the night is still young |l.s.|

part three - the fable

very short part but here's the final chapter <3

Harry fiddles with his rings and Louis can still see Harry's silver band. Smiling at that he turns so that he's facing Harry.

"So, I'm guessing you want to know what happened?" Harry asks.

Harry dreaded this, not wanting to explain to Louis what he remembered.

Instead, Louis asks, "Have you heard the story of the cobbler, baker, and blind woman?"

Harry shakes his head puzzled. "What does that-"

"Just listen," Louis says.

"There once was a cobbler who lived in his shop. His neighbor was a beautiful baker and they fell in love. After they fell in love, they merged their shops together, becoming one. Sharing their pay, home, and shop.

One day a blind woman found the shop, asking for some food. The baker had been out sick and the cobbler was alone in the shop. The woman asked-"

"Wait how did she find the shop?" Harry asks

Louis doesn't reply and continues his story.

"The woman asked, 'Are there any spare rolls?' and the cobbler replied, 'No. We ran out days ago.'. This was an obvious lie, seeing as fresh bread could be smelled from outside the shop. The woman could not see but she could smell the fresh bread.

'I know you are lying' said the old woman, 'but I will not take the rolls if you need them that badly.' The blind woman left and ran into the baker who had been entering the shop.

The woman knew that this was a baker because of her smell. She asked the baker, 'Do you have any spare rolls?' the baker told her she did in fact have rolls and took her to the shop. The cobbler recognized the old woman and gestured for the baker to leave her. The blind woman knew the scent and said to the cobbler. 'What will you do now that you have been caught in your own lie?'.

Can you guess what the cobbler did?" he asked turning to Harry.

Harry shrugs not knowing where this story was going.

"He ran." Louis said turning away from him, "He ran from the person he loved and left behind the life he had over a lie. A lie he told."

Harry realizes what he had been speaking about.

"Why did the cobbler run?" Harry whispers.

"He was a coward." Louis replies simply, "He still is a coward."

The two stayed silent for a few minutes.

"Did you mean it?" Harry asks quietly.

Louis knew exactly what he was asking.

"No." Louis says, "You're none of those things Harry. You're beautiful and kind and the most caring person I've ever met. I was in love with you."

Louis lied.

He still loves Harry.

"Was?" Harry asks turning to him.

Louis shakes his head. "I've been in love with you since you fucking peed on me, Harry." he says with a chuckle.

Harry laughs his face turning red at the memory.

They stay silent once again.

"Did you mean it?" Louis asks, remembering Harry's last words to him.

Harry shakes his head.

"I could never hate you Lou." he murmurs.

"I'm sorry." Louis cries, "You deserve so much better and I couldn't give that to you. You deserve the world Haz, and I was a prick who didn't know how to deal with my emotions. I hurt you and I wish I could take back every word I said because I-"

"Lou." Harry says cutting him off, "I forgive you."

Louis stills. "What?"

Harry sighs. "I forgave you the moment you asked me to dance." he says honestly.

"I love you Lou and I-"

He's cut off by a pair of soft lips and feels himself melt into Louis' arms. He feels a familiar warmth flow through his veins. He places his hands on Louis' waist and feels Louis' hands in his hair. Louis tugs on his hair, knowing how Harry felt about it. Harry groans and raises a hand to hold Louis' cheek and deepens the kiss.

Louis pulls away before whispering, "Say it."

"I love you, Lou."

"God, I love you so much Harry," he says with a smile.

Harry tucks himself under Louis' chin and tightens his arms around him.

Sighing contently Harry says, "I've missed you so much."

Louis tightens his arms around Harry and replies, "I've missed you more."

He places a soft lingering kiss on Harry's forehead.

"I'm sorry I put you through all of that." Louis apologizes again, "I shouldn't have said those things and left you when you were vulnerable. It was selfish of me and I-"

"Lou," Harry says cutting him off again.

"Yes?" 

"Just kiss me dammit." 

Louis obliges and kisses Harry everywhere. His cheeks, nose, chin, forehead, and eyelids. Everywhere except his lips. He slowly places his lips on Harry's and it feels like a puzzle piece fitting perfectly. 

Louis pulls back from Harry and asks, "What do we do?"

Louis smiles, his lips still red and his hair tousled. Harry thought he looked heavenly. His blue eyes were bright and his lips pulled into a beautiful smile.

Louis watches Harry pant with a smile. His cheeks were pink and his emerald eyes practically glowed in the dark.

"The night is still young Harry, what's there not to do?"

THE END