Glitter & Crimson [COMPLETED]

4

Louis had been dropped off at Zayn's parents' house, just as they'd planned, so the two could arrive together for the premiere. It was a surreal setup, their first big public appearance since the rumors had started swirling. Inside, Zayn was finishing up, adjusting his tie one last time in the mirror, when he caught sight of Louis standing by the door, shifting nervously.

"You seem out of it, Lou," Zayn commented with a gentle smile, trying to lighten the tension hanging between them.

Louis looked up, rubbing his fingers anxiously. "Just... nervous about all this," he admitted, his voice barely above a whisper.

Zayn shrugged and crossed the room, wrapping his arms around Louis's shoulders in a familiar, comforting way. "We'll be fine," he said, voice soft and reassuring. "We don't have to change who we are, not even in front of the cameras." He tightened his grip a little, as if to steady both of them. "We've always been close, always touching, so we just keep it natural. We don't need to put on a show."

Zayn pressed his forehead to Louis's, his breath warm against Louis's cheek. The closeness, though familiar, felt heightened tonight—a strange balance between comfort and something unspoken that lingered just below the surface.

Louis took a shaky breath, lifting his gaze to meet Zayn's eyes. "I know," he murmured. "It just feels... wrong, somehow. Like we're dragging our fans into this mess."

Zayn gave him a soft, understanding look. "They're stronger than you think. The support they've shown us already is incredible. They'll be there with us, no matter what."

Louis let Zayn's words sink in, feeling the weight of his support and grounding presence. Still, the thought of the charade gnawed at him. Just then, Zayn chuckled softly, breaking the intensity. "You know, Mum was disappointed when she thought the rumors were true. Said she wanted to be at my wedding," he teased lightly, though his words held a hint of bittersweet truth.

Louis's cheeks reddened, and he looked away, biting his lip. He could feel Zayn's hands tighten around his waist, pinning him gently but firmly against the bedroom wall. The tension between them, though unspoken, simmered in the air.

Louis swallowed, his voice coming out in a stutter. "W-We should probably get going," he said, though every part of him wanted to stay just like this, wrapped up in Zayn's arms where everything felt simpler and safe.

Zayn exhaled, letting a small smile tug at his lips. Slowly, he pulled back, his hands slipping reluctantly from Louis's waist. "Yeah, you're right," he murmured, though his gaze lingered a moment longer before he turned away.

They shrugged on their jackets, and as they stepped outside, Louis felt a newfound steadiness in his steps. There was something grounding about walking alongside Zayn down the quiet road, their breaths visible in the morning chill, mingling with the warmth of the rising sun. The peaceful silence between them felt like an unspoken language, a comfort neither had to question.

Without a word, Louis reached over, entwining his fingers with Zayn's. The simplicity of it brought a smile to his face, and he couldn't help but notice the way their wedding rings gleamed in the sunlight, casting flashes that seemed to blind the few strangers they passed along the street. It was almost surreal—here they were, just two people strolling hand-in-hand, unbothered by any eyes that might be watching.

"Morning," came the familiar voices of locals, accompanied by a nod or a tip of the hat.

"G'day," another person greeted, carrying a cup of coffee, barely casting them a glance.

"It's like no one knows who we are," Louis whispered, the disbelief clear in his voice. Back home, he'd forgotten what it felt like to simply *be*, without the constant stares, the whispers, or the fans following him at every turn.

Zayn let out a small chuckle, squeezing his hand. "They know who we are," he replied, amusement lacing his voice. "But everyone here knows everyone. It's normal seeing me around—it's not like the frenzy in London."

Louis hummed, a nostalgic smile touching his lips. "Feels strange, though. Back home, it's like people just *can't* ignore me, even the ones who've known me since I was a kid," he chuckled softly, shaking his head.

They walked in companionable silence after that, simply enjoying the moments of quiet as the sun climbed higher, casting a warm glow over the sleepy town. Neither of them needed words to fill the space; the feeling of Zayn's hand in his was enough. Here, where fame felt like a distant memory, they were just two people taking a morning walk, content in each other's company.

Soon, they reached the quiet café at the edge of town where they were meeting their driver. The low hum of a car engine greeted them as they approached, the familiar black SUV waiting to take them back to the rush and chaos of London. For a moment, Louis wished they could linger here, away from the expectations and the demands that awaited them in the city. But Zayn's gentle smile, and the reassuring way he kept his hand in his, reminded him that as long as they had each other, they could make it through whatever came next.

About five minutes into the drive, the quiet hum of the engine was interrupted as their driver spoke up, glancing at the GPS. "Got to stop by Wolverhampton and Redditch for Harry, Liam, and Niall," he stated, breaking the silence in the car.

Louis, sitting toward the front, glanced at the driver through the rearview mirror. "Who's Niall staying with?" he asked, his curiosity piqued.

The driver shrugged, eyes focused on the road. "He was staying with Liam for the night before flying back to Ireland tomorrow," he replied, his tone matter-of-fact.

Louis nodded, letting out a soft breath as he settled back against the seat, glancing out the window as they sped along the highway. It would be a long drive before all five bandmates were together in the car, but the anticipation was worth it—tonight was the night they'd been working toward, the premiere of *This Is Us*.

The hours blurred by in a mix of light snoozing, text notifications, and fleeting thoughts until, one by one, they picked up Harry, Liam, and finally, Niall. With everyone finally packed into the car, the energy lifted. Conversations overlapped as they caught up, the car buzzing with the typical humor and camaraderie they shared.

As the car sped down the final stretch of highway, Niall gazed out the window for a moment, the city lights reflecting in his eyes. Then, turning toward Zayn and Louis, he raised a brow. "So, are you two ready for the premiere?" he asked, a hint of mischief in his voice.

Zayn leaned back, shrugging as he cast a sideways glance at Niall. "Why wouldn't we be? It's just another day on the job," he replied, a bit defensively, trying to downplay the whole thing. But everyone knew tonight would be different—especially for Louis and him.

Liam, who'd been grinning beside Niall, couldn't resist. "You two have to pretend to be married. It's gonna be priceless," he chuckled, nudging Harry, who snickered in agreement.

Louis rolled his eyes, but a small smile crept across his face as he tried to play it cool. "It's not like we don't touch each other constantly anyway," he replied nonchalantly, shrugging as if it were no big deal. But he couldn't deny the flicker of nerves that tightened his chest.

As they grew closer to the premiere venue, the weight of their situation began to settle over him. Zayn caught his eye for a moment, giving him a subtle nod—wordlessly reminding him that they were in this together, come what may.