When Louis and Harry are positive Warren and Harry's mum are distracted, they quite literally run out of the house. Harry has his navy overnight bag hooked over his shoulder, and some money he took from Warren's wallet in the other.

"He won't even notice," Harry assured Louis when Louis voiced his concern. "It's his fault for leaving his wallet out all the time, and if he's going to kick me out of my own house and fuck my mum, I want to get something out of it too."

"What are you even going to do with it?" Louis asked, looking around to make sure Warren wasn't nearby.

Harry shrugged. "Dunno. I could get us dinner or something. You hungry?"

"I could eat."

"Great. A dinner-date it is," Harry grinned, taking a final few notes and showing them in his pocket.

"Wait a second," Louis pouted, "I was the one who said I would take you out on the date. That doesn't count if you're paying for the food."

"Did you really want to take me out?"

"Yeah, Harold, I did," Louis pops the 'd'.

"Do you have your car keys?"

Louis held them up for Harry to see, the multitude of keychains jingling together loudly. His favorite one is the one he got from his first Sublime concert, hands down.

"Great," Harry said, shoving his hand into his pocket to hand Louis all of the stolen money. "Take me out then, Prince Charming. I'll wait here while you pull up the magical carriage," he swooned, batting his eyelashes and giving Louis a sheepish smile. "I expect ballgowns and magician pumpkins. After all, Halloween is only two weeks away."

"Oh, come off it," Louis scoffed, grabbing Harry's hand. (He wondered if Harry would be up for a matching costume, but didn't dare ask such an embarrassing question.) "C'mon, let's get out of here."

And with that they ran out of the kitchen, Louis tugging Harry madly behind him to avoid the possibility of being seen. They run all the way out of the front door and down the pathway before they reach Louis' car.

"Fancy what you see?" Louis smirks, gesturing at his complete lack of a 'magical carriage'. "Hop in, Cinderella. I hope you like fish and chips,"

"Oh but darling, that'll mean you can't kiss me because it'll be fishy," Harry says in his best impression of the Disney princess. "Whatever shall I do?"

"I think I'll manage just fine without," Louis scoffs, holding the door open until Harry gets in. He's not quite sure if he just lied or not. Uncertainty is a funny thing, Louis thinks, as he gets into the driver's seat.

"Buckle up, Princess, because I'm a terrible driver," Louis jokes as he backs out of the driveway.

**

After some light banter in the car about the best food in town, Louis parks his car outside of the Chinese restaurant Harry raved about earlier. The least he could do is make sure Harry enjoys the date. After all, his dad says the direct path to someone's heart is food.

Harry wasn't aware that this was where their date was going to take place, but Louis had managed to text Niall and get the name of the restaurant out of the Irish boy in time for dinner.

Originally, Louis hadn't planned for the date to be this soon when he told Harry he wanted to take him out a few hours ago. But there could always be more to come since this was turning into more of a casual dinner before they head back to Louis' flat.

When Harry's eyes land upon the worn neon sign that reads 'Lin's Bao and Noodlehouse' pure elation flashes on Harry's face.

"No way!" Harry exclaims, getting out of the car in a flash. "This is perfect, Louis. You can eat those buns I was telling you about!"

"And here I thought we were all done with the bad sex jokes," Louis grins, holding the door open for Harry. A little bell rings above their heads and they're immediately hit with the enticing smell of ramen and fresh-baked buns. It makes Louis' mouth salivate.

They get a booth seat and, per Harry's suggestion, get a pot of hot green tea to share. Louis listens intently as Harry lists off everything that he loves on the menu, mentally taking note.

"Why don't we just order it all?" Louis proposes. Harry took a fair amount of money from Warren, and insisted they put it to good use. This seems as good a use as any.

"How could we possibly eat that much?"

"I can eat like Niall when I'm hungry enough. Plus, I live in a house with tons of other people. If we bring leftovers home, they'll be gone in a blink."

