moonlight|| instagram {l.s.}

|fifty-three|

31 January/ 1 February 2017

they laid on the stretch of dry grass at the clearing that had been long claimed harry's. the trees and bushes whispered lowly as the cold wind rushed past them. but louis had never been warmer. louis- snuggled into harry's side, breathing in his minty fragrance, head resting on harry's arm that was bent under his head as well, harry's curls lightly tickled his cheeks, his fingertips dancing over harry's torso- had never been warmer.

harry's eyes stared above, gliding carefully across the stars, which shone brightly as freshly polished diamonds, seeming to be painted on the velvety dark curtain of the sky. the sight above was breathtaking and dazzling, louis had to admit. but louis only watched harry. because honestly? harry was the brightest star there'd ever be.

(and louis fucking adored stars.)

"lou?" harry voices into the silence, bringing louis out of his creepy staring.

"hmm?" 

"do you believe in soulmates?"

a few beats pass before louis answers, "no." he turns over onto his stomach supporting himself on his elbows to get a better view of harry's face, "well, i didn't, but then i met a certain curly head with the most beautiful green eyes" he purses his lips, giving him a playful look.

harry's face bursts into a grin in a way that could be equated to the blooming of a sunflower, reflecting in louis' face as well. they continued to look at each other as their smiles softened, eyes exchanging "you had to" and "i did" looks. 

"i do, though" louis clears his throat, "i do believe in soulmates. but just not the 'they're made for each other' thing. or 'whatever our souls are made of, ours is the same'. no, that's bullshit. i think soulmates are just two souls that, you know, fit together. they don't have to be made for each other, they might be just so wrong together, they might not even end up together, but it feels perfect. and that's, to me, all that matters" he explains and harry watches, absorbing everything in.

"do you think we're soulmates?" harry asks after a moment.

louis takes a deep breath, his gaze wandering far ahead at the swishing bushes, "i hope"  he looks back at harry, "but it doesn't have to matter." he lets out the breath, "i'm not letting you ever go anyway" he says while throwing his arms around harry's shoulders, hugging their heads close together, "because i, for one, don't know how to live without you" he whispers and harry's lips stretch into a grin once again as he brings an arm around to cage louis against his side.

louis finally lets his gaze wander into the sky, fixing upon the pale glow of the moon, "h, you know what i adore about the moon?" harry turns his head to face him while louis continues staring far up, "she's so beautiful, so stunning, heavenly, but it seems like she somehow doesn't know it. her light is always brightening up every dark crevice on the earth. and she's always there, even when she doesn't make it known, she's always there. people look up to her, people wanna be like her. but she has a dark side too. she has scars too. she has all these fears and insecurities and doubts but she doesn't show anyone an ounce of it. she just keeps shining down on us. and i think that's fucking beautiful" louis turns his face to meet harry's eyes, "you're like the moon, h"

harry's careful expression softens into a small smile. he stares at louis with the same look for a few seconds, before turning to look up, eyes shut and lips pursed in the most adorable way, "hmm, louuu, you're like..." he turns back with a smile, "you're like, the sea" louis lifts an eyebrow, smile taking over his own lips, "you're like, so mighty and strong and rough on the outside, some might even say intimidating and scary. but when you take time to look inside, there are so many beautiful things, it's like a whole another world. and even though you might not know, people do understand you, lou"

louis replies with a gentle smile, picking up their intertwined hands, that had somehow found their way to each without either's notice and placing a soft kiss where harry's fingers fit perfectly into his.

(the moon and the sea were in love.)

"so," they turn to each other, harry's eyes holding a mischievous glint, "the moon and the sea- are meant to be!" he says in delight, lips harboring a fit of giggles.

louis turns over, their torsos almost on top of each other, with wide eyes and an open mouth, "goddamn, styles! and it thought i was the poetic one here!" he exclaims sarcastically, making harry's body convulse with a splutter of giggles underneath him, joined by his own chuckles.

"i love you so much, dork" he lowered his head to close the distance between them, pressing a soft kiss to his lips, and harry wastes no time in happily complying.

"i love you" harry breathes into his mouth when they draw back to catch their breath. soon louis' fingers are entangled in harry's curls, tugging at the bandanna holding the mop back, harry's hands dipping into each curve of his back, tongues, wet and warm, fiddling with each other as their mouths lazily, softly worked against each other.

"oof" "fucking shi-" both their gasps are mumbled at the same time on being interrupted by a sudden vibration from the left pocket of louis' sweats where his leg was buried in between harry's thighs. louis quickly fished his phone out, fumbling to hit snooze and shut it off, not needing to see the notification to know what it was, before tossing it onto the ground beside. 

he looked back to harry with a sheepish smile before rolling his eyes and planting another kiss on his lips, "happy birthday, curly"

harry's laughing before even beginning his sentence, "i can't believe you had an actual alarm set!" 

louis shoots back a smug smile, "couldn't risk missing the most important day of the year, could we?"

"thank you, i fucking adore you, tiny" louis ignores everything that statement does to his heart and dips his head to attach their lips once again.