Chapter Text
He knows he's shaking the camera too much, can tell from where he's looking through the viewfinder. He's giggling like mad because Louis' pulling a funny face and Louis' always known how to make him smile. Even when the situation doesn't allow it.
"Lou quit!" Harry says through his giggles. "I can't keep it straight when you're doing that."
"Right, right. Sorry, love. Let's try again, yeah?" Louis schools his features into something that more closely resembles serious, but Harry can't help giggling again. Louis throws his hands up in fake exasperation and quirks his eyebrow at Harry. "You can't blame me for that one! I was being good!"
Harry tries to hold his giggles in but he breaks into another fit before covering his mouth with one of his hands, making the camera tilt and Louis' figure go crooked. Louis' leaning back against his old Camaro, one ankle crossed in front of the other. He's wearing his favorite button down and Harry's favorite trousers. He's got his braces on, the left one falling slightly, and his hairs up in the same quiff he used to always wear.
Louis has the softest expression on his face when Harry finally gets ahold of himself and pulls the camera back up again, looks through the viewfinder. "I love you, so much," he says. The emotion is clear on his face and Harry feels like maybe that part shouldn't have been filmed, but their love has always been obvious to everyone.
Harry knows he's blushing down to his chest, but Louis still makes him giddy and flustered even after 5 years. "I love you, too, Lou," he says in a hushed voice. The smile on his husbands face is blinding, his eyes crinkling, and Harry can't help but fall in love that much more.
They just stare at each for a minute, silly smiles on their faces, before Louis shakes his head and looks down, rolls his lips into his mouth to try and hide how fond he is. When he looks up, he's got his "serious" face on again and he signals at Harry to continue, says, "Alright, I'm actually ready now."
"Okay, let's do this." Harry clears his throat for added effect, then says in a mock newscaster voice, "please tell the folks your name, sir?"
Louis' got a stupid smirk on his face, but he plays along anyways. "Louis Tomlinson."
"Yes, thank you. And, Mr. Tomlinson, why are you here today?"
"Well you see, my husband is a tit and told me it was a good idea." At Harry's frown Louis sighs and says, "because we have to talk about what I did. How I got you." He looks down at the floor to keep his emotions at bay. Harry's heart hurts.
Harry hums softly, "Do you wanna start at the beginning then? The good bit?"
"Our beginning? Or the beginning, beginning?"
"The second one, I think. Would make more sense."
Louis looks up at him thoughtfully, then steps closer and grabs Harry around the waist, pulls him into his chest. He takes the camera out of Harry's hand and leans them back against the hood of his Camaro. Louis adjusts the camera till he thinks it's on both of them (really it's cutting off part of Louis' head, but shows Harry tucked into his side fully).
"You gotta tell it, baby. I wasn't there for that bit." Harry looks up at Louis and frowns, but it's quickly turned into a soft smile when Louis bends down and kisses the frown off his lips.
"Alright, yeah. I'll start," Harry says and tucks his head into Louis' neck before going back to the beginning.
*****
Harry's sure his eyes are the size of saucers as they pull up into the space next to their tent. He's got his face pressed against the window glass, much like a kid, as he surveys the surrounding area.
"Wow," Nick says from beside him, voicing his own thoughts. "I don't know if we really understood what we're getting ourselves into." Harry makes a noise of agreement but gets out of the car anyways. He's excited, even if he is so overwhelmed he's nearly shaking.
Nick had gotten them tickets to the first festival that was coming to Leeds and Harry had jumped at the offer. Literally. He had jumped up so fast from his couch that he banged his knee on the underside of the coffee table. It still smarts a bit, but it was definitely worth it, he thinks.
One of Nick's friends was going originally, but work had pulled him to New York so he gave the tickets away. Everything was already paid for and set up, which is why they're currently standing in front of a tent that is far too large to have been in their price range. All they had to do was get themselves here, and they were more than willing. Leeds is only a couple hours from where their flat is, and this is definitely, definitely worth it.
They look at the tent for a moment before turning and surveying the rest of the campground. The shows don't even start for another few days, but some people have already been camping for days. It's only just the beginning, and they can already see hundreds of tents lining the campsite. In the distance they can see a couple of the stages, but they're really too far to make out anything other than the fact that yes, they are stages.
Harry's so, so overwhelmed but he's too excited to think about it. There are so many of his favorite bands playing and so many people he could become friends with. He's fairly certain people are here for more than that, but he's not. Not really.
