TORN

Chapter 16: End of the day

The last rays of the setting sun poured into the room, painting the walls in soft, golden hues. Dust motes floated lazily in the air, catching the light as they drifted, casting a dreamlike quality over the scene. Harry lay still, his eyes still closed, his breathing deep and even, and for a moment, he was aware only of the warmth surrounding him, the softness of the sheets, and the peaceful presence of Louis beside him.

Harry blinked awake, and the first thing he saw was Louis, still peacefully sleeping, a slight smile on his lips even in slumber. As he watched, Louis' lashes fluttered, and his blue eyes opened slowly, their familiar glint softened by sleep.

Louis' gaze drifted to Harry, and he broke into a sleepy grin. "Good morning," he murmured, his voice thick with drowsiness and a trace of mischief.

Harry chuckled, feeling a warmth bloom in his chest. "Good evening, actually. We've somehow slept the entire day away."

Louis laughed, the sound filling the quiet room, making Harry's heart feel lighter. He stretched, his fingers brushing Harry's, a subtle gesture that felt grounding. "We needed it," Louis said, his voice soft and thoughtful.

Silence settled around them, but it was a silence full of things they both understood. Outside, the light began to soften, sinking into dusk as night slowly took hold. There was a strange kind of peace that only existed in shared stillness, and both of them felt it, the quiet intimacy of being with someone who felt like home.

After a while, Louis turned, his expression growing serious as he gazed at Harry. "You know, when I was out there, thinking I'd lost everything... you didn't give up on me. You looked for me, even when I gave you no reason to."

Harry's face softened, his eyes reflecting the affection he felt, even as he remembered the worry that had gnawed at him. He reached over, placing his hand over Louis', his thumb brushing lightly across his knuckles. "Louis," he murmured, his voice a low rumble in the quiet. "There wasn't a world where I wouldn't have come for you. You mean too much to me. I... I don't know how else to say it. I just... need you here. With me."

Louis looked down, the weight of Harry's words sinking in. A smile played at his lips, but it was fragile, tentative. "It's strange. I used to think all I was good for was... the surface, you know? Keeping things physical so I didn't get hurt. It felt easier that way. But with you... it scared me how quickly I felt there was more. And I didn't want to admit that." His gaze grew distant as he took a steadying breath, gathering his thoughts before meeting Harry's eyes again. "I was afraid I'd get hurt again, that I'd let myself hope for something only to lose it."

Harry's hand tightened around Louis' as he listened, an ache of empathy stirring inside him. "I get that, Louis. I really do. I was... I guess I was afraid, too, but in a different way. Everything with you has been new to me. This whole side of me, it's... something I never imagined I'd feel. And then, after you pushed me away, I tried going out with other men, thinking I could figure it out. But it all felt wrong. Empty. Because... it wasn't you. And at the end of the day, you were everything I wanted. It was always you. And you're still the one I want."

Louis' face softened as he absorbed Harry's words, and Harry saw a glimmer of vulnerability there that made his heart ache. He wanted to protect it, to keep Louis safe from any past hurt, to be the person Louis could finally trust without hesitation. Louis smiled, a warm, grateful smile that spoke of so much more than words. "I want this too, Harry. You and... this, whatever it is. It finally feels like it's right."

Harry returned the smile, something inside him settling as he saw the light in Louis' eyes. "So," he murmured, his voice almost reverent, "are we really going to do this? Just us, without anything holding us back?"

Louis nodded, a quiet certainty in his expression. He looked at Harry, his gaze unwavering, his lips curling into a smile as he echoed the words that hung between them. "Yeah. No doubts, no games. Just us."

Their foreheads touched as they closed the gap between them, their eyes locked in silent understanding. Harry leaned forward, capturing Louis' lips in a slow, lingering kiss, a promise sealed in the simple touch. It was a moment that felt infinite, suspended in the quiet that wrapped around them. When they parted, Harry whispered, "I love you." This time, the words held the weight of full awareness, spoken with every piece of his heart.

Louis' eyes softened, his face lighting up with a rare, genuine joy as he squeezed Harry's hand. "I love you too, Harry. I think I always have, even when I didn't want to admit it."

The world seemed to fall away around them, leaving only the two of them in the stillness. The distant sounds of the city outside faded into the background, as if even the world around them recognized the significance of this moment. Harry closed his eyes for a beat, letting the feeling settle deep within him, grounding him in the truth of it.

After a few moments, Louis pulled back, the familiar mischievous glint returning to his eyes as he looked at Harry with a grin. "We should celebrate."

Harry raised an eyebrow, laughing softly as he shook his head. "You want to celebrate? After these five days you've been partying nonstop?"

Louis placed a hand over his heart in mock offense before smiling. "Don't worry, darling. No wild partying this time. I just... I just want the world to know that this—" he gestured between them, "—is real now."

Harry's laughter softened into a smile, his heart swelling with fondness. "Sweet of you to want the world to know."

Louis leaned in, his voice low, his smile turning into a smirk. "Well, of course. The world should know what excellent taste I have." He chuckled, brushing his nose against Harry's as he spoke.

Harry shook his head, amusement and adoration mingling in his expression. He pulled Louis close, his voice a playful murmur as he whispered, "Okay, let's celebrate... Now kiss me, you fool."

Louis' eyes sparkled with a mix of laughter and affection as he didn't waste a second, practically leaping forward to catch Harry's lips in a deep, passionate kiss. They broke apart only to laugh, the sound filling the quiet room, blending with the distant hum of the city outside as they clung to each other, happy and unburdened in the warmth of a love that felt as certain as the stars emerging in the sky outside.