then I uh, stopped for a while in college, but when I met Niall and Liam they were both into camping so we started going on occasional trips. We normally go to the other side of the park. I've only been to the part we’re going to once before, but I think it’ll be a lot of fun. There’s hiking, swimming, waterfalls, stargazing, and there’s a place in the park where you can go on trail rides on horses.”
“Really?” Louis perked up. “Have you ever done it?”
“No, the others never wanted to. Niall thought it sounded terrifying,” Harry glanced away from the road for a second at Louis before turning back. “Would you want to?”
“Absolutely,” Louis quickly opened up his phone. “Do we need to reserve spots? What’s it called?”
Harry gave him the name and Louis signed the two of them up for a trail ride the next day.
“Have you ever ridden a horse?” Harry asked after.
“Some, as a kid I was briefly obsessed with the idea of being a cowboy when I grew up, so my mum was able to sign me up for some lessons. I loved the horses, I didn’t love the rigid lessons about posture and shit. I just wanted to ride the horses while they were a bit more focused on the competitive side of things.”
“Me too,” Harry’s smile was a bit wistful, Louis thought it was cute. “I didn’t want to be a cowboy, but I was obsessed with unicorns and horses were the closest I could get. I just wanted to pet them and be their friend, not ride them around a ring in circles.”
Louis giggled, “a unicorn obsession? That’s adorable.”
“It was really a surprise to no one when I came out as gay,” Harry’s smile broadened. “I also loved rainbows. And while my friends wanted to watch the Titanic movie to see Kate Winslet naked, I was a lot more interested in the young Leonardo Dicaprio.”
“Titanic Leo is definitely a solid sexual awakening choice,” Louis nodded sagely. “We had to watch the Romeo + Juliet movie in school one year and I suddenly became a Shakespeare fan. I also definitely had an obsession with the Princess Bride and it wasn’t for the sword fighting.”
“Ah yes, Westly. Definitely a dreamy hero. So we both prefer blonds with floppy straight hair?” Harry teased.
Louis considered for a moment, “Maybe at first, but I wouldn’t say I look for a particular hair color.” Then, feeling daring, Louis decided to add with a devilish smirk, “I do like curls now though.”
Harry let out a bark of laughter, seeming to think Louis was joking, though Louis did think he saw a bit of pink on his cheeks.
“There was also that lion in the second Lion King movie,” Harry added casually.
It was Louis’ turn to laugh, body straining against the seatbelt as leaned forward holding his stomach.
“Are you laughing at my cartoon lion crush? Because I know for a fact I am not the only one to think Kovu was hot as a kid.” Harry was frowning, but it’s not at all convincing.
“When’s your birthday? I’m now going to get you a giant cardboard cutout of Kovu the lion.”
“I’m not telling you.”
“That’s fine, I’ll make it a Christmas present instead.”
Harry rolled his, “You’re ridiculous. I’m already regretting sharing a tent with you.”
Louis paused, unsure of what to say. He knew he could take jokes too far sometimes and get into annoying territory.
“Lou,” Harry glanced at him, this time the crease between his brows looked more like a concerned frown than an annoyed one. “I was joking.”
“Right, of course, sorry.” Louis shook his head as if to emphasize the implied ‘obviously, no big deal.’
“You have nothing to be sorry for,” Harry nearly shouted. “I’m the one that just ruined the mood by making a shitty joke pretending to be mad.”
“No really, I’m just, sensitive I guess.” He knew why he was sensitive to that type of thing, and he hoped Harry would drop it.
“Lou, talk to me, please? What’s wrong?”
“Can we please not talk about it right now? I’ll tell you, promise, just not… not right now?” Louis bit his lip at how small his voice sounded. It was kind of pathetic. Harry shot him a worried look, but nodded.
“Okay, here’s a fun question–who did you tell people was your celebrity crush before you were out?”
Bless Harry Styles and his ability to change the subject.
“Ohh,” Louis rubbed his hands together, brushing off the feelings that were overwhelming him moments before. “Kiera Knightly. She did that Bend it Like Beckham movie about football, and then Pirates of the Caribbean , so she seemed like a good choice. Of course now both movies are considered pretty gay, so there’s that.” He shrugged.
“My friend Taylor says Kiera Knightly is a favorite of the bisexuals and lesbians,” Harry laughed. “I typically made Natalie Portman or Rhianna my go-tos. Though, like I said, I don’t think anyone really bought it.”
They continued to chat about light topics the rest of the way, which Louis was grateful for. Every time Louis started getting back into his head, worrying about being annoying, Harry would bring him out of it with a new question or story. It was really sweet in a way Louis had never experienced before.
Liam, Zayn, and Niall pulled into the carpark right before they did and they quickly distributed who would carry what to the campsite.
“Okay,” Liam said as they unconsciously circled around him. “Here are maps of the area, I already marked where our campsite is in case anyone gets lost. When we get to the campsite, we’ll clear away the pinecones and such before setting up the tents, then we’ll get a fire set up.”
“Sir yes sir,” Louis and Niall saluted at the same time, then promptly burst into giggles.
“Oh fuck off both of you,” Liam said with a smile.
“I call pinecone duty!” Louis said once they got to the campsite and set their things down. He quickly started to kick pinecones away.
“You just want pinecone duty to avoid setting up the tent,” Harry accused.
Louis gave him a cheeky smile, “Yep.”
“Probably for the best,” Liam said, studying the directions that came with his and Zayn’s tent. “The instructions for our new tent are in Swedish,” he sighed.
“It’s a tent, Li-yum,” Harry mocked. “We don’t need instructions.”
Ten minutes later, Liam had his tent up and looking perfect, while Harry and Niall were both still struggling.
Zayn came over to Louis and put a hand on his shoulder. “Come on, let's find some logs for firewood while these buffoons figure out the tents.”
Niall’s tent collapsed again causing the three men to start arguing about whose fault it was.
“Sounds like a great idea,” Louis agreed.
He and Zayn walked in silence for a little while. Only speaking up to talk about what sticks would make the best firewood. He and Zayn hadn’t really interacted one-on-one before and Louis knew he was making it weird.
“Liam, Harry, and Niall have all been friends since uni,” Zayn spoke up suddenly as they continued to walk. “It’s nice having someone else around.”
“Oh?” Louis tilted his head.
“I love them all,” Zayn shrugged. “But sometimes, like right now, they get into this dynamic where they start arguing like brothers and get into their own little bubble. They don’t mean to do it, and they certainly include me in the bubble often, but they have a strong bond. So, I’m glad you’re here.”
“How did you and Liam meet anyway?” Louis asked, curious.
Zayn winced, “That… is a story I don’t really like to tell. Liam can, but let’s just say there are some stereotypes about the modeling industry that are still true for a lot of people, and Liam saved my life.”
“I’m glad he did then.”
It was Zayn’s turn to tilt his head at Louis, a contemplative expression on his face. “You’re not going to ask?”
“No,” Louis patted his new friend’s shoulder. “We all have stuff we don’t want to talk about. I already got weird on Harry in the car. If you want to tell me or have Liam tell me, you will, if you don’t, you won’t. Either way, it’s your choice and I respect that.”
“Thanks,” Zayn smiled softly.
They had to wander a bit farther than planned to find enough firewood. They couldn’t even hear the others anymore. Luckily, the trail was pretty well marked and they had their phones, maps, and a compass so they weren’t worried about getting lost.
“Ohhhhh,” a soft groan came from somewhere nearby.
“Did you hear that?” Louis asked Zayn, stopping. Their arms were full of firewood at that point and they were about to start heading back.
“Yeah, I think it was from that way,” he pointed ahead of them on the trail.
They heard it again and both started walking quickly in that direction. “Hello,” Louis called. “Is anyone there?”
“Yes!” A voice shouted. “Over here!”
Louis and Zayn rushed to the voice and found a guy probably around nineteen or twenty leaning up against a large tree. His right ankle was bent in an unnatural position, very swollen and very purple, and next to him was a very busted cell phone.
“Shit,” Louis dropped the logs and sticks in his arms and rushed over to the boy. “What’s your name? Can you tell me what happened?”
“Justin,” the boy’s voice was rough. “I fell down a small hill a little ways back. Busted my phone and my ankle. I tried to get back to the trail crawling, but it hurts so much…”
“Okay, Justin, I’m Louis,” he took a calming breath. “I’m a nurse, but my friend back at our campsite is a paramedic. Zayn, can you try to call Liam and 9-1-1?”
Zayn nodded and pulled out his phone.
Louis turned back to Justin, “Can I check to make sure you don’t have any other injuries? Does anything else hurt besides your ankle?”
“Yeah do whatever you want,” he groaned. “It’s just my ankle I think. Maybe some bruised ribs? Not sure what that feels like exactly.”
Louis pressed his fingers to the boy’s wrist, “Pulse feels good, maybe a bit fast but not out of the ordinary for the situation. Are you having trouble breathing at all?”
“Breathing deeply kind of hurts I guess?”
Louis asked before lifting his shirt to see some bruising around his ribs. He poked gently, stopping when Justin winced. “Definitely bruised, but I don’t think they’re broken, it doesn’t seem like you’re exhibiting signs of concussion either.”
“I can’t get a signal on my phone,” Zayn said. “Must be a dead spot.”
“Okay,” Louis thought for a second, his eyes catching the piles of firewood. “That’s okay, we’ll just have to bring Justin to where there is a signal. Do we have any rope or cloth we can use to tie around some sticks to make a splint?”
“I have some rope in my bag,” Justin said.
“Perfect,” Louis got the rope and picked some sturdy looking pieces of wood to use for a rough splint around Justin’s ankle. “Sorry,” he said when Justin hissed at the pressure. “The splint should keep your ankle stable enough for now and that will help with the pain a bit. Next, Zayn and I are going to help you up, okay? Lean on us and your good leg, don’t put any weight on the bad one.”
It worked on the first try. Louis held him up for a moment on his own while Zayn grabbed his bag, then they slowly started making their way back to camp, leaving the firewood behind.
“There you two are, you’ve been gone for— Oh shit,” Niall said as he caught sight of them approaching the camp.
Liam and Harry looked up as well, eyes widening. “Get him over here,” Liam said, getting out of his chair and offering it to the injured boy.
“This is our new friend Justin,” Louis said. “Couldn’t get a signal up the trail and he has a pretty bad break in his ankle.”
“I have service, I’ll call EMS,” Harry said, pulling out his phone as Liam started checking the boy over again.
“Blood flow to the foot looks good,” Liam commented. “Justin, can you still move your toes?” Justin moved his toes. “Great, your improvised splint is really good, Louis, well done.”
Louis nodded, still not very good at accepting compliments, “His ribs looked bruised too, but otherwise he seems fine.”
Not long later, a couple of paramedics came up with a gurney. Liam told them the situation and they checked Justin over one more time before getting him onto the gurney and strapping him in.
“Nice work with the splint,” the female paramedic said to Liam.
“Actually that was my friend here,” Liam gestured to Louis. “He did everything, I just confirmed it all.”
She turned to Louis and smiled, “Like I said, nice work. You should consider being a paramedic, being able to think on your feet like that in a moment of crisis is a skill not everyone has.”
“Oh, um, I’m a nurse actually,” Louis stammered.
“Would make for a relatively easy transition then,” she shrugged. “Just something to think about.” And they rolled Justin away down the dirt trail.
“She’s right, you’d make a good paramedic if you ever wanted to make a change from nursing,” Liam said.
“I’ve never really thought about it,” Louis said, still looking in the direction in which the paramedics disappeared. “I like nursing because I get to work more with the patients, but it was kind of nice doing the… saving I guess.”
“You should have seen him,” Zayn commented. “He was all cool and collected. Would never have known he wasn’t a paramedic if I didn’t already know.”
“Well, if you ever want to talk about it, let me know,” Liam smiled at Louis. “I’d be happy to help.”
While Zayn took Liam and Niall back out to get the firewood they left behind, Harry pulled his camping chair over to sit next to Louis.
“How does it feel to be a hero?” Harry asked.
“Feels like ‘hero’ is a little dramatic, curly.” He tugged gently on one of Harry’s stray curls.
“Well, I think it’s accurate,” he swatted Louis’ hand away. “If you hadn’t found that guy, who knows how much longer he’d have been out there, injured, with no water. You don’t have to suddenly decide to become a paramedic, but I am making it my personal mission to get you to accept a compliment.”
Louis groaned, “So what? You’re going to follow me around complimenting me all day until I’m desensitized or something?”
“If I have to,” Harry gave him a dimpled smile that Louis couldn’t help smiling back at. “They’ll come when you least expect them– got to keep you on your toes. I’ll be your personal compliment fairy.” Harry picked up a stick and waved it like a wand, “Bippity, boppity, boo!”
Louis snorted, “I’ll have to retaliate then. I’ll keep complimenting you back, and then everyone is going to think we’re just really weird with flirting and it’ll get awkward.”
“Nah,” Harry waved his wand again and poked Louis in the shoulder with it. “What’s a little flirting between friends?”
There he goes again–throwing Louis off balance. This man was a menace. Who said stuff like that?
Louis certainly didn’t.
Louis rolled his eyes in an effort to brush off Harry’s comment, he clearly didn’t mean anything by it, “Want to use that wand of yours to set up the rest of the camp?”
***
The next morning, Louis woke up slowly, feeling slightly disoriented. What was on his face?
“You’re an excellent cuddler Lou, but I need to wee.”
Louis’ eyes blinked open to face soft curly hair. Oh. Oh no .
He was cuddled up against Harry’s back. They were still in their respective sleeping bags, and his hips (and therefore his boner) weren’t touching Harry (thank god ), but he had an arm around Harry’s middle and was holding on tight .
He sprang back, “Sorry!”
Harry rolled over to face him. “I said you were an excellent cuddler, no need to apologize for something that happened while we were sleeping. Thank you for letting me be the little spoon, too.” He booped Louis on the nose, “Also that was your first compliment of the day, say ‘thank you.’”
Louis blinked again, his brain still not fully comprehending. “Thank you, curly.”
“Good,” Harry said, then he got up and left. Louis presumed to go take a piss behind a tree somewhere.
All he could think about was that Harry liked being the little spoon. Harry didn’t mind that he was the big spoon. Harry had a scratchy morning voice that was super hot. Harry’s shirt had ridden up where Louis’ hand had been and…
Nope. Not thinking about that.
Louis covered his face with both his hands and groaned softly in frustration. Hopefully his erection would die down before Harry came back.
***
“So what’s your plan for today while Harry and I are on our trail ride?” Louis asked the others as they sat around eating the pastries Harry brought for them to have for breakfast.
“Those two,” Niall pointed at Zayn and Liam, “Are going down to the section of the river where they have fishing, because they’re boring old men.”
“Fishing is relaxing and this is a vacation,” Liam pointed a finger at Niall.
“And,” Niall continued, completely ignoring Liam. “As I’m apparently the single fifth-wheel here, I’m checking out the rock climbing situation.”
“You won’t be rock climbing by yourself will you?” Harry asked. “What if you fall and break something and no one is around? Like that guy yesterday.”
Niall rolled his eyes, “It’s a class, Haz, no need to break out the worried-mum frown.”
Louis looked at Harry’s expression, “He does look a bit like a worried mum, doesn’t he?”
“Or a worried frog,” Liam commented through the bite of muffin he’d just taken.
“Heyyy,” Harry’s frown deepened.
Louis leaned over to pinch Harry’s cheek while he tried to swat Louis away, “Don’t worry, curly, I like your worried frog mum face. That’s your first compliment of the day, say thank you.”
“I hate you,” Harry crossed his arms and pouted, but Louis could tell there wasn’t any heat to it and they all laughed, causing Harry’s frown to slip into a smile.
“Come on,” Louis tugged at Harry’s arms to pull him out of the chair after they all agreed to meet back up in the afternoon to hike to a waterfall for some swimming. “The email said we need to wear long pants while riding the horses, and it’ll take probably thirty minutes to get to the stables.”
***
“Buttercup would definitely beat Marigold in a race,” Louis said as he and Harry were tacking up their horses for the day.
“Marigold is too much of a lady to care about something as silly as racing, isn’t that right, Marigold?” Harry said to his mare as he stroked her neck. The gentle horse snorted and tried moving her nose in search of more treats.
The first part of their lesson had been learning about their horse, meeting their horse, and tacking up their horse. The instructors were making their way around checking over each saddle for safety before they were allowed to get on.
“Marigold does actually have a bit of a stubborn streak,” the woman in charge, Dara, said as she came over to check their work. “She often looks at the other horses doing typical horse things as if she thinks they’re beneath her. She definitely sees herself as more of a human.”
“A stubborn streak,” Harry brightened. “Lou, maybe you should ride her then, I bet you’d get along well.”
“Ha. Ha. So funny,” Louis deadpanned. “Too late, me and Buttercup here have already bonded. She’s my true love.” Buttercup nudged her nose into Louis’ cheek as if to confirm his statement and he gave Harry a smug, “See?”
“Buttercup loves anyone that gives her a treat,” Dara said with an amused grin. “She’s very food motivated.”
“What a coincidence, Buttercup, darling,” he gasped lightly and gave her a kiss on the nose. “I also love being fed treats.”
“Good to know,” Harry’s voice was a bit softer, amused.
Before Louis could comment on it or think on it further though, Dara began the next set of instructions–getting into the saddle.
“Do you need a boost, Lou?” Harry commented after getting into his saddle on his first attempt before Louis had even tried.
“Oi,” Louis pointed at him. “We aren’t all secretly eleven princes or whatever that move just was, Legolas. And, for the record, I’m only a couple inches shorter than you.”
Harry laughed and Louis had to turn away so that he wouldn’t see what was sure to be a dopey grin on his face. Making Harry laugh was the best . He didn’t even mind that thinking about Harry’s laugh caused him to mess up getting on the horse the first try–it just resulted in Harry laughing some more.
“If I’m Legolas, does that make you–”
“If you say Frodo, I’m going to smack you,” Louis interrupted. Harry’s responding laughter suggested that was exactly what he was going to say.
A few minutes later, they were on the trail. The horses were so accustomed to walking the same path everyday that they didn’t really need much guidance– they just followed the horse in front of them. Louis was disappointed that they were all walking in a line and he’d somehow ended up in front of Harry meaning he couldn’t observe him from behind. He’d have to try switching on the way back.
They rode the horses around the lake and through the trees, eventually stopping at a station clearly set up to be a rest stop for horses.
“If everyone would dismount, tie up your horse so that they can reach the water and we’ll walk a little more to the scenic overlook for some photo opportunities.” Dara instructed.
Louis rubbed his bum after securing Buttercup. They’d been riding for about an hour and he was definitely feeling it.
“Want some help there Lou?” Harry said with a giggle.
Louis turned to him, “Are you offering to massage my bum later? Because don’t think I’m too shy to say yes.”
Harry winked at him and gave him a cheeky grin, “Only if you return the favor.”
Louis nearly choked on his own spit.
They continued a bit further up the trail and the trees cleared away. “Oh, this is amazing,” Louis murmured as he took in the view.
“We’ve actually been going up a very slight incline this whole ride,” Dara said as they continued to walk forward. “This is one of the highest points in the park. Please don’t lean on the railing, the falling rock signs are not there as a joke–people have fallen off this cliff.”
Of course, then Harry proceeded to walk towards the closest part of the railing with absolutely no regard for his safety.
“Haz, what are you doing?!” Louis grabbed a hold of him by the waist to pull him back a couple feet. He didn’t let go, deciding it was best to keep Harry close. For safety reasons of course.
“I just wanted to see how far the drop was,” he looked a lot more amused than Louis felt.
“Can we please leave that to our imagination?”
“Only if you take a bunch of pictures with me to make me feel better.”
“Just make sure to get my good side.”
“You have a good side?” Harry cocked his head before his eyes widened. “I didn’t mean it as all sides are bad—“
“Too late, I’m already offended. I’ll never get over it. My life is ruined. This is my villain origin story.” He started to turn away dramatically.
“Oh no you don’t, I’m not falling for that,” Harry laughed and jumped onto Louis’ back like a koala. Louis wasn’t expecting it though and they both ended up in a pile on the ground laughing.
“Okay, so that wasn’t my finest idea,” Harry said as he rolled off Louis. Though neither got up immediately.
“At least you did it in the opposite direction of the cliff.”
“True.”
“Thanks for not getting both of us killed, Haz.”
“You’re very welcome, Lou.” He moved to sit up and hissed a bit. “Ouch.”
“Let me see,” Louis grabbed Harry’s arm and held it up. It was scrap from the rocks near his elbow. “It’s nothing bad, but it needs to be cleaned and covered as soon as we get back. I should have brought my first aid kit…”
“Lou,” Harry cut off Louis’ trail of thought. “I’m fine, I’ll be okay without your first aid kit for a couple hours.”
“I have some stuff actually,” Dara said, coming up to them with her large backpack. Louis guessed she came prepared for all kinds of things. She handed him a large bandage, some first-aid cream, and some baby wipes for the dirt.
Harry was a model patient while Louis cleaned and dressed his wound. “Why do I feel like this isn’t going to be the last time I have to patch you up, hmm?”
“Because you’re a pretty smart guy?” Harry grinned. When Louis attached the bandage, Harry stood and held out a hand to pull Louis off the ground. “So, can I get a redo on all that?”
“On what? The piggyback ride, or you tackling me to the ground?”
Harry gave him a look, “I want a piggyback selfie.”
The next thing Louis knew, he had his hands wrapped around Harry’s thighs as said thighs were wrapped around his waist. Harry and his phone camera on selfie-mode and he leaned forward so that they were cheek to cheek with cheesy grins.
The pictures were pretty damn cute and he made Harry promise to share them.
As they were walking back to the horses, Harry got caught up in conversation with a mum and her daughter, probably around nine or ten, and while they were a few paces ahead of Louis, a slightly older woman came up next to him.
“If you don’t mind me saying,” the woman said. “You two make an adorable couple.”
He didn’t correct her.
Notes:
Not me rereading and laughing at my own jokes... Hope you're enjoying the fic so far!
Chapter 6: Chapter 5 - Something Great
Chapter Text
Chapter 5 - Something Great
When Louis and Harry made it back to their camp, Liam, Zayn, and Niall were already back. Louis wouldn’t have found this strange if it wasn’t for the fact that all three of them were standing shoulder to shoulder with their hands behind their backs.
Harry immediately started to slow down as they came into view and Louis matched his pace. “I think I know what’s about to happen,” he whispered. “I thought we’d have more time to strategize. I’m prepared though, so get to the tent as quickly as possible for supplies.”
Before Louis could question the serious tone Harry had suddenly adopted, Niall called out to them. “Hey H, hey Tommo, have fun on your trail ride?”
“It was great,” Harry said casually, which confused Louis even more. “How was rock climbing and fishing?”
“Also great,” Liam said with an equally casual tone. Though the short response suggested something deeper.
Louis looked at the three men that were about ten yards away when Harry stopped walking. They each had bandanas tied around their heads and looked like they were waiting for a military commander to give some sort of uplifting speech at the climax of a war movie. He had no idea what was going on, but knowing them, he was on alert just like Harry clearly was.
The way he was standing, Harry looked like he was the rogue, outnumbered Harrison Ford or Tom Cruise type character in the war movie. One preparing for a fight.
It was hot.
“So, three against two then?” Harry asked, looking pointedly at Niall.
“There’s five of us now,” Niall responded with a tight shrug. “They offered me an alliance.”
Harry’s eyes snapped to Liam and Zayn and then back to Niall. “What did they offer?”
“Too late for negotiations, Harry,” Zayn shook his head. “You two shouldn’t have let us have so much time to ourselves. You knew this would happen.”
“That Niall would betray our standing alliance against the two of you? I definitely did not know that.”
“They offered to let me use their extra parking spot anytime I wanted, the one that’s not all the way out in Siberia, I couldn’t pass it up.”
“Can someone please tell me what’s going on?” Louis interrupted finally. “Why are we acting like this is some sort of hostage negotiation?”
Liam’s eyebrows rose and he looked to Harry, “You never mentioned what we do every camping trip?”
Harry pursed his lips. “I didn’t think you’d ambush us.”
“Well Louis,” Liam grinned. “Every camping trip we like to play a game.”
Then, the three of them revealed the large water guns that they had been holding behind their backs the whole time.
Oh.
Oh no.
“What… is the game?” He said cautiously. He really wished he wasn’t in jeans from the trail ride still since it seemed like he was about to be running. At least he was in a tank top.
“It’s kind of like capture the flag meets laser tag meets a good old fashioned snowball fight.”
“We don’t really have a name for it,” Niall reached into his pocket and tossed a couple of rolled up blue bandanas to Harry who quickly handed one to Louis before tying his around his head like the others–Louis followed suit.
“You hid your treasure when we got here?” Liam asked Harry.
“Of course.”
“Perfect. Then Louis, the goal of the game is to protect your treasure and try to find ours–hidden somewhere nearby, no digging allowed. The rules are simple: if someone takes your bandana, you’re out, and if you run out of water guns, you’re out. Last one standing wins.”
Before Louis could ask what he meant by treasure and water guns, plural, Zayn raised his water gun like he was a seasoned war veteran and said “Go.”
Harry dodged the spray, grabbed Louis’ hand, and started running towards the large duffle bag he’d left outside their tent that morning. It was a large duffle bag. And heavy from how Harry slightly wobbled when he had picked it up.
“We’ll give you ten seconds before coming after you,” Niall called.
Harry unzipped the bag to reveal an assortment of water guns.
He pulled out the two biggest that had shoulder straps and handed one to Louis, then pulled out a belt that had small ones holstered all around it, then grabbed another larger one that didn’t have a strap. Louis quickly did the same, though there wasn’t a second belt so he put a couple small ones in his pocket like some sort of cowboy. He did say he wanted to be one as a child.
Making sure the tent was zipped so no water got in, Harry pulled Louis around it to shield them from the others just as their countdown ended.
“You’re right, Haz, maybe three against two isn’t fair,” Liam shouted. “We have you on all sides.”
“You couldn’t have brought this up when I was asking about your past camping trips?” Louis hissed.
“I made a judgment call. It was a bad one.” Harry grumbled. He peeked over the top of the tent only to duck back down to avoid a spray. “We need to get one of them out. I’ll distract Niall and Zayn, you go for Liam.”
“Why me?”
“He’s all bark and no bite. He’s a big softy and you’ll be able to catch him off guard. You can do this, Lou,” He squeezed Louis’ shoulder. “Now go!”
Harry took off with a war cry and Louis popped up to find Liam. He was also following Harry and Louis saw one of his shots get the back of Harry’s head. That just wouldn’t do.
He was closest to Louis’ side of the tent so while Liam was distracted, about to go for Harry, Louis raised his water gun, and fired.
He hit Liam square in the back.
They both froze for a moment, looking at each other.
“I’m not going to go easy on you just because you’re new, Louis.”
“I’m counting on it,” Louis smirked and then gave a crazy yell before opening fire on Liam.
It was like a slow motion action scene in a movie, Louis’ yelling and the constant spraying of water as he ran closer totally caught Liam off guard and he stumbled.
“Liam!” He heard Zayn shout.
But it was too late, Louis darted forward–light on his feet due to years of football–and snatched Liam’s bandana easily.
“Louis, watch out!”
Louis turned from Liam to see Zayn coming for him. He spun his water gun towards Zayn, but the spray of water did nothing to deter him. Then, he felt a brush against his back, Harry.
“Two on two is a much more fair fight, are you ready?” He asked.
“Let’s do this,” Louis responded.
Back to back, the two of them took on Zayn and Niall in a flurrying of water-fire. The onslaught of water never ceased and felt like it was coming from all angles. Louis was soaked to the bone, but all he cared about was pushing forward.
Soon their positions had shifted so that both teams were shoulder to shoulder, each trying to force the other to take steps back.
That’s when Louis spotted an opening. Niall was out of the big water guns and was on to just a small one he had in his sock. Zayn looked like he was getting low as well.
“I’ll draw away Zayn, and you get Niall, he’s almost out of water, then while Zayn is distracted you can find their treasure.”
“But what about you?” Harry hissed.
“Don’t worry about me,” Louis said, and then ran to his right, faking like he was trying to get around Zayn. As expected, Zayn took the bait.
As he led Zayn on a chase around tents and trees, Louis wasn’t sure what was going on with Harry and Niall until he heard Niall shout “Dammit H! Zayn, it's all you!”
That of course caused Zayn to pause, looking back and then looking at Louis, unsure of who to go after.
At that point, both of them were very low on water and had started conserving it more so they were locked in draw, water guns pointed at each other, neither moving. Out of the corner of his eye however, Louis saw Harry approaching behind Zayn.
“What do you say we make some kind of deal?” Louis improvised to keep Zayn from noticing Harry. “We’re both almost out of water. You make a move, I’ll fire, you’ll fire back, we’ll both be out before we can tell who’s out first. The longer we stand here the longer Harry has a chance to find your treasure,” Louis paused. “Why do you call it that? It sounds kind of dirty, doesn’t it?”
“You took out Liam, why should I make a deal with you?”
“What if it’s a deal for both you and Liam? We can get Harry to make you both a fancy date night dinner or something.”
In the span of time it took Zayn to consider the offer, Harry had gotten close enough to reach forward and snatch the bandana off Zayn’s head.
“You’re out!” Harry shouted over Zayn’s screech of surprise.
“You!” Zayn pointed at Louis with his mouth open. “You distracted me on purpose!”
“I did.” Louis nodded, smiling at Harry who was dancing in a circle waving the bandana around as Niall and Liam came walking over through the trees.
“That was… you are…” Zayn fished around for the right words. For a moment, Louis felt a wave of worry wash over him. Did he break the rules? Would they be upset with him?
Then a smile broke across Zayn’s face. “That was genius. A deal for Harry to cook us a romantic dinner? I was really considering saying yes, Harry’s food is too good to pass up!”
“And I wouldn’t have blamed you,” Liam said, coming up and wrapping an arm around Zayn to give him a kiss. “Since we’re already wet, you lads want to grab towels and walk over to the waterfall for a swim?”
They all agreed and started to walk back to camp, but Louis hung back a little knowing Harry would too.
“You were supposed to go for the treasure,” he pointed a finger at Harry.
“Yeah,” he shrugged, hands in his pockets. “But then who would have saved you?”
Louis chuckled softly, “I didn’t need saving. There wasn’t any real danger.”
“Doesn’t matter. We’re a team, we have each other’s backs,” Harry gave him a shoulder bump.
“Definitely,” Louis smiled widely. “You can have my back anytime.”
“You too.”
***
When they first got the waterfall and Harry took his shirt off, it took everything in Louis to not outright drool at the sight of smooth wet skin, muscles, and tattoos. He was pretty sure the way he wanted Harry’s back was not the way Harry meant in his earlier statement though, so he looked away. He’d been around attractive guys before while being able to act normal. He wasn’t a creep.
It was just a little crush and a little physical attraction. He could ignore that.
Besides, he was enjoying the friendship he was forming with Harry too much to mess it up. Harry was unlike any friend he’d ever had.
“This might be the most fun I’ve had in years,” Louis commented while he and Harry were laying in the sun on a large smooth rock to dry off.
“The waterfall?” Harry used his arms to shield his eyes to look at Louis.
“The whole day really. Ethan, my ex, would have hated everything about this.” He immediately regretted bringing up Ethan. He hadn’t meant to, it just sort of… popped out.
“What do you mean?”
Harry was making the frowning, concerned frog-face. Louis already knew that face was going to cause him a lot of problems in the future. “Ethan… He was a lawyer, you see, and whenever we were out with people from his office he wanted to put out the right image. He wanted to be seen as professional, you know?”
“Why do I feel like I’m not going to like this?”
“Because you probably aren’t.”
Harry sat up and looked at him earnestly, eyes big. “You don’t have to tell me if you don’t want to.”
“No, talking about it might be good. It’s just, I didn’t exactly always fit into the picture Ethan wanted to create. I was… too much. Basically. Without even realizing it I let it get to the point where I was toning myself down, letting him isolate us, and walking on eggshells in order to not upset him. I know that’s ridiculous. I just thought it was me being a good boyfriend.”
Harry’s face shattered. “So in the car when you thought I was mad at you–”
Louis cut him off. “No, you didn’t make me feel like he did. I just have some leftover insecurities still, please don’t stop teasing me or whatever or change how you act around me.”
“But I don’t want to make you feel like that.”
“You don’t, none of you do. I know we’re friends and Ethan was my boyfriend so it’s a bit different, but you all make me feel free to be myself. I just have some moments sometimes where I’m still working through things–like recognizing that you’re okay with me being… me.”
“Absolutely okay with you being you. I like you being you,” Harry said quickly.
“So you’re not going to act weird around me?”
“No weirder than I already am.”
Louis laughed and they settled into silence for a while. Niall was chatting with a couple of girls that had shown up. Zayn and Liam had wandered off somewhere by themselves holding hands and giggling like they were trying to be sneaky and failing.
“Did you notice how we didn’t bring any alcohol on this trip?” Harry broke the silence.
“Yeah, I just figured maybe there was a park rule or something. Didn’t seem like a big deal.”
Harry shook his head and Louis noticed he suddenly looked a little sad and a little far away. “No, not a park rule. Kind of a… me rule. No drinking and camping.”
“You don’t have to talk about it,” Louis said after Harry was silent for a moment. “Not just because I told you something about me. But I’ll listen, if you do want to.”
“I want to tell you. I haven’t had to talk about it in a long time cause most everyone I know already knows. Talking about him might be nice. It doesn’t hurt as much as it once did.”
“Him?” Louis prodded gently. So far Louis had seen sleepy Harry, sweet Harry, funny Harry, worried Harry, even upset Harry. This… not sad Harry exactly, but something similar, was new.
“I had a boyfriend all four years of high school, Ravi,” Harry started. “It was the typical high school romance. We grew up together, we were best friends, we were the only out gay kids in town so it sort of just… happened. It was kind of self preservation at first. Safety in numbers and all that. Then we were in love…” He trailed off and Louis let him think without interrupting. “The summer after we graduated from high school we were out camping with a bunch of friends. There was a lake nearby, we went swimming, we got really drunk, and really high, and Ravi decided to cliff dive.”
Louis closed his eyes. He had a feeling he knew where this was going. “Oh,” he breathed.
“Yeah,” Harry said sorrowfully. “He jumped, and he didn’t come back up. We were so buzzed that our reaction time was off. Not sure exactly how much time passed before we realized something was wrong, that he should have come right back up. By the time we found him, it was too late.”
“Oh Harry,” Louis said sadly. “I’m so sorry.” He could imagine eighteen year old Harry, absolutely gorgeous, ready to go out into the world with someone he loved, only to face a horrible loss. It was heartbreaking.
Harry nodded, “I was a right mess for ages afterwards. Doctors said he must have hit his head on the rocks, knocking him out-- he didn’t jump out far enough-- and he drowned. I went to a lot of therapy after that for the guilt. If I hadn't been drunk and high, maybe I could have saved him. I still don’t drink much because of it.” He pointed to the tattoo on his arm that said you booze you lose . “I was so heartbroken for a long time. At the time he was everything to me, but…”
“You needed to learn to be everything to yourself?” Louis finished.
Harry looked at him and smiled softly. “Yes, exactly.”
“You two ready to go back and make hot dogs and smores? I think Liam and Zayn should be done by now. I hope.” Niall’s voice said, coming up behind them.
“What? You’re not going to hang out more with those girls?” Louis squinted up at him in the sun.
“Nah, I wouldn’t ditch you lads on our friends-cation. Com'on, I want chocolate, marshmallows, and spooky stories.”
“Ah, so they had boyfriends?” Harry asked.
“Yep. Nice girls though, said they’d check out my music on Spotify.”
***
“Lou, are you awake?” Harry’s voice whispered softly through the dark not long after they’d turned off the lantern.
“Yeah,” he whispered back, voice equally soft.
“Okay, good.” The way he said it though made Louis think that he asked for a reason.
“You alright?” Louis turned onto his side to face the direction Harry was in even if he could barely see an outline of his form in the dark.
“Promise you won’t laugh?”
“Promise.”
“I think,” he paused and Louis was sure he was probably biting his lip. “I think maybe Niall’s ghost stories got to me more than I thought they did.”
“Aw, Haz–”
“You said you wouldn’t laugh!”
“I’m not! I swear.” He really wasn’t, he couldn’t help it if he thought Harry saying Niall’s ghost stories scared him was literally the most adorable thing he’d ever heard. “I promise they aren’t real, Haz.”
“But La Llorona–”
“Is not going to kidnap you in the night, she only wants children and we’re not near water.” He thought that was what the legend said anyway.
“What about ax murderers picking us off one by one?”
Louis thought for a moment. “Nothing happened last night, why would it tonight?”
“Lulling us into a false sense of security?”
Okay. Louis didn’t have a logical response for that one, but he wasn’t about to tell Harry that. He heard Harry shuffle around in his sleeping bag. “What would make you feel better to go to sleep?” He said instead.
“Um… It’s silly.”
“No it’s not,” Louis shook his head. “Can I help?”
“You can say no if it’s weird.” He said quickly. “But would you… hold me?”
Louis blinked, he wasn’t expecting that. “Oh.”
“Never mi–”
“No, it’s fine! I can do that. Do you want to put our sleeping bags together?” He was glad it was dark–he was surely blushing. But Harry agreed and a few minutes later they were awkwardly getting situated with Louis' arm over Harry’s middle, but with probaby six inches between them. It wasn’t particularly comfortable.
“You can come closer Lou, I’m not going to eat you. You’re supposed to be saving me from the ‘eating things’ anyway.”
“What happened to us being a team and having each other’s backs?”
“Doesn’t apply to ghosts, I’ll let you take one for the team.”
“So kind.”
“Closer, please.” He demanded.
So, Louis did as asked (such a hardship) and scooted closer until their bodies were pressed together and he heard Harry sigh in contentment as he pulled Louis’ arm closer like a huggie toy. “Better?” He murmured against the back of Harry’s neck. This was nice. Too nice.
“Yes. Thanks for… Thanks.”
“Of course.”
“Night, Lou.”
“Night, Haz.”
Oh , he was in trouble .
***
A few days after they returned home, Louis had a plan.
After all the various events of the camping trip Louis knew his little crush was at risk of becoming a bigger crush, and he couldn’t let that happen. They were friends. He wanted to keep Harry as a friend and not fuck things up.
So, he needed to stop the crush in its tracks. And what better way to get over someone you never had in the first place than to get under someone else? It was a cliche because it was true, right?
The universe seemed to think this was the right idea, because not long after making this decision, Zayn texted asking if he wanted to meet a new coworker of his that he thought Louis might hit it off with.
A model? That should help him forget his crush on Harry for sure.
So, there he was, returning home in the early morning hours after a night of average sex with a gorgeous male model still thinking about Harry.
In particular, he was thinking about the look on Harry’s face when Louis told him he was going on a date with a guy Zayn set him up with. Or really, the lack of a look on Harry’s face. Part of Louis had been hoping to get some kind of reaction from Harry, but his face was completely neutral. All he did was look up from his book and tell Louis to have fun.
So that was what Louis tried to do.
Trudging through the door, he saw that Harry and Niall were both sitting at the kitchen island drinking coffee and pulled himself into the third seat next to Niall.
“Want some breakfast?” Harry asked, already getting up and going around the counter, knowing Louis would say yes.
“Please,” Louis mumbled tiredly, resting his chin on the palm of his hand.
“Soooo,” Niall nudged him with an elbow. “Was it love?”
Louis snorted, “Definitely not.”
Harry set a cup of coffee in front of him and Louis swore he looked pleased at his response to Niall for a brief second, then his face was back to neutral. Maybe too neutral? He was making things up in his head, obviously.
“Was the sex good at least?” Niall continued.
“You really want to know?”
“Of course! You’re my friend, your needs deserve to be well taken care of.”
Louis let out a bark of laughter. “It was… fine. Good, I guess.”
“That doesn’t sound like a winning endorsement,” Harry commented casually, leaning against the sink across from Louis and taking a sip of coffee.
He had never been one to talk about his sex life much with friends. Definitely not high school, he avoided those conversations like the plague to avoid having to answer questions he didn’t want to try finding a straight answer for. He did a little with friends in college, but then that all disappeared once he graduated and was first often busy working and then when started dating Ethan… Well, he liked things kept private.
“Eh, I got off, but it wasn’t anything mind blowing. I don’t think I’ll see him again. On to the next one, as they say, right? I really just wanted to get laid anyway.”
“That’s the spirit, Tommo!” Niall clapped him on the back. Harry turned to start cleaning dishes.
***
While at first, Louis questioned if maybe, just maybe, Harry was… jealous? At the idea of him hooking up with guys and going on dates (none of which ever went past the first), that is. Since the first morning after Harry had been very supportive of Louis’ quest for sex.
He even helped Louis pick out a couple of outfits for his dates.
He’d gone on four other dates since the first, two of them ending the morning after, but this fifth date was the first one where he’d brought the guy back to his place instead of the other way around.
He wasn’t sure how he felt about it as he woke up seeing the guy, Sam, in his bed. He was a nice guy, really funny, really hot. The sex was good. Great, even. Definitely better than the others. Maybe he’d try for a second date with this one.
“Morning,” Sam rolled over to face him.
“Morning,” Louis returned his soft smile. This was another thing, with the other guys he’d gotten dressed before they woke and then woke them up on his way out to say something along the lines of “had fun, bye!” Sam, however, did not seem to be doing that.
“Would you like to go get breakfast?” Sam asked.
“Oh uh,” Louis tried to get his brain to catch up. “Yeah sure, or would you like to have breakfast here? My flatmate is a chef and he has stuff lying around all the time, it’s really good.”
“That would be great,” he smiled, then looked thoughtful. “Your flatmates aren’t… gay right?”
“What?” Louis blanched.
Sam slapped a hand to his face. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean for that to sound so awful. What I mean is, I had fun with you last night, and I’d like to see you again, but in my experience gay flatmates are always either secretely hooking up or secretly in love with each other and I’d rather not have that experience again, if you know what I mean.”
Oh. “They’re straight.” The words were out of Louis’ mouth before he could stop them. “My flatmates are both straight.” He winced internally. “You get dressed, I’ll see if we have anything for breakfast.”
Louis threw on some clothes and left the room quickly, closing the door behind him. Walking into the living area, Niall was nowhere to be seen, but Harry was, as expected, in the kitchen.
“Sounded like last night was better than ‘fine’?” He raised an eyebrow.
“You need to be straight.” Louis blurted out.
“Sorry?” Harry raised both eyebrows.
“He doesn’t think gay men can be plantonic flatmates, I think he was burned in the past, and I kind of like him, so you need to be straight.”
“Lou,” he hissed. “I’ve told you I’m a terrible liar.”
But he heard the sound of his bedroom door opening and whispered frantically back, “You’re straight!”
Harry didn’t have a chance to laugh or question his sanity because Sam was coming down the hall. “Hey, I’m Sam,” he nodded to Harry.
“I’m Harry. Straight Harry… because there is also a Gay Harry… that doesn’t live here.”
Louis couldn’t breathe. Sweet fuck, Harry was the worst liar on the planet when given no notice.
“Are you the chef Louis mentioned?”
Then, because of course this couldn’t be any more of a mess, Niall walked out of his room. “Ah, is your date staying for breakfast, Louis? It sounded last night that you two probably worked up an appetite. Good for you.”
“I like girls.” Harry offers into the moment of silence, immediately looking sheepish because he clearly knew that was a stupid thing to say.
Niall laughed outrageously, “Yeah right mate, and I’m a leprechaun!”
“I think I’m going to go,” Sam said to Louis, frowning. “Alone.”
“Wait, Sam,” he followed after him towards the door. “Nothing is going on between us.”
Sam turned around holding a hand in front of to get Louis to stop following. “It really doesn’t matter at this point, you clearly tried to lie about it. I don’t need that energy. Bye Louis, it was nice meeting you,” and he left.
“I’m so sorry, Lou,” Harry said the moment he was back in view. “I’ve never pretended to be straight before and I panicked and made it worse.”
“It’s not your fault Haz, I shouldn’t have asked you to lie.” He sighed. “I guess I also panicked.”
“‘I like girls’,” Niall repeated, laughing. “That’s the funniest shit I’ve heard you say, H.”
Harry ignored him and turned to Louis. “I really am sorry, it seemed like you liked him.”
Louis shrugged, not upset at Harry at all. “I barely knew him. It’s fine. I’m starting to think the casual sex thing isn’t for me anyway. It’s so… impersonal. And awkward. I’d rather get to know someone first.”
“Well, if you ever need me to pretend to be straight again, give a little warning so I can prepare.”
Niall snorted, “No one in their right mind would ever believe you were straight. That would have to be some Oscar worthy shit. Or you’d have to have the densest, most delusional audience on the planet.”
When Niall had left to start setting up his classroom before the school year started, Harry joined Louis on the sofa. “What’s that look for?” He asked.
Louis blushed. “Nothing.”
“Well now I’m suspicious and you have to tell me,” Harry poked his arm.
“I was just thinking that I didn’t really have much of a connection with any of the guys I've been seeing recently. I liked them well enough, some more than others, but it still all felt so… stiff, I guess.”
“That’s pretty normal meeting new people though isn’t it?”
Louis bit his lip, unsure if he should say what he’s thinking before deciding to go for it. “Sure, but I’ve had that instant connection with someone before… I’d like to have it again.”
“Oh? Was it with your ex?”
“God, no,” Louis scoffed.
“Then who?”
You. Was what Louis wanted to say. He certainly liked and was attracted to Ethan when they first met, but it had nothing on his first meeting with Harry. He had tried pushing that first meeting with Harry out of his mind, but he couldn’t. They’d had a connection, the kind that happened in movies and romance novels, he was sure of it. But they were just friends, and he didn’t want to make things uncomfortable.
He knew that with Ethan he’d been caught up in the fantasy of a perfect relationship, what if he did the same to Harry and started making things out to be bigger, more important than they were? He needed something real, not a fantasy.
“Just a guy I met once. Didn’t work out though.” He said, before changing the subject. “Oh, I almost forgot, I got you something at the supermarket yesterday.”
“You got me something?”
“Don’t get too excited, it’s nothing huge.” Louis ran back to his room to grab the item that was sitting on top of his dresser. “Here, I saw a display and didn’t think you had this color yet.”
Harry was frozen looking at the bottle of bright coral pink nail polish in Louis’ outstretched hand.
“Do you not like it?” Louis asked after a moment. “I can take it back.”
“No!” Harry nearly shouted, coming to life. He rubbed his eyes quickly and gently took the bottle from Louis’ hand. “I love it. You bought me nail polish?”
“Yeah,” Louis shrugged. “I just thought you might like it.”
“Literally no one has ever bought me nail polish before,” Harry’s voice was soft as he continued to stare at the bottle. “This is really sweet of you.”
Louis felt a lump form in his throat when Harry finally decided to look up and meet his eyes. “It’s nothing,” he tried to brush off.
“What did we say about accepting compliments? ‘Thank you’ applies too. This means a lot to me, someone, you, giving me nail polish. So thank you.”
“You’re welcome.” He couldn’t take his eyes off the smile Harry rewarded him with.
Chapter 7: Chapter 6 - Adore You
Notes:
A smidge of angst/homophobia but then a lot humor inspired by my favorite New Girl episodes.
Chapter Text
Chapter 6 - Adore You
When Louis got home the first Thursday in August, Niall and Harry were on the couch playing Mario Kart. After living together for nearly three months, this was a pretty typical scene for him to come home to when he had work that day. Usually Louis would join, or they’d get dinner or something, then he’d spend his evenings chatting with Harry and Niall about whatever. It was nice.
“Perfect, you’re home!” Niall said and paused the game. “We need to have a family meeting to sync up our calendars.”
From behind Niall, Harry was dramatically rolling his eyes.
“Can I change first?” Louis groaned.
“Don’t put on pajamas!” Naill called as Louis started walking to his room without waiting for permission. “I have a show tonight at a bar down the street and you’re going this time, I don’t care how late it is!”
Louis groaned louder. “Fine.”
Once in his room, he smiled to himself. While he enjoyed giving Niall a hard time, he was actually looking forward to seeing him perform again. He had been to a couple of Niall’s shows in June, then his work schedule changed and he’d missed the others.
When Louis came back in gray jeans, sneakers, and a dark green shirt, he saw that Harry had also been made to change clothes and he was now wearing black jeans, a light pink button up that had yellow pineapples on it with half the buttons undone, and a pearl necklace. Louis thought he looked gorgeous and confident. His hair was down too, Louis loved it when Harry left his hair loose. He looked like a perfect mix of sexy rocker and sunshine. Louis gulped.
“Perfect,” Niall said, seemingly oblivious to Louis intently checking Harry out from across the room. “I took a whiteboard from school while setting up my classroom so that we could keep track of everyone’s schedules.”
Harry raised an eyebrow, “You stole a whiteboard?”
“No, Harold, I borrowed a whiteboard. I’ll give it back eventually. Look,” Niall held up the whiteboard. “I already started making a calendar for the rest of this month, Louis you're blue, Harry you’re green, and I’ll be orange. So what days are you working next week?”
“You know, this is what my mum does to keep track of my little sisters’ dance and gymnastics lessons.”
“Your mum is a very smart woman. Now answer the question.”
“Yes mum,” Louis smirked and told Niall the schedule he got for the next week. When Harry told Niall his schedule, Louis was more pleased than he cared to admit that they would have overlapping days off again.
The front door opened without a knock. Like coming home to Niall and Harry playing video games, Liam and Zayn coming and going from apartment 1D as they pleased was also something Louis got used to a long time ago.
“Hey mates,” Liam greeted, walking in with Zayn.
“Payno!” Niall shouted with glee. “Come add yours and Zany’s schedules to the calendar.”
Liam looked mildly amused, but not surprised, by Niall’s request. “Yes, mum.”
Niall made a noise of protest and Louis gave Liam a fistbump.
“You two laugh now,” Niall pointed. “But this schedule is going to be great, life changing, mark my words!”
Zayn rolled his eyes good naturedly at Liam, “Come on, let’s get this over with.”
While the three of them were talking about schedules, Harry came over to sit by Louis. “How was work?”
This was something Louis caught onto very quickly with Harry. When he asked Louis about his day, he really meant it. He knew he should stop comparing Harry to Ethan, he wasn’t dating Harry, but they were like absolute night and day–it blew his mind sometimes.
“It was fine, a bit slow maybe, which I guess is good in the grand scheme of things. No terrible injuries, just some rashes, some stomach pains, oh and I got to help teach a single dad about what to expect from his daughter’s first period. That probably should have been up to any of the female nurses, but I think they were hoping I could speak ‘man’ to him, regardless of the fact that the last time I was near a vagina was when I was born.”
“Gross,” Harry grinned. “That’s nice that you were able to help though.”
“Yeah.” Louis grinned back, he couldn’t help it. Harry made him smile for the smallest reasons. “What about you, finish the bridezilla’s cake?”
Harry groaned and tilted his head back. Louis loved when he did that. “I did, but she called two more times today before I had to tell her if she changed her mind again I’d have to charge extra because her cake might not be ready on time. That made her much more decisive.”
“Well look at you, bridezilla slayer,” Louis poked Harry in the side. This tiny touch made his mind go back to thinking about that time they cuddled in the tent. He thought about that a lot.
“Alright, lads,” Niall clapped his hands like they were his class at school. “Let’s go to the pub so I can get set up!”
***
“This place is pretty packed compared to the last show I was at,” Louis commented as he, Harry, Liam, and Zayn made their way to the table they had reserved every night Niall played. “Is something else going on here tonight? I know there’s a football match going on.”
“This is all for Niall,” Liam commented, sliding into the chair next to Zayn, across from Louis. “He has been growing quite the fan base the last few months. Some fans recorded his set and put it on YouTube; he got over ten-thousand likes in two days. He’s being weirdly modest about it, but ever since the number of women in the pub on nights he plays has been going up.”
Louis looked around more closely. There were a lot of women in the pub tonight. “Ahh,” Louis said slyly. “I see.”
Soon, Niall came out onto the little stage with his guitar. “Hello everyone, I’m Niall Horan.”
The women in the room screeched with enthusiasm and Louis gave Harry an exaggerated look of surprise that made Harry giggle.
Niall’s set was great, as usual, and Louis thought he had a nice rapor going on with the crowd that diffused the crazy fangirls while not completely shutting them down either.
“Does he want to pursue music professionally? Stop teaching?” Louis wondered. “He’s never said.”
Harry nodded. “Yeah, but I think he’s also worried about failing at it if he tries too hard. He mentioned once that his ultimate dream would be doing music full time, but that he also wants to build his savings up before he quits teaching. I think he could do it though.”
He was about to say something else, when the song ended and Niall started talking to the crowd.
“So the next song I want to do I’ve never done in public before, I’ve only practiced it a couple of times actually, and I didn’t write it.” The crowd giggled at Niall’s tone. “One of my best mates wrote this one really recently actually and I’d like him to come sing it with me, Harry!”
Harry’s eyes bugged and shouted, “Bloody hell, Niall, I didn’t agree to this!”
The crowd laughed, and Louis couldn’t help but be extremely curious by the turn of events. Harry wrote a song? Harry sang in addition to playing the guitar?
Was there anything Harry didn’t do?
“Come on Harry, if you don’t get up here I’m going to start telling everyone embarrassing stories about you…” Niall trailed off, wiggling his eyebrows.
“Fine!” Harry shouted. “Wish me luck,” he said to just Louis, Liam, and Zayn, who all cheered after him with the rest of the crowd.
“This is going to be great,” Liam said to Louis, over the table. “Harry’s good, but doesn’t sing in public unless Niall ropes him into it.”
A second mic was brought out for Harry and Louis could tell he was nervous by how he kept messing with his hair.
“Okay, well, umm, like Niall said… I wrote this song.”
“Thank you for the recap, Harry,” Niall deadpanned, getting another chuckle from the crowd. Then he added jovially, “What’s the song about then, Harry?”
Harry looked frozen, mind blank, “Uhhh, a… fish.”
Niall tried and failed to swallow a laugh, “A fish? What the fuck are you talking about?” He buried his head in his hands, shoulders shaking as he laughed in disbelief.
“I’m going to murder you.” Harry gave the Irish man a withering look.
Niall gave one more awkward laugh, brushing a tear from his eye, “Okay Harry. Let’s just get to it, this is ‘Adore You.’”
Walk in your rainbow paradise
Strawberry lipstick state of mind
I get so lost inside your eyes
Would you believe it?
Louis was absolutely mesmerized. Niall was playing the guitar to accompany Harry’s voice, doing occasional backup vocals. Maybe he was biased, but he thought he liked Harry’s voice more than Niall’s. It was soulful, beautiful.
You don't have to say you love me
I just wanna tell you somethin'
Lately you've been on my mind
Fuck. Harry singing did something funny to his insides. He felt like goo held up by a skeleton.
Being flatmates was so unfair. But also, he wouldn’t give it up for anything in the world. He wasn’t going to mess up what he had.
Deep down, Louis knew part of the reason he didn’t want to risk trying anything with Harry was because he was scared. He’d always been very good at avoiding his problems and things that scared him. That was why he stayed with Ethan for so long. Hell, that was why he just quit the footie team in high school and ended up on the path to being a nurse; so he wouldn’t have to face the homophobia on the team.
He also knew part of the reason he was scared was because he knew that if he let himself, he could really, really like Harry. A lot. He could very easily see himself developing real feelings for Harry, which was probably what scared him the most of all.
Suddenly, all of his insecurities with Ethan came to the front of his mind and he felt a little sick.
Sure, Harry flirted with him a bit, but there was no way he’d actually be interested. Harry was the one to say “no dating flatmates” first. Harry might say he wasn’t boring, and he might compliment him all the time, but Harry was so out of his league. He was enjoying spending time with Harry in a friend way anyway, it was nice having friends outside of work and outside of his sister. That was another thing he shouldn’t risk ruining.
The song ended and the crowd went bonkers, cheering for Harry and Niall. Louis made sure to look enthusiastic. He’d loved the song.
But after Harry came back, blushing brightly at every one that congratulated him as he made his way through the crowd. Louis was too stuck in his head about his feelings and his insecurities and Ethan. He’d thought he moved past all of that.
“You okay?” Harry nudged Louis lightly a few songs later.
Louis hadn’t even realized he’d been staring off into space. “Oh yeah, just tired I think. I have been up a while you know,” he smiled weakly.
“Me too, and I have to go into the bakery in the morning. Want to head out? Niall will understand, he’ll wrap up soon anyway since he’s got school tomorrow.”
Louis frowned, “Shit, he does, doesn’t he? How on earth does he do this on a Thursday night and then go teach the next day at 8am? It’s not like we’re in college anymore.”
“No idea,” Harry shrugged. “He has the energy of three men put together. I always figured it had something to do with being Irish, maybe he really is a leprechaun,” he joked. “I’m ready to go if you are, though.”
“Yeah, let’s.”
The two of them said goodbye to Liam and Zayn, who were in their own little romantic bubble by that point, and made their way out of the pub to walk home.
“How long have you been writing songs for?” Louis found himself asking as they started down the street.
Harry shrugged, hands partially stuffed into the pockets of his tight jeans, “Since I was a kid, I guess. Never particularly consistently, just when inspiration struck. Sometimes I help Niall out when he’s stuck, and sometimes I give him complete songs. Have you ever tried it?”
“What? Writing songs?”
“Yeah,” Harry gave him a half smile. “I could show you, it’s pretty fun.”
“Sure.” At this point Louis would probably agree to sky diving if it was Harry that suggested it.
Should he try putting more distance between them?
Did he really want to?
God, his mind was a mess.
They were getting close to their building when they passed a group of clearly intoxicated guys coming out of another pub walking in the opposite direction. They all had that jock-ish look to them and had no concept of how much space they were taking up on the sidewalk as they laughed and shoved each other.
Louis, noticing the men weren’t going to move over for others passing by, instinctively put his arm around Harry’s waist to pull them both closer to get out of the men’s way as they went by.
Since all Louis could think about was the fact that he had his arm around Harry’s waist again (and that he did kind of smell like baked bread that night), he didn’t notice or think about the group of men seeing him do so.
Until he heard one of them shout, “Hey!” And he felt Harry’s body stiffen beside him.
“Just keep walking,” Harry said softly. Louis agreed, keenly more aware that there was no one else around, though also very pleasantly surprised that Harry didn’t move away from him.
“Hey, fairy boys!”
Louis felt his jaw tense. He’d heard it all at one point or another, whether it was to his face or just someone making a casual comment on their opinions while not realizing Louis was gay. It never got any easier though. No matter how much he was out and proud, words still hurt sometimes. Whenever he saw the occasional news story about hate crimes involving any member of the LGBTQ community, his gut clenched in outrage. But also a little bit of fear, because no matter how far the world had progressed, there were still backwards people too insecure about themselves and their lives to let other people be who they were.
Just a few weeks ago a trans woman of color, a group that was unfairly targeted more than anyone else, was brought into the ED after being beaten up in an alley. She had been minding her own business, walking home from work. Said some men saw her and jumped her.
“Were you wearing a girly necklace with your girly shirt and hair, fairy boy?” A voice sneered. Louis couldn’t tell if the men were actively following or not, and looking back didn’t seem like a good idea. Instead, Louis gently tried to push Harry to walk in front of him, to place himself between the men and Harry. Worse case scenario, at least Louis went to the gym to box several times a week. He knew Harry worked out too… but he didn’t know about fighting. And Louis didn’t want Harry to have to fight.
“Lou, what are you doing,” Harry’s voice sounded breathy and slightly panicked, as Louis tried to subtly move behind him to place himself between the men and Harry.
“Just keep walking. I’m sure they’ll get bored. We’re almost home.”
The men were definitely following them though. Jeering at them, calling them names, asking insulting questions. Louis had thought they’d get tired of it more quickly.
“Is it a good idea for these men to know where we live?” Harry murmured.
“No,” Louis paused. “Just keep walking” He told Harry before letting go of his waist to turn to face the men on the dark empty sidewalk.
“Lou--” Harry hissed trying to grab for him as Louis took a few steps towards the men.
“Oh look, the little one is angry!”
“You lot just came from the pub, right? Was the game on?” Louis said with a casual lilt. It threw the men off balance, just as Louis had hoped. He did mention he had some experience with deescalating tense situations, didn’t he? He could keep his head cool when it mattered, most of the time at least, and Harry being there mattered . “Did we win?”
Drunk men were, sometimes, easily distracted. “Yeah! Overtime, 4 to 3!” The men started cheering.
There were five of them. Louis hadn’t realized there were that many before and let out a shaky breath. “I hear there’s a pub three blocks away that gives free pints when Lamsted wins.”
The men cheered, fully distracted now. Louis turned and rushed back over to Harry who hadn’t even moved, grabbing his hand and pulling him away quickly. The men’s conversation had turned to reliving every glorious moment of the game play by play, but he’d feel better once they, once Harry, was no longer in their line of sight.
Stopping at their building, Louis glanced behind them. The men were much farther now, walking in the opposite direction. He breathed a sigh of relief.
This time it was Harry to grab him, and pull him quickly into the building. He pressed the button on the elevator and they both leaned heavily against the wall of mailboxes.
It was silent for a moment before Harry let out a frustrated groan, ran his hand through his hair, and looked to Louis with eyes that were somewhat wild. “What on earth were you thinking?! Do you know how differently that could have gone? I--” he ran a hand over his face looking away. “You basically told me to run and leave you with five ginormous, homophobic cunts? Are you fucking insane?!”
Louis raised his eyebrows, not expecting Harry to be so upset. At least not about that. “Of course I did, they were clearly more interested in targeting you.” He frowned. Wasn’t that obvious?
The elevator dinged and they got in before Harry turned to face him again. Louis was suddenly very conscious of how close they were in the oversized elevator. He had to look up a bit to meet Harry’s beautiful eyes; he actually didn’t mind the height difference being greater from Harry’s heeled boots.
“Not the time to play fucking hero, Lou.” He ground out.
“Did you know you curse a lot more when you’re angry?” Louis said lightly, fighting a smile at Harry’s glare. He couldn’t help it. Then he frowned too, “I could have held my own long enough for help to come. You didn’t go though, you stayed. What good would that have done if we both got the shit beaten out of us with no one to get help? Then you’d be hurt.”
“You would be hurt too!” Harry practically shouted, throwing his hands up and walking around the elevator. “Do you think I’d want you to get hurt defending me? It’s not the bloody first time I’ve been called names for the way I dress.”
“That doesn’t make it okay!”
“I know that! But it doesn’t mean you need to defend my honor or whatever. Fighting isn’t the answer!”
“I didn’t even fight! I had a plan to try to distract them with football and free beer!”
“But you would have fought,” Harry pointed an accusing finger at him.
“Of course I would have,” He said indignantly. “I had to ‘defend your honor or whatever.’”
Harry crossed his arms. “I wouldn’t want you getting hurt just to defend my silly shirt.”
“I like your shirt. It’s not silly.” Louis stated. “And I can defend whatever I want.”
“Fine,” Harry bit his lip and Louis couldn’t take his eyes off of it.
“Fine,” Louis agreed, not at all hiding the closed lip grin that spread across his face. Harry was so fucking sexy when he was angry and arguing. He was breathing heavily, his cheeks were a little red. Louis wondered if this was what he looked like after sex.
Luckily, or unluckily, the elevator doors opened with a ding, interrupting Louis’ thoughts of what would happen if he just threw out all sense and kissed the taller man.
When they got inside the apartment and Louis turned on the lamp near the door, Harry surprised him by pulling him into a tight hug. His arms automatically circled Harry in return.
Louis wasn’t sure if he’d ever been hugged like this. Family didn’t hug like this. Friends didn’t hug like this. Hell, Ethan definitely never hugged him like this.
Harry had Louis fully wrapped up in an embrace so tight it was like Harry was trying to fuse the two of them together. Arms all the way around him as far as they’d go. His long, strong fingers were gripping Louis’ shirt and digging into his skin. Harry’s face was buried in Louis’ neck and he could feel Harry’s warm breath there and it caused a shiver to run through him.
“You okay?” Louis mumbled after a moment.
He was pleased that Harry didn’t let go when he admitted, “Was kinda scary, I guess.”
“Yeah,” Louis said shakily. “It was. You’re right, it could have gone very differently. I kept thinking of a woman that came into the ER a few weeks ago… beaten up for being trans. Was just walking home. Just like us…”
Harry gripped him harder, if that was possible. “Let’s not do that again.”
“Good idea.”
“For future reference though, I’m definitely not leaving. If we’re getting our arses kicked, it’ll be together.”
Louis thought it was an odd statement for his insides to go all fluttery for, but he didn’t dwell on it too much. “Okay.”
Later, when Louis was lying in bed thinking about the absolute roller coaster of emotions he’d experienced that night, he couldn’t decide on what to do about his clearly growing crush.
He started playing everything that had happened that night back in his mind. Harry being all touchy with him didn’t mean he liked him. He was touchy with Niall, Liam, and Zayn all the time. It didn’t shock Louis to find that Harry liked hugs too. Or that he gave excellent, passionate ones. Passionate in a friendly way though.
Harry was passionate about a lot of things. He was clearly just a passionate guy. None of it meant he was into Louis.
Which was obviously a good thing. Right? Louis told himself.
If it was, then why did he feel a little disappointed by the realization?
***
A couple weeks later Louis found himself badly losing to Liam on the basketball courts at the park near their building. Liam’s shot went through the hoop, nothing but net, for what seemed like the thousandth time.
“Aw come on, I’m not playing with you ever again. You didn’t say you were good at basketball.” Louis groaned good naturedly.
“I played in high school,” Liam dribbled the ball. “Wasn’t good enough for a college scholarship, but was still offered the opportunity to try out for the team. I was more interested in playing in the club sports team instead of competitively. I’m sure you’d beat me in football though, we can play that next time if it’ll help your ego,” he smirked.
“It would, thank you,” Louis smirked back, earning a laugh from Liam. “I need a water break for now though, wasn’t expecting having to try so hard today.” He thought it’d just be some casual hoops shooting, but instead Liam had led him in a full on cardio workout and Louis was drenched in sweat.
Liam clapped a hand on his shoulder with another chuckle, “Okay, mate, let’s let you catch your breath.”
“We’re both in agreement that Niall never knows we actually used his group calendar to see we both had off today, right?” Louis asked a few minutes later, spread out on the bench with his water bottle, sweat dripping down his face.
“Absolutely,” Liam nodded. “He’s insufferable when he finds out his plans work. Though nothing could be worse than when he convinced Zayn and I to get it together and date already.”
Louis rested his elbow on the back of the bench. “How’d you and Zayn meet then? When we were camping he mentioned it wasn’t a story he liked to tell?” He’d been curious ever since, but didn’t want to pry.
Liam got a bit of a dreamy look on his face. “We met nearly two years ago, didn’t start dating right away though. It’s quite the story actually.”
“Well, don’t stop there, you jerk.” Louis shoved him a little and Liam grinned. “It’s only been that long? You two seem like you’ve been together longer.”
“Yeah, seems that way to me too. We met on a call. Zayn had just started getting really big in the modeling world right before we first met and all the attention and pressure was really getting to him. He loves modeling--the traveling, the clothes, and all that. But he’s not really a fan of all the people sometimes. He can get overwhelmed easily. When he started booking the bigger campaigns and runway shows like Gucci and Armani, he said it got very lonely, very quickly and he couldn’t deal. He met some other models at a big runway show and they invited him out to party afterwards, so he went.
“They were those stereotypical models into doing drugs and stuff to stay thin though. He says not all models are like that, but certainly some pockets are,” Liam sighed. “Anyway, he drinks and partakes in the occasional joint, but no pills or anything. However, that night he got pretty high and drunk. Now he thinks a lot of it was trying to make friends with anyone he could. So when he was invited to go to the next party, he got into a car with a driver who was drunker than he was and they crashed into a tree and rolled into a ravine. I was part of the team that responded to the call.”
Louis’ eyes bugged, “Oh, shit.”
Liam nodded, “The driver was thrown from the car, no seatbelt, and was dead on impact. The others survived, though with serious injuries. Zayn was pinned in the back with a piece of glass sticking out of his leg and a broken arm. The firefighters had to pry him out and I was able to get him to hospital without the glass coming out or nicking his femoral artery. He had to have surgery on it and his arm though.”
Louis recalled seeing a long thin scar going down the side of Zayn’s forearm and nodded. “Then what happened?”
“Well, you know, typically, once I drop someone off at the ER, then you lot take over and I never necessarily get to know what happens after that. Sometimes I hear things, but not usually. I just have to trust that things work out. With Zayn though… I couldn’t stay away. We talked a little while I was trying to keep him calm and his mind off the pain while in the ambulance. There was just something about how sad he seemed when I asked if there was anyone he wanted me to call. I didn’t think someone so pretty should be so sad. Something about him made me want to know more. So, I sought him out. I checked in on him, even though technically it was against protocall.”
Louis raised both his eyebrows. “I didn’t know you were such a romantic, Liam,” he teased. “Breaking rules for love? Didn’t think you could break a rule if you tried.” He really did think it was romantic though.
“Yeah, yeah. I knew it was against the rules, not really a good idea because clearly he was going through some shit. So I told myself it just seemed like he could use a friend outside the modeling world. Didn’t hurt that he’s bloody gorgeous, and so kind, but we were friends.”
“How long did that last? The just-friends.”
“About two months,” Liam said slyly, causing Louis to burst out into laughter. “Being ‘just friends’ for a little while was helpful to building our relationship, but we weren’t fooling anyone, we were never really just friends. Friends don’t act the way we would act with each other-- flirting, touching, gazing at longingly…”
“What’s that look for?”
“What look?” Liam questioned, a little too innocently. “I’m just saying that friendship is a great foundation for a relationship.”
Louis thought that this conversation had taken a turn, but he wasn’t sure exactly into what. “Thanks for the advice Liam,” he said, confused. “I haven’t been on a date since the ‘Straight Harry’ fiasco though.”
“I still wish one of you had gotten that on camera.”
“I’d kind of like to forget it ever happened, thanks.” Louis rolled his eyes.
“So why haven’t you gone on any more dates? Is there… someone you’re holding out for?”
Louis cocked his head at Liam, “What? No, it’s just exhausting trying to wade through all the crappy dates and mediocre sex in hopes of finding a connection.”
“So, start with the connection first.” Liam said it as if it should have been obvious.
“Oh, thank you, Liam. It’s so simple, I don’t know how I never thought of that.”
“Ha. Ha. You know what I mean–meet someone naturally, be friends first.”
“It’s kind of hard when I’ve suddenly found myself with friends that are either already seeing someone or are straight. Do you know any single gay men to set me up with?”
“Well no, but there’s still Harry–”
“I’m not asking Harry to set me up with someone.” He probably said that too quickly.
Liam regarded him for a moment. “Okay, I’ll drop it. How about we get back? Need to be ready for Niall bringing his new not-girlfriend over to meet everyone for dinner.”
Louis brightened instantly, “Oh yes! The girl he’s been seeing and won’t tell us anything about! He’s being weirdly secretive about it, like he’s worried we’ll embarrass him.”
“I know, has he seen himself? If he hasn’t driven her away despite not actually dating her yet, I doubt he needs to worry about us.”
***
Louis had actually never seen easy-going Niall so uptight. He’d enlisted all of them to help get the flat ready. Liam, Zayn, and him were put on cleaning duty and told to clean everything . Louis hadn’t even known you were supposed to dust baseboards.
Harry was only spared from the cleaning because he was helping Niall cook. Niall wanted to be able to say he cooked the meal to look impressive–his words, not Louis’.
“You really like this girl, Niall. The last time you were so obnoxious about a girl meeting us it was Katie–”
“We agreed to never say that name again, Harold! If you say it too many times you’ll summon her, like Beetlejuice!”
“I’m just saying, if you like this girl so much what happens when she gets here and we’re like ‘oh hi whatever your name is we know nothing about you, Niall hasn’t said a word, no idea why, maybe he’s embarrassed–’”
“Okay fine,” Niall interrupted Harry again. Louis looked over at them in the kitchen and saw Niall wringing his hands. “Everyone come gather around for story-time.”
Once they were all gathered around the kitchen island so Harry could continue chopping vegetables, Liam asked: “So, tell us about the girl that has you acting like more of a nutcase than usual.”
“Not helpful Payno,” Niall pointed at him. “But alright, so her name is Aly–”
“Oh that’s a lovely name,” Harry smiled.
Niall looked like he was ready to pull his hair out.
“Niall, just tell us. We promise to not interrupt anymore,” Zayn soothed.
“Okay so we met two weeks ago when I went on that field trip to the police station as an extra chaperon. And well, you know most girls I meet are just interested in the whole musician-fantasy thing, so when she was showing the kids around and letting them explore and stuff and we got talking… It was cool that she just knew me as some random teacher trying to keep twelve-year-olds in line. But when I asked for her number, she said no.”
Now that Louis was not expecting. Girls always seemed to be interested in Niall. No wonder he was so hung up on this one.
“So, I went back the next day and invited her to lunch. She eventually agreed because she was hungry, I eventually convinced her to give me her number, and now we’ve been talking and eating together but nothing else and I really like her and I want to impress her,” Niall finished quickly, looking stressed again. “So you idiots need to be on your best behavior.”
“Wait, so she’s a cop?” Harry asked.
“Yeah.”
“A cop, cop? Like with a badge and a gun and stuff?”
“Yes, H. Though I doubt she’ll have them with her tonight.”
“Hmm,” Harry hummed and went back to finishing slicing the onion he was working on. Louis thought he could see Harry’s jaw twitch however.
“Don’t worry Niall,” Zayn said. “We’ll make you look good for your would-be suitor.”
“Please don’t call her that.”
While Niall started listing things that needed to be done off to Liam and Zayn, Harry put down his knife and pulled Louis into his room, shutting the door quietly.
“Harry, what–”
“Shh,” Harry put his palm over Louis’ mouth and Louis froze instantly. “I have a confession and a very serious problem.”
“What are you talking about–”
“There is a bag of weed under the sink in my bathroom.”
“Okay,” Louis drawled. “I mean, I know it’s not technically legal, but I’m pretty positive Niall’s cop isn’t going to go searching through your cabinets or be able to sniff it out. It’s not like she’s here on-duty.”
“No, you don’t understand, it’s–”
“Hey guys!” Niall shouted from the other room. “Great news, Aly is bringing her K-9 partner with her tonight.”
Harry’s eyes looked ready to pop out of his face.
“Okay, that’s not great,” Louis said calmly. “But–” Harry pulled Louis into his bathroom and shut that door too. Without saying a word, he opened the cabinet under his sink and pulled out a gallon size ziplock bag full of loose weed. Stuffed.
“Holy shit why do you have so much?” Louis breathed.
“I found it in the drawer of the desk when I brought it off Craigslist last year. The seller never asked about it and I didn’t know what to do with it, so I hid it.”
“Why haven’t you just used it?”
Harry gave him a look, “Because I don’t know where it came from or what kind it is. I’m not putting mysterious shit in my body, what if it’s laced with bath salts or meth or something!”
Louis ran a hand through his hair, eyes not leaving the very full bag Harry was holding. “Haz, getting caught with that much pot is like, a felony.”
“Now you know why I’m freaking out!” He waved the bag around. “We have to get rid of it.”
“Okay, well you can’t flush it,” Louis pointed out.
“Why not?”
“If we open that bag, the scent will be more potent when the dog comes. I’ve seen videos of pot being hard to flush too, it pops back up or something, though that is ground up very finely,” Louis looked at the bag. “Odd. What if we just wrap it in a bunch of plastic so that hopefully the dog can’t smell it and not mention it?”
“Louis, have you forgotten how bad I am at lying?”
“It doesn’t have to be lying, just don’t mention it.”
“Authority figures make me nervous! I’m going to get fidgety and sweaty and she’s going to know I’m hiding something!”
“Then what are we supposed to do?!”
“Harry? Louis? Where did you two go?” Both of them froze at the sound of Niall’s voice.
“Okay,” Louis whispered quickly. “You go out there and continue to help Niall make dinner like nothing has happened.”
“We can’t ruin his date. He can’t know, if he does he’ll cancel the date and look flaky and then he’ll resent us when she’s no longer interested.”
Louis couldn’t help thinking that Harry looked cute as he paced the small bathroom. “Don’t tell Niall, act normal. This is no longer your problem, it’s mine. You just worry about food and keeping Niall from micromanaging the rest of us. Can you do that Curly?”
Harry shuffled his feet and looked at the ground.
“Harry,” Louis said firmly. He brought his hands up to Harry’s face and cupped his cheeks to make him look up so that their eyes met. “Can you do that?”
Harry nodded slowly, biting his lip, eyes never leaving Louis’. “Yeah, okay.”
“Good,” Louis croaked. His body was suddenly keenly aware of how close they were standing.
Then, they heard a shout.
They left the bag of weed in Harry’s bathroom and ran into the kitchen to find Liam standing on the dining table looking all around him in a circle.
“Where did it go!?” Liam shouted. He started to try brushing something imaginary off of his clothes.
“Babe, I’m sure you got it already, it’s gone.”
“It’s not gone until I see a dead body, Zayn!”
“What… happened?” Louis asked, looking at Niall.
“Liam saw a spider.”
Louis gave him a doubtful look. “A spider?”
“He’s terrified of them,” Harry confirmed.
“Just one spider?”
“Yes, just one spider Louis,” Liam said sharply. “One spider means there’s an opening for more. We need to find it and display its body as a warning to the others.”
“But we went camping. I’m sure there were spiders around there.”
“The outdoors is their house, Louis. We can’t be mad at them for being in their house. The indoors is ours. I bet it’s watching us, right now, waiting to use its bum string to trap us all…”
“Li, it was the size of my fingernail, it couldn’t possibly eat you.”
Louis didn’t pay attention to Liam’s reply because all of his focus was on how Harry leaned forward to mutter in his ear, “He becomes a completely different person when spiders are involved.”
“I heard that, Harold!”
Louis looked around at his friends for a moment and could tell they were all on the verge of chaos. Liam was freaking the fuck out, Zayn was trying to sooth him off the table, Niall was about to pull his hair out, and Harry was about to chew a hole in his bottom lip (which would be an absolute travesty).
“Okay, here’s what we’re going to do,” Louis said loudly enough to get them all to pause and look at him. “Niall, you and Harry are going to keep working on dinner. Zayn, Liam, and I are on spider and cleaning duty. How long until Aly is here?”
“An hour.”
“Everything will be fine in one hour.”
Giving everyone a focused task seemed to do the trick. Another win for the oldest sibling who was used to keeping multiple people from having meltdowns all at once. Those people were usually under the age of ten, but apparently the same approach worked with his adult friends too. Go figure.
Louis convinced Liam to go get them some things to use to trap and/or smash the spider and then he pulled Zayn into Harry’s room. As the only other person in the flat that seemed remotely sane at the moment, it seemed like a good idea to have them both be on the same page.
“And Harry’s had this in here for how long?” Zayn raised his eyebrows.
