Chapter Forty Eight

A/N - We're (somewhat) nearing the end of this story and I just wanted to say a huge thank you to everyone who's read, voted and commented on my story so far !! I loved writing this and am in the process of finishing editing another, shorter Larry story and delving out the frame works of a bit of a monster one !! Thank you for sticking around till this point and hope you're still continuing to enjoy it !!

They're in Singapore, the heat almost unbearable, though it's the humidity that truly forces them all into hiding since pre-show ended some half hour ago. Forgoing heading back to their accommodation, the five of them each opt to stay at the venue until their late show tonight which is set to start in just under three hours. There's numerous fans and air conditions circulating through the venue, but even with the climate controlling devices, each of them are dead on their feet as they slump down together in Zayn's dressing room. A pile of sweaty, exhausted male bodies.

"You think we could ask for a giant fan to be rigged above the stage tonight, several even?" Louis grumbles from somewhere in the pile of limbs.

"Even better," Niall huffs, "I vote that we pull a sicky."

"I'm not even gonna start on that Niall." Zayn replies.

"It sounded like a viable option in my head." Niall tries to defend though they all know he's far from serious.

"All right." Liam says and with seemingly great effort manages to sit up from where he was apparently nestled at the pile, simultaneously causing the rest of them to tumble together to the floor. "I'm crying out for a shower and I reckon the rest of you are the same, then I'm off for a nap."

"Look at you, suffering in your old age." Louis jibes at him with a wide smirk.

"Louis, you're older than any of us." Liam replies before he's off out the door leaving the rest of them cracking up on the floor. The heat's definitely getting to them.

Singapore is there last stop on the Asian leg of their tour before they set off for Perth, thus beginning the last few shows of tour. August had passed in a blur, the two week break they'd had after playing in Bangkok had been a blessing and though all five of them had stayed in the country, he'd seen none of the other boys aside from Louis.

The two of them had embarked on a handful of wonderous journeys during that time. Harry had awoken one of their first nights, promptly shaking Louis into consciousness also and demanding that they go on a date. Louis had wearily blinked at him, trying to sort through his words through his apparent tiredness and it had taken several long moments before he'd burst out laughing.

A date? Louis had claimed, I think it's finally got to you now, but you realise we've been together for months now and also, I think we're a little past dates?

Nonsense, Harry had rebutted, just because we've been together a long while doesn't mean we should stop going on dates. If you think about it, we do it all the time. I don't care when we've been together sixty years and have our grandchildren racing at our feet, I never want to stop dating you.

And that had been that. Dating had become their new routine.

They'd managed seven so far, from coffee dates in strange, back alleyways in Tianjin, to a candle lit diner on a secluded beach in Taipei. So he supposes he should be less surprised than he is when Louis makes a grab for his hand when he attempts to follow after Liam in the directions of the showers in an attempt to at least temporarily escape the heat. He halts instantly, turning to look over his shoulder before he steps back into Louis' space. Niall and Zayn filing out of the room.

"Tonight, at 12:30, me and you."

"And just where might we be heading?" He questions, a smile already forming on his lips.

"Secret." Louis says, then he too disappears out of the door.

At twenty past twelve Harry's taken to pacing the length of his and Louis' hotel room. He hasn't seen his partner in hours, is starting to wonder what on earth has caused him to vanish for all this time when a knock sounds at the door. Fumbling his way through the modest sized living room area he reaches the door, not bothering to check who stands on the other side before he yanks it open.

"Fucking finally!"

Louis just laughs at him, eyes bright and smile crinkling at the corner of his eyes. "Patient much I see."

"Shut it, I've been on edge for hours."

Louis only grins in response, holding out his hand, "Great, best get going then."

Following willingly they enter the elevator down to the ground floor, hands only dropping away from one another as the doors ping open. The lobby is quiet, only the receptionist and doormen are there to observe as Louis and Harry aim for the front doors. On many other occasions, well, most if he's being honest, they sneak out some back door into an alleyway but this time Louis leads them both straight out of the front exit to a waiting vehicle. Louis pulls open the door for him, quickly maneuvers round to the drivers side once he's tucked inside and pulls out onto the brightly lit streets. He's not convinced it's even legal for Louis to be driving here but he goes along with it anyway.

"Do I get any hints as to where we're going?"

"Nope." Louis answers with a grin, taking his hand across the center console.

The roads are surprisingly busy despite the late hour, a steady stream of traffic keeping pace with them as they head into the city.

