Archive of Our Own

The moment Harry set foot into their flat he heard a muffled groan and a sigh in a very familiar voice. 

He set his groceries down, got rid of coat and shoes, to make his way further into the flat he shared with his best friend. 

When the groans continued and got more desperate he rolled his eyes in annoyance. They had talked about this, several times actually — no hook-ups during the day, and if someone planned to stay over for longer it would be nice to talk to the other beforehand.

Harry sighed. As soon as whoever it was Louis was having fun with was out of the way, they would have to have The Talk™ again, because Harry really didn't enjoy having dinner to the sex noises of his best friend. He had had enough of that during the three years they have lived together.

Luckily they both didn't have partners, otherwise they would have to rethink this living arrangement. The walls really were pretty thin, but most of the time they made it work. Unfortunately for Harry, Louis was much more sexually active, though. Not that Harry cared of course, Louis was free to do whatever he wanted. But sometimes it made Harry feel lonely. Only because he didn't get as much opportunity to get in contact with other people in his line of work. Probably.

Louis just met loads of people on a daily basis. And more often than not he found the opportunity to go out for drinks with someone, bring them home, and…yeah. Harry in contrast…sitting in a two man office in a small agency with co-workers either female or well beyond their forties, making calls, writing emails, planning schedules and locations. Yeah, not many people he got to know there.

It had also been Louis' job through which the two of them had met, now already four years ago, when Harry had been new to the city. Louis being the tourist guide and Harry one of many visitors to be led past the main sights and little insider goodies. He had thought it to be a good idea to explore the new city he was going to live in, which had worked out well. He had met Louis. They immediately got along like a house on fire, he met Louis and his boyfriend for drinks that same night, they discovered they worked for the same company — Louis on the streets, Harry in the office — and the rest is history. They were the best of friends from the get go. And if Harry had thought at the time that it was a pity that Louis had a boyfriend, then that was a long forgotten error of sentiment. 

Then came Louis' break up. Harry had been his rock and support through all the sorrow, the heartbreak, the rage, the packing up his stuff from his ex’s flat, the desperate search for a new living space on short notice, which was hell in a city like London. Harry had offered him a roof above his head in the meantime. When that went splendidly, the idea for a real flat share bloomed. The next logical step was moving in together, and with that becoming even closer not only space-wise. Harry really couldn't think of a single person he trusted more than Louis. He really was his bestest friend. His platonic soulmate. They just worked.

They worked in every aspect, apart from the hooking up thing. Since the breakup Louis insisted there was no man he would want to be with and would ever have feelings for again. He had become a one night stand kinda guy. Which, of course, was totally fine with Harry. It was just…Harry was not like that. He was waiting for Mister Right. But no-one would suffice. Harry went on the occasional date, mostly set up by one of their friends. Louis slept around. Ending in both of them being single, and being the only constant in each other's lives. That's why Harry really really wanted this living arrangement to work out and last for as long as possible, but once again…the bloody sex sounds! He would have to get noise cancelling earphones.

Though this time, something was different and it took ages and Harry was about to knock on Louis' door to give a sign that he was home, when he noticed the door was cracked open. Immediately, worry flooded his body — what if he had misinterpreted the sounds? What if Louis was hurt? Needed help? 

“Lou?” he called out. “Everything okay?”

His only answer was another grunt and Harry had enough, he opened the door, about to offer his help. And froze. 

The sight in front of him was not what he had expected — there was Louis on the edge of his bed, shirtless, in his well worn grey joggers. So far nothing unusual. But today he had purple rope tied around his legs in an intricate pattern, his hands fiddling with one end of the rope, the other end clenched between his teeth.

Louis looked up the moment Harry entered the room, stopped in his movements, eyes going wide.

“Haf…” he said, rope still between his teeth, until he unclenched his jaws and wiggled his head to get rid of the rope, poking his tongue out in disgust. “Haz…” he tried again, pulling a face of embarrassment. “I didn't expect you back already.”

“Well, work was slow today so I took a few hours off.” Harry answered, eyes fixed on the rope, weirdly intrigued at the sight of it wrapped around Louis' legs. 

“Oh…” Louis coughs, fiddling with the rope constricting his legs, “...makes sense.”

Harry got the feeling Louis averted his eyes, ashamed for some reason. “What are you doing?” he asked, frowning. 

“I…uhm…practicing,” Louis mumbled.

“Practicing?” Harry asked, surprised. “For what?”

“Uhm…nothing special.” There was a bit of pink colouring Louis' cheeks.

“I don't believe you…” Harry grinned, teasing Louis. “Come on, spill!” He walked into the room, sitting next to Louis on the bed, when his friend finally freed himself from the restraints.

Louis' phone laid next to him, screen lit with some instruction sheet of knots. Harry picked it up to take a closer look, but Louis scrambled forward to pick it from his hands.

“No, Haz, don't…” Louis exclaimed, but too late…

“Shibati? No…shibari? What's that?”

Louis covered his face with his hands and groaned deeply. “Just something I wanted to try.” He mumbled into his hands.

“Ha, and I thought you were having sex in here.” Harry laughed, looked at Louis, and paused at the bright red skin colour that peaked out between Louis’ hands still covering his face.

“Well, you might not have been completely wrong…” Louis' head snapped up, a mortified shocked expression on his face. “No…not…I wasn't…”

“Relax, Lou!” Harry laughed. “Wouldn't have been the first time I walked in on you, yeah?” Harry giggled at Louis scrunched up face.

“Oh, don't remind me…” Louis looked thoughtfully at Harry. “How come I never caught you in any compromising situations.”