“A year, apparently.”
Zayn whistled. “Okay, Niall can’t know, he’ll cancel his date to keep us from going to jail.”
“Agreed.”
“Well, then I guess we need to put it in something air tight so that the dog can’t sniff it out and we need to hope Harry can keep his cool for a couple of hours.”
“I’m going to research how to hide drugs from a police dog,” Louis winced just thinking of the possible unwanted search results that could invite. “You keep Liam occupied and find that spider. Then hopefully we don’t ruin Niall’s date.”
“Who’s ready for a spider-hunt!” Liam walked in with some rolled up magazines. “What the fuck is that?”
So, Louis and Zayn told Liam about Harry’s bag of weed.
“Tonight is going to be a disaster,” Liam responded.
“Hey guys,” Niall called. “What are you all doing in Harry’s room?”
Right before he opened the door, Louis stuffed the bag of weed under his sweatshirt.
“Strategy,” Liam answered.
“Well Harry kicked me out of the kitchen, said I was making him nervous. So I guess I’m helping with the spider-hunt.”
“Perfect,” Louis said quickly. “We can have teams. Niall, you go with Zayn, Liam will be with me,” he grabbed a rolled up magazine from Liam. “How about you two start in the living room, we’ll search here.”
On their way out, he gave Zayn a look that he hoped conveyed ‘keep Niall occupied’.
***
“Louis,” Harry hissed, peeking his head into Louis’ room. He’d had to move locations when Niall asked why he was still searching in Harry’s room. Liam had gotten tired of Louis’ distraction and moved on to the bathroom without him. “Aly is going to be here in ten minutes. Tell me you figured something out.”
“All I can find on the internet is that it’s basically impossible to hide something from trained police dogs. Their noses are basically super powered.”
Harry came into the room after checking behind him to make sure Niall was occupied. “Where is it now?”
“Back under your sink. Seemed like the safest place since it’s never been found before.”
“There’s never been a drug dog in the flat before!” Harry waved his arms before pausing to take a breath. “Okay, I’ll just have to come clean when she gets here. It will look worse if the dog has to find it, right?”
“No, we just have to tell Niall–”
“We can’t ruin this for Niall, Louis. What if she’s his soulmate? I’ll never forgive myself.” Harry looked so sad and for a moment Louis’ mind drifted to when Liam described Zayn as too pretty to be sad. “Will you visit me in prison?”
Louis clapped his hands to his thighs and stood up. “If you’re going to prison, I’m going to prison.”
“That’s ridiculous, we don’t both need to go to prison. It’s my pot.”
“No, it’s the desk’s pot, and we said we had each other’s backs, that goes for felonies too. Not to mention, you’re too pretty to be in prison on your own”
Harry put a hand on his hip. “Are you saying you want to come to prison with me to fight off anyone wanting to make me their prison-bitch? This isn’t Orange is the New Black. Or Prison Break.”
“How do you know? Have you ever been to prison?”
“No…Would you be my prison-husband then? I’m definitely more prison-wife material than prison-bitch.”
Louis grinned, “Of course.”
“Then maybe prison won’t be so bad.”
“We’d still be a mess in prison, all the rules would be terrible. The food too.”
“Hmm. Yes. Those are the only bad parts about prison: the rules and the food.”
“Why are you talking about prison?” An Irish voice came from behind Harry causing both him and Louis to jump and scream at the same time.
“Niall!”
“Why are you all acting so strange? I thought it was the spider, but now you’re talking about going to prison? Can you please act normal for just a few hours? Aly will be here any minute.” A knock came from the door. “Okay she’s here now, please for the love of god be cool.”
Niall quickly walked from the room towards the door and the others went into the kitchen so as to not crowd around the door.
“Did you come up with a plan?” Zayn whispered to him.
“No. Did you find the spider?”
“No.” They both glanced at Liam and Harry, both of whom looked ready to come out of their skin, and gulped.
“Maybe we should have told Niall?” Louis wondered.
“Told me what?”
They all jumped, again , and turned around to see Niall and a pretty girl with dark brown hair and a sweet looking border collie with floppy ears.
“That we are so excited to meet your friend!” Zayn recovered quickly. “Aly, right?” He walked over to her and kissed her cheek. “Lovely to meet you, I’m Zayn, and who is this?” Zayn was definitely laying on the charm thick.
“It’s so nice to meet you all,” Aly smiled warmly. “I don’t think Niall has a single story that doesn’t involve at least one of you. This is Billie, my K-9 partner.”
“Are we allowed to pet her?” Liam asked.
“She’d love it, she’s off duty and loves people, as long as you’re not covered in cocaine,” she laughed.
Louis winced, knowing Harry would cave at the joke immediately. Three… two… one–
“I have a confession!” Harry blurted out loudly. Louis looked at him and his face looked a little green.
“No,” Louis said, standing up straighter. “We both do.”
The look in Niall’s eyes said he was pissed, but his voice was exasperated. “What are you two talking about?”
Harry ran into his room and came out carrying the bag of weed. “This is my weed. I’m sorry. No one else knew about it until today.” He held out his wrists, “Take me away.”
Aly just blinked and looked from Harry to the bag to Niall. “I… Uhhhh.”
“If Harry’s going to prison, then so am I!” Louis added, and held his hands out too.
“Harry. Louis.” Niall pursed his lips. “What the—“
“Spider!” Liam shouted pointing at the bag. Louis looked, and sure enough, the spider was on the bag.
Then, several things happened very quickly. Harry dropped the bag. Liam grabbed the nearest kitchen utensil he could find—a rolling pin—and then proceeded to beat the ever living shit out of the bag of weed. Of course, the bag was just thin plastic, so it popped open as Liam beat it, proceeding to send weed everywhere .
Louis briefly wondered if Aly thought they were all already high, but figured it didn’t really matter at that point. They were going to jail and Niall’s date was probably ruined.
“Liam, babe, I think you got it,” Zayn said as he pulled Liam back.
Aly then silently bent down with Billie to look at the bag.
“Please don’t let our actions reflect poorly on Niall,” Harry said quickly. “We didn’t tell him.”
“Why not!?” Niall crossed his arms.
“Because you would have tried to help us and you really like her so we didn’t want to mess up your not-a-date, date.”
From the floor, Aly started laughing like an absolute maniac. So much so that she fell out of her squat to sit on the floor completely as she put a hand on her stomach and her eyes teared up. “This—“ she wheezed. “This isn’t weed.” She started laughing harder.
Louis looked at the dog. Who was acting like a perfectly normal dog. And not like a drug dog making a drug bust.
Aly took a handful of the not-weed and held it up to Niall, “Smell.”
Niall did. “Ha!” He snorted and began to laugh too.
“Will someone please explain?” Louis asked warily.
“Did any of you ever open the bag?”
“No,” Harry drawled.
“This is oregano, Mr. Chef.”
Harry clearly needed a moment to process as they all stood in silence.
“Are you fucking with me?” He demanded as he bent down to smell the contents of the bag. After taking a whiff, Harry hung his head in shame. “Well, shit.”
Louis patted Harry’s shoulder. “At least you never tried to smoke the oregano, Haz. The whole flat would have smelled like burned Italian food.”
“I can’t believe I thought a bag of oregano was a bag of pot,” he whined.
“In your defense,” Zayn piped up. “It makes a lot more sense for you to have found a giant bag of pot in the desk than it does for you to have found a giant bag of oregano. Who puts oregano inside a desk?”
“Well Aly,” Niall turned to her, she had gotten off the floor and stopped laughing, though Louis thought it was an encouraging sign that she was still smiling. “If you want to leave now I won’t blame you.”
“Are you kidding? This is the best dinner party I’ve ever been to. The guys at the station are going to love this when I tell them. And it’s sweet that your friends wanted to protect you or whatever that was. I’m also really hungry and that smells delicious, what are we having?”
“Fajitas and Mexican street-corn. Harry made flan for dessert.”
“Sounds perfect,” she and Niall stood there smiling at each other for a moment.
Louis looked at the other’s, “I’ll get the vacuum. Liam, you throw out the bag. Harry, Zayn, finish getting dinner ready while they’re occupied staring at each other.”
“Are you okay?” Harry asked, pressing the back of his hand to Louis’ forehead.
“What?” Louis ducked away. “Yes, what are you doing?”
“You just said you were going to vacuum. You never clean voluntarily.”
Louis frowned. “I do so clean… sometimes.”
“Uh huh.”
“Okay, I was getting the vacuum so Liam could clean.” Louis shoved Harry lightly when he started to laugh.
The rest of the night went off just as Niall had hoped it would, as far as Louis could tell at least. Aly thought they were hilarious instead of a bunch of immature idiots she didn’t want to associate with. Louis thought she seemed like a good fit for Niall, definitely had a good sense of humor anyway.
When Zayn and Liam left and Niall walked Aly to her car, Harry tugged on the back of Louis’ shirt, “Come help me clean the kitchen.”
Louis didn’t resist. The only lights on in the flat were the ones under the kitchen cabinets and something about the dim lighting and the way Harry pulled him made any thought of protesting more cleaning die on his lips.
Harry washed the dishes and Louis dried. It was nice.
“So, you’d go to prison with me just so I wouldn’t have to be alone?” A small smile played on Harry’s lips.
“Of course,” Louis shrugged. “You’re my best friend.”
“Don’t tell Niall, but you’re kind of my best friend too.”
Chapter 8: Chapter 7 - Act My Age
Notes:
This one is also a bit more New Girl inspired, enjoy :)
Chapter Text
Chapter 7 - Act My Age
“Patient is Louis T. Won’t give the rest of his last name, no ID. Was hit by a bicycle. Possible broken wrist, also exhibiting signs of dehydration and disorientation…” Liam rattled off as Louis took the gurney with Dr. Song. “So, Louis, meet Louis. He kind of looks like you in the morning before you have your tea, Tommo.”
The man on the gurney looked at Louis intently and then glanced at the people around them and leaned in. “I’m you, from the future.”
Louis raised his eyebrows, “Well let’s get your arm looked at and you can tell me about ourselves.”
You get all sorts of things in the ED, but someone who says he’s him from the future was a new one. The man was older, probably in his 70s if Louis had to guess, with gray hair and scruff around his jaw. He was a little haggard looking, and a bit too thin which happens with some elderly people when they start to lose their appetite. He was also wearing what seemed to be a fresh, slightly baggy Adidas track-suit.
And, yeah, Louis could definitely see himself as an old man who wears tracksuits and gets hit by bikes. Though he was sure he’d be more grumpy about the incident than this man seemed to be.
Not that he actually believed in time travel anyway.
“Sir,” Dr. Song said when they got the man to a bed. “Is there anyone you’d like for us to call for you?”
“Call me future-Louis. I’ll only speak to him,” he pointed at Louis.
Dr. Song looked at both Louis’ and blinked. “I’ll get the portable x-ray.”
“Now that she’s gone,” Future-Louis said with wide, crazy eyes that Louis swore was a look he’d seen himself make in pictures before. “What are you waiting for?”
“What do you mean?” Louis frowned as he continued to hook the man up to monitors.
“Tell him how you feel.”
Louis froze. “Tell who how I feel about what?” His mind, of course, betrayed him and immediately jumped to Harry.
When he met the man’s blue eyes, they seemed oddly knowing .
Time travel isn’t real. Obviously.
But he certainly didn’t want to agitate the man.
“You’re not there yet, but you’ll figure it out.” Future-Louis continued. “Everything will be worth it.”
“Oh?” Louis had finished with the man’s vitals, but had no intention of leaving just yet.
“You’ve been through a lot, but your new friends are going to change your life for the better. I know because I’m you. Don’t let fear hold us back.”
Louis gave the man a doubtful look. “How do I know you’re me and that you’re not just spouting off things you’ve read in fortune cookies? If you’re from the future, what should I invest in so we can be billionaires?”
“Oh you know we don’t pay attention to that kind of stuff.”
True, he’d never invested in anything before. He should look into that. Wait. “Did you say that just so I’d start investing?”
The man shrugged coyly.
“Time travel isn’t real.”
“Then how am I here?”
“Okay, tell me something to prove you’re me then.”
The man regarded him for a moment. “You’re a natural leader but not always the most confident and you tend to act as a peacekeeper, sometimes putting others' needs before your own.”
“I do not.” Lie.
“Don’t lie to yourself,” Future-Louis smiled widely, causing the skin around his eyes to crinkle even further.
There was absolutely no way the man was actually him, but… there was just something so strange about him. He could at least try to get more info on him. “Where were you before you were hit by that bike? Why time travel?”
“I was at home. I knew I had to time travel because I’d already done it. You like helping people, but is this job your passion? What feeds your soul?”
Okay. What the fuck? “I love my job,” he said wearily.
“But what do you look forward to when you wake up? You need something to feed your soul. It doesn’t have to be a job, but it’s nice when they mesh. Passion for another person is good, especially if they feel the same. But find someone who wants you to be your own person too, you know what I mean.”
“And we…” Louis couldn’t believe he was saying this and hanging on the man’s every word. “Find this?”
“Don’t let fear hold you back.” The man replied sagely.
Against his better judgment, Louis knew he was suddenly all in. This man was him. From the future. Here to give him life advice.
Life advice that actually seemed really good.
Future-him was a smart guy.
Before he could start picking Future-Louis’ brain for more insights on life, a woman maybe in her forties or early fifties ran in. “Dad, oh my god, we’ve been looking for you everywhere for days! I looked away for a second!”
Louis looked at the woman as she started fussing over Future-Louis. She had long, curly brown hair, a sharp jawline, and blue eyes. Louis was pretty sure he was about to pass out because she basically looked like Harry but with his eyes. Again: what the fuck? He was losing it.
“Shh, Rose, this is my past self. We can’t give away too many details about the future.” He pointed to Louis.
Rose looked at him with a kind, slightly embarrassed smile. “I’m sorry, he has dementia. Did he offer you vague life advice?”
“Uh, yeah,” Louis cleared his throat. “It was actually kind of good advice too.”
She nodded. “He was a life coach and psychologist for forty years. It’s interesting how the mind works, isn’t it? He’s always given people advice, he was great at reading people and he was heartbroken when he had to stop practicing. Now his mind created a sort of… work around.”
Louis wasn’t surprised. Not really. But he spent the rest of the day thinking about it…
***
When Louis got home that evening, he could hear music coming through the door the moment he walked off the elevator. Odd.
He walked inside to see Harry and Niall bobbing and bopping around the room dancing to an upbeat country music song that had a couple of girls singing about going out after a heartbreak. From that information alone, Louis was pretty sure he could guess where this was going, but the look Harry gave him when Niall pretended to have a guitar solo sealed it.
“Louisssss!” Niall shouted when he saw him. “How was your day? Come dance!” He grabbed Louis’ hand and pulled him over to where he and Harry were dancing.
Not wanting to upset what was clearly a fragile balance, Louis complied. “My day was really odd, actually.”
Harry raised a brow, but Niall quickly interjected, “Do you want to know how my day was?”
Louis gave Harry a wide-eyed look over Niall’s shoulder and Harry mouthed “Aly” in return. “What happened, Ni?”
“Aly started dating her cop-partner, Winston. It’s a good thing I was never actually dating her, huh? Or else this would suck!” He said with over-enthusiastic cheer.
“I’m sorry, Nialler. I know you liked her.” Louis winced.
“Oh, don’t worry about it. I’m fine. In fact, I was just telling Harry about a new pub that opened up nearby that does karaoke and we were thinking about doing a pub crawl tonight since it’s Friday and we’re all off work tomorrow. I’ll text Liam and Zayn!” He ran off to his room presumably to find his phone.
He stood there with Harry looking in the direction Niall ran off in for a moment.
“He…” Louis drew out. “Is not okay.”
“Yeah, it’s been a really long time since I’ve seen him like this over a girl. He’s pretending to be fine, but in reality he’s this close to breaking,” Harry held up his thumb and forefinger apart just a smidge. “We do this pub crawl to give him something to focus on and when he finally breaks we’ll bring him home. I have a cheesecake in the fridge for him.”
“Niall likes breakup cheesecake?”
“Niall loves breakup cheesecake. I made one for him in uni once and he’s demanded one every time he’s had a breakup since. That, and a cycle of pretending he’s overly fine before spending the next day with his face in said cheesecake.”
***
Hours later, they were on pub number three. Harry was designated friend-wrangler, as he didn’t usually drink much anyway. He’d had a couple beers earlier in the night, but had since moved to lemonade. Zayn and Liam had drunk so much that they no longer cared that Niall interrupted their date-night and were making out under a table. Niall apparently became very good at pool when he was drunk and had made some new friends. And Louis… he was having an existential crisis.
“Harry. Harryyyy. Stop frowning at people and pay attention to me.” Louis used his hands to move Harry’s head to face him and not the people that had started to approach before they saw Harry’s frown and walked away.
“Sorry, Lou, you were telling me about the patient you had this afternoon?”
“He was me Hazza, he was future me! He wore a tracksuit and could see into my soul. But then he wasn’t me anymore. And we had a daughter.”
“ We had a daughter?” Louis missed Harry’s amused smile. “Did he tell you this?”
“She was there,” Louis shook his head and then started to play with Harry’s curls lightly, smiling at how soft they were. “She was like forty, but she had your curly hair. Blue eyes though. Oh, and your lovely jaw line,” he traced a finger down Harry’s jaw. “But like, feminine.”
“Sounds nice,” Harry hummed.
He put both his hands on either side of Harry’s face to make sure his curly friend was focusing. “We should look into learning how investing works so we can become rich. We have to support our daughter. And we need to learn how to time travel.”
“Of course.”
Why did Harry not seem more concerned about this? “What if the future is already ruined? What if the future no longer exists. How do we know we exist?”
Harry pinched his arm. “Ouch! Why did you do that?” Louis pouted.
“Isn’t that how you know you exist? You felt that.”
“Pinching is how you know you’re not dreaming, Hazza. Not how you know if you’re real.” Louis paused, the alcohol making his brain foggy. “If I’m not dreaming then time travel is real?”
“How is it real Lou? It’s not possible for us to have a forty year old daughter when we’re not even thirty.”
“You’re mocking me.” Louis poked him.
“I’m not!” Harry laughed. “Sort of. You might be my favorite drunk person ever though. I love when you get philosophical. Would you like to explain the concept of time next? Is it real or just a social construct?”
Louis' eyes widened. “What if nothing is real? Future-me said to tell him how I feel, and not let fear hold me back, and to find food for my soul. But if nothing is real, does it matter? What if we’re all just brains in jars or something–like The Matrix?!”
Then, Louis started fucking crying. Harry took pictures.
“Come on, Lou.” Harry wrapped an arm around his waist and pulled him up. “Let’s get Liam and Zayn before they start undressing each other. Niall’s karaoke place is next, that should cheer you up, yeah?”
“Yeah,” Louis nodded in defeat. “We could at least be happy brains in jars.”
“That’s the spirit!”
***
“Nobody said it was easyyyy… No one ever said it would be this harrrrd…Oh, take me back to the start!” Louis belted his heart out into the microphone with Niall and Ed by his side.
He wasn’t sure when Ed showed up, but he was pretty sure it was around the same time that he saw Liam and Zayn sneaking away into the bathroom. He also wasn’t sure how long ago that was, but he hadn’t seen either of them since.
“Louis, hey Louis, you’re actually a really good singer. Like really really good.” Niall patted his back. “We should totally sing a song together at one of my shows. You’re the best. I love you. I love that we’re flatmates. I’m going to go get another drink.”
“Noooo!” Louis clung to him. “Don’t leave, I want to sing more!”
“I want another drink,” Niall untangled himself, nearly falling over in the process. “Sing with Harry. I bet Harry would sing with you.”
Louis loved that idea. It was a brilliant idea. He ran over to Harry. “Hazzaaaa, will you sing with me?”
“Maybe some other time Lou,” he shook his head, but Louis could see the small smile on his lips. He had such pretty lips. And a pretty face. And pretty hair. And a pretty heart.
“You’re really pretty, you know? The first time I saw you I thought you looked like a sunshine rockstar.” Louis said as he sat down sideways on Harry’s lap. Harry’s arm immediately went around his waist to steady him. Louis enjoyed the feel of Harry’s hand on him.
“A sunshine rockstar?”
“Yes.” He rested his arms over Harry’s shoulders. “But now I know you’re a sunshine baker. Which is even better, because you make me food.”
“Mmm you like when I make you food then?”
“Yes, your food is sweet like you.” Louis paused a little longer than necessary because he started playing with a particularly springy curl in Harry’s hair. “What was I saying?”
“That you wanted me to sing karaoke with you,” Harry said after a moment.
“Pleaseeeee Hazza?” He leaned in close. He wanted to lean closer, but the near-dormant rational side of him said no.
“Alright, what song?”
Louis’ memories were pretty fuzzy the rest of the night. The next thing he was aware of was being on the floor of the karaoke bar’s bathroom with his face in the toilet. Harry was next to him mumbling something, he didn’t know what but it was soothing, and rubbing his back.
When Louis’ vomiting became a dry heave, he leaned back, resting his head against the stall wall. “Fuck.”
“What do you need? I could get you a water?”
“No stay.” He made a grabby hand at Harry and attached them to his shirt. “Oh no, it’s not done.” He wheezed before letting Harry go again and putting his head back in the toilet.
Harry rubbed his back the whole time until he was finished. “Feeling any better?”
“Kind of. Going to feel worse tomorrow.” He slurred.
“Hmm grumpy hungover Louis or sweet cuddly hungover Louis? Which one will we get?” He bopped Louis’ nose.
“I bet you like both.”
Harry’s face turned soft. “I do like both, yeah.” He cleared his throat. “Do you think you can stand without vomiting again? Ed is keeping Niall occupied, but I think it’s time to find Liam and Zayn and head home.”
“Yeah, yeah,” Louis moved to stand up a little too quickly and almost fell over. Harry caught him though. “Thanks Curly. You’re my favorite person.”
“You’re my favorite person too, Lou.”
When they got back to their table, Ed was trying to get Niall to drink water but Niall kept pushing it away saying he was Irish and didn’t need water because his blood was made of beer.
“Do you see Liam and Zayn anywhere?” Harry asked Ed.
“I haven’t seen them for ages. Could they have left?”
Louis shook his head, but he did it a little too hard and his brain went swimming. “They snuck off to the bathroom to fuck.”
“We were just in the bathroom, Lou. They weren’t in there, and I doubt they’d go to the girls.”
“No, the other bathroom,” Niall pointed to an unmarked door on the other side of the room.
They all walked over to the door and Harry banged on it, “Liam? Zayn? If you’re in there we’re leaving.”
Louis definitely heard a thump followed by giggling. When the door eventually opened to reveal a storage closet, Liam and Zayn were dressed but Liam’s shirt was on inside out, Zayn’s was buttoned unevenly, and both of their hair was a mess.
“You two…” Niall sputtered and pointed. “Are ruinininning my pub crawl. You never partice… participated. We’re not leaving until you sing.”
“Yes!” Louis shouted way too loudly. “You have to sing before we leave. Curly, make sure to film them.” He patted the middle of Harry’s chest before helping Niall pull the other two towards the stage as a group of girls was finishing singing.
After he and Niall picked a song for them, Louis went back to the table and sat on Harry’s lap again. When Harry put a hand on Louis’ knee and started to brush his thumb back and forth, Louis thought again that if they didn’t really exist, he was at least going to be happy about it.
Before he could say anything embarrassing, the opening chords to Britney Spears’ Toxic played over the speakers and everyone cheered as Liam and Zayn danced around each other dramatically.
***
On the walk home, Zayn and Liam were put in charge of Niall (who kept trying to get away from them) and Harry had Louis coming up behind them. Ed had ditched them for an Uber since he didn’t live as close.
“Hazza?” Louis slurred, leaning further into Harry’s side. They both had an arm around each other’s waist in an attempt to keep Louis upright while walking.
“Yeah babe?”
Louis bent his head to nuzzle his face in Harry’s shoulder. “I liked singing with you. Tonight was fun. Did you have fun?”
“I liked singing with you too, and I did have fun.” Harry tightens his hold around Louis for a moment.
“I like your banana necklace,” Louis said in a transition that made sense to him as he brought his hand up to Harry’s chest where his shirt was open to reveal the necklace. “It matches my yellow shirt.”
“You are kind of dressed like a banana,” he chuckled, giving Louis another squeeze.
Louis continued to play with Harry’s necklace delicately while they walked, then he stopped, almost causing Harry to stumble, but his mind wasn’t on that. This wasn’t a normal banana.
“This is a banana dick!” He poked Harry’s chest. “How could you not point out it was a banana dick. This is the greatest necklace ever.”
“If you don’t remember this conversation in the morning, I’ll be sure to remind you.” Harry said, amusement in his voice.
“You’re the best. I like your dick,” Louis responded.
Harry made a strangled coughing sound.
They walked in silence for a few minutes until they saw the others had stopped ahead of them. They had come to the entrance of the nearby park where there was a large fountain that people often threw coins into to make wishes.
“Why’d you stop?” Harry called as they approached.
“Niall.” Was all Liam said.
Sure enough, Niall was in the fountain. Just standing there, gazing into the distance unfocused.
“I think he’s having a moment,” Zayn whispered. He then brought both his arms around Liam from behind and buried his face between Liam’s shoulder blades. “I don’t like Niall being sad,” his muffled voice added.
They all wordlessly walked closer to the fountain and Louis peeled himself away from Harry to clumsily get into the fountain with Niall. He stood next to Niall for a moment, trying to see what he might be looking at before determining that he needed to be snapped out of it.
So, Louis slapped him.
Not too hard, but enough to sting a bit.
“Hey!” Niall gasped and brought a hand to his face. “What the fuck was that for?”
“You were spiraling,” Louis shrugged and then stumbled a bit while standing still.
That, of course, resulted in Niall bending down and splashing Louis with water.
Ten minutes later, they were both soaking wet and Harry was looking around nervously mumbling something about hoping no cops showed up.
Niall sat down on the edge of the fountain. “It’s over.”
“It is.” Louis rubbed his back. “Maybe it’s for the best. You’ll find someone better.”
“I never have before, why start now? You all have someone. Zayn and Liam. Harry and Louis. I have nothing–”
“What are you talking about Niall? You have all of us.” Zayn rolled his eyes.
“Yeah,” Harry added. “We’re not going anywhere, mate. You’re stuck with us.”
“And you have your students and your music too,” Liam piped up.
Niall nodded slowly, only somewhat convinced. “H, can I have my cheesecake when we get home?”
“Of course.”
The thought of cheesecake made Niall smile… sort of. It was more of a grimace. Louis didn’t like that it sounded like he had a rain cloud over him, so in an attempt to cheer him up, he turned to Niall and said, “Maybe Harry will show you his dick when we get back. It’s cute.”
“I’m sorry, what?” Liam asked, bewildered.
***
Louis didn’t even have to open his eyes for the pain to start the following morning. “Oh god,” he groaned and put a hand to his head.
“How are you feeling?”
Louis jumped at the sound of the voice and then groaned again from the movement rattling his head.
“Haz? What are you doing in my bed?”
Harry chuckled. “You’re in my bed actually. You’re a very interesting drunk, Lou. You started out as a sad philosophical drunk, then became a happy drunk, then ended up as a clingy drunk. When we got home you wouldn’t let me leave you alone because you were scared you’d wake up as a brain in a jar.”
“Oh my god,” Louis covered his face with both hands. “I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be. It was cute.”
Louis peaked at Harry from between his fingers and could only describe the look on Harry’s face as fond. “Not super embarrassing?”
Harry reached over to brush the fringe on Louis’ forehead. “Oh, you were plenty embarrassing. I just found it cute.” Harry cleared his throat and pulled away. “I put some water and painkillers on the table next to you, and when you’re ready, I have a hangover-friendly breakfast.”
“You’re the best.”
“Yeah, you said that a lot last night too.” Harry chuckled. “You also kept telling me how much you like my dick.”
Louis froze. “What?” He croaked.
Harry laughed, dimples showing as usual, and pulled the necklace he was wearing out from under his shirt.
Peering closely at it, Louis understood. “Oh. That’s a great necklace. Really cheeky.”
“You sure you don’t want to hold it?” Harry took on a teasing tone. “Last night you asked to hold my dick. You were very adamant about it. It was very forward of you–you haven’t even asked me on a date yet.”
Louis grabbed the free pillow next to him and smashed it on top of his face. His head was throbbing. Both from the hangover and maybe also from embarrassment. “Kill me.”
“No way, I’d miss you and your ridiculous drunk commentary too much.” Harry tickled Louis’ side and made him squirm. “Come out from under the pillow, I’ve been up for hours and I’m bored.”
Harry continued to poke and skim and trace his fingers along Louis’ sides and stomach repeating “Lou… come onnn,” as he did. It felt nice. For a moment Louis just wanted to enjoy the touches, but suddenly, he was much more awake right where he shouldn’t be with his best friend and reality flooded in. He casually took the pillow in both hands and brought it forward so it landed in his lap. “Fine,” he grumbled.
A little while later, he was sitting at the kitchen island leaning heavily into his hand next to Niall who had his face against the cool counter, groaning.
“How are you feeling Niller?” Harry asked.
“Terrible. I’m hungover and Aly doesn’t want me.”
“Eat some of this and later you can have your cheesecake, how does that sound?”
“Can’t I just have a lot of cheesecake now?”
“No, you need some carbs and healthy fats to help your body recover.” It sounded like Harry had had this conversation before.
Niall rolled his head to the side to look up at Harry without lifting. “Fine.”
Harry then put two plates in front of them covered in toast, croissants, eggs, banana, and… avocado.
“Haz.”
“Yes?” Harry asked as he placed containers of Pedialyte in front of them both.
“Thank you for making breakfast, but I cannot eat it.”
Harry looked up, eyebrows creasing. “Why? Are you feeling sick again?”
“It has avocado touching things.” He held up the plate and pointed.
“Are you allergic to avocados?”
“Metaphorically speaking, yes.”
“What does that mean, exactly? Are you still drunk? Drink the Pedialyte, it’ll help with your electrolytes.”
“Avocados are the trendiest food of all time and it’s horrible, Hazza. They piss me off.”
“Avocados… piss you off?”
“Yes.”
“One avocado isn’t going to kill you, Lou. They’re full of healthy fats that are good for you and for hangovers.”
“Doesn’t matter, it’s the principle of the thing. People can’t seem to eat avocados without posting about it. Liam did it just yesterday morning.”
“Try a bite. It will be our secret.” Harry took the bread and used a knife to put some avocado, some egg, and some everything bagel seasoning on the corner of it for a perfect bite.
Louis shook his head, pressing his lips together like a child and refusing to be ashamed of it.
Harry came around the island, still holding the avocado toast, to stand very closely to Louis. So close that Louis felt his heartbeat speed up and his eyes went to Harry’s lips involuntarily. Then, Harry gave him the puppy-dog eyes.
“You won’t even try it for me?” He said, running a finger down Louis’ arm causing him to shiver.
So, yeah, he tried the fucking avocado toast. Whether or not he ate a whole slice, no one would ever know. But he wasn’t likely to forget Harry’s sweet, bright, amused smile after he took the first bite any time soon.
***
After breakfast Louis and Niall melted into the sofa and Harry turned on Queer Eye. They watched in silence for a little while before Niall asked for his cheesecake again, and this time Harry complied. As he disentangled himself from where he was leaning against Louis, he pulled out Louis’ phone from under his bum. “Ah, that’s what was vibrating,” he said, and handed it to Louis.
There were a few texts from Ed with video attachments.
He clicked on one to reveal a video of him and Harry on the karaoke stage dramatically singing Celine Dion’s It’s All Coming Back to Me Now . They sounded pretty good despite Louis being so drunk he didn’t remember it happening. Though their arm movements were a little ridiculous.
“I can’t believe I don’t remember getting you to sing with me,” he pouted and looked over the back of the sofa at Harry.
Another amused smile played on Harry’s lips as he handed him and Niall slices of cheesecake. “We can do a repeat performance when you’re sober sometime. You were really good, I’d love to sing with you again.”
Louis blushed and took a bite of cheesecake.
The door opened then (without a knock) and Liam and Zayn trudged into the room and curled up together on the couch next to Louis. Wordlessly, Harry placed slices of cheesecake on the table in front of them too.
“Stop giving away my cheesecake.” Niall whined.
“It’s a huge cheesecake, Ni. There’s plenty left for you,” Harry patted him on the head.
“I feel like death,” Liam finally mumbled. Zayn simply made a noise of agreement into Liam’s chest. “What happened last night?”
“With you two? You spent most of the night making out under tables then fucked in a storage closet.” Harry’s voice was full of amusement.
“That’s not so bad I guess.”
“You two at least kept things quiet and to yourselves, unlike those two,” he pointed to Louis and Niall.
As Harry recapped what Liam and Zayn missed the night before, Louis remembered… most of it. When Harry mentioned helping Louis vomit in the bathroom, he groaned, but was also taken with the vague flashes of Harry being so sweet to him.
“Oh wait, Ed sent Louis some videos.” Harry took Louis’ phone, entered the code to unlock it, and pressed play.
The others laughed and Louis buried his face in his hands.
As Harry continued to go over the night's events in great detail, he realized that he left one specific thing out: he never mentioned Louis being scared and ending up in his bed.
Louis wasn’t exactly sure why Harry didn’t tell them, probably to not make it awkward, but thinking of it as something that was just theirs gave him involuntary butterflies.
Later that night, after the five of them spent the day playing video games and watching TV, Louis finally had the chance to ask his question.
Just like when they were alone in the early mornings or on days when Niall was out or at work, the two of them were quietly sitting on the sofa chatting with a show on low volume, not ready to go to bed just yet. They were sitting close, but not touching, and part of Louis had the urge to close the gap and cuddle Harry into his side.
“Why didn’t you tell the other’s about me sleeping in your room last night?” Louis whispered instead.
Harry looked away from the episode of Bake Off and looked at him with soft eyes. “Didn’t want them to know I guess. Or wasn’t sure if you wanted them too. You didn’t tell anyone about me being scared camping.”
“Oh.” Louis couldn’t keep the slight hurt out of his voice. Didn’t want them to know…
Harry’s eyes widened, “No that didn’t come out right. I didn’t want them to know because… it didn’t feel like something they needed to know?”
“I’m still not sure this is coming out how you want it too, Curly.”
“I don’t mean it in a bad, embarrassed way. I mean it in a… a… I don’t know how to say it–”
Harry looked like he was panicking a bit and Louis placed a hand on his thigh. “You don’t regret letting me spend the night, right?”
“Of course not, that’s not why I didn’t tell them.”
“It was just an ‘us’ thing, we cuddle sometimes and it’s… ours? Our thing.”
“Yeah,” Harry said with a heavy voice. “It’s just our thing.”
“They’d probably have made a bigger deal about it than necessary anyway. It’s just innocent cuddling, nothing to read into.”
“Exactly.”
***
While Louis’ body had fully recovered by the next day when he had to go to work, his mind was… still preoccupied, you could say. Specifically: he couldn’t stop thinking about Harry. More specifically: he couldn’t stop thinking about Harry waking him up the previous morning and how the sun hit his messy curls and the amused look in his eyes.
“Hey, Louis.” Louis looked up from the lab results he had just gotten back for a patient to see Perrie pointing towards the door to the ED.
Harry was there, with a towel wrapped loosely around his left hand.
For a moment he was worried he was hallucinating and it was something like Future-Louis all over again, but when Harry gave an endearingly awkward wave, he knew it was real.
“I’ll take these results to Dr. Song, you can stay with your man,” Perrie winked as she took the iPad out of Louis’ hands. Louis didn’t even bother to correct her for calling Harry “his man.”
“Harry,” Louis practically ran over to him. “What happened?”
“Hey Lou,” he winced and held up his hand. “I had a bit of a mishap with a pot of boiling caramel… I’m sure it’s fine. Hurts like a bitch though.”
“Tommo, exam room 1 is open,” Ed said as he walked by. “Hey, Harry.”
“Hey, Ed. Nice to see you in the daylight for once. I almost started thinking you were a vampire.”
Ed let out a bark of laughter as Louis claimed Harry’s attention by pulling him over to the exam room.
Louis had him sit on the bed and he pulled the curtain closed. “I need to take your blood pressure first, standard procedure.”
“Of course,” Harry held out an arm for Louis to place the cuff around. Louis might have stepped quite a bit closer to Harry than he really needed to, but at least he didn’t go with his first--much dirtier--thought of standing between Harry’s legs. He was a professional and Harry was a patient after all.
Fuck, what was wrong with him? He thought he’d gotten rid of having these thoughts about his friend.
“Everything sounds normal, so let's take a look at your hand,” Louis gestured for Harry to place his hand on the rolling tray table he pulled over. He carefully unwrapped the dish towel that Harry had used in case it stuck the injured skin.
Both Harry and Louis winced when the last layer of towel came off to reveal the burn on Harry’s hand. “Oh, Haz, what did you do?” Louis frowned, holding the side of Harry’s hand to the light. The burn was on a good sized portion of the palm of his hand. It wasn’t a huge burn, but it was big enough and in a delicate enough spot that it needed professional care. Definitely a bad second degree.
“I was moving a pot of caramel off the heat and somehow tripped over my own feet. The pot started to spill, and for some reason decided to reach out to use my bare hand to try to stop it,” Harry winced again. “Got the caramel off but it kind of stuck then I ran my hand under cool water. Fuck it hurts.”
“Shit,” Louis winced. “Let me get Dr. Song to take and look and order something for the pain.” He gave Harry’s knee what he hoped was a comforting squeeze as he got up.
Harry had tried teaching him about some of the science behind baking about a week ago and he distinctly remembered that when he was showing Louis how sugar and water became caramel, the temperature got really fucking hot. Not to mention a sugar burn can stick to skin and hold the heat in, causing the burn to last longer and feel more intense.
“You must be Harry,” Song said as she entered the exam room. “Sorry to meet you under these circumstances, but Louis speaks very highly of you.”
Louis blushed when Harry smiled brightly and said, “I think very highly of him as well.”
Song quickly examined Harry’s burn and had Louis submit an order for some burn cream to prevent infection. Luckily, just like Louis thought, the burn wasn’t severe enough to need any debriding, Harry would just have to watch the blisters and not move his hand too much. Louis would definitely help.
When she left, Louis got to work making sure to thoroughly clean and dress the burn. “I’ll look at it again tonight before bed,” he told Harry. “Be careful not to break the blisters, that can be a big risk of infection, but otherwise you can go back to work as long as you have someone else be your left hand. Take it easy, don’t rush–that’s when mistakes happen involving fire and sharp objects,” he added sternly before looking up to see Harry looking at him intently. “What?”
“Nothing,” he responded a bit too quickly. “Just cool seeing you work. You’ve been to the bakery, but I’ve never been here.”
“Most people consider not having to come to the hospital a good thing, Harold.” Louis mocked annoyance.
“You know what I mean.”
“Well, I wouldn’t mind never seeing you here again.”
“Rude!” Harry tried to pout, but the smile trying to twist its way onto his lips was obvious.
“You know what I mean,” Louis chuckled.
On his way out, Harry brushed past him a little closer than was probably necessary and Louis felt their fingers brush. It was electric and all he could do was just stare at Harry’s ass as he walked out the doors.
Moments later, Perrie popped over with a twinkle in her eye. “You okay Louis? Want some ice chips to cool down?”
“Hmm?” Louis looked at her, shaken from his mind replaying the look in Harry’s eyes as he was telling him about caring for the burn.
“I don’t know what just happened before Harry left, but… whew,” she fanned herself dramatically.
“Yeah, that’s one word for it,” Louis said softly, still staring in the direction Harry left.
***
When Louis got home that evening, Niall was cuddling with Harry on the sofa and he was shocked at how quickly he felt jealous about it.
He knew he shouldn’t feel jealous of Niall and Harry leaning on each other while watching some kind of serial killer true crime show, they’d been best friends for years and that was just how Harry was with his friends, but he was. He definitely was. And he was also maybe a little hurt and embarrassed at himself for starting to think that maybe what he and Harry had was different. Special.
He really needed to get a hold of his feelings. This was getting ridiculous.
“How’s your hand?” Louis asked in greeting as he sat down on Harry’s free side and took his injured hand gently.
“Stopped hurting, I haven’t looked at it or anything though. Was waiting for the professional.” Harry scrunched his nose in that adorable bunny way.
As Louis unwrapped Harry’s hand and began to apply more burn cream, he asked Niall about school.
“Today was terrible. I first I caught a student with weed–”
“In middle school?” Louis raised his eyebrows.
“Yep. The smell was so strong you could smell it down the hall. And of course that made me think of when Aly came over… Then when students were sharing Spotify playlists with each other, I mentioned something about burning mix CDs as a kid and they had no idea what I was talking about and then told me I was born in the ‘late 1900s.’ Is that how we’re referring to the 90s now? I’m only twenty-five!”
“Ouch,” Harry winced.
“Sorry!” Louis sprang back from his hand, unsure of what hurt him.
Harry just gave him a dimpled smile, “Not you, Lou. Niall’s students.”
“They’re savage,” Niall nodded. “But I love them.”
“How was the rest of your day, Lou?” Harry asked then.
“Ah, pretty terrible too I guess.” He pursed his lips and added, “I think we should leave your hand uncovered for now, let it breathe and all that.”
“Did you get called old too? Or was it that asshole doctor that’s around sometimes?”
“Neither, lost a patient. Two years old. We thought we had her back for a moment there, but then… her little body couldn’t handle it anymore I guess.” He avoided eye contact with the others and busied himself with gathering the bandages and burncream together.
“Shit, I’m sorry Lou.” He felt Harry squeeze his knee and Niall came around to the other side of him to pat his shoulder.
Louis let out a deep sigh. “I like being a nurse, I really do, but when things like that happen… It makes me wonder if I should start thinking of doing something else.”
“That’s understandable,” Niall said.
“You did say Future-Louis told you to find something that feeds your soul. Any ideas what that could be?” Harry tilted his head a bit, letting his curls fall to the side.
Louis thought for a moment before something popped into his head for the first time in a very long time. He bit his lip, feeling slightly embarrassed about it though he knew he didn’t need to be with these two. “Maybe. Before I really got into football I liked to… write. Stories I mean.”
“That sounds awesome.” Harry’s smile made all of Louis’ nerves vanish.
Niall nodded enthusiastically in agreement. “Yeah, would you want to help me with some songs sometime? I know of a place that does writing classes and stuff that can help you get back into writing if you want too.”
Louis was sure he didn’t hide his surprise well. “Yeah, yeah that’d be great.”
“Well, how about I make dinner since you two had such terrible days?”
Harry moved to stand up and Louis stopped him immediately (though he was appreciative of Harry’s ability to read people and his decision to change the topic of conversation, he needed to think more on it). “Did you completely forget you came to the hospital today for a burn injury? That sounds to me like we all had shit days.”
“Right.” Harry sat back down.
“Yeah H,” Niall said. “Out of the three of us, shouldn’t the ones with two functioning hands be in charge of dinner?”
“But I got that lovely fresh shrimp at the market–”
“Tell us what to do then.” Louis beamed. “We will be your hands. It’ll be fun.”
“You haven’t cooked with Harry yet, have you?” Niall gave him a doubtful look. “But yeah, let’s do it.”
***
“Maybe we should have gone with something easier,” Harry mumbled.
Louis pointed the knife at him from the other side of the island counter. “It’s shrimp fried rice Harold. There isn’t much else easier out there.”
“But–”
“I swear, if you complain about my knife skills one more time I’m going to steal all of your nail polish. My knife skills are perfectly average.”
“You wouldn’t do that.”
“Yes I would.” He really wouldn’t steal Harry’s nail polish, but he wasn’t going to admit that.
“I’d be happy to trade,” Niall suggested from where he was taking the tails off the shrimp.
“No, your knife skills are much worse.”
“Thanks H, I was just thinking that I didn’t get roasted enough by my students today. Don’t hold back on my account. I appreciate it.”
Harry gave him a sour look. “I don’t see either of you complaining when I’m the one that cooks.”
Neither he or Niall were going to argue with that, so Louis went back to trying to chop up carrots and scallions into somewhat even pieces.
When it came time to actually start cooking things, Harry was standing at their backs the entire time directing them:
“Okay the onions look good, move them to the side of the pan and pour in the egg mixture on the other side and start stirring so it scrambles…”
“Stir faster.”
“Stir that in slower.”
“Don’t let the shrimp overcook.”
Turns out, Harry Styles was a bit of a control freak in the kitchen.
It didn’t really surprise him.
“Who does he think he is? Bloody Gordon Ramsay?” Niall muttered at one point when Harry freaked out about Niall blindly adding more soy sauce because it didn’t seem dark enough.
“Here Haz, taste!” Louis quickly gave him a spoonful in hopes of distracting him.
Harry took the bite, thought for a moment, and then nodded. “It’s ready.”
Louis and Niall looked at each other when Harry turned around to get the bowls. “Thank fuck,” Niall whispered.
***
It seemed like stalling to go to bed after Niall went to his room was becoming a bit of a thing for him and Harry. If Niall had noticed, he hadn’t said anything about it.
“Come on, I want to give you something.” Harry pulled Louis into his room. He went searching through his bookcase next to where his guitar was leaning. The bookcase was mostly full of cookbooks, cooking textbooks, and fiction, but then he pulled out a small book with a leather cover. “Here it is!”
He handed it to Louis and Louis flipped through it to find that it was a blank notebook. He looked up at Harry questioningly.
“It’s an extra notebook I’ve had lying around. I thought maybe you might like something to write down ideas or songs or stuff. To see if you like it.”
Louis felt the inner corners of his eyes burn. “Thanks, Haz. This is really sweet.”
“Forgive me for being a jerk in the kitchen?”
Louis let out a laugh. “Yes, of course. It was kind of cute really, how much you care about a simple weeknight dinner.”
“Of course I care,” Harry said. His voice was thick and Louis looked into his eyes and for a moment he thought Harry was going to kiss him. He was pretty sure he wanted Harry to kiss him.
But then Harry took a step back. “See you in the morning?”
“Yeah, of course. Night Haz.”
***
A few nights later, Harry never came home.
Niall wasn’t concerned and kept trying to distract Louis with video games, but that didn't stop Louis from worrying when it was nearly midnight and he still wasn’t home. So, he had texted, called, and even contemplated contacting the police until he got a single text back simply saying “I’m fine, don’t wait up.”
Don’t wait up? Where was he? If he was baking all night wouldn’t he have just said?
In the morning, Louis was up early for work and peaked in through Harry’s open door. Bed empty. No Harry.
As if on cue though, he heard the front door open.
He walked around the corner and there was Harry, his hair and clothes disheveled to the point that Louis almost asked if he’s alright, but then he saw it. Or them, to be specific.
Harry had a small, round, purple bruise in the center of his neck. And another one showing on his chest where his shirt is open.
Oh. Alright then.
“Um, hey.” Harry said, standing awkwardly.
“I was just about to head out.” Louis croaked, hoping it just sounded like his voice was raspy with disuse overnight and not full of emotions he didn’t want to deal with at the moment.
“Oh, I could make you something for lunch before you go?” He bit his lip.
“I got something already. I’ll see you later.”
Not waiting for Harry to respond, Louis grabbed his bag and sidestepped around him, leaving without another word.
Chapter 9: Chapter 8 - They Don't Know About Us
Notes:
I hope you like it ;)
Chapter Text
Chapter 8 - They Don’t Know About Us
He and Harry never spoke about what Harry had been up to that night. It was obvious that Harry had hooked up with someone and for whatever reason didn’t want to tell him about it. Harry had been supportive when he tried his bit of dating weeks ago, so he would be supportive of Harry.
But he also wasn’t going to ask about it. He’d show his support by completely ignoring it and then acting like everything was normal.
So, the past week had been odd between them, to say the least. He was looking after Harry’s wound and changing the bandage twice a day (it was healing nicely), meaning they would sit together a little too closely and leave their hands touching a little too long. Then, in the mornings when they’d eat breakfast together, sometimes their hands would touch again and it would send a thrill through him, again. Or they’d be on the couch watching something and he’d turn to find Harry looking at him before quicking turning away. Then he’d sit there, watching Harry: the way his eyes lit up when he laughed, his curls, his dimples, his plush bottom lip.
Then, there had also been some… dreams. Really good dreams. Dreams that made him blush when he saw Harry the next morning because they were just friends for fucks sake and you don’t have dirty sex dreams about your best friend.
But, he’d also noticed that while he’d once thought Harry was just very physical in showing his affection to all his friends in the same, that wasn’t really the case. After Harry had said the drunken night time cuddling was ‘just theirs’ he’d started watching Harry interact with the others over the last week, and he wasn’t wrong. He was a physical person, yes, but while he didn’t notice it at first, the way Harry touched and sat with Niall and Liam and Zayn, was not the way he touched and sat with Louis. He didn’t brush his fingers against their arms or waist as he passed them in the kitchen either.
And the more Harry did these little things– touching his arm, complimenting him, watching him, giving him a journal to try out finding an old passion–the more it drove Louis insane.
He needed someone to take his mind off of Harry fucking Styles and that was that.
So, there he was. The club was three stories tall, packed with people dancing on all levels, and open in the middle to a large dance floor on the ground level. Multicolored lights were flashing. The DJ was on point . Everyone was vibing.
When Niall had originally said they were going to a gay club, Louis had toyed with the idea of trying to find a hook up that night as a way to distract him from Harry. However, he didn’t consider the fact that Harry would also be going to the club, and he was looking hot as fuck in tight black and white floral pants with a sheer see-through black shirt tucked into them.
When they first got there, everything was fine for Louis. By the time they had gotten drinks, Liam and Zayn were already grinding to the beat on the dance floor, and Niall was scoping out ladies to dance with, things were going great. He just needed to not look at Harry’s ass in those skin tight pants and he’d be fine.
One stroke of luck though was that when Niall decided he was feeling ready to find someone new in a post-Aly world by going clubbing, his destination of choice was a gay club.
“See Louis, there are very particular groups of women that come to a gay club,” Niall explained on their way to the club. “You have the lesbians, the bachelorette parties, the groups of girls helping a friend through a breakup, and occasionally the groups that just want to party with a little less worrying about being hit on by jerks. Those are the best ones.”
“If you’re looking to hit on girls in a gay club, what does that make you then?” Louis sassed.
“Don’t take that tone with me,” Niall shook his finger at Louis. “I’m an expert. I just mention to them that I’m here with all my friends, I point to you lot looking all attractively unavailable and shit, and that makes me suddenly more attractive because I’m one, a good friend, and two, I am available.” He grinned widely.
Louis just shook his head, he could see the logic in Niall’s argument though. Lottie did like joining him the couple times they had gone out together before she met Michael. He was pretty sure Niall was still upset about the whole Aly thing though, despite saying he wasn’t.
“You don’t need to reduce yourself to schemes to get a girl Niall. I’m sure plenty of girls would appreciate you without all the… planning.”
“Not looking for a soulmate Tommo. Just some fun. Isn’t that what you’re looking for too?”
“Yeah,” Louis’ eyes trailed over to Harry though.
“What about her?” Harry asked Niall, nodding towards a small, curvy blonde in towering high heels and a very short dress. Louis thought she looked a bit like the type of person to go on a reality dating show searching for fame, but what did he really know about women?
“Oh, great eye mate,” Niall slapped Harry’s shoulder. “Just my type, wish me luck!”
Louis stood with Harry, both watching Niall as he approached the woman. “This is like watching one of those safari shows on the nature channel,” Louis said, somewhat in disbelief.
Harry laughed, “Yes, here we have the male of the species all puffed up in confidence as he approaches the female to mate…”
Louis cackled at Harry’s narration and leaned his back against the bar. “Oh what did he say to her, do you think? She looks about ready to eat him.”
Harry rolled his head towards Louis with a grin, “No idea, could just be his accent. Though he can be very charming when he wants to be. It’s very possible we might be seeing a woman sneak out of his room in the morning.”
Before Louis could respond, he saw Harry’s eyes glance up and felt a presence at his back. “Hey,” a deep voice said.
Louis turned around to find a cute, somewhat stocky guy in a casual button-down shirt, sleeves rolled, probably a little older than himself.
“So this is really embarrassing, but my friends will never let me hear the end of it if I don’t ask,” he teetered on his feet a little. “Would you like to dance? You can say no, I told my friends it seemed like you two were dating--”
“Oh, we’re not dating,” Louis clarified maybe a little too quickly. “Just mates.”
“Oh,” the guy smiled a little, it was kind of cute, Louis thought. “So do you want to dance then?” He said with a bit more confidence and flirtation in his voice.
Louis glanced ever so briefly at Harry, who had an unreadable expression on his face. “Sure.”
Despite the guy, Dean, being a bit unsure of himself at the beginning, Louis was surprised to find he was actually quite a good dancer. Louis didn’t consider himself a good dancer by any means, he had a few moves and otherwise just went with the beat-- he had rhythm, so he had that going for himself, at least according to Lottie.
Their bodies were close, nearly pressed together, hands on each other’s hips. He was pretty sure it was a Beyonce song playing, but he wasn’t positive.
When the song switched though, this time to Sour Candy by Blackpink and Lady Gaga (he knew this because of Lottie, for the record) , Louis caught sight of Harry also on the dance floor. Dancing with a muscular man who had no shirt on and smooth dark skin.
And damn , could Harry move his hips.
Watching Harry swivel his hips seductively, Louis knew without a doubt that he was completely fucked . He’d never get the image out of his mind and he never wanted to. He didn’t want some other guy.
It shouldn’t surprise him that seeing Harry with another man was what would… set him off, so to speak. He’d always been a bit of a jealous type. In a “not wanting to share” kind of way that he should really get a hold of considering Harry was supportive when he was trying to date a few weeks ago. He certainly didn’t have any claim over Harry. He could dance with whoever he wanted.
In all of his thinking about wanting to find a guy to distract him from Harry, he never once thought about what would happen if Harry was with someone else.
And, of course , Harry would dance with someone else. He certainly wasn’t dressed to be a wallflower--Louis almost choked when he saw Harry step out of his room earlier that night. That whole time at the bar, he was probably waiting for Louis to leave him alone so he could get a dance partner of his own because Harry was sweet like that and wouldn’t want Louis to be by himself.
But holy shit , sweet baker Harry could move his hips like that ?!
Louis didn’t think he’d ever described anything as “sinful” before. But it seemed an accurate description now.
“So, I’m guessing it’s a bit more complicated than ‘friends, not dating,’ between you two huh?” Dean said a little sadly, but also not totally surprised. Louis could only imagine what Dean had seen on his face when he saw Harry.
Louis sighed and looked at his sneakers. He didn’t want to lead Dean on, he seemed really great, just not for him. If they’d met before Louis met Harry, who knows? “Yeah. I mean, we aren’t dating, I’m sure he’s not even interested, but it seems like I’m maybe more interested than I initially thought,” he winced.
Dean glanced over to Harry, “I’m not so sure about that… He’s been glaring at me since we started dancing. Like, I was thinking of ways to avoid us going back over to him for fear of him murdering me. I thought maybe it was a case of him being interested in you, but you weren’t in return, but…” He trailed off giving Louis a look.
“What?” Louis looked to Harry and back to Dean. “No… We’re flatmates.”
Dean raised an eyebrow, “I guess flatmates could make things a little messy--”
“Exactly,” Louis nodded.
“--But, it could also make things very convenient,” he wiggled his eyebrows. “Learning all the stuff about him that typically takes months and months to learn about in a regular relationship? Sounds kind of great actually.”
“Or I could be living in my sister’s guest bedroom again.”
Dean shrugged, “I guess that’s a risk, but it’s also a risk accepting a complete stranger’s request for a dance. What if I like, roofied you or was a serial killer or something?”
“I doubt that.”
“I could be though, you don’t know me! Look, for what a complete outsider’s point of view is worth, I think he’s into you. You clearly work together enough that I initially wasn’t going to ask you to dance because I thought you two were already together.”
Louis nodded, feeling a little sick. His mind was reeling.
“So, don’t make this night a complete waste for me, and go ask to cut in. If I’m not getting a romantic meet-cute tonight, I’d at least like to gracefully step back and be the reason for some passionate declaration of love on a dancefloor.” Dean said dramatically before stepping away from Louis.
Maybe it was because Louis was pretty drunk, but he found himself saying, “You really think so?”
“Yeah, so go. Good luck and all that.”
Dean made his way back to the bar and Louis, riding a wave of jealousy-induced confidence, strode towards Harry as Ariana Grande’s Side to Side, started to play.
“Mind if I cut in?” He tapped on Harry’s shoulder, fully pretending the man he was currently dancing with wasn’t there. Maybe he should have said something less cliche?
Harry’s eyes were full of heat the moment they met Louis’ though, so he assumed the line was good enough. Luckily, it seemed like the man Harry was dancing with was there for a good time, not a long time, and quickly took the hint.
Harry was clearly just as drunk as Louis, deciding they didn’t need a sober friend that night, as he raised an eyebrow and pulled Louis into him so that they were pressed together tightly. Harry’s hands moved to grip his waist and hip, his eyes boring into Louis’ soul as he started rocking his hips side to side in time with the smooth beat of the song.
Louis found one of his hands moving from where he was gripping Harry’s side, up to the back of Harry’s neck to play with the hairs that had fallen out of his bun. He could feel a shiver run through Harry and Harry pulled Louis even closer, resting his face near Louis’ neck.
Louis was having an out of body experience. All he could feel was Harry and the music. Harry’s breath tickling his neck, Harry’s fingers gripping the exposed skin right where his shirt had ridden up, Harry’s thigh coming dangerously close to pressing on his raging hard on. He was positive that if Harry’s thigh did end up touching him, he would come in his pants instantly.
Then, because Harry was clearly a devil dressed as a sweet, delicious baker, one of Harry’s hands dropped a bit to rest on the generous curve of Louis’ arse and gave a light squeeze. The moan that came from Louis’ mouth was embarrassing and his thoughts were absolutely filthy. He felt Harry chuckle slightly and grin into Louis’ neck.
Louis was both glad and livid when the song changed to something more up beat. He didn’t want to let go of Harry, but he also knew that if they kept going at that pace, he’d orgasm on the dance floor.
He was pleasantly surprised though, that even though Harry stepped back a bit, face flushed and eyes dark, he didn’t let go of Louis completely. As Lizzo’s Juice started to play, Harry set their pace again and started to sing along joyfully with his eyes still focused on Louis with a gleam.
Louis couldn’t help the huge smile on his face as Harry acted like an adorable sexy fool, shaking his hips and shoulders. Louis’ breath caught in his throat at the look Harry gave him when he sang the line about being more than friends.
The way Harry danced with such enthusiasm made Louis feel comfortable enough to do the same, and he’d never had so much fun on a dance floor before. Harry’s little smirks and grins and silly facial expressions kept Louis smiling back the whole time too.
They continued to dance until Louis’ feet ached like he just got off a twelve-hour shift. Some of the songs were fast, others were slower and more sensual. All of the songs were heated. Louis was past thinking, losing himself in the feeling and the alcohol running through his blood seemed like a perfect idea. The longer they danced, the less inhibited they were.
By the time the song switched to a club version of Earned It by The Weeknd, Louis was feeling pretty damn confident. As the opening sensual beats sounded, he turned Harry around and pulled him close. Harry grabbed his hands and guided them down his chest as he bent his knees down just enough so that his ass was grinding into Louis’ dick.
There was no way Harry couldn’t feel that.
But that seemed to encourage him more than anything, so Louis pulled him closer, if that was possible, and started kissing and licking and biting and sucking up and down the side of Harry’s throat.
Harry let his head fall back onto Louis’ shoulder as they continued to sway and grind. Harry’s eyes were closed and his face looked absolutely wrecked in pleasure.
Then, Harry turned around, grabbed Louis’ face with both hands, cupping his jaw, and he kissed him.
Louis’ world exploded.
There was no hesitation in Harry’s kiss and Louis responded just as enthusiastically. The music disappeared. The people disappeared. It was just Harry. Harry’s lips, Harry’s tongue, Harry’s hands.
Louis was pretty sure they’d stopped dancing all together, but it didn’t matter. His hands were gripping Harry’s hips, holding them close. Then he let one of his hands, it had a mind of its own, obviously, trail down to squeeze Harry’s gorgeous bum. Harry moaned into Louis’ mouth as their tongues stroked together.
When the song ended, Harry pulled his lips away from Louis’ and moved to graze his lips along Louis’ ear. “Are you ready to go home?”
Louis gasped as Harry then let his fingers skim under the hem of Louis’ pants, “Yes.”
The process of calling an Uber, getting in the Uber, and getting home was a blur to Louis. They didn’t really say anything, but they definitely didn’t keep their hands to themselves. It was like in a movie where one second they were making out on the dance floor, and the next frame was the two of them stumbling into their flat, connected at the lips.
The moment the door to the apartment was closed, Louis had Harry pressed up against it kissing him fervently while he tried tugging on the hem of Harry’s shirt trying to pull it up, Harry pulled his lips away for a moment to help him, before taking care of Louis’ shirt as well and leaning forward to kiss down Louis’ neck to suck on his collar bone.
Louis pressed Harry into the door further, hips lined up perfectly so that their erections were straining against each other, making them groan.
“Who’s room?” Louis gasped.
“Mine,” Harry said in a clearly split second decision and started to pull towards his room while also trying to not stop kissing him.
They stumbled into Harry’s room trying to unbutton each other’s pants while still moving. It kind of worked. Harry started walking Louis backwards towards his bed and as the backs of Louis’ legs hit the mattress, Harry was shoving down Louis’ pants and pulled them off as Louis fell back.
Louis scooted up the mattress and by the time Harry was on top of him again, they were both in their underwear. Louis practically cried out at the feeling of Harry’s warm skin pressed against his own.
“Fuck, these tattoos are so hot,” Harry said as he started to kiss down Louis’ chest, licking across ‘it is what it is’ and sucking on the 78.
“You’re one to talk,” Louis stroked his hands down the leaves that were low on Harry’s stomach, letting his finger skim the waistband of his boxer briefs that were not leaving anything to the imagination as far as Harry’s size and hardness were concerned. Harry let out an absolutely filthy moan as Louis started to palm him through the fabric.
Harry pulled away slightly to look into Louis’ eyes. If Louis thought he looked wrecked before in the club, goddamn. Louis forgot to breathe at the sight of Harry’s bright pink lips and flushed cheeks leaning over him.
“I want you to fuck me,” Harry said outright, pinching one of Louis’ nipples.
“Fuck yes,” Louis quickly flipped them over so that he was straddling Harry’s stomach before sliding down to kiss him.
This time, Louis slowed down the pace of the kiss, stroking into Harry’s mouth and pulling moan after moan out of his throat as if the sound of it was the only thing keeping him tethered to the ground because if he stopped kissing Harry he’d float away and disappear.
After a while he found Harry’s neck again, scraping his teeth down it lightly, causing Harry to writhe beneath him. Louis moaned as one wiggle caused their cocks to brush and then Louis ground his hips down into Harry’s, hard.
“If you keep doing that,” Harry said breathlessly, “I’m going to come. And I’d really rather that happen with you inside me.”
“Lube and condoms?” Louis questioned in response. He would like to come inside Harry as well. He really, really would.
“Drawer,” Harry pointed, a snap of Louis’ hips reducing him to one word responses and grunts.
Louis made quick work of grabbing the bottle of lube and a condom and sat back on his knees between Harry’s legs.
“You’re so fucking beautiful,” Louis said as he looked down at Harry laying before him like a buffet. “I’m going to make you feel so good.” He trailed his fingers down the light hair on Harry’s chest and stomach, skipping over the fabric of his underwear to trail down the inside of Harry’s thigh.
“Stop teasing and take off your pants. And my pants,” Harry said, reaching forward to the waistband of Louis underwear.
Louis snorted, “Did you mean to nearly directly quote Izzy Stevens?”
“Oh my god, stop talking and fuck me,” Harry whined desperately. “How are you thinking about Grey’s Anatomy right now?”
Louis rolled his eyes good naturedly, “Patience is a virtue, Harold.”
“I’ll be patient later, I want you inside me. Now.”
Louis gripped the fabric of Harry’s boxer briefs and pulled them down slowly while not breaking eye contact with Harry. “I've got to get you ready for me first, Harold.”
Louis nearly moaned at the sight and feel of Harry’s hard cock in his hand. Harry definitely moaned. “So good.”
“Hands and knees, darling,” Louis said softly, yet firmly. Harry complied eagerly, pressing the side of his face into a pillow as he displayed his beautiful arse for Louis.
Louis slicked up his fingers and ran one lightly down Harry’s arse crack, pausing to swirl it around Harry’s hole so he could watch it flutter lightly.
“Lou, please,” Harry whined. “Stop teasing.”
Louis tried to fight back a smirk, “If you insist.” And without warning, he pressed his finger into Harry, the lube doing its job to help him get past the tight ring of muscle.
“Oh, yes,” Harry moaned into the pillow.
Louis drew his finger in and out, never staying too long with one rhythm, alternating between slow and fast, enjoying watching Harry slowly fall apart even further. Then he added a second finger and worked them in and out of Harry’s opening, loosening him up perfectly. He couldn’t decide where he wanted to focus his gaze more, on Harry’s hole swallowing his fingers or on Harry’s face as he moaned and gasped and whined with pleasure all because of his fingers.
He added a third finger and smiled at the noise that came from the back of Harry’s throat and the way he arched back into him and pressed his face into the crook of his arm as Louis continued to pump his fingers in and out, scissoring and stretching, occasionally adding more lube to make sure Harry was wet enough.
“Lou, please,” Harry whined again. The desperation dripping in his voice drove Louis wild. “I’m ready, please.”
Louis was just as desperate and didn’t need asking twice. He removed his fingers, letting them brush that sweet spot inside Harry on their way out and earning another delicious gasp from the man below him. “Roll over,” Louis said roughly, rolling the condom down his painfully hard cock as he said it. “I want to see your face.”
Harry was covered in a light sheen of sweat and the heat in his gaze as he looked up at Louis, on his back, knees bent, was breathtaking. “God you’re gorgeous,” Louis said, leaning forward to take Harry’s lips with his.
“You’re sexy as hell,” Harry said as Louis pulled away. “Been driving me crazy.”
Louis added more lube to his cock, lined himself up with Harry’s opening, and pulled Harry into a searing kiss as he slowly pushed forward into him.
“Fuck yes,” Louis grunts as he bottoms out. “You take me so well Haz.”
“Then why aren’t you moving?” Harry moaned, trying to move his hips for some friction.
“Because I’m trying to not come immediately you succubus,” Louis said through gritted teeth. “I feel like I’m fucking seventeen right now.”
Harry let out a laugh, “If that’s your idea of dirty talk, this might not work out. Aren’t succubusses women? I think it’s incubus that are men. Incubi? Incubusses?”
Louis moaned at the movement from Harry’s laughter, “We can talk about details later,” he draws himself out and snaps his hips forward abruptly turning Harry’s giggle into a lengthy moan.
“You feel so good,” Harry whimpered as Louis started to thrust into him. Then Louis gripped Harry’s thigh to change the angle a bit and Harry was no longer able to form coherent words. He alternated the speed and depth of his movements enough to make them both crazy.
“You’re doing this on purpose,” Harry cried out as Louis suddenly backed off and slowed down his thrusts abruptly. “You fucking psycho.” He brought his hands to Louis’ ass and gave a rough squeeze causing him to moan.
“Is this what you want?” Louis asked before speeding up and pounding into Harry hard while pulling him into a sloppy kiss.
He couldn’t help the smug smirk as Harry started to just gasp and groan and yes each time his cock hit that sensitive spot inside of him. The way Harry was arching and shaking… Neither of them were going to last much longer.
Louis took Harry’s cock in his hand between them and started stroking it in time with each of his thrust, which were getting more erratic by the second.
“Oh, yes, yes,” Harry cried out. “Don’t stop, so close.”
“Let go baby, come for me,” Louis said, sucking on Harry’s neck. He felt the moment Harry was going to come and pulled his face away so that he could watch Harry fall apart. He sped up his hips, pouding into Harry’s prostate harder until Harry saw stars with a loud groan, hot come coming in long spurts and Louis stroked him.
With a couple more hard thrusts, Louis was coming too, tumbling head first into absolute bliss. He might have seen God.
He tried not to collapse on top of Harry, but Harry wound his arms around him and held him in place as they both came down from their highs. Harry’s come sticking between them, Louis’ cock still inside him, it was kind of hot.
“We should clean up or I’m going to fall asleep like this and we’ll be glued together by your come for eternity,” Louis mumbled into Harry’s neck after a while.
“Ugh, fine,” Harry sounded tired. “You have to move first though.”
“Ugh, fine,” Louis echoed, slowly rolling off of Harry. He missed the feel of their bodies pressed together already. “I guess I should, uh, go back to my room anyway?” He questioned awkwardly, wincing at how it sounded. “I mean… fuck.”
“I guess we should talk about it like mature adults?” Harry scrunched up his face. “Communication and all that.”
“Yeah,” Louis said dumbly, not knowing what else to say. What do you say to guy you just had amazing sex with when he’s also your flatmate? Saying ‘thanks’ and walking back to his room didn’t sound like a good way to go. “Want to shower?” Shower was good, shower together was better. “People always work things out in the shower.”
Harry bit his lip and Louis wanted to kiss him again, but he wasn’t sure if it was a good idea at that point.
“Yeah, let’s shower.”
A few minutes later they were in the warm spray of Harry’s shower, definitely nicer than the one Louis shared with Niall, washing each other silently.
It was erotic, but neither of them turned it into something more than simply getting clean. That maybe made it even more erotic–the act of washing each other after sex. This was new for Louis. He liked it. He couldn’t like it though.
“I like you,” Harry said finally as he spread soap over Louis’ arm.
“I like you too,” Louis said, voice barely a whisper, like he was afraid to pop whatever this bubble they were in was.
“But–” They both started at the same time and smiled. Louis gestured for Harry to go first.
“I don’t want to mess this up, if I haven’t already.” Harry shifted so Louis could rinse and then Louis took the soap to wash Harry. “We can’t do this again. I like being your flatmate and your friend. Introducing sex into it… friends with benefits never works. Someone always ends up getting hurt.”
“I agree,” Louis said. He was… disappointed a little, maybe? But he also fully agreed with everything Harry said. “We were drunk, clearly horny, caught up in the music. It was a one time thing.”
“Yeah,” Harry nodded softly. The expression on his face was intense and unreadable. “Just friends?”
“Yeah,” Louis agreed. “When we leave this shower, I’ll find my clothes, go back to my room, and this never happened.”
“Perfect,” Harry smiled a little. “Since after we get out of the shower this never happened, for the record, it was very good.”
“Definitely good,” Louis said a bit wistfully. So, so good. It’d be fueling his fantasies for months.
“Though I am definitely right about the whole incubus and succubus thing. For the record.”
Louis laughed and swatted him with the loofah, “Dork. I can’t be held accountable for the dumb shit I say while fucking. Things just come out sometimes.”
“That’s what she said.”
“That sounds kind of gross.” They laughed some more. Louis briefly thought about how easy this all felt with Harry, it should probably feel awkward, but it didn’t at all.
Once out of shower, wrapped in towels, Louis grabbed his clothes and stood at the door looking back at Harry standing by the bed. “Can I ask you something?”
“Of course.”
“Last week, when you…well–”
“Spent the night with a Gridr date?” They both winced.
“Yeah.”
Harry’s face turned so regretful that Louis wanted to take the question back. “I was trying to see if hooking up with someone else would get you out of my head. Didn’t work though. And the look on your face that morning…” He pressed his lips together tightly.
A terrible thought wormed its way into Louis’ mind. “Tonight wasn’t about that, was it? Hoping to fuck me out of your head?” His voice was a bit harsher than he meant it to be.
Harry’s eyes widened and he shook his head fiercely. “No, absolutely not. I swear. Tonight I just, I wanted you. I didn’t want to resist it, even if it wasn’t a good idea. I regret that guy last week, but I don’t regret tonight with you.”
Louis searched his face, the look in his eyes, and knew he was telling the truth. “Alright,” he gave Harry a soft smile. “If we’re being super honest right now, I went into that club tonight hoping to do the same thing–find a random guy to fuck to get you out of my head. But it wasn’t about that with you for me either.”
“Well,” Harry cleared his throat. “At least we’re on even footing?”
“Everything’s out in the open and now we’ll pretend none of it happened,” he tried to joke. It didn’t really work. He couldn’t take the look in Harry’s eyes another second, so he swallowed thickly and said, “See you in the morning?”
“Yeah,” Harry said quietly, but with a small quirk in the corner of his mouth. “Goodnight Lou. Don’t forget about James’ pool party tomorrow.”
“I won’t. Night, Haz.” And he turned and left, closing the door gently behind him.
***
When Louis woke up the next morning he stayed in bed staring at the ceiling for a long, long time.
What was he thinking last night?
He wasn’t, obviously. He was drunk. They both were. Though really not by much, he didn’t even wake up with a hangover and he remembered everything clearly. And he was definitely sober for that conversation in the shower about pretending they’d never slept together. Maybe he was drunk on the sexy atmosphere of the club? Was that a thing?
And the most important question: Did he ruin his and Harry’s friendship by initiating the whole thing by asking him to dance?
He wanted to find Future-Louis and ask for the secret of time travel. Except he also didn’t… if he and Harry were just going to have the one night, he wanted to remember it. He wanted to believe it was real, just for a moment in time.
Fuck. No. They were better as friends. Best friends. If last night didn’t fuck everything up he certainly wasn’t going to risk again. Harry was perfectly clear about what he wanted and Louis would respect that.
He turned onto his stomach and banged his head into the pillow repeatedly.
“Where’s Harry?” Louis asked Niall when he finally left his room.
Niall looked up from his coffee, “Bakery emergency, one of his assistants’ kids got the flu so he had to go in this morning to take over her shift.”
“Ah, that sucks.”
“Yeah, what time did you both get back? I didn’t see you all night, and Harry looked dead tired when he left about an hour ago. Said he didn’t drink enough for a hangover though.”
Louis’ mind flashed back to the events of the previous night. Harry’s hands on him, his hands on Harry, dancing, kissing, fu— nope. Not going there. “I think we got in after 2?”
“Together?” Niall’s lip twitched. Did Harry tell him anything before he left?
“Uh, yeah.” Louis busied himself getting something to eat, hoping that Niall didn’t ask him to elaborate. “How was your night, then,” he asked slyly. “Was it love with the blond?”
Niall scoffed, “Definitely not. Good, but just a one off. She was a bit too full of herself. I’m too busy and focused on work and my music for a relationship anyway.”
“Isn’t that when people say you’re most likely to find love? When you’re not looking, or whatever.”
“That is what they say, I guess,” Niall gave him an evaluating look. “Are you looking or not looking?”
Louis raised an eyebrow before dramatically leaning across the table with a coy smile, “Why Niall? Are you interested?”
Niall spat out the sip of coffee he’d just taken, “Sorry mate, you’re kind of missing some key parts for me. You’re very pretty though.”
“When is James’ cookout then?” Louis laughed, changing the subject.
“This afternoon, Harry said he’ll have to meet us there, so it looks like I get you all to myself for a while,” Niall rubbed the palms of his hands together like a cartoon villain. “How do you feel about playing some pranks on Liam and Zayn?”
“I’d love to,” Louis grinned.
“Perfect, because I know for a fact that Liam and Zayn are already out and about and I have the spare key to their place.”
***
By the time they left Liam and Zayn’s flat, they had put a very realistically terrifying rubber spider in one of the cabinets, plastic-wrapped a toilet, replaced one of their deodorants with cream cheese, and covered a good portion of their kitchen in post-its before they ran out.
“It’ll be the gift that keeps on giving. They’ll think it’s just the post-its, but then…” Niall trailed off cackling as they drove to James’ house. “The best part is that they aren’t coming back until after the cookout, they’ll have no idea the whole time.”
“I can’t believe they let you have a key,” Louis commented.
“I can’t believe they didn’t try harder to get it back after the last time I messed with them.”
“What did you do before?”
Niall’s retelling of his most recent pranks on his friends lasted the rest of the car ride, making Louis laugh with glee the whole time.
“James lives all the way out here?” Louis asked Niall as they eventually drove to the more suburban side of town with moderately sized houses and yards. Apparently James’ wife was a fancy lawyer.
“Yeah, his wife wanted a yard for their dogs and kids. It’s a great house for cookouts and entertaining too, the backyard really is great.”
They pulled up to a modern looking house with large windows and a long flat driveway already filled with six cars. “Oh look, Liam and Zayn are already here,” Niall pointed to a sleek looking BMW convertible that Louis assumed belonged to Zayn.
Louis helped Niall carry in the beers from the trunk of the car, and suddenly felt a little shy walking into a party of who knew how many people. He at least would know a few people there, but he could feel his anxiety ramp up a bit. It’d been awhile since he was in a situation like this, meeting a bunch of mutual friends all at once. It felt like more pressure. Ethan didn’t like going out, and the few times they met up with Ethan’s friends he would later always make Louis feel like he did something wrong.
Ethan would comment about him acting ‘too gay,’ or ‘too childish’ and Louis listened because the way Ethan said it, it didn’t sound like ridiculous criticism, it sounded like a loved one trying to help.
Of course, Louis knew that those comments weren’t true, but that didn’t stop doubt from creeping in every once and awhile though.
His worry about the ‘Harry situation’ was probably making him feel a bit raw emotionally too.
Niall opened the large dark wood front door without knocking and led Louis through the nicely decorated living room and into the spacious kitchen. The kitchen was freaking massive.
“Oh, Niall! Great to see you!” A pretty blond woman said from behind the sink as she looked up from rinsing a colander full of strawberries. She set the strawberries down and walked over to give Niall a big hug.
“Hey Jules, you look lovely,” Niall returned the hug. “This is our new flatmate, Louis. Louis, this is James’ wife, Julia.”
“Thank you for having me,” Louis extended a hand, but Julia pushed it away and went for a hug with him as well.
“It’s lovely to meet you, Louis. Niall, just put those beers in the fridge wherever there’s room. Everyone else is out in the back. If you need anything feel free to look through the cupboards or just ask. And don’t let the kids bully you into more sweets, they’ve had plenty.” She added the last part with a finger pointed at Niall.
“It was one time!”
Julia rolled her eyes at him before pushing them both out of her kitchen telling them to go enjoy themselves.
In the backyard, Louis was quickly introduced to a series of people. James’ kids (Max, Carey, and Charlotte) were in the pool with some other kids that belonged to friends of James’ who were brothers: Nick and Priyanka, Joe and Sophie, and Kevin and Danielle. There were also two different guys named Jimmy, and their wives and kids.
Liam and Zayn meanwhile, were hanging out under the awning near the drinks with a group made up of people who introduced themselves as Shawn, Camila, Hailee, and Selena.
Niall wasn’t kidding about the backyard being a great place to entertain. It was huge, tons of seating, a great pool, and a firepit. It was a good thing too, if there were still several more people to come. Louis hoped he and Niall had brought enough beer. Not that he’d be drinking much himself since he had work early the next morning. He was getting a little too old to bounce back that quickly from a night of drinking.
