~*~ Louis ~*~
Louis wakes up to the repeating load screen of the last movie they had watched. With a frustrated groan, he stands and picks up the remote from the table in front of Gemma, turning the TV off and plunging the room into darkness and blessed silence. He slips back onto the couch behind Harry, and seconds later, Harry turns over to face him, snuggling close while still peacefully sleeping.
It’s late morning when Louis rouses from sleep again, his eyes drawn to the man burrowed against him. He wasn’t joking when he had told Harry he was possessive and jealous when it comes to people he cares about. The feelings are already washing over him when it comes to Harry, and he doesn’t know if he can stop them. He wants to protect the man sleeping so trustingly in his arms from anything that causes or will cause him pain.
Kissing Harry on the forehead, he whispers, “Wake up, love.”
Harry’s eyes flicker open slowly, and a soft, brilliant smile lights his face. “Hi,” he breathes out.
“Are you ready to go home today?”
Harry’s smile drops, a frown pulling at the corners of his mouth, “Not really, no.”
Louis traces his thumb over Harry’s downturned lips. “Why not? I thought you would be glad to get away from everything here.”
“Oh, well, yeah, of course. I am definitely ready to leave my father’s presence. It’s that I am not looking forward to letting you go,” he ends almost hesitantly, as if he hadn’t meant to admit that information. When Louis remains silent, Harry finally continues, “I know what this is, and I know you have to get back to your life, one that doesn’t include me, but I just wish it was more sometimes. After tonight, you will be free of any obligation.”
“I was never obligated to be here,” Louis reminds him, replacing his thumb with a chaste brush of his lips over Harry’s.
Harry licks his lips like he’s chasing the taste when Louis pulls back. “You know what I mean. The temporary fix will be done, and I’m not ready for that.”
Louis’ heart clenches when he thinks about the end of things with Harry, but as hard as it is for both of them, he needs to separate himself from the boy to evaluate everything from a different perspective. He’s too immersed in everything right now. Harry has him believing again, which fills him with dread and uncertainty, and most of all, fear. God, he really needs to see Zayn.
“I know how you are feeling. I’m not ready either, but I have a lot of things to consider and work through. And before you ask, not one of those things has anything to do with how I may or may not feel about you. You aren’t any part of those things. I told you before that there’s a reason I sent in the application for Temporary Fix. Right now, I can’t give you any answers, so I need to ask you to just enjoy the day and be patient. Can you do that? For me?”
“Anything. I will do anything for you,” Harry answers immediately.
Louis smirks, “That could get you into trouble, Harold.”
“It’s a risk I am willing take, over and over again.”
Louis searches Harry’s eyes for any uncertainty or untruth, but all he finds is Harry’s honest, earnest green eyes meeting his without any traces of hesitance. “You’re that sure?”
