Chapter Text
Tattoos. Works of art drawn upon your skin, representing your story as you go along and create it. No one could see them but you and your soulmate. At least that's what Louis has been told since he was a kid. Did he believe it? At one point no, he just thought it didn't mean anything. They appeared at random, documenting moments that you thought were important to you. Anything from birthdays to funeral dates. Pictures of loved ones or random objects that held a magnitude of significance to you. A storybook for your eyes only. Until your soulmate comes along and sees the ink upon your skin and reads it like you're the most interesting book on the shelf.
Louis looked down at his arm. The dagger appeared when his last boyfriend broke up with him, neither of them believed in the soulmate bullshit. They decided to give each other a try. How could they believe in something they couldn't see for themselves? Louis let their tragic memory rewind itself in his mind. He couldn't believe how stupid he was, he just hoped he would see the world of his soulmate through the oh so magical tattoos. It's not that he spent his time dreaming and hoping for even the smallest glimpse of someone's tattoos he just wanted to see it for himself. He wanted to believe in the storybook love everyone described to him.
He sat silently in the library, reading a book about tattoos. To say he was a little obsessed was a slight understatement. He read on about a man who's tattooed ended up being complementary with his soulmates. Their lives linking at different times through different tattoos and how when they held hands they could look down and see their stories line up. A secret book between the two. It fascinated him, maybe because he didn't have it yet but that didn't matter at the moment. He was too absorbed in the book to notice any other pair of eyes in the library. Green eyes wondering his body looking at his tattoos from a distance, too scared to speak up and tell the beautiful boy he could see his story the dagger, the compass every inch of his skin that was covered in ink, a vivid story that no book in this library could compete with.
Louis stood up content with the book and brought it over to the librarian. The woman smiled politely at him very posh and primped as she scanned his book.
“The world of tattoos is a dangerous thing, my dear.”
Louis shrugged not fully understanding why he just plastered a smile on his face and thanked the women for scanning his precious book.
“You know Mr.Tomlinson you can just keep the book. You take it out every week.”
Louis shook his head. A quiet guy, spending most of his time in the library of their college campus. Littered with people who supposedly found their soulmates as they walked hand in hand down the streets of the downtown area.
“I like coming here. I like the routine, the process if you will.”
Allison, the librarian shrugged and her wrinkled face started to look like one of a very pleased grandmother. She looked over Louis’ shoulder at a boy who was sitting all alone, sleeves pulled over his hands.
Louis turned to look at him too and his heart raced a little as he took in his features. He was beautiful, so beautiful it made Louis a little too nervous when he lifted his head up. Louis blushed as they made eye contact looking back quickly at Allison. That warm feeling creeping up his spine and originating from the depths of his stomach. He looked back at the boy who was now staring at the desk like the winning numbers of a lottery ticket were carved into it.
“He's here more than you are. His name's Harry, why don't you go talk to him?”
Louis pressed the book to his chest whispering the next lines that spilled from his mouth before he could think properly.
“I'm waiting for my soulmate.”
She leaned back, now in her chair. She looked at Louis with this look he couldn't really understand.
“Instead of waiting you should go out and look for them. For all you know honey they could be right in this room, you just have to look up every once in a while."
Louis backed away from the desk giving Allison a look of confusion as he walked away slowly.
“Good advice maybe he's outside.”
Louis turned quickly leaving the library. He was confused. Allison was old and crazy. The stereotypical crazy librarian. Louis laughed to himself as he walked quickly down the long set of stairs. The bus stop in view, a few quick steps away from him. The bus would be there any minute, pulling up a group of arms to examine, looking for tattoos.
He stood in line, his book clutched to his chest, his chin tucked inside his scarf to keep warm, his ears still exposed to the bitter cold of the December morning. He closed his eyes trying to find a bit of peace within himself as someone's hair brushed up against his neck and a hot puff of breath fanned against his ear.
“Nice ink.”
