Chapter Text
“Tell me where we’re going” Harry pouts.
“Haz, Baby, you know that pout isn’t going to work” Louis smiles fondly before pressing up onto his tiptoes and bringing their lips together.
“Does sometimes” Harry giggles sheepishly.
“I’ll give you a hint. We’re going to need our passports.”
“Oh god, Louuiss!” Harry’s eyes go wide in realisation, he feels stupid for not guessing it earlier. It will be their first Valentine’s Day spent together. They’d talked about it so long ago. Paris, he’s taking me to Paris. Harry wraps his arms around Louis and pulls him into a tight hug. “Fuck, I love you so fucking much.”
“Would have taken you last year but well, you were a bit far away” Louis giggles into Harry’s neck.
“We’re really going to see the Eiffel Tower?” Harry’s dimples are so deep Louis can’t help but poke them.
“Suppose your pout worked after all, hmm?” Louis concedes. “Yes Baby, we’re even going to climb it.”
“Oooh, can we make one of those photos where it looks like I’m holding it, like it’s really small in the palm of my hand?” Harry is giddy with excitement.
Louis rolls his eyes because he’s definitely not one to take such cliche tourist photos but his fond smirk gives him away, he’s totally and utterly enamoured by his boy and could never say no to him.
“Sure Baby, sure.”
…
“Louis, that restaurant was too expensive!” Harry gasps as they walk towards the bridge that leads back to their hotel.
“You’re worth it Baby” Louis smiles as he brings their linked hands to his mouth, kissing over the peace ring that Harry hasn’t removed since Louis gave it to him seven months ago.
They walk over the bridge in silence, Louis releases Harry’s hand so he can snake his arm under Harry’s coat and around his waist, feeling the soft fluffy fabric of the lavender jumper Louis gave Harry for his 20th birthday just two weeks ago. He squeezes his grip tighter as he brings them to a stop on the centre of the bridge. Harry looks at him puzzled.
“I umm, I bought you something, well us” Louis says a little apprehensively.
Harry’s eyebrows raise up “Louis, the flights, the hotel, the restaurant, it’s too much.” Harry feels completely and utterly spoiled by his boyfriend.
“This didn’t cost much” Louis says as he pulls a box from his pocket and hands it to Harry. “Happy Valentine’s Day Haz.”
Harry smiles fondly, thumbing over the box before slowly opening it.
His dimples pop as he looks from the contents of the box to the bridge around him. “Louis” Harry breathes out. Fuck he’s the sweetest. My sweet creature. Harry’s eyes swell with tears as he lifts the padlock from the box and reads the inscription.
Partners in crime for life
(I lock you)
L H 2012
For life. Thump. Thump. Thump. “But Lou, it’s 2014?”
“Yeh but I’ve loved you since 2012, duh.”
“That’s not truuee” Harry drawls. They’d only seen each other in the flesh twice in 2012. December 18 when they met and then the secret rendezvous in Holmes Chapel. Their week long love nest didn’t happen until January 2013.
“I didn’t admit it to meself at the time but I felt it from New Years Eve Baby. I missed you so fookin’ much and you’d just told me you were going to come back, that we were going to spend a whole week together, normally that would freak me the fook out, a whole week with someone I’d only spent two nights with, that should have felt scary but it didn’t, not at all” Louis is enamored at his own memories. Harry cups Louis’ jaw in his large palms and pulls him into a passionate kiss.
Louis melts into it for a few seconds before pulling back. “Baby, save it for the hotel, yeh?” Louis chuckles.
“It’s Paris Lou, think I can French kiss you in Paris.”
“C’mon ya dork let’s find a spot hmm?” Louis pinches his love handle.
“Heeeeey!” Harry drawls but soon concedes and moves to find the perfect spot for their love lock.
Once secured they take a selfie in front of it, their thumb and forefingers joining together to form a heart shape.
Harry sweeps his gaze over the hundreds of locks surrounding theirs. So much love all in one place.
“I love it Lou.”
“Yeh?”
“Yeh. I kinda wish we could keep it but I also love that we get to leave a little piece of us here.”
