Chapter Text
One month later…
The bustle of the terminal surrounds Louis as he wanders into the coffee shop, the familiar smell of jet fuel still managing to permeate the filtered air inside. He’s excited to be going home for Christmas, even more so because he and Harry are travelling together and will have the opportunity to meet their respective families in person for the first time.
It’s been a wonderful month, filled with fun and laughter and so much mind-blowing sex Louis still can’t believe his luck. After their weekend at the resort things had naturally returned to some semblance of normal, back to their jobs and reluctant time apart. They’d known it was going to be hard to be separated, particularly during the honeymoon-phase of their new relationship, but they’ve made it work. As predicted, their rosters lining up had been an absolute godsend and they’ve certainly made the most of it; shared flights in and out, lazy days off spent between the sheets and exploring their local area in ways they’d never bothered on their own.
They’ve managed to spend a few nights together here and there out at the mines too, but it’s been more difficult than they’d originally envisioned. Even though their onsite accommodations are only 40 minutes apart, their 14-hour days, consisting of 12-hour shifts plus handovers at either end, are long and tiring, and the extra drive back and forth is a lot to add on. But they make the effort once for each 7-day stretch; a quick blow job or hand job sufficient to satiate them before falling asleep wrapped in each other’s arms. The rest of the time, they have face-time calls and they’re becoming quite adept at phone-sex, so it’s more than enough, for now anyway.
They’ve been talking about what they want to do in future and have each acknowledged that they want to make a change so they can be physically together more often. While they haven’t found a solution just yet, they’ve been actively looking for new roles and have both done Skype interviews for jobs at a new mine in Western Australia. They should be hearing back any day now and Louis has his fingers crossed that it’ll work out, but if it doesn’t, then they’ll just keep searching.
Harry is it for him, is the thing. It’s a proper grown-up relationship with an equally proper grown-up partner. Harry’s just so perfect for him; funny and smart, curious about the world around him, loving and affectionate, generous and kind, fantastic in bed, and the hottest guy Louis has ever seen in real-life.
They had done some googling around about Louis’ unusual reaction to Harry rimming him into oblivion at the resort in Noosa. As it turns out, it was something similar to subspace and there was a lot to learn; about triggering it, about managing it during the event, and then the all-important aftercare component. It hasn’t happened again, but they haven’t gone out of their way to try either. They’re at least aware of it now, though, and know how to handle it properly if it does. In any case, their sex life is plenty spicy without it and their insatiability for each other certainly shows no signs of waning.
Even with all the future plans they’ve been making, Louis hasn’t been brave enough to confess the depth of his feelings out loud just yet, those three little words that will propel them forwards into serious relationship status. To be fair, Harry hasn’t said them either, but Louis kind of suspects Harry is waiting for him to say them first. He’s pretty sure they’ve been on the tip of Harry’s tongue numerous times, but he always catches himself and starts babbling about some nonsense as a deflection tactic. It’s quite effective and has been enough of a distraction so far. Louis is ready though, he just needs to man-up and spit them out and this trip home is going to provide plenty of opportunities to do just that.
He shuffles forward in the queue, eyeing the glass display cabinet and spotting a stack of delicious looking pastries, his mouth watering at the sight.
Louis pulls out his phone and brings up their WhatsApp chat, shooting a message off to Harry.
Louis: Want a pastry?
He stares down at his phone and waits for Harry to come online, the little ‘typing…’ appearing quickly at the top of their chat.
Harry: Nah i’m good but thanks. Hey. Funny story though. Just ran into someone interesting at the gate…
Louis: Oh yeah? Who?
Harry: An ex…
Louis: No fucking way. hahahahahah be back soon!
Louis pockets his phone, curiosity swirling in his brain. They’ve discussed their exes before, of course, just not in that much detail, so meeting one of Harry’s in person is going to be a bit of a mind-fuck. It’s not a jealousy thing, not really, maybe a little, he admits to himself, but he just can’t picture what this guy might be like. Will he be taller than Louis? Shorter? English? Built like a brick shit-house or athletic? Older or younger?
He’s stopped from spiralling any further by the barista calling out his name and he steps up and picks up their coffees. He heads back to the gate, his steps a little faster than normal as he strides through the crowds. The bright sign for Gate 28 comes into view and he slows his pace, taking a few calming breaths before rounding the corner into the seating area. He spots Harry over by the viewing window, leaning his hip against the railing, head thrown back as he laughs at something the other man-
Louis’ steps falter and he comes to a dead stop, eyes going wide as saucers. That’s- That’s Ryan. Ryan Doyle. His Ryan Doyle. His ex. “What the fuck?” Louis whispers aloud.
Harry and Ryan are focused on their conversation and don’t immediately notice Louis approaching. He steps up beside them, holding out Harry’s coffee, nudging him in the arm and Harry takes his coffee as Louis says, “When you said you’d run into an ex, I thought you meant one of-”
Ryan turns to look at him, a predictably shocked expression blooming on his face. “Louis?”
