Work Text:
It's funny how one action can change your entire life. We've all seen movies, perhaps some of us plays about it. Cautioning us that small actions lead to a big outcome, and some of us would like to believe we're cautious think of these small choices and take the steps in the right directions to get us where we want to be. Louis was aware of this today. Mostly because he was reading about a freak accident;A lady driving behind a semi had a pebble come out from one of the tires and hit just right so that it would go through her windshield and kill her. "If you think about it" the news reporter had said "She had to be going just the right speed, at just the right place behind the car, had to leave exactly on time, and hold the lane the way she was." and this had sent Louis into a tail spin of what the women had done that morning. Perhaps she was running late and instead of waiting the extra 3 minuets it took to wait for her coffee, she left. Maybe she had thrown something in the dryer last minuet because her child had spilt juice on her that morning making her late..Maybe she accepted a home phone call, or kissed her husband too quick. He checked out of the hotel he was staying in making sure to double check everything, if not only to just make sure he took the extra 3 minuets to get to work today.
Louis thought about calling his mother once he got to work, but then got overly worried about who he wouldn't have a conversation with if he did. His suit case wheels rolled happily along the airport terminal floor and Louis found he found a certain comfort to the sound. He was always moving and he liked that. Liam sped up and met him half way through the terminal.
"So this is your last shift before the break?" Liam asked mostly making conversation as they checked there boarding I.D.
"Yup. Home." Louis said thinking about the luxury of sleeping in his own bed for an entire week.
"Excited to see Eleanor? Oh no, wait! You would have to like her for that to happen!" Liam laughed teasing Louis as they made their way to the employee lounge.
"Don't you start" Louis said rolling his eyes as they entered the lounge and sat down on couches opposite of the coffee table. "You're just upset because nobody will be on your flights to keep you in check and they'll fire your ass without me." Liam stuck his tongue out at Louis before Louis got out of his seat and made his way to the coffee station and thought about Liam's comment however. He was right, Louis and Eleanor had been together so long that he wasn't quite sure what they were doing. But he was 24 who wanted to be done having kids by the end of his 30's and if this was an option wouldn't he be an idiot not to take it? He was planning on proposing to her in 4 months. On her birthday. Louis came back to the sofas and sprawled himself out on one of them and groaned putting his coffee on the table so he could throw his arms over his face.
"You alright sport?" Liam asked reaching across and taking a swig of Louis's coffee.
"What's the point of any of this Li? I know I might sound ridiculous but when I first got this job..I had a plan. Meet a cute flight attendant, fall in love, and travel the world. It wasn't hard to figure out for me. It was simple." Louis said crossing his ankles at the end of the couch now fully laying down.
"Louis, I thought you would never ask! I DO!" Liam mocked again now taking full owner ship of the cup of coffee.
"You're welcome for the coffee asshole." Louis said rolling his eyes. Liam set down the coffee and came around to look at Louis which Louis only peered up through his arms at before Liam jumped on him rolling both of them off the sofa in a fit of laughter. Before both settling down they lay on the floor in silence for a minuet as Louis thought about the time Liam had taken to get ready this morning and how thankful Louis was that he timed it right
"Yes I have thought about it. I thought about it the day we signed up, and met someone who met every requirement. That same somebody never called me back." Liam said sitting up resting his forearms on his knees, Louis sat up too arching an eyebrow at Liam before Liam stood up and offered Louis a hand. They made their way back to the couches shoving each other around a few times before sitting down. Louis looked around for a moment before his eyes landed on a pilot uniform, he took the time to soak the image in. He had long legs and a very lean torso, his short sleeved pilot uniform revealing tattoos littered across the man's arm that was, if Louis would say so very toned. Louis's eyes wandered up and down the arm allowing the veins to be traced with Louis's eyes before looking at his face. His face was defined and longer with brown curls piled on top of his head. From what he was seeing he might be flirting with the secretary which shot something through Louis as he looked at the boy's big blue eyes. Although he was mid 20's Louis remarked the boyish charm in him, and hoped that that's what most people thought hope looked like. He also found himself glad he had woken up on time this morning, nevertheless walked in after Louis was off the floor. For a second the boy looked around as if looking for something until his eyes landed on Louis making Louis gulp as the boy smiled and revealed dimples. Well that's just not fair; Louis thought to himself he can't have dimples as well. But he did.
