Magic || larry

09

Harry lies awake in their bed. His naked body feels cool under their blanket and Ricky solid next to him. Harry can't decide how he feels right now. Usually, after sex he feels one of two things; really happy or really used.

He turns on his side and places his head on Ricky's chest. He traces small patterns into his belly and he remembers when they first met how his stomach was flat and muscular. Things change over time Harry remembers and again he doesn't know how he feels.

"You're awake," Ricky's sleep voice makes Harry lift his head so he can look down at him and Ricky's smile is sleepy and warm. "Good sleep?"

"Didn't sleep much," Harry whispers. The man frowns and his hand moves up to gently play with Harry's hair. Harry's always loved that and he smiles at the fact that Ricky knows how to comfort him.

"You're so handsome," Ricky tells him and Harry blushes at the compliment and looks down. "Do you know how much I care about you? I feel sick every time I hurt you but I don't know how to stop it."

Harry processes those words and he frowns as he looks back up to meet his eyes. His eyes are a dull blue, so dull Harry just assumes they're grey. His black hair is now streaked with silver and his face holds stubble that he'll shave away when he goes to shower. Harry loves him and he doesn't know how to stop it.

"I know you don't want to hurt me but that doesn't mean it's okay. I feel like you don't love me anymore. That you love someone else," Harry mumbles the words, afraid they'll cause a spark and separate the small progress they're making. Ricky shakes his head and his hands continue to play in Harry's hair.

"I love no one else but you. You're my special angel. I only care and want you," Ricky promises. Then they're kissing and after a second round of sex Harry finally manages to fall asleep.

•••

The setting sun shines down on Harry's flower garden. He's picked a few and placed them in a vase on the table. They bring life to the house and Harry hopes they'll spark life back into his relationship.

Ricky is our picking them up a cheesecake and Harry is excited to not have to make the dessert and that Ricky chose it and that he knew it was Harry's favourite. Harry's lips still feel numb from all the kissing they've done today and he swears he glows from the attention. He feels 18 again. He feels like he did at the beginning.

Ricky finally comes back in and Harry smiles when he enters and walks over to grab the cake from his hands and to steal a kiss. The man smiles at how excited he is and tosses his keys on the table.

"You picked some flowers?" Ricky asks when he notices them on the table. Harry looks over his shoulder as he opens the box and shrugs.

"Yeah. You like them?" He asks and he giggles and Ricky comes up behind him and wraps his arms around him, kissing his neck.

"Love them. The only thing that would look better on that table is you."

Harry really didn't want to have around three but he didn't say anything. He'd rather not start a fight today.

•••

The next day follows the same routine. Ricky tells him something sweet and in turn, expects sex. Harry doesn't say no but he doesn't say yes either. He'd rather them make love than fight each other though so he fake moans and waits for the man to finish.

Ricky leaves the house again because Harry notices they don't have milk and then he slips into the shower and cleans himself and brushes his teeth. Two rounds already this morning and he feels exhausted and used. Very, very used.

He changes into comfy pants and a big shirt and he flops down on the couch and turns on the tv. There's some stupid teen show on that he watches without really watching until Ricky comes back in. Harry smiles at him and the man brings the bag of groceries to the fridge.

"I ran into those neighbours we have," Ricky starts and Harry just catches himself before he blurts about Louis. He can't let Ricky know they're friends.

"Oh?" Harry says instead, keeping his eyes trained on the tv. He wonders if Louis missed seeing him yesterday.

"Yeah. That little one - Lewis? - asked about you," Ricky sneers and Harry looks back over the couch, his heart pounding.

"So?" Harry again barely manages the words to come out. He also refrains from telling him it's pronounced Lou-ie and not Lou-is.

"So they wanted to know if we could go to the beach tomorrow. I told them I have to work," Ricky tells him. Harry can feel himself starting to deflate back to where he was before the topic of his friends came up but he's trying not to show it.

"Oh well," Harry shrugs but his insides feel crushed. He hasn't been to a beach in years. Even before he started dating Ricky.

"Well for me. You're going. I couldn't think of why not and maybe if you go that Lewis guy will leave us alone. He's trouble," Ricky tells him. Harry can feel excitement bubbling up and he doesn't know if he can control it but he will. They're not fighting and he's allowed to go out.

"Doesn't seem like trouble to me but I don't know. You're probably right," Harry defends him weakly and Ricky sighs as he walks over to the couch.

"I know his type. He'll make you think the sky is purple and then once you believe him he'll let you look stupid and you'll soon learn the sky is really blue and he's just a good liar," Ricky explains and Harry has to look away.

Was Ricky describing Louis or himself?