Louis sat quietly in the back of a black minivan, the air cold and the sky dark. He rubbed his eyes as the car pulled into the airport parking lot.

No paps yet, but he knows as soon as he steps out of the car he wont be left alone.

He grabs his sunglasses and hat even though it's still dark out. He flips his hood up as the door beside him opens.

The car starts up again as soon as his feet hit the tarmac. He lights a cigarette earning an eye roll from the driver as he speeds off.

As he walks to the boarding gate with his bodyguards beside him, he exhales, the smoke mixing with his warm breath against the cold nighttime air.

"Hood up, glasses on until you board" one of the two men speak, a strong hand on his shoulder to make sure he was listening. He always had the habit of wanting to meet fans rather than avoid them, but as of right now hes exhausted, so with a sigh he nodded.

Nobody approached him as he sat in the small blue chair against the back wall, only a few lingering stairs but only because of the attire, not because they recognized him.

"I can do this by myself, you know?" He spoke as one of the men came back from the customs table.

With a dismissed grunt, the man sat opposite of him, the second one standing beside Louis, his hands crossed infront of his stomach.

"People are more likely to stare with you guys around" he spoke, taking his sunglasses off.

"On" the man across from him furrowed his brows.

"There's nobody around" Louis motioned with his hands.

The men shared a glance, shrugging and saying no more. Louis sat back after a while, tucking his hands under his armpits.

He always used his sass to get his way, he closed his eyes and smiled.

•

Harry hummed along to the soft tunes spilling from his car radio, nearly missing the turn.

He turned off the music as he followed the signs saying "airport".

Soon enough he found a parking spot for his car at the back of the lot. He wrapped himself up in a scarf and two jumpers before braving the long, cold walk to the building.

With a quick stop at the Information Booth, he checked his ticket and made his way to his gate. He stood against the paper thin wall, waiting for his flight to be announced.

•

It was a ten hour flight. The plane was filled with sleeping people, music, and odd noises. Harry made his way slowly down the isle, his eyes strained as he read the small print on his ticket. E32.

He found the seat, an isle seat. He stuffed his carry on into the drawer above the seats before slumping down beside a man in the seat next to him.

He didnt spare a second glance as the man continued to look out the window at the plane's taking off and landing on the runways beside theirs.

They went through the manidtory safety procedures before the plane took off. The man beside him gripping slightly tighter on the armrest with his eyes squeezed closed.

It was about an hour into the flight when the man beside him sat up straight. They made eye contact as Harry looked up. Harry stood up to let the man squeeze out of the seat.

"Thanks" he smiled before disappearing down the isle and into the washroom.

A few minutes later he came back, sitting back down. Harry gently touched his shoulder as he slipped past.

He smiled at him as got comfortable again, Harry not pulling his gaze away from him.

He furrowed his eyebrows looking back at the man for a second, thinking.

"You alright?" He laughed as Harry made eye contact with him.

"Do I know you from somewhere?" He asked, feeling slightly stupid.

"Hmm, don't think so" he smiled, returning his focus back to his book.

"You look familiar" he spoke to himself.

"I've got a common face I geuss" he replied, looking back up at Harry. Doncaster accent.

"I geuss so" he said, still not completely convinced.

"Where are you headed to anyway?" Harry asked.

"Cali for work, travel alot. And you?" he nodded.

"Visiting my mum and sister, they wanted to take me to some concert" he replied.

"Which one?" He smirked without looking at Harry.

"Not quite sure" Harry chuckled.

The man looked up at him for second with a smile.

"What's your name?" He asked, putting his book away.

"Harry" he smiled simply.

"Louis, nice to meet you" he replied. Harry nodded as a lady with a cart strolled past them.

"Anything to eat? Drink?" She asked. Her hair was pulled into a painfully tight bun on the back of her head, she was in a bright red suit with a purple tie.

Harry glanced at his watch, seeing it was about noon.

"I'll have the turkey sandwich and a water please" he smiled at the lady before turning to face Louis.