“So Louis,” Camila asked from her spot in Shawn’s lap. “Are you single? Because so are Selena and Hailee over here…”
“Oh god, please don’t,” Selena begged with her hands in her face.
Louis shook his head kindly, “Gay.”
“Should have known if Niall picked you as roommate,” Hailee laughed.
“It’s true,” Niall nodded.
“Are you single though?” Camila asked, leaning forward. “Tell me everything about yourself.”
Before Louis could answer, Liam did it for him, “Based on what Zayn and I saw on the dance floor of that club last night, I’m thinking maybe not.” Liam laughed at his own joke.
“What?” Niall’s head snapped up to look between Louis and Liam. “What did you see?” He asked gleefully.
“He and H were dancing when we left,” Zayn smirked and took a sip of his drink. “I won’t go into detail since there are children nearby.”
“He’s definitely better at dancing than he is at basketball,” Liam added teasingly. “You’ve got some moves Tommo.”
Louis just stared at them and wanted to melt from embarrassment.
The girls and Niall practically squealed.
“What’s all this about then?” Harry’s voice said from behind Louis.
Louis turned to face him quickly. Harry was smiling, at everyone but that included Louis, so that was a good sign, right? “Liam and Zayn were complimenting our dancing last night,” he tried to say casually, like it was no big deal, like nothing happened but dancing.
Harry blinked and his eyes widened nearly imperceptibly, but he otherwise remained expressionless, “Yeah we were pretty drunk weren’t we?”
“Totally.” Louis agreed enthusiastically. “I’m super hungover.”
Niall gave him a doubting look. Louis ignored him.
That was when James’ kids looked over from the pool and ran to Harry shouting his name.
“Harry! Harry!” They ran up to him and he pretended to act like they had knocked him down.
“Hello boogers!” He said brightly to the children, giving them each a big hug. With the last one he stood up with the child still in his arms and swung the kid around as he walked to the pool and threw her in as she squealed with delight.
When she popped back up out of the water the kids were all shouting “Again, Again!” and “Me next! Me next!”
Luckily, Louis was saved from completely swooning from the unexpected sight of Harry talking with small children, by a couple more guests arriving.
“I thought this was a cookout! What are all of you doing just sitting around? We came hungry!” A girl with dark skin and a bandana around her head called, her arm wrapped around the waist of a pale girl with long red hair and redder lips. They were later introduced to Louis as Toni and Cheryl.
Louis was just glad the newcomers distracted everyone with their wild stories from a vacation the two of them just got back from.
***
“Is this something that happens to straight men when they get married and have kids? They suddenly become really interested in grilling?” Louis asked, looking at Niall and Shawn as they watched all the dads stand around the grill. The two men just shrugged.
“Absolutely,” Sophie said, walking up to them with a glass of wine, red hair piled on top of her head in a knot. “Joe never talked about the components to a perfect burger so much before we became parents.”
The others laughed and Louis caught sight of Harry, who was chatting with Toni and Cheryl on the other side of the patio.
He was positive that Harry was avoiding him. But also not avoiding him?
He was definitely avoiding being near Louis physically, but every time Louis looked, Harry was watching him, making him think maybe Harry was at least not mad at him for last night. It was like he didn’t want to get too close, but at the same time wanted Louis to know that he wanted to be close. It was confusing, and frustrating, but also made perfect sense. Kind of like Harry himself.
“So,” Camila pulled Louis’ gaze away from Harry as she joined him on the little two person sofa. It looked like the others were wrapped up in a new conversation about something. “You and Harry?”
“I…” Louis trailed off not knowing what to say.
Camila gave him a knowing smile, “Oh no need to respond, your face and his says it all.”
Louis glanced over to Harry again to see that he kept looking back and forth between Louis and his conversation with Toni and Cheryl and smiling.
“He isn’t being very subtle is he?” Louis sighed.
Camila cackled, “Not at all, but then again, nothing about Harry has ever been really subtle. He is very good at avoiding answering direct questions though.”
“How long have you known him?”
“Since college, we met at a Halloween party. He went as a ballerina, full tutu and tights, and I knew I had to be his friend. Which was very lucky, because through Harry, I met James, and through James, I met Shawn. It’ll be three years next month.”
Louis smiled, “Congratulations.”
He talked a little longer with Camila, Louis thought she was great, fun and easy to talk to. She also didn’t try prying into him and Harry again, which he appreciated.
Eventually, the kids decided they wanted to go inside to play, which meant the adults got free-reign of the pool. He was glad Niall had told him to just wear swim shorts with a shirt and bring a change of clothes.
He was still on the sofa with Camila when he saw Harry take off his shirt to get into the pool.
Even though he’d Harry shirtless before, obviously, it was always a sight to behold. Louis, as usual, forgot to breathe at the sight of him. He couldn’t help but let his mind wander to the night before for a moment. Camila noticed Louis looking, and giggled.
“You okay there Louis?” She said sweetly.
That was when Harry dove into the pool and came back up only to sit on the edge of the pool right in Louis' line of sight. Water glistening and rolling down his skin. Louis wanted to lick it. Harry then ruffled his hair and stretched with an arm behind his head. The muscles bulged a bit. Louis let out some sort of strangled wimper flicking his eyes back to Camila.
“Oh he totally did that on purpose,” she said, mouth open.
“You think so?” He asked curiously, still watching Harry as he now talked to Niall and James. That made no sense though. They decided to just be friends.
“Absolutely, did you see that little glance he gave you? He was totally making sure you were checking him out. I told you he wasn’t subtle. You need to take your shirt off and get in that pool. Right now.”
Louis, for some reason, despite his uncertainty of anything she was seeing being true, decided to listen to her.
So after making sure Harry had his eyes on him as he stood up, he took off his shirt in a swift motion he didn’t think he’d ever be able to duplicate ever again. Glancing towards Harry again, he felt a swell of confidence when he saw that Harry had that “I’m going to devour you” look again.
“Ohh,” Camila whispered. “Damn, I definitely think that worked. Great job sweetie. Go get him.”
Louis pecked her on the cheek and rolled his eyes humorously. He started to head towards the pool, very consciously trying to not look at Harry again, but on his way, he saw Liam and Zayn standing near a large bowl of whipped cream. It was time for a little payback for their comments about his and Harry’s dancing earlier. Another prank wouldn’t hurt.
“Hey, mates,” Louis said casually. The moment the two turned to face Louis, they each had a giant handful of whipped cream in their faces and hair. Louis ran away laughing and cannon-balled into the pool before the two could react.
Niall, who had looked up just in time to see, was roaring with laughter. “Oh my god, Louis, that was incredible!” He said as Louis came up.
“Louis! What the hell, that’s something we’d expect from Niall!” Liam whined while he and Zayn were trying to wipe the dessert from their faces.
“Turns out Louis loves a good prank,” Niall shouted back. “We discussed it in great detail all morning, watch your back!”
The two groaned. “Excellent,” Zayn said sarcastically.
“Don’t think there won’t be retaliation,” Liam said pointing a finger towards Louis with a false expression of anger. Louis, going along with Liam trying to be intimidating, jumped behind Harry, holding him at the waist to place him between himself and Liam.
“Harry will protect me, won’t you, Harry?”
“Yep,” Harry said without hesitation. It made Louis’ heart flutter a bit, just like the feel of Harry’s wet skin under his fingers made other parts of him… flutter. He let go quickly.
“Damn, Louis. Looks like you had some fun last night,” Toni’s voice called from the edge of the pool behind him.
Louis blanched, “Huh?”
“Your back,” Cheryl pointed and Louis dumbly tried to turn around to see which of course meant he showed his back to everyone else, resulting in wolf-whistles from pretty much everyone except Harry and Niall.
“What is it?” Louis asked Harry worriedly.
Harry looked at him with wide eyes and gulped. “Scratches,” he croaked.
Louis’ eyes bugged out at him, “What scratches?”
Niall gave them both an assessing look followed by a mischievous smirk, “Sex scratches up and down your back, Tommo.”
“Did you bring someone home from the club?” Zayn asked curiously.
“Uh, um, no?” Fuck, how the fuck does he explain this? Goddammit, Harry. He seriously didn’t notice the scratches in the shower?
“Must have been from… that guy… that you were making out with in the corner?” Harry said, biting his lip. “He, umm, looked very enthusiastic?”
Louis picked up the lie Harry attempted to create and went with it. “Oh yeah, I bet that was him. He used a bit too much tongue.” Louis tried giving him a discrete ‘what the fuck?’ look and Harry subtly shrugged back as if to say ‘it’s the best I could think of.’
“Nice, mate,” Niall said and came over to clap a hand to his shoulder. Louis nearly sighed with relief as it seemed like they were going to drop it. Niall, however, seemed to want to torture Louis further and immediately went on to suggest they all play a game of Chicken with an eyebrow raised in Louis and Harry’s direction.
Louis was pretty sure that Niall wasn’t buying Harry’s cover story, though he had to admit Harry was doing better at lying than he usually did.
A few minutes later, Selena was on Niall’s shoulders, Camila was on Shawn’s, Zayn was on Liam’s, Cheryl was on Toni’s, Sophie on Joe’s, and to Louis’ dismay, he was on Harry’s shoulders with his thighs around Harry’s head trying really hard to not get hard. Harry had his hands wrapped around the inside of Louis’ thighs, so Louis wound his fingers in Harry’s hair in retaliation.
There was a moment when Louis almost fell off and he pulled Harry’s hair a bit—Louis filed away how Harry’s whole body stiffened for a moment when he did that. Harry liked having his hair pulled, good to know. He felt a little irrationally proud of himself for learning that tidbit of information. Not that he would need it or anything.
Of course, in return, Harry then started stroking the inside of Louis’ knee with his thumb and it was driving him crazy.
Louis was positive Niall suggested this whole game on purpose. He kept looking at Harry and Louis and smiling to himself. Harry wasn’t the only one who wasn’t subtle, it seemed.
Camila just gave Louis a smirk.
“Okay,” James said from the edge of the pool. “The rules are simple. You’re trying to get the other team’s shoulder partner to fall off and be the last one standing. Bases can not engage each other. Hands only. No fists.”
“Jesus, what does he think is going to happen in this game?” Louis muttered.
“The last time we did this it got pretty heated. Toni punched Selena in the tit,” Niall said with delight.
“I said I was sorry!” Toni shouted.
“Well Hazza,” Louis patted Harry’s cheek from above. “I’m pretty competitive, so don’t you dare drop me.”
Harry, who was a bit drunk at that point, turned his head a bit and licked Louis’ fucking fingers , and said, “Got it babe.”
Louis almost spontaneously combusted. Camila and Niall saw the whole thing and gave each other a look . Whatever that meant.
When James blew his whistle (Louis was starting to realize that of course he was the type of guy to have a whistle already handy), Liam and Zayn immediately made their way to Louis and Harry. So predictable.
Louis quickly found that he and Zayn were pretty evenly matched when they locked hands trying to push the other into the pool. At one point Zayn almost got him, but Harry held Louis up, which Zayn wasn’t expecting and both he and Liam went down when Louis caught Zayn off guard.
In the end though, Sophie and Joe won, with Sophie declaring herself queen in the pool. Louis tried calling foul on her after she pinched the ticklish part of his side, but she ignored him.
When they eventually got out of the pool, Harry was suddenly back to avoiding Louis and gazing at him from a distance. It was actually starting to piss Louis off a bit, this hot and cold routine. What happened to being friends so that things wouldn’t get weird and awkward?
So, when Harry went inside to put on a dry set of clothes, Louis followed him into the bathroom, locking the door behind him and blocking Harry’s only possible exit.
“Lou…?” Harry questioned, looking a little confused and turned on all at once.
“You’re avoiding me, Harold.”
Harry’s shoulders slumped and he bowed his head, nodding forlornly, “I am.”
“Why?”
“Isn't it obvious?” Harry insisted. “You’re not wearing a shirt.”
Louis fought back a grin, “I know that, Haz. Neither are you, because we were just in the pool.”
“Oh, please don’t make me think about the pool, I’m going to kill Niall later,” Harry groaned. “He definitely noticed something and did that on purpose.”
“It didn’t particularly seem like you minded,” Louis raised a brow.
“Mind your thighs wrapped around any part of my body?” Harry’s eyes trailed up and down Louis’ body. “Never. But not a great idea for the whole ‘just being friends’ thing.”
Louis would be lying if he said he didn’t enjoy how desperate Harry sounded at that moment. His skin was damp and flushed, hair an absolute mess, jaw tense, fists clenched at his side. Louis suddenly realized following Harry into the bathroom was a very bad idea. He wanted to kiss every inch of Harry’s skin.
“No I guess it wasn’t,” Louis agreed softly.
“I’m sorry I’ve been acting weird,” Harry added. “I think a pool day after sleeping together and then deciding to just be friends threw me off a bit.”
“Our friends and the scratches you apparently left on my back aren’t a huge help either.”
Harry fought back a smile, “Yeah, sorry about that. I didn’t even realize…” He trailed off and they stared at each other for a moment. Louis wanted to reach out, maybe use looking at Harry’s hand as an excuse to touch him, but he didn’t.
“I should go,” Louis said eventually. “Especially before Niall or Camila notice we’re both gone. We should probably talk though, later, in private. I don’t want things to be weird between us, I’d hate to think I ruined a friendship so quickly.”
“Nothing is ruined, Lou, I promise. Today is just awkward, I’m being awkward. We’ll be back to normal by morning.” Harry assured him.
“Yeah. Though--” Louis stopped himself.
“What?” Harry asked, tilting his head, eyes bright. “You can tell me anything you know?”
And, surprisingly, Louis did know.
“Please don’t avoid me anymore?” He said, hoping Harry didn’t ask for a reason, because he wasn’t sure he had the words for an answer other than… because it’s you .
“Alright,” Harry agreed softly. “Would you like to ride back with me later, so we can talk?”
“Yeah, of course.”
A little while later, Louis was on one of the outdoor sofas already changed into the dry clothes he brought with him. Soon after, Harry came out and, just as Louis had asked, instead of avoiding him and going to chat with one of the groups, he came over to Louis and sat next to him.
In fact, he didn’t just sit next to Louis, he cuddled up next to Louis with his head on his shoulder.
Louis shifted so that his arm was around Harry’s waist. He told himself it was because it was more comfortable that way, but it was also because there was a sliver of skin above his waistband that his shirt riding up had exposed and Louis really, really wanted to touch it. Harry didn’t seem to mind.
Louis wondered briefly if he’d ever felt so at ease sitting with another person.
He caught Niall’s eye and Niall started to grin, but before he could say something Selena clapped a hand over his mouth. He’s sure Niall would be teasing later, but for now he silently mouthed a “thank you” to Selena. Niall teasing would have made Harry move, and he didn’t want Harry to move just yet, he looked so sweet with his eyes closed, body curled into him.
Louis let himself fantasize for a moment that they weren’t in front of a bunch of people at the moment. Cuddling on the sofa back in their flat early in the morning on a day they both weren’t working. Maybe it’d be raining outside and they’d each be drinking a cup of tea.
He had it bad.
He definitely needed to stop those thoughts immediately. He could barely go one afternoon with Harry only partially avoiding him, he needed to make sure he did nothing to cause that to be a permanent thing. At that point, he didn’t want to lose Harry as a friend more than he didn’t want to have to find a new place to live.
No more Harry would… suck. To put it lightly. He didn’t want to think too hard about it. Or think too hard about what it meant that he didn’t want to think too hard about it.
He always does this: fall too hard too quickly for a guy. It hadn’t happened often, just a couple of times, but it was definitely something he’d done before. He went all-in with Ethan so fast, and look at how that turned out.
Not that he thought Harry was anything like Ethan. He was the exact opposite in every way.
The pattern of Louis developing feelings and things going south was too obvious to ignore and Louis was feeling a little gun-shy at the idea of feelings for Harry that went past just friends and even just lust. If he were to explore those feelings and everything went wrong, which they obviously would, he’d never forgive himself.
Maybe they could still cuddle though. Friends cuddled.
“Hello, mate,” Zayn’s cheery voice said loudly as he squeezed onto the sofa next to Louis. His interruption and moving around pulled Louis out of his thoughts and, unfortunately, jostled Harry when it seemed like he had been nearly asleep.
“Shhh,” Louis used his free hand to poke Zayn in the ribs. “He’s sleeping.”
Then Liam leaned over the back of the sofa to pinch Harry’s cheek, effectively waking Harry up fully. “No he’s not, see?”
Harry blinked around in tired confusion and Louis reached over to slap Liam’s hand away from Harry, not at all possessively. Not at all.
“Hey!” Liam rubbed his hand in offense.
“What are you two up to?” Zayn said, not at all casually as he put his hand on Louis’ knee in clear view of Harry’s line of sight.
“Cuddling.” Harry said, and then proceeded to pointedly remove Zayn’s hand from Louis’ knee and replace it with his own. Louis almost shivered at the action and how annoyed Harry’s voice sounded.
Zayn, of course, stayed where he was, and then, to frustrate Louis even further, Liam jumped over the back of the sofa to sit next to Harry. Louis didn’t hold back his glare at Liam when Harry shifted to sit up like normal-- not leaning on Louis anymore. This was definitely meant to be payback for Louis’ whipped cream bomb earlier. Dammit.
Then, James’ voice came from across the patio, “No wait, I need a cat! Louis, come be my cat!”
“What?” He looked over at him confused. James was across the patio with Niall, Shawn, Joe, and the girls.
“Niall is going to show us his James Bond impression, I’m going to be the villain and I need a cat, come on,” James came over to the couch and forcibly pulled Louis up and over to the chair he had previously occupied.
“Okay, I guess,” Louis muttered as James motioned for Louis to sit in his lap.
Louis chanced a look at Harry, he had that heated stare that Louis was really starting to love. Encouraged by Harry clearly feeling a bit possessive at the moment, he decided to play along a bit more and held his hands up, wrists bent to attempt acting like a cat.
James, apparently wanting Harry to murder him, then proceeded pet Louis’ tummy. “Ahh--” James started to say in a fake evil voice looking at Niall.
“Well, well, well,” Louis added smugly.
“No, the cat doesn’t talk!” James laughed. “You ruined it!”
Louis smacked a hand to his forehead and the others started cracking up. Niall practically fell out of his chair. Even Harry was laughing.
It hit Louis for a moment that Ethan would have hated this, especially Louis’ participation. He would have said it was silly, childish. Not these people though, they were loving it, they started it.
When James tried again Louis played up his role as a cat by pretending to rub a paw behind his ear. Then they all cheered when Niall’s James Bond impression actually turned out to be pretty good.
As Louis got up, thinking he’d go back to the sofa to sit with Harry, he suddenly felt a warm body press against his back. “Ready to leave?” Harry’s voice whispered in his ear.
“Yeah, early morning and all that,” Louis choked.
***
The first few minutes of their car ride home together felt a little awkward. He was suddenly alone with Harry, they needed to talk, but how do you even start having that conversation?
“So…” Harry trailed off. “Rules? I guess? Maybe?”
“Yeah,” Louis said, pressing his lips together in uncertainty. “Rules. Boundaries. That’s probably a good idea.”
Harry chuckled sweetly. “Is not avoiding you a rule?”
“Uh, yeah. Yeah I think so.”
“Okay. What about touching?”
Louis shifted in his seat a bit.
“No touching at all?” Harry asked, sounding a bit sad.
“No!” Louis practically shouted. “I mean yes, yes touching. Or, uhh, platonic touching, like tonight.”
Harry grinned widely, “I’m not sure you could say that was platonic cuddling, Louis, but I like cuddling and I don’t think I can completely keep my hands to myself around you if that’s alright. My love languages are physical touch and acts of service.”
“Oh,” Louis’ lost all conscious thought for a moment. Not platonic cuddling. Touch. Servicing… “Yeah that’s fine. Just no… kissing, I guess. And no fucking.”
“So really all this conversation accomplished is what we said originally?”
Louis laughed, “Yeah, I guess so. We’ll just act like mates and stop walking around in swimwear in front of each other for a while.”
“Yeah that’s probably best,” Harry nodded. “We’ll just be regular mates. Easy peasy.”
Right. Easy. Totally.
***
The next morning Louis woke up to a bunch of group texts.
Liam: Which one of you is responsible for the post-its? What are we, 12?
Zayn: You shrink wrapped our toilet? Are you serious?!
Niall: I told you Louis and I spent the day talking about pranks :)
Liam: I’m going to find that key Niall, and when I do I’m changing the lock.
Niall: Jokes on you, I know how to pick locks.
Louis laughed looking through the texts from the night before. He couldn’t wait for them to find the deodorant and rubber spider.
Chapter 10: Chapter 9 - Golden
Chapter Text
Chapter 9 - Golden
“You seem very happy today Louis. What’s up?” Perrie asked as she and Louis were leaning against the nurses station. It was a moment of quiet in the emergency department, but they both knew that could change at any moment.
Earlier in the day there had been a couple of car crash victims come in, stirring up the department into a frenzy when they found out the couple had just met and were on their first date to go for lunch. The man couldn’t give them any information about the unconscious woman other than her name. They’d both been taken up for surgery, but Louis had heard word that both were recovering and seemed to be wanting that second date anyway.
It had been over a week since the party at James’ and he and Harry had developed a bit of a routine. On days they worked, they’d eat breakfast together. Sometimes Harry would make something, sometimes Louis would because he didn’t want Harry to feel like he had to cook all the time just because it was his job. Harry would often make lunch for Louis though, which never failed to make his heart flutter.
In the evenings when they were home, they would hang out together, often also with Niall, and sometimes with Liam and Zayn too. Louis had really come to love his new group of friends, he was even no longer surprised that they seemed to really like him too.
It was easier being around Harry when they were all hanging out as a group. They could give each other small touches and looks without the tension feeling so present, because it was all just friends, right?
The days they had off from work in common though… Those were trickier. They were also a lot more fun. The two of them would spend the whole day together. Watching Grey’s Anatomy (they were almost done with season 3), Louis painting Harry’s nails, Harry trying to teach Louis how to bake and play guitar, exploring farmer’s markets, walking through the park wondering if they should get a dog. Normal friend things.
Totally normal friend things except that the two of them seemed to have silently created some kind of game where they would see how far they could push the invisible “just friends” line. Lingering looks and touches. Falling asleep pressed together on the sofa. Holding hands as they walked.
Louis knew they were, in a sense, playing with fire, but he was also loving every moment of it.
“I don’t know what you mean,” he told Perrie casually.
She sized him up suspiciously, “Is it your baker? I’ve noticed you’ve been having lots of fancy looking sandwiches for lunch lately.”
“Baker?” Ed questioned as he came up to the pair. Then it was as if a lightbulb went off above his head, “Your baker? Does she mean Harry?” He said with a sly tone.
“Yes, haven’t you noticed that Louis clearly hasn’t been making his own lunches,” she grinned at Ed conspiratorially.
“He’s not my baker, he’s just a baker, and a friend,” Louis protested. “And my sandwiches aren’t fancy.”
Ed gave him a doubtful look. “That’s not what I hear from Niall.”
“What!” Louis practically squawked. “What do you mean ‘heard from Niall’?”
Perrie bounced on her toes, “Yes, do tell!”
Ed turned to Perrie, acting as if Louis wasn’t there. “Apparently there’s enough sexual tension between the two that Niall feels like they're going to jump straight to sending out wedding announcements any day now.”
“Ohh, really?” Perrie was hanging on his every word.
“We are not,” Louis countered. Though he knew Niall probably wasn’t exaggerating that much about the tension.
“Here, Niall sent me this picture a couple of days ago,” Ed continued, showing Perrie his phone.
“What? A picture!?” Louis tried to grab the phone, but Ed and Perrie just shifted away from him in unison so that he couldn’t get it.
“Oh Louis, you two are adorable,” Perrie cooed looking at the photo. “Take a look.”
The two let Louis grab the phone out of their hands and his panic faded away at the sight of the photo. It was him and Harry, cuddled together on the sofa, napping. They were very intimately positioned, a lot more so than they would have let themselves cuddle if they had been awake. They were facing each other, legs tangled together. Harry had an arm draped over Louis’ waist, and Louis clearly had a hand fisting Harry’s shirt as if he was trying to pull Harry closer in his sleep. His face was pressed into Harry’s neck.
“Oh,” Louis said, somewhat at a loss for words. The photo was sweet and vulnerable and it was a side of himself he’d never seen before.
Ed gave him a knowing look, “I’ll send it to you.”
“But you two aren’t dating?” Perrie asked, confused.
“Uh, no. It’s a, uh… long story,” Louis trailed off.
Perrie pinched Louis’ arm, “Well now you have to tell it.”
So Louis explained the basics of his and Harry’s… agreement. Leaving out the part about their hookup and meeting at that first party. That was private, and Ed was a huge gossip.
“That’s… really?” Ed said when Louis finished.
“It’s like they’re purposefully blue-balling and teasing each other. You two are totally secretly getting off on all this tension.” Perrie stated.
“Maybe a little bit,” Louis admitted while trying to fight back a smirk. “But it’s a good idea, dating flatmates is messy, we’re much better off as friends.”
“Whatever you say, sweetie,” Perrie patted his cheek.
“If you could stop gossiping for five seconds and come do your jobs, that’d be wonderful,” an obnoxious voice droned behind them nearly causing the three nurses to jump. “There are two ambulances on their way with critical patients.”
Cowell.
Ugh. Louis forgot he was in the ED that day. He’d managed to avoid being on the same shift as the man since the incident a few weeks before that got Louis punched by a patient.
The three of them got ready and started to step towards the door to wait outside with the doctors. “Not you, Tomlinson. I just need Sheeran and Edwards for now. They at least do what they’re told without speaking.”
The man sounded like such a snot.
Louis had quickly made a name for himself as the best nurse in the department, and everyone knew it. He was at the highest skill level a nurse could be without being a doctor, he’d even been approved to work on burns and give stitches. Cowell was the only doctor that didn’t want Louis on their team. He was trying to bench Louis just because he didn’t like him, and, well, the man had been reprimanded for the punching incident, and he definitely blamed Louis for it instead of owning up to his mistake.
Louis had promised Marcia he’d be on his best behavior around Cowell though, “let the bastard dig his own grave,” she’d said. Louis smirked at the memory.
***
It was unusual for Louis to get home before Harry, and with Niall out on a date, Louis found himself in one of those rare moments of being alone in the flat.
While Louis enjoyed getting alone time when he was living with Lottie, and even when he was living with Ethan, now he felt, well, lonely without Harry or Niall around. He almost considered texting Liam and Zayn to see if they were home, but instead took a moment to once again reflect on his relationship with Ethan.
Sure, it was totally normal for a couple to want some alone time away from each other, alone time can be healthy, but he never missed Ethan. Though maybe it was because Ethan rarely left him alone for long, so there was never a chance to miss him. Perhaps if he’d been able to get some distance sooner, he would have realized how much was wrong in their relationship.
Maybe ‘missed’ wasn’t the right word for what he felt about Harry not being there… maybe it was more that Louis was actually looking forward to Harry getting back?
Whatever it was, when he heard the door open and saw Harry, Louis couldn’t help but smile.
Until he saw how exhausted Harry looked.
“What are you doing home so late?” Louis asked, concerned, as Harry collapsed onto the sofa next to him after he went to his room to quickly change into something more comfortable. Louis had never seen his eyes look so tired.
Harry groaned, “One of the mixers broke, I tried to fix it, made it worse. Still had a massive custom cookie order to get finished for tomorrow morning so I had to do it all by hand in small batches since we were already using the other mixer for a different order.” He made to move his shoulders and groaned again.
“Come here, turn around. I’m going to rub your shoulders,” Louis said. Leaving the ‘let me take care of you like you take care of me’ left unsaid, but no less felt.
“Oh, no, Lou. You don’t have to do that--”
But Louis was already manuvering him into place, not about to take no for an answer.
As Louis dug his thumbs into the muscles of Harry’s shoulders and upper back, Harry let out the most delicious moan. He would definitely be doing this more often if that was the kind of response he got from Harry.
“Oh, yes. Right there,” Harry gasped when Louis dug his thumb into a knot. “Mmmm.”
He never knew massages could be so sexual.
Bolstered with a bit of confidence from Harry’s reactions to his massage, he reached up and pulled the tie out of Harry’s hair to let it flow freely. Lottie and Perrie had both mentioned how good it felt to take their hair down when it had been up all day. He had a feeling Harry felt the same based on the new series of moans and groans that came from his mouth as Louis massaged his scalp.
Harry sighed, “If you keep this up, I’m going to fall asleep.”
“Does that mean you want me to stop?” Louis smirked. He certainly didn’t want to stop. He was quite enjoying the feeling of Harry melting into his touch.
“Not really…” Harry trailed off.
Louis got an idea that was both genius and potentially dangerous. “Lie down on your stomach.”
“Then I’ll definitely fall asleep,” Harry said as he glanced back at Louis with still tired, but much more relaxed, eyes.
“That’s the point, baby,” Louis said, then paused. He hadn’t meant to let out the pet name. Was that too… familiar? Couple-y? “Sorry.”
“I like it,” Harry mumbled, eyes closed.
Instead of responding, Louis gently pressed the palm of his hand on the center of Harry’s back. “Lie down,” he said firmly.
“So bossy.” Harry smirked so hard he popped a dimple. Louis poked his finger in it making Harry giggle tiredly.
Once Harry was stretched out on his stomach, Louis, maybe against his better judgment, straddled Harry’s thighs just under his bum. Fuck, he had a gorgeous arse. Louis didn’t get enough opportunities to admire it. He needed to stop staring at Harry’s arse though, it was too distracting and would lead to him thinking about being buried inside Harry’s arse and licking Harry’s arse, and he had a mission.
Seeing Harry stretched out under him all beautiful and pliant, Louis was suddenly never more thankful for his knowledge of anatomy and muscle groups. He was going to give Harry the best massage of his life.
Slowly, Louis worked on the muscles of Harry’s back from his shoulders, down his spine, to right above the curve of his arse. That last one received a groan from Harry that was so loud it made Louis grin with glee. He continued moving slowly and diligently. Leaving no part of Harry untouched. Until Harry stopped his moaning, breathing evened out, and he fell asleep.
Louis smiled at the peaceful look on Harry’s face, cheek squished up from laying on his side. Then he carefully got up and covered Harry with a throw blanket before heading off to take a cold shower and go to bed himself.
***
As much as Louis enjoyed Niall, his favorite days off were when he and Harry had overlapping weekdays off, because it meant that it was just him and Harry all day while Niall was at work.
Harry had been a little shy and quiet that morning after he woke up on the sofa realizing that he did, in fact, fall asleep to Louis giving him a somewhat sensual back massage. Louis kept reassuring him that it was fine, he had wanted Harry to fall asleep, that was his goal. Harry just proceeded to turn a lovely shade of pink.
He wasn’t sure why Harry was shy about it, he’d been sleepy and fallen asleep near Louis before. He didn’t dwell on it long though, because he and Harry had plans to walk around a baker’s convention that was in town. Apparently it was a great place to network and learn all about the latest techniques and tools. Louis was surprised Harry wanted him to go.
“Wouldn’t I get in the way if you’re there to make business connections?” He’d asked.
Harry scoffed, “Of course not. I’d love to have you there.”
The hotel the convention was being held at was only a few blocks away from where they lived, so after Harry assured him that they wouldn’t be having to carry huge bags of baking equipment home without a car, they decided to walk.
As they started to walk, Louis was pleased when Harry’s hand found his. It was definitely becoming a ‘thing’ of theirs: holding hands while walking out and about.
Up ahead of them, Louis saw a car driving somewhat erratically before it screeched to a stop near the sidewalk and a man jumped out to run around to the passenger seat.
“Help! Someone help us!” He shouted looking around for anyone and spotting Louis and Harry.
Louis shot Harry a look and they both ran forward to the man who had opened the door to reveal a heavily pregnant woman.
Louis instantly knew what was about to happen and seamlessly shifted into business mode.
“I’m an ER nurse, how can I help?” He said calmly, but firmly.
“Oh thank God,” the man sounded absolutely frazzled. “My wife is in labor--”
“This baby is coming right nowwwww!” She screamed through a contraction.
“Okay, do you mind if I take a look?” The couple agreed and Louis discreetly lifted the hem of the woman’s dress.
He could see the top of the baby’s head.
“You were definitely right to stop, you are having this baby right here--”
“Oh god,” the man started to panic.
“Hey, it’s going to be alright,” Harry soothed. “Louis knows what he’s doing.”
“Right,” Louis said, not having time to think about how sweet it was for Harry to be so confident in him. “Harry, love, can you call an ambulance and run back home for some towels and my first aid bag?”
“Got it,” Harry said as he started to run. Luckily they were barely down the block.
“We live super close, he’ll be right back,” Louis assured the couple. “Now, what are your names?”
“I’m Nikolai, this is my wife, Zoya--”
“Not to sound,” Zoya breathed heavily. “Like a cliche pregnant woman, but I really, really hate you and your dick right now. I wanted the drugs! I wanted all of the drugs for this!”
“Okay Zoya,” Louis said from the other side of her belly, he couldn’t really see her face from where he was sitting on the curb of the sidewalk. “I can see your baby’s head, so when the next contraction comes, I need you to push really hard, alright?”
Zoya nodded.
Louis was then momentarily surprised to have a fluffy towel shoved into his hands to use for the baby, Harry was already back with everything Louis asked for.
“I also called an ambulance,” He said. Louis nodded in response.
Louis turned to Nikolai, “Get back in the car with her to help.”
“It’s coming,” Zoya groaned.
Louis smiled encouragingly, “It’s time to push and meet your baby, okay? You got this. Put all that rage you’re feeling at your husband into pushing this baby out.”
“Ahhhhh!” Zoya screamed as Louis told her to push.
The rest of it was kind of a blur, but not too long after, Louis was holding a baby. “It’s a girl,” he smiled widely.
The sound of an ambulance turning down the street could be heard along with the baby’s cries.
“Is she okay?” Nikolai said, looking in awe at the baby that was covered in birth-gunk and still connected to her mother via umbilical cord.
“Looks like it,” Louis wrapped the baby in the towel, and passed her to her parents, who were both crying in relief and love.
As the paramedics ran over, Louis saw that it was Liam’s rig. “You delivered a baby? That’s awesome, mate. Right on,” Liam patted him on the shoulder as he and his partner, a woman named Nadia, took over and Louis and Harry stepped back.
“Wait!” Zoya said before they closed the doors of the ambulance. “What is your name?” She asked Louis.
“Uh, Louis?”
She looked at the baby and then at Nikolai, “We’ll name her Louise.”
Louis couldn’t stop his eyes from watering. “I’m honored.”
As the ambulance took off to the hospital, Louis felt himself being engulfed by a hug from Harry. “You were incredible! I’ve never seen anything like it. You were so calm and amazing and confident.”
Louis felt some of the adrenaline start to leave him. “I was fucking terrified. I’ve never delivered a baby before. Hell, I’ve only seen it done once!”
Harry looked at him in shock. “Then that was even more amazing!” He lifted Louis off his feet and swung him around in glee.
“It was pretty awesome,” Louis smiled.
“Let’s go celebrate,” Harry grabbed Louis’ hand again.
“But what about your convention?”
“Forget the convention, you delivered a baby on the side of the road!”
Louis shook his head, “But you’ve been excited for this convention all week. I delivered a baby and I want my reward to be hearing you talk my ear off about… organic food coloring and edible flowers and stuff.”
Harry smiled widely, dimples making Louis melt, as usual. “Really?”
“Yes, really,” Louis rolled his eyes. “Let’s take the first aid kit and the rest of the towels back home, and then try this all again without the birthing.”
***
Louis really did feel like getting to walk around the convention with Harry was a reward. If Harry thought it was amazing seeing Louis in his element delivering a baby, then Louis felt the same way watching Harry light up as he pointed things out to Louis and handed his card out to people he connected with.
It wasn’t surprising in the least, but Louis hadn’t realized that Harry was so popular in baking circles. Apparently Olivia’s , and therefore Harry as the creative genius to James’ business savvy, had made quite a name for itself in the city.
“Oh, you’re Harry from Olivia’s ! I follow your Instagram!” A girl at a cookie decorating booth for kids said excitedly. “Do you want to help us decorate some cookies?”
Harry glanced at Louis, who gave him a little shrug and nod, “Can my friend help too?”
“Of course!” The girl practically shouted in excitement as she passed them cookies.
Louis felt a little awkward sitting in the small child-size chair, but he didn’t look any less ridiculous than Harry. Louis let out a small laugh as Harry tried to figure out where to put his Bambi legs.
“You laugh now,” Harry scolded, “But just wait until my cookies are prettier than yours.”
“I’ll have you know, Harold, that in addition to painting my little sister’s nails, I have quite a bit of experience with decorating cookies. I am also very good at drawing rainbows and unicorns.” Louis said with a smug smile.
“Oh really? Then I guess a competition is in order.” Harry turned to the girl and the other kids at the table. “Louis and I are going to have a cookie decorating competition, will you be our judges?”
The kids squealed in agreement.
“All right, on your mark–”
“Wait,” Louis stopped him. “What do I get when I win?”
Harry looked around the room and then pointed a couple booths over to where face painting was happening, “Winner gets to paint the loser's face however they want.”
“Alright, I agree to your terms,” Louis said. Face painting–another activity he was no stranger to due to having much younger sisters. “I already know what I’m going to paint.”
He was definitely going to give Harry rainbows and unicorns.
“I do too,” Harry said with a dimpled smile that took Louis’ breath away for a moment. He was totally trying to distract him away from winning. Louis wouldn’t fall for it though.
The kids around them gathered all the colorful tubes of icing and sprinkles and lined them up in front of the two of them so that they had easy access to all the colors.
“On your mark… get set… go!”
With that Louis dove into decorating his cookies. All of the cookies were round sugar cookies, and the bags he guessed were buttercream icing based on his very limited knowledge of icing varieties. He took a light blue and made a background layer, then grabbed the colors of the rainbow and piped a curved line of each color. Then, to complete his rainbow, he made little clouds. It was very cute if he did say so himself.
He took a moment to glance at Harry’s work. In the time it took Louis to make his rainbow, Harry had decorated a cookie with a cute little sunflower with a smiley face in the middle, a smiling bumblebee, and was starting work on what looked to be the beginnings of a flamingo.
“You do know I do this for a living, right darling?” Harry sassed when he saw Louis looking.
Louis gave him a pout, “I didn’t know you’d be so fast… Are you seriously giving the flamingo a flower crown right now?”
“I like flower crowns,” Harry shrugged. “I’ll help you with your next cookie if you want though.”
“No, that defeats the purpose of a competition, you’re just going to have to wait around for me to finish,” Louis said with a teasing voice to make sure Harry knew he wasn’t actually upset.
Eventually, Louis also had a cookie with a heart with an arrow going through it and a cookie with a happy looking goldfish.
Harry’s cookies won, of course.
“Okay, Harold, do your worst,” Louis said, sitting in the face painting chair with his eyes closed.
Harry snorted, “I’m not going to make you look bad, now just hold still.”
Louis hadn’t thought about how close their faces would be during face painting. He was pretty sure that Harry didn’t really need to be so close. If he did, then they might need to get Harry’s eyes checked.
Louis couldn’t see the colors Harry was using, but it seemed like a lot. It also seemed like it was something somewhat small–Harry wasn’t painting his whole face anyway.
“Okay, done, take a look,” Harry held out the mirror.
Louis grinned widely at the little butterfly with rainbow wings on his cheekbone. “Very pretty Haz, I love it.”
“Will you paint me something too?” Harry asked so sweetly and hopefully that Louis would never have said no even if he wanted too.
They switched places and Louis lightly took Harry’s chin in his fingers and dramatically had him move his face in different angles acting like he was trying to find the best spot. It made Harry laugh, which was always Louis’ goal.
Eventually, Harry had a little unicorn head with a rainbow mane in the same spot and size as Louis’ butterfly, but on the opposite cheek. “I told you I could do unicorns,” Louis grinned.
“It’s perfect, thank you.”
“Excuse me,” Louis turned to face the woman in charge of the face painting. “Would you two like a picture together? We’d love to put you on our Instagram.”
“That would be lovely, thank you,” Harry said, putting his arm around Louis. Louis instinctively did the same.
“Face each other a little so the designs show,” the woman suggested.
And then, there Louis was, looking into Harry’s eyes while they smiled and had their pictures taken. Louis’ eyes flicked down to Harry’s mouth for the briefest of moments before remembering himself and looking at the camera.
The woman took a picture with Harry’s phone and then her own. “I’ll tag your bakery too, I follow you guys already, your stuff is great.
When they’d moved on, Louis asked, “I thought you didn’t know how to use Instagram? The cookie girl mentioned it too.”
Harry blushed, “I don’t, James and Jules run it, but they like to post lots of videos of me on it because apparently I attract both girls and boys. They say whenever they post something with me in it there’s an uptick in sales. I never really get on to look at what they post though.”
Louis pretended to consider, “Well, they’re not wrong. You are very appealing. I’ll have to give you a follow.”
Harry playfully shoved him.
Towards the end of their trek up and down the rows and rows of booths and displays, Louis was pretty sure Harry had given his card out to at least thirty people, had ordered a bunch of “fun new bakery things” as Louis put it, and educated Louis on various baking techniques and gadgets.
Louis loved every bit of it.
“Hey, what’s that?” Louis pointed to a booth Harry seemed to be ignoring.
“Oh, nothing--” Harry tried to stop Louis.
But Louis wanted to know why Harry was suddenly avoiding a booth when they had literally stopped at every single one before it. Coming closer, he saw the sign. It was to sign up to be considered for a baking competition.
Lamsted Baker of the Year
“Why don't you want to sign up?”
Harry rubbed the back of his neck, his whole demeanor changing. “I don’t know…”
Louis narrowed his eyes, and took Harry’s hand to take him to a corner so they could talk. “Harry?”
Harry’s shoulders slumped, “I swear you can see right through me.”
“If you don’t want to be in a competition, that’s fine, but it seems like it’s more than that…” Louis stroked the back on Harry’s hand with his thumb.
“I would definitely like to be in a competition… it would be huge for my career. Literally life-changing. People who’ve won in the past have gone on to win all kinds of awards, get deals to write cookbooks, a couple have even been on TV. But what if I suck and then the bad reviews tank the whole business? Pretty much everything I have is tied up in the bakery.”
“Do you want that? The recognition and stuff?” Louis asked curiously.
Harry blushed. “Yeah, I kind of do. It sounds kind of vain, I guess–”
“It doesn’t, you deserve to be recognized for your talent. Your food makes people happy, just think about how many more people you could reach if you won.”
“And if I fail? What if my baking is really just average when it comes to the critics?”
“There’s no possible way. You’re amazing. If you get bad reviews, I’ll eat my shoe. Like my oldest, smelliest, most disgusting shoe.” Harry smiled a little, so Louis continued. “If it’s something you want to try, you should go for it. What kind of competition is it?”
“It’s pretty simple really, it’s like a blind tasting from the judges. You don’t know who they are and you don’t when they’re coming or what they’ll pick to try. You just sign up and wait.”
“We’ll everything you’ve made me eat has been divine. And, based on how people have been gushing about you here every time you introduce yourself, I think the professionals like you too, and not just for your pretty face.”
Harry nodded, face looking thoughtful. “Yeah, okay. I’ll do it.”
Surprised at the quick change, Louis wasn’t sure if he should back track. “Don’t just do it because I want you to, I just think you’d do great if you did… want to.”
“I know Lou,” Harry wrapped an arm around his side. “You’re not pressuring me. Don’t worry. You’re helping.”
Harry went over and signed up for the competition. Louis had no doubt that’d Harry would end up winning and go on to be some huge new sensation in the dessert-world. People would be knocking down the door of the bakery just to meet him. Louis felt a sharp pang in his chest at the thought.
When he came back he was smiling widely at Louis and leaned forward to whisper in Louis’ ear, “Thanks for believing in me.”
“Anytime, Curly.”
***
News that Louis had delivered a baby on the side of the road on his day off had spread around the hospital thanks to Liam and then Zoya and Nikolai once they learned that Louis worked at that same hospital. During his shift the next day he’d received praise from everyone that knew him.
“You did a great job, Louis,” Marcia had said. “Mother and baby were both in perfect condition.”
Louis shrugged awkwardly at all of the attention, “I mean, there weren’t any complications though, were there. If there had been, I don’t know what I’d have done.”
“Stop being modest. You would have known what to do, instinct would have kicked in and you have a good instinct.” Marcia pointed her pen at him.
“Dr. Song, incoming!” Perrie shouted from the monitor keeping track of when ambulances were bringing patients in.
“Tomlinson, with me,” Song called as she rushed past him towards the doors where the ambulance was pulling up.
Liam was there pulling out a gurney carrying a groaning teen in hockey pads and a c-collar, followed by a worried father.
“Patient is a fifteen year old male, hit from behind at hockey practice and blacked out. Landed on his arm, possibly broken.” Liam said.
“He got a concussion a few months ago,” the dad said worriedly. “But he’s never blacked out like this before. It didn’t even look like that hard of a hit, more so a hard landing.”
Louis helped the team move the boy to the hospital bed in the ED and started taking his vitals while the doctor checked his arm and eyes for pupillary response.
“I am seeing signs of a concussion, Louis can you get the portable x-ray for the arm?”
“Yes, but Dr. Song, take a look at these readings,” Louis pointed Song to the heart monitor which was not looking as it should for a generally healthy, active teen.
“What? What is it?” The dad demanded.
“There are some abnormalities with your son's heartbeat, we’re going to need a few more tests,” Song told him calmly, then requested Louis put in the orders for the necessary tests and drugs.
A little while later, Song came over to him. “X-ray shows a broken bone in his wrist, no surgery needed. Want to do the honors of putting him in a cast while I take a look at the heart test results?”
“Of course.” While Louis obviously didn’t like that people were in pain with broken bones, he liked doing things like casts and stitches because he got to talk to the patient in a bit of a less stressful situation. He pulled over the tray with the cast materials and closed the curtain behind him to give the boy and his father some privacy from the rest of the ED.
“So, Bran, was it?” Louis asked the teen as he walked over. The boy smiled at him and nodded.
“Yeah, this is my dad.” Bran pointed at the man who introduced himself as Ned. Louis asked him for a color preference and started to remove the temporary splint from his arm.
“How long have you been playing hockey?” Louis started to wrap his broken arm in the cast material, Bran had chosen black.
“Oh forever, I love it!”
“What position do you play? I admit I’m not as knowledgeable about hockey, I played footie myself…” That easily got Bran to relax and spend the rest of the time Louis was with him chatting about hockey teams and football.
Eventually, Dr. Song came back in, and Louis knew from the look on her face the news wasn’t good. Louis rubbed a comforting hand on the boy’s shoulder as he cried into his dad at the news of his heart condition that meant he wouldn’t be able to play hockey anymore. The boy was devastated.
Before he left them, Louis turned to him and said, “You know, when I stopped playing footie I didn’t know what I was going to do instead, and then I found nursing, which I love. You’ll find something else, I promise.” The kid nodded, but Louis wasn’t expecting him to get over the news right away.
“Rough day?” Ed said back at the nurses station.
Louis sighed, “Nothing out of the ordinary, hate seeing a kid lose his dreams right in front of me though.”
“Can someone help me?” A woman shouted as she came in through the doors looking panicked.
Louis rushed over to her, “What do you need?”
“It’s not me, it’s my parents, they’re in the car.” He and Ed each grabbed a wheelchair and hurried out to follow her. “They got back home from a trip overseas yesterday, and this morning… I’ve never seen them so sick. They can barely catch a breath.”
Louis and Ed brought them in and paged Dr. Song. Then they did the usual work up, took blood to send off for diagnosis, gave both patients oxygen. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary. Until Ed answered the phone call from the pathology lab.
“Are you serious?” He heard Ed say. “All right, I’ll let everyone know.”
“Let everyone know what?” Louis said, eyeing Ed cautiously.
“The bloodwork from the patients with the mysterious illness triggered alarm bells and we have to quarantine the whole department until they can identify what the illness is and how contagious it is.”
“Well... shit.”
It was going to be a long night.
***
When it started to seem that determining what the illness was wasn’t going to be a simple task, Louis texted Harry to let him and Niall know not to expect him home for their flatmate FIFA match.
Instead of texting back, Harry called him.
“What?! Are you okay? You don’t have, like, the Bubonic Plague do you? What about Ebola?” Harry said over the phone, sounding a little panicked.
Louis smiled, both a bit amused and touched by Harry’s worry. “No I don’t think it’s that. I feel completely fine. It’s just since it’s an unknown pathogen, they don’t want to risk spreading it outside of who has already been exposed. They’ve got the whole ED encased in a plastic bubble with specialists coming in wearing full on hazmat suits.”
“Louis, I don’t think you understand that to those of us not in the medical profession, that sounds really scary.” Louis might have shivered at how low Harry’s voice got. “Are you sure you’re going to be okay? What about the incubation period?”
“Technically, we aren’t sure about the incubation period since both of the patients are unconscious,” Louis winced. He didn’t want to worry Harry, but wasn’t going to lie to him either. “But their daughter isn’t showing any symptoms, and she was exposed way before I was--”
“When was that?” Harry demanded.
Louis winced again, “Ed and I were the first to come in contact with the patients…”
“Louis!” Harry shouted.
“Hazza, please, don’t stress about this. I’m fine.”
“Will you let me know the moment that changes?”
“Of course.” Louis confirmed.
“Okay. Well, now what do you do?” Through the phone, Harry’s voice sounded a bit more calm.
“Just wait around. People are starting to get bored and hungry. I think they’re going to pass us cafeteria food through the containment zone soon.”
“Hmm,” Harry paused. “Sorry Lou, I have to go. Keep me updated please?”
Louis agreed and Perrie came up to him after he got off the phone. “Soooo, your baker is worried about you?” She leaned her back into the counter casually and crossed her arms with interest.
“Yeah,” Louis’ heart fluttered a bit, knowing he had someone, Harry, thinking about him.
Perrie smiled and bit her lip to keep from saying something.
“What is it?” Louis gave her a look.
“It’s just sweet, is all. I’m happy for you,” she shrugged.
About two hours later, a hazmat guy walked in carrying several large boxes. “Is there a Louis here?” He called.
Louis popped his head around an exam room curtain and looked over, confused. He had been monitoring Ava, the daughter of the sick patients. So far she was still fine. “Yeah, that’s me,” he waved.
“A guy brought these for everyone, said something about not wanting your only option to be cafeteria food. He’s at the containment seal if you want to see him.” The guy shrugged and layed out the boxes that had the Olivia’s Bakery logo on the top and were filled with pastries and meat pies.
Harry?
Louis practically sprinted towards the plastic bubble space that had been sealed to the doors of the ED creating a fish-tank like effect. Harry was there standing on the other side of the plastic, hands in his pockets, perking up significantly when he saw Louis.
“Hey,” Harry smiled.
“You brought food for the whole ED?” Louis couldn’t possibly name the emotions running through him in that moment.
“Honestly, I was just going to bring food for you. I was putting an assortment into a bag ready to rush over here the moment you mentioned cafeteria food, but then Sarah stopped me and pointed out it would be rude to have a bakery full of food and not bring something for everyone. Then James started talking about it potentially being good for business too,” Harry rolled his eyes. Louis had to remind himself that Sarah was his assistant.
“You didn’t have to go through all this trouble, you know? I’d have been fine with cafeteria food, and I’m sure you have plenty of things on your plate already.”
Harry blushed brilliantly. “Like I’ve told you before, I like feeding people. And maybe I just wanted to make sure you were okay, in person. I’ve never had a friend on lockdown due to possible unknown illness before.”
“Well, thank you,” Louis moved to reach out for Harry’s hand before remembering he couldn’t and made an awkward shuffling movement trying to figure out what to do with his hands instead.
He stayed to talk a little longer, before he was told he needed to go. “You should go back inside anyway, make sure there’s food left. I know I brought some for everyone, but it’s because of you. It’d really suck if you didn’t even get any.”
Louis walked back into the ED feeling like he was floating.
“I saved you a few things,” Perrie said as he came over to see the boxes were already nearly empty. She, Ed, and Dr. Song were standing around the front desk.
“Thanks,” Louis grinned.
“So, Louis,” Song began. “Perrie and Ed have been catching me up on the whole ‘will-they, won’t-they’ thing you have going on with your baker. That was a very incriminating nap photo.”
Louis groaned.
***
It was past midnight by the time Louis got home. The infectious disease crew determined that it was an illness spread through contact of bodily fluids, so everyone else was safe. The couple should make a full recovery.
When he walked quietly into the apartment, he found that the lamp near the sofa had been left on set to low, giving the room a soft glow. Louis knew immediately Harry left it on for him so that he wouldn’t stumble in the dark when he got back. The thought made his heart flutter again at how thoughtful Harry was. He closed the door gently and walked over to the sofa to turn off the light, only to see Harry curled up in a blanket on the sofa asleep.
He was waiting for him?
God. Louis didn’t deserve this amazing man.
He walked around to the front of the sofa and knelt down to his knees so that he was on the floor in front of Harry. He was so beautiful…
Louis brought a hand up and stroked his fingers through Harry’s curls, “Haz, wake up so that you can sleep in your bed.” He said softly.
Harry’s eyes fluttered open dreamily and he gave Louis a sleepy smile once his gaze focused. “Hey.”
“Hey,” Louis’ lip twitched up when his eyes caught Harry’s.
“You’re okay?” Harry asked, voice rough with sleep. It made a shiver run straight to his cock. He’d never heard Harry sound like… that before. Even when they’d fallen asleep on the couch together. Even the night they–
“Yuh- Yeah. I’m fine. They let us go.” He couldn’t resist running his fingers through Harry’s hair again. “You should go to bed.”
“I was worried about you.”
Louis smiled softly. Harry was so open and so lovely. “I think we might need to have you take a break from Grey’s Anatomy , I promise real hospitals aren’t that consistently insane. I was completely safe.”
Harry’s eyes drooped and blinked back open, “It’s not the Grey’s… it’s just that…” It looked like he sucked in the inside of his cheek.
“What Hazza?” Louis frowned a bit.
“It’s kinda heavy… maybe too much for ‘just friends,’” Harry warned.
Louis looked at him searchingly, “You can tell me anything, love. Budge up,” Louis stood up and kicked off his shoes. Harry pressed his back to the back of the sofa and held the blanket up with an arm for Louis to get under it with him. Once again, Louis found himself thinking about how much he loved this oversized sofa. Best invention known to mankind as far as he was concerned.
He and Harry were close, nearly nose to nose, but not touching save for Harry’s hand that found its way to Louis’ waist. “What’s wrong, Hazza?” Louis said in a whisper after a few moments of silence with Harry not meeting his eyes.
“Remember when I told you about Ravi?” Harry’s eyes were glassy, a bit damp. Louis nodded. Harry bit his lip again, “I don’t want to scare you off.”
Louis had never seen Harry look so vulnerable and he was so worried that he’d say or do the wrong thing. He wanted to be what Harry needed. “You won’t scare me off,” he promised. “Ever.”
Harry took a deep breath, “I mentioned I went to therapy after? For the guilt of not saving him?” Louis nodded so Harry continued softly. “But I also struggled with being scared of losing other people… I wouldn’t let my mum or Gem go anywhere without me for a while. It got better, but for some reason today when you texted all that worry kind of rushed back in. I channeled it into bringing you food at first, feeding people felt like something I could do, but when I left and got home and you weren’t here… I sort of freaked out. Had to find my old inhaler in my bathroom cabinet even.”
“Oh, baby,” Louis brought his hand up to cup Harry’s face.
“I didn’t scare you off with too much information did I?” Harry croaked.
“No, I’m still here, see?” Louis tapped the tip of Harry’s nose causing him to smile a little. In truth, Louis was maybe a little freaked out by learning how intensely Harry had worried about him, but not in the scared sense. He was more freaked out that he wasn’t scared. At all. If Harry was in a similar situation, Louis knew he’d be pretty worried too, and he didn’t have past trauma on the subject like Harry did.
But they were just friends. Best friends.
“Thank you for sharing with me,” Louis said quietly. He stroked his thumb across Harry’s cheekbone. Their faces were so close… Louis’ eyes flicked to Harry’s lips. Should he do it? He really wanted to taste those lips again. No. Not right now. He didn’t want to take advantage of Harry’s vulnerable state. “I’m sorry I made you feel that way.”
Harry shook his head, “No that’s not what I’m getting at. You don’t need to be sorry, you shouldn’t be sorry. I just… care about you. Don’t want you to… go.” Louis could tell Harry was getting tired again based on how he started to talk even slower than usual.
“I care about you too,” Louis said. “If it happens again I’ll text as often as I can, okay? And you text me however much you want.”
“Okay,” Harry bit his lip to keep from smiling too much. “Will you stay out here with me?”
Louis would never, in a million years, be able to resist the look in Harry’s eyes when he asked that. “Of course.”
“You look golden,” Harry mumbled as his eyes traveled over Louis’ face.
“What?”
“In the lamp light. You look golden. I’m going to write a song about it,” Harry’s eyes had closed again as he spoke.
“Okay, baby,” Louis humored him in his nearly asleep state.
“Like it when you call me names…”
Louis giggled a little and reached up to flick the light off. “Go to sleep, you loon,” he said, nuzzling his face into Harry’s neck.
Chapter 11: Chapter 10 - Strong
Chapter Text
Chapter 10 - Strong
After Harry’s sleepy confession and falling asleep on the sofa together, there was a subtle change in their dynamic.
The morning after, Louis woke up to Harry no longer cuddling with him, but sitting on the other end of the sofa alternating between staring at him and writing in a little leather notebook. When Louis had asked what he was doing, Harry snapped the notebook shut, said “nothing,” and distracted Louis with the idea of breakfast.
From there, it was as if they were both more… attentive to each other. They touched more, which Louis didn’t know was possible, and texted more. But they were also a bit more shy around each other?
One thing was for sure: they didn’t talk about their feelings again. That was clearly a one time thing. Just like the sex.
He was so confused about his feelings and tired of the weird dance going on between him and Harry, that when Lottie asked him to come shopping with her, he actually said yes.
“So you and Harry hooked up, it was amazing, but you still decided you were better off as just friends that basically act like boyfriends without sex?” Lottie summarized as the two of them looked through the racks of discount designer clothes. He was already regretting giving her the full story (though he spared her the sex details, which she was vehemently thankful for).
“We do not act like boyfriends,” Louis rolled his eyes.
“You act like you’re dating harder than Michael and I do. We certainly don’t make each other lunch. And he definitely doesn’t help me paint my nails.”
“That’s because you go to the salon and because Michael isn’t a baker.”
Lottie just hummed in that sibling way that said “whatever you want to tell yourself.” Louis ignored it.
They continued through the racks of clothes silently for a few moments before Lottie could no longer contain herself. “You’ve been nursing a crush on this guy from the moment you met him, right?”
She still didn’t know just how right she was. “I guess,” he mumbled.
“Then why–”
“He’s my best friend, Lots,” Louis looked at her pleadingly. “I’ve never had many close friends, you know that. Being his friend is so fun and easy. It’s not just ‘flatmates shouldn’t date’ excuses now, friends aren’t always meant to be more. I don’t want to lose him as my friend, it’s that simple. Besides, our lives are on totally different paths. He’s going to become this super famous celebrity chef and I just want a quiet life as a nurse, maybe have a family of my own if I’m so lucky. He’s going places and I’m just… not. I’d hold him back.”
He’d barely let himself think about it, that conversation with Harry about what he wanted with his career, but Lottie did always have a way of getting him to open up. She probably would have made a good therapist if she wanted to be one.
“How honest do you want me to be with you right now?”
Louis sighed, he had an idea of what was coming. “Maybe soften the blow a little, but don’t bullshit me just to make me feel better? A step under brutal?”
“Incompatible life-plans are definitely a big problem in a relationship, so yes, if that’s the case then maybe you should just be friends. But, if you two haven’t seriously talked about it, you can’t know that for sure. It sounds to me like the main issue is that you’re scared, and that’s okay,” she put a hand on his shoulder. “But don’t let being scared cause you to miss out on something that could be great for you. Don’t give that asshole that power.” He knew she was referring to Ethan–the cause of his insecurities for the last six or so months.
“Maybe,” Louis shrugged, not looking at her.
“And if you ever say that someone being with you would ‘hold them back’ again, I’ll punch you.”
The corner of Louis’ mouth quirked up. “Okay.”
“Do you want to keep talking about it?”
“Not really,” he finally looked at her. “Thanks though, Lots. I’ll think about it.”
As she pulled him in for a hug, he was reminded once again about how much of a rock his little sister had been for him over the years. Harry might be his best friend, but Lottie was a level of her own.
***
When Louis got home with a bag of new clothes curated by Lottie, he found that Harry had taken over the kitchen, banning Louis from stepping a foot in his direction until Harry called for him.
He was preparing a few new recipe ideas that he wanted available for whenever the secret judges for Lamsted Baker of the Year stopped by unexpectedly and anonymously. That morning he had been adamant that Louis had to be his first taste tester and it had to be that day. Louis certainly had no complaints.
“Whatever you’re doing in there it smells amazing,” Louis called, craning his neck from his spot on the sofa to see what Harry was doing in the kitchen.
“Don’t you dare get off that sofa,” Harry said sternly pointing a spatula in his direction.
Louis laughed, “You’re so bossy in the kitchen.”
“I can be bossy in more than just the kitchen,” Harry quipped back. Oh. Louis was not expecting that. It had been awhile since they were outright flirty with each other outside of touching.
“I’m not opposed to that,” Louis smirked at the dark look Harry shot at him. “Are you almost done though? I’m actually getting a bit hungry.”
Harry narrowed his eyes at Louis, “You can’t rush art, Lewis.” Louis squawked in indignation at the name, but Harry ignored him. “But yes, I’m almost done.”
About ten minutes later, Louis was seated at one of the kitchen island bar stools waiting for Harry to reveal his creations.
“Okay, so I have three new recipes for our fall lineup--”
“You make it sound like a fashion show,” Louis interrupted.
“It basically is, I made them and they’re beautiful. Now hush and close your eyes or I’m going to blindfold you.”
Louis knew Harry meant this as somewhat of a threat, but it seemed like the kind of threat he’d like Harry to follow through on. He decided not to push it though, and closed his eyes.
He heard Harry move around a bit and then he told Louis to open his eyes. “This first one is a Chocolate Almond Torte infused with cherry rum, and a bit of black pepper.”
“Oh Haz, this looks amazing,” Louis gasped. Harry motioned for Louis to try a bite and when he did, he moaned at the decadent texture and flavor. “Oh my god. This is perfect. It’s sweet and rich but also light and a little bit tangy and spicy… how did you put so much into one dessert?”
“I was inspired,” Harry shrugged with a little pink spreading onto his cheeks that Louis didn’t comment on. “So you like it then? I should include it in the shop?”
“Yes, Harry.” Louis rolled his eyes good naturedly. “I love it. You should definitely let the world have the opportunity to taste it.”
“Okay, have some water and a cracker to cleanse your palette and you can try the next.”
The next food item for Louis to taste was a golden morning bun that looked divine. “Taste it and see if you can tell what twist I added with the flavors,” Harry said.
Louis did and as his tongue wrapped around the fluffy pastry he was hit with another delightful explosion of flavor. “Harry. I don’t know why you need me to taste test, I don’t think it’s physically possible for you to make bad food.”
“Maybe I just like watching your face when you moan.”
Louis nearly choked.
But Harry didn’t give him time to comment and just went on to ask, “What flavors then?” with a smirk.
Louis blinked rapidly, trying to get his brain working again. “Cardamom and Orange?”
“Very good,” Harry smiled brightly. Louis suddenly wondered if he had just unlocked a praise kink. Harry was definitely in a mood today. Holy shit.
“Okay, last one,” Harry pulled out a plate with one of the most gorgeous looking danishes Louis had ever seen. It was in the shape of a diamond with little twists on the ends and filled with delicately sliced… apple, maybe? “This one is maybe the most experimental.”
Louis took a bite and moaned again, maybe making his moan extra dirty on purpose just for Harry’s benefit. “What is that, oh my god. Am I dead? Is this heaven?”
“It’s a Miso-Caramel Apple Danish.” Harry definitely sounded pleased with Louis’ reaction.
“Seriously? You are fucking brilliant, you know that right? Those judges aren’t going to know what hit them.”
Harry looked at him a bit shyly, “Yeah?”
“Absolutely.” Louis said, taking another bite of pastry. “How did you come up with this?”
Harry’s eyes flicked up from what Louis thought might have been his lips, and blushed. “You.”
Louis swallowed. “What do you mean?”
“Remember that day last week when you kept going on and on about wanting miso soup until Niall and I agreed to go get it with you?” Harry asked, fiddling with the utensils covering the counter. “When we were at the restaurant and finally got your soup, you then went on and on about how good it was. I think at that point you were doing it on purpose to annoy Niall, but you said it was comforting, and both a distinct, unique flavor and something often overlooked by people… it kind of made me think of–” Harry stopped.
“Of what?”
“Of, uh, possible pairings.”
Louis knew Harry well enough though to know he wasn’t exactly telling the truth, and his curiosity was instantly piqued. “That’s not what you were going to say. Made you think of what?”
“I–it’s just–it made me think of you!” Harry blurted out. “You’re comforting and unique and I think a lot of the time you don’t realize how great you are, okay? So I paired miso with apples and caramel in a danish to bring attention to an often undervalued ingredient that deserves to shine.”
“Oh,” Louis didn’t know what to say, not really. No one had ever said something like that to him, and he was sure no one but Harry would ever do so again. Harry looked at him in silence, but his eyes looked cautious. Like that first day he’d walked in on Harry painting his nails and it seemed like he was bracing for ridicule. That was all Louis needed to see to know exactly what he needed to say. “I’m honored. Thank you.”
“You’re welcome,” Harry blushed. “To repay me you can help me clean the kitchen.”
Louis pretended to groan and whine about it and then laughed when Harry threw a dish towel at him.
***
Usually, when Harry wanted to talk to Louis he just texted like most people. He rarely called, and they’d never had a need to Facetime. So when Louis was home alone on his next day off and he got a Facetime call from Harry, he answered immediately.
“Haz, everything alright?”
“What? Yeah. Louis, how do you feel about babies?”
Louis blinked for a moment, mind whirling as he took in Harry’s serious expression. “Are we talking babies in general? Or are you pregnant?”
Harry’s face broke into a huge smile, “I was wondering what your response would be. Being pregnant would certainly be a surprise. Would you stick with me and our unborn child if I was?”
“Yes,” Louis said easily. “And I’d buy us a secluded cabin in the woods to keep all the reporters away from the pregnant man.”
“That’s sweet Lou, thanks. Could we have solar panels and a vegetable garden? A chicken coop?”
“Anything you want. Was this the only reason you called,” he asked, amused.
“I do actually want to know your opinion on babies. Baby cats specifically. And baby cat adoption.”
“Also known as kittens,” Louis hummed fondly. “I like cats as much as dogs, and baby animals in general are cute.”
“What would you say if I told you I had found baby cats?” Harry flipped the camera and the next thing Louis knew, the image on his phone screen was of two tiny kittens in a cardboard box. One orange, one orange and white. Both looking up at the camera curiously. They were fucking adorable.
“I say you better bring home the baby cats, Harold. I’ll go to the pet store and get supplies.”
“Really?” Harry flipped the camera back and the bright smile on his face made Louis smile right back. “You want to keep them?”
“Absolutely. Doesn’t matter what Niall wants, majority rules.”
“I was hoping you’d say that. Did you hear that babies? You’re coming home!”
***
Hours later Louis had researched everything he could about taking care of kittens and gotten a lot of advice at the pet supply store. He even scheduled a vet appointment for them to get them all checked out, which was where Harry was at the moment while Louis got everything set up and “kitten proofed”--cats were like water and could get into all kinds of spaces. Especially tiny ones. He was positive they were going to lose them under Harry’s bed.
For now, he’d set up everything in Harry’s room so that the kittens could get comfortable in their new environment. Though later he thought the laundry room would be the better place for the litter box. No one wanted to sleep next to that.
He’d also gotten way too many toys.
“Honey, we’re home! And perfectly healthy!” Harry’s voice called.
Louis rushed to the door to greet them. Harry now had a cardboard cat carrier, probably from the vet. “What did the vet say?”
“They’re about four months old, probably from the same litter, both girls, perfectly healthy, and apparently already fixed. So that saves us quite a bit of money.”
“No microchip or anything? They’re ours?”
“Yep!” Harry looked happier than Louis had ever seen him. “What should we name them?”
“Let’s let them explore their new space and brainstorm, I got your room all set up.”
They closed Harry’s door and sat on the floor to open the box. The moment the box was open, the kittens were walking out, ready to explore.
Louis never thought of himself as the type to gush over baby animals. Apparently he was wrong. “Oh my god they’re so fucking cute.”
“Language, Lou. They’re babies.” Harry snorted with laughter though, so Louis knew he wasn’t actually serious. “Oh look, they like us!”
Both kittens were sniffing around them and then one climbed into Louis’ lap.
After watching and playing with the kittens for a while, Louis said, “We should give them food names.”
Harry loved the idea and they spent the rest of the afternoon throwing around names, eventually deciding on Gingersnap and Peppermint. Ginger and Pepper for short.
“It’s because they’re both a little sweet and a little spicy,” Harry explained to Niall later as Ginger clumsily tackled Pepper to the ground in order to take the toy mouse for herself. Despite Niall’s initial annoyance at not being consulted, the kittens quickly had him wrapped around their tiny toe-beans.
Later that night when it was time for him to go to his own room to get some sleep before he had to go to work the next day, Louis didn’t want to go. “I should have set everything up in my room, I don’t want to leave them.”
The two girls were curled up together in a blanket on Harry’s bed as he and Harry sat on the floor watching them sleep at eye-level.
Harry shifted with uncertainty, “Do you… want to stay in here tonight? With me? I mean–it doesn’t have to be weird, right? We could just… sleep. Cuddle. With the babies I mean.”
Louis looked at him searchingly, trying to understand the look in the beautiful man’s eyes. “Yeah, that’d be… fun. A sleepover. With the baby cats. Like the sofa, but more comfortable.”
“Yeah, exactly.”
So, Louis changed his clothes and came back to Harry’s room. Harry was already in bed, the two cats moved to curl up near his stomach like they were the little spoons and he was the big one, and he used his free arm to hold up the blanket so that Louis could settle in behind him.
Part of Louis wanted to feel like this was weird, him wrapping himself around Harry and Harry taking his arm and bringing it around him to hold onto, but he couldn’t help but think it felt more right than weird.
Even though they were both woken up several times throughout the night by the kittens walking across their faces, sitting on their faces, pawing at their faces, pouncing at their feet, and wrestling with each other on the bed, Louis couldn’t find it in him to complain about the sleeping arrangement.
Though he didn’t appreciate being woken up with a bite to the nose, Harry assured him it was because the kittens wanted to play and not because he snored or because they thought his nose looked like food.
***
A couple weeks later, Louis was lying on the sofa with his head in Harry’s lap and purposely hadn’t moved for who knew how long because both kittens were asleep on his chest and he didn’t want to disturb them.
Harry alternated between stroking Louis’ hair and petting the cats as they chatted with Liam and Zayn about upcoming Halloween plans–Sophie and Joe were having a massive party apparently.
Louis wasn’t really focusing on the conversation much though because in moments like this when Harry was acting so casually about touching Louis, being near Louis without really focusing on Louis, it drove him absolutely mad. He suddenly couldn’t stand not being the center of Harry’s attention..
He had no reason to be jealous that Harry was chatting with Zayn and Liam instead of focusing on him. Hell, Harry was stroking his hair while talking to them, so some of his focus had to be on Louis in some way. And yet to Louis it wasn’t enough. He’d never been so irrationally jealous before than he had in the past couple of weeks.
Part of him wondered if Harry actually knew what he was doing.
Harry was joy and sunshine and shyness and sexiness and the kindest human Louis knew. Louis also had come to learn that Harry had a devious side. He liked to tease.
That teasing, devious, mischievous side of Harry though… Louis definitely didn’t think it was outside the realm of possibility that Harry was doing the somewhat-hot, somewhat-platonic routine on purpose just because he liked to watch Louis squirm just as much as Louis occasionally liked to make Harry squirm back.
Recently, it felt like they were constantly toeing the line between just friends and, well, more. They flirted, they cuddled, but they never actually crossed the line and it was driving Louis crazy. He knew he should talk to Harry about it, the way they were acting while also saying they were just friends wasn’t really fair to either of them, but it seemed like such a delicate balance that he didn’t want to fuck things up. They’d made the right decision. They were better off as friends. Though he sometimes wasn’t sure about that being true anymore.
All of this was the reason why, when Zayn and Liam started talking to each other about something, Louis reached up and lightly grabbed Harry’s chin so that he’d look down at Louis.
“Yes, Lou?” Harry gave him an amused smile. His hair was down and it fell forward in a drape of curls framing Harry’s face. When Louis first met him, his hair was above his shoulders, it was probably two inches past that now. He was wearing a silky lilac floral button up shirt, unbuttoned low on his chest, exposing his tattoos and the light dusting of hair there. Not exactly a typical outfit for a pub night, but Louis loved the color on him. It went nicely with the turquoise color they had painted his nails that week too.
“You look nice,” Louis shrugged casually, his shoulder hitting Harry’s thigh.
Louis wished he could film and slow down the way Harry’s smile changed from gentle amusement to shy gratitude. He was so beautiful.
Their little bubble was popped by Niall coming through the door. The sudden noise startled the cats, causing them to jump and run to Harry’s room. Louis was positive he was left with tiny claw marks on his chest.
Louis loved Niall, but sometimes he also wanted to punch him.
Niall actually loved the cats, but they didn’t always appreciate his loudness and sudden movements. The girls undoubtedly knew that Harry and Louis were their parents. Ginger and Pepper would often be following one of them around the flat or curled up in one of their laps. Platonic co-parents. Very modern. (Louis figured they liked him and Harry more because they were the ones that fed them, but he preferred to think that it was because they just loved them more and thought of him and Harry as their parents.)
“Sorry kittens, bye! Harry, my students have informed me that there is no way I’d be able to learn how to juggle by Monday. I need you to teach me so that I can prove them wrong.” Niall said as he sat near Louis’ feet.
“You can juggle?” Louis asked, looking up at Harry.
Harry nodded, “It’s my hidden talent.”
“Not your only one, I hope,” Louis cheekily replied, momentarily forgetting their audience and giving Harry’s side a little pinch. Harry yelped a little.
Louis nearly missed the other three boys sharing a look. He chose to ignore it.
“How about a demonstration of your hidden talent for Louis, Harry,” Liam called. He looked a little too giddy to be asking about juggling. Louis fought back a glare. A demonstration meant he’d have to move from his spot on Harry’s lap. Damn you, Liam.
Harry nudged him to sit up and Louis made a point to pout and groan dramatically.
“I need something to juggle then,” Harry commented looking around the room, his hands stretched out on his thighs, where Louis’ head had just been.
“How about those?” Niall said pointing to the bottles of nail polish on the coffee table. “Confident enough in your abilities that you won’t drop them?”
“Course I am,” Harry said as he sat on the edge of the sofa to grab the bottles.
He swung his hands a bit as if to build momentum for the rhythm he wanted to create and then he started to juggle. Really well actually.
“Nice, Harry,” Liam complimented eyes focusing on the bottles moving through the air.
Then, he tossed one a bit too hard and it got out of sync with the others and Harry had to lean forward and a bit towards Louis to try catching it. He got off balance though and started to fall off the sofa, the bottles making loud clattering noises on the ground.
Louis attempted to catch Harry, but somehow they both went down: Louis on the floor between the sofa and the coffee table, and Harry landing on top of him.
“Aww whoopsy daisy,” Louis could hear Zayn say as they hit the floor. He didn’t sound at all concerned; definitely sounded amused. Jerk.
“Looks like your nail polish is fine,” Niall said. “The bottles didn’t break.”
“We’re fine too, by the way,” Louis snarked, trying to tilt his head back to see Niall. “Thanks for asking.”
“Are you okay, Lou?” Harry asked softly from his place still on top of him. “I landed on you kind of hard.”
“I don’t think either of you mind considering you’re still down there,” Liam laughed. Louis held up a hand and gave him the finger, only making Liam laugh more.
Liam was right of course, Louis didn’t mind the feeling of Harry on top of him… elbows on either side of his head, faces close…
Louis squirmed a little to try to avoid Harry’s body pressing into his cock since he was at risk of popping a boner. That definitely backfired very quickly though and their groins touched and he bit his lip while he swore Harry nearly moaned.
“Could you two get off the floor so that we can get some pub food before my set tonight?”
It was going to be a long night before Louis could wank off to this whole scene of him and Harry pressed together without the others in the room.
As Harry got up, Louis felt something buzz under his back. He rolled a little and reached behind him to find he’d landed on Harry’s phone.
“Harry, you’re getting a call from an unknown number.”
“Hmm, answer it if you want, probably just spam though,” Louis hit accept with a shrug, sometimes he liked messing with spam callers.
“Hello?” He said with an extra cheery voice.
“Hello, is this Harry Styles? This is Lily Xu from Lamsted’s Baker of the Year.” The voice on the other end said.
Louis nearly dropped the phone waving widely for Harry to come closer, “This is Harry’s phone, let me get him.” Louis hoped he sounded somewhat calm as he thrust the phone at Harry’s ear.
“Um, this is Harry?” He said into the phone as he gave Louis a confused look.
The look quickly turned into surprise as Louis assumed the woman on the other end told Harry who she was. Louis mouthed to the others that it was about the competition which caused everyone to perk up.
“Yes…” Harry said, sounding a bit unsure before his mouth dropped open and his eyes grew wide. “Are you serious?” His voice nearly cracked.
At that point, Louis, Niall, Liam, and Zayn were crowded around Harry trying to hear what the woman was saying.
Harry took a step away from them, holding up his finger as if telling them to stay, “Thank you so much. I, wow, I really appreciate it. Thanks.”
Then he hung up the phone, but kept his gaze on the dark screen for a moment.
“Well?!” Louis asked after Harry didn’t say anything right away.
Harry looked up with a wide smile, dimples showing. “I won baker of--” He didn’t even get to finish before the four of them had tackled him into a group hug, screaming and jumping for joy.
***
Lamsted Food Magazine: First Time Entry, Chef Harry Styles, Named Lamsted Baker of the Year
Pastry chef and co-owner of Olivia’s Bakery, Harry Styles, creates pastries and desserts with interesting twists on flavors and flavor pairings. His recent fall additions to the rotating menu-- the Two Hearts Chocolate Almond Torte, the You’re So Golden Cardamom Orange Morning Buns, and the You and Miso-Caramel Apple Danish-- are all exquisite examples of innovative flavor combinations and expert technique. The competition judges said that the moment they tasted Styles’ desserts, they knew he would be their winner despite still having to visit several other locations that entered the competition.
