Chapter Text
Harry loved his job he truly did, but a 5am bedtime and a 6:30am alarm did nothing to strengthen this conviction.
The room stank of stale booze, sweat, and farts, and Harry felt the bile burn the back of his throat. His head was hammering, his stomach heaving, and the stench of three other blokes, particularly farting Martin, was hard to handle in his delicate state.
He swung out of his top bunk bed, stumbled to the bathroom, took a piss, and turned the shower on. Pulling his lower eyelids down, he squeezed some brightening drops onto his eyeballs hoping to eradicate the bloodshot. He squeezed toothpaste onto his brush and stepped into the shower.
It was like a conveyor belt in the mornings. Louis was ready to swap with him, stood with his forehead against the cool wall; apparently he was in exactly the same shape as Harry.
“Who's fucking idea was the tequila?” Louis spoke but barely moved his lips.
Harry felt the bitter rise of bile again. “Shhh,” Harry groaned, holding either side of his head, applying pressure to his throbbing skull. “Never drinking again.”
Fifteen minutes later they were dressed in their formal day uniform of white pressed trousers and navy blazer. Leaving the other two fast asleep, they headed to the atrium to begin the long day of disembarking the old passengers and embarking the new ones onto the cruise ship Opal Princess.
They stood in line with a selection of the dance troupe, smiles plastered on their faces, saying goodbye as sincerely as they possibly could.
Harry spotted the married guy who'd pursued him all holiday. He’d stuffed a piece of paper into Harry’s pocket with his room number and times when his wife would be playing bingo and the slots begging him to call by, offering to relieve any pressures Harry might have. Harry politely declined, recounting the well used company policy of no fraternising with the passengers. This was a rule that was constantly abused, but the marrieds were an absolute no no. You don't create shit like that in a confined space like a cruise ship, but the singletons were fair game and Louis and Harry had plenty of game.
A cruise ship was a mini community. The same crew lived, worked and socialised with each other, ate together, slept together, and (more often than not) had sex with each other and you couldn't escape it. You slept with a crew member, you had to face them day after day, night after night, for your tour of duty.
Harry and Louis were part of the entertainment team. They held quizzes, taught basic dance classes, called bingo, hosted the night time entertainment, and brought the party to every corner of the ship. Embarking day was always a long day. They had to bid farewell to the leaving passengers with just the right amount of empathy for their holiday being at an end, then turn on the frivolity for the newly arriving passengers. They had to man the muster drill where all the passengers congregated at their given lifeboat station and instruct them how to put on a life jacket and leave the ship in case of emergency. Then it was up to the lido deck, by the pools to host a huge sail away party, something they did every time they left a port.
“Farewell, safe onward journey.” Louis and Harry shook so many hands.
“Hope you enjoyed your holiday, hope to see you back soon.” They had so many lines, it just rolled off the tongue no matter how rough they were.
By 10 o'clock the ship was empty, an hour of down time before the new influx.
“I need food, I'm shaking like a shiteing dog.” Louis grabbed Harry's arm to steady himself. Harry hadn't noticed how pale Louis had become.
“Come on.” Harry frowned, taking in Louis’ pallor. He guided him to the staff lifts, pressing three for the staff buffet. A full English with tons of tea and juice was exactly what they both needed.
“Thought I was going to pass out.” Louis mopped up his plate with a slice of toast. “My legs were like jelly.”
Harry grimaced at Louis. "Should've said sooner." He rubbed his eyes, yawning wide, his jaw almost locking. “Why didn't we go to bed at two like we said we would? Fucking embarkation day and we are both hanging.”
Louis tapped his leg under the table. “Paracetamol and we’ll be good as new.”
The ship was about to embark on a two week cruise around the Mediterranean, visiting ports in Spain, France, Italy, and lastly Gibraltar on the way home. It was a fairly standard summertime cruise.
They both took their tea to the comfy chairs at the far end of the buffet and closed their eyes for half an hour before the next round of meet and greets would start.
“Hazza, Tommo.”
Harry cranked one eye open. “Shh Niall, too loud.”
Niall plonked down on a seat. “Seen that new dancer? Fuck she's gorgeous.”
“Does she have a dick?” Louis spoke without opening his eyes. “Because if not, she's all yours.”
Niall sighed. “Just humour me, please.”
“Still too much noise.” Harry was trying to curl his ridiculously long torso into a ball in the chair.
“Time did you get in?” Niall wasn’t going to give them any peace.
“Five,” Louis groaned. “Fucking Zayn and his drinking games.”
“You didn't have to join in,” Niall pointed out to them, turning to see if he had time for more coffee. “Want anything?” Harry and Louis both shook their heads. Niall wandered off.
“Guys.”
Louis tried to look alive, recognising the voice of their immediate boss, Jeff.
“Boss?”
“Can you take muster in the Glass house, Lou, and Haz, will you cover Havana bar?” They both nodded.
“Weather is looking good for full outdoor sailaway so, party faces on lads.” Jeff strode off.
He was the deputy cruise director, above him was James, mister entertainment himself. Born to do this job, he was the life and soul of the Opal Princess entertainment team.
“Come on.” Harry unfurled his body, stretching and cracking his back at the same time, holding his hand out to pull Louis up. “Two more hours of painted smiles and then we can go have a little kip.”
Louis rubbed his eyes, ducking to catch his reflection in the window so he could rearrange his fringe. “Two hours. We can do this. Lead the way, Haz.”
They greeted families, couples, singletons, groups of friends, and lastly a huge wedding party.
They both spotted conquests for the fortnight, each of them having a type that didn’t seem to encroach on the each other's territory. It somehow to worked for them.
“I’m sure mine had his nipple pierced.” Harry rubbed his hands together gleefully, eyes flashing at Louis. “I could just see something like a bar through his tank.”
“I love how confident you are calling him ‘mine’.” Louis elbowed Harry playfully.
“He gave me the come on! He looked me up and down, stared at my bulge, and licked his lips. I think I’m in there.” Harry waggled his head side to side confidently.
“Mine’s packing. He had that cocky confidence of a man with a big dick.” Louis coughed into his hand. “I win.” He clamped his top and bottom teeth together and grinned manically.
They both got back to an empty cabin. It still smelled stale, but it was a whole lot better than it had been.
“It’s inhumane putting four blokes in one cabin.” Louis stripped off and climbed up into his top bunk. “And why did we get the smelliest twat on the whole ship and bore of the century?”
Harry shrugged. “We clearly pissed someone off along the way.”
Louis snorted softly. “Who do I have to bend over for to get us an upgrade?”
Harry barked out a laugh. “If only it were that simple.” He rolled his eyes wistfully at Louis.
“The only way I’m going to get a two berth is to throw Payno overboard and be next in line for the deputy cruise director's job.” Louis leaned up on one elbow to look over at Harry.
