working on big things ❤️‍🔥 thank you for 6.5k mwah

p.s. we are nowhere near halfway done with this fic & we're already on chapter 20. some stories focus on plot, some focus on characters, i focus on characters PLUS plot. this will be SLOW, with fast situations here and there. remember louis' backstory. you'll learn about another character's story here soon.

—-

"the register is easier than the actual menu," louis promises, looking over at the boy on his right.

michael's out for a week and they hired a new bartender. louis will be working the bar for the week that michael is out, so that means he's on training duty. how lovely. it's day two of training. the first day consisted of studying the menu, locating everything and making simple drinks. so far, day two is going just about the same.

the new bartender is named dominic, but he said for them to just call him dom if they felt like it. he's not much taller than louis, maybe an inch or so, with dirty blonde hair and striking green eyes that made louis' stomach flip in an unsettling manner. he looked like someone louis has met before. he could have possibly been a customer at inferno once upon a time in his earlier days. something about the way the inside of his eyebrows dip down when he concentrates gives louis the message that he's definitely not from around here.

"only thing different than what i've used is this," dominic motions to the fingerprint scanner beside the cash drawer. "i've used keycards everywhere else."

"we used them at my old club," louis nods, "this just helps them out more, i guess. all this new technology shit going around."

dominic chuckles with a nod in agreement and louis promises he will be with him the entire night and if he has any questions, to never hesitate to ask. he's always happy to help, no matter the circumstances.

he seems alright, and like he knows what he's doing, so louis lets him tend to the first round of customers by himself. he serves four beers and a few mixed drinks that he asks louis to help with just to refresh his memory but other than that he does good enough that louis could take a quick smoke break while dominic monitored the bar.

a monday night behind the bar is actually a decent night to train because it's slower and louis can actually break down the process of things with the man. if it were a friday or a saturday he might struggle and just try to take over the bar entirely but he can't risk fucking up the new trainee even if he has experience.

he swivels in his seat on the outside of the bar and lights up when harry takes a seat next to him. "i thought you didn't work today."

"i swapped days," harry shrugs as he ties his hair into a low bun. "i didn't feel like working on thursday."

"i feel like that's because i'm off thursday," louis says, eyeing him suspiciously. the gang member before him rests his elbows on the bar as he flashed louis an innocent smile. "i can never have a day to myself, can i?"

"no, 'cause you don't like being alone," harry murmurs. "makes you nervous."

"i'm always nervous."

harry chuckles and louis climbs onto the bar to reach into the cooler for a beer. once in his grasp, he holds it by the neck and presses the cold bottle against harry's jaw. harry tenses up against it but relaxes nonetheless.

"did you take your meds today?" he asks, nodding when louis nodded and he takes his beer. "we're still okay?"

"haven't found a reason to kill you yet, so," louis takes a slow drag of his cigarette and sits back down, then bumps his knees with harry's. "i think we should be good."

harry grins and kisses the top of louis' cheekbone, right by the corner of eye. "good. 'cause emma misses you."

"are you trying to convince me to come over thursday?"

"i'll make us dinner."

"i'll be there."

louis finishes his cigarette and presses a kiss to the corner of harry's mouth before sliding off of the stool to get back behind the bar. he catches harry's narrowed eyes and only grins before making four vodka shots for the pair of girls that had just came to the bar. he chats with them, leaning his upper half against the bartop and pushes his hips back just a tad, already knowing harry hasn't taken his eyes off of him.

the girls leave after another round of shots and they tip louis for even doing a shot with them. not that they would have known, but his was a prop shot with only water from a bottle under the bar. he blows them kisses as they leave and puts his hand on his chest to make them believe it was actually burning like alcohol usually feels.

niall, being the fantastic man he is, covers for louis' break. so louis dips off into harry's office, noticing it's empty, and proceeds to mess things up again before harry returns. his desk chairs are flipped upside down, cabinets are opened, and he stole his stapler. why does harry even have a stapler? he's a drug dealer, not a man working a regular 9-5 office job.

