flower crowns // l.s.

❁29❁

Harry stayed over at Louis' for the night. Then the next. They never slept together (Louis was too fixated on not wanting to mess anything up), so Harry took the bed one night, then convinced Louis to sleep on the bed, and now they're inching towards the third night together. There wasn't much discussion about staying over, only that Louis wouldn't allow him to go if he didn't feel safe staying at his own place. Harry had confided in his boyfriend about his father, finally. It happened the first night he stayed; they somehow ended up in the bed at two in the morning, and there's something about being up together at such a late hour that turns any innocent conversation into a deep, meaningful one. Harry never understood that. Maybe it was because nighttime is such an intimate time. It's like the moons gravitational pull is grabbing at your deepest thoughts and tugging them out. But there's also a feeling of security and peace when you're expressing yourself in a dark room at two a.m. with the man you love. Harry loves the nighttime because he doesn't have to hide.

Louis didn't treat Harry any differently when he found out just how awful Cal really is. He didn't know why he thought Louis would suddenly treat him like he's some delicate baby; Harry isn't a delicate baby. He's tough, deep inside. Louis told him that. He told him how tough and strong he is, and that made Harry burst out in tears because no one had ever told him that before.

He would miss Louis when he went to work, but while he was away, Harry would clean the house and do the laundry. He didn't want it to seem like he was taking advantage of Louis, and as a thank you, he cooked and cleaned. Louis' apartment was a mess, anyway, so he was bound to do it sooner or later. He had to buy him a vacuum; Harry couldn't believe Louis didn't have a vacuum. Louis only said, "I've got a broom, that's all I need."

Harry didn't know why he felt betrayed when Louis said that.

He just couldn't see how Louis thought he only needed a broom when his apartment is 90 percent carpet.

When Louis got home the third night, they ate and watched television, talked about their day, then showered (not together). They got cozy in bed together. Louis brought home Harry a book he found on his way back that was about a musician becoming deaf. It was heartbreaking, but too interesting to not put down. So they lied there, for about an hour, in silence. Louis was on his phone doing God knows what, but when he glanced at the clock and had seen an hour went by, he put the book down and sat up.

Louis was still on his phone, not sensing Harry's actions or his staring. It's his third night here. None of them are moving from the bed; it's almost twelve a.m. Was Louis going to stay? Harry wouldn't mind, but now that the thought has surfaced in his brain, he can't help but wonder if this is what his future could be like. Louis, going to work. Harry (hopefully opening his own shop), cleaning and cooking for him. It wasn't that Harry was expected to do any of it, but that he just loved it. He loved being able to clean for someone and cook for them; he loved being needed in that sense. Louis told him multiple times that he didn't need to cook or clean, even said he'd do it himself if it's what Harry wanted—a clean apartment. But then Harry said he liked doing nice things for him. (That's all he said, because he was actually really embarrassed to admit that he wanted to spoil Louis into keeping his apartment clean and cooking, so that when Harry left, he would probably want him even more. Harry's starting to think he has an attention kink.)

Harry shifted around, hesitant, before he rolled on top of Louis and placed his chin on his stomach. Louis let out a noise of surprise and put his phone down to see what Harry was trying to do, but he only smiled. "Hi."

Louis laughed. "Hey. Watcha doin' there, honey?"

Honey seemed like such a domestic pet name. Harry blushed. "Noothing," he drawled out, getting himself comfortable between Louis' spread legs and burying his face into his lower stomach.