we'll live to tell the tale (l.s.)

it's crazy, how blind one can be toward their own existence

they found themselves lost in conversation, this time completely sober and completely present in the moment. it was like they were two children who received a new toy and fixated on nothing but the gleaming new object before them.

harry revealed that he was pursuing music—he wanted to show his feelings to the world through lyrics and instrumentation. louis was currently studying english, though not yet sure what he would do with his degree. at the moment, every sign had pointed him toward law.

"you should just do what feels best. it's also never too late to change your mind." harry told him, downing the last of his tea, "i mean, whatever it is, i'm sure you'll absolutely kill."

"easy for you to say, curly. you've got all the youth, talent, and looks in the world. it's also just expensive as fuck to change majors. not everyone has that option."

he had never struggled with finances his entire life, despite the recent misfortunes his family had suffered. harry lived a relatively happy childhood, aside from his father walking out when he was seven. his mother had always been enough for him. "well, i don't want to act like i know everything because i don't," he said carefully, "since i've never had to deal with that. but i know that if it's you, everything will go fine."

louis grinned fondly at this. what an awkward boy with an awkward way with words. but somehow they always managed to dig deep at his heart, slowly but surely peeling down the walls layer by layer—a laborious, cumbersome task, but after a while, progress could be seen. "perfect little one, aren't you?" the ocean boy chuckled. "no worries, no flaws, nothing. too good for me, you are."

harry's forehead wrinkled at this. he knew that it was all in good humor, but it somehow rubbed him the wrong way. "you know that's not true, right? i'm human, just like you are. there's no such thing as someone being 'too good' for someone else or any of that."

"i know, harold. it was just a saying. of course there are things that even the great harry styles could struggle with. but you're so amazing it's probably their fault for making you struggle in the first place."

"don't flatter me, lou. you're just as special."

louis' smile faltered for a split second at this, which made harry's heart prickle. he felt tv static coursing through him for a moment, even thinking for a moment that this beautiful boy doesn't see the good in himself. "oh, shut up, you hardly even know me."

"i hardly even know you and i already can see how great you are."

"you just don't know me well enough to see it all yet."

"well then i hope you'll bless me with the privilege of being proved wrong. doesn't happen often, you know." harry smirked. he lived for banter. he's always been a gentle person on the surface, but it always lit a flame in him to be able to argue good-naturedly.

both boys bursted out in laughter. louis wanted this moment to freeze in time, so he could grab it in the air and shove it down into a bottle to store as a keepsake. if sparks flew every time there was chemistry between two people, this café would have burnt down already, with how well harry and louis fit. sparks of golden light were flying everywhere.

they spoke like this for what felt like a lifetime. people say that time passed more quickly when you're having fun, but really only felt true to an extent. there exists these ethereal moments—calling them moments of enlightenment would hardly be a stretch—where it feels like the world stops for you. it stops and it listens and it cares. and for harry and louis, the other was all that mattered.

when they heard bells ringing from the church a second time during their conversation, both came to realize that they had been babbling about nothing in particular, yet everything in the world, for nearly two hours.