"I think I'm okay for now, but thank you" he replied.

"What do you do for work?" Harry directed his focus back to Louis.

Louis tilted his head to the side, pondering for a moment before lacing his fingers together over his stomach.

"I'm a singer" Louis smiled, looking up at Harry.

"A singer? I always wanted to do that when I was a kid" he pulled his sleeves down over his hands.

"It has its up and downs, that's for sure" Louis replied.

Harry's lunch came a while later, the sandwich in a plastic container with a small styrofoam cup of cold potato wedges.

He ate slowly, the potato wedges untouched.

"Are you going to eat those?" Louis asked, peeking from behind his book. He pulled one earbud out as Harry shook his head, pushing the food toward Louis.

"All yours mate" Harry chuckled, poking his tounge out as to say 'no, those look gross'.

Louis smiled in return, taking the cup in his hand. He put his book back down on the small, retractable table I front of him.

"What music are you listening to?" Harry asked, tucking his unused napkins into his carry on bag.

Louis picked up his wired earbud from where it rested on his chest, offering Harry the small white object.

He took it in his fingers, leaning closer to put it in his ear.

"Oh! I remember this song, it's from the band my sister likes. It's the concert shes taking me to!" Harry smiled closing his eyes to listen to the music further.

"Ah, she has good taste. I quite like the band myself, hmm, One Direction innit?" Louis smirked.

"Yes, yeah One Direction, that's it!" Harry snapped his fingers.

"Have you ever been to a One Direction concert before? I've never been, I don't really know what to expect"

At this point, Louis was giving it all not to laugh and just tell Harry 'that's my band, dumbass'.

"I have been actually. A few times. Quite the lovely atmosphere if you ask me. " Louis smiled as Harry took the earbud out from his ear, leaning back against his seat.

"Good to know" Harry replied.

They made occasional small talk for the next few hours until Harry put down the crossword he was working on. He slumped back in his chair, sliding down slightly. With a large, silent yawn, he crossed his arms and closed his eyes, angling his head back to rest against the thin foam headrest.

Louis glanced at him for a moment, a soft smile grazing his face before looking back at the worn pages infront of him.

Louis nearly jumped as he felt a bump against his shoulder, quickly relaxing as he looked over. Harry had fallen asleep, his head fallen to the side, ontop of Louis' bicep.

His eyes caught somthing infront of him, a middle aged lady craning her neck backwards from her seat. She had a soft smile on her face as she watched the scene play out, waving when she noticed Louis had caught her.

He smiled warmly back and made a 'sleep' motion with his one unoccupied hand, laying his palm flat then laying on it, as if a pillow.

She smiled once more before turning to face the front again. He looked back at Harry, soft, quiet snores escaping his mouth once in a while. His long legs were tucked awkwardly under the seat, and his hands were resting comfortably on his lap.

The flight attendant came around a few moments later, silently asking Louis if he wanted any food once he pointed to the sleeping man.

She nodded, smiled, then made a square motion with her hands, mouthing the word 'blanket?'.

Louis smiled, nodding slightly as she continued her way down the isle. Shortly after she brought a thick, grey blanket. She handed it to Louis with a fond smile.

'Thank you' he mouthed. He unfolded the blanket with only a bit of struggle, laying it overtop of Harry. He gently tucked the sides around his body, Louis' hand squeezing softly around the contour of Harry's lower back and waist.

Harry inhaled deeply, letting out a content sigh as he burrowed further into Louis, letting all his weight lean against the man. His cheek pressed into Louis' upper shoulder just above his chest.

Once Harry had stopped moving, Louis layed the excess blanket over his own lap, leaning his head back and closing his eyes.

He was in and out of sleep for a few hours, Harry still snoring softly. After a while, he decided to check his phone, seeing that his bodyguards had spammed him with texts reminding him to not take off his hood or sunglasses until he was back in the van in 6 hours. Fuck that.

Nobody has recognized him yet, other than (possibly) the lady sitting a few rows infront of them, or maybe the flight attendant. Harry was obviously clueless. Louis let out a breathy laugh as he remembered their conversation from earlier.