"you," he hears from behind him and louis giggles at the sound of harry sighing, "are a dick."

louis spreads his arms to show him the destroyed office. "ta-da."

harry takes another look at the office and shakes his head. he closes the opened cabinets, fixes the chairs and takes the stapler out of louis' hand. he grabs the sleeve of louis' uniform shirt and staples it, smirking when the boy gasped in surprise.

louis takes the stapler and proceeds to put three staples in harry's own tee shirt, then opens the stapler to hold it against harry's head like a gun. "move and i'll shoot."

harry blinks at him before running off, listening to the clicks of staples being released as louis fires staples out. they don't go far, landing on the ground as soon as they're triggered, and louis continues to yell at him as he chases him down the hallway. harry stops, turns around, dodges louis' attempts in grabbing him before ducking down and picking louis up by the waist. the smaller man squeaks as he's thrown over harry's shoulder and he writhed in his arms, hoping to be let down, but harry doesn't budge.

"you mother-" louis closes the stapler and punches staples into the bottom of harry's shirt. "i hate you."

harry laughs as he walks them back into the office and he sets louis down. taking the stapler out of the bartender's hands, he shoves it in his desk before walking to the filing cabinet to get another tee.

louis' jaw goes a bit slack watching harry grab the back of his shirt to pull it over his head. he's seen the tattoos on his arms and hand but his stomach tattoo caught him completely off guard. and laurels? on his hips?

sweet baby jesus he's going to die.

"you'll be fine," harry mutters, smoothing out his black tee shirt that looks identical to louis'. inferno was embroidered in the left chest pocket. louis' face goes red once he realizes he was speaking out loud.

harry sits in his office chair and motions for louis to take a seat as well, but instead of sitting in the seat opposing the man, louis sits right in front of him on his desk.

"i don't think i like this new kid," louis admits, biting his lip. harry frowns and grabs the boy's hand to play with his fingers and twist the ring on his pinky so it's straight and not crooked.

"i don't either," harry says lowly. "mitch hired him, not me. he just looks...odd."

louis nods his head and harry rolls his chair forward so he's closer to the boy. he wraps his arms around louis' waist and rests his cheek on louis' chest, taking note that louis was wearing his favorite fragrance on him. he tilts his head up to press a kiss to the base of louis' neck before nuzzling back into him again.

louis grazes his fingertips up harry's shoulder and loses them in the stray curls lying on the nape of his neck. carding them through the loose ringlets, he looks down to see harry with his eyes closed and in a relaxed state.

he knows harry feels bad for everything that happened recently. he knows harry scared himself shitless thinking he ruined the potential that they could have had together but he didn't. he didn't ruin anything. it's been two weeks since louis found out and seeing harry react the way he did opened louis' eyes for him.

he may put off this "badass" persona to the rest of the world but he's not like that when it comes to being around louis. he's gentle, he's slow, he's patient...he's harry.

"you're soft as baby shit," louis murmurs.

"i know."

louis kisses the top of the man's head, smiling into his hair.

zayn texts him to tell him he has a date to a club with liam in an hour and just woke up. another text follows saying he hopes liam appreciates half assed outfits and bed head. knowing zayn, though, he won't even leave the house if his teeth aren't brushed or if his shoelaces aren't tied evenly. he wouldn't half ass anything for liam or niall, so that's bullshit.

he sends zayn a photo of harry cuddled up against him, saying, have fun use protection !!xxx and sets his phone on the desk.

he's glad zayn's happy, honestly. whatever makes zayn happy makes louis happy. he'll support his best friend in whatever he does as long as it doesn't tear him down or cause him to relapse. he prays to whatever god out there that within all this mess lying at the seams of inferno, zayn never has to go down that road again.

"bunny," harry murmurs. "when do you go back?"

louis checks the time on the clock. an hour has almost passed already. "ten minutes."

harry nods and gets comfortable again, only to be moved back when louis pulls his head back to look at him.

"i have a serious question."

