PRE-NOTE: i just realized harry (so far) is a soft dom in this fic

also i love this comment, made me go HA:

Inspo: Madonna - Sooner or Later (i also recommend watching her performance at the 1991 Oscars)

Q: what songs remind you of "La Reine"?

Everyone is guided to a different room until the cake is brought out. Harry remains by Louis' side before skittering over to the desserts table and picking a few pieces of fruit. Only then does Leopoldo appear at his side. The man is wearing a loose black button-up, the traces of velvet on his sleeves and his slacks have the faintest white lines. His shoes are so shiny it nearly blinds Harry.

"Harry, is it?"

The green-eyed man nods.

"Pardon my surprise, but it's just strange to me." His accent is thick. "Louis hasn't told me about you, and he tells me everything. He's like my son, you'd be wise to not discard him without concern for the consequences." If Leopoldo hadn't told him, Harry would have guessed Louis was raised by the older man by their way with words.

"Yes, sir."

"In my line of work, I've met quite a few shady fellows to the point where I can spot one from a mile away. There are multiple signs, like a nervous tick, stuttering, or their eyes. I can always tell from their eyes." He steps closer to Harry, his height is just a few inches taller than Harry. "You can hide anything nowadays, but not the way your eyes look at things." Then he's gone.

Harry shakes off the tenseness in his bones and blinks rapidly. He catches the curious glances from the other guests and he quickly grabs a few orange slices and watermelon cubes. He gets back to Louis, seeing the man in a deep conversation with a particularly older looking gentleman. Harry stands by his side, keeping close to Louis but not listening to their conversation, not that he could understand anyway since they were speaking in French.

It's later into the night and they got cake. It was scrumptious red velvet stacked in seven layers and came out rolled on a trolley. Harry watched the cake with his mouth agape, he's never seen one so luxurious and just, big. Flowers were nestled between the layers, at the very top was a crown, he wouldn't be surprised if it were real, and with the giant sparklers sparking, he presumed most birthdays were as extravagant.

Harry was sitting next to Louis. They were moved to a different room with tables along the wall of small trays of food and glasses of alcohol. He scarfed down his slice of cake, and eyes how slow Louis eats. "How old are you?"

Louis turns to him, his fork in his mouth. "26, but we're celebrating my 27th." A smile immediately makes its way onto Harry's face. Louis notices. "Something funny?" He licks the cream cheese frosting off his fingers.

The green-eyed man shows off his dimples, he leans back into his seat. "I'm 28. I like being older than you."

"You think you can be my sugar daddy, Daddy?" Louis quips. "Maybe you can fill that spot." Harry would like to fill another spot actually.

The agent hums, scooting closer to the Donna. The crowd has moved to the dancefloor, leaving Harry and Louis at their table. Zayn was nearby, leaning back on a wall and observing the room with hooded eyes. "Tell me what you do," Harry lowers his voice, "business-wise."

Louis tsks, his hair falling over his eyes. The blue shoots through Harry's soul, it's thrilling. "You know I can't do that, daddy." He feeds Harry his last piece of cake and turns all his attention to the agent.

Harry huffs, ignoring the mischievous smile that grows on Louis' face as his finger trails up the nape of Harry's neck, he shivers. "A small hint is fine, isn't it? I feel like I should know what I'm getting into."

Louis purses his lips, the shimmer cheekbones catching the dim light of the chandeliers. "You'll remain in the dark. Though, I suppose I can't have you too surprised and you have a heart attack on me." His tone tells Harry that he's witnessed something related to that. "I'll tell you one thing," He pulls Harry close so his back is arched. "I don't mind getting my hands dirty every now and then, dirty with what, you ask? Anything, I'm not picky." His eye drops in a wink. "Those who are taken care of by dealers get the easy way out."

Harry sits straight, following Louis' lead and taking a long sip of champagne. He tries not to spill any of it. That would be embarrassing. "Dealers?" He gulps.

"Dealer de la mort, dealers of death," Louis answers curtly. "My dealers are specially trained, hence why they do such an exquisite job." Harry's lips purse. "Zayn is the head of that department."

"Specially trained as in assassins?"

Louis laughs, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "Close. More like the assassins who hunt assassins. They're lethal, conniving, sharp, and magnificent." He tilts his head, his eyelashes flutter. "I suppose that unsettles you."

Harry doesn't verbally answer. Of course, it unsettled him, it made him nervous and made his skin crawl. There were people out in the world, walking the streets like any ordinary citizen with the skill and wit to hunt down and murder anyone they're assigned. With no remorse or empathy, the numb and the thunderous they were. Not hiding, but blending in. Harry wonders how many of them that he's walked by, or come in contact with, or maybe even arrested then released with lack of evidence. Louis had them under his thumb, and it was electrifying and terrifying at the same time.

"They take care of whoever I wish, whether the cause is late payments, runaways, stolen merchandise, and the occasional transaction-gone-sour, the list goes on," Louis says. "Their loyalty is more than that of my closest business partners, peculiar, isn't it? The weight in their wallets is not the key motivation but rather working for me. They see it as a life goal, an accomplishment in their books to be employed by one of the most notorious figures in the world."

