Candy Cane Eyes; larry stylinson (boxer!harry) [completed]

6

The world must hate Louis, or maybe Louis hates himself because the next day, he wakes up feeling the absolute worst. He whimpers and curls deeper into his bed, his stomach was hurting and his head was throbbing.

Maybe it was because he overindulged on sweets the previous night. He mixed many different desserts like truffles, two different kinds of cake, pudding, almost an entire packet of tarts and a caramel apple. This happens every year, Louis eats a good portion of the desserts and wakes up feeling like a stampede stomped all over his tummy. He never learns his lesson.

Louis is almost fully convinced the universe despises him. After he gets over his stomach ache, he immediately catches a cold. Though, it was clear that he got sick because he refuses to wear shoes out in the snow and it leaves his feet wet and cold. Harry sighs when Louis tells him they need to reschedule their date again. Louis quips with a clever "third times the charm!" Harry doesn't agree but Louis doesn't let his illness get in the way of seeing Harry.

They spend most of their time in Louis' apartment since Louis refused to leave his pets alone for a long period of time. They watch movies but don't kiss, Harry didn't want to get sick as well and they'll be forced to reschedule their date for a fourth time. Louis is careful about what he eats for a few days, then grows weak when Harry brings three different kinds of cheesecake from a local bakery. Louis was going to face his stomach ache armed with a heating pad and tea.

It was a Thursday, Harry had a match the next day but Louis wanted to introduce him to all his pets. Harry already met Ronald and he had Wham wrapped around his finger, Louis would be jealous but Wham looked so cute curled on Harry's lap.

"That's 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 10." Louis points to each fish in the large tank. They stare blankly at him.

"Let me guess," Harry says, "seven ate nine."

Louis shakes his head. "No. Shi did."

"She?"

Louis picks up the cat weaving between his legs and the one standing atop the fish tank. "This is Su, and this is Shi."

Harry doesn't seem like a pet person at first glance but nods approvingly. "Su-Shi." He hums. "You have a creative brain, mint."

It's a few days later and Louis is still sick. It isn't too bad but he sneezes quite often and his throat hurts. Louis gets bored of being alone with his pets, he's sure his cats are planning to take all his socks in retaliation of him dressing them in ridiculous outfits for pictures to send to Harry. The man always replies with a "very nice." Louis liked spamming him because Harry would rarely send a very revealing picture of himself after a match or training when he was sweaty and pumped full of adrenaline. Louis had saved all of them to his phone.

Louis eventually leaves his apartment in search of Harry. He sits in the lobby wrapped in a wool blanket with his bunny in a small pouch on his lap. When he sees Harry walk out of the elevator, he nearly jostles his poor bunny. "Where are you going?"

The man stops in his tracks, nearly out the lobby door. "I have a match tonight."

"Great!" Louis is careful when he strides to Harry. "I want to—"

"Nope," Harry pushes Louis back inside and away from the cold winter of New York. "You're sick, peppermint. You should go back home."

Louis frowns deeply. He crosses his arms, holding his pet tightly. "I want to watch."

"And, I want you to get better so we can go on a date," Harry says without a pause.

"I'm so sad!"

Harry nods. "Yes, I can tell by your pout." He purses his lips. "You should learn to take care of yourself."

"I can't!" Louis raises his voice. "I'm too lazy to cook dinner and you won't let me leave to get something to eat!"

"Because you clearly don't know how to dress appropriately for the weather, mint." Harry gently touches Louis' neck. "You have a million sweaters but not a single coat."

"Jackets are for losers. I would rather layer up."

Harry smiles. "Okay, how about you go back home," Harry crowds him, making Louis walk backwards in his socks. "And, I'll bring you dinner tonight after my match. If you're still awake."

"I'll be awake," Louis promises. "I want something soupy, please."

Harry's hands grasp Louis' hips to keep him in place and nuzzles his nose on Louis' heated cheek. "You're so warm, you need to go rest, peppermint."

"I will." Louis leans into Harry's touch. "If you win."

Harry's laugh is loud and full of everything Louis wanted in a song. "I'll win tonight, don't worry." He turns around to leave.

"Wait! The mistletoe!" Louis cries out. "You forgot to kiss me!"

"You're sick, peppermint. Go home. Keep warm for me, yeah?" Harry calls out, not waiting for a reply as he leaves out the door. 

When Louis is ready for their date, Harry delivers the worst news ever.

"I have a train to catch," Harry says after telling Louis they had to reschedule again. He swiftly catches one of Louis' cats that jumps into his arms.

"Where are you going?" Louis slumps, he was already dressed and did his hair. He even bought all the ingredients for their dinner because Harry said they would cook together instead of going out.

"Back home. My family wants me home for my birthday." Wham walks up to Harry and circles his legs.

"But we've had this planned forever." They were going to act like Louis' illness never happened and didn't interrupt their schedule. They were to pretend that it was the New Years' party Louis had to cancel and spend the whole day wrapped up in each other's presence.

"I'm sorry, peppermint." Harry looks conflicted. "I would invite you but you have all these babies to take care of." He holds up Shi as the animal meows.

Louis likes the way Harry says babies but he still pouts. He was upset. "I wanted you to be my New Years' kiss." Louis sees the luggage by Harry's feet, just lingering outside his door.

"I'll call you when I get there, okay?" Harry runs a hand through Louis' messy hair. He kisses his forehead and hands over Shi. "I'll be back before you know it, mint. Just wait by the phone, yeah?"

Louis waits all night. Harry never calls him. He waits for the entire next day, no call. He waits for a whole week, no call. He has tried to stand around the lobby, wait for Harry to walk in with a suitcase with his same plain face but Louis had gotten a call from the landlord. He spoke about how Louis' odd behaviour was making the other residents feel uneasy. That night, Louis took down every mistletoe in the building. 

NOTE: i love this so much. i hope u all do too. thoughts ?