He looks over to Nick and finds him already looking at him, the same twinkle in his eyes that's no doubt mirrored in his own. They stare at each other for a few more seconds before breaking out into a fit of excited giggles.
Nick claps Harry on the back and says through a blinding smile, "I'm gonna go check out what I'm dealing with." Harry may not be here looking for a hookup, but Nick definitely is. It doesn't matter, though, because nothing can ruin this for him.
He watches Nick walk away until he gets lost in the throng of people and then crawls inside the tent. The tent looked spacious on the outside, but it's nothing compared to how it is inside. There are 2 sleeping bags laid out, one on each side of the tent with pillows at the top, but there's room for at least four more. The top and two of the sides are sheer, only covered in mosquito netting, while the other two sides and the floor are made of black nylon, the material scratching against his hand when he runs it along the floor.
With a final look around, Harry crawls out of the tent and walks to the boot of the car. He grabs both of their bags before shutting it fully and sliding the bags into the tent, then scooting in behind them. He tosses Nick's bag onto the sleeping back on the left, deciding he wants the right, and rummages through his bag.
They had been in such a rush to leave that Harry had just thrown everything he could find into his duffle. He's really hoping he didn't pack winter clothes 'cause his t-shirts already starting to stick to his back and his jeans are becoming more uncomfortable by the minute. He takes everything out carefully and lays all of his clothes and toiletries out in front of him with a thoughtful look on his face.
Harry's always been a bit of a neat freak, and the fact that he's in the middle of a campground in a tent doesn't change that. He grabs all his pant and folds them, sets the briefs in one pile and boxers in the other. Next he tackles the trousers; shorts, jeans, and a formal pair he's not sure why he brought. Then the hats, but he's only brought 3 so it's not too difficult. Finally, he does his shirts and ends up with 3 piles: tanks, tees, and sheer button downs he never thought would come in handy.
When he's set up his clothes and toiletries to his liking, he strips down to his pants and lies down on the sleeping bag. It's not the most comfortable thing in the world, but he's sure he'll get used to it quickly. And, if he doesn't, he could always sleep in the car. The sun's just reached the middle of the sky and for some reason he's knackered. He smooths down the sleeping bag, fluffs his pillow, and drifts off.
******
There's an incessant poking at the bottom of his foot. It's annoying, really, and he was having quite the lovely dream. The poking doesn't stop, though, so Harry whines and kicks out his foot. The offender bats his foot out of the way, so Harry peaks one eye open enough to glare at Nick.
Nick claps his hands together and smiles. "Told you he was awake," he says turning his attention to whoever's sitting next to him. Harry slides his eyes to the left and sees a man sitting in their tent puffing on a cigarette.
Harry's eyebrows pinch together as he takes in the guy's features. He has jet black hair and caramel coloured eyes. His cheekbones could probably cut glass and the smattering of stubble on his chin just accentuates his jaw line. He's got a wiry frame and there's a leather jacket falling over his shoulders. The collar of his shirt dips low revealing a smattering of tattoos. That coupled with the motorcycle boots and cigarettes between his teeth makes him the perfect image of what the parents don't want their children to turn out like.
Harry knows he a greaser, knows he shouldn't get caught up in what they do, but he can't help but feel interested in. He's pretty sure the fact that the man is beautiful probably has something to do with it.
He moves the cigarette between his teeth before lighting it and taking a long pull. "'M names Zayn," he says on the exhale. He's got a Yorkshire accent and Harry thinks it's beautiful.
Harry runs a hand through his curls and makes a feeble attempt at a wave. "I'm Harry," he introduces before turning to Nick. "Where'd you find him?"
Nick gives him a toothy grin. "He was wandering through our campsite and I couldn't help but stare. He noticed me and looking and came over to me. We're going on a date later."
Harry's eyebrows shoot up and he smirks lightly. "That's interesting. Thought it would take longer than that." The face Nick makes at him is worth the slight guilt he feels for saying something negatively. "You do know we're in the middle of nowhere right? How do you even plan on going on a date?"
Zayn lifts one of his shoulders slightly and watches the smoke billow out of his mouth. "Still got a few days till the music starts. There's a cantina somewhere on site, so I figure we'd go there or summat." He takes another pull off his cigarette before turning slightly and flicking it out of the tent. "M gonna go walk. Wanna come?"
Nick practically jumps in his excitement and scrambles to follow Zayn out of the tent. When Zayn cocks an eyebrow in his direction, Harry shakes his head. "Nah, I'm gonna wander by myself. See if there's anything interesting going on." Zayn nods his head and Harry watches while him and Nick disappear from the tent.