“Hey, Ryan,” Louis says, reaching out his free hand. “This is a bizarre coincidence, how are you?”
“Yeah, good, thanks,” Ryan says, his familiar Irish accent clear as ever. He shakes Louis’ hand as his gaze darts between Harry and Louis nervously. “This is definitely, uhm-”
“Wait,” Harry interrupts. “You two know each other?”
Louis’ head snaps around to look at Harry, his expression mirroring Louis’ confusion. “Yeah. Ryan and I dated a while back. What are you-”
“Ohmygod. This is so-” Harry cuts himself off with a bark of laughter, slapping his free hand over his mouth.
“Yeah,” Ryan says, huffing out a little chuckle and Louis has absolutely no idea what’s going on.
They’re all just staring at each other and it takes Louis a few beats, but realisation finally dawns on him, everything slowing down like someone’s put the brakes on the world. “You’ve got to be kidding me. There is no way-”
Harry can’t seem to contain the laughter bubbling up his chest and soon enough he’s full-on cackling, Louis’ world speeding back up again. “Yup! Louis, this is my ex, Ryan.”
Louis just shakes his head in disbelief. “Your ex?”
“Yup!” Harry manages to sputter out.
“I mean, at this point we really shouldn’t be surprised by the universe’s sense of humour and determination, but this is on a whole other level.”
“I don’t get it,” Ryan says, still looking between them with caution like one of them is going to launch into some kind of tirade, which, fair enough really.
Louis reaches out, patting Ryan’s arm. “Mate, it’s fine, really. We’ve just been on a whole coincidence bent of late and this is just another bizarre one in a series of ever-increasing bizarreness.”
“Oh,” Ryan says on a relieved exhale. “Right. I get it.”
Louis gives him a sympathetic smile. “Do you?”
Ryan lets out a little self-deprecating chuckle. “No, not really.”
Harry and Louis spend the next ten minutes relaying their crazy story, bantering back and forth like a tennis match, finishing each other’s sentences and chiming in with punchlines like a well-practised routine. By the end of it, Ryan is in fits of laughter and any awkwardness between the three of them has long since been banished.
Ryan updates them on his own life, excitedly telling them about his partner, Nathan, another Irishman that he met through work at the mines, who has already travelled back home and is waiting for Ryan’s return.
They’ve migrated to the seats and Ryan is sitting opposite them, legs spread wide in that way he always did and taking up the maximum amount of space. He looks good, Louis can easily acknowledge that, his naturally pale complexion tanned by the Aussie sun and contrasting attractively against his dark, curly hair and piercing blue eyes which crinkle when he smiles. He has a sharp tongue, but never in an unkind way; he’s just quick-witted and a bit quirky if Louis thinks about it. He’s tattooed and fairly tall, somewhere between Louis and Harry in terms of height, which are two of the things that attracted Louis to him from the outset. He’s clearly been spending extra time in the gym too, which has made his arse less rounded and more pert which Louis prefers. If Louis is being honest though, he’s a bit too bulked-up now for his liking, but perhaps he only feels that way now that he has his perfect boyfriend for comparison.
As Louis catalogues Ryan’s appearance, he realises that he’s actually a decent mix of Harry’s and Louis’ features and it makes him grin in amusement at the way they were each drawn to him, even though he wasn’t quite the right fit for either of them, looks or personality wise.
That was the reason he and Ryan had broken up after their brief interlude. They just weren’t the right fit. There was no drama to it, thankfully, and had both gone their separate ways with good wishes for each other’s future. Louis had naturally been somewhat disappointed, but he just hadn’t felt it; close, but not quite right. Looking back it’s obvious that the universe had a different plan and thank fuck it did.
Harry’s hand is draped casually over the armrest between them playing with the seam of Louis sweatpants; always touching, always needing to have that physical connection. Louis isn’t complaining though, he actually loves it in a way he thought he never would. He’s always been affectionate, but PDA was never really his thing, until Harry, that is. Now, he can’t get enough of it; holding hands in lines at the supermarket, wrapping their arms around each other’s shoulders and waists as they walk down the street, stolen kisses in coffee shops and restaurants, sitting backed up against Harry’s chest under their favourite tree in the park across from their flats. It’s a whole new world and one that Louis relishes.
Ryan glances down at Harry’s hand and when he looks back up he smiles at them knowingly. “You know what? This makes- Shit, this makes so much sense.”
Louis tilts his head to the side, quirking a brow. “What do you mean?”
“I mean, like, I’m just replaying our relationships in my head and- Yup! You two are perfect for each other.”
A blush creeps up Louis neck and onto his cheeks. “Thanks, Ryan. That’s- I think so too.”
