Chapter Text
18 months later
The bulb above had been flittering on and off all week in the back room of the studio, much to Harry's agitation. It required a specific brand that Paul just hadn't managed to get his hands on yet- that was until this morning.
"Why don't you just buy them in bulk?" Harry questioned, his arms crossed over his chest as he leant against the door frame, watching his boss.
Paul, stood on a collapsible ladder in the centre of the room, casted him a glance and raised a greying eyebrow in return. "Why don't you keep your gob shut, smartarse."
Harry snorted, his lips quirking as he shook his head in amusement.
"What? I'm just trying being helpful!" Harry commended, smirking up at the older gent.
"Is that what we're calling it now?" Paul grunted as his hands dropped to grip the ladder's handle, finally having screwed in the lightbulb. "I mean, you are quite a bit younger, H. You could've done this job yourself, easy as pie."
Harry laughed and watched as the man's feet met the hardwood floors. "Ah, key word there, old man. Could've. But honestly, it was much more amusing to watch you argue and frown at a light fixture than do it myself."
Paul rolled his eyes as he hummed, wiping away the dust on his hands with a cleaning cloth. "What are you gunna do when you've got yer own studio finally set up, kid? I can't be droppin' everything here to race over and help."
Grinning at the very thought, Harry pushed his weight off of the doorframe.
His own studio.
"Why do you think I'm taking Adam and Charlie with me?" He appealed, showing off a matching set of dimples. "It's not because I'm going to miss 'em, or for the fact that I think they're somewhat alright at what they do. I just need them there to do all of my dirty work- catch the spiders and screw in the lightbulbs."
It was thrilling, to be honest. Finally venturing out on his own. It was something he had only ever dreamt of since starting out as an artist at the shop, but now it seemed as though it was turning into some sort of crazed reality.
Over the last year, he'd taken a short business management course at the local university, whilst simultaneously working day and night to save up as much as he possibly could, and had even taken out a sizeable loan to help start up the business with a little help from his mum.
The first thing he did with the money, when it was approved, was put down a deposit on an available space- a quaint little shop a short walk from the train station, practically perfect. It was no where near ready yet, but it truly was getting there.
All of his ideas were slowly but surely coming together and he'd already got a list of artists lined up ready to help. He'd pinched Adam and Charlie from Paul (much to the man's mock chagrin) and had even found himself a prodigy, all the way down in London, lined up that he's been waiting on graduating.
Paul simply chuckled at him as he shook his head, tucking the dirtied cloth into the back pocket of his jeans. "That was my plan startin' out too, Haz, but look at where I'm standin' now. Cleanin' up after you."
"And I really do appreciate it." Harry sung, wandering over towards the desk so that he could throw himself into the spinning chair. "You not gonna miss me then, when I'm gone?"
It was Paul's turn to smirk. His lip curled as his eyes locked on Harry's slouched form. "Nah, still got a good few months with you yet, lad. Even then, there'll be no gettin' rid of you. You're like a weed that just keeps on growin'."
"The only difference between a flower and a weed is judgment, Pauly." Harry tutted, clasping his hands together in his lap as he smiled. "And I know that you all love me here, even you! Especially you, actually. It won't be the same without me, will it?"
Paul grinned at him before relenting. "Nah, it honestly won't, H."
Just as Harry smiled back, he was taken by surprise when a dirtied cloth blinded him. He spluttered and kicked up to sit higher in his seat, ripping the fabric away from his face to scowl at Paul, who chuckled happily, the ladder now propped under his arm.
"Come on now," The man said smugly, already at the door, "stop with all your wise words, you've got work to get back to."
"Aye, aye, captain." Harry saluted mockingly and watched the way Paul's face lit up in a laugh as he walked away.
Harry inhaled deeply, throwing the balled up cloth into the bin beneath his desk, before spinning in the chair and wiggling the computer mouse to relight the dimmed screen.
There truly hadn't been a point to this action because within seconds he was already distracted by the vibrating in his trouser pocket.