“Would you help me weigh his body down so I don’t go to jail?”
“Only If I can share your cabin.” Harry shuffled about, tucking the duvet between his legs, sweeping his hair up into a bun and securing it in a band. “I’m not being an accessory to murder and then still having to share with them two, no fucking way.”
A swift power nap did them the world of good. They set their alarms and made it bang on time to attend the muster drill. Louis helped a lady called Joyce put her life jacket on. She pinched his cheeks twice and his bum once. Louis kept his smile plastered on.
Harry ducked out faster from his drill, his eyes scanning around The Glass House until he spotted Louis cornered by a family. Louis gave Harry the rescue me signal, scratching his nose and tugging on his ear.
“Louis, sorry.” Harry smiled sugary sweet at the family. “We’re needed.”
Louis scooted around them, waving and smiling as Harry pulled him away.
They rushed back to their cabin to change into lido wear, white knee shorts and a blue polo shirt.
“Babe, I know. I know, babe, I can’t say it, the others are here now.” Joe, their fourth cabin sharer was laid on his bed, talking to his girlfriend Martha, having the same conversation he always had, reassuring her he loved her, telling her how much he missed her, and how miserable his existence was without her.
Louis and Harry communicated with their eyes. Mainly rolling them, grimacing, pulling the edges of their lips down in a frown and pretending to puke at his sickly declarations of love.
“Joe, sailaway.” Louis prompted him, tapping his watch.
“Babe, I gotta go. Love love kissy kissy love you, so so so much cuddle bum.” Joe smacked his lips into the phone. “I miss youuuu, miss youuuu, miss youuuu.” Joe hummed the lines from Blink 182 down the phone.
Louis turned away, shoulders shaking as he desperately tried to hold his laugh in. Harry bit on his finger, a low hum coming from his throat.
“Fuck off, you two.” Joe swung his body off the bed. “I really miss her, ok?”
“We know, Joe. We hear you tell her every bloody day, mate.” Louis clapped him in the shoulder. “But it's five to four and we need to get our arses up to Lido, so sort yourself out lad, come on.” Louis cajoled him. “Sun, sea, and Gangnam Style, what more could one need in life, eh?”
The passengers all stood around, cocktails in hand, watching the sail away party. The entertainment staff had a routine that they did, dancing choreographed moves to popular songs. It was all very simple, Jeff walked around encouraging the holidaymakers to join in. James danced and commentated down a microphone, giving spot prizes of cheap champagne to people joining in and dancing.
“Ha! Look, I was right! By the whirlpool, my guy with a nipple bar.” Harry waggled his eyebrows at Louis as they waited for the next song to start.
The guy was stood topless, with a very definite nipple bar through his right nipple. Wearing bright turquoise board shorts, one foot crossed over the other, cocktail in hand, head tilted watching Harry and the gang dance to YMCA.
Harry gave it extra, thrusting his hips and sticking his arse out.
“It's gonna be a good cruise.” Harry poked his tongue out to the side, teeth bared.
Louis shook his head laughing. “Dirty bastard,” he muttered under his breath, smile still plastered on his face.
“Says you.” Harry nudged Louis, shaking his head.
They got the evening entertainment off to a great start. Harry and Jade hosted a music quiz and Louis and Liam taught the first of many dance classes. They started off with a simple line dance.
“Kick ball change left, kick ball change right, bo-ooooox step, body roll once, body roll twice, boooogie back,” Louis slowly went over the steps. “Ok, now we’ll show you with music.”
Liam unpaused the music and scooted over next to Louis, Billy Ray Cyrus flooded the Manhatten Lounge.
“And Kick ball change left..” Louis gyrated his hips, his arse looking great in his white formal trousers.
“Body roll.” He flung his arms out, rolling his hips, a few wolf whistles ringing around the room.
“Hey cheeky,” Louis laughed cocking his hip dramatically. “Ok everyone try it now.”
It was hilarious, people stepping the wrong way, starting on the wrong foot, standing on toes, crashing into each other but what a great way to break the ice with fellow passengers.
By the end of the session, there were groups of people wandering off together to get drinks and dinner in one of the many restaurants.
“Think that went well,” Liam grinned at Louis.
“Well how could it not with my moves, arse, and cute face and your...umm...pausing skills.”
Liam elbowed him. “Cheeky sod, I’ll have you know Claude, the dance troupe leader, is always trying to poach me to join the dancers.”
“Ooh, hark at you,” Louis teased him. “I’d go, Li. Let me be next in line for deputy cruise director.”
Liam had been on the ships a little longer than Louis. They’d met on one of the sister ships and had been friends ever since. Liam had great ambition and took his job seriously, often refusing to party in favour of an early night. Louis had yet to discover his sensible side.
They waited for Harry and Jade, who were just finishing up their quiz, and then they were all heading over to the theatre to greet the guests going to see the headline show of the night, a west end style stage show of the best of Motown.
“Drink of the night is rum in the crew bar,” Jesy informed them, wrinkling her nose.
“Not keen on rum either, but fancy a good blow out tonight.” Cher rubbed her hands together.
When the meet and greet was over, they all split up and went to one of the many lounges and clubs to get the party started. Louis and Harry stuck together, going first to the Manhattan bar. The resident band was on playing songs from the sixties, but there were only a couple of people on the dance floor. Louis and Harry changed that, bringing people up and dancing with them.
‘Why do you build me up, buttercup baby just to let me down, and mess me around..’
Harry held the elderly lady by the hand, twirling her under his arm, swaying his body, singing along to the song. Louis did the same, dancing with two sisters in their fifties, twirling one then the other, smiling and singing along. The dance floor slowly filled up, so with their job done they escaped up to Club Eighteen. It was given this name because it was right at the top of the ship on deck eighteen, and also that was the age you had to be to go into the club.
One wall was just windows looking out into the dark of the night, the other was a video wall with images playing of places around the world. Famous landmarks by night, lit up. Caribbean beaches with parties in full swing, a helicopter swooping around the London eye at night.
It was nineties hour in the disco, Pulp and The Spice Girls played one after the other. Louis and Harry were experts at breaking the ice and opening up the dancefloor. No one ever liked to be the first up, and they were there to make that happen. Both of the lads they had their eye on were in the club.
“Mine’s here,” Louis tilted his head cockily.
“So’s mine.” Harry stuck his neck out pulling a face at Louis.
“Bet I get some before you,” Louis challenged.
“We’ll see about that, sunshine.” Harry flicked his hair and strutted across the dance floor, making a beeline straight for the guy. Louis pursed his lips in a wry smile.
“Cocky twat,” he murmured.
As soon as the ship was in full party mode, the crew could stand down and go party themselves. Down in the depths of the ship, away from all the passengers, there was a whole different world. The crew quarters.
