Work Text:
"I can't believe you've done this to me. You were supposed to be the one who has my back, yet there is no trace of remorse on your gorgeo-stupid face!" Louis crossed his arms in front of his chest and huffed in sheer annoyance with his nose flared. His posture was rigid and tense in contrast to Zayn who slouched back in his chair and rolled his eyes at him. It's almost as if he was becoming more and more theatrical day by day. "How could you tell Liam that I'm not going back to Doncaster for Christmas?" The utter betrayal, the twisting of a sharp knife that had pierced way too deep in his heart. The piece of chocolate passed to him seemed to taste tad bitter for the same reasons in his mouth.
He tried his best to not make a retching sound at the almost acidic taste. The expressions, however, weren't yielded in his favor.
"You were gonna lie to him?" Zayn quirked his eyebrows, knowing the answer very well. He also
knew that despite working as the copywriter for their ad agency, his friend wasn't overly fond of
at least half the things he wrote the script for. Christmas wasn't necessarily a part of it but he hated the compulsory office party held a day before Christmas. According to him, it was worse than the time he had to tell their graphic designer, Harry, that the color scheme didn't feel up to the mark. "Stop stealing my dark chocolate!" Zayn swatted Louis' hand that reached for another piece of away, making the blue-eyed boy look more offended and he further furrowed his eyebrows and scowled.
"Yes Louis, were you gonna lie to me?" Liam mimicked Zayn's actions. "That's an impudent
thing to do, added on to the fact that you couldn't keep it in and told Zayn about this, who always tells me everything." Liam grinned in victory and rested his palm on the table. Louis felt trapped in between the two but not enough to lose the sauce.
"Not at all! just maybe hide out in my home for Christmas, then appear the next day saying I missed the flight," he blurted out. The lack of annoyance on their faces made him disclose even further. "I mean, in all honesty... it's just stupid red decorations, over-enthusiastic coworkers, shit booze and too much cinnamon in cakes." The young copywriter muttered to no one in particular. Had it been a normal setting of an ad agency, he would've been chastised at; maybe even punished for being disrespectful to his boss. But the people sitting beside him were his friends. Friends, who have each other's back during thick and thin and understand the gravity of the situation. He was sure Liam would let him butt out this ti-
"You're not butting out of this one," Liam announced in a stern voice and Zayn nodded in agreement. He reached over and took a bite from the chocolate Zayn was munching on, receiving no kind of resistance which made Louis question Zayn’s allegiance once again. "However, I'm assigning you the responsibility to add spice to the party. Make sure that the Christmas party isn't just stupid red decorations this time around." He repeated Louis' words without any sense of resentment for them. Louis couldn't believe what he'd gotten himself into. Maybe he should learn to keep his inner thoughts private. "C'mon stop sulking, Louis. You are our scriptwriter, who's gonna add the charm if not you?"
"But-"
"No butts, just jingle bells and an adequate amount of cinnamon in the cake." Zayn chimed in, wiping the dark chocolate from his lips and smirking. He planted his feet on the table, which well- didn’t earn him a mild rebuke, like it usually does to Louis.
In Liam’s defense, Louis probably knocked down his coloured glass piece of lotus that had shattered into pieces; so that explains why his feet aren’t allowed anywhere near the table.
“Louis’ gonna save the christmas,” Liam tried to whisper in Zayn’s ear, but was loud enough for him to catch on what he was saying. Zayn gave a toothy grin before ruffling his hair.
Christmas sucks, first taking away the attention from his birthday and now this!
"I think that's all we have for today. You may leave now." Louis got up from his seat and flashed him the bird. If being friends with him doesn't get him a benefit of holiday, he at least gets to show him the finger; he concludes inside his head. That in fact, does sound arguably justified. "Dunno why I let you treat your boss like that!" Liam chuckles but doesn't reprimand him for that.
Louis gets out of the chair, snatches the packet of chocolate right from Zayn's hand and is rewarded with a loud growl. A growl that wasn’t quite enough to deter him from running away with it."You love me," he states as a simple fact before rushing out. It was true, they adored him.
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Brainstorming has always been a crucial part of writing, he wasn’t overly fond of it but it was there, and unavoidable. In all honesty, Louis has a love-hate relationship with it. The thinking part comes almost effortlessly, putting it on paper was a mindfuck.
Unlucky for him, as a content writer for the advertisements, he had to not only endure but enjoy this tedious task and yield a delectable outcome.
Advertisements don't do well if they lack the inciting factor.