Now it was on Harry to be flustered. “I…uhm…maybe because I just…don't?” He looked sheepishly at Louis from under his lashes. “I don't mean never…but not…you know?” Harry shrugged, no desire to explain his lack of interest in sex with people who don't…well…fit.

Louis studied his face calmly, no judgment in his eyes, and Harry slowly relaxed. “How come we never talked about that?” Louis asked, voice low and kind and just so…sweet. 

“Dunno,” Harry shrugged. “Never came up, I guess. It's not that I'm walking around announcing ‘ I don't like sex if I don't know the person’ , now would I?”

“But you're my best friend in the world.” Louis looked seriously troubled. “Now I feel so bad. I should know something like that.” He looked up, eyes wide, apologetically waving his hands in front of himself. “Only if you wanted to share that, of course!!” He clarified urgently. 

Harry chuckled. Louis was just such a sweetheart. If he wasn't his best friend…

“No, Lou, you're all good!” He smiled warmly at Louis. “You never asked, I never told. It's not that I don't want you to know. It just never came up.”

“Okay, phew, then I'm actually relieved.” Louis coughed a bit awkwardly. 

They watched each other quietly for a moment, then, when the tension demanded for something to happen, Harry cleared his throat. “So, in the spirit of ‘I should know something like that’…what was all this about?” He grabbed the rope lying in a heap on the floor and let it slide through his fingers. It had a nice texture to it, he noticed. 

“Well…uhm…” Louis cleared his throat as well, but his voice was still a bit croaky when he said, “as I said, it's something I wanted to try. For…well…a potential partner who'd like something like that too.”

“For a partner?” Harry's curiosity piqued up.

“Yep.” Louis popped the p. 

“But you did it on yourself…” Harry frowned and tilted his head.

“Yeah, well, it's not as if I have a partner to try it with and I can hardly ask a random dude I'm meeting in a club if he wants to be my rope bunny,” Louis chuckled.

“Rope bunny?” Harry laughed out loud. 

Louis poked him in the side. “Stop it, you!” But Harry only laughed harder.

After they've calmed down again, Harry asked casually, “So, you're saying you need someone to practise it on?”

“Yeah, essentially, that's it.” Louis nodded. “It's not really that important actually. I was just, well, curious, I guess. I saw it…somewhere…” The pink returned to his cheeks. “And I liked what I saw. Just not for myself, you know?” He tilted his head to access Harry's reaction.

“Yeah, I guess.” Harry was pinching his lower lip between his fingers, deep in thought, before he answered, “I don't know much about it, but could I help? Maybe?”

Louis' eyes widened. “You?”

“Yeah, I mean…there’s not much to it, is there?” Harry frowned. “I don't have to know anything about it, do I?”

“Yeah, no, that's not…” Louis cleared his throat again. “Are you sure? I mean…would you be, uhm, comfortable with it?”

“I think so?” Harry nodded. “If not I could always tell you, right?”

“Yes. Yes, of course!” Louis confirmed excitedly. “You have to tell me anything that doesn't feel right, okay? If you're sure, we can absolutely do that.” He looked so eager that Harry felt happiness bubble up in his chest at the mere sight of best friend's happiness. 

“Okay, then let's do it!” Harry clapped his hands. “Let's have dinner first though. Bought stuff for your favourite pasta.”

“Haz, you're the bestest!” Louis exclaimed and smacked a kiss to Harry's cheek that made him blush for no particular reason. He liked to make his friend happy. After a bit of consideration, Louis added, “How about you make dinner and I watch some more instruction videos? Don't want to hurt you because I'm doing something wrong.”

“That's good,” Harry confirmed and stood up, while Louis snuggled into the pillows on his bed, already busy pulling up YouTube videos on how to tie and bind a partner correctly. 

Harry only watched him for a short moment before making his way to the kitchen. He decided to take a quick shower as well. The thought of Louis being so close to his body after a whole day at work in his stuffy office just didn't sit well with him. He wanted to smell good. For hygienic reasons only of course.

They had a lovely dinner, chatting about everything and nothing, as they always did. But when the food was gone and the dishes put away, a weird kind of tension settled over them. They had agreed on this, so Harry was surely determined to go through with it. He wanted to help Louis every way he could.

“How, uhm…how are we going to do this?” Louis asked, rubbing one hand over the nape of his neck.

“You tell me,” Harry chuckled. “It's your thing.”

“Okay. Then…my room?”

“That's alright with me.” Harry nodded. “I'll follow your lead,” he said, which made Louis flush for whatever reason. “Should I, uhm, wear anything particular?” he asked, a bit flustered. He had no idea what was expected of him.

“No,” Louis said, eyeing Harry up and down, taking in his plain white t-shirt and his black joggers. “All good.” He nodded.

“Great,” Harry swallowed, nervous for no reason.

“Okay,” Louis rubbed his hands together in a way that made Harry's lower belly swirl. “Let's start then.”

They made their way into Louis' bedroom. Harry noticed the fresh white sheets Louis' bed was made up with, that hadn't been there before. He liked that Louis had been considerate of that. There were also different kinds of rope lying neatly rolled up next to each other. Harry swallowed. Ropes. Plural. Several. What The Fuck. But he promised. And friends kept their promises, right? Though he felt a nervous tingle in his belly, he didn't want to back out. 

“What…uhm…what are the plans?” Harry asked nervously. 

“No plans, actually,” Louis laughed. “I'm not really sure what I'm doing. Just learning by doing, I'd say…picked some easy ties though. So, don't worry.”

