Chapter Text
When Harry walks into the sleep room, Niall and Liam go quiet. It annoys him a little bit because it is obvious that they were talking about him, but it is welcome nonetheless. He sits down on his bunk bed with his back against the wall and lets his eyes drift close. The silence in the room at least allows Harry to sit alone with his own thoughts and wallow in self-pity for a while.
He knows the whole revelation to Louis went as well as he could’ve expected it to, given their unusual circumstance. Did he wish Louis would miraculously get excited about being destined to be with Harry? Yes, he can admit that he did indeed. Who can blame him? He has been looking forward to meeting his soulmate for his entire life, and he never considered it not being a euphoric moment. But Harry knows it’s not a realistic thing to wish for. It is entirely reasonable that Louis needs some time to adjust to the idea that the universe fated him to spend the rest of his life with a being of another race. Even more so when considering that Louis didn’t even know soulmates existed up until the moment he found out he has one.
Yet, all the logic in the galaxy didn’t stop Harry from being upset and frustrated about it. The negative emotions piled up inside his chest ever since Louis didn’t recognize him inside that cursed cave in Gulurrautt. And with every interaction between them without any acknowledgement from Louis that they’re literally perfect for each other, Harry’s sadness grew. He tried his best to mask it up around Louis, but he couldn't live in denial and fool himself forever. So, really, he should’ve expected to be hurt when Louis didn’t react, once again, as he hoped for. He should’ve, but he didn’t. He kept making the same mistake of letting his expectations run too high, and he had no one to blame but himself.
Harry startles when his bed dips under a new weight. He barely manages to open his eyes before he gets an armful of Niall hugging him. He hugs back tentatively, confused by the actions but not having the energy to fight back.
Liam joins them on Harry’s bed right after, sitting by Harry's foot and patting his leg in what Harry thinks is some sort of comforting motion to the earthlings.
“Just give him some time, mate, I’m sure Louis will come around,” Liam tells him quietly.
“Tommo can be a bit stubborn and resistant at first but he is a softie at heart,” Nialls complements as he adjusts his position so he is sitting more comfortably against Harry. “I bet he can be super romantic with the right person. Which you are, because the universe literally made you for each other.”
Harry thinks it’s an odd reassurance to make. Louis seems like a very caring person, generally. So why would his friends feel the need to tell Harry that he can be soft or romantic? He never doubted any of that in the first place. It doesn’t mean Louis wants to, specifically, be like that with him. From what Harry gathers, humans don’t really believe that the universe decides their future. Instead, they go through a test and trial period of mutually choosing their life partner.
He almost wants to question them but decides against it. The earthlings have been very kind, trying to uplift Harry’s mood somehow.
“Thank you, friends. I appreciate your words of support.”
“Of course, you’re one of us now.”
“We take care of our own.”
Harry smiles. Earthlings are very sociable beings, and it's quite nice to be part of one of their affection groups.
Liam adjusts himself so he is sitting closer to Harry too and, then, they all start talking on his bed. Harry is thankful for the distraction, and to the universe for not only putting Louis on his path, but also these two wonderful earthlings who saw an alien in distress and decided to take his mind off his worries.
Niall tells Harry about this one guy Liam has a “crush” on, which leads to bickering between them as Harry giggles at their silliness and then to an explanation about what a “crush” is for Harry’s sake, because he had no clue what they had been talking about. He gets a better insight into the whole “dating” process and asks questions, which are promptly answered with many stories of failures as examples. Harry almost forgets about his troubles until there is a knock on the door separating the sleep room and the communal space of the ship.
Louis’ head pokes in. “You are all being very loud! What’s this about?”
“I was just about to tell Harry about that one time Liam went on a date with Steve from the Chem Program at the academy and he ended up with a broken arm.”
“Oh my God, Niall!” Liam exclaims exasperatedly.
Harry laughs again. For how impractical the whole concept of dating seems to be, it also appears to be quite fun and it yields a lot of entertaining stories. He wouldn’t mind if Louis wanted to go through this… selection process with him. It would be better than nothing, at the very least, but it could also be a very enjoyable bonding experience for them. It might make Louis decide in favour of being romantically involved with Harry and building a life together as a couple.
Louis watches amusedly as Liam and Niall shove each other but soon steps in closer and clears his throat, getting everyone's attention on him. Not like Harry’s had been anywhere else since Louis appeared at the door, but Niall and Liam were clearly engrossed with one another.
