The Artist

2.

Louis stayed behind the counter with Eleanor for the rest of the night in the coffee shop. The crowd had died down after it hit four o'clock or so. Even though he had all the time in the world to do absolutely nothing for the ten or less customers, he rushed through the orders so he had more than enough time to daydream about his encounter with the man in black.

Harry was different. And that's what Louis found so interesting about him. Eleanor brushed past Louis and went straight to the espresso machine. When she came back, she bumped Louis on purpose causing him to hit his hip on the counter.

"Do you have a problem, El?" Louis shouted irritably. Louis was sick and tired of Eleanor's games. They had been broken up for a while now, and she was doing everything in her power to win him back.

"No, Louis. I think you're the one that has a problem."

"What the hell are you babbling on about? I don't have any fucking problem!" El puts her hands up as if to ward off Louis' words. Louis rolled his eyes and grumbled something under his breath and walked away from Eleanor.

Louis took one of the plastic cups from the counter and poured some caramel and chocolate drizzle onto the sides and the bottom of the cup. He had never had a problem with him and El being friends after they broke up, but she was always trying to get closer and closer to him when she wasn't wanted.

After elven o'clock, Louis hung up his visor and apron and left for the parking lot. His little black car was still there in good condition. Thankfully Eleanor had gone home a few hours earlier; he wasn't in the mood for yet another confrontation.

The lot was empty except for his car and a few more way in the back. He saw some stragglers going through the lot and fumbling to get their keys out of their pockets. He paid them no mind and slid into the driver's seat. Louis started the car and turned on the radio. Coldplay hummed through the speakers as he pulled away and headed for home.

The streets were fairly quiet after this hour. Everyone was already tucked in bed or in front of a television screen. Not Louis. He'd be awake for a few more hours just scrutinizing his house once more to make sure it was absolutely spotless. Just like himself, anything that belonged to Louis was flawless.

Looking at the clock above the fireplace, the hands read three-thirty in the morning. Louis yawned and stretched, ready to fall into his comforting bed full of blankets and pillows. "Oh, shit." he trudged to the window closest to the front door; he had forgotten to shut in and close the blinds. Just before he let the shutters on the blinds close completely, he peered out and looked at the rain watered pavement. He was looking down at a group of older boys apparently taking on a much taller but lankier one. The tall one wasn't having much luck fighting back.

He didn't want to feel like it was his responsibility to come to the rescue, but he was witnessing a fight. The least he could do is try and break it up before there were any fatalities. He grabbed his coat from the hook on the closet door and walked out into the rain.

When he was finally in view of the quarreling boys, he could see that the two provokers had the other pinned up against the wall; they were taking turns getting shots into his gut before he was almost down to his knees.

"Hey!" Louis clasped his hand over his mouth, noticing that he had now decided to get involved. He could've ignored them and said he was going to get his mail, but no. He had to go and open his stupid little mouth.

The boy not gripping the lanky one's collar walked behind the other and into Louis' direction. "What'd you say, you little bitch?" This boy was taller than he was, and much more muscular. He had a buzzed head and a few tattoos on his arms. His black hoodie was covering most of his arms, but he could still make out the artwork. It was enough to file a police report if he had to.

"Don't call him that!" A familiar, husky voice sounded from the boy against the wall. Louis lost his focus and his attention turned to the hostage. He knew that voice.

"Harry?"

"Louis just get out, alright? I can handle this." Obviously he couldn't. The boy holding him was tan with dark hair and even more tattoos than the other, and he was a lot stronger than Harry. He was wriggling beneath the clenched fists. Both of the men were intimidating, but Louis wasn't about to let Harry die out here.

Without warning, Louis threw his fist into his guy's face causing him to fall backwards. The man holding Harry released his grip to run to his buddy's aid. "You okay?" The boy on the ground nodded and tried his best to stand up. They both looked to Louis, who still had his fists up and ready to throw another punch.

"Let's just get out of here." They retreated. Harry was kneeling on the ground gripping his stomach. The two boys walked past him and kicked his sketchpad and utensils into a puddle near him. Harry bit back a fighting scream. "Goodnight, faggot." After blowing Harry a kiss, the two assholes took off down an alley and disappeared.

Louis rushed over to Harry's spot in the ground and managed to get Harry's arm around his neck. With him around his body, he still tried to reach for all of Harry's things. "C'mon. Let's get you situated inside here. Would you like anything to drink?"

They had barely even reached the doorway, and Louis was asking so many questions. Harry looked up at him through his dripping wet curls. "Louis, I'm fine. It isn't the worst I've run into."

Louis settled Harry onto the couch with two blankets draped around his shoulders and handed him the tv remote. "Make yourself comfortable. I'll be back." He ran to the kitchen and pulled out a mug and filled it with the coffee that he had brewed before he went to work that morning, but it was sure to be fine after being warmed in the microwave. Minutes later, Louis was back with coffee and sat next to Harry on the couch.

Harry looked uncomfortably at the crocheted blankets around him. "Uh, do you mind if I change? I really hate to impose, but I'm drenched." Louis' eyes widened at the thought of Harry wearing his clothes. No one had ever gotten close to wearing his clothes except for Eleanor when she snuck into Lou's apartment when she needed a place to stay.

"S-sure. My room's this way. Follow me." He stood feeling Harry get up right behind him. In his bedroom, he saw the bed was completely usable for two bodies, but why would he want to share with Harry? He brushed the thought off and went to his dresser. He pulled out a pair of boxer briefs, a white t-shirt, and flannel pants and held them out to Harry.

He took them with a grateful smile, but took the underwear from the stack and placed them back in the drawer. "Sorry, but I don't wear boxers. At all." Louis flushed who knows what shade of red. But he could definitely feel the heat rising up to his forehead.

"I'm sorry." he stared at Harry as he examined the garments in his hands. "You can change in here, and just leave your clothes-" Almost instantly, Harry was stripping out of his clothes. When he unbuttoned his black skinny jeans, Louis turned away, remembering how Harry had said he frequently goes commando. But after the flannels were up around his hips, he watched him take off his soaking black shirt that clung to his chest. As it went over his head, Louis was introduced to a marked man.

There was art all over his body. Ships. Sparrows. Butterflies. Anything he could imagine. He couldn't help but feel embarrassed when he realized his mouth was hanging open and drool was slipping from the corners of his mouth.

"What?" Harry asked once he caught Louis staring.

"Oh, nothing. I was just admiring your tattoos. They're so beautiful."

Harry smiled. "Thanks. There are quite a few stories behind these babies." He patted his chest where the two sparrows rested. "If you want, I'll tell you some of them."

Louis' eyes lit up. "Really?" Harry nodded and grabbed Louis' hand, leading him back into the living room.

"They're all really good stories, babe."

Hello everyone:) sorry it has taken me so long to update this story. I've had major writers block for the past few months when it comes to this one. But here it is. The long awaited chapter lol. Please vote, comment and follow:) Thank you all so much!

xxVanessa