He had it all planned, got over with the crafting of scripts for the pretentious company's pretentious products and then spend a week politely pointing out to them that their follow-up questions and remarks were- whatever. After making out of this hellhole, he was gonna spend the holiday alone. Not by choice but by circumstances. He refuses to think about the dejected look on his mother's face when he told her that (yet again), he won't be coming to see them this christmas. Refuses to think about how quick she was to morph the crestfallen expression into a tight-lipped smile to make him feel less guilty for letting her down again.
" My lovely son," her efforts of suppressing the sadness in her tone were remarkable. She almost had him convinced. "Just promise me that you'll celebrate this festival with people who love you as much as you love them" He had promised her that, for the sake of her satisfaction.
He was so much better at feigning the act of being fine.
Louis slammed the folder labeled 'ROUGH DRAFT' on his desk. It was this harmless, compulsive habit he had developed. After being done with a project he detested, he'd have this urge to tear its rough drafts into shreds. Instead, he settled with using them for creating mini-models of various articles. The paper mache covers cardboard that provides a rigid base to the model. Niall claims that it looked like a failed art project by a child who lost all his motivation halfway through it, he agrees. It's therapeutic and so not passive-aggressive. His most honorary work has to be the mini heart-shaped pen-holder he made with Harry. It was the only time that he had worked on something during his lunch. The graphic designer had bossed Louis around during the entire duration of the creation of the masterpiece (he’d let him call it that).
"That is so not the right shade of blue."
"Oh god, you're ruining my design!"
"What do you mean, I don't need to get so hyper about a mere penstand huh- Damn it Louis, that's still not the right shade of blue!"
Niall still teases Liam about not being able to make Louis follow his orders like Harry did.
Louis smiled at the baby blue penholder placed on his desk. Now, Harry might disagree, he might even chide someone for calling it baby blue. He says there's a specific name for this shade of blue; claims that it's the same as that of Louis' eyes.
As far as Louis is concerned, blue is blue.
A cold palm came in contact with his shoulder, startling him. Oh, how people love to walk in on him overanalyzing instead of working.
"Go away, I'm busy!" he hurled at the intruder without even sparing a glance their way. He hoped that he wouldn't get asked about the veracity of this statement. Knowing very well that him fonding over a pen stand wasn't an ideal definition of being busy.
"Brainstorming for your new fanfiction for the fandom you refuse to tell me about?" Louis' tensed shoulders immediately relaxed at the soothing voice. Harry "Bloody gatekeeper!" his torso was soon enveloped within two strong arms. Harry feigned reading over his shoulder to further annoy him, as if the folder stored anything except scratched and highlighted illegible texts.
“I'm not. Also not in the mood to feel guilty about gatekeeping. And it's not even gatekeeping, I asked you if you'd sit and read the whole series in a go. There's no point in telling you if you won't."
"Whoa, whoa Mr. writer, I offered you to read it to me, don't you dare act like I'm not taking interest in your likings." Harry was quick to revert, his arms still secured around Louis. A major sign that he hadn't pissed off.
"I'm not gonna read eight long-ass novels to you!" They weren't bedtime stories. Louis wanted to further mutter something vaguely salty but Harry's finger which brushed on his jaw, made his salty speech reserve waver a little.
"Fine, keep on gatekeeping your little fandom!" Harry unwrapped his arms and perched himself on Louis' desk. His jumper was blue, maybe the same as the penholder placed on the desk. He placed his hands in his lap, Louis’ eyes traveled to his fingernails painted yellow with little red hearts on them.
"The snobby representative looked rather satisfied with your work" Harry casually remarks, shifting forward. The sunlight from the window amplified on his face in an almost paradisiacal glow. His smile widened as their eyes met and cupped his own cheeks to showoff the nail paint.
Louis shook off the shiver he felt from it.
He didn’t think about this weird feeling of alternative twists and tugs in his stomach as Harry kissed his cheek before waving him goodbye and exiting. It was a normal routine really, they were one of those coworkers who had often been mistaken for spouses due to their proximity. None of them minded that.
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“You do have a loud mouth! It keeps on getting you in trouble” Harry pointed out in a non-accusatory tone with a meek smile.
“Look at you cheeky bugger, I let you slurp my milkshake and for what? For you to mock me like that” Louis tenderly grazed Harry’s fingers wrapped around it.
“Now, let's get you out of your misery. Have you decided on any specific highlights for the party?” He handed the half-filled cup to Louis who hollowed his cheeks around the same straw without giving it a thought. He looked up to see Harry staring at him with wide eyes.
Louis should’ve known better, he really should’ve.
