Work Text:
The lights of the studio do a dramatic swizzle around until they land on Louis with a loud dum-da-da-dum. “You ready for the 1 Million Pound Question?” The moderator asks, leaning forward.
“Yes,” Louis says. He lets out a long breath through his mouth.
“You did well, Louis.” The man says, “there hasn’t been a million-pound price in 14 years here in the UK. You ready to break the cycle?”
“Definitely.” Louis grins.
“Alright, here we go,” the moderator grins and the lights do another dramatic roll. The music blasts in a hammering da-dum one more time, and Louis’ hands sweat drastically. His heart is beating out of sink, it had been going so well for him for the last hour or so he has been sitting here. He didn’t have to use any of his jokers yet, he had known most of the questions himself. Once he had to take a guess, which was still right. The only joker he had used was a 50:50 once, when they asked him about whales.
The moderator catches his attention again and Louis nods. He can do this, he tells himself. With this he can get Harry back. “In 1718, which pirate died in battle off the coast of what is now North Carolina?” Louis lets out a long breath, he knows this. A while ago his mate Liam made him watch the STARZ-show Black Sails and he got really into the historical information. There are at least three books at home with the titles wearing about pirates in history. “A. Calcio Jack. B. Blackbeard C. Bartholomew Roberts D. Captain Kidd.”
“Mhm.” Louis hums staring at the answers, he knows, he definitely knows, and he allows himself the few seconds of realization that he just won a million pounds on national TV. There’s only one boy he wants to tell, he wonders if he’s watching, probably not. He’s probably curled up in his bed, curls fanning around him like a halo.
“You alright Louis?” The man asks.
“Yeah, yeah,” Louis smiles over the monitors to look at the other man. “I think…” he begins to say.
“You have an idea? It’s a tough one, I know.” The moderator tries to psych him out again, and Louis fight the urge to roll his eyes. This whole thing was Liam’s dumb idea, and there’s one part of this, he has been dreading and anticipating this entire time.
“I’d like to use one of my jokers, actually.” Louis admits.
This does not seem to surprise the guy, and he almost got a mean smirk on his face. Looks like he did not love how little Louis actually played the game, but just threw out answers in record time. Being a teacher really helped with the preparing game. He made his students construct 15 really hard questions and they quizzed him. They learned things too, which is how he defends this type of teaching. He might even keep it in the syllabus. He’s well aware his students tried to trip him, which they did, by asking their parents for hard questions. It was fun. “Yeah, I’d like to call someone.”
“Good, Good.” The moderator says, “I’m locking it in.” Another drum roll rolls through the studio like a hurricane. Was it really necessary to make it that loud? “Let’s look at your call list.”
“Okay.” Louis agrees.
“There’s Liam, Niall, Zayn and then Harry.” The man smiles, his friends faces all get projected on to his screen with their names attached. “Who are they and who would you like to call?”
“Well Liam is a know it all, and the best friend I could ask for.” Louis explains. “He’s there for politics, techs stuff and more basic questions.”
“Sounds like a great call.” The moderator says lamely.
“Yeah, Niall I’m not going to call. I put him in here in case there would be a question about Ireland.” Louis chuckles, “or music. He’s a music, beer and food wiz.”
“So not the right caller.”
“No, so is Zayn. He’s an art-wiz, and I don’t know anything about art, so he’s perfect for that.” Louis nods to himself.
“Right, so are we thinking Harry or Liam?” The moderator asks.
“Harry, please.” Louis says, hoping he won’t have to explain why.
“Okay, okay, no Liam then.” The man grins. Louis just hopes Harry will pick up.
“Remember you only have 30 seconds to talk to Harry.” The man says, “let’s call him.” The dial tone runs through the studio, and Louis’ hands start to sweat. “Is he going to pick up?” Louis shrugs, unsure. “What does he do?”
“Ahm, he’s a florist.” Louis says, and the moderator stares at him as if he grew a second head.
“Hullo?” His voice is raspy and deep, and Louis just knows that the boy grabbed the phone blindly, still half-asleep.
“Good evening Harry, this is Jeremy Clarkson from Who Wants to be a Millionaire, I have Louis here ready to ask you his last million pound question.”
“Uh?” Harry sounds stunted, but they don’t have time for that.
“He has thirty seconds. Time starts now!”
