Daniel offers him this, the wordless flow of emotion and Louis feels it in his chest. Their hearts don't beat in time, his and Daniel's, but they compliment, they parallel. Daniel gives him this and Louis feels it, lets it dispel the seriousness from his expression, lets himself smile in response to it.

They make a neat circuit. Louis' hands on Daniel's face, Daniel's hands on his knees. Daniel doesn't hug him, but Louis doesn't break the link without an embrace, hands leaving his face only to sling around his shoulders.

Brief. Louis has so rarely instigated this, an actual hug, in spite of all the other ways he reaches for Daniel.

"Okay," a murmur at Daniel's ear, Louis' grip tightening before Daniel is released. "Okay."