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Owen sat on Louis' couch, idly listening to him talk about the plans for different projects that would require Owen's services as a lumberjack. He nodded where required, sipped his wine where polite, and waited for the business part of their interactions to be over.
He had learnt by now that his meetings with Louis had a structure. They would start with their strictly professional relationship, sorting out all the things that needed to be sorted. Then, it would transition into more personal talk, where Louis would inevitably scold Owen for the silly mistakes he had made that week.
Then, when it was dark and quite and anyone who would be seeking out Louis' presence would be long gone, Owen would curl up to Louis' side, taking in the metallic spruce scent that was so distinctly Louis. He would revel in the way he was always slightly cold to the touch and wonder how he had managed to find someone like this. Someone to share the fragile silence where it felt like any subtle movement would shatter it, and them alongside it.
And maybe it was alright to shatter, if it meant being together like this.
"Owen?" Louis asked, waving his hand in front of Owen's face with a playful grin. "You awake there?"
The question made Owen realise just how tired he really was. It wasn't even that late, but his body felt heavy and the light from the crackling fireplace blurred through his drooping eyes.
"Barely." Owen replied with a gentle smile. "Perhaps I should head home before I pass out on you." He joked, already moving to stand up.
"You could stay here, if you'd prefer." Louis offered. Owen froze, no one had ever offered him something like that before, and he wasn't quite sure what to do with the proposition. "I know you don't have a lot back at your cabin, and it is quite cold this time of year." He continued, as if he couldn't see the clear confusion on Owen's face.
"Would I be required to sleep on the couch?" Owen questioned, simply because it was the first thing that came to his mind. Of course, he didn't mind at all. He knew that sleeping on the couch in Louis' house with the fireplace and proper pillows would be far superior to anything he would get in the pitiful shack he called his home.
"We could share my bed. Of course, I'm not forcing you into anything. If you don't feel comfortable, I can sleep on the couch, or you can go home." Louis said, already considering every option like he always did. Now that the shock had worn off, a kaleidoscope of butterflies had released themselves in his stomach, mind running over the implications of sharing a bed with Louis.
"Why would you be sleeping on the couch? It's your house." Owen asked indignantly. Louis knew that sleeping on the couch would be considered luxurious for him, it was absurd.
"You're my guest. I want you to be as comfortable as possible." Louis said, an adorable blush colouring his cheeks as he looked down, away from Owen.
"Well, I'm not letting you sleep on the couch, so I guess we'll have to share." Owen said with a cheeky grin, leaving a quick kiss on Louis' forehead and half-running to his room before he could loose the nerve.
Later that night, when Owen was wrapped in Louis' arms, feeling kisses pressed along the back of his neck, he would wonder why the hadn't done this sooner.