On The Horizon || L.S.

Day 8: Sea Day

Saturday, the 20th of August, 2022

Sunlight glittering off the waves and the nearly inaudible clacking of hangers coax Harry from his sleep, and he checks his phone groggily to see that it's relatively early. He yawns and stretches, having come untangled from Louis overnight. With a deep, warm sigh, he turns his head to observe his pilot deep in dreamland. Peacefully shut eyes and calm breathing show he's fully relaxed, a golden halo from the early sunlight setting his mussed hair aglow. Louis looks positively angelic.

Seven days have passed since the Horizon set sail. If they were on a week-long cruise, they would be off the ship by now, well on their way to their flights home. Time has been speeding by, and Harry doesn't know how to stop it. All he wants is to live in these pieces of heaven a while longer, but they'll be waving goodbye in seven more days. Harry already knows he won't be ready.

Harry has made a lot of mistakes in his life. He's let the people most important to him drift out of his field of view, become closed-off and flighty, and fallen into toxic bouts of self-criticism. But he's sick of making new mistakes over and over when he's starting to get fresh legs under him, and the idea of adding to the tally makes him cringe. So, for once, Harry vows to himself not to add to that list of mistakes.

After all, it would be a mistake to let Louis be the one that got away.

The whole day is perfect for it. Harry's surprise is coming up in a matter of hours; then, they'll spend time with the entire group before heading to dinner and a show. Tonight is a formal night, meaning everyone will dress up and feel good in their skin. Everything fits perfectly, similar to the band around his finger that he fiddles with mindlessly. Skin-warmed metal brings a smile to his face.

When they return to the room tonight, Harry will be honest and tell Louis what he wants.

Louis is probably well aware that Harry's becoming overly dependent on him. It would be surprising if he hadn't realised that Harry had developed feelings, but their strength might catch him off guard.

Even so, Louis is the last person who would judge him for it; that much has become apparent. When Harry looks into his eyes and admits that he's falling, even if it means rejection, he knows he'll be taken care of by Louis - the captain - his pilot. It's a massive step for Harry; ironically, he probably wouldn't have the confidence for it if not for the mousy-brown-haired man beside him. Harry smiles, his eyes only half-open, and lays there for a while to think and observe.

Not long after, Louis stirs, rubbing at his face and stretching before slowly blinking his eyes open. Harry doesn't want to look like a creep, ogling his partner as he wakes, but it isn't easy to look away. Louis resembles a kitten, yawning and smacking his lips before scratching at an eyebrow. Warmth thrums through Harry's veins, his heart kicking up a beat. This could be his life.

"G'morning," Louis says, his voice coarse, though the faintest hint of a smirk twists his lips. "Enjoy the show?"

It takes a second for Harry to catch his drift before blushing profusely. "Sorry, you're cute when you sleep. Didn't know what else to look at."

"View of the sunrise over the endless ocean not doing it for you today?"

"I'd prefer this," Harry insists, his voice breathy and quiet.

Louis' smile expands before relaxing into a gentle expression of contentment, and Harry wants to bottle it and take it with him wherever he goes. "Do I get to find out today's plan, or is that still a secret?"

"Top secret. I'm talking royalty-level secrecy."

"I'm not good enough to be royalty?"

"I think you're a single level down. Close, but no luck."