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"What do you mean he quit!?" Harry asks in frustrated hushed tone, sitting back in the uncomfortable chair facing the headmaster— Mr Johnson's — desk.
"He quit over the weekend. Wants to 'pursue his dream' or some shit, " Mr Johnson sighs, waving his hand dismissively.
"But the kids," Harry sighs, slumping a little, "they really liked him. They're gonna be so sad, " he says, mostly to himself; upset at the prospect of having to explain to the kids that his assistant teacher – Mr. Wells – won't be coming back.
"They'll be fine, Styles," Mr Johnson says, tutting softly. Harry has to refrain from rolling his eyes at that. Why work at a school if you don't care for the kids.
"Well, what am I going to do then?" He asks, "There's 30 six and seven year olds and one of me".
"I don't know" Mr Johnson sighs, "start the day and I'll see if I can find someone quickly; I've got a couple applicants so I'll call around and see who can come today" he explains.
"Right," Harry mumbles, "Thanks," he says as he gets up, tucking in the chair and leaving.
♡♡♡♡
"Jacob and Erin! Stop painting each other's faces. Brushes on paper only, " Harry says with gentle strictness, "don't wanna have to separate you guys," he tells them, voice softer and ruffling their hair as he walks past.
"I don't mind talking, but let's not have anymore shouting, please," he tells them all, running a hand over his face in exasperation. They're such good kids; love him a lot, but on his own, it's hard.
Especially with all 30 being in today.
There's a knock on the door; soft and almost unheard over the sounds of the children talking happily – thankfully a little quieter –
He sighs again as he walks over, swinging it open and having to stop the swear that almost comes out at the sight before him.
"Hi," Louis says shyly, waving hello and blushing a little, "um, are you, Mr. Styles? I'm here to help," he says with a smile.
"Your new assistant teacher".
"Oh, thank god," Harry groans in relief, "you're an angel, come in," he says, stepping back and gesturing for him to come inside.
The – clearly younger – boy blushes harder as he walks in, saying a small 'thank you'.
"They're painting right now, they were upset about losing the last guy so we decided to have some fun" Harry explains as he shuts the door; stepping towards him, "I'm sure they'll love you though" he says, cheeky smile on his face.
"I hope so," Louis says, clearly nervous.
"Shit, sorry. What's your name?" Harry asks, mentally face palming at the realisation he hasn't even asked the boy's name.
"I'm Louis.. Uh Tomlinson"
"Nice to meet you, Louis" Harry says kindly — and maybe laughing softly at how he nervously rushes out his last name, as if he shouldn't have said his first — holding his hand out to him, "I'm Harry" he tells him as he takes his hand, shaking it gently.
He swears there's a spark as their hands touch, but he shakes his head subtly, smiling and letting go as he turns to the kids.
"Guys, quiet please," he calls out, giving them a few minutes to all quieten down completely — they are kids after all —
"Alright, thank you," he says as they all turn to him, looking between him and the boy beside him.
"This is Mr. Tomlinson. He'll be here as our new teaching assistant, so I need you guys to be extra nice to him," he says.
"Hello, Mr Tomlinson" the kids say in unison, some waving, some smiling; some whispering in hushed tones that Harry can't hear, although he's sure he heard the word cute – especially when the girls begin to giggle with each other –
He can't help but chuckle with amusement.
~~
The kids take to Louis immediately. And so does Harry.
The two of them working together perfectly. And maybe...definitely...occasionally flirting.
A few weeks in, they're sitting together at the table, choosing to stay in their classroom to have their lunch just the two of them – a new usual between them, starting up almost instantly –
"So Louis," Harry starts, picking up his sandwich and taking a bite.
"You only recently got your teaching degree, yeah?" He confirms.
"Yes, I started immediately after school because I just couldn't wait to start. I have 6 younger siblings, and I just love kids so much; especially babies. They're just so cute and squishy!" Louis says excitedly.
Harry smiles widely, not paying too much attention as he looks over the boy; marvelling at how his eyes sparkle with genuine happiness and passion.
"So...what do you think ?" Louis asks, bringing him from his thoughts.
"Sorry, what was that?" Harry asks, shaking his head a little.
"I said, I hope I'm doing a good job with the kids, I want them to like me," Louis repeats shyly.
"Oh, Lou. You're doing amazing. The kids adore you" Harry promises, "you really are an angel" he tells him – he loves the blush that covers the boys face every time he calls him that, so he tries to do it as often as possible. Even if Louis has only handed him a pen when he needs one.
"And you're only 22, yeah ?" He asks. He already knows this, of course. Unable to hold back how proud he is of him for jumping straight into it all at his young age.
Also, he's absolutely developed a small crush on the younger boy... maybe a large one.
He'll listen to him talk about anything, even if he's already heard it a couple times — and louis is happy to repeat anything Harry asks about; figuring maybe he'd forgotten he already asked.
"I am," Louis replies proudly, smiling wide.
"I really wanted to start as early as possible," he explains.
"Well, I'm glad you did. Because you're a perfect teaching assistant, " Harry tells him, "perfect, " he repeats.
~~
♡♡♡
●○○ 3 YEARS LATER and they're madly in love, beginning to date after only a month of working together – when you know you know – not 6 months later they were moving in together, needing to be close despite working with the other all day.
A 2 bedroom flat, 2 bathrooms (one en suite, one public) one kitchen and one living room – not fancy by any means but enough for them; saving up to buy a small house for them to make their own.
And they're happy. Never been happier.
Harry had admitted his love for the boy first, murmuring it softly in his ear the first time they'd made love – after louis had moved in, the younger boy being nervous for his first time. Harry had promised to wait till he was comfortable.
And he did, waiting until two months in; when a desperate make out session had started moving further –
And louis may or may not have cried; holding him tightly and repeating the words over and over just to hear Harry say it back.
They've never been happier ○○●
♡♡♡
~~
Louis groans, shifting uncomfortably as he quickly realises why he'd woken up before their alarm – His throat hurts, his nose is blocked, and his head is stuffy
He groans again and cuddles closer to his boyfriend, moving his head to his shoulder and refusing to open his eyes.
He tries getting comfy, wiggling a lot and whining quietly; waking Harry who shifts a little, tightening his grip on his waist and sighing — also not opening his eyes just yet – "what's wrong, angel?" He murmurs, not properly awake yet.
"I'm sick," Louis grumbles, voice whiney.
"Can't get comfortable," he says sadly.
Harry sighs again and lifts the covers, opening his legs a little and using his other hand to rub his face tiredly, "Come here, baby" he hums.
Louis quietly moves, neither of them wanting to break the soft morning ambience — the only sound the bed sheets rustling and the birds outside singing a pretty tune.
He gets between his legs, laying on his front and nuzzling his collar bone as Harry's fingers move lightly along his spine; settling him instantly, sinking into him contently.
"Better?" Harry hums softly.
"A little," Louis mumbles, closing his eyes again.
"Mm Okay, sweet boy," Harry whispers, continuing to stroke his back.
Louis sniffles through the silence as they lay together; occasionally coughing and whining with annoyance.
"I'm sorry you're not feeling good, baby," Harry coos, tilting his head down to look at him; opening one eye.
"My throat hurts," Louis grumbles in response, "think I might need something to help" he murmurs, hoping his boyfriend will take the hint.
"You want tea, angel?" Harry asks as he opens both eyes, rubbing them before picking up his phone to quickly check the time. "Yes, please," Louis murmurs in a small voice.
"Hmm, alright, lou" Harry says through a hummed sigh, kissing his hair before the younger boy rolls off of him; looking up with doe eyes and a tired – but cheeky – smile, watching his boyfriend stand.
"Thank youu," he says sweetly, batting his lashes.
Harry breathes out a laugh and leans towards him, holding his chin and stroking his thumb across his jaw bone, "you're just lucky you're damn cute" he teases softly; smiling at the shy laugh that comes from the younger boy.
He lingers a little, staring at his beautiful boyfriend before he lets him go, winking and climbing off of the bed — leaving to make his drink –
When he returns he finds Louis laying on his front, face buried in the pillow with the duvet now on the floor – laying under the thin sheets instead – he sets his mug on the nightstand, sitting beside him and tracing patterns over his back.
"You alright, angel?" He asks softly after a few minutes; watching him relax at his touch.
"Got too hot," Louis mumbles.
"Turn over, love. Got a thermometer. " Harry hums.
He pulls his hand away as Louis moves
— groaning softly — turning to pick it up and twisting back round to find him sitting up, back resting against the headboard.
"Tea?" He asks.
"After," Harry says offhandedly, bringing the thermometer to his mouth, "open up," he instructs, winking at him with a prayer of making him happier.
Louis rolls his eyes fondly as he bites his lip to hide his smile, but let's him slip it past his lips.
"Good," Harry coos, letting go and sliding his hand over his cheek, stroking softly as they wait; staring at each other, full of love.
"I'm sorry, baby," Harry says sadly when Louis sighs and rests his head back, closing his eyes.
When it dings, he pulls it from his mouth, eyes flitting over the device.
He sighs as he puts it down, picking up the tea instead and carefully handing it to him with a gentle, "here, love".
Louis takes it with a small smile, sipping slowly.
"You've got a temp, baby. 38.2" Harry sighs, resting his hand on his thigh.
Louis tuts softly, "I'll call the school," he murmurs, taking another sip before handing it back to his boyfriend with a softly muttered thank you.
"You want me to stay home with you, angel?" Harry asks as he puts it down again.
"Can get in a sub" he says as an afterthought, shifting to sit beside him and lifting his arm so he can lean into him; dropping it around him as he rests his head on his shoulder.
"No, haz." Louis sighs, "the kids need you".
"You need me, boo," Harry says, clearly conflicted, "love the kids, but you're my boy". Louis smiles and turns his head on his shoulder, looking up at him as Harry looks back, "I'll be okay, love," he tells him.
"You sure, angel?" Harry asks, a look of concern on his face.
"Mm I'm sure, hazzy," Louis hums tiredly, nuzzling his shoulder again.
"You need rest, baby," Harry tells him.
"Yeah," Louis mumbles, lifting his head and reaching over him to grab his phone, "just need to call the school".
"No, love. I'll let them know when I get there. Save your voice." Harry coos, noticing how it appears to get rougher; with the boy clearing his throat a few times.
"Now lay down," he says with strictness, standing up from the bed.
"But—"
"No, lou," Harry says, "sleep, mister," he says teasingly, booping his nose and making him smile shyly.
Even after three years, he can make his boy blush so easily.
"Fine" Louis grumbles with false annoyance, laying down with his head on the pillow, looking up with a pout and Harry laughs, walking away towards the wardrobe with the knowledge that Louis is staring — hearing the sheets rustle as he moves onto his back — quietly admiring him.
