Archive of Our Own

Chapter Text

Louis was quite a fantastic stylist if he did say so himself. Which he did, in all honesty, a lot. He just had a way with scissors and colour and knowing what hair style suits whose face shape and skin tone that not everyone possessed. He was quick and efficient, and could do a three hour job in under two. He was utterly charming when he wanted to be, could tone down his boisterous ways for the shy customers and turn it up full notch for the loud ones.

So his co-workers didn’t even mind that he was the owner’s son; they knew that he deserved his place among them in one of London’s most prestigious salons, with his own black leather chair and lit mirror next to theirs. Even Jaymi, the most experienced of the lot, approved.

He was probably Louis’ favourite, if he had to pick one. Like Louis himself, Jaymi was loud. He was the type to burst into song and shake his hips to whatever was playing on the radio. He was catty and inappropriate and someone you wouldn’t want to get on the bad side of, and that was exactly Louis’ kind of person. If Jaymi wasn’t already engaged, Louis would have been on that in a second.

As it were, there were quite a lot of workers he would have been happy to get off with if the opportunity arose. Like Zayn, who was the least experienced stylist out of them all. His specialty was men’s cuts, and knew the most about all the latest hair trends. He was constantly changing his own hair to suit whatever was current, and he always managed to pull it off somehow. Probably because even the most terrible haircut couldn’t distract from his face, it was that perfect, so everything he did just worked.

The thing with Zayn, though, is that he sort of had a thing with Perrie.

Perrie, the sweet girl with bleached blonde hair and pale skin and beautiful big eyes, specialised in colour. She was one of the first in all of London to dye her hair purple, she claims. And it probably was true; Perrie was too sweet to lie. Usually sweet people got on Louis’ nerves, but Perrie was the only nice person he’d met that he couldn’t find it in himself to judge.

She was best friends with Jesy, the only esthetician at their salon. She was busty and loud and flirty and if Louis was into vagina, he would totally be into hers. She was the one Louis could count on for a laugh, at any time of the day, because she rarely took anything seriously. It was a well-known fact that George, one of the receptionists, had a major thing for her. But he was the relationship type, and Jesy was everything but.

Their whole salon was one giant real life soap opera, really, and Louis thrived in it. There were love triangles and quadrangles and so much pining Louis’ heart would be heavy with it all if he gave a shit about love lives that weren’t his own.

See, Perrie and Zayn were sleeping together, but Zayn refused to make anything official. He told Louis once that Perrie was missing something; that he didn’t know what it was but he would when he found it. Louis had snorted at that, because Zayn liked to think he was a player but everyone knew he was a deep down romantic; its why Perrie was interested in him and not Niall.

Niall was the other receptionist and had been desperately in love with Perrie since his first day on the job. He’d come in with bleach tips and awful dark regrowth and Perrie had grabbed his hand and pushed him into her chair and set to work, oblivious to Niall’s heart shaped pupils.

Louis liked to watch Niall and George sometimes, when he didn’t have anything else better to do, because they always seemed to be watching their crushes. They would be on their stools at the front desk, or sweeping up hair on busy days, just staring at the way Jesy and Perrie worked. Jesy in her tiny black shorts and tights and six-inch heels and Perrie in her long flowing dresses and skirts seemed completely oblivious. Louis would never admit it, but he sometimes wondered if there was someone that looked at him like that without him even knowing.

He knew that George and Niall both had their own admirers, and there was even a customer that was crushing on Jaymi, but Louis didn’t seem to have anyone. Which made the least sense out of everything in this place, because he was the most fabulous.

He was always a golden tan, Jesy and her spray tanning ensuring it. She also took care of his eyebrows and other unwanted body hair, one time giving him a very erotic close shave which left him very sexually confused. His hair was a natural looking caramel colour with the faintest of highlights thanks to Perrie, and Zayn had styled it into a small faux hawk, making a few adjustments almost every morning.

Right now, for example, his hair was swirling its way down his forehead and he loved it.

“You look like you’re straight from Grease.” The lady in his chair said, and Louis took it to be a compliment. The woman was at least a hundred, so the fifties were probably her glory days.

“What am I doing for you today, love?”

“A perm. A tight one, too. The last time I got one done it was loose and the chemical wasn’t washed out properly afterwards. Left my hair feeling like sandpaper for days.”

Louis groaned, because she was one of those old ladies. “Well if it wasn’t done here, no need to complain about it to me.” Louis snapped. “Now hop up and we’ll get your hair shampooed.”

“Why are you wearing ladies jeans? My granddaughter has those very same ones.” And if Louis was a little rough when his fingers were in her hair, no one could really blame him.

This woman was really ruining his mood. She’d complained as he sectioned her hair off, questioning if he knew what he was doing as he wrapped it around the rods, and made further comments about his clothes as he pulled on his gloves.

“Everyone else that works here looks lovely in their black. How come you get to wear colours? I don’t see how that’s fair. I would feel much more comfortable if you were in black like the others.”

Louis gritted his teeth and began to apply the lotion.

“What’s that you’ve got? That smells a lot worse than the stuff from anywhere else I’ve been. I’m not going to pay if this looks terrible, mind you.”

“Who have you got to look good for anyway?” Louis snapped. “Do you want to look nice for your one hundredth birthday party coming up? Or have you got a hot date? Want to get a hold of some old wrinkly-“

“Louis! I’ll take over, huh?” Perrie interrupted him with a strained smile, already pulling gloves on. “George just accepted a walk-in, and you know I’m bad with boy’s hair, so I need you to take care of him.”

And with a final grin at the woman, who was just blinking at him owlishly, he spun on his heels and approached the front desk.

“Who’ve you got for me, Georgey pie?” Louis asked, loud and gleeful because telling people off was one of his favourite things to do.

“Umm, Harry Styles. He just wants a shampoo and cut.” George said, turning a little red. He was startled quite easily, and Louis liked to make him blush, so Louis ran his fingers through George’s fluffy hair and messed it up as he spoke.

A boy stood up and Louis’ jaw may have dropped. “My Mum wants me to get one more like.” He said with a wide grin and deep voice and Louis really wanted to lick him. Which was strange, because that wasn’t usually the first thought he had about someone when he saw them, but Harry looked like the perfect mix between salty and sweet. “Hello?”

Louis shook his head quickly and plastered on a smile. “I’m just surprised you could see through all that hair, to be honest. Follow me to the backroom then.” Louis said and walked with a bit of extra sway to his hips.

The cranky old cow said “Be careful with this one, he’s rude” as they passed and Louis looked at Harry over his shoulder and grinned, catching the boy’s eyes plastered to his ass.