"liam did it."

louis rolls his eyes and drops his hands to his lap. "about this...us."

harry licks his bottom lip and sucks it between his teeth, nodding slowly. "okay."

he rests his hands on louis' knees as the smaller man played with his fingers. louis stares down at his hands, mindlessly popping his knuckles before asking, "you don't care that i'm a stripper, do you? if you're wanting to be with me and all...?"

harry moves one of his hands off of louis' knee to tilt louis' chin up so they're eye to eye. "baby, no. i don't give a shit. 'cause you're working, making bank and having fun. whatever you wanna do, i'm rooting for you," he takes that same hand to caress the boy's cheek, thumb stroking the soft surface. "you have nothing to worry about when it comes to that. i like you and want to be with you because you are the sweetest, selfless person i have ever met. it disgusts me just how much i adore you."

louis gives a shy grin and feels his face get red as he scans harry's eyes for any detection that he was lying. nothing.

"i know you're scared," harry murmurs. "but if someone can't accept you for who you are then they don't deserve your time or energy."

true, louis thinks to himself. but that's also a two way statement. harry accepts louis for who he is, but louis has to accept harry as well. he has to accept the mistakes that come and the events that go. harry's always on the move.

"i'd like to have you as long as i can before someone who could never be as pretty as me sweeps you off your feet," harry says as louis kisses the pad of his thumb.

"and if they're prettier?"

harry shrugs. "i'll just have to rough 'em up a bit."

louis giggles behind harry's thumb. "would i have to quit? isn't it unprofessional to date your boss or whatever?"

harry furrows his eyebrows. "liam literally killed someone in front of you your first week here and you're asking if having relations with me is unprofessional."

"mhm."

the gang member shakes his head at him. "you wouldn't have to quit, love." he pokes louis' tummy, grinning when louis batted his hands away. "quite frankly i enjoy seeing you have fun and do your thing. it'll just be a plus having a hot boyfriend who can give good lap dances from time to time."

louis raises his eyebrows. "oh, i see. you only wanna date me for my lap dances, how sweet."

harry rolls his eyes. "totally not because you're breathtakingly gorgeous and easily my favorite person in the world. definitely not."

the smaller man runs a hand through harry's hair again and finds the curls he was twirling earlier, returning to his previous task. "so you really don't mind it?"

"really," harry murmurs. when louis nods at his word, he gives a conformation kiss to the tip of louis' nose.

—-

walking into harry's house unannounced has become a thing for louis. he likes to startle the man with his sudden presence.

emma has caught onto the fact he's been coming over more, as well, so she's not as mouthy as she used to be when she first saw louis walk in the door. now she just acknowledges him by rooting her head against his palm when he pets her and goes on about her very busy day as a lonesome feline.

he can hear the shower running upstairs so he makes his way into harry's bedroom. the master bathroom attached to the bedroom is closed and music is blaring from inside. harry's always listening to something. classic rock, pop punk, he's pretty sure he's even heard some sappy country love songs on the man's playlist. marshall used to play country music at paralyzer in order to get people out of the club faster. harry doesn't seem like the type to listen to country, but it's not odd of him.

he raids harry's closet for a hoodie to wear and pulls out a yellow one that looks brand new. it still had the tag on it and all. he carefully removes said tag, pulls it over his head and climbs in the bed so he can burrow beneath the covers. a nap sounds great, if he's being honest.

the shower cuts off just as louis started to doze off and he nuzzles his face into the pillow he was holding. he can hear the door to the bathroom open and he pokes his head up, immediately grinning when harry walks out drying his hair with a towel. he looks comfortable, wearing a solid black tee shirt and a pair of gray sweatpants.

the towel is tossed in the laundry bin by harry's closet and the bed dips with familiar weight. harry grabs louis' shoulder to turn him onto his back and he leans down to kiss his nose. "beautiful."

louis' cheeks heat up just the slightest and he scrunches his nose. the action makes harry kiss his nose again, then he peppers kisses over his forehead and the rest of his face.

"i know you've had a busy week," harry lays beside him. "thought i'd make you food and we could just relax. maybe watch some movies and take a nap. you need a break."

"i'm so thankful for you," louis wraps an arm around the boy's shoulders. "y'know?"

the corners of harry's mouth twitches into a small smile as he looks up at louis. "really?"