Louis’ eyes instantly snapped open. He turned around to watch as the same curly-haired boy from the library was walking away from him. The bus pulled up behind him and he stood there for a second contemplating his decisions. He could get on that bus and go home or he could follow the mysterious boy. He could be lying, he might not see the tattoos. The bus driver yelled at him from inside the stationed vehicle.
“Kid, you coming or not?”
Louis looked back and forth between the bus and the disappearing head of hair. His heart was racing. Was this it? The moment he's always been waiting for? He turned back to the man clutching his book to his chest.
“Not today.”
He watched as the man rolled his eyes and closed the doors on him. Louis had one plan in mind and that was to run as fast as he could to that boy, whose name had already slipped his mind. He moved quickly down the street. People who looked like empty canvases passed by looking at him like he had fifty heads.
The boy looked back, taking off his scarf while he smiled back at Louis, dropping it on the floor as he spun around happily, smiling as he moved forward through the campus. Louis ran up to it and picked it up, holding it with his book in his hands as he followed the boy, gaining on him as he stopped to undo his jacket. Louis was close enough to see the mischief in his green eyes as he dropped the jacket to the floor, tattoos littering his skin.
Louis almost stopped running as the coat hit the floor and the boy turned once again tattoos zooming away from him. Louis suddenly felt like his heart was in his throat, he felt more alive for some reason. Louis picked up the coat and followed swiftly as the boy leaned up against the pole on the sidewalk.
Louis felt shy all of a sudden as he walked up to the boy, holding all his clothes. The green eyes were tempting him from afar. When he was close enough he admired the tattoos of a rose, a ship, tattoos much like his own. Same theme.
“Here are your cl-”
He trailed off a little at a loss for words. His first time seeing tattoos on another human. The boy's left arm complemented his right. He held up the clothes blushing like mad behind them. He was just nervous, he wasn't going to vomit on this beautiful guy, it was just nerves. The boy smiled, taking the clothes back and redressing covering up the tattoos.
“I reacted the same way when I first saw you. It's beautiful right, takes your breath away.”
The boy fixed his hair, pulling it out of the scarf as he smiled down at Louis holding his hand out for Louis to shake.
“I'm Harry, Harry Styles.”
Louis tucked his book under his arm smiling at Harry and putting his smaller hand out for him to take, letting it get engulfed by the strong grip. It was like sticking your finger in an outlet and oddly enjoying the shock.
“Louis, Louis Tomlinson.”
Harry smiled softly and continued leaning on the pole. Louis didn't really know what to say as his eyes moved past Harry stopping on another bus pulling up for a different group of people that Louis didn't feel like looking at anymore.
“Well, Mr.Styles you made me miss my bus so I guess you're stuck with me for a while.”
Harry pushed off the pole smiling softly down at Louis. His eyes were really green and his lips were really pink. Louis had never seen a shade of pink so natural and pure. He's never seen such green eyes either, so full of hope and sparkles. Louis felt a little dull next to his radiance.
“Do you like coffee Mr.Tomlinson?”
Louis nodded smiling at the way his last name rolled off of Harry's tongue swimming past his lips in a beautiful rhythm Louis was sure he would never get used to.
“If it's at Ground Up Cafe I'm in.”
Harry smiled, turning the corner. The cafe was in the middle of the campus, a lively place where everyone went in and out. No one really sat down in Ground Up. It was more of a quick place cafe but they still had seating for the few that did.
They walked in silence for the rest of the block both in a sort of trance. Louis from finding his supposed soul mate and Harry for finally growing a pair and talking to him after a cold hard month of sitting in the library watching him read as he did his school work.
Harry held the door open for him and Louis moved inside the warm and toasty cafe as quickly as possible. The smell of coffee beans and cakes bringing a happy smile to his wind burnt cheeks. Harry moved in behind him shivering as they moved to a booth in the back. The line was long for the in and out customers. They, on the other hand, waited patiently for the waitress as they took off their coats.
“I like yours.”
Louis looked up curiously as Harry stared down at his arms. The bird, the PacMan all for Harry's viewing.
“My tattoos?”
