Just One Little Favour

Five

The scent of powdered paints attack the nose. Crackling of plastic aprons and crinkling paper bounces off the colourful walls of the classroom. Thick bristled paintbrushes dip into liquid paint, slathering the thin paper, making it slightly bobble. Quiet chatter like buzzing wings of bees sound.

Harry loves looking around the class, seeing the burst of pigmented paints forming a picture that the children see in their mind. He passes shapes that form butterflies and flowers, standing behind one particular child.

"That's Meow," Joey informs him, splodges of brown paint forming as hair atop of a stick man. "That's his rainbow mug." He points with the end of his paintbrush to the awfully large rainbow, framed in a wobbly square against the spiky hand.

"Very nice. Does he like drinking from that mug, then?" Harry asks.

Joseph nods, chewing the inside of his cheek in concentration. "Mhm! He told me that when he drinks from rainbow mug, it means he's getting more fruity. But he can't get fruity. He's not a banana, he's a man! He doesn't smell like fruit either." He wrinkles his nose, rubbing at the side of it with the pad of his finger, leaving a dot of black to stain it.

Harry bites his tongue to stop from giggling. Poor kid has no idea. His ears perk at this new information, though.

His mind does him dirty, giving him stupid scenarios. But, at the same time, he holds onto the hope that maybe, just maybe.

...

Thursday.

Only one day away from the weekend, thank fuck for Louis.

He's going to spend the weekend with his Joey. Park visit, pool, showing him the new game he's created for the Xbox.

He's walking up toward the school with Lottie—tagging along because his meeting got cancelled and he's bored as fuck.

So when Lottie was at the office to use the conference room (like almost every week) and told him she was going to pick up her son, Louis took that as an invite to tag along too.

"I don't know why you always want to be around Joe. Don't get me wrong, it's lovely to have you around and all that. But. Like, you really need to get out there more," Lottie tells him, standing near the stairs and watching the kids file out.

"I do get out! I'm literally outside right now." He folds his arms over his chest, pursing his lips.

Lottie rolls her eyes, spotting Joey and his teacher coming out the school building. She gives them a wave. "You're such an imbecile sometimes. I meant get out there and find a boyfriend!"

Louis shakes his head. "I've tried to have one before, and they never turn out how I want. So no, Charlotte, I don't need a boyfriend," he clarifies, just as Joey and Harry reach them.

He sees something change in the way Harry looks at him, and he can't help the eye roll.

The hell he looking at him like that for?

"Uncle Loulou! Why are you here again?" Joey tilts his head but tightly hugs his waist, burying his head in his belly.

Louis ruffles his hair. "What, am I not allowed to come see my favourite person?" He tickles his chin, making him wiggle in his spot.

Joey moves on to give Lottie a hug.

"Um... Louis," a shy voice speaks out and Louis snaps his head up toward Harry who is pinching the skin on the base of his fingers. "Can I talk to you for a moment?"

Louis' brows crease but he steps over to the side anyway. "What?" He can't help the bite to the edge of his voice.

Harry rubs his neck. "I need...Just one little favour." To make a point, he brings his finger and thumb closely together but not quite touching.