Louis laughs “well, I had an idea about how we could keep a bit of it with us too.”
Harry looks at him curiously.
“Tattoos. Obviously. Thought you could get the padlock and I’ll get the key.”
Harry beams. “How are you real?”
Louis’ head falls back in a cackle of glee before his blue eyes meet Harry’s green and he breathes out the deja vu that just washed over him “I’m a real boy.”
Harry smiles and boops Louis’ nose “yeh and you’re all mine.”
Harry wraps his arm around Louis’ shoulder, while Louis snakes his arm back under Harry’s jacket and grips firmly onto his waist. It’s never the easiest way to walk together but one year and two months since they locked eyes at the London bar the magnetism between them hasn’t faded, their need for touch is as palpable as ever, so they walk linked together because it just feels right.
…
“Baby fook!” Louis bolts himself upright on the bed as Harry emerges from the ensuite bathroom wearing a pastel blue silk negligee.
“Do you think it should be our valentine’s tradition, me wearing something like this?” Harry whispers as he saunters closer to the bed.
Louis’ lip is caught between his teeth. “Are… are there matching panties?” Louis asks hopefully.
“Mhmm.”
Louis bounces on the bed before reaching out with grabby hands “let me see!”
Harry laughs at his over eagerness.
Harry smooths his hands over the soft fabric, tortuously slowly as he takes another step closer to the bed.
“Haz, Baby, you’re killing me” Louis groans in frustration.
Harry laughs “Lou, I’m trying to be sexy here.”
“You are sexy! Too sexy! Now get on the bed” Louis demands playfully.
Harry huffs but complies.
“Baby, what do you need?”
“You Lou, always you.”
“My babygirl” Louis pulls him in closer so he can get his lips on that sweet spot on Harry’s neck just below his sharp jawbone.
Harry preens. Louis has a flashback to the first time he called him babygirl back in Australia. He was nervous then but now he knows exactly when Harry needs to hear it, exactly when the she inside of him feels stronger than the he.
Louis grips him around his hips, the silky fabric bunching between his fingers, he pulls him closer. Harry wraps his legs around him, sitting his bum in Louis’ lap as he brings his hands to his neck so he can seal their lips together. Butterflies flutter in his stomach, his heart beats faster, his cock throbs in his panties, nothing has changed since the very first time they kissed, Louis still makes his body feel like it’s on fire with want. Harry deepens the kiss, he can’t get enough of the taste of Louis on his tongue.
“Need you Daddy” Harry pants into Louis’ mouth as he grinds his hips down.
“Mmmm, need you Baby, always need you” Louis grips Harry under his arms and flips him onto the bed. Harry moans, feeling the anticipation rise. Louis whips his boxers off in one swift movement. On his knees he pauses for a moment and takes in the sight of Harry in his silky blue negligee “so beautiful” he rasps. Harry’s eyes graze over Louis’ naked body, as he slowly knee walks closer. Harry licks his lips as he takes in the sight of Louis’ hard cock bobbing with arousal. Louis brings his body down on top of Harry. Harry doesn’t hesitate to wrap his legs around his lower back, pulling him down, closer, craving the warmth of his body against his own. Louis grinds his leaking cock against Harry’s smooth fabric covered cock eliciting the sweetest moan from Harry. Louis captures the sound in his mouth as he brings their lips and tongues together.
There’s nothing new or surprising in their movements. They know each other almost better than they know themselves. Their bodies move in a seamless rhythm of familiarity and comfort. Home. They are home to each other in every sense of the word.
Once Louis has opened Harry up in the slow and intimate way Harry craves in this moment Louis wipes his fingers on the sheet, slowly pulls his panties off then lines his cock up. With their eyes locked together he pushes inside and makes them one once again. Harry will never get used to the overwhelming feeling of having Louis inside of him. He needs more, needs him closer. He reaches up and wraps his palms around Louis’ face pulling him down so their chests join together, the warmth of Louis’ skin enveloping him through the soft fabric of his negligee. Their lips, like magnets, come together. Louis rolls his hips long and slow so that his cock buries deep inside. Harry wraps his legs around him once again, his heels crossing over each other pressing into his plump peach, holding him close.
