Chapter Thirty Six

Somehow, the other boys don't catch on to the recent 'development' going on between the two of them in the final days leading up to opening night. Louis of course thinks this is hilarious and instead of letting them in on said developments, he thinks it's far more thrilling to simply sneak off between rehearsal breaks, final meetings and stage designs to kiss him senseless in a secluded room. How the others don't catch on when they both sheepishly return, quietly slipping into the room, with messed up hair, bright eyes and swollen lips is beyond him but with tour now so close its not surprising that everyone's slightly distracted.

He's nervous, more so than he thought he'd be for tour. They've now gone over the setlist to the extent that Harry thinks he could perform this show in his sleep, the choreo, music changes and stage plan now firmly fermented in his mind. Doesn't stop him from stressing however.

It's their final night before tour, the O2 already has had fans lined up camping outside the venue for the past two nights which he thinks is slightly concerning because don't people have work or other better things to do rather than camp outside a venue three days before a show begins. That morning as they'd their way out of the venue for the final time before the actual show tomorrow he'd come out with his arms laden with gift bags and several crew members carrying trays of various fruits and snacks.

Liam and Zayn had shared knowing glances at his gesture, Niall had laughed in delight before he'd run back inside to snatch even more food from the kitchen. But Louis had taken one look at the determined set in his gaze, placed a blazing kiss on his check and taken some of the bags away from Harry which he'd been overburdened with. The five of them, as well as the crew members had wandered outside to where perhaps two hundred people lounged around, talking adamantly with one another. They'd been spotted soon enough and it had taken several long minutes for the screaming to die down before they could properly hand out the food and items and actually talk with some of the fans.

The five of them find themselves bunched together in Harry's living room later that night. Harry and Liam squaring off against Niall and Louis in their sixth round of FIFA, whilst Zayn attempts his best efforts at mediating any rising tensions. He and Liam still managing to lose every match though he can't say he's too surprised. After all these years he doesn't know why they still try.

"Ha! This is a good one!" Zayn quirks up from where he's squished between Liam and Niall.

Louis had been the last out of the kitchen earlier when they'd first walked into the lounge, lagging behind to grab them each a second round of beers. He'd taken one look at the four of them huddled together on the couch and promptly walked straight towards Harry and inserted himself directly between Harry and Liam. None of the boys had questioned it, or so much as raised a brow at his antics and Harry wasn't about to comment on it when his entire right side was pressed firmly against Louis. They'd shared a private smile before the game had begun and he was convinced Louis had even gone slightly softer on him when he'd had possession of the ball in all their previous matches. Not that the other man would ever willingly admit it.

"What's it this time?" Niall asks though doesn't take his eyes off the screen for a second.

"Get this, 'My brother has never liked 1D so I dared him back in 2016 that if they ever reunited he'd have to pay for tickets for both of us to go, see you in Manchester boys!'"

"Sucks for him."

"Bet he's an Oasis fan." Niall comments and Louis' eyes do actually look away from the screen to glare at the Irishman.

"Just because he's a Manc doesn't mean he's an Oasis fan."

"Says a lot from the Donny boy who loves Oasis."

"Why did I agree to come back into a band with you lot when this is the sort of shit you talk about?" Zayn says with a sign that's far too fond to have any weight behind it.

"Cause you love us and don't know what you'd have done without us any longer."

Zayn laughs, hair falling down in front of his eyes as he shakes his head. "Sure mate."

"Alright but seriously," And Liam pauses the game which elects a groan of frustration from both Louis and Niall, "Anyone else fucking anxious about tomorrow?"

"Is this where we get some rousing speech about how much we've all been through together and we wouldn't change it for the world? Cause if that's the case can we just hug it out and get back to the game?"

Louis barely lasts a second before Zayn is leaning over Liam and smacking him dead in the arm.

"Ow!"

"You deserved that one Tommo." Niall says with a shrug.

"Wasn't heading there so thanks Louis," Liam says with a glare, "But since you brought it up..."

"Oh here we go..." Louis says under his breath though there's a small tilt in the corner of his mouth suggesting he's just as willing to hear this out as the rest of them.

"Call me a sap all you like for this but I'm really grateful for you guys you know, what we've done together. We've been through a lot of shit, all of us." Liam starts and takes a moment to look straight towards all of them respectively, "But I seriously wouldn't have changed meeting you all and going through what we did. We put up with a lot of shit and got worked to the bone, but I wouldn't give up our friendships, fans, song making experience, tours, jokes and arguments for the world. I guess before we truly start this again tomorrow, I wanted to get that off my chest."

"Cheers for making us all emotional here mate!" Niall says though quickly pulls Liam awkwardly into a hug right over Zayn's lap.

"You're right Li, that was fuckin' sappy but not untrue either." Louis says and kicks his leg out to lightly hit against Liam's.

"I only have one request for this tour Li." Harry says throwing his arm around the back of Louis and poking Liam's shoulder firmly. "Do not pull my trousers down!"

"That was one time!" Liam cries out but the rest of them have already burst out laughing at the memory.

"Harry do you have anything in your kitchen that has some trace of meat in it?" Niall says after their laughter has died down and the Irishman stands, already making his way through to the kitchen.

"He's a vegan mate what do you expect?" Louis jibes after him but Niall's already left the room.

"Not true, there's still at least half of your peperoni pizza left over from last night." Harry turns to say to Louis who only shrugs at the remark.

"He better bloody leave me a slice or else."

Harry laughs, his arm still resting casually on the sofa behind Louis who not so subtly shuffles further into his side, his weight a familiar comfort against him.

Sure enough Niall walks back into the room not a moment carrying the pizza box in one hand whilst he happily tears off another bit of the slice in his hand.

"Cheers Lou."

"Wait," Zayn starts as he spins to face Niall, "You weren't even in here when he just said that was his?"

"Well it's not like is was Harry's and who else would this be then?"

"I do have other friends than the four of you ya know?" He chimes in but receives scoffs of amusement in return.

"I'm not wrong though am I?" Nialls asks and he sinks further down into the couch. "Thought not."

"Alright this is killing me," Liam suddenly turns on them both, "did you two finally sort your shit out or not?". He feels Louis freeze momentarily beside him before the other man laughs.

"You're gonna have to be a bit more specific Li." He eventually settles on until Liam snorts.

"Please, you've been making heart eyes at each other for months and ever since PortMeirion you've both gone back to what you use to be like in your lovey dovey state."

"We're grown men and you're gonna call us lovey dovey?" Louis states unamused but doesn't shift away from his side.

"You've both been glued to each other all evening, I don't think there's been longer than five minutes we're the two of you aren't either staring at the other like they put the stars in the sky or physically attached to one another. Either way, take your pick."

"We weren't exactly trying to hide anything..." He begins sheepishly but Niall interrupts him.

"So you both finally pulled your heads out of your arse's and got it together?"

"I mean technically it's 'got together' but whatever..." Louis starts before Niall is flinging himself across the sofa and pulling them both in to a very uncomfortable, dysfunctional embrace.

"Get in!"

The second Niall pulls away from them Zayn and Liam are right there and he and Louis find themselves once more squished together.

"Fucking finally." He hears Zayn whisper to Louis and can't fight the smile from his face as he feels a hand slip into his and squeeze tightly, knowing without having to look that it's Louis'.