He gets dressed inside the walk-in, much to louis' annoyance. And he knows that, walking out with an amused cheeky smile.
"Dick," Louis mumbles, turning onto his side again and closing his eyes — smiling when Harry chuckles from the end of the bed.
He walks around and bends down, getting his face close to his and puffing softly on him to make him laugh – which works –
And he opens one eye, eventually humming and laying on his back once more, arms folded but an amused look on his face.
"I'm gonna feed the cat and then I'll pick up some breakfast from the cafe so you can rest, baby" Harry tells him, stroking his swooped fringe before cradling his cheek – he just can't help himself, how did he end up with such a beautiful boyfriend –
"Hmm, alright" Louis half whispers, sleepily leaning into his touch and humming contently; closing his eyes, feeling safe and happy.
Okay, he might really miss him today.
"Okay," Harry repeats, "Text me if you need me, alright angel?" He says, and louis nods, opening his eyes slowly and smiling.
"I'll miss you," he admits, pouting.
They're rarely ever apart for long periods of time, genuinely enjoying each other's company, feeling the most comfortable with each other, and just wanting to be in the others' presence.
They spend time with friends and family — usually together, but remaining in communication as much as they can when they're not.
Not that anyone minds, easily able to see how close they are, and understanding that it's unusual for them to be apart — sometimes uncomfortable – considering how often they're together.
"I'll miss you too, baby. But we'll survive," Harry teases lovingly, winking at him — repeating words they've heard multiple times.
Of course they'll survive, they ARE able to be apart. They just prefer not to be.
"Hmm, i know" Louis hums, "just feel sicky and needy" he says, putting on his — i want to get my way — pouty voice, pursing his lips to hide his cheeky smile and Harry just laughs in response.
"I love you," he says with amusement, leaning in to kiss him.
Louis backs away, though, finally smiling and raising his brow, "No kissing. I'm ill, babe, " he reminds him.
Harry tuts, leaning in again and hovering inches away from his face; creating a tension that his boyfriend just can't pull away from, eyes flitting down to his lips repeatedly.
"A cold isn't going to stop me from kissing you" Harry half whispers, "and one little peck won't matter" he chides softly, tipping his head to kiss him – definitely more than a peck – pulling away only to attach their lips again.
When he does move away, Louis raises his brow, tilting his head and pouting his lips with false confusion, narrowing his eyes . "Now that wasn't just one kiss was it," he teases with, feigning annoyance.
And Harry laughs again.
Louis tuts and pulls a smug face, raising both brows now, "well if you get sick, it's on you," he says, shrugging the arm he isn't laying on.
Though he can't help but smile, when Harry continues to laugh; winking up at him before closing his eyes.
"Go away now, I'm trying to sleep," he mumbles jokingly.
"You're an idiot," Harry chuckles, kissing his hair before climbing off of the bed and walking towards the door.
"I love you too, baby," Louis says just as he steps out.
♡♡♡♡
Immediately when the kids come in, Harry is bombarded with questions about Mr. Tomlinson. Upset voices loudly asking
— "did he leave us?"
"Did you break up?"
"Is he okay ?"
"Why isn't he here today?"
Harry chuckles and shushes them softly, lifting his hands in surrender.
"Alright, alright, everyone sit on the circle time carpet and we'll have a little talk," he says with amusement, pulling over a chair and sitting down; looking over the worried, innocent faces staring up at him.
"Mr. Tomlinson is fine. He hasn't left us or me..." he pauses for a second to laugh – as if Louis would leave him. And that's his boy. He's never gonna let him. He laughs again softly at his thoughts, shaking his head a little.
"He's woken up today with a cold. He didn't want to make you guys sick, and he just wasn't quite feeling up to coming in" he explains, hoping to calm the young children.
"Is he gonna go away like my doggy?" One little girl asks innocently, a sad look on her face. Harry smiles warmly and leans down to her, "No, sweetheart. He's going to be okay, i promise." he coos.
This seems to reassure her, nodding with understanding and turning to her chatting friends.
"So," he says, clapping as he sits back, catching their attention, "we're going to start today with storyboards" he says, turning back to his desk to grab the stack of templates Louis had printed for them.
"Does anyone know what it is?" He asks, picking up one sheet to show them all.
They all say collective no's, shaking their heads and looking up, tentively waiting for his explanation.
"Okay, so. What you're going to do is create a story, on these lines you'll write a short explanation of what's happening and in the squares above you can draw a little picture to go with it".
"When you're done we'll all sit and read them together. But we'll wait for Mr. Tomlinson to come back for that because I'm sure he'd enjoy reading them together, you know how much he loves the work you guys do" he says happily, smiling to them and getting big smiles and nods in response.
"Does everyone understand what to do?" He asks, getting a collective yes from everyone.
"Good, I'll be coming around anyway if you do need any help, so don't worry about that" he promises, standing up and putting his chair back behind his desk.
"Let's get to our desks then" he instructs kindly, gesturing towards the small group tables around the room.
~~
Harry looks up from his phone, putting his coffee down when there's a knock on the open classroom door and a softly spoken, "Mr styles?".
He sees one of his children standing with a concerned look on their face; frowning a little before putting on a smile, "yeah, come on in, buddy" he says, pulling out a chair from one of the tables and placing it beside his desk.
Parker malik is one of the smaller children, sweet and quiet but like his older brother – who Harry and louis also taught – incredibly smart for his age and isn't afraid to ask questions or speak with honesty.
They both talk fondly about his older brother Deon; often thinking back to when they'd told the kids from before that they were together.
•• 8 𝘮𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘩𝘴 𝘪𝘯 ••
𝘏𝘢𝘳𝘳𝘺 𝘭𝘢𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘴, "𝘸𝘦'𝘥 𝘣𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘱𝘢𝘤𝘬 𝘶𝘱 𝘣𝘦𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘬𝘪𝘥𝘴 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘣𝘢𝘤𝘬" 𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘢𝘺𝘴, 𝘨𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘭𝘰𝘤𝘬 𝘢𝘴 𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘴; 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺'𝘥 𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘥𝘢 𝘭𝘰𝘴𝘵 𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘬 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦.
𝘓𝘰𝘶𝘪𝘴 𝘩𝘶𝘮𝘴 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘢𝘨𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘴, 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘵𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘨𝘳𝘢𝘣𝘣𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘳𝘵; 𝘱𝘶𝘭𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘩𝘪𝘮 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘰 𝘬𝘪𝘴𝘴 𝘩𝘪𝘮 𝘲𝘶𝘪𝘤𝘬𝘭𝘺.
"𝘐 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶" 𝘩𝘦 𝘮𝘶𝘳𝘮𝘶𝘳𝘴 𝘩𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘪𝘭𝘺, 𝘣𝘭𝘶𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘏𝘢𝘳𝘳𝘺 𝘴𝘮𝘪𝘭𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘴𝘢𝘺𝘴 𝘪𝘵 𝘣𝘢𝘤𝘬, 𝘪𝘵'𝘴 𝘣𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘢 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘱𝘭𝘦 𝘮𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘩𝘴 𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺'𝘥 𝘴𝘢𝘪𝘥 𝘪𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘪𝘳𝘴𝘵 𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦; 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘩𝘦 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘤𝘢𝘯'𝘵 𝘨𝘦𝘵 𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘵.
𝘏𝘦 𝘰𝘱𝘦𝘯𝘴 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘮𝘰𝘶𝘵𝘩 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘢𝘬 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘲𝘶𝘪𝘤𝘬𝘭𝘺 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘳𝘶𝘱𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘣𝘺 𝘨𝘪𝘨𝘨𝘭𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘢 𝘤𝘩𝘰𝘳𝘶𝘴 𝘰𝘧 '𝘦𝘸𝘸𝘸'.
𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘱 𝘢𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘵 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘬 𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘥𝘰𝘰𝘳, 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘬𝘪𝘥𝘴 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘯 𝘢 𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘦 𝘰𝘶𝘵𝘴𝘪𝘥𝘦 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘩𝘢𝘭𝘭.
𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘴𝘶𝘱𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘸𝘢𝘪𝘵, 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘰𝘱𝘦𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘥𝘰𝘰𝘳 𝘰𝘳 𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘭𝘢𝘴𝘴𝘳𝘰𝘰𝘮 𝘣𝘦𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘭𝘭.
𝘏𝘢𝘳𝘳𝘺 𝘤𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘴 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘳𝘰𝘢𝘵 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘸𝘢𝘭𝘬𝘴 𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘳, 𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘥𝘰𝘸𝘯 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘨𝘪𝘳𝘭 𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘯𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘦.
"𝘋𝘪𝘥 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘰𝘱𝘦𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘥𝘰𝘰𝘳?" 𝘏𝘦 𝘢𝘴𝘬𝘴, 𝘵𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘪𝘤𝘵 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘨𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘭𝘦. 𝘚𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘩𝘢𝘬𝘦𝘴 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘥 𝘲𝘶𝘪𝘤𝘬𝘭𝘺, 𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘥𝘰𝘸𝘯 𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘳.
𝘓𝘰𝘶𝘪𝘴 𝘸𝘢𝘭𝘬𝘴 𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘳, 𝘱𝘶𝘵𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘭𝘶𝘯𝘤𝘩 𝘣𝘢𝘨𝘴 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘪𝘯 𝘣𝘦𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘬𝘯𝘦𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘯 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘯𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘩𝘦𝘳.
"𝘋𝘪𝘥 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘰𝘱𝘦𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘥𝘰𝘰𝘳, 𝘴𝘸𝘦𝘦𝘵𝘪𝘦?" 𝘏𝘦 𝘢𝘴𝘬𝘴 𝘴𝘰𝘧𝘵𝘭𝘺, "𝘸𝘦'𝘳𝘦 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘨𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘺𝘦𝘭𝘭 𝘢𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶, 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘸𝘦 𝘯𝘦𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘪𝘧 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘰𝘱𝘦𝘯𝘦𝘥 𝘪𝘵 𝘴𝘰 𝘸𝘦 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘢𝘴𝘬 𝘸𝘩𝘺. 𝘞𝘦 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘸𝘦'𝘳𝘦 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘴𝘶𝘱𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘰𝘱𝘦𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘥𝘰𝘰𝘳 𝘴𝘰 𝘸𝘦 𝘯𝘦𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘥 𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘪𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦'𝘴 𝘢 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘰𝘯" 𝘩𝘦 𝘦𝘹𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘪𝘯𝘴.
"𝘐'𝘮 𝘴𝘰𝘳𝘳𝘺" 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘵𝘭𝘦 𝘨𝘪𝘳𝘭 𝘴𝘢𝘺𝘴 𝘲𝘶𝘪𝘦𝘵𝘭𝘺, 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘥 𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘣𝘰𝘸𝘦𝘥, "𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘥𝘪𝘥 𝘪𝘵" 𝘴𝘩𝘦 𝘮𝘶𝘳𝘮𝘶𝘳𝘴.