"Disguise at the ready." Louis says, offering him a cap and bandana to use as a mask, pulling on a similar attire. With the late hour hopefully they won't be spotted, it's not like being in London but they won't risk it either way.

They leave the vehicle parked along a side street and wind their way towards where Harry knows the famous vendors area of the city is located in Chinatown.

For the next hour they work their way down the busy stalls, indulging in far more than they can actually manage to eat but in the moment it's all part of it. Everything is simply incredible, as in everything. There are hundreds of people milling around them and even the hot and humid climate doesn't deter the curious people of the night. They talk together about everything they can think of, of their last few shows and the new things they've noticed in the Asian cities they've been in till this point. They talk of plans for when they return to London, of next year and Christmas of all things and everything just feels so easy. Like nothing had ever torn them apart. A rift in time no longer a main concern.

Miraculously they aren't spotted which he thinks both of them marvel at considering just how busy it is around them. Eventually Louis bundles them both back off in the direction of their parked car, risking walking hand in hand if only for one night. It's something they'd rarely done over the years but with freedom so close they could both almost taste it, they risk it anyway. High off their newly shared experience and being in a mostly undiscovered place for them both, they can hardly protest.

Returning back inside the car he switch's on the radio, both bursting out into laughter when the beginning of Adore You plays through the cars stereo after several minutes. It happens more often than he's willing to admit, hearing his own voice on the radio but as he goes to change stations Louis bats his hand away and continues to loudly and obnoxiously sing through the entire song. "It's like you planned this." Harry laughs as Louis' hand in his tightens before they're pulling into a parking space somewhere near the water. The area is vaguely familiar to him, he's been to Singapore a few times now and where they've come to seems to ring a bell, but something feels off, missing even about the space before them. The area before them is dark, only faintly illuminated by the surrounding city's glow in the night, though the noises buss around them. "Where are we?" He questions as he pushes open his door and stands from the vehicle.

"Do you trust me?" Louis tries to say in a semi serious voice though it loses all its effect when he can't help the slight laugh which slips from his lips.

"That sounds like the cheesiest rom – com line ever."

"Good thing you like them then. Now close your eyes and stand still?"

"What?"

"Just do it Harold."

Shaking his head slightly he does as he's asked. Only flinching slightly when a soft fabric is wrapped around his head covering his eyes.

"Is this really necessary?"

"Very much so."

"Alright then." He says as Louis grabs his hand and begins leading them forward.

They walk together for the better part of ten minutes. He stumbles his way up ramps and declines, stairs and strangely uneven surfaces which only leaves him more confused. The unique feeling of being exposed or in a high place overcomes him eventually. He can feel the change in the air around them, the specific smell of a hundred various plants reaches him soon after leaving the vehicle too. But he allows himself to be led all the same.

"Alright, here we are?"

"And here is where exactly?"

Louis doesn't answer him, only moves to unwrap the blindfold.

"Open your eyes."

Darkness greets him the moment he does. Faintly, he makes out the signature feature of railing before them but other than that he's still just as lost as he was a moment ago.

"2:59, right on time."

"Right on time for what?"

But his question is answered when a thousand lights illuminate the space around him and he gasps as the scene around him comes to life under the night sky. Cloud Forest, Louis has brought him to Cloud Forest. High above the ground on one of the numerous walkways they're the only one's around. From up here the plant life thrums around them, coloured lights sending a glow up above them. He's seen it before, been here in the day for the briefest moments but this is something else entirely.

"Louis."

Louis doesn't say a word, just slips his hand into Harry's without a care that someone might be around to catch them. It's one of the last things on his mind however, still far too overwhelmed by the view surrounding them to care for the consequences of what should be such a simple action.

Perhaps it's that thought which pushes him over the ledge, or maybe it's the night they've shared together but one moment he's standing looking out over the gardens and the next he's spun and pulls Louis to him desperately. Not leaving room for any protest when he crashes their lips together. Hoping that every ounce of appreciation and how overwhelmed he is pours through the kiss. It only takes a moment for Louis to respond, pushing his hands up into Harry's hair and sinking in towards him. Brushing his tongue over the seam of Harry's bottom lip just like so many times they've experienced this together. The feel of Louis is something he'll never tire of, not as his tongue finally pushes into his mouth or as Harry pulls slightly where one of his hands rests on the back of Louis' neck, the other on his waist desperately needing him to be closer.

It's perfect, with the world illuminated around him, life is perfect.