━━━━  · 。ﾟ☆ .☽ .* ☆ﾟ. ━━━━

(adj.) highly ornamented
or elaborate

A MAJORITY OF THE SCHOOL HAD GONE ON HOLIDAY WHEN LOUIS WOKE UP THE NEXT MORNING. It was four days until Christmas and it would be the first one he'd be spending it without his mother by his side and his sixteenth without his father—although he didn't care much for the latter. It would be a strange experience, no doubt, all foreign and the like, almost stranded and by his lonesome at a magical school if it weren't for a platinum-haired boy with whom he had shared a kiss the night prior.

Replaying the event in his head, Louis came to realize that the kiss had been of a different kind, not much like any of the ones he had beforehand. There had almost been a sense of desperation to it, a sort of neediness, some sort of feeling that there was something Draco had been holding in for Merlin knows how long. It hadn't been just a kiss, not exactly, at least that was what Louis had thought when he had made his way to bed that night after fighting the urge to get up. He could still feel the underlying bittersweetness of it as he had had the best sleep in months, a small smile pulling at the corner of his lips. The second and third kiss between them had been a little less desperate and instead an establishment of some sort, a silent confession, words need not be spoken.

I like you.

And I, you.

They had never really confessed any of their feelings up until that point—save for the many moments where things had slipped between them when they had meant to keep those behind their teeth—not needing to say anything. The smile Louis had worn had given it away, that same one he had had on at dinner that first night, a signifier. It had been a while since anyone had seen him smile like that after that night, so for Draco to be the first one, it had to mean something.

Hogwarts was as pretty and magical at Christmas as Louis would have guessed. The Great Hall was lined with fir trees, all decorated with baubles and fairy lights and bits of snow from outside that would soon melt off from the fire. Louis stood in the doorway, dressed in his grey hoodie, a pair of fitting joggers, and his Quidditch socks, in awe of it all, secretly wondering why he had never asked to stay over the holiday break. Despite the dreary and gloomy feeling that stuck to Louis's chest whenever he looked out of the window, it was still all so truly wonderful.

Before Louis could even think about eating, there was a pull on his gut, kicking at him. Following his instincts, he made his way to the library, not really sure what he'd find, assuming that Draco wouldn't be up at this hour. He went anyway, hoping that his gut wouldn't lead him astray, filling his heart with empty promises. Timidly pushing the door open, as though he were entering new territory for the first time, he walked in, scanning the vicinity for anything different and finding none. Then, his eyes landed on a head of familiar platinum blond hair connected to a body that was sprawled across the couch in front of the fireplace, chest moving up and down in a lulling rhythm, a sign that Draco had been sleeping.

Slowly, Louis made his way to the couch, careful not to wake him, wondering what he had been doing here all night. He was wearing the same clothes he had been the night prior, letting Louis know that Draco had never truly gone to bed.

"You're staring," Draco muttered, not bothering to open his eyes as he stirred.

"I'm not staring," Louis retorted, like clockwork, "Have you been here the rest of the night?" He then bent down, crouching to be eye level with him.

Draco stirred once more before replying. "I couldn't bring myself to go to bed. So I slept here."

"How did they not kick you out?"

"You're not the only one with special library privileges." Draco opened his eyes blearily, coming face to face with those irises that had been burned into the back of his head for quite some time now.

"I see." The corners of Louis's mouth quirked into a small smile, ducking his head before coming back up to meet Draco. "Why couldn't you go to bed?"

Draco shrugged nonchalantly, sitting up and rubbing a hand down his face to get any remnants of sleep that still clung there. "Too tired, I guess."

"Draco, the dungeons are in the other direction. You couldn't have been that tired."

"Fine." Draco sighed, "You caught me. I guess I just needed room to think and I ended up here."

"Oh." Louis wasn't sure if he could fully address it without freaking Draco out. "Was it because of what happened last night?"

Draco nodded wordlessly.

"Did it scare you?"

"Terribly."

Louis nodded, taking it in and treading slowly, trying not to push Draco in the wrong direction. "Is it all right if I ask you something?"

"You technically did, but go ahead."

Louis gave Draco a look before sitting down on the floor due to his legs beginning to cramp up. Heaving a sigh, he asked, "Did. . .was the kiss just. . .a kiss to you? And I know it sounds stupid when I ask like that but there was something about it that made me think there was more to it."

"It's you," Draco blurted. Louis's eyes widened a bit, taken aback, searching for something to respond with but Draco went on. "It was always you. From the very moment we met up until now. It was always about you. You're the reason I sought you out because I didn't know how to deal with my own feelings about you. You scare me, Louis. I don't think I've felt this way about anyone and that's terrifying."