“Okay, sounds reasonable.” Harry swallowed. “How, uhm, do you want me?” And why the hell was this suddenly so difficult. It didn't feel difficult before.

Louis cleared his throat, chuckled slightly. “Why is this awkward, Haz?” He asked straight out. 

Harry only shrugged and smiled crookedly at him. “Doesn't have to be,” he said, reassuringly. “I'm not running away. Promise,” He winked, more confidently than he felt. He had no idea what he was getting himself into. But it was Louis. And he trusted Louis.

“Okay. Alright.” Louis took a deep breath. “Maybe kneel on the bed for me, arms outstretched in front of you.”

“Arms?” Harry asked incredulously, but moved onto the bed, kneeling and settling with his bum on his heels. “Didn't you tie your legs?”

“Yeah, but…” Louis looked into Harry's eyes, “there are a lot of ties and there was one with the hands above the head that looked nice and a bit easier than the legs. So, I thought I could start with your hands and arms? Would that be okay for you?”

The intense look in Louis’ eyes didn't leave much room for protest. Not that Harry even wanted to. He was intrigued by what was to come, and somehow the vulnerable position he had put himself into made him trust Louis even more. So he held Louis' gaze and nodded. “Yes, that's okay with me.” He said, voice small but sure.

“Okay, then…arms stretched out in front of you and then you put the inside of your wrists together.” Louis demonstrated what he meant and Harry followed suit.

Harry watched mesmerised as Louis folded one of the purple ropes in half and formed a little loop at the end. Then he lowered his hands towards Harry's, looked Harry in the eyes one more time until Harry nodded in confirmation that, yes, he could go on. After that Louis was focused and highly concentrated and Harry was caught up in the sight of him. 

Louis placed the rope on his skin, and for the first time Harry felt the scratchy yet soft texture of the rope. It was surprisingly nice. Louis wrapped the double layered strings of purple around his wrists. Once, twice, then a knot that wasn't tight but could still be felt against his joint. Harry couldn't pull his hands apart and yet it was more comforting than restricting. It felt totally safe, with Louis sitting in front of him, being in charge of the ropes.

“This okay?” Louis checked in with him. “Not too tight?”

“No, ‘s good. Okay, I mean…” Harry said back, quietly. The atmosphere around them somehow too fragile and precious to speak up loudly. 

“Good,” Louis smiled at him cautiously. “Now I have to pull your hands up over your head, okay?” Louis informed him and Harry nodded in confirmation. 

The moment Louis tugged on the rope and Harry's hands got lifted without his doing, something strange happened in Harry's chest. On the one hand his arms high over his head with no way to pull them down again made him feel exposed, his entire front felt bare even though he was covered by his t-shirt. He felt vulnerable, at Louis' mercy. On the other hand a weird calmth settled in his chest and his mind. He felt held and protected. Handed over into safe hands.

Louis shuffled behind him, out of Harry's sight, and for a short moment Harry panicked a bit that he couldn't see what Louis was doing anymore. Until he heard Louis' calm and quiet voice close to his ear, “Okay, Haz, I'm going to tie the rope around your chest now, yeah? You have to tell me if it's too tight, if you can't breathe properly, okay?”

Harry nodded silently, voice lost somewhere between the first touch of rope on his skin and the slight strain he now felt on his neck because of his raised arms. Then, Louis pulled the rope down behind his back, traced a finger down Harry's spine, eliciting goosebumps over Harry's entire body. He shivered slightly, hoped Louis wouldn't notice, because…what the fuck was that reaction? They were always tactile, Harry never minded Louis' touch. At all. But something like this had never happened before. Louis continued the torturously slow path with his fingertips till he was at the height of Harry's sternum, then suddenly wrapped the rope to his front with one arm, taking hold of the loose end with the other arm around Harry's other side, and for a brief moment Harry felt hugged by Louis from behind. His body warmth seeped through Harry's shirt for a second, and the moment it was gone Harry craved it again.

However, Louis' hug was quickly replaced by the hug of the rope, neatly placed just under his pecs, and Louis fiddling around behind his back again. The lack of sight made Harry hyper aware of every touch and even though they were separated by a layer of fabric, this closeness felt more intimate than they had ever been.

Harry couldn't stand staring into the void of Louis' room any longer and closed his eyes, which might have been a mistake. Or not. Because his senses heightened even more and he could literally feel every micro motion of Louis' hands, hear the whiff of his controlled breathing close behind him, sense the warmth Louis' body was radiating settle on him like a blanket. 

Harry's mind was quieting, his body was relaxing, and even though he couldn't move his arms he felt more free than ever before. What was happening?

“Still okay?” Louis murmured, quietly, apparently sensing the bubble around them as well. He gave the rope a small tug. 

“Hmm-mmh,” Harry hummed, not feeling like opening his mouth to speak. 

“Good,” Louis mumbled back. “Then I'll put another layer over your chest, okay?”

Harry nodded, and when Louis said in a low voice, “You’re doing so well for me, Haz,” Harry's belly swooped, and an unknown kind of pride spread through his body, motivating him to do even better.

He was jolted out of his haze when Louis' hands accidentally brushed over his nipples while wrapping the rope a bit higher on his chest. The swooping in his belly turned into a rollercoaster, the fog in his mind thickened, and when Louis was back to hugging him to get hold of the rope Harry involuntarily leaned back into his warmth. A sigh escaped him, but he had no strength to hold it back. Louis' quiet chuckles vibrated against his back and the corner of Harry's lips twitched at the knowledge he made Louis happy. 