“Harry! It’s Louis.” Louis starts quick. “I don’t need your help, I know the answer. I just wanted to say, I love you and I’m coming home with a million pounds.”
“Louis?” Harry asks, and it feels so good to finally hear his voice again.
So Louis just continues, “I know you told me I have to grow up, so we could build a future together. Well, I’m wining a million pounds right now to prove that to you. I’m buying us an apartment and a huge engagement ring. I’m not afraid anymore, I want you back. Please, baby, I’ll come home. I can’t wait to see you again!” The call ends and Louis breathes out a heavy sigh. The moderator just blinks at him stunted.
“He’s your ex-boyfriend?” Jeremy asks, mouth still slack.
“Yeah,” Louis wrings his hands, “we were college-sweethearts. Best friends since I was 7 and he was 5. Then we kissed on his 13th birthday, and it kind of progressed in a natural way. Eight months ago he wanted to move in with me, and I wasn’t ready.”
“Why not?” The moderator asks, finally getting his control back over the situation.
Louis shrugs, “freaked me out. Honestly, I wasn’t ready. And he put us on break, thought that I should get my head straight, grow up and finally start working on our future.”
“So that’s what the million is for? Your future with this boy?” Jeremy asks, and there’s a coo from the audience.
“Man, he’s a full grown man, but yeah… our future.” Louis nods.
“Well, are you ready to answer the finally question?”
“It’s B.! Blackbeard died of the North Carolina coast.” Louis nods to himself.
“You sure about this?” He asks, tantalizing Louis with a questioningly stupid face.
“Yes.” Louis says, punching his fist down on the armrest of his chair. “I’m certain!”
“Logging it in.” The moderator taunts, but Louis faces him with a shit-eating grin.
“Do it, mate. I dare ye.”
📺
Harry’s hands are shaking, when the phone line goes dead. “What the fuck?” He shrieks loudly. Pulling the bedsheet closer around his naked torso, he ruffles his hair. That was Louis? He didn’t dream it right? He quickly dials Nialls’ number and simultaneously grabs the remote of his old TV he has standing just three feet shy of his bed. The dial tone is teasing him, and he bites down hard on his lips while he flips through the channels trying to find ITV.
“This better be good, mate,” Niall says on the other line.
“Louis. Louis called me, he’s on Who Wants to be a Millionaire.” Harry says quickly.
“He what?” Niall asks, stopping whatever he was doing.
“He’s on the show right now, and he said he’s bringing it home.” Harry whines, “he said he wants to buy us our apartment.”
“Geez, Haz, what have you been drinking?” Niall chuckles.
“Nialler!” Harry screams into the phone, when he finds the channel.
“By St. Patricks! Haz, my poor eardrums.”
“He’s on. I can see him right now, he’s sitting there.” Louis looks good, and Harry hasn’t looked at him in 8 months. His hair is longer, fanning over his forehead. Those blue eyes are fixed on the tv with mirth in his eyes.
“Are you sure?” Niall asks, “fuck, I didn’t think he’d go through with it.”
“What do you mean?” Harry shrieks.
“Take a deep breath, love.” Niall says, “I’m coming.”
“You don’t have to, it’s late and I know you have to work tomorrow.” Harry says, blushing deeply. He feels guilty for making Niall run across the city.
“Nonsense, my best friend needs me.” Niall says, there’s a bloop-boop, when Niall enters his car and switches Harry on to his bluetooth. “I’m an angel like that.”
“Thank you.” Harry smiles.
“We are going on a break, stay with us and not miss if Louis made it or not.” The moderator grins just as the first commercial starts playing.
“Did he win?” Niall asks from the car, speeding down the street.
“I don’t know, they went on commercial break. But I saw him, he was sitting there, all perfect, on the contestant chair,” Harry whines.
“I’ll tell him, you still think he’s perfect.” Niall chuckles.
“Angels don’t tease.” Harry says, letting Niall’s horrendous comic book laugh run through his ears.
“Sorry, H,” Niall says still chuckling. “Why is there never a parking spot in front of your damn house?” Niall grumbles.
“Go on to the park it has spots.” Harry says, getting nervous, because the TV is playing ads for the next days entertainment programs, which means the show will come on soon. “Are you coming?”
“Yeah, yeah,” Niall says, “if I die because I’m running across the street to get to you, I’m going to haunt you as a bad angel.”
“I don’t think there are bad angels.”
“I wouldn’t be so sure, Harry, maybe we should send the question in for the Million-question.” Niall jokes.
