Houseboy ➳ Larry AU |English|

Chapter 49.

Harry doesn't know what's going on, until he sees a man, about forty years old, getting too close to them. The gentleman has quite bushy eyebrows and an abundant beard. From Louis' defensive attitude, this must not mean anything good. Harry just wants to know who is that man approaching, he doesn't know, but he has seen enough to be afraid of the man.

The man stops in front of them, and smiles falsely in the direction of Mark, who is standing next to Louis and Harry.

"Mark, how could you allow your family's honor to fall so low?" The man's gaze is fixed on Harry with utter contempt. The younger boy can't stand the pressure of his stare, so he decides that looking down at the floor is much better.

He fiddles with his shoes, stepping on the tips of his worn converse. They've all moved in to stare as fast as the man's words left his mouth. And Harry is really trying not to look so stricken. Somehow everything always ends badly thanks to him. It feels horrible to be the cause of all the humiliation Louis and his family have to go through just by getting involved in their lives.

"My family's honor has not fallen low, Yaser." Mark replies, surprising everyone. He says it quite matter-of-factly. Harry feels a slight tingle of happiness, because Mark has responded in his defense, he didn't think he would. Yaser lets out a snort.

"You have allowed your son to be romantically involved with another man. That is blasphemy!" He exclaims, as if he had just named a sin. Mark frowns, and lifts his chin, showing courage.

"My family doesn't believe in blasphemy. My son is not committing any crime, he is loving a person with feelings, I don't see what the problem is." He finishes, giving a look of approval to the boys.

Harry feels a strange emotion at that moment, he smiles in Mark's direction, and then remembers that this is not a good time to smile. He ducks his head again when he sees the man's hate-laden gaze on him.

"That person is a man just like your son. How can you allow him to be openly homosexual and bring your family name into disrepute like that?" He continues to marginalize their relationship. Louis is about to respond to that, but Mark stops him instantly.

"I can allow whatever I want, Yaser, it's my family and I control it the way I see fit." He says, with his head held high. Yaser doesn't seem to resist, though.

"It doesn't look like you control your son very well...." Mark interrupts him, too angry that Yaser is judging his upbringing and values in front of everyone present.

"Louis is perfectly healthy and happy. You should be more interested in your own family's happiness, and stop judging mine. Let's go, boys." Louis sends one last flippant glance at Yaser, before wrapping his arm around Harry's waist and walking away.

"I don't like that man." Harry whispers, crestfallen, as Louis leads him to the parking lot. Louis is furious, clinging to Harry's waist as if his life depended on it.

"Me neither. He was never really my cup of tea. Don't worry, we won't see him again, I'm not going to let him hurt you with his homophobic remarks." Harry grimaces nostalgically, then smiles broadly.

Louis watches him out of the corner of his eye, rather oddly as they pull into the parking lot.

"What's so funny?" He asks, frowning. Harry keeps smiling.

"What you did back there was beautiful." He comments. Soon Louis has a smile just as wide as his.

"Did you like it?" Harry stops in mid-step, to take Louis' face and steal a short kiss, resting his soft lips on his, making the older boy blush.

"It's not much to like. It's the nicest thing anyone has ever done for me. I'll always keep it in my memory, I'll write it in my diary, I'll hang the shirt on the wall of my room...." Before he could say anything else, Louis interrupts him.