Harry stirred from his sudden noise, sitting up slowly. He rubbed his eyes, yawning again. He looked down to see the blanket covering his body and Louis lower half.

"Morning" Louis beamed.

"Hm?" He hummed, still half asleep.

"Thought you might get cold. Did you sleep well?" Louis asked, looking at the pattern pressed into Harry's red cheek from his knitted jumper.

Harry looked at him, yawning once more. Louis' hand shot out from under the blanket, carding his fingers through the curls that flopped infront of Harry's forehead. He pushed them back, making Harry smile widely as he closed his eyes and his head lulled in the direction of Louis hand.

"Did I fall asleep?" Harry asked, his voice deeper than usual because of the lack of use.

"You sure did, darling" Louis chuckled silently as he pulled his hand back.

"On you?" Harry asks, his hand half way dragging down his face.

"On me. Was I comfortable?" Louis nudged his arm, making him smile as he rubbed his eyes.

"You were" Harry shrugged, a sleepy smile still on his face.

They laughed as a voice came on through the intercom.

"Ladies, gentlemen and non-binary friends, please fasten your seatbelts. We will be landing in thirty minutes, we hope you enjoyed your flight" they spoke happily.

Harry sat up fully, yawning once more as they fastened their seatbelts.

Louis grabbed the armrest tightly as they went through turbulence, his knuckles turning white, his stomach dropping and filling with butterflies, not the good kind. Not the type hes been feeling for the past few hours.

"Not a fan of flights?" Harry asked, genuinely concerned.

"I don't like the take off or landings" he chuckled nervously, looking out the small window at the top of the clouds.

Harry nudged his hand forward, the pads of his fingers grazing the back of Louis hand, dragging up to his wrist and back again.

And for a moment he forgot about the turbulence, focusing only on Harry.

He silently took Harry's hand, slotting their fingers tightly together. Harry gave his hand a squeeze as the plane continued forward.

Harry hummed a tune quietly that Louis recognized was a song from his band.

He smiled as Harry drummed his fingers on his thigh. He knew that he was trying to distract Louis, and god, it was working.

Harry smiled as Louis opened his eyes, dimpled popping.

"You're sweet. Cheeky, but sweet" Louis grinned at Harry. He watched as Harry looked away, trying to hide the colour his cheeks were turning.

Louis lightly tugged on Harry's hand, making him turn back.

Wordlessly, Louis ran his hand through the top of Harry's hair once again, stalling for a moment before taking his hand back. Before he could tuck his hand back in his lap, Harry caught his wrist, directing it back to his hair.

Louis laughed, taking a handful of his brown curls, tucking them back from his face.

They held hands until the wheels hit the tarmac, everything going quick from there. They stood up, taking their belongings from above their seats. They walked silently through the aisles, everyone choosing to not speak, probably tired from the flight.

Their feet hit the ground and Louis couldn't be happier. He looked across the road to see men in black suits looking around for Louis, its only a matter of time before they notice him.

He turned around to see Harry with his red suitcase, looking at Louis with an unreadable expression.

"I'm happy I met you" he spoke, his voice different now.

"I'm happy we met too" Louis replied, looking down at his shoes.

He smiled at Harry as he shifted his bag to his other arm.

Louis looked at the men who were now walking toward him.

He took a step closer to Harry, twisting his finger around the drawstrings on Harry's hoodie.

He pulled him closer, Harry's eyes darting towards Louis lips for a split second, gulping audibly.

Louis pressed a kiss to his cheek, his lips brushing the soft skin, almost not there.

"Let me know how that concert goes" he whispered against Harry's cheek before pulling away. He smiled once more, looking him up and down before stepping backwards, walking away, leaving a very flustered (and very confused) Harry standing on the hot tarmac.

•

Harry pressed a kiss to his mums forehead as she shoved him out the door.

"Have fun loves, don't be home too late" she smiled at her kids as they walked into the warm night air.