“You okay there, love?” Louis whispered in his ear, and Harry only hummed, the spot where Louis’ breath met his skin tingling. “If you need a break or something—” 

Harry vehemently shook his head, still at a loss for words, and revelled in another quiet laugh behind his back. 

Louis continued working quietly, a little tug on the rope, a little more strain on Harry's chest, fabric shifting over his skin, the fog in his head wafting around, no thought to be found. 

Suddenly, after minutes or hours, Harry couldn't be sure, Louis shuffled around in front of him again, and Harry felt a warm palm against his cheek. 

“Open your eyes, love,” Louis said warmly. 

The moment Harry followed Louis' order he was met with Louis' blue eyes scanning his face with affection and concern, curiosity, and a twinkle Harry had never seen before. Adoration? Wonder?

“How does it feel?” Louis asked, eyes flitting over Harry's features. 

“Good,” Harry slurred a bit. Had he fallen asleep? He felt a bit drunk though he didn't have a single drop. He smiled droopily at Louis. “All good. Feels nice. Well done.”

“Well thank you,” Louis chuckled, eyes warm and attentively on Harry. “Should I relieve you now?”

Harry grunted and shook his head. “No!” he said a bit more forcefully than he'd expected. Calming his voice and heart down a bit, cheeks rosy with embarrassment, he tried again, “You don't have to, if you don't want to. I'm okay. Okay. Yeah.”

Louis' eyes twinkled with amusement but he nodded and said, voice earnest despite the look in his eyes, “Okay, then we'll leave it for a bit. But you tell me if it gets too much, okay?”

“Of course,” Harry nodded eagerly, happy to keep his ropes for a while longer.

“Uhm…” Louis sounded hesitant all of a sudden. “I actually wanted to ask if I could tie your legs too, but now you've still got your hands tied…” He trailed off.

“What's the issue?” Harry asked sleepily. 

“Well…isn't it too much for you? I mean, arms and legs? That's…”

“No, ‘s alright. I don't mind.” Harry said. And he really didn't mind. He was rather looking forward to it for whatever reason. 

“Okay, but, uhm,” Louis looked indecisively around the bed. “You'd actually need to sit up, like on your bum, or lie down. Would any of that work with your arms though? Because I need your legs free for that…”

“Hm, let's try.” Harry wiggled around, but without the support of his arms he was a bit wobbly on his knees. He unfolded his legs, but couldn't easily sit up without being propped up on his hands, so he just let himself fall backwards, slumped on the bed. It went surprisingly well with his bound arms — his hands even giving his head a bit of support so he was able to see Louis. 

Louis crawled over to him, looking concerned. “You alright, Haz?”

“Yeah, ‘s comfy,” Harry reassured him, but Louis didn't look convinced. 

“Let's get it even comfier, okay?” He said sweetly, pulled one of his pillows closer and put a tender hand under Harry's head to lift him up a bit. He seemed concentrated on stuffing the pillow under Harry's head in all the right places, but Harry couldn't help but notice how close their faces were. He could see every single freckle on Louis' cheeks and little specks of gold in his blue blue eyes. Had he always been this beautiful? Harry knew the answer. Yes, he had, but not for Harry to enjoy. One simply didn't enjoy the beauty of one's best friends.

“I like your freckles.” It just escaped Harry's fogged mind and stupid mouth and he quickly snapped it shut, the moment Louis' eyes flickered to Harry's, holding his gaze with raised eyebrows. 

“Do you?” He asked silently. 

“And your eyes.” What was wrong with Harry's brain? Why wasn't he able to control his words?

“Okay…” Louis made it sound like a question, chuckled slightly. “Did you smoke anything beforehand?”

Harry didn't even find it in himself to be offended, only shook his head ‘no’, the same earnest but hazy look on his face.

“Well then, thank you.” Louis whispered, chuckles dying, eyes intense. “I like your eyes too.” He said, holding Harry's gaze. Then cleared his throat and sat back. In a steadier voice, “You comfy? Pillow okay?” 

He waited a short moment for Harry's confirming nod and then duck down to pick up another rope.

At first, Harry just waited. He couldn't see what Louis was doing and the anticipation almost killed him. Then, Louis lifted one of his feet and Harry felt rope being wrapped around it, but the delicious friction of the rope on his skin was missing on his sock clad ankle. Harry almost wanted to complain, but then remembered they weren't doing this for him, but for Louis. To practice. For some potential partner. For someone else. And for some reason that thought really stung.

A disgruntled sigh pulled Harry back from his miserable thoughts.

“This doesn't work,” Louis huffed.

“What doesn't…” Harry  tried to lift his head a bit to glance at Louis, who looked back a bit sheepishly.

“With the socks. And the joggers. The rope keeps slipping…” Louis shrugged apologetically. “Same issue I had on my own legs.” He explained. 

For a moment they just look at each other, before Harry says, “Then take them off.”

Louis stared. “Would that… Are you okay with that?”

“Wouldn't be the first time you had to undress me, right?” Harry joked, but the swooping in his belly felt like a little army of butterflies by now. “Remember when I was drunk from that one party…?”

“Yeah. True.” Louis chuckled. “So, sweatpants off then?” Louis still hesitated.

“Just do it!” Harry said, not sure why he was trying to convince Louis. It was just…the rope felt so much better on his skin…

“Okay,” Louis laughed, a bit incredulously, cheeks pinking a tiny bit. “Let's do it then. Pants off.”

The moment Louis hooked his fingers into the waistband of Harry's joggers, Harry didn't know what came over him, but he cheekily replied, “Well, maybe leave the actual underpants on. For now.”

