they were introduced through mutual friends on a night out, just after harry and his ex officially ended it. harry didn’t know who louis was but he was so taken by how fun he was, dancing with everyone and not caring what other people thought. louis was so different from harry’s typical friend group who were all art types that acted too cool for everything, and yeah harry loved to be moody and vague with his posh friends but he also loved to laugh and make a fool of himself sometimes. maybe they both left the bar to get mcdonalds or something and that was how they became friends: drunkenly sharing fries and laughing over everything.

harry is a serial monogamist, the kind of person who doesn’t know how to not be in a relationship so he’s pretty unsettled now that he’s single. louis is the kind of person who sleeps around a lot, not because he’s afraid of commitment but because he figures the only way he’s gonna find The One is by putting himself out there and trying out a lot of different people. louis does have a steady hookup partner, but then that person moves across the country for a job opportunity and louis knows they’re never gonna see each other again. so harry is trying to get over his ex and louis is looking for casual sex and there’s no doubt they’re both using each other from the start. and “using” is a harsh term bc it’s all good natured and they‘re both aware of what they’re doing, no lies or deception necessary bc it’s all consensual.

their friendship is casual and easy and so is their ”agreement.” the first time it happens is unexpected—they’re a bit tipsy and sharing a hotel room for their friend’s destination wedding and one thing leads to another. usually louis leaves after a hookup instead of sticking around until morning, but he can’t leave this time bc he literally has nowhere to go. in the morning, they don’t talk about it, and it’s a little awkward, but it becomes an inside joke between them when their friends notice the hickeys on harry’s neck at breakfast and worry over him because they think he burned himself on the curling iron while doing his hair for the wedding. they make eye contact over the table and have to stifle their laughter.

so then it happens again. and again. and it becomes a thing. harry is the one to initiate it the first time they’re back in the city, sending louis a needy text in a moment of weakness, but louis shows up at his door right away and they don’t talk about it.

which isn’t to say they don’t talk at all—they’re actually really chatty, except when it comes to sleeping together, which is unspoken. harry enjoys chilling in bed afterwards, turning over onto his side, and talking louis’ ear off. it starts with ranting about his ex and turns into discussing novels and films and their jobs and their families. harry likes to ask louis about work because he loves hearing about all his nerdy math stuff and he knows louis will talk to him in his soft raspy voice, tracing his fingertips over harry’s shoulder until harry falls asleep.

louis never stays until the morning, always leaves sometime when harry is passed out from the impressive number of orgasms wrung out of him. harry tells himself that’s fine, that he doesn’t mind.