Some things change. | l.s.

37

Louis came into the bedroom after grabbing a bottle of water from the kitchen, hesitating in his step when he closed the door and saw Harry laying in bed watching him.

"Are you really sure you want me to stay?" Harry asked carefully, sitting up slightly so the duvet slid down his bare chest when he saw the unsure look on his face.

Louis nodded his head and exhaled slowly as he got on his side of the bed, putting the bottle on the bedside table and getting in throwing the duvet over himself. He turned on his side so he was facing Harry, but he didn't look at him directly.

"What can I do?" Harry whispered.

"Nothing. It's fine." Louis murmured.

"Please don't say it's fine, Louis." Harry pleaded. "It's not and you know that."

"It's done anyway..." Louis muttered and looked up at him, shifting on his spot and pulling the duvet up further so it almost reached his chin. "I just need to get around you knowing. Nothing changed."

"A lot changed." Harry contradicted. "We need to talk about it more."

"We talked all evening, Harry!" Louis snapped slightly, but retreated immediately and sighed deeply. "Sorry. There's nothing more to say. I know you feel guilty now that you know everything, but there's a reason why I forgave you and gave you another chance even after all this shit, okay? So just leave it and please let's continue where we stopped before yesterday."

Harry didn't say anything to that, not getting how Louis could ask him to do that, but he knew there was no point in starting a argument now so he simply scooted over and turned his back to him, Louis draped his arm around him and pulled him closer burying his face in the crook of his neck.

He closed his eyes and didn't get how Harry's gaze was fixated on the long sleeve of his pyjama shirt he was still wearing even now that Harry has seen his scar- and some of the others which he didn't comment on, guessing there were a few more he didn't see yet.

Since the day prior the atmosphere between them was filled with tension when Louis- since his breakdown- tried to be normal while Harry was haunted by guilt and thinking of ways to make up for it or at least make him feel comfortable around him again, but he noticed quickly that they were far from this point when the next morning came around.

"We should get ready." Louis murmured when they were lazing around after ignoring the third alarm that told them to get up and ready for work.

"Can I lend something to wear from you?" Harry wondered and Louis chuckled quietly against his skin with a nod.

He sighed as a weak protest to himself not wanting to get up and freed his legs from where they were entangled with Harry's getting up with a groan after a kiss to his head.

Harry watched him as he trotted over to the wardrobe and searched for a suit, grabbed a tie and socks with a fresh pair of briefs and shot Harry a small smile before disappearing in the bathroom. Harry sat up with a deep frown as he stared at the closed bathroom door and his chest got pulled together that Louis didn't even change in front of him and instead locked himself in the bathroom.

He didn't move for as long as the door was closed, his thoughts wandered to what he could do to convince Louis that he didn't need to hide from him and that his words when he constantly told him he was perfect and Harry found him thoroughly beautiful were the truth. It was wishful thinking of him that he'd change his mindset instantly after their long talk yesterday, but a spark of hope was still there until now.

The bathroom door opened after a few minutes and Louis stepped out fully dressed but his suit jacket he was holding in his hand, just closing the last cuff on his sleeve when he looked at Harry with a small smile.