"Ah, afternoon! I see you're awake." Louis smiled as Harry trudged into the kitchen, a hand rubbing his face.

"It does appear so, doesn't it?" Harry replied, behind cut off by a yawn halfway through.

"Do you want breakfast? Lunch, even? Brunch I suppose. Nah, it's after 1. I dunno what counts as brunch."

Harry shook his head, a small amused smile tugging at his lips. "I can get it."

"Ah ah, you're the guest."

"Don't you have other stuff to be doing?"

"No. Well I do, but I don't wanna go back out there."

"Why not?"

"This girl keeps flirting with me. She's like 20. And did I mention she's a girl? She and her friends have invited me to go clubbing with them in two days time. There aren't any clubs on the island, they're going to kidnap me, I swear! Please don't make me go back out there."

"You do realise you own this inn. You're the only one who works here. You can't just hide." Harry laughed, beginning to walk towards the door to the pub.

"What are you doing?"

"I'll keep you company for a while, just go and serve your customers."

Louis huffed, but followed Harry anyway. Harry sat down behind the bar, taking out a book which sat on a shelf beneath the bar surface.

He turned it to the front page, beginning to read but getting distracted at the loud giggles from one of the tables. Louis stood there awkwardly, looking- to be frank- like he was about to shrivel up.

As a girl stood up, her hand on his back beginning to slide down, Harry decided to intervene, taking a deep breath. He placed the book back, walking over quickly, "hey babe, sorry to interrupt but do you know where my jumper is? You know, the blue and white knitted one."

"The one you stole from me?" Louis tilted his, playing along.

"Yeah. I can't find it anywhere and you know it's my favourite." Harry pouted, taking Louis's hands in his, and the girl slowly removed her hand from Louis's back as though nobody would notice it was there in the first place.

"I'll come and help you look, hold on darling." He gave a small, awkward wave to the girls before following after Harry back into his house.

"You are a literal lifesaver! Thank you so much." Louis grinned, hugging Harry tightly.

Harry tensed up a bit, but quickly relaxed when he focused on the fact that it was Louis and not anyone else. "You're welcome. I'm pretty sure she was about to touch your arse."

Louis pulled away, making a face along with a fake gag. "Do you have a white and blue knitted jumper? Because I think now would be the time to dig it out and put it on."

"I don't." Harry winced.

"Well it's a good thing I do."

"You do?" Harry asked in surprise, "were you planning this?"

"I can't say I was. But I'll go and fetch it." Louis chuckled. "You don't have to keep it on long if you don't wanna, but just a little while so those girls leave me alone."

"Okay." Harry agreed easily, it probably sounded weird but Louis's house- and him obviously- smelled wonderful, so he wasn't really complaining about having to be surrounded by the comforting smell.

Louis went upstairs, rummaging through his drawers before finding the jumper and handing it to Harry.

"I think it will fit."

Harry pulled it on over his t-shirt, surprised that it was slightly loose. That must mean it was quite oversized on Louis.

"It fits." Harry confirmed.

"Come on then love." Louis chuckled, holding his hand out, "let's go put on a show."

"I'm not kissing you." Harry added quickly.

Louis just laughed and shook his head, "I wasn't gonna. Just hold my hand and lean on me a bit."

Harry nodded, taking Louis's hand as Louis led them back out where the girls were still laughing and giggling. As Louis and Harry sat down behind the bar, Harry glanced up, leaning against Louis slightly as one of the girls started to make their way over.

Louis allowed his arm to snake around Harry's back as he smiled awkwardly at the girl, "can I get you anything else?"

"Yeah, actually, how about your number?"

Harry's eyes widened as he looked down, trying to hide his laugh.

The girl just looked disgusted as she looked Harry up and down, "what's he laughing at?"

"Um, well, you see, I'm gay. This is my boyfriend." Louis snorted.

She continued to look Harry up and down before rolling her eyes.

"Well, that's a waste."

"Sorry? What?"

"You're both hot, it's a waste that you're gay."

"What?" Louis just laughed, "that's ridiculous. Go back to your friends, and if you're going to be rude or homophobic you can leave."

"Whatever." She rolled her eyes again as she strutted back to her friends.

"I don't like her." Harry stated.

"Neither. I hope they leave." Louis agreed.

"Do you often get homophobic people here?" Harry mumbled, closing his eyes for a second.

"Luckily not." Louis shrugged, "only really the lovely Mr French. A few tourists, but nobody who lives here."

"That's good. Not good about Mr French and the tourists, but good it's the minority."

"It is good." Louis nodded before looking up as the door opened. Harry sat up, stopping leaning against Louis.

"Hello!" Barbara grinned as she made her way over to the bar, a bunch of flowers in one hand, and a basket in the other.

She placed the basket down, settling on the stool. "Daffodils," she handed them to Louis, "and jam, wine and cake in the basket."

"Oh Barbara you legend." Louis beamed, standing up and giving her a one armed hug over the counter.

"Oh, let me guess, that's your girlfriend." The girl spat, and Louis's face contorted in confusion.

"God love, you really don't like being rejected, do you? I'm gay. Barbara is like a grandma to me."

"Whatever." She grumbled, "I don't know what you fags are into. You're all a waste of space, you deserve to fucking die."

Louis felt Harry physically flinch at that. "I think I'm gonna go next door."

"Of course, go on." Louis nodded, a feeling of concern washing over him as he watched Harry shuffle away. "I want you out." He pointed to the girl, "the rest of you can stay, but if you agree with her you can leave too. I don't tolerate that shit in my inn, and many other places don't. So try and get rid of that fucked up mindset." He growled, though he tried to remain as calm as possible.

When the girls didn't move, Barbara, pointed between them and the door, "you heard him. Get out."

"Shall we head to the kitchen?" Louis murmured, "I need to check on Harry."

"You go on, I'll make sure they leave."

"Thanks Barbs." Louis smiled gratefully, taking the basket and flowers into the living room. He couldn't hear Harry downstairs so he walked upstairs, knocking on Harry's bedroom door.

"One second." Came the croaked response, soft footsteps padding along the floor before the door opened slightly.

Harry's eyes were red, and he had obviously either been crying or trying not to cry.

"Hey," Louis spoke softly, "you okay?"

"Mhm."

"Was it what she called us?"

"Mainly." He sniffled, "I just, I dunno. I've been called that a lot, and often it was by people who I was close to and trusted. I just hate it."

"Oh Harry, you don't deserve that, I'm so sorry. But she's gone now, and she won't be coming back. You can come back down if you want. I think Barbara is down there."

"Is it alright if I stay up here for a while?" He murmured, looking down to the floor and shifting on his feet, his hands clasped behind his back.

"Of course it is. Would you like me to bring you tea or anything?" Louis asked in concern.

He shook his head, "I'm okay, thanks though."

"Alright, well you know where I am if you need anything."

Harry nodded this time, "yeah. Thank you."

Louis copied his action, before turning away and making his way down the stairs.

Harry shut the door, leaning against it with a sigh. Sometimes he really hated people- with a few exceptions of course.