A huge dining buffet served food twenty four hours a day, a laundry kept their uniforms laundered and pressed and the hub of the ship for the crew was the crew bar. A subsidised club which had just as much entertainment as the passenger clubs above. Karaoke, dancing and entertainment in the form of comedians and singers played every night to give the crew a much needed social life away from the passengers.
Louis had long since lost Harry. Harry having wandered off with the guy after Louis got chatting to a couple in the club.
“Haz pulled?” Jesy shifted her bag and jacket from a couple of chairs she had saved for them.
“Think so.”
A hand clasped Louis’ shoulder. “Miss me?” Harry plonked into the chair next to Louis, his cheeks a little flushed, his hair ruffled.
“You look a bit glassy eyed.” Louis’ eyes swept down Harry's disheveled clothing.
“Blew me, bit wild actually.” Harry shrugged his blazer off, tucking his legs under the table.
“You’re a jammy twat.” Louis narrowed his eyes, poking Harry in the ribs.
“Heyyyyy, envy is a terrible thing, Louis Tomlinson.” Harry wagged his finger at him, grinning cockily.
“Lost sight of mine, might go find him.” Louis shuffled about distractedly.
“Nah, come dance first.” Harry pulled Louis up. “Dancing is almost as good as coming.” Harry quiet shouted in Louis’ ear.
“Shut yer gob.” Louis flounced off, hitting the dance floor first and going wild to the music.
Sunday’s alarm wasn’t nearly as brutal as the previous day. Harry had golf practice on the top deck and Louis had a walking tour of the ship, showing the new passengers where everything was.
Martin and Joe had been up early for Opal TV, 'Wake up,' a daily morning television programme that the passengers are able to watch as they get ready for their morning. It explains the activities for the day, weather, news interests, and if it’s a port day, disembarking instructions. James and Jeff always presented it from a different part of the ship, with two people from the entertainment team to help behind the scenes but also to gain some experience if they are chasing promotion as it would then be part of their daily job.
“It’s nice only having two of us for the shower.” Harry stood in his towel, having a shave as Louis showered, all inhibitions lost in these tiny cabins.
“I know,” Louis lamented. “One day we will have a nice cabin.”
The rest of the day was spent calling bingo, hosting a cocktail mixing demonstration, and a single’s meetup in the Glass House.
Harry and Louis managed to grab lunch together before they had to rush off to other activities.
“My guy grabbed me in the atrium earlier.” Louis munched on sushi for lunch.
“Sounds painful,” Harry quipped.
“Told him I’d be up in the club at midnight.” Louis batted his eyelashes. “The Tommo never fails.”
“You’re supposed to be hosting the LGBTQ midnight buffet meetup.” Harry licked at some soy sauce on his lip.
“Fuck, bollocks, crap, I forgot all about that,” Louis sighed, licking his fingers and taking a drink of his sparkling water.
“I’ll host it, you go off and enjoy yourself. Don’t worry about me, I’ll be fine, it’s ok,” Harry tutted dramatically.
“You sure, Haz? Look after them! Cheers, love.” Louis didn’t give him a chance to change his mind. “See you at the pool at two.” Louis dashed off for his dance class.
The weather was getting hotter the further south they travelled. They hosted pool games in the afternoon, all of them ending up in the pool fully clothed. It was a nice early finish for them, getting back to their cabin for three. It was formal evening on board the ship which meant full black tie evening attire.
“Sunbathe or sleep?” Louis stripped out of his wet deck uniform.
“Oh both sound good, couple of hours snoozing by the pool.” Harry pulled on little yellow swim shorts.
The staff had a small pool right at the front of the ship, it was busy but they managed to find two loungers in the sun.
“Do my back.” Louis threw his suncream to Harry, turning away and just inching his shorts down to below where his waistband sat.
“Cute shorts these with the turtles on.” Harry began to rub the cream into Louis’ back.
“Ta, my mum bought me them.” Louis’ back muscles rippled at Harry’s touch. “Oh I’ve gone all shivery, look at my nipples, you could hang your coat on them.”
Harry laughed. “Nutter, keep still.” Harry manhandled him a little jerking him around so he could see if he had got him everywhere. “Arse now.” Harry pulled the elastic away, sweeping his hand inside, brushing against the top of Louis’ arse cheeks, rubbing the cream into the bottom of Louis’ back.
“Hey, no handling the goods, I know it’s gorgeous but...” Louis snapped his head over his shoulder, as Harry burst out laughing, scrunching his face up. “Cheeky twat, don’t you screw your nose up at my arse.”
“It’s all white,” Harry chuckled.
“And what colour is yours?” Louis snapped the back of Harry’s shorts to see two little mounds of white. “Oh look, pasty English white arse, what a surprise.” Louis rolled his eyes sarcastically.
“Heyyy.” Harry twisted away. “My arse is worshipped, I’ll have you know.”
Louis pulled his sunglasses down his nose to look at Harry with confusion in his eyes.
“There’s nowt there, it’s like two cherry stones.” Louis ringed his thumb and index finger into small circles. “Mine is like a peach I’ve been told.” He squeezed the air with both hands. “Juicy.”
They finished creaming each other and settled down, earbuds in. Louis hummed low to the songs on his phone, his feet tapped against the bottom of the sunbed.
Harry watched him for a while, laid on his front with his head turned towards him, Louis was in the exact same position.
“Thanks for stepping in for me tonight.” Louis cranked one eye open, pulling one earbud out. “Working so your best friend can go have some cock, that’s a proper bestie, is that.”
Harry slid his leg over and poked Louis’ calf with his big toe. “I’m sure I can come up with something that you can do for me.”
They snoozed for a few hours, soaking up the sun. Louis went and got them frozen smoothies, Harry half sitting up texting his mum back.
Louis crept back behind him and plonked the ice cold glass on Harry’s belly.
“Ooof FUCK.” Harry flinched, the ring of condensation glistening on his skin.
Louis slid onto his sunbed. “Just cooling you down, you look a bit sweaty.” Louis manoeuvred the straw into the corner of his mouth, the thick liquid having to be sucked hard to come up the straw, his cheeks hollowing with the pressure of him sucking.
Harry watched him, a wry smile on his face.
“What?” Louis eyed him suspiciously.
“Proper cock sucking face that was.” Harry mimicked him, sucking his cheeks in, letting his eyes flutter shut, a low moan in his throat.
“I did not do that.” Louis flicked Harry’s leg.
Harry cackled. “You might as well have done.”
They shuffled down onto their sides facing each other.
“Tell me about your guy then, what was he like?” Louis pulled his sunglasses down from the top of his head.
Harry widened his eyes. “He was…” Harry looked over his shoulder, checking who was in earshot. “Wild, like really dirty.” Harry took another drink, a self satisfied look on his face.
Louis shuffled about, the towel under him bunching up.
“What do you mean?” Louis craned his neck forward so their faces were closer, so Harry didn’t have to speak loud.