“I’m quite a rude boy, I must admit.”

Harry smiled hesitantly back, and he held it until they got into the ‘wash room’, as they’d all taken to calling it.

It was Jesy’s idea to section off the chairs with basins to give customers a little more privacy when they got their hair washed, but Harry looked like one of those rare people that felt uncomfortable about it.

He was standing in front of the chair that Louis had waved at, eyeing it speculatively, and Louis wasn’t one for personal space so he rested his hands on Harry’s shoulders and pushed him down into it.

“Just relax dear, I’ll take good care of you.” He winked, and grinned as Harry relaxed back into the seat.

Louis couldn’t help but admire the way his legs just seemed to go on forever, black denim wrapped tight around his calves and thighs. His shirt hung loose over his collar bones, and from this angle, peering at Harry from behind the sink, he could see a little bit of inked skin.

Harry cleared his throat and shuffled in his seat, so Louis asked “Could you drop your head down into the sink love?”

Louis turned on the tap and adjusted the temperature as he watched Harry’s eyes dart about the room.

“Is this your first time?” Louis asked, and Harry tilted his head back far enough to look at Louis.

“I’ve never been to somewhere this fancy. The places I go, they just wet my hair with a spray bottle and that’s it. Mum suggested this place for me because she goes here. Do you know Anne Cox?”

“Yeah, I do. Just relax.” Louis said, tilting Harry’s head forward a little so he wouldn’t splash water into Harry’s eyes. Which reminded him. “I’ve got to go grab a smock for you. Don’t want to get your shirt all wet.” He sighed longingly, betraying the fact that that is exactly what he wanted to do, and tugged at the collar of Harry’s shirt to get a peek at the tattoos above his pecs. “Birds. Huh.” And Louis didn’t even bother watching for Harry’s reaction as he skipped out to pick up his black smock.

“You got yourself a cute one.” Jaymi said with a grin, and Louis smiled right back.

“He is, isn’t he? Little quiet, but you know how I like that. Makes it even better when they scream out my name.”

“Louis!” Jade scolded from her chair. It was lucky that it was one of their regular customers hidden behind all that hair, really, because Louis was more than likely going to get a complaint from the old cow and he didn’t need another one against him.

“Don’t act coy, love. It’s why you like our little Georgey, isn’t it?”

He heard her laugh and mutter “You’re terrible” before he skipped his way back to Harry.

Who was shifting in his chair, discomfort clear as day on his face.

“Miss me?” Louis said with a wink, and laid the smock over him, leaning in closer than necessary when he buttoned it on behind Harry’s neck.

Harry swallowed loudly and Louis ran a hand through Harry’s hair, pushing his head back over the basin. He picked up the tap and began to wet his hair, beginning at the top and working his way down. He was careful to avoid any water spilling into Harry’s eyes, hand fixed on Harry’s forehead, because he may be a flirty bastard but he was definitely professional when it came to the actual hair. Even when that lady was being a right bitch, Louis had no plans to mess her hair up.

When Harry’s hair was sufficiently wet and dripping into the basin, Louis pumped some shampoo into his hand and lathered it up.

“This one’s my favourite, it smells like jasmine. Really relaxing.” Louis worked the shampoo through his hair, then began pressing the tips of his fingers into Harry’s scalp. He made soothing circles and slid his thumbs along the centre of his head and Harry moaned. Louis’ eyes widened; it sounded positively filthy. He pressed his fingers in harder and moved them up, massaging the scalp atop his head rather than behind it, and Harry groaned louder.

“Feels good.” Harry muttered, and Louis looked up a bit to see that Harry had finally closed his eyes. His lashes were fluttering against his cheeks and he looked completely blissed out.

“It does, doesn’t it?” Louis asked, simply to hear Harry’s voice again.

“Mmm.” He moaned.

“I’m the best at this. Everyone says.”

“Yeah.” Harry rasped, and Louis swallowed down his own groan.

Louis moved his right hand and pressed his palm lightly against Harry’s forehead, fingers in his hair, and scratched his way down Harry’s scalp, all the way to his neck, drawing out sharp breaths from the boy.

“Fuck.” Harry groaned. “You’re amazing.”

Louis grinned achingly wide and repeated the movement. “I know.”

Harry chuckled from low in his throat and opened his eyes to look up at Louis. “At a lot of things I bet.”

Louis’ eyes widened and he asked “What?”

But Harry just grinned and shut his eyes again, shuffling back in the chair a bit. “My necks getting cramped.”

“Guess it means it’s time to finish this up.” Louis said, quite a bit harsher because Harry was getting too much enjoyment out of this and he wasn’t giving Louis anything. And yeah, Harry was paying, but he wasn’t paying for sexual satisfaction and Louis wasn’t one to give it without reciprocation. So he ignored Harry’s groan of protest and began to rinse the shampoo out. He conditioned quick and pushed Harry up and out of the chair and said gruffly “Follow me.”

Jaymi raised a brow at the look on Louis’ face as he came out. “You giving him the full pamper package?”

“He fucking wishes he got the package.” Louis muttered under his breath, and signed for Harry to sit down in the seat beside Jade who was in the middle of getting her hair blow dried. “It’s a nice colour, doll. Suits you.” He said over the dryer sound.

“Thanks!” she shouted back.

“Careful you don’t get his hair, yeah?” Louis said to Jaymi, because he didn’t think he could physically stand to wet Harry’s hair again if it got dry. Jaymi nodded and continued to hum under his breath. He picked up the scissors and comb in one hand, and a few clips in the other, and asked “So what do you want?”

Harry shrugged. Noncommittal: the worst kind of customer. “Mum just said I need to come get a cut because it’s too long.”

“So a trim?”

“Yeah?”

“Alright.” Louis nodded, and began sectioning off Harry’s hair. It wasn’t something he was used to doing for boys, but Harry’s hair was quite long and if Louis was to do a good job, parts needed to be clipped back. He combed a part and started to cut, taking about an inch off because his ends were disgusting.

Louis was happy to cut in silence until Jaymi was finished with the blow dryer, then it was just awkward. Louis couldn’t really deal well with complete quiet. “So how come I haven’t seen you before now?”

“I’ve been away at University. Just came home for the holidays.” Harry answered from somewhere under his mop of hair.

“When did they start?”

“Last week. I just got back a few days ago though. My hair grows pretty fast and usually I just get it done at this student place at Uni, but I forgot to this time. The first thing Mum did after hug me hello was talk about my hair.”