But he didn’t. The next moment, he was tilting his head at an angle and peering at his coworker who looked a little taken aback by his stunt. Harry stared back at him with his fingers fidgeting on the table.
“You didn’t answer my question,” he commented, pulling Louis out of his trans, inevitably making him suck in a long drawn breath.
“Nothing as of now, you’ve got any ideas?” He was quick to recover from the momental state of being flustered and composed himself.
“Whoa, I’m just the graphic designer,” the man held up his arms in mock-defense and gritted his teeth. “You’re the dude who drafts the script and stuff. So technically this lies more in your area of expertise than mine.”
“You’re so helpful,” Louis dramatically huffed with a tightened jaw.
“Oh do get like that, Louis! I’ll help you. ” he locked his hand with Louis to reassure him.
“I’m guessing, you don’t want it to be a ‘recycling of dull concept’ do you ? ” He recited the words, with a poor mimicry of Louis groaning when conceptualizing in agony- when he’s struggling to come up with something that not only catches one’s eye but also feels artfully familiar and is received well.
It was a rhetorical question, he had been closely observing how agitated the blue eyed man could get during the thinking procedure and never failed to mock him for that. As someone who always sits with Louis and endures his crankiness; Harry deserves to mock him- Louis allows him to. “But you’d hate for it to look ostentatious and snobby.”
“I was thinking of something like a competition or some shit but ehh-” he scratched his neck nervously, as if contemplating on finishing the sentence or letting it be. “Frankly, I can’t picture anyone being too inclined towards them.”
“I’m down,” Harry muttered in a hushed tone, like it wasn’t even meant to be spoken out loud. “I mean I’d be down for any idea you propose. I bet the thing you have in mind is amazing.”
“Thanks for saying that.” he smiled. “I’ll think of something.”
“You’ve been thinking too much Louis. Maybe this time, just let out the first thing that comes to your mind.” he felt an encouraging pat on his back. “Say something quirky.”
“A frog with a feathery boa around its neck- wait what?” he blurts out, getting thrown off by the randomness of his own mind.
“Let’s try the second thing,” Louis needs to appreciate Harry’s efforts of maintaining a sincere facade- as if he hadn’t just made a complete fool of himself with his words. Louis might not even know how to handle the embarrassment from Harry laughing in his face.
To hell with spontaneous answers.
“A cringe sweater competition,” he ended up breathing out and was fairly content with it.
“Louis, that is a really great idea. This is gonna be such a good addition to the special craft stall. The one who takes the cake for the cringiest sweater gets their painting done in it,” he elaborated.
“And a ‘get out of mandatory party’ card like they have for prison in monopoly,” Louis suggested in a hushed tone. To his amusement, Harry’s snorty laugh echoed through the whole room, making a few coworkers turn their heads around at the source of laughter. Niall, the web analytic specialist of their agency, raised an eyebrow at them.
Harry and Louis ended up going together to place the idea in front of them. Zayn seemed a little apprehensive at first. Liam looked nothing short of impressed, even asked them to make this a Christmas office party tradition.
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The next week came and went by in a jiffy. The cringe sweater idea was received well by everyone. Even the ones who were always eager to provide their (not so constructive) criticism, showed minimum resistance. To his utter surprise, he witnessed the thrilled faces of grown up, mature adults who were allowed to be a child again. Throughout the week, he heard everyone bragging (and even bickering back and forth) about the upcoming festival and the winner of competition. He had even gotten to witness (some of) his lethargic co-workers meticulously planning and elaborating their design.
He himself had gone on quite an escapade for winning this competition. Refusing everyone's blaring question, he resolved to be secretive and leave them guessing. Even Harry didn't knew what he had decided on. Maybe this is what made the latter not reveal his to Louis.
To spice things up, Liam and Zayn had ceremonially announced the colors each of them was supposed to wear at the much-awaited evening. It was settled with most people. Except Niall. Niall had thrown a fit about getting silver.
"Nothing looks cringe in silver. It's like you could dip one of Louis' failed artworks and they'd end up looking elegant." he whined in a screechy tone, dramatically throwing his hands in the air.
"Fuck you too Nialler," Louis barked, clearly not liking the fact that his masterpieces were being used to prove a point.
His birthday was here and he'd already gotten on a call with her mum and assured her that he'd be celebrating the evening instead of getting high on his couche while watching football. A promise that he was much less likely to keep.
The party was going to be held in two hours. He would dissuade anyone claiming that he was in fact a tiny bit excited for this party. Sure he wasn't planning on sneaking out for a smoke and never returning. but that doesn't meant that he was looking forward to it.