Harry nodded, pulling his hand out of his lap and letting it fall over the table, one finger ran over Louis' wrist tattoo as Louis got a look at some of Harry's own tattoos.
They arranged nicely on his skin. Some of them looked significant, events Louis could probably guess but others looked like random scribbles that Louis couldn't wait to unravel with Harry's guidance of course narrating him through his storybook.
A waitress in all black smiled at them. Her brown hair was pulled back into a high ponytail and her nails were painted red. She pulled out a pen and clicked it open.
“What can I get you two today?”
Both boys put their hands back into their laps blushing like mad as they both looked at the girl who simply smiled at them. Louis spoke up first.
“I'll take a coffee, black.”
The lady nodded scribbling it down neatly on the paper before looking at Harry who explained that he would take the same thing with a muffin on the side. She backed away, smiling at them as she moved back to the counter.
“You're cute when you blush. Did you know that?"
Louis yet again started blushing and smiling at Harry with a crinkly eyed smile. A real true smile.
“It's your fault. You keep saying all these things. But have you seen yourself blush? Now that is some cute stuff.”
Harry looked down at the table tracing patterns into it thinking about all the times he watched Louis from afar.
“Which one is your favorite tattoo? Mines your dagger. I like it.”
Harry played with his hands as Louis’ soft and delicate fingers scratched at the skin printed with the dagger tattoo.
“It's a tragic one. Maybe a story for another day.”
Harry looked disappointed but nodded anyway. He touched his ship tattoo, smiling softly as what Louis guessed was a memory flashed behind his eyes.
The waitress put their drinks and Harry's muffin down on the table. They thanked her softly and let the mugs warm up their cold and wandering hands as Harry started a story.
“The boat. It's not my favorite but it's up there. I got it after I stopped sailing. I was a pretty good sailor, nifty and quick with the ropes. Strong hands, the bigger build I was the perfect candidate for sailing.”
Louis took a sip of his coffee letting the substance work its way down his throat and spilling into his stomach, warming his intestines.
“So, what happened?”
Harry shrugged munching on his muffin. They were acting like old friends and not strangers who just so happen to be what Louis now understood to be soulmates. Harry felt different. Familiar and warm in this big and crazy world. Louis never felt comfortable around people, not even little Allison. That's just who he was and he thought he was destined to be alone, trapped in his own abyss of sadness for the rest of his cold and dreary life.
“College I guess. School comes first for my parents, sailing is a fun pastime but it isn't a career. That's why I had to strap myself down and choose a major that would result in a lot of money.”
Louis smiled softly. He liked the sound of Harry's voice low and crackly like a fire on a cold day like today.
“What's your major?”
“Neuroscience. My minor is creative writing.”
Louis smiled at the thought of Harry scribbling down scenes and dialogue, and then he thought about Harry in a lab coat looking at a brain or an MRI. He didn't seem like the doctor type but maybe it was because he was dressed like he just walked out of an 80's flash dance movie.
“You must be highly intelligent. My major is business. Minor in music.”
Harry smiled, conducting a little imaginary band in front of him. He could maybe make it as a singer, or maybe behind the scenes yelling at producers and waving his tiny fist in the air.
“I could see you as a pop star. You have the pretty face, the boyish charm."
Louis shook his head letting his fringe fly around a bit moving quickly on his head.
“Have you seen yourself? I cannot believe you haven't been to a movie. You look like a rock star by the way.”
Harry smiled, lowering his head to rest on the table. He tilted his head so he was looking at Louis from a new angle, and this was even more beautiful angle than before.
“I like you a lot. You feel familiar and well...right?”
Harry said it with a confused expression, not sure if what he said was right or wrong. It felt too soon for both but how were they supposed to handle it. They could just jump into a relationship or they can start as friends.
“Don't look so confused. I understand.”
They drank and ate in comfortable silence. Harry peeking at Louis from over the edge of his lifted cup. He held it up, blowing on it lightly every once in a while to cool it off the steam clouding his eyes and moving towards Louis.