“A-“ Harry’s words get cut off by the bell ringing. Harry quickly tumbles off the bed, grabbing his sweatpants on the way. Niall has seen him naked more than a thousand times, but he’s sure the man would appreciate some humility. Letting Niall in he gets a quick hug.
“I thought you’re watching it?” Niall asks, staring at the dead living room tv.
“In my bedroom,” Harry takes his wrist and pulls him into his bedroom. The two fall on the bed next to each other.
“Almost forgot you have this old thing.” Niall looks at Louis’ old tube TV. Louis had bought it so they could watch TV in bed, but never be too enticed by it because it has a terrible picture quality. He was also always in debt, so Harry knew he didn’t have a big budget to buy Harry an expansive TV.
“Louis bought it for me,” Harry says as if that would answer his question.
“Will you take him back if he wins?” Niall asks, looking at Harry.
“He’s winning million pounds for us.” Harry says, “I love him.”
“I know you do.” Niall says, and drags Harry’s body against his right side. “But you also had a reason for going on a break.”
“Yeah, but a break was always intended to end.” Harry says, there’s tears of frustration forming again. After Louis had tried avoiding him about moving in together for a few weeks, Harry had felt so frustrated, aware his special someone didn’t want to live with him. Arguing back and forth with Louis for two weeks, he didn't have the energy anymore. In the end he told Louis eight months and two days ago to ‘be a man, grow some balls, and take care of your shit’.
“Good, then you know what you have to do when he wins.” Niall grins, just as the show starts playing on the TV again.
“Were back with the final million pound question,” Jeremy says and smiles friendly at Louis, Harry’s breath hitches again.
“He looks so beautiful,” Harry says. Niall scoffs next to him and shushes him.
“In 1718, which pirate died in battle off the coast of what is now North Carolina?” Jeremy continues, “and Louis is certain that it is Blackbeard. And if he wins, he promises to win back the love of his life, as he called Harry over the break.” Harry gulps and grabs Niall’s hand, squeezes him tightly.
“He got this.” Niall says.
“Why are you so sure?” Harry asks.
“Because Louis said he is.” Niall grins, which just speaks for Niall’s competence to believe in his friends.
“Louis I have to tell you that…” Jeremy takes a deep breath and Harry joins him, “you are absolutely right! Congratulations! You won a million pounds!”
“YES! YES, HE WON!” Niall rips his hands in the air and jumps up and down on Harry’s bed, jostling the shocked boy next to him.
“He won.” Harry says, eyes fixated on Louis beaming grin on the TV.
“Louis, this is incredible, you’re the first in 14 years! How did you do it? Incredible.” Jeremy says, eyes large.
“I have no idea, all questions were like they were made for me.” Louis shakes his head and hugs the moderator, “I really won!”
“Congratulations,” Jeremy says again, “you played it so well, I hope everything goes well with you and Harry.”
“Thank you.” Louis grins, “I’m bringing it home! Home!” Louis looks right into the camera, and Harry can feel their cosmic connection again.
📺
Louis jiggles his knee under the table. He’s sitting in an old cafe with pink cushioned seats and beige tables. Behind the counter a wild flower garden grows up the wall and covers the ceiling. It’s the same place Harry and Louis went on a date a few years ago to celebrate their anniversary and it made Harry sure that he wanted his own flower shop to look just like it one day.
“Hey,” Harry’s voice says behind him and Louis whirls around. He’s wearing white/black stripped pants and a white-blouse with a large white bow tipping down to his collarbone. He's gorgeous.
“You look gorgeous.” Louis smiles and stands up to stand in front of him awkwardly.
“I’m going to-“ Harry circles him and takes a seat on the plush sofa end of their seat. Louis always lets Harry sit on the pink cushion rather than the hard chair Louis always sits on.
“Thanks for coming.” Louis says, biting his lip.
“Of course,” Harry smiles, and the left dimple becomes visible. “Congrats on your big win.”
“Thank you.” Louis smiles, “didn’t think I’d actually get that far.”
“I was asleep when they called,” Harry blushes the cutest shade of pink.
Louis smile booms even wider on his lips, “yeah, I heard that through your voice.”
“Really?” Harry’s eyes go big.
“Yeah, well, I’ve heard your morning voice all my life, so yeah I knew what state you were in when you picked up your phone.” Louis grins, and Harry twirls the napkin on his lap, biting down hard on his lips. He’s being bashful.