Louis froze, looked at him, and Harry already feared he had overstepped an invisible boundary, when Louis suddenly started to laugh. “You cheeky little shit,” he said. “You're enjoying this, don't ya?”

“Teasing you?” Harry grinned. “Always!”

There was this particular look in Louis’ eyes again, but in the blink of an eye it was gone and Louis started to wiggle Harry's joggers down his legs, catching and removing Harry's socks on the way, until Harry laid there in only his white t-shirt and very snug black boxer briefs, legs bare, arms bound over his head, looking at Louis in anticipation, who only stared back with his mouth slightly open. 

After clearing his throat Louis averted his gaze, looking down at the rope in his hands and said determinedly, “Okay, let’s try this again.”

“Okay,” Harry agreed quietly.

Louis took hold of Harry’s ankle again, but this time it was the warm skin of his hand that touched Harry, which made him calm down immediately. He sighed deeply, forced his muscles to relax, and gave himself over into Louis’ caring hands.

It felt as if Louis was doing the same kind of knot around his ankle as Harry had seen him tie around his wrist — tight, but not too tight. Securing him instead of restricting. Louis sat on his side, highly focused on his task, his hands working purposefully and efficiently. What he was doing was hidden by Louis' body and Harry’s own bent leg, so Harry closed his eyes and tried to sense what was going on.

He heard Louis breathing, the rope whooshing through his palms while he was now moving it over Harry's leg. He gently pushed Harry’s heel closer to his bum until he felt his own foot touch the crease where his buttcheek met his upper thigh. There was almost constant contact to his skin, Louis’ hands brushing over Harry’s leg like a soft caress, while Louis was tying his lower leg to his thigh; the tight rope a delicious contrast to Louis’ soft touches. The rope was looped around his leg — his outer thigh, his inner thigh, his shin, his calf, and again. Louis was wrapping the cord around him in circles, binding calf to thigh, once, twice, and again. The tighter his leg was bound, the more Harry could let go. He fell into the hold of the rope, could feel his mind fall too, into a deep kind of trust. His senses heightened, his thoughts calmed. There was only warm skin on warm skin, the sturdy material of the rope scratching slightly, catching on the hairs on his legs, digging into his flesh, and Louis’ breathing that was getting more and more laboured. 

Harry got lost in the sensation, the repetition, the soft sounds and touches. It was lulling him until he felt as if he was in some kind of trance. He briefly wondered if he needed to do anything. Was he supposed to help Louis? He couldn’t remember. Did Louis say something?

Only when Louis’ hand pulled the rope from his outer thigh through the gap between his heel and his butt to bring it to the inside, Harry was pulled out of his haze a bit. The brush of Louis' hand on his inner thigh, so close to his groin, caused a wave of heat flushing through Harry’s body. He couldn’t help the sharp intake of breath to hold back a moan. What the fuck. He didn’t even realise the effect Louis’ touches had on him. Caught too deep in the fog of his mind.

Harry was only grateful that Louis was sitting to his side. That his leg was able to hide what was going on in Harry's lower regions. The slide of the rope against his skin, the slight sting caused by the tug on his body hairs, the soft caress of the sheets on Louis' bed, and the growing restraint he could feel in his movement, all added together into a warmth that piled in Harry's lower belly that he couldn't explain. He just knew that his body and mind were affected. His cock growing harder with each of Louis' movements, his mind getting dizzier with every sensation.

“You alright, Haz?” Sounded Louis’ raspy voice through the haze of Harry’s mind. He sounded a bit breathless, as if it took him effort to speak. Harry understood, he didn’t feel like talking either. Did Louis feel the same as Harry maybe? How was he able to concentrate on tying the ropes then? Harry wouldn’t be able to focus on anything right now. Apart from Louis’ touch. That was front and centre of Harry’s attention.

Harry only hummed, content and warm. He wanted Louis to go on. Wanted more. These ropes were awesome. Louis’ touch was awesome. He wanted more.

“More,” was what escaped him. And Louis only chuckled warmly.

“Seems I’m not the only one enjoying it,” Louis said low and with a hint of something Harry never heard before. Like something held back that wanted to break free. “Other leg too then?” Louis asked in the same rough voice. “You want that?”

“Yes! Please!” Harry sighed, because right now he couldn’t imagine anything better than that.

Laughing to himself, Louis shuffled on the foot end of the bed, shifting to Harry’s other side, but suddenly stopped and inhaled sharply. “Fucking hell, Haz,” he said on a sharp exhale.

Harry forced his eyes open, tried to focus on Louis, everything was so blurry and far away.

Louis’ gaze was glued to Harry’s groin, then shifted up to Harry’s eyes and back down. Only at that moment, Harry remembered the strain in his pants, how very much it affected not only his mind, but his body as well. There was an obvious erection tenting his boxers. There was no mistaking what Harry thought of this experience. He wanted to hide it, but it was obviously too late for that now. Harry swallowed, wary of Louis’ reaction. But then a smirk formed on Louis' lips and a new confidence glinted in his eyes. “I’m definitely not the only one enjoying it then…” He grinned at Harry, who shook his head no. And suddenly the atmosphere around them shifted, sizzled with tension and excitement.

Louis grabbed Harry’s other ankle. This time he stayed seated between Harry’s legs though. Harry was able to watch Louis like that, catching his eyes from time to time. And the heat that was now obvious in Louis’ gaze only fueled Harry’s own reaction. Louis’ touch became more deliberate, more intentional, more directed. What was an accidental brush earlier, now became a directed slide of his palm over Harry’s inner thigh. The rope was placed with more intent, every single one of Harry’s reactions seemed to be stored away, judging by the intensity of Louis’ gaze. The higher on Harry’s thigh Louis’ hands wandered on their way to tie Harry’s leg, the more breathless Harry became and the more hooded Louis’ look turned as well.