"𝘞𝘦𝘭𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘦𝘭𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘶𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘵𝘳𝘶𝘵𝘩, 𝘐'𝘮 𝘨𝘭𝘢𝘥 𝘺𝘰𝘶'𝘳𝘦 𝘰𝘬𝘢𝘺 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘸𝘦 𝘸𝘰𝘯'𝘵 𝘱𝘶𝘯𝘪𝘴𝘩 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘯𝘦𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘳𝘦𝘮𝘦𝘮𝘣𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘥𝘰𝘰𝘳 𝘪𝘴 𝘢𝘭𝘸𝘢𝘺𝘴 𝘤𝘭𝘰𝘴𝘦𝘥 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘢 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘰𝘯, 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘪𝘧 𝘸𝘦 𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘯'𝘵 𝘪𝘯 𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘩𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘦𝘯𝘦𝘥, 𝘰𝘳 𝘸𝘦 𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢 𝘮𝘦𝘦𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘢𝘯𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘦𝘢𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘰𝘳 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘰𝘯𝘦'𝘴 𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘴" 𝘓𝘰𝘶𝘪𝘴 𝘳𝘦𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘥𝘴 𝘩𝘦𝘳.
"𝘐'𝘮 𝘴𝘰𝘳𝘳𝘺" 𝘴𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘩𝘪𝘮𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘢𝘨𝘢𝘪𝘯 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘓𝘰𝘶𝘪𝘴 𝘴𝘮𝘪𝘭𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘵 𝘩𝘦𝘳, 𝘣𝘳𝘶𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘶𝘮𝘣 𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘢𝘳𝘮 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘰𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘩𝘦𝘳, "𝘪𝘵𝘴 𝘰𝘬𝘢𝘺. 𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘯𝘰𝘸, 𝘺𝘦𝘢𝘩?" 𝘏𝘦 𝘢𝘴𝘬𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘴𝘩𝘦 𝘯𝘰𝘥𝘴, 𝘴𝘭𝘰𝘸𝘭𝘺 𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘣𝘢𝘤𝘬 𝘵𝘰 𝘩𝘪𝘮, "𝘺𝘦𝘢𝘩?" 𝘓𝘰𝘶𝘪𝘴 𝘢𝘴𝘬𝘴 𝘢𝘨𝘢𝘪𝘯, "𝘺𝘦𝘢𝘩" 𝘴𝘩𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘱𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘴, 𝘴𝘮𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘣𝘢𝘤𝘬 𝘢𝘵 𝘩𝘪𝘮.
"𝘎𝘰𝘰𝘥 𝘨𝘪𝘳𝘭" 𝘓𝘰𝘶𝘪𝘴 𝘩𝘶𝘮𝘴, 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘨𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘭𝘺 𝘱𝘢𝘵𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘣𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘥𝘦 𝘩𝘢𝘪𝘳 – 𝘵𝘸𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘰 𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘪𝘵𝘴 – 𝘭𝘢𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘴𝘰𝘧𝘵𝘭𝘺 𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘬 𝘰𝘧 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘏𝘢𝘳𝘳𝘺 𝘪𝘴 𝘨𝘪𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘩𝘪𝘮, "𝘰𝘣𝘷𝘪𝘰𝘶𝘴" 𝘩𝘦 𝘮𝘶𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘦𝘬𝘪𝘭𝘺, 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘭𝘰𝘶𝘥 𝘦𝘯𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘩𝘪𝘮 𝘵𝘰 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘳 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘏𝘢𝘳𝘳𝘺 𝘤𝘩𝘶𝘤𝘬𝘭𝘦𝘴.
"𝘈𝘭𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘨𝘶𝘺𝘴, 𝘸𝘦'𝘳𝘦—"
"𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘬𝘪𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘨!" 𝘖𝘯𝘦 𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘵𝘭𝘦 𝘣𝘰𝘺 𝘺𝘦𝘭𝘭𝘴; 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘬𝘪𝘥𝘴 𝘫𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘯, 𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘢𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘵 𝘰𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘢𝘴𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘲𝘶𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴.
𝘏𝘢𝘳𝘳𝘺 𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘬𝘴 𝘣𝘢𝘤𝘬 𝘵𝘰 𝘓𝘰𝘶𝘪𝘴 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘴𝘮𝘪𝘳𝘬𝘴, 𝘢𝘳𝘮𝘴 𝘧𝘰𝘭𝘥𝘦𝘥, 𝘩𝘦 𝘯𝘰𝘥𝘴 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘥𝘦𝘴𝘬 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘏𝘢𝘳𝘳𝘺 𝘢𝘨𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘴, 𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘣𝘢𝘤𝘬 𝘥𝘰𝘸𝘯 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘥𝘳𝘦𝘯 𝘢𝘴 𝘭𝘰𝘶𝘪𝘴 𝘨𝘦𝘵𝘴 𝘵𝘸𝘰 𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘪𝘳𝘴, 𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘤𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮 𝘪𝘯 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘯𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘥𝘦𝘴𝘬.
"𝘈𝘭𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘨𝘶𝘺𝘴, 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘢𝘳𝘱𝘦𝘵" 𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘢𝘺𝘴, 𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘱𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘣𝘢𝘤𝘬 𝘵𝘰 𝘭𝘦𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮 𝘪𝘯, 𝘴𝘢𝘺𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘭𝘰'𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘦𝘢𝘤𝘩 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮.
𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘸𝘢𝘪𝘵 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘭𝘢𝘴𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦 𝘴𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘣𝘦𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘵𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘰𝘸𝘯 𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘪𝘳𝘴.
𝘏𝘢𝘳𝘳𝘺 𝘵𝘢𝘬𝘦𝘴 𝘢 𝘥𝘦𝘦𝘱 𝘣𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘩, 𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘭𝘰𝘶𝘪𝘴 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘴𝘶𝘥𝘥𝘦𝘯𝘭𝘺 𝘥𝘰𝘦𝘴𝘯'𝘵 𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘦𝘢𝘳 𝘵𝘰 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘬 𝘣𝘢𝘤𝘬 𝘢𝘵 𝘩𝘪𝘮; 𝘴𝘦𝘦𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘭𝘺 𝘯𝘦𝘳𝘷𝘰𝘶𝘴. "𝘈𝘭𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘨𝘶𝘺𝘴, 𝘐'𝘮 𝘴𝘶𝘳𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶'𝘷𝘦 𝘨𝘰𝘵 𝘲𝘶𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘯𝘦𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘢𝘵 𝘢 𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦. 𝘚𝘰 𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘴 𝘶𝘱 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘴𝘶𝘳𝘦 𝘸𝘦'𝘳𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘥" 𝘩𝘦 𝘵𝘦𝘭𝘭𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮.
𝘔𝘶𝘭𝘵𝘪𝘱𝘭𝘦 𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘴 𝘨𝘰 𝘶𝘱 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘩𝘶𝘤𝘬𝘭𝘦𝘴, 𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘓𝘰𝘶𝘪𝘴 𝘢𝘨𝘢𝘪𝘯 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘳𝘦𝘮𝘢𝘪𝘯𝘴 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘵 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘴; 𝘴𝘮𝘪𝘭𝘦 𝘧𝘢𝘭𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨.
𝘞𝘪𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘢 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘥, 𝘩𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘴 𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘳, 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘵𝘸𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘩𝘰𝘱𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘴𝘰𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘩𝘪𝘮.
"𝘈𝘭𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵. 𝘌𝘳𝘪𝘯" 𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘴, 𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘳𝘶𝘯𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘦 𝘨𝘪𝘳𝘭.
"𝘈𝘳𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘥𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨?" 𝘚𝘩𝘦 𝘢𝘴𝘬𝘴, 𝘨𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘨𝘪𝘨𝘨𝘭𝘦𝘴 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘨𝘪𝘳𝘭𝘴, "𝘺𝘦𝘴, 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦. 𝘞𝘦 𝘢𝘳𝘦" 𝘏𝘢𝘳𝘳𝘺 𝘴𝘢𝘺𝘴, 𝘴𝘮𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘯 𝘢𝘮𝘶𝘴𝘦𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵, "𝘫𝘰𝘴𝘩?"
"𝘋𝘰 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘦𝘢𝘤𝘩 𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳?" 𝘏𝘦 𝘢𝘴𝘬𝘴.
𝘏𝘢𝘳𝘳𝘺 𝘴𝘲𝘶𝘦𝘦𝘻𝘦𝘴 𝘭𝘰𝘶𝘪𝘴' 𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘨𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘭𝘺 𝘣𝘦𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘩𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘴𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘴, 𝘩𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘺 𝘵𝘰 𝘨𝘦𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘢𝘮𝘦 𝘣𝘢𝘤𝘬. "𝘠𝘦𝘴, 𝘸𝘦 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘦𝘢𝘤𝘩 𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘮𝘶𝘤𝘩" 𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘢𝘺𝘴, 𝘤𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘢𝘯𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘯𝘢𝘮𝘦.
"𝘋𝘰 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘦𝘢𝘤𝘩 𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘮𝘶𝘮𝘮𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘥𝘢𝘥𝘥𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘥𝘰?"
"𝘠𝘦𝘴. 𝘐𝘵'𝘴 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘢𝘮𝘦 𝘵𝘺𝘱𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦. 𝘚𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦𝘴 𝘪𝘵'𝘴 𝘮𝘶𝘮𝘮𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘥𝘢𝘥𝘥𝘪𝘦𝘴, 𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦𝘴 𝘪𝘵'𝘴 𝘵𝘸𝘰 𝘥𝘢𝘥𝘥𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘪𝘵'𝘴 𝘵𝘸𝘰 𝘮𝘶𝘮𝘮𝘪𝘦𝘴. 𝘉𝘶𝘵 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘯𝘰 𝘥𝘪𝘧𝘧𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳" 𝘏𝘢𝘳𝘳𝘺 𝘦𝘹𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘪𝘯𝘴.
𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘬𝘪𝘥𝘴 𝘴𝘦𝘦𝘮 𝘵𝘰 𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘤𝘪𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴, 𝘯𝘰𝘥𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘯 𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨; 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘮𝘪𝘭𝘦𝘴 𝘯𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘧𝘢𝘤𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘶𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘦𝘹𝘤𝘪𝘵𝘦𝘥𝘭𝘺 𝘢𝘴𝘬 𝘲𝘶𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴.
"𝘐𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘲𝘶𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴?" 𝘏𝘢𝘳𝘳𝘺 𝘢𝘴𝘬𝘴 𝘢𝘧𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘢 𝘧𝘢𝘪𝘳 𝘢𝘮𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘲𝘶𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨, 𝘢𝘮𝘶𝘴𝘦𝘥.
"𝘠𝘦𝘴" 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘬𝘪𝘥𝘴 𝘴𝘢𝘺 𝘪𝘯 𝘶𝘯𝘪𝘴𝘰𝘯.
"𝘎𝘰𝘰𝘥, 𝘮𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘔𝘳 𝘵𝘰𝘮𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘴𝘰𝘯 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘩𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘺 𝘵𝘰 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘨𝘶𝘺𝘴' 𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘷𝘢𝘭" 𝘏𝘢𝘳𝘳𝘺 𝘴𝘢𝘺𝘴, 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘲𝘶𝘪𝘦𝘵 𝘭𝘢𝘶𝘨𝘩 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘴 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘣𝘰𝘺𝘧𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘥 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘴𝘲𝘶𝘦𝘦𝘻𝘦𝘴 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘢𝘨𝘢𝘪𝘯.
𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘴𝘮𝘪𝘭𝘦 𝘢𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘬𝘪𝘥𝘴 𝘷𝘰𝘪𝘤𝘦 𝘴𝘢𝘪𝘥 𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘷𝘢𝘭 𝘩𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘪𝘭𝘺; 𝘤𝘢𝘭𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮 𝘥𝘰𝘸𝘯 𝘣𝘦𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘴𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘥𝘦𝘴𝘬𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘬 𝘴𝘩𝘦𝘦𝘵𝘴.
"𝘔𝘳 𝘴𝘵𝘺𝘭𝘦𝘴, 𝘔𝘳 𝘵𝘰𝘮𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘴𝘰𝘯" 𝘢 𝘴𝘮𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘷𝘰𝘪𝘤𝘦 𝘴𝘢𝘺𝘴 𝘢𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘴𝘪𝘵 𝘵𝘰𝘨𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘣𝘦𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘥𝘦𝘴𝘬.
"𝘠𝘦𝘴, 𝘥𝘦𝘰𝘯?" 𝘓𝘰𝘶𝘪𝘴 𝘢𝘴𝘬𝘴 𝘴𝘰𝘧𝘵𝘭𝘺.
"𝘜𝘮...𝘺𝘰𝘶'𝘳𝘦 𝘣𝘰𝘵𝘩 𝘣𝘰𝘺𝘴?" 𝘋𝘦𝘰𝘯 𝘢𝘴𝘬𝘴 𝘪𝘯𝘯𝘰𝘤𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘭𝘺, 𝘴𝘩𝘺𝘭𝘺 𝘴𝘩𝘶𝘧𝘧𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘧𝘦𝘦𝘵.
"𝘠𝘦𝘴" 𝘏𝘢𝘳𝘳𝘺 𝘤𝘩𝘶𝘤𝘬𝘭𝘦𝘴, "𝘸𝘦'𝘳𝘦 𝘣𝘰𝘵𝘩 𝘣𝘰𝘺𝘴"
"𝘉𝘶𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵'𝘴 𝘰𝘬𝘢𝘺 𝘣𝘦𝘤𝘢𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘴 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦, 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘔𝘳 𝘴𝘵𝘺𝘭𝘦𝘴 𝘴𝘢𝘪𝘥 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘯𝘰 𝘥𝘪𝘧𝘧𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳" 𝘓𝘰𝘶𝘪𝘴 𝘴𝘢𝘺𝘴, 𝘴𝘮𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨.
𝘏𝘦 𝘩𝘢𝘥 𝘣𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘯𝘦𝘳𝘷𝘰𝘶𝘴 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘥𝘳𝘦𝘯'𝘴 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯, 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺'𝘥 𝘣𝘦 𝘶𝘯𝘩𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘺 𝘰𝘳 𝘶𝘯𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘳𝘦𝘭𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘱. 𝘈𝘯𝘥 𝘥𝘦𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘦𝘭𝘺 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺'𝘥 𝘩𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘩𝘪𝘮 – 𝘪𝘵'𝘴 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘧𝘪𝘳𝘴𝘵 𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢 𝘵𝘦𝘢𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘳, 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘩𝘦'𝘴 𝘣𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘦𝘹𝘤𝘪𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘧𝘰𝘳, 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘢𝘴 𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘴 𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘳𝘦𝘮𝘦𝘮𝘣𝘦𝘳; 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘬𝘪𝘥𝘴 𝘩𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘩𝘪𝘮. 𝘏𝘦'𝘥 𝘣𝘦 𝘥𝘦𝘷𝘢𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘥.
𝘉𝘶𝘵 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘏𝘢𝘳𝘳𝘺 𝘩𝘰𝘭𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘥, 𝘣𝘦𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘧𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘦𝘹𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘬𝘪𝘥𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺'𝘳𝘦 𝘯𝘰 𝘥𝘪𝘧𝘧𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘯 𝘢𝘯𝘺𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘦𝘭𝘴𝘦 -- 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘮𝘢𝘥𝘦 𝘩𝘪𝘮 𝘧𝘦𝘦𝘭 𝘣𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳.
𝘏𝘦'𝘴 𝘴𝘰 𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘳𝘦𝘭𝘺 𝘨𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘧𝘶𝘭 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘣𝘰𝘺𝘧𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘥. 𝘚𝘸𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘴 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘭𝘺 𝘣𝘶𝘳𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘩𝘪𝘮.
𝘋𝘦𝘰𝘯 𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘬𝘴 𝘶𝘱 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮 𝘴𝘭𝘰𝘸𝘭𝘺; 𝘢 𝘣𝘪𝘨 𝘴𝘮𝘪𝘭𝘦 𝘰𝘯 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘧𝘢𝘤𝘦; 𝘴𝘦𝘦𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘭𝘺 𝘳𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘥𝘴 𝘳𝘦𝘱𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘥, 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘩𝘪𝘮 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘪𝘵'𝘴 𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵.
𝘏𝘦 𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘱𝘴 𝘤𝘭𝘰𝘴𝘦𝘳 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘯𝘴 𝘪𝘯.
"𝘔𝘺 𝘥𝘢𝘥𝘥𝘺 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦𝘴 𝘣𝘰𝘺𝘴 𝘵𝘰𝘰" 𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘩𝘪𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘦𝘹𝘤𝘪𝘵𝘦𝘥𝘭𝘺.
𝘓𝘰𝘶𝘪𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘳𝘺 𝘴𝘮𝘪𝘭𝘦 𝘢𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘦. 𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘵𝘭𝘦 𝘣𝘰𝘺 𝘪𝘴 𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘸𝘰 𝘱𝘦𝘰𝘱𝘭𝘦 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘥𝘢𝘥𝘥𝘺; 𝘵𝘸𝘰 𝘱𝘦𝘰𝘱𝘭𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘳𝘦𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘩𝘦 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘸 𝘪𝘵.
"𝘠𝘦𝘢𝘩?" 𝘓𝘰𝘶𝘪𝘴 𝘢𝘴𝘬𝘴, 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘸𝘢𝘳𝘥 𝘵𝘰𝘰, 𝘮𝘢𝘵𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘦𝘹𝘤𝘪𝘵𝘦𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵 — 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘏𝘢𝘳𝘳𝘺 𝘤𝘢𝘯'𝘵 𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘱 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘸𝘢𝘵𝘤𝘩 𝘩𝘪𝘮, 𝘢𝘥𝘰𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘰𝘯 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘧𝘢𝘤𝘦 𝘢𝘴 𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘪𝘵𝘴 𝘣𝘢𝘤𝘬 𝘪𝘯 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘴𝘦𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘢𝘥𝘮𝘪𝘳𝘦 𝘩𝘪𝘮 —
"𝘔𝘺 𝘥𝘢𝘥𝘥𝘺 𝘩𝘢𝘴 𝘢 𝘣𝘰𝘺𝘧𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘰𝘰! 𝘏𝘪𝘴 𝘯𝘢𝘮𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘓𝘪𝘢𝘮 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘩𝘦'𝘴 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘯𝘪𝘤𝘦" 𝘥𝘦𝘰𝘯 𝘴𝘢𝘺𝘴 𝘩𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘪𝘭𝘺, "𝘰𝘩 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵'𝘴 𝘢𝘮𝘢𝘻𝘪𝘯𝘨!" 𝘓𝘰𝘶𝘪𝘴 𝘴𝘢𝘺𝘴 𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘩𝘶𝘴𝘪𝘢𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺, "𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘶𝘺𝘴 𝘮𝘦 𝘴𝘸𝘦𝘦𝘵𝘪𝘦𝘴" 𝘥𝘦𝘰𝘯 𝘨𝘪𝘨𝘨𝘭𝘦𝘴.
𝘓𝘰𝘶𝘪𝘴 𝘭𝘢𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘴 𝘣𝘢𝘤𝘬 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘴𝘮𝘪𝘭𝘦𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘩𝘪𝘮, "𝘨𝘶𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵. 𝘔𝘳 𝘴𝘵𝘺𝘭𝘦𝘴 𝘣𝘶𝘺𝘴 𝘮𝘦 𝘴𝘸𝘦𝘦𝘵𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘵𝘰𝘰!" 𝘏𝘦 𝘴𝘢𝘺𝘴.
𝘏𝘢𝘳𝘳𝘺 𝘳𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘴 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘦𝘺𝘦𝘴 𝘧𝘰𝘯𝘥𝘭𝘺, 𝘳𝘦𝘮𝘦𝘮𝘣𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘵𝘳𝘪𝘱 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘢𝘧𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘧𝘪𝘳𝘴𝘵 𝘮𝘰𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘰𝘨𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 — 𝘓𝘰𝘶𝘪𝘴 𝘩𝘢𝘥 𝘱𝘰𝘶𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘧𝘭𝘢𝘴𝘩𝘦𝘥 𝘱𝘶𝘱𝘱𝘺 𝘦𝘺𝘦𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘏𝘢𝘳𝘳𝘺 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘶𝘺 𝘢 𝘣𝘪𝘨 𝘣𝘰𝘹 𝘰𝘧 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘧𝘢𝘷𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘦 𝘤𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘺. 𝘞𝘩𝘪𝘤𝘩, 𝘰𝘧 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘴𝘦, 𝘩𝘦 𝘥𝘪𝘥.
"𝘏𝘦 𝘥𝘰𝘦𝘴!?" 𝘋𝘦𝘰𝘯 𝘢𝘴𝘬𝘴, 𝘢𝘭𝘮𝘰𝘴𝘵 𝘣𝘶𝘻𝘻𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘢𝘯 𝘦𝘹𝘤𝘪𝘵𝘦𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘓𝘰𝘶𝘪𝘴 𝘮𝘢𝘵𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘴; 𝘱𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘢 𝘬𝘪𝘥 𝘩𝘪𝘮𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘧.
𝘈𝘯𝘥 𝘍𝘶𝘤𝘬, 𝘏𝘢𝘳𝘳𝘺 𝘪𝘴 𝘴𝘰 𝘪𝘯 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘩𝘪𝘮.
~~
𝘈𝘵 𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘱𝘪𝘤𝘬 𝘶𝘱 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺'𝘥 𝘸𝘢𝘵𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘥 𝘥𝘦𝘰𝘯'𝘴 𝘥𝘢𝘥𝘥𝘺 𝘢𝘳𝘳𝘪𝘷𝘦; 𝘭𝘢𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘴𝘰𝘧𝘵𝘭𝘺 𝘢𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘷𝘪𝘦𝘸𝘦𝘥 𝘩𝘪𝘮 𝘣𝘦𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘱𝘶𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘥 𝘣𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘢𝘤𝘳𝘰𝘴𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘺𝘨𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥, 𝘵𝘰𝘸𝘢𝘳𝘥𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮.