“I love you” Harry whispers into Louis’ ear as Louis sucks a bruise into Harry’s neck. Louis peels his mouth away, raising his head enough to get lost in Harry’s emerald green eyes. “I love you” he takes a breath “so much.” Harry hears the words but more than that he sees it, sees the love in Louis’ gorgeous blue eyes.
Their lips come together again, soft, slow and sensual for minutes before the heat takes over. Louis’ tongue wraps around Harry’s, the dance increasing in tempo, in time with his hips. He knows if he keeps this up it will be over too soon. He slows, pecks Harry’s lips and whispers “flip over Baby” as he lets his cock fall out of Harry’s body. Harry whimpers at the loss but quickly obliges Louis.
Louis smooths his hands over Harry’s milky white bum and up his muscular back before dragging them back to his pert little arse, he spreads his cheeks and sinks his cock back inside. Harry fists at the sheets with a moan before Louis lays his body over Harry, his chest feeling the soft fabric of his negligee still on Harry’s back. Louis brings his hand over the top of Harry’s, entwining their fingers together as he rolls his hips, his cock sliding slow and deep, in and out.
Louis squeezes his arm in under Harry’s chest and pulls them both up to their knees. He fucks up into Harry as Harry allows his head to fall back to Louis’ shoulder, ecstasy written all over his face. Louis’ hands explore Harry’s negligee covered body, first over the silky fabric before snaking under, craving the feel of his skin. Louis kisses at his neck as he rolls his nipple between his fingers. Harry groans.
It all feels so incredible but it’s not enough. He can’t get deep enough so he lets his cock fall from Harry once more and this time manhandles him back onto his back.
Harry looks dissheveled and fucked, his hair is ruffled, his lips are pink and puffy, his cheeks are flushed and the green of his eyes is barely noticeable, his pupils are so large. He’s beautiful. He moans as Louis sinks back inside. This time he stays up on his knees changing the angle enough to be able to slam his hips forward, connecting the tip of his cock with the bundle of nerves that make Harry scream in pleasure. He pistons his hips hard and fast watching with lust filled eyes as Harry’s long hard cock slaps against his belly, his negligee pushed up to his nipples. He grabs onto Harry’s hip to ground himself with one hand as the other reaches out and wraps around his dick. He tugs it, watching his pink tip pop through his foreskin a few times before his eyes trail up his tattoo covered body. His eyes linger on the fluttering butterfly for a breath before his gaze finds the two swallows peeking out from under the fine spaghetti straps on the negligee. Us. Harry and Louis. Mates for life. It’s what Louis wants so badly. Harry. Just Harry. No one else but Harry. His home. His everything. The thoughts make him smile as his eyes meet Harry’s once more, his hips never faultering in their relentless rhythm.
Harry smiles back, his dimples popping. He always smiles when the crinkles by Louis’ eyes deepen. How can he not at the sight of his beautiful, happy Louis.
“You’re my everything Baby. ‘M so fookin’ lucky I get to call you mine.”
“Me too, Lou.”
“Fook. You make me so happy.”
“Mmmm” Harry can’t form anymore words. Louis’ hand around him, Louis’ cock inside of him, Louis’ gaze, Louis’ words, it’s all too much. “Daddy…” Harry gasps.
“It’s okay Baby. Let go.” Louis says in awe, anticipating watching Harry fall apart below him.
“Looooouuuuis” Harry screams as his orgasm shoots over his butterfly.
“Fookin’ hell” Louis gasps as Harry’s muscles tense around him making it hard to fuck him through the waves of his orgasm, Louis getting closer and closer to the edge.
Louis’ tendon in his neck sticks out boldly, his stomach tenses, his fist grips the sheet as his other hand falls from Harry’s cock and grips his hip instead. Louis’ body convulses as he cums hard and deep inside of Harry.