"I. . .I scare you?" Louis questioned, not quite able to wrap his head around any of it, still processing the confession. He didn't know if he had done anything to torment the boy so he wasn't sure if he was deserving of being told that he was scary.

"Don't laugh," Draco scoffed and Louis was quick to grab onto his hand with both of his, rubbing the back with his thumb, soothing.

"No, no, I'm not laughing," Louis defended, smiling softly, "I just didn't think that I'd be the one to scare you, is all."

Draco sighed, weary, as though the hours of sleep he had gained were suddenly lost on him. "I like you, Louis." It was in the way he said it, a verbal embodiment of a weight lifting itself off of that desolate ribcage of his, the serpent that wove through his chest and stole him of his breath finally beginning to let go.

"And I, you," Louis said it so calmly, so surely as though he had already made up his mind.

"How can you be so sure of that? I could hear it in your voice. It sounded so— "

"Unwavering?" Louis quirked up a brow at Draco, going to sit next to him on the couch, smirking slightly, still having yet to let go of his hand. "It's because I knew, essentially. When you came to me that night, you trusted me enough, someone you barely knew, to talk about something as big as this."

"You were the only person I could talk to."

"And yet, you still asked. Sure, I had a few moments where I thought differently but it wouldn't have been fair to you."

"Why are you so nice to me?" Draco questioned, eyebrows creased.

Louis returned the look and asked, "How do you mean?"

"I went to you looking for help and you could've easily said 'no', me being myself and all. Why didn't you? Because I've been nothing but— "

"Incorrigible?" Louis guessed and Draco gave him a look before letting him continue. "As I said, it wouldn't have been fair. I saw the same thing in you as I did in me when I first went through this: a nervous wreck. I'd probably still be getting nowhere if I hadn't gone to. . ." Louis trailed, bowing his head, his hand stilling for a moment.

"Lupin," Draco sighed, finishing Louis's sentence for him. Louis nodded solemnly before beginning to experiment and slowly intertwining his hand with Draco's, who took in a sharp breath as he watched the action. They looked on at their intertwined hands before both looking up at the other, staring. Not as if to see who would look away first, however, simply taking in the other's presence, flushed cheeks from the winter air and all. The sky and the sea, intertwined.

Louis slowly reached up a hand, holding the side of Draco's neck and Draco let out a hiss, clasping onto Louis's hand with his at the feeling.

"Your hands are cold," Draco commented, wincing, nose scrunching, still staring.

"Sorry."

"No, you're not."

"Maybe I am."

"You're staring."

And for the first time, Louis was. "I am," he said, "I'm not observing, I'm not gazing, I am simply withholding eye contact with someone brave enough to admit that they're scared. It takes a lot for someone to do that."

Draco felt himself leaning in, ever so slowly, that similar pull Louis always had on him beginning to tug on him once he was within his orbit. Louis was about to reciprocate until they were interrupted by the sound of a stomach growling.

Resting his forehead against Draco's, Louis apologized, laughing a bit. "Sorry. I hadn't eaten yet. I was going to, but apparently, I had something else in mind."

"Why didn't you eat and then come find me later?"

"I wouldn't think you'd still be here after I'd be done."

The steely grey in Draco's eyes had gone soft again. "You'd find me. You'd always know where to find me. That's what you're best at."

"I suppose I am," Louis agreed, leaning away, "although looking for the good in people has gotten me into trouble sometimes."

"What makes you say that?"

"Remember when I said that all the people that I get to know and love eventually leave? I, supposedly, tried to find the good in all of them and it all bit me in the arse in the end. I've tried not to blame myself for it but it's been hard. Having a track record like that makes it difficult to deny."

"And what about me?" Draco asked, "Have you tried finding the good in me?"

Louis took a moment before shaking his head. "As much as I wanted, something told me not to."

"Why not?"

"I figured you'd be able to do it yourself. You know, sort through all the rights and wrongs you've made in your life and try to make peace with what's left and see where you end up. All I am is a mere stepping stone. You needed help, I helped you, everything else came after. I honestly never expected myself to fall for you."

"That would make two of us." Draco laughed dryly before going silent, anything he was going to say next dying on his tongue. He slowly tugged Louis into him, a partial death grip on his hoodie, however not like the one from the night prior, sliding his hands up to Louis's face before pausing a moment—due to the reason that his chest was thrumming wildly at the thought of what he was about to do—before leaning in and pressing a soft kiss to Louis's mouth, tentative, languidly drawing it out before pulling away. "Thank you."

"No need to thank me, Draco."

