for love

“Before we begin, we unfortunately must discuss payment.” Louis nods, and looks at Harry. Harry just blinks back. “Payment,” Louis prompts, and Harry squints. “I’m paying,” he says, not a question, resigned to his fate. “I don’t carry cheques, or much cash.” Niall nods. “I take credit cards,” he says, and Louis’s head jerks up. “You do?” “I do. It’ll be £200 for the hour.” He’s going to buy Niall so many beers. Or maybe just one, since Niall is now £200 richer. “Now. What brings you here?” Louis looks to Harry, because he’d love to hear what Harry’s answer to that one is. Harry looks around, alarmed, and then stutters. “Erm, I think it’s because I let a plant die?” Niall tilts his head, but makes a note on the pad of paper in his lap. “You don’t sound so sure, Harry.” Harry looks to Louis, who shakes his head. “It was your suggestion, you answer the man.” “Louis, you sound hostile,” Niall says, and Louis glares. Harry mutters something under his breath. “I’m sorry, Harry, what was that?” “I just said that he does that a lot.” “I’m sorry, I do what a lot?” Louis turns his glare on Harry. He’s getting into it now. “Sound hostile.” “Hostile?” Louis says, raising his voice shrilly. Here we go. “I’m hostile? Well how can I not be hostile when you’re so dismissive?” “Dismissive?” Harry asks, and he looks so insulted Louis wants to high five himself. “Do you hear how dismissive he is?” Louis asks Niall, who is nearly vibrating with silent laughter at this point, his face schooled in a totally serene expression. “Let’s calm it down, please. This is a safe space. Harry, Louis has expressed some concern that you’re dismissive of him. What would you like to say to that?” Harry seems to be gathering himself, a line of tension down his side where Louis’s pressed against him. “I would like to say that that’s not true.” “I know why he’s dismissive, he’s ashamed of me,” Louis blurts, latching onto an argument he’s heard from friends in shitty relationships. “Oh no,” Niall says, poking a finger at his glasses and looking distressed. Harry flings up his hands. “That’s not true.” “He doesn’t want me to meet his family,” Louis says, and pouts. “Harry, do you want Louis to meet your family?” Louis feels a clutch of panic in his chest. Niall smiles sweetly, and Louis clenches his fists on his knees. He nearly topples over from surprise when Harry says, “If that’s what he wants then I’d love for him to meet my family. We can drive down to Holmes Chapel tomorrow, stay the weekend.” “I … what?” “That sounds magical,” Niall says, his accent almost slipping, voice wobbling slightly. He presses his lips together and Louis takes back the beer he’d been thinking of buying Niall. He’s going to make Niall buy him a beer instead. Or better, a ridiculously expensive meal and a couple of fancy cocktails.

for an emotional scene, how do you get into that mindset? [x] just suppress your emotions for 30+ years and it's really easy to get into.