Bonded

Chapter Twenty One

Harry and Louis got into the backseat and buckled in without issue but when Ben started the car and started to leave Louis became concerned.

"Hey, where's all the stuff you said you'd get?" He asked as he leaned forward to peer at Levi.

"We worked it out and paid for it all but there isn't enough room in the trunk for everything so James said he'd send someone out later to pick it up. I think he's going to put it in storage until a proper set up is made."

"Ah, okay," Louis said as he sat back down in his seat.

Levi turned around to look at both Harry and Louis, "That kid said you were complaining of being hungry, do you want to go somewhere to eat?" He asked them.

Harry looked towards Louis, expecting Louis to answer for them both.

"Yes, we want to go to Ukusno's ... It's near the office." Louis replied.

Levi looked slightly taken aback. "Are you sure you want to go there?" He asked while watching Louis's face.

Harry was startled by the question. Was it because he didn't think Louis would like the food there? "We do-"

"Of course I want to go. Harry recommended it personally as it's special to him and it's important that you tell no one at the office that we were there." Louis quickly interrupted, giving Levi a look Harry couldn't quite understand.

Harry's breathing deepened as he hunched over, listening to see if Levi would accept Louis's words or if he should try to take back his recommendation again.

But things were anticlimactic with Levi only nodding his head and offering a short, "Okay," before turning back towards the front and leaving Harry and Louis in their own little world again.

"So, you said you are close to the owner?" Louis looked over at Harry to ask.

Harry nodded, "Ya, the owner's name is Slaven and he's the best chef I know." He replied tenderly. "I think you'll enjoy eating there."

"How'd you two get close?" Louis placed his hand on the seat between them as he chatted, palm up, in a silent request for contact.

"I'm not really sure, to be honest, it just sort of happened." Harry shuffled a little closer and slowly put his fingers into Louis's palm. "His cooking reminded me of home so I'd eat there every chance I could, but when I did I would usually show up at off hours to avoid any crowds. To be helpful I'd try to eat at the counter since I was often the only one there, and being the friendly person he is he would chat with me. It started off as just casual small talk but eventually we became close. I think we remind each other of back home."

Louis gave him a questioning look, while absentmindedly playing with his fingers, that prompted him to give more info.

"I've never been back to my country since being adopted. Slaven and his wife are the only people I know who are from the same place. When we made the connection it felt like a little piece of home had been returned to me." Harry avoided eye contact by watching Louis twirl and move his fingers around. He was starting to really enjoy Louis's constant need for touch despite it being typically, only an O trait.

"And Slaven feels the same way?" Louis asked, in a voice so hushed and gentle it was as if he thought Harry was sleeping.

"Slaven and his wife moved here after their only son died. It was too much for them to stay where all their memories were and they needed a fresh place where every single thing didn't remind them of their loss. After we met, he said I was the only piece of home that they were missing."

"Oh, that's ... really sad," Louis said, pausing in his movements to look up at Harry.

"It is," Harry agreed, willingly making eye contact this time, "but they don't really talk about it much, maybe only once or twice."