Harry immediately moved to pull his phone out and captured his bottom lip between his teeth to bite back the grin that wanted to present itself upon seeing the contacts name.
He propped the mobile up against the bottom edge of the computer screen and accepted the FaceTime call. His heart warmed when the screen came to life, revealing a beaming Louis who looked just as excited to see him as Harry felt.
"Heya, love." Harry greeted, scooting in his seat to get even closer to the screen.
It seemed as though the boy was sat in a busy cafe off campus, beside a large bay window. The natural light that poured through the glass casted a soft glow against his skin, highlighting and defining his features, as well as brightening the cerulean colouring that rimmed his irises.
'Hi! How is everything?' Louis signed, rather cheerfully.
A coffee mug sat to the left of his elbow and Harry was a little fearful that Louis would soon spill its contents with how enthusiastically he was gesticulating.
'Good. Really good. Busy. Finally got the light to work.' Harry signed back before he pointed up towards the ceiling, smiling away without a care. He was quick to remind Louis of the mugs presence when the boy unexpectedly jerked his arm backwards. 'Careful of the cup, babe.'
Louis immediately stilled in his position and glanced over towards his left, he smiled sheepishly at the camera before cautiously moving the cup out of arms reach.
'Forgot.' Louis chuckled, creasing the skin around his mouth and eyes, as he settled back in his seat. Harry joined him, admiring the simple sight. 'Glad the light is back. Know it annoyed you.'
Harry rolled his eyes at Louis' words, remembering the many the times he'd complained about it. But even so, he still couldn't contain his grin. 'Not that bad.'
'O, it was that bad, H.' Louis laughed joyfully, but rather quickly his larger than life smile turned into something much smaller, much softer. 'Miss you.'
Harry returned the sweet smile, unable to help himself.
Louis was off on his first year at uni, studying hard to become a teacher. Something he'd come to realise, in the time their friends had been gone, was something he really wanted for himself.
He had applied and had been accepted into The University of Sheffield early last spring, he'd actually just started his degree in the autumn term about six months ago. He had classes four days out of the week but he still chose to reside in Doncaster. Not wanting to be too far from everything and everyone he knew.
It was an easy enough journey though, a half an hour drive by car, which two years of therapy had allowed him to revisit. His therapist had truly gone above and beyond to help Louis deal with his PTSD after the accident and his anxiety surrounding it. Louis had gone from never wanting to sit behind the wheel of a car again, to driving himself back and forth, to and from uni, without suffering through a full blown panic attack. The therapy sessions had also helped Louis a lot with coming to terms and coping with loss and changes, as well as dealing with his vast array of emotions maturely.
Without it, Harry was sure that Louis never would have pushed himself into chasing after what he wanted.
'Only been a few hours, LOU.' Harry chuckled faintly before biting at his bottom lip, 'Still, I miss you, too.'
Louis' cheeks lifted with the intensity of his next smile. Narrowing his blue eyes and dimpling his skin. Harry swallowed dryly, knowing that nothing else on earth could compare to the other boys grin. It was breathtakingly free- and like a match dropped into an oil filled ocean, it burned, alive and so beyond hypnotising.
A hand movement broke Harry from his daze and he shook his head to rid himself of his thoughts before focusing back on his boyfriend. 'Sorry, what?'
Harry laughed when Louis huffed at him and playfully rolled his eyes, then focused better when the boy went to repeat his previous sentence.
'I said, have you heard from NI? Any news?'
"Oh!" Harry acknowledged aloud before dipping his head and picking up his phone to open the last message he'd received from the Irish lad, pushing Louis' face into a tiny box at the corner of the screen. "He mentioned that he was still up for visiting next week, as long as we picked him up from the train station and bought him lunch."
'Sounds about right.' Louis retorted with a snort.
They both laughed lightly whilst Harry popped his mobile back into its previous position so that he could view the blue eyed boy properly once more.
'Have to clean the flat then.' Louis signed, somewhat defeatedly, and Harry watched as the boys eyes travelled from left to right, obviously going everything that would need sorting before their mates imminent arrival.
