But… An Artsy! Harry and docent! Niall AU?
Like… Niall works as a docent on one of the well known museums in London for few years now, and he’s seen all the types of visitors there is? The curious ones, the ones who does it for the gram? And those who likes to, I don’t know, attach a piece of history and art for themselves?
He’s swear he’s seen it all, but one day, he saw a lanky lad walk in, dressed in oversized dungarees with paint splatters on it, nothing but a worn out journal in his hand. And…
Niall wouldn’t admit it, but he spent a fairly good hour just… watching the lad. The way he could simply stand in front of an art for five, ten minutes, silently. Scribbles in his journal for a bit, and then moves on to the next ones.
Niall won’t say he was enamoured, but the guy keeps coming back on, always doing the same thing, and Niall vaguely wonders if he ever thought of himself as art? Because really…
He’s only seen the man come up in the same pair of dungarees, his hair in a different style everytime he does, but Niall’s still left breathless, every single time.
The fifth time he comes back is when Niall approaches him. Subtly clears his throat as he comes up behind him, offers a soft “Can I help you?” to the other man, and as he looked, forest green eyes warmed his inside, further sealing Niall’s belief that the man himself is a work of art.
Harry, as he got to know his name, offered him a smile, and continued to ask about the piece, to which Niall happily talked about. This… This is something he’s good at, if only to hide the fact that he feels so overwhelmed with the mere presence of the other man. He keeps eye contact with Harry as he talks animatedly, his hands flails around because he’s fighting the urge to just… actually pull Harry to himself and hold him close.
Then Harry would quip a soft “You know your art.” to which Niall smiles, shrugs his shoulders as he says “I mean… I have to. Part of the job.” which earns him Harry’s laugh, further pulling Niall into the deep abyss of infatuation.
They spent talking for the entire time Harry was there, Niall offering his knowledge on a certain piece when Harry asks. Exchanging ideas on each item as they progress thru the whole museum.
And… Just before Harry leaves, he asks Niall if he ever wants to see another museum with him? “Just.. an hour drive away from here, I think?” he adds, and Niall, doesn’t want to seem eager, softly nods his head, throwing a cheery (way too cheery, he realizes belatedly) Sure! , earning him another one of Harry’s dimpled smile.