Gemma hadn't shut up since she found out she was going to this concert, it was the talk of the house for quite a few months.

"Oh, and did I tell you? I got front row seats as well!" She shrieked as Harry stuck his key in the ignition.

"Several times today, yes" He replied with a smile, pulling out of the driveway.

"We're going to be so close to them" She put her hands over her face.

"Might get to hug one of them if you're lucky" Harry laughed.

"Harry stop, I would cry." she grabbed his forearm, squeezing tightly as he pulled onto the highway.

They got there quickly, escorts letting them through to the front, right beside the stage.

Harry looked around at the fans already screaming (probably already drunk) then back up at the stage.

The members came on stage one at a time, deafening screams coming from all directions.

Harry went still.

"Harry! Look, oh my god" Gemma screamed, grabbing onto his arm as she jumped up and down.

His jaw dropped as one of the members spun around, his face undoubtedly him.

"Harry?" Gemma looked at his face. His mouth was open and he stood still.

"Him. Gemma, what's his name?" He asked, pointing, not taking his eyes off the man on stage.

Gemma looked where he was pointing, smiling when she saw the singer.

"Him? Louis, why?" She asked.

"Louis" he brought his hand up to the cheek where Louis kissed him.

"Do you fancy him? He's my favorite too." she smiled, waving her hands as the first song started.

"I think I just might" he poked the inside of his cheek with his tounge, suddenly laughing to himself at his obliviousness on the plane.

•

The concert was fun, but when Gemma mentioned that she also had backstage passes, he was over the moon.

His eyes were trained on Louis the entire night, and at one point one of his bandmates, Niall, spoke into the mic.

"Little Louis here has a bit of a crush on someone in the audience tonight-" but before he could finish, Louis squawked and covered Nialls mouth with his hand.

The audience of course went crazy, but Harry couldn't help but think he meant him. But no, that couldn't be true.

Soon enough they found themselves backstage with a few other fans, waiting in a small room with grey furniture.

Gemma seemed to have found herself a bunch of friends as they talked quite loudly in a group in the corner, a few annoyed parents and boyfriends standing off to the side.

Liam was the first to walk into the room, his arms open with a big toothy smile on his face. Zayn was the next to come heading straight for the group of girls who screamed as they saw the boys.

Harry smiled as he watched Liam embrace his sister in a hug, she was surely crying by now and he chuckled as Liam and Zayn tried to calm her down.

He felt a soft tap on his back, spinning around. Louis stood there, his hands on his hips as he smiled cockily up at Harry.

Harry's face fell to his hands as he laughed, Louis joining in.

"You little shit" Harry chuckled as he pulled Louis in for a hug. Louis laughed against his chest.

They pulled back momentarily, laughing again.

"Why didn't you tell me! I feel like an idiot!" Harry chuckled, wiping the tears from his eyes from laughing so hard.

"Because it was hilarious" Louis smacked him playfully on the chest.

Harry rolled his eyes fondly as Louis went in for another hug. They stood there swaying back and forth, laughing and sighing contently.

Someone cleared their throat behind them. They pulled back and looked at the dozen girls standing their in a group, smiled on their faces, cameras going.

"I'll leave you to that then" Harry whispered before stepping off to the side for Louis to greet his fans.

Gemma rushed over to Harry immediately, an unreadable expression on her face.

"Ex-fucking-splain" she cupped her hands over her mouth.

"We sat together on on the flight, I didn't know who he was until...well, tonight." He let out a breathy chuckle, looking back up at Louis who was already looking at them. They made eye contact before Louis blushed, looking away.

"You sat beside Louis William Tomlinson on a plane and didn't think to tell me until now? Tell me everything, don't leave out any details. Twitter's going to love this" she paused before she spoke.

"Oh my god, Louis might be my brother in law some day" she spoke quietly to herself.

Louis approached the pair as the last fan left the room.

"Here's my number, let's go for coffee some time" Louis handed Harry a peice of paper, winking.

Gemma nearly fainted.

•