'First time any of them will see it.' Harry realised, which felt more than a little strange.
They'd had the flat for well over half a year now- something they could finally call their own- and with the boys so busy down south they'd only ever seen it whilst on video calls. So, Niall would be the first of the trio to visit.
"Shit. Yeah." Louis breathed out heavily before he was back to signing again, 'So weird.'
Harry hummed his agreement as he scratched lightly at the back of his neck. 'Also, LI emailed.'
Louis grinned broadly and even through the screen Harry could see how his eyes glistened with mirth. 'Another one of his long essays?'
"Oh, yeah." Harry snickered.
It was ongoing thing. These dissertation length letters that they received from Liam each week. It was honestly just incredible how long he'd kept at it, the first email Harry had received was at the end of Liam's first week at university and it truly had been a welcomed surprise, seeing as they hadn't spoken much during the short course.
Ever since, the lad hadn't failed to deliver and was still going strong.
As detailed as the emails were though, they could be hilarious. They were filled to the brim with little anecdotes about the people Liam had accidentally met on the tube, as well as the many stories he had collected whilst living in London.
Last week, they'd heard all about how one of the lads on the rugby team had streaked naked through the main campus. Apparently, he'd even taken a quick dip in the fountain outside of the admissions office, which had resulted in the Dean making an appearance and having the university's security team trail after soggy, wet footprints for the better part of an hour. Liam had seemed to have rather enjoyed the showcase though, wrote about it all in thorough detail.
He added little annotations, too, if he had the time, sketches and notes just to add further detail. He'd just photograph them and slip them in where needed.
The drawings were what Harry loved best. They ranged from quick pencil outlines to colourful oil pieces. He'd printed off a few to show to his mum and had even stuck one he'd particularly liked up on the wall of the studio.
'His plant dead yet?' Louis questioned, the right side of lip quirked upwards in an attempt to dampen his grin.
Ah, the plant. The plant was in fact a giant cactus that Niall had insisted on buying Liam for his birthday back in August. The Irish lad had spotted it at a market in Wembley whilst roaming about busking, this monstrous succulent that had been grown by an older, hippy looking lady. He had dragged it all the way back to the tiny flat the trio shared and allowed it to invade their space, it wreaked havoc on Liam who was forced to share his box-sized room with the overgrown present.
"Nah." Harry laughed freely as he shook his head. "Still going strong. Li reckons it'll outlive us all."
Louis shook with laughter and a few of the other patrons, gathered in the cafe behind the boy, gazed over to see what all the fuss was about.
'Probably. Z is already tired of the complaints.'
"I can understand why! I've seen pictures, I wouldn't want that thing living in our house!" Harry exclaimed, eyes bulging at the very thought of it.
Louis tutted at him, teasingly, before an amused looking smirk crept onto his face. 'And I thought it would be the perfect gift...'
Harry snorted. 'For what?'
"Just me being sweet." Louis feigned innocence, smiling slyly into the camera lens before taking a sip of his drink. When he placed the mug back down on the counter to free his hands, Harry saw the toothy grin that had formed. 'Why- can I not do that?'
Harry rolled his eyes at the mere implication. "When are you ever?"
Louis gasped in mock outrage before he turned up his nose haughtily, only allowing the soft glow of light that rippled in through the window to illuminate the left side of his face.
'Just for that comment,' Louis begun, hands hurling through the air before him, 'You can sleep on the sofa tonight.'
Harry, cockily, raised a single brow and the right side of his mouth immediately followed. "You sure about that, angel?"
Louis simply flipped him off in return before sipping again at his mug, aiming to pull off an air of nonchalance. Harry knew better though, could see the sudden flush that coated the boys cheeks and the way his eyes were trying to focus on anything but the screen.
"You still coming to mum's tonight?" Harry questioned, hiking a leg up as he leant back in his chair. He knew better than to tease his boyfriend when said boyfriend was a long car ride away. He'd had to learn that the hard way. Plenty of trial and error.