One of the judges is quoted saying, “Styles has really made a name for himself in Lamsted the last couple of years. He has the skill and the palate needed to be a great chef, while leaving out the usual ego that tends to plague many chefs. Not only is Styles an excellent pastry chef, but he has a reputation for being unfathomably kind hearted and an all around wonderful human.”
With this win, Styles receives twenty-thousand dollars in prize money and is automatically entered into the Food & Wine Magazine Dessert Competition…
***
It seemed that after Harry won Lamsted Baker of the Year, everyone in the hospital knew that he and Louis had a… thing.
Louis was positive it was Ed’s fault. The man couldn’t keep his mouth shut.
After the first time Harry brought everyone tasty treats when the ED was in lockdown, the occasional box of Olivia’s pastries found its way into the staff break room when Louis was on shift. Naturally, people wanted to know where it came from and why, and the questions only increased after Harry won his award.
Since the award the story about why Harry sent Louis pastries took on a life of its own in the hospital gossip mill. Some people thought he and Harry were dating. Some people thought he and Harry were engaged. Some thought they had been engaged, broke up, and Harry was trying to win Louis back through his stomach. Everyone was disappointed when Louis would tell them he and Harry were just friends and flatmates.
That didn’t stop people from being on the lookout for pastry deliveries when Louis was in though. Even people from departments on other floors started stopping by the ED break room daily to see if there were any treats that day. If Marcia didn’t find it so amusing, Louis was pretty sure she’d be annoyed about her department getting so many unnecessary visitors.
People couldn’t resist free food. Especially the kind that came from award winning pastry chefs and seemed to be associated with some kind of star-crossed-lovers narrative.
When Louis brought all this up to Harry, all Harry did was laugh. “Well I’m definitely not going to stop now-- I can’t disappoint the entire staff of JMH. Maybe I’ll send some boxes to other random floors. Who do you think is the least appreciated? I bet the baby floor gets goodies all the time, but I bet the morgue or the pathologists don't get much appreciation…”
Ginger and Pepper had also become somewhat “Instagram Famous” after Harry posted a picture of them with his award to the bakery account page. Though their most liked photo was the one of them covered in flour after they jumped into the dry ingredient bowl when Harry was baking at home. Getting them clean was a nightmare. There was flour all over the apartment.
The other thing that had happened since Harry won his award was that Harry was working more.
Louis was happy for him, of course he was, but working more meant that he and Harry had fewer days off together, and Louis actually really missed him.
They still saw each other in the evenings, but it wasn’t the same. Harry’s nail polish had chipped a few days ago and they hadn’t even had a chance to repaint them yet-- something Louis felt a little ridiculous for being upset about, but there he was.
He missed quiet mornings cuddling with Harry watching Grey’s Anatomy and painting Harry’s nails.
Not that he told Harry that. He didn’t want Harry to feel guilty for working more. The award brought in so much new business, particularly from higher-end clients who would pay loads for Harry’s creations. People were already saying he could go on to win national awards like Best New Chef; he’d even been contacted to do an interview with the prestigious Food & Wine magazine.
So, while Louis missed spending extra time with Harry, he wasn’t going to tell Harry that he was anything but immensely proud of him. Cat cuddles were almost as good. Almost.
While Louis hadn’t been getting to spend his days off with Harry, he had spent a few of them with the other lads. In particular, he’d been spending a lot of time with Zayn, who had quickly become one of Louis’ closest friends. So close in fact, that he confided in Zayn his confusion over his maybe not platonic feelings for Harry.
That was probably why he and Liam were knocking on the door and unlocking it without waiting for a response the morning of another Saturday off he was spending alone without Harry. (Niall had yet to come home from his date the night before.)
“Hey mate,” Zayn said walking into the living room with Liam. “Get dressed, we’re having a day.”
“A day?” Louis asked with a raised eyebrow.
“We’re not going to let you spend your day off pining for Harry,” Liam said. “Come on.”
Louis felt panic overwhelm him as he snapped his head over to Zayn, “You told him?!”
“Course I told him,” Zayn rolled his eyes.
“I told you not to tell anyone.”
“I didn’t tell anyone, I told Liam. I tell him everything.”
“I won’t tell Harry, or Niall for that matter, we know he can’t hold a secret.” Liam assured Louis. “Besides, I already knew. You two are not subtle. Camila has even been texting me for updates ever since she found out you two became co-cat-parents.”
Louis groaned in embarrassment and covered his face with his arms.
“Okay,” Zayn pulled Louis’ arms away and kept pulling until Louis was standing. “No more talk of Harry today. You are coming with us, my agent says it would be a good move to have some more relatable content on my social media, stuff of me casually hanging out with friends and stuff while still looking hot. So you’re going to help.”
“Wait, what?” Louis was fully distracted now by Zayn’s statement. “Don’t you have like thousands of followers?”
“Fifteen thousand.”
Louis felt his eyes widen. “And you want… pictures with me?”
“Pictures of me and my hot paramedic boyfriend and my hot nurse friend that save lives everyday? Yes. My agent said do everyday things with hot people to look accessible, but not too accessible. I showed her all your pictures and she approved. We’re trying to continue to maximize the momentum I got from Paris. More exposure and social media presence equals more followers and more followers means more fashion houses and such want to hire me to promote their lines.”
“Andddd,” Liam poked at Zayn’s side.
“And,” Zayn said a little shyly. “They said if I can make a name for myself I might be able to make the move from modeling to acting or singing or something one day if I want.”
“Do you want to do that?” Louis asked, curious. Zayn had never mentioned anything before.
“Yeah, maybe… I think I’d really like to get into design or photography myself more though.”
“That’d be sick mate,” Louis said. “Let’s do it then, what did you have in mind?
“You’ll like it, we’re going to play footie, Niall is going to meet us there.”
***
A few hours later, Louis was exhausted but happy. They’d played two-on-two footie mixing up the four of them into different teams, while also taking lots of pictures for Zayn to post on his social media accounts.
“These are actually really good, Louis,” Zayn commented while looking at the candid photos he took of Zayn and Liam together. “You have a good eye.”
“Common, let’s take a selfie of the four of us too,” Niall said. They squeezed together and took a few smiley and silly pictures.
But when they looked back at them, Louis commented: “They’re missing something.”
Liam gave Louis a knowing look, “I’m starved, let’s go see Harry and get some food and make him take a picture with us.”
On the drive over, Louis felt his phone buzz several times with notifications. Twitter and Instagram followers?
“Zayn,” Louis said calmly. “Did you tag me in the photos you posted?”
“Yeah, of course.”
“I just gained a couple hundred followers on Instagram and Twitter. I barely even post anything.”
Zayn opened up his phone and started scrolling and grinning. “Ha!”
“What?” Niall questioned quickly.
“My followers think Louis is a hottie. Want to know if my hot friend is single. A lot are also wanting to know if you’re straight, gay, or bi. You too, actually,” Zayn added to Niall. “I bet you’ve gotten a lot of new followers too, I tagged your professional account.”
“Why have we never done this before? I should have used you to help get my music out there ages ago,” Niall dramatically slapped a hand to his own forehead. “What about you Liam? Or did you already have a bunch of Zayn’s followers?”
“I’ve never really posted personal stuff before, actually,” Zayn said looking a little sheepish. “I’ve mentioned a boyfriend in interviews and posts here and there, but yeah the commenters are going wild for all of you.”
Louis wasn’t sure how to respond. Strangers on the internet thought he was hot and decided to follow him? He didn’t think he was that special to look at. This was not how he thought the day was going to go when he woke up that morning.
He wasn’t really concerned about the attention though. While he hadn’t thought about Harry much while they were playing, now that he knew he’d get to see Harry at the bakery, Harry was all he could think about.
Liam laughed from the driver’s seat, “And you I hope? Since the point was to grow your social media presence, not ours.”
“Yeah,” Zayn nodded and checked his phone. “I’ve gained nearly two thousand new followers since this morning and it keeps going. My agent says you all did perfectly, loves the natural bros-day-out vibes.”
“Vibes?” Louis laughed, “We were just playing footie like we would any other day. It was natural.”
Zayn shrugged, “Yeah, she’s a little out of touch with reality, but she’s great at her job, so I just go with it. She was fascinated that I had ‘normal people’ as friends.”
When they got to Olivia's, Louis' leg was bouncing with excitement over seeing Harry.
“Wow this place is packed,” Liam commented as they walked inside. “I hope Harry can spare a moment to take a picture.” The bakery was definitely more crowded than it was the last time Louis had been there, he assumed it was both because of Harry’s award and because it was a Saturday.
“Hello, boys,” James said when they reached the counter. “What are you four doing here waiting in line?”
“We’re being polite and waiting our turn,” Zayn said as he gave James a fist bump. “Can you get us Harry though, I want a picture of the five of us for my social media.”
James looked behind them to see no one else was in line at the moment, “Yeah sure, he needs to take a break anyway, you lot being here will force him to.”
“So he’s lying when he says he’s not working too hard?” Louis asked knowingly.
“Oh yeah, definitely.” Jame said and walked through the door behind him to get Harry.
When Harry walked out, his face instantly brightened at the sight of them as he came over to greet them. “What are you doing here? James just said I was wanted out front, no excuses.” His eyes caught Louis’ and then trailed up and down, clearly admiring Louis' jersey, joggers, and beanie, just like Louis had hoped he would.
Zayn explained the social media thing and them wanting Harry in a group photo with them. Harry shrugged, still looking a little confused, but posed for several selfies with them throwing up a peace-sign and a cute smile. Then James came back out and took some more pictures because he thought they were all adorable.
Unfortunately, while he got in his Harry eye-candy, before they could really have a chat with him a huge group came in that needed Harry’s attention.
Harry hesitated, looking at Louis a bit sadly.
“Go on and see your customers,” Louis told him reassuringly. Harry bit his lip, and Louis immediately recognized the guilty look on his face. “Harry, we’re not going to be mad about you doing your job. Especially when we came and interrupted you at work. We’re proud of you, now go do your thing.”
“Alright, for the record though, I definitely didn’t mind you visiting. I like seeing you, even if it’s just for a little bit.” Harry gave him a little smile with a sweet nose scrunch. Letting his fingers graze Louis’ as he walked over to the counter.
***
A week later, Louis had nearly two thousand followers because of Zayn’s photos. They’d all gained a bunch. The group pictures of them with Harry getting replies saying things like “I’ve never seen a more attractive group of men in my life” and “This many good looking friends is not normal. What is happening in Lamsted??”
It took maybe thirty seconds for Zayn’s fans to figure out that Harry was a baker who had recently won an award, causing Olivia’s to blow up even more than it already had.
The most interesting part was that one of the group photos Zayn posted (definitely on purpose) had both Harry and Louis looking at each other up front, with the other three behind them. Louis didn’t even remember doing it, but the way he and Harry are looking at each other… it’s sweet and sexy and like they’re the only two in the photo. The people online grabbed onto it of course and suddenly, a bunch of people he’s never met were interested in knowing if he and Harry are dating.
He wasn’t sure if Harry had seen the comments or not, they hadn’t really had a chance to talk about it.
Louis was in his room getting dressed for the “massive” Halloween party Joe and Sophie were throwing. Zayn’s agent thought it would be fun for him and his friends to have a group costume planned for more photos and that had somehow resulted in the five of them dressing as different iconic versions of Britney Spears.
He was positive he was going to die when he saw Harry dressed as “Baby One More Time” Britney.
Though he wondered what Harry would think of his costume. It was definitely a bit different for him. Lottie had outdone herself turning him into “Circus” Britney and while she assured him that he looked fantastic, he couldn’t help but hope Harry liked it.
He had on black sequin shorts that were on the tighter side around his bum and went to mid thigh, fishnet stockings (something he never thought he’d be wearing), no shirt, a long sleeve red tailcoat that buttoned a couple times around his middle and left a sliver of skin visible above his shorts, boots, a top hat, and, his favorite part, a whip looped around his belt.
Lottie had also shown him how to do eyeliner, so he kind of looked like a circus dom porn star if he said so himself.
“Lou, are you done? I want to see!” Harry said outside the door.
“Just finished,” he placed the tophat on his head. “You can come in, get an early preview.”
When Harry walked through the door… holy fuck. Louis stopped breathing. He might have zoned out entirely.
Harry was wearing everything you’d expect for “Baby One More Time” Britney. Thigh high black socks, a plaid mini skirt, knotted white button up and cardigan showing off his toned stomach, and he had his hair mother fucking pig tails. They somehow worked for him. He was also wearing soft makeup.
“Holy shit,” Harry said, taking Louis in. “Holy shit.”
“You like it?” Louis gave a spin.
“I really, really like it. I’m not going to let you out of my sight tonight, someone is going to try to kidnap you and make you a sex slave.” The look in Harry’s eyes turned Louis on probably more than the outfit did.
Louis looked him up and down dramatically. “We might have to watch out for you too. You look absolutely incredible. The makeup looks lovely too.”
Harry beamed. Louis was mesmerized.
***
Niall was originally going to try finding an “Oops I Did It Again” bodysuit, but apparently had no luck in finding one in his size. So instead, Niall was “Me Against the Music” Britney, complete with black fedora and blue tie/collar thing.
Liam was a rather buff “Toxic” Flight Attendant Britney, and Zayn used his model figure to go as the iconic VMA’s “Slave 4 U” Britney–he even had a stuffed yellow python on his shoulders. They both looked great, but Louis thought Harry looked the best. He didn’t care that he was definitely biased.
When they first got to Joe and Sophie’s the party was already in full swing. The place was packed, everyone was impressively dressed, there were colorful lights, drinks, and great music blasting on speakers embedding into the ceilings all around the house. Sophie greeted them at the door dressed as Morticia Addams and immediately demanded they all pose for a group picture because they looked “absolutely fabulous.”
“The kitchen is through there, you can help yourself to any drinks. If you can’t make it home later we have a couple guest rooms and plenty of floor space to sleep it off!” Sophie shouted before going to greet more guests.
Niall quickly made his way over to an attractive woman dressed as Princess Jasmine and Louis knew he would be occupied the rest of the night based on the smile she gave him.
Louis, Harry, Zayn, and Liam all took a few jello-shots together–they were definitely strong ones–but after that it seemed like both Louis and Harry were on the same unspoken page as far as not getting too drunk that night.
It seemed like every time they were out with their friends, they made it into a game of who could tease the other more. It was fun, and as Harry took his hand and led him to the living room where all the furniture had been pushed to the sides for dancing, Louis never wanted the feeling to go away.
Louis had no idea what song was playing, he wasn’t focusing on the words, just the rhythm. They danced a little more… platonically than they did that night at the club, but Louis was definitely thinking about it. At one point Louis tugged on one of Harry’s pigtails, making him giggle, and later Louis almost lost his tophat when Harry spun and dipped him out of nowhere during a faster song. Harry rested his hands on Louis’ hips where the sliver of skin was and in return Louis let his own hands skim along Harry’s exposed midriff. They were teasing and laughing. It was probably the best Halloween Louis had ever had, and he only had eyes for Harry. It was like a spell had been cast on them and they were in their own happy bubble where time had stopped. He refused to think too hard about that.
Things came crashing to reality however when during one song, Louis’ eyes caught sight of someone who shouldn’t be there.
“Lou? What’s wrong?” Harry asked when he quickly realized that Louis’ mood and demeanor had completely changed.
It took Louis a couple more moments to register what he was seeing. “Ethan is here. I’m pretty sure he’s with the guy he cheated with.”
Harry’s eyes bugged, “What? I thought you said he hated parties and any type of fun social activity?”
“He does, or I guess he did,” Louis still couldn’t reconcile what he was seeing with what he knew. Ethan did hate parties. He hated going out with large groups. He hated dressing up for Halloween. And yet there he was. At a huge Halloween party. He was laughing and drinking. He was dressed up as a pirate with a billowy shirt, and he had his arm around the shoulders of a scruffy brunette man who looked like a lumberjack.
So maybe Ethan did like parties and going out. Maybe he just didn’t like doing those things with Louis .
That thought stung more than it should have.
“Babe,” Harry brought his face directly in front of Louis’ so that it was all Louis could see. “What do you need?”
He did not deserve this man. “I’m fine, I’d like to try avoiding having to speak to him though,” he tried to sound nonchalant. He was pretty sure he didn’t succeed based on the concern on Harry’s face.
“You’re not fine, come on,” Harry wrapped an arm around his waist and led Louis out of the room in the opposite direction of Ethan. He didn’t question where Harry was leading them until they went down a hall that had its lights out.
“Should we be down here? Is this where Joe and Sophie keep the dead bodies?”
Harry snorted at Louis’ lame attempt at a joke. It was quieter down this hallway and then Harry opened a door and brought Louis into…
The laundry room.
It was a nice laundry room. His mum would be jealous of all the counter space for sorting and folding clothes instead of having to dump things onto beds and then figure out what belonged where.
“Lou, babe?” Harry brought him out of his thoughts on laundry. “You’re kind of worrying me.”
“Sorry,” Louis said. “You brought me to the laundry room?”
Harry nodded softly, still looking concerned, “I figured it’d be quiet down here so we could talk or you could think. You kind of… froze, out there.”
“Yeah, I guess I kind of did,” he winced. “I really wasn’t expecting to see him ever again, especially not at a Halloween party in Lamsted. Kind of threw me.”
“That’s understandable,” Harry soothed. “Do you want to talk about it?”
Louis wasn’t going to say anything, he wasn’t, but for some reason the words found their way out his mouth as if his mouth knew he needed Harry’s reassurances. “He’s at a Halloween party, with a date. He’s having fun at a party. There were so, so many times I tried to get him to go out to places with me, to spend time with me outside of our apartment, but he never wanted to. He said he didn’t like large crowds or being around drunk people, but I guess it was really me he just didn’t want to spend time with in public. Am I so horrible?” His voice cracked, but he kept tears back to protect his eye makeup.
Harry immediately pulled Louis into his chest for a tight hug and Louis clung to him just as tightly, pressing his face into Harry’s neck. “There is absolutely nothing wrong with you Lou. You’re perfect. And he’s an absolute idiot to not have seen it. Anyone would be glad to have you as their date.”
“Thanks,” Louis mumbled. He briefly thought about asking Harry that if that were the case, then why didn’t Harry want him either? But he didn’t want to mess with the delicate balance they had going on. He didn’t want to lose Harry too. He was too important a friend to him.
“And as far as I’m concerned, we have two options.” Harry spoke again.
“Oh?”
“We can go back out there and continue our night like you never saw him, maybe he sees you, maybe he doesn’t, but who cares? He can go fuck right off.”
Louis grinned, “And option two?”
“We can leave early and have our own party, I’m sure we could find ice cream somewhere” Harry looked very pleased with himself.
Louis considered, “I don’t want to think about him anymore, he doesn’t matter. Let’s not let him ruin our night. I want to dance with you some more. Maybe beat Zayn and Liam at beer pong later?”
“Whatever you want,” Harry agreed. “I’m not great at beer pong though, I’m much better at catching than aiming.”
“I saw Liam and Zayn go back for more drinks though, I bet their aim is worse.”
***
Louis felt his phone vibrating a bunch in the pocket of his coat when he and Harry decided to make their way into the kitchen for some water a little while later. He pulled it out to find a bunch of Twitter and Instagram notifications.
Zayn had posted their group Halloween photo, captioning it “The Five Britney’s” and tagging them all. Apparently people loved the photo. He saw several comments about how hot they all looked before he put his phone up.
“Louis? Is that you?” A voice said from the other side of the kitchen as he and Harry walked over to the cooler that had bottles of water.
It was Ethan. Fuck. Louis had actually forgotten about him for a while.
Louis turned around and felt Harry take a step closer to him, hand coming to Louis’ hip where he let his finger rest against the exposed skin there. Louis knew that from Ethan’s point of view, it’d look like he and Harry were more than just friends.
“Ethan,” Louis pretended to be surprised, but not pleasantly surprised. “What are you doing here?”
Ethan came closer, and Louis didn’t think anything about his appearance was any different–the same brown hair held down with a little too much gel, paired with a fake smile, all making him look like a generic white man with dreams of becoming The Bachelor.
Younger-Louis was an idiot.
“My boyfriend is a friend of a friend that got an open invite from whoever’s house this is. Isn’t that so great? He wanted to go out for Halloween, so I couldn’t say no,” Ethan shrugged dramatically. “Who would have thought we’d end up at the same party? How are you?”
“Yeah,” Louis felt his eyes squint under the force of his exaggerated fake smile. “Who would have thought you’d be at a party? I’m good–”
“Oh that’s so great to hear,” Ethan interrupted. Louis wasn’t surprised that he was cut off. “I’ve been getting out a lot more recently actually, Jake has been really great at getting me out of my shell. He’s from the Gyllenhall family, you know? They’re really big in the tech industry. I’ll have to introduce you later. And who is this?” He asked, indicating Harry.
Jesus, Louis forgot how exhausting talking to Ethan could be.
“This is Harry, he’s my, uh–”
“I’m his boyfriend,” Harry said firmly, giving Louis’ hip a light squeeze. Louis wasn’t exactly sure what the squeeze meant in this context: play along? Reassurance? It’s just pretend?
Whatever it meant, Louis’ heart fluttered regardless.
“Oh, that’s so great,” Ethan said, again. “What do you do Harry?”
Louis felt Harry stiffen a bit, steeling himself for whatever Ethan might say. Just like Louis sometimes got teased for being a nurse, he knew Harry had experienced some similar push back as a baker. “I’m a baker,” he said simply.
Louis wanted to protest and tell Harry he was more than simply a baker. He was a pastry chef. He owned a critically acclaimed bakery. He was baker of the year! But Ethan didn’t deserve to know about Harry. Suddenly, Louis wanted this conversation to be over even more than he did before.
“Oh that’s nice,” Ethan said dismissively. “Guess you’ll have to workout extra hard with all the sweets around, eh, Louis?”
Louis knew that Ethan meant it as a joke, he never saw anything wrong with anything he said, but it certainly didn’t feel that way.
“Excuse me?” Harry said harshly.
“Oh, I’m just teasing, Louis knows that,” Ethan waved a hand.
Louis discretely pinched Harry’s thigh to keep him from doing anything more. “Yeah, sure Ethan. Well, we’ve better get going, we were looking for a friend of ours–”
“Ah, okay, well it was so great to see you, are you sure you don’t want to meet Jake?”
“Nope. I really don’t care. Bye now.” And before Ethan could say anything else, Louis turned around, grabbed Harry’s hand, and pulled him away to the backyard.
“I swear if he said ‘that’s so great’ one more time, I would have punched him.” Harry said when they found a spot on the patio sofa. There were quite a few people outside, but most were playing games and drinking, so the two of them had the lounging portion of the patio to themselves. “I can’t believe he said that to you. He’s completely delusional, obviously, you look absolutely fantastic, and you would regardless.”
“Yeah, I know he’s awful. Jesus, he’s so fake and annoying. How did I date him for so long? Maybe I should get a scan at the hospital or something to make sure there’s nothing wrong with my head.”
Harry brought his arm around Louis and pulled him closer, “Your head is fine. He’s clearly a narcissistic gaslighter, it can be hard to find your way out of that.”
“True,” Louis nuzzled his face into Harry’s neck.
“So now you see that you’re amazing and he’s shit, yeah? He’s clearly with that guy because of his family.”
“Oh absolutely. That name drop was so obvious,” Louis nodded against Harry’s skin. “Good thing he didn’t recognize you as an award winning pastry chef, otherwise he might have tried to steal you from me.”
Harry scoffed and his arm around Louis tightened almost imperceptibly, “When I could have you? No way in hell. I’d rather use canned whipped cream in my pate a choux.”
Louis knew that this was the height of horror for Harry. Using any kind of processed ingredient when he could make it himself and have better quality. “That's a big compliment. I’m blushing.”
Harry pinched Louis’ side. “Haha. It’s true though. I’ve really missed getting to see you since things got so busy at the bakery.”
“Are you off tomorrow?”
“Yeah,” Harry played with the fabric of Louis’ stocking at the knee.
“Perfect. I am too.” Louis looked up at him with a smile that crinkled in the edges of his eyes and Harry gave him a dimpled one in return. Things had never been better... so why did he still want more? Louis ignored his confusion and jumped to his feet. "Ready to kick Liam's butt in beer pong?"
Chapter 12: Chapter 11 - Kill My Mind
Notes:
Enjoy :)
Chapter Text
Chapter 11 - Kill My Mind
The next morning, Louis was woken up way too early by two cats being placed on his chest and then walking away (because putting a cat somewhere doesn’t mean they’ll stay there).
He was right on that edge between sleeping and waking when he felt a more substantial weight added to the bed. The weight was warm, cuddling up close to Louis over the blankets. “Time to wake up Lou,” a smooth voice said softly. “I want to spend the day with you… hmm that rhymed.”
Louis slowly opened his eyes to find Harry leaning above him, sunlight lighting his face. “Beautiful,” Louis mumbled. “Wait,” his mind cleared a little. “Harry, are you in my bed?” Louis paused and gave him a sleepy, coy smile. “Are you trying to take advantage of me?”
“I might’ve considered it for a moment when I realized you didn’t have a shirt on,” Harry teased.
Louis bit his lip, still a little dazed by Harry being in his bed. “I don’t think I would have minded.”
Harry sucked in a breath, “Fuck, Lou, you can’t just say things like that.”
Louis, feeling inspired by the pleasant dream he had and the equally pleasant wake up call, whipped off the blanket and got out of bed so that Harry could see that not only did he sleep without a shirt, he slept in only some dark gray boxer briefs that his bum looked fantastic in.
“What episode of Grey’s did we stop at?” Louis said, slowly stretching his arms over his head with a light yawn.
“Hmm?” Harry murmured, eyes trailing down Louis’ body appreciatively. Louis gave Harry a wicked smirk and leaned over his side of the bed to where Harry was still sitting.
“Haz?” Louis said. Harry’s eyes snapped to his, Louis held his gaze as he leaned in a bit closer than just-friends would lean. He was feeling… bold that morning, apparently. Maybe something to do with how well Harry handled the whole Ethan-thing last night. And then, as if he were suggesting they do something absolutely scandalous, he said, “Let’s cuddle on the sofa till noon.”
Louis didn’t know he could make that statement sound so seductive, but he applauded himself on it when Harry visibly gulped and agreed with a nod.
As he leaned away again, Louis was tempted to just put on sweats and stay shirtless, but he wanted Harry to be able to hold a conversation with him. He’d missed getting to talk to Harry. So he pulled on a shirt with his sweats, and grabbed Harry’s hand to pull him into the living room to cuddle on the sofa. He fucking loved this sofa.
“Have you eaten?” Louis asked as they sat down.
“Not yet, came to wake you up first,” Harry’s smile was so goofy and endearing that it made Louis chuckle.
“We should do that then,” Louis said without making an immediate move to get up.
Harry wrapped both arms around Louis’ middle and pulled him back down. “No, don't get up,” he whined.
Louis nuzzled his face into Harry’s hair and mumbled, “We’ll come right back, I’ll start the kettle, you grab something easy for breakfast. We go as fast as possible. Deal?”
“Deal.”
“Release and go on three. Three… two… one, go!”
They sprang apart in a fit of giggles and sprinted to the kitchen.
They easily moved around each other as Louis filled the kettle with water and Harry pulled out a box of pastries and bags of tea. By the time Louis made it back to the sofa, Harry had the box of breakfast pastries on the coffee table in between two plates and napkins, and he’d pulled up Grey’s on the TV. Louis carefully handed Harry his cup of tea before settling back into cuddle position. Both cats just looked up from the spots where they were lounging in the morning sun and went back to sleep.
“I think that must be a record,” Harry commented and took a sip of tea.
“Definitely, very highly motivated you know?” He gave Harry a saucy wink for effect.
“I know,” Harry said, the soft look on his face made Louis’ heart melt. “Will you paint my nails pink and yellow with little happy faces later?” he wiggled his eyebrows in a ridiculous manner that made Louis laugh.
“Whatever you want, Curly,” Louis replied fondly.
“Yeah?” Harry asked and Louis couldn’t place what the change in the tone of his voice meant.
Louis’ eyes flicked down to Harry’s lips. They were close, their legs were both curled up on the couch, Harry had a hand on Louis’ knee.
“Lou?” He could have sworn Harry leaned minutely closer.
“Yeah?”
And then a cat walked down Louis’ shoulder from the back of the couch almost causing him to spill his tea, ruining the moment.
It was for the best.
***
“Tomlinson, come over here!” Marcia called from the other side of the ED the next day. She was standing with Dr. Nanjiani, a pediatric surgeon who always seemed to have a joke ready.
“Yeah?” Louis asked, walking over to them.
“Kumail here is in charge of putting together a team for the area hospital charity dodgeball tournament. He asked if I had any nurses that might be interested. I thought of you.” The look she gave him could only be interpreted as ‘you better say you’re interested or you’re on bedpan duty.’
“Um yeah, I love dodgeball… it’s a great sport. Lots of fun, dodgeball.” He nodded enthusiastically with wide eyes.
“Perfect,” Marcia clapped her hands together. “I’ll leave you two to chat.”
Once she was gone, Dr. Nanjiani looked at him assessingly. “You’ve never played dodgeball in your life, have you?”
“Nope, never played.”
Dr. Nanjiani sighed and ran a hand through his hair. “You’re some level of athletic though at least?”
“Uh, yeah?”
“Then you’re perfect. Do you know of anyone else who could join the team? Doctors aren’t always the sportiest people and no one seems to want to take part of their day off for a dodgeball tournament, but we have to beat Eternal MH this year. Dr. Icarus is their captain again and he’s an ass about always winning.”
Louis thought for a second. “Do they have to be a hospital employee, or would a paramedic be able to join?”
“If they’re good at sports we could make them a hospital employee for the day for all I care.”
And that was how Louis and Liam ended up on the Jade Memorial Hospital charity dodgeball team.
***
Before the charity dodgeball tournament, the JMH team had a total of one practice and it was mediocre at best–Louis was definitely better at kicking balls than dodging them, though his aim was pretty good.
One interesting thing to come out of that practice though was that Louis (and Liam) discovered that Harry’s friend Toni worked at JMH as a physical therapist. It also turned out that while Kumail was in charge of trying to put a team together and was very invested in winning, Toni was the brains of the operation.
“How did it never come up at the pool party that we work in the same place?” Louis asked as he sat down next to her on a bleacher at the recreation center basketball court they were practicing at.
“Probably because Harry monopolized my time that day and you were more preoccupied with watching him from afar.” She smirked.
“I have no idea what you’re talking about.” Was Louis’ instinctive comeback.
“Please, sweetie, we all noticed how you and Harry kept glancing at each other. All Cheryl and I could talk about for days was how great you’d be together. I even had to convince her to not set up a parent-trap style scheme for the two of you. But,” she regarded him with a gaze that made him feel like she saw into his soul. “I won’t make you talk about it if you don’t want to.”
“Uh, thanks?” Louis paused. “We’re just friends though.”
“Right. Well, if you ever want to get away from the ED and come hang out in physical therapy, let me know. Now, are you ready for me to whip you into shape for dodgeball?” She stood up and put both hands on her hips. “Please tell me you’re at least a bit competitive and not like Harry who would rather just have fun.”
By the end of the practice Louis was laying in the middle of the court panting, Liam in the same state next to him. Toni was no joke.
“Am I dying?” Liam wheezed next to him.
“I thought basketball with you was bad, dodgeball training with Toni is worse.” Louis responded.
“You two going to get up and get some water?” Toni said from above them. “I thought you two were in-shape? What’s wrong with you?”
“I thought I was in-shape too,” Louis tilted his head to look at her. “Your workouts are just insane.”
Toni burst in laughter, “My patients hate me, but they always have the quickest recovery times because I work them hard, safely. Now stop being drama-kings and get your cute asses up, you’re embarrassing yourselves.”
“Why are you like this?” Louis asked at the same time Liam said “I hate you.”
Toni laughed some more and flipped her hair, “I grew up in a gang. Learned quickly that in order to survive, I had to be tough.”
Louis and Liam looked at each other in disbelief as she walked away.
“You know,” Louis said slowly. “I’ve never been attracted to a woman in my life, but if I was going to be, I feel like it’d be her.”
“Don’t let her girlfriend hear you say that. Cheryl looks sweet, but she’s actually a demon in disguise if you mess with Toni.”
“I’m flattered though!” Toni called, clearly having heard them. “If I had to be straight I’d choose you too, if you beat Cheryl in a duel for my hand of course. Join me for lunch tomorrow and I’ll tell you all about the Southside Serpents and the batshit crazy town of Riverdale.”
Louis was looking forward to it.
***
“What’s got you all pensive?” Harry asked as Louis quietly made his tea after taking a shower. When he’d gotten home, Harry was mashing bananas and making applesauce from scratch for some gluten-free, nut-free, vegan banana bread recipe he was experimenting with. He wanted to add some more inclusive items to the bakery menu.
He was still working too hard, but he and James had just hired another assistant to help out, so hopefully that would lighten the load a bit. Though he knew Harry’s perfectionist nature in the kitchen meant it’d take him a while to fully trust whoever the new baker was.
Louis felt his cheeks redden. “Nothing, just tired I guess. Toni is pretty intense about this whole dodgeball thing.” He was definitely not telling Harry that he was thinking about how nice it was to have found so many great new friends since moving here and how he hadn’t realized how isolated he’d been with Ethan and how it was odd that all of those new friends also seemed to think he and Harry would be great together and if they all thought that, then were he and Harry wrong about being better off as just friends?
But what he’d told Lottie weeks ago still stood, too. They wanted different things in life. So he put a smile back on his face. “You sure you don’t want to be hired as a hospital janitor or something and join our team?” Louis poked Harry’s side, making him squirm away.
“Getting balls thrown at my face? No thank you.” Then, seeing the devilish smirk forming on Louis’ face, he added. “Don’t even say it, I know how that sounded.”
Louis cackled. “You’ll go though? Be my personal cheerleader?”
Harry wasn’t focused on Louis, looking down at his banana mash instead, but the dimples couldn’t be hidden. “Yeah, ‘course. Niall and Zayn will be there too. We’ll sit with all the WAGS and be super embarrassing. Maybe we’ll even make signs.”
“Does that make you my wife or my girlfriend? Zayn is obviously Liam’s wife in this scenario. What about Niall?”
“We’ll just have to leave it open to speculation, maybe we’ll make everyone think you’re seeing both Niall and I in secret and seeing us sit together where we could learn the truth at any moment stresses you out the whole game.”
“Did you spend the whole morning watching soap operas with the cats?” Louis responded knowingly.
“Maybe,” Harry drew out in a sing-song tone. Said cats were sitting on the windowsill, enjoying watching for bugs and birds outside. He then mixed the mashed bananas into the batter and scooped a bit into a spoon. “Try this, tell me what you think.”
Louis grinned and on impulse instead of taking the spoon, he leaned across the counter and took the spoon into his mouth as Harry held it. “Amazing,” Louis said after swallowing. “I think the applesauce and cinnamon were the right way to go.”
“Doesn’t over-power the banana?”
“Nope, they compliment each other.” Then, Louis reached forward, dipped his finger into the bowl, and swiped a dollop of batter onto Harry’s nose. “Good texture too.”
“Hey!” Harry grabbed a handful of the gluten-free flour. “Let’s see how good you are at dodging this.”
Louis took off running and Harry followed.
He might have intentionally let Harry catch him with one arm holding him around the middle because the real goal was getting Harry to laugh, regardless of if that caused him to end up with flour in his hair or not.
***
A few days later during the dodgeball tournament, Louis no longer cared if Harry was happy or not.
Their team had won their first game, and when he looked over to the stands for Harry (and Niall and Zayn), he saw something that filled him with some very unexpected rage.
Harry wasn’t in the stands.
When Louis looked around, he caught sight of Harry at the concession stand talking to an attractive guy who smiled as he brushed his fingers against Harry’s arm.
To make matters worse, Harry didn’t seem to dislike it.
Then, to make matters even more worse, absolutely horrible in fact, the man handed Harry his cell phone and Harry started typing on it. While smiling.
Louis’ brain quickly tried to come up with possible reasons for these actions but could only think of one: Harry had just given that guy his phone number.
He then tried to reason that maybe it had something to do with the bakery, but that was thrown out the window when the guy kissed Harry’s hand like some kind of cheesy old-timey knight. Bastard.
And then came the most devastating blow: Harry blushed.
Louis felt like he’d just been stabbed in the gut and that his innards were falling out of him and wriggling on the ground like fish dying in air. He wasn’t sure why it was this moment that caused everything to click into place, but it did. And it hit him so hard he wasn’t sure he’d be able to ignore it this time. It really fucking pissed him off.
What a terrible way to finally admit to yourself that you do in fact have serious feelings for your best friend.
***
The tournament wasn’t near over though, so at least Louis had something to channel his feelings into. Sort of.
After the next game, which they very narrowly won no thanks to Louis and the penalties he’d racked up, Toni pulled him roughly into the hall outside the recreation center gym.
“Louis, what the fuck crawled up your ass and died to make you such a bitch all of a sudden? Stop throwing balls at people’s heads!” Toni growled.
“Sorry,” he rubbed a hand over his face. “I’m just feeling like shit.”
“Are you sick? Because this place is full of doctors. I’m sure the ones you haven’t nailed in the head would help out.”
Louis sighed. “No, it’s nothing, forget about it. I’ll calm down.”
“It’s clearly not nothing,” Liam said, closing the door to the gym behind him. “I’ve never seen you like this. Do you want me to get Harry?”
“I definitely don’t want to talk to Harry,” he snapped.
Liam and Toni shared a look that Louis resolutely ignored.
“So you’re mad at Harry?” Liam theorized.
“Nope.”
“Well,” Toni huffed. “You’re out next round. Might take you out all together and put in Ed, he can’t be any worse. How about you stay out here and calm down before you do something stupid?”
Louis nodded and leaned his back heavily against the wall, ignoring another look shared between his friends as they went back into the gym. When the door closed behind them, he walked over to a bench and sat, resting his elbows on his knees and putting his face in his hands.
He hadn’t completely lied to Liam. He wasn’t mad at Harry. Not exactly.
Harry hadn’t done anything wrong. They weren’t together. Harry had made it clear they were just friends. Mostly. The line was actually really blurry, but verbally at least they’d agreed they were just friends. So Harry had every right to give a cute guy his number and go on a date.
He was mainly mad at himself. He was such an idiot.
Though yeah, he was also mad at Harry. Even if he didn’t have a right to be.
“Lou? Are you alright?”
Of course Harry fucking Styles came out to check on him. Curly headed cunt.
“I’m fine, just got a little too competitive,” he said as neutrally as possible.
Harry took a step closer to him, looking all concerned and handsome in his silly graphic shirt and grandma cardigan. All you had to do was look at Harry Styles and know that he was confidently his own person. He’d be huge one day. He deserved someone on that same level. “Are you sure? You seemed really upset about something. You know you can tell me anything, right?” He bit his lip and for some reason Louis thought it was the most annoying thing in the world.
“Nothing to talk about.” Why couldn’t he just take the hint and leave him be? He wanted Harry to have everything in the world he ever dreamed of, but he’d never considered that at some point that would mean Harry actually meeting someone. He wanted to be pissed about it alone for a while for god's sake.
“Lou, something is clearly bothering you. You know you can talk to me about anything–”
Anything. Sure, they talked to each other about all sorts of things, but anything? No. No, they didn’t talk about everything. Or didn’t acknowledge everything that had been going on between them. Harry had made it clear that they were just friends, but as he rapidly mentally cataloged every moment they’d spent together… Harry was as clear as mud.
“You want to talk? Fine.” Louis spat. “Let’s talk. Who was that guy you were talking to by the concession stand?”
The look of concern on Harry’s face was replaced with surprise and anger as he processed what Louis had said. “Is that really what this is about? You’re throwing balls at people’s heads like a lunatic because you’re mad at me? You’re mad that a guy flirted with me and I gave him my number? Are you serious?” He waved a hand at Louis as if to emphasize his disbelief. “There is not a ‘property of Louis’ sticker on my forehead, you know? I can give a guy my number.”
“I know. I’m not mad at you.” He breathed deeply, trying to not say something he might regret later.
“Well it certainly seems like you are. If you’re not mad at me for maybe meeting a guy that wants to date me, then why will you barely look at me? What the fuck is wrong with you?” The volume of Harry’s voice rose as he spoke, eyes practically flashing in frustration.
That was when Louis had had enough.
“I’m mad at myself!” He exploded, standing up and walking toward Harry to look him dead in the eyes. “Is that what you want to hear? I’m mad that I let you get into my head with the confessions and the baking and the cats and the cuddling and the flirting. I’m mad that once again I fell too hard for someone that doesn’t really want me . That despite knowing where we stood and how you are with people I still fucking fell for you! If you wanted to date someone why can’t it be me ?!”
For a split second they both stared at each other. Louis was breathing heavily, feeling near tears at all the emotions pouring out of him with that confession. Harry was frozen. And then, before he could think rationally about it, he grabbed Harry by the shirt and pulled him into a bruising kiss.
It took barely a second for Harry to start kissing him back. This kiss wasn’t like the other time. It was angry and passionate and both of them were holding on to each like they were daring the other to try to get away. Harry let out a moan when Louis fisted his fingers through the loose curls of his hair and gave a sharp tug. Then Louis gasped when one of Harry’s hands found its way under his shirt and pulled him in even closer.
It was not a kiss for a local rec-center hallway.
When Louis released the kiss with the intention of going for Harry’s neck (because Harry had the most beautiful goddamn tempting neck in the world) he froze, remembering that time Harry came home with hickeys from someone else and how they fell into bed and then nothing really changed.
And how he’d never let himself admit how much that had hurt.
He stepped away.
“Louis–”
Louis held up a hand and calmly shook his head. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have done that. Tell Liam and Toni I left.”
“Lou–”
“Please. I think I’d like to be alone for a little while. To think. It might be best if we kept our distance from each other for a couple of days.”
And then he walked away, leaving Harry behind.
***
The next morning, Louis wished he could take it all back.
He’d barely slept that night running the events of the dodgeball tournament through his mind over and over and over again. The kiss in particular. Why did he have to have feelings and fuck everything up? Why did he have to open his dumb mouth and say something about it? They were doing fine as friends. But, no. He just had to go ruin everything because he was jealous.
What if he lost Harry over this? That was the one thing he didn’t want, but it might be too late at that point.
“God, I’m such an idiot,” he mumbled aloud, rubbing his face with his hands.
Unfortunately, he didn’t have time to wallow–he had to go to work. So, he rolled out of bed, put on his scrubs, and before leaving his room for the bathroom, he pressed his ear to the door to try to tell if he could hear any movement in the rest of the apartment, but he heard nothing. He wasn’t sure if he was hoping to hear Harry moving around, or not.
When he got into the kitchen to make something for breakfast, the first thing he did was turn on the little lights that ran under the cabinets so that he could see better. There was no light streaming into the kitchen from under Harry’s door, so he assumed Harry was still asleep and kept as quiet as possible. He froze though, when he saw that the dim lights he’d turned on illuminated a note taped to the refrigerator handle.
L - There’s a sandwich in the fridge for you to take for lunch. I hope you’re okay with roast beef again. - H
The note was nothing groundbreaking, but the fact that at some point last night Harry thought to still make Louis something for lunch made Louis’ eyes water just a bit. He folded the note neatly and put it in his pocket.
He tore off another sheet of paper off the notepad they kept in the kitchen and left a note of his own: H - Thanks for the sandwich, I’m always okay with anything you make for me. Have a good day. - L
Part of him wanted to write more, but he didn’t.
***
He was avoiding Harry.
Or maybe they were avoiding each other. Either way, he hadn’t spoken to Harry in four days except for notes about sandwiches and it felt like forever.
Louis wasn’t sure how long he’d be able to keep up avoiding Harry when just seeing him in passing at home made Louis want to fall to his knees and beg Harry to be with him. But he was also embarrassed about the whole thing. And a bit prideful. He didn’t want to hear Harry reject him. He wasn’t sure he’d be able to handle it.
So, yeah. He was going out of his way to avoid having to have a conversation with the curly headed man. He’d even switched days off with someone so that he and Harry didn’t end up alone at home together. It’d felt like a stab to the heart, but he’d done it. It wasn’t just him though, in the evenings it seemed like Harry was working late (or maybe he was going on dates, Louis didn’t want to know) and when he came home Louis would make an excuse to go to his room.
Niall was stressing out about it.
“Louis Tomlinson don’t you dare run off to your room again! What the fuck is going on with the two of you? Why has my calm, friendly flat suddenly turned into a cold war spy novel with everyone sneaking around and not talking?” Niall had demanded on day three.
Louis didn’t know how to respond, but luckily he didn’t have to because Harry gave Niall a pleading look and said, “Ni, please?” and Niall let it go. Whatever that meant.
On the morning of day five, Louis had really just resigned himself to the constant feeling of being dead on his feet due to not sleeping well. He was used to being in a bad mood the moment he opened his eyes.
He tried to reign his mood in at work, particularly when he was switching off with the poor nurse who had the night shift, Eleanor. It’d apparently been a rough one for her–they had gotten several drug overdoses, a couple of passed out drunks sleeping things off, several victims from accidents caused by idiot drunk drivers including a car that apparently drove right into a house party, and a man saying he wanted his foot amputated because it didn’t belong to him, just to name a few.
“He thinks the foot isn’t his?” Louis asked, looking through the chart. “One of the feet he was born with?” They had done x-rays, ultrasound, and an MRI to see if there was any physical evidence of what could be causing the man to feel that way, but they found nothing. Now they were waiting on psych to come down.
“Yeah, kind of crazy, but he’s very nice,” Ed commented. He’d just come back over to the nurses station after getting a man that fell off a ladder while cutting tree branches settled in a bed. Possible broken collar bone, but it looked like he was otherwise unscathed.
Louis just huffed in response.
“Okay,” Ed took the chart out of Louis’ hands. “What’s got you so down lately? You’ve been moping all week.”
“Nothing,” Louis shrugged.
“If you say so,” Ed clearly didn’t believe him at all, but seemed to pick up the vibe Louis was giving off and wasn’t going to push.
Then, he heard a bit of a commotion coming from one of the exam rooms. “Hey, where’s my chainsaw?”
“What?” Louis looked over at the tree trimmer guy. It seemed like he brought a real chainsaw into the ED and lost it. Because of course he did. “Who brings an actual chainsaw into a hos–”
The sound of a chainsaw pierced the air and Louis’ heart jumped into his throat. Everyone was looking around in a panic trying to figure out where it was coming from. It was the exam room nearest Louis.
Without hesitation, he ran over and as he pulled back the curtain he was hit with a warm spray of blood as the man who had been requesting his foot be amputated, and was waiting for a psych consult instead, took the chainsaw to his own leg.
“Sir, stop!” Louis shouted, trying to get out of the spray of blood and rushing to the patient’s side to see if he could find the off switch while the man was still holding the saw.
“I want it off!” The man kept shouting. He wouldn’t let Louis get near, every time Louis tried, the man shifted out of the way despite how much pain he was sure to be in. Pretty much everyone in the ED was trying to help at that point, and Paul, the security guard, was able to get the chainsaw turned off while the man was distracted by Louis trying to talk him down. Then, the man passed out. His leg was shredded.
“Get him to a trauma room, let's see how much damage he caused,” Dr. Strange, a new doctor in the ED, said. “Tomlinson, with me.”
Louis was kind of hoping for a chance to change scrubs and get the blood off of him, but duty called. He helped wheel the blood soaked gurney into the nearest trauma room and set up the lights so that Dr. Strange could get a better look at the laceration. It looked like pulverized meat. Disgusting.
“How did he manage to keep going through the pain?” Louis wondered aloud as Dr. Strange started poking around the wound. “Shouldn’t some kind of self-preservation instinct have kicked in?”
“It should have, yes,” Strange answered. “But I guess when you’re desperate enough…”
“Do you think his foot can be saved?”
Strange frowned, still looking at the blood vessels in the wound, before shaking his head. “No, this tissue is completely destroyed, no way to reattach any of this.”
“Good,” a hoarse voice said. “Finally.”
Louis was surprised at the amount of the relief in the man’s voice, but then again, he did try amputating his own foot.
“Yes, Mr. Miller. Looks like you get your wish of losing a previously perfectly healthy foot. Congratulations,” Strange said sarcastically, but not wholly unkindly. As if part of him could understand that this was at least what the guy wanted, for whatever reason. “Tomlinson, call the OR and tell them I’m coming up, will you?”
Louis did and then went to clean up and put on his spare scrubs that were free of blood stains. That was going to be fun trying to get out later. He was shit at stains, Harry always had to help him and with them avoiding each other he wasn’t sure what he’d do about it.
After that, things had settled down to usual until a woman rushed in with a screaming and crying child in her arms.
“Dr. Song, room 3 is open,” Marica called.
“I’ll go,” Louis said to Ed, as they were the only two nurses free at the moment. He grabbed the portable ultrasound on his way, knowing Dr. Song was going to need it based on where the child was clutching her stomach. He was positive this was going to be appendicitis.
“It hurts,” the little girl cried as she twisted around on the bed.
“I know sweetie,” Dr. Song said. “Can you be really brave and still for a moment while nurse Louis here gives you some medicine to make you feel better?”
The girl, Wendy, whined, but nodded, and let Louis give her an IV with some morphine for her pain. He could tell the moment it worked.
It wasn’t long before Song confirmed what they both knew: appendicitis.
Wendy's mom had to step away to fill out some paperwork and call Wendy’s dad, so Louis volunteered to stay with the little girl while they waited to take her to get her appendix out.
The girl was groggy from the morphine, but still awake. When they were alone in the exam room, she reached up and tapped Louis’ shoulder. “If I ‘pologize, do I have to have surgery?”
“What do you mean, little love?” Louis asked.
“Mommy said that if I had too much candy I’d get sick… then when they weren’t looking, I sneaked some more,” Louis wanted to smile at how adorably guilty the little girl looked, but kept his face composed. He didn’t want her to feel like he was making fun of her.
“Do you think sneaking extra candy caused your appendix to get angry?”
The girl nodded pitifully, “Please don’t tell my mommy.”
Louis gave her a sweet smile and stroked her hair. “Eating candy didn’t cause this. Sometimes the appendix just gets angry, and when it does, it needs to come out. You didn’t do anything wrong.” He said, then added gently, “Except for lying to your parents about the candy, that’s wrong.”
“I know,” she let out a big sigh. “Will it hurt to get the ‘pendix out?”
“No,” Louis shook his head. “The doctor will give you some medicine that will make you really sleepy. Then, when you wake up, it will be all done. It won’t hurt at all.”
“Really?”
“Really,” he confirmed. “My little sister had her appendix out when she was around your age, and she confirmed to me that she didn’t feel a thing.”
“Will I still be able to go to Peter’s birthday party? It’s next week. He’s been talking about having a bouncy-house and a petting zoo.”
“That sounds like a very exciting birthday party,” Louis smiled. “It might depend on how you’re feeling, but you should still be able to go to Peter’s party. Is Peter your best friend?”
“No silly, Peter is my boy friend,” the girl was clearly feeling better with the narcotics in her system, because she rolled her eyes at him.
“Oh, my apologies,” he said with raised eyebrows. Were kids this little allowed to have boyfriends? His sister’s definitely weren’t as far as he was concerned.
“Do you have a boyfriend too?”
Jesus, kids had no sense of boundaries. Of course that was what she asked. She might as well have asked him if he had feelings for his best friend. “Um, not at the moment.”
“Why not?”
“Uh,” how had this conversation taken such a turn? “It’s complicated,” he winced. That was such a bullshit adult answer, my god.
“Everyone should have a boyfriend. My mommy has a boyfriend, and my daddy has a boyfriend too,” Wendy continued. “He said that while he loves me and mommy, he and mommy weren’t the right fit. But that he and Gary were.”
“That’s, uh,” he considered her words. “That’s a really nice way to put it actually.”
“Yeah, I thought he did well with that one too,” a woman’s voice said behind him. He turned around to see Wendy’s mom smiling at them.
“Mommy, I sneaked extra candy last night. I’m sorry. Lou says it didn’t cause my ‘pendix to get mad though.”
The woman gave her daughter an amused smile. “Thank you for saying you’re sorry, sweetie. Nurse Louis is very smart.”
Eventually, Louis left the two of them alone and went back to finish his charts. He couldn’t help but think about the way Wendy described her dad and his boyfriend though–the right fit.
He hoped that maybe he and Harry were the right fit.
***
The rest of the day had been slow, so slow in fact, that Marcia let Louis leave an hour early because he looked so tired. When he trudged inside the flat, Harry was on the sofa, reading a book. He looked up as Louis walked in and a little part of Louis died inside at how awkward the eye contact was.
“Hi,” he said, a little too quietly, but Harry still heard it and responded with a “Hey,” of his own.
Louis set his bag down and pulled out the plastic bag inside that contained his bloody scrubs and started walking over to the laundry room so that he could try salvaging them.
“Fucking hell,” Harry said, clearly spotting all the red in the bag. He put the book down and followed Louis towards the laundry room. “What happened?”
“A guy tried to amputate his own foot with a chainsaw right in front of me,” Louis pursed his lips. The visual wasn’t going to leave him any time soon.
“Are you serious? That’s–”
“Insane? I know.” Despite the conversation feeling awkward, he was also overjoyed at just speaking to Harry again.
“I was going to say ‘disgusting’ and a bit terrifying. Could they save his foot?”
“It was definitely disgusting, I didn't really have time to be scared though. He wasn’t looking to hurt anyone but himself anyway, but no, he got what he wanted, an amputated foot.” He set the bag on top of the washer and leaned his back against it, crossing his arms awkwardly. “Do you think you could… um… do that magic stain thing you do with them? You’re better at it…”
“Yeah, of course,” Harry said, stepping over to get the supplies. “That foot thing sounds like something that should have been in a Halloween episode of Grey's Anatomy.” He added while he layed out the clothes in a plastic bin on top of the washer and poured the blood stain solution over them liberally so they could soak.
The mention of Grey’s Anatomy seemed to make both of them a little sad, but the ice had broken.
“I’ve really missed you,” he said eventually, after he put the scrubs in the machine and started the washing cycle.
“I’ve really missed you too,” Louis bit his lip and shifted his weight from foot to foot. He’d never felt this nervous around Harry before, he didn’t like it.
“Do you…do you want to watch an episode of Grey’s while it's washing?”
An olive branch, Louis guessed. He looked at Harry fully for the first time in days. He looked just as tired and uncertain as Louis felt. Maybe they could just pretend the whole dodgeball thing never happened and go back to normal. He’d rather have Harry as his friend than not have Harry at all, that was more certain now than ever.
“Sure.”
***
They didn’t talk or cuddle on the sofa while watching the show and Louis found himself only half paying attention to the story because of it. His body physically ached at the sight of the space between them, even if that space was filled with sleeping cats.
When his scrubs were done in the wash and looked good as new, Harry followed him to the laundry room and suggested they run a sanitizing cycle on the washing machine after all that blood, then they went back to the show.
A little while later, they heard an odd cracking sound and looked towards the door of the laundry room to see… water.
“Oh fuck!” Louis shouted, jumping up.
Before he made it to the laundry room though, arms grabbed him roughly from behind. “Are you crazy?! Do you remember nothing from the primary school lessons about water and electricity?” Harry hissed in his ear. The tingle down his spine from the whisper paired with Harry’s arms around him might have been an electric shock of its own. “You turn off the breaker, I’ll grab towels.”
When they met back at the laundry room moments later, the entire floor of it was covered in water and suds and it was still spilling out the bottom of the machine. They immediately started laying towels down.
“I don’t understand, all I did was add vinegar, not soap!” Harry said before slipping on a wet towel. Louis caught him, but in typical sitcom style he also slipped on a towel and they both went down in a pile of limbs.
“I think we’re going to need more towels.” Louis groaned. His whole back was soaked and Harry didn’t seem much better.
“No shit.” Harry grumbled.
Harry wordlessly got up and left, Louis assumed to go get more towels, so Louis tried to figure out if he could turn off the water.
Using his phone flashlight to see behind the machine more easily, Louis spotted what he assumed were the water lines–two hoses with knobs on top.He reached back and started turning one, then the other, and the water finally stopped.
What he shouldn’t have done, was give the knobs another tight twist just to be sure they were truly secure because the knobs, that were who knew how many years old, broke.
And water started spraying into Louis’ face like a yard sprinkler.
“AH!” He shouted, trying to use his hands to cover the hole. “Haz!”
“What– oh fuck!” With wide eyes he tossed Louis a towel and together they tried to stop the spray of water.
By the time they had the line covered with a rapidly soaking towel, both of them were completely soaked.
“Haz. I think we need to get a plumber, right now. Unless you know how to shut off the water yourself.”
“Not Mick though,” Harry hip checked him. They were nearly touching as they stood there trying to plug the water. Harry’s shirt and joggers were clinging to him in the most delicious way. It made him think about the camping trip they had taken in July, when they got soaked playing with the water guns. He thought Harry was attractive then, but something about the way Harry licked his lip and brushed back his hair with one hand causing a drop of water to run down his neck… this was a lot hotter than water guns.
“Whoever can get here fastest is best, even if that is Mick,” Louis shrugged. “Hopefully there isn’t too much water damage.”
***
Several hours later everything was fixed, they had a new washing machine ordered, and they somehow had escaped without any real water damage. They didn’t even have to call Mick because the plumber Harry had called once before was conveniently nearby.
“There are still suds everywhere. Why haven’t they melted, or popped, or whatever?” Harry bent down and picked up a handful as if it were a snowball.
“No idea, maybe it has something to do with the vinegar you put into the machine.”
Harry put the handful of suds on top of Louis’ head. “Oh, so that’s how it is then?” Louis said primly. “After everything we’ve just been through?”
“Yeah, guess so.” Harry casually bent down for more suds. This time in both hands.
Louis quickly followed suit. “You really want to do this? Won’t it ruin your pretty hair?”
“I’ll take that chance,” Harry’s eyes gleamed and he took his handfuls of bubbles and smacked them lightly onto each side of Louis’ face like a bubble beard. The mirth in his eyes took Louis’ breath away for a moment.
Then, he gave Harry a suds beard to match and that started an all out bubble fight in which they covered each other in as many of the suds blanketing the ground like snow as possible. It seemed like their earlier awkwardness with each other had completely vanished and once again all Louis could really think of was how much he enjoyed watching Harry laugh and how much Harry made him laugh.
Eventually, the suds had mostly disappeared and he and Harry were sitting on the floor in the remnants of their battle.
“We should probably get into some dry clothes before we get sick,” Louis commented eventually after they fell into silence. “I think I still have a couple clean towels if we’ve used all yours in here and you want to borrow one to shower.”
“Yeah, that’d be great,” Harry said softly. He followed Louis to his room and when Louis turned to give Harry the extra towel, he found Harry standing much closer to him than expected.
Harry put a hand on the towel, but didn’t move to take it. “Are we going to talk about it, or ignore it?”
Louis looked at him wearily. “I think that’s kind of up to you... I said my piece at the gym.”
“Then are you ready to talk about it?” Harry asked. “Because I’m tired of not talking to you.”
Louis took a deep breath. “Yeah. Okay.” Harry looked so serious in that moment that Louis was sure he needed to steel himself for the worst. His shoulders were stiff, there was a crease between his brows–Harry was preparing to give bad news. Louis reminded himself that he’d rather have Harry as a friend than nothing.
“You kissed me, and–”
“It doesn’t have to mean anything if you don’t want it too,” Louis cut him off before Harry could deliver his rejection.
Harry gave him a look of intense disbelief. “You… think I don’t want it?”
That was not what Louis thought Harry would say.
“Shit, Louis. Do you really think I don’t like you? I kind of thought I was being pretty obvious that I had a massive crush on you from the moment I saw you.”
“I--What?” Louis’ head was bursting.
“I was serious before though. I don’t want things to get weird and messy by starting a relationship. I care about you as my friend too much.”
“I kissed you. I didn’t propose marriage.” Louis snarked. “And you kissed me back.”
“Of course I kissed you back, I’ve wanted to kiss you again for ages.” He said it like it was the most obvious thing in the world, like he’d just made a comment about the weather.
“What if I kissed you again?” Louis took a step closer so the towel was squished between them.
Harry’s eyes flicked down to Louis’ lips and before Louis could take another breath, he brought his lips down to Louis’.
The kiss was soft this time. Sweet. Barely more than a peck.
Harry pulled away just enough to look at him again. Louis wasn’t sure what Harry saw in his eyes, but it made him lean forward to kiss him again. This time they held their lips to each other’s longer, still unmoving, just enjoying the pressure. Louis was floating.
“Lou,” Harry murmured. “You okay?”
Louis decided to not say anything in return. Instead, he brought his hand up to Harry’s face and pulled Harry into a searing kiss.
Louis was about to back off, worried that in his eagerness he’d gone in a little too hard when Harry didn’t kiss back, but then a hand found its way into Louis’ hair and Harry started kissing him back.
Harry dropped the towel and wrapped his other arm around Louis enthusiastically and immediately deepened the kiss in a way that set Louis’ body ablaze and turned his mind completely blank.
Bless this man and his lips.
And his tongue.
Louis moaned as Harry’s tongue entered his mouth lightly, and then he did the same for him, delighting in the noises he pulled forth from the back of Harry’s throat. Louis’ mind spun from the kiss, he was having an out of body experience. He never wanted to come down. Where were his hands? Oh, there. Louis wove both of his hands into Harry’s curls to hold him close and smiled into the kiss when Harry let out another moan when Louis remembered that Harry likes a bit of hair tugging. He let Louis set the pace for a while, and Louis enjoyed discovering all the different noises he could bring out of him.
At some point, Harry started to slow things down and the kiss turned into light pecks and brushes before he stopped and pressed his forehead to Louis’. Louis’ eyes are still closed. He could hear Harry breathing as heavily as him. When he opened his eyes and pulled away slightly to look at Harry, he wanted the image burned into his brain for all eternity.
Harry’s hair was a mess, his cheeks flushed, lips slick and puffy pink, eyes bright. He was fucking gorgeous.
Harry leaned forward and touched their foreheads together. “So, what now?”
Louis licked his lips as if hoping he could still taste Harry there and he decided that he didn’t want to talk. He didn’t want to think. He just wanted Harry. And he was tired of pretending he didn’t. Damn the consequences.
He leaned back slightly and raised his arms over his head, giving Harry a coy smile.
Harry took the hint and chuckled softly before grabbing the hem of Louis’ wet shirt and pulling it over his head, letting his hands skim up Louis’ sides as he did so, making him shiver.
Then, Harry raised his own hands up with a dimpled smirk and Louis returned the favor.
The moment Harry’s shirt was off, they were kissing again. Louis didn’t even know who initiated it. Their hands were in each other’s wet hair, their tongues were in each other’s mouths, their bodies were fit together like pieces of a puzzle that had been lost for too long.
Harry kissed him with a passion that took his breath away. He wanted to be closer. He wanted every part of him to be consumed by Harry. He wanted to consume Harry.
He slipped a hand down past the elastic waistband of Harry’s wet joggers, giving Harry a moment to stop him if he wanted, then started to stroke his hardening cock while he nibbled on Harry’s plush bottom lip, eliciting a guttural groan that made Louis grin. He then slipped his tongue into Harry’s mouth again as his lips parted, relishing in how Harry felt and tasted. He set the pace of the kiss to match how he stroked Harry’s cock in his fist, alternating between slow and fast, hard and soft.
“The feelling…” Harry panted between kisses. “Of wet pants… is kind of killing the mood.”
Louis had to agree and quickly pushed Harry’s pants and underwear down his legs while Harry tried removing Louis’ at the same time.
He let out a gasp of surprise when, just as he was about to sink to his knees to completely worship Harry’s cock, Harry gripped his waist and hoisted him onto the top of his dresser so that he could stand between Louis’ legs. Being manhandled wasn’t exactly something Louis was a huge fan of, people seemed to make assumptions just because he had a slightly, slightly smaller build than most, but he definitely didn’t mind it coming from Harry.
Though he never expected for his bare ass to be on top of his dresser, he didn’t think about it much as Harry had started kissing that delicious spot behind his ear while one of his hands started to stroke Louis’ cock with a little twist of the wrist at the tip.
He hadn’t even realized that they were making the dresser rock until he was momentarily distracted by a creaking sound. “Haz, this thing is just from IKEA,” he strangled out with a moan. Harry moved closer to press their cocks together and they both cried out at the sensation. “Bed, now,” he gasped.
Harry lifted Louis by his bum and Louis wrapped himself around him as he took a few steps towards the bed. Harry had a bit of a difficult time trying to walk and kiss and grind all at the same time. Louis pinched his nipple and Harry almost stumbled before he tossed Louis onto the mattress and crawled towards him.
“Fuck, you’re pretty,” Harry gazed at Louis, intently looking him up and down. “I don’t know how I’ve managed to keep my hands to myself.”
Louis snorted and grinned up at Harry as he leaned over him, hands on either side of Louis’ shoulders. “Oh, is that what this has been? You keeping your hands to yourself? If this is keeping your hands to yourself then how much of an exhibitionist are you when you’re not?”
“I guess you’ll have to find out,” Harry booped Louis on the nose. Louis stuck his tongue out at him, causing Harry to smile and he briefly thought about how much he wanted to kiss Harry’s smile when he realized that they were both naked in his bed–of course he could keep kissing him.
Louis brought a hand to the back of Harry’s neck and lifted his head up just enough to kiss him again. Then pressed on Harry’s shoulder and rolled them over so that he could take control, he was officially determined to ravage Harry within an inch of his life.
He settled himself between Harry’s legs so that their hard cocks pressed against each other. They both let out a moan and Louis started rocking his hips in desperate need for friction. Even a bit dry, the feeling of Harry’s cock sliding against his was absolute heaven. He wanted this to last longer though, so Louis started to kiss and lick down Harry’s jaw and neck. He tasted amazing. Salty and sweet. Louis tugged gently on Harry’s earlobe with his teeth and the noise that came out of Harry’s mouth was absolutely sinful.
Then, Louis kissed down Harry’s beautiful, graceful neck like he’d fantasized about. He grinned when he found a spot that drove Harry particularly wild, his hips bucking up into Louis’ a bit harder than before, causing him to gasp. “Please, Lou.”
Louis reached a hand down to stroke Harry’s beautiful cock. His mouth stayed right in that spot, sucking a perfect mark onto Harry’s smooth skin, nipping at it a little with his teeth--
Before he could attack the other side of Harry’s neck though, Harry had apparently had enough of being at Louis’ mercy and in one swift motion that would make its way into all of Louis’ future fantasies, Harry had him on his back.
“If you kept doing that, I would have come,” Harry panted as he leaned above Louis, caging him, but not touching him.
“I don’t see why that’s a problem?” Louis raised an eyebrow. “That’s kind of the goal, isn’t it?”
“You tell me,” was all Harry said in response, a devilish grin on his face as he leaned back in, attaching his lips to the spot where Louis’ neck met his shoulder and grinding his hips down into Louis’.
Louis groaned loudly at the feel of Harry all around him, rubbing against him, driving all his nerve endings crazy. The sucking and licking at his neck–he never wanted it to end. Harry moved to playfully bite Louis’ collarbone and Louis rocked his hips faster to seek more friction with Harry’s.
It shouldn’t have come as a surprise to Louis that Harry was a horrific tease, but his mind was too addled to think through it. He could only whine as Harry moved his hips away and instead started kissing across Louis’ shoulder and down his chest. The want, the tension, the desire in the air was absolutely delicious and when Harry’s mouth wrapped itself around one of Louis’ nipples, he let out some kind of mix between a gasp and a whine as he tried to find that friction again.
But Harry kept moving around, kissing and licking down Louis’ chest. Then, finally, he started n to stroke Louis’ cock as he sucked a mark on his hip and Louis’ mind was a mess with want. “Oh god, yes .”
Then, Harry replaced his hand with his mouth and Louis wasn’t sure his own throat had ever released a moan quite so dirty before. He always suspected Harry had a perfect mouth for this. “Oh, Haz, you’re so good at this. Your mouth wrapped around my cock is the hottest thing I’ve ever seen. Holy fuck,” Louis let his head fall back as Harry gave a particularly hard suck around him, hollowing his cheeks.
Louis eventually pulled Harry off of him and pulled him back up to his lips, desperate to kiss him. Harry’s hips ground into his again and with Harry’s saliva coating his cock, it gave them a perfect amount of glide.
Louis flipped them over again and situated himself between Harry’s legs before grinding their cocks together furiously fast. Harry’s hips were rushing up to meet his as their kisses became sloppy and desperate, seeking out relief. Harry reached a hand between them and stroked their cocks together, adding to the friction. It was so fucking good .
With a few more frantic thrusts of his hips he was seeing stars and coming over Harry’s stomach. Harry followed with a cry not long after.
“Holy shit,” Harry breathed deeply as Louis rolled next to him. “Did we just hump each other like teenagers?”
“Yeah,” Louis said, bringing a hand up to play with Harry’s curls. They were a mess. “But it was hot.”
“Very hot,” Harry agreed quickly.
They were quiet for a moment and Louis frantically tried to get his mind to come up with something to say before things got awkward. “Well, still want that shower?”
“Yeah, let’s use mine though, it’s bigger.”
They stood, leaving their clothes on Louis' floor and peaked out the door. “You don’t think Niall’s come home, right?” Louis said quietly after neither of them made a move to walk out.
“Ni? You here?” Harry shouted. They waited a few beats and heard nothing. “Okay, let’s go.” He said and smacked Louis’ ass before sprinting down the hall naked.
Louis thought about being mad and chasing after him, but instead he decided to just follow at a leisurely pace so he could enjoy the view.
Chapter 13: Chapter 12 - We Made It
Chapter Text
Chapter 12 - We Made It
“Well, well, fancy meeting you here,” Louis said with a silly, coy tone and a ridiculous wiggle of his eyebrows as he followed Harry into the warm shower. “And you’re naked, how scandalous!” He pressed the back of hand to his forehead in a fake swoon.
Harry giggled and rolled his eyes, making Louis’ heart burst just a little bit. “Com’ere.” Harry pulled him gently into the shower.
“What?” Louis asked when he noticed Harry kept staring at him with those fucking gorgeous green eyes.
Harry shook his head with a disbelieving smile, reaching a hand out to graze down Louis’ arm. “How are you so sexy and so adorable at the same time? It’s not fair. No wonder I can’t seem to get you out of my head.”
“Do you want me out of your head?” Louis chanced stepping closer so the water was hitting their shoulders, their faces inches apart.
Slowly, Harry took a deep breath and shook his head. “No. I don’t. It scares me, but I don’t.”
“Scares you?” Louis asked kindly. He had an idea of what Harry meant.
“It’s like when you were on lockdown in the hospital… I don’t think I could stand losing you if we didn’t work out. So part of me thinks it’d be easier to not have you… but I don’t want to stay away anymore.”
Relief washed over Louis like the warm spray of the shower and he grabbed the soap and began to wash Harry’s chest and arms gently. “I don’t want to lose you either, you know? What if we just… took the scary part out of the equation?”
“What do you mean?” Harry’s voice was rough and sent a shiver down his spine.
“Are you scared of being with me or of being in a relationship with me? What if we took out the word and we were just… us? Not dating, not seeing other people, just us being us doing what we want, wherever that goes.”
Harry blinked at him and Louis couldn’t decide if it was a stupid idea to pose or not. “Okay,” he said so softly, Louis almost didn’t hear it. Then, he added mischievously, “So I can kiss you whenever I want?”
“I mean, I guess it depends on if you want our friends to know–” Harry cut him off with a kiss and oh the feeling of Harry’s lips and the water and steam… It was dangerously addictive. Everything about Harry was addictive. An idea for a poem or maybe a song flitted across his mind before Harry squeezed his ass and he forgot what thoughts were.
By the time they got out of the shower they had nearly killed each other by almost slipping, for the second time that day, and they had decided to hold off on figuring out the logistics of shower sex.
***
Louis quickly decided that the two of them giving in to their desire for each other was the best decision they ever made.
Painting Harry’s nails the next morning when they were both off was suddenly a much more intimate act than it was before. And to be clear, it was pretty intimate before. As Louis held Harry’s hands, manipulating them to the right angles, he became hyper aware of every movement the two of them made. They sat close, facing each other on the sofa. Louis would add in extra touches, Harry would lean forward to breath on Louis’ neck. They were slowly, but surely, driving each other wild all over again.
When Louis finished adding the clear top coat of polish, Harry leaned in again, pulling Louis into a slow, seductive kiss, nibbling a little on Louis’ bottom lip.
Louis pulled away before it got too heated. “Don’t mess up your nails,” he demanded.
“Don’t be so bossy,” Harry grumbled, trying to lean back in.
That gave Louis an idea for a fun game.
“Oh, no. What is that look?” Harry sounded much more amused than worried.
Instead of responding immediately, Louis got up and motioned for Harry to sit with his back to the sofa. “Raise your arms Hazza, I’m going to take off your shirt and we don’t want to ruin all my hard work on your nails.”
Harry’s eyes darkened with anticipation, as he did what Louis asked. Or more demanded. Once the shirt was off, revealing Harry’s torso and all of his tattoos that Louis would never stop wanting to put his mouth on, Louis took each of Harry’s arms and maneuvered them to lay across the back of the sofa as if Harry was a mannequin in a store display.
“What ya doing Lou? It’s kind of cold out to be without a shirt.” Harry sounded even more amused than before, but that was quickly wiped away as Louis sat on Harry’s lap, thighs on either side. Harry visibly gulped, looking up as Louis.
“I could help you warm up?” Louis let his fingers skim down Harry’s chest, enjoying the goose-bumps appearing as he did so, and the soft gasp that escaped Harry’s lips as his fingers grazed just under the waistband of Harry’s pajama pants. “I want to touch you darling… Can I touch you?”
Harry gulped and nodded enthusiastically, unconsciously wiggling his hips.
“But,” Louis added with a warning tone. “You can’t ruin your nails. You can’t move your hands.”
“Fuck,” Harry whined.
“So that’s a yes?” Louis flicked one of Harry’s nipplies causing him to jerk.
“Yes,” He groaned and tried to roll his hips, but Louis’ strong thighs kept him pinned.
Louis started kissing him slowly, licking into Harry’s mouth, kissing him long and hard until they were breathless. Then he went back and pressed his tongue on the red spot he’d made on Harry’s neck earlier in the morning, making Harry gasp. Still going slow, still enjoying every sweet noise that escaped Harry’s lips. Louis nearly wanted to get his phone and take a picture of him. His eyes were screwed shut, his head was back against the arch of the sofa, exposing his throat. His arms were stretched out, fingers flexed outward in lieu of gripping and risking ruining the wet nail polish. His lips were wet and bright pink, like he just ate a cherry popsicle.
Louis slid down, leaning between Harry’s legs, hands pressed into the sofa on either side of Harry’s hips so that he could continue his slow, lazy exploration down Harry’s chest.
“How did I not notice before that you have four nipples, Harold?” He said, giving one of the extras a pinch.
“Need to be more observant I guess, ahh–” Harry gasped as Louis ran his teeth over them lightly.
“I fucking love this butterfly by the way,” Louis commented casually, ignoring Harry’s groans as he continued exploring his torso with his mouth. He licked the curve of every muscle, kissing every tattoo, spending so much time on Harry’s nipples that he was sure Harry was ready to explode.
Harry let out a strangled whine when Louis leaned away and started to play with the fabric of his pants again and kiss the parts of the laurel leaf tattoos that were visible.
“Can I give you a blow job Harry?” Louis asked sweetly. He licked his lips knowing exactly how he’d look when he did.
Harry’s eyes grew wide as he nodded with a gasp, “Yes.”
“Remember not to move your hands?” Louis motioned for Harry to lift his hips as he slowly removed the pants. “Harry?” Louis asked again.
“Fuck, Louis, yes I won’t move my hands, okay? You are enjoying this entirely too much.” He screwed his eyes shut as if seeing Louis between his legs was too much for him.
“You did say I was bossy… and I’ve been wanting to do this for months.” Louis said as he gripped Harry through his boxer briefs, causing him to let out a filthy moan.
He was so hard. And big. Though Louis was thicker. Louis palmed him through the fabric a little more as he pushed up to kiss Harry and swallow the noises he was making.
Then, Louis freed Harry from the confines of the black fabric and stroked him steadily a few times. Taking his time to enjoy the feeling of the weight in his hand when he wasn’t so rushed. It was a beautiful cock. Silky and hard. The head was a bit pink from arousal with a little bead of precum.
Louis brought his thumb across the slit at the top of the head to smear the cum around and Harry gasped, fingers flexing into full on jazz-hands. “Fuck.”
Louis smirked. Then, he sank back down to kneel between Harry’s legs. Harry seemed quite conflicted about whether he wanted to watch Louis, or lean his head back in euphoria as Louis kept his eyes on Harry’s face as he slowly took the tip into his mouth and gave his tongue a little whirl around the tip before sinking down and taking Harry as far down his throat as he could go.
Louis quickly found a rhythm alternating between trailing wet kisses and licks all along Harry’s hard cock, and taking him into his mouth and sucking and bobbing. He noticed that Harry particularly liked it when he hollowed his cheeks to suck and when he pressed his tongue against that spot just under the head. If it wasn’t for Louis’ firm hold on Harry’s hips, he’d have choked a bit as the jerk reaction he got from Harry.
“Lou,” Harry whined.
Louis popped his mouth off and gave the tip a peck, “Yes, baby.”
“You’re killing me,” He gasped rawly as Louis took a long swipe of his tongue up Harry’s shaft. “Fuck, you look so good like that.”
Then, Harry cried out when Louis twisted his hand around the base of Harry’s cock, using the other to fondle his balls while he circled and flicked the tip with his tongue. Harry was whining and moaning and saying things Louis couldn’t comprehend. One portion simply sounded like fuckfuckfuckfuckohmygod .
He saw Harry start to move a hand down towards Louis’ head and abruptly stopped his ministrations. “Hand on the sofa, Haz, or I stop.”
Harry whimpered and his hands snapped back up to the top of the couch immediately.
He was falling apart at the seams and it was all because of him. Louis had never felt so much pride in his blowjob skills before and he decided it was probably time to put Harry out of his misery. Taking Harry as deeply into mouth as he could take him, he started to bob his head while sucking and moaning around Harry’s cock.
“Mmm, ooooh, Lou, I’m gonna---” Harry gasped and Louis felt his cock twitch in his mouth as warm release shot to the back of his throat.
Louis drank him down as Harry rode out his orgasm before moving his mouth away with a wet pop.
“Fuck, Louis,” Harry rasped looking down at him. He was sure he looked as completely wrecked as Harry did.
“Nail polish intact?” Louis smirked. Harry brought down his hands, not a single smudge. “I’m impressed.”
“Me too, we are never doing that again, I want to touch you--” He reached down to try pulling Louis up.
