Pretty in Plastic (l.s)

xxxi

For two people to agree on being platonic, and share the same bed every night is asking for trouble. It doesn't matter if they place pillows between them, or sleep almost on the edge of the bed. Somehow, someway, their bodies are melded together under the sheets by morning. Louis will be spooning Harry, a position the taller man quite enjoys on nights where he felt terrible, and neither break away when they wake up. Usually, what's now a part of the morning routine, they'll talk about their sleep and dreams before moving away from each other.

It's pretty domestic, Harry knows that, but he also knows this is the closest amount of skin-on-skin contact he'll be getting from Louis for awhile. He'll take what he can get. Harry cooks them breakfast every day, and Louis chows down while giving him praises. The doll doesn't realize it, but his compliments boost Harry's ego and it helps the man become more comfortable with himself. Louis still borrows Harry's sweaters for work, a habit of his that Harry hopes he never stops doing.

In summary, the two— even without kissing, sex, dates, and love confessions— are extremely couple like. They both know it, Harry especially, but neither are making a move to end the habits they have. It's been almost a week, Louis' date with Liam is in two days, and neither of them have really taken the action to halt what they're doing because they love it too much.

"Louis!" The doll looks up from his phone, and smiles when he sees the female version of Harry strolling over. After work, Harry took Louis to the local park. He wanted to see more of the city, and Harry couldn't deny him. Louis also wanted to see Gemma because he liked her, and Harry held no qualms because he knew Gemma liked Louis.

"Gemma!" Louis stands, and hugs her. "How are you?"

He winces when Gemma punches his arm, and he rubs the spot. "That's for leaving without a goodbye. I've been miserable keeping this brat company." She motions to Harry, and the man drops his jaw.

"Excuse me?" He puts a hand on his hip, and points a finger at her. "You think it's all rainbows, and sunshine being around you?"

They start to argue like the children Louis remembers them as, and the doll takes a deep breath of fresh air. A lot has changed about the two of them as individuals, but he's happy to know that not everything changes with time.

—————

"So, are you two dating now?" Gemma asks as she, and Harry sit on the bench. She's sipping her tea from the shop behind them, and Louis's listening to a street performer a couple feet away.

"No." Harry mumbles as he watches the traffic jam in front of them. "I told you, we're just friends."

"Why the hell is he back if you aren't dating?" She says into her cup, and Harry hopes he wasn't meant to hear that. "Didn't he leave because you wouldn't leave Kala?"

"That isn't why. I told him to go after we got in an argument." Harry looks at her.

Gemma gives an unimpressed look, and raises her eyebrows. "What was the argument about?"

Harry blushes, and he takes a minute to answer. "Kala."

"Exactly."

"That's not why he's back."

"Are you sure?" Gemma turns her body to face him fully, and sits her tea in lap. "He conveniently comes back after you dump her just to, what? Say hi? Come on, Harry, I know you're a bit dim but not that dim."

"So why is he staying after I told him no?" Harry challenges, and crosses his arms. Gemma just grins.

"Did you really say no, though, or did you just say later?" Harry loses his smug smirk, and uncrosses his arms. Gemma sips her tea. "This stuff is really good."

Harry looks past her, and towards Louis. He knows the doll said he doesn't know what made him turn back into a human, but the coincidence of that and Harry dumping Kala is too weird. He knows dumping Kala was one of the hardest decisions of his life, and Louis came back in that moment. Is it really because he knew he had a chance with Harry after?

"No," Harry denies, "that's not why he came back."

Gemma watches him. "Then why?"

Harry opens his mouth to answer, but he stops. He watches Louis smile at the sad looking man playing guitar, an the man smiles back. Harry watches as the worries the man seemed to have from today drift away as Louis chats with him. Seeing the way Louis brightens people up never ceases to amaze Harry, but the man knows that's why he was made: to lift people up during their most trying times. "He came back because I made, and went through with the hardest decision of my life. I needed someone to push me forward, and he came."

That's why Louis came back, isn't it? Like the man playing guitar, Harry needed— still needs even— someone there to have his back, comfort him, and tell him everything would be okay. Louis came back because Harry needed him.

Louis says his goodbye to the man, and tips him a nice twenty dollar bill. He waves, thanks him for the show, and turns back to Harry and Gemma. He catches Harry's stare, but he doesn't falter. The doll smiles as if there's no worries in the world, and walks over with a hop in his step. It's as if time slows down for Harry, and his heart races as he sees Louis wave to a young child. The sun seems brighter, and the air seems warmer as Louis' cheek heat up with a blush.

"You're what's stopping him," he hears Gemma mumble and he assumes she's speaking because the effect Louis has over Harry is clear, "but what's stopping you?"

Harry swallows, and licks his lips. He doesn't verbally respond to her, but the answer stands clear in his head. Himself.

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