He watched the boy proceed to the coffee station looking over his assets carefully before a snapping hand invaded his view and he was brought back to Liam.
"Lou!" Liam said for what Louis was guessing was not the first time. "Did you hear what I just said?" He asked as Louis looked at his friend blankly sneaking glances at the other boy.
"Of course I did.." Louis trailed off as the boy met with someone else giving them a welcoming smile. Should he go say hi? Is life setting his pebble in the road up?
"I said; the owner of delta airline's son is going to be on our flight." Liam said causing Louis to rip his eyes off the pilot.
"The hell? Think we could get a promotion? Does he work for Delta? Is he a passenger?" Louis asked trying to get details.
"Dunno heard he's an absolute ass though." A third party's voice said. Louis imagined swimming in dark chocolate when he heard it and allowed him to look at the boy behind Liam's couch slowly before looking at Liam again who had turned around to look at him.
"Harry Styles." The boy smiled charmingly shaking Liam's hand before reaching over to Louis who was more than hesitant to take it almost leaping away when a jolt of electricity went through his arm. Instead he smiled calmly and looked back at who apparently was Harry.
"Liam Payne" Liam spoke up "And Louis Tomilson" Liam said motioning to Louis as Harry rounded the couch to sit next to Louis. "You're our pilot today, aren't you?" Liam asked leaning back in the couch as Louis tried to sit up straighter.
"That I am, didn't know I'd be graced with the presence of Delta's son though.." Harry said as Louis snorted making the taller boy turn to look at him.
"If he comes from that much money I'm sure he's an ass." Louis scoffed causing Harry to arch an eyebrow.
"He could be good enough looking to balance the two." Harry laughed making Louis grow hot as it did every time his friends brought up looking at boys.
"Oh come on it's funny!" Harry laughed nudging Louis's shoulder sending shocks through Louis again as he stood up abruptly.
"Looks don't matter; I'm sure he's a complete ass I need to kiss ass too because I need the money. Whatever he fucking wants he probably fucking gets." Louis said taking his frustration out on someone who didn't deserve it. He looked at Harry one last time a shocked and amused look on his face before storming out and calling Eleanor.
He got on the plane before anyone else; he usually did. Another reason Louis would avoid a pebble in a road. He set up drink carts listening to the not so quiet hum of the airplane as the TV's on the front of the seat flashed different colors at him with words he looked at but didn't read. He got himself a sprite before going half way down the plane to row N and sitting down before two voices filled the plane.
"I haven't flown in 3 weeks Zayn. 3." Louis picked up on Harry's dark chocolate voice right away.
"If you would just listen-" The other voice said as they stepped onto the plane and Louis stole glimpses of both of them. The other boy was tall and sharp looking everything from his black hair to his jaw sharp, his pilot pants having iron creasing marks in the back.
"I listened. You cheated." Harry scoffed through clenched teeth. They both moved to the cock pit talking over each other as Liam got on the plane before looking up at the cockpit and then bolting back. Louis stood up and went to the front of the plane as he watched both men bicker.
"BOTH of you, shut up." Louis interrupted as the boys looked at him. As much as Harry was trying to hide it from what seemed both of the men in the room it was clear to Louis that Harry was broken causing his annoyance to spike. "Mr.Malik" Louis started reading the sharp boys name tag. "Go take a walk. Cool off. You have a plane to fly." He directed and although hesitant and staring at Harry the boy eventually left as Harry collapsed on the seat. Louis stood by the seat as he watched Harry run his hands over his face, Louis realized he liked looking at before slumping his shoulders in defeat his hands shaking profusely.
