cocktails | larry ✔️

nine

at the dinner table there's a nervous vibe. louis is fidgeting around in his seat and harry coughs a few times too much.

it takes half an hour of not speaking and not interacting at all until harry speaks up. "you had a nice day?"

louis nods, swallows a bit of his spaghetti. there is still tomato sauce on his chin and next to his mouth and it's very cute.

"yes. liam told me about math and i even have homework." he seems to light up at this.

"homework?"

"he wants to check how well my writing is and my grammar. he wants me to write about anything. it doesn't matter he says." louis blushes after that. like there is a silly thought in his head he can't tell harry.

"what are you going to write about?"

louis giggles and shakes his head.

harry raises an eyebrow.

"i can't tell you. it is too stupid."

"i don't think the topic is stupid if you choose to write an essay about it, lou."

louis still has this bit of sauce on his face and harry is tempted to just kiss it away.

or maybe - for starters - wipe it away.

louis doesn't know how to react when harry stands up, comes over to louis's side of the table and knees next to him.

he doesn't know what to do when harry gets his own thumb in louis's face and rubs the sauce away.

"all clean again, lou." he smiles.

he likes to care for louis. louis really isn't a kid anymore but he is... a small adult. a young person which lived on the streets now for years. past unknown. at least harry doesn't know.

"i'm sorry, sir."

"call me harry."

"harry." louis repeats and watches harry sit down again.

"so you gotta show me your essay. when it's finished. so i can get you something nice for it. maybe new clothes or sweets or a toy. whatever you like." harry grins at louis.

who is sitting there in silence. it's not like he plays with toys anymore. yeah, sometimes he wants a little car to play with or a doll. but more than anything louis wants to be a cat.

> ^-^ <

liam's voice at the phone is serious. "harry."

"yes, liam james?" harry jokes a bit, throws the ball in his hand up and down. he is in his office right now. readying everything for tomorrow so everything he has to do is go to bed, have a nice wank and sleep.

"louis's essay..." liam trails off. he read louis's essay today for the first time and he didn't tell louis how he thought about it. he wanted to correct it at home.

"is it bad?" harry frowns and stops at the window. down there he sees london. london doesn't go to sleep. he still sees a lot of people running around. some going to clubs or coming home from work. some tourists.

"no.. not too bad. a few misspells and sometimes he doesn't know how to articulate stuff but that's no wonder. he has been on the streets for years. what really makes me think is the topic."

"what is the topic?" harry sits down

"cats. being a cat, loving cats. everything with cats."

"and you think that's a problem because?"

"because that sounds like a mental problem, harry!"

"aren't people allowed to like animals?"

"yes, but he wants to be a cat. a literal cat, harry. i don't know anymore. maybe it is something back in his past or a reflex of his brain to get over the stress of the last years but louis definitely needs help. and he needs you. you have to talk with him."

"i should talk with him... about what? cats?" harry giggles a bit. he knows it is a serious situation and that this illness even has a name. but louis wasn't at a psychologist yet so nothing is set.

"about his obsession. about what he feels. if he feels like a cat."

"i don't think he does, liam. i think louis is just a poor boy, who doesn't understand adult life." harry sighs. "but i will talk to him. greetings to your lover, lima. bye."

the thing is: harry is a cat hybrid after all.

and even if louis is mentally ill, thinking he is a cat, harry understands him.

because there are days when harry would like to be not only two halves but one whole. where he'd like to be human or cat. not both.

> 'o' <

louis sits on the floor in his room. he has a few pictures spread out before him. liam got him a new task: creative writing. louis has to choose a few pictures and write about them. anything he likes. he thinks liam just wants him to practice so they can start with the real things 19 year olds learn at school.

louis is tired. he smiles and yawns and doesn't hear the knock at first.

but then: "come in."

harry comes in and at the sight of a cuddled up lou, he sits down next to him. smiling slightly.

"your next homework, sweetie?"

louis nods proudly. "creative writing."

"well, well... nice." harry coughs awkwardly. he has to get to his point. "liam told me about your last essay. the one about cats."

louis's eyes widen and even harry sees that he gulps.

harry's tail swishes around on the ground again and his ears twitch.

"louis, it's no bad thing you like cats so much, you know? i like dolphins... i mean i even closed sea world."

louis sniffles a bit and then harry checks. louis cries. he truly cries.

but he says nothing.

"i'm not a therapist... i'm just asking: do you want to be a cat, louis?"

louis hiccups and sniffs. "not always."

"but sometimes? there are days when you want to be a cute little kitty?" harry doesn't know why he sneaks his hand in louis's soft hair or why he shudders a bit on the inside.

he just knows that he does.

louis nods quietly.

"when did this start, lou?"

"i was alway that way." louis cries. "as a kid and... and... i don't know."

harry smiles. "well... i'm an expert for cat things. so if there is anything i could do to help you, i will."

louis looks at him. all cried out, sniffing and cute.

he is so tiny, harry thinks. his little feet in smol socks and his hands which are rubbing his eyes balled up in fists. louis is a kitten. maybe no literal one, but nearly.

"you... you told me you would get me something if my essay is good, right?" louis's voice is unsure but pleading.

"yes." harry nods. "what is it that you want?"

****

well well well cats don't talk.

what do you think about

liam the little mother

harry the whipped cheesecake

and louis the smol butterfly?

keep commenting and voting please! i love you and your support. xx