Royal || larry

VIII

The castle seems to grow nervous and painfully silent at Harrys parents return. Everyone is too afraid of them to actually do anything except their jobs. Harry is sitting at the table with his parents, Louis and Elizabeth standing by to serve everyone.

"I see you did not destroy anything while we were away," Harry's father comments. Harry scowls at his plate and stabs at his food.

"Did you expect me to, father?" Harry asks. His tone is bitter and his father watches him in amusement.

"Well yes. You are too soft and I feared everyone would take advantage of that," His father says. Harry rolls his eyes and lifts his face up from his plate. He meets his fathers eyes - they are so much like his - and sees the hate his father has in them.

"I do not appreciate the way you speak about me," Harry says strongly. His mother looks between the two men at the table and worries about how this will end.

"I do not care," His father says coldly. Harry's mother interrupts then and starts to talk about their trip. Harry just eats and tunes his mother out. He just wants to leave the room and be away from his fathers mockingly cold eyes.

Louis comes over and fills his drink. They make eye contact as he fills it and Louis gives him a soft smile. Harry returns it and instantly feels better.

"Thank you, Louis," he whispers out. The room can hear and his father watches as the servant boy walks back to the wall.

"Why is your servant even here? Shouldn't he be doing something useful?" his father questions. Harry grips his fork tight.

"He is my servant. He is serving me. Leave him alone," Harry spits. Elizabeth raises her brows at how defensive Harry had just gotten and his dad seems taken aback. Harry just turns back to his food - as does everyone else.

"Princess Vanessa really enjoyed your company," Harry's father speaks again. Harry lets out an annoyed huff and glares at his father. Louis looks down at the ground in jealousy.

"Good for her." Harry replies in monotone. He really does not care about Vanessa.

"She is very beautiful," his father continues. Harry nods his head in agreement. Vanessa is beautiful.

"She is. She will make a man very happy one day," Harry says. His father throws down his fork and harshly glares at his son.

"She should make you happy. You must decide which princess you choose, Harold. I will not think twice about disowning you. I will kill you if I must," his father shouts. Harry stands from the table - his chair falling over at the force.

"Kill me then." he seethes. He turns to Louis and sees the boy watching him with sympathetic eyes. "You can go for the night, Louis."

Harry turns on his heel and leaves the room. No one tries to stop him as he rushes out and he walks down the hallways trying to calm himself down. He aimlessly walks, not knowing where to go. He feels like he knows where he should go, but he cannot remember. He ends up back in his room and his eyes trail to his desk. Sitting there is the soft pink rose and everything seems to add up.

Harry turns and practically sprints until he reaches his large yard. His barn is not too far away and he quickly - and stealthily - makes his way back behind it. He sees a small figure sitting against the back wall and slowly makes his way over to it. The person looks up when Harry gets closer and Harry feels calmer when his eyes meet the striking blue of Louis'.

"I thought you were not going to come," Louis admits. Harry sits down next to him and gently intertwines their fingers.

"I would not miss this," Harry tells him. Both boys fall silent as they look up at the sky. The stars are shining bright and the moon is only a small sliver. Harry turns his face and watches Louis now. The boys tan skin seems to shimmer in the starlight and his blue eyes hold the wonder of the universe. Harrys eyes try and capture every part of his face - saving them in his brain.

Louis finally glances over and both boys blush at Harry being caught. Louis watches as Harry glances down at his lap and he smiles softly at the pretty prince next to him. Harry is so special for so many reasons and Louis does not understand why he is with him. Harry could be with anyone and here he is with Louis.

"What is your middle name, Louis?" Harry asks. His voice is soft - nothing like his voice at dinner - and Louis could just lie with him and have him sing him to sleep.

"William," Louis replies. His tone is just as soft and Harry lets out a tiny hum at his response.

"Louis William Tomlinson... Sounds like the name of a prince," Harry remarks. Louis shakes his head sadly and stares at the grass surrounding them.

Harry watches Louis' sad face and he reaches up to grab his crown. He rarely wears it - he wore it for his family tonight - and he examines it. It is gold and has small diamonds and jewels covering its surface. He gently places it on Louis head and smiles at the sight.

"You are my prince. My Prince Louis," Harry tells him. Louis reaches up and gingerly touches the crown with his finger tips. Harry watches as the boy plucks it off his head and stares at it in utter fascination. Harry thinks it is cute how Louis is so impressed with the small crown and how he barely touches it - afraid of ruining it.

"I will never be a prince," Louis says. His voice is small and defeated as he passes the crown back to Harry. Harry shakes his head and places it back on Louis, admiring the way it looks on him.

"You are already mine," Harry tells him.

"That is not real," Louis replies stubbornly.

"Anything is real if you want it to be," Harry says. Louis watches his face and it is like he is seeing Harry for the first time. He does not know this boy well at all. Louis wants to know him though, he wants to know everything.

"What do you want to be real, Harry?" Louis asks curiously. Harry shrugs his shoulders and tilts his head back to look at the sky.

"A lot of things. I can not place them together right now, but ask me again another time," Harry tells him. Louis nods and makes a mental note to actually ask. He will not forget.

They both lie on their backs and watch as the stars shimmer. Louis keeps the crown on his head and Harrys hand in his. He can feel Harrys thumb stroke his knuckles, but neither boy breaks the peaceful silence. They just lie there - both fully awake - and enjoy each others company.

"What is your favorite color, Louis?" Harry whispers out. He craves the sound of Louis' voice and he yearns to learn every small thing about the lad.

"I like the color red," Louis replies. His tone is peaceful and very mellow. He tilts his head so it is facing Harry and patiently waits to talk until Harry is also facing him.

"What is your biggest wish?" Louis asks. Harry furrows his brows in thought and Louis just waits silently.

"My biggest wish is to be normal," Harry tells him. Louis can see the desperation in his eyes as he tells him that. Louis can feel the want and hope and it hurts him. Everyone wishes to be like Harry, but all Harry wants is to be like everyone else.

"If I am your prince than you can be my peasant," Louis jokes. Harry actually lets out a tiny laugh and nuzzles his nose into Louis' shoulder.

"How about we just be Louis and Harry? No titles," Harry suggests. Louis gives his hand a tiny squeeze and nods his head.

"I like that idea," He tells him. Harry stays cuddled up in Louis' side and draws small shapes on his tiny, clothed tummy. Louis starts to feel his eyes get heavy and he turns so Harry is separated from his side.

"I am getting tired, Harry," Louis admits. A small yawn escapes his pink lips and Harry coos at how cute he looks.

"That is fine. We should both go to bed. I will see you tomorrow?" Harry asks. Louis nods sleepily and both boys stand to their feet. Louis gives him back his crown and Harry places it back on his head.

"Will you meet me here again tomorrow night?" Louis asks. His eyes feel so heavy, but he has to know Harry's answer.

"I would not miss it," Harry tells him, then he gently picks up his sleepy boy and silently brings him to the servant house. Louis manages to let himself in and Harry walks back to his room. He smiles as he lays his head on the pillow and all he can see Louis' face in the back of his mind.