“Christ, Harry,” Louis swallowed, licking his lips, “you’re really a sight. So hot.” He caught Harry’s eyes. “Is that okay to say?” He asked cautiously. They were wandering into new terrain after all, crossing an invisible boundary in their friendship. Those walls were crashing down tonight at rapid speed, and Harry couldn’t care less. Or rather, he cared very much, but he wasn’t afraid. He wanted this. He wanted this very much, more than he had ever known.

“Yes, that’s okay.” Harry murmured. “So very okay, Lou.”

A big smile bloomed on Louis’ face that made Harry’s belly swoop for entirely different reasons. Christ, when had he become so fond of his flatmate, his best friend. He knew when that was, but it was hard to admit. It had been in a pub, four years ago, watching Louis being loved up with his boyfriend, wishing it to be him instead. Fucking hell. Harry groaned, and Louis’ eyes darkened at the sound, and all of a sudden they were back to heated anticipation.

“Can I go on?” Louis asked.

“Yes, please. Give me more…” Harry sighed, and Louis didn’t wait to be told twice.

He pulled the rope through the gaps between loops on Harry’s outer thigh, teasing fingers sneaking caresses to the underside of Harry’s upper leg, dangerously close to his butt. Harry’s senses, on high alert, were multiplying every touch, every sensation until he was trembling from anticipation. Waiting for the next brush of fingers, the next tug of rope, the next strain on his skin.

Harry didn’t even notice that Louis was done until he announced it with a raspy voice. “All done now, love. Wrapped up nicely, like a present for me.” Louis shifted closer and settled between Harry’s thighs. Sitting on his heels he lifted Harry’s bound legs slightly to rest Harry’s feet on his own spread thighs.

Louis let his eyes roam over Harry’s body, over the strings of rope on his wrists and his chest, the t-shirt that had been riding up with Harry’s wriggling and shifting, exposing a sliver of skin of his belly, putting his straining erection tightly covered by the black material of his boxers on full display. Louis’ eyes lingered there, hesitant, his eyes slowly raising up to Harry’s again.

“Can I…” Louis swallowed. “Can I touch?”

And like a starved man Harry groaned, “Yessss, please!”

And when Louis reached out, pressing the palm of his hand against Harry’s boxer clad cock, Harry moaned loudly and had to close his eyes because of the overflow of sensations. He wiggled in his restraints, wanting to touch as well. But when he realised his hands were still completely immobile, his arms raised, his body on display, completely at Louis’ mercy, a fire rushed through his veins of an intensity he never experienced before.

Harry’s cock twitched in Louis’ hold. “Oh god…Lou…” Harry moaned and bucked his hips as far as he got with his legs tied up. Louis put more pressure on Harry’s erection, squeezed it, moving his hand slowly up and down, stroking it through the fabric. The heat pooling low in Harry’s gut built quickly, much faster than Harry could control. Never had he felt this desperate. He didn’t know if he wanted Louis to stop or to hurry up. “Lou. Please.” He begged. “Please, I…”

“What do you want, Haz?” Louis’ voice was rough and low, clearly affected as well.

“You need to stop. I won’t last like this…” Harry gasped.

“And if I don’t want to stop?” Louis smirked mischievously. “Nothing you can do about it…” The look he gave Harry was dark and heated and Harry thought he might come on the spot. 

“You… I…” Harry mumbled incoherently, his mind in a daze of lust and surrender. “Please please please.” He kept begging.

“Do you want me to stop?” Louis challenged him.

“No!” Harry exclaimed, because he really didn’t.

“Then what do you want, Haz?” Louis held Harry’s gaze until Harry moaned, “Fuck me, Lou. I want you to fuck me.”

“That I can do. That’s what I want to do. God, Haz, you can’t imagine how much I want that.”

“Then get to it,” Harry said impatiently, but then…”Oh shit, Lou, my boxers, you can’t pull them down. My legs…”

“Don’t worry, love, I can still get to where I need to,” Louis winked, then slipped the waistband of Harry’s pants over his erection so that his cock sprang free.

The sudden chill of the air meeting Harry’s heated cock put a new awareness and a new layer of sensation to Harry’s mind, occupied him to the point that he barely noticed Louis shifting to his bedside table. The moment Louis pulled a bottle of lube and a condom out of the drawer a sudden sharp but fleeting sting of jealousy flashed through Harry at the thought of why Louis had condoms stacked next to his bed. But then realisation hit — it was him now. He was here with Louis, under his adoring and passionate gaze, under his skilled hands. And he wanted this, so desperately. He was sure. He couldn't wait any longer. 

So, when Louis dribbled a bit of lube on his fingers and coated his palms with it, Harry's breath already hitched in anticipation.

Reclaiming his spot between Harry's thighs, Louis grabbed Harry's cock with his left hand and started slowly stroking it.

Harry's eyes fell shut, his mouth open in a silent moan. Oh god, it was too much and not enough at the same time. It was holding him on edge in the most delicious way. He tried to meet Louis' movements, wriggled on the sheets, but the ropes held him back, the strain on his arms and legs reminding him of his immobility, of his vulnerability, and he gasped and the refreshed realisation — he couldn't touch. He couldn't do anything. He could only take. Take anything Louis would give him.