“Still no touching until your nails are dry,” Louis leaned back and pointed a finger at him.
Harry pouted, “But I want to blow you too.”
“We can definitely do that later, but right now I think we should probably get your bare arse off the sofa… if the lads find out they’ll never want to sit here again and will make us get a new one… and I really love this sofa.”
As Louis helped Harry get his clothes back on, Harry said, “Hey Lou… how long have the cats been there?”
Louis paused. “Been where?”
“There.” Harry pointed to the other end of the sofa where they were curled up next to each other, eyes open, looking at them.
“Umm I have no idea.”
“Did you just give me a blowjob in front of our children, Lou?” Harry frowned.
“It’s very possible.”
“What if they’re scarred for life?”
“They’re cats?”
“Now I’m going to be looking over my shoulder every time you kiss me worried we have a little furry audience.”
***
They spent the rest of the morning cuddled on the sofa together, watching Grey’s of course. Eventually, after talking to each other for a full episode, they ended up pausing the show to keep talking unbothered. Harry also pulled out a laser pointer he’d gotten and they laughed as the cats tried to catch the red light on the floor and walls.
Fuck, he’d missed Harry. It’s really only been a few days too.
When the cats suddenly decided they were done and walked away to their food bowls without warning, they laid back down and continued talking about anything and everything from that last few days. Harry told him about everything that had been going on at the bakery. Orders were overwhelming, but his new assistant was doing well and Harry was confident he’d be able to cut his hours back soon so that he wasn’t overworking himself anymore.
“Thank god,” Louis commented into Harry’s shoulder. They were lying facing each other, legs tangled together. They’d fallen asleep this way several times in the past, but now it felt like so much more .
“Yeah, now I can spend more time kissing you.” Harry gave him a mischievous smile, complete with dimples and nose scrunch.
Louis pressed a soft kiss to the corner of Harry’s lips, “I’m proud of you, you know? Even though I’ve really, really missed you when you’ve been working more. I’m glad so many people are getting to discover how amazingly talented you are. I hear the bakery has over ten thousand followers on Instagram now too; I might now be one of them.”
“The most important one,” Harry nodded solemnly. “But thank you. I never thought it’d get so big, that I would be featured in food magazines? I thought I’d just have a small local bakery, maybe popular enough that I wasn’t worried about making rent every month. It’s like I told you when I signed up for the competition, I fantasized about winning, but never really thought that dream would come true.”
“And now?”
Harry gave him one of those looks he has sometimes. The ones that Louis couldn’t really comprehend the emotion behind. “I have a lot of new dreams now.”
Louis cocked his head the best he could while laying down, “Oh? What?”
“Promise to keep it a secret?” Harry smiled shyly.
Louis lifted the blanket so that it was covering their heads, giving them their own little cocoon. “What’s said under the blanket, stays under the blanket.” He grinned.
Harry’s smile widened again, eyes bright, “Okay… One of the new dreams is that I’ve kind of been thinking that maybe one day it would be fun to try out for Top Chef. I know I’m more suited to Bake Off, and that it’d be hard for me on Top Chef, just being a pastry chef, but I think I’d be decent at it.”
“Of course you’d be decent at it!” Louis wove his fingers with Harry’s and gave his hand a squeeze. “You’d be great at it. Everyone would love you. You’d have teen girls all over with massive crushes on you. Some boys too.”
Harry looked at him thoughtfully again, biting his lip in the way that Louis had learned meant he was unsure of something. Louis wished he would stop getting that look in relation to him.
“Haz,” Louis said quietly. “I’ll never be mad at you for saying what you feel. And remember, what’s said under the blanket, stays under the blanket. It’s our new motto.”
Harry’s fingers trailed up and down Louis’ arm lightly, his face scrunched up in thought. Finally, he said: “I know we said we didn’t need to define things, that we could just be us, but I have the biggest crush on you. I just don’t know what to do about it yet.”
“Well, like we said,” Louis gave Harry’s side a reassuring squeeze, hoping Harry wasn’t suddenly having second thoughts. “We take things slow, just be us. No labeling. No telling our friends. We just do what feels right, no need to complicate things more than needed.”
“Okay,” Harry had the ghost of a sad smile flash across his face. “And then if feelings change, in any way, we talk about it?”
“Okay,” Louis croaked. Something about that last comment struck him in an odd way.
They paused looking at each other for a few moments. Louis wished he could peel back Harry’s layers and know what he was thinking. He was so open most of the time, and Louis had learned to read so many of his looks and mannerisms, but at that moment Louis had no idea what was going through Harry’s head.
Then, he remembered something Harry said that first morning they sat on the sofa together, painting Harry’s nails. He’d been so insecure about being seen as too girly. Same when the guys that harassed them made fun of his shirt and necklace. He had also said he gave up on dating apps because he was never what they were expecting him to be.
Louis suddenly had a feeling that while his own insecurities were much more recent and from Ethan’s gaslighting, Harry’s had been there a lot longer.
He didn’t want to put assumptions onto Harry and what was going through his mind, but he was positive that Harry still didn’t know how perfect he was. Louis very much wanted to change that. Harry had done so much to help Louis realize his worth, and he was going to do the same for Harry, no question.
And that desire definitely outweighed any other fears he had about anything involving Harry. They were so alike in some ways; they both looked after other people before themselves. Harry looked after him, so he would look after Harry.
“Why do you think I’m going to change my mind,” Louis finally said.
Harry bit his lip again and looked away. “People change their minds all the time, Lou.”
“And you think I’m one of those people? That I’ll change my mind about you… like everyone else?” Louis added cautiously.
Harry met his eyes quickly, “I…” he stopped.
“I’m not like everyone else, Hazza,” Louis smiled sadly and brought a hand up to cup his face, thumb stroking Harry’s cheek. “Correct me if I’m wrong, but I think… I think you’re used to people not seeing how amazing you are. They either try to change you or they leave you. I’m not going to do either.”
“You really can’t promise that,” Harry said hoarsely.
“You don’t believe me yet, that’s okay. I know you’re scared. I am a bit still too. We can keep to the plan until you’re ready for more. But I’m going to show you that I’m not going to leave, and I’m going to make sure you know how amazing you are until you start to believe it.”
Harry had blinked and tears trailed down his face slowly. Louis wiped one away with his thumb and then leaned in to kiss away the rest and hold Harry close to him.
Harry didn’t say anything about Louis’ declaration, but Louis didn’t expect him to. Instead, he cleared his throat and asked, “What about you, what are your dreams? Have you still been using the notebook?”
Louis bit his lip and nodded. “I love nursing, I really do, but I’ve been writing a little everyday and… it’s really fun.” He couldn’t hold back the smile. “I have no idea what to do about that though. It’s not exactly realistic to quit nursing to be a writer.”
“Why not? You’re a great writer, I’m sure someone would pay you.”
Louis laughed, “You’ve never even read my work, Hazza.”
“Doesn’t matter. I’m sure you’re great.” Harry’s voice reminded him of the caramel in that pastry he made. “Would you tell me about what you’ve been writing? Like fiction or…?”
“Yeah, fiction… It’s actually kind of an idea for a book I had ages ago but never did anything with.” He blushed a bit, he’d never talked to anyone about writing before.
“Will you show me sometime? When you’re ready? So I can gush appropriately.”
Louis’ heart warmed. “You’ll be the first.”
***
They continued to cuddle on the couch talking until the spell was broken when Louis’ stomach grumbled and Harry simply rolled to a sitting position, “Up, up, time to make lunch. I’m going to feed you.”
There was no more talk about what they said under the blanket, just as Louis had promised, but he hoped Harry saw things a little bit differently now.
Louis certainly did.
“Only if you let me help, I can be your sous chef, like on Top Chef,” Louis said following Harry into the kitchen.
“Never thought I’d have such a hot sous chef,” Harry winked and went back to looking at what they had in the fridge and cupboards. “How do you feel about making pasta from scratch? We could do bolognese.”
“Sounds perfect, I don’t think I’ve ever had pasta from scratch before.”
The smirk that graced Harry’s lips at that should have clued Louis in, but it wasn’t until a little while later that Louis understood just how sensual making pasta dough could be. Holy fuck.
They’d started innocently enough, but as Harry asked for ingredients, Louis handed them to him making sure to let his fingers graze up and down Harry’s arm or waist or bum… He lost all subtlety, really. Though so did Harry when it was time to knead the dough. Harry got behind Louis under the guise of teaching Louis how to knead. A classic move that Louis might have thought was cheesy if it had come from anyone else. And if he didn’t enjoy it so much.
Harry held his mouth close to Louis’ ear, softly speaking directions as he interlocked their fingers so that Harry could guide Louis’ hands around the dough. His touch was both firm and gentle in a way that captivated all of Louis’ attention. Harry’s front was pressed firmly to his back, and Louis could feel Harry getting hard against his bum as he purposefully wiggled his hips back and forth.
When the dough was ready to rest for thirty minutes, Louis turned around and brought his hands down to knead Harry’s arse too. The moan Harry let out into Louis’ mouth was delicious. They made out for a while pressing each other into the kitchen counter, backing off, then going all in again, driving each other wild. Somehow, between all of that, they were also able to make the bolognese sauce. Louis acted as taste-tester.
“Okay, so next— Lou, this part is important, pay attention,” Harry whined as Louis brushed Harry’s hair out of the way and started to kiss and nibble under his ear while he was trying to teach Louis about the next step in the pasta making process. Louis rolled his eyes in amusement.
“This is becoming a very involved way to just make some lunch, Haz, I can’t help it if I need a snack while I wait.” It was cheesy as fuck, but Louis was pretty pleased with himself for that pun. Especially when it made Harry smile.
“Save your snacking, it’s time to roll out the dough through the pasta machine so that we can eventually eat real food.”
Louis agreed and watched as Harry’s long, delicate fingers handled the dough until it was in sheets of just the right thickness and then helped slice the sheets into noodles. He could definitely think of a few other things he’d like Harry to do with those fingers.
“Now what?” Louis asked when half the kitchen counter was covered in piles of linguine noodles.
“Some we cook now, the rest we can dry or freeze to use later,” Harry said as he cleaned up a bit. Then he paused and slapped a hand to his forehead, “We forgot to start boiling a pot of water.” He looked at Louis a little regretfully, “It’s going to be a little longer till lunch.”
“I’m fine baby, don’t worry about it. Though you’re going to need to work on your time management in the kitchen before going on Top Chef,” Louis teased lightly.
Harry gave Louis a wicked grin and stepped closer so that Louis was pinned against the counter, Harry’s arms on either side of him, bodies pressed together. “I’ll show you time management,” Harry said as he lifted Louis up onto the counter so that he could stand between Louis’ legs. “Let me know when the water boils.”
“What–” but Louis was cut off by a fierce kiss that made his head spin. Oh. His thoughts faded away as he was completely consumed with feeling Harry. His mouth, his tongue, on his lips, on his neck… when did he become shirtless?
Louis let out a particularly loud groan and gripped Harry’s hips through the fabric of his shirt as Harry sucked on that spot at the base of his throat again.
“How’s the water doing, Lou,” Harry panted as he pulled away a little.
“What?” Louis blinked and looked across from them at the stove. “Right, not boiling ye–tttt,” he stuttered as Harry ran his tongue over one of Louis’ nipples.
Louis started to roll his hips against Harry, but was stopped when Harry pulled him off the counter and sank to his knees in front of Louis.
“I think it’s my turn to taste you,” Harry said, nuzzling his cheek against Louis' hard, fabric covered, cock.
“Ye– ohh, yep,” Louis gasped as Harry started to place wet open mouthed kisses on the fabric over his cock and brought a hand around to give his bum a firm squeeze.
Without much warning, Harry grabbed the waistband of both Louis’ pants and boxer briefs at the same time and pulled down letting Louis’ cock bob up and down. Louis tried to grip the edge of the flat counter the best he could when Harry took Louis into his mouth.
Once again, all he could feel was Harry. Harry’s mouth, Harry’s tongue, Harry’s hands fondling his balls. Louis was pretty sure he was just saying Harry’s name over and and over again incoherently like a prayer. One of his hands found its way into Harry’s curls, holding on lightly as Harry bobbed and sucked and licked. Up and down and around… holy fuck.
“You look so pretty baby,” Louis said, finding his voice as Harry’s eyes met his. “I knew you had perfect lips for this…” he ground out. “Your mouth takes my cock so well.”
Harry hummed and the vibration made Louis’ eyes practically roll back into his head. When he looked down again he was pretty sure he saw Harry’s lip twitch into a smirk around him. Then he repeated the move on Louis.
Louis couldn’t control it, he came hard and fast down Harry’s throat. Knees almost buckling, but Harry used his arms to keep him up right as he sucked the cum out of Louis’ cock.
“Holy fuck,” Louis finally said.
Harry gave one final, dirty slurp as he took his mouth off of Louis, placing a little kiss on the sensitive head. “Yeah, you were saying that a lot,” he smirked cheekily.
Louis was going to make a cheeky comeback of his own, but he glanced at the stove and winced, “The water is boiling over…” Causing Harry to spring into action to turn down the burner and finish making lunch while Louis took a few moments to bring his head down from the clouds.
***
At five they were expecting Niall back any minute and had cleaned up a bit so that Niall wouldn’t suspect anything and make them burn the sofa. Or the kitchen.
“I feel like Niall coming back is popping the little bubble we made for ourselves today. Once he gets here, we have to go back to normal.” Harry said, looking down and biting his lip.
Louis gave him a look, “Haz. We’d have to go back to ‘normal’ regardless. I draw the line at having sex in front of Niall.”
Harry gave him a goofy smile, “Oh, yeah. Good point. That’s definitely a hard line.”
Louis nodded absentmindedly, looked at the sofa, and then at Harry, “Next time we’re alone though I’d really like you to fuck me over the back of this sofa.”
Harry sputtered, “Jesus, Lou, you can’t just say things like that to me when Niall could be back any minute.”
“Sorry baby,” Louis said, knowing he didn’t sound sorry at all. “I guess I also shouldn’t mention the fantasy I have of you riding me?”
The look on Harry’s face was priceless. “If I’m hard when Niall gets here, I’m going to kill you.”
“Got your mind off of being all melancholy though, didn’t it?”
Harry rolled his eyes, “Sure, but it put my mind on something else…”
“One more kiss for the road until we’re alone again?” Louis asked, cupping Harry’s cheek to bring him in for a soft, slow kiss, only to spring a part when they heard the lock to the door turning.
“Honey’s I’m home,” Niall said walking through the door. “Hello lads, have a good day reuniting? Will there be less of you two avoiding each other while simultaneously pouting and complaining about how you miss each other now? Destroy any other major appliances while I was at work?”
Louis threw a pillow at Niall, who caught it with a laugh, “We weren’t pouting.”
Niall let out a cackle, “Oh, you two have absolutely been pouting.” He settled himself into the space between Louis and Harry and flung his arms around them. “Just like you’re both pouting right now because I sat in between you and am separating you from your other half.”
Louis and Harry shared a look and both gapped at Niall, unable to form words.
“Don’t worry, I’m getting up,” Niall grinned. “What did you two do all day then?”
“Uhh, FIFA,” Harry said quickly.
Louis guessed that wasn’t a total lie, they did sort of play with balls.
“And pasta,” Louis practically shouted. He could see Harry give him a ‘what the fuck you’re being so weird’ look. “We made pasta, there’s leftovers for dinner too,” he said more casually.
“Oh excellent, love it when you make pasta, H.” Niall said, rubbing his hands together.
Right as Niall disappeared around the corner to get out of his work clothes and Harry and Louis thought they’d get another moment alone, the door opened again, this time revealing Liam and Zayn. Of course.
“Glad we made all that extra pasta,” Louis mumbled to Harry.
“Maybe we shouldn’t have though, now they’re not going to leave us alone for hours,” Harry said thoughtfully.
Louis deflated a little, “Damn, you’re right. Never cook for anyone but me again.”
Harry laughed and rested his head on Louis’ shoulder, patting his knee, “You’ll be fine.”
“Be fine with what?” Liam asked, hopping over the sofa to sit next to Harry.
“Sharing the meal we slaved over for hours with the likes of you,” Louis said dryly.
“Actually, we aren’t here for dinner,” Zayn said sitting next to Louis.
“Why are you here then,” Harry asked suspiciously. “You two always show up at this time when you want dinner.”
“We do want dinner, but not here,” Zayn continued. “My publicist wants more of the buzz our little group outings get and she got us all a reservation at that cool new restaurant that just opened near the river.”
Louis smiled at how quickly Harry visibly perked up. “Really?” Harry asked, “That new Japanese place that’s been winning every restaurant award possible? That’s supposed to be impossible to get into; I’ve heard it’s incredible.”
“So you want to go then?” Liam smirked.
Harry nodded enthusiastically and got up, “I know just what to wear.”
***
Louis was positive that Harry planned on torturing him when he got dressed.
He did this on purpose.
After Harry had run off to his room to change, Zayn had told Louis that the place was dressy, no joggers. Louis didn’t have many “dress” outfits, so went for black trousers and a red button up that Lottie had gotten him once.
Harry, however, went for a shiny black button up, lavender high waisted wide-leg pants that made his legs look crazy long, and matching suspenders. Along with all his rings, everything about him looked amazing. Fucking suspenders? Of course Harry could pull off suspenders. And his arse and waist looked amazing in those pants.
As the group started walking towards the restaurant after paying for their Uber, Harry pushed his hair behind his ear and Louis’ eyes caught something on his neck that made him rush over before their friends could notice. “When you do that, the love bite I gave you is clearly visible,” he whispered to Harry. “Also you look gorgeous.”
“I know,” Harry smiled lightly, glancing up and down Louis’ body. “You look very nice too.”
“You know you look gorgeous or that the love bite is visible?” Louis fought back a smile.
“Both,” Harry shrugged.
Louis glanced back over to where the others were walking ahead of them. They were laughing at something Niall had said, not paying attention to the two that had fallen back at all, so Louis took a chance and wrapped an arm around Harry’s waist.
“As much as I enjoy this,” Harry looked shyly away. “We should probably step away from each other before our friends notice. Telling them we’re fucking, but not technically dating, isn’t really a conversation I’m super interested in having with them right now.”
“Me either,” Louis gave him a grin that made his nose scrunch. “We better stop now,” Louis forced himself to remove his arm from around Harry. “Otherwise they’re going to come looking for us and they’ll find me with my tongue down your throat.”
“So romantic,” Harry rolled his eyes, but Louis knew he enjoyed the mental image.
***
The food at the restaurant was just as incredible as Harry and Zayn had hyped it up to be and dinner with their friends was a blast. Even better was that no one knew that Louis had his ankle wrapped around Harry’s under the table the whole time. It was thrilling. He couldn’t help it, he just felt like he needed to stay connected to Harry physically in some way.
“This plating is a work of art,” Harry gushed as they were served their entrees.
“Yeah, H, why do you never serve us fancy plates like this for dinner at home? I thought you were supposed to be a professional,” Niall teased.
Louis knew Niall was joking, Niall loved Harry and he joked with him all the time, but Louis was suddenly feeling a little defensive about people putting Harry down. “Leave him alone, he gets to relax when he’s home, doesn’t mean he couldn’t do something like this if he wanted to.” He said it a bit more sharply than he probably needed to…
Zayn raised an eyebrow at him, “You okay, Tommo?”
“It’s fine, Lou, Niall was just joking,” Harry said, giving him an odd look.
“Um, excuse me,” the five men turned to look at two nervous looking girls that seemed to be maybe in their early twenties. They were looking between Zayn and Harry with utter stars in their eyes. “We are so, so, sorry to interrupt—”
“But we know we’d regret it if we didn’t at least try,” the other girl continued.
“Don’t worry about it,” Harry said, giving them a kind, encouraging look because that was the kind of person Harry was–looking after others, even strangers. “What can we help you with?”
The girls both sighed in relief. “It’s our friend's twenty-first birthday,” she pointed to a rowdy group of girls in the back corner. “She’s a huge fan of both of yours and it’d mean the world to her to get to meet you.”
“Both who?” Harry asked, confused. Louis realized he clearly wasn’t picking up on what Louis already had. Harry thought that they were there for Zayn, but they were there for Harry too. Of course Harry didn’t think they were there for him.
“You and, uh, Zayn,” the girl blushed bright scarlett.
“Me? Really? I’m just a baker…” Oh Harry sweetie.
“H, you really don’t pay attention to social media, do you?” Niall answered for the girls who seemed slightly distressed at Harry’s confusion.
“What do you mean?” Harry looked at him and Louis pulled out his phone and pulled up the Olivia’s Bakery Instagram and handed it to Harry.
“You’re a thirst trap, Haz,” Louis stated. He really was, and James had also clearly realized that every time a picture of Harry was posted to the bakery’s account, it resulted in more likes and followers. Harry was hot.
Harry’s eyes grew wide looking at the photos, “I didn’t even know half of these were being taken.”
“You should read the comments,” Niall added.
Louis took his phone back before Harry could freak out. “We can look at those later, right now your adoring fans await.”
“Com’on, Harry,” Zayn said, standing up as the girls squealed. “Don’t you want to make a girl’s day for her birthday?”
“Yeah, of course.” The look Harry shot at Louis was definitely still very uncertain and surprised, so Louis gave him a cheesy grin and a thumbs up for encouragement.
As Louis watched Harry and Zayn follow the girls over to their group of friends to shake hands and take pictures, Louis turned to Liam. He seemed pretty at ease with the whole exchange. “Is it always like this when you and Zayn go out?”
“Not always,” Liam shrugged and took a sip of his drink. “Definitely more often more recently though. Usually he gets recognized most at posh places like this. I honestly wouldn’t be surprised if his publicist was somehow involved in those girls coming over here in some way. She’s said that positive fan interactions are good as gold for making a name for himself outside modeling.”
“Does it ever bother you?”
“It did a little at first,” Liam confided. “I didn’t like the idea that at any given moment a picture of us could end up in some magazine or Tweet. I got used to it though. It helps that probably ninety-nine percent of them are like those girls. They genuinely are fans and just want him to know that they appreciate him.”
Louis nodded thoughtfully, he wondered if Harry’s popularity and recognizability would continue to grow. It definitely would if he ever did go on Top Chef. Harry was a star, Louis knew that. Glancing back over to see Harry shake more hands, he thought again of what he’d admitted to Lottie weeks ago. He didn’t really have personal aspirations of being famous, but he didn’t think he’d mind being attached to someone who was famous if that someone was Harry.
***
“Hey Tommo, I saw you had a fun night last night,” Ed said in greeting as Louis was making a second cup of tea in the breakroom.
“What do you mean you saw?” Louis asked, looking at his friend, confused.
“You went to that fancy new restaurant with the lads, it’s all over Twitter. Some girls recognized you all from Zayn’s photos and Harry’s. They mentioned you, Niall, and Liam too. In particular there is a lot of buzz about you and Harry looking very cozy.”
Louis’ eyes bugged. “What? They recognized me ?” He thought that since he didn’t really post anything the followers he’d gained from being Zayn’s friend would have faded away.
Taking Ed’s outstretched phone, Louis saw that was definitely not the case. It seemed that the people who thought he and Harry were together in that first photo weeks ago were going crazy for the new tidbits of information posted by the girls from the restaurant. Louis clicked on the first in a series of text posts to make it bigger:
I was at a friends’ twenty-first birthday party last night, and who just happened to also be at the restaurant? Our favorite OT5!! I think this is the first evidence I’ve seen of them being all together since Halloween. I expect it’s because they’re all very busy. Particularly Harry, I was at Olivia’s last week and the place was a zoo.
Anyway, when we went to see if Harry and Zayn would come take some pictures with the birthday girl, OT5 was having a blast, laughing and talking. It was so cute. They were all so sweet to us too even though we interrupted their meal.
The most adorable part though, was Harry and Louis. Louis is the most under the radar of the bunch, but we know he works as an ER nurse, he’s attractive as fuck, and he only has eyes for Harry, and let. Me. tell. You. I can absolutely confirm those last two statements. I didn’t see him use his nursing skills, sorry ;)
Harry and Louis were so cute together. Apparently Harry isn’t the one that is in charge of Olivia's Bakery socials because he had no idea why we wanted a picture with him, and then Louis super adorably pulled out his phone to show Harry and called Harry a “thirst trap” (isn’t that the truth?). I’m absolutely obsessed with these two just as much as I am with Zayn and Liam. Honestly, at this point possibly more.
I’ll leave you with my favorite noticing of the night– Harry definitely had a fresh hickey on his neck. He tried to hide it with his hair, but the camera sees all.
See attached photos for proof :)
Louis, by that time flushed pink down to his neck, looked at the blurry photos of them all at the restaurant from the night before. A couple were the ones Harry and Zayn posed for, but there were also several slightly blurry ones taken from across the dimly lit restaurant that showed the five of them laughing, as well as some zoomed in on just Louis and Harry gazing sweetly at each other. And holy shit, how did their camera catch the way Louis had his ankle around Harry’s under the table?
“So?” Ed questioned with a smirk.
“No comment,” was the first thing to pop into Louis’ mind.
“Oh com’on, you’re no fun,” Ed whined.
Louis sighed, “OT5? What does that mean?”
“One True Five,” Ed said sagely. “It means your fans think you lads are a true friend group made in friendship paradise. Or they needed an easy way to refer to the lot of you at once without constantly typing your names all out. It could be your band name, like The Backstreet Boys.”
Louis shook his head at the band comment. “I get why Harry and Zayn have fans. And Niall because of the music, and Liam because he’s been with Zayn so long, but why would I have fans?”
“Because whether you admit it or not, you’re clearly with Harry. Harry is getting big, they want to know about him, therefore they want to know about the people he’s closest to. And they think you’re hot. You are doing a great service to male nurses everywhere, really. I salute you.”
Louis rolled his eyes as Ed held up his hand in salute. “I’m really not that interesting.”
“You aren’t denying the ‘looking like you two are together’ thing? That is very interesting,” Ed winked. “Is that why you’re in such a good mood today?”
Louis looked out the windows to the rest of the ED avoiding the answer when he spotted something that made him groan. “That mood is about to change. Look who’s in the ED today.”
Dr. Cowell. Ugh. Of course he was.
“Damn,” Ed’s mood dropped as well. “I guess we should get out there and face the music before he comes in calling us lazy gossips or something.”
“To be fair, you are a gossip.”
“That is fair,” Ed agreed.
***
That afternoon, Louis decided that instead of staying home alone while both Harry and Niall were still working, he’d go to Olivia’s and have some tea while writing in his notebook. When he walked in he was pleased to see that while the bakery had a steady stream of customers, it wasn’t overly crowded and a few tables were open.
“Hi, welcome to Olivia’s, what can I do for you today?” A pretty brunette girl at the counter said when it was his turn.
“A pumpkin spice cupcake please and a tea, please.” He glanced behind him and seeing that he was last in line, he added, “And is Harry busy at the moment?”
The girl hesitated, “Umm, I’m not sure, who should I tell him is asking?”
“Oh! Louis, I’m his flatmate. I thought I’d surprise him.” He rubbed the back of his neck and briefly wondered how many people asked about meeting his… Harry on a daily basis.
“Oh, Louis!” Her face brightened considerably. “I’m Kasey, Harry’s new assistant baker. He’s definitely mentioned you,” she grinned further. “I’ll get that cupcake and tea ready and tell Harry you're here. Oh, no, it’s on the house, Harry has you and a couple others on his ‘doesn’t pay’ list.”
“What? No–”
“Everyone has a list of a couple people that get free treats. I’m not taking your money.” She raised an eyebrow as if daring him to argue.
He put the money in the tip jar and raised a brow back causing her to snort.
“Here’s your cupcake,” she passed him a little plate with a pretty cupcake on it. Louis typically despised trendy foods, but Harry had made him try the pumpkin spice cupcake at home when he added it to his menu for fall and… yeah it was delicious. “I’ll bring your tea out in a few minutes–”
The door to the kitchen opened to reveal Harry, hair tied up in a bun, flour dusting his green apron, and a pleasantly surprised smile on his face. “Lou? What are you doing here?”
“Thought I’d hang out here and write for a bit instead of doing it at home alone.” He put his hands in his pockets and rocked on his feet as if to shrug with his whole body. He couldn’t be held responsible for how his eyes zeroed in on the fading mark still visible on Harry’s neck.
“Take your break now Harry,” Kasey nudged. “I’ve got the register and I’m sure Sarah is fine in the back.”
A few minutes later he and Harry were at one of the empty tables drinking tea and splitting the cupcake. Their knees touched under the small table and they both grinned over their tea, the afternoon sun was hitting Harry’s face in just the right way, there was a low murmur of conversations going on around them…It was lovely.
“What do you have baking right now?”
“Macaroons,” Harry gave him a tired look. “They’re being a bit temperamental. I have so many rejects that I’ll be able to send Sarah and Kasey home each with a box full and have some for us as well.”
“Well I know that’s frustrating for you, but I can’t say I’m upset about the results,” Louis teased, grazing his fingers over Harry’s hand.
Eventually, Harry had to go back to the kitchen and Louis began to work on his writing. He wasn’t sure how much time had passed when he heard a woman call his name.
“Louis! Hey!” Toni waved and wandered over from the counter with Cheryl.
Louis smiled up at them, “Hey, getting some afternoon sweets as well?”
Cheryl sat down and Toni pulled up an extra chair. “We’re meeting our women loving women book club here actually. You should join us.”
“But I’m not a woman loving woman,” he grinned. “I’d ruin your girl-power, smash the patriarchy vibes.”
“Doesn’t matter, you’re now an honorary lesbian. It’s been decided.” Cheryl flicked her hair over her shoulder. “Oh, here’s everyone else!”
Louis was definitely not getting more writing time in as Cheryl dragged him over to the larger table in the corner where he was introduced to their book club friends: Waverly, Nicole, Ana, Yessika, Nomi, and Amanita.
They were the best.
“Well, thank you Cheryl for this month’s pick, She Who Became the Sun . It seems like, unsurprisingly, everyone’s favorite part was the unexpected vaginal fisting scene,” Nomi concluded. Louis would never be able to get some of that particular conversation out of his head.. “Next month it is Waverly’s turn to pick the book–have you made a decision?”
“Yes. While I’ve enjoyed our recent adult novels, my students have recommended I read Malice by Heather Walter. It’s a young adult Sleeping Beauty retelling.”
Cheryl began to groan about a lack of smut, but was cut off by Harry coming up to the table.
“Sorry ladies, it’s closing time.” Louis looked up at Harry who had put a hand on his shoulder as he came up to them. They were the only ones left in the bakery. “Lou, have you joined the women loving women book club? Something you need to tell me?” His eyes sparkled.
“The lesbians love me and I love them, Harold. No need to be jealous.” He patted the hand Harry still had on his shoulder.
“You can join us too if you want, Harry.” Nomi added with a kind smile.
Louis’ phone pinged and looked to see the notification that his package was delivered. “Oh! Hazza, the surprise I bought us just arrived at home!”
“You bought us a surprise?” Harry asked, stepping back because apparently Louis’ words were enough to get everyone to wordlessly start getting up to leave.
“You’re going to love it, it’s genius. A masterpiece.”
Toni gave him a questioning look and Louis leaned over to whisper in her ear. “Oh, that’s cute. You guys have fun with that.”
“What is it?” Cheryl asked.
“Silly boy things. You’d probably murder me if I brought it home.”
***
“Gentlemen,” Louis said standing in front of Harry, Niall, Liam, and Zayn as they sat on the sofa with varying degrees of interested looks about whatever it was Louis had received in the mail. “What is something you always wanted to play in the comfort of your own home, but you never could?”
“Play?” Zayn tilted his head. “Like a board game?”
“Basketball.” Liam said definitively.
“No, you’re both wrong, try again.” Louis put his hands on his hips.
“I’ve always thought curling at the Olympics looked kind of fun,” Harry commented.
Louis gave him a look. “Yes, Harold. There’s an ice rink in this medium sized cardboard box from Amazon. You nailed it.”
Harry stuck out his tongue.
“Oh I got it,” Niall clapped. “What about like, Twister or something like that? That could fit in a box.”
Louis sighed. “You all suck at this.”
“Just tell us already,” Liam groaned. “I’m hungry.”
Louis set the box down and began to open it. “Lads, I present to you, an at home… ping pong table kit! We can play ping pong at the kitchen table!”
“Ohhh that’s fucking sick,” Niall rubbed his hands together.
“Ginger and Pepper are going to love it too,” Harry gave Ginger a light scratched behind the ears from her spot in his lap. “Chasing after the balls.”
“Exactly!” Louis said proudly. “It’s a game for everyone.”
Pepper chose that moment to jump into the box and sit on top of the contents, looking up at him just daring him to ask her to move. “Let’s have dinner first though.”
As usual, Harry and Louis were the last ones in the living room that night after they played several rounds of ping pong and wore themselves and the cats out.
“So you liked my sur–” Harry cut Louis off by grabbing a fistfull of the front of his shirt and pulling him in for a kiss.
“Sorry,” Harry said breathlessly when he released Louis’ mouth. “I’ve been wanting to do that since you walked into the shop this afternoon.”
Part of Louis had nearly forgotten that he could kiss Harry now. That part of him was an idiot. Why the fuck was he excited about ping pong when he could have been kissing Harry? Kissing Harry was definitely the superior activity.
Louis brushed a piece of hair behind Harry’s ear, letting his thumb swipe over the mark on his neck before giving Harry what he knew was a wicked grin. “How quiet can you be? With Niall down the hall?”
“I guess we’ll have to find out.”
Chapter 14: Chapter 13 - No Control
Chapter Text
Chapter 13 - No Control
It seemed, that while Louis hadn’t seen Cowell around much the last month or so, schedules got changed and now Louis saw him around all the fucking time. It was awful.
“Louis, you’re with Cowell on the patient coming in,” Marcia shouted over to him before coming closer and whispering, “Sorry, everyone else is busy.”
“It’s fine Marcia, I can be professional.” Louis assured her.
“It’s not you I’m worried about,” she added pointedly.
Cowell didn’t acknowledge Louis’ presence as they met Liam in the ambulance bay. Hurriedly, Liam pulled out a young woman restrained to the gurney, covered in blood and long scratches. She was thrashing around screaming and begging for them to “get them off her.”
“Patient is Paige Young, twenty-nine. Started experiencing visual and tactile hallucinations that she is covered in ants and being eaten alive,” Liam repeated quickly.
“Lovely, another head-case,” Louis heard Cowell grumble. Of course, once again Cowell would be unhappy with a case that didn’t immediately involve cutting someone open.
Once they were in the trauma room, the woman’s roommate caught up to them.
“How long has this been going on?” Cowell sighed as Louis set up machines for vitals. It was a bit of a challenge because the woman had yet to stop moving.
“She woke up like this, it escalated really quickly. At first she was just like ‘did you see that?’ and then next thing I know she’s covered in blood scratching at herself. I didn’t know what to do so I called an ambulance,” the friend said worriedly.
“You did exactly what you should have done,” Louis reassured her.
Cowell asked a few more basic intake questions that the friend either didn’t know the answer to, or the answer didn’t help with diagnosis.
“Well, Nurse Louis, administer diazepam to calm her down and page psych to come down and get Ms. Young here. This seems to be a case for them.”
Louis took a deep, calming breath. Trying not to snap at the man in front of the patient’s friend. “Dr. Cowell, shouldn’t we do a few tests first just to be sure it’s a psych case and there isn’t something else going on?”
Cowell, unsurprisingly, did like Louis giving an opinion. “Off my service, Tomlinson. Get out.” He snapped. “I’ll page psych myself.”
Louis went straight to Marcia. “Cowell is sending that woman to psych without a proper eval. As usual, he’s made up his mind without proof. That woman needs an MRI at least to rule out a brain tumor or bleed. Hallucinations just don’t appear out of nowhere.”
Marcia nodded in staunch agreement. “I’ll take care of it Louis, that man is on my last nerve.”
A while later, after earning death glares from Cowell, Louis and Dr. Song were with Paige Young going over her MRI results.
“Ms. Young, you have a small tumor in your temporal lobe, that is what is causing your hallucinations. Your friend mentioned you bumped your head yesterday and we believe that small bump jostled things just enough to cause the tumor to press on the part of your brain that can cause hallucinations. We are going to take you up for surgery as soon as an OR opens…”
At least this encounter with Cowell didn’t result in him getting punched. This time he was right and he got to help correctly diagnose a patient.
“Good save, Louis,” Song said as Paige was taken for surgery to remove the tumor.
“Thanks, doc.”
“You!” An angry voice shouted from the other side of the ED. Louis and Song looked over to see Cowell storming furiously over to Louis, getting right in his face, poking a sharp finger into the center of his chest. “What did you tell them? I’ve been temporarily suspended!”
Louis was fuming. Was he fucking serious? “Only temporarily? That woman could have died from a brain tumor if we did things your way.”
SLAM
Cowell gripped the front of Louis’ scrubs with both fists and slammed Louis into the wall behind him. Hard. Causing his head to bounce. He felt a sting, but he was a little too focused on Cowell practically being nose to nose with him. He could hear Song shouting for security and for Cowell to let him go, but all Louis could see was the utter hatred and rage in Cowell’s eyes.
“You better watch yourself, Tomlinson. If I lose my job, I’ll be coming for you.” The man spat venomously before slamming Louis back again, harder, and letting him fall to the floor. Cowell brushed past the security guards running towards him and left the building.
“Oh my god, Louis, are you okay?” Perrie said, rushing to him. “He came out of nowhere!”
“I think I’m okay…” The moment he said it he knew it was a lie, he felt dizzy. He brought his hand up to the back of his head and winced as he touched something wet. Blood?
He looked up behind him. Oh, Cowell had made his head hit right on the corner of the small metal room number plaque that had sharp pointy corners hard enough to break the skin. Holy fuck.
“Oh my god,” Perrie repeated as she saw what Louis had realized.
“Room 2,” Marcia said as she ran over with Song. Perrie and Ed helped Louis to the exam room so that Dr. Song could examine him.
“You should press charges,” Song said sternly. “He assaulted you. He made a mistake and he’s had it out for you from the moment you came to work here, none of this is your fault. You saved that patient today because you didn’t bow to his incompetence.”
“How do you even press charges?” Louis groaned as Perrie raised the back of his scrubs to check for injuries on his back. “It’s like a thing people say, but no one ever actually explains how to do it.”
“Don’t worry,” Marcia said, coming back in. Louis didn’t even notice her leave. “I’ve just told the hospital administrator what happened. They have the security footage and are already starting the process with the hospital lawyers. This is one too many strikes against Cowell, he may be a good surgeon, but they’ve decided he’s more trouble than he’s worth.”
Louis tried nodding, but forgot that people were poking around at his head and winced.
“The cut on your head isn’t too deep, just a few stitches should be enough. You definitely have a concussion though. Also bruising starting to form on your back, but no signs of internal damage or broken ribs,” Song assessed. When did he get into a hospital gown? “Is there someone you can call to help you get home safely and stay and watch you?”
His first thought, of course, was Harry, but Harry was at work, and so were Niall and Liam. He didn’t want them to have to leave work for him... But, thanks to Niall’s mom-schedule on the whiteboard, he knew one person who was off today. And he had a car. “Yeah, get me my phone?”
Dr. Song numbed Louis’ head and stitched and bandaged him up, ordering him to rest, and going over all the usual concussion protocol dos and don’ts that Louis knew by heart. When he told her this she just said “Tough, I’m going over them again when your friend gets here.”
A couple minutes later, Zayn rushed into the ED. “Fucking hell, Lou, what happened?”
Louis could see that Perrie, who had never met Zayn, had her jaw practically on the floor. “Why are all your friends so hot?” She muttered. He ignored her.
“I was attacked by an enraged doctor,” Louis summed up. “I have a concussion.”
“He also has stitches for a laceration on the back of his head, right now it’s numbed with a local anesthetic, but it’ll hurt when it wears off. I’m prescribing a few pain pills to help with that and the bruising on his back,” Song handed Zayn the prescription. “Ice in both areas will help too. Here’s some pamphlets on concussions and what to watch for…”
Louis zoned out at that point and looked at his phone to text Harry, the light kind of hurt his eyes though. Stupid concussion. He started to feel dizzy again.
Suddenly his head swam, the room shifted, and he clasped a hand to his mouth. He managed to get out “bucket,” before he threw up all over himself. So at least that was lucky.
Concussion symptoms: Headache? Check. Slight memory… issues? Check. Sensitivity to light? Check. Nausea and vomiting? Double check.
“Are you sure he’s okay to go home?” He heard Zayn ask worriedly.
“Let's get a scan just to be overly cautious, but vomiting is definitely a normal symptom.”
Before they took Louis for a CT-scan, Louis turned to Zayn. “Would you text Harry, tell him not to freak out? I know he’s busy with work…”
“Yeah, of course. I don’t think me telling him ‘don’t freak out’ is going to work though.”
“Yeah probably not,” Louis sighed.
***
Back from CT, Louis was all cleared. Zayn confirmed that Harry definitely freaked out, but Zayn convinced him to pick up some stuff at the store and meet them at home. “I told him to try not to stress you out when we get there, he kind of took offense to that.”
Louis gave him a weak smile. “I’m sure he did. Thanks for coming to get me though,” Louis mumbled.
Zayn patted him lightly on the shoulder, “Anytime, mate.”
The ride home was a blur for Louis, and when they pulled into Zayn’s parking spot, Harry was there already waiting. He was biting his lip, running his fingers through his hair, and pacing. The moment the car stopped Harry opened the door for Louis and squated so they were somewhat eye level.
“Oh my god, Lou,” he said softly, taking Louis’ hand. “There’s a fucking bandage around your head. I’m going to fucking kill that man.”
“I’d like to too, but it’s a bad idea. Neither of us would do well in prison, remember? Rules and food. Even if you are my prison wife.” Louis groaned as Harry helped him get out of the car. They both ignored Zayn’s snort of laughter.
“That’s a good point. Let’s get you inside to rest though, I’ve been researching concussions while I’ve been waiting.”
***
When Louis woke up, the first thing he noticed was that even though he was on his side, his legs had been forced apart just enough to fit two sleeping cats based on the bit of fur he could see out of the corner of his eye without moving his head. He wanted to move his legs but the cats wouldn’t budge. Why’d it have to be between his legs? Why couldn’t they curl up next to him so he could pet them and cuddle them?
It took a few moments for his memories to catch up to him after pondering sleeping-cat-logic. Most of his memories, the time between leaving the CT-scan and waking up were pretty fuzzy. Louis had actually had one other concussion before in his life: when he was a kid playing footie. This one definitely seemed to be worse though. Ugh, he was going to have to call his mum…
As Louis started to wake up more clearly, he mentally assessed how he was feeling. Definitely had a headache, though not to a concerning degree of pain, and he wasn’t sure if it was because of the concussion, or the stitches. No dizziness or nausea, though that could change if he tried moving. No ringing in his ears was good... The lights were out and curtains closed so he couldn’t be sure about light sensitivity. There was also a heaviness around his middle that took Louis another moment to identify as an arm.
Louis immediately knew it was Harry before he even glanced down to see the nails with happy faces on long beautiful fingers. Harry was spooning him. In his bed. He might like this more than the sofa if it wasn’t for the head injury. He smiled at how sweet it was of Harry to be the big spoon when he typically preferred being the little spoon. The feeling of Harry’s arm around him was nice. Comforting.
He tried gently rolling over so that he could face the sleeping Harry, but in doing so he forgot that it was the back of his head that was injured and he couldn’t help letting out a hiss as the spot hit the pillow despite it being covered in bandage that went around his head cushioned by gauze. The cats, at least, were finally annoyed enough to jump away.
Unfortunately, his movement and hiss of pain woke Harry up, so Louis wasn’t going to get to kiss him awake. Disappointing.
“Lou? Are you okay?” Harry said quietly but quickly, leaning up on the arm underneath him so that he could get a better view of Louis’ face.
“Yeah Haz, forgot for a moment that there was a hole in the back of my head. I just wanted to roll over and see you,” Louis pouted.
“You certainly sound more coherent than the last time I woke you up to check on you,” Harry ran his fingers lightly up and down Louis’ arm and then gently brushed his hair off his forehead. “How are you feeling? Do you want a tylenol? Tea? I read that omega-3s are good for helping to recover from head injuries and I’ve told Niall to pick up some fish oil pills, salmon, and nuts on his way home if you want something to eat. Hey– what are you doing? Stop that–”
“But I want to see you, not the wall,” Louis grumbled, trying to roll over again to face Harry. “No, I didn’t want you to get up,” he whined further when Harry got out of the bed to come over to kneel on the floor on the side Louis was facing. “Now my back is cold.”
Harry ignored his whining and just looked at him with sweet eyes, “Hi.”
“Hi,” Louis melted. “What time is it?”
“Around 5, you’ve been asleep for a few hours.” Harry propped his chin up with his hand, resting on the edge of the bed. “You gonna tell me how you’re feeling now?”
Louis shifted forward carefully to give Harry a kiss, his hand cupping Harry’s jaw, thumb brushing the light stubble. “Like I want to kiss you and cuddle with you in bed some more.”
Harry rolled his eyes, trying to look serious even though Louis could clearly see he was fighting a smile. “No more kisses or cuddles until you actually tell me how you’re feeling. I guess it’s true what they say about people in the medical profession being horrible patients?”
“It is,” Louis confirmed, voice sounding less sleepy already. “I feel pretty okay I think, not that I’ve really moved much. Tylenol and tea would be lovely though, thank you.” And then Louis added with a bit of a cheeky smirk, “Followed by kisses and cuddles of course.”
“Of course,” Harry said with mock seriousness. Then he leaned forward and pecked a kiss to Louis’ forehead before standing. “You stay here, I’ll get tea and tylenol. While I’m gone, think about how you’d like your salmon for dinner later.”
Louis didn’t really have a preference for how he wanted his salmon, the only opinion he had about salmon was that Harry looked lovely in the salmon colored shirt he wore on occasion. He was sure letting Harry come up with whatever he wanted would be more delicious than anything he’d ever think of anyway. So instead, he carefully moved to sit up in bed, going slowly to make sure he didn’t trigger any nausea. He propped a pillow behind him so that the back of his head didn’t hit anything and it seemed like he had moved past feeling like he was going to puke. So that was good. He didn’t really want Harry to see him puking again. That wasn’t exactly an activity that inspired kisses.
Ginger and Pepper jumped back up on the bed. Ginger sat down by his feet immediately while Pepper walked all over his legs in circles before finally settling on curling into a purring ball on his stomach. “Who’s the cutest, sweetest baby?” Louis asked in the tone he saved just for the baby cats and would never use in public. “You are. Yes, yes, yes.” She stretched so he could rub her belly. Then he made sure to clarify: “You are too, of course, Ginger. I just can’t reach you way down there.”
Waiting for Harry to return while petting the kittens, Louis’s mind wandered to the day's events. Everything with Simon had happened so fast that Louis hadn’t even been to fight back. In a way he guessed that was better for him, when the hospital security footage was reviewed it would be very clear that the altercation was all Simon’s doing, but Louis didn’t like feeling weak or caught off guard like that. Not at all.
“What has you frowning like that?” Harry said softly as he handed Louis tea made just the way he liked it. He carefully got into the bed sitting close to Louis and reached to the bedside table for his own cup. Ginger got up and moved to curl next to Harry’s hip. Rude.
Louis took a sip, letting the hot tea scald his tongue. “Simon.”
Harry nodded slowly, “Do you want to talk about it?”
Louis looked down at his cup, watching the steam rise. “I just… I can’t believe he caught me off guard like that. I didn’t even fight back…” He looked at Harry and decided to be fully vulnerable with him. If he was going to be vulnerable around anyone, it would be Harry. It wasn’t like it’d be the first time either. “Makes me feel a little weak, I guess, getting a concussion this bad from just being slammed into a wall. Growing up people would always talk about how ‘little’ I was.”
“You’re definitely not little now,” Harry gave him a suggestive wink towards his dick, which made Louis snort into his tea. Then more seriously, Harry added, “And getting caught off guard doesn’t make you weak either. From what I hear, you stood up for your patient and saved their life, that sounds pretty damn heroic to me.”
Louis rolled his eyes with a small smile gracing his lips, “That might be laying it on a little thick, but thank you Hazza. I did kind of provoke him at the end there though,” Louis mused.
“No.” The sharpness in Harry’s voice made Louis look at him quickly. “It doesn’t matter what you said to him, the way he reacted was wrong. He hurt you,” Harry’s voice caught. “Ed said he threatened you too. None of that is on you.”
The look in Harry’s eyes made Louis nod slowly, wordless saying that he’d accept Harry’s view on the matter, knowing he was right. “Okay.”
“Good, and I’m also proud of you for not completely brushing off me saying you were heroic.” Harry kissed his shoulder. Louis blushed. “Now, you can’t have your phone because of the light, but is there anything you’d like me to text your mum or sisters? Or I could call them for you and leave to let you talk to them.”
“Ugh, that’s going to be a fun conversation. Do I have to tell them?”
“Zayn texted earlier that there was mention on Twitter of a doctor at JMH going crazy on a male nurse, so yeah, you probably should.” He winced.
“Ugh, probably one of the many patients in the ED that saw everything, Cowell did it right in front of everyone,” Louis ran a hand over his face. “Okay, would you call my mum for me?”
Harry opened up the phone with the passcode Louis had shared with him ages ago and hit “mum” under contacts. “Just shout when you’re done,” he said, making to leave after handing Louis the phone.
“Don’t be silly, stay,” Louis said, grabbing Harry’s hand and pulling him back. They may not be dating, but he liked the idea of Harry meeting his mum, even if it was via phone call.
His mum picked up on the first ring, “Louis, oh my god I was just about to call you, I just saw something on Facebook about a doctor going crazy at your hospital and attacking people? Are you okay?”
Louis moved the phone away from his ear and put it on speaker because the loud noise so close to his ear made him cringe. “Yeah mum, I’m fine. Ummm, the doctor didn’t really attack people, just, uh, me–”
“What!” Jay shouted. “What happened!”
“Mum, please don’t shout. I’m okay, just stay calm when I tell you.” He said tiredly. Harry took that moment to scoot closer to him on the bed so that his side was pressed to Louis’ and he wrapped his arm around his shoulders in a comforting gesture that made Louis swoon a bit.
“Okay sweetie, but you’re really worrying me,” she said more calmly.
“I’m fine, really. I just have a concussion. So the loud noise kind of hurts.”
He could hear her suck in a breath. “But you’re okay? Is it worse than that one you got as a kid?”
“Yeah, I guess it is,” He trailed off. “I had to get some stitches on the back of my head too–”
“Do you need me to come to Lamsted? Who’s taking care of you?”
“No mum, I’m okay, Harry is taking care of me,” he felt Harry press a soft kiss to his temple. God, he had to stop acting so sweet while he was on speaker with his mum and Louis couldn’t kiss him back properly.
“Oh, the cute flatmate?”
Louis blushed, “Yeah, and he’s here now on speaker so please don’t say anything embarrassing. Say hi Haz.”
“Hi Mrs.--”
“Just call me Jay dear,” she interrupted him warmly. “You’ll take care of my boy?”
“Of course,” Harry responded softly. “Don’t worry about a thing, I’ve got everything covered.”
“He did some research apparently. Is going to fill me up with salmon and spinach or something–”
“Omega-3s are good for your brain, Lou, you’re the medical professional, you should know this” Harry pinched his side lightly. “Now finish your tea.”
“I’m still going to worry Harry dear, but it sounds like you’ll do a fine job,” Jay laughed. Louis grinned, he knew it wasn’t an actual first meeting between Harry and his mum… but he could tell she liked Harry already and he liked that. He liked that a lot . “So, tell me everything so that I don’t see crazy internet rumors and freak out again.”
Louis leaned the side of his head on Harry’s shoulder and began telling his mum everything that had been going on that day and since the last time they spoke. Leaving out certain details of his and Harry’s activities, of course. Harry had her absolutely cackling with laughter as he animatedly told her about what happened to their washing machine.
He met Harry’s eyes as he was talking and Harry gave him a wide dimpled smile before answering his mum’s next question. He shouldn’t be surprised at how easily Harry and his mum got along over the phone. He really wasn’t even a little surprised. It was impossible for anyone to not like Harry the instant they met him.
“So,” Harry said slyly after they hung up the phone. “The identifier your mum used for me was ‘your cute flatmate’?”
“I’m injured, you can’t tease me,” Louis pressed his face into Harry’s shoulder.
Harry laughed lightly, “Fine, I’ll save all my teasing for later then.” He held Louis to him a bit closer, wrapping both his arms around him into a side hug. After a couple moments he said, “I was really worried when I got Zayn’s call, you know?”
Louis didn’t know how to respond, so he just nodded against Harry’s neck.
“Can I ask you something though?”
“Yeah, of course,” Louis mumbled.
“What did you call Zayn first instead of me?” Harry’s voice was quiet, but Louis detected a bit of sadness there and pulled away a bit so that he could see Harry’s face.
“You were my first thought, but I knew he wasn’t working today and I didn’t want to make you worry over something if you couldn’t get away from the bakery. I didn’t think it was that serious at first, just a headache and a few stitches. I didn’t mean for it to hurt you.” He said softly.
“Okay,” Harry nodded. “I’m not mad or anything, but for the future, I’d leave the bakery unstaffed if I got a call that you were injured enough to need stitches and a CT-scan and I wouldn’t think twice about it. You’re… more important than work.”
Louis leaned forward to give Harry a soft, slow kiss, trying to pour all his emotions, even the ones he couldn’t name, into it. “Okay. You are too, you know? More important than work.”
“How’s the patient!” Niall’s voice rang out as they heard him come through the front door, making both of them jump.
Moment ruined. Louis sighed.
“I’ll go help him with the groceries and make you that salmon I’ve been talking up. I’ll send Niall in to entertain you if you want?” Harry said, making a move to get out of the bed.
Louis agreed, but before Harry was out of the bed completely, he grabbed Harry’s hand. “Thanks for taking care of me Hazza.”
Harry gave him a goofy smile, and leaned over the bed to press a kiss to Louis’ cheek. “Always.”
Oh boy did Louis’ heart stutter and swoon at that. Fucking hell.
Louis wasn’t sure how long he dwelled in his feelings before Niall came strolling into his room. “Hey mate,” his tone was a bit more sober and less exuberant than usual. “How’re you feeling?”
Louis patted the space on the bed next to him. “I’m fine. Light and loud noises are still a bit of a bother, but with the tylenol my head only hurts if I press on the stitches, so that’s good.”
Niall climbed into the bed sitting as close to Louis as Harry had, and put an arm around his shoulders. It was nearly identical to how he’d sat with Harry minutes ago, but it felt completely different. “I’m glad you’re okay, I was worried about you when I heard from Harry and Zayn. Don’t scare us like this again, okay?”
“I’ll try Ni, this wasn’t exactly planned though, you know?”
“I don’t care, you’re not allowed anymore injuries.”
“I’ll keep that in mind.” Louis nodded solemnly. “Now tell me about the crazy things your students said today.”
***
Somehow, the footage from the hospital’s security cameras of Cowell attacking Louis had gotten out.
“I don’t understand why people would care about that? This can’t be the first time a doctor has lost it in recent years.” Louis said after Niall showed him and Harry the Tweets while they were sitting on the sofa together watching Bake Off.
“You’re like, mildly well known in certain circles of the internet now, Louis.” Niall said sagely. “I know Ed has shown you some of the posts. People like Zayn and Harry, so now some of them are interested in us as well by association and good looks.”
“Right,” Louis said. He was still skeptical about that whole thing. But whatever.
“What posts?” Harry asked, confused.
Niall looked at him absolutely gleefully. “You haven’t seen them?”
“No?” Harry glanced at Louis.
“Oh I’m so glad I get to see your reaction in real time.” Niall held up a finger as a pause while he started scrolling through his phone with the other hand. “These,” he handed Harry the phone and Louis made sure to look absolutely anywhere but his face.
“Oh,” Harry blinked owlishly. “This is a lot.”
Louis looked up, “What do you mean a lot? Ed only showed me one post, from those girls at the restaurant.”
“This is definitely more than one Lou, but thank you for getting me called a ‘thirst trap’ all over the internet, that’s lovely,” Harry rolled his eyes, but Louis was positive there was a bit of a blush there too.
“Basically, all the fans of Harry, and Zayn, and mine even, think you and Harry are dating and super cute together. However when the hospital footage got out, there wasn’t any context to it, so now they’re all wildly speculating over what happened.” Niall explained.
Harry continued scrolling, “Looks like most think it had something to do with the doctor being homophobic.”
“I guess that’s not completely off the mark,” Louis sighed. “Sorry they all think we’re dating though, you can set that… straight, if you want, for lack of a better word.”
Harry bit the inside of his cheek and glanced quickly to Niall and back to Louis. “I don’t mind. Definitely better than being thought of as single. Or straight. I bet I’d be getting a lot of DMs with pictures of boobs or something if that was the case. Unless you mind and want me to stop it?”
Louis gulped, “No, I don’t mind. Let them think what they want.”
Neither of them noticed Niall’s little smirk.
***
A week and a half later, Louis was frustrated. Sexually. He was sexually frustrated and it was Harry’s fault.
Well, really it wasn’t Harry’s fault at all. It was Simon Cowell’s and his concussion’s fault for having to “avoid strenuous physical activity.”
But Harry was the one that wasn’t letting Louis break the rules and he was feeling grumpy about it, okay?
In particular, he was grumpy because Dr. Song had cleared him to resume all regular physical activity a few days ago, but Harry was still being overly cautious.
Case and point: as it was an unseasonably warm November Saturday, their friends had planned a footie game at the park together and Harry was trying to get him not to go.
“Are you sure you should be playing, Lou?” Harry asked for the millionth time. “I’ve read that footie can be a big cause of concussions, and you only just recovered.”
He was never letting Harry research ever again.
“I’ll be fine Harry, Dr. Song okayed it.” Louis responded, also for the millionth time. Harry made a noise that sounded like a cross between a whimper and a gasp. Louis looked up from tying his shoe, confused. “What?”
“You called me Harry...” A crease formed between Harry’s eyebrows. “You never call me Harry. Are you mad at me because I’m concerned for your wellbeing?” He pointed a finger at Louis accusingly.
Louis continued to stare at him, processing what he said. He did usually only call Harry nicknames, huh, he hadn’t realized. He sighed. “I’m not mad at you Haz, I promise. I’m just… a little frustrated.”
Harry looked at him incredulously, “Frustrated?”
“Yes. You’ve been amazing taking care of me and helping me out. I can’t begin to tell you how much I’ve appreciated it and you. But I’m okay now. I’m not lying when I say I’m fine. You don’t need to worry about me.”
“I really don’t think I’m going to stop worrying about you any time soon; I like you too much, and your hospital is insane with the plague lockdowns and the guy sawing off his foot and the crazy doctors. I’m clingy, I’m a worrier, and you’re kind of stuck with me for the foreseeable future.” Harry blushed a little as if he wasn’t expecting to say what he did.
“I don’t mind being stuck with you, or you being a clingy worrier. I like you too.” Louis took a step closer, glancing towards the bathroom where Niall still was and lowered his voice. “I’m still feeling frustrated though because it’s been ages and I want you to fuck me until I can’t remember my own name.”
Harry gaped at him, eyes going dark. “Oh.”
“Yeah, oh.”
“Then we should definitely tell the others you can’t play and I need to stay home with you,” Harry said quickly.
Louis gave Harry’s ass a good squeeze, and, because he was apparently a masochist, said: “No can do darling. I’m not passing up a footie game. You’re just going to have to suffer through watching my bum run by you all day in sweats.”
Harry looked at him with eyes that were a delicious mix of murderous and turned on. He knew that would rile him up. “You’re on, Tomlinson.”
***
Louis was on a team with Niall, Zayn, Joe, Shawn, Camila, Cheryl, and Kasey. Harry’s team consisted of Liam, Mitch (Harry’s other bakery assistant and Sarah’s husband), Sophie, Ed, Nick, Toni, and a guy named Ben that Louis didn’t know but was giving Harry a look that Louis really didn’t like. The rest of their friends, including Perrie, Selena, and Nick’s wife Priyanka, were sitting around drinking instead. There were a few other people around as well that Louis didn’t know.
“This might be a bad idea,” Niall said looking at the teams. “Maybe we should reshuffle.”
“What? Why?” Zayn asked.
“You and Liam and Harry and Louis on opposite teams? No one is going to pay attention to the game, you’re just going to fawn over each other and flirt.”
Louis practically choked on air, “Excuse me? Harry and I don’t flirt,” he sputtered.
Zayn scoffed and Niall just rolled his eyes, ignoring Louis completely. “Though at least Joe, Sophie, Cheryl, and Toni all have ridiculous competitive streaks with each other. Them being on separate teams works in everyone’s favor.”
“I assure you, I have no intention of going easy on Harry,” Louis defended himself.
Niall gave him an assessing look before rubbing his hands over his face and groaning, “Oh my god, you two are going to be a nightmare. You’re going to get off on this.”
“I have no idea what you’re talking about.” Louis thought he came off as totally smooth and cool, not at all like he knew exactly what Niall was talking about. Harry looked fucking hot in his little athletic shorts and sleeveless shirt. Hair up in a bun.
On their walk over a couple girls rolled down the window of their car and one shouted, “Hey, are you that baker?”
“Yes?” Harry had said, surprised.
Then, the other girl shouted as their light turned green, “You’re hot as fuck!”
Harry’s eyes had completely bugged out in shock while Louis suddenly felt ready to kill anyone that so much as thought about looking at Harry. Niall, Zayn, and Liam of course just cracked up laughing.
They sucked. He really should have used the post-concussion excuse and kept Harry to himself.
“Hey!” Sophie shouted. “Are we going to play or what?”
Because the universe wanted to torture Louis, Harry’s team ended up being ‘skins.’ The girls in sports bras, obviously, and with Ed complaining about needing sunscreen to help make sure his fair ginger skin didn’t get burned.
So there was Harry. Shirtless. Tattoos on full display. Skin glistening with sweat already even though while the sun was out, the air was getting quite cool. Wearing tiny black running shorts.
Fuck.
“Louis. I swear to god if you don’t get your head in this game I’m going to smother you with a pillow in your sleep. You’re supposed to be my secret weapon here.” Niall said, bringing Louis out of his thoughts and back to the team huddle he was standing in.
“I didn’t know you cared about footie so much, Niall.” Louis commented with a raised eyebrow.
“I care about winning Tommo, don’t mess this up. I want to beat Nick, his team always wins and this is my time.” Niall pointed a finger at Louis as if to emphasize his commitment to the game. “So stop looking at Harry’s abs and focus.”
“I still have no idea what you’re talking about. I have no interest in Harry’s abs,” Louis said much too quickly.
Camila snickered. “This is going to be so great.”
About thirty minutes later, Louis wasn’t sure if that was exactly how he’d put it.
Harry clearly was getting occasionally distracted by watching Louis from behind. Louis had worn these sweats for a specific reason, they made his bum look good .
But, as Harry practically pranced around the field, Louis couldn’t help but watch him, too. Harry was not feeling competitive about the game, but he was definitely feeling competitive with teasing Louis. Going so far as to wiggle his ass in Louis’ direction when he bent down to tie his shoe.
His shoe wasn’t even untied. The menace.
In retaliation, when Louis kicked the ball away from him, he made sure to graze by Harry a bit too closely and, daringly, skimmed his fingers along the skin at the edge of his shorts. He was pretty sure none of their friends noticed, but Harry’s squirm was delightful .
When Louis scored, the huge smile on his face was partially because of the thrill of the points, and partially because of the look on Harry’s face when he and Niall did a little dance together on the spot that involved a lot of hip thrusting and ass shaking.
Harry did score once and did the most adorable running twirl in the air like a ballerina when it happened. Zayn took that moment to make a comment about Louis having a goofy grin on his face. It was uncalled for and Zayn knew it.
That was when Louis caught sight of that Ben guy. Louis still didn’t exactly know why he was there, he thought maybe someone mentioned him being a friend of Shawn’s or Toni’s or something. Didn’t matter, Louis hated him.
After Harry did his adorable twirl with a goofy smile, Ben went over to pat him on the back and definitely let his hand linger too long on Harry’s muscled back, letting it trail down a bit before finally stepping away.
Oh hell no. Absolutely not. Ben was a dead man walking.
He could probably figure out how to get rid of a dead body, right? He’d learned a lot from Harry and Niall’s true crime shows, might as well use the knowledge for good.
Louis knew that Harry didn’t want to see other people, but he’d forgotten that other people might want to see Harry and since he and Harry were… whatever they were, they might think Harry was available.
Louis needed to make sure that Ben knew Harry was not, in fact, available. At all.
So, for the rest of the game, Louis spent all his time focusing on staying near Harry instead of focusing on beating Harry’s team or scoring points. It didn’t matter if Harry had the ball or not, Louis was there to block him. Any way Harry moved, Louis was there in some kind of weird jealousy fueled courtship dance. Based on the looks Harry was giving him, he didn’t mind at all.
Captain Niall, however, was frustrated to no end.
“Louis, stop trying to physically attach yourself to Harry and get that fucking ball into the goal!” Niall hissed during a time out.
“He’s trying to mark his territory around Ben,” Camila added casually.
“Oh,” Kasey said, smirking. “You don’t have to worry about Ben. He tries flirting with Harry at work all the time, Harry never gives him an inch. He’s not interested.”
“Work?” Louis practically shouted, not even trying to deny their observations.
“Yeah, he’s our delivery guy. Sometimes he works the front counter too.”
Louis frowned. He knew his reaction was anything but subtle, but he couldn’t hide his obvious dislike for the guy.
“For Christ’s sake,” Niall smacked a hand to his face. “Get it together Tommo.”
“Or, instead of attaching yourself to H, how about you use that as inspiration to get the ball away from Ben?” Zayn gestured to where the other team was. Ben was talking to Harry, standing way closer than was normal. Louis should know, as he stood closer to Harry than was normal all the time.
“Okay, I can do that.” Louis glowered.
The next time Ben had the ball, Louis might have run straight to him at top speed and tripped him, causing him to fall on his face. No one seemed to care though because Louis went on to score a goal. Perrie and Selena really weren’t the best referees, they’d stopped paying attention ages ago and had just been sitting in lounge chairs drinking beer and giggling with the others since.
A little later, Louis saw Ben say something to Harry that caused Harry to whip around like lightning. The look on his face was possibly more livid than Louis had ever seen. He shoved a finger in the center of Ben’s chest and Louis heard him say “Don’t even think about it!” sharply.
Ben was a bit put out after that, and since Harry had clearly made his disinterest known, Louis went back to teasing and smirking at Harry to try making him happy again. Whatever Ben had said, Louis didn’t want that wanker ruining Harry’s good mood.
In the end, the game stopped when players started wandering over to the wooden picnic tables where the others had put out food and drinks and it was decided Louis’ team won, a feat that Niall was absolutely ecstatic about.
Louis pulled up the bottom of his shirt to wipe the sweat off his face a bit and when he looked up, shirt still in his hands, he noticed Harry staring at him from the picnic table, eyes focused in on the exposed skin just above where his low-slung pants hit on his hips. He nearly swore when he saw Harry’s tongue dart out to lick his lips.
Smirking, he dropped the shirt and walked over to where Harry was and discreetly let his fingers glide down Harry’s arm before giving his waist a little squeeze. Louis couldn’t help the smug look on his face when he saw the goosebumps appear all over Harry’s exposed skin.
Harry glanced around and then leaned in so that his lips brushed against Louis’ ear, “How about we figure out a way to get out of here without anyone following us?”
“And how do you propose we do that? They definitely already suspect something with us.”
“Honestly, right now I don’t care if they know, I just said I don’t want them to follow us.” Harry’s voice was low and dark and it sent shivers straight down Louis’ spine. “Let them think what they want,” he said, echoing his sentiments about the people on Twitter thinking they were together.
“You sure?” Louis’ voice caught in his throat. He felt breathless and he couldn’t take his eyes off Harry.
Harry stepped closer and took Louis’ hand, “Definitely.”
Without saying another word, to each other or to their friends, Harry and Louis walked away from the football field, hands clasped, steps determined. They didn’t even grab Harry’s discarded shirt.
It wasn’t like they were going to need it.
***
The moment they got through the door, Harry was peeling Louis’ shirt off. He let out a gasp as Harry pushed him into the door and attached his lips to the soft spot behind Louis’ ear, sucking hard. “Fuck,” Louis hissed, trying to push his hips forward into Harrys’.
Harry pulled Louis in for a bruising kiss, hands in each other’s hair, bodies pressed together. One of Harry’s hands left his hair and gripped Louis’ thigh roughly so that it was hiked up around Harry’s hip. Louis moaned at the feeling of their half-hard cocks pressing together.
Harry pulled away for a moment and let his gaze rake over Louis. They were both panting, Louis was sure his lips looked just as puffy as Harry’s did.
“God, you’re beautiful. I can’t keep my hands off of you,” Harry ground out.
“Then don’t,” Louis leaned forward and started pressing kisses along Harry’s jaw. Then he grabbed Harry through the fabric of his shorts, making him groan and grind himself into Louis’ palm. Louis didn’t think he’d ever wanted anyone more than he wanted Harry. And it wasn’t just at that moment. He always wanted Harry. He wanted everything about Harry. He wanted to feel Harry everywhere. On him, in him, in his soul. Forever.
He wasn’t going to say that out loud, of course, but he could show him.
He spun Harry around and pinned his wrists above his head on the bed, making Harry moan and wiggle into the kiss. Louis’ body was on fire with want.
“Meow?”
They both froze for a moment before looking down at the floor next to their feet. Ginger and Pepper were there looking up at them.
“Uhhh,” Louis had no idea what to say.
“I’m fine babies,” Harry cooed at the cats. “He’s not actually going to eat me.”
Louis considered. “I mean, I kind of wanted to do that actually.”
“Not the point Louis.”
Louis laughed and took a step back, keeping both his hands on Harry’s wrists. “Let’s take this to your room and lock the cats out so they aren’t concerned for your wellbeing.”
Harry didn’t need telling twice. They practically sprinted to his room and shut the door before the cats could follow.
After a very heated shower, they stumbled back into the room, not bothering to dry off. “Get on the bed baby,” Harry pointed and Louis did as he was told.
He crawled up Louis’ body. Licking up Louis’ torso. Sucking on Louis’ nipples until he was crying out. Until he finally made it back up to Louis’ lips. Every touch of Harry’s lips, tongue, fingers, sent shockwaves straight to Louis’ cock. He was an absolute mess with want.
“You’re going too slow,” Louis whined as Harry’s hand once again skirted around touching his cock.
Harry pulled away slowly, taking Louis’ bottom lip delicately between his teeth and tugging it with him before letting go. “We’ve done fast,” Harry let the tips of his fingers graze over Louis’ nipples and down his side. “This time,” Harry kissed across his face, back down to his neck. “I’m going to take you apart inch by inch. No rushing.” He attached hip lips to that delicious spot where Louis’ neck met his shoulder and began sucking and licking another bruise. Louis moaned wantonly, trying to grind his hips up into Harry’s.
Harry moved back down to nipples and gave one a pinch, making Louis gasp. “Besides,” he said, pressing a smiling kiss to Louis’ skin. “I have a couple weeks to make up for, don’t I?”
Louis couldn’t really form coherent thoughts, let alone words, so instead he dove his hand into Harry’s shorts and started stroking him. Harry’s forehead fell to the center of Louis’ chest for a moment, before he shifted away. “Okay, Jesus , okay I’ll go a little faster.”
Louis’ responding giggle turned into another moan as Harry finally removed the rest of their clothes and pressed a few kisses to the tip of Louis’ dick. Thank fuck. Then without warning, Harry swallowed him down whole. “Ohmygod,” Louis gasped.
Harry’s mouth was utter perfection and Louis’ whole body twitched when Harry gave him a particularly hard suck, cheeks hollowed out.
Then, Harry pulled off of him and started softly kissing Louis’ balls, lifting his leg at the knee for easier access to the inside of Louis’ thigh. He brought a dry finger to poke lightly at Louis’ hole. “Do you still want me to fuck you, baby?” Harry asked, voice a little hoarse.
“Yes,” Louis panted.
“Can I eat you out first?” Harry kissed the inside of Louis’ thigh.
Louis' eyes flew open, he didn’t even realize he’d closed them, and his senses returned a bit. Harry pressed his tongue to that sensitive skin under his balls and Louis moaned and nodded quickly. “Yes, please.”
“Roll over, baby,” Harry said with a smirk. “I want to watch you fall apart on my tongue.”
Harry moaned as Louis arched his back and displayed his ass for him. He did have a great ass.
“Oh, babe, you’re so fucking gorgeous,” Harry said, running his hands over Louis’ bum, giving it an ample squeeze. Louis inhaled sharply as Harry spread him open and gave him a long lick from the base of his balls all the way up. “So fucking pretty.”
Then Harry started with little teasing kitten licks around Louis’ hole, before dragging his tongue around it, just barely letting the tip in. Louis’ head fell forward into the bed as he let out another moan. “Hazza, please,” Louis said, desperately trying to press his hips back to chase Harry’s tongue.
Harry obliged, earning another series of moans and gasps from Louis as he began to lick him thoroughly. Then, finally, finally , Harry swirled his tongue around the rim of his hole and drove his tongue inside. He quickly created a rhythm that drove Louis wild. Licking around, dipping in, circles, flicks, repeat. “Yes, baby, fuck, just like that,” Louis blabbered. Harry just continued to fuck him with tongue.
Louis whined when Harry pulled away, “No come back.”
He looked back at Harry and saw him reach for the lube and coat his fingers with it. “Not ready just yet, Lou. I got you wet, but now I need to open you up a bit more.”
“Please, oh, ohhh,” Louis cried out as Harry began to press a finger in and out of Louis where his mouth had just been. Louis’ hips began rocking as Harry would hook the finger inside him each time. “More, please more.”
Harry added a second finger and began to scissor them back and forth. Louis knew he had perfect fingers for this. So long.
“Thank you baby,” Harry chuckled. Louis must have said that outloud. Oh well. He didn’t care, he just wanted to feel more. More Harry.
After Harry added a third finger, Louis was about ready to lose his mind. “Fuck, inside me, now, please,” Louis cried. “I’m ready, I’m so ready.”
He heard Harry fumbling to put on the condom and then helped Louis roll onto his back with Harry on his knees between Louis’ bent up legs. He leaned forward to capture Louis' lips in a kiss. Then, as Harry pressed his cock past Louis’ rim, Louis saw stars.
He stretched Louis slowly until he was all the way in, both of them releasing sighs into each other’s mouths at the same time. Louis felt so full, so perfectly stretched. Harry had prepared him well.
“You feel so fucking good,” Harry choked out, eyes screwed tight like his was trying to concentrate.
“Haz, I swear to god if you don’t fucking start to moooove, ohhh,” Louis moaned as Harry took the hint and pulled out before pushing back in with a long, slow thrust of his hips. Louis was gone. All he could focus on was the feel of Harry’s cock dragging out of him and pushing back in. The strokes were deep, and sure, and absolutely mind bending. Harry was propped up on his elbow near Louis’ head with one arm, and the other wrapped itself around Louis’ thigh to angle him in just the right way that caused Harry’s cock to drag on that bundle of nerves inside him with each thrust.
Every time Harry rocked into him, Louis let out a gasp with dizzying pleasure. Louis never wanted it to stop. Had sex ever been this good before Harry? He didn’t think so. He tangled his fingers into Harry’s hair, pulling him deeper into the kiss. Never wanting to let go.
Harry started moving faster then, and he was whispering and grunting and groaning into Louis’ ear. “You’re so tight, so perfect. Fit me so well.”
He angled his thrusts to hit Louis’ prostate more directly and felt like he might cry from how amazing it felt, “Right there, yes, fuck, don’t stop.”
Harry reached down and started stroking Louis’ cock, “Yes, baby, come around my cock.”
All it took was a couple more thrusts and strokes and Louis was falling apart completely. He came all over Harry’s hand and their chests, arching his back as Harry continued to fuck into him vigorously until his hips stuttered out of rhythm and his face screwed up into a cry as his orgasm overcame him, too.
“Fuck,” Louis said after a few moments of them panting in silence.
“Yeah,” Harry said, lifting his head slightly to look at Louis with wide eyes. “I don’t think I can move.”
“I don’t think I can either,” Louis winced as he tried to shift.
“Did I hurt you?” Harry asked worriedly. He lifted himself onto his side and pulled out of Louis to fall onto the bed next to him, bringing a hand up to stroke the hair off Louis’ forehead.
Louis shook his head, “No, just been awhile since I bottomed, and you’re not small,” he smirked. “I did say I wanted you to fuck me until I couldn’t walk.”
“Actually it was until you couldn’t remember your own name,” Harry tapped Louis’ nose.
“Mission accomplished either way.”
Harry got up and came back with a damp cloth to clean Louis with. “Do you want to cuddle?” He asked softly.
“Yeah, Haz. Get back over here,” Louis smiled and opened his arms up making grabby hands. At that moment, when he was totally blissed out and relaxed, he could admit to himself that maybe what he felt for Harry was a little more than just a crush.
Chapter 15: Chapter 14 - Habit
Chapter Text
Chapter 14 - Habit
“Tell me something that I don’t know about you,” Louis said.
He and Harry were still in Harry’s bed, in just their underwear. Louis was on his back and Harry was tucked into his side, head on his shoulder with a leg between Louis’. They had a pillow across Louis’ stomach to support Harry’s phone as they watched an episode of Grey’s Anatomy using the Netflix app. As much as Louis loved cuddling on the sofa to watch Grey’s with Harry, this was definitely equally enjoyable.
Harry shifted his head to look up at Louis, “Like what?”
Louis shrugged. “None of the people on this show seem to talk to each other enough. I know it’s for drama and it’s not even real, but… I want to know everything about you.”
Harry paused the show and moved the pillow and phone off of Louis’ stomach, then he reached for the blanket and pulled it over their heads.
Louis grinned and shifted down a little so that he and Harry were face to face, bare legs tangled together. “‘What’s said under the blanket, stays under the blanket’ time again?”
“Kind of,” Harry fought back a smile. “It’s like a blanket fort when I was kid, Gemma and I would build them in the living room out of blankets and chairs and things. Then we would pretend all kinds of things. That we were in a secret magical cave, or that we were secret agents on the run. Something about being under a blanket with someone makes it feel like you’re in your own little world.”
“And I’m invited into this world, then?” Louis asked, trailing his fingers up and down Harry’s arm.
“I wouldn’t dream of having anyone else,” Harry gave him a beautiful dimpled smile. “Did you make forts as a kid? Or with your sisters?”
Louis nodded against the pillow, “Yeah of course. It’s like a childhood right of passage or something, isn’t it? We would play hide and seek, or go into the fort with flashlights and books. The twins liked to pretend they were princesses inside their castle and would have me be the dragon trying to get them, or the knight trying to save them.”