Louis smiled, because it did sound like Anne. She was quite funny, and had become good friends with his Mum when she was her hairdresser. Louis’ Mum had opened up a second store because she trusted that Jaymi and Louis could run this one together. His mum’s was a little too far for Anne to travel so she had become Louis’ regular customer. “You’re really lucky that we had time for you today, you know? Usually it’s hectic.”

“I heard you guys were popular.”

“And we’re missing a stylist today. Zayn called in sick, which is why I’ve got you. Usually Zayn does guy hair.”

“I guess it really is my lucky day then.” Harry said, and Louis could hear his grin. Cheeky bastard.

“It most definitely is. Not everyone gets a go of me. I’m pretty special.” Louis retorted, own voice tinged with his smile. If Harry wanted to flirt, Louis was ready to play. He should have warned Harry that he was a very competitive person, but he didn’t.

“You are. Very special. You’re wonderful with your fingers.”

“Oh, I’m incredible with my fingers.”

There was a symphony of voice-clearing beside them, and Louis looked over to see Jade’s blush and Jaymi’s grin.

“You’re hair looks lovely, doll.” Louis said when he caught her eyes in the mirror.

“Thankyou. Jaymi’s wonderful.”

“Oh, I’m incredible.” He shot back with a grin.

And Jade giggled, hand covering her mouth, while Louis laughed head thrown back.

Harry was peering up at Louis through his wet hair with a small smile playing on his lips. Well, what should have been a small smile, because Harry’s lips were fucking huge so an actual small smile would be impossible.

Louis moved the clips to let a bit more hair free, and began cutting at the next section. “What do you study?”

“Engineering.”

“You must be pretty smart.” Louis unclipped some more hair and brushed the stray strands from his shoulder onto the floor before continuing to cut.

“I guess I am, yeah.”

“What made you want to do Engineering?”

Harry shrugged, knocking Louis’ hand so the scissors slipped and sliced his finger.

“Fuck.” Louis grunted, pressing against the cut to stop the bleeding.

“Ugh, I hate that.” Jaymi muttered to Jade beside him while nodding his head at Louis. “Happens all the bloody time and stings like a bitch.”

Louis ignored Harry’s apologies and located the bandages.

He looked up when he heard a door open, and Jesy was coming out of their ‘beauty room’, where she did her waxing and tans.

“Catch you next week, love!” she said to the freshly browned girl. Then Jesy looked to Louis and frowned. “What happened there babe?”

“Slipped.” Louis said with a pout, and Jesy kissed his forehead.

“Oh sweetie, does it sting?”

He really did love her. “Yeah. Lots.”

“Want me to grab you a coffee from down the street? I’m heading there now.”

“Yes please.” Louis said with a little nod, then quickly added “Make it a caramel latte though, with cream? And one of those little fairy cakes if Josh still has any left.”

“Of course babe.” And Jesy took his palm in her hand and kissed it better before leaving him. Louis watched with a grin on his face as she walked through the store, hips swaying, all eyes on her. He couldn’t help but look to George, who looked like he was about to go into cardiac arrest at the very sight of her.

Louis sighed loudly as he walked back to Harry.

“I thought you were gay.” Harry said, and Louis glared back.

“And why would that have been?”

Harry’s cheeks flamed red and he said “I thought we were flirting.”

“Oh.” And just as quickly as it had disappeared, a grin fell over his face. “Why do you think I’m straight now?”

“Your girlfriend?” Harry turned a deep crimson when Jaymi, Jade and Louis all burst into laughter. It was all a bit over the top, but once one of them started they all couldn’t help it; they were cackling and struggling to breathe, and Jaymi’s face was turning an unfortunate purple. “I take it she’s not your girlfriend.”

“No, you goose!” Jade said when she could breathe. “Jesy isn’t anyone’s girlfriend.”

“And Louis?” Harry asked her, like the boy himself wasn’t standing behind him.

“He’s not anyone’s boyfriend.” She giggled. “Are you interested?”

Harry just smiled and looked back to Louis, who was now completely sober. “Sorry about the finger.” He muttered instead.

Louis rolled his eyes and picked up his scissors again. “It really does happen all the time.”

“Alright, done!” Jaymi said, and Louis looked over to Jade.

She looked fantastic, with chestnut roots fading into honey blonde, and hair curled to look effortless even though Jaymi had been working on it, curling iron in hand, for the last twenty minutes.

“I love it.” She squealed. “Excited that balayage is coming back into fashion! I always wanted it but the trend fazed out before I got to try it last season!”

“You look beautiful doll!” Louis said with a grin, and she squealed again.

“You really do!” Harry said, eyes flicking between her and Louis, and Jade blushed deep red.

“Thankyou” she muttered shyly, and Jaymi pulled out her seat and pulled off her cape to walk her over to the front desk. Louis couldn’t help but follow them with his eyes, desperate to see how she would react when George paid her some attention.

It was too bad for her, because Jesy chose that moment to return with her and Louis’ coffees, distracting George so Jade only got to talk to Niall. At least he made a fuss over her.

“You never did tell me if you were gay. I only know that you’re single.”

“He’s gay as… I don’t know, something gay.” Jesy said as she walked up to them, handing Louis his coffee. “Josh gave you extra caramel.”

“Only because he was trying to impress you.”

She grinned and shrugged. “Probably. So why’d you want to know if my Louis here likes boys, babe?” she asked Harry.

Who turned red and looked back down to the floor. “Just wondering. I thought maybe he was with you.”

Jesy grinned and grabbed a handful of Louis’ ass, fingers digging in a little too close for comfort, making him jump. “If only. This one has a sweet-as-pie butt that I would love to take a bite of. I’ve got to go ask George about something. Excuse me loves.”

Louis turned back to Harry, who was still a bright pink. “She’s kidding. I think.”

“I don’t think so.” Harry said quietly. “You do have a nice ass.”

Louis grinned. “I know, right? Though to be honest, I sure know how to pick the right pair of trousers.”

He pushed Harry’s head down a fraction to get it at the right angle, and continued to cut. This had to be the longest haircut in the history of men’s haircuts

“How come you get to wear colour and the other ones don’t?” Harry asked, quietly like he wasn’t completely sure he wanted Louis to hear.

“I’m meant to wear black like them, but I don’t think black suits me so I don’t wear it. The darkest I can manage is grey.”

“Don’t you get in trouble?”

“My Mum’s the boss. She wouldn’t fire me. Plus, I’m too good.” He added with his cockiest grin, and Harry grinned back.

“Is that how you got into this? Hairdressing?”