Harry watched Louis' Adam's apple bob as he swallowed down another mouthful before settling the cup beside his phone. 'Be home by five. Everyone will be there, can not miss it.'
A smile graced Harry's lips, already picturing the onset mayhem that was only imminent whenever the Tomlinson clan regrouped, but before he could reply he found that Louis' focus was elsewhere.
The boy seemed to be nodding at someone out of frame, talking animatedly for a brief moment before he was waving a hand and dragging his attention back to Harry.
'Sorry, H.' Louis chuckled lightly, wearing a genuine smile. 'Just one of my teachers, she said hello and spoke about my work.'
"That was nice of her. Was it the one with the pet parrots?" Harry asked aloud, before rolling his chair over towards the printer to grab the designs he had printed off earlier and completely forgotten about.
The wheels rolled seamlessly over the floor as Harry made his way back. In all honesty, he really needed to get a move on with his own work so that he'd be able to get off earlier than usual and make it to his mum's on time.
'No.' Louis replied with a shake of his head, once Harry had settled back into the frame. 'The one with the green hair.'
Harry's attention was immediately caught, he grinned at Louis mischievously. "Oh, the young TA you fancy?"
Louis narrowed his eyes. 'I do not.'
Harry hummed and kept his lips firmly pressed together to keep from cackling at Louis' sudden sour expression. That didn't seem to stop his shoulders from silently convulsing though and Louis would have to have been blind not to have spotted it.
"Sod off, you giant prat." Louis scoffed, crossing his arms over the tabletop.
Harry couldn't help his laughter then, it bubbled out of him like a boiling pot left alone too long.
The green haired TA was a subject that was often brought up whenever he and Louis spoke of uni. Louis seemed to think that the third year was harbouring a massive crush on him, something Harry was sure his boyfriend was quite proud of. From what it seemed like though, Louis was probably right- the TA was a constant, always checking in on him, telling him stories and tales about the adventurous nights out with her friends, and had even invited him out for coffee a few times since the year had started.
All in all, Harry didn't really mind, it wasn't something he felt particularly threatened by and he trusted his boyfriend. Besides, he questioned anyone who didn't ultimately fall for Louis' cheeky charm.
"Alright, I'll leave you alone then." Harry chuckled as he picked up his phone. "Got a shit ton of work to do anyway."
Louis smiled sadly but dipped his head in acknowledgement. 'Any clients?'
"Nope, unless we have a walk-in, but I've got this one big design I need to finish."
'OK, love and leave you then.' Louis signed, smiling away. 'See you at home.'
"Love you." Harry replied, easily.
The screen froze for a moment before the call ended and Harry grinned at the last image of Louis.
Bright blue eyes that paired well with his even brighter smile.
It was the sudden vibration of thudding feet that had Harry dropping his phone so that he could angle his head towards the door. He beamed upon seeing a dark mop of tousled hair round the corner.
"Alright, Noa!" Harry welcomed the younger boy delightedly, grinning as Noah stepped into his open arms. "When did you get here, mate?"
Noah leant against Harry's body, hand at his shoulder, to peer up at him with his piercing mix of olive green and hazel eyes. Harry smiled softly, keeping an arm wound around the boys torso but dropping the other.
'Just now. Mum and KI here, too.' Noah signed, his long sleeves falling down past his wrists as his hands moved.
"Ah, I see. Where's Miss Layla then? Did she not want to see me?" Harry asked, teasingly, poking the boys side.
Noah breathed out a faint air of laughter before he hurriedly shook his head. 'No, with friend.'
Harry dragged out a hum, "I'll have to have a few words with her. Ask about this friend that she's putting above me, hey?"
The younger boy rolled his eyes as he grinned, the extremity of his smile hiding the freckles that spattered around his mouth.
The two of them were soon interrupted when a rambunctious toddler came storming into the back room, his little feet stomping against the hardwood floors.
Kian paused, a few short steps from the doorway, having spotted his older brother sat with Harry in the spinning chair, the pair watched in amusement as the little boys face brightened with recognition.
"Ree!" Kian squealed, stretching his arms outwards as he darted towards Harry.