Harry smoothes his large palms up Louis’ perfect meaty thighs, watching in awe as he rides through the last waves of his orgasm. Watching him like this is one of Harry’s favourite things to do, admiring him and his vibrant golden glow before he collapses on top of him nuzzling his face into his neck with a satisfied groan.
…
Louis wakes first, the sky still black outside. He lolls his head to the side, the bedside lamp still on, washing Harry’s milky skin in a golden light. Louis watches as his chest rises and falls with each soft breath. He’s sprawled out on his back taking up more than his share of the bed. Louis suddenly feels overwhelmed with a flood of memories. The first time he watched him sleep like this. He looks different now, his hair is longer, so is Louis’ to be fair but that’s only because Harry was worried what people would think if he grew his hair out. Louis reminded him he should be whoever he wants to be but he still looked nervous, that was until Louis offered to grow his hair out too. It’s not his favourite hairstyle but if it gives Harry the confidence to grow his own he’ll do it a million times over.
Louis gently fingers Harry’s cross necklace, preening at how Harry so proudly wears his initials around his neck. His fingers then navigate over Harry’s swallows with a feather light touch. He’s got more tattoos now too, Louis muses, his muscles are more defined, he’s taller, that’s something Louis doesn’t like to think too much about. Louis remembers what it was like when they first met, when they first spooned, the way their bodies slotted together. He remembers noticing the difference when he first got to Australia and they spooned for the first time in five long hard months. God, living half a world apart was shit. Not that living together has been all roses. They’ve fought. That’s when Harry doesn’t completely shut down and refuse to talk. There’s been a few bad ones where Harry’s ended up screaming that he should never have moved to England or thrown out the harsh empty threat that sounds too real “that’s it! I’m moving back to Australia.” It’s always in the heat of the moment but the words sting because they are Louis’ greatest fear.
The worst fight was the one time Louis took Zayn up on his offer and he escaped to Ziam’s flat leaving Harry to brood alone. It was Liam that pulled them out of that one. Louis ever the one to bottle up his problems and Zayn never the one to pry meant that Louis would have ended up indefinitely on their couch. Liam wasn’t having that. Not just for Ziam’s sake but for Larry’s as well. They were too good together and Liam couldn’t sit back and watch them hate on each other. He poked and prodded until Louis finally opened up. Liam in his calm and soothing way helped Louis see he was over reacting. He reminded Louis about all of the good. How far they’d come, all the shit they’d been through. They were end game Liam said. You can’t give up on end game. Louis reluctantly went home to Harry, finding him no longer angry but instead curled up in their bed snuffling tears into Louis’ hoodie. His big wet doe eyes had looked up at him so sad and Louis knew then that he had to stop running away.
Louis shakes those memories off because they are just blips on the map that is their beautiful romance. For the most part they’re stupidly happy together. They’re partners, soulmates.
The happy memories take back over. Louis thinks about the life they’ve built together, the home they’ve built together. When Harry moved in they both made an effort to make sure it was not just Louis’ place anymore, he didn’t want Harry to feel like a visitor. Now, seven months on, their flat is draped in Harry’s touch, it’s filled with books and pot plants, soft rugs and warm lamps, it feels more like a home than it ever did before Harry moved in. Louis loves it. His favourite thing is their very first purchase together, an antique four poster bed, they’ve had a lot of fun with that. They’ve had a lot of fun all over their apartment, grateful to call it all there’s and not worry about defacing Zayn’s kitchen anymore.
It took a while to get used to Zayn no longer living in the second bedroom. Louis was quick to ensure a regular Friday night pizza and FIFA gathering which made it feel like old times for all OT5. When Zayn pulled out the weed one night not long after Larry’s return to England, Louis and Harry shared a knowing look. Louis, ever the protector chose not to join in that night, anxious to ensure he could look out for Harry since it was his first time.
Harry stoned is a memory Louis won’t soon forget. Nor the rest of the boys, Louis muses, given that it didn’t take long for Harry to strip declaring it his God given right to be nude as he planted his bare arse cheeks on the couch with a triphant grin. Harry nude is such a regular occurance now none of the boys bat an eyelid, simply carrying on as if there’s not a giant cock on display.