“I don’t know. I’ve never really considered doing anything else.” Louis said with a shrug. “Mum likes to tell stories of when I was young and cut my sisters hair, but that sounds like a normal kid thing to me.”

“I used to eat play dough.”

“Yeah. Kids just do shit like that. Mum still insists that I was born to do it though. It’s in my blood.” Louis added dramatically, and Harry laughed. Louis felt a bit light headed from the sound. “So how did you get into engineering? And please don’t shrug again.”

Harry smiled at his toes and said “I just thought it would be a challenge, and I like those.”

“Yeah?” Louis asked, trying not to sound too interested but failing terribly.

“I like something I’ve got to work for. Makes it all the more better when you get it, you know?”

Louis nodded silently and continued to snip away, and it wasn’t too long before he was completely finished. “Do you want me to dry it real quick? I can straighten it or curl it if you like.”

Harry laughed. “Just a quick dry today thanks.”

Louis nodded and picked up Jaymi’s dryer from beside him, seeing as it was already plugged in.

It didn’t take long, Harry’s hair being that much shorter then what he was used to dealing with, and soon Harry’s hair was springing into small curls that hadn’t been there before.

Harry groaned at his reflection, and Louis raised an eyebrow.

“Is something wrong?” he asked with a little too much flair, and Harry shook his head quick, curls bouncing around him.

“I just didn’t really miss the curls, to be honest. They’re always so… curly after I get my hair done.”

“It’s because I’ve removed all of the dead weight. I like them, they look cute.”

“Yeah?” Harry asked hopefully, and Louis just grinned in response. He wasn’t going to flatter the boy. Not anymore then he had to, anyway.

“I think you would look good with a few highlights. Just subtle ones, scattered randomly throughout.”

“I’m not putting colour in my hair.” Harry said as he stood up, pulling off his smock.

“Your choice, just giving you my professional opinion. Personal, too.” Louis added with a wink, and Harry looked back at his reflection.

“Thanks. I like it. Mum will too.”

“Good.” Louis said shortly, and headed over to Niall to ring it up. He was just a little over this kid, to be honest. He was too sexy for anyone’s good, and with his new hair he looked like a dangerous mix between bad boy and cherubic, and Louis was plain old confused. He’d gone from wanting to fuck the boy to wanting to pet his head until he fell asleep, and he wasn’t completely sure if Harry was up for either. So, as it were, he’d rather just send the kid off with a final goodbye and never think of him again. If Harry suddenly announced some kind of interest though, well. That would change things. “It’s 60 pounds all up.”

Harry didn’t even try to hide his shock. “60 pounds? For a haircut?”

“Are you saying an hour of my time is not worth 60 pounds?” Louis shot back.

Harry’s eyes widened comically. “Of course I wasn’t saying that. Uh, is card okay?” he directed the question to Niall, who grinned and nodded back.

“Good. Tell your Mum I said hi.” Louis turned on his heels and rushed over to Jaymi and Perrie, eating their lunch while they waited for their next customer, like the faster he walked the quicker he could make the image of Harry Styles disappear from his mind.

---

“Harry Styles just called and made an appointment.” George said one Saturday, as soon as Louis walked in to start his shift. As if he’d been waiting for ages with the information on the tip of his tongue, desperate to tell him.

“Who?” Louis pulled off his sunglasses and tucked them in to their case. Which may have been a bit dicky, but hell. They were expensive.

“Harry Styles, Anne Cox’s son?” George explained, and Louis shrugged. Of course he knew who the guy was, but he didn’t have to show it.

“When’s he coming in?”

“In a few hours, just for a wash and a cut.”

“Again? He was just here a couple of weeks ago. His hair can’t grow that quick.”

George grinned. “So you do remember him?”

“The name rings a bell.” Louis grumbled, and left the young brunette to hang his coat up in the staff room. Jaymi was in there, forehead resting against the table, back rising and falling with his breaths. So Louis banged on the wood inches from his perfectly coifed hair, and the boy shot up with a start.

“Why in the fuck did you do that?” Jaymi rubbed at his eyes and ran his hand through his hair.

Louis watched it spring back into place. “Big night?”

“Yeah, I went out with Olly and some mates.” Jaymi grunted back. “Fucking sucks we have to work Saturdays.”

“You say that every weekend.” Louis grinned and left Jaymi alone to open up shop. He was expecting his first customer in a few minutes.

“Its cause we have to work every weekend! Every Saturday! And Zayn and Perrie never show up until midday at least. Why can’t we get a later start?” Jaymi whined, following him to the front of the salon. “Can’t you talk to your Mum about it?”

“Saturday is our busiest day, it only makes sense that we work it. Maybe next Friday, just don’t drink so much and you’ll be fine. It’s not like you didn’t know you had an early start today.”

Jaymi rolled his eyes. “What’s got you all rational this morning? Usually you’re just as pissed about it as me. Bitching isn’t nearly as fun when you’re like this.”

Louis shrugged. “Well I didn’t go out last night, for starters. I’m feeling quite good actually.”

“Harry’s coming in at 11:30.” George said suddenly, as if Louis had asked him.

Jaymi grinned and Louis glared at the both of them. “So that’s why you’re good, huh? Loverboy is back?”

“What happened with Harry? Why is he loverboy? Nobody ever tells me anything.” George pouted.

“Nothing happened with Harry, I haven’t heard from him since his last appointment. Not that I was expecting to hear from him or anything. I’d forgot about him until now actually. Please can I just have a look at my roster for today?”

George nodded and clicked the mouse a few times, and Louis peered over his shoulder. “Do you like him? I think he likes you. I saw him watching your bum as you walked away.”

“That doesn’t mean anything. Everyone watches my bum.” Louis muttered as he scrolled through his schedule.

“But like, he looked really into your bum. More than most people.”

“How does that look exactly? Can you show me how people normally look at my bum, and then how Harry looked at my bum?” Louis asked, sounding genuinely curious but really, George was starting to annoy him.

So he watched George blush and shake his head no.

Jaymi pushed Louis aside to look at his own schedule. It may have been a little rougher then was really necessary. “I’ll watch out for it today when he comes in then. I’m sure George is right.”

George nodded, wide eyed with hair flying about his face. “I am right! I wouldn’t lie!”

“Yeah, yeah.” Louis waved him off.

George was about to add something else to his argument but Louis’ first customer decided to walk in through the door at that very moment and save him from listening to any more of the boy’s stupid remarks.

