Mortal, But At Least I'm Free

Chapter 22

The next couple of days past in a blur of Harry pointing out beautiful places and people while Louis gripped his hand, terrified of letting go. It felt like it would pass, until they got to the town where they met. They were planning to stay the night, and Harry had a sinking sense of dread. They checked into a local place, and went for a walk. Harry liked to take Louis on walks, it was when they had the most fun. Harry wished he could help Louis process the decision they were making, because not knowing was starting to scare him.

"Hi!" a woman's voice called out and Harry turned to see the beautiful girl he'd helped weeks ago.

"Gigi, right?"

"Yeah! How are you? It's so good to see you!" She hugged him. Harry was startled. But Louis was smiling at him. Really smiling for the first time since they'd talked to Hades. So he just smiled back.

"I'm doing really well Gigi, how are you? How did your boyfriend take the pregnancy announcement? How are you feeling?" Harry stepped back, still holding both her hands. She was beaming.

"He was perfect. I love him so much. Who's this?" she gestured to Louis, who waved awkwardly.

"This is Louis. He's-" Harry wasn't sure how to describe him.

"I'm Harry's friend." Louis smiled tightly and shook Gigi's hand. "I've heard good things about you. The sweet girl who Harry got to help. You really helped him on his quest," Gigi looked confused about that but just laughed politely.

"GIGI!" The man Harry had seen with her before came out, frantically looking for her.

"Zayn!" She was completely scooped up by the man, Zayn, when he reached her.

"You can't run off like that. I'm not recovered from the time Demeter tried to take you. Please tell me where you're going, for my peace of mind?"

"I'm sorry. I wanted you to meet Harry, he's the one who saved me," she turned back to the demigod and introduced them to one another.

"Louis!"

"You know Louis?" Harry looked between Zayn and Louis waiting for an explanation. Louis shrugged and blushed.

"Louis and I are friends," Zayn hugged the shorter boy, and Harry felt a distinct surge of jealousy.

"Yeah, Zayn's one of the people I hoped to be friends with once I was mortal," Louis didn't look directly at Harry, but he understood now. Zayn was someone who reminded Louis why he wanted mortality.

"Well, it was really good to meet you Zayn. And hopefully you'll be seeing more of both of us," Harry reached for Louis' hand when he said that. Zayn and Gigi shared a smile about it, and said goodbye. Louis didn't stop blushing the whole way back to their room.

"You know you're...more. Then just my friend, right?" Harry waited for Louis to respond. It felt like an eternity before he finally did.

"Yeah, I just....I don't know what we're calling it. I, I didn't want to pressure you into labeling it or anything."

"We could. We could label whatever it is we're doing, if you wanted to."

Neither boy looked at the other. Harry put the key into the lock of their door.

"Harry. I don't know what we could call it." Louis walked through the door, and to the window. Keeping his back to Harry, Louis didn't stop talking.

"I'm terrified that the gods won't let us be together. I'm terrified. I want to pull away. I want to disappear. Because that would be easier than telling you over and over that I love you." Louis turned then to look at Harry. To drink all of him in, like a man dying of thirst. "It would be easier to leave than to tell you that I feel like you make me whole. That I don't need to find someplace to hide, or escape to when I'm with you. Because with you I feel like I'm home. I'm safe. I feel like my soul belongs to yours." Louis stepped up to Harry, brushing his hair off his face, running his fingers along Harry's eyes, his lips. "And then what? What if the gods take that away? What would I do? For eternity I would always know that I could never be happy. I don't know if I can survive that Harry. I don't know if I can say goodbye to you. And I feel crazy! I feel so crazy because I haven't known you that long, and I shouldn't know that a life without you isn't a life I want. It's not a life I want at all. Mortal or immortal. If you're not there it's never going to be enough."

Louis rested his head against Harry's chest, and Harry wrapped his arms around him gently. Afraid to break the moment. Afraid to ruin this thing that felt so delicate. So breakable.

"I don't know how Louis, but we're going to be together."

"You can't know that Harry."

"I won't let them take you away from me. Whatever it takes, I'll make sure. Not even the gods above could keep me away from you. Whatever it takes for us to be free of them. Whatever I have to do to be with you, I'll do it Louis."

"Why? Why Harry?" Louis looked up at the tall, dark haired boy who he loved inexplicably.

"Because I feel the same way. You're my home now Louis." Harry kissed Louis' forehead, then pressed a kiss to his temples. His voice, just a whisper now. "Mount Olympus is merely a place. You're my home Louis. I don't want a life, mortal or immortal, without you either."

"But what if you really do have to give up your immortality Harry? I wouldn't ask you to do that for me."

"I would do anything for you Louis. Mortal, but at least I'd be free. We'd be free." Harry kissed Louis then, and Louis imagined that this really would be their forever.