“Well,” Harry shuffled even closer. “He was groping me before we even got into the room and then he was like,” Harry lowered his tone, putting his mouth closer to Louis’ ear. “Want you to fuck my throat, gimme it hard, choke me with your cock.” Harry pulled back to assess Louis’ reaction, his eyes wide with wonder.
Louis gasped. “Oh fuck Haz, what did you do?” Louis’ eyes were as wide as Harry’s.
“I gave him what he wanted, he was pulling my arse in, getting me so deep, moaning around me. Fuck.” Harry crossed his top leg over his bottom leg, his shorts bagging out, hiding the semi that he was sporting.
Louis’ eyes dropped down to the reason for his fluster. “You’re a dark horse,” Louis grinned.
“What do you mean?” Harry took another drink of his smoothie.
“You give off the impression that you’d be all joss sticks, rose petals and whale noises, but you’re just..”
“Just what?” Harry quirked his eyebrow.
Louis shrugged. “Normal.”
Harry barked out a laugh. “Thanks! I think?”
Louis ran his hand through his damp hair, slick with sweat and suntan lotion.
“I don’t like to think of my mates pulling, it’s just a bit weird, but I always imagined you all majestic and orchestrating this magnificent sex when really some guy is just choking on your cock.”
“Fuuuuuck.” Harry splurted his smoothie down his chest, pink goo mixing with his sweat.
“He looked a bit like this when he’d finished,” Harry laughed, going cross eyed looking down at the mess. “Only it wasn’t pink and doesn’t taste like strawberry and banana.” He winked at Louis, grabbing a towel and mopping up the mess. “So come on, what you into then?” Harry licked at his fingers. “Dream scenario.”
Louis finished his smoothie, still laid on his side facing Harry.
“Oh we’re going there, are we? Ok.” Louis’ lips pursed involuntarily, a cute little quirk that he did. “I like a nice sized cock, I love blow jobs both giving and receiving, l love outdoor sex, thrilling sex, the fear of being caught.” Louis pulled his teeth over his bottom lip. “I love rimming, so maybe getting rimmed for hours, lots of arse play, toys, light bondage, then bottoming I suppose? But I am versatile.” Louis’ cheeks reddened. “What about you?”
“Pretty similar, really.” Harry tipped his head. “I do like candles and nice music, so you weren’t too far out with that, but I also love it fast and raw, love hot spontaneous sex, outdoors too.” Harry thought for a second, eyeing Louis, wondering whether to go on. Louis nodded slightly, encouraging. Harry looked down. “Got a bit of a nipple obsession, so quite like piercings and wouldn't mind exploring clamps, maybe a bit of spanking you know? I Like toys, blow jobs and rimming, both giving and receiving, then end with a good fucking, but I do like to know someone for a little while before I do some of this stuff, I don’t do that much with casual hook ups.” Harry finally met Louis’ eyes. “Sorry, too much?”
Louis shook his head. “Nope. Feel like I need a good fucking now though, all this sex talk.” He wrinkled his nose wistfully. “Need a shower.” He sprung up, the slight tenting in his shorts only visible because Harry looked for it.
“Raise your glasses, please, to Captain Alvarez and the passengers and crew of the Opal Princess.” James raised a toast as the crew and passengers gathered in the atrium for the first formal night on board.
“The Opal Princess,” James chimed, the crowd echoing his words, raising their champagne glasses.
The staff all mingled with the passengers for dinner on formal nights, joining tables full of guests and keeping the conversation flowing. Louis found himself on a table of guests who were all part of a wedding party.
“Bride and Groom had too much sun today and are..” the best man coughed and rolled his eyes, “resting in the cabin.”
Louis grinned and ducked his head, tucking into his starter of seared scallops.
“What day are they getting married?”
“Friday, the day we are in Monaco, they both love Grand Prix,” the bride’s sister chimed in.
Louis looked for Harry. He was at a table with a much older demographic, drinking his wine. He appeared to be the centre of attention, loving every minute. Louis smiled to himself, ever the charmer. He was holding court, telling a story, all eyes on him.
They raced up to the theatre for the first show, greeting the passengers.
“Good dinner?” Louis nudged Harry. “I saw all those women fonding over you.”
Harry laughed. “They were pairing me up with various young ladies around the room when I told them I was single, but then one of the ladies pointed at me with her fork and goes,
‘You like men don’t you?’” Harry put on a fake female voice. “And I held my hands up and told her she was right, it kind of broke the ice.” Harry widened his eyes shocked. “They were a bit naughty, I must say.”
Louis chuckled. “Trust you.”
“Anyway,” Harry slung his arm around Louis’ shoulders. “How did you get on?”
“Oh, I was with a wedding party, got an invite to go.” Louis polished his nails smugly on his jacket.
“Lucky sod.” Harry barged him with his hip.
They did the usual rounds, getting the dancing going, Club 18 being the last place to go for them. They danced to a few songs, getting people up until there was a good crowd on the dance floor.
“He’s in the corner at a table,” Louis leaned in to Harry. “Am I ok to..” He tilted his head in his direction.
“Of course, have fun. I’ll go work for you, don’t worry.” Harry pushed him gently away towards the guy. “Be good or be careful.”
Harry ended up staying at the LGBTQ midnight buffet meet up for ages. Usually these things start off with a host who then blends off into the background whilst the people all mingle and socialise. After an hour of chatting and eating nachos, Harry lead them up to Club 18 to finish their night up there. His eyes scanned the room but there was no sign of Louis.
The crew bar was lively, a staff Karaoke competition was in full flow. Harry spotted Niall and headed over to him. Some of the girls were waiting to go on next and sing.
“Jesy is so good.” Harry leant forward to listen to her starting the song.
Cher and Leigh joined in. “They are so bloody good.” Harry stood up waving his hands, clapping and cheering along.
By 3am Harry was flagging, wandering down to his cabin which was all in darkness. He did his bedtime routine in the bathroom, coming out into the pitch black room, feeling on Louis’ bunk but it was empty. Harry stubbed his toe, swore loudly, got a punch on the leg from Joe as he hopped about, finally climbing up to his bunk and falling sound asleep. Harry was vaguely aware of Louis stumbling about, crashing into things and muttering to himself under his breath, a low giggle escaping him.
“Lou,” Harry whispered.
“Hazzaaaaahhhh,” Louis loudly whispered.
“Go to fucking bed, Tommo.” Martin sighed and turned over abruptly.
Louis leaned up to whisper to Harry. “Ahm back.” He stifled a giggle poorly. “Martin’s mad at me,” he hiccuped.
Harry could smell the sweat and sex on him. “Go to bed, Lou. Up soon. Go sleep, love.”
Louis staggered about a bit more, stripping his clothes off.
“Night.” Harry cranked an eye open and watched Louis try and climb his ladder. He leant across and held Louis’ back, steadying him so he could get up.
