A Face to Call Home - Chapter Two

Louis Tomlinson is a childcare worker. He loves the kids, really he does. But sometimes, only sometimes, they glue a little too much macaroni on him or put a little too much crayon on the table and it really sends Louis haywire. It’s one of these days when he finds himself in a rather… sticky situation and ends up at a busy bakery called “Pot O’ Gold Pastries”.

Louis was fairly sure it wasn’t the delicious, albeit stupidly-named pastries or the obnoxious, Lepraucan-themed decor that had him coming back to the bakery. It was the boy with the curly hair and the piercing green eyes.

A Face to Call Home - Chapter Two

Harry sighed dejectedly at his closet before flopping unceremoniously, facedown onto his bed.

 

“I have absolutely nothing to wear. My life is over.”

 

Niall scoffed from the other side of the bed and put down the latest issue of Mojo. “You’re being ridiculous, mate. I’m looking at a closet full of perfectly good clothes to win Louis over with.”

 

Harry glared at Niall at his friend for mentioning his possibly unrequited crush. “Shove it. And nothing looks good…” He looked over at his phone charging on the endtable beside his bed. Reaching for it he suggested, “Maybe I should just cancel—OOMPH!”

 

Niall had decided that voicing such a suggestion was worthy of being tackled. “Don’t you dare,” he threatened, swatting Harry’s hand.

 

The curly-haired boy sighed and covered his face with his hands. “I’m going to look terrible and he’s going to hate me.”

 

Niall chuckled at his melodramatic friend and rose from his position on top of him. Yanking him upright and off his bed, he dragged Harry over to his closet. The blond young man stared at the clothes, silently deliberating, before pulling out a few items.

 

“Now take a shower and change, smelly,” he said, pushing the clothes into Harry’s arms. The other boy stuck his tongue out at him and hurried to the bathroom to gussy up.

 

—

 

“Okay… what do you think?” A voice came from the doorway around fifteen minutes later. Glancing up from his magazine for the second time, Niall smirked at his choices for Harry’s ensemble.

 

The younger boy was dressed in dark-wash jeans (that were just tight enough, Niall thought), a black dress shirt, and brown suede shoes. He was shifting his weight nervously as he was appraised.

 

“You look brilliant, Harry. Louis would have to be stupid to not want to hit that. Hold on though…” Niall strode across the room to stand in front of his friend before reaching to undo the first three buttons of his shirt. Once a fair bit of his chest was revealed, Niall gave him a lopsided grin. “Much better.”

 

Harry smiled nervously and raised his hand to tousle his curly locks. Reading the clock next to his bed, he unplugged and pocked his phone. “We have about two hours before people start showing up at your place. We should probably head over to start hiding anything fragile.”

 

Niall, laughing, fished for his keys in his pocket and whistled a familiar tune as he headed towards the door of Harry’s flat.

 

It took the emerald-eyed boy a few bars to realize he was whistling Like a Virgin. Harry refrained from kicking the back of the other boy’s knees.

 

—

 

Pounding on the bathroom door and standing in only a towel, Louis was absolutely livid. “Zayn, get your arse out of there! I need to shower or I’m going to be late, you fucker!”

 

He heard the water turn off and a few seconds later the door was opened to reveal a wet and amused Zayn… a naked, wet and amused Zayn, who decided it was appropriate to reach up and towel his hair dry. The movement flexed his biceps and the dark-haired boy smirked, knowing Louis, at the very least, found him attractive.

 

Louis glared at his roommate and tried desperately to not stare at his… package. He didn’t like Zayn like that, but honestly if a good-looking guy’s dick is on display, who wouldn’t want to look? But Louis was stronger than that!

 

“May I use the shower now, your majesty,” Louis questioned, staring into his eyes pointedly.

 

Zayn smiled evilly and nodded, throwing his towel on top of Louis’ head. “Make sure you wash thoroughly, never know what could happen later.”

 

“Tosser!” Louis yelled, slamming the bathroom door behind him, before reaching into the shower to start the water.

 

—

 

Towel wrapped firmly around his waist, Louis headed towards his bedroom, content and clean. Humming happily, he entered his room and headed straight to his dresser across from the door.

 

Dropping his towel and opening the first drawer to rifle through the underwear and socks, he glanced up into the mirror, only to find the reflection Zayn sitting in a chair across the room, gazing at him.

 

“What the fuck are you watching me for, creep?” The smaller boy yelped, but made no move to pick up his towel. They were all men here, right?

 

“Making sure you dress well. Can’t have you looking like absolute shite on your first date with Harry,” Zayn mocked good-naturedly.

 

Louis’ face grew hot. “It’s not a date,” he stated as he pulled out a pair of underwear. He glared at his insufferable roommate as he pulled on his boxer-briefs. “And my fashion sense is quite good, thank you very much.” He huffed and opened the second drawer in order to find a shirt, but after a few seconds of trying to decide between two, he reluctantly turned to Zayn for help. “Fine, dress me,” he sighed.

 

Zayn hopped up and stalked towards Louis, slapping his bum lightly as he leaned over the drawers. He pulled out a navy blue, elbow-length sleeved shirt with white stripes and handed it to him wordlessly. “Pair it with a pair of tight jeans, show off that fantastic arse of yours.” He walked back to his chair and picked up a book from the floor, feigning a lack of interest in Louis’ evening plans.

 

“Should I wonder if you’re coming on to me?” Louis joked as he dressed.

 

Zayn laughed and shook his head, “Sorry, mate. You have a fantastic bum, but you aren’t my type.”

 

Louis nodded and turned back to the mirror to style his hair.

Thinking back to the note he was given, he couldn’t help but give a small chuckle at the fact that Niall had to be the one to give it to him. What did that mean? Was Harry too scared? Too nervous? Why would he be nervous?

Louis gave a small smile. Did Harry like him back?

—

If you’re curious, here’s the shirt and the pants & shoes  I was picturing for Harry, as well as the shirt I was picturing for Louis.

(Source: lourry-otp)