So what if Harry had been watching his ass in an extra-special way, really. Louis already figured that Harry found him somewhat attractive; everyone did. And he vaguely remembered the boy actually making special mention of his ass and its beauty, and his talented fingers, and the moans he was making when said fingers were in his hair. Shit. His trousers were tenting while his hands were painting colour in a lady's hair and Jaymi was going to notice any second.

“Have you got pets?” he asked, voice cracking.

The lady smiled and put down her magazine and looked up at Louis with that little glint in her eyes; the kind that said I have one hundred cats and I am going to tell you about every single one of them even though I know you don’t really give a damn. Perfect.

Zayn and Perrie came in at about 11am, two hours late by the salon’s standards but early by their's. Perrie’s lips were pursed unusually tight, and Zayn just looked like his usual smouldering perfect self.

They entered silently, nodding to everyone they passed on their way to the staff room. Which was odd, considering Perrie was usually the greet-with-hugs-and-kisses type.

“What’s going on?” Louis asked Jaymi, because usually he knew absolutely everything.

The way Jaymi sighed loud and long was telling. “Perrie wants to make things official between them, but Zayn doesn’t.”

Louis scrunched up his forehead. “But he’s not seeing other people, is he?”

“Nope. I guess he just wants to keep his options open.”

“Well that’s a bit shit.” Louis muttered, under his breath so the child in his seat wouldn’t hear.

He was an annoying kid that wouldn’t stop wriggling. He was turning his head to look at his face from every possible angle, and Louis had been that close to snipping his ear. Louis was just about ready to ask Jaymi to hold the kid’s head still.

“I heard that!” The kid whined, and Louis rolled his eyes.

“No you didn’t. I didn’t say anything.”

“You said shit! Mum!”

“How about if you keep still and stay quiet, I give you a treat, huh?” Louis said through his teeth.

The kid looked back at him and smiled sweetly. “What kind of treat?”

“A Mars Bar. Do you like those?”

“Yeah, I guess. It’s not fun size is it?”

“No, it’s much bigger.”

The kid pouted thoughtfully, then nodded quick.

The bribe helped a little. It kept the boy silent while Jaymi and Louis spoke, but it didn’t exactly keep him still. He would abruptly turn his head or bop in his seat, and by the time his haircut was done Louis was ready to scream. Or eat the kid’s promised chocolate in front of him.

But he wasn’t that awful, so he still grabbed him a chocolate from the salon’s secret stash and gave it to him when his mother was too busy paying the fee.

“I thought you said it was going to be a big one.” The kid whined.

“Well, you didn’t exactly keep still did you?”

And before the kid could say anything more, his Mum was turning around to thank Louis.

“No problem miss. He was a delight.” Louis grinned, waving as they hurried out the door.

“You like kids?” a familiar voice asked, and Louis spun slowly on his heels.

He allowed his eyes to slowly run up Harry’s body; over his tight torn up jeans and band shirt and necklaces, up to his stupid grin and big eyes and - “Holy shit, your hair does grow quick!” He hadn’t meant to blurt it out, but really, it was kind of incredible.

Harry grinned and pushed his fringe back away from his face. “Yeah, it’s gone a bit silly again.”

Louis nodded and gripped on to Harry’s bicep to lead him to the back room. And to get a good feel, obviously.

Without being prompted, Harry dropped into the large leather chair and tipped his head back over the sink.

“First off, are you sure you don’t want to get any colour?” Louis asked after he grabbed a clean smock and threw it over Harry’s chest. He pushed Harry into a seated position to button it up at the nape of his neck.

Harry snorted “I am very sure.”

“What’s wrong with getting colour?” And if Louis sounded a little insulted, then it was because he fucking was.

“It’s just for girls isn’t it? And like, punks and men going through a mid-life crisis.”

“No.” Louis snapped, turning on the tap and letting it run over his fingers to test the temperature. “I’ve got colour in my hair, and I don’t think there’s anything wrong with it. Jaymi has colour, and Zayn has.”

“Don’t forget the blonde guy who mans the desk.” Harry laughed, and Louis was just about ready to turn the water up to boiling and burn this idiot boy’s scalp red. But he wasn’t violent, so instead he just wrenched Harry’s head back into the sink.

He couldn’t help but feel satisfied at the little yelp Harry let out. “Well, that blonde probably gets more action in one weekend then you have in your entire life. Girls like guys who care about their appearance, I’ll have you know.”

“But I don’t like girls.” Harry retorted, like that would make things any different.

“Guys like guys that – Oh, never mind. You’re useless.”

Everything was silent for a moment, except for the sound of running water until Louis shut that off too. He squirted a generous amount of shampoo on his hands and lathered it into Harry’s hair. Then he washed it out almost immediately and reached for the conditioner bottle.

“Aren’t you going to do that thing with your fingers?” Harry squeaked, and Louis glared back at the boy in his chair.

“No.”

“I’m sorry for insulting you. I just don’t know about any of this stuff. Like, hair and fashion and things. I’ve had the same haircut since I was twelve.”

Louis couldn’t help but snort at that. “Seriously?”

“Yeah! You can put colour in if you want.” Harry said, verging on desperate. Louis couldn’t blame him; his head massages were borderline addictive.

“If you don’t want colour then don’t get it. It’s fine.” Louis muttered, absently running his fingers along Harry’s scalp. Just lightly, barely brushing, but Harry was starting to relax back into the chair. “I can put a treatment in if you like? I have to massage it in.”

“Yeah!” Harry said with a grin, too loud in the small space. “That would be brilliant.”

“It’ll be an extra twenty pounds.”

“That’s fine. It’ll totally be worth it.”

Louis smiled, turning quick enough to hide it from Harry; who had taken to tilting his head back to watch what Louis was doing. “Which treatment would you like? I would recommend the one for dry hair because your ends are quite brittle.”

“Which one takes the longest to put in?” He asked with a grin, and Louis rolled his eyes.

“This one takes long enough. Don’t worry, you’ll get your money’s worth.”

Harry settled back in his chair and Louis squeezed out the necessary amount into his fingers. Which wasn’t much, at all, considering the stuff was usually for incredibly long hair. The only other treatments they had were post-colour things, and they wouldn’t be any use. At least after this, Harry’s hair would look shinier and feel softer.

Harry was moaning as soon as Louis touched the boy’s scalp. He would have rolled his eyes at how incredibly over the top it was if they weren’t clenched tightly shut. He needed to have a de-bonering image in his mind right the fuck now. It wasn’t going to happen, really, listening to a fit boy moaning like his dick was being touched for the first time in years.

“Keep it down a bit, will you?” Louis muttered, and Harry apologised hoarsely.

“It just feels so good.” He groaned.