"mhm," louis wiggles on the mattress as harry raises up to kiss his cheek. "you feed me. very thankful."

harry chuckles and gets off of the bed, holding a hand out for louis to grab. once louis is on his feet, he inspects the smaller man and pinches the sleeve of the hoodie he was wearing. "you look better in my clothes than i do."

louis takes the compliment with pride and skips out of the room, bouncing down the steps and entertains himself with emma while harry starts cooking. harry's speaker is being turned on in the next room and the stupid sappy slow songs he listens to are being played.

he carries emma into the kitchen and gives her a treat, rolling one of her toys across the floor before hopping on the counter. he watches harry pull out a variety of things, making a mental decision before he turns his head to look at louis.

"stop watching me, weirdo."

louis shakes his head. "you're nice to look at. carry on."

harry closes the cabinet he was standing in front of and pokes louis' nose with a box of noodles as he walked by. he pours them each a glass of wine, setting his glass beside louis' after clinking their glasses for cheers. he gathers everything else he needed and got dinner started, turning around when he heard the song changing. louis was scrolling through his playlist with a determined look on his face as he continued to switch songs and he sets the phone down when he was okay with the next choice.

dinner was just about ready and northern downpour by panic! at the disco started to play as louis kicked his legs back and forth. it's a personal favorite of his.

louis leans back and watches the cat entertain herself with her toy, hiding a light laugh behind his hand when she tripped over her own paws when she tried to run after it. he turns his head to see harry looking at him with soft eyes. he's just standing there admiring the boy silently and it makes louis melt.

he opens his arms out for him. "you look really huggable right now," he says and holds onto harry when harry nestles himself between his knees. just having him within arms reach is enough.

"mitch has to go to chicago on friday and he asked me to go with him," harry murmurs. "we should be back sunday night. we're really going to chicago, nowhere else, and i'm not blowing any more cars up."

louis nods as harry buries his face in his neck.

"i want you to come with me," the younger boy states. "i think you'd quite like it."

"chicago's a way's away, h," louis says softly.

"a three hour flight, tops. you deserve a break. he'll be okay with it. we're taking his private plane there and back. you don't have to do anything but just breathe and be pretty."

louis chuckles and allows himself to be smothered by harry's embrace. if he's allowed to go then he needs to clear up any assignments due this weekend so he can take a few days off without remorse. would the club be alright without him?

harry presses a kiss below louis' ear before grabbing his phone and making a call. louis doesn't pay attention to him talking. he takes interest in tracing one of the tattoos on harry's arm instead. it's a mermaid with her boobs hanging out — why? just, why?

harry sets his phone down with a proud grin. "pack warm clothes."

so ransack harry's closet and take his clothes. got it.

when the timer goes off, harry heads to the stove and stirs the pasta in the pot. over his shoulder, louis can spot pieces of shrimp. the younger man twirls a bit of the pasta onto a fork and blows on it to cool it off before feeding louis a bite, waiting for his reaction.

"holy shit," louis looks stunned. he swallows and takes the fork from him. "you really can cook."

"makes up for my criminal background," harry shrugs. louis facepalms at that.

harry makes their plates and carries them while louis carries their wine glasses. instead of sitting at the table, they camp out in harry's bedroom while they eat.

after dinner was finished and leftovers were put away, louis takes over harry's tv and finds something worth watching. they're not quite done with shameless yet, they can definitely continue with that. he and zayn need to finish their show, too. it's been a while since they've watched it.

harry sits beside him on the bed and kisses his shoulder before laying on his back. "you're so pretty."

louis lays next to him, pulling the blanket up to his chin as he glues himself to the man's side. "thank my parents for blessing you with me."

laughing, harry nods and massages his fingers through the back of louis' hair. "i definitely will."

—-

northern downpour is one of my favorite songs of all time & helped me write this chapter for whatever reason sooooo with that being said: what's your favorite song?

thoughts on the chapter?

it's a filler yet a very important filler! i know it seems like im dragging this bad boy out but i kinda wanted to actually have a plot instead of just WHAM dating in the first few chapters WHAM smut WHAM drama - i wanted to see if i could actually make this go somewhere...so here we are. aaaaand i'm struggling lol. i have 3 chapters for sure done and i'm trying to piece out the other ones i have already written & weave them in with the plot. so far, it's a mess.

what do you think will happen in chicagooooooooooo? (definitely not singing that like trina vega, definitely not)

i'll see y'all soon!