"I didn't even think about that," Harry bites down on his lip, thinking. "Do you think your family still remembers me? I haven't been to your house in something close to a lifetime."

"Um, so here's the thing," Louis rubs the back of his neck, shifting uncomfortably in his seat. He didn't think this out. "They actually think we're friends."

"Are we?"

Louis shrugs. "We're currently on a date, so I'm not sure. But I mean that they never knew we had a falling out in the first place."

Harry nearly spits out his tea, but manages to stop himself just in time. He swallows. "What do you mean they didn't know? Our falling out was like night and day in terms of friendship."

"Dunno," Louis lies, casting his eyes down at the menu in front of him. "Guess I never brought it up."

He can feel Harry frowning slightly across the table. "Did they ever ask about me?"

"Yeah. Mum did, mostly. She still does here and there. We both know she always liked you most out of all my friends. But when she would ask, I would normally beat around the bush and sort of withhold the truth. I didn't want her asking about it because I felt hurt, and I knew if I spoke openly about it, I would exaggerate and end up painting you as someone who's cousins with the Devil. And that wasn't fair to you."

"So they still think we're friendly and all that?"

"I don't know what they think, to be honest. I think they've picked up on the fact that you all of a sudden stopped hanging out at my house. But I would always talk about going out with my friends, and I think she just assumed you remained a part of that. Because after all, it was just you and I before Niall, Zayn, and Liam came along."

"Yeah, it was just us and the world. What a time," Harry repeats, picking at the skin on his bottom lip. Louis stares at the movement, holding his breath.

"I'm sorry I didn't tell them, Harry," Louis says finally. "I probably should've, but I knew it was going to result in me villainizing you and I'd like to think I'm a bigger person than that. At least in terms of telling my family," he adds, remembering all of the times he told Harry he was Satan in teenage form (it was returned with mutual insults).

"No, no, it's okay," Harry responds immediately. "Thank you for not painting me as the enemy to all of humankind. I was just wondering what to say when we head over to your flat after this. Should I pretend we stayed friends and I was just too busy to hang out with you for the past decade, or what?"

"Hold that thought," Louis hates to interrupt him, but he must as the server walks over. Louis perfectly recites everything Harry wants to get with the exception of fried ice cream, which Harry adds on in the end. The server writes it all down on their notepad and promises to have it out for them soon.

"I'm impressed you remembered all of that," Harry chuckles, folding his menu closed and giving it back to the server. Louis does the same, but says nothing until they're alone again.

"Photographic memory,"

"Really?"

"No," Louis laughs, "I wrote it down on my napkin when you weren't looking. Duh."

Harry kicks him playfully under the table, grinning. "Ok, back to the whole me going to your house thing. What should I say?"

"I think we should go the 'partial-truth' route. If Mum asks or any of my sisters, we can tell them we grew apart a bit, but stayed in the same friend group nonetheless. That's all true. And now, we've gotten over our differences and matured and we're becoming close friends again."

"And the part where we kiss and cuddle sometimes?"

"A minor detail they don't need to know about," Louis' face flushes. "Yet, at least. Let's see where this goes, shall we?"

"Whatever you say, Prince Charming."

**

One thing Louis learns as he eats his way through their mini-date is that Harry most certainly has good taste in food. Amazing taste, in fact. Louis feels like a vacuum as he samples all of the dishes, a permanent smile on his face.

And when dessert comes, Louis is positively astounded by the fact that someone figured out how to fry ice cream. It's like every childhood dream he's ever had. Just now, it's come to life and he's splitting the unimaginable fried ice cream with the cute, cheeky boy across the table.

"How does it not melt?" Louis asks Harry for the nth time.

"They cover it in the batter and all of these coconut flakes so the fryer oil cooks the coating and not the ice cream," Harry explains, taking another bite. "I think that's why it doesn't melt in the fryer, but don't quote me. I can't cook for shit."

"I'd like to see you try,"

"Oh really?" Harry quirks an eyebrow in Louis' direction. "What would I even cook?"