“I bet you were great,” he tapped Louis lightly on the nose.
“I was all right,” Louis said humbly. “Tell me something else.”
Harry made a thinking noise and over exaggerated tapping his chin. “When I was sixteen I tried out for X-Factor. They didn’t want me though.”
Louis raised his eyebrows, “Really? Always knew those judges were morons– you’re a wonderful singer. I'd actually like to hear you sing more.”
“Maybe later,” Harry smiled shyly.
“I almost tried out once too actually, when I was eighteen, but changed my mind. Didn’t think I was very good, and I had already decided I was interested in medicine instead.”
“I wonder if we would have met if you had gone that year. If you were eighteen, it would have been the same time,” Harry pondered.
“I bet we would have, I probably wouldn’t have the courage to say anything though. I’d just stare at you awkwardly from across the room thinking you were cute.”
Harry laughed, “How do you know I would have been cute then? I could have been all… knock-kneed and pimply at sixteen.”
“You? No way,” Louis scoffed. “Eighteen year old me would have thought sixteen year old you was utter perfection. I’d feel like I’d need to stay away from you because you were too young, but I wouldn’t be able to resist you.”
“Age wouldn’t matter.” Harry rolled his eyes. “I’d be stuck on you too. I know I would have made a total fool of myself in front of you though. I bet sixteen year old me would think eighteen year old you was the most beautiful boy I’d ever seen. I’d be instantly smitten. I’d follow you around; do whatever I could until I got you to notice me.”
“But then we would have been competing against each other potentially, wouldn’t we? Not a great environment for a friendship.”
“I’m sure we would have figured something out,” Harry rolled his eyes teasingly. “Competition clearly makes us horny anyway.”
Louis snorted and said theatrically, “Maybe you would’ve cornered me in the bathroom where I couldn’t escape. I’d be the helpless older boy, defenseless to your youthful seduction tactics.”
That really got Harry laughing, “Or we’d happen to be at the urinals at the same time and I’d freak out and pee on your shoe. Then you’d think I was disgusting and run away.”
“No way, I’d think you were adorable.” Watching Harry laugh, the dimples, the way his eyes lit up, made Louis want to kiss him. He leaned forward, brought his hand up to cradle the back of Harry’s head, and gave him a soft, slow kiss.
Something about this kiss felt different to Louis. He’d wanted to kiss Harry because Harry was beautiful, inside and out, and he wanted to show Harry that, so he poured all of those feelings into the kiss.
“Wow,” Harry said softly.
They stayed quiet for a few moments, just watching each other, before Louis finally broke the spell. “Should I leave before Niall gets back?”
Harry looked down and bit his lip, “Do you want to leave before Niall gets back?”
“I asked first,” Louis laughed, poking Harry between the ribs, making him squirm. “But no, I don’t want to leave.”
“I don’t want you to leave either.”
“If Niall notices, we’ll figure it out then.” Louis nodded. “Who knows how long they’ll be anyway, they had enough food and beer to last all afternoon.”
“We did leave pretty quickly, huh?” Harry considered. “We never even got lunch.”
“Yeah,” Louis trailed off. “There’s no possible way our friends didn’t notice us leaving together so quickly after the match after how much we were flirting on the field.”
“In my defense, you definitely started it.”
“What? How did I start it?!” Louis said with mock outrage. “You were the one running around in just those tiny shorts, bending over to tie your already tied shoelaces.”
Harry giggled, “I think you underestimate how hot you look in sweats and a muscle tank, Lou.” He reached a hand around to give Louis’ bum a firm squeeze. “But you started it before we got to the field when you told me how you wanted me to fuck you, then made me go play that damn game. I can’t be held accountable for my actions.”
“That was definitely on purpose. Just so you know.”
“Oh, I definitely know. Liam even commented that I was being ‘short with everyone’ and to settle my sexual frustration with you later and get my head in the game.”
Louis grinned impishly, “I might have gotten a similar talk from Niall. Oh,” Louis remembered suddenly. “What was it that Ben guy said to you that made you so angry?”
Harry’s face shifted into a frown so quickly that it nearly made Louis gasp. “He was upset that you tripped him, said it was on purpose–”
“It was, “ Louis conceded.
“What,” the skin between Harry’s brows creased, “Why?
“He was all over you. Kasey said he tries it all the time and you don’t like it at work, and you clearly didn’t like it today. So I wanted him to leave you alone.”
Harry turned his face into the pillow slightly, clearly trying to hide a smile. “Yeah I don’t like it, you shouldn’t have tripped him though. That wasn’t nice.”
“So what did he say then?” Louis prompted, instead of pretending he was sorry.
Harry pursed his lips and trailed his fingers along Louis’ ribs, making him shiver. “He said that he’d heard you’d had a concussion, that maybe if someone tripped you and got you out, our team would win.”
Louis’ eyes widened in surprise, “I’m glad I tripped him then. I wish he’d fallen harder, the fucker.”
“Yeah,” Harry agreed, which was a little surprising to Louis. Though considering how mad Harry had been in the moment, and how tense he’d been retelling it to Louis, maybe it wasn’t a surprise. “The idea of him trying to hurt you… of you getting hurt again… I’m surprised I kept my cool as much as I did.”
Louis shifted closer, pulling Harry’s head into his neck and ran his fingers through Harry’s curls. “I’m okay, love,” he said into Harry’s hair. “Thank you for defending me.”
That was when they heard a knock on Harry’s door.
“If you two are in there, just know I’m back home, so don’t come out naked or start having crazy loud sex please,” Niall’s voice said through the door.
Louis and Harry froze, looking at each other with wide eyes. A silent look passed between them saying that maybe if they didn’t move or say anything, Niall would disappear and they could stay in their little bubble.
“Maybe they’re in Louis’ room?”
That was Zayn. He was there too. Perfect.
“Nah, Louis’ door is open,” Liam’s voice said. “I guarantee they’re both in there hoping that if they’re quiet enough we’ll go away.”
Louis gave Harry what he was sure was a pained expression.
“I hate them all,” Harry said under his breath.
“What do we do?” Louis whispered.
More tapping on the door. “Don’t make us open this door to check if you’re dead or not,” Niall called. “Cause I’ll do it. Better safe than sorry.”
Harry sighed before moving the blanket off their heads, “Alright,” he shouted. “Yes, we’re both here. We’re alive. We’re also naked so don’t come in.”
All that came from outside was a series of yips and cheers and Niall saying “I fucking knew it! Let me text Camila.”
Louis groaned, “Can we please not put this in the group chat?” He begged.
“Too late, Tommo!” Liam laughed. “You two are the least subtle people I’ve ever seen, this is simply confirmation for what everyone knows.”
Louis put a pillow over his face and Harry shouted “You’re all the worst!” before he rolled into him, putting his face back into Louis’ neck.
“Wait, so are you two dating then?” Niall asked. Louis couldn’t believe they were having this conversation through the door, but considering they were both nearly naked and the room probably smelled like sex, he figured it was for the best.
“Uh.. not exactly.” Louis said after he removed the pillow from his face.
“We aren’t really labeling it?” Harry added with a wince.
There was a pause outside and the others got quiet before Niall finally spoke, sounding surprisingly frustrated. “Not–are you serious? You’re both idiots. What does that even mean? You know what, do whatever you want, just no fucking in the common areas. I’ve seen Harry naked enough to last a lifetime, but I’ve at least managed to not see him in the throws of passion and I’d like to keep it that way.”
“Go away, Niall,” Harry shouted. “We’re going to start fucking again, so you better get out of earshot!”
Louis laughed at how quickly they heard footsteps retreating.
“So darling,” Harry said with a suggestive smirk. “Would you like to take another shower with me before we have to go out there for food?”
Louis brought a hand down to squeeze Harry’s bum, “Absolutely.”
“That’s good,” Harry said as he rolled off the bed and onto his feet. “Because I didn’t notice it before, but you have come in your hair.”
***
When Harry and Louis finally left Harry’s room, Louis wearing clothes borrowed from Harry as his shirt was still near the front door (he couldn’t help grinning each time he caught Harry checking him out while wearing his clothes), the others were on the sofa watching the Formula 1 race.
“We brought back some leftovers from the picnic, it’s all in the fridge if you want it,” Niall said, not taking his eyes off the race.
The two of them glanced at each other and Louis made a “what’s going on” expression while nodding the the backs of their friends heads. The three of them hadn’t turned around or said anything else to the two of them, they just kept talking about the race. Not even more teasing. Were they… upset about him and Harry hooking up?
Harry shrugged with a look that Louis interpreted as “no idea, I’m sure it’s fine though.”
When they sat next to the others on the sofa with their plates, the other still didn’t say anything and Louis couldn’t handle it. “You lot alright?”
Zayn glanced at him, “Yeah, of course. Why?”
“We were kind of expecting some more teasing…” Harry trailed off.
The three of them looked at Harry and Louis with confused expressions. “I mean,” Liam started. “We’ll probably work in some teasing here and there, but you’re both adults. We’re not judging you or anything.”
“Yeah,” Niall shrugged. “Just, you know, be… careful with each other.”
Zayn nodded in agreement, “We don’t want you to feel like you have to hide anything around us. You’re our friends.”
Louis felt his eyes start to prickle with unshed tears and he looked up to keep the tears from forming. He was pretty touched by his friends’ words. He never thought he’d get so lucky to have so many great friends.
“Awww, I think this calls for a group hug,” Harry set his plate down on the coffee table and took Louis’ as well.
“Yes! Everyone get up, we’re doing this!” Niall said enthusiastically.
And before Louis knew it, all five of them were standing, squished together in a group hug.
“Not that this isn’t adorable,” Liam said after a couple moments. “But can we go back to watching the race now?”
***
They spent the rest of the evening hanging out with their friends, laughing, talking, arguing, and playing ping pong. It was like any other night, except that Louis got to hold Harry’s hand when he wanted to. (As in, he held Harry’s hand pretty much all night. He was kind of obsessed with Harry’s hands.)
“Well, lads,” Niall said, coming out of his room in dark jeans and a nice shirt. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”
Louis took in his outfit. “Were you going to tell us you had a date?”
“Louis. It’s eleven at night. Do you really think this was a planned date in advance?” Niall raised a brow.
“Ohhh, right,” Louis said, looking at the clock. “Enjoy your booty call.”
“Ha! Cheers, you too,” he gestured to Harry and left.
“Will you be my booty call?” Louis turned to Harry and stepped close to run his hands over Harry’s firm bum.
Harry rubbed his chin in thought. “Hmm, I don’t know. What’s in it for me?”
“You’ll just have to wait and see,” Louis exaggeratingly trailed a finger down Harry’s chest before giving his tit a pat. “I have noticed you have a bit of a praise kink.”
Harry gaped and blushed, but didn’t deny it. Instead, he pulled Louis’ body closer to his. “Stay in my room tonight.”
“Oh? All night?” Louis asked as he let Harry start to pull him back towards his room.
“Do you not want to?” The way Harry said it made it clear that he knew Louis did want to. “Because I kind of like the idea of waking up with you in the morning now that we aren’t hiding anything from Niall. Maybe I’ll even wake you up with a blow job and you can tell me what a good boy I am?”
“Well, when you put it like that, how can I resist?” He tugged Harry into him roughly and pressed their lips together before dragging Harry the rest of the way into the room and closing the door behind them.
***
As the weather began turning colder, things between Louis and Harry continued to heat up, as cliche as it was. He rarely spent his waking hours away from Harry if they weren’t at work really. So when Lottie had texted demanding he take her to brunch to catch up, Louis knew he needed to say yes–he’d been so caught up in his Harry bubble that he hadn’t even told her they were sort of together but not.
Lottie snorted into her mimosa, “I’m sorry, you and Harry are what now?”
“Unlabeled,” he mumbled. Glancing around them to check that none of the groups of girls and old women having brunch around them were listening in.
“So, friends with benefits.”
“I mean… kind of, I guess?”
Lottie snorted again, “And how’s that going?”
“Do you really want to know how great the sex is?” He said bluntly. “Because let me tell you–”
“No no no,” she covered her ears dramatically. “But if you’re happy, I guess more power to ya… I had a couple friends do the benefits thing during uni actually.”
“How’d it go for them?” Louis asked curiously, taking a bite of the fancy french toast he’d ordered. He bet Harry could do a better job with it. He’d have to ask him to try it.
“They’ve been married now for two years,” Lottie smirked.
Louis gave her a look.
“I’m just answering your question,” she said innocently. “I’m not insinuating anything.”
Louis sized her up for a moment, “Okay just say whatever it is you really want to say. I know you’re holding something back.”
“Friends with benefits doesn’t work if there are already feelings involved. You like him. He likes you. Why call it ‘unlabeled’ and not just try dating each other?”
Louis sighed, “It’s–”
“I swear, if you say ‘it’s complicated’ I’m going to throw this mimosa at you.”
“Alright,” he held his hands up in surrender. “I–yeah, I really like him. He’s sweet, and goofy, and smart, and creative, and he puts so much passion into everything he does. But he also has this insecure side that he tries to hide, and I literally can’t stop thinking about him.” He slumped a bit in his chair.
Lottie looked at him with soft eyes, shining wetly, “Oh Lou,” she sighed. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen you like this over a guy.”
“He’s different. We want to be together, but… being in a relationship makes him kind of skittish, so we’re just doing what we want.”
“Is it what you want though? Or is it what he wants?”
Louis poked at his food. “Does it matter? I want him, anyway he’ll have me.”
Neither said anything for a moment, taking in Louis’ confession.
“Okay,” Lottie took a deep breath. “Little sister truth time again. Lou, you always think about others before yourself. Always. You have since you were a kid looking after me and the girls, but someone needs to think about you, too. So here it is: I don’t want to see you get hurt again.” She held up a finger when Louis tried to argue, “No, let me finish. I’m sure you don’t think Harry will hurt you. I’m sure he’s a lovely guy and I’m sure he can make you so, so happy. But you love so fiercely and completely, that it can blind you to problems right in front of you. Just look at what happened with–”
“Harry is nothing like Ethan. Don’t you even think that,” Louis said harshly. “Harry and I are doing things in a way that works for us. Yes, we might not be going about things in a usual way but–” Louis thought about every moment he’d spent with Harry the last few months. Every conversation, every reassurance, every laugh, every look, every touch. Every time Harry made him tea or asked about his day or brushed his fingers along Louis’ arm. For Harry, his actions spoke just as loudly, if not louder, than his words. Louis was okay with that. He understood.
“I know exactly how Harry feels about me,” he said with a soft smile. “I’m not worried. I know what happened with Ethan was bad, and I was blind to a lot of things. I convinced myself I loved him because I was scared that there wasn’t anything, anyone, better out there. I know that now, Lots. I learn from my mistakes, and Harry is not a mistake. He’s everything . I trust him, Lots. Can you trust that I know what I’m doing?”
She brushed the tears trying to fall from her eyes, “Wow, yeah. Okay,” she smiled. “I always knew you were a romantic, but damn.” She fanned her face in an attempt to stop from crying. “I know you’re the big brother, but I’ve always felt a little protective of you I guess. Especially in high school when you became my best friend... I trust you, of course I do. How could I not after a speech like that? Just, remember that your feelings are important too, okay? At some point you two have to decide where this all is going.”
“Okay Lots, thanks,” he nodded.
“So,” Lottie cleared her throat. “What else is going on with you? How’s work been after that bastard was fired?”
“Work has been good…” He trailed off, unsure of how to continue. “It’s just… I’m starting to feel a bit burned out, I think.”
“Really?” she blinked. “This is a lot of life changing news for one brunch, big bro.”
He chuckled. “Yeah I guess it is.”
“So you’re looking for other jobs?”
“No, I still like nursing plenty, I don’t think I’m ready to fully leave it behind just yet, but I’ve been… writing actually.” He felt his face heat up a bit. The only person he’d talked to about his writing was Harry and while he knew Lottie would be nothing but supportive, saying out loud still made him a teensy bit nervous.
“That’s amazing!” She gushed. “Tell me everything!”
Louis’ heart warmed and he began to tell his sister about his project.
***
“Holy shit,” Harry said while looking at his phone on the couch a little over a week later. His mouth was hanging open and his eyes were furiously moving across the screen, reading something intently.
“What’s wrong?” Louis asked, moving to rest his head on Harry’s shoulder, wrapping his arms around Harry’s lovely waist. Harry automatically leaned into him and Louis fought back a smile at the feeling of Harry being in his arms so casually. Since their friends found out about their… situation, they’d been even more open in their touches and cuddling– something Louis didn’t know was possible.
Then there was the matter of sleeping arrangements. Louis was starting to wonder if his bedroom was just going to become a place where he kept clothes. He’d spent every night since the football match sleeping in Harry’s room. Whether they had sex or not. At first they’d both kept making excuses as to why Louis should end up in Harry’s bed that ranged from Louis being too tired to go the extra few steps to his room to Harry being cold and wanting Louis to warm him up.
After a few days though, Louis had awkwardly asked Harry if he should leave and go back to his own room, not wanting to overstep any boundaries or overstay his welcome. Harry had just scoffed at him, pulled back the comforter on the side of the bed that was apparently now Louis’, and said, “Don’t be silly Lou, I like sleeping with you, cuddling with you. If you don’t mind me being the little spoon you’re welcome to stay as long as you want.”
And that had been that.
Louis didn’t have any plans of going back to sleeping alone any time soon. Falling asleep and waking up with Harry, having him be the first and last person he saw each day, was Louis’ new favorite thing.
What surprised Louis the most about the whole sleeping arrangement was actually that Niall had yet to comment on it. Neither had Zayn or Liam actually, and Louis was sure that at least Niall would have noticed. He didn’t know what it meant, but he wasn’t going to question it. He was sure Niall was just biding his time for the purposes of a good joke. Their friends had been enjoying teasing them about everything else.
“I just got an email from the Food & Wine Magazine Dessert Competition organizers. Apparently the judging already happened. They’ve already been in the shop and I never even knew.” Harry looked at him frantically. “How could I not have known? I never even prepared for an unexpected visit!”
Louis stroked Harry’s hair soothingly, “I think that’s probably the way it was supposed to happen right? You not knowing anything ahead of time? Maybe it’s for the best that it happened that way too.”
“What do you mean?” Harry asked.
“This way they got to taste your food as it always is, with you making it because it’s something you love doing. No stress being infused into anything because you were trying to make it perfect for the judges. Especially because it already is perfect.”
Harry gave him a bit of a bashful smile, “Thank you.”
“I’m just telling you what I think is the honest truth.” He bopped Harry’s nose lightly, enjoying the silly grin Harry gave him in return.
Harry shook his head fondly, “You always put me at ease and you always believe in me. It means a lot.”
Louis bit his lip, feeling overwhelmed by the look in Harry’s eyes.
“Food & Wine is having a fancy awards ceremony dinner, and I get a plus-one. Do you think you would like to be my date?” Harry continued softly. It took Louis a couple beats to register what Harry had asked because he was distracted by feelings and Harry drawing circles on his thigh.
“You know if I go with you people are going to think we’re dating for real?” He commented softly.
“I know,” Harry shrugged with a soft smile. “Like I said about the posts speculating about us, let them think what they want. When I picture myself waiting around that hotel ballroom eating fancy food and surrounded by people I don’t know, you’re the only one I want with me.”
Louis felt breathless, dizzy even, but he pushed the feelings down. “Alright, sure.”
“Great,” Harry gave him one of his signature dimpled smiles. “I can’t wait to see you in a suit. I bet you’ll look sexy as hell.”
Louis snorted, “Ah, so that’s the real reason you’re inviting me. To see me in a suit. I see how it is. Don’t set your expectations too high though, what if I don’t live up to them?”
Harry’s face shifted a bit, a crease between his eyebrows, a little purse of his lips as he looked at Louis for a moment. “What?” Louis asked.
“I’m trying to remember if I've told you how handsome I think you are. If I have, it hasn’t been nearly enough times if that’s what you think.”
“With me for my looks, then?” Louis tried to joke weakly, unable to hide the emotion in his voice.
He felt like Harry was staring into soul. “You know it’s more than that,” Harry said quietly.
“Do I need to get a bucket of water to cool you two off? Please don’t start fucking in the living room, I beg of you.”
Louis and Harry jumped apart at the sound of Niall’s voice across the room. Sneaky fucking leprachan. Louis threw a pillow at him, hitting Niall in the stomach. “Fuck off, we were just talking.”
Niall snorted, “Talking. Right. Sure, I talk to my friends while looking like that all the time. What were you talking about then?”
“Harry has been invited to the Food & Wine Awards,” Louis said proudly.
“Seriously? That’s awesome, mate!” Niall came over and pulled Harry into a hug. Harry, who hadn’t said anything since Niall came into the room and whose eyes were still on Louis, seemingly deep in thought. “We’ll have to celebrate at the pub tonight! I’ll give you a special shout out.”
That brought Harry out of whatever he was thinking about. “Just please don’t trick me into singing,” he pleaded.
“No promises.”
***
The pub was more crowded than usual that night, but luckily the five of them still had their reserved table waiting.
“You two go sit,” Harry said to Louis and Zayn after Niall left to go backstage. “Liam and I will get drinks.”
Louis watched Harry immediately drag Liam away towards the bar, losing sight of him in the crowd. “What was that about?”
“Wanted to beat the line at the bar?” Zayn theorized. Louis didn’t think that was it though. He looked around and noticed that he kept spotting groups of girls, and some boys, looking over at the two of them and then quickly looking away when they made eye contact with Louis.
“Why are they all staring at us?” Louis asked, but he knew the answer.
Zayn just pulled something up on his phone and pushed it over to him across the table. It was Twitter. Of course.
Apparently news of Niall playing at the pub that night had spread around and tons of people were tweeting about coming to support him, and to see the rest of the “OT5” who were sure to be there to support their friend.
“This still completely baffles me,” Louis shook his head passing the phone back. “I’m glad Niall is getting so much buzz though. Some of those tweets looked like they were fans trying to get record labels attention.”
Zayn agreed and looked at a new notification. “Ah, looks like our paparazzi have spotted us, my publicist is going to be thrilled over this. We’re trying to get the new Gucci campaign and buzz like this will help.” Zayn turned his phone to show Louis the notification he got that had a tweet with a picture of the two of them mere moments ago.
“That’s kind of scary,” Louis said with wide eyes. He glanced around the room as if he’d be able to spot the exact person that took the photo.
“What is?” Harry asked from behind his shoulder, setting a beer in front of Louis before taking the seat closets to him.
“Thank you,” Louis said, gesturing to the beer. “We have our own paparazzi apparently, show them Z.”
Harry’s eyes widened the same way Louis was sure his own had, and he glanced around at the people around the room. “That is a little crazy.”
“I’m sure that’s not going to be the last one from tonight,” Liam commented, taking his turn to look at the photo. “Not with all of us together in our very minor internet celebrity glory.”
“Niall is going to eat this up,” Harry added. “He’s going to try to get me to sing, isn’t he?”
“No doubt,” Louis patted his shoulder comfortingly.
“Maybe I’ll convince him to get Zayn up there instead. Didn’t you say once that you wanted to be a singer as a kid?”
Zayn gave Harry an amused roll of his eyes, “I’ll have you know I made it to the bootcamp rounds of X Factor when I was kid.”
Louis met Harry’s eyes and they both looked back at Zayn and at the same time said, “How old?”
“Seventeen… Why are you two looking at me like that?”
“Really weird coincidences,” Louis looked at him and Harry oddly. Then he gave Harry a look, silently asking if he could tell them. He nodded. “That would have been the same year Harold auditioned and the same year I almost auditioned.”
“Seriously?” Liam said, whole face lighting up in surprise. “I auditioned the year before and got rejected. I almost went again the next year, but decided not to. That would have been–”
“The same year,” Zayn finished thoughtfully. “Huh. Maybe in another life we would have all met. I wonder if Niall ever thought about auditioning.”
“We can’t tell Niall,” Harry said firmly. “If he finds out that at some point all of us thought we wanted to sing, he’ll make us all get up on stage with him. He’ll try to convince us to be a boy band.”
Louis smiled broadly, “Could you imagine? Us as a boy band? Doing choreography in matching outfits and singing pop songs?”
“I could see it, actually,” Liam considered. “Maybe not the choreography and outfits part though.”
“Maybe when I was kid, sure,” Louis conceded. “But not now, I’ve got different dreams than a singing career.”
Harry looked at him like he wanted to ask, but Louis just bumped Harry’s shoulder with his own lightly and mouthed “later.”
“Not sure they’d want so many gay boys in a boy band anyway,” Zayn pointed out. It sobered the conversation a bit more than Louis expected. “Modeling and music are different industries, but you still hear things.”
Louis frowned, “What do you mean?”
“Well…” Zayn looked like he was searching for the right words. “There’s always rumors around about people being closeted, with and without consent. Like sometimes due to hidden wording in contracts and stuff. I met a model once who had been rumored to be dating someone really big in music– she told me it wasn't what it seemed. A deal was made between their publicists. It was all a stunt in order to keep his real relationship a secret and boost their public images to help both of their careers.”
“That’s horrible,” Harry said. Louis looked at him and noticed Harry’s eyes were a little watery with emotion and he put his hand on Harry’s knee to comfort him.
“Who was it?” Liam asked.
Zayn shook his head, “I don’t want to say, especially not here. She’d get in a lot of trouble for going against the NDA–”
“And we wouldn’t want to out someone,” Louis added quietly, glancing around. He felt Harry shift so that he had an arm casually around the back of Louis’ chair, then Louis felt Harry’s fingers trailing up and down his arm softly in comfort.
“Definitely,” Zayn agreed.
Niall’s set started shortly after and he was better than Louis had ever seen him. The crowd had a great energy about them, many of them knowing all of Niall’s songs by heart, and Niall was soaking it all in. He played a few covers as well that the crowd loved to pieces.
As Harry predicted, Niall couldn’t help himself as his set started to come to an end.
“Before I go,” Niall said into the microphone, clearly looking over to their table. Harry groaned loudly and put his face in his hands. “Yeah H, you know what’s coming.”
That got the audience buzzing, some whispering to each other, some trying to look over where they were sitting, a few squeals from people that knew what was coming.
“My good mate, Harry, likes to write songs sometimes and he’s a damn good singer if I do say so myself.” The audience shrieked. “Come on up and sing this one with me Harry, you helped me write it.”
“I said don’t do this to me!” Harry shouted, making the audience laugh.
“This happens every time H. You say you don’t want to sing, and yet you still end up here with me singing anyway. Let’s cut out the middle and just get your arse up here, yeah?” The audience cheered.
“Go,” Louis nudged him. “I want to hear you sing again.”
That was all it took to get Harry to stand, though as the crowd started cheering he leaned back down and brought his lips so close to Louis’ ear that the feel of them brushing against him made Louis shiver. “Next time you want to hear me sing, how about I just give you a private show instead?”
Louis’ jaw dropped as his eyes followed Harry’s bum as he wove his way towards the stage; a little swivel to his hips.
“Harry Styles, ladies and gentlemen,” Niall clapped as Harry sat on a stool next to him. “You know what song I’m wanting, right H?”
“Yeah, yeah,” Harry grumbled, though Louis could tell he was smiling. “I know.”
“I see that smile creeping on your face mate,” Niall teased. “I thought you hated it when I called you on stage–that you thought it was the worst .”
Harry frowned, “I can go back to drinking my beer if you want?” He made to get up, then smiled a little at all the pleas from the crowd to no go and sat back down. “I only do this because you’re my friend Ni, and I happen to be pretty proud of this song, honestly. It was fun to write it with you.”
“Aww, Harry,” Niall reached over to try pinching Harry’s cheek and Harry swatted him away. “I love you too, mate.”
“Can we start now?” Harry gestured to Niall’s guitar.
“Fine, fine,” Niall smiled. “This will be my last song of the night– A.M. ”
Won't you stay 'til the A.M.?
All my favorite conversations
Always made in the A.M. (yeah yeah)
Louis couldn’t help the wide grin on his face as Harry and Niall sang. They both looked like they were having a blast and the audience even picked up on the chorus almost immediately and sang along. There were definitely going to be videos of this on social media considering all the phones up, clearly recording.
It was clear that Harry was a natural entertainer. Despite how he pretended to not want to sing with Niall, he was so comfortable on that little stage. Louis had no doubt that if Harry was able to get on a cooking show, he’d be the fan favorite immediately. While he had some shyness and insecurities, when it came to entertaining people, making other people smile, Harry was in his element. Louis had seen it every time he watched Harry talk to customers at the bakery.
Then, when he and Harry were home late at night, after Harry had a long day of talking to person after person in between baking, he was quieter, more in his thoughts. Louis had asked once if he was tired of being around people and if he’d prefer to be alone, and Harry had said “I am tired of people, but not of you.” He still swooned just thinking about it. So he stayed with Harry on the sofa, talking quietly, drinking tea.
It wasn’t that Harry was putting on a show in public, not at all. Harry was always so authentically himself that Louis was awed by it. He just had different sides to himself, and Louis was one of the ones luckily enough to know all of his sides.
“You know pictures of you staring at Harry with googoo eyes are going to be all over the internet, right?” Zayn said, leaning over.
“Eh, I don’t think I mind,” Louis said without taking his gaze off Harry as they finished the song.
“Hmm,” was the only noise Zayn made in response as the crowd started clapping.
Louis looked at him, “What?”
“Nothing, just that you like that they all think he’s yours.”
Louis didn’t need to think about his response. “Yeah, I do.”
***
When they got home that night, Louis went to his room to get some new clothes and stopped short when he turned on the light.
“Niall, what the hell is this doing in my room?” Louis shouted.
“Why do you think it was me that did something?” Niall called from the living room. Louis could absolutely tell he was trying not to laugh.
“Because I know you.”
“Ha! Yeah, that’s fair.” Niall appeared in the doorway to his room, leaning casually against the frame, while Harry peaked in behind him, eyes filling with mirth at the sight.
“Why is there an exercise bike in my room? Are you trying to tell me you’re upset that Harry and I are the ones with the fancy couples gym pass.”
“Yeah Ni,” Harry giggled. “If you wanted to be our plus one, you just needed to ask.”
“Ha. Ha. Why would I need a fancy gym pass when this room is seemingly up for grabs?” He smirked. “Since Tommo hasn’t been sleeping here, I thought I’d repurpose the space a bit.”
Louis grabbed a pillow from the bed and whacked him with it, but he was unable to contain his laughter since Niall kind of had a point.
***
The next morning, work had been going in the direction of a pretty typical, uneventful day in the ED. Until he was called out to the ambulance bay with Ed to help with an incoming trauma. The moment the door to the ambulance opened, a woman covered in blood started to step out screaming her head off. Louis tried to keep his face neutral as he helped her down and passed her off to Ed. Once she was clear, he could more easily see into the ambulance.
He knew it was Liam’s rig by the number on the doors, but he was definitely not expecting to see Liam in the back with his hand inside the patient’s chest.
When Liam saw him, he smiled feebly. “Hey Louis…”
“Dude.” Louis said with eyes wide.
“Paramedic Payne,” Dr. Strange said evenly. Louis would go as far to say he looked somewhat bored by the unusual situation. “Why is your hand inside my patient? Last time I checked that was definitely against protocol.”
Liam winced, “Yes, sir, it is. I couldn’t get the bleeding to stop and the woman wouldn’t stop screaming and I just… acted. I think I’m plugging an artery.”
Strange sighed, “Guess you’re coming with me to the OR then.” He turned to Louis. “Tomlinson, see if you can get the wife to tell us what caused the injury.”
Liam waved awkwardly with his free hand as he carefully moved with the gurney through the ED towards the elevators to take the man directly to the OR floor, and Louis followed the noise to the man’s wife.
She was still screaming.
“Ma’am,” Ed was saying calmly as she continued to look anywhere but him while she screamed. “Ma’am, please. Are you injured?”
“I think the blood is her husband’s,” Louis said, coming up next to him. “Liam has his finger on the bleed, said it wouldn’t stop.” The woman continued screaming. “How is she still going? Her face isn’t even red.”
“Ma’am, can you please give us your name and tell us how your husband was injured?” Ed tried again, starting to sound a bit fed up.
They tried a couple more times and the woman was clearly in some kind of state of shock. It was like she couldn’t focus on anything but screaming. An acute anxiety reaction. The screaming was grating on the nerves of everyone in the ED, so Louis figured if the woman could only scream, then maybe she’d respond to screaming. It was worth a shot.
He stepped up to her and gently turned her so that she was facing him, then he took a breath and screamed back.
As he’d hoped, the unexpected noise shocked her into silence. For a moment. Instead of calming down, the woman’s face crumpled and she burst into tears, collapsing into him. He patted her back awkwardly and Ed a pleading look over her shoulder. Ed, unhelpful as ever, had his fist covering his mouth trying to smother his laughter.
“There, there,” Louis said soothingly as he guided the woman to the bed next to them. “I’m Louis, this is Ed, can he take your purse in order to get your name?”
The woman nodded mutely and gently held out her purse like a wounded child.
“Are you injured?”
She shook her head.
“Can you tell me what happened?”
She started crying again. This was going to take awhile.
They got her name, Mindy Carlson, and admitted her just in case. Once they got her into a gown and had taken her vitals (steady), she’d calmed down enough that she was just sitting quietly instead of screaming or crying.
“This is a lot of blood,” Ed mumbled quietly as he put the ruined clothes into a plastic bag. “She must be in shock.”
“I’ll say.” The woman scoffed.
They both turned to her. “Can you tell me what happened?” Louis asked softly.
“I’m shocked. That was… shocking. I’m also going to murder him if he survives this. That fucking idiot .”
“Mindy? Mindy, where are you?” A voice called from the front desk. It was a man in an… old military type uniform?
Mindy’s face turned angry. “I’m over here you moron!”
The man rushed over. “How’s James doing?”
“He’s bleeding all over the place, that’s how he’s doing!” Her voice rose with each word. “The paramedic had to put his hand inside him to stop the bleeding!”
“Why are you yelling at me?” The man looked alarmed.
“Because!” She shouted. “You two keep playing war like eight year old idiots when you’re supposed to be fifty year old men!”
“Hey,” he pointed indignantly. “We aren’t playing. It’s war reenactment.”
“Who reenacts World War Two?!”
“Excuse me,” Louis tried to interject. “Can you tell me what happened?” He asked the man who had clearly been there.
“I’ll tell you what happened,” Mindy answered, eyes blazing. “These two morons decided to build some kind of giant gun.”
“It was an exact replica of the finest allied anti-tank weapon of World War Two.” The man crossed his arms. “A bazooka.”
“They put on their stupid costumes,” Mindy continued as if he hadn’t said anything. “They go out into the backyard, and they tried to shoot the thing!”
“We followed the specifications exactly,” the man assured Louis.
Louis couldn’t help but think something wasn’t adding up though.
“It didn’t work,” Mindy spat. “So, like an idiot, my husband decides to go stand directly in front of it. Then, it went off. Into his chest.”
That’s when it clicked. “Woah, woah,” Louis held up his hands to pause the fight between the two. “He shot himself with a bazooka?”
“Well, yeah.” The man confirmed.
Louis felt his heart begin to race. “Was there an explosion?”
“No, why?”
Louis didn’t respond. He ran to the stairs. He ran as fast as he could to the OR where Dr. Strange had taken Mr. Carlson and Liam. He ran like his friend’s life depended on it.
When he got to the door he paused a split second. The last thing he wanted to do was cause a panic. He took a deep breath and opened the door.
Dr. Strange had a scalpel in his hand, but he hadn’t cut yet. “Dr. Strange, can I have a word?” Louis said calmly, but urgently.
“I’m in surgery, Tomlinson.”
“You really want to talk to me sir,” Louis insisted.
Dr. Strange gave him an annoyed look, but he put down the scalpel and walked over to him. “What is it, Tomlinson?”
“Was there an exit wound?”
Strange frowned. “What?”
“An exit wound,” Louis blurted out. “Was there an exit wound?”
Something on his face must have shown his internal panic, because Strange’s tone shifted to one of concern. “No, no exit wound. Why?”
“He was shot with a live bazooka round. Unexploded.”
Strange’s eyes widened. “You’re sure.”
“That’s what his wife and his friend said.”
Strange turned around to Liam, the patient, and all the OR staff. “Liam, what is your hand touching? Can you describe what you feel without moving?”
Liam wasn’t an idiot, Louis could see he immediately knew something was wrong. “Umm my finger feels like it’s plugging a hole in tissue of some kind… but I think I also feel something hard… oh,” Liam’s voice hitched. “Something metal.”
“Liam,” Strange used his first name again, always a bad sign. “I need you to not move. Not your hand. Not your body. Not even an inch.” He said firmly. “Can you do that?”
Liam swallowed before setting his jaw in a firm line. “Yes.”
“Okay. Everything is going to be fine.” He turned to Louis and quietly said, “Go to the floor charge nurse. Walk, don’t run. Tell her to call a code black. We need to call the bomb squad.”
***
The OR was cleared of everyone except for Liam and the anesthesiologist while Strange and Hospital Chief Pond spoke to the bomb squad guy.
Louis had been told to return to the ED to help with getting people out of the area surrounding the OR floor, but the idea of leaving his friend alone with his hand on an explosive didn’t sit right. So Ed said he’d cover for him and he made a loop back to the OR.
The entire floor was deserted while they were all upstairs trying to make a plan, so Louis made it back to the room Liam was in easily. Before he entered he put on some surgical gloves and a mask to avoid contaminating anything. He used his back to push open the door gently so as to not touch the handle, and when he turned around, Liam was all alone, right hand in the body, left hand somewhat awkwardly squeezing the bag helping the patient breath. Fuck.
“Don’t tell Zayn,” Liam said the moment he caught sight of Louis. “He’ll just worry. And also don’t tell Harry. Actually don’t tell Niall either. You know how wild their imaginations get. You and I are really the only practical ones.” And that was saying something, given the situation.
“Where the fuck is the anethesiologist?” Louis said with wide eyes, walking cautiously towards the table.
“He started freaking out. Said he had children to think about. So he ran.”
“That bloody–”
“It’s fine, Lou.” Liam said levely. “I’ve got it. Go.”
Louis ignored him. “Bagging the man kind of defeats the purpose of you being as still as possible,” he walked closer to take over the bag.
“Get out of here Lewis , I’ve got this, I’m fine. No need for both of us to be in danger, Harry will lose his shit enough just that you were here.”
“If you think I’m leaving you in here alone you’ve lost your goddamn mind.” Louis snapped. “Let me take the bag, fighting about it could just lead to movement, and then we’re both dead anyway.”
Liam closed his eyes in frustration, but let Louis take over manual ventilation. They were quiet for a few moments. Since all equipment had been turned off to avoid triggering an explosion, the only sound was the rhythmic squeeze of Louis’ hand on the bag.
“So, you and Harry?” Liam said eventually. “Always knew you had a thing for each other.”
“Yeah, tried to ignore it, didn’t work.” He shrugged.
“Never does.” Liam smiled softly. “You two are good together, I think. If you don’t fuck it all up with your ‘unlabled’ thing.”
“Not you too,” Louis groaned. “I already got an earful about it from Lottie and I’ll tell you what I essentially told her: we’re doing what works for us, at our own pace. I know how I feel about him and I know how he feels about me. Don’t worry about us.”
Liam regarded him for a moment before nodding with another ghost of a smile. “Good. That’s why you need to go. Harry has issues with abandonment, don’t put him through losing you too.”
“And you think him losing you would be any better? You and Niall and Zayn are his brothers. Hell, you’re my brothers too.”
“Louis,” Liam said thickly. “You’re my brother too, and so is Harry. That’s why one of us needs to be safe here. I need both of you to look after Zayn if something happens here. He doesn’t always let his emotions out, he bottles things up, and he needs people to talk to. He’ll talk to you.”
“Good thing nothing is going to happen here then. The bomb squad guy should be down any minute.”
As if on cue, the door opened to reveal Dr. Strange and the bomb squad guy. “Tomlinson,” Strange drawed. “What are you doing here after I told you to return to the ED? Where is Dr. Malloy?”
“He left sir,” Liam answered. “Louis took over bagging because I was having a hard time of it by myself.”
“I had come down to check on my friend,” Louis clarified.
Strange ran a gloved hand over his face. “Fine. You can be my scrub nurse once the explosive is removed then.”
Louis tensed his jaw and nodded firmly, “Of course. Are we doing that now?”
“Not yet,” the bomb squad guy stepped forward. “We have to move to a different room.”
“What? Why?” Liam frowned. “Aren’t we supposed to not move? Isn’t that the whole point?”
“It is, but the oxygen line for the hospital runs directly under this room.”
Louis felt his eyes go wide. “Right, moving it is.” He looked at Liam, “That means if we explode in this room the whole building is going with us.”
“Yeah, I know, I spend time with firefighters.” He said grimly. “Let’s go then.”
***
While Dr. Strange went to prepare the new OR at the other end of the floor far from the oxygen lines for surgery, they very carefully and very slowly began to move the patient.
While walking, the sound of buzzing hit Louis’ ears.
“What is that?” The bomb squad guy snapped. “Does one of you have a phone on you?”
“I do,” Liam said, not taking his focus off of keeping his arm and hand still. “It’s in my back pocket, started as a couple texts, now it’s phone calls… I think it’s probably my boyfriend.”
Louis bit his lip, “Shit, there were news crews pulling up to the building when I left the ED.” His phone wasn’t on him though, he’d left it next to Ed’s at the nurses station.
“So odds are both our boyfriends have figured out that if crazy dangerous shit is happening at the hospital, and we aren’t responding, then we’re probably involved.” Liam sighed.
“Harry isn’t my boyfriend,” Louis protested weakly.
“After this he probably won’t be, he and Zayn are going to kill us if we get out of this alive.”
“Will you two please, shut up?” The bomb squad guy snarled.
***
“I’m going to extend the incision. When I do that, he’s going to start to bleed and you need to be fast so that we can save him,” Strange told Liam.
The bomb squad guy added, “Be quick, but you need to keep everything as level and steady as possible.”
“Then you take over the bagging for Tomlinson, and Tomlinson you get over here to assist.”
“And I’ll remove the explosive safely from the room,” the bomb squad guy finished.
“Ready?” Strange asked. Louis and Liam both nodded.
Right before Strange was about to make the cut, Liam stopped him. “Wait,” He looked at Louis. “There’s a ring for Zayn in the back of my sock drawer. I don’t want him to find it alone. Tell him—“
“No,” the bomb squad guy said harshly. “We aren’t playing out scenarios. You’re going to be fine, okay?” Liam didn’t say anything. “ Okay? ”
“Louis you should go—“
“You listen to me.” The bomb squad guy continued firmly. “You pretend you trust me, because you’re not dying today, and you listen to me. Pretend I’m someone you’ll listen to, and trust me. You can do this.”
Liam took a deep breath and closed his eyes for a few moments. Louis did the same, unable to deny that while he wasn’t leaving Liam alone, he was scared too. He hadn’t let himself think about it in the face of everything and with all the adrenaline running through his system, but he was terrified. So, he pictured Harry standing there, telling him to not worry; that everything would be alright. His hair was wild around his face, fingers covered in rings, eyes sparkling, a sweet dimpled smile on his face. Louis would trust that face with his life. It calmed him. Then he opened his eyes and Liam followed shortly after.
“Okay,” Liam said. Louis nodded in confirmation.
Then, Strange made the cut and Liam gently began to pull the rocket out of the man’s chest.
Louis held his breath as the cylindrical rocket shape around the size of a soda can appeared with Liam’s hand, worried that even breathing near the thing could set it off. When the bomb squad guy took the rocket from Liam, he nodded and said, “Good work.” Then, he carefully began to leave the room as if no one else was there. Which to him, they weren’t, they weren’t his priority, getting the explosive safely away from people was.
As he left the room, the monitors hooked up to Mr. James started to beep, and they all quickly jumped into action. Liam took over bagging, and Louis became a scrub nurse, something he hadn’t done since he was in school deciding on a specialty.
It was easy to work with Strange though, and they seamlessly worked together. Louis handed him instruments with one hand while suctioning blood with the other to give Strange a better field of vision.
Then, an explosion rattled the walls and they saw a cloud of smoke through the window on the door.
***
In the end, everyone lived except for the bomb squad guy. Who Louis hadn’t even bothered learning the name of. He should have. The man saved all of them and he hadn’t even had the decency to learn his name.
He guessed that was how it worked though. The man hadn’t bothered introducing himself, he had a job to do. An important one. And he’d given his life to it.
Louis wasn’t sure how he felt about it. He was numb as he and Liam were checked over for any injuries and cleared because they had none. They were completely unscathed.
They all could have died, but they didn’t have a single injury. The only one that did was the one that gave them courage in the last moment. He just kept playing it all over in his mind like a song he couldn’t get out of his head and desperately wanted to forget.
And then, while he and Liam were silently sitting in the conference room after giving their statements to the officers, there was Harry.
The door opened and Harry was rushing into the room followed closely by Zayn. Louis looked at both of them, not fully understanding how they were there, but then spotted Ed coming in behind them.
He handed Louis’ his phone and said, “I thought you might want some company.”
Harry wrapped around Louis like an octopus, burying his face in Louis’ shoulder. “Thanks,” he croaked to Ed, then he clung to Harry in a similar fashion, digging his fingers in to be sure Harry was there and he wasn’t moving.
Ed patted his other shoulder. “Glad you’re okay, mate. Marcia has you covered for today and tomorrow. Go home.”
He and Harry were silent for a few moments, the only sound in the room were the murmured whispers of Zayn and Liam that he couldn’t really make out.
“I was so worried when Zayn called me. He’d seen the news and Liam wasn’t responding and I just… knew . I knew you were involved. Because you’re both idiots .”
“I couldn’t leave Liam alone,” Louis shrugged weakly.
“I know you wouldn’t.” Harry squeezed him tighter. “You’d never abandon a friend. I kind of hate that about you right now.”
“I’m okay,” Louis stroked Harry’s hair. “Let’s go home.”
The drive home all together was quiet, and when they got upstairs Zayn gave Louis a tight hug with a whispered “thank you” and Liam gave him a tired nod, and they went their separate ways.
Inside their apartment, Niall was pacing and rushed over the moment they entered to give Louis a hug of his own. “You two are fucking insane, you know that right?”
“Yeah,” Louis mumbled into the hug. “I know.”
“You’re okay though?”
“Yeah, Ni, I’m okay.”
While Niall went to the kitchen to make them all tea, Harry wrapped Louis up in a blanket on the sofa before snuggling in next to him. It was exactly what he wanted–to be close to Harry–and it seemed like Harry wanted the same.
“You almost died today,” Harry whispered. “And all I could think about while waiting to hear what happened was that I couldn’t remember if I kissed you goodbye this morning. I couldn’t remember and that was all I could think about–that I wouldn’t remember our last kiss.”
Louis turned his head to gently press his lips to Harry’s. It was sweet and perfect. “You did kiss me this morning, love,” Louis ran a hand through Harry’s hair. “It was soft, quick. A peck. Like… it was something we’d do every day without really thinking about it. Like a habit.”
“Hmm, I like that,” Harry nuzzled into him. “How are you feeling?”
“Fine, no injuries.”
“Lou,” Harry traced the skin of his side just under his shirt. “You just went through something traumatic. How are you really?”
“A bit numb, actually. A man died, a man that saved a lot of people. And I didn’t… I didn’t even know his name, or thank him.” His eyes started to sting with unshed tears. “I thought of you, you know? He said to picture him as someone I trusted to tell me everything would be okay, and I pictured you.” He hiccupped.
Harry shifted so that Louis could fall forward into his arms, letting one hand rub his back while the other was in his hair. “Let it out baby, you’re safe.”
So Louis did.
***
Louis didn’t really remember making it to Harry’s bed and falling asleep, but he woke to fingers trailing up and down his arm lightly. His eyelids felt thick and puffy from crying as he opened them slightly to see Harry awake staring at him.
“How are you feeling baby,” Harry asked softly.
Louis let his mind catch up to him. “I’m okay. How are you? I know yesterday scared you and we never talked about it.”
Wordlessly, Harry scooted closer and pulled the blanket over their heads. “Currently I want to keep us both inside this flat forever and never leave. You’ll quit your job, take up writing from home full time. I’ll figure out something with the bakery…”
“That does sound pretty appealing,” Louis mumbled, letting his hand slide down to squeeze Harry’s ass.
“Butttttttt,” he drew out. “I know it isn’t realistic. And I know that you’re okay, and that you’re not gonna do anything else stupid and leave me, yeah?” Harry’s eyes were shiny and vulnerable, searching Louis’ face for confirmation.
“No, darling,” he traced a finger down the bridge of Harry’s nose, making it scrunch sweetly in response. “I don’t plan on putting you through that again.”
Just as he was leaning forward for a kiss, a crashing sound followed by a “fucking hell!” came from the kitchen.
“Niall’s home?” Louis asked, confused. Didn’t he have school?
“There goes my plan to seduce you into morning sex.” Harry pouted.
“What? No, we’ll just be quiet…” Louis reasoned.
“I need to make sure Niall doesn’t fuck up my kitchen. Time to get up Lou,” he pulled the blanket down and smacked Louis’ ass as he sat up.
When he and Harry walked out of the room, they found not only was Niall home, but Liam and Zayn were on the sofa piled under blankets and drinking tea while Niall was putting on another kettle in the kitchen.
“I thought I heard movement, I hope my knocking things over didn’t wake you,” Niall commented. “I’m going to make eggs. Those muffins and scones you brought home are on the coffee table, go get comfortable, I’ll bring tea.”
“Don’t you have work today?” Louis asked, rubbing his eyes a bit.
Niall shrugged. “Called in sick.”
“We’re having a cozy day in,” Zayn called from the sofa. “Come cuddle and watch movies with us.”
Harry watched Niall pull out the eggs and lay them across the counter near a bowl with pinched lips. “I can make–”
“Nope,” Niall snapped back around pointing a finger at Harry’s chest until he took a step back. “You are not making the eggs, you are going to cuddle on the sofa. Everyone is taking a day off from their usual activities, and for you that means no cooking. Got it?”
“Got it,” Harry sighed. Louis fought back a smile as he gently tugged Harry over to the couch.
“Get over here you two,” Liam patted the sofa next to him. He and Zayn were cuddled together under a blanket, both cats in their laps.
“There you two are, you little traitors,” Louis commented affectionately as he sat close to Liam and scratched Ginger behind the ear.
Harry brought over another blanket and draped it across them both as he snuggled in on Louis’ other side. The moment he was settled, both cats lazily stood up and walked across the bodies between them and Harry’s lap. Louis at least got one of their butts.
“Oh, that’s how it is then?” Zayn said, amused.
“Yeah, they love Harry best,” Louis grinned. “What are we watching then?”
“Oh can we start with How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days ?” Harry’s eyes lit up. “I saw it was just added on Netflix.”
Liam nodded, “Sure–”
“But,” Zayn cut in. “Before we start anything, I want to make sure our two heroes are clear on something, and I think Harry will agree with me.”
Harry nodded solemnly like he knew what Zayn was going to say.
Zayn shifted so that he give Liam and Louis each a very direct look in the eyes before saying, “Now that everyone is okay, I just want you both to know that if you ever do something like this again, I’m going to murder you both. They won’t find the bodies. Got it?”
Louis and Liam nodded.
“Good,” Harry said, resting his head on Louis’ shoulder. Louis took his hand and gave it a light squeeze.
As Niall finished making breakfast and settled in next to Harry, Louis felt a wave of contentment wash over him. He’d never understand how he got so lucky finding this group of people, but he was glad he did. His recurring fantasy used to be finding his “person” and was sure he had found that in Harry, no doubt, but he never thought he’d find his “people” too. He’d never felt so cared for as he cuddled on the sofa with his best friends.
Chapter 16: Chapter 15 - Home
Notes:
The fluffiest fluff to ever fluff?
Chapter Text
Chapter 15 - Home
“Fuck, you feel so good,” Louis grunted as he entered Harry from behind.
He had Harry bent over the side of the bed, feet on the floor, legs spread just enough for Louis to rock up against him, hard, pushing him into the mattress. Harry’s grip on the comforter kept getting tighter the louder he panted. He had one hand on Harry’s hip and the other combed through his hair as he set a punishing pace that had Harry quickly begging for more. Jesus, he loved the sight of his cock pounding in and out of Harry’s firm ass. It was fucking divine .
Harry lifted himself up so that his back was flush against Louis’ chest. The angle changed the pace, but Louis didn’t mind as he wrapped his arms around Harry, this time splaying one hand across his chest and using the other to stroke his cock.
Harry gasped and turned his head so that they could kiss. “On the bed.”
Louis groaned as he slipped out to let Harry crawl back up the bed to get situated, but he didn’t mind much because Harry on his knees with ass in the air was his favorite view. He nudged Harry’s knees a bit further apart so that he could come up between them and rub his cock between Harry’s cheeks. He squeezed Harry’s ass and raked his nails up the backs of his strong thighs, making Harry squirm. After reaching over and adding more lub just to be safe, he also put a pillow under Harry’s hips for a little extra support and Harry let out a needy moan as the fabric brushed his leaking tip.
“I got you baby,” Louis soothed. He leaned down to kiss across the backs of Harry’s shoulders and rubbed a hand over the curve of his ass. “I’ll give you what you need.”
“I need your cock inside me, why are you taking so long?” He whined.
“Sorry love, how’s this?”
Harry grunted as Louis abruptly sunk back into him to the hilt, he was so tight–it was heaven. “Fuck, yes, that’s perfect. So deep.”
“Not perfect enough if you’re still able to talk,” Louis mumbled. He set the pace starting slow this time, pressing into Harry in long, hard, slow strokes that left Harry shaking. With this angle Louis was able to hit Harry’s prostate easily with each thrust, releasing a desperate, filthy noise from Harry’s lips as he lost the ability to form complete sentences. Louis smirked at that, unashamedly proud of himself.
“What was that, love?” Louis teased, then grunted when Harry squeezed around him.
“Harder, you ass.” He turned back to glare playfully.
Louis leaned forward to lay over Harry’s back, pistoning his hips faster and harder, making them both cry out in pleasure. Louis knew this would also make it so Harry’s cock was getting stimulated against the pillow. As he continued to rock into Harry, he sucked at the spot just under Harry’s jaw near his ear that he knew Harry liked and placed his hands on top of Harry’s, weaving their fingers together. Then, with a guttural moan, Harry came and Louis followed quickly behind him, his world shattering.
“There’s come on my pillowcase.” Harry said a little while later when they were lucid again. “Why couldn’t you have used your pillow?”
“I wasn’t really taking the time to think things through, babe.” Louis kissed his cheek and gave Harry his pillow. “We’ll just have to do laundry.”
“We don’t have time for laundry, we need to start getting ready for the awards dinner.”
“Oh, shit, what time is it?” Louis fumbled for his phone. “You jump into the shower without me, I’ll change the sheets so that we have clean pillowcases without doing laundry when we get home tonight.”
Harry gave him a smile that lit up his eyes with stars. “You’re the best.”
***
“Oh god, I’m going to stick out so bad, I should have just gone with black like you. Or at least something less… this.” Harry gestured to himself as their car pulled up to the awards venue.
Louis’ heart cracked a little at hearing Harry talk about his suit that way. When he’d bought it, he’d been so excited about it. The suit was red with a hydrangea looking floral print, he wore it with a black shirt and his curly hair down. Louis thought he looked fantastic.
“No,” Louis took both Harry’s hands in his to get him to focus and stop fidgeting. “Your suit is perfect. You deserve to stand out. You were made for it. If people stare it’s because you’re hot as sin and they’re jealous of me getting to be your date.”
“What if people think I look like a silly diva?”
“I mean,” Louis smirked slyly. “You are kind of silly. And you can definitely be a bit of a diva when things don’t go your way in the kitchen. Kasey told me about the time that–”
“Okay, okay,” Harry laughed and shoved him lightly, all the tension in his features melting away. “I get your point. Let’s go then.”
They stepped out of the car and Harry immediately took Louis’ hand. “You’ll stay with me right? Not leave me on my own?”
“Who else would I rather spend my evening with? Also, you’re literally the only person I know here, love. You know I’m not much for mingling.”
“Don’t try to use logic on me. I’m having a moment.” He pouted. “And we met at a party, you mingled with me.”
Louis raised a brow, he was pretty sure they hadn’t acknowledged their first real meeting since the very beginning of their friendship. “You were a special case. I’ll amend my earlier statement: I’ll only abandon you for an even hotter flamboyant rockstar hippie with lots of rings in an even brighter floral suit.”
“You’re so funny,” he said dryly.
Louis ignored his sass. “I know. Now stop worrying and let’s just have fun. Oh! We’ll make a game of it, see how many celebrity chefs we can talk to.”
With Harry sufficiently distracted from being nervous, Louis took his hand again and they walked into the hotel ballroom where the awards ceremony was taking place. It was decorated in what Louis decided he would call “awards show chic,” most everything was black with gold and silver accents. They had their invites checked by security and found the place cards with their table number.
“The cream puff table,” Louis snorted. “Maybe I’ll start referring to you as my little cream puff because you make me–”
Harry placed a hand over Louis’ mouth with a giggle. “Oh god, are you going to try embarrassing me all night?”
“Did it make you forget to be nervous about the fact that fucking Gordon Ramsay is over there laughing with Padma Lakshmi?”
“What?” Harry’s eyes bugged and turned to where Louis had gestured. “Oh my god. Oh my god, Lou, we are in the same room as Gordon and Padma. Who else is here?” He started looking around. “Holy fuck, there are so many people here significantly more qualified than I am.”
“Babe, Haz, my little cream puff,” Louis cupped Harry’s face with both his hands to get him to focus. “You were nominated for multiple awards, of course you’re qualified to be here. Tell me what awards you’re nominated for.”
Harry smiled shyly. “Best New Pastry Chef and Best Young Chef.”
“How many others are in those categories?”
“Four others,” Harry blushed. “Five total.”
“Do you think Food & Wine makes mistakes in their nominations?”
Harry’s eyes widened and glanced around them, clearly worried someone might have overheard Louis talking badly about the organizers. “Of course not!”
“Then there you go.”
“Oh. Yeah.” Harry’s face scrunched in thought and nodded his head a bunch. “Okay. Yeah, you’re right.”
“Good,” He dropped his hands and stepped back a bit. “Because it’s time to put on your professional hat– Nadiya Hussain is coming over and one of us needs to be able to speak to her and not stand here like a starstruck loon, and I don’t think it can be me.”
Then, she was there. “Hello, you’re Harry Styles right? I love your suit, it’s fantastic.”
“You know who I am?” Harry blurted out. “I mean yes, and you’re Nadiya Hussain, I’m a huge fan, we both are.” He gestured to Louis.
“I’m Louis.” He said, not able to stop himself.
Nadiya smiled brightly. “Thank you, it’s lovely to meet you both. I’ve heard a lot about you, Harry Styles. Everyone in the dessert world is raving about you.”
“I–really?”
She laughed at his shock. “Yes! I had my assistant pick up some sweets from your bakery a few weeks ago, it was all absolutely incredible. When I saw you over here I just had to be the first person you spoke to before someone else snatched you up. Come join me and my husband, I’ll introduce you to some people and tell you about a new baking show I’m creating that I’d love for you to be a guest on.”
“It’d be an honor.” Harry grabbed Louis’ hand and laced their fingers together as they followed Nadiya.
“I haven’t even told you about it yet,” her eyes twinkled. “It’s for Netflix. Each episode will have a different theme and I also want to spotlight other British bakers each episode…”
Louis looked around the room as the two of them continued to talk. He saw tons of people he recognized from TV in addition to Gordon, Padma, and Nadiya. There was Jamie Oliver, Christina Tosi, Tom Colicchio, Mary Berry, Paul Hollywood… ugh, this was so fucking cool.
Looking back at Harry, Louis was glad to see that he’d finally relaxed and was talking with Nadiya as if they were old friends. She really was the sweetest person ever.
“That sounds amazing,” Harry gushed. “I’d love to be a part of it.”
“Perfect, I’ll contact you with the details later this week. Now, no more business talk, tell me about you and you, Louis. What do you do?”
Louis startled. “Oh, I’m an ER nurse.”
She smiled again, she seemed like Harry in that neither ever stopped smiling. “That’s fantastic. How did you two meet?”
“That’s a funny story actually,” Louis grinned. “We met at a party first, but I was an idiot and lost his number. Then a mutual friend told me about a couple friends of his looking for a third roommate…”
“And it was Harry?” She clapped her hands gleefully when he nodded. “Oh I love that–the universe conspiring to bring you together.”
“Yeah,” Harry looked at Louis softly. “I guess it was.”
Eventually Nadiya began introducing Harry around to all sorts of important people. Louis only recognized a few of them, which was fine because he was more than happy to be Harry’s arm candy and watch the man in action. Harry might have started out nervous, thinking he didn’t belong, but that was so obviously wrong as he mingled and traded business cards it wasn’t even funny. This was Harry’s element just as much as the actual baking was. He could talk to anyone.
The first time Harry introduced Louis to some famous chef or another, he’d paused briefly before deciding on what to refer to Louis as. He was quite giddy at what moniker Harry decided on.
“This is Louis Tomlinson, my…partner.”
He wasn’t sure why Harry went with partner, it really implied a much more serious commitment than ‘boyfriend’ did and seemed to be a complete turn around from them being ‘unlabled,’ but god did the word make him fucking swoon .
Another thing that made Louis’ heart flutter was how Harry remained in physical contact with Louis all night in some way. Holding hands. Hand on the waist. Maneuvering Louis’ hand onto his waist so he could have both hands free. It was like he was making sure that Louis knew that while he wasn’t really included in the conversations, Harry still wanted him there. He wanted him to know he was glad Louis was there.
Maybe they’d talk about it later. Maybe they wouldn’t. Louis wasn’t sure he wanted to ruin it by talking.
The sit down dinner was possibly the best meal Louis had ever eaten. Though he was sure Harry could have made a better dessert, which earned him a wide eyed shush from Harry and tinkling laughter from the other’s at their table, including Nadiya, when he said that aloud.
After dinner, it was time for the awards. Louis didn’t pay much attention, content on listening to Harry as he told Louis random fun facts about nominees and predictions on who would win in a low, smooth voice.
Then, came the nominees for Best New Pastry Chef.
“The nominees this year all put their own unique spin on everyone’s favorite course: dessert.” Padma smirked and the crowd filled with light laughter. “Dessert is the only course that people intentionally save room for. Whether it’s a celebration or just a sweet treat to brighten an ordinary day–dessert never fails to put a smile on someone’s face. When a dessert is good, it’s divine, and when it’s bad… well we’ve all seen what Tom Colicchio does with a bad dessert.” More laughter, though Harry’s was clearly strained and full of nerves. “Luckily, these young chefs couldn’t make a bad dessert if they tried. They are proof that the world of dessert is a thriving, and delicious, place to be and I look forward to following their bright careers as they continue to take the pastry world by storm. The nominees for Best New Pastry Chef are…”
Harry’s grip on his hand tightened and Louis added his other hand on top of Harry’s for double the support.
“And the winner for Best New Pastry Chef is,” Padma began. “Harry Styles!”
Harry was frozen, mouth open as Louis lunged at him, pulling him into a fierce hug and kissing him on the cheek. “Haz, you won, you have to get up!” He cheered.
Harry looked at him, a little dazed, “I won?”
“You won.” Louis confirmed, and tried giving him another nudge to stand up. “Go!”
“Right,” he stood and began to walk towards the stage, shaking hands as he went.
“Wow,” Harry ran a hand through his hair as he took in the audience. “I really wasn’t expecting to win. I wanted to… I really, really wanted to.” The audience laughed lightly. “But to actually have this confirmation that my dream to make people happy through my food is… appreciated? Wow. Um I want to thank my mum and step-dad, of course, and my sister, for always supporting me. My teachers, my business partner James for taking care of the boring stuff so that I can focus on the food. My friends, for always being honest taste-testers. My late grandmother, Olivia, for whom I named the bakery for… she was my biggest champion. And…” Harry looked directly at him. “And my new biggest champion, Louis. You make me a better person, you’re always there for me, and… put simply my world is better with you in it. I also quite literally wouldn’t be here without you too, since you’re the one that pushed me to enter the Lamsted Baker competition that got me here in the first place. You give me the confidence I need to be myself. Thank you.” He gave a little bow, nod combo as the audience began to clap.
Louis’ heart was bursting by the time Harry was back at their table and before he could think about it, he stood and gave Harry a passionate kiss without saying a word. He ended it quickly, still aware they were in the middle of a full ballroom, all of whom were definitely staring, but as he and Harry sat back down, he kept Harry’s hand in his.
***
Harry did not win Best New Chef, but told Louis that it’s rare for a pastry chef to be nominated for that category at all and that he was happy with his single win.
After the awards, the alcohol began to flow in earnest, a dance floor was cleared, and a DJ set up on stage. Apparently, the food people liked to party.
While the hotel staff was still working to clear some of the tables off the dance floor, Padma and Tom approached them.
“Okay, be cool,” Louis whispered.
“Are you telling me that, or yourself?” Harry teased.
Louis didn’t respond as the two famous celebrity chefs and judges were standing in front of them.
“Harry, congratulations again,” Padma shook his hand, followed by Tom.
“Your food is incredible, truly well deserved.” Tom added with a kind smile.
Harry’s brows rose in surprise. “Thank you, that means a lot coming from you.” They laughed at Tom’s reputation for being picky when it came to desserts.
“I thought your miso danish in particular was inspired. How did you come up with that?”
“It’s inspired by Louis actually,” Harry blushed. “Long story.”
Louis gave them a grin that he was sure made him look entirely too pleased with himself.
“Well,” Padma changed course. “I hear you might be featured on Nadiya’s new show that’s in the works?”
“Uh, yeah? It’s an amazing opportunity.”
“We have a show too,” Tom said in his direct, no-nonsense way. “We’d like you to consider applying.”
Harry looked like he was about to pass out, so Louis subtly pinched his leg. He was pretty sure Padma saw based on her amused smile.
“Being on Top Chef is kind of my wildest dream,” Harry admitted. “You’d really want me to apply?”
“Of course,” Padma smiled kindly. “No promises, and the next season doesn’t start filming for a while, but I think your energy would be a great fit for the show. And we always like people who have a good story–who’s more fun to root for than an underdog pastry chef?”
“I wouldn’t say he’d be an underdog,” Louis couldn’t help but interject. “More of a dark horse. He might be a pastry chef, but he knows his way around all sorts of cuisine.”
Tom let out an appreciative laugh and rubbed his hands together. “Alright, that’s what I like to hear! Send us your application directly and we’ll pass it along to our producers.” He handed Harry a card and they moved on to the next person they wanted to mingle with as the music started.
Harry stood there, staring at the card in his hand. “Holy shit, Lou.”
“I know baby,” he pulled Harry into a side hug with a squeeze. “I’m so fucking proud of you.”
Harry moved his arm so that it was around Louis as well. “Dance with me?” Louis nodded with a smile.
They danced much more tamely than the other times they had danced together, but it was just as much fun. When the smooth sound of the Elvis classic ‘Can’t Help Falling In Love With You’ came on, Louis took Harry’s left hand in his right and wrapped his other arm around Harry’s waist, which Harry did to him in return.
“This is one of my mum’s favorite songs,” Harry mumbled, biting his lip. “When I was a kid I loved the movie Fools Rush In , had Salma Hayek and Matthew Perry, accidental pregnancy, wedding in Las Vegas… ugh there was a brief period of time where it was the only thing I wanted to watch.” Harry said wistfully.
Louis laughed, eyes crinkling. “How old were you?”
“Like, six or seven maybe?”
“And your favorite movie was an unplanned pregnancy romantic comedy?”
“Yes, it had a great soundtrack. When I figured out that I would not get the chance to have my own accidental pregnancy romance though, I moved on to other movies.”
“You’re adorable.” Louis kissed him softly. “You have unplanned baby cats though. Is that good enough instead?”
“Hmm,” Harry pressed his forehead to Louis’. “I think so, for now.”
“You want kids? In the future?”
“Yeah, definitely, one day. Surrogate, adoption, immaculate conception. Any way is fine with me. You?”
“Same.” Louis pushed down the thought that wove into his heart that he hoped those future, imaginary kids were theirs. It was a little too soon for that. They continued to sway and listen to the words, bodies pressed close together.
“I’m going to miss you next week,” Harry said as the song changed. “Five whole days? Your birthday and Christmas?”
“I’m going to miss you too, but we can celebrate before I leave.” He was going home for Christmas and his birthday. He was excited to see his mum and sisters… but he was pretty sure he was going to miss Harry an irrational amount.
***
“Where did you get those boots? I didn’t pick them out and they’re too nice for you to have picked them out.” Lottie said as he came down the stairs. He and Lottie had driven home to his mum’s two days before. The moment he’d parked the car and his other siblings ran out to meet them, he was happy to be home–it’d been too long since he’d seen them all in person–but that didn’t stop him from missing Harry.
More than once in the last two days he’d turned to smile or share a random comment with Harry before realizing that Harry was on his way to see his own family. He’d been texting Harry practically nonstop of course, but it wasn’t the same.
The smirk Lottie gave him when she noticed his sudden mood shift made him feel even more pathetic.
Jay looked around the corner from the kitchen to see what Lottie was talking about. “Oh, those are nice. Definitely not something you’d pick out for yourself.”
“Rude,” Louis pointed at both of them. “I don’t have to take this slander you know? I could leave.”
“I bet they’re from Harry,” Lottie smirked at their mum, completely ignoring his fake indignation. “His fashion sense is fantastic. And you know that’s who he keeps texting, right?”
Jay gleefully stepped out of the kitchen and Louis groaned. “Ohhh, the cute flatmate? Are you dating then?”
“Mum, please…” Louis put his face in his hands, what was he going to tell her?
Lottie cackled with evil laughter at his pain. “Yeah, Loulou, or I could tell her if you want.”
“Tell what?” Fizzy asked, walking into the room with Doris and Ernie.
Louis gave his mum a pleading look.
“Nothing dears, we’re just teasing your brother. Lottie, why don’t you take your siblings into the kitchen and you can all get started on breakfast?” When they had disappeared, she turned to Louis and gave him an assessing look that only mums could give. “Let’s make a pot of tea and go sit outside for a bit, just us?”
His mum was the best.
“So,” she said once they were on the porch, bundled up, tea in hand. “Tell me about your Harry. All I really know is from when I spoke to him on the phone after your injury.”
“Well, he did get me the boots for my birthday,” Louis blushed. They were very nice boots.
Jay gave him an indulgent look. “He has very good taste. What else?”
“And, uh, for Christmas he got me a vintage Lamsted Football jersey and tickets to a game in the spring.”
She raised her eyebrows, still very clearly amused at his expense. “He knows you very well then. But I meant what else can you tell me about him though.”
“I got him a bunch of pretty scarves to wrap his hair in while working. Lottie had shown me this thrift store that often had ‘high-end gems’ as she calls them. I also got him this ridiculous looking multicolored sweater cardigan that I knew he’d love–”
“Sweetheart,” Jay laid a hand on his. “Why are you so nervous about this?”
Louis sighed. “Because I don’t think I’ve ever liked anyone as much as I like him.”
“Oh my baby,” she set her tea down and pulled him into a hug. “I can tell.”
“Yeah?”
“Yeah,” she grinned. “You’ve been acting like a zombie glued to your phone since you came home. Barely paid attention to the movie Doris and Ernie picked out for you last night.”
“I’m sorry. I’ll try to be more present. It’s just… since I met Harry, we’ve barely been apart, even when it was just as friends. Five days feels so long, and it’s only day three.”
“Nothing to apologize for dear,” she hugged him again. “I’m happy to see you so happy with someone. Now, will you actually tell me more about him?”
“How much time do I have?”
***
The rest of the day with his family had been lovely. He really had missed them. He took Daisy and Phoebe ice skating, making sure to spend some one-on-one time with each of them and to not only treat them as a pair. Then he went on a long walk around the park with Fizzy before stopping to get hot chocolates. That evening after dinner, he played hide-and-go-seek with Dori and Ernie. He could tell that his mum and Dan were happy to have him and Lottie back to help entertain the kids so they could cook and relax.
He continued to text Harry throughout the day, but around dinner Harry stopped replying. Louis figured he was busy with his own family, but that didn’t stop him from lying awake in his bed in his childhood bedroom for the third night in a row. It seemed like his body missed falling asleep with Harry in his arms.
He looked at the time on his phone. Just after midnight. Happy birthday to him. He closed his eyes, rolled over again, and tried to fall asleep.
He wasn’t sure how long he’d been asleep when hushed voices on the stairs woke him up.
The girls getting a glass of water maybe? He closed his eyes and must have drifted off immediately, because the next thing he knew, the bed was dipping and he was startled awake. He looked up and took a moment to register what he was seeing.
“Haz?”
Harry brushed the fringe from Louis’ forehead and gave him a soft smile. “Happy birthday Lou.”
“You’re in my bed? In my house?”
“I am, budge over.” Louis did immediately, holding up the blankets and letting the cool air inside so that Harry could join him. He shivered into the warmth of Louis’ arms. “It’s snowing.”
“How are you here?” Louis asked, still a bit dazed. He’d think about snow later.
“Kiss me first?”
Louis didn’t need to be asked twice. Harry was cold, and his lips were a bit dry, but the kisses were perfect. They melted into each other. Louis rubbed a hand up and down Harry’s back to help warm him up quicker, and bring their bodies closer. Eventually they pulled apart and Harry began tracing circles on Louis’ hip.
“You’re mum stole your phone earlier, did you know?”
Louis blinked. “No.”
“She copied down my number. Texted that you missed me and that if I wanted, I was welcome to come stay here as long as I wanted. Even invited the rest of my family.”
“And you just… drove here? Is your family with you?”
“It’s only a three hour drive. Just took a little longer with the snow. I talked to them about it, and we decided we didn’t want to overwhelm your mum with so many extra people, and two cats, at the last minute. I’m not here long, I’ll drive back Christmas day, but now I get to see you for your birthday.” It had been decided that Harry would bring Ginger and Pepper home with him, since Louis’ house already had lots of people, and two dogs.
“That’s…” Louis was speechless, really. He looked at Harry, searching for the right words, then something caught his eye and distracted him. “You got a haircut.”
Harry laughed. “Yeah, my mum convinced me. I was just going to get a couple inches so it was back at my shoulders, but I think mum slipped them some cash to make it shorter. Do you hate it?”
“No, of course I don’t hate it. You’d look good regardless. I’ve just never seen you with your hair so short.” It really wasn’t even that short, but it was off his neck. “I’m glad the curls are still there.” He looped a finger around the one that had fallen across his forehead. “And I’m so happy to see you, you’re really here? I’m not dreaming?”
“Do you dream of me appearing in your bed?” Harry nuzzled into his neck. His voice was smooth and buttery and sleepy and Louis definitely could be dreaming with how perfect this all was–being wrapped up in Harry, half asleep, only moonlight lighting the room.
“All the time.”
“Then I guess we’re both having really good dreams. Now close your eyes, your stepdad said he’d try to get them to let us sleep in, but it’s pretty late. Or early, I guess.”
“Okay,” Louis slurred with sleep. “Night, love.”
“Night, baby.”
***
Louis woke up to his foot being poked repeatedly accompanied by whispers of “Louis, Louis, Louis.”
Louis had his face against the back of Harry’ neck (missing the curls but enjoying the skin) with an arm wrapped around him so Harry could clutch it like a child’s stuffed huggie toy.
“Louis?” The little voice said a bit louder.
He lifted his head. “Dori? I’m sleeping.”
“Happy birthday.”
“Thank you,” he mumbled, managing a smile.
“Who’s that?”
“‘S Harry.”
“Why is he in your bed? Is he your boyfriend?”
Of course, Harry chose that moment to become conscious. “Would it be alright with you if I was his boyfriend?” His voice thick with sleep, but still with a twinge of mischievousness.
Louis froze.
Doris thought for a moment. “I didn’t like his other boyfriend.”
“I didn’t either. How about at the end of the day, you tell me if I’m good enough to be Louis’ boyfriend?”
Doris thought again, before smiling. “Okay.” Then she skipped out of the room, thankfully closing the door behind her.
“Was that okay?” Harry asked, sounding unsure after a few moments of Louis still being shocked into silence. “I know we haven’t really talked about it since we originally got together… but…”
“You called me partner at the awards,” Louis pointed out.
A crease formed between Harry’s brows like he was trying to figure out a riddle. “Is that better or worse than boyfriend?”
“Sorry,” Louis pecked the corner of his mouth. “What I mean is I didn’t mind you calling me your partner then, I liked it. Same with you calling yourself my boyfriend here.”
“You like it?” Harry bit his lower lip, but Louis could tell he was trying to fight a smile.
“Yeah,” he kissed Harry again, a little more fully. “No take backs either, it’s now another birthday present.”
“No take backs,” Harry gave him a dimpled smile. He looked lovely in the soft morning light. “You’re definitely stuck with me.”
“Good. How long do you think we can make out before someone else comes looking for us?”
***
They didn’t make out, Harry said he wanted to make a good impression and that arriving in the dead of night and being caught in bed making out wasn’t a good impression. Louis tried to convince him otherwise, but Harry was already rolling out of bed. Stupid adorable morning people.
“Happy birthday Louis!” Everyone shouted as he and Harry shuffled into the kitchen. While they had been getting dressed he’d done his best to prepare Harry for how loud his family could be. Harry assured him that no amount of volume would scare him off; Louis was just glad that at least Harry had met Lottie in passing a few times and his mum clearly already liked him.
They passed Louis around the room for birthday hugs and then Harry got passed around with greeting hugs. Louis felt like levitating with joy at seeing Harry instantly so comfortable around his family. By the time they were eating breakfast, Harry and Fizzy were already talking about some TV show Harry liked. Louis was pretty sure he’d been in the room when it’d been on, but he was probably writing or staring at Harry instead of paying attention to the show.
“I like your nail polish.” Daisy pointed to Harry’s ring covered hand after Fizzy got up. His nail polish was a mauvy pink that Louis had put in Harry’s stocking back at the flat.
“Thank you, Louis picked out the color and painted them for me,” he beamed.
All the girls, Ernie, and his mum and Dan looked at Louis. “Really?” Fizzy asked. “Because it looks professional.”
“I’ve painted all your nails before, don’t look so surprised that I can do a good job!”
Harry chuckled. “Yes, he paints them for me all the time.”
“That’s very sweet of you Louis.” Phoebe looked at him with big heart eyes. “Will you paint our nails later too?”
“Girls, it’s his birthday, he gets to pick what he does today.” Jay interjected.
“Not right now, but maybe later today or tomorrow, alright?” Louis grinned. “I wanted to take Harry ice skating this morning.”
“But you went with us yesterday?”
“Harry wasn’t there yesterday though,” Lottie reminded them with a smirk. They all laughed at Louis’ expense, but since he got Harry out of the deal, he didn’t mind.
***
“I’ve never had a boyfriend home for the holiday’s before,” Louis commented as they tied up their skates.