“Thanks man, owe you loads.” Louis collapsed onto his pillow and was lightly snoring in seconds.
“Five and one, fifty one, seven and three, seventy three, all the ones, legs eleven.” Harry called the numbers out as Louis sat, pale and hungover, sipping tonic water next to him.
“All the fours, droopy drawers, forty four, unlucky for some, one and three, thirteen, five oh..”
Louis picked his microphone up. “Five oh five oh, it’s off to work we go..” He sang half heartedly down the microphone, the crowd of bingo players joining in with him. He switched the mic off again and took a sip of his drink.
“Two little ducks, all the two’s twenty two.”
“BINGO.”
Someone called house, Louis shuffled off to check their ticket, handing over the winning envelope and dropping down into his seat.
“You need food.” Harry patted his leg.
“I need shooting.” Louis licked his dry lips. “Don’t let me go out again Haz.”
After bingo Harry made him eat, dragging him for a late brunch, bringing him eggs on toast and tea to the table.
“Eat,” Harry instructed.
“Can’t.” Louis’ head dropped to the table.
“You’ll feel better, I promise.” Harry kicked his foot. “G’won.”
Louis forced the first few forkfuls down until he felt his stomach stop clenching and the shaking stop.
“Thank God it wasn’t my shake up this morning.” Louis gulped down his tea. “I’d have puked everywhere.”
Harry chuckled. “Good night then?”
Louis met Harry’s inquisitive stare. “Yeah, he was nice, he had the cabin to himself so we drank vodka and had fun.”
“Fun, oh yes, I could smell the fun all over you at six this morning.” Harry screwed his nose up.
“Did I whiff?” Louis cringed.
“Umm yeah, just a bit.” Harry patted his arm.
They worked all afternoon on the organised events. Tomorrow was the first port day and that meant a more relaxed schedule for them but for now it was a full on entertainment programme.
“Kick ball change, kick ball change, step step step and hip.” Louis was walking the dancers through their moves. On the last formal night they always did a performance dance in the atrium, showing off what they had learned. They had taken a vote and decided on a seventies themed dance and so Louis was teaching them a dance from Saturday Night Fever.
“Walking forward, sliding your feet for a count of three.” Louis swivelled his hips as he slowly walked them through the steps.
“Left hand on your hip, right index finger pointing up to the right, then down and across your body to point down to the left.”
Harry had his second meeting of the Opal Princess Choir. Every cruise they encouraged the passengers to join the choir and they too would perform on the last formal night of the cruise. Harry had recruited a great bunch of people. Not all of them had great voices, but what they lacked in talent, they made up for in enthusiasm.
“Brilliant session, see you all tomorrow evening at six.” Harry waved and made his escape scooting off to find Louis. He entered at the back of the Manhattan bar and staying down in the shadows, waiting for him to finish. He was walking an older lady through her steps.
“We've got ten days, Marj. You'll be fine, don't worry.”
Harry stood watching for a little while. Louis was so patient, his feet getting stood on but his smile remained in place. Harry pushed himself off the wall and wandered down to Spice, the Indian restaurant onboard the ship. It was one of the few places you had to pay, but it was worth it. They didn't often eat in the speciality restaurants as the main dining room was so good, but Harry fancied something a little different. He made a reservation and handed over his cruise card. As the ship was cashless everything went on their room card and was debited from their wages.
He got back to Louis just as the class was dispersing.
“This is going to be a challenge,” Louis gritted his teeth, closing his eyes and grinning.
“I've booked us a table at Spice, my treat.” Harry patted him on the back. “Nice curry and a few beers before we go back on duty.”
“That's why you're my bestie.” Louis leant into Harry bumping his head against Harry's shoulder.
They quickly changed into their evening uniform, black trousers and white blazer.
“Better not get tikka sauce on these.” Louis pulled at the sleeve.
“I'll bib you up,” Harry only half joked, knowing how messy they both got eating curry.
The staff gave them extra napkins to cover their clothing, sitting them in the corner and leaving them with many extra dishes of curry, rice, naan bread and poppadums.
“God this is so good,” Louis moaned as he dipped his bread into his sauce.
Harry watched him, grinning at the faces and noises Louis was making.
“Thought we deserved a treat.” Harry dabbed his mouth of sauce and mango chutney. “You getting off tomorrow?”
Louis thought for a few seconds. “Maybe? Dunno, I quite like that ice cream place in Cadiz and the beach, but it would be nice to just chill out. Might book us into the spa, what do you think?”
Harry’s eyes lit up. “Oh God yeah, nice deep tissue and a facial.”
Louis snickered at the facial part.
“Hey, mucky sod, I actually mean a proper facial.”
“Talking of, have you seen Mr Deepthroat since?” Louis crunched on a poppadum.
“No, not seen him actually. He probably hates me for choking him. What actually happened with your guy anyway? You’ve not spilled to me yet.”
Louis looked up slyly. “He was a bit wild too, his staying power was a little to be desired but he had good technique.”
Harry shook his head grinning. “We sound like judges at the Olympics. “A ten for technique, but his endurance let him down. Overall I’d give him an eight.”
Louis pointed his fork at Harry. “Spot on observation.”
They reluctantly went back to work, herding the crowds into the theatre and show bars, doing the rounds until it was time to hit the dance floors.
By the time they arrived at Club 18, Louis was flagging desperately, stifling yawns making his nose flare, his cheeks balloon out.
“Go to bed, I can finish off with Jesy.” Harry gently pushed Louis towards the door.
“Thanks man,” Louis raised his hand, escaping while he still could.
When Harry rolled in just after 2am, the other three were sound asleep. He tripped over someone’s discarded boxers and stubbed his toe on the wall. He cursed to himself in the bathroom as he got ready for bed.
It was always a nice chilled day when they were in port. No bingo, no classes, just the odd bit of entertainment around the ship.
“Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhh niiiiiiiiiiiice,” Harry moaned as Malin, the very beautiful Swedish masseuse dug deep into his back with her hands.
“Do you have to with the sex noises?” Louis was laid out on the next table getting a soothing Indian head massage.
Malin laughed. “I’m used to it.”
“I’m bloody not,” Louis squealed, his voice going high pitched.
“Shut it,” Harry spoke into the void of the hole in the table, feeling the muscles in his back scream out and then relax. “This is almost as good as sex.”
“You’ve been doing it wrong,” Louis chuckled at his own wit.
“I’m going to send you into the other room if you don’t behave.” Harry couldn’t keep the mirth from his voice.
“Might be a blessing,” Louis grumbled but hiding his smile from Harry.
“Oooooooooffffff,” Harry’s voice was low, the drawl drawn out, throaty.
“Oh God.” Louis stuffed his earbuds in, escaping the porno noises from his friend.