“Well unless you want me to come in my pants, shut up.” Louis snapped, tugging on a strand of hair a little too hard. Accidently, of course.

But that actually made Harry groan louder and from further down his throat. “Could you?”

“What?”

“Could you come in your pants just from this? I reckon I could.”

“You reckon you could come from someone playing with your hair?” Louis snorted. Well, he meant to snort but his voice came out sounding a lot more intrigued.

“Not just someone. You. You’re just so fucking good with your fingers.”

“Seriously, you sound like a pornstar. Shut up or everyone out there will think I’ve got my hand up your ass.” Harry groaned at that, and Louis shook his head. “If you don’t be quiet I’ll stop.”

Which had Harry shutting up immediately. Louis pushed his fingers up Harry’s head, scraped out with his fingernails and pressed his fingertips down into the scalp. Harry’s face was contorting and his hands were straining against the armrests and his hips were rolling against the seat. “You really are getting off on this, aren’t you?” Louis asked, nine parts wonder and one part lust. Because fuck, this was incredible. A boy with erogenous scalp and a hair stylist; a match made in heaven.

“Sorry.” Harry said through clenched teeth. “But I really am.”

Louis pulled his fingers out of Harry’s hair and the boy opened his eyes. “It’s got to sit in there for ten minutes. And no, I can’t keep touching it during that time.” He grabbed a clean handtowel and rolled it up, lifting Harry’s head enough to slide it beneath his neck. “Wouldn’t want you cramping up.” He added, and left Harry alone in his chair. He was a tease. So what?

Louis blushed bright when he walked out into the main part of the salon, all eyes on him. Jaymi was grinning wide, fingers carding through a woman’s hair. Zayn was smirking and Perrie was laughing and George was blushing redder then Louis was.

“I was washing his hair!” Louis groaned, and Jaymi couldn’t contain himself; he just had to let out one of his big stupid cackles.

“He’s very vocal, isn’t he?” Jaymi said through heaving breaths, and even his customer was grinning.

“Yes, he is. I couldn’t get him to shut up.”

“When you’re done with him, I’d like a go of those fingers.” He heard Jesy say, and Louis rolled his eyes.

“Oh, quit it.” He said as he turned, watching her strut out from her beauty room, a heavily made up girl following behind.

“Are you ready to do her hair?” Jesy asked Perrie, who nodded and waved the teen over. “She’s got her formal tonight.” Jesy announced to the whole salon, and everyone started cooing over the young thing. Which meant Jesy didn’t have to use a quiet voice when she asked “What were you doing to him in there? You charging for happy endings now too?”

Louis frowned, but only for a moment because he couldn’t stay mad at Jesy for very long. “I was just massaging his scalp.”

She grinned and hugged him to her. “I know, pet. Just imagine what he’s like in bed though.”

“He’d be a noisy fucker, that’s for sure.” Zayn muttered as he passed, George trailing close behind him.

Louis watched as the two of them entered the wash room. “What’s going on there?”

“Zayn’s doing Georgey’s hair. He wants it curly like Harry’s.”

“He’s getting a perm?”

Jesy shrugged. “I don’t know much about hair, you know that. Shouldn’t you be getting back in there to Harry?”

Louis nodded sagely and hugged Jesy one last time. She gave the best hugs.

He had to grin when he saw the way Harry was clenched up, watching Zayn lather up shampoo in George’s hair. He had to tear his eyes away to look up at Louis, then grinned.

“Is it done?” Harry asked eagerly.

Louis nodded in reply, running the water and waiting until it was warm enough. He was a lot gentler with Harry’s hair this time, barely touching his scalp because he was afraid of setting Harry off again. It would be ridiculously awkward with Zayn and George in the room.

Harry was clearly disappointed, but he wasn’t saying anything. He just lay silent and still, eyes closed and only opening to take the occasional peek at the boys beside them.

He was silent until he was sitting in Louis’ chair in front of his mirror, water dripping into his eyes.

“Do you want the same as last time?” Louis asked as he gathered his tools.

“Yes please.”

Louis frowned. “Why are you so quiet all of a sudden? And polite?”

Harry shrugged. “I’m just really confused” he sighed.

“About what?”

Harry’s hair wasn’t so long it needed to be clipped up this time, but when Louis pushed his head forward his hair still fell over his face, covering his eyes. “You and your mixed signals.”

Louis didn’t say anything, just snipped a couple of centimetres off Harry’s length, so the boy added “I keep thinking you’re checking me out and flirting but then you get angry at me and rude.”

“Well you did insult me.”

“I thought you’d forgiven me for that. The thing about colouring boys’ hair, yeah?”

“Yeah.” Louis muttered, because he had forgiven him. Sort of.

“So how come you ran out after I said I was getting off on you playing with my hair?”

Louis stopped cutting and looked at Harry in the mirror. His eyes could just be seen through his fringe, and he actually looked rather hurt. “I’m doing my job, Harry. I can’t just play with your hair until you ask me to stop.”

“Can we see each other outside of work, then?” he asked hopefully, and Louis’ stomach swooped.

He couldn’t remember the last time he’d been asked on a date. If this was what Harry was even suggesting. “Like a date?” Louis asked, just to make sure.

“Yeah, a date. We could do anything you want.”

“As long as it ends in me playing with your hair, yeah?”

Harry frowned and shook his head. “No, it doesn’t have to. Unless you want to, then I’m fine with that.”

Louis pushed Harry’s head forward and continued to cut, focusing on that instead of Harry’s glances and persistent words. “How come you want to go out with me then?”

“You’re funny. I like you.”

“Is that it?” Louis asked with a blush. He couldn’t help it really. Usually it was only himself that thought he was funny.

“You have an incredible ass. And I like your face. Your eyes are pretty, too.”

“Alright, fine, I get it. You can take me out sometime.”

“Yeah? Can I’ve your number?” Harry asked, looking up like he wanted to watch Louis say it.

So Louis pushed Harry’s head back down to get at the last bit of hair that needed to be chopped off. “After this. By the way, I’m cutting more off at the back because it grows so fast, but I’ll leave the top quite long. Means you won’t have to come back to get it cut so soon.”

“Oh.” Harry said, sounding disappointed.

“It’ll look good, I promise.” Louis assured him, but Harry sighed anyway.

“But it means I won’t have to come back to get it cut so soon.”

“You can book for just a hair wash and dry, you know?” Louis said with raised eyebrows, and Harry’s answering grin was blinding.

“Louis?” someone asked from his left, and he looked up to see Zayn. “I need your help.”

“With what?”