"Something good, obviously." Louis rolls his eyes, pushing Harry's spoon out of the way to steal a bite of the desert.

"What's your favorite food?"

"Anything with mashed potatoes. You can't go wrong."

"So if I were to drag you over to my house when Mum and Warren aren't home and cook for you one day, do you promise to at least try what I make?" Harry's eyes are wide and hopeful, and so, so green — the most beautiful shade.

"I promise a single bite no matter what," Louis swears, "but I'll only eat more if it's good. Consider me Gordon Ramsey, but younger and hotter."

Harry just hums in contemplation as he finishes the rest of the ice cream. Louis can't help but pick up on the upward turn of Harry's lips as Louis goes on to name some of his other favorite foods.

After a while longer, they pay the bill and tack on a generous tip to make up for how long they hogged the table. They easily spent over two hours chatting away, oblivious to the bustling restaurant setting around them. It's like they're living in their own little bubble right now, and Louis doesn't want it to pop.

**

The drive back to Louis' house doesn't take long, and the air is filled with chatter about Harry seeing Louis' family for the first time in ages.

"Think they'll remember me?" Harry asks they walk up the stone steps to Louis' back door.

Louis fumbles for his keys and aggressively jingles them while trying to find the right one. When he finally does, he unlocks the door and hip-checks it to get it open. "Of course they will," he grunts, rubbing his hip. He forgot that his dad replaced the backdoor so it doesn't stick anymore, hence the forceful hip-check.

"It's pretty late, so everyone but Lottie is probably sleeping. They're a bunch of early risers 'cause they go to bed so bloody early. So we can go say hi to Lotts, or just head to my room."

"There's no harm in saying hello," Harry shrugs, kicking off his shoes and following Louis upstairs.

The majority of Louis' house is dark, with the occasional slivers of milky white moonlight peeking out from behind the hallway curtains. Lottie's light in her room is turned off as well, indicating she's either staying over at someone else's house tonight, or she's already asleep.

Louis didn't realize he and Harry talked so late into the night at dinner. Time really flies.

"I'll say hello in the morning," Harry comments, taking note of the silent house. "I hope they aren't freaked out when I walk downstairs unannounced."

"Want me to find a megaphone and give you a grand welcome at seven in the morning? Because I can, if you'd like. I'll sing your name like we're in an opera and you can waltz down the stairs towards my family's prying eyes," Louis jokes, leading the both of them to his room. They slip inside and Louis shuts the door quietly behind him while Harry flips on the light.

"If you do that, I will never step foot in this house again," Harry groans, flopping onto Louis' soft mattress. He sends a pillow tumbling off the bed in the process, which Louis picks up and refrains from hitting Harry with.

"Fine, fine, no grand entrance," Louis says with defeat, "Loser."

"Am not."

"You totally are. I was going to sing for you."

Harry laughs at this, motioning for Louis to lie down beside him. Louis, of course, does just that and scoots toward Harry until they're both staring at the ceiling together. Louis' arms tuck themselves behind his head, and he can feel part of Harry's leg brush against his own.

"Thank you," Harry says, his hands folding on his stomach as if he was praying. "Again."

Louis smiles, eyes locking momentarily with Harry's. "Please, that's what I'm here for. Chinese food dates and a place to stay."

Harry moves over on the bed in one fluid motion and he's facing Louis. His eyes are so, so lovely in this light, and Louis turns to match the position. "You're good for more than just that."

"Oh really? Please, list one other thing," Louis scoffs, rolling his eyes.

"You..."

Louis raises an eyebrow, unimpressed by the lack of an answer. This is definitely not helping his ego. "I what, Harold?"

"I was going to say you're a good kisser," Harry comments nonchalantly, but his face reddens immensely (as does Louis'). "But I'll take it back if you get all cocky about it."

"Well, isn't that sweet of you," Louis grins, leaning in to peck Harry's lips with a short kiss. "And let's not kid ourselves, I'm sure you love when I'm cocky, yeah?"