As of now, he was busy stuffing his face with a blueberry muffin. Harry had showed up at his house in the morning, claiming that his mother had reached out and ordered him not let his son feed himself with the byproduct of his (non-existent) cooking skills. Louis’ initial reaction was to call him out, politely decline the offer but when Harry explicitly told him that he won't leave until he had tested and rated all of the cupcakes he made.
It was his love for cupcakes, mostly that made him cave in.
"Is that the cringe sweater you're gonna wear?" Louis spoke with his mouth full. Immediately regretting it as soon as Harry's eyebrows furrowed in annoyance. He looked offended more than irritated. As if Louis had just kicked his dog and was sure to get whacked for it.
"I've worn this to work thrice this month," he mumbled with his eyes cast on the basket of cupcakes, avoiding all sorts of eye contact. His cheeks were flushed with embarrassment and his tense posture gave the idea that only running into the woods would get him to be less distraught.
"So that's not the one you'll be wearing. Good. 'Cause this one my dear," Louis let his fingers run across his shoulder blade, “isn't gonna assure your win, Harry.” Convincing enough
"What are you wearing anyway?"
"Birthday boy, you ain't getting away with insulting me like that," his voice was laced with such sweetness that Louis failed to see his lingering arms; in a wink of an eye he was tackled onto the maroon carpet and being tickled with his long fingers.
"Ha-harry stop," he said in between breathy laughs trying to shield himself. Failing to do so, he just laid flat, squirming on the carpet with his legs squished between the green-eyed man's thighs as he kept mercilessly tickling his tummy.
By the time Harry left, he was left with only 45 minutes to get ready and reach the agency. Good thing he had everything prepared.Thanks to the reindeer hairband Harry convinced him to wear, he had totally gotten into the spirit of the thing.
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Louis zipped up his coat after a last peak at his blue sweater. He won’t make a fool of himself driving to work with a brick-red chimney stitched on the itchy fabric. God forbid, if a parent might ask their child to look out of the window to see the absurdly dressed clown for the festival. No, the reindeer hairband was enough.
He picked up Niall and Amelia on his way, the Irishman was adorned with a silver sweater with a metallic-paper like appearance with coins drawn all over it with a slightly lighter shade. Smiling as dearly as ever, he engulfed Louis in an embrace and hummed a sweet, "Happy birthday Tommo," in his ears.
"Love the jacket Louis" he cheered. “Show me what’s underneath,” he giggled at how flirtatious it sounded. Amelia nudged him with an ‘excuse me’ look etched on her face. Her sweater was more or less like Niall’s except the color. Hers was a golden one with yellow-ish coins.
"Patience is the key, Nialler" he wiggled his eyebrow.
And just like that, the ride to the office wasn’t quite anymore. It was filled with the three of them talking over each other and occasionally threatening to throw Louis out of the car for saying that he doesn’t think that they both would win.
The moment they entered the agency, the first thing that Louis noticed was that it was decorated flawlessly. The songs on the curated playlist blaring through loudspeakers. And by curated playlist, he means ‘All I want for christmas is you’ playing on loop. Alright, no comments. Liam and Zayn weren’t playing when they said that they might as well break their budget a little while allowing employees to bring extra guests. Liam had put on a grinch sweater with an arguably absurd collar. Zayn somehow managed to combine his clothes with something that would look good even on halloween. A half dinosaur in front and its hinds at the back of the sweater. The hand stitched sweater design on the sweater was- something.
Most of them were with their spouses, some brought their children. The children were all huddled up at a craft stall organized to keep them occupied while their parents had a good time. By the end of the evening, their painting would be preserved in Zayn’s shelf. This year, the agency (after much convincing from Bryan) had even renounced the ‘no pets’ policy.
He looked more than thrilled to introduce his Bichon Frisé to the whole staff. “Meet Lolla,” he smiled fondly. The white and buff pet eagerly wagged her tail, her way of greeting everyone. Bryan fuzzed over the dog as she nuzzled her nose in the sweater of his and clinged to it. Louis had to give it to him, he had managed to get a maroon sweater with a dog on it which vaguely resembled his pet. He wasn’t sure if Bryan quite understood the idea of ‘cringe sweater’ because what he wore was far from cringe- it was all shades of cute and cuddly and Louis needed to play with the little dog with a boop-able nose.