Louis ignores the twitch from his own cock at the thought of Harry’s, instead focusing his mind on tracing an imaginary padlock on Harry’s skin. Leaving the lock on the bridge isn’t the first time they’ve left their mark somewhere. Louis’ mind flashes back to their first visit to Holmes Chapel and Harry excitedly showing him the viaduct. Harry had quickly found the Narry engraving but it was Louis who spotted the H and L within a haphazard heart. He ran his finger over it and looked up at Harry with glassy eyes. Harry gave a small nod confirming it was for them. Louis scratched ‘Larry forever’ into the viaduct bricks that day.
His mind fast forwards to last night, specifically Harry’s reaction to him engraving 2012 on the lock, the sudden realisation that they’ve both been gone for each other from the very beginning makes him smile.
It’s wild to think about it now. How it all started. Becoming boyfriends the night before living half a world apart was crazy but Louis couldn’t be happier that he took a chance that day.
It was hard but all the Skype calls are a thing of the past, well between Larry at least. Over the last six months it’s been regular video calls with Harry’s family.
Louis’ memories settle on Christmas just gone. His mind flashing back to their Donny visit. They were all in matching Christmas themed pajamas. Harry had gotten tears in his eyes when he was asked to join the family photo. Getting all of the Tommo clan to smile at once is always a tough task and this Christmas was no exception. While the outakes with one or more of his siblings in fits of giggles are Louis’ favourites, Jay was happy when they managed to get the perfect smiley snap just in time before Harry’s phone rang and a tiny version of Anne, Robin and Gemma appeared on his screen. All the Tommo siblings scurried behind the couch to squeeze into the shot. The first time their families met.
Louis smiles as he remembers the sheer happiness and excitement from all of them as Anne announced that all three will come visit next Christmas. Jay immediately suggested a big Donny Christmas with both families together, inviting Brian and Harry’s extended family as well. Harry’s dimples were like actual craters. All of them together, finally, Louis can’t wait.
There’s a lot to look forward to before then though, Louis ponders over their plans as he softly circles his thumb over Harry’s fluttering butterfly.
When Harry heard Arctic Monkeys were headlining Leeds music festival he knew exactly what he was buying Louis for his birthday. Louis smiles at the memory of Harry turning the speaker on and blasting their newest song “Wanna Be Yours” the second Louis opened the envelope and pulled out two tickets. They danced around Jay’s living room as Louis’ sisters giggled around their feet trying to figure out what was going on. He has to wait all the way until August for that though.
August is going to be good. The weekend before Leeds is also blocked out in his agenda, with a rainbow of highlighters. It will be his first Pride. Doncaster Pride. He missed it last year, it was in June in 2013, when he was in Australia. It feels like something he really needs to go to this year. He was so happy when Harry was just as excited about it as he was. They’d talked about it their first week back when they saw advertisements for Brighton Pride. They would’ve gone to it had it not fallen on the same weekend as Lottie’s birthday. Louis smiles at the memory of taking Harry to Donny for the first time.
It was a chaotic few days. First was the shock of seeing his Mum again and immediately noticing that she had kept a secret from him while he was in Australia. Louis’ jaw had dropped to the floor when she’d opened the door and there was no hiding her pregnant belly, she was only 10 weeks along but given that it was her fourth pregnancy and she was having twins again her baby bump was undeniable.
Harry was just as excited as Louis at the prospect of baby siblings in the new year. The news adding to the excitement of finally meeting Louis’ family.
They’d all gone to Donny dome to ice skate that day, Jay having kicked them out so she had some peace and quiet to organise the final preparations for Lottie’s 15th birthday party. Louis holds back a laugh when his mind flashes back to Harry’s first time on the ice. Proper funny watching his long giraffe legs try to stay upright. They laughed flat out on the ice more than they actually skated.