That's who he was. A world-renown Donna with the government in his pocket, he had more power in his hand than a country with an army. The power he radiated was suffocating. When he walks into a room, the air is drenched with nerves and he carried dynamic energy that undoubtedly stole everyone's attention without an ounce of his in return. "Does that flatter you?"

"It pleases me, but I wouldn't say flatter. You flatter me when I catch you staring at me, and you simply blush and look away." Louis giggles when Harry coughs awkwardly. "They please me by following orders, and maintaining their dedication to me."

"Why don't I please you?" Harry asks, immediately realizing his words. "Not like I'm jealous or anything." Except he was.

Louis doesn't look convinced, and Harry internally cries. "No need to lie, daddy. The intimacy between us should bear no such deception. And you haven't done anything to please me, yet."

"I can please you." Harry chirps. "I know I can."

"I'm aware. I have faith in you." Louis' hair falls into his eyes before Harry brushes it away. "I know you'll make the right choice."

The Donna knew what he was saying, he knew what was going through Harry's mind and what he seed he just planted. It was true, he had trust in Harry's concluding decision. But he'd also be lying if he said he wasn't dreading the day the man will come to that decision.

Similarly, Harry was utterly terrified of his final answer. He could end his life in Los Angeles, and begin a new one with Louis or he could end his journey with the torturous beauty in his arms and continue his life in Los Angeles, working a job that he now had different views of and in a city littered with the man who captured his heart and mind. Harry was given the ticket to the life of passion and exhilaration, and the opportunity to fall headfirst into the blue eyes of a murder and most wanted criminal.

"Care to dance, babydoll?"

Louis smiles, marvelling at Harry bowing to take his hand. He loved the eyes on them at that moment. "I'm quite a menace on the dancefloor. Do you have the vigour to contain me?"

Harry smirks, looking up at Louis through his hair that's fallen before his eyes. He was still bent down. He enjoyed playing these games. "Darling, you don't need to be contained. I'd rather have you fly freely."

Louis raises his eyebrows. He liked that answer. He places his champagne glass on a passing waiters tray and lets Harry kiss his knuckles. They move to the dancefloor in the middle of the room. The tiles are soft blue, washed in various drops of black. Lights hanging from the ceiling and casting shadows over Louis' face, and highlighting his most prominent features.

The music starts with low piano keys over a delicate beat. Harry tries not to seem too giddy when he places his hands on Louis' waist, he even dares to dip a few fingers lower. Louis glares at him. They sway to the rhythm, moving elegantly as one and Harry leans down to brush his nose on Louis'.

"Sooner or later you're gonna be mine,"

Their feet are in sync, Harry was proud to have taken dance classes for a friend's wedding a few months prior. He breathes in, taking Louis into his lungs and Harry just wants to bathe in him. His fingers press deeper into Louis, trailing down, itching to reach the scandalous slit by his upper thigh, "Hands above the waist, Mr. Styles."

Harry bites his tongue and follows orders. Retreating both his greedy hands to Louis' hips. The fabric of Louis' dress was smooth and silky, and the Donna knew exactly what he does to Harry.

"You tend to surprise me a lot," Harry says after a few moments.

"Do I?"

"Baby, it's time that you faced it,
I always get my man."

The tone in Louis' voice makes Harry scoff. "Don't play innocent, Foxglove. You watch your actions like a child to a screen."

The Donna spins, his heels clicking off the floor when he's drawn back into Harry's arms. "Foxglove?"

Harry raises both his brows. "Do I know something you don't?" It was like a breath of fresh air to be playful with Louis, Harry tended to be on toes whenever around the Donna. He felt comfortable now, comfortable enough to land a hearty squeeze on Louis' ass.

The Donna gasps, his hips thrusting in Harry's direction. "You are feeling rather touchy today, hm?" Louis' hand tugs on Harry's hair. "I can't say I don't like it, though I do miss how shy you can be."

It was like a hot stream of confidence was soaring through Harry's veins. He feels powerful, he feels like he was taller than everyone in the room, which he might be, and most of all, he feels indestructible. It was all because of the blue-eyed man in his arms.

"Now, don't think too hard, Daddy. Tell me what foxglove is." Louis' lips stretch into a bright grin.

Harry observes the crowd clad in black watching them, the two dressed in scarlet red as they danced slowly and sensually on the dancefloor. He catches the sight of Zayn lingering by the dessert table, he's checking his watch. He looks back down at the mafia Donna. "It's a beautiful flower. It can be purple, pink, white. They taste hot, bitter, or even spicy." Harry licks his lips, eyes dropping to Louis' collarbones.

"They're poisonous." Harry hears the music pick up. "Deadly even, but also works wonders in medical terms. They're alluring, poisonous and ultimately can do good."

Louis looks unsure. "I assume I remind you of them."

Harry spins Louis, then cradles him in his arms. His biceps are tights around the Donna, they sway together, Louis' back to Harry's front. More importantly, his ass to Harry's crotch. "Everything reminds me of you." The agent swoops down, about to latch his lips onto Louis' but the Donna escapes his grip, twirling away and standing with his ankles crossed.