Louis would sip his drink and then place it down lightly, diverting his eager eyes to the world outside. Blank canvases moving hand in hand or single. Louis looked down at his own arms and then back at Harry's. The storybook folded in half as he kept his arms folded to his chest and his cup at his lips.
“It's interesting.”
Harry sat the cup down and followed Louis’ eyes to the window watching the people pass in front of him for a silent moment.
“What is?”
Louis threaded his fingers together giving Harry a look of pure excitement.
“The tattoos. How they just appear and how only we can see each other's story.”
Harry nodded smiling down at his arms and letting his gaze move to Louis’ too. This was new love blooming, this excitement, this thrill that was filling their veins.
“For your eyes only.”
He looked up and into Louis’ eyes. He leaned over, his hands cupping the sides of his face. He looked cute and squishy sitting opposite of Louis’
“It's quite romantic isn't it.”
Louis nodded leaning towards Harry as well. He felt like he was in a fifties movie, the typical dinner scene where the boy and the girl are sharing a milkshake.
Harry smiled pushing his hands out from the force of his rising cheeks. He looked like an absolute bubble of happiness.
“The bus comes in three minutes by the way.”
Louis shot up. The coffee now long gone from both of their cups. Harry dug in his pocket as Louis squirmed trying to get his jacket on. Harry slowly placed enough money on the table and a tip for the waitress as Louis was zipping up his coat. Harry stood as well and put his hand on Louis back guiding him out of the cafe.
“You'll make it relax.”
Louis was moving quickly and he did not like having to rush around. He was a very productive person always on time, always early. He wasn't used to rushing.
“I didn't pay.”
“I paid for both of us.”
They walked to the bus stop very quickly and Louis could see it pulling up slowly as he picked up his pace passing the end of the bus and waiting in line as students got off first.
“You didn't have to do that.”
Harry shrugged, handing Louis his book that he forgot on the table.
“I did make you miss your bus.”
Louis took the book mumbling a quiet thank you as Harry then shrugged on his own coat, his red lips prominent as he let the cold air in and released a puff of warm air.
“With good reason Harry.”
Harry smiled softly shrugging as Louis stood at the door of the bus, not wanting to leave but needing to get back to his dorm.
“see you soon?”
Harry nodded as Louis stepped onto the bus, the doors shutting behind him and cutting him off from a waving Harry. He waved back, tucking the book under his arm and turning towards the driver with a smile before moving to the back of the bus and leaning against the window. Harry stood up against a pole watching him go.
The bus moved forward and Harry became a small dot in the background. Louis instantly felt the urge to get off the bus and run back to Harry. Maybe he should've invited him over. He pulled his phone out going to text him and realized he never asked for his number.
“Idiot.”
He mumbled it low and dreary. The girl next to him gave him a nasty look, her dyed hair swinging back as she pulled her nasty face forward. Louis rolled his eyes and drummed on the hardcover book, probably bothering everyone on the bus as it traveled through campus.
“Cedar!”
The bus stopped and Louis stood up. He lived in the Cedar building floor four-room four eighteen. His dorm mate was a tall and muscular boy who played hockey. He had long shaggy black hair and a slim face. He had blue eyes like Louis. His name was Peter. He was nice, he kept to himself when needed but sometimes they partied together.
Louis got off the bus and into the bitter cold and walked to the front door of the building. He opened the heavy door with his free hand and shivered as he stepped inside the warm building. Synthia, a raven like old woman sat at the desk eyeing him.
“Mr.Tomlinson.”
She looked at the clock and looked back at him with a questioning face.
“For once, out of schedule.”
Louis smiled until he passed her and then he rolled his eyes into oblivion. She had this high pitched voice that reminded him of the screeching of a dog when you accidentally step on its tail. It sent shivers down his spine.
The dorm building was decorated for Christmas. People wallpapering their doors. He admired them as he walked to the elevator at the end of the hallway. He pressed the up button repeatedly, anxious to take a shower or lay in bed or do something where he could think about Harry and his tattoos and just life.
