The rain pelted down against the windowpane, the ivy that crawled up the wall outside swaying dangerously in the wind.

This weather wasn't unusual, after all, they were in England, but Louis still felt forever grateful that he had somewhere warm to hide from such awful weather.

He tore his eyes away from the window, smiling pitifully at the couple who were trying to work up the courage to face the storm. They gave him a tight smile back as he took their glasses and the tiny metal bucket he liked to serve chips in.

He took them to the kitchen behind the bar, leaving them in the sink to wash up later.

Walking back out, he began to whistle to himself, stopping when he almost bumped into a sopping wet figure.

"Shit, sorry." He immediately went to apologise. "Can I help you with anything?"

The man dropped his hood, taking off his gloves and running his hand through his somehow soaking hair. Louis's breath immediately caught in his throat. He knew the gods were angry- the weather could obviously be blamed on them- but he didn't quite know what he'd done for them to come down to earth.

"Yeah, um, is this the Golden Inn?" He furrowed his brow, "sorry, I couldn't see the sign through the rain."

"Yeah, yeah. You have the right place."

"Perfect, um, I was told you would probably have spare vacancies?"

"Well, I do, but the ones in here are currently are full. I've got two rooms left but they're in my house. Is that alright? It's just through that door there." Louis nodded to an old oak door.

The man- or god- nodded, "that'll be alright."

"You can always change to a room in here when someone leaves if you want."

"Yeah, maybe."

"Alright, how long are you staying?"

"Um, a while probably." He offered, not very helpfully, "until I'm brave enough to leave really." He muttered, more to himself than to Louis.

"Well, do you wanna pay per week? It'll be easier."

"Okay."

"Alright, food is included in the price. May I ask your name?"

"Harry Styles."

"Alright." Louis repeated, scribbling it down. Harry Styles, he was definitely of a higher power. "I'm Louis Tomlinson. Do you want a tour? There's not much to see so I expect you'll see it all within the first day anyway."

"I'm alright thanks."

"Okay, I'll just give you a quick run through with this thing." Louis crouched down, rummaging through the paper under the bar. He soon found what he was looking for- a plan of the inn and his house from above. "So this is my room." He pointed to one at the end of the corridor, "there's an en suite in all of the rooms except mine, so there's a bathroom at the end of the corridor you can use as well. The living room, dining room and kitchen are downstairs."

Harry nodded, his brow still furrowed.

"There's a garden out back, not massive but a decent size, and then through that door," he pointed to the oak door again, "you can get in here. There's a sign on the other side as well so don't worry."

"Okay, thank you." Harry gave Louis a small smile, taking the key that Louis slid across to him.

"You can leave one of your bags down here if you want. I'll bring it up. Choose whichever room you fancy, I'll knock on them all to see which you're in."

Louis watched as the man-god scurried off. He didn't seem to talk much, however Louis supposed it could just be the fact that he was completely drenched and most likely borderline hypothermic.

He shrugged slightly to himself, taking a tray of drinks to the family in the corner. He smiled at the little girl, pulling a funny face to make her laugh before making his way to an armchair in the corner and settling down into it, opening a book as he waited for any new customers.

The inn was often pretty quiet when the weather was so horrible, people not wanting to leave the safety of their houses or accomodation.

Yet there were always a couple of locals who liked to visit every day- Mr Morris for example, an old man who would turn up most mornings and drink til noon. Louis had learned by now that he didn't talk often, so he didn't bother him.

Louis waited for the last person to leave, locking the door behind them.

//

"Alright?" Louis turned his head to the doorway as he heard footsteps.

"Yeah." The gravelly voice came back, and oh, it was Harry.

"I'm just lighting the fire then I'll make dinner. Anything you're allergic to or don't eat? The other guests all go out for dinner. You're welcome to go out if you want."

"Think I'll stay. I don't want to go out in the storm. And I'm not allergic to anything, I don't eat meat often though."

"I can do meat free stuff if you'd prefer it."

"Are you sure it's not too much of a bother?"

"No, no. Course not." Louis turned his attention back to the fire, placing more wood in it before setting it alight.

Harry was now dressed in a brown knitted jumper and beige trousers with brown fluffy socks.

Louis observed the way he played with the many rings on his hands when talking to someone, he was definitely shy.

"So, is a vegetable casserole okay? I've got veggie sausages."

Harry gave a small nod, tracing his finger along the books in the shelf behind him.

"So, what brought you here?" Louis asked, trying to make conversation.

"Seemed nice." Harry shrugged. "Obviously not the best weather now though."

"Yeah, don't worry. It's not always like this, when it's not pissing it down it's pretty nice. Especially when it's crispy, and in summer."

"I don't know if I'll be here in summer."

"Well, if you can you should stay. It's lovely. Oh, have I already told you that there's a fireplace in your room? Well, I'm sure you would've seen anyway, but if you want it lit, just come and fetch me."

"Alright."

"Right, I'll take your bag up then I'll get started on dinner. Any particular drinks you want?" Louis stood up, stretching out his legs.

"I'll have whatever you already have here."

Louis gave him a thumbs up, grabbing Harry's bag and taking it up. "Wait, Harry, I've realised if I knock you won't answer so which room are you in?"

"Um, the one to the right."

"The one next to mine?"

"I think so."

"Alright, I'll just leave it on the floor next to your other one."

He didn't get a response to that so just left it where he said. He began to hum to himself as he made his way to the kitchen, beginning to make dinner.

He was looking forward to getting to know Harry, though he had a feeling it may take a while.