And he did exactly that when one of Louis' fingers of his other hand sneaked underneath the back of Harry's pants, feeling along the crease between his butt cheeks until he brushed over his entrance. He teased the puckered skin until Harry felt his muscles relax. Louis didn't waste any time, pushed one finger in, wiggled it slightly. And Harry's mind went blank and body was on fire.

“Haz,” Louis rasped, “look at me. I want to see your eyes.”

Harry tried, but his lids were hooded and his gaze was dazed. He felt as if in trance. “I'm here.” He said senselessly. “I'm good.”

“Good,” sighed Louis. “You're doing so well, Haz. So good.”

At that Harry moaned, Louis' praise and appreciation adding a whole new flood of desire. “More, Lou. Please, more.”

Louis teased a second finger along Harry's entrance, and Harry tried to push back, increasing the pressure. He was delighted when the top of Louis' finger slipped in, felt like he did good, even though his shuffling made the knot in his back dig deeper into his muscles. Maybe the sting even added to the feeling, made him aware of his ropes all over again. Despite being bound, despite being unable to do anything, Louis looked at him so proud, so pleased.

“So eager,” Louis smirked.

“Yes…” Harry hissed, impatient. “Can't wait. Please Lou. Now.”

“Just a bit more, babe,” Louis said, and…babe, he called him ‘babe’.

Harry moaned loudly, trying to buck his hips, in the end at least motioning it slightly to meet Louis' second finger, to make him speed up the process. Harry wanted more than fingers. He wanted Louis' cock. Now. 

Finally, Louis had mercy on him, pulling his fingers out, making Harry whine at the loss.

“Patience, babe,” Louis chuckled, wiping his hands on the sheets, then opening the wrapper of the condom with his teeth, his left hand never leaving Harry's cock.

Ohhhh…now the attention in his arse was gone, Harry was fully aware of his cock again. He tried to thrust up into Louis fist, the ropes straining on his thighs, holding him back, and Louis…he stopped moving altogether, looking at Harry with dark eyes, whispering, “I said patience.” And Harry stilled in his movements. The words stopping him, automatically, like a command. He wanted to follow Louis' orders. He wanted to do good. Wanted to be called ‘good’ again.

And when Louis said, “That's my good boy,” Harry beamed, until he felt the head of Louis' cock press against his entrance.

Louis was just as hard, just as affected, and that sent a zing of electricity through Harry's nervous system. Suddenly fully aware that they were doing this. They were really doing this.

“Still okay?” Louis whispered, searching Harry's eyes, as if he could read Harry's mind.

“Yes,” Harry whispered back, not wanting to break the moment. “Yes, please!”

“You're amazing, Haz.” Louis' eyes were shining, dark and glinting with a kind of desire Harry has never witnessed before. It made his own need spike and he whined for Louis to hurry up. Louis chuckled slightly, then closed his eyes, his mouth dropping open, when he started to push in.

Harry moaned at the stretch when Louis cock entered him, the burn of it mixing deliciously with the sensations spread out all over his body.

Propped up on one hand, Louis pushed in deeper, slowly, bit by bit. His other hand had let go of Harry's cock in favour of pushing his shirt up, exposing the skin of his belly. He caressed the soft skin, then traced patterns over Harry's chest, hidden by the shirt that was still held in place by the ropes. When he brushed over Harry's nipple again Harry couldn't hold back his intense response, too caught up in the mix of sensations. Louis' eyes darkened. He bent down, gently biting Harry's nipple through the fabric, which made Harry jolt in his restraints, his eyes snapping open, breathing becoming more and more difficult.

When Louis bottomed out, they were both on the brink already, close to coming, overwhelmed by everything. Louis waited a bit, trying to calm down. Hand roaming over Harry's body, gaze fitting over Harry's face. “I won't last long,” Louis panted.

“Me neither,” Harry chuckled, breathless. “Might come on the spot actually…”

“Same,” Louis swallowed. “God Haz, you feel so good.”

“Just…fuck me, Lou,” Harry begged, unable to wait any longer. “Make me come. Please. I need it.”

“Okay,” Louis said, holding Harry's gaze. “Okay,” he said again, before starting to move, slow at first, the first couple of thrusts careful and hesitant. But hearing Harry's sounds of pleasure, Louis sped up, pushing in faster, deeper, not holding back anymore. He sat up a bit, grabbing Harry's bound thighs, the sensation of his hot touch between the strain of the ropes sending Harry spiralling — between the stinging stretch of his arms, the dig of the knot in his back, Louis' cock stretching him and nudging relentlessly against his prostate, the rope cutting into his thigh, and Louis' hands grabbing him tightly, Harry's mind went blank. In a haze he heard Louis gasp, “Haz, I'm…” at the same moment he felt the heat in his belly building and building, almost spiking over. 

“Lou,” he forced out, “I'm…coming.” Just in time before he tipped over the edge, spurting thick ropes of creamy white over his stomach and chest. 

As if from far away, he heard Louis grunt and curse, felt his thrusts becoming even more forceful, then stilling, their heavy breathing mingling in the air.

A sweaty Louis collapsed next to Harry, who could just lie there, letting the sensations wash over him, flood him, drown him. Like underwater, he noticed Louis pressing little kisses against his arm, then his cheek, his forehead. 

“God Haz, that was…amazing. Just…unbelievable.” He whispered, pressing another kiss on Harry's damp forehead. “I'll free you now. Tell me if anything feels off, please.”

And…right…the ropes. Harry had to let go of his ropes. He almost pouted. Or maybe he actually did, he wasn't sure. But he also knew he couldn't keep the ropes forever. 

