Bonded

Chapter Twenty Six

Louis was practically running down the halls, dragging Harry behind him. He was excited to tell James about their plans for Friday night and didn't want to leave Harry behind. Even Noah giving them an odd look and a small wave from the side of a coworkers cubicle didn't slow them down. 

"Louis, maybe we should -" 

"Come on Harry, hurry up!" Louis said as he tugged on Harry's hand and picked up the pace. 

When they reached James's office, Louis barged in, slamming the door open. Isaac was in the office near the doorway and jumped a little when the door slammed against the wall. Louis quickly pulled Harry into the room, luckily releasing him before running straight towards James. 

James backed his chair up in anticipation but Louis was too fast and he didn't have time to brace himself properly. "For fucks sakes," he breathed as the back of the chair leaned far back from the impact. "You're like a bull in a china shop."

Louis straddled his partner, out of breath from all their rushing. "I didn't break anything," he replied jokingly. "I just wanted to tell you about our day." Louis snuck a glance behind him at Isaac and abruptly decided to keep the details of their day to himself, until later, and instead leaned his forehead into James's chest.

James smiled and lifted a hand to the back of Louis's head, embracing him. Harry felt a ball of jealousy spin around in his gut at the sight. He shifted uncomfortably where he stood, feeling Isaac's eyes on him and decided it was better to stare down at the floor. 

After a moment, James turned the chair back in order to face the other two again and address Harry. "How about you Harry?" he asked. "Did you have a good time?"

Harry's head snapped up at the sound of his name. "Yes sir," he answered truthfully. 

James smiled and nodded gently at him. "Good," he said as he picked up his pen from the desk. He used it to help him reach his computer while Louis was still on him. When he had finished whatever he had been doing he tapped it absentmindedly against the desk and looked towards Issac. "I just sent the rest of the files over to you for you to briefly go over at some point prior to our next meeting but, since the guys are back now why don't we call it a day." 

"Alright," Isaac replied with a stiff nod. He shut off the screen to the large tablet he was holding and did a come on gesture with his head as he walked past Harry to the opened doorway.

Harry looked back towards Louis, not really sure if he and Louis were truly done for the day. Louis was still leaning against James, being oddly quiet. 

James looked down at Louis as well, with a puzzled look on his face but his eyes were soon wide with surprise. "I think he fell asleep," James told Harry, looking up at him with an apologetic expression. 

A small laugh escaped Harry, who wasn't very surprised. "That's alright," he said. "I'll just see him tomorrow. Can you tell him I said goodbye?" 

James nodded. "I'm sure he'll message you as soon as he wakes up." 

Harry turned to leave and saw Isaac waiting in the doorway, with his hand on the doorknob, ready to shut it behind them. With a small wave to James, Harry followed Isaac out. 

Isaac was quiet on their way back to his office and it didn't take long for Harry to start to wonder why. Was Isaac unhappy with how he was rushing around in the office? But Louis was pulling him, surely he wouldn't be blamed for that. Maybe because he was jealous again, or maybe because he called James, sir. 

Isaac had a face of stone when he held open his own office door for Harry, who quickly walked in and went straight towards the corner where an extra chair was placed. He didn't sit down though, he just watched as Isaac went straight to his desk without a single glance in his direction.