relief next to me (by dolce_piccante on ao3)

5

"You're going to get sick of climbing those steps."

Harry smiled up at him, a fern green beanie perched on his head, his hands in his jean pockets.

"Not likely."

Louis held the door open for him, Harry ducking inside. The door shut quietly. Harry took his beanie off and ruffled his hair.

"What'd you do so far today?"

"Hot yoga. Shower. Took a nap. Folded towels."

"Nice." Harry swung his black rucksack around to his front and unzipped it. He put his beanie inside and pulled out a white bag, the smell of sweet fruit rushing to Louis' nose. "As promised."

"Nice, you're a man of your word," Louis laughed, taking the bag. He opened the top and inhaled, his eyes closing. "Mmm. Banana nut?"

"And blueberry crumb."

His eyes opened.

"Thanks so much." He reached in the bag and pinched off a generous piece of banana nut. He tilted his head back to accommodate such a big piece, Harry chuckling. Louis chewed it with his mouth shut and hummed, nodding quickly. He held his wrist over his mouth and swallowed. "That's a damn good muffin."

"Thanks," Harry said, cheeks coloring while he grinned at the ground, dropping his rucksack at his feet.

"You didn't have to actually donate muffins, though my flatmate will probably die of joy when he sees them." Louis placed the bag on his kitchen table, brushing his hands together. "How was work? Less painful than yesterday, I hope."

"Yeah, it was okay." Harry moved in a slow circle with his arms sticking out, Louis taking his coat off for him. "Pretty normal Saturday. We sold out of almond croissants by nine, so that was kind of a controversy amongst the regulars."

Louis laid his coat on a kitchen chair. The kitchen was spotless and smelled faintly of bleach, not a spot of ketchup to be found.

"No elderly cupcake clinics at six in the morning?"

"No, thank fuck," Harry said, chuckling softly. "I would have lost it." He rolled up on the balls of his feet, peering down Liam's hallway. "Flatmate home?"

Louis walked up to him, tilting his head.

"Nope." He slipped his fingers inside Harry's trousers, tugging on his belt buckle. Harry bit his bottom lip, eyes dragging down Louis' front before landing on his face. Louis pulled him closer and nosed his jawline. He picked up Harry's rucksack, Harry's hand wrapping around the strap to take it from him. "Come along now."

Harry smiled slowly. He stepped forward and Louis stepped back, both making their way to the bedroom.

"Wow," Harry said, smiling wider. "Nice set up."

Louis had outfitted his mattress and pillows with black bedding and kept his duvet folded on a chair under his window.

"I kind of want to wrestle you on there," Harry said, stepping on the back of his left heel. He stepped out of his boot and dropped his rucksack at the foot of the bed. Louis noted that he was wearing black socks that day. "Or do some sort of gymnastics."

Louis sat on the bed, rubbing his hands over the linen.

"I'd love to watch you do naked gymnastics. But I'd totally beat you at wrestling."

Harry smiled amusedly, kicking his other boot aside.

"Are you serious?"

Louis unbuttoned his black skinnies and lowered them on his hips.