Louis seeks out Harry’s hand and threads their fingers together. “He is pretty perfect, isn’t he,” Harry states easily.
“Not for me, mind,” Ryan clarifies with a soft chuckle and a little smirk. “But yeah, you two fit so well together. I’m- I’m really happy for you both.”
Harry brings Louis’ hand up to his mouth and kisses his knuckles. “Thanks, man. We’re pretty happy too.”
The announcement for First Class and Business Class passengers comes over the speaker and Ryan turns to look at the gate. “Ah, that’s me.”
“Business?” Louis asks and Ryan nods.
“Yeah. I’m getting too old to schlep in cattle class on long-hauls these days,” Ryan answers with a wink.
“Nice one. We’re in Premium Economy. It’s actually a decent compromise,” Louis offers as Harry stands up and Louis’ gaze follows the movement. “Babe?”
“Uhm… So, little surprise,” Harry says and beams a smile down at him. “I managed to get us upgraded to Business Class at the gate while you were getting coffee.”
“No way!” Louis leaps to his feet and flings his arms around Harry’s shoulders, jumping up and down on the spot and jostling Harry about. He pulls back, planting a kiss on Harry’s mouth. “Your charms know no bounds.”
“I am quite the charmer,” Harry agrees smugly, swaying them back and forth, and under normal circumstances Louis would whack him or pinch his nipple, but he decides to give him a free-pass this time.
“He always was a charmer,” Ryan adds sagely as he steps around them. “Both of you, actually.”
Harry and Louis chuckle as they break apart and grab their things, following Ryan over to the queue.
They make their way onto the plane, and while it’s been nice to catch up with Ryan, Louis is unapologetically grateful when their ex is ushered to the second Business Class cabin.
Harry loads their carry-on into the overhead compartment as Louis slides into the seat near the window, catching a glimpse of his boyfriends toned stomach when his t-shirt rides up. Fuck, he’s hot, almost painfully so, and Louis knows he has the next 30-or-so hours to endure where he can’t get his hands or mouth on him. He’ll be sure to make up for it though, even if they will be heading straight to Harry's mum’s house, he knows they’ll find a way.
Harry drops into the seat beside him, the cabin conveniently configured with a 2-2-2 layout, so they’ve got no one on either side of them.
“Hey,” Harry says and leans in for a kiss. Louis obliges without hesitation.
“Hey, babe,” he replies as he pulls away, toeing off his shoes and pushing them into the footwell in front of him.
Harry does the same and stretches out his long legs. “Business Class all the way to London.”
“Can’t believe you managed this. Have I told you how amazing you are?”
“You have, but thank you,” Harry says as he reaches over and takes Louis’ hand, pulling it across the divider to rest in his lap.
“My clever little charmer,” Louis coos and tucks on foot under his bum.
The plane fills up rapidly, people and flight crew busying themselves as Harry and Louis just sit back and watch it all happen around them. A crew member comes by with champagne and warm towels and they accept both, and shortly after they’re buckled up and watching the safety briefing as they taxi to their runway.
“So that was pretty fucking weird, like, back at the gate,” Harry says and Louis turns away from the window.
“Ryan?”
“Yeah. Do you think the universe is done with all the coincidences now?”
Louis shrugs. “Dunno. It’s certainly been a persistent little fucker.”
Harry chuckles in response, resting his cheek against the headrest as the plane surges down the runway. “It got it right though, didn’t it.”
Louis locks his gaze on Harry, the g-force pressing him into the seat as they leave the ground. “Yeah. Yeah, it really did.”
“Mhmmm,” Harry hums, giving him a beaming smile and Louis’ stomach swoops. He ponders for a moment how much is due to the motion of the plane as it climbs into the night sky and how much is actually due to his feelings for this wonderful man beside him.
He really can’t fathom how he got this lucky. It’s overwhelming, but in the best possible way. Those three little words are back on the tip of his tongue and while he didn’t have a particular plan for when or where he would say them, he hadn’t imagined doing it like this. Somehow it seems right though. Soaring into the heavens on their way back home to meet each other’s families, hands clasped and looking at each other like they hung the stars and the moon.
Louis presses into the divider. “Come here.”
Harry grins and comes closer. “What’s up?”
“I love you.”
There’s no fanfare, or fireworks, just a simple declaration, but Louis' stomach still swoops, except this time he knows for certain that it’s got nothing to do with the plane.
Harry closes his eyes, pulling his lips between his teeth, and when he opens his eyes again they’re glassy with tears. “I love you too, so fucking much.”
Harry reaches up with his free hand and cradles Louis’ jaw, erasing the distance between them and sealing their lips together.
Louis’ future flashes behind his eyelids; a future filled with joy and happiness, adventure and domestic bliss, hopes and dreams, friends and family, but above all, this wonderful man, who Louis knows without a shadow of a doubt, is the love of his life.
The universe really did get it right.