“George’s hair. I have no idea what I’m doing.”

“What are you trying to do?”

“Perm it. Perrie’s still doing that girl’s hair, Jaymi is on a break and you’re best at perms anyway.”

Louis looked over to George, who looked sick with how worried he was, and he sighed. “Fine, we’ll swap.” He looked down at Harry’s frowning face and ignored it, telling Zayn what was left to do.

George’s hair was a mess. Zayn had really fucked it all up and Louis was trying his best to fix it but it was hard when Zayn had used rods that were far too small. If Louis didn’t get them all out quick, George was going to end up with too-tight curls.

So when Harry came over to Louis, hair freshly cut and bouncy and pretty, Louis pushed him away with an “I can’t talk right now. I’ll see you later.”

He didn’t even look to see the boy’s reaction, just continued to roll George’s hair around the larger rods as quick as he could.

“It doesn’t look too bad.” Louis tried to assure George, who was tearfully eyeing himself in the mirror.

“I look like my grandma!”

“Well, you wanted curls.”

“But not like this!” George grabbed fistfuls of his hair, and Louis couldn’t really blame him for being upset.

“You look a bit surfy now. Like, it’s been beach-tousled.”

“How? Because it’s frizzy and rough like I’ve just been dunking it in salt-water? It looks terrible.” He whined. “Can you fix it?”

“There’s nothing I can do. You’ve just got to wash it as much as you can, and use lots of conditioner, and it should fall out eventually.”

George sighed and eyed himself again. “How long is eventually?”

Louis shrugged. “Maybe a week? Depends on how well your hair took to the product. Might be longer because your hair is so short and light.”

“Oh wow!” they heard from behind them, and both boys turned to look at Jesy.

“What do you mean, wow?” George took a curl between his fingers and pulled it until it was straight. He pouted in the mirror until Jesy came up to stand behind him.

“You look really cute with curly hair, George.” She said, and Louis recognised that voice. It was the one with a little husk to it, sexually charged and seductive.

But George didn’t notice; he was still sulking. It was probably for the best, really, because George was the type to go spluttery and nervous if anyone flirted with him. “I look like a ragdoll.”

Jesy stood in front of him and leaned down to inspect his hair a little closer. Or, more likely, to push her boobs in George’s face. She took a strand and wrapped it around her finger, and George peeked up at her from underneath his eyelashes. “I like it. I love it.” And George gulped audibly and Jesy spun her heels and clacked her way to the beauty room, shouting over her shoulder “You coming or not? I’m going to be, with or without you.”

George was after her in a heartbeat, all thoughts of his ridiculous hair long gone.

Louis caught Perrie crying in the staff room when he went to grab some lunch, and he was so tempted to rush his way out of there before she spotted him because he was just so bad at this, comforting people.

But Perrie was too lovely to cry, and his need to make her stop was stronger than his want to get out. He sat on the seat beside her and laced his fingers through hers. She sniffled and rested her head against his shoulder and muttered “Zayn doesn’t want me anymore.”

“What makes you say that love?”

“He told me. He said he thinks he’s found someone else, a boy. Am I ugly?” she asked, looking up at him with wet blue eyes, tears a watery black. Louis didn’t even know they still made waterproof-less mascara.

“You’re the most beautiful girl in the world, Pez. Just… you don’t have everything he wants.” Louis said, flinching when she did. He really wasn’t much of a comforter. “I mean, you don’t have a dick.”

Perrie laughed into her hand and shook her head, pulling herself up and away from Louis. “You’re terrible.” She grinned, all watery and sad, and Louis just wanted to bundle her up in fluffy blankets and give her bunnies and make her tea.

“Do you want some tea?”

She shook her head and wiped at her eyes with the back of her palm. “I’ve got a customer coming in soon, and I’ve still got to fix my face.”

“You really are beautiful, Perrie. You deserve someone who can love you back.” Louis said, and Perrie started crying again. Well, shit.

---

It was official. Perrie and Zayn were seeing other people.

Well, Zayn was and Jesy was desperately trying to set Perrie up.

“How about JJ or Josh from the café down the road? Or Leigh-Anne if you want to try something new.” Jesy had suggested, wiggling her eyebrows, and Perrie glared up at her.

“It’s been a week since the breakup, I’m not in any kind of rush.”

“It’s been that long?” Louis asked, eyebrows raised and small frown playing on his lips. It means it had been a week since he’d last seen Harry, and he’d definitely expected to hear from him before now.

“Yes, only a week. And besides, Josh always looks at you whenever we get coffee.” Perrie added with a blush, and Jesy grinned.

“Alright, Josh it is. Let me know when you’re free and we’ll head over. I’ll bring George.” And with a little squeal, Jesy was leaving them to greet her new customer.

Leaving Perrie styling a woman’s hair into a bob, and Louis just watching her.

“How have you been?” Louis asked, and Perrie smiled small.

“Honestly, I’ve been okay. It can be hard to see Zayn around here, but it’s not so bad. I met his new boyfriend last night.” She admitted, and Louis prompted her to go on with just the rise of an eyebrow. “Zayn brought him out for drinks, and I was with Jesy and George when we spotted them. He came over and introduced the guy, his name is Liam, and he was nice.”

Louis waited for more, but she’d fallen silent. “Nice? That’s all you’ve got for me?”

She rolled her eyes. “He’s really hot, alright? They look good together, so now Jesy’s obsessed with finding someone for me.”

“Josh is a nice guy. He’s funny, too.”

“I know. But I’m pretty sure he has a thing for Jesy. And JJ had a girlfriend, last I’d heard.”

Louis bit his tongue, stopping himself from blurting out well everyone likes Jesy because that wasn’t really something a girl would like to hear about her best friend; even Louis knew that. “Jesy’s with George now, isn’t she?”

The question had Perrie grinning and nodding her head. “I think so! They were all over each other last night. She really has a thing for his new hair.” She added with a small frown, obviously baffled by the thought. Who wasn’t, really; even after a week the ridiculous curls hadn’t relaxed.

“So if Jesy is bringing George, then obviously they’ll be all over each other in front of Josh. You can make your move then.”

Perrie lent down for a moment, getting eyelevel with the ends of the woman’s hair and snipping at a few strands. When she was standing straight again, she sighed “I’ll see.”

When Zayn got in, Perrie was out with Jesy and George, Jaymi was re-styling Jade’s fringe and Louis was talking to Niall.

Niall had been in the middle of confessing his new crush on Jade when Zayn interrupted them with a grunted hey.

