Chapter Text
Louis held the steering wheel in a white knuckled grip as he steered the car through the small Cotswold village. The snow was coming down harder and visibility was limited. He thought longingly of sunny days in LA and focussed on the road ahead, which he realised he couldn’t see. He gently braked and came to a halt in the middle of the road while the world turned white around him.
He grabbed his phone and looked at the map app to see whether he was near anything. The White Lion pub was less than 200 yards away and Louis decided to just go for it. Thank god for technology.
Bundled up, he got out of the car, patted its bonnet as he started walking, following the little dot on the screen towards the pub. England isn’t ever prepared for this he thought. The pub should be just about… here! He could faintly hear music and laughter and he hurried towards it, thanking his lucky stars when he saw lights through the snow.
He opened the door, to be met with a wall of heat and light and noise, and after the snow it was a blessing. He stood for a few minutes, looking around and taking in the raucous atmosphere.
‘Oioi, what have we here, the abominable snowman?’ yelled a voice and Louis spun around, realising with a start that the man was addressing him and… yeah he was covered in snow and bundled up so he could get how someone would think that. He stepped back out into the porch and stamped some of the snow, before reentering.
The barman had made his way around the bar, and held a towel to Louis who started taking his layers off, revealing his lithe body in jeans and a jumper.
‘Cheers mate, it’s a bit nippy out innit’ he said as the green eyed barman handed him the towel. The man dimpled at him, before ducking past to look out of the doors. He shut and locked the doors, before heading back behind the bar and ringing the bell.
‘Listen up’ he yelled. ‘None of you are going anywhere in that, next we’d hear you would have ended up in a snow drift - yes I’m looking at you Jonny’. Jonny jeered and cat called before the barman continued ‘you’re all sleeping here tonight. We’ll make up beds and keep the fire going. I’m sure I’ve got enough blankets upstairs’. With a chorus of ‘cheers Harry’s and a few raised pints, the pub’s volume increased around Louis as everyone settled back in. He approached the bar and handed the towel back. ‘Thanks for that - it’s pretty awful outside’ he said. ‘I don’t suppose there’s any chance of something hot to drink, I’d murder a cup of tea if you have one’. The barman - Harry - grins at him. ‘I’m sure I can put the kettle on for you. Did you eat yet - Niall’s just about finished in the kitchen but I’ll ask him to whip you up something very quickly if you like?’ On cue, Louis’ stomach rumbled and he laughed in embarrassment.
‘Yeah mate, that would be great - even cheese on toast would be good’ he replied. ‘Harry, right?’
Harry nodded as he grabbed a mug and tea bags from behind the bar, and a pint of milk from the fridge. ‘What’s your name’ he asked as he lined everything up.
‘I’m Louis. Was just driving through on my way to my sister’s house actually.’ He cursed as he realised he hadn’t texted her and pulled his phone out ‘I’d better let her know I’m alright and not to expect me.’ Harry nodded and carried on behind the bar, disappearing behind the door at the back presumably to talk to Niall. He bashed back through as the kettle boiled and Louis put his phone down.
‘Sorted?’ Harry asked as he put the tea in front of Louis.
‘Yeah, just done that and she replied to say the snow is bad there too. She’s only a little further on but I couldn’t see anything so I thought I’d better stop. I’m not used to driving in the snow, I’m more used to LA.’ He cringed as he realised how pretentious that sounded. ‘I just mean I like hot days’ he stammered as Harry started laughing at him. God he sucked at this. Put a cute guy in front of him and he lost the ability to talk.
Harry reached over the bar and patted his hand. ‘I’m sure we have our fair share of hotties here’ he smirked at Louis as he said it and Louis flushed even more, mouth agape. He replayed his last words and realised that a Harry had misheard him and probably now thought he had deliberately stranded himself in a strange pub in the arse end of nowhere looking to pull.
He actually, for a split second, considered going back outdoors and just sleeping in the car but decided that hypothermia wasn’t great and frostbite on his nose wouldn’t be a good look. Harry had moved away and was putting the kettle on for more tea.
‘Hot drinks all round’ he yelled to the pub. A few groans met that statement as people started returning their pint glasses to the bar.
Harry and Niall, a blond Irishman, dragged out air mattresses and cushions and blankets from the flat upstairs and people were happily moving chairs and tables to make space. Louis felt awkward so he helped move the furniture. He didn’t know anyone here though, other than Harry, and he didn’t want to ask to share a bed with someone he didn’t know. Just as he decided he’d find a corner on his own, his arm was tugged towards the fire.
‘C’mon’ Harry muttered. ‘I’ve got a good spot, you can share with me, yeah?’ Louis almost fell over in relief and nodded quickly. The other patrons had almost settled down and Louis realised it was 3 in the morning. He took his jacket and spread it onto the pile that lay over their mattress. Harry got in and held the edge of the blanket for Louis. He toed his shoes off and tucked himself in, relishing the heat of the man beside him. It had been a while since he shared a bed with anyone and he had missed it.
Harry rolled over onto his side next to him and Louis looked over, startled to see green eyes looking at him. ‘Jesus’ he huffed out a laugh and saw the dimple appear in the firelight.
‘Tell me something about Louis’ whispered Harry.
‘Hm, OK. I’m a music producer.’ replied Louis. ‘Now tell me a Harry thing.’
‘I…’ Harry paused. ‘I went to uni to study law but had to drop out. Now I live in Gloucestershire tending this place. You said LA before. Do you go there often?’
Louis had been watching Harry’s lips and suddenly wondered what kind of kisser Harry was. He blinked his gaze up to find Harry looking back at him. Their eyes met and Louis scooted a little closer to Harry; Harry in turn scooted closer to Louis.
Louis struggled to remember the question - LA, that was it.
‘Yeah I tend to go over pretty regularly but London’s home now so I’m based there. I lived out there for a year or so and I really miss the heat’.
‘Hmm. I’m plenty hot here’ replied Harry, his lashes covering his eyes in a slow blink that had Louis mesmerised.
His gaze flickered back down to Harry’s lips, just as he licked them; Louis groaned under his breath. ‘Harry…’ he whispered, looking up again. ‘Yeah,’ whispered back Harry, closing the distance between them. Louis held his breath as he felt Harry’s lips on his, a gentle brush once, twice before he pulled back. Louis slid his hands into Harry’s hair and pulled him back to him; while he was very aware there was a roomful of people around him he just wanted a decent snog, and it seemed Harry was of the same mind. He made an obscene noise in his throat and Louis almost lost it.
He pulled back, lips glistening in the firelight, and turned Harry round to be little spoon.
‘We can finish this later, if you like… but not here’ he whispered in Harry’s ear and the man nodded in agreement. Louis smiled. Who would have known a snowstorm could mean he might end up meeting such a gorgeous man?
Thank God for snow.