“Can I get you guys anything?” A waitress asks.
“Oh… ehm… a chai latte with plant-based milk please.” Harry says.
“Sure, and you?”
“Yorkshire tea, please. With a splash of milk. Really only a tiny splash of milk, please don’t soak it.” Louis pleads with the waitress who is already raising an eyebrow at him.
Harry giggles, “she definitely thinks your extra.”
“As long as she gets the tea right.” Louis smiles at the curly-haired man in front of him. Harry giggles. “I missed you.”
“I missed you too.” Harry smiles, “I didn’t think that was the way you were going to convince me.”
“They just sent the check, really scary when you see that number on paper.” Louis shakes his head, remembering the fear and pride which flushed him.
“Exciting,” Harry smiles kindly. The waitress comes back and gives them their drinks.
“I checked it.” Louis grins at him, “wasn’t going to pull an Izzy Stephens and have it hang on my fridge for months collecting egg batter.”
“Very noble.” Harry giggles and takes a sip from his drink. His eyes are full of mirth and enjoyment.
“Haz,” Louis scoots the chair closer under the table, and slides his hand over Harry’s soft skin. Harry freezes noticeably. “I payed all my debt off, and I want to spend the rest on our future.”
“How’s that supposed to look like?” Harry whispers. With his thumb, Louis caresses his soft skin on the back of his hand.
“Find an apartment, preferably with enough space for a nursery and drop down on my knees for you.” Louis smiles.
“N—“ Harry makes an awkward noise, “nursery?”
“Yeah, why?” Louis asks.
“It’s just,” Harry looks away towards the bar, “when we went on a break, you didn’t want to have kids. I think you said something along the lines of, I work with kids all day, I don’t want one at home too.”
“Right, that.” Louis says, awkwardly trying to catch Harry’s eyes, “sweetheart look at me.” The green eyes circled the area until they finally land on Louis. “I said that, cause you scared the shit out of me. You wanted me to move in with you, which was scary enough and then you wanted to look for the best area to raise babies together. I told you I wasn’t ready which is the truth, but I can see the future right in front of me now.” Louis smiles sweetly, “I will always need you right in front of me.”
“So you do want kids?” Harry asks, worrying his bottom lip.
“Of course, I can’t wait to see you be a daddy.” Louis grins watching the blush form all over Harry’s face, ears and neck. “And I want that with me, not watch from the sidelines.”
“So we’re back on the same page?” Harry asks, and the hope in his voice is so loud it breaks Louis knowing he put any doubt in there at all.
“Always were, since I was 15, love.”
“I lost faith, you know?” Harry whispers, but his hand move under Louis’ to intertwine their fingers. “Didn’t know if I did something wrong. I’ve literally been in love with you since I was 10 and you were everything I ever knew, and you didn’t want to move in with me. I mean, shit, Louis, you basically lived at my place.”
“I know, I’m sorry.” Louis squeezes Harry’s hand.
“What was it really? What really scared you?” Harry asks.
“I thought I was missing out.” Louis admits, shame pooling in his gut.
“Missing out…” Harry says with a small voice, all those insecurities he must have been carrying around with himself dropping into his lap.
“We were together for ten years, and the boys psyched me out.” Louis admits.
“Which boys?” Harry asks.
“Stan and the Donny-boys.” Louis says, “they were making fun of me, cause I only ever had slept with you. They said I had no real experiences because I have been up your ass for the last ten years. It got to me. And it shouldn’t have.”
Harry’s hand retracts from Louis’ grip. In the attempt to chase it Louis’ knee bumps against the table and his tea wobbles, a splash pooling over the mug. “Did you sleep with someone else?”
“What?” Louis asks.
“I asked, did you sleep with someone else while we were on a break?” Harry asks, facing Louis with an evil look.
“No.” Louis says sternly, “I’m not a dick. I’m not oblivious like Ross!”
“Oh thank fuck.” Harry breathes out relieved, letting out a steady stream of breath. “I don’t think I could have forgiven that.”
“Nothing to forgive when it didn’t happen.” Louis says, and he means it. It’s not like he didn’t think about it, but Harry made him watch friends so many times, he’d be stupid if he thought being on a break allowed him to dip his dick in the zest-pool.
Harry runs a ringed hand over his face, “thank fuck.”