“You know Harry Styles, right?” Zayn asked, and Louis nodded his head. Even though said head was tilted in confusion because where the fuck was this going? “I saw him out last night, at this club Liam took me too.”

Oh. “A gay club?”

“Yeah. Anyway, he was asking about you. Wanted to know why you hadn’t called.”

Oh. “I don’t have his number.”

Niall sniggered. “Mate, he’s a customer. We have his details in the computer.”

Louis blushed. “But we aren’t allowed to take customer’s details for personal use.”

“Since when? I never heard that.” Niall said with a frown, and Zayn sighed.

“It’s pretty much a rule of every business ever. But Louis, you know he’s interested. That’s not the real reason for why you haven’t called.”

“Well what is then?” Louis asked, pouty and a little red with annoyance.

Which was when Jaymi appeared with Jade, and Niall greeted the girl with a big grin and started chatting to her. Jaymi asked “What’s this about?”

“Louis hasn’t called Harry and is saying its because he didn’t get his number from him. Even though we’ve got his number in the system.” Zayn huffed, and Jaymi rolled his eyes.

“We can’t take numbers for personal use.”

Louis grinned. “That’s what I said!”

Zayn growled and stormed off, muttering “I’m done with you two” under his breath.

But Jaymi spun on his heels to stare down Louis. “You know I don’t think that’s a good excuse.”

Louis shied back and asked “For what?”

“For why you haven’t contacted him. You’re scared.”

“Am not!”

“Are too. Do you know how many times I’ve watched you get asked out only to have you reject them? Twenty six. And then every day you complain that you’ve got no one, or that no one’s interested in you. When really, loads of people are or have been and that’s how you like it. With them pining and trying to win you over while you stand back and tease. Harry’s a nice kid, call him.”

Louis could only blink. And crinkle his forehead and scrunch up his nose and say “That’s not true! I mean, I do like it when people like me but I don’t encourage it!” But Jaymi just had to raise one of his perfect eyebrows and Louis was muttering “Alright, maybe I do.”

“Maybe? You definitely do. And one of these days you’re going to let someone perfect get away because you won’t give him the attention. Now, call up Harry or I’ll do it for you.”

“Fine, fine.” Louis grunted, and pushed Niall aside so he could get at the computer.

Harry came in at eight, well after everyone else had left. They were all out on dates; Jade with Niall, Jesy with George, Josh with Perrie and Zayn with Liam. Jaymi had his fiancé to get home to, and usually Louis would be jealous of the lot of them for finding their perfect match but there was no point to that now. Not when he had Harry.

“You’re closed?” Harry had asked when he first got in, looking around the empty salon.

Louis snorted “Obviously”, but his face softened when Harry frowned. “I couldn’t book you in any earlier, when we were open, so I thought I’d give you the wash and blow dry now.”

“Oh. Alright.” Harry nodded. It may have been a lie, but Louis couldn’t think of any other way to get Harry alone in the salon with him. He’d chickened out of asking him out on a date, so instead made up a story about how he owed Harry a free wash considering he hadn’t finished off his haircut last time. If Harry doubted him, he wasn’t showing it.

“Just follow me out back.”

Louis grabbed a smock on his way to the wash room, clipping it around Harry before the boy sat down. He had to reach up a little to do it, and he hadn’t noticed how tall Harry was until now.

“Sit down.” Louis said, voice echoing in the small room. Usually there was gentle music playing in the salon, and now without it his voice sounded that much louder.

Harry nodded and fell into the chair gracelessly, stretching his legs out and fixing the smock so it was laying over him. He shuffled back and lay his head back over the sink.

Louis turned on the tap and the sound of rushing water supplied the white noise that he needed to feel a bit less awkward. He cleared his throat. “How have you been?”

“Alright.” Harry’s voice came out gruff, almost strained. “I’m looking into doing my course closer to home.”

“Yeah?” Louis placed his hand on Harry’s forehead, pulling all his hair back so he could wet it all thoroughly. “Why is that?”

“I didn’t realise how much I missed home until I came back. I’m a lot happier here.”

“Oh. That’s good.”

Harry opened his eyes and looked up, tilting his head back and exposing his long perfect neck. “How have you been? Busy?”

It came out as an accusation, and Louis flinched. “I’m always busy. But, I should have called. Sorry.”

Harry was about to say something, but Louis’ fingers were in his hair, rubbing shampoo in circular motions along his scalp. Louis was scratching and pressing and squeezing how he knew Harry liked, and the other boy was powerless. He just settled back into his chair and closed his eyes again.

Except this was different, because Harry wasn’t moaning. His lips were tightly pressed together and his fists were clenched tight and occasionally he would let out a soft groan but nothing more.

So Louis pressed his fingers down a little harder and drew circles with his thumb against the back of Harry’s skull. He took bits of hair between his fingers and pulled lightly, just a gentle tug, and Harry bit back a groan.

Louis lent down, face next to Harry’s when he muttered “You don’t have to hold back. We’re the only ones here.”

And the groan that erupted from Harry’s throat was positively pornographic. He was arching his back and gasping out and running his hands up and down his chest, underneath the smock so that Louis could only make out the shape of his fingers. In seconds Louis was ripping off the smock and sitting in Harry’s lap and kissing him, fingers still entangled in his wet, soapy hair.

Harry’s hands ran all over him; up his spine and down to his ass and along his thighs, alternating between barely-there brushes and sharp squeezes. Louis pushed Harry against the back of the seat and kissed down his throat, and Harry released the groans that had been captured between their lips.

Harry’s hands gripped Louis’ ass and he muttered praises about Louis’ hips and ass and lips and fingers. When Louis licked at Harry’s collarbone and sucked on his skin, the curly haired boy was done for. His limbs were jelly and his brain was mush and then Louis just had to pull at Harry’s hair. And Louis stopped. He pulled back and frowned and ran his fingers through Harry’s hair again.

“I’ve really got to wash that out.”

“What?” Harry gasped, trying to claw on to Louis when the boy climbed off him.

“The shampoo, I’ve got to wash it out.” And Louis was already running the water when Harry started to protest.

“But did we have to stop?”

“I don’t fuck on the first date.”

“But we weren’t – this wasn’t a – I was planning on taking you out to dinner for our first date.” He pouted.

And Louis grinned and squeezed out some conditioner and Harry was letting out these little soft moans. “I could go for some food after this.”

“Yeah?” Harry asked throatily, peering up at Louis with his dimply smile.

“It’d be our second date though.”

“Oh?”

Louis nodded and gave Harry a final tug at his hair, sharp and hard so that the boy groaned loud. “I always fuck on the second date.”