Maybe we can (L.S.)

43

That day, Louis skipped lunch, trying to find some good information about phantom leg pains and its treatment. He used every spare minute to investigate on the subject but ha still wasn't confident that he could really help Harry.

That, however, didn't mean that he hadn't called him the second he stepped foot out of his workplace. And it definitely didn't mean that he wasn't just knocking on his door just a few minutes later.

Soon the door was open and Harry just stood there, looking him up and down as he held Sam in one arm.

"Hey!" Louis spoke, smiling shyly at Harry.

"Hey! Come in, come in!" Harry greeted him, stepping aside to let Louis enter after a short silence. "I didn't think you'd be here so early. I'm sorry the house is a mess. Well, and so am I, I suppose"

"It's fine really. I just wanted to let you know the few things I thought could help you with your pain as soon as possible. But I can go and send you some info if you prefer, I-" Louis rambled, shifting his weight from foot to foot, now regretting the confidence boost he had a few minutes ago.

"No! No. Stay, please. I just didn't have time to prepare anything" Harry cut him. "You look gorgeous in those jeans" He added, speaking to himself in barely a whisper.

"Oh... Ehm... Thanks... I... No need to prepare anything" Louis stammered, turning deep red, not knowing how to react to the last part that he wasn't sure he was meant to hear.

"Uh... Okay" Harry blushed "Feel at home. I'm going to put him on ppto sleep. Be back in a second" He continue, turning around after leading Louis to the couch.

Louis sat there, trying to process if Harry had really complimented him or if it was just his brain playing tricks on him. He decided it must have been the second. He wasn't one to get compliments often after all.

He was startled from his thoughts when Harry slumped on the couch beside him, letting out a tired huff. He must have zoned out for a while because now, the small table was covered in various snacks.

"I told you didn't have to prepare anything, Harry. You're tired" He smiled.

"Well, you didn't have to come here to help me and here you are. Besides, I could hear your tummy rumbling from the kitchen, so..." Harry replied shaking his head.

"Thanks" Louis chuckled. "Where's Emma?" He asked after realising he hadn't seen her today yet.

"Oh, she's asleep. I don't think she'll wake up until tomorrow morning. She started daycare with Mikey today and she was knackered" Harry smiled.

"Oh, that's good. Now it'll be a bit easier to get some time for yourself even if you have Sam" Louis said, after munching on some bread stick.

"Yeah, I guess... But I missed her" Harry pouted, wiggling in his seat as he tried to find a comfortable position.

"Just take it off, Harry. I'm sure you'll be more comfortable without it" Louis sighed, pointing to Harry's prosthetic leg.

"Doesn't it bother you? I mean- when I have it off?" Harry asked, looking directly at Louis' blue eyes.

" 'course not. It's just you. I hope you know that I don't look at you any different because ot it. You know so, don't you?" Louis replied, squeezing Harry's knee while searching his green eyes for an answer.

" Yeah... 'kay" Harry spoke softly, bending over to take his leg and sleeve off.

The tension in the room was noticeable. They were both dead silent. Harry placed the leg on the floor and shifted so his body was completely turned to Louis', his left thigh resting on his right ankle.

Louis turned his body too and sat just as him. Their bodies mirroring and their knees slightly brushing together, making their skin tingle.

Louis' brain was working overtime, trying to comprehend what the hell was going on and how to differentiate between what could happen in reality and what was just some fantasy of his.

He was still looking into those deep green eyes and he thought he could see some deep feeling there. Was it shock? Disbelief? Relief maybe? 

He couldn't help but notice that his eyes were flickering between his eyes and lips and, okay, maybe his own eyes were doing just the same. He didn't have much time to think about it because he could swear that Harry was much closer than before.