Sailway went without a hitch, Harry dashing off to meet with his choir. The numbers were dwindling a little as slowly, people dropped out.
“I think the choir is gonna bomb this trip,” Harry discussed his fears with Louis over dinner that night.
“Wait.” Louis grabbed Harry’s arm. “A few people were on about the choir today at dance. I didn’t put things together but the two classes clash.” Louis blinked slowly. “We should switch the times around so that they can do both.” He clicked his fingers. “God, I’m good.”
Harry bumped his shoulder into Louis’. “Aye sometimes you are.”
It was Joe’s birthday. It is customary to go to the bar, wear a big badge and hat declaring it’s your birthday, and get mortally drunk and carried back to your bunk. Joe was extremely reluctant because Martha did not approve of this tradition, but as Martha was back home in the North East of England, she didn’t have much say in the matter. The comedian in the crew bar was explicit. Telling rude jokes, much ruder than he could tell to the passengers, but as the crew are all over eighteen, he was fine.
“What do you call a man with a blue cock?” The guy paused for comic timing. “A tight fisted wanker.”
The jokes were shit but when you’ve had a few, they were hilarious.
“Tight fisted wanker,” Louis repeated, rolling about laughing.
Harry came back from the bar juggling drinks in his huge hands.
“Tequila,” Jade’s voice boomed as she carried a tray full of shots.
“NO! Fuck,” Louis groaned. “I swore never again.”
Harry sang in Louis’ face. “Tequila, it makes me happyyyyy.” His tongue lolling out of his mouth.
“Three..” Jesy, salted their tongues, all of them grimacing.
“Two,” Harry hollered as they downed the liquid, shuddering as the taste mixed with the salt.
“One,” Louis stamped his feet against the floor, biting the skin of the lime with his teeth sucking on the sharpness. “Fuck,” he squeezed his eyes closed.
The comedian began circling the bar looking for stooges. He spotted Joe, crawling further down his chair.
“And who do we have here?” The guy clapped him on the shoulder.
“I’m uhmmm I’m Joe.”
“Joe, I see it’s your birthday. How old are you today?”
Joe went puce. “Twenny six.”
“Twenty six, what a great age.” The guy slid his arm around Joe’s shoulders.
“Joe, tell me, do you share a cabin?”
He nodded. “Ye-ah with these two and umm another guy.”
The comedian nodded. “I see, so tonight you will be getting a birthday seventy one won’t you?”
He paused, watching Joe squirm at the attention. “That’s a sixty nine with the other two watching.”
Louis and Harry fell apart laughing.
“Oh fuck,” Louis wiped tears from his eyes.
“Do you know the difference between our Joe here and a bowling ball?”
The table had barely recovered from the last joke, to keep up with the next.
“You can only fit three fingers in a bowling ball.”
Harry ended up on the floor, tears running down his cheeks, hugging his knees to his chest as the comedian cracked joke after joke.
Joe lightened up and began to enjoy himself as the tequila loosened him.
“I’m having a great time,” he hiccuped. “Martha will be mad at me for getting a bit drunk though.”
“So you might as well get a lot drunk. Cheers, Joe.” Louis clinked his glass against Joe’s. “But you can forget that seventy one, there’ll be none of that, thank you very much.” Louis gritted his teeth, scrunching his nose up. “That’s taking the friendship a bit too far.” Louis winked at him. “Soz, mate.”
“Hate you right now.” Louis nursed his third coffee of the morning as Harry breezed into the staff dining room looking fresher than he should have done.
“Hey, you were the one playing fuzzy duck at three in the morning.”
Louis groaned. “I still blame you,” Louis pointed with his eyes shut.
“I changed the time of my dance class, we are now an hour before you so I shall salsa them all down to the Havana to join in with your choir.”
Harry clasped Louis’ knee. “Thanks man, appreciate it.”
They managed an hour of sunbathing before they had to go dance their hearts out at the sailaway. Harry popped into the internet cafe to waste an hour before choir.
Louis, true to his word, brought a bunch of people from his dance class to Harry’s choir practice.
Louis knew the repertoire like the back of his hand. They always stuck to the same few songs, popular tunes that most people knew.
“My, my, myyyyyy Delilah,” Louis sang as they entered the Havana lounge.
Harry looked up. He’d been deep in thought but Louis’ voice and the little crowd following him snapped him out of his daydream.. “Hello, come in, come in, you’re all very very welcome.”
Harry coached them through the songs. It was very early days and so what if people fluffed up the lines. By next Thursday they would be word perfect if not quite note perfect but it was the taking part that counted the most.
They wandered back to the cabin, tonight was their night off from duty so there was no rushing to the theatre, no having to go to various clubs to bring the party.
Harry slotted his keycard into the cabin door, pushing it open and dropping it into the holder on the wall, activating the lights.
“Ughhhh.” Louis scowled. The lingering smell of Martin’s flatulence turning the air toxic.
Louis grabbed a towel and started to waft it about. When that didn’t work he opened the door and swung it back and forth, filling the space with cleaner air.
“I love how Niall has Liam, Zayn and Danny from the perfume shop to share with and we get these two.” Louis griped.
Harry dropped down into the only chair in the cabin.
“You hungry yet?” Louis began pulling his uniform off.
“No.” Harry didn’t look up. “Not bothered about dinner, just gonna have an early night.”
Louis turned to face him. “You never have early nights, what’s going on?” Louis touched Harry’s arm. “Haz?”
“Nothing, I’m just.” Harry tugged at his ear. “I’m tired.”
Louis went to pee and freshen up a little, coming out finding Harry flat on his back on his bunk staring up at the ceiling.
“At least come for dinner. We won’t drink tonight, just have dinner and see how you feel then, eh?” Louis rested his chin on Harry’s mattress.
“No, not really hungry.” Harry’s voice was low. He pressed his lips together, taking a breath in through his nose. “You go. Niall will keep you company, I’ll be fine.”
“Not going anywhere until you tell me what’s wrong.” Louis’ voice was soft but firm.
Harry twisted his head to face Louis. “It’s nothing, honest. It’s just me being stupid, pathetic actually.”
“So share it with me. Please, Haz.”
Harry sat up, swinging his legs around so that his back was against the wall, his legs crossed in front of him.
“It’s nothing, I’m being ridiculous.” Harry dropped his head. “Just go out and ignore me, I’ll be fine tomorrow.”
“Not going anywhere.” Louis climbed the ladder and clambered next to Harry, his legs dangling over the edge of the bed. “Don’t like to see you like this, is it nipple piercing guy?”
Harry huffed out breath. “Nah, been avoiding him.” Harry smiled wryly.
“Adam and his hubby had a baby.” Harry’s breath stuttered out of him. “I was poking about on facebook today and a photo came up of him and Leo holding their baby all like manly and topless and it just..” Harry picked at the seam on his trousers. “I don’t even want him or like miss him, it’s just..It makes me think that I’m on here, no home to speak of, still fucking about and my ex is married, has a house and now a kid and I’m like nowhere near achieving any of that kind of stuff.”