When they were back at the house they had all taken turns to shower before the party. After Louis was clean and dressed he noticed Harry wasn’t in their room as he’d expected. He heard giggles from Lottie’s room. When he poked his head in he saw the two of them gossiping like school girls, Harry’s large hand sprawled out in front of him as Lottie painted his nails. Louis’ heart swelled at the sight. He knew they’d get along. Lottie was giddily excited that Harry let her paint his nails snapping at Louis when she spotted him peering into her room “Oi Louis! Why don’t you ever let me paint yours?”
“You’ve got Harry now so you can stop pestering me about it” he bantered before spinning on his heels and leaving them to it.
Harry had smiled at the long term implication that Harry’s nails would always be there to be painted.
Louis was proud of him when later that evening Harry didn’t ask to remove the polish before going out to meet up with Louis’ old school mates Oli and Stan.
Louis listens to Harry’s soft snores as he recalls how nervous Harry was that night. He loosened up after a few drinks and Louis whispering in his ear “should have got you to wear the plug tonight.” Harry squawked out a laugh, slapping his hand over his mouth, eyes wide. Louis smiled so bright Harry couldn’t help but swoon at the crinkles by his eyes. When Harry went to the bar to buy another round Louis stared after him with a lovesick smitten grin. Oli had snapped him out of it when he said “he’s good for you Louis.”
“Yeh? You like him?”
“What’s not to like? Besides I’ve never seen you this happy.”
“Yeh. Never felt this happy.”
Fook. I’m so lucky.
Louis leans in and lets his long eyelashes flutter over Harry’s cheek. He can’t help giving him butterfly kisses when he looks so sweet. Harry stirs a little, he rolls to his side, now facing Louis. Louis chuckles as Harry’s sleep drunk arms instinctively seek out Louis. Louis shuffles closer until he can wrap himself against Harry. Harry hums in contentment. Louis lets the vibrations in his chest lull him back to sleep.
…
OT5 are gushing over the latest photos of Louis’ new twin siblings when Louis gets lost in the memory of meeting the twins for the first time just a week ago. Harry and Louis had made a whirlwind overnight trip up to Donny to meet Doris and Ernest at the hospital before they had to return to London to make their flight to Paris. When they each held one teeny tiny newborn they shared a knowing look, a look that said I want this too, with you, one day.
Louis smiles at the memory before he’s brought back to the present by Liam who passes his phone back to him.
“So spill the tea, how was Paris lovers?” Niall asks as Harry sets a tray of five beers on the table.
“Romantic” Harry gushes “best surprise ever.” Louis smiles at him, his mind flashing back not to their romantic weekend but to the market they went to in Australia because Harry’s wearing that ridiclously bright patchwork cardigan that they bought there together. He’s not sure if it’s the cardigan or Harry that brightens up cold and dreary London. Both he supposes.
“You mean to tell me Tommo even out did the Brighton weekend?” Zayn waggles his eyebrows at Larry knowing all to well what the couple got up to.
Louis blushes as he recalls drunkenly telling Zayn about their first anniversary weekend getaway. Louis rented a tiny house by the sea in a little village not far from Brighton called Peacehaven. It was December, cold and wet but they didn’t care. It was cozy with a little fireplace and no one but them. When the skies cleared they explored the deserted beach. Images of them walking hand in hand over the pebble covered shoreline flash through Louis’ mind. His heart starts to race as he recalls the fluster that overcame him when he suddenly pushed Harry against the rocky cliff. Harry’s eyes had darted around, ever conscious of others seeing them but before long he cupped Louis’ jaw with his large palms in the ridiculously arousing way that he does then Louis pressed their lips together as he pushed his hips so hard against Harry the jaggered rocks pressed into his lower back. But he knows that that’s not what Zayn’s referring to because he kept that memory for himself.
It was the surprise Harry had for him when they got back to the little house that day that Zayn is smirking about. Harry had worn the lavender negligee and panties Louis had first seen when they stayed in the Mouses House back in Australia. Dangling off his forefinger was something new though, a matching g-string. He’d twirled it around his finger with a sheepish look in his eyes. “Babe” he’d said seductively “I think I’d very much like to see your peach hanging out of these. What do you say Daddy? Man enough to wear a g-string?”