"𝘔𝘳 𝘴𝘵𝘺𝘭𝘦𝘴! 𝘔𝘳 𝘵𝘰𝘮𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘴𝘰𝘯!" 𝘋𝘦𝘰𝘯 𝘺𝘦𝘭𝘭𝘴, 𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘱𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘯 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘯𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘨𝘪𝘨𝘨𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘴 𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘶𝘴𝘩𝘦𝘴 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘥𝘢𝘥𝘥𝘺 𝘵𝘰𝘸𝘢𝘳𝘥𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮.
𝘏𝘦 𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘱𝘴 𝘣𝘦𝘴𝘪𝘥𝘦 𝘩𝘪𝘮 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘶𝘨𝘴 𝘰𝘯 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘴𝘭𝘦𝘦𝘷𝘦 𝘶𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘭 𝘩𝘦 𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘬𝘴 𝘥𝘰𝘸𝘯 𝘢𝘵 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘴𝘰𝘯.
"𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘣𝘰𝘺𝘴 𝘵𝘰𝘰, 𝘥𝘢𝘥𝘥𝘺!" 𝘏𝘦 𝘩𝘢𝘭𝘧 𝘸𝘩𝘪𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘴, 𝘢 𝘨𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘦𝘹𝘤𝘪𝘵𝘦𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘪𝘯 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘦𝘺𝘦𝘴.
𝘏𝘪𝘴 𝘥𝘢𝘥 𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘬𝘴 𝘶𝘱 𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘢 𝘴𝘮𝘪𝘭𝘦, "𝘡𝘢𝘺𝘯. 𝘋𝘦𝘰𝘯'𝘴 𝘥𝘢𝘥" 𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘢𝘺𝘴, 𝘩𝘰𝘭𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮.
"𝘓𝘰𝘶𝘪𝘴. 𝘈𝘯𝘥 𝘥𝘦𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘰𝘭𝘥 𝘶𝘴 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶" 𝘓𝘰𝘶𝘪𝘴 𝘴𝘢𝘺𝘴 𝘩𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘪𝘭𝘺 𝘢𝘴 𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘩𝘢𝘬𝘦𝘴 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘥 – 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘏𝘢𝘳𝘳𝘺 𝘥𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘢𝘮𝘦.
"𝘐'𝘷𝘦 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘥 𝘢 𝘭𝘰𝘵 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘸𝘰 𝘢𝘴 𝘸𝘦𝘭𝘭. 𝘈𝘭𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩 𝘵𝘰𝘥𝘢𝘺 𝘩𝘢𝘴 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘷𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘥 𝘯𝘦𝘸 𝘪𝘯𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘮𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯" 𝘡𝘢𝘺𝘯 𝘭𝘢𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘴, 𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘥𝘰𝘸𝘯 𝘢𝘵 𝘋𝘦𝘰𝘯 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘳𝘶𝘧𝘧𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘩𝘢𝘪𝘳.
"𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘣𝘰𝘺𝘧𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘥'𝘴 𝘥𝘢𝘥𝘥𝘺!" 𝘏𝘦 𝘴𝘢𝘺𝘴 𝘩𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘪𝘭𝘺, 𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘱𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘸𝘢𝘳𝘥 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘨𝘳𝘢𝘣𝘣𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘴, 𝘱𝘶𝘵𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮 𝘵𝘰𝘨𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘶𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘱𝘭𝘺; 𝘴𝘮𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘢𝘮𝘶𝘴𝘦𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘨 𝘣𝘰𝘺 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘨𝘪𝘨𝘨𝘭𝘦𝘴 𝘩𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘪𝘭𝘺, 𝘩𝘶𝘨𝘨𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘭𝘦𝘨𝘴 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘢𝘯 𝘦𝘹𝘤𝘪𝘵𝘦𝘥, "𝘣𝘺𝘦! 𝘚𝘦𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘰𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘳𝘰𝘸!".
•• ~~~~~~ ••
"What's wrong?" He asks after he sits down beside him.
"I'm just worried" parker says sadly, glancing down at his hands, playing with his fingers nervously, "about you and Mr Tomlinson" he murmurs.
Harry sighs and leans forward, "we're fine, little man" he coos, "he's sick and wants to rest up so he can come back all better" he promises,
"In fact I was just talking to him actually, he keeps sending me cute pictures of him pouting, he hates being sick" he says teasingly, making the young boy giggle softly.
"What's got you so worried?" He asks, sitting back in his chair, happy he's cheered him up a little, "everyone was talking about it and the big kids heard and were telling us stuff" parker explains sadly.
"Hmm, well they're just being unkind, I'll have a talk with their teacher. I promise that we're okay" Harry says, "okay?" He asks softly, "okay" parker mutters.
"Good boy, now give me a smile and go back out to the playground" Harry says playfully, gently pinching his cheeks until he's looking up, smiling wide.
♡♡♡♡
A soft thud on the bed and a small meow wakes Louis, blinking his eyes open and coming face to face with their ginger tabby cat.
"Hey" he murmurs sleepily, rubbing his eyes with his fist; the other hand blindly reaching out to stroke his fluffy fur.
The cat purrs loudly, quickly mewling again louder, vying for his attention and louis laughs softly, dropping his hand to look at him, "hi, dog" he giggles – laughing everytime he says his name –
They'd found him as a kitten, Louis bringing the baby into their apartment wrapped in his jacket; upset about finding him cold and alone – begging Harry to let him stay.
Which he of course agreed too; first calming his distressed boyfriend before they cleaned him up together.
And harry had walked out of the kitchen to find louis singing softly, feeding the sleepy kitten with milk from a pipette he got from a medicine bottle.
That's when he knew. This was who he was meant to be with forever; dreamily imagining him holding their babies that way, singing them to sleep with his beautiful voice.
They decided to make it a game for the kids, bringing in a photo and letting them write down names that they'd later call out and let them vote on.
// // //
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"𝘈𝘭𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘨𝘶𝘺𝘴, 𝘵𝘰𝘥𝘢𝘺 𝘸𝘦 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘤𝘪𝘢𝘭 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘦𝘭𝘭 𝘺𝘰𝘶" 𝘏𝘢𝘳𝘳𝘺 𝘴𝘢𝘺𝘴, 𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘦𝘢𝘨𝘦𝘳 𝘬𝘪𝘥𝘴 𝘴𝘪𝘵𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨, 𝘸𝘢𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘧𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘰𝘯 𝘥𝘦𝘴𝘬𝘴.
"𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘪𝘴 𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘯𝘦𝘸 𝘬𝘪𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘯" 𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘢𝘺𝘴, "𝘔𝘳 𝘵𝘰𝘮𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘴𝘰𝘯 𝘧𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥 𝘩𝘪𝘮 𝘥𝘶𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘦𝘦𝘬𝘦𝘯𝘥 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘸𝘦'𝘷𝘦 𝘥𝘦𝘤𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘸𝘦'𝘳𝘦 𝘨𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘳𝘢𝘪𝘴𝘦 𝘩𝘪𝘮 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘶𝘴".
𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘬𝘪𝘥𝘴 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘸𝘩𝘪𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘳 𝘦𝘹𝘤𝘪𝘵𝘦𝘥𝘭𝘺, 𝘢𝘸𝘸𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘪𝘮𝘢𝘨𝘦 𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘫𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘰𝘳.
"𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵'𝘴 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘯𝘢𝘮𝘦?" 𝘖𝘯𝘦 𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘵𝘭𝘦 𝘣𝘰𝘺 𝘤𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘴 𝘰𝘶𝘵.
"𝘞𝘦𝘭𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵'𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘶𝘯!" 𝘓𝘰𝘶𝘪𝘴 𝘴𝘢𝘺𝘴 𝘩𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘪𝘭𝘺, 𝘨𝘢𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘶𝘱 𝘢 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘤𝘬 𝘰𝘧 𝘱𝘢𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘸𝘢𝘭𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰𝘸𝘢𝘳𝘥𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮.
"𝘞𝘦 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘥𝘦𝘤𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘭𝘦𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘨𝘶𝘺𝘴 𝘯𝘢𝘮𝘦 𝘩𝘪𝘮!" 𝘩𝘦 𝘵𝘦𝘭𝘭𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮 𝘢𝘴 𝘩𝘦 𝘮𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘵𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦𝘴, 𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘤𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢 𝘴𝘩𝘦𝘦𝘵 — 𝘸𝘩𝘪𝘵𝘦 𝘱𝘢𝘱𝘦𝘳 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘢 𝘱𝘩𝘰𝘵𝘰 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘬𝘪𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘯 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘢 𝘣𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘬 𝘣𝘰𝘹 — 𝘪𝘯 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘯𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘦𝘢𝘤𝘩 𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘥.
"𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘬 𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘪𝘤𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘰𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶'𝘳𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘺 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘸𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘯𝘢𝘮𝘦 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘰𝘹. 𝘈𝘧𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘸𝘢𝘳𝘥𝘴 𝘸𝘦'𝘭𝘭 𝘤𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘤𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮 𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘯𝘢𝘮𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘮𝘰𝘴𝘵 𝘷𝘰𝘵𝘦𝘴 𝘸𝘪𝘯𝘴" 𝘩𝘦 𝘦𝘹𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘪𝘯𝘴.
𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘨𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮 𝘢 𝘩𝘢𝘭𝘧 𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘵𝘰 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘱𝘭𝘦𝘵𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘫𝘦𝘤𝘵; 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺'𝘭𝘭 𝘮𝘰𝘴𝘵 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦𝘭𝘺 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘥𝘪𝘴𝘤𝘶𝘴𝘴 𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘢𝘴 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘧𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘴. 𝘈𝘯𝘥 𝘮𝘰𝘴𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘥 𝘪𝘵 𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘪𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘰 𝘧𝘰𝘤𝘶𝘴 𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘵𝘢𝘴𝘬 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘥𝘰 𝘸𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘴𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘬 – 𝘸𝘩𝘪𝘤𝘩 𝘪𝘴 𝘸𝘩𝘺 𝘓𝘰𝘶𝘪𝘴 𝘩𝘢𝘥 𝘢𝘭𝘴𝘰 𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘥 𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘤𝘰𝘭𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘦𝘥 𝘱𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘪𝘭𝘴, 𝘧𝘪𝘨𝘶𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺'𝘥 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘥𝘰𝘰𝘥𝘭𝘦 𝘢𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘪𝘮𝘢𝘨𝘦–
𝘈𝘧𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘤𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘢𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘴, 𝘏𝘢𝘳𝘳𝘺 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘬𝘪𝘥𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘪𝘳𝘤𝘭𝘦 𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦 𝘤𝘢𝘳𝘱𝘦𝘵 𝘸𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘴𝘵 𝘓𝘰𝘶𝘪𝘴 𝘤𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘪𝘭𝘴, 𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘯 𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘯𝘢𝘮𝘦𝘴 𝘣𝘦𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘤𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘥 𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘢𝘮𝘦 𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦.
"𝘈𝘭𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵, 𝘴𝘰 𝘐'𝘭𝘭 𝘤𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘯𝘢𝘮𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘱𝘶𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘶𝘱 𝘪𝘧 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘪𝘵" 𝘩𝘦 𝘦𝘹𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘪𝘯𝘴, "𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘱𝘶𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘶𝘱 𝘢𝘴 𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘺 𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘴 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘣𝘦𝘤𝘢𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘐'𝘭𝘭 𝘣𝘦 𝘢𝘥𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘶𝘱 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘯𝘶𝘮𝘣𝘦𝘳 𝘰𝘧 𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘨𝘰 𝘶𝘱 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘮𝘰𝘴𝘵 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘣𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘯𝘯𝘦𝘳" 𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘢𝘺𝘴.