“Did you?” Louis asks for good measure.
“No.” Harry says, pouting.
“Don’t pout, you asked first.” Louis says, throwing a napkin at him. There’s a smile spreading over Harry’s face again. “Harry, I love you.” The green eyes turn to his hands where he’s fiddling with his mug. “The last eight months, there wasn’t a day where I didn’t think about you. I’m ready for our future, together!”
Harry doesn’t say something immediately, which scared the living shit out of Louis, “me too.”
“You do?” Louis asks hopeful.
“I always knew what I wanted, I just need you to get with the program.” Harry grins.
“Perfect little angel,” Louis says the endearment easily.
“Not that little anymore.” Harry looks at him from beneath his eyelashes.
Louis shrugs, “always will be my little one.”
“I didn’t even like it when you said that when we were in school.” Harry pouts.
“What are you talking about, you love being called an angel.” Louis winks.
“Yeah, but I was always afraid one day you’d leave.” Harry says, “speaking of which, I’m not a gold digger.”
“What?” Louis laughs loudly.
“Well, now that you are a millionaire, I just want to make sure you know I’m not with you because of your huge bank account.” Harry giggles, breaking his act.
“I’ll make you work for it, baby.” Louis chuckles, “you can be the sugar daddy.” Harry laughs loudly.
📺
It takes them another few months until they find a perfect flat. One of those where the houses are built around a small square with a park in the middle for children to play in. They decorate it diligently, mostly Harry though, and Louis just puts up a lot of fairy lights to make it cozy. He even goes out of his way to put a few fairy lights along their window, because it is Christmas.
A week later a very nosy Niall breaks into their apartment with pizza and Zayn and Liam. “Looks good Hazy,” Niall complements them.
“Oi, I helped too!” Louis pops the cork out of the cheep bubble wine.
“Of course you did.” Zayn grins and pats Louis hair, but Louis can see the wink he sends Harry who preens under the attention.
Louis grumbles under his breath, but places a quick kiss to Harry’s rosy round cheeks, “just cause I love ye, I will let it stand.” Harry chuckles and grabs some of the glasses to follow their friends to the living room. Liam's shirt is showing small spots of watery droplets on the back of his shirt as he holds up the small Christmas tree Zayn and Louis made him lug up the staircase. He continues holding it, while Niall leans over to secure the base so it does not topple over.
"Here are the boxes!" Harry pushes a small moving box with ornaments and lights, which they will use to decorate the tree, into the middle of the room.
"Happy Christmas," Louis bellows and fills the glasses with bubbles until everyone can ting them together. Each of them take small sips of the truly disastrous tasting sparkling wine. Liam looks like he wants to spit it out, but gulps it down because he's just like that. Niall doesn't have that problem and spits his gulp into the tree.
"Niall!" Harry squeals.
"What? It will help the tree grow." Niall chuckles. He goes to his bag and takes out a few little chocolate Santas, "it's St. Nicholas day, so all you un-educated people get a few Santas."
"Thank you Niall." Harry says and looks down at his chocolate Santa.
"Welcome," Niall grins. "Now, how do we do this?"
"Like always," Louis rubs his hands together. "When the timer goes off, everyone gets to decorate their quarter of the tree as fast as they can. The side that looks the best will be turned towards the sofa, so we can look at a pretty tree when we sit on it." Louis licked his lips, while Zayn popped his bones inside his neck.
"Ready?" Harry giggles. All the boys around him nod seriously, and "GO!" They run towards the box and viciously take out as many ornaments as they can and then run to their side of the tree to decorate. Three minutes later the buzzer on Harry's phone goes off and they all step back to inspect each side of the tree. Niall started on the top of the tree and didn't get further than a half way, so he lost. Liam was too worried about breaking the ornaments so he has about five of them on various corners of his tree. Louis' side of the tree looks like a raccoon had lived in it first, all the branches are poking into different directions where he hastily tried to rearrange the ornaments. And Harry's side is just perfect as always.
"I WIN!" Harry giggles, throwing his arms in the air.
"What?" Niall protests, "you always win."
"No offense, Niall, but we do want to look at a fully decorated tree not just the top side."
"Hey, that's not fair, my tree is going naked this year, global warming and all." Niall argues, making the other boys laugh. Louis loops his arm around Harry's waste and kisses Harry's sweet strawberry-tasting lips.
"You win." He grins and means it in more ways than one.