Harry is left in the middle of the dancefloor, his eyes locked darkly on the short curvy man before him. Louis walks to him, no, he struts to him. Each heel teasing, a flawless catwalk with one hand on his hip. His blues piercing through Harry, his gaze is predatory. Louis' muscular legs snatch the air from Harry's lungs, the sway of his hips wraps around Harry and takes the life from his heart.

"You think I'm good, Daddy?" Louis' voice is low, he slurs lightly with his accent. "If you knew half the things I've done, you'd punish me where we stand. Tell me what you really think I am."

"Baby, it's time, so why waste it in chatter?"

Harry lets out a shaky breath when Louis' hand drags over his chest, down the buttons of his shirt and just grazes the button of his slacks. His mind fogging over, independence going down the drain. "You," he gulps, when Louis circles him, like a lion to an injured gazelle, "You're magic."

Louis' hand scratches down the fabric of Harry's jacket, his nails over velvet. "You remember what I told you that day. Magicians never reveal their secrets, though I can make an exception for you." He observes the length and leanness of Harry's legs. He appears on the agent's left, giving his hard bicep a lovely squeeze. He could imagine the things Harry could do with those arms, his hands and fingers.

Louis' fingers lock on Harry's hair, yanking him down and licking the shell of his ear. "Ever wonder why I didn't have my men search you beforehand?" Louis asks, teeth teasingly tugging on Harry's ear. "I knew you were wearing a wire, honey." He doesn't stutter when Harry's big hands grip his waist. "I know you so well, and we've only met."

Harry breathes hotly on Louis' neck, now realizing Louis was dancing again, he follows his lead.

The Donna hums to the music. "I do so much for you, Daddy. Sometimes I think I'm wasting my time. Though, you, my dearest, dropped everything and came to a different continent to find me." Louis presses a soft, bearly-there, kiss on Harry's jaw. "I would say we're both lucky. I'm lucky to have someone so willing to please me." He pulls away, dragging his teeth down Harry's neck and looking up at the agent. "You are lucky I didn't say a word about our first encounter in that alley."

Goosebumps rise over Harry's arms, the way Louis spoke was smooth, every word from his mouth was as glossy as his lips. Louis' cheekbones were calling for Harry to pepper endless kisses. "You escaped from two pairs of handcuffs, chains and an eight-story building in the dark. It was full of agents, and outside was overtaken by news reporters."

Louis smirks. "When you were restraining your friend on the wall by my side, he was enough of a distraction to slip the keys right out of your pocket."

"Did you know he was going to hurt you?" Harry inquires, a wrinkle appearing on his forehead.

"I was counting on it." Louis closes his eye briefly. "It doesn't take much to release the beast inside a man like Mr. Payne. On the outside, he's very well cut and respectful, but he's blessed with a temper. Haven't you ever noticed?"

That's the thing, Harry didn't notice until now. Liam was no stranger to throwing small tempers in the office, Harry's seen him yank and pull at his hair while growling more times than he can count. But the office was always full of tension, especially in their field of work. "You said all those things—"

"The truth. I said the truth and only the truth. I do not lie."

Harry grumbles. "You counted on him choking you." He holds onto Louis' waist with one hand, the other going to support his neck. He dips him steadily, admiring the way Louis' spine curves and his eyes fall shut.

"Not necessarily. Just coming in a close enough proximity." Louis stretches his neck, the skin daring Harry to dig his teeth into it.

"When I get a yen,"

"It was all a plan," Harry concludes, gripping Louis tight on his thigh. One of Louis' legs slots between his own, the other is lifted high on Harry's hips. The dress falls with the movement, the slit revealing his creamy thigh. Harry digs his fingernails into the thickness, his breath deepening. He curses, his gaze met with where Louis' hip meets his thigh, the skin was so smooth, delicious, and Harry wanted to eat him up. "How could you conjure up a plan when you were arrested?"

"Then baby, Amen."

"You still believe I hadn't suspected you, Daddy?" Louis' head falls further back, Harry draws closer. He tests the limits, brushing his lips against the unmarred skin. He thirsted to paint it with his lips, swipes of his tongue and claim complete ownership over the Donna. "I know more about you than you know about yourself."

"I'm counting to ten, and then,"

"I watched that man shove you that day. After you broke his camera." Louis' chin juts out, inviting Harry closer. The agent takes him, pressing open-mouthed kisses along the skin. He goes slow, tongue swiping along Louis' jugular, teeth nipping at his jaw. "Merde."

Harry drinks up Louis like a starved man. He goes gently, never venturing too far down Louis' neck, and he feels Louis' nails through his clothes on his back. "Forgot about him."

"Good," Louis breathes shallowly. "Never have to think about him again, Daddy."

Harry, in the middle of delicately marking up Louis' neck in the middle of the dancefloor, pulls away. He frowns. "What did you do?"

Louis' eyes blink open, the blue slightly darker. The song is building up. "May have gotten my hands a little dirty, Daddy."

NOTE: this chapter is full of little blurbs i wrote and kind of mashed together. i hope it all flowed nicely. i hope u all enjoyed. i watched a video on dipping someone, yes, writing fanfics involves lots of behind the scenes research.