"𝘉𝘦𝘯𝘫𝘪". – 10 𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘴
"𝘎𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘦𝘳" – 15 𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘴
"𝘉𝘪𝘴𝘤𝘶𝘪𝘵" — 21 𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘴
"𝘈 𝘭𝘰𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘱𝘦𝘰𝘱𝘭𝘦 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘣𝘪𝘴𝘤𝘶𝘪𝘵" 𝘏𝘢𝘳𝘳𝘺 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘴, 𝘴𝘮𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘸𝘩𝘪𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘳 𝘦𝘹𝘤𝘪𝘵𝘦𝘥𝘭𝘺 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘯𝘢𝘮𝘦.
"𝘈𝘭𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵....𝘱𝘶𝘮𝘱𝘬𝘪𝘯" 𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘴 𝘰𝘶𝘵, "𝘰𝘩, 𝘢 𝘭𝘰𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘴 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘱𝘶𝘮𝘱𝘬𝘪𝘯" 𝘩𝘦 𝘮𝘶𝘳𝘮𝘶𝘳𝘴, 𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘤𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘰𝘧𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘯𝘶𝘮𝘣𝘦𝘳 𝘰𝘧 𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘵𝘭𝘦 𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘴 𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘦𝘦𝘴 𝘪𝘯 𝘢 𝘵𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘢𝘱𝘦𝘳 𝘣𝘦𝘴𝘪𝘥𝘦 𝘩𝘪𝘮.
𝘏𝘦 𝘤𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘴 𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘯𝘢𝘮𝘦𝘴, 𝘨𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘴𝘩𝘦𝘦𝘵; 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘦𝘦𝘴 𝘪𝘵 𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘢𝘯'𝘵 𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘱 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘭𝘢𝘶𝘨𝘩 – 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘤𝘢𝘯𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘤𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘯𝘦𝘸 𝘬𝘪𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 –
"𝘋𝘰𝘨" 𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘢𝘺𝘴 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘢 𝘴𝘪𝘨𝘩 𝘰𝘧 𝘢𝘮𝘶𝘴𝘦𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘦𝘹𝘢𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯
𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦'𝘴 𝘴𝘲𝘶𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘭𝘢𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘏𝘢𝘳𝘳𝘺 𝘳𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘴 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘦𝘺𝘦𝘴 𝘧𝘰𝘯𝘥𝘭𝘺, 𝘰𝘧 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘴𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺'𝘥 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘰𝘯𝘦.
𝘈𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘭𝘢𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘥𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘥𝘰𝘸𝘯 𝘴𝘭𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘭𝘺 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘴 𝘨𝘰 𝘶𝘱 𝘩𝘦 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘴 𝘢 𝘮𝘶𝘧𝘧𝘭𝘦𝘥 𝘨𝘪𝘨𝘨𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨, 𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘶𝘱 𝘵𝘰 𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘥 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘣𝘰𝘺𝘧𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘥, 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘥 𝘥𝘰𝘸𝘯 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘮𝘰𝘶𝘵𝘩, 𝘦𝘺𝘦𝘴 𝘤𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘬𝘭𝘦𝘥 𝘢𝘴 𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘮𝘪𝘭𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘯𝘢𝘮𝘦. 𝘖𝘧 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘴𝘦 𝘓𝘰𝘶𝘪𝘴 𝘸𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘵𝘰𝘰.
𝘏𝘦 𝘴𝘮𝘪𝘭𝘦𝘴 𝘧𝘰𝘯𝘥𝘭𝘺, 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘵 𝘴𝘸𝘦𝘭𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘩𝘦 𝘩𝘢𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘥𝘳𝘢𝘨 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘦𝘺𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘸𝘢𝘺 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮; 𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘣𝘢𝘤𝘬 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘬𝘪𝘥𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘯𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘨𝘳𝘰𝘢𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨 — 𝘢𝘭𝘭 30 𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘴 𝘶𝘱 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘢𝘪𝘳, 𝘦𝘹𝘤𝘪𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘦𝘹𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘧𝘢𝘤𝘦𝘴.
𝘋𝘰𝘨 – 𝘩𝘦 𝘭𝘢𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘴 𝘢 𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘵𝘭𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘩𝘪𝘮𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘧. 𝘎𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵 𝘯𝘢𝘮𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘢 𝘤𝘢𝘵.
𝘏𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘮𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘴𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘢𝘯𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳; 𝘢𝘴 𝘣𝘳𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘪𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘢𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘯𝘢𝘮𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺'𝘭𝘭 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘭𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘴 𝘦𝘹𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘤𝘢𝘵, '𝘥𝘰𝘨'.
𝘏𝘦 𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘱𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩, 𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥 𝘰𝘧 𝘢 𝘵𝘩𝘳𝘰𝘢𝘵 𝘣𝘦𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘤𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘦𝘥. 𝘏𝘦 𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘬𝘴 𝘶𝘱 𝘢𝘨𝘢𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘰 𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘥 𝘓𝘰𝘶𝘪𝘴 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘵 𝘩𝘪𝘮, 𝘢𝘯 𝘪𝘯𝘯𝘰𝘤𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘱𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘰𝘯 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘧𝘢𝘤𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘳𝘢𝘪𝘴𝘦𝘥.
"𝘗𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘦" 𝘩𝘦 𝘮𝘰𝘶𝘵𝘩𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘩𝘪𝘮, 𝘱𝘰𝘶𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘨𝘢𝘪𝘯 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘣𝘢𝘵𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘭𝘢𝘴𝘩𝘦𝘴 – 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘺 𝘩𝘦'𝘴 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘏𝘢𝘳𝘳𝘺 𝘤𝘢𝘯'𝘵 𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘪𝘴𝘵 –
𝘏𝘢𝘳𝘳𝘺 𝘳𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘴 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘦𝘺𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘵 𝘩𝘪𝘮, 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘭𝘺 𝘰𝘧 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘴𝘦, 𝘣𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘧𝘭𝘺 𝘵𝘪𝘱𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘥 𝘣𝘢𝘤𝘬 𝘪𝘯 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘮𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘣𝘦𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘥𝘳𝘰𝘱𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘨𝘢𝘻𝘦 𝘣𝘢𝘤𝘬 𝘵𝘰 𝘩𝘪𝘮, 𝘯𝘰𝘥𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘴𝘶𝘣𝘵𝘭𝘺.
𝘏𝘦 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸𝘴 𝘩𝘦 𝘮𝘢𝘥𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘤𝘩𝘰𝘪𝘤𝘦 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘩𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘪𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘴𝘮𝘪𝘭𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘨𝘦𝘳 𝘮𝘢𝘯'𝘴 𝘧𝘢𝘤𝘦.
"𝘈𝘭𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘨𝘶𝘺𝘴. 𝘋𝘰𝘨 𝘪𝘵 𝘪𝘴" 𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘴, 𝘶𝘯𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘩𝘰𝘭𝘥 𝘣𝘢𝘤𝘬 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘩𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘦𝘹𝘤𝘪𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘨𝘪𝘨𝘨𝘭𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘵𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘦𝘹𝘤𝘪𝘵𝘦𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘬𝘪𝘥𝘴.
𝘉𝘶𝘵 𝘮𝘰𝘴𝘵𝘭𝘺 𝘢𝘵 𝘩𝘰𝘸 𝘭𝘰𝘶𝘪𝘴 𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘬𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘢𝘮𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘺, 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘫𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘯 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘬𝘪𝘥𝘴 𝘦𝘹𝘤𝘪𝘵𝘦𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵.
𝘏𝘦'𝘴 𝘢 𝘧𝘶𝘤𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘨𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘦𝘢𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘳 – 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘬𝘪𝘥𝘴 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘩𝘪𝘮. 𝘏𝘌 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘴 𝘩𝘪𝘮.
𝘏𝘦'𝘴 𝘢𝘣𝘴𝘰𝘭𝘶𝘵𝘦𝘭𝘺 𝘨𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘮𝘢𝘳𝘳𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘣𝘰𝘺.
••
// // //
"I'm sure your other daddy fed you when he left, little liar" Louis laughs, scratching under the cats chin after a particularly big meow. He knows daddy Louis is a huge softy though.
Proved right when he hums.
"Maybe just one little treat" Louis agrees, dragging himself out of bed to retrieve one; bringing it back to the bed along with dog's favourite cat toy.
♡♡♡♡
"Hey, baby"
"I miss you" Louis hums sadly down the phone. Harry chuckles softly, knowing that he'll be pouting on the other end.
"Hmm, I know you do. Judging by the millions of photos you've sent me" he teases.
"Heyyy" Louis whines, making Harry laugh again, "i miss you too, angel" he says lovingly.
"was only a couple" Louis murmurs, "then you disappeared. Was it one of the kids?" He asks, reaching over the grab the tv remote.
"Mhm, parker. He was upset"
"Parker?. What was wrong? Did something happen? Were the big kids bullying him again because I've tried to—"
"Baby" Harry coos, trying to calm him, "the kids are fine. I'll tell you about parker later" he promises.
"They miss you though, asked about you as soon as they came in" he tells him.
"I miss them too. Hate not being there" Louis mumbles, picking at the duvet as he speaks, "i know, angel. Can't risk them getting sick though, can we?"
"No" Louis agrees, then he sighs, "you've gotta go, right?" He asks, "they'll be coming in soon".
Harry sighs back, hearing the sadness in his voice, "baby, i can always–"
"No, haz. Just can't stand being sick" Louis says, cutting him off.
Harry opens his mouth to reply, stopping when he hears the sound of children chattering outside. He sighs again
"I've gotta go angel, the kids are here" he tells him, "i love you, baby".
"I love you too, babe" Louis replies.
"Sleep, my angel".
~~
"Alright guys, come on in" Harry says, swinging the door open to let them in.
They file in one by one, making their way to their desks; except one.
"Mr styles" she says gently, looking up to him.
"Yes, sweetheart?" Harry asks, kneeling to her level like Louis usually does.
"We want to make get better cards for Mr tomlinson" she says, giving him the same doe eyes that Louis flashes.
"You know what" he says, standing again, "i think that Mr tomlinson would love that very much" he tells them, looking around at their hopeful faces, "he's been a little down today, misses you guys a lot, so I think that would make him feel a lot better".
He smiles as the kids cheer happily.
"I need some helpers then. Penny you get the card from the draw. Isaac and layla, you guys get the pens and paints" he instructs.
"What about stickers?" Layla asks, "and glitter!?" Another shouts.
"I'll get the art box out for you guys and put it on my desk, you come and ask for what you want and I'll help you" Harry tells them as he walks into the supply closet.
♡♡♡♡
Harry sighs, kicking his shoes off and walking down the short hall to the bedroom.
He drops his bag on the floor; placing another on the bedside table, before climbing onto the bed – half laying with his upper back against the headboard; looking down at his sleeping boyfriend.
