Royal || larry

IX

Harry's family ignored him all the next day and the next. He met Louis behind the barn each night and each night he fell harder for the blue eyed boy. He spent less time with him during the day - sending Louis to the stables to care for the horses or to just be with his family. It is not that he does not want to see the boy - he loves seeing him - but Harry's father has gotten suspicious of the two.

Harry is sitting in the den, by the fire reading a book when someone enters. He looks up to see Louis standing there. His face is soft and shy and he's holding a small book in his hand too.

"I was wondering if I could sit in here with you? Your parents have left..." Louis trails off and he gives Harry big, puppy eyes. Harry gives in quickly and scoots over so the boy can sit next to him. Louis grins and skips over, sitting next to Harry happily.

"Do you know where my parents have gone?" Harry wonders.

"Into the village. I think I heard something about an announcement," Louis informs him. Harry nods his head slowly and glances down to see Louis is still reading Pinocchio. Louis catches him staring and makes a face at him.

"I do not have a lot of time to read. I am almost finished," he defends himself. Harry chuckles and reopens his book.

"I did not say anything," he replies. Louis just ignores him and both boys get swallowed into the pages of their books. The room is silent except for their breaths, the turning of pages and the crackle of the fire. It is almost like they are the only two people in the whole castle - maybe even the whole world - and neither boy would really mind that.

They do not know how long they just sit and read. Louis is the one to break the beautiful silence when he closes his book shut.

"I actually finished it," he breathes out. Harry jumps at the sound of his voice and turns to face him.

"Great job, Louis. You can borrow another if you would like?" Harry offers. Louis does not seem to digest Harry's words. He turns so he is fully facing the prince and he has a giddy smile on his face.

"Harry! I read a book. All of it. This is only the third time I have done this," Louis cheers. Harry can feel a smile form on his face and he leans forward and gives Louis a tiny kiss.

"That is amazing, love," Harry prides him. Louis smiles wider and leans forward to kiss Harry again.

"It is easier to read with you," Louis admits. Harrys heart flutters and he crawls forward so he is in Louis' lap. Louis just wraps his arms around the boy and rests his chin on his shoulder. Harry grabs his own book and opens it back up to his page.

"Can you read to me, Harry?" Louis whispers. Harry leans his head back against Louis' chest and nods.

~

Louis was always behind the barn before Harry. No matter how fast Harry tried to get there Louis always beat him. Not that Harry cared, because his favorite part of everyday was turning the dark corner to see Louis' petit figure looking up into the never ending sky. He loves the way his stomach rolls with anticipation to see him and how his steps seem to become longer and faster instinctively. Louis just draws Harry to him and Harry does the same to Louis.

Harry gets closer and sees Louis is holding something in his hand. His head is still raised toward the sky, but his fingers aimlessly twirl the object in his hand. Harry scrunches his brow as he tries to decipher what it is and Louis' head snaps over to him when he hears Harry's foot steps.

"Hi," Louis whispers. His voice is soft as melted butter and Harry will never get tired of listening to it. He sits down next to the boy and can finally see what he is holding; a small, pink rose. Louis sees Harry looking at it and his cheeks flush - not that you can see in the dark - and he gently hands it to him.

"I saw the one on your desk has wilted..." Louis explains. Harry takes the rose from Louis and smiles gently at the flower. It is the same kind Louis gave him the first night and Harry can not help but feel butterflies attack his stomach.

"Thank you. I really love when you give me flowers," Harry tells him. Louis smiles as the boy examines the flower and he can see a shy, smile on his face too.

"I will give you flowers all the time then," Louis concludes. Harrys smile grows and he leans over to kiss Louis' cheek lovingly.

"Harry?" Louis speaks.

"Hmm?" Harry hums. His head is leaning on Louis' shoulder and his eyes are closed - just savoring the moment.

"I see you write sometimes," Louis starts. Harry hums again to let him know he heard him and Louis swallows thickly.

"Can you write a story about us? So people know that this is okay," Louis wonders. His voice is tiny and scared as the words slip off his tongue and through his lips. Harry opens his eyes and gently pulls away so he can see Louis' face. Their eyes meet and Harry can feel his heart burn at how much he admires and adores the boy in front of him. It physically hurts his heart at how attached he has become.

"Only if you will read it," Harry tells him. Louis grins and nods his head.

"Of course. If it is bad we will not let others see it," Louis tells him. Harry chuckles and leans back down on Louis' shoulder.

"It will not be. I am good at everything," Harry tells him confidently. Louis snorts, but does not say anything against the prince. Harry makes a face that Louis can not see, but keeps his head on his shoulder. The boys sit in silence and listen as crickets chirp around them.

"Does this scare you?" Louis wonders. The question lingers in the air and seems to hang darkly around the two boys. Harry swallows the large lump in his throat and sadly nods his head. He pulls away so Louis can see him.

"This scares me a lot. I am scared of my parents and your mother and what people will do if-if they find out," Harry's voice cracks and becomes hoarse the more he talks.

"I understand." Louis tells him. He does understand. He is also scared, but neither boy can leave the other.

"You mean so much to me. I do not want to lose you," Harry admits. Louis looks at him with soft eyes and he pulls Harry to him so he can embrace him tightly.

"You mean so much to me too. More than almost anyone," Louis tells him. Harry just clings to him tighter and he can feel how fast Louis' heart beat is against his chest. His must be just as fast and he loves that they can have that affect on each other.

"What is your favorite book, Harry?" Louis asks. Harry pulls away and excitedly starts to talk. That is how the rest of their evening goes - both boys sit across from each other and talk about everything and nothing.

Harry finally decides it is time to leave and when he reaches his room, he replaces his old rose with his new one. He stares at it for a long while and fear creeps into him again. Except it is not fear of his father or mother or other people. It is fear that he is falling for Louis Tomlinson. He is falling too hard and too fast and he is scared.

But he is also excited because he knows Louis feels the same.