Harry paused and cocked his head. “Not even Ethan?”
“No, he always had some kind of work function and didn’t want to travel.” It really should have been a red flag to him, but he was blind to it back then. “So while people in this town know I’m gay…” he trailed off.
“They’ve never seen you with anyone?” Harry glanced around the rink as if he was expecting everyone to be watching them, no one was looking at them though.
“No,” Louis chuckled. “I don’t think it’ll be a problem nowadays, but it’s a small town, so it’s possible we’ll get some looks when they realize we aren’t just bros. I just wanted you to know in case anyone stares, and so you know that I’m really glad you’re here.”
Harry’s face softened into a delicate smile. “I’m glad I get to be your first hometown date. It’s like The Bachelor, but I’m not competing with anyone.”
“How do you know you’re not competing with anyone?” Louis crossed his arms. “I’m a very eligible young bachelor, you know.”
“Right, of course.” Harry rolled his eyes, clearly not taking Louis’ act seriously. “I guess I’ll just have to make this extra special romantic then.” He stood on his skates and held a hand out for Louis, who didn’t hesitate taking it.
They smoothly stepped onto the ice, gloved hands still clasped, and began to skate and talk about nothing and everything. About an hour into it, his eye caught something, or some one .
“Shit, what is it with holidays and you that results in me seeing people I don’t want to see?” He said lightly. “First Ethan at Halloween, now this?”
“What?” Harry looked alarmed.
“Remember the friend I had that I tried to kiss and then outed me at school?”
Harry’s face darkened and his jaw twitched in a way that sent a delicious shiver up Louis’ spine. “Yes.”
“Looks like he’s here, I assume with a girlfriend. Haven’t seen him since high school, so hopefully we just pretend no one knows each other.”
Louis was never that lucky.
“Louis? Is that you?” A voice said behind them. Louis sighed and turned.
“Dylan? Hey, how are you?” Louis and Harry slowed their skating to a stop and Harry wrapped an arm around Louis’ waist possessively. Dylan’s eyes flicked down to it and back to Louis.
“I’m great, just home visiting for the holiday. This is my girlfriend, Caroline.”
“I’m Harry, his boyfriend,” Harry said in response, voice a bit deeper than it usually might be. Dylan clearly got the hint, and nodded.
“It’s lovely to meet you,” Caroline said.
“Um, actually, I was kind of hoping I’d run into you while I was in town.” Dylan rubbed the back of his neck. “Do you think we could talk?”
Louis was surprised. They’d barely ever spoken again after the kiss despite having been such good friends before. But it was because once upon a time they had been good friends, that Louis said yes. He could tell by the way he fidgeted and shifted that Dylan was nervous, no malintent.
“Would you keep skating with me?” Caroline asked Harry. “I’m not very good, I think I need a partner to keep me up.”
“Uh…” Harry looked at Louis, clearly unsure if he should leave.
“I’ll be fine babe,” Louis squeezed his hand.
As Harry helped Caroline continue to skate, Louis and Dylan skated over to the side to lean against the wall.
“So,” Louis made sure to keep his tone neutral. “You wanted to talk to me?”
Dylan sighed before straightening up a bit as if he was getting ready to give a prepared speech. Which, maybe he was. “I owe you an apology. A huge one. I’m not asking for forgiveness, because I know I don’t deserve it and I know I have no right to put you in the position of feeling like you have to give it, but I’m so sorry for how I treated you when we were kids. I was stupid, and ignorant, and hateful and our years of friendship should have mattered more to me than a few moments of embarrassment. What I did to you was horrible and I’m sorry I put you through that.”
Louis blinked, mouth dropping open. “Uh, really?”
“What I did, outing you, has been my biggest regret for the longest time. I told myself if I ever saw you again, I’d apologize, even if it was too little too late. You deserved at least that.”
“Well, thanks,” Louis said, surprise still washing over him. “I… thank you for apologizing. I appreciate it, even if it is unexpected.” They were silent for a moment. This was the last thing Louis expected to happen today. “So, how are you? Caroline seems nice.”
Dylan looked surprised that Louis decided to keep talking to him, and honestly, Louis wasn’t sure why he was when it had been so long. “Yeah she is. I’m good. Working in finance which is kind of a drag sometimes, but good. What about you? Harry seems ready to punch me at any moment so I guess he knows…”
“Yeah, I tell him everything.” Louis said pointedly. “I’m great, I have Harry, I’m a nurse, living in Lamsted.” He smiled. “I’m happy.”
Dylan regarded him and smiled as well. “I’m glad.”
***
He and Dylan would never be friends like they were, but they exchanged contact information politely and went their separate ways. The cynical part of Louis wondered if the apology was more for just easing the burden of Dylan’s own guilt, than it was for Louis. But he really didn’t care. The apology still felt sincere and it felt like he could finally, fully close the door on that part of his life that had still been cracked just a bit.
The rest of his and Harry’s time ice skating was fun and romantic, but they were both very happy to step back into the warm house a couple hours later. It had started snowing lightly again and their toes were numb from the cold. Shutting the door behind them, they saw there wasn’t anyone around downstairs, though he could hear the sounds of a movie upstairs. He helped Harry out of his coat, brushing the snow flakes off his shoulders and Harry helped him out of his. Then Louis took off their beanies and hung them up to dry as well, he smiled at the sight of Harry's curls bouncing free. After they removed their gloves, Harry took Louis’ hands in his and rubbed them to warm his fingers back up.
“I want to bake you a cake, do you think your mum would mind?” Harry said softly.
“Someone else doing the cooking? I’m positive she won’t mind.”
“Why don’t you go hang out with your sisters and I’ll start that then?” He wrapped his arms around Louis and started to sway in a sort of slow dancing hug that Louis never wanted out of.
“Nope.” Louis kissed the underside of his chin. “I only have you for today before I have to go another two without you. I’m sous chef.”
“You can’t help make your own birthday cake, babe.”
“Who says?”
“It’s an unspoken birthday rule.”
“Hmm. I like breaking rules though… so looks like I’m helping.” He wiggled his eyebrows and hip-checked Harry lightly before brushing past him into the kitchen.
Louis followed Harry’s instructions to the letter, with the occasional touch or light kiss as he passed Harry the measuring cups or leaned over to preheat the oven.
It was all divinely domestic.
After Harry put the cake in the oven, Louis spun him around so that he had Harry facing him, pressed against the counter, his hands bracketing either side of Harry’s hips. “Hi,” he beamed.
“Hi,” Harry looped his arms behind Louis’ back. “I know what you’re thinking, and it’s not happening.”
Louis trailed a finger down Harry’s chest. “But it’s my birthday.”
“Don’t give me that look.” Harry nearly whined, forcing Louis to fight back a grin.
“What look?”
“That dangerous ‘I want what I want and no one is stopping me’ look you get before you do something that someone tells you not to do.”
Louis let out a laugh. “But I do want what I want and no one is stopping me,” he stepped closer so their bodies were touching, lips ever so close.
“Your family could walk in any second.” He whispered, but Louis knew he was going to win. Harry wanted to kiss him too.
They stared into each other’s eyes for a few moments before Harry gave in and kissed him, arms winding around one another. The kiss wasn’t their most heated by any means, they were still in his mum’s kitchen, but it was slow and perfect and all consuming. Harry nibbed on his bottom lip a little, making him gasp softly. Louis wanted to stay in this moment kissing Harry for the rest of his life. He’d die from loss of oxygen and that would be okay. Death by kissing Harry Styles and not being able to stop sounded good to him.
His body didn’t get that memo though because the moment the sound of a cough hit his ears, it jumped away from Harry as if possessed.
They looked over at his mum in the doorway, both of them were breathing heavily but all she did was smirk. She was absolutely delighted by this turn of events, Louis could tell. “You sisters want to know if when the cake is done, you can have a spa night painting nails? They say you can pick the movie since it’s your birthday.”
Louis cleared his throat, still feeling like a teenager caught sneaking a boy into his room (not that he actually knew what that felt like). “Yeah, that sounds fine.”
Jay’s smile grew wider. “I’ll let them know.” Then before she left, she turned back around. “Also, please don’t have sex in my kitchen.”
“Mum!” Louis’ jaw dropped as Jay walked away cackling.
***
The rest of the evening was full of cake, movies, and nail painting. Daisy and Phoebe had even painted Louis’ nails a seafoam green color while Doris put Harry’s hair into a bunch of little pony tails before giving him some purple eyeshadow. Fizzy and Lottie thought the whole thing was hilarious.
“So Doris,” Harry said as she went for the blush. “Do you approve of me as Louis’ boyfriend then?”
Louis ignored the raised eyebrows and smirks from Lottie and Fizzy.
“Will you be nice to him?” Dori asked, her little voice stern.
“Promise,” Harry nodded.
She regarded him closely. “Okay then. You have my permission.”
“Thank you,” Harry smiled, seeming completely sincere and not like he was just humoring her. It made Louis’ heart flutter.
“Finally,” Lottie muttered.
***
When Louis got home to apartment 1D a couple days later, he opened the door slowly, tired from a day of driving. The moment he stepped into the apartment though, he knew something was up. Harry, Niall, Liam, and Zayn were all standing there waiting for him, wearing hideous matching red and green argyle sweaters, with their hands behind their backs. It was all sorts of suspicious.
“Hey mates. What’s up?” Louis asked.
“Hey, Lou,” Harry smiled widely, dimples showing. “Welcome home.”
“Open the box, Tommo,” Liam nodded to the box sitting on the floor between them and Louis.
Louis set down his bags and carefully approached the box, not taking his eyes off his friends. Opening it, he found his own matching sweater in a bed of tissue paper.
“Put it on.” Harry prompted. Louis did so.
When he looked back at them, it seemed like his friends were practically vibrating with excitement. Louis’ eyes narrowed. “Why do I feel like there is more going on here than us wearing matching ugly sweaters?”
“I think we forgot to mention that we have a bit of a tradition for returning home from Christmas Hols…” Niall said.
“Particularly for the last one to return,” Zayn finished.
Louis looked at the boys wearily. “It’s not water guns again is it? Doesn’t seem like the best thing to do inside…”
“Not water babe,” Harry shook his head, clearly enjoying Louis’ confusion. “Check under the tissue paper.”
Louis bent down and riffled through the paper until his hand hit a smooth cylindrical metal can. He pulled it out and before he could register what he was looking at, he was hit with four streams of silly string. “Ah!”
He removed the lid of his can and started spraying the others back, but four against one was really so unfair. He was covered in the stuff. “You all suck!”
“But you love us!” Zayn called as he decided to turn on Liam who squawked in response.
From there on it was a free-for-all, Niall revealing more cans of silly string resulted in the entire apartment becoming their playground. Niall chased Liam around the dining table while Louis took a can in each hand and chased Harry and Zayn around the couch. Then Harry decided to turn the tables and abruptly started to run at Louis, string in curls and hanging off his shoulders like a multicolored spider web.
He looked so adorably ridiculous that instead of running from Harry, he grabbed him and planted his lips on his.
“Oi! No fraternizing during silly-string war!” Niall shouted.
Louis fisted Harry’s shirt with one hand to keep him from moving and flipped Niall off with the other.
Then, both Louis and Harry were attacked with more silly-string and the game continued.
What Louis wouldn’t notice until later, was that while this was going on, he received five missed hang up calls from an unknown number.
***
From the moment they’d walked into the pub for Niall’s New Years Eve show, Harry had been acting strange. Fidgety. Not really talking to anyone. He just kept glancing at Louis and then looking away when he saw that Louis was already looking at him.
“For the last song of the night, my very good friend that sings with me sometimes, asked, for the first time ever, if he could sing a song on his own tonight.” The crowd filled with murmurs of interest immediately. Louis’ curiosity was certainly piqued as well. Harry asked to sing?
When Harry walked up to sit next to Niall, Louis swore Harry’s eyes flicked over to him.
“You see everyone,” Niall continued conspiratorially. “Harry pretends he hates it when I pull him up here, but I’m pretty sure he doesn’t. Every time he’s all ‘that’s the last time Nialler, don’t you dare do that again,’ and then what do you know, here we are, with him asking me if he could sing this song tonight.”
The crowd laughed, but Louis couldn’t help but notice that Harry looked like he might be sick.
“Before we start,” Harry cleared his throat and the crowd went silent immediately. “This is written for someone. You know who you are. I thought maybe it was the right time for a big gesture. So yeah, this is for you. This is If I Could Fly .”
Louis thought his whole body would melt into a puddle of emotional goo right there. This was for him ? What? His mind was reeling, trying to process as the soft, beautiful opening cords played.
If I could fly
I'd be comin' right back home to you
I think I might
Give up everything, just ask me to
Pay attention, I hope that you listen
'Cause I let my guard down
Right now I'm completely defenseless
For your eyes only
I'll show you my heart
For when you're lonely
And forget who you are
I'm missing half of me
When we're apart
Now you know me
For your eyes only
The song was… everything. It was beautiful, and sad, and hopeful, and heartfelt. Harry’s and Niall’s voices blended and harmonized so well together.
Louis couldn’t tear his eyes away from Harry, and though he was sure the lights shining on him made the audience hard to see, Harry was looking at him the whole time too. It was overwhelming, but in a good way. Such a good way.
It made him think about the first time he had heard Harry sing months ago, he had been so confused about Harry, how he felt about Harry, and if he should even feel anything about Harry but friendship at all.
Back then, he’d barely known Harry. He’d thought it was just an infatuation. Something that would pass and that wouldn’t, shouldn’t be acted on. He had felt insecure about everything because of what happened with Ethan, he’d convinced himself that Harry wasn’t interested in him. He’d been scared of so many things.
I've got scars
Even though they can't always be seen
And pain gets hard
But now you're here and I don't feel a thing
Now though… the way Harry was looking at him? Louis wasn’t scared of that look. He couldn’t be scared of Harry. This time he knew it wasn’t just infatuation. Maybe it had been that originally, but it had grown into something much more. Like they’d said already, they were stuck with each other… no take backs. This song was for him. Harry said he wrote it for him. It was one of the most romantic things he could ever imagine.
And I hope that you don't run from me
As Harry continued to sing, he put so much emotion into his words that Louis saw his eyes were full of tears. Harry didn’t need to worry about Louis running from him anymore, though. Louis never wanted to go anywhere without him either. A couple days for Christmas was bad enough.
He was so in love with this man.
He’d been in love with him for a while, he was sure. He’d just never thought about it in so many words.
Love had always seemed like something a little scary and overwhelming to him. He thought it was supposed to be like what he had with Ethan. He was so, so wrong. Loving Harry was simple. Easy as breathing. Natural. It was everything, but never overwhelming. It was a warm, constant glow that he wanted to bask in forever.
Harry’s lyrics were so raw and open and vulnerable, and they were making Louis feel the same way. He felt Zayn press a tissue into his hand and he realized he was crying.
When the song ended, the crowd was quiet for a beat before it roared to its feet with cheering. Louis could feel more than just Harry’s eyes on him, but he didn’t care, his eyes were focused solely on Harry.
Harry didn’t say anything more on stage, he just walked down the stairs and wove straight to where Louis was at their high-top table.
“Hi,” he said after a moment.
“You wrote me a song?” Was the first thing Louis could think to say, voice thick from the tears and uncertainty.
“I wrote you that song, and some others,” Harry stepped closer to Louis, and cupped Louis’ face with both of his wide hands, trying to wipe away some of Louis’ tears. “These are good tears, right?”
Louis nodded his head. “Of course they are, you dork,” and, not caring how many people were around them staring, Louis grabbed the collar of Harry’s shirt in his fists and pulled him into a kiss.
***
Leaving the pub and getting back home was a blur for Louis; before he knew it he had Harry pressed into the corner of the elevator, sucking at the spot on his neck that they both loved. Harry’s hands, of course, were squeezing Louis’ ass.
“Hmm wait the doors opened,” Harry nudged Louis’ shoulder and he released Harry’s neck so they could both step out of the elevator.
Before they opened the door to their flat, Harry pulled Louis into a hug and they stood there for a few moments, wrapped around each other.
“I really am sorry about this whole week,” Harry mumbled into Louis’ hair. “I know I was acting super weird and distant. I was just getting nervous about the song… You really liked it?” Harry mumbled into Louis’ hair.
Louis pulled away and looked at Harry. He’d lost the confidence he’d had on stage and suddenly seemed so small and vulnerable. “Of course I liked the song–I loved the song. I’m not mad at you, darling. But I guess maybe we should talk before we continue from where we left off in the elevator?”
“Yeah,” he agreed. “I’ll make tea.”
A little while later, they were both in Harry’s bed, huddled together with their mugs of tea. Louis was wearing a pair of Harry’s joggers and one of his shirts because Harry wouldn’t let him out of his grasp long enough for him to go to his own room to change clothes. Then, once they were changed and the tea was ready, he was practically glued to Louis’ side, managing to tangle their legs together while they also remained in enough of a seated position to drink their tea.
“I’m sorry for being so clingy,” Harry said quietly.
“I like you being clingy, love,” Louis rested his head on Harry’s shoulder and trailed a finger up and down his thigh. “I like being able to touch you, ‘s comforting.”
“Oh,” Harry sounded a bit relieved. “That’s good.”
Louis took another sip of his tea before setting the cup down on the bedside table so that he could settle onto Harry’s lap and cling to him like a koala and see his face. Which had just a little hint of a blush. “What’s wrong, love? You just sang me the most beautiful song I’ve ever heard, why are you worried?” Louis asked as Harry moved his arm so that it was wrapped around him.
“I’m not… always the best with words.” Harry’s eyes shifted away and he bit his lip.
Louis frowned, “What are you talking about? You’re great with words; you write songs.”
“That’s different. With songs I can take all the time I need. You seriously haven’t noticed that I talk slow and half the time no one knows what I mean?”
“I know you talk a little slowly, but I understand you just fine. I like it when you talk, when you get excited about what you’re talking about, when you mumble about cookies not baking evenly in your sleep…”
Harry smiled slightly, “I guess that’s just because you’re you. I have a habit of not explaining what’s in my head very well. Lots of metaphors.” He chuckled, still a bit too self-deprecatingly for Louis’ liking. “That’s what various people have said over the years anyway.”
“Then they’re idiots who don’t know how to listen.” Louis pressed the tops of their foreheads together. “You’re perfect.”
Harry pressed his lips to Louis’ in a sweet kiss, “So are you.”
“It made me realize something.”
“What did?” Harry blinked, looking curious.
“Your song. It was beautiful, you’re beautiful, everything about you–your heart, your soul–is so beautiful I could burst and I am so, so deeply in love with you–”
Louis was cut off mid-sentence with a deep kiss, Harry lacing their fingers lacing together and bringing their hands up between their chests.
“Hmmm,” Harry sighed deliciously into the kiss. Louis licked into his mouth, he tasted like tea.
When Louis pulled away slowly and Harry blinked open his eyes, he said, “I love you too.”
“Really?”
“Yeah, that’s what I was trying to say with the song,” he smiled a goofy, dazed smile. “I wasn’t sure if it came across, but I guess it still did the job?”
“You could say that,” Louis said, amused. “You love me.” He said it as a statement, like he wanted to hear it outloud again.
“I love you,” Harry confirmed with his own equally goofy smile. “And you love me.”
“I love you,” Louis said, and they both giggled.
Without having to say a word, they shifted back into their favorite speaking position: lying on their sides, nearly nose to nose, legs intertwined, hands roaming. “There’s something else I wanted to say,” Harry whispered.
“Alright,” Louis searched Harry’s face, trying to read his expression.
“Now that we’ve established that we love each other, I think it’s time for us to get naked.”
“Oh,” Louis sassed with a grin. “You think so?”
“Yes, and tonight I’d really like to ride you.”
Louis leaned forward so that his face was pressed into Harry’s neck, “Fuck, baby, you know what it does to me when you say shit like that?”
Harry palmed Louis through his joggers, “I think I do, yeah.” He shifted and slowly rolled Louis onto his back, rolling with him so that they were pressed together. “Tonight I want you to open me up until I beg for it, and then I’m going to ride you until you’re begging as well.”
Louis brought his arms around Harry’s neck, tangling his fingers in his hair, and pulled him into a slow kiss. They peeled their clothes off and Harry began to kiss down Louis’ body like it was his religion. Louis was positive he’d have several prominent love bites all over his body and he was absolutely panting with desire by the time Harry’s hips were grinding into his as Harry sucked on one of his nipples.
“My turn,” Louis gasped out and flipped them over. He grabbed the lube and snaked his way between Harry’s open legs so that his face was level with Harry’s cock. Before Harry could say anything cheeky, Louis swallowed his cock down his throat while pressing a lubed finger at Harry’s entrance.
God, he loved Harry’s cock.
He also loved watching Harry’s face screw up with little gasps and moans as he sucked his cock. Louis kept it slow though, like Harry had asked. Teasing Harry with long strokes of his tongue, slow drags of his single finger in and out. The occasional barely there brush of his finger on that spot inside of him that would make him cry out.
“More, Lou, please,” Harry whined. Louis backed off on the attention he was giving Harry’s cock, he knew this boy well enough to know that if he kept it up, he’d come.
So, Louis added a second finger and licked and kissed his way slowly up Harry’s chest until he eventually got to his lips.
The rest of the world had disappeared entirely as they kissed slowly. Louis kept his fingers at an even pace, still occasionally brushing Harry’s prostate, as he tried to keep himself from grinding into Harry’s hip.
He loved the way Harry arched when he decided to add the third finger unexpectedly.
Eventually, just as Harry’s breaths were speeding up, Louis stopped.
“You stopped,” Harry pouted.
“Nothing gets by you, huh baby?” Louis’ tried to stifle his smirk when Harry whacked him with a pillow. “I wanted one of these anyway, roll over, I want to taste you.”
Harry’s eyes grew a bit wide before rolling over quickly, letting Louis position the pillow under his hips. Louis ran his hands over Harry’s firm ass and gave it a couple of firm squeezes. Harry moaned, pressing his face into the bed and his hips back towards Louis.
Louis, instead of giving Harry what he wanted most, folded himself over Harry’s back. He kissed across Harry’s shoulders, down his spine, that spot on the side of his ribs that always made him squirm. “I love you,” Louis whispered reverently.
“I love you too,” Harry tried to grind into the pillow, but Louis' firm hands on his hips made it impossible. “But please…”
“What do you need Hazza, baby?”
“I want,” he gasped as Louis nipped at the top of his ass cheek, “your mouth.”
Of course Louis obliged. He spread Harry’s cheeks and let his mouth and tongue pick up where his fingers left off until Harry’s legs were shaking with want.
“Lou, please, I want you inside me,” Harry started to plead. Louis pulled away, jaw aching, and let Harry take control.
Harry moved the pillow and turned around and Louis lost the ability to breath at how utterly wrecked he looked. He didn’t give Louis much time to admire his handy work though because he was quickly pushing Louis onto his back with a hand to the center of his chest.
Luckily, the sight of Harry straddling his hips looking that wrecked was even better. He looked ethereal. Soft glow of the lamp light, lips pink, face flushed, hair tumbling around his shoulders.
Nothing could have prepared Louis though for the words that came out of Harry’s mouth next. “Can I have you without a condom?” He trailed his fingers across Louis’ nipples and ground his thoroughly lubed ass into Louis’ cock.
Louis groaned loudly, “Yes, you’re sure?”
“So sure darling, I want to feel you,” Harry lifted up enough and reached behind him to hold Louis’ cock steady as he slowly sunk down, never breaking eye contact. Being surrounded by Harry without any barrier could easily become an addiction.
Louis was positive he had ascended to a higher plain of existence: watching Harry as he slowly rocked and swiveled his hips, then used his strong thighs to lift himself up and down, hand braced against Louis’ chest. Louis rocked his hips up as much as Harry would let him, but Harry was keeping things torturously slow. The rhythm was deep and achingly perfect.
Louis started stroking Harry’s cock in the same rhythm and he nearly came from just the sight of Harry letting his head fall back, mouth open in a silent cry. Louis was getting close and he could tell Harry was too. The building intensity was maddening in the best way.
“I’m gonna come,” Harry cried. “So close. Come inside me.”
“Me too baby, you’re doing so good, come for me,” Louis panted. A few more thrusts and strokes of Harry’s cock and Harry was coming across Louis’ chest. He fell forward, giving Louis a good angle to trust a few more times into his own blissful oblivion.
They stayed still for a while, letting their breathing settle, Harry’s head on Louis’ chest.
“Hmm,” Harry said after a while, wiggling his hips a little as if testing a theory. “Oh.”
“What?” Louis asked, arms trying to hold Harry still while his sensitive cock was still inside him.
“I’ve never gone bare before, it’s warm and… messy. I like it. Kinda hot.”
“That is one way to put it,” Louis agreed and he slowly rolled them both over and pulled out slowly. He reached into the bedside table for some clean-up supplies they smartly put nearby. “Thank you for wanting me to be your first time.”
“I’m not a blushing virgin, Lou,” he snorted.
“Oh I know,” Louis said as he cleaned them both up. “You looked like a fucking porn star riding me like that.”
Harry’s jaw dropped and he burst into laughter, hitting Louis with a pillow, again. After they calmed from laughing, Harry added, “Happy New Year, by the way, I think we missed the countdown.”
Louis smiled and pressed a kiss to Harry’s lips. “Happy New Year, love.” It was going to be the best year of his life. He was sure.
Chapter 17: Chapter 16 - Through the Dark
Chapter Text
Chapter 16 - Through The Dark
When Louis woke up the next morning, he was alone, which was very disappointing because he’d wanted to wake Harry up by sucking his dick.
He could hear faint noises from the kitchen, so he rolled out of bed, went to the bathroom, got dressed in the joggers and shirt that had been tossed on the floor the night before, and shuffled into the kitchen wincing at the light until his eyes adjusted.
“No, what are you doing out of bed, I was going to wake you up with breakfast!” Harry pouted, waving his knife around.
“Please put that down,” Louis said calmly. “I don’t fancy a trip to the ED on my day off.”
Harry gave him a look but put the knife down. From what Louis could see, he’d just used the knife to cut a circle of dough. Oh, scones, he loved scones.
“I’m about to put the scones in the oven. Cranberry orange. I wanted to surprise you,” Harry’s shoulders sank a bit, which Louis just wouldn’t allow.
“Well, I wanted to wake up with you next me, so it looks like both our plans were ruined,” he said this good naturedly to show Harry he wasn’t really upset, just teasing him. He walked over to Harry, stepping close, “Knife still down?”
“Yes,” Harry rolled his eyes and held his hands in the air in mock surrender. Then, he gasped a little when Louis unexpectedly grabbed his hips and maneuvered them both so that he had Harry with his back pressed against the fridge; bodies pressed together.
“Oh,” Harry said airily, resting his forearms on Louis’ shoulders to play lightly with the hair at the base of his skull. “Good morning.”
“Good morning, love,” Louis said, and with one hand on Harry’s waist and the other on the back of his neck, he pulled him into a kiss that Louis felt all the way to his toes.
“Did you sleep well?” Harry asked when they separated after a couple moments. “You looked so tired this week, I didn’t want to wake you.”
“I did.” Louis wove their fingers together.
“Want to help me make the orange glaze for the scones while they’re in the oven?”
Louis licked his lips. “There’s a glaze too? Absolutely.”
“You have to follow directions though,” Harry pointed a finger at him.
“I will do everything you say exactly,” Louis fought back a grin. “I’m very good at following directions.”
Harry scoffed. “You follow directions while trying everything possible to distract me.” Harry was so bossy in the kitchen, he had no idea how Kasey, Sarah, and Mitch survived. At least if he messed up, he could probably make out with Harry to cover it up.
It turned out that helping Harry in this case meant handing him things and getting to help stir. Louis was okay with that.
The smells wafting around the apartment by the time Harry pulled the scones out of the oven were divine. “I thought cranberry orange would be a good way to start the new year,” Harry commented.
“They’re my favorite kind,” Louis admitted. “I’m sure yours will be my all time favorite of the favorites.”
“I’ll hold you to that,” Harry said and held up a scone to Louis’ mouth. “Open up.”
Louis refrained from a dirty joke and took a bite of the fresh scone Harry was holding instead. It was perfect, of course. Just the right amount of sweet, soft, and crumbly. “That was the best goddamn thing I’ve ever had in my mouth,” he paused and thought for a moment. “Except for you dick, that’s definitely still number one. This is a close second.”
He then proceeded to give Harry a blowjob in the kitchen, after making sure the oven was off first.
Unfortunately, Niall chose the exact moment Harry was coming down Louis’ throat to walk through the front door. Harry’s moans were… not quiet.
“Oh my god what did I say about common area sex!” Niall shouted from around the corner as Harry and Louis quickly jumped apart, Harry stuffing himself back into his pants, Louis wiping at the corners of his mouth.
“It’s safe Niall, we’re done.” Louis couldn’t help but feel pleased with himself when he saw how flushed and out of breath Harry still was. “It was just some ‘thanks for breakfast’ head—“
“I really don’t need details!” He called. “I’m really happy for you two, getting your shit together and all that, but can we please keep just a little mystery in our friendship still? I didn’t need that smug tone of voice either.” Niall walked around the corner, one hand covering his eyes, one feeling around the wall as a guide.
“We’re fully clothed, Niall,” Harry rolled his eyes. “Just consider this payback for that time you brought that super loud girl back from a party. I had to listen to her wailing for ages and then I had to call her an Uber and pay for it because you passed out drunk and she lost her purse.”
“Yeah, okay, that’s fair.” Niall nodded, taking his hand off his face cautiously. “So, you two all worked out, or are we still pretending you’re basically just fuck buddies?”
Louis guessed they never did sit their friends down and tell them they were together. “No Nialler, we’re together for real,” Louis grinned. “Have been since Christmas actually.”
“Oh thank god,” Niall sat on one of the barstools at the counter and grabbed a scone. “You two have been confusing the shit out of me.”
Louis made a noise of protest, but Harry poked him, “I’ll make you more scones whenever you want,” he whispered.
“This is great H,” Niall said through a mouthful of scone while his fingers dashed across his phone screen.
“Who are you texting?” Louis asked, already pretty sure he knew the answer.
“Our friends.” Niall said, not looking away from the phone. “You’ve been our number one topic of conversation for weeks. You two getting together by New Year’s means I just won the bet!”
Louis and Harry glanced at each other. “Are you seriously saying,” Harry drawled, “That you’ve all been betting on our relationship?”
Niall shrugged, unbothered, “Basically.”
“And who all was in on this?”
“Me, Zayn, Liam, Sophie, Camila, James, Sarah, Mitch, Kasey, Toni, Cheryl, Ed— pretty much everyone you know.”
“I hate you,” Harry grumbled.
“Nah, you don’t, you secretly find it all very endearing that we care about you two getting together so much.” Niall took another bite of scone. “Oh, and before I forget,” he pulled out his phone and passed it over. “You two are going viral.”
“What?” Louis said incredulously. “Why?”
Niall raised an eyebrow as if it were obvious. “Harry made a huge grand romantic gesture, you cried, you kissed, all in front of a bunch of people who already find you fascinating. There are videos from multiple angles. The TikToks are great, look at the Larry Stylinson hashtag.”
“The what hashtag?” Harry asked.
Niall’s smile grew even wider, “Larry Stylinson. It’s your ship name, don’t worry about it, just watch.”
So they watched a few of the videos. Some were just videos of what happened with happy comments about how romantic the whole thing was. Some were reaction videos. Some were videos theorizing on what happened to cause the song and what Harry said before it. Some were even trying to read their lips when Harry came up to him after singing.
They got pretty close too.
“Their investigative skills are kind of impressive,” Louis glanced at Harry to see what he thought.
“At least everyone knows you’re mine now,” Harry smiled.
“You should both film some kind of response video thanking them all for their support,” Niall added.
“I’m pretty positive neither of us has a TikTok and neither of us wants one. I think our… fans will be okay without us saying anything.” Louis passed back the phone.
“I’ll make a video with all three of us then,” Louis and Harry both started to shake their heads. “It will help me get a huge boost in followers, don’t you want to help my career?” Niall pouted dramatically.
Harry sighed and gave Louis a look he understood immediately. “Fine, Niall, one video.”
***
When they agreed to do the TikTok with Niall, Louis hadn’t realized the short video would take over an hour to film.
It seemed like Niall had mainly been posting videos of his music interrupted by random videos of him telling jokes and funny stories.
“How is this different from Twitter then? Why have both?” Louis asked.
Niall rolled his eyes for the thousandth time, “You are such an old man, they’re completely different platforms. Twitter is words with attachments, TikTok is videos. There’s an algorithm. It gives me a wider reach to the Gen-Z audience.”
“Well, what about Instagram?”
“It’s different, Harold.”
Louis and Harry just looked at each other and shrugged.
Eventually, they had a complete video:
“Hey guys, it’s Niall,” Niall was in the foreground of the shot with Harry and Louis pressed close together in the back to the side. “I’m here with my roommates, Harry and Louis–that’s right they started out as roommates! They seem to have gone a bit viral overnight. What do you guys think of that?”
“It’s, uh, very flattering. Thank you.” Harry said slowly. Louis knew he was nervous and reached for his hand.
“Yeah, thank you for your support.” Louis thought he sounded a bit like a stiff news anchor, but whatever.
“Obviously they’ve never done a TikTok before, but so far that’s the best they’ve done so if you’re seeing this, I couldn’t get them to loosen up, sorry.” Niall said, face taking up the whole screen like he was speaking so Harry and Louis couldn’t hear. “So boys, the world wants to know–are you together after Harry’s grand romantic serenade?”
It seemed impossible for Harry and Louis to not blush a bit and look at each other adoringly at that question. “Yeah,” Louis said. “We are. The song worked.”
Harry smiled broadly and pecked Louis on the cheek, which made Louis’ eyes crinkle in delight.
“There you have it folks!” Niall said back on camera. “Larry Stylinson is obnoxiously happy together. It’s disgusting really and it hasn’t even been 24 hours.”
After posting the video, its view count and likes just kept going up and up at an alarming rate as far as Louis was concerned. Fans had apparently been asking Niall to do follow up videos responding to their questions even. Niall hadn’t convinced them to do it just yet, but he was certainly actively replying to the comments, typing away on his phone with the occasional suspicious giggle.
***
Later that week, Niall’s video had over fifty-thousand likes and more views. Louis and Harry had answered a few questions on another video–or more accurately, Niall started asking them questions while they didn’t know he was filming them. According to Niall, that video was equally popular because of how cute and comfortable Harry and Louis looked cuddled together on the couch.
Niall had even informed them that the most watched video of Harry singing and their kiss had nearly a hundred thousand likes. “People love a love story!” Niall had reasoned.
Louis was maybe a little smug about it; how all these girls and boys were obsessing over him and Harry, saying how crazy romantic and sexy Harry was, but Harry was his. It seemed like they both felt a tad possessive over each other.
Louis’ phone vibrated in his pocket. He looked at it and it was another unknown number. He blocked it, like he had with all the others, and put it away. Fucking telemarketers couldn’t take a hint.
“Tomlinson,” Marcia said, coming up behind him at the nurse’s station.
Louis looked away from the patient chart he was working on, “Yeah?” He turned to face her and when he saw the look in her eyes he put the chart down completely. “What’s wrong?”
“I’ve just received word that Simon Cowell has been removed from hospital staff permanently and the medical board is investigating him for numerous negligence claims that have come up since his original arrest. He’s suspended from practicing medicine until a verdict can be reached, which could take years. My friend on the board… well let’s just say Cowell wasn’t happy, and your name came up when he was yelling at them about false accusations.”
Louis’ throat felt a bit dry. “What does that mean, exactly?”
Marcia sighed. “I’m not really sure, but just keep a lookout, okay? My friend said he did not seem like he was in his right mind and that it seems like he blames you for everything. I’m worried about him trying something.”
Louis frowned and nodded. “Thanks, Marcia. I’m sure it’ll be fine, but I’ll keep an eye out.”
***
Louis was now officially concerned.
It first started, he guessed now, with all the hang up phone calls. He’d thought they were spam, but with the other recent developments, he was seriously rethinking that theory.
He’d started rethinking the phone calls when he logged into his Twitter after realizing he hadn’t been on it in a couple weeks.
In his messages, he had ten messages from different anonymous accounts. Each account had no picture, no followers, and no following. Each message sounded increasingly threatening. Pick up the phone. I just want to talk. You’re going to pay. Watch your back. I’m going to get you. You’re going to know what this feels like when I’m done with you. And so on.
He hadn’t gotten any new messages or calls in over two days though, so he hoped maybe that was it. Because really, who actually knows what to do with messages like that? He hadn’t told anyone. He didn’t want to worry Harry. He didn’t want to admit he was worried too.
Then, he got a large envelope in the mail with no return address sent to him at the hospital.
When he’d opened the envelope at the nurses station while chatting with Ed and Perrie, he’d frozen immediately. In the envelope were pictures and a typed note. The pictures were all taken from a distance, like the kind of thing a private investigator would discretely pass to someone in a movie. The pictures weren’t of him though, they were of Harry . Harry walking out of the bakery. Harry at the farmers market. Harry getting lunch with Sarah. Harry walking into their apartment building. There were eight large photographs in all. Louis was vaguely aware of Perrie and Ed calling his name but all he could hear was the sound of blood rushing in his ears as he read the note.
You took something I loved away from me. Maybe I’ll take something of yours in return.
He picked up his phone immediately, the edges of his vision blurred but he ignored it.
“Hello? Lou? You alright? You never call in the middle of the day.” Harry’s voice answered on the second ring.
Louis could breathe again. “Are you alright?”
“I asked you first,” then his voice turned serious when Louis didn’t respond right away. “Yeah, Lou, I’m fine. Just put some cupcakes in the oven. What’s wrong?”
“I–” this really wasn’t something he could easily explain over the phone. “I’ll tell you when you get home.” He paused. “Actually, why don’t I pick you up from work? I know you said you wanted to walk, but…I’ll pick you up, don’t leave the shop without me.”
“Lou… what’s going on?”
“Don’t worry about it. I’ll tell you later… I got something in the mail that’s concerning.” He paused again, he shouldn’t keep Harry in the dark when he was in potential danger. “You know what, I can be at the bakery in fifteen minutes. Do you want me to tell you now on the phone, now in person, or would you rather wait till tonight?”
Harry sucked in a breath. “I think I’d rather know now in person if it’s something so concerning that you’re leaving work in the middle of a shift. You’re okay? You’re not sick? Did someone die?”
“No, no, nothing like that,” Louis rubbed his eyes, for the first time catching the very concerned looks of Ed, Perrie, and Maricia. He’d forgotten he was in the middle of the ED. “But it is very serious.”
“Lou, you’re scaring me.” Harry said eventually.
“I know, I’m sorry. I’ll be there as soon as I can, just don’t leave, alright?” His voice went a little high at the end.
“Okay, love you.”
“Love you too.”
When he hung up, he looked at Marcia, sure the panic was clear in his eyes. She reached out and placed an arm on his shoulder. “You go, I’ll figure out your shift, don’t worry about it. Give the police my number, I’ll give a statement as well.” They all knew who this message was from. They didn’t even need to say it.
Perrie came running back over, he hadn’t even noticed her leave, with his bag. “Here, go to Harry.”
He thanked them, and was out the door.
As he ran to his car, he’d driven both himself and Harry that morning since it's been so cold out lately. Harry had insisted he’d just walk home since Louis would be off earlier. Now that was definitely not going to happen. Harry was never leaving the flat if he could swing it. Maybe James and Kasey would stop by to pick up orders for the baker? That could work, right? He just needed to get Harry on board with it.
He completely disregarded the speed limit and traffic laws as a pressure in his chest built. Had the bakery always been this far away? What if something happened before he got there? Finally, finally, he was at the bakery and out of his car so fast he didn’t really even remember parking. The moment he saw Harry at the door to greet him, face a mask of worry, Louis could breathe again.
“Hey,” Harry soothed as Louis wrapped him into a tight hug. “Kasey and Sarah have everything covered for the rest of the day. Let’s take this,” he gestured to a large box of bakery items on the counter next to him, “home and you can tell me what’s going on, yeah?”
Louis inhaled deeply where his nose was buried in Harry’s neck. He smelled like vanilla frosting today. The cupcakes must have been red velvet. “Yeah let’s go,” he nodded, reluctant to let Harry go.
They didn’t speak in the car, Harry seemingly able to sense that Louis needed a few minutes to gather his thoughts, focus on driving. He held Louis’ hand the whole ride though, clearly knowing Louis needed a physical reminder that he was there. Maybe Harry needed the contact too, the crease between his brows had been a permanent fixture the entire drive.
When they got inside, Louis leaned heavily against the door as it closed and hung his head. Harry set the box of pastries on the coffee table and came back to him. “Talk to me,” he ran his fingers through Louis’ hair. When Louis didn’t respond, because he’d frozen and forgotten his plan on what to say, Harry gently lifted his chin so that their eyes met. The soft green of Harry’s eyes pulled Louis’ attention, they always did. “Lou? What’s wrong?”
Louis suddenly felt the corners of his eyes prickle and he looked towards the ceiling in hopes of getting them to stop. He needed to get this out and he didn’t want Harry to see just how scared he was.
Because he was scared, he realized. He was so scared. He had been so focused on coming up with a plan, that he hadn’t stopped to really worry about what this could mean.
“Lou, you’re starting to freak me out.” He said a bit more firmly.
Louis took a deep breath and gulped. “Let’s sit on the sofa, Hazza. I need to tell you something.”
Louis led him to the sofa with both hands before sitting with their legs curled up under themselves, knees touching, hands still clasped. “You remember Simon?” Harry gave him a look. “Right of course you do. Well, it seems he’s lost his ability to practice medicine and is under investigation for all kinds of negligence and malpractice, harassment…”
“Good,” Harry said darkly. “He deserves it.”
“He does,” Louis pulled himself a bit straighter. “But he’s very angry about it, and it seems like he’s decided that it’s my fault he’s losing everything.”
There was a pause, a beat, as the wheels in Harry’s brain started to turn. He could practically see Harry start to make the connections. Harry wasn’t stupid. “You’re going to have to tell me what that means or I’m going to spin out here,” he whispered, gripping Louis’ hands tighter.
“I think he’s behind those hang-up calls I’ve been getting. Then… I didn’t tell you cause it seemed like it stopped. It was all anonymous anyway. But when I logged into Twitter a couple days ago after being off it for a while, I found a bunch of vaguely threatening messages. Then today I got this in the mail at work…” He handed Harry his phone with the pictures he took of the envelope and its contents, “the original is in my bag, we need to take it to the police next. See if they can do anything about it.”
Harry sucked in a breath as he scrolled. “Oh.” He murmured. “That’s…” he trailed off.
“I have a plan,” Louis said quickly, needing to reassure them both. “What if you just work from home for a while? Have the other’s pick up orders and bring you ingredients.”
Harry shot him a ‘you can’t be serious’ look, and Louis sighed. “Well I thought it was a good idea.”
“I’m not going to prisoner in our flat Lou, I’m sure there’s something else that can be done.”
Louis’ mind turned through ideas. “What if you just have someone with you at all times. We can coordinate with Niall, Liam, and Zayn. We can even bring James, Kasey, Mitch, and Sarah into it so someone stays with you at the bakery–”
“Maybe he’s just trying to scare us. No need to make everyone go out of their way to babysit me.” Harry interrupted, his voice cracked a bit though, betraying the confident tone he was aiming for.
“I’m not taking that chance,” Louis said fiercely, eyes burning again. “I won’t take a chance with you. I won’t risk losing you. I–I–”
“It’ll be okay baby,” Harry pulled him into his arms and Louis pressed his face to Harry’s neck breathing in the sweet vanilla scent again like it was a drug. “I’m not going anywhere.”
“I should be the one comforting you,” Louis mumbled.
“I’m pretty sure this is a situation where we can comfort each other. We’re stuck with each other, right? No take backs.”
“No take backs.” Louis tilted his head up for a kiss. He wasn’t going to let anything happen to this man, no matter the cost.
Not long after, they went to the police station. After waiting for ages just to be seen, the cops said they couldn’t do much since they didn’t have any actual proof it was Simon. It was all just speculation. The most they could do was start a case file and have an officer swing by Cowell’s house, but the officer wouldn’t be able to enter and investigate without a warrant. They offered some tips, some security systems, but they were basically on their own until Simon actually did something. And Louis wasn’t letting that fucking happen. No fucking way was he getting anywhere near Harry.
So, they called Niall, Zayn, and Liam in for a family meeting.
***
When the others came in to see the two of them cuddled on the sofa, eyes red with unshed tears, they immediately knew something was wrong. By the time Louis had shown them the photos of Harry and the note though, his friends had hijacked his whole plan.
Louis’ phone quickly blew up with group chat messages from everyone they knew texting their schedules. Niall had succinctly informed the huge group chat about the situation and asked for their help. He’d already brought over the whiteboard and started making a schedule. Harry looked like an alarmed baby deer, but did help Niall by spouting off his daily routine.
“Zayn… what are you doing?” Louis asked when he noticed that instead of participating in the conversation, he was typing furiously on his phone.
“Setting up installation for a top-notch security system here and at Harry's shop. As well as extra protection detail.” He shrugged, not looking up. “Keep the friend chaperon plan, these guys you’ll never even see, but an added layer of defense won’t hurt.”
“Oh, you don’t have to do–” Harry started weakly.
“I make well over two-times as much money as the rest of you. The Dior deal I just signed is double Niall’s entire yearly teacher salary alone, sorry Niall,” he added apologetically. Niall shrugged, used to getting paid shit. “What good is all that money if I can’t use it to help protect my friends from a psycho stalker?”
He said this so fiercely that neither Louis nor Harry tried to argue further.
That night, with both cats under Harry’s bed hunting a toy mouse, Harry snuggled in close to Louis, lacing their fingers together as Louis tried holding him even closer.
“I love you,” Louis whispered against Harry’s shoulder. A thump followed by hissing came from under the bed making him giggle.
“Girls, be nice to your sister,” Harry scolded, then turned his head a bit to kiss Louis’ jaw. “I love you too. We’ll be okay. We’re safe.” Louis was sure he’d never stop swooning when Harry’s eyes twinkled like that. He’d never get used to it. He pulled Harry into a few slow, languid kisses.
“You sound very sure.” He commented after eventually pulling away.
“Of course I’m sure, I’m with you aren’t I?”
Instead of responding, Louis just pulled Harry’s back into him even closer. He’d rather die than lose him.
***
For the next two weeks, Louis and their friends made sure that Harry was never left alone unless he was at home with the alarm system fully armed. He could tell it was starting to bother Harry, never being able to go somewhere on his own, especially after nothing had happened, but the longer things went without any more threats, the more worried they became too. Was Cowell just messing with them, never actually planning on doing anything? Or was he waiting for them to let their guard down?
It was getting a little tedious and predictable, so when Niall came home with an odd request, they both said yes immediately.
“I need you both to be part of my team at a philanthropy golf tournament tomorrow.”
Louis and Harry glanced at each other. “Okay,” they said at the same time with identical shrugs.
Niall frowned at them. “You two are spending too much time together. The mind reading, mirroring thing is getting too weird… there! You did it again!”
“Did what?” They both said together, then laughed both at themselves and Niall’s undignified squawk.
“You crossed your legs at the exact same time! You two disgust me with how perfect you are together.” Niall barely looked disgruntled though as he grabbed a pastry from the box sitting on the table and took a large bite.
“What’s this tournament tomorrow then?” Louis asked.
“Lots of industry people will be there. Hozier, the music producer will be there. He’s perfect for me and I’ve been trying to get his attention for months, but he doesn’t just answer unsolicited emails–he’s a busy, important guy.”
“And you want to… corner him at a charity event?” Louis was skeptical, but he knew they all could use something new to focus on, so even if it involved being kicked out by security, why not?
“No! Well, yes, I guess. Technically. I want to network, convince him to listen to my stuff, and for him to sign me right there on the spot because he loves me so much.”
“Sounds great,” Harry grinned. “How can we help?”
“And,” Louis leaned forward. “If this is tomorrow, how were you able to join last minute? Don’t these things usually involve invitations or something?”
“Yeah, registration closed weeks ago,” Niall said lightly. “We’re going to have to get in another way. That is why I’m going to need your help.”
***
Walking up to the tent to sign in for the tournament, a bone chilling gust of wind blasted their faces making Harry huddle closer to Louis as they walked. “Why are they having a golf tournament in the winter?” Harry whined. “No one does that. It’s not natural.”
Louis had to agree, this was not a day for golf. There might not have been any snow on the ground (yet, it seemed like it could happen any second) and it was technically above freezing, but the gray sky and harsh wind was going to make this whole thing miserable. “Yeah, com’on, Niall, look at him,” Louis gestured dramatically to Harry with the hand that wasn’t securely wrapped around him for warmth. “He’s pitiful! He’s freezing! We should be getting something out of this deal other than frostbite.”
Harry, of course, caught on and played up the shivering and moaning as if his life depended on it. It was glorious.
Niall turned around and observed Harry with a blank stare. “You’re a pretty good actor H, use those skills to help get us past registration and I’ll buy you a hot chocolate.”
Harry considered before responding brightly with, “Alright.”
“What! Haz, you were supposed to hold out for something good,” Louis grumbled. He couldn’t fight the smile curling at the corner of his mouth though, Harry was too pure sometimes.
“Hot chocolate is something good though. Don’t worry, I’ll share.” He booped Louis’ nose with his gloved index finger. Too pure indeed, Louis fonded, as they made their way to the fancy golf clubhouse.
The lobby of the clubhouse was immaculately decorated in velvet sofas, warm colors, and multiple fireplaces that Louis planned on camping out in front of. The girl at the check-in table smiled at them widely, “Hi, are you here for the Arts Philanthropy Tournament?”
Niall stepped forward confidently. “Yes, I’m Niall Horan. My assistants registered me.”
The girl flipped through the list on her clipboard, a frown forming the longer she looked. “I’m sorry, I don’t see that name here.”
Harry started fidgeting nervously. Playing the charade up for the young girl. “Sir, I swear I did it. Louis has the confirmation email, right?”
Louis made his eyes widen and whispered, “I thought you were printing it.”
“If,” Niall’s voice boomed in a way Louis had never heard. He and Harry didn’t have to fake the startled jump. “You two messed this event up for me after what happened last week, someone is getting fired.”
The poor girl’s eyes widened to saucers. “Oh I don’t want to get anyone in trouble. Let me see if my manager has another list…” she made to get up.
Luckily, Louis had anticipated this development and had been pretending to scroll through his email. “Wait, I found the confirmation email!” He pulled up the face email they’d created and showed it to her.
She took the phone and frowned again. “That’s not from us…” she bit her lip.
“What are you talking about,” Harry took the phone. “No, that’s right.”
The girl opened the iPad next to her and turned it to show them. “This is what it should look like.”
Niall fumed. “Did you two idiots use my money and credit card on a scam website?! After you cancel my card, go back to the office and pack up your things, you two are—“
“Please don’t fire me,” Harry begged. “My dog just had that emergency surgery and I can barely afford the bill…”
The girl brought a hand to her mouth. “Oh no!”
Harry nodded at her solemnly. “Was hit by a car.”
“Oh I’m so sorry!” She glanced at Niall and then around the room. “If you promise to donate, and don’t fire them, I could just… look the other way and let you through?”
Niall pretended to consider. “Alright. Thank you.” He gave her a wad of cash.
“You’re welcome. It’s a really good cause. Enjoy.” She turned to Harry, who gave her a flirty, grateful smile that made Louis’ jaw tick. “I hope your dog is okay,” her eyelashes fluttered. Oh dear lord, Louis fought rolling his eyes.
“Thank you so, so much—“
Louis didn’t give Harry the chance to say anything else, he grabbed his elbow and started to pull him after Niall. “Yes, thank you! Com’on Haz, we got to keep up.”
And they were in. Easy.
“You cheeky flirt,” Louis pinched Harry’s side, making him giggle.
“I was acting!”
“I’ll show you acting,” Louis huffed.
“Oi, can we focus on the task at hand, please?” Niall rolled his eyes. “We need to identify a good starter-mingle.”
Louis glanced at Niall. “A wha?”
“Someone lower level we can easily approach and become friendly with. Once we have that ‘in’ they can start introducing us to higher up people without it seeming strange. It will seem like people know us. Like we belong here. We can’t just walk up to Hozier without an introduction.”
“Huh,” Harry nodded. “Smart.”
“Thank you. So, help me pick our first target.”
An hour later, the golfing still hadn’t started. The event organizers kept bringing out horderves and asking people to wait just a little longer for the weather to clear before they could begin the tournament. Niall was off on his own, mingling with… he couldn’t even remember. He and Harry were sitting on a cushy window seat with hot chocolate, it was kind of like being on a cozy ski vacation without the skiing.
Then, the power went out. Fucking fantastic. Louis groaned. It was only around two in the afternoon, but the sky was so dark that without the power and only the fireplaces for light, it seemed more like late evening.
“Oh shit,” Harry said quietly, looking up at the ceiling lights as if they might come back on any moment. They didn’t. “Should we gather Niall and leave?”
Harry’s question was answered by a woman with a megaphone. “Can I have everyone’s attention please? Thank you. So I just got off the phone with the weather service and the storm is getting rapidly worse, much worse than expected. We’ve been advised that we should keep everyone here for the time being, the roads aren’t safe.” People around the room groaned. “I know, but they’re expecting quite a bit of snow and ice. It should be fine by morning though. In the meantime, we are prepared for the situation. We have plenty of rooms available, water, food, fireplaces, flashlights, and a few backup generators enough to charge phones and keep food from spoiling–”
The woman was cut off by a shout on the other side of the room. “Paige! Oh, something’s wrong! Is anyone a doctor?”
Louis hesitated, not wanting to leave Harry alone in the dark, but Harry just nudged him forward. “Go, I’ll be fine. I might go see if I can help with food prep.”
“Okay,” Louis kissed his cheek. “Love you.”
Harry stopped Louis from stepping away and pulled him into a fuller kiss. “Love you too baby, now go save lives.”
Louis rushed over to the group of people that had formed around a sofa. “I’m a nurse!” He called. “What seems to be the problem?”
“I don’t know! I tried the heimlich, but I think she might be having an allergic reaction!” A man trying to help the woman shouted. The woman was gesturing wildly to her throat and nodding, Louis could tell her lips were abnormally puffy.
“Where’s her purse?” Louis asked urgently, looking around them on the floor. “She might have an epipen.”
“Here it is! I don’t see an epipen though,” another woman handed him a purse that was much too small for an epipen. Fuck.
Louis knelt down so he and the woman were eye to eye. “Ma’am, I know this is scary, but do you have an epipen somewhere else?”
She nodded frantically and made a driving motion in her hands. She was panicking more now though and her lips were turning blue. “Are her car keys in her purse?” He demanded.
“Yes!” The woman with the purse handed him the keys and he ran towards the door, not even bothering to put on a coat.
The moment he was out the doors, he was hit with a chilling blast of harsh wind and heavy snow. It was already piling up quite a bit and he had to stomp his way through the ankle deep snow to the car park, meaning he wasn’t as fast as he would have liked. The woman had minutes .
He pressed the button on the keys several times to make the headlights flash through the dense snow falling around him. Shivering, he made his way to the car and immediately went for the glove compartment, hoping she put the pen in the most obvious spot.
She did.
Getting back to the golf resort clubhouse seemed to take longer than getting to the car park. He kept having to look down and hold his arm up to try shielding his eyes from the snow. When he made it back, his clothes were nearly soaked through with snow and his skin was so cold he felt numb, but he ran back to the woman.
“Move!” He shouted, pushing people out of his way.
When he got there, the man who had tried the heimlich maneuver was trying CPR. “She’s barely breathing!”
Louis knelt down, popped the cap off the pen, and slammed the needle into the middle part of her outer thigh at ninety-degree angle. He felt the click and counted out three full seconds. The drug worked immediately. The woman took a deep, gasping breath and everyone, including Louis, let out a sigh of relief.
“We should still call for an ambulance, just in case.” Louis said. “Hopefully they can get through the storm. In the meantime, does anyone have any allergy medications with antihistamines? That can help a bit as well, just in case.” Women started rummaging through their purses. He turned to the woman. “How are you feeling, love? Paige, right?”
“Yeah,” the woman croaked. “I’m feeling a lot better. Thank you, you saved my life.”
“You’re welcome love. Let’s keep you lying down with your feet propped up for now though, yeah?”
Louis was then bombarded by pats on the back and words of praise, so many that he felt himself blush at the attention. All he wanted though was to find a way to change his clothes.
“That was very impressive.” A very tall man with long curly hair, bushier than Harry’s, said. His voice had an Irish lilt to it like Niall. “What’s your name?”
“Oh, I’m Louis.” The man shook his hand.
“You kept cool under pressure back there, saved her life. No one else thought to look for an epipen.” He gave Louis a curious look. “What brought a nurse to an arts golf-tournament anyway?”
Louis shrugged and ran a hand through his damp hair. “Pure coincidence really. My friend Niall is a musician and he wanted some company. He really wants to meet a music producer that’s here. Had kind of an unusual one-word name?”
“Hozier?” The man sounded amused.
“Yeah, that’s right!”
The man looked thoughtful for a moment before he asked, “Where’s your friend then?” Louis didn’t bother thinking too hard about it, he just wanted to escape this conversation and get warm. And find Harry.
Louis searched around the room and quickly found Niall looking at him with wide eyes. “There he is,” Louis pointed. Niall suddenly looked about ready to vomit. “Not sure why he looks like he’s about to be sick.”
The man laughed and waved Niall over. Niall apparently didn’t need telling twice and practically ran across the room, almost tripping over his own feet in the process.
“H-Hi?” Niall stuttered, standing up straight as a board once he got to them.
“Niall, right?” The man shook his hand. “Louis here said you were hoping to meet me?”
“Me?” Louis startled, “You?”
“Lou. This is fucking Hozier.” Niall said with awe. “How could you not know that?”
“You never showed me a picture! You just said he was the best!”
Hozier laughed. “Thank you. So, Niall, what did you want to discuss?”
Niall smoothly composed himself and as Louis snuck away he was giving Hozier his pitch on why he should listen to his demo. Louis grinned.
Now, where was Harry? He was going to check out the kitchen. Maybe he could also find the woman in charge and see if they had anything for his snow-damp clothes so he didn’t have to sit around in them. He wanted to dry off and warm up, but his exposed skin on his hands and the tops of his ears was burning from the circulation increasing after being so cold, giving him a bit of a headache.
He found the kitchen and walked in to see several kitchen staff and Harry standing in front of a large pantry. One of the staff had a clipboard and was pointing at various shelves. Harry looked up as if he could sense Louis’ presence.
“Lou! Why are you all wet? Is the woman alright?” He rushed over to Louis and started rubbing his hands upper and down Louis’ arms to warm him up.
“The woman is okay. I had to get her epipen from her car though.”
The staff member with the clipboard, who turned out to also be the megaphone woman from earlier spun around. “Oh my god, this is such a nightmare. I should have checked things out more closely.” She put her face in her hands.
“An ambulance has been called, but no telling when it’ll be able to get here. I think she’ll be okay though. I’ll check on her again in a bit.”
“Thank you,” she sighed. “I’m Kendall, acting manager at the moment since our real manager never got in to work today because of road closures.” She looked at his wet clothes. “Let’s get you into something dry. We have some extra staff uniforms you can wear, and I’ll get you a towel. Come with me please.” It was not a request.
Louis and Harry walked behind her as she led them to what he assumed was the staff changing and locker room. She handed Harry an extra battery-powered lantern and handed Louis a towel from a fresh pile before continuing over to where he assumed uniforms were.
Harry placed the lantern at their feet and plucked the towel from Louis’ hands and wrapped him up in it. “We need to get you dry so you don’t get sick.” He muttered determidly. He was making the frowny-frog face.
“Don’t worry baby,” Louis hummed. “I’ll be fine.”
“Here’s our winter uniform,” Kendall said walking back over. “I brought a few sizes. Our sweater is really warm, but if you need more I also found this coat. I’ll give you some privacy to change, if you need anything let me know.”
Louis thanked her, not bothering to mention he had a coat of his own in the coat-check already. When the door was closed, Harry started shoving Louis’ damp sweater over his head. “Harold,” he said coyly. “Are you trying to get me naked in public?”
Harry wrapped the towel around Louis’ shoulders to continue to dry them off. “Hmm yes, the employee locker room during a blackout in a snowstorm really gets me going,” he huffed. Then he took the towel to Louis’ hair and ruffled it around, making Louis chuckle.
Once he was fully in dry clothes (luckily he’d been wearing the waterproof boots Harry got him for Christmas so his feet were dry already and he didn’t need to walk around in wet shoes), he watched for a moment as Harry hung up his wet clothes over some open locker doors to dry. His shoulders and jaw were tense, the light from the lantern creating dramatic shadows across his face making it look even more angular and brooding. Louis swallowed and walked up to Harry as he finished his self-imposed task.
He wrapped his arms around Harry from behind, pressing their bodies together. Harry gasped lightly at the unexpected touch of Louis’ lips on his neck. “We really shouldn’t. That door isn’t even locked, what if someone comes looking for us?”
Louis slipped a cold hand under the front of his shirt and he shivered, but he also melted into the touch. Louis sucked his earlobe into his mouth and then licked and kissed his way back down Harry’s neck.
“Lou, you can’t leave a mark, my hair won’t cover it.”
“You have a scarf with your coat though…” Louis nipped at the spot under his ear and Harry’s knees wobbled. “You’re right though, we shouldn’t.” He stepped away, smirking at the whine that escaped Harry’s lips.
“You’re infuriating.” Harry leaned his head back against a locker, trying to get ahold of himself.
This of course exposed his throat further and Louis couldn’t take his eyes off of it. “Hmm, and you’re too tempting.” He forced himself to look away and compose himself. “I should check on Paige, see how she’s doing.”
Harry nodded. “I was going to get some people together to help Kendall pass out blankets and lanterns.”
“One more kiss before we go?” Louis grinned.
Harry’s response was to seal his lips to Louis’. He backed Louis up against the lockers, hands tightly gripping his hips, moaning when Louis rolled his hips a bit. Harry licked smoothly into his mouth making him shudder, so in turn he nibbled on Harry’s bottom lip before chasing his tongue with his own, swallowing the groan that escaped the back of his throat. Much too quickly he felt desire tighten around him and he slowed the kisses into lingering strokes and pecks until they were forehead to forehead, eyes closed, panting.
“It’s a shame we’re stuck here in a snowstorm instead of home,” Harry mused. “We could have just spent the whole time in bed, cuddling for warmth.”
“Sharing body heat is easiest with skin to skin contact too.” Louis laughed when Harry pinched his bum in response.
***
Louis checked on Paige (who was doing just fine) and Niall (who was doing more than fine still talking to Hozier and now a few others), and then went to help Harry with lantern, blanket, and water distribution. Harry and Kendall had made quite the efficient assembly line though, so he wasn’t so much going to help as he was to just be near Harry. The whole time he’d been on the other side of the room he kept sneaking glances over at Harry and making funny faces at him until his face broke into delicious dimpled smiles with rosy cheeks, shaking his head in fond exasperation.
The snow was still coming down, but it was getting darker making it hard to tell how deep it was. Every time he passed a window though, he could hear the wind howling. The temperature inside the building had dropped and everyone was huddled around the various fireplaces wrapped in blankets.
Harry was setting out another case of water bottles talking and laughing with a pretty brunette woman when Louis approached. “Lou! This is Amelia, she works in publishing.” He gave Louis an exaggerated wink.
He’d actually finished a first draft of a novel the week before and had let Harry read it. He still had no idea how he managed it in only a few months, but after writing for a bit each day he suddenly had a full manuscript. It was shit, full of plot holes, cliches, and inconsistencies as far he was concerned, but Harry had said he thought the story was captivating regardless.
Louis shook her hand. “I thought this was mostly music, film, and theater people?”
Amelia nodded with a smile, “It is, my publisher was hoping I’d be able to bring in some new clients. They’re looking for memoirs, industry tell-alls, that kind of thing.” Then she added curiously, “Harry here tells me you write fiction?”
“I… just a draft. It needs a lot of work. And I’m not in the music industry or anything.” He glanced at Harry.
“He told me about your draft, it sounds like it definitely has potential.” She handed him her card. “When you feel like you’re ready for another set of eyes, I’d love to take a look.”
“Really?” He couldn’t help but ask skeptically.
“Yes,” she rolled her eyes. “Harry gave you a good pitch and I like helping new authors find connections in the industry. Stop questioning people being nice to you, Harry said you would.”
“Haz!”
Harry grinned, not sorry at all. “It’s true though.” He shrugged. “Amelia is lovely, I think we should introduce her to Niall.”
Harry really made friends with everyone he met. It was enormously endearing, but he needed to clarify, “Because you like her or because you like playing matchmaker?”
Harry’s eyes sparkled mischievously, “Can’t it be both?”
“I haven’t agreed to this?” Amelia looked confused.
Harry ignored her and looked at Louis. “They’d be perfect. She’s funny, independent, ambitious, caring…”
Louis looked at Amelia, who seemed both a bit amused and a bit annoyed. He asked her, “Are you currently secretly in love with a friend or coworker?”
She raised a brow, “No?”
“That’s good, Niall doesn’t need that again. What kind of—“
She held up her hand. “I think it’s very sweet that you both seem to want to vet me before introducing me to your friend. But shouldn’t you let him make his own decisions like an adult?”
Louis caught Harry’s eye and nodded at him. “You’re right, I like her.”
“Knew you would.” Harry said, pleased as punch. “So Amelia, now that everything has been passed out, would you like to join us by one of the fireplaces? You can be in our alliance if our peaceful resort-clubhouse-society collapses into chaos and we need to fight for resources.”
“That would be great, thank you.” She said diplomatically.
“Oh look,” Harry added with fake surprise looking acrossing the room. “There’s some space by that fireplace Niall is already sitting at.”
The three of them walked up to the fireplace with their coats that they’d retrieved from the coat check, blankets, and blackout goodie-bags complete with water, an apple, a granola bar, and a sandwich. Harry was struggling to wrap up his scarf while walking and holding things so Louis stopped him, placed his items on the floor, and looped the scarf lightly around Harry’s neck before pressing a sweet kiss to his lips.
“Thanks,” his eyelashes fluttered. “Where’s your hat? Your ears will get cold.” He stuffed his hands into Louis’ jacket pockets, fishing around until he pulled out a gray beanie and secured it on Louis’ head, making Louis give him a sweet, closed lip smile that crinkled his eyes and scrunched his nose.
“There you both are!” Niall shouted as they approached his group by the far fireplace. “Where have you been?”
“We’ve been helping distribute supplies,” Harry responded. Then gestured to Amelia. “This is Amelia, she’s in publishing and alone here so we’ve adopted her.”
Amelia nodded and without missing a beat dryly added, “These two are my dads now.”
Louis smiled at how much Harry clearly loved that response. Amelia was proving to be very unexpected. Niall introduced them to Hozier, his assistant, and a couple others that had joined them.
The space they had claimed in the back corner of the room had a large sofa, two large chairs, and a fluffy rug in front of the fireplace. Louis and Harry settled into a free chair, cuddling together and hiding smiles as Niall offered the other chair to Amelia and then sat on the rug nearby. They knew Niall well enough to know he was already interested.
“I was able to get a text through to Liam earlier,” Harry murmured in his ear. “He and Zayn have power still and are going to feed the girls.”
Louis leaned his head on Harry’s shoulder. “Good–”
“Can I have everyone’s attention please?” Kendall called through the megaphone. “I’ve spoken to the emergency dispatchers and the storm should be over soon, however they aren’t sure about when power will be restored and they won’t be able to get us out till morning. So we’re going to hunker down here, we have plenty of firewood…” She continued to give instructions for where people should go for various necessities.
“Looks like we’re having a slumber party,” Louis commented.
Their little group discussed who would be in charge of firewood and how they could get maximum use of space for sleeping near the fire. Louis would be lying if he said he wasn’t thrilled when they decided he and Harry could sleep on the sofa because then it could be used for two people instead of one. It was farthest from the fire, but they had the advantage of not being shy about sharing body heat, and while it wasn’t as comfortable as their sofa at home, it was good enough.
“Maybe your next book should be a romantic comedy set during a snowstorm. They meet, there’s a blackout, they must survive while also falling in love…” Harry wiggled his eyebrows. They were sitting on the sofa, huddled together in blankets. The energy of the room was dying down as the occupants got themselves situated and started to feel tired from boredom and cold.
“Not sure if that sounds very romantic, more thriller-like,” Louis hummed.
“Oh, I don’t know,” Harry nuzzled into him softly. “Huddling for warmth is fun. Lots of time for the characters to talk and get to know each other.” They both glanced at where Niall and Amelia were chatting quietly. They weren’t sitting too close, but their bodies were leaning towards each other and they were wholly engrossed in everything the other said. It was too soon to tell, but Louis couldn’t help but think he had a good feeling about Amelia and Niall.
“Could even write-in a couple of meddling friends,” Louis giggled.
Harry’s phone vibrated between them and Harry shuffled around to pull it out of their blanket pile to see.
“What is it?” Louis asked at the sight of the frown quickly forming on Harry’s face.
“It’s the security system at the shop, says the power’s gone out. The generator should take care of the refrigerators though.”
Louis looked at his phone, nothing from their home security system. “I guess the shop and the flat must be on different grids.”
“Good to know I guess.”
They spent the rest of the evening chatting, trying to occupy their time until people started curling up in blankets to go to sleep. They had set up shifts around the room to make sure the fires didn’t kill everyone which was mildly concerning, and the warm glows made the room a bit bright for sleeping, but as Harry pulled Louis’ arm over him like he did every night, Louis felt at home.
Chapter 18: Chapter 17 - Wolves
Chapter Text
Chapter 17 - Wolves
It was a long night, but the sun was in full force the next morning and they were able to slowly get out and back home by noon the next day. Niall was on cloud nine during their drive back: he’d gotten both Hozier’s and Amelia’s phone numbers. Louis wasn’t quite sure which he was happier with (it was definitely Hozier’s, but he’d excuse Niall for that and not mention it to Amelia, who had reiterated her offer to look at his manuscript when he was ready). They were all exhausted by the time they got back into the city, but Harry insisted they stop at the shop first to make sure everything was okay and that the generators kept the cold products from spoiling overnight.
When they got to the shop, James, Kasey, Mitch, and Sarah were all already there and a few people who Louis had seen in passing working at shops nearby were there too. A sinking feeling filled his stomach as they parked the car and he, Harry, and Niall got out to see what was going on.
It was easy to see what everyone was staring at when they got out of the car. The front window was shattered glass glittering all over the ground. The inside was trashed. Then, over the entrance in spray paint was a message.
I’m going to get you.
“Fuck!” Louis spat. He clenched his fists. He wanted to hit someone, he wanted to hit Simon. He wanted to rage. He… He wanted to protect Harry.
He looked at Harry and barely held it together at the sight of Harry’s face near crumpling. He looked so broken and defeated that Louis couldn’t stand it. Harry fell into him the moment he started pulling him in for a hug. Harry didn’t cry, Louis knew he’d want to save crying for later if he could help it, but he did whimper into Louis’ shoulder.
“The police are already on their way,” James said softly, rubbing Harry’s shoulder. “I’ve already put on socials that we’ll have to be closed for a few days, but no details.”
When the police arrived and took everyone’s statements it seemed like they would be actually looking into the threat this time and investigate Simon more closely. With the power outage though, something they found out was isolated to the shop and done purposefully, the cameras wouldn’t have picked up anything.
“You two go home,” Niall said, coming up to them with James after the cops took their statements. “We’ll handle the cleanup.”
The fact that Harry didn’t even protest, just nodded numbly and started walking towards the car, was all Louis needed to know about how he was feeling.
***
Harry didn’t speak the whole ride home, but neither did Louis. He didn’t know what to say. He felt like this was his fault. Simon was angry at him and he was taking it out on Harry. On Harry’s dream bakery.
When they got into their apartment, Harry just stood there like he didn’t know what to do for a moment before walking to the sofa where the cats were. He stood next to the back of the sofa and pet the cats until they were purring and nuzzling his hand.
“What do you need, baby,” Louis said softly, coming up next to him. “I can leave you alone if you want, I know this is my fault–”
Harry looked up at him sharply, the numb expression turning fierce. “This isn’t your fault at all,” he said firmly.
“But–” Louis started.
“No,” Harry brought his hands up to the sides of Louis’ face. “This isn’t your fault. I’m not mad at you. He went after my shop to get to you and I’m worried sick about what he might do if he gets his hands on you.” Harry’s voice cracked, “I thought the threats were just threats , that he wouldn’t really do anything. But cutting the power to my shop and trashing it? I’ve seen enough crime shows to know escalation when I see it.”
Louis put his hands on Harry’s cheeks as well and brushed a tear away with his thumb before pressing a soft, loving kiss to his lips. “The police will investigate now. We’ll be okay.” He looked into Harry’s sad eyes for a moment. “How about we take a bath? I know you have those fizzy bath things you always want to try.”
Harry agreed and tugged Louis to follow him into his room to get the bath bombs and a couple eucalyptus scented candles and then pulled him over to the other bathroom that had the large bathtub.
Once the candles were lit, and the tub was filled with warm water, Louis turned out the lights. “We can pretend we’re in a more fun blackout.” He attempted to joke.
Harry gave him a halfhearted smile. “Which bath bomb should we use? This one,” he held up one that looked like a book. “Turns into yellow and orange swirls and is citrus-vanilla scented for a clear mind.” He read off the packaging and then held up a blue and pink teapot, “This one smells like bergamot, so we could smell like tea. Or this one,” he held up a pink and white sphere, “which smells like strawberry ice cream.”
“The strawberry one,” Louis replied easily. He knew it was the one that would bring the biggest smile to Harry’s face. He was right.
Harry grinned at him, more like himself, as they watched the bath bomb disolves into swirls of pink and white foam. Then Louis got into the tub and got settled before Harry climbed in and situated himself so that his back was against Louis’ chest. The porcelain of the tub was cold on Louis’ skin, but he ignored it and wrapped his arms around Harry, resting his chin on Harry’s shoulder and cradling him between his legs. Harry let out a deep sigh and Louis knew his eyes were closed.
Louis had never been a bath person, but sitting in the warm (pink, bubbly) water in candle light with Harry definitely made him an official fan of baths.
“I love you,” Harry turned his head to press a kiss on Louis' shoulder. “My Lou.”
“I love you too baby.” Louis squeezed him and kissed his hair.
“Remember when we thought we’d go to prison for weed and when you tried to make me leave you when we were getting harassed by those guys and I was pissed at you?” Harry murmured quietly.
“Yeah,” his mouth twitched remembering the bag of oregano.
“We handle this like we did those: as a team.” Harry shifted out of his arms so they were facing each other. “Got it?”
Louis swallowed, eyes prickling at the emotion in Harry’s eyes. “You’re stuck with me, obviously.”
“Good, because I plan on asking you to marry me one day and we both need to be alive for that. We’re going to get a real couples gym membership and everything.”
Louis’ heart was absolutely bursting. “Oh? But what if I ask you first?”
“Doesn’t matter.” Harry gave him a watery smile. “Rules still apply: must be alive to collect. Though it’s nice to know you’d say yes.”
Louis pushed forward and pulled Harry into his lap making the pink water splosh around and Harry wove his hand around Louis’ neck to steady himself; their skin was slippery together from the oils in the bath. “Of course I’d say yes, you idiot,” he said before kissing Harry soundly.
Harry pulled away briefly. “Why is it that every time I make some kind of romantic declaration you call me a name and act like it was obvious?”
“Because it should be obvious by now that I’ve been gone for you since the moment I laid eyes on you at that party.” Louis kissed him again.
“You’re going to give me a complex,” Harry mumbled with a grin.
“Stop asking ridiculous questions then. Will I marry you? In what universe , would I say no?” Louis grinned and Harry smiled widely back at him before moving so that he was stradling Louis’ lap. Louis gasped at the contact and Harry used that to his advantage, slipping his tongue between Louis’ parted lips. As they continued to kiss, hands tangled in each other’s hair, Louis rolled his hips a bit and whined into Harry’s mouth.
Eventually, as Harry was aggressively sucking a mark on Louis’ neck, they moved a bit too much and water sloshed over the side of the tub and Louis almost slid back too far and came close to hitting his head, so they pulled apart to cool down, foreheads pressed together.
“Did you really propose to me naked in a pink bubble bath?” Louis asked.
Harry grinned, dimples showing, and he giggled when Louis pressed a finger in one of them. “More like ‘engaged to be engaged,’ but yes, I guess I did.”
“We’ll definitely need something not naked to tell our future children,” he mused.
“I’ll keep that in mind… oh, I think the bath bomb turned our skin pink,” Harry observed, rubbing at a pink line on Louis’ arm. “Maybe we should rinse off.” They pulled the plug and let the water drain a bit before turning the shower on. They washed each other’s bodies and hair, hands skimming teasingly over their half-hard cocks, fingers slipping into their holes just a bit, eliciting gasps. They mostly got the pink to come off, it was hard to tell since their skin was also flushed from the heat of the water and arousal.
They dried off, wrapping towels around each of their hips and not bothering putting clothes back on. Harry turned the bathroom light back on and Louis blew out the candle, then he caught sight of the tub. “The bathtub is pink.”
Harry stepped over to look. “Oh shit.” He sounded more amused than concerned.
“What should we do about it?”
“Worry about it later?”
“That works.” He shrugged, then gave Harry a coy smirk. “What should we do instead?”
Without warning Harry pulled on the tuck of Louis’ towel and let it fall to the floor.
“Love this idea,” Louis gasped as Harry lifted him onto the bathroom counter, stepping between his thighs. He felt his cock twitch in anticipation at the look in Harry’s eyes.
“How do you want me, Lou?” He said softly, hand stroking Louis’ cock tantalizingly slowly. Louis’ eyes slipped closed and his head fell back, mouth open in an “oh.” Harry’s other hand tightened its grip on his hip when he tried to buck up into Harry’s hand, silently begging him to go faster. Or maybe he begged out loud, he wasn’t sure. Harry complied, going faster for a couple strokes, before slowing back down again making Louis whimper. Then, Harry’s thumb circled his tip and chuckled at the grunt that escaped Louis’ lips, “What was that darling? Should I stop?” He stilled.
Louis snapped his eyes open to see Harry looking at him with a devilishly raised eyebrow, lips quirked up to the side. “Why’d you stop?”
“You kind of became verbally unresponsive there for a moment baby.” Harry moved the hand on his hip to cup Louis’ face. “Asked you a few questions, said your name… seems you were hypnotized by my hand.” He smirked.
“What was the question?” Louis blinked, eyes focused on Harry’s lips.
“How do you want me?”
Louis looked back into Harry’s eyes, the green dark and playful. Louis pretended to think for a moment, hand going to Harry’s tented towel and pulling it free to stroke Harry a bit, making him moan. “Inside me, from behind, in front of this mirror.”