Louis pulled Harry to him. “It’s bound to make you feel like that, comparing lifestyles to someone you were once so close to.”
Harry buried his head into Louis’ side.
“I’m just delaying adulthood, being on here fucking about. Should I be home, finding a proper job, a man, a mortgage, a surrogate?”
“And is that what you were going to lay thinking about tonight?” Louis turned his head, rubbing his nose into Harry’s hair.
“Maybe,” Harry mumbled.
“Do you enjoy your life on here?” Louis moved his head back and forth, his cheek brushing Harry’s hair.
“Yeah.”
“So, a photo of little..”
“Axl.”
Louis stopped rubbing his cheek. “Axl? As in Axl?”
Harry’s shoulders jiggled as he chuckled. “Yeah, as in Rose not as in car.”
“Goddddd, poor little thing. A name should be fit for a king, like gimme old fashioned names any day. If your Grandad hasn’t got a buddy called it then it’s not a worthy name and there is no King Axl and no Uncle Axl down the legion.”
Harry was full on giggling now.
“Harold, Louis, Henry, Albert, George, William, Arthur. Good, decent, honest, solid names.” Louis was on a roll now.
“Alfred, Leonard, Victor,” Harry chimed in. “Not weak names, not trendy names. Strong names.”
Their eyes met, smiling in shared agreement.
“But seriously, he will poke about on your Facebook too, see you having the time of your life, seeing the world and being paid for the privilege, but the grass is never greener than your own little patch.”
Harry flopped his head on to Louis’ shoulder. “Thanks, man.” He sighed. “Sorry for being a dickhead.”
“You’ve talked me down enough times, that’s what friends are for.”
They had dinner and made their way straight to the crew bar. It was pretty quiet, most of the staff out mingling, doing their jobs.
They stayed at the bar, chatting to the people coming and going.
“Barcelona tomorrow, are we going to Quimet for Tapas?” Harry leant his right forearm on the bar, his right leg crossed over his left.
“Too bloody right we are,” Louis mirrored Harry, his left arm the one on the bar. He studied Harry’s face. “You’re not unhappy are you?” Louis touched his arm.
Harry pressed his lips together and squeezed his eyes closed. He sighed and blinked them open and shook his head.
“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to be a diva, I just...I suppose it just shocked me, seeing him all settled when he was the party animal.”
“Guysssss,” Jesy came up, clapping them on the shoulders. “That young lad who won The Voice has joined the ship today and he’s coming in here to sing for us tonight before he does any passenger shows.”
“Do I detect a hint of excitement in your voice?” Louis teased her.
“He’s gorgeous,” she beamed. “And he’s single,” she added over her shoulder as she bounded off to tell someone else her good news.
“Gonna be rammed in here tonight then. Let’s go save a big table.” Louis pushed off the bar and led Harry across to the section where they normally sat. They took their jackets off and put them on the chairs to save them so the other guys could join them later after their duty.
The young singer was really rather good. He was rocking the James Bay vibe with long hair, raspy voice and a guitar. Jesy was sat swooning at him.
“I think I’m in love,” she cooed.
“It’s nothing special, but it’s all ours.” Richard and Pandora Brice-Kingston had joined them for a little while. They were the principal vocalists and dancers in the Princess theatre company, the people that put on the West End style shows every night. Pandora was a Royal ballet school protege. You could tell how she walked and carried herself that she was a dancer. Her elongated neck and perfect posture. Her grace and poise. “They gave us a suite for the first couple of nights and then we were given our own passenger cabin.” Pandora explained to anyone who would listen.
They’d just been married on board ship, having met and dated for the last few months and fallen madly in love. The captain had married them with their families coming on board and joining them for the celebration.
“You got a passenger cabin to yourself?” Louis blurted out.
“Yes.” Richard smiled a little smugly at Louis. “They can’t expect a married couple to share with others and our employee ranking meant a passenger cabin.”
“Yeah, no, of course not.” Louis fake smiled at them both, narrowing his eyes and yielding his fist behind their backs.
“Fucking show offs,” he cursed to Harry, his mind whirling with the information Richard had just shared with him. Louis downed his drink, handing Harry his glass, encouraging him to drain his too.
“Come and dance.” Louis pulled Harry onto the dance floor. “They have their own cabin, I can’t believe it,” Louis wittered on about it. “I want a two berth, anywhere that’s away from Martin.”
The drinking and dancing continued. The table filled up and it was just Jade and Niall missing, they were up in club 18 and would be down soon.
“I want a posh cabin like Danpora,” Harry loud whispered into Louis’ ear. “If I get married will they give me a cabin or is it cos she's posh?”
Louis stopped in his tracks, his eyes bugging out, his mouth dropping open, he grabbed Harry's shoulders and shook him.
“You fucking drunken genius.” Louis’ face erupted into a grin.
He pulled Harry towards the toilets, Harry stumbled over his feet as Louis propelled him forward, he pushed him into a stall and locked the door.
“Marry me! Pretend we’re a couple! We could do that, we are always together. We’ll get our own cabin, Haz.” Louis was manic, speaking quickly, his hands windmilling around.
“It's Wednesday, wedding Wednesday.” Louis looked at his watch.
“Almost midnight, we could catch the impromptu weddings, let's do it.”
Harry's face went from incredulous to ecstatic.
“Yes.” He grabbed Louis’ shoulders and shook him. “We could do this couldn't we?” Harry searched his face.
“We need to do this..” Louis pulled Harry's face to his, tilting left then right, he hesitated then slotted their lips together.
Harry was stunned. Louis’ hot breath, sweet with raspberry vodka, fanning over his lips. He didn't move.
Louis stopped kissing him. “We need to make this look believable.” Louis pulled back a little, gauging Harry's reaction. “We have to make the kissing look believable, come on, Haz.” Louis went back in, teasing his lips apart, Harry jolted to it. Kissing Louis back, pressing his hands to Louis’ back, relaxing into the kiss, teasing with a little tongue, smiling when he felt Louis respond with his tongue.
Louis stopped, he planted a closed lips kiss to Harry's plush bottom lip and pulled back.
“We can do it, we can. You up for it?” Louis blinked rapidly, his chest heaving against Harry’s.
“Come on.” Harry pulled him out, down the corridor towards the lifts.
They had eighteen minutes until midnight. Eighteen minutes to hatch a plan and make the wedding session.
“Shit Lou, I'm so drunk.” Harry stumbled down their corridor.
“We only have a few minutes to change. Are we telling the others now or..?” Louis slotted the card into the door, pulling Harry inside and flicking the lights on.
“Yeah. No. Fuck, I don't know.”
They dressed the same in their formal uniforms of black trousers and white short blazer.