"No, really," Draco insisted firmly, his grip tightening before loosening, "thank you. I would probably half dead by now if it weren't for you."

Louis smiled at him before pressing a kiss to Draco's forehead and then moving down and pressing a kiss to the tip of his nose. He then hovered over his mouth, teasing. "Now, come on. I'm starving and pretty sure all the good food is gone by now."

Draco let the breath he had been holding out as a groan. "You said that last time."

"Ah, seems like you've built yourself a habit of being the roadblock between me and food, then." Louis got up off the couch before Draco had a chance to attack him for the silly jab.

Draco pulled at his shirt, deciding to ignore what Louis had said. "I'm still in last night's clothes."

"Then change. Or. . ." Louis trailed, thumbing the material of his hoodie. "I mean, if you want, you can wear my hoodie." He was swift in tugging it off before he could change his mind—leaving him in his shirt and joggers—and tossing it to Draco. "Feel free to take it or leave it, but I'm not waiting on you." He then made his way out of the library and to the Great Hall, leaving Draco to contemplate whether or not he wanted to wear the garment, taken by surprise at how domestic he's already gotten.

Considering that a majority of the school was gone, Draco pulled the hoodie on, instantly aware of the warmth that began to cling to him as he thumbed the material. He took a moment to sit and realize that he was now wearing someone else's clothes. Not one of his own shirts or even his father's old dress robes, but in a hoodie that came from someone who didn't think twice about handing it over to him. The sweatshirt was a little big on him and the sleeves fell over his hands, almost swallowing him despite Louis only being two inches taller. It really was quite a comforting thing, physically and metaphorically. Louis was comfort personified that extended into everything he said and did and that alone made Draco fall harder.

Louis was already halfway through a bowl of cereal when Draco showed up. The Great Hall was empty, save for Louis who was sitting at what was considered the Ravenclaw table but was now a free for all since no one else was here.

"You really meant it when you said that you weren't waiting on me, huh?" Draco joked as he slid into the seat across from Louis. "You suppress your appetite for, what, fifteen minutes and you eat like you haven't had a meal in years."

"Hunger can do ravenous things to a person," Louis responded before slurping down the milk and slamming the bowl down in success, releasing a burp as a result because he had eaten too quickly. "Excuse me."

"Even after all of that, you still manage to sound like a gentleman. How do you do it?"

"Duality, I guess?" Louis nodded his head towards his hoodie. "I see you've decided to take me up on my offer. Looks good."

"It's comfortable," Draco noted, trying his best to be nonchalant and ignoring the compliment despite his face beginning to flush, "warm."

"That would be because it's so worn in. I've had it for years and I've finally grown into it. It was my father's. He left it behind for me to have."

"Why do you still have it if he left? And why a hoodie, of all things? Not very sentimental, if you ask me."

Louis shrugged. "Spite, I guess. Lets me know that I'm still capable of being loved, even after they've left. Makes me feel less of a liability."

"How do you not break your own heart when you say things like that?"

"I've said it too many times—written it too many times—for it to actually hurt this time around."

Draco nodded, slowly reaching his hand across the table and intertwining his hand with Louis's. Louis raised their tangled hands and pressed a kiss to Draco's knuckles, sending a rosy rush to his face. "You're a romantic," Draco realized, "you do know that, right?"

"As I've been told. Not by many, but I've been told. Must be from all the writing I've been doing. And my high expectations that I'm not willing to admit."

"What have you written?"

"A lot. Too much for me to remember it all. But I do remember venting a lot when I was younger because I couldn't control all of my teenage anger. I don't think I've ever written a love letter before." As soon as that last part left his mouth, Louis remembered the note he had written while he had been curled under the moonlight when the inspiration had struck, the one he had gone on to pour his heart and half his soul into.

"Really now?" Draco raised a curious brow.

Louis nodded, resting their hands on the table and rubbing his thumb over Draco's. "But we'll get there when we get there."

We'll get there when we get there.

𝐀𝐔𝐓𝐇𝐎𝐑❜𝐒 𝐍𝐎𝐓𝐄 .｡.:*

agh ! big apologies for the late update ! i think burn out finally caught up to me lol

but i did realize how much i missed them while i was writing so that's gotta count for something

n.e. way, so anything i said about not being sappy yet ? out the window. soft content before it inevitably gets worse 🤠 i'm not gonna tell you when because i want you to enjoy this before we get there. also this was lowkey a filler to bridge into the christmas content and louis's birthday and maybe a date(?) before heading back into our previously scheduled school content and angst™‬

tell me what you thought ! what you liked, anything confusing i can help clear up, something that made you wanna scream and throw your phone into the wall, tell me all of it !