Never one to refuse a challenge Louis had hopped off the bed, hand out and snatched the teeny piece of lace from Harry’s hooked finger. “Not sure where me cock’s gonna go but I’m game” Louis smirked as he swiftly stepped into them.
Harry had basically drooled at the sight of him as he spun around giving him a show. Louis cocked his hip out and genuinely said “I think I like them.”
That night neither were willing to fully submit. Harry opened Louis up first, working his tongue around the g-string to rim him into oblivion. Louis didn’t want to come on his tongue though, nor his cock, he wanted to come in Harry with that negligee draped around his buried cock. He tugged at Harry’s long locks, the curls inching closer and closer to his shoulders and proposed coming in each other for the first time. Harry groaned at the idea before letting Louis manhandle him to his back. Louis fingered him open all while caressing the smooth silk hugging Harry’s body. When he pressed his cock inside he warned Harry not to come.
“Yes Daddy” Harry had rasped. When Louis came Harry had to clench his eyes tight, if he’d looked down at the sight of the g-string stretched to the side of Louis’ hard cock buried deep inside of him he would have come all over his chest.
Harry didn’t hesitate to take control when Louis’ cock slipped out of him. He crawled out from under Louis and kneed across the bed behind him, he pushed Louis down to lay on his belly. Harry took a moment to massage his glorious peach before coating himself in lube and pulling the g-string to the side, lining his aching cock up and entering him in one swift thrust, Louis moaned into the mattress. Harry could feel Louis drip out of his own hole as he fucked into Louis, he came fast and hot, deep inside of Louis.
Louis absentmindly rubs his hand over his forearm as the memories keep flooding in. Harry had secretly arranged an extra night in Brighton on the way home. He’d even called Louis’ boss to get him out of his next shift at the Children’s Theatre.
Louis remembers the romantic sunset walk over the pier. They walked hand in hand, each with a forearm bandaged. Harry had made an appointment for them at a local tattoo parlour. Louis had passed the time chatting with OT5 while Harry got his tattoo. Harry doesn’t need his hand held because he’s a little pain minx.
Louis: {photo attached - Harry with a tattoo needle finishing the details of his latest tattoo}
Zayn: sick
Liam: get the dagger Louis!
Niall: dagger?
Zayn: our little tattoo novice
Niall: gonna explain or just give me shit?
Zayn: second option
Louis had flipped through a book the artist had brought out before he started on Harry. It was filled with different rose designs. The vast majority were wrapped around a dagger. He smiled and looked at Harry when his rose was done. Harry looked back with a knowing smile. An hour later Louis had sent two more photos to the OT5 chat. The first a photo of his forearm with his new ink. The second a photo especially for Niall that he took of a picture in the book, Harry’s rose and Louis’ dagger entwined.
Niall: that is sick!
…
Louis is shocked back to the present with the sound of Harry honking out a loud laugh “Louis, what did you tell him?”
“I cannot be held responsible for what leaves my mouth after a night of tequila shots” Louis holds his chin up indignantly.
Harry rolls his eyes. He truly doesn’t mind because over the last six months both Zayn and Liam have become his best friends too.
The five boys make a point to catch up every week with pizza and pub nights and the occasional karaoke night thrown in too. When Shawn started joining it was hard not to see the group as three couples. They’re not though, a couple, even if Larry and Ziam secretly refer to them as Shiall. It’s not a topic Niall will openly discuss but Larry and Ziam are confident Shiall becoming boyfriends is just a matter of time.
In the meantime the six of them have a great time together. Shawn’s a good lad. He’s up for anything, he sometimes joins them for their Sunday afternoon footie matches too. He was quick to learn to keep his distance when Louis and Liam pulled out their water bottles. Somehow it always ends in a water fight with them both drenched and in fits of giggles. Just like Narry, their bromance soon warranted a special nickname and Lilo was born.
Harry’s not the biggest fan of Lilo’s cheeky antics and makes it known when he gets caught in the cross fire of their water fights scowling at Liam whenever he dares to douse him in water. Louis always pounces to Harry’s defence, upping his attack just to defend his baby. Louis’ got Harry’s back, always.