The doors slid open and a group of girls piled out all dressed up and ready to go out. Probably to some sleazy club or wherever it is the popular and social butterflies of the school went. Louis wasn't one of those people, he didn't mind not being them he went out sometimes but for the most part, his bed was the best place in the world.
He stepped into the elevator pressing four as the doors closed. Shielding his eyes from the outside world. The elevator jutted up bringing him to his floor. He stood in silence, his reflection disoriented in the silver metal of the doors. He looked up at the ceiling as the ding signaled his arrival.
He moved out of the elevator, a group of boys with a football moved into his place, their voices echoing off the silver interior, fading out as Louis made his way down the hall to his room.
He stuck his keycard in and waited for the green light. He sighed pushing it open. Peter was laying down on his bed flipping through a sports magazine. He looked up over the edge smiling.
“Hey, Lou. How was the library?”
He didn't say it in a bad way, just a curious one. He was a nice guy behind the walls of his height and muscle.
“I met someone today.”
Peters' attention quickly changed from the sports magazine to Louis as he slammed the magazine shut and leaned on his elbow. He smiled creepily at Louis who was now laying on his back in bed.
“Number one don't look at me like that.”
Peter laughed and relaxed his face. He found his soulmate last year. She was a small girl with brown hair and eyes, very cute and sweet. She came and went in the room. She was nice to Louis and respected their space. He liked her.
“So are you going to tell me who this mysterious person is.”
Louis moved on his side so he was mirroring Peter. He tilted his head up closing his eyes while tracing patterns into his comforter, black and white on opposite sides, very simple just how he liked it.
“His name is Harry. Harry Styles, he has nice tattoos.”
Peter looked at him oddly. Louis didn't understand why the drastic change of attitude happened as Peter avoided eye contact.
“Peter? What's the problem?”
“Leelah. She had a thing for him before she met me. Something about how his eyes would shine brighter than all the stars in the sky no matter if she could see his tattoos or not. It's a small world isn't it.”
Louis felt weird under his gaze. His roommate's soulmate had a thing for his soulmate? Well, he guessed he could understand why. Harry was enchanting. A pretty male with long hair and dazzling eyes. Those lips that just looked so kissable. He understood.
“Well, they didn't do anything right?”
Peter shrugged, turning back and forth between Louis and the ceiling. Not really wanting to answer but knowing Louis wouldn't back off.
“I don't know, she didn't say. Probably because she got rejected but I'll never know. So did you get his number or something?”
Louis cringed at the thought of his own stupidity and not getting Harry's number. He knew Peter was changing the subject as quickly as possible so he just went along with it.
“I may have forgotten to ask. But we're supposedly soulmates so I'm sure I'll see him again.”
Peter laughed, shaking his head, his eyes staring off towards the book on Louis' desk and back up to Louis’ shiny blue eyes.
“So will you drop the tattoo obsession?”
Louis laughed standing up from his bed and ran over to his desk, picking up the book and running his fingers over the words on the binding.
“Absolutely not.”
He opened it up slowly and a napkin slipped from between the pages. Gliding down to his feet. He looked back at Peter who had his hands folded on his stomach. A small smile playing on his lips as his closed eyes fluttered softly under the bright lights of the room.
Louis slowly bent down. His fingers wrapped around the napkin lightly trying not to crush it considering it was scribbled on. It was probably someone's notes or opinions that Louis wouldn't mind reading.
He sat in his chair pushing the book aside lightly placing the napkin down gently, flattening it out in the corners as he read the sharpie handwriting
Hi Louis,
Here's my number, call me anytime!
All the love,
Harry x
Louis blushed red and looked around the small room Peter's eyes were still closed. Louis picked up his phone letting it turn and twist between his fingers, debating whether or not to call. He did say anytime. But did he mean it?
Louis knew he was thinking too far into it and he knew Harry wouldn't mind if he called him. He was just nervous Harry was pretty and tall and open. He was quirky and fun and Louis was himself. His nervous wreck of a self. He pushed all thoughts of negativity to the side, picking up his phone and dialing the number on the napkin.
