Beautiful, Beautiful Lou

Harry is staring at his beautiful husband. It was their wedding day and they were currently at the reception. Louis was talking with all of his friends. His hands moved in a frenzy. Some of his friends laughed and some signed things back. Most of them were signing congratulations. Harry smiled. He sat back in his seat looking at all the people who came. He recognized some from his childhood and some from recently becoming fluent in sign language. He looked at Louis again. Louis looked back and caught his gaze. Louis smiled at him. Harry smiled back. Louis turned and continued talking to his friends. Harry closed his eyes and remembered when he first met Louis.

~*~

It was the first day of year seven. Harry was sitting in the back of his class when a small boy walked in. He chuckled when he saw him. He looked like a lost fifth year. Harry watched him closely and didn't see him moving his mouth. He had everything he needed to say on a piece of paper. Harry squeezed his eyes confused. Louis sat in the front of the class and took out his spiral notebook. He opened it and got out a blue pen. He wrote down everything that was on the board. The bell rang but Louis didn't move while everyone else did. Harry saw him and tapped on his shoulder. Louis looked up at him. "The bell rang." Harry said.

Louis looked at him confused. Harry said it again. "The bell rang."

Louis read his lips and got the message. He put his things away quickly. Louis looked at Harry. He put his right hand to his chin the then moved it to the palm of his other hand. He mouthed "Thank you."

Louis walked out the door and read his schedule for his next class. He read the numbers on the walls and found his next class.

Harry walked to class thinking about Louis. It still didn't click in his head that he was deaf.

The next day, Harry saw Louis again. Louis waved brightly at Harry. Harry smiled and moved from his seat to sit next to Louis. Louis looked at him happily. "So are you deaf?" Harry asked.

Louis tilted his head in confusion.

"Right. Are you deaf?" He said slower. Louis read his lips and nodded. He made a knocking motion with his right hand that meant yes. Harry nodded.

Louis looked at the board and wrote down the notes. Harry smiled. He got out a piece of paper and wrote down, 'My name is Harry.'

He placed it on Louis' desk. Louis read it and smiled. He wrote down his name and smiled.

They communicated like this for the next school year.

*

The next year Louis started teaching Harry sign language. Louis was happy that Harry was actually getting it fairly well. They were able to have conversations, not extensive ones but things like "Hey! How are you?" And being able to have a response. They became really close friends after that.

*

Year nine was tough and it was especially tough on Louis. He now had to deal with kids who didn't understand what Louis was going through. Year nine is when the bullying started. Harry stumbled upon people pushing him around because Louis couldn't answer them. Harry shoved the other people away and let Louis cry in his shoulder as he signed to him all the things that the people said.

There was one day in particular of year nine that Louis was getting beat up really badly. When Harry came upon it he ran as fast as he could to Louis' side. He punched guys in the face and the gut and got Louis out of there as soon as possible. Louis was bent over in pain. Harry frowned and rubbed his stomach gently. Harry helped him home and when they got there, Louis' parents were signing frantically. Harry told them as best as he could. After they understood they thanked him gratefully. Harry pecked Louis' cheek and left to go home.