“So,” Louis says pointedly, giving his friends an intense look Harry is not privy to. “Can you two untangle yourselves from Harry and take the puppy pile to another bed?”
Niall and Liam scramble to comply with Louis’ request.
“I’m quite hungry –,”
“I need to check something in the command room –,”
They both speak over each other as they hastily leave the room, closing the door behind them with a soft click.
Then, Harry is alone with Louis.
He pulls his body up to sit straight against the wall again, watching Louis closely. He seems anxious, which is worrisome. He would be apprehensive to talk to Harry if he had good news, right?
“Can I sit?” Louis asks, pointing to the space near Harry on his bed.
Harry nods. “Of course.”
Louis sits down, tentatively smiling at Harry, so he retributes the action. They sit there for a few seconds, until Louis sighs and looks Harry in the eyes.
“Listen, Harry. I’m sorry I didn’t have the best reaction and fled for a while.”
“You do not have to apologize –,”
“I do.” Louis interrupts him firmly. “I know it hurt you, so I’m sorry.”
“I forgive you,” Harry tells him, then. If apologizing means something important to Louis, then he may do it. But Harry won’t hold unnecessary grudges against his soulmate.
“Thank you. I want to explain myself, if that’s alright?”
“Is it.”
“Well, Niall and Liam probably told you all about dating and that stuff on Earth?” Louis asks, sounding unsure about his assumption.
“They told me some,” Harry agrees. He doesn’t know how much it all meant towards the true dating process because their tales might’ve been biased somehow. But he has certain previous knowledge too, from his understanding of the dynamic between an earthling couple he met years ago, so he should be fine for now.
“So you understand how different it is from having a soulmate and only being with them during your whole life and basically just moving in together from the get-go, right?”
Harry frowns at that. Was Louis under the impression Harry didn’t understand how different their traditions were and that they’d need to be malleable and adapt around one another? “Of course, Louis. I considered many cultural differences between my soulmate and me. I grew up with a full understanding of what it meant to have a white soulmark. I do not presume that you will blindly follow my customs.”
“Oh,” Louis breathes out, seemingly stunned.
Harry opens his mouth to protest, because why did Louis think he wouldn’t be accepting and reconciling?
But before he can get the words out, Louis speaks up again.
“I’m sorry, Harry. I –,”
“Please stop apologizing,” Harry insists.
Louis falls quiet and they go back to watching one another. Harry feels the seed of annoyance that had popped at the back of his mind dissolve as he breathes through the feeling. They can easily sort this all out, there is no need to let his temper get the best of such ridiculous oversights from both sides of their story. Communication will be a key aspect of their relationship.
“Any misunderstandings of the past can be solved by talking from now on,” he says eventually.
Louis nods vehemently. “Yes. Yes. I won’t make any more assumptions about you.”
“Thank you. I won’t either,” Harry concedes easily.
Louis smiles, then straightens up, looking more confident. His presence in the room grows as he reaches for one of Harry’s hands and holds it between his.
“I want to give us a try. I can’t deny that something inside of me feels right when you are around. And I’d be the biggest idiot in the galaxy if I passed up the chance of living a love that the universe itself made for me,” Louis speaks as he plays with Harry’s fingers. “But it’s all very new and scary for me. So, can we take it slow?”
Louis isn’t rejecting him.
Harry almost can’t believe his own ears. He can feel his shoulders dropping as some of the tension leaves his body. He breathes out a long breath, engulfed by joy and relief.
“I can accept whatever pace you set for our relationship development,” Harry promises. And he means it. He truly doesn’t mind it. “But, just so there are no more misconceptions between us. What do you mean by it, exactly?”
Louis chuckles but bites his lips to stop it. Harry follows the movement with his eyes, once more acutely aware of how attractive Louis is to him. He is still not used to it, considering the earthling anatomy.
“What I mean is…” Louis starts speaking, which makes Harry stop staring and move his gaze back up. He finds Louis’ eyes shining in amusement. “Harry, do you want to go out on a date with me?”
There is that word again.
“You want to go to a romantic meeting to learn more about me as a prospective partner even though we already know each other?”
Louis laughs at that.
“Exactly,” he confirms.
Well, that sounds like a good place to start, given their situation. They will be able to sort out the issues concerning their possible dynamics as a couple. Harry will have his chance to prove to Louis how wonderfully they would work together. Because they would. The universe is never wrong about those things.
“I’d love to.”