He held the phone up to his ear. At first, he was met by a silence which made him a little more nervous. He took the phone away from his ear and checked if it was dialing. When he was sure it was he put the phone back to his ear. The first ring was long and echoed in the back of his mind.
He took a deep and hollow breath. He would be fine, absolutely fine, there was nothing to be nervous about. He smiled as the second ring pierced his ears like an earring gun you see in the mall quick and momentarily painful. It was cut short by a cheerful voice.
“Hello! Harry here. May I ask who's calling?”
He sounded so cute over the phone he was probably twirling the ends of his hair with his free hand or playing with his bottom lip. All of a sudden, all of Louis’ nerves were gone.
“Hey, Harry. It's Louis.”
He left it at that. He didn't know what else to say, maybe he should've thought of some material before dialing. He felt odd and out of place again. An amateur talking to his professor.
“Hey, Louis! So you found my number?”
Harry chuckled lightly seemingly at ease with the whole conversation. The awkwardness was obviously one-sided and in Louis’ head. Louis chuckled lowly looking at Peter from the side who was now smirking at him with one eye opened. He blew him a kiss as Louis rolled his eyes.
“Yes, I did. Sorry, I'm whispering, my roommates asleep. I just wanted to call you because you said anytime but if this is a bad time I can just call you back some other time. Maybe tomorrow or later or.”
He didn't get to finish not only was Peter snickering behind him which earned him a middle finger from Louis but Harry interrupted him politely.
“Louis now's fine. Are you by any chance nervous?”
Louis chuckled his nerves bundling in his throat as he talked to Harry. He couldn't imagine having this embarrassing conversation in real life.
“Me? Nervous? What makes you say that?”
Louis didn't have to turn around to know Peter was burying his face in his pillow with laughter. He could hear the muffled laughter from a billion miles away. He rolled his eyes as Harry spoke again, smooth and soft.
“It's okay to be nervous, I'm nervous too.”
“You sound so collected.”
Harry laughed through the phone, loud and clear which brought a subtle smile to Louis' face once again. His lips pursing as he listened.
“You can't see me. I'm over here sweating bullets!”
Louis chuckled, spinning a pencil on his desk. Wanting to shut off his phone and hide in a fort he would build right here in the dorm room.
“How about texting?”
“Sounds perfect.”
They exchanged goodbyes quickly and Louis hung up putting his elbows up on the desk and pushing his face into his hands. Peter laughed out loud now mimicking his voice. Full of nerves and discomfort.
“Shut up Peter.”
Louis turned around to his laughing friend. His feet almost hanging off the edge of the bed. His black hair falling over the pillow his eyes clenched shut as he held his stomach as his laughter filled the room.
“It was cute Louis. It was really cute I promise. I'm just laughing because at the end of the day it was funny. Oh man, I've never seen you like that all flustered and twitchy. Beautiful work. I wish I had it on tape. Call him again for me. I'll tape it this time.”
Louis rolled his eyes and let Peter go on his merry way. His phone vibrated softly on the desk. Louis reached for it and a text from Harry appeared with his name bold and beautiful in his phone.
"If you don't mind me asking. Where do you live?"
Louis picked up the phone. Smiling at the text as he slid his finger and opened the message. He typed back carefully.
"Cedar. You?"
The text came in quickly, the vibration bringing a new feeling in the pit of Louis’ stomach. One of hope or nerves or a mixture of both.
"Pine. Want to come over? Or I can come there… Only if you want."
Louis almost typed back no but he deleted it. Fuck falling in love slowly. If this was meant to be like everyone said it was he shouldn't have to worry about starting as friends and all that stuff. The minute you see the tattoos that's when you know he's the one. No worries, no disappointments. That person that beautiful fairytale, the story you get to unfold and read in the middle of the night. For your eyes only.
Louis smiled to himself throwing all his morals to the wind. Who cares, Peter can go hang out with Leelah. Harry was coming over and hopefully staying the night. He smirked as he typed it out easily letting his fingers glide over the screen.
"You can come over. Floor four. I'll be waiting for you by the elevator. Text me when you're close."