Glitter & Crimson [COMPLETED]

8

Louis sat cross-legged on the dressing room floor, watching Zayn carefully style his hair. The way Zayn's fingers moved through his dark locks, each strand falling perfectly into place, captivated him. "You know," Louis started, a faint smile tugging at his lips as he admired Zayn's concentration. But before he could finish, the rest of the band stumbled noisily into the dressing room, breaking the moment.

"What do I know, Lou?" Zayn asked, a soft smile on his face as he glanced down at Louis, seeming almost unaware of the others. There was a warmth in Zayn's gaze, a hint of curiosity and affection that made Louis's heart stutter.

Louis blinked, the thought slipping from his mind as quickly as it had come. "I dunno. It's gone," he replied with a shrug, trying to play off the moment like it was nothing. But the way Zayn looked at him—like he wanted to keep pressing, to know what Louis was thinking—left him feeling a little flustered.

Liam raised an eyebrow, watching the exchange with a hint of amusement as he plopped down on the sofa, tossing his legs over the armrest. "Why are you on the floor, Tommo?" he asked, raising a brow.

Louis shrugged, leaning back against the wall, his fingers tapping to the beat of the song playing faintly on the radio. "The floor's comfy," he replied nonchalantly. His gaze drifted back to Zayn, who had gone back to perfecting his hair, but Louis could still feel the lingering warmth from their brief exchange.

His thoughts began to wander, and he muttered aloud, "Wonder what Mum's doing tonight..." He hadn't spoken to her much since the tour started, and a pang of homesickness tugged at his chest.

"Probably having dinner with the family on a Friday night, like she always does," Liam said, giving Louis a knowing look.

"They're probably talking about that crime show she loves," Harry added quickly, his eyes twinkling with a teasing grin.

Niall didn't even look up from his phone, his tone casual but somehow comforting. "You know, I don't think they've ever really fought. Your mum and Dan, I mean. They're like... perfect together," he remarked.

Louis laughed softly, shaking his head. "Yeah, Mum and Dan don't really fight. She's lucky she found someone who puts up with all of us," he replied, his voice softer now, tinged with both pride and a little wistfulness. It was strange, the ache he felt when he thought of home, of his family waiting for him while he was living this chaotic life on the road.

Zayn had finished with his hair and sat down beside Louis on the floor, leaning back against the wall. He nudged Louis's shoulder gently, his gaze thoughtful. "You know you could call her, right? I'm sure she'd love to hear from you, even if it's just for a minute," he said quietly.

Louis gave him a small, grateful smile. "Yeah... maybe I will later." He hesitated, glancing at Zayn. "It's just... weird, I guess. Being out here, being... this," he gestured vaguely around the room, encompassing the tour, the fame, everything. "Sometimes, I feel like I'm missing out on all the normal stuff, you know?"

Zayn nodded, his expression turning reflective. "I get it, Lou. But it's not like we're gone forever. And when we're home, we're home. Your family will be there," he assured, resting a hand on Louis's knee.

The two sat in comfortable silence, each lost in their own thoughts, while the other boys chatted about the show and laughed about moments that had gone wrong on stage. But Louis felt oddly content, grounded even. It was moments like these, small and quiet, that reminded him why he loved this—why he was willing to sacrifice normalcy for this crazy life with these boys.

After a while, Niall looked up, a grin playing on his lips as he observed Louis and Zayn. "You two look cozy down there," he teased, his voice light.

Louis scoffed, rolling his eyes as he leaned his head back against the wall. "Oh, leave off, Nialler," he said, but there was no bite in his tone. In fact, he felt a surge of warmth at the playful teasing, grateful for these moments where they could just be themselves, the fame and pressure fading into the background, if only for a little while.