The sing alongs are more Harry’s style. Whether it’s a round of pool or a game of table tennis they all love hanging at the student lounge. The last time Narry belted out Shania Twain’s ‘I Feel Like a Woman’ as they played. It wasn’t long before all six boys were harmonising together. It makes Harry go all fuzzy inside when he thinks back to just a year ago when he wouldn’t dare sing in front of anyone unless he’d consumed enough tequila to allow him to get past his stage fright.
The surprising new addition to their friendship group is Ed. They don’t see as much of him as they did last year but when they do it’s always a riot.
“You two coming to Ed’s next weekend?”
“Obviously” Louis quips. He’s never one to miss one of Ed’s epic roof top parties. Harry made quick friends with Ed through the music school and then introduced him to OT5. Ed was already starting to make a name for himself at the time but he wasn’t yet famous. They all find the whole fame thing a bit odd but they’re slowly getting used to the extra attention Ed gets. They’re just happy it hasn’t gotten to his head. He’s still the down to earth lad they met last year before the rest of the world learnt his name. Harry does like to wind him up though, always announcing his arrival to their pub gatherings as if he’s walking out onto an awards show stage “Ladies and gentlemen put your hands together for the dashing, the talented, the one and only Ed Sheeran.”
…
“Where were you two?” Niall asks as Larry finally join them out on the roof top.
“Just a bit of banter really” Louis says sheepishly while covered in a slick of sweat.
“I lost my trousers” Harry offers unnecessarily. He looks down when he notices eyes on his groin. “Oops” he giggles as he zips up his fly. Harry smirks at Louis. Louis rolls his eyes, completely endeared by Harry’s inability to hide anything. Liam looks back and forth between the pair with a chuckle and his all knowing fond look.
In a poor attempt to get the attention off of their not so secret rendezvous Harry asks no one in particular “when do we all get to visit Canada and eat poutine?”
“Oooh and maple syrup, all the maple syrup!” Niall adds almost drooling.
“Syrup on poutine!” Harry suggests excitedly. Louis laughs because Harry has suggested that before. Shawn groans, “that’s all kinds of wrong H, you’re not coming to Canada if you’re going to mash up our two favourite things.”
“Heeeey, I might have invented the best Canadian thing ever.”
“Nah mate, that’s Shawn” Niall quips without realising just how smitten it makes him sound.
“Awwww” Liam can’t help the fond eyes darting between Shiall.
“How we doing fellas?” Ed joins the group.
“Good mate. I see you can never stop working?” Louis cocks an eyebrow at the guitar in Ed’s hands.
Ed chuckles “yeh well I want to debut my new single to you lot first, if you wanna hear it?”
“Duh” Niall deadpans.
“Alright then, shuffle up.”
Harry shuffles in closer to Louis giving Ed space to join them on the couch.
Louis realises first. “Wait a minute! That night you were at our place” Ed nods and smiles, as he continues to sing, everyone else looks confused “you kept asking me about Harry, you were annoyingly persistent” he rolls his eyes “this is why?”
“Yup” Ed says simply between lyrics.
“Oh!” It all makes sense to Harry as Ed finishes the next verse. That night all these idiots were busy playing pool while we were still in the booth, you drilled me on everything I loved about Louis.
“Yup!” Ed pops the P with a sly grin. “Awww” the rest chorus together as they catch on to what Ed’s song is about.
Harry looks to Louis and joins in on the chorus changing a lyric “and all his little things.” They kiss because they’re completely and utterly in love with each other and one of their closest friends has written the sweetest song about their love and the whole world is going to hear it.
When they reluctantly pull away from each other, all too aware they have an audience, Ed adds “the hardest part was getting you two alone. You’re glued at the hip.” Ed chuckles fondly. Harry and Louis smile at each other knowing Ed is completely right and they wouldn’t have it any other way. “He’s my home” Harry shrugs unapologetically as he entwines his hand with Louis’. “Yeh” Louis smiles fondly “home.”
THE END