“Shit, yeah, alright.” Then Harry grabbed Louis’ face and dove in for a bruising kiss. The kiss deepened instantly, turning desperate and harsh like they wanted to crawl into each other’s skin to be as close as possible. They needed this. To be wrapped up in each other, to feel each other, to block out the rest of the world entirely. They wanted to leave marks claiming each other as theirs.
Louis bit Harry’s lip harshly before soothing it with his tongue. Harry scraped his teeth and the stubble on his jaw down the column of Louis’ neck. Louis raked his nails down Harry’s back to squeeze his ass. They were lost to the sensations and sounds they created in one another.
Then Harry released Louis sharply and bent down to pull a nipple between his teeth and tugged and swirled his tongue around it before moving on to the other. He didn’t give Louis a chance to get his bearings though because before Louis knew it, Harry was swallowing his cock down to the base, choking a little as he went too fast, but seeming not to care.
“ Haz ,” his body shook as his moans filled the bathroom.
Harry sucked hard and bobbed his head a few times between Louis’ legs, enveloping him in the wet heat of his mouth, driving Louis absolutely wild . He pressed his against the base of the head and Louis’ hips jerked, “Oh fuck .”
Harry popped off, lips red and swollen, he looked wrecked in a way that Louis wanted to burn into his soul. Then, those sweet beautful lips said, “Fuck my mouth.”
Louis couldn’t respond with anything more than a wanton moan because Harry had his lips wrapped around his cock once more and was tugging on Louis’ hand, guiding it to rest on the back of his head. “ Oh, fuck ,” he repeated, head falling back as he began to guide Harry’s mouth over cock, unable to stop from rocking his hips as well. “So–so good baby, so good.”
When he felt the tension begin to coil in his belly, he pulled Harry off. “Fuck me,” he panted.
“Turn around,” Harry croaked. His eyes were a bit glassy and Louis could see his cock was leaking and it all just made Louis want him even more. He wanted Harry to wreck him just like that.
He planted his feet on the floor and braced himself against the counter, bending over. Harry squeezed his ass and gave it a light smack. Louis bit his lip.
“Fuck. Lube?” Harry hissed.
Louis dropped his head, trying to think. “There’s still some in my bedside table across the hall.”
“Don’t move,” Harry smacked the other cheek of his ass and opened the door, running to Louis’ old room. When he came back moments, or hours, later, he draped himself over Louis’ back and Louis turned enough to capture his lips. “Good boy,” Harry murmured, nipping at his shoulder.
Then, while tugging Louis’ ear with his teeth, Harry slicked up his fingers and circled Louis’ rim a bit before pressing in. Louis cried out with pleasure, immediately trying to fuck himself back on Harry’s hand. He pumped his finger into Louis fast, and hard before adding another without warning. It burned and Louis felt his eyes water just a bit at the intrusion, but he loved it. “ Yes! ”
“That’s it baby,” Harry murmured into his ear. “You like that?”
Louis might have responded, or he might have just continued to moan desperately, he couldn’t be sure. But he was pretty sure he nearly broke his back in two, arching when Harry added a third finger and curled them against his prostate.
“There,” Louis gasped. “Right there.”
But Harry avoided hitting the spot again, continuing to stretch him with his fingers further. “You take it so well,” he praised. “Do you want more?”
Louis nodded furiously, He hadn’t seen Harry this dominant much before and it was enthralling. “ Please. ”
Harry removed his fingers, and Louis wanted to whine at the loss, but he could see Harry coating his dick in lube and all he could feel was anticipation. He took his eyes off Harry’s hand and their eyes met through the mirror. It was erotic as fuck .
With his free hand, Harry pressed lightly on Louis’ back, bringing his torso down farther. He looked away for a moment to line up with Louis’ hole, but then their eyes were on each other again as Harry slowly sunk into him. Once balls deep, he slowly retreated, continuing to maintain eye contact, before pistoning his forward sharply. Louis let out a gasp and tears slipped from his eyes in the best way. Harry’s girth stretched him nearly to the limit as he began a devastating pace, hands digging into Louis’ hip and shoulder. Louis grunting with each thrust of Harry’s hips as he angled himself to hit Louis’ prostate just right.
“You feel incredible,” Harry groaned.
The whole time Harry was fucking into him, his eyes kept darting between meeting Louis’ own and between watching his cock disappear inside him. Louis loved that he didn’t know where to watch more and as the coil of tension began to tug in his belly once more, he balanced himself on one hand so that he could use the other to touch himself.
Harry watched him do so for a few moments with a wicked glint in his eye, sweat beading on his forehead, before he smacked Louis’ hand away. “Let me take care of you baby,” he grunted, leaning across Louis’ back again, this time until his chest was pressed to the cold marble counter, face to the side. Harry wrapped a hand around his cock while using the other to stabilize and he pounded into Louis harder than he thought possible.
The bathroom was filled with a chorus of grunts and cries and moans as Louis came into Harry’s hand, knees buckling. The clenching of his hole caused Harry’s hips to stutter and as he came he bit harshly into Louis’ shoulder.
They stayed like that for a few moments after, panting, coming down from their highs.
“Holy, fuck,” Louis said eventually. “We should definitely do that again sometime.”
Harry agreed and slowly grabbed a towel off the floor to clean them both up. His legs seemed a little wobbly, to which Louis thought, same .
“Oh shit,” Harry said, his eyes on Louis’ shoulder. “You’re bleeding.” He suddenly looked panicked. Louis looked at his shoulder the best he could in the mirror, and sure enough, Harry’s teeth just barely broke the skin in a couple of spots. He couldn’t help but feel a bit of pride about it, actually.
“There’s some rubbing alcohol under the sink, we’ll just clean it and put a bandage on it. It’s fine.” He shrugged. He didn’t even notice any pain.
Harry’s eyebrows knitted together. “But I hurt you.”
Louis turned around and grabbed Harry’s face in both his hands so that he had to meet his eyes. “You fucked me within an inch of my life and I love it, I love you. You didn’t hurt me…” a smile played on his lips. “I kind of like that you marked me, you succubus.”
Harry groaned and rolled his eyes. “Those are still female, and biting is more of a vampire thing anyway. I’m going to get you a supernatural creatures book for Valentine’s, just you wait.”
***
Louis woke up to the sound of Harry’s phone vibrating on the table beside them. They’d gone back to Harry’s room, their room, to take a nap after the stressful previous day and morning, but he wasn’t sure how long they’d slept. Looking at the window, there was still sun streaming through the curtains, so it couldn’t have been more than an hour or two. Harry’s phone vibrated again.
He tried to untangle himself from Harry’s long limbs without waking him, but as he reached over Harry to check the phone, its vibrating stopped and Louis’ phone started. Rolling in the other direction, Louis grabbed his phone, it was Niall.
“Ni?” He said quietly upon answering. “What is it?”
“Where are you two? I’ve been trying to call you and was getting worried.”
Louis smiled sweetly at Harry as his eyes fluttered open. “Sorry Ni, we took a nap. Is everything alright?” He put the phone on speaker.
“Yeah, I just wanted to let you both know that we’ve finished clearing everything, ordered replacements for things that need replacing, and that the kitchen was surprisingly unharmed.”
“Really?” Harry asked.
“Yeah, we think he wanted the damage to be visible more than anything.”
“And you’re already done?” Louis clarified.
“Well, with so many of us it didn’t take long. We boarded up the window, got rid of the glass, and cleaned the walls. James says the front window and display case should be repaired by the end of the week.”
Harry looked up at him with a slightly confused frown, “So many of us?”
They could hear the smile in Niall’s voice when he responded. “Yeah, when James posted to socials that the shop was vandalized, people came to help. They love you, H.”
Harry looked like he was tearing up. “What?”
Niall chuckled. “Pretty much everyone you know and some of the people from the nearby shops are here dude. Even a few people who are just fans of your food and live nearby.”
Harry was fully crying now, “Really?”
Louis wrapped his arm around him and pulled him close. “Of course baby.”
Niall told them that when he, Liam, and Zayn left they’d swing by the Thai place around the corner and bring dinner. Then James got on the phone and told Harry to not worry about anything, he had it all taken care of. When they hung up the call, Louis squeezed Harry close and pressed kisses to his hair, breathing in deeply. “You okay?”
Harry nodded into his neck. “A little overwhelmed. That many people really came to help?”
“People love you.” Louis confirmed. “Not as much as I love you, but they love you and know how much your shop means to you.” Louis lifted Harry’s chin and leaned down to kiss him softly. Harry immediately gripped the back of Louis’ head to hold him in place to deepen the kiss, sweeping his tongue into Louis’ mouth, eliciting a groan.
Eventually, they heard the front door open followed by Niall calling out that they were home, and Harry pulled back with a soft smack of his lips. “I guess we should get up.”
“Hmm, yeah, we should probably get dressed too before they decide to come in,” Louis pouted. They didn’t move though, they just stayed wrapped in each other’s arms for a little bit longer.
The sound of a fist hit Harry’s door, “Oi, lovebirds! Come get dinner!” Niall said. “I want to see your stupid faces! Also, your cats keep trying to crawl into takeaway bags, you’re neglecting them.”
Louis snorted and shook his head as they rolled out of bed.
In addition to what seemed like nearly everything from the menu at the Thai restaurant they loved, the lads also unloaded a huge bottle of tequila and a few different flavors of ice cream to go in the freezer until it was time for dessert.
“Shots first!” Niall declared, going to the cabinet to pull out five glasses.
After they downed their first shot, Zayn gave Harry and Louis a look and said, “Two shots for you both. I think you need it after the last twenty-four hours.”
That was fair. He never thought he’d get stranded in a snow storm during a blackout only to come home to threats from a stalker.
“Tell me everything,” Harry said eventually as they passed the containers of Thai food around the dining table. “Don’t leave out the details.”
So their friends told them about how they surveyed the damage. How they called Toni and Cheryl and how they called everyone else (even the women loving women book club, which made Louis smile). How they all showed up with cleaning gear ready to work. How people they didn’t know, but James said worked in shops nearby, came over to help.
As they spoke, Harry’s eyes teared up again and Louis squeezed his hand comfortingly. He hadn’t stopped touching Harry all evening, he realized. He kept him within reach at all times. Maybe to comfort himself just as much as he knew the contact would comfort Harry.
“We saw a couple officers at the bank across the street at one point.” Liam mentioned. “The owner told us they were trying to see if anything could be seen from their security cameras.”
Louis perked up a bit, unable to stop the tendrils of hope that suddenly sprang up in him. “Did he say if it seemed like they found something?”
Niall shook his head. “He didn’t know, said they were in there a long time though and took the footage with them, so that could be a good sign.”
Harry sighed and bit his lip, leaning into Louis. “Can we talk about something different now? I think I… need time to process or something. It’s all so overwhelming.”
“We could always return to Louis and Niall’s ongoing debate about the Star Wars movies.” Zayn smirked.
“ The Last Jedi is the best.” Louis grumbled immediately.
“It is not!” Niall pointed a spoon at him. “You just like to say that because you know it’s an unpopular opinion.”
“No, I say it because it’s true–”
“I think we can all agree that Rise of Skywalker was a disappointment, yes?” Harry interrupted.
There was a resounding “yes” from the group.
“Before we continue to let Niall and Louis have the same debate for the millionth time… Zayn and I actually have some good news.” Liam smiled shyly in a way Louis didn’t think he’d ever seen him smile. For some reason, instinctively, Louis’ eyes flicked down to Zayn’s hand. A wide smile broke out on his face crinkling at his eyes.
“We’re engaged!” Zayn held out his hand to show them the sleek, masculine platinum band with a large emerald cut diamond embedded into it.
“About fucking time,” Niall shouted, getting up to pull them into a hug.
“So happy for you both,” Louis said when it was his turn for hugs. He squeezed them tightly before passing them off to Harry who was practically vibrating with joy.
“You have to let me make your cake!”
Liam rolled his eyes, “As if we’d let anyone else.”
While Niall was pouring more shots of tequila to toast with, Louis caught Harry’s eye and gave him a secret smile that he returned. This would be them one day. No doubt.
Once everyone had a glass, Niall cleared his throat and began to speak. “To Liam and Zayn, a couple of the best people we know. Couldn’t be happier for you both; I love you fuckers. We’ll do this again when we can get a hold of some champagne. Cheers.”
“Cheers,” they all echoed enthusiastically, clinking their glasses before downing their shot.
“And,” Niall continued with a smirk. “I look forward to my duties as best man.”
“Excuse me?” Harry’s jaw dropped. “They just told us they were engaged, who says that you’re Liam’s best man?”
“I’ve known him longer.”
“What? No you haven’t–”
“Guys you can both be my best man.”
“It’s best man , Liam. Singular. Not best men .”
“What about Liam and Zayn says ‘traditional wedding’ to you?”
Louis and Zayn glanced at each other, silently deciding to let the three argue.
“Will you be my best man, Louis?”
“Be honored.”
Liam was clearly getting annoyed when he shouted, “If you two don’t stop, I’m going to ask Louis to be my best man.”
“Can’t,” Zayn piped up with an amused gleam in his eyes. “Louis’ just agreed to be my best man.”
“We’ll have a competition on who should be your best man.” Niall declared.
Liam ran a hand across his face. “Do we have to?”
“Yes, it will give Harry something new to focus on.”
“Oh I don’t need–”
“Yes you do.”
“What kind of competition are you thinking then?” Louis asked. Giving everyone something other than the Simon situation seemed like a good idea to him, so he was intrigued.
“Lou, you can’t be serious,” Harry looked at him pleadingly.
“Oh I am, this sounds entertaining as fuck.”
“If we’re doing this,” Liam interrupted. “Then I’m competing too, and if I win you both have to share best men duties.”
Zayn gave Louis a devilish wink, “In that case, Louis and I get to pick what you lot compete in.”
In the end, Liam won the FIFA match, much to Zayn’s and Louis’ relief. Then they made bowls of ice cream and piled onto the sofa to watch The Notebook at Harry’s request.
About halfway through the movie, Louis looked at Harry to see him completely engrossed in the story. Liam was fiddling with the rind on Zayn’s hand while giving each other sweet glances. Niall was dozing a bit, but still forcing himself to stay up to watch the movie. They were all wrapped up in each other and there for each other. Louis couldn’t help but think that no matter what, they’d be okay because they had friends like these.
***
A couple days later, Louis was with Harry on their way to visit Harry’s family for his birthday when they got a call from the detective on Harry’s case.
It turned out the security footage from the bank across the street from the bakery did catch something. It was too blurry to fully identify as Simon, but it was clearly Simon’s car pulling up and someone of his build getting out and smashing the place up. The detectives that had dusted for prints also got a partial print on a door handle that could link Simon to the crime even further. All of that, plus the evidence of threats Louis had brought to them weeks ago, meant that they were able to get a warrant for Simon’s arrest and to search his home.
When they ended the call, Louis had never felt lighter.
“Thank, fuck.” He sighed.
Harry reached a hand over the middle console and laced their fingers together. “I’m so glad it’s over. Almost over anyway, at least they got him. He’s off the streets.”
He looked at Harry's profile as he drove, wondering for a moment why he found Harry holding his hair back in a little butterfly clip on top of his head so attractive. “Want to talk about it?” Louis asked, knowing that stiff, purposefully neutral look on Harry’s face at that moment meant he was doing a lot of heavy thinking.
“I guess I hadn’t realized just how much it was weighing on me until now. I thought I’d been pretty good at ignoring it all… compartmentalizing it away, but in the back of mind I guess it was a constant shadow, a worry. You know?” He made a worried frog face and bit his lip.
Louis squeezed his hand. “Yeah I know. I feel the same.”
“So, let’s forget about him and instead discuss what you got me for my birthday,” Harry beamed.
“Nice try, but I’m telling you. Your birthday isn’t til tomorrow.”
“You’re no fun,” he pouted playfully.
It was going to be a short trip to visit Harry’s mum, just two nights, but when she’d suggested it they’d both thought it would be a great chance to get away from the city for a couple of days. Louis was very much looking forward to meeting Mama Twist, Robin, and Gemma. He’d met them all through facetime on Harry’s phone before, but meeting in person felt… different. Maybe because he knew Harry’s family would one day be his too.
Harry just made him really fucking sappy and sentimental. He adored him.
When they pulled up to Harry’s mum’s house, Harry grinned broadly at the sight of one of the cars in the cars in the driveway. “Oh Lou, Gemma’s best friend Lou is here!”
“The one with the baby?” He asked, already knowing the answer. He smiled fondly at Harry’s instant excitement at the idea of seeing the baby again after he’d gushed about her after visiting in December. The man loved babies.
As they were pulling their bags out of the car, the door to the house opened and Anne walked out to greet them.
“My baby boy is home,” she said, wrapping Harry in a hug despite how much taller he was than her.
“Hey mum,” he replied warmly. “Is baby Lux here?”
“Hmm I see where your priorities are,” she sassed. Then she turned to Louis and immediately hugged him as well. “Oh Louis, it’s so nice to meet you in person. Come in, out of the cold, both of you. You deserve some pampering after the week you’ve had.”
They had told both their mums about what had been going on with Simon, not wanting to keep them in the dark. It had taken a bit to reassure Jay that they’d be fine. Anne was similarly worried, so when she suggested they come stay a couple nights for Harry’s birthday, they agreed. Louis would have never said no, not with the look on Harry’s face when his mum suggested it.
The inside of the house was warm and cozy, just as Louis expected it to be. He’d definitely be investigating those baby Harry pictures on the wall later. The moment they were inside though, Harry ditched him with their bags to run up to a pretty blonde woman holding an adorable blonde baby girl.
The girl made grabby hands and giggled at him as he immediately swept her up into his arms.
“You could at least give me a hello before you kidnap my daughter,” the woman, who Louis knew to be Lou, said.
“Hello, Lou,” Harry leaned down to peck a kiss to her cheek. “Thank you for the baby. Where is my lovely sister?” He turned towards Louis, “Lou come meet Lou.” He clearly loved how silly that sounded.
Louis walked over and Harry introduced him to Lou, deciding that he’d have to call Louis pet names throughout the weekend to avoid confusion. He loved how instantly relaxed Harry became once they were in his childhood home, the baby definitely helped.
“Gemma should be back soon, she went to pick up a few things at the store,” Anne explained, taking a seat next to Lou.
Harry looked at her suspiciously, bouncing the baby softly in his arms making her giggle and Louis swoon just a bit. “You ordered a birthday cake didn’t you,” his eyes narrowed.
Anne rolled her eyes. “Of course I did, I’m not letting you make your own birthday cake.”
Harry pouted and opened his mouth to retort, but Lux stuck her whole hand in his mouth and he was sufficiently distracted. He looked at the baby adoringly and pretended to eat her hand with smacking lips, earning more squealing giggles.
Louis stroked the baby’s soft cheek lightly before she grasped his finger in her other little hand and started waving it around. “I’ll have to find more babies to distract you with if we’re ever in a disagreement about something in the future,” he said absentmindedly, unable to stop smiling at the baby.
“You want to give me babies, darling?” Harry hummed, slightly amused.
Louis blinked up to Harry realizing what they’d said, “Oh I,” he glanced at Anne and Lou on the sofa. “Uh…”
“Oh, just continue to pretend we aren’t here please,” Anne grinned. “I’d love to hear more about plans for my future grandchildren.”
Louis blushed and suppressed a smile.
“Feel free to take her for practice as long as you want,” Lou added. “I’m exhausted.”
They were interrupted from any further teasing by a knock at the door.
“Ah, that must be the rest of our guests,” Anne said, getting up.
“What guests?” Harry frowned as Louis cocked his head in confusion.
Anne ignored them and opened the door to reveal… Niall, Liam, and Zayn?
“What are you lot doing here?” Louis asked immediately.
The three of them piled into the room with their bags and Niall gave them a broad smile. “You didn’t think we were going to pass up a visit to Harry’s mum’s did you? We’re here to help celebrate Haz’s 26th year of life. Surprise!”
“We thought for sure you were going to notice Liam’s car. At one point we were directly behind you before we decided to turn off and let you get a bit more ahead.” Zayn added.
“What about our cats?” Louis crossed his arms.
Niall rolled his eyes, “It’s two days, we left them extra food, they’ll be fine.”
They settled everyone into their rooms (Louis and Harry in Harry’s old room, Liam and Zayn in the guestroom, and Niall would be on the sofa in Robin’s office) and Anne banished Harry and Louis to the living room while she brought the others into the kitchen to tell them about her plans for Harry’s birthday.
Louis didn’t mind the moment of quiet for just the two of them, and baby Lux of course.
“Here, you hold her,” Harry offered the drowsy baby into Louis’ arms as they were curled up next to each other. Her eyes drooped and she snuggled in against his chest.
He looked up at Harry with a smile, “It’s been awhile since I’ve gotten to hold a baby. Since Ernest and Doris were little. She’s so lovely. What’s that look for?” He asked as Harry’s expression changed.
“Nothing, just weirdly turned on watching you hold a baby.” He shrugged. “It’s really sexy.”
“Good thing we’ve already discussed wanting kids then,” Louis beamed like sunshine.
“I’m gonna marry you one day,” Harry kisses under Louis’ ear softly.
“You what?” A voice came from behind them. They both looked up to see Gemma staring at them with wide eyes. She looked about to say something louder and Harry jumped off the sofa, careful to avoid waking the baby in Louis’ arms, and put a hand over Gemma’s mouth.
“It’s not official, no one knows, please don’t say anything yet.” Harry hissed quickly, eyes on the kitchen where the others were just out of sight. “Ewww Gems!” He pulled his hand away and wiped it on his jeans in disgust, Gemma had clearly licked it.
“I won’t say anything, but only because I’ll be able to hold being the first to know over Niall’s head for eternity.” Her eyes gleamed mischievously before softening and pulling her brother into a hug. “Congratulations though, I’m happy for you.”
Gemma greeted Louis fondly and went to the kitchen with the bag that Louis suspected contained a birthday cake.
After a while longer of sitting together quietly watching the baby sleep, Harry said, “I’m really going to miss you next week when I’m off filming my episode for Nadiya’s show.”
“It’ll be even harder when you go to film Top Chef.”
“Ugh why would you bring that up, now I’m already missing you and nervous about hearing back from them.” He whined lightly.
Louis kissed him softly. “You have no reason to be nervous, they’re totally going to accept you. They’re the ones that suggested you apply.”
“It’s weeks away though. Who knows what their policy is on contact with the outside world while filming.”
“The show people on the show talking on the phone with family sometimes. We’ll make it work.”
***
That night after they’d eaten a wonderful dinner cooked by Anne, Louis had discussed football with Robin, and Lou and baby Lux had gone back home, the five boys bundled up in coats and scarves and went to the park near Harry’s house. They were hanging on the large jungle-gym (Louis briefly worried about its structural integrity with five adults on it, but Harry assured him it would survive a nuclear bomb) while Harry was telling crazy playground war stories from his youth.
Every once and a while, he and Louis would make eye contact and Louis would get butterflies. He suspected Harry would always give him butterflies, no matter how long he knew him. Watching Harry relax and have fun was the most beautiful thing. He couldn’t take his eyes away.
Eventually, they got too cold and decided to get the football they brought and kick it around a bit.They didn’t have any set team or even goals in the small grassy field of the park. They just ran around kicking the ball to each other, laughing, talking shit.
It was a perfect night.
“What?” Harry asked, catching Louis looking at him with what he suspected was a dopey smile on his face.
“Just happy,” Louis shrugged.
Harry grinned and ran at him, tackling him to the ground in a dramatic kiss.
***
The rest of Harry’s birthday weekend was lovely. Harry loved Louis’ gift: a fancy new chef’s knife that he’d agonized about for weeks worrying he didn’t get the right kind or that Harry wouldn’t like it. They also enjoyed hearing that Simon had been arrested and was being held in jail awaiting a hearing about bail. The lawyer Zayn had gotten them in touch with said to not worry about him getting out on bail, he had a strong case for the resources Simon had and the threats he’d posed. Their lawyer was right, Simon was staying in jail for a long while–he was caught for committing fraud as well.
The weight of their issues with Simon being lifted was a god-send. Everything was looking up. Louis was revising his novel, and Harry was kicking ass in the baking world. As it should be, he smiled to himself.
While Harry had been away all week filming with Nadiya, Louis had been missing him terribly, despite them talking on the phone and facetime daily. He was glad that Harry would be home by the time his shift in the ED was done–he knew Niall would be glad too since Louis had been making Niall entertain him while Harry was away to keep his mind off missing his other half.
“Holy shit,” Louis gasped as he looked up to see a man with a piece of rebar going through his skull was wheeled quickly through the ED and to the elevators, undoubtedly to go straight to surgery. “He’s alive?”
“Luckiest bastard I’ve ever seen,” Ed confirmed.
“Tommo, Sheeran, more crash victims on the way. Some idiot drove right into the scene of the first crash, hit bystanders and first-responders. It’s all hands on deck.”
Louis’ pulse immediately started to pound. Liam was on shift today, wasn’t he?
He didn’t have time to worry though, because seconds later Dr. Song was calling him and they ran out to the ambulance bay.
Already in the ambulance bay was a fire truck that was apparently acting as an ambulance. Louis had to force back the concern for what that meant for the ambulance. The firefighters were helping several people out of the truck, they all had minor injuries and were passed off to other nurses and doctors.
“We had to move the rig to clear space for more ambulances, you’re about to have a lot more headed in,” a firefighter explained when asked why the truck was carrying medical passengers. “That guy that drove through the scene… I think he did it on purpose, he wasn’t trying to slow down or move out of the way.”
An ambulance with sirens blaring roared into the bay and Louis and Song were off to meet it immediately without getting to think much on what the firefighter said. Catching sight of the number on the side of the vehicle, Louis recognized it as Liam’s.
Liam opened the back door and Louis felt relief rush through him to see his friend seemed unharmed. But then… something wasn’t right.
The look on Liam’s face…
Louis knew even before he recognized the patient’s shoes. Somehow he just knew .
Harry.
Harry was driving back into town from filming with Nadiya. On the same road the pile-up crash was on.
“Harry–” Louis choked out.
Liam spoke quickly as he helped move Harry out of the ambulance. “His car was hit in the secondary crash, his leg is definitely broken, possibly in multiple places. He also has some internal bleeding likely from a ruptured spleen. He’s unconscious, has quite the superficial cut on his head, but pupils are reactive, vitals are stable.”
Louis was frozen listening to Liam list Harry’s injuries and barely noticed Ed gently moving him out of the way so that he could take over helping to pull Harry’s gurney out of the ambulance. No. No no no no no no. He couldn’t breathe at the sight of Harry unconscious on a hospital gurney, neck and head braced, drying blood covering half his face, leg wrapped tightly in a splint, shirt open with monitors sticking to his skin…
Liam caught Louis as he felt his legs start to buckle when Song and Ed wheeled Harry away through the open doors of the emergency department. “Come on, he’ll be okay, the doctors have him.” Liam said, calmly, but a bit strained. He was worried too, he couldn’t hide it.
Louis found his voice, “He has to be okay, Li, I–” the words caught in his throat. This was a nightmare. “I just found him. I can’t lose him…” He started moving, following Harry inside.
Song and Ed were in the trauma room quickly checking Harry over. They’d cut his shirt open and the legs of his pants and oh god, his leg. He’d have to have surgery to repair it undoubtedly, it was so swollen and bruised. There was a large red spot on his side that Louis knew meant his spleen was indeed ruptured as well. He needed surgery.
“Why aren’t they taking him to surgery?” Louis demanded, moving to go into the room, but Liam held him back.
“Let them work, Louis. They can’t just cut him open blindly, you know they need to check him over first.”
Louis had barely nodded in agreement when the monitors attached to Harry’s body started going off in high pitched shrieks. His heart dropped into his stomach and he ran out of Liam’s hold. “Harry!”
He had no idea what the doctors were shouting or what the monitors were reading, he just needed to get to Harry.
Two sets of arms went around him and his line of sight to Harry was obscured by Ed’s face.
“Louis, Louis you have to calm the fuck down.” Ed said firmly. “He’s bleeding internally. They’re taking him for surgery. You need to get out of the way and let them work.”
Louis’ vision cleared enough to register that Ed and Liam had pulled him to the wall so that the doctors could roll Harry out of the room. They were moving so fast…
Louis collapsed.
***
He hadn’t actually passed out, but his body had crumbled from the adrenaline and worry. He wasn’t sure how much time had passed since Liam and Ed got Louis to the waiting room on the surgical floor. Niall and Zayn showed up at some point not too long after and since then he’d just been… zoned out. Looking but not seeing. Waiting to hear about Harry.
His mind was whirling, going through everything he knew could go wrong in a car crash, go wrong in surgery, internal bleeding…
Someone else came into the room and Louis vaguely registered it as the lawyer that had helped them with Simon. He gave Louis a look before moving to speak with the others.
They sounded angry, but if it didn’t have to do with doctors telling him how Harry was, he didn’t care.
“Louis,” Zayn said, quietly taking the seat next to him. “There’s something you need to know.”
Louis looked at him, his eyes taking a moment to focus. He looked so serious. “If it’s not about Harry, I don’t care.”
“It is.” Zayn sighed. “Paul just spoke to the officers at the scene of the crash and the judge in charge of Cowell’s case. He was let out on bail this morning without them notifying Paul like they were supposed to. The officers at the scene…” Zayn paused and took a deep breath, but no words came out.
“Cowell was the driver that ran through the scene and hit Harry.” Niall spat.
Louis blinked and shook his head as if to clear away the fog of worry in order to better process what they just said. “What? How?” That’s too… that can’t just be a horrible coincidence, right?
“They need to go through proper protocol to confirm,” Paul answered. “But the detective found what he believes to be a tracking device on Harry’s car.”
Louis sucked in a harsh breath. “And where is he now?” Was he loose? About to try to finish what he started?
“Dead,” Liam said cautiously. “He died at the scene, his car flipped and rolled into a ravine.”
Good , was the first thought Louis had. He’d never thought he’d be glad someone was dead. But he was. They wouldn’t have to deal with a trial or looking over their shoulders wondering where the man was. Now he just needed Harry.
Louis didn’t voice this though, he just nodded and went back to sitting in silence, watching the door for Harry’s doctors to return.
***
Louis’ heart leapt into his throat at the sight of Anne, Robin, and Gemma hurrying towards them. He’d completely forgotten to call them, and he felt like shit for it, but he was glad someone remembered. It was also that moment that he realized they were the only ones the doctors would be able to update on Harry’s condition. He wasn’t Harry’s family…
Something inside him broke a bit at that thought.
Maybe it was because of those dark, spiraling thoughts that when the three of them got into the waiting room the last thing Louis was expecting was for Anne to pull him into a bone crushing hug.
“Oh Louis dear, are you okay? Have you heard from the surgeons yet?”
Louis shook his head numbly. “No, no news yet. Though I’m not sure they’d be allowed to tell us without you here anyway.”
She looked at him for a moment like she didn’t understand his response before pulling him into another hug. “You’re his family just as much as we are and everyone knows that. No one is going to keep you from him. He’s going to be just fine, I’m sure.”
For some reason, that was the thing that finally made him cry. Maybe it was the sheer relief of knowing he wouldn’t be kept from Harry—he’d heard so many stories from all manners of couples kept apart due to privacy and family rules. Maybe it was the motherly hug telling him things would be okay. Maybe it was the guilt of her comforting him when it was her son that was injured. Whatever it was, something in him let go and tears started falling.
Anne rubbed a soothing hand up and down his back and Gemma came over and gripped his shoulder.
“I’m going to let them know we’re here, maybe get some coffees.” Robin said. Liam and Zayn went with him to help.
“Com’on, Lou,” Niall said softly, pulling him back to the uncomfortable hospital chairs. “Sit back down, before you faint again.”
Louis snorted a bit wetly. “I didn’t faint.”
“Whatever you want to call it then,” Niall didn’t argue or have a snappy comeback for once.
Feet pattering on the linoleum floor made them all look towards the door again. This time it was Lottie.
“I came as soon as I could,” she breathed heavily. “Any news.”
“Lots?” Louis blinked. “What are you doing here?”
She walked over and leaned down to pull him into a hug before taking the seat next to him that Niall vacated so he was sitting between his sister and Anne. “Niall texted me what happened. I’m here for you of course, and for Harry.”
“Oh,” was all he could think to say for a moment before he pulled her into another hug. “Thank you.” When they let go, he turned to Anne and introduced Lottie to her and Gemma. They greeted each other warmly and while Louis wished they got to meet in different circumstances, he was glad to see part of his family and Harry’s getting along.
By the time Dr. Song and Dr. Strange came to tell them about Harry’s surgery, James, Mitch, Sarah, Kasey, Toni, and Cheryl had also joined them.
Despite the size of the group in the waiting room, things were already quiet when the doctors appeared. They immediately came over to Anne and Louis.
The moment he saw them his heart started racing. Did they look sad? Serious? Cautiously optimistic? He couldn’t tell.
“How is he?” Louis asked, sitting up straighter, eyes searching the doctors’ blank faces.
“You’re Harry’s mother?” Song asked Anne before answering Louis.
“Yes, this is his step-father and sister too. And of course Louis and the boys are family too.”
Dr. Strange nodded, “Harry made it out of surgery and is stable. We have him in the ICU to come off of anesthesia for now. His leg was severely damaged and we had to insert a rod to help support the reconstruction but he should make a full recovery and regain full movement with physical therapy.”
“While Dr. Strange was working on Harry’s leg, I had to open Harry’s abdomen to repair his ruptured spleen that was bleeding internally. He lost a lot of blood and needed a transfusion, but the procedure was successful. The cut to his head was superficial, just a few stitches. He does have some minor swelling in his brain as well, which we’ll be monitoring to make sure it starts going down.”
“So he’s going to be okay?” Gemma asked.
“We believe so, we still need to monitor him for at least a day or two, but there were no complications during surgery and he seems to be on the mend.”
That was exactly what Louis wanted to hear. He ran a hand over his face, trying not to tear up again. “Can we see him?”
Song nodded, “Just family for now, a couple at a time.”
Louis’ heart sank.
“Louis, you’re family, come on dear,” Anne patted his arm.
He looked at Song cautiously. She knew he wasn’t technically family by hospital rules, but all she did was smile softly and nod. “This way.”
Louis had never been on the “family” side of things at the hospital. Only on the caregiver side. He was used to taking care of people, it was his thing. It wasn’t until Harry that someone truly took care of him in return. All he wanted was for Harry to be okay, to be able to care for him and for him to be okay.
The closer they got to Harry’s room, the more Louis reminded himself that he needed to be strong for Harry. It would be okay because Harry was okay, and Harry made him strong.
The moment Louis saw him, he felt whole again. Other than the bandage on his head and the monitors, he looked like he could just be having a nap. The blankets covered the cast around his leg and the bandages that would be around his middle from where they’d opened him to repair his spleen.
If the others were talking, Louis didn’t hear them as he went around to the side to take Harry’s hand in his. He was never going to let go.
Chapter 19: Chapter 18 - Always You
Notes:
Crazy that something I worked on for nearly a year is almost done being posted already. Just an epilogue after this! Thank you so much!
Chapter Text
Chapter 18 - Always You
The anesthesia had worn off, but Harry still hadn’t woken up three hours later.
Rationally, Louis knew that it was normal for a patient to wake up on their own time. It wasn’t unexpected that Harry might need a little more time considering all his body had just been put through. But that didn’t stop him from worrying.
Dr. Song said the swelling in his brain had already gone down a bit though, which was a great sign, so he clung to that bit of information just as tightly as he was clinging to Harry’s hand.
The other’s had all been allowed in to see Harry in pairs. Most had gone home after they were promised to be updated if anything changed. Niall, Liam, and Zayn were right outside in the hall with Gemma and Lottie (who had become fast friends). Anne was in the chair on Harry’s other side, and Robin was filling out paperwork.
“I think I need a moment to stretch my legs,” Anne said, getting up quietly. “Would you like me to send someone else in to keep you company?”
Louis shook his head softly, only taking his eyes off Harry for a moment to look at her. “No, it’s okay,” he hummed. “I’ll be fine.”
He reached out with his other hand to brush his fingers through Harry’s curls. “You’ve got to wake up, love.” He said quietly. “I need you. We all do.”
Nothing. Just the steady sounds of the monitors.
This fucking sucked.
“Remember that patient I had ages ago that said he was ‘future’ me?” Louis continued. “I think about what he said sometimes. It was kind of vague, and I know he wasn’t really me, but… he was right about all of it. ‘Tell him how you feel, it will all be worth it,’ he said. And you have been. You’re everything to me. Always have been even before I knew how much. So that’s why you need to wake up,” he enclosed Harry’s hand in both of his. “Because we’re going to get married, and you’re going to be a famous chef, I’ll finish that book, and we’re going to adopt lots of babies–”
“Lou?” A hoarse voice whispered.
Louis looked up to see Harry’s eyes squinting open and oh god, the relief that flooded through him. “Haz?” His eyes immediately weld with tears. “Hey, baby, I’m here,” he leaned forward to kiss Harry’s head lightly. “I love you so goddamn much.”
“Love you too,” Harry smiled sleepily. “I’m in the hospital?”
“Yeah, baby. How are you feeling? Does anything hurt? Are you cold?”
“Just a little foggy,” he mumbled. “But keep talking about our future babies.”
Louis snorted fondly. “Of course that would wake you up.” he stroked Harry’s hair again and kissed him gently. “I should get the nurse to check on you, I’ve been banned from touching anything.” He was still a little bitter about being told off for bugging the ICU nurses and questioning their every move. Marcia had to come up from the ED and tell him to back off and stop being a control freak or she’d have him removed from the floor. He’d backed off, begrudgingly. He was definitely watching Harry’s monitors and the nurses like a hawk though. He wanted Harry to have the best care, he couldn’t help that that meant he was obviously the best person for the job.
“Mmmm,” Harry delicately shook his head. “Don’t go. They can come later. Tell me what happened.”
“What do you remember?” Louis asked softly, not sure if he wanted Harry to remember.
“I was coming back from filming with Nadiya…” he mumbled. “There was an accident, so I pulled over to wait… not sure after that.”
Louis bit on the inside of his cheek, not wanting to answer Harry’s unspoken question.
“Just tell me,” he poked Louis’ shoulder weakly.
“Another driver drove through the scene. Hit tons of bystanders and crashed directly into you before driving into a ravine…” Louis closed his eyes for a moment, willing himself to speak what Liam had told him about the scene. “Liam said that they had to pry you out–the door and driver's side were crushed, it’s a miracle that you weren’t more injured.”
Harry glanced down at his leg under the blanket as if noticing he was injured for the first time. “How bad?”
“Your leg was crushed,” Louis said with a deep breath. “They had to rebuild it with a metal rod. Your spleen was ruptured as well, so they had to open you up to stop the bleeding. And your brain had some swelling, but not too bad.” Louis’ voice cracked a bit without his permission.
“How are you doing baby?” Harry asked, reading him easily.
“I’m fine,” Louis squeezed his hand lightly. “You’re awake so I’m amazing now.”
“Lou,” Harry said firmly but quietly, making Louis look up at his face. “I know you. And I know I wouldn’t have been fine if the situation was reversed.”
Louis gave him a sheepish smile. “Yeah, I was a bit of a mess. We can talk about the nurses almost kicking me out later though, there’s more to what happened that you need to know,” he ended seriously. Harry frowned a bit and asked for him to explain. “The driver that hit you died at the scene, but it was Cowell. He got out on bail and police found a tracker on your car.”
“But he’s gone?” Harry asked after a moment of heavy silence.
“Yeah, he’s gone. For good this time.”
“Good.” Harry nodded and then gave him a knowing look. “And you’re not blaming yourself for things you couldn’t have known about?”
“I’m trying.”
***
The sound of someone taking their frustration out on a pillow made Louis poke his head out of the bathroom. “You okay, love?”
Harry was in their bed trying to prop his leg up on some pillows under the blankets, creating a bit of a tangled mess and causing Ginger and Pepper to jump off the bed in a huff. He’d been released from the hospital with a clean bill of health and into Louis’ care just an hour before, which they were both immensely thankful for–while Harry appreciated all the visitors, Louis knew he just wanted to go home. They’d actually let Harry go a bit earlier than they might have otherwise because he was going to be looked after by a nurse who knew what to do.
Harry had been thrilled to go home, to be in his own bed where Louis could easily cuddle him, but Louis knew the grumpiness would start soon–Harry wasn’t going to like being confined uncomfortably to the bed, or walking with crutches. (Though he was positive that while Harry would pretend to be annoyed about being taken care of, he’d secretly love it.)
“I just can’t get comfortable,” Harry frowned. “Nothing feels… right. I just want to turn on my side, but I can’t.”
“Do you need a pain pill?” Louis asked.
“No, it doesn’t hurt right now, it’s just the bandages and the cast and the pillows and Simon fucking Cowell getting out of jail and hurting so many people without any consequences because he fucking died.” Ah, there it was. Harry paused and caught his breath, Louis could see him visibly deflate. “Sorry, I didn’t realize I was so angry.”
Louis went around to the other side of the bed and cuddled into Harry’s side, placing an arm around him while avoiding the bandages from his healing incisions. “You don’t need to apologize for being angry, love. You have a right to be. It’s normal for any patient to be irritable after a trauma, it’s a way some people deal with stress. The pain medication can cause some moodiness too, so let me know if it gets too overwhelming, okay?” Harry nodded, placing his face into Louis’ neck and breathing in.
“Good. Now how can I help?” He patted Harry’s thigh gently. The cats jumped back on the bed and layed near Harry’s uninjured leg, somehow knowing what areas to avoid walking on.
“I wanted to be able to do it myself, you and Niall and my mum and everyone have done so much already…”
“Haz, love, I’m a nurse and I want to take care of you. You don’t have to feel bad about needing anyone’s help, but especially not mine. Let us help. We don’t want to pull your stitches or put any weight on your leg for now.”
“I’m going to be so needy you’re going to get sick of me.”
“Never,” Louis scoffed.
A small smirk formed on Harry’s face after a moment. “Remember that first time you painted my nails and we joked about you holding my dick for me to wee? I never thought about this scenario.”
“Ha!” Louis let out a bark of laughter. “That or you’re going to have to balance off your leg, or sit.”
“Oh, like you do sometimes when you’re tired?”
“I do not–”
“Yes, you do,” Niall said walking into the room with a tray and a bowl of soup for Harry. “I’ve seen you do it when you’re too drunk to close the bathroom door.”
Louis crossed his arms. “That was one time.”
Harry looked at the soup Niall gave him. “This actually smells really good, Ni.”
“What’s with the tone of surprise? I can cook, you know.” Niall said indignantly.
“Yeah,” Louis drawled. “He opened the takeaway container and reheated it on the stove and everything.”
Niall shot him the finger in response.
“Oh no,” Harry groaned loudly, interrupting any squabbling between them.
“What? Do you need something?” Louis asked quickly, a bit alarmed by Harry’s outburst.
“I just realized that until I can figure out how to cook like this, you two are in charge of cooking for the next couple of weeks.” He whined.
“Think about it this way, H,” Niall’s smirk immediately had Louis worried. “You can sit there and boss Louis around like it’s one of those challenges on Top Chef.”
Louis might have groaned at the thought if it wasn’t for the smile that lit up Harry’s face. Yeah, he’d definitely be letting Harry boss him around the kitchen. And anywhere else he wanted.
***
Harry fell asleep quickly after dinner. Not wanting to leave him, Louis told Niall he was going to go to sleep early too. He moved quietly around the room, changing into one of Harry’s soft, worn-in shirts and turned out the lights so that he wouldn’t have to get up again later. With just the light from the moon and streetlights, he got into bed next to Harry with his computer and started working some more on his novel.
After removing a cat from trying to walk across his keyboard trying to get attention (or be an asshole, he wasn’t sure of Ginger and Peper’s motives) for what felt like the millionth time, Louis couldn’t help groaning in frustration.
“Lou, baby,” Harry mumbled sleepily, eyes still closed. “You don’t have to stay in here with me, I know I’m temporarily confined to the bed, but you aren’t. They won’t bother you at the table.”
“I don’t want to leave you alone,” Louis bit his lip and looked down at Harry’s sleepy face. He still seemed a little paler than normal. He should ask Niall to pick up some foods with more iron tomorrow…
“I’ll have the cats, and I’ll just be sleeping. I’ll be fine.” He poked Louis’ stomach lightly. His voice was delightfully rough and scratchy from sleep.
Louis sighed and looked at him in all seriousness. “Haz, unless you specifically tell me you’d like some time alone, I don’t think I can bring myself to leave just yet. Even if it is just the other room.”
Harry opened his eyes a bit more clearly, blinking to bring Louis into focus and wincing at the computer light. “Baby, I’m okay,” Harry brought a hand up to trace Louis’ tense jaw. “But I’m more than happy to spend every moment stuck to your side if that’s what you want.”
“Of course it’s what I want.” Louis tapped him on the nose. “Who else would fluff your pillows, get you snacks, give you your medicine... I’m positive Niall would forget, he was wearing two different socks before, did you notice?”
“I didn’t,” Harry sounded amused.
“I was also thinking that if when we get you to the sofa, it’s too uncomfortable, we can get a small TV in here and we can watch all of Top Chef to help you prepare.”
“Hmm,” Harry cocked his head. “Who knew the terrible patient would be such a mother hen.”
“Shut up, you love being looked after,” Louis moved the laptop off to the side table and then leaned down to plant his lips to Harry’s. They kissed slowly, almost lazily for a while, as if assuring each other they had all the time in the world. He kissed down the side of Harry’s neck, sucking and licking a small spot right below his ear, eliciting a small gasp from pouty lips. He wanted to pull Harry into his lap and hold him closer, but that would have to wait till he was healed. Harry seemed to want more too by how he pulled Louis’ face back to his and sucked on his bottom lip, making Louis grin a bit before he slipped his tongue into Harry’s mouth, resulting in Harry’s fingers digging into his side to pull him closer.
The hiss Harry let out when he tried to move to get a better angle made Louis back off completely. “Are you okay?” He asked urgently, hands reaching for the hem of Harry’s shirt in an attempt to look at his stitches. He shouldn’t have gotten so caught up in the moment.
“I’m fine,” he swatted Louis’ hands away. “Just moved a little too quickly.”
Louis snuggled down into Harry’s side, as close as he could get, “You’re not supposed to over-exert yourself. Sorry I got a bit carried away.”
Harry moved his arm to wrap under Louis so that Louis’ head was on his chest. Louis shivered a bit at the feel of Harry’s fingers tracing the skin exposed where his shirt rode up. “Not your fault, I was the one that forgot I was injured and tried rolling on top of you.”
“I guess forgetting the pain means the pain medication is doing its job? We’re supposed to start weaning you off it soon though.”
“Then I guess you’ll just have to keep kissing me if it starts hurting then.” Harry sounded absolutely delighted at the prospect.
“Well, studies show that orgasms can help with women’s pain during childbirth, so we could do our own study to see if it helps with your broken leg too.” Louis could feel the vibrations of Harry’s chuckle reverberate through his chest. “Without over exertion, of course.”
“I love you.” Harry said after a few moments.
Louis squeezed him lightly. “I love you too, so much.”
***
“I think all that I’m really getting out of rewatching this show is that I’m going to fall horribly behind these next few weeks if I can’t practice cooking dishes that aren’t dessert. How do I even know what my style is?” Harry paused the episode of Top Chef they had been watching. He had been able to get comfortable on the sofa, stretched out on his back with his head in Louis’ lap.
“Well, I don’t know about style in like, technical terms,” Louis started. “But with desserts it’s always seemed like your… thing was interesting flavor combinations and textures. That sounds like it would translate directly to any type of food, wouldn’t it? And we know you’re good at presentation–your desserts are gorgeous and creative.”
Harry seemed to think it over for a moment before giving him a sweet dimpled smile. “Yeah, I guess that is my thing.”
That seemed to sooth Harry’s nerves for the most part until they got to the episode where the contestant’s family shows up to participate. “We need to do that,” Harry said.
“Hmm?”
“Louis, stop playing with my hair and pay attention,” Harry looked up at him with a frown.
“I was paying attention, it’s the family visit episode. That one guy’s wife just mixed up tilapia and halibut and it’s a culinary travesty.”
“No, well yes,” he corrected. “But you need to practice that. Identifying things, imitating how things are cooked. I can give you directions from the chair.”
Oh, he wanted Louis to be his family member that comes to visit on Top Chef. That was… it felt really big for some reason. Like making a statement to the whole world that Louis was his . He liked the idea a lot. “You wouldn’t rather it be your mum? She’s a better cook.”
Harry shook his head and rolled his eyes dramatically. “Don’t be silly, of course I’d want it to be you. I’d miss you so much by that point I’d be going insane.”
***
After spending the next couple days off with Harry, moving from the sofa to the bed and back, Louis eventually went back to work–trading off “Harry duty” with Niall, Zayn, and Liam. Giving Harry a new person to hang out with each day seemed like a good idea in theory, when Louis came home that first day to find that Niall had bought them a telescope, he thought nothing of it.
Turned out though, that bored Harry loved spying on people. Or, as he called it, people watching.
“It’s not hurting anyone. No one is walking around naked in front of open windows,” Harry reasoned.
“Here, let me introduce you to our neighbors.” Harry positioned the telescope from his chair before he leaned away so that Louis could look through the lens. “That’s Miles. I call him that because he just got one of those fancy treadmill desks. He spends all day talking into a headset walking on the treadmill. It’s kind of genius.”
Louis looked through the telescope to see a slightly plump middle aged man wiping sweat off his brow. He had a standing desk with two computer monitors in front of him. “Good for him,” he nodded.
Harry grinned and leaned forward to reset the telescope again. Louis looked through to see a woman chasing three small boys around her living room. “I call her Wendy. I think she’s a single mom of three boys probably all under the age of ten. Seems very Wendy and the lost boys, on Tuesday and Thursday a man came by to pick them up. I’m betting he's Peter, divorced because he was a man child.”
Louis gave him an amused look, “You’ve really created full profiles for all these people, huh?”
Harry nodded solemnly. “Yes, I have.” He moved the telescope again.
“And who is this guy?” Louis asked as he watched a man with business attire double bagging a bunch of trash bags. “Neat-freak? Seems even worse than you.”
Harry pinched his waist and shook his head with a bit of a frown. “That’s Slim, because he seems kind of shady.”
“Why is he shady,” Louis raised a brow.
“He has a lot of trash,” Harry said with what Louis thought was the most suspicious tone he’d ever heard Harry use. Oh boy, what is he up to?
Louis regarded him for a moment, “Are you sure you’re not spending too much time spying on people?”
“Nope,” he popped the P before leaning back to the lens. “It’s more fun than watching TV.” Here, look at this,” he pulled out a notebook. “Yesterday, Slim took out four bags of trash and had two visitors that he took to a back room for a couple hours each. The day before that there were five bags of trash and three visitors. I didn’t keep records before that, but visitors and trash is definitely a trend.”
“Okay… that is a little strange.” Louis frowned.
“That’s not the strangest part.” Harry said without taking his eye from the telescope. “Oh here, look, one is leaving.”
Louis bent again to look and saw Slim escorting a woman out of a back room. Her face was bandaged and bruised. Then, the man gave her a bottle of pills. “Okay, that’s… what the fuck?”
“I know!” Harry nodded fervently. “Lots of trash, lots of visitors, mostly women, who go into a room fine and come out bruised and bandaged. I’ve done my research, there isn’t any kind of medical practice registered in the building.”
“Could he be like an injury lawyer or something?”
“I thought that at first, but they aren’t injured when they come in. And he’s giving them prescription drugs.”
“Maybe we should tell the police,” Louis pondered aloud as he watched the man leave the flat with his bags of trash.
“And tell them what?” Harry said, exasperated. “That I’ve been spying on people and think there’s some kind of illegal surgery thing going on in the building across the street? They’ll arrest me or tell me I’ve been reading too many mystery novels. It’d be like Girl Gone in the Train Window or whatever.” Harry had, in fact, been reading too many mystery novels while stuck at home, but Louis wasn’t going to call him out on it.
“I think that’s like… three different books, Haz.”
“You know what I mean though.” He grinned cheekily.
“We need evidence,” Louis agreed. He looked back into the telescope hoping to see something new. Harry started reading off more of the observations he’d written down.
“Umm what is happening right now?” Niall said from behind them, making Louis jump.
“I’m telling Louis about the man across the street with too much trash,” Harry said.
“Oh, what do you think about shady trash man, Tommo?” Niall rubbed his hands together gleefully. “Suspicious, right? That’s a lot of trash. I think he’s selling kidneys on the black market.”
Trash… it clicked together in Louis’ brain. “The trash!” Louis waved his hands around excitedly. “What if all the trash is him dumping the evidence.”
Harry looked at him a moment before catching on, eyes wide with interest. “We need evidence. The trash could be evidence.”
“We need that trash.” Louis finished.
“You could always just look in the dumpster,” Niall shrugged and took a bite of the granola bar he was holding.
Harry’s eyes widened. “Ni, you’re a genius.” He grabbed the telescope from Louis and pointed it downwards moving around a bit before stopping. “There! Trash bins!”
Louis took a look and nodded. “Okay, Niall, you’re with me. Haz, you keep an eye out from up here, call if he leaves his flat.”
Harry enthusiastically agreed immediately, but Niall held up his hand. “What if this guy actually is some shady black market organ dealer and the bags are full of body parts and he sees us? I don’t want to die.”
“That’s why Haz will tell us to run if needed.” Louis rolled his eyes. “Look at him, Ni.” He pointed to Harry who had started to pout. “Can you really deny him the satisfaction of busting an illegal organ trafficking ring?”
Niall rolled his eyes in return. “Fine, let's go. This is insane though.”
“It was your idea.”
A few minutes later, Louis and Niall were trying to walk across the street as casually as possible. For Niall, that apparently meant looking around nervously every few seconds. “Would you stop acting so suspicious,” Louis hissed.
“I can’t help it, we are doing something suspicious.”
“You faked your way into an exclusive golf charity event, use those same acting skills here.”
“That was a completely different scenario and you know it.”
They slowed their pace as they rounded the corner to the enclosure that had the dumpsters and looked around to be sure no one would see them going in.
“Okay,” Louis put his hands on his hips and looked at the open dumpster. “Who’s going in and who’s keeping watch?”
Niall just tilted his and raised an eyebrow.
“Fine, I’ll do it,” Louis sighed.
As he put his hands on the top of the dumpster to pull himself up, Niall snickered. “Need a boost?”
“Ha. Ha. Very funny.” Louis rolled his eyes and lifted himself into the dumpster. He was going to take five showers later. Maybe seven. “All these bags look the same.”
“You’ll just have to open them looking for severed arms or other suspicious things.”
Grumbling, Louis got to work. It was disgusting. “So… How’s Amelia?” He asked after a while. He knew she and Niall had been texting, but he was keeping things close, which was unusual. Niall always talked to them about the girls he was interested in. “You don’t really talk about her.”
He looked up when Niall didn’t respond right away. “Ni?”
Niall bit his lip and looked at him. When he spoke, his voice was more serious than usual. “I really like her, Tommo. Like… a lot.”
Louis smiled, “That’s great man, why do you look like you’re the one fishing through people's trash?”
“Because it’s terrifying and when I think about it I feel like I might vomit.” He ran a hand through his hair.
Louis tossed another bag full of trash aside and regarded his friend. “Love is scary.”
“Isn’t it too soon to think it’s love?” He asked weakly.
“Nah,” Louis shook his head. “I've pretty much loved Haz from the moment we met, just took too long to admit it to myself. I think people fall in love in different ways and different times, there’s not a set timeline. Some people fall slowly, some fall fast.”
“Like that saying about when you least expect it,” Niall murmured.
“Yeah,” Louis smiled softly, thinking about seeing Harry sitting alone on that kitchen counter so many months ago. “With Haz and I… we both thought we would be better off staying friends. Avoid things getting messy.”
Niall snorted, “No one ever said either of you were particularly wise.”
Louis shot him the finger. “We couldn’t stay away from each other though. It was like… gravity.”
“I’m really glad you came to look at the flat that day, you know,” Niall said. “Don’t know if I ever told you, but H has always been so open with so many of his feelings… but not all of them. He’d been struggling with some self doubt with his career, dating… he never really wanted to talk about it. When you moved in, he changed. In a good way.”
“He changed me too,” Louis said, opening up the next bag of trash. “I was… lost, I guess. Adrift. Not sure where I belonged, who I was or wanted to be. He was an anchor. Not holding me back, but like a safety net, knowing I always had support. That I wasn’t alone.” His eyes stung a bit, maybe from emotion, maybe from the garbage.
“That’s what I want.” Niall said. “I’m just worried Amelia won’t feel the same.”
“You won’t know if you don’t talk to her though.”
“Yeah.” They were silent for a moment. “That was all really sappy of us. Can we not tell anyone about this conversation?”
“Ha! Sure Nialler,” Louis laughed. Then opened the next bag and froze. “Ni, I think I found it.”
“What!” Niall peaked his head over the side of the bin. “What is it? Body parts? Bloody towels?”
“Not exactly,” Louis started, but was stopped by his phone vibrating in his jeans pocket. He pulled it out and answered Harry’s call. “Haz?”
“Lou get out! Get out now! He’s left his apartment with another bag!” Harry’s panicked voice shouted into the phone.
“Okay, Niall take this,” he shoved the trash bag at him with a resulting ‘oomph’ from Niall. “We’re on our way,” he said into the phone before ending the call and scrambling out of the bin. “We need to get out of here,” he told Niall quickly, peeking his head around the corner. They were clear.
They walked out of the lot and down the street casually, mostly casually. “Stop acting like you’re holding an explosive,” Louis hissed.
“You never told me what was inside. For all I know it could be an explosive,” Niall hissed back.
“Give it to me,” Louis took the bag.
When they walked into the flat, Harry let out an audible sigh of relief. “Thank fuck. What did you find?” He started hobbling to them on one crutch.
Louis set the bag on the dining table and distinctly heard Harry mumble something about disinfectant to Niall, but he ignored that to open the bag so they could see what he found. “I think we need to call the police.”
Inside the bag were pieces of bloody gauze, empty drug vials, surgical gowns, and lots and lots of syringe needles.
Niall poked at some vials with the end of a wooden spoon so that they could see the names: morphine and botox. “Black market plastic surgery?” He questioned.
“Definitely doesn’t seem like he’s going about things legally,” Louis responded. “I’ll call the police.”
Harry nodded, “I’ll keep an eye on him so the police know where to go.”
As Louis was calling and asking for officers to come see what they’ve found, Harry shouted.
“What’s wrong?” He asked, ignoring the person on the other end of the line.
“He came back and went into that room again, but now he’s back out covered in blood and pacing. I think someone is dead.”
***
The dispatcher sent officers both over to their flat, and to one across the street, estimating what the flat number in question was by counting windows.
Louis recognized the officers that walked into their flat immediately as the ones that also came to Harry’s shop when it was vandalized. “Officer Grant, Officer Reyes,” he greeted.
As the officers were taking their statements, Officer Grant got a call. When she came back Louis wasn’t sure how to read the expression on her face.
“I want all three of you to pay very close attention to what I’m going to say,” she started. “Stop spying on your neighbors. It’s illegal.” She paused and gave them each a withering look that made Louis want to shrivel into a ball and disappear. “But, we’ll let it go this time because your spying just saved a woman’s life.”
“Really?” Harry’s jaw dropped.
She nodded. “The guy was a doctor in New York, lost his license for doing procedures on the side illegally out of his garage for extra cash. Moved here, started the practice up again. Detectives have been trying to figure out where he’s been operating for months but couldn’t track him.”
“And we found him?” Louis said, a bit in shock.
“And the woman is okay? There was a lot of blood,” Harry asked, still a little pale at the thought of all the blood.
“He nicked an artery, wasn’t fully prepared to handle that by himself. Luckily, your call got us there in time.”
“Wow.”
“You did good, but no more amature detective, got it?” She said firmly. They all nodded like teenagers being scolded by their mother. “Good. We’ve got enough problems to deal with, we don’t need a bunch of kids with a telescope messing up ongoing investigations. And you,” she pointed at Louis. “Go shower. You stink.”
***
After Louis had scrubbed himself raw and Niall had left to go see Amelia (Louis wishing him luck as he left), he and Harry were cuddled together in bed watching season eleven of Grey’s Anatomy on Louis’ laptop. The moment the next episode started, Louis knew which one it was.
“Can we skip this episode?” He asked quietly.
Harry shifted again to look at him in concern. “Yeah of course, what’s wrong?”
Louis gestured to the description of the episode that appeared on the screen when he’d paused it.
“Oh,” Harry said in soft surprise. “Yeah, we can skip that, baby.”
“Don’t really want to watch a beloved character die in a car crash,” Louis said weakly.
Harry wrapped his arms around Louis and pulled him close so that his face was buried in Louis’ neck. “I’m okay darling. Not going anywhere.” He pressed light kisses behind Louis’ ear, when Louis didn’t respond he licked the shell of his ear which earned him a squirm and a bark of laughter, getting Louis out of his head.
“Glad we weren’t arrested for spying on our neighbors.” Louis said, wanting to change the subject as Harry skipped the episode.
“Nah,” Harry smirked. “Athena likes me, I give her free pastries every time she comes into the shop.”
“Of course you’re on a first name basis with Officer Grant. Even the most terrifying woman I’ve ever met loves you.”
“There’s a lot to love.”
“That’s true,” Louis kissed the top of his hair.
“Hey Lou,” Harry said a few minutes later.
“Yeah?”
“We make a pretty good team. Both in exposing shady neighbors, and… everything else.”
“We are pretty awesome together. I wouldn’t want anyone else to have my back.” It was true months ago and it was true still.
“Ditto.” Harry gave him a wide dimpled smile that never failed to make him swoon. “Now kiss me you fool.”
Louis did, enthusiastically.
After a while, their kissing slowed when Louis heard Harry’s stomach growl. “You didn’t eat much dinner earlier,” he commented.
“It was the pain pill, upset my stomach,” Harry scrunched his face cutely. “Feels better now.”
“Come on,” Louis rolled out of bed and walked over to bring Harry his crutches. “I’m going to make you a midnight snack.”
“It’s only ten.”
“Doesn’t matter.”
They were both in just shirts and boxer briefs as they walked into the dark kitchen. Louis turned on the lights under the cabinets for some low light because even though Niall wasn’t home, it felt like they should keep their voices and the lights low and soft.
“It feels like we’re kids sneaking out of bed in the middle of the night to raid the fridge,” Harry grinned mischievously as he sat, resting his elbow on the counter and resting his chin in the palm of his hand. “What you going to make me?”
Louis got lost looking into Harry’s beautiful green eyes for a moment, glad this man was his, before looking around the fridge and cabinets. “Want to guide me through fried rice?”
“Though you’re hot enough to cook an egg on, how about just a sandwich this late?” Harry smirked.
Louis gave him a coy look and leaned over the counter on the tips of his toes to get closer to Harry’s face. “Hot enough to cook an egg on hmm?” He hummed quietly.
“Yup.” Harry’s eyes darted to Louis’ lips. “Love a man who can cook, particularly when he’s following my directions. And you’ve got a great ass.”
Louis’ tongue darted out to lick his lips before smiling, tongue caught slight between his teeth. “Lucky for you I have a very specific type.”
“Oh?” Harry cocked his head, exposing his throat more. Louis wanted to lick it, scrape his teeth up it.
“I also love a man who can cook, professionally that is, and gets bossy in the kitchen.”
“Heyyy,” Harry pouted without any heat.
“Beautiful, generous, vibrant, sweet as ice cream–”
Without waiting even a beat, Harry’s hand was on the back of Louis’ head and their lips were crashing together. Louis’ hands were holding him up across the counter, the edge of the stone pressing into his hips as Harry’s hand tangled in his hair and his tongue swiped into Louis’ mouth with a moan.
Too soon they pulled apart, panting.
Louis lowered himself back to his feet and Harry sank back into the chair. “What was that for?” Louis asked, a bit dazed.
“Just wanted a taste,” Harry shrugged. “Still hungry though.”
At the look Harry gave him, Louis sighed, “We have to wait for approval from your doctor before having… the whole meal.” He wiggled his eyebrows and Harry’s responding giggle was absolutely his goal. He would never tire of trying to make Harry laugh. “How about that sandwich?”
Harry opened his mouth to give directions, but Louis held up a hand to stop him. “No sideline cooking. I’ve got this.”
“Oh?” Harry raised a brow, intrigued. “The student becomes the master?”
“You’ve taught me well,” Louis gave him a grin that crinkled his eyes and got to work on making a couple of grilled cheese sandwiches the way Harry liked them.
He let the griddle heat up while pulling out and slicing some different cheeses they already had on hand. Then, he began buttering thick pieces of bread, putting more butter on the griddle so that a soft sizzle could be heard in the otherwise quiet kitchen.
“Very good technique,” Harry complimented. His rough voice sent a different type of sizzle down Louis’ spine and he blushed.
“Like I said… good teacher.” He let the buttered bread sizzle a moment before putting little stacks of cheese on each slice. Once the bread was golden and crispy, he flipped a couple of the slices onto their counterparts to make two sandwiches and let the sizzling and melting continue.
It wasn’t anything fancy. Just bread, butter, and cheese. But Louis couldn’t help the enormous amount of pride and love that he felt when he sliced each sandwich diagonally and passed one to Harry before coming around the counter with his own to sit next to him.
“Thank you,” Harry looked at him softly, intently before taking a bite. Louis watched him chew and swallow out of the corner of his eye. “It’s perfect.”
Louis beamed.
As they sat in the quiet, the dim light making Harry look almost ethereal, Louis knew this was the right moment. He couldn’t hold it in anymore. “I’ll be right back,” he murmured, before walking to his old room and pulling a small box out from the back of a dresser drawer. Niall and Zayn had helped him pick it out while Liam was occupying Harry a few weeks ago.
Harry looked his way when he made his way back to the kitchen, one hand behind his back. “What did you get?” He gave Louis a curious look.
Louis always thought he’d be nervous proposing to someone. That was always how it was depicted in the movies. But here with Harry, he wasn’t nervous at all. Maybe partially because he knew Harry would say yes, but also because… it was Harry. If there was one thing he had no doubts over, it was Harry.
He sat back in his chair next to the man he loved and turned so they were facing each other, knees interlocked. Down on one knee, rose petals, and champagne wasn’t their style. This was quiet, intimate, romantic… perfect. Harry tilted his head as if trying to read Louis’ mind.
Louis pulled the small box from behind his back and opened it to reveal the vintage ring he’d bought. It had a write pearl with diamonds on either side. Harry gasped and his eyes immediately started to tear up.
“Harry Styles,” Louis said softly, brushing away a tear on Harry’s cheek. “You are the love of my life. I want to grow old with you, have babies with you, argue about how to correctly load the dishwasher with you–” Harry giggled wetly and Louis smiled broadly, eyes crinkling. “We’ve been through so much these last few months. But one thing has never wavered, and that is how much I love you and want to spend the rest of my life with you. Will you marry me?”
“Yes!” Harry started crying in earnest, nodding enthusiastically and peppering Louis’ face with kisses as Louis slipped the ring onto his finger. “I love you, I love you, I love you,” he murmured sweetly between each kiss.
That night, after Harry had fallen asleep, Louis couldn’t help but watch him for a while. He’d never thought he’d find this. Him. A person that loved him as deeply as Harry loved him and whom he loved back just as deeply in return. Friends that were like family. A job he loved and a reawakened passion for writing. Everything was pretty much perfect. Everything he had ever dreamed of, really.
With that in mind, he pulled Harry close and gently drifted into sleep with a smile on his face.
Chapter 20: Chapter 19 - Love of My Life
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
Chapter 19 - Epilogue - Love of My Life
A Year Later
“Everyone is starting to arrive, are you excited?” Louis’ agent, and Niall’s girlfriend, Amelia asked.
“Of course he’s excited,” Harry grinned. “It’s not every day you publish your first novel.”
“Exactly,” Louis gave him a wink.
Amelia rushed off to give orders to the caterers and Harry took a step closer to him so they were leaning their back against the marble bar together.
The event space was lovely, not that Harry would have picked anything that wasn’t. There were flowers everywhere. Fairy lights twinkling around the room. Louis was in a gray tux while Harry was in navy with floral trim. Anyone in publishing would notice that the whole affair was a bit more upscale than your average book release party for friends and family.
Because that wasn’t all it was.
“Do you think anyone suspects?” Louis whispered into Harry’s ear.
“Not a chance.” Harry shook his head. “Even Niall just thinks we had him get his online marriage officiant license early to plan ahead. Operation Surprise Wedding is going to go off seamlessly. Our mums and sisters will be too excited to be mad that we planned everything without them.”
“Don’t jinx it,” Louis said wearily. “Though I guess any issues and we can always distract them with your award winning desserts. Chocolate can solve any problem.”
Harry simply chuckled and gave him a quick kiss. “Speaking of, the people from Top Chef are arriving. Let’s go greet them.”
Harry had done well on his season of Top Chef in Texas, coming in 5th overall was no small feat for a pastry chef. He’d also been voted fan favorite, of course, and won quite a bit of money from quickfire challenges.
Louis had gotten to see him in action first hand when he visited the set as Harry’s chosen family member. The first thing Louis asked when he ran into Harry’s arms was “restaurant wars?”
Harry’s smile grew bigger, if that was possible, and said, “My dessert won.”
Louis had done very well following Harry’s instructions in the quickfire challenge, which they won.The scene was very popular on YouTube because of their previous minor internet celebrity fame. When news of Louis’ book came out, views surged a bit again. Harry didn’t win the family inspired dish elimination challenge, but he didn’t go home that day either, Louis thought the judges were wrong–the Louis’ inspired dish was perfect.
After Top Chef, Harry’s business exploded and he’d become one of the most sought after pastry chefs in the country. Business was doing very well.
Louis missed Harry terribly while he was off filming, so he put that energy into finishing writing his book and sent it to Amelia. She loved it. Now, several rounds of edits later, his first novel was being released. Something he’d only thought was possible in his wildest dreams.
He’d also stepped away from being an emergency trauma nurse, opting for the quieter life of a nurse in a private pediatric practice instead. Sometimes he missed the excitement of the ED, but he enjoyed having less stress and more time to split with his writing. He also loved being able to spend more time with his patients, talking to them and watching them grow.
Liam and Zayn still lived upstairs despite Zayn’s career taking off. Niall had moved out of flat 1D and in with Amelia, he was also in talks for a record deal. Louis and Harry had discussed what they wanted to do with the three bedroom flat and decided to make it their home for the foreseeable future. Two extra bedrooms meant room for an office and a nursery…
Louis had never been happier.
It was going to be a very good day.
As guests arrived the two of them made their rounds mingling. It was a bit exhausting, but they wanted to thank the people they invited for coming. It wasn’t a huge party, just their friends and family, but well, they had a lot of friends and family.
“There you are,” Liam passed them each a drink as they approached the group that included Niall, Zayn, Liam, Ed and his girlfriend, Perrie, Toni and Cheryl, and Lottie. People were still arriving, but they could spare a few minutes–it was their day afterall, whether everyone knew it yet or not. “This is a really nice party Louis, congratulations,” he toasted.
Everyone cheered and gave Louis hugs and pats on the shoulder.
“Thanks, it’s been a long process.”
“Practically been in the works since we first met,” Harry mused.
“How did you two meet?” Ed’s new girlfriend asked them.
“At a party,” Louis said offhandedly, looking towards the door to see his mum and younger siblings arrive. “Nearly… two years ago? Ed ditched me and met Harry.”
Niall frowned, along with everyone else. “No, that’s not right, you two met that day Louis came to check out the flat.”
Louis glanced at Harry who looked at him with amused eyes. “Did we really never tell them?”
“I don’t think we did. Never came up I guess.”
“Lottie knows,” Louis pointed out.
“I told Gemma too–”
“What are you two talking about,” Zayn interrupted. “What didn’t you tell us?”
Louis smiled brightly, gazing into Harry’s eyes. “The first time I met Harry was at a party weeks before the flat. I had a crush on him the moment I saw him sitting on the counter in an empty kitchen.”
“I’m pretty sure you said something about thinking I looked like a sexy hippie sunshine rockstar?” Harry added brightly. “I thought he was gorgeous, sweet, interesting… he had to leave early and I gave him my number, but he never called.”
“My phone crashed,” he explained, still gazing at Harry fondly. “Didn’t back up my contacts.”
“And then the next thing I knew, the cute guy from the party was on my sofa playing video games with Niall, set to be my new flatmate.”
They looked away from each other and back at Niall, Liam, Zayn, and their other friends who were all staring at them with open mouths. “Seriously?” Toni insisted. “And you just… pretended you didn’t like each other until that football game where you very obviously ran off together?”
Louis choked on a laugh, but it was Lottie that spoke up. “I can answer this,” everyone turned to her. “They decided to just be friends, because flatmates dating was a bad idea, but obviously, as we know, they can’t keep their hands off each other.” Everyone mumbled in agreement. “They first hooked up after dancing in a club and decided to be friends with benefits.”
Niall burst into laughter, “I KNEW you two were acting suspicious that morning!”
“And the pool party with the scratches down Louis’ back,” Cheryl shook her head with a clearly impressed expression. “Good work H.” Everyone laughed some more.
“You two are the absolute worst liars, I can’t believe we never figured this out.”
“Well,” Louis shrugged at Liam and took a sip of his drink. “We were kind of in denial for a while. And maybe you aren’t as observant as you think, Lima Bean.” He winked at Harry.
Yeah, their friends definitely didn’t see this coming.
***
Once everyone had arrived, Amelia had given a little speech introducing Louis and his book and talking about hopes for future novels. As everyone clapped he made his way to the small stage that was surrounded by flowers and lights.
“Thank you all for being here to support me and my first novel,” he said into the microphone. “But, uh,” he rubbed the back of his neck, smiling bashfully. The time had come. “Something you don’t know, not even Amelia, is that this party isn’t really for me. Or at least not just me.”
Looks of confusion and murmurs filled the room. He saw his and Harry’s mum’s look at each other with confusion before looking at the room. He laughed a little when both of their jaws dropped–of course their mums would figure it out first. Their friends just whispered frantically with frowns, shaking their heads.
“Well,Haz,” he smirked. “Want to get married?”
Gasps, jaws dropped, Niall started cackling with laughter, people shouted, he heard a distinct “what the fuck?” from Lottie.
“Absolutely!” Harry shouted, running up on stage. “Welcome to our surprise wedding everyone! Niall, mate, get up here, you’re officiating.”
While Niall was making his way to the stage, Zayn called out, “Are you two serious right now? You planned this whole thing and no one knew?”
Louis met Harry’s eyes and smiled softly. “Yeah, we didn’t want all the big mess that came with your wedding–”
“Hey, our wedding was beautiful!” Liam interrupted.
“It was, but we wanted something simple. We thought about eloping, but,” he gestured to their mothers.
“We would have definitely murdered you both,” Jay confirmed.
“So we thought a surprise would be fun,” Harry finished with a goofy dimpled grin. Louis poked one of the dimples with his finger, as he often did, and Harry laughed.
“I thought you two were just being annoying about me getting that certificate so soon.” Niall grumbled. “I don’t even have a speech prepared.”
“It’s alright, Ni, we don’t need a big speech.” Louis patted his shoulder.
“No big speech?” Niall scoffed. “Two of my best mates are getting married, of course I’m going to do a big speech! You’re just going to have to accept whatever I come up with off the top of my head.”
“Thanks Ni,” Louis nodded with a small smile. He never doubted that Niall would want to give a speech, he wouldn’t have it any other way.
Niall cleared his throat and looked around the room. “Harry and Louis love romantic comedies and since we used to live together, I have seen a lot of romantic comedies. And Grey’s Anatomy… and baking shows…” the crowd chuckled. “But in one of the shows or movies they roped me into watching, a character giving a toast at a friend’s wedding said something about no matter what, you show up for the people you love. Which sounds kind of cheesy, but I can’t think of something that describes Harry and Louis better than that. They are always there for the people they love. Their friends. Their family. And perhaps most importantly, each other.” He looked at them both with tears in his eyes. “It is an honor to call you my friends and to have watched your love story unfold.”
“Ni!” Harry cried and pulled him and Louis into a hug. “You’re the best.”
“Well,” Niall said, straightening his jacket as they pulled away. “You got rings I take it?”
“Yes.”
“Then let’s get you married! I assume you have vows prepared?”
“Of course,” Louis grinned and took Harry’s hands in his, drinking in the sight of his beautiful soon-to-be husband. “Harry,” Louis could already feel his eyes getting damp. “When we first met I was… lost. Meeting you, being your friend, was the greatest thing to ever happen to me. You made me feel seen and worthy of having people that truly cared for me. I fell for you so hard. It was so easy to fall in love with you and your addictive heart; you’re easy to love. Your openness and passion inspire me every day. With you I feel invincible and I will strive to make you feel the same for the rest of our lives.”
Harry brushed at the tears that were already falling and smiled. “Louis, No one has ever made me feel as loved as you make me feel. From the moment we met I couldn’t get you off my mind, everything about you pulled me in. We’re so different and yet so alike, so I guess it shouldn’t be surprising that our vows are a bit similar,” he laughed wetly. “There's never been someone so perfect for me. You make me feel cherished and valued and perfect the way I am. You make me strong. So I vow to make you feel the same too, when you’re feeling down, I’ll make you happier, when you feel lonely, you’ve got me. Always.”
***
After pictures, being bombarded with hugs from their friends and family, and some dancing, Louis escaped with Harry to the venue’s kitchen to get the gorgeous cake Harry had made. There was no way he’d have let anyone else make his wedding cake.
Before getting the cake however, Harry pulled him around the corner into an alcove away from prying eyes and kissed him soundly. “I love you,” he whispered. “Husband.”
Louis smiled widely and kissed him again, winding his arms around Harry’s waist. “I love you too, husband.”
“Look at us,” Harry mused. “Back to where we started, hiding from a party in the kitchen.”
“Good thing you think I’m interesting and not boring.”
“Oh, and how do you know that?” He teased.
Louis lightly pinched his side, and grinned. “Cause you married me, duh.”
“Yeah, I did, didn’t I? Lucky me.” Harry wiggled his eyebrows and swooped in for another kiss. “Hey, have you started writing that new book idea yet?”
Louis was luckily used to keeping up with Harry’s aggressive swerves in conversation. “Yeah, started it yesterday.”
“Are you going to tell me what it’s about yet? You said you would after you finished outlining.”
Louis looked at his husband adoringly. “Us. It’s a romantic comedy. Roommates to lovers.”
“Sounds perfect,” Harry’s eyes lit up. “How does it end?”
“Happily ever after, obviously.”
“Obviously.”
END
Notes:
Thank you so much for reading my story, I hope you enjoyed it! Please let me know what you thought! It was the first fic I've ever finished and had the courage to publish and it has a special place in my heart. I'm already working on something new, hopefully it won't take me as long to write as this one did ;)
Y'all are the best!
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