Only The Brave

t w e n t y t w o

"He's asleep," Harry says, smile still plastered on his face. 

Louis sighs relieved, "Thank you. You're a great story-teller, by the way." 

Harry's cheek flush pink, "Oh, you heard that?" 

Louis laughs at his boss' flustered state, "I did, very cute." 

"Weird adjective to use on your chief, isn't it?" Harry raises an eyebrow, smirking. 

"Not weirder than kissing your detective though," Louis says before he can stop himself. 

"I-"

"Shit, I didn't mean it like that, I was just-" 

"Louis, it's okay," Harry chuckles nervously, "You're also right, I suppose." 

Louis curses himself for not weighing out his words before speaking. He always embarrasses himself by doing that. 

"I'm not- I don't know really. I don't find it that weird?" Louis asks more than says. At this point he doesn't know what he thinks anymore. 

The curly haired man raises his eyebrow again, "Oh."

"Is that all?"

"What?" 

"Is that all you're going to say? 'Oh'."

Harry breathes in deeply before sighing just as long, "Do you really want to do this right now?" 

"When else?" 

Harry purses his lips and nods, he sits down next to Louis on the couch, leaving a bit of space between them. He puts one leg on the couch to face him, Louis maneuvers himself against the armrest. 

"I'm sorry I kissed you-"

"No. Not again, you can't keep apologizing for it and doing it again a few weeks later," Louis scoffs. 

"I wasn't done," Harry smiles timidly. 

"Oh." 

"Yeah," Harry clears his throat, " I'm not sorry I kissed you, at all. I'm just sorry I did it without a warning or explanation." 

"Can I have that explanation now then?" 

Harry nods, his hands start trembling a bit. He's never done this before, not even in high school.  

"I did it because I realized I made a mistake, I can't ignore what I feel for you. I don't really know what I feel, but I do know that it's good." Harry rumbles out, "God it's so good, Louis."

"And I'm so scared because I've never relied on a person when it came to my own happiness. But then again, I don't think I've ever been this happy either."

Louis is taken back by everything and just listens, his mouth slightly agape from disbelief. 

"I need you, Louis." Harry bites his lip because he just poured out his heart. Something he vowed to never do. 

"But- Don't you- You said you don't date," Louis says confused. 

"I didn't before you," Harry smiles. 

"Harry.." Louis trails, "Please tell me you realize that I can't just casually date. I can't date you in front of my son. And in the long run you're not only dating me, Lucas is there and-" 

"Louis, I know this. I don't want Lucas to know we're something until it's serious. I can't guarantee we'll work out but I know for sure I'll never forgive myself if I never tried," Harry breathes out.