Harry's face turns a deep shade of crimson.

"Oh my god, you do!" Louis exclaims, grinning at the revelation and swatting Harry's arm lightly. "Bet you'd like it if we just kissed all night and whatnot."

"It'd take my mind off of things," Harry comments under his breath, his eyes trained on Louis but his words quiet and small.

This prompts a smug smile from Louis as he doesn't think twice before closing his eyes and kissing the other boy. All thoughts of past drama and tension melt away with the warmth of their lips and the small sigh of relief that escapes Harry's parted mouth.

They lose track of time, the concept painting itself into their minds like melting clocks. Heaven knows that once Louis starts to kiss Harry, he can't stop.

He loves the way Harry leaned into the kiss like he wanted more. He loves the way Harry's hands hugged the small of his back like he didn't want Louis to leave. He loves the occasional friction between them and the jolt in his stomach every time Harry repositions himself beneath Louis. Most of all, he loves the way Harry makes him feel like nothing could go wrong.

When the kissing turns into gentle yet needy grinding, Louis (against his will) pries his lips away from the curly boy and props himself up on his elbows, hovering just above Harry.

"Harry, about earlier today-"

"I don't want to talk about it. I want to forget about it," Harry tells him firmly.

"We need to talk about it."

Harry shakes his head aggressively, curls flopping every which way. "No we don't. You could just distract me and help me forget all about it and life would be great."

"Harry."

"I don't want to talk about it."

"That's fine, but don't think I'm going to go on fucking you until you address the elephant in the room."

Harry huffs, clearly annoyed. But alas, he starts talking. Harry discusses everything from how Louis' comment about the love bite being 'nothing' to the whole attempt at sad revenge sex as an outlet for his anger. Louis listens attentively the entire time, encouraging Harry to speak his mind.

"So yeah," Harry recaps, inhaling sharply, "I was upset with you and I tried to take it out on you physically as if that would change something, but it only managed to make things worse and clearly I didn't think it out."

Louis nods once, eyes serious but warm. "Thank you for talking to me, Harry."

"I hope you know how much I hate my own emotions. You're quite the dick for squeezing my diary-worthy thoughts and feelings out of me."

"I've been told I'm quite good at that," Louis remarks teasingly, earning a small smile from Harry's direction.

"Now can we get to the good stuff?" Harry whines, "I just spilled my guts about everything to your face while you literally laid on top of me–crotch-to-crotch, though I'm not sure if that was intentional–the entire time."

"Do you really want to have sex right now?" Louis asks, not a hint of judgment or sarcasm in his voice.

"Yeah." Harry pauses, looking at the clock. "Although it's kind of late." They both have dark eye bags and Louis can tell Harry is fighting consciousness as he further presses his face into Louis' chest.

"Raincheck?" Louis offers, noting how neither one of them are hard, even if Harry's a bit flustered by the accidental closeness of their dicks.

"Yeah, let's do that," Harry nods slowly, requesting that Louis come cuddle him by making grabby hands. Louis obliges swiftly, laying back on the mattress and wrapping his arms around Harry's slim waist.

"I'm not forgetting this offer, Lou. Don't think I won't be revisiting this, because I will."

"Oh, I'm sure. But for now, just close your eyes. You've had quite the day and you're in desperate need of sleep. I can see it in your eye bags."

Harry groans, rubbing his eyes self-consciously. But nonetheless, Louis feels Harry shift ever so slightly back into Louis' tough. "Goodnight, Lou."

Louis tightens his embrace at this, refusing to acknowledge the little fire in his chest at the nickname and how easily it rolls from Harry's tongue these days.

"Night, Curly. Sweet dreams."

"Sweet dreams," Harry repeats quietly before his eyes flutter shut and the soft sounds of his breathing begin to fill the nighttime air.

***

HELLO HAPPY HALLOWEEN!! what did everyone dress up as?

Thoughts or comments?

VOTE if you want more fluff and/or smut :)