Soft music filled the kitchen as Harry entered, seeing Louis dishing up the food.

Harry sat down at the kitchen table, looking up as Louis padded across the kitchen with a bowl in either hand. Louis was singing along quietly, and Harry smiled fondly.

It was incredibly stormy out, the rain pattering against the windows and the sky dark. The kitchen however, contrasted greatly. The lights were warm and the windows were a little steamed up.

"Bon appetit." He smiled, placing the bowls of spaghetti down.

"Thank you." Harry ran a hand through his curls, "smells good."

"It's my mum's recipe." Louis beamed proudly. "Me and my siblings always loved it when we were younger."

"What are your siblings called?"

"Well, there's Lottie, then Fizzy, then Daisy and Phoebe who are twins, and then the youngest twins- Doris and Ernest."

"You've got a whole army there."

"Yeah." Louis chuckled, "it's incredibly busy when I visit. Never a moment of peace. I wouldn't have it any other way though."

"Yeah, it seems nice to have a big family." Harry twisted the spaghetti around his fork. "You know, I'm yet to encounter Mr French and I won't be here much longer. I might've dodged a bullet with that one."

"How long will you be here?"

"Not very long." Harry bit his lip. "Maybe around a week."

"Only a week?" Louis frowned, "but what will I do when you're gone?"

"Whatever you did before I arrived." Harry said simply, "come on, I'm not that interesting."

"You are. You're nice to talk to. I'm going to be so bored."

"You'll find someone better." Harry chuckled dryly. "I can assure you of that."

"No I won't. Don't be silly."

"Okay...um, how long are Jamie and Ella staying again?'

"I think 2 more nights after tonight."

"Oh. Okay."

"I want them gone too. They're too much of a happy couple."

The corners of Harry's lips lifted, "you can't say you want your guests gone."

"I absolutely can. I've been in about 4 relationships in my life. One of them was a girl before I knew I was gay, and the other two were at uni. They're just rubbing it in now."

"If it makes you feel any better, I've only had 1 relationship. And never again."

"You're never going to have a relationship again?" Louis raised his eyebrows.

"Nope, never."

"Come on, you're 27."

Harry just shook his head, "I don't want to."

"That bad?"

"Yeah. He was a fucking prick. He just used me and hurt me and then it was all a joke to him and his friends anyway." Harry looked back down, eyes flitting around.

Louis's heart clenched a little, Harry had been through so, so much pain, and he wasn't even sure if he knew everything. "I'm so sorry."

"It's what I deserved." Harry mumbled, shaking his head.

"What?" Louis wasn't sure if he had heard Harry right.

"I deserved it."

"What?" Louis repeated louder, "what do you mean?"

"I was too easy. I should've known that he wouldn't want me."

"H," Louis sighed, "please don't think of yourself like that. Please, don't."

Harry looked up, surprised but secretly pleased at the nickname. He didn't answer, not quite knowing what to say. Louis was one of the few people in his life who had ever appreciated Harry. One of the few who had ever encouraged Harry to be himself. And Harry didn't quite understand. It scared him a little.

So instead he just blurted out, "what's your favourite vegetable?"

Louis looked a little taken aback, trying not to laugh as he observed the way Harry's cheeks were tinged with pink.

"I like carrots."

"Cool. Um, I like broccoli."

"You what? You like fucking broccoli?"

"Yes." Harry confirmed.

"But I swear everyone hates broccoli because they were force fed it with every meal until they began to make their own meals?"

"Nope. I've always liked broccoli, I would ask for more." He admitted, and Louis literally facepalmed.

"I'm so confused. Nobody likes broccoli."

"I like broccoli." Harry repeated.

"But-" Louis sounded a little exasperated. "Okay, we're just going around in circles. What about potatoes?"

"What?"

"Why aren't potatoes your favourite vegetable?"

"Why aren't they yours?" Harry retaliated.

"They are. They're my joined favourite. Because potatoes are fucking shapeshifters. Chips they can do, crisps they can do, roasted they can do, new they can do, mashed they can do-"

"Thank you for the lesson on potatoes." Harry cut him off with a giggle, "I'll move potatoes higher up on my list."

"You do that." Louis chuckled.

//

"Is the pub still open?" Harry trudged in.

"Nah, I just closed up. You can come in though."

"Thank you. I just wanted somewhere quiet to sit."

"What about the living room?"

"They're in there."

"Ah, the too happy couple. Yeah, come sit down somewhere."

Harry made his way over to the chair in the corner, kicking his slippers off and curling up. He opened up the book that was in his hand.

"I've gotta go back nextdoor and sort out the kitchen but the doors are locked so you can stay out here as long as you want."

"You sure? I can go up to my room if you want?"

"I'm positive." Louis smiled, "night."

"Night." Harry replied, returning his attention to the book as the heavy door shut behind Louis.

After a while his eyes began heavy, so he placed the book down and rested his head back, closing his eyes. He may as well rest for a while, but he really couldn't be arsed with going up to his room. 10 minutes and he would.

But 10 minutes later Harry was fast asleep in the armchair, the fireplace behind him almost making him appear as an angel.

Yet soon the fire died out, though the angel remained asleep. Surrounded by the lonely darkness.

//

Louis was humming to himself as he walked into the pub, flicking the lights on. He ambled over to the bar, making sure everything was ready for opening

As he started walking around the tables, something- or someone- caught his eye and he was sure he almost had a heart attack. He grasped at his chest, trying to regain his breathing as he took in the sleeping man.

Had Harry slept in here all night? By the looks of his disheveled clothes and the book that lay upside down on the table, he had.

Not wanting to wake Harry up, but also not sure he could really keep the pub closed until Harry awoke, he leaned a bit closer.

And then he poked Harry. He couldn't help it, Harry's dimple was right there, and he had to wake him up somehow. He poked Harry again, but no response. The only thing that gave away the fact that Harry was still alive was the small action of his chest rising up and down.

"Harry." Louis sung, shaking Harry gently, "c'mon. Wake up please because I feel bad trying to wake you up. Harryyyy."

That seemed to get Harry to stir as his eyes fluttered open, emerald eyes bright and curious. Louis stood up before sitting on the opposite chair.

"Hello?"

"Hallo." Louis grinned, observing how beautiful Harry looked despite having just woken up.

"Where am I?" He looked around slowly, before realisation hit him. "Shit, what time is it?"

"9 am."

"Well...that was a long 10 minutes." He murmured. "I'm sorry, I'll go back nextdoor."

"Sorry." Louis winced, "I don't mind, I just have to open up."

"It's okay. I'll go get breakfast." He yawned. "Thanks for not opening up and letting some little kid wake me up." A small smile appeared on his face.

"Anytime, anytime." Louis replied with a grin and a thumbs up. "See ya later."