Louis quickly got rid of the condom, then wiped Harry's belly clean with a tissue. He helped Harry roll over on his side, and started to untie the knot behind Harry's back. He quickly loosened all the loops, carefully pulled the ropes out under Harry's chest and torso, and Harry already mourned the deliciously tight hold of the restraints. Carefully Louis rolled him back on his back, lifted his arms and moved them to Harry's front, eased the loops from around his wrists, pulled his stained t-shirt over his head, and gently massaged his shoulders, his joints, his skin, and the red skin the ropes left behind. 

Louis looked a bit concerned at the marks that were left behind and asked hesitantly, “Are you alright, love? All good?”

But Harry couldn't get enough of the sight of the marks around his wrists. It was like a reward for having been good. Louis left them there. Harry was marked by Louis, for having been good. He smiled droopily at Louis. “Perfect,” he whispered, and got a relieved smile from Louis back. 

To Harry's surprise, Louis leaned down, closing the distance between them. He held Harry's gaze, hesitating only slightly, before sealing their lips in a kiss. Harry sucked in a surprised gasp before melting into the kiss. It was their first kiss, Harry realised, and he relished it to the fullest. He cherished every single second of the gentle slide of Louis' lips on his and the brush of his tongue against Louis'. A completely different set of emotions engulfing him, a warmth spread through his chest that flooded him with happiness and hope. 

When they parted they only stared at each other with equal adoration and warmth glittering in their eyes.

After a moment, Louis went back to his task of freeing Harry from his ropes. He first untangled one leg, gently rubbing and kneading Harry's muscles the moment they were released from their restraints. Always checking in with Harry if everything felt okay. 

But Harry was simply happy, floating on a cloud, mind flushed with a dizzying mix of sensations. He nodded along, answered Louis' questions, but couldn't really mind anything at all right now. The imprint of the ropes on his skin was too beautiful andthe man handling his ropes too mesmerising. Harry couldn't take his eyes off him. 

When his second leg was free as well, Louis gently stretched them, finally pulled Harry's boxers off, checked one last time with Harry if everything felt alright and when he got the okay, he laid down next to Harry again with a happy sigh, pulling him tightly against his chest. Harry nuzzled his head against Louis' chest and wrapped an arm around him, their legs slotting together like puzzle pieces.

Louis' hands wandered over Harry's naked body, fingers following curves and edges, lines and imprints of the ropes, making Harry shiver in the memories they held.

After a long stretch of silence, only filled with the sound of their breathing, Harry whispered, “Lou?” voice still slightly raspy. 

“Yes, love?” Louis whispered back, still running his fingers over Harry's skin, tracing the lines that had been marked onto his body. 

“I liked that.” Harry confessed, voice small and hesitant. 

“Yeah, I gathered,” Louis chuckled low and warm. “I liked that too. A lot.” He pressed a kiss against Harry's forehead and sent tingles over Harry's entire body, still high on endorphins and sensations.

“Where does this leave us though?” Harry gathered the courage to ask. “Am I your rope bunny now?”

He heard Louis swallow. “You can be my rope bunny or anything else you're comfortable with. I…” Louis breathed deeply, but didn't say anything else.

“I don't want to be just your rope bunny,” Harry said quietly, and Louis took a sharp breath. Underneath his ear Harry could hear Louis' heartbeat speed up, so he hurried to explain himself. “I don't want to be just someone to practise with only for you to then go and do these things with an actual partner.”

“Okay, if that—” Louis croaked, voice thick. 

“I want to be more. I want…” Harry pushed himself up in Louis' arms to be able to look at him, studied Louis' face with serious eyes, the beautiful glow of post orgasm bliss still around them. “I want to be with you,” he whispered, reaching out and tracing a finger along Louis' cheekbones and jawline. “If you want that…”

“Yes,” Louis nodded. “Oh my God, yes!” He leaned forward, cautiously, holding Harry's gaze until they met in a sweet but desperate kiss. When they parted, their gazes lingered, a happy gleam in their eyes. “I never thought you'd want that with me,” Louis murmured.

“I never wanted to be a one time thing for you,” Harry admitted. 

“You could never be just a one time thing for me,” Louis shook his head pressing another peck on Harry's lips. “I'd never risk losing you, Haz.” He said urgently. “That's why we need to be really sure about this. If you'd rather stay friends and pretend this never happened—”

“No!” Harry exclaimed, rushing to stop Louis. “I don't want that. I don't want to pretend this never happened,” he said. “You'll always be my best friend, Lou.” He searched Louis' eyes, to see if he understood. “But I also want you to be more. I want to be with you. I want to be yours and for you to be mine.” He inched even closer to Louis. “I really want that. I'm sure!”

Louis exhaled deeply, a grin spreading on his face. “Thank God, because I really want that too. And you've always been more to me, Harry. We were meant to be in each other's lives, in whichever way.”

“Yeah,” Harry said, a glint in his eyes, a smirk pulling at his lips. “It was bound to happen.”

He started to giggle, and Louis groaned, hiding his face in Harry's neck. “You're the worst!” He grunted. 

“No, I'm not. Admit it, you like it.” He cupped Louis' cheeks to raise his head and look into his eyes. 

“Yes, I like it,” Louis grinned. “And I like you, Harry Styles.”

“I like you too, Louis Tomlinson. More than I probably should,” Harry said, getting more serious. “Always have.”

“Always have,” Louis echoed. “And always will.” He pulled Harry into another deep and loving kiss. 

And from that day on, Harry never complained about the sex noises in the flat ever again.