'If my dad found out he'd never let me fly again." Harry said simply grasping onto the wheel so tight his knuckles turned white. Louis hesitantly put his hands on Harry's causing Harry to look up at him as he took them off the wheel into his hands.
"Who's gonna tell him? hm?" Louis said keeping his voice soft as he tried to wrap Harry in his support. The air thickened but Louis didn't mind, because it wasn't awkward it was safe and from what Louis felt life changing.
"Theres always something in it for someone. Word will get out." Harry said throwing his head back looking up at the ceiling as Louis rubbed his thumb over the boys hands.
"Well I won't tell, hell I'll write a letter of recommendation if it helps." Louis laughed causing Harry to chuckle at least a little bit.
"I'm usually not this ridiculous you know?" Harry said turning now to face Louis as their hands stayed together causing both of them to smile.
"Neither am I but I have some ass kissing to do, and I'll look more than ridiculous." Louis said removing his hands ignoring the cold feeling that suddenly filled him.
"I can guarantee you won't." Harry smiled before Louis walked out of the cock pit and Zayn walked back in.
The flight from JFK to California was going smoothly and they were about an hour from landing as Louis went to the back to talk with a few of the Stewardess's talking about Harry.
"Well we almost dated." A girl named Laura spoke up, Louis decided to give this comment validation by turning to her and smiling as she shrugged her shoulders before going on.
"He's bi right? And he broke up with his boyfriend before the flight we were working on together so I bought him a drink and we talked, and talked, and I think he liked me. For awhile we were on and off before he realized I knew who he was." Laura laughed. Louis looked at her confused before she opened her mouth in shock.
"You mean YOU DON'T KNOW?" She said pulling Louis closer to her. "He's Mr.Miller's son. Son of Delta airlines himself." She divulged making Louis feel sick. He felt the color leave his face before he heard a voice come through the curtains.
"Hey Louis" He started making Louis turn around to see Zayn. "Have you seen Liam?" he asked as Louis looked around the corner to see Liam at the emergency exit shaking his head furiously no.
"Yeah bathrooms up front." He smiled as Zayn took the lead and left as Louis rounded the corner.
"He's the person I was talking about." Liam said pacing back and forth.
"What are you.." Louis asked before being cut off.
"The one I told you never called? The perfect one?" Liam asked still pacing before Louis placed the pieces together.
"Wait Li...are you?" Louis started to ask before Liam sat down in the seat for the crew.
" I don't know Louis. Does it matter? I like him that's all I know." He said putting his head in his hands. Louis took a second to take it in before bending down and placing his hands on his knees causing Liam to look at him wiping away a tear or two that came out.
"Go talk to him, HE came looking for YOU remember?" Louis asked giving Liam a sad smile realizing Liam was one if not one of the many Zayn had cheated on Harry with. Liam looked unsure so Louis spoke up again.
"Yell at him, fuck him, do whatever you want but avoid him. You can't do that forever right?" He asked as Liam stood up nodding his head. Louis watched from the back of the plane as Liam walked to the front even though turning around for encouragement every so often. Louis watched as Liam tapped Zayn on the shoulder as they turned around to the food and drink section and disappeared from view.
The rest of the flight went as expected with few interruptions outside of Louis's constant anxiety over seeing Harry and apologizing to him and his future pay check. Louis sighed as the plane descended and they all stood in front of the plane his eyes wandering to Liam and Zayn as well as Harry, Harry's eyes seemingly alternating through the two as well. After everyone exited Harry returned to the cock pit and Zayn followed soon after him as Liam made his way over to Louis at the back of the plane as they cleaned uo what little trash was left.
"So?" Louis asked after they were alone on the plane sitting in row N, his favorite, as Liam joined him.
"Well he cheated on his boyfriend for me, thats why he didn't call. I can't trust him can I?" Liam asked looking defeated.