"Hey, baby" he coos in a whisper, reaching down to push his fringe from his eyes before cradling his jaw, stroking his thumb lightly over his cheek.
The younger boy stirs a little, murmuring softly in his sleep as he turns onto his side
– his unconcious mind recognising the person beside him – cuddling into him and nuzzling his face against his side.
Harry smiles and continues to brush against his cheek, "my sweet boy" he whispers lovingly.
Louis murmurs again and moves his arm around his waist, cuddling impossibly closer, "hazzy?" he mumbles as he wakes up, refusing to open his eyes yet.
"I'm here, angel" Harry coos.
"Time is'it?" Louis asks tiredly through a heavy sigh, "mm, cuddle me" he murmurs as an afterthought, dragging himself between his boyfriend's legs and laying on his side; head resting on his chest.
"Just gone 12" Harry tells him, wrapping his arms around him, fingers grazing his toned stomach.
Louis lifts his head, looking at him with a concerned expression, "at night!?!?" He asks – has he slept the entire fucking day?!
Harry shakes his head and tries his absolute hardest but can't hold back his laughter; the look on his face and the surprise in his voice just too adorable.
"Why are you laughing?" Louis huffs, frowning now. And Harry shakes his head, laughter dying down a little as he pulls him in in a hug – one that Louis can't resist, laying his head back down – pressing a kiss to his hair before resting his cheek against it, "ah, you just make me laugh angel" he tells him through a soft chuckle.
And louis huffs again, "so mean to me" he murmurs, making harry smile.
"You're just so perfect" He croons after a couple minutes silence, turning his head to nose at his hair, breathing him in.
"Hmm, you're still mean" Louis breathes out with a sigh of content — lifting his head to nuzzle against his neck and cuddling closer, as he speak —
The smile returns to Harry's face and he tilts his head to rest it against his.
"You love me" he says.
"Hmm, Sometimes" Louis mumbles between gentle kisses.
"All the time" Harry teases happily.
~~
"Did you bring food?" Louis asks after laying together in silence for 5 more minutes; basking in the warmth and happiness they feel, being together again.
"Oh.. yeah" Harry says, clearing his throat as he lifts his head, moving one arm from him to grab the paper bag from the beside table. "Got you soup from the little cafe you love" he hums; bringing the bag between them as Louis sits up.
He bites his lip as he smiles, eyes shining with love towards his boyfriend, "you did?" He asks shyly.
Harry smiles back and nods, "yeah, got your favourite, baby" he tells him.
"The one with the little stars in it?" Louis asks – looking so pure and sweet that Harry could just cry –
"Yes, sweet boy. The one with the stars" he says, voice soft and content.
"Thank you, hazzy" Louis half whispers, leaning in to kiss him but stopping.
"Told you, I don't care" Harry murmurs
– knowing what he's thinking – guiding him closer with two fingers under his chin and kissing him slowly.
Louis hums into the kiss, giving in for a second before he pulls away; groaning and resting their foreheads together.
"Wanna kiss you, hazza" he murmurs, staring at his lips, "but I don't want you to get sick" he sighs, closing his eyes.
"Plus, I'm an assistant teacher so they'll bring in a stranger" he adds.
"They'll bring in one of the other teachers, angel. Not a stranger" Harry chuckles, playing with the hair at the nape of his neck to soothe him anyway.
"Yeah well they're not you" Louis mumbles, "like being with you" he hums.
"I like being with you too, sweetheart" Harry croons, kissing his temple.
"You wanna eat now?" He laughs as the younger boys tummy growls.
"Yeah, m'starving" Louis groans.
"Let's go to the table, baby" Harry says with amusement, holding the bag tighter as he goes to move. But Louis stops him.
"I wanna stay in bed" he whines, pouting at him.
Harry laughs again and raises his brow, "yeah right" he snorts, "as if I'm letting the messiest person eat soup in our bed" he teases.
Louis huffs, pout becoming a frown, "I'm not messy" he grumbles, folding his arms.
"Oh but you are, baby" Harry coos in a teasing manner, putting the bag down again and leaning against his hands, palms pressed to the bed.
"We eat pizza in here, harold" Louis huffs, "mhm and all I've gotta do is clean up crumbs, imagine cleaning up hot soup with little pastina stars in it" Harry chides.
"You love me enough to clean up spilled soup" Louis says, turning to him and smirking.
"I absolutely do. That doesn't mean I want too" Harry says, smirking back.
"Now get your pretty arse up".
"I won't spill, I promise" Louis says sweetly, batting his lashes as he flashes doe eyes at his boyfriend.
Harry stares at him, trying to keep his stance.
But he fails; unable to resist his adorable charm, groaning and tipping his head back, "fineee".
Louis smiles happily and he can't help but smile back, pressing forward to kiss his head, "you're just lucky you're so damn cute" he repeats – winking at him as he stands, grabbing the bag and turning to walk out.
"Yes I am" Louis says smugly.
~~
"Hey" Louis mumbles from the kitchen doorway – an open plan arch that Louis adored the second he stepped into the apartment for the first time –
Harry glances at him briefly, with a small smile.
"So you're too sick to eat out of bed but you're okay to get out for?" He teases.
"Mm cuddles" Louis hums, shuffling over and hugging him from behind; head resting against his back. And Harry smiles wider,
"I guess cuddles are an acceptable reason" he murmurs.
"I love you" Louis says softly, closing his eyes as he holds him tighter and nuzzles against him.
"I love you too, sweet boy" Harry coos, "missed you" he tells him.
"I missed you a lot, don't like being away from you, hazzy. 'Specially when I feel like shit".
Harry sighs and puts down the empty soup container, turning in his hold and hugging him back – one arm around his waist, the other over his shoulder, hand cradling his head –
"I know, angel" he hums.
"Is that why you came home?" Louis murmurs, head now resting on his shoulder; face nuzzled against his neck.
"Yep. Kids kept asking questions and I got in my head. Had to come home to you, sweet boy" Harry replies gently, sliding his fingers through his hair.
"What kind of questions?" Louis asks with a frown, pulling his head back to look at him.
"How about we talk about that later, angel. Don't really wanna talk about it right now" Harry suggests back to him.
"How about you just kiss me, now?" He asks, holding his chin with his thumb and forefinger, "but–"
"Please".
Louis hums as he nods, sliding a hand against his cheek and leaning in to connect their lips.
It's slow and soft. Tender. Loving.
What they both need.
"M scared you'll get sick" Louis mumbles as he pulls away, "I'm sorry" he hums, resting his head on his shoulder again.
"That's fine, baby. Least I got to kiss you a little" Harry says, smiling down at him.
"Now. We need to eat this before it goes cold. Nobody likes cold soup" he says, standing straight after kissing his hair.
"We can eat at the table if you want" Louis mumbles, "nah, angel. I was just teasing you before, I don't want you uncomfortable" Harry tells him as he grabs both bowls of soup.
"Feel shit, constantly uncomfortable" Louis grumbles with a sigh.
"Sorry I can't help more, boo" Harry sighs back, leading them out of the room.
"You do help, hazzy" Louis says genuinely, "we can sit here" he adds, sitting at the dining table – next to the window in the living room –
Harry hums and places one of the bowls in front of him; the other at the opposite side of the table.
"M gonna get you some water, sweet boy" he murmurs, stroking his hair and leaning down to kiss his head again; nuzzling a little to breathe him in.
"I love when you call me that" Louis says with content, leaning into his touch.
"Good" Harry says, smiling – forcing himself to pull away and walking to the kitchen –
"Spoons harold" Louis calls as he walks back out; making him laugh and spin back around.
' '
"Thank you for bringing me soup" Louis says as they eat, looking up at him through his fallen fringe with just his eyes and smiling.
"Of course, angel. Figured you'd want it. Made a special stop for you" Harry replies, smiling back to him and taking notice of the blush on his face.
"Thank you, hazzy. It's good" Louis murmurs, bringing the spoon back to his mouth.
' '
When they finish eating Harry takes the bowls, dropping them in the kitchen sink to clean later before he comes back out; finding his boyfriend with his head in his arms, leaning against the table.
"How about we take a nap, sweet boy?" He suggests, rubbing his back soothingly.
"Will you hold me?" Louis asks without moving; voice muffled.
"Course, angel. Wouldn't want it any other way"
♡♡♡♡
Harry wakes up first this time; pulling him in impossibly closer by the protective arm he has around his waist, nosing at the back of his neck. "I love you, lou" he whispers, not wanting to wake him.
"I love you, too, hazzy" Louis whispers back.
Harry groans softly, "did I wake you?" He asks softly.
Louis hums and nods, "woke up when you moved your arm" he murmurs sleepily.
"Sorry, baby" Harry says sadly, nuzzling again.
"mm s'okay, bub" Louis says, "can I cuddle you?" He asks immediately after.
"You don't need to ask, sweet boy" Harry coos, lifting his arm as Louis turns; shuffling as close as possible and nuzzling against his shirt and arms between them, holding onto him tightly.
"It's okay, baby. I'm here" Harry promises lovingly, threading his fingers through his hair.
"I hate this" Louis groans, voice muffled against him.
"I know, angel. I know" Harry sighs.
♡♡♡♡
"Hey" Harry says softly, tilting to his head to his boyfriend; still cuddled into him – Harry with his upper back against the headboard and louis still lead down- Pressed against his side; head resting just under his chest so his palm can rest against his stomach –
Louis hums and looks up to him.
"Kids were worried about you today, baby" Harry tells him, stroking his fringe.
"Yeah?" Louis asks with a shy smile, "missed them" he mumbles, nudging him with his nose.
"They missed you too. Actually...they each made you something" Harry tells him, hoping to cheer him up, and smiling as Louis sits up quickly, eyes sparkling and beaming. "They did?" He asks excitedly.
"They did, my sweet boy" Harry coos.
Internally sighing happily
– how? How is this boy his!? –
"Can I see?" Louis says, "did you bring them?" He asks, putting his palms down on the bed and leaning towards him, "did you?".
Harry laughs softly as he shakes his head in amusement; reaching out to cradle his cheek, "you're so pretty" he coos.
Louis slumps a little, leaning into him and blushing a deep red, "what d'you say that for?" He murmurs shyly.
"Because you're beautiful and I love you" Harry tells him, "and I love when you get like this, like living with an adorable overexcited puppy" he says with gentle teasing; getting a shy giggle from the younger boy that only makes his heart beat even harder for him.
"I did bring them with me, sweet boy. I went to them before I left to let them know I'd be coming to take care of you and they absolutely insisted that I bring them" He chuckles, climbing off the bed, thighs pressed against the side.
Louis smiles and crawls over, getting up on his knees in front of him; dropping his arms over his shoulders as Harry's hands go to his hips.