Within a breath, the eldest boy now had both of his arms full. The squirming toddler had pounced into his embrace and made himself quite comfortable on his lap.
"Key 'ere, too, 'kay?" The little boy reminded seriously, peering up at Harry and his older brother with big doe eyes.
Harry couldn't stop himself from tugging the toddler closer, pulling him in for a single armed hug.
"'Course, Ki. Could never forget about you, could we, mate?" Harry smacked a kiss to the toddlers chubby cheek and chuckled when Kian's face scrunched up in distaste.
"No forget, 'ere now. Cuddles peas!"
Harry snorted into the toddlers tawny ringlets, but still proceeded to cuddle closer to the boy, dragging Noah into the embrace too to form an uncomfortable sort of group huddle.
Noah's chin rested awkwardly atop his younger brother head, so much so that Harry had to deal with the ends of his hair tickling the tip of his nose. Whilst Kian's knee dug painfully into his lower stomach. For someone so small, he packed quite the punch.
"Alright! Need to breath!" Harry exaggerated, squeezing the two boys once more before parting. He winced slightly at the sharp throb in his abdomen before plastering on a smile.
"Me beathe, too, Ree! See?" Kian questioned whilst simultaneously gulping down large gasps of air.
Harry softly shook his head, trying to keep his grin at bay upon seeing the undeniably cute action, and stroked at the toddler's hair. "You're all good, little man."
"See, Oh-a! I good. Ree say I good."
Noah chuckled faintly at his younger brothers antics before scrunching his nose up at the boy. Kian's brow dipped before he tried to mimic the expression.
Noah shook his head at the toddlers attempt before he leant in closer to scrunch his nose again. Kian pouted and attempted to copy Noah once more, which only resulted in the crossing of his eyes when he tried to peer down at his own nose.
Harry laughed as he hoisted the toddler higher up into the air, letting Kian stand on his thigh.
"Like this, Ki." He said, then proceeded to wrinkle his nose, which accentuated the deep wrinkle between his eyebrows.
Kian tried again. Then again. But couldn't quite seem to grasp it, screwing up his face to the point where his cheeks bulged with air and his eyes narrowed into fine slits.
The toddler all but jumped out of skin when he suddenly sneezed and Harry cringed at the spray he felt dust the tops of his forearms but couldn't help his own chuckles when Kian begun to laugh as though it was the funniest thing to have ever happened.
Noah raised the back of his hand to his forehead and stuck out two of his fingers, the pointer and pinky. 'Wicked.' He signed with a smirk, before holding his palm out towards his younger brother.
Kian practically lit up at the gesture and immediately dove forward to high-five Noah's hand.
"Oi, not cool! Don't praise him! I just got doused with baby bogeys." Harry attempted to scold, but the frown he wore was far too upturned to count as one.
"Sowee." Kian sniffed, still tittering away behind the hand he used to wipe at his button nose.
And how exactly was Harry supposed to feign upset when the kid spoke like that?
"I know you are, mate." He chuckled faintly, ruffling the toddlers hair before poking Noah's side. "Come on, let's go find someone else for you two to snot on! I need to clean up."
Noah pushed himself off of Harry's knee and combed his fingers through his hair. Harry stretched a pleading hand out towards him whilst Kian started to repeatedly shout "Snot!" in his hold.
The boy gifted him a toothy grin before clasping his palm in Harry's own and hauling him to his feet.
"You think your mum's gonna be mad about this?" Harry asked him, as he tilted his head towards the bouncing toddler in his arms, who had yet to relent on screaming about the new-found word.
Noah grinned up at him mischievously before he simply shrugged.
Harry rolled his eyes mockingly. "Useless." He scoffed before he too grinned, messing up the younger boys hair.
Noah's face contorted, wrinkling his nose and narrowing his eyes as he ducked out of Harry's hold to fix his untidy mop.
Harry sighed defeatedly, whilst Noah just laughed, when Kian started back up with the nose scrunches and together they shuffled out of the backroom.
"Please don't sneeze again, Ki."