Harry splashed his face with cold water, scrunching some product into his curls. Louis sprayed his fringe with hair spray, teasing choppy bits into place, his long piece of hair falling down over his cheekbone.
They stared at each other through the mirror. Louis turned and grabbed both of Harry's hands. “Ready?”
Harry nodded, a smile creeping over his lips.
“Let's go.”
With nine minutes to midnight they rushed to the crew bar and gathered their friends together.
“You're invited to a wedding,” Louis’ words spilled from his lips as they stood at their table, various people at varying degrees of sobriety looked back at them.
“Who?” Niall downed his pint.
Louis grabbed Harry's hand. “Us.”
The giggling gang made it to the chapel, the doors were closed, a wedding already occurring.
“But when?” Cher probed. “I had no idea.” She tilted her head, confusion written all over her face.
“I kind of had an idea.” Liam, the most sober of them all stated. “You are always together and..” He threw his hand into the air. “You have this bond.”
Louis felt for Harry's hand, their fingers slotted together. Louis squeezed it twice.
“My two best friends are boning each other.” Niall spread his arms then brought them back into his chest, clutching at his heart. “Poetic.”
“It's love, Niall, and we can't hold it in any longer.” Harry yanked at their joined hands, pulling Louis into a stumbled embrace.
“Ahhhhhhh,” Jesy sniffed, she was a very emotional drunk.
The chapel doors opened and a couple walked out. Both dress down in jeans and t shirts, their faces elated, their hands joined.
“Congratulations,” the gang chorused.
The couple grinned at each other and kissed.
Captain Alvarez came out into the corridor.
“Oh,” his face at first confused, broke into a smile as all eyes turned to look at Louis and Harry.
“Well, this is a nice surprise, always lovely when my crew find love.” The captain opened the doors wider and gestured for them to enter.
Harry pulled Louis’ hand. “You sure?” He hummed low into his ear.
“You?” Louis searched his face.
“I am..” Harry nodded with conviction, his eyes not quite as glassy as before, sobriety hitting him.
“Let’s do it.” Louis squeezed Harry’s hand.
The captain took his time, he said lovely words about both Louis and Harry and when he asked for a ring, their heads snapped to each other, wide eyed at their lack of planning.
“It’s ok, there’s rarely rings when it’s the impromptu ceremonies,” Alberto chuckled good naturedly.
“I can bless your rings at a later date, if you so wish?”
They both looked at each other and nodded. “Yes, umm, yes please.” Harry murmured.
They said their vows. Turning to each other, holding both hands in front of themselves, they promised to love and cherish each other until death. Louis could feel Harry’s hands quaking in his.
“It is my great honour to pronouce you joined in matrimony, husbands together. You may now kiss.”
Louis was so glad they’d done this already, knowing which way Harry tilted his head helped make it look natural. Louis leaned in, kissing Harry slow and tender, their friends cheering behind them.
Louis turned, wide eyed and mouthed, “Married,” he gasped, his hand coming up to cover his grin.
They were swept away in a sea of bodies, hugs and kisses all round.
The Captain guided them off to sign the register. Louis felt a pang of anxiety as he signed his name on the legal document.
“Come on, husband,” he cajoled Harry, seeing the slight fear clouding his eyes too.
“Go celebrate and come back to the pursers desk when you are ready, I will arrange a nice surprise for you.” Alberto shook their hands. “And no work tomorrow daytime for either of you.”
The champagne flowed in the crew bar. As one bottle emptied, another one was in it’s place.
Celebration songs were played by Zayn, as the gang hit the dance floor.
“What’s your song for your first dance?” Jesy pulled them both in, looking from one to the other as they stared blankly at each other.
“Umm. It’s erm, Thinking out loud.” Harry’s words tumbling out.
Jesy grinned. “Great choice.” She dashed off to Zayn.
“Well done,” Louis mouthed into Harry’s ear. “My mind went blank.”
Zayn’s voice came over the sound system. “Crew of The Opal Princess, we have a celebration tonight. My good friends Louis and Harry tied the knot and are now husband and husband. Please, can we clear the dance floor for their first dance together.”
Louis saw Harry swallow, his eyes hazy with the alcohol and adrenaline.
“Come on, husband.” Louis lead him out onto the dance floor. “Just relax.” Louis’ put his lips next to Harry’s ear. “Close your eyes and pretend I’m someone else if you want?”
Harry’s mouth gaped slightly, pulling Louis in closer, sliding his hand down Louis’ back.
“I don’t need to do that.” Harry’s lips grazed the side of Louis’ face. “But my legs are like jelly.” He admitted.
The music started up.
‘When your legs don’t work like they used to before..’
Their eyes met, the irony of the first line hitting them, their eyes going wide, laughter bubbling out of them both.
Louis felt Harry relax in his arms, swaying his body, his hands shifting slowly up and down Louis’ back, curving his hand around Louis’ hips, giving them a squeeze.
‘People fall in love in mysterious ways.’
They sang to each other, a shared secret making them smile.
‘Take me into your loving arms.’
Harry’s hands slid down to Louis’ arse. Louis quirked his lip at Harry, swinging his hips a little, feeling Harry’s fingers gripping his flesh.
‘Kiss me under the light of a thousand stars..” Louis leant in, his hands reaching up behind Harry’s head, pulling him in and kissing him.
The room erupted in cheers, Louis felt Harry smiling through his kiss.
‘Maybe, we found love right where we are.’
Louis gestured for people to join them on the dance floor, couples pressing together, swaying to the music.
They danced for several songs, Zayn keeping it low key, letting their bodies move slowly to the music.
“Need a drink.” Harry patted Louis’ arm and wandered back to the table.
They partied all night, the drinks flowing their way from everyone in the room. They danced and courted the limelight, sticking close together.
People began to drift off to bed. Louis and Harry should have been doing the wake up show with Jeff and James the next morning but Jesy and Cher were doing it now.
“We have to go to the Pursers desk and see what the Captain’s surprise is.” Louis finally guided Harry out of the bar after saying their goodbyes and hugging the whole of the room, accepting everyone's congratulations.
“Compliments of The Captain, you have the Windsor Suite for three nights.” The purser handed them two room cards. “Please enjoy your honeymoon.” The man bowed slightly to them both.
Louis pulled Harry towards the lifts.
“Shit, Haz, we have a posh suite.”
It was stunning. A living room with floor to ceiling glass doors looking out over the back of the ship. The wrap around verandah held a hot tub and sunbeds. The bedroom was dominated by a huge four posted bed, with white drapes and another hot tub. The bathroom was elegant with a huge walk in wet room shower.
Harry spun several times, taking in the opulence of the suite and the little touches that had been left for them, flowers, chocolates and champagne on ice.
“Louis.” Harry’s eyes full of wonder. “What the fuck have we done?”
~~