"I know i said you needed to go.." Louis sighs contently, resting their foreheads together, "but I'm really glad you came back" he half whispers, closing his eyes.
"Had too.." Harry mumbles, making Louis frown. "what do you mean?" He asks softly, eyes still closed — as well as Harry's —
"Yeah.. the kids.." Harry starts, frowning as well and holding him tighter. "The kids, they were worried about you and noticed immediately that you were gone and they–they started asking if we broke up".
"Oh"
"I told them that of course we didn't and they seemed happy with it. But then during their break time parker came in all upset because the older kids heard them talking about it and started scaring them" Harry explains. "Oh, parker" Louis sighs sadly, "I tried..you know.. I reassured him and made him smile and he was okay" Harry tells him, attempting to reassure his boyfriend too.
"My hazza" Louis whispers, "i know you did, you're great with them" he coos, rubbing their noses together in an eskimo kiss and giggling when he gets a smile from him.
"So are you, sweet boy" he coos back.
"But what do you mean you had to?" Louis asks again, nosing his cheek briefly.
"I-..I couldn't stop thinking about it, lou" Harry breathes out sadly.
"I just....I know it wasn't what was happening but" he stops and releases a shaky sigh, screwing his eyes shut tighter and fisting his shirt in his hands, "losing you...I cant" he whispers, voice pained.
"Hey" Louis coos; moving one hand to his hair, the other sliding over his cheek.
"Hey" he repeats, nudging his nose with his own, wanting him to open his eyes – which he does, slowly –
"You're never going to lose me" he promises him softly, "need my hazzy, need you around" he admits, "can't lose you either" he says, voice a slight whimper.
"Don't leave me, lou" Harry murmurs, "won't leave, won't leave" Louis mumbles, ignoring his worry in favour of kissing him; he just has too.
Harry kisses back, loosening his grip on his shirt as he relaxes.
"Please...please dont leave me either" Louis says breathily, pulling back but resting their heads together again – both breathing heavily –
"I'll never leave, angel" Harry promises.
Louis hums but doesn't speak, both of them relishing the closeness quietly; needing to remember the moment – savour it.
"I want to be with you forever, lou. Wanna marry you" Harry mumbles after a short while; both opening their eyes slowly.
Louis smiles and hums again, "i hope you're not asking because you're going to be severely disappointed" he teases gently.
"Yeah?" Harry says, smirking a little, "why's that?" He asks.
"Because you are not proposing to me whilst I look and feel like shit, in our flat. Gotta woo me" Louis chides.
"Course I have, darling" Harry chuckles.
"Lucky for you I'm not, I'm just letting you know it's what I want in the future" he says teasingly, nudging their noses together and smiling.
"Good, I'm glad" Louis hums through a content sigh; hands going to his back again, pulling him close and hugging him – face buried in the crook of his neck –
"Becauss I really want that too" he tells him as Harry hugs back tightly.
"Don't look like shit" Harry murmurs after a couple minutes, "you're beautiful" he says.
Louis just laughs softly in response, biting gently at his neck.
♡♡♡♡
Louis waits – semi – patiently as Harry grabs the plastic bag filled with the kids cards from the hallway.
"You're gonna need this" he says with a smirk as he walks back in; throwing a towel at him from the doorway – landing on his head, which makes Harry laugh –
He pulls it off with a huff, frowning at him and flipping him off; which only makes his boyfriend laugh harder.
"I hate you" Louis grumbles as Harry climbs onto the bed; bag in hand.
"You love me, idiot" he chides, sitting beside him.
"You wanna marry me" he teases in a sing song voice, swaying his head side to side as he speaks before pressing forward to kiss his nose with an over exaggerated 'mwah'.
"You're the idiot" Louis laughs softly, pushing at his chest and rolling his eyes fondly.
"Mhm" Harry agrees with a cheeky grin; eyes wide, "an idiot you want to marry" he says.
"Maybe not at this rate" Louis teases.
"Andddd an idiot you like to–" he stops and presses his lips to his ear, whispering the rest of his sentence.
Louis laughs loudly and pushes at him again, "go away, dumbass".
Harry chuckles and sits back again, "you do though" he says smugly, brow raised.
"Maybe I do, but you won't be seeing it again if you don't stop" Louis chides, looking up at him.
"Now. Give me my stuff" he says, pecking his cheek.
Harry rolls his eyes but brings the back forward, "you really will need the towel though, babe. The kids used glitter" he says with amusement.
"Oh god" Louis laughs, grabbing the towel and laying it over his lap.
"Alright, here we go" Harry says, pulling out the stack as louis' head rests on his shoulder.
"Want me to open them, angel?" He offers softly, Louis nods and moves the towel to cover them both, "yes, please" he says.
Harry nods back and presses a kiss to his hair before he picks up the first card, holding it where they both can see.
They smile at the drawing on the front, 3 stick people, standing in a patch of grass with a rainbow above them, the words 'get well soon' written largely in crayon at the top.
"Is that me?" Louis asks, pointing to the blue stick figure on the left — only slightly older than the child's drawing of themselves — "why am I so small?!" He huffs; tutting and biting at Harry's shoulder when he hears his stifled laugh.
"Well I'm pretty much a giant" he reasons, faking an attempt at making him feel better, when he actually finds it hilarious.
"You are a giant" Louis mutters, seeing right through him.
"Swear I'll bite you again" he warns when Harry laughs out loud then.
"Well maybe I'd like that" Harry chides with a smug smile.
"Just shut up and open the card" Louis says quickly before turning his head, muffling a gentle laugh against his arm.
Harry chuckles and opens it carefully – with glitter immediately falling out onto the towel.
"Good lord" he says with amused exasperation as Louis laughs again.
"Told you didn't i" Harry says, winking down at him before they both look back to the card.
"To Mr Tomlinson – 'spelt wrong' he mentions quietly, which makes his boyfriend giggle – please come back when you feel better. I miss you. Love, hayley x".
"Aw babe" Louis coos, taking the card from Harry's hand, looking over it more closely.
"Well this is just adorable" he murmurs as he carefully places it on the nightstand – not wanting to get the rest of the glitter in their bed –
The next card shows a drawing of the school; with Louis and Harry floating above it, surrounded by hearts.
Louis looks at his boyfriend, smiling and biting his lip a little; both thinking the same thing – everyone can see how in love they are –
Their stares linger a little too long, both flitting their gaze between the others' eyes and lips.
Harry starts to lean in, wanting to kiss him, but Louis hums, turning his head back to the card – "no kissing, harold" –
And his boyfriend groans in response, pressing his nose against his hair, "when you're no longer sick I'm gonna kiss you for hours" he grumbles with false annoyance.
This makes Louis laugh softly, nodding in agreement, "I'm okay with that" he tells him.
Harry hums and pulls back again, opening the card to show a bunch of a stickers; with a message similar to the last.
They look through the rest of the cards, getting covered in glitter – which has them laughing every time, their kids are so obsessed with adding glitter to everything –
One catches their eye, though.
A drawing of the both of them, along with two other men and two kids.
"Parker" Louis mumbles, taking the card from Harry's hands and opening it himself.
"Want me to read it out loud?" He asks, and Harry nods.
"To Mr Tomlinson, I hope you and Mr Styles are extra happy and he takes care of you cause you're sick. The big kids are saying sad stuff but Mr styles says you're just not feeling good and you're texting him and he thinks it's cute – 'and he put in a smiley sticker' he adds, which makes Harry laugh – the drawing is you guys with me, deon and daddy and daddy's boyfriend. Love parker" he says aloud, reading past the spelling mistakes and scrawled writing.
He carefully puts the card down with the others, looking to Harry with a smug smile, "you think I'm cute, huh?" He asks proudly.
"Shut up" Harry laughs, "i think you're annoying" he teases, making Louis laugh as well, nudging his shoulder with his nose, "no you don't" he says with amusement.
"No i don't" Harry confirms, tilting his head down to kiss his head.
"Now how are we gonna get up with getting glitter all over the bed?" He asks after a small bit of silence.
Louis laughs again and sits up straight, carefully folding the towel to trap the glitter; looking at Harry with a smirk and a raised brow, "easy" he says smugly.
"Idiot" Harry murmurs, taking the opportunity to kiss him quickly – catching him off guard – and climbing off the bed, grabbing the towel with care and putting it on the dresser.
Louis tuts and rolls his eyes but eventually laughs, with Harry joining pretty quickly – jumping onto the bed, knocking him down and laying on top of him, hugging him tight as he kisses all over his face.
Louis giggles happily, "hazzy" he laughs, trying to turn his head away from him but giving up when harry continues.
He does eventually stop though, chuckling breathlessly and shifting down a little to lay his head on his chest – with Louis quickly bringing his hands to him; one on his back, the other in his hair, playing with his curls lightly and closing his eyes, sighing happily.
~~
"How are you feeling?" Harry asks softly after a few minutes.
"Still feeling pretty shitty" Louis hums, "But you make me feel better....happier" he tells him.
Harry hums back and kisses is chest before laying his head back down.
"I love you, sweet boy" he murmurs, "gonna take care of you".
"I know, bub. I love you too" Louis replies tiredly.
"Do you need anything?" Harry asks, "maybe some painkillers?" Louis asks.
Harry hums again and sighs a groan as he pulls away, "I'll get you some, baby" he tells him, stroking his thigh briefly before climbing off and leaving the room.
~~
Harry comes back to find his boyfriend laying on his front, head resting sideways – eyes closed –
"You sent me for painkillers and now you're sleeping" he teases as he opens a bottle of water.
Louis smiles and opens one eye – melting Harry immediately; pliant, cuddly lou is his favourite.
He visibly softens, which warms his boyfriend; who closes his eye again and smiles wider. "You're pretty" he mumbles.
Harry breathes a laugh; shaking his head in amusement as he sits beside him.
"You tired, sweet boy?" He asks, rubbing his back.
"Yeah" Louis half whispers – clearly falling asleep – "I love you" he murmurs.
"I love you too, baby" Harry says quickly, "but you can't sleep yet, angel. I need you to take these painkillers for me, okay" he coos, picking up the pills and the water.
Louis groans but sits up a little as harry reassures him softly – "I know, sweet boy, I know. I'm sorry, darling" –
He takes the pills with sluggish movements, not opening his eyes.
"Good boy" Harry coos after he's done, putting the bottle on the nightstand as Louis lays down again.
"Please hold me" he murmurs.
"I will, sweet boy" Harry says softly, turning back to him and laying down on his back.
Louis snuggles into his side immediately, only moving slightly – once settled – so Harry can get his arm around him.
"Thank you for coming home, hazzy" he mumbles, half asleep already.
"When you love someone, you wanna be with them. Especially when they're sick" Harry croons, "and i love you more than anything, sweet boy".
"I love you" Louis hums, nuzzling his neck
— falling asleep to Harry stroking his side.