He carefully asked Bryan to let him hold Lolla. Once getting the permission, he held her like a baby. She didn’t let anyone take her away from Bryan, so he had to follow Bryan, maintain a close distance so that she doesn’t start squirming in his hold. Lolla lolled her tongue and made low noises each time he wasn’t standing in her vision range. He was standing in a corner with his back against the wall while Bryan munched on some cinnamon cake, claiming that it didn’t have too much cinnamon this time around.
“You gonna take off this big coat or what?” A rasp-filled voice was directed at him. He made a show of turning around and pushing the zip down in a swift motion.It felt like giving a strip-tease, at least that’s what his conscience deemed as he lightly chuckled and shook his head. A round of hooting ensued. He sighed knowing that the children were occupied in the craft stall- away from seeing Louis make indecent jokes.
Harry swiftly sauntered towards him. Louis adjusted his fringe which was settled awkwardly with the headband.
On doing so, he was met with green eyes which looked a little intrigued at his actions. He was taken aback by seeing that his coworker had the same tinsel garland peeking out of his own unzipped jacket.
“Oh-” he gasped. “We’re- matching. Well I mean we’re legit wearing the same one.” Giving another once-over look at Harry’s chimney sweater, which had two pairs of stockings attached to the tinsel garland on both sleeves, near the elbow.
He heard a breathy chuckle. “All this week of hiding this and you show up wearing the same one as me,” he was smiling ear to ear. “You look cute.” Louis pouted at the compliment, not sure if it was for him or the puppy which got mushed between their bodies as soon as Harry hugged him.
“Look! They’re standing under the mistletoe,” Bryan pointed out, sneakily stealing back his puppy from Louis’ hold.
“You want to-” “ Yes ”
His lips tasted sweeter than anything he’d ever consumed in his life. They were mindful of not using tongue in front of spectators but the way Harry cupped his cheeks and allowed Louis to card his finger through his curls was remarkable. He felt satiated with it.
The luncheon was much more pleasant than he would like to admit. Right now, Liam was trying to compose a drunk Zayn who was dancing on the table while singing along to a song he’d put on. A spirit of camaraderie surged throughout the premises. Alongside Harry, he made sure each coworker and their family members had eaten at least two cupcakes brought here by him. He saw how Harry gushed each time someone complimented him or asked for the recipe.
Towards the end of the evening he found himself on a bean bag with Harry curled on his lap like a cat. No one knew why
They won the competition, fair and square. All the coworkers voted for them as a couple. And why wouldn’t they? After all they both were dressed at chimneys and no one could possibly beat that. Niall thrusted forward the ‘get out of party for free’ card in Louis’ hands as if presenting a prize check. Instantly, his mind was clouded with thousands of situations he’d like to execute his right to exit gracefully without coming up with an excuse. Harry listened to his rantings with a fond smile.
A very fond smile, just like the one that had graced both of their faces in the painting of theirs which would later be hanging in their living room in a few years. The artist had done a marvelous job capturing the way they both glanced at each other. Lolla had made her way into their laps and none of them had the heart to exclude her from the painting.
The craft stall had much more to offer than just a place to keep children occupied. The local artist group had set up unique and hand-crafted gifts which were to be cherished by the recipients. Before leaving, he buyed a chimney-shaped keychain for both of them.
“ Saps !” Niall teased them.
They kissed again that night, and days to come. Each kiss tasted more sweeter than cinnamon could ever. This time, with a lot more tongue and teeth- savoring the taste of the other on their mouth. Harry hummed and cursed as he trailed his wet mouth along his broad torso, slowly inching towards his waistband.
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“Darling just fifteen minutes more,” he groaned, lightly pushing Harry to lie down on his back- and stop hovering over him.
“Louis, you need to get up, baby . We’re halfway into the last book in the series. I need to know what happens next.” Harry punctuated each sentence with a kiss on Louis’ face, at the corner of his mouth. It took everything in him not to grab his face and connect their lips.
“Read it yourself,” he replied, resisting the urge to purr at the smooching.
“I like it better when you read and express your opinion. I love it when you put the book down and have long discussions about characters with me. Especially the time when you say wise things like ‘neither should he trust the killer of his father nor should she trust a man whose father she killed.’ Reminds me how little one might perceive even after having witnessed several plot twists so far. .Which many-a-times also leads to spoilers,” he grazed his teeth at the neck, alternating between biting and sucking harshly.
“Yeah, if you keep doing that, reading is the last thing I’m doing to you,” he hissed with his eyes closed.
“Is that so Louis?” He didn't pause his actions, now fully teasing Louis with his teeth till he gulped and shook from want. Harry was fully straddling him, his hands were grasped above his head.
“A shame we’re pet-sitting Lolla today!”