"I'm sure thats not all he said....spill Liam." Louis pushed as his friend and him looked at the flashing colors on the TV instead of each other.
"He said when you know you know. And he knew about me and knew he needed to break up with his boyfriend. So he did and then tracked me down on this plane to talk to me..." Liam said pausing every two words as if he needed to process it himself. Louis listened intently as Liam went on in detail about how they met how they were both off call and neither of them said anything about even going there, just about how right it all felt and how wrong Liam knew it was but how that was somehow very very exciting. Louis and Liam stood up after awhile and Liam headed off the plane not waiting for Zayn as Louis headed towards the cock pit.
"I wasn't on this plane for you." Zayn explained as Louis peered through the door as he saw Zayn's hand on Harry's face.
"Well neither was I." Harry answered back coldly but Louis knew it was because Harry felt stupid for thinking Zayn cared. Louis felt the pain for him.
"Hey but I'm glad-" Zayn started before Harry took a step away from him causing him to stop.
"Just go." Harry barely whispered. Louis watched Zayn take a few things as Louis made himself seem busy straightening things around as Zayn took long strides out of the airplane. Harry stepped out of the cockpit and walked over to Louis so close that they were practically touching before Louis made his way to another row.
"Hey" Harry said after a minuet.
"So I said a few things about Delta what's his face's son." Louis said awkwardly rubbing his arm that Harry seemed to be watching intently.
"Oh yeah? Figure out who it is?" Harry asked joking mostly but he heard the underlying stress in his voice as he rubbed the back of his neck.
"Mr. Styles, How can I apologize? Please don't fire me." Louis almost pleaded with the taller boy he enjoyed staring at. Harry gave a small chuckle that almost sounded sad to Louis as he allowed himself to sit down a row in front of Louis.
"Mr. Styles what happened to Harry?" Harry practically scoffed making Louis cringe.
"Well understand what position I'm in.." He tried to reason with the boy that he was sitting behind.
"Oh I do, that's why I-" He started but didn't finish the sentence despite Louis's silence.
"What can I do?" Louis asked after awhile of them both sitting there.
"Well I need some extra help are you willing to help with that?" Harry said sounding more cheerful making Louis smile as he stood up and moved to the aisle to look down at Harry.
"Yes." He smiled and got a smile back from Harry.
"And as far as business I have to attend during lay overs will you help me with that? Paid of course." Harry said arching an eyebrow.
"Yes." He smiled shaking his head a little faster as Harry stood up as they stood nearly nose to nose.
"Let's go then." Harry smirked as they got off the plane and got our baggage.
Louis didn't mind when they stopped for overpriced coffee at the air port or when Harry took the long way to get to the terminal. He didn't even know what they were talking about at this point all he knew was Harry. Harry Harry Harry. That's all he ever wanted to know, ever since Eleanor everything had felt like it was coming to an end but this felt like a beginning. A promise. As Louis and Harry stood talking on the escalator and pausing at the near bottom Louis knew he didn't want to say goodbye, he was oddly excited for their business endeavors. He looked at Harry whom was nervously looking at the ground and biting his lip that practically made Louis beam.
"Ask me to do something." Louis pushed as Harry looked up with a beautiful expression of excitement. Louis looked over to his right for only a moment as Eleanor rushed towards him giving her a long hug. Louis's eyes remained on the taller boy and older as he had found out with watchful eyes, but Harry looked back at him with what he believed could only be the eyes he used while flying or talking to his father. Indifferent. He was looking at the situation with indifference and it scared the hell out of Louis. Louis turned to look at Eleanor before she smashed her lips onto his as he closed his eyes trying to show Harry he was happy. Because Eleanor and him had been together forever, because he was going to ask her to marry him. Because there was nothing else to do but show Harry they could only be friends. He pulled away ready to introduce Harry to El, but he was half way down the terminal about to walk out the sliding door.
Fine then.