Had this fun idea for some angst. Some fun angst. I never get to write Louyd angst anymore not since Jailbird and that one where Louie dies of old age.

And Daisy Bell and about a dozen others... Okay never mind, just sit back and enjoy the show.


Louie wasn't perfect. Sometimes it seemed the more money he had the more mistakes he made. But it wasn't his fault that he was good at his job. Having grown up with next to nothing, who could blame him for wanting financial security?

Apparently, the answer to that question was his husband. As far as growing up with nothing went, you couldn't get much worse than spending your formative years abandoned in a junkyard. But Boyd had taken a different lesson from that, clinging to people instead of possessions. It was one of the things that Louie loved most about Boyd, but it caused some friction sometimes.

Like when Louie spent all his time securing a business deal, overlooking everything that didn't benefit his company. Including Boyd.

"Louie," Boyd said, gently closing Louie's laptop.

Louie looked up, startled. His eyes were bloodshot like he'd barely been sleeping.

Boyd tsked softly, "Louie, this isn't healthy."

"Hm? I'm fine."

"We both know that isn't true."

"I'm fine," Louie said again, reaching to reopen his laptop.

Boyd grabbed it before he could and held it above Louie's head.

"Well, I'm not fine, Louie. We need to talk."

Louie forced a smile. "If we talk can I have my computer back, dear?"

"Yes."

"Alright, let's talk."

"I know you get focused in on a plan sometimes, and I love that about you. I love how you see all the steps and make them work in your favor. But lately, you've been so focused on your plans you've missed out on everything else."

Louie frowned. "Like what?"

"Like sleeping, eating things other than popcorn, and me."

"I didn't mean to neglect you," Louie said, looking hurt.

"I know you didn't, love, but you have. All I'm asking is that you prioritize work a little less. We already have so much, you don't always have to be grinding towards the next big thing."

"But I do all this for us, Boyd. So that our family can have the life we deserve."

"I already have everything I want and need. Don't you?" There was a correct answer. Boyd didn't know what he'd do if Louie chose the wrong one.

Louie softened, "Of course I do. Let's go to bed, Boyd. I can finish this tomorrow."

Boyd lit up then, setting down the laptop and pulling Louie into his arms. Louie laughed and clung to him, and Boyd felt like everything was going to be okay.

For a few weeks, everything was okay. Louie closed on his business deal and started making more time for Boyd. They went on dates, ate regular meals together, and snuggled up in bed at a normal time each night. Louie even planned a weekend trip for them. Boyd was delighted.

His delight began and ended on that weekend trip. The first night was bliss, and the following day felt like a grand adventure. But on Saturday night, Louie changed the plan.

Boyd was getting ready for bed, his spirits high, when he saw that Louie was still dressed.

Louie immediately noticed he was being studied.

"I'm not super tired," Louie admitted, "I was thinking I'd get a drink at the hotel bar."

"Oh, okay." Boyd didn't drink but he didn't mind if Louie did now and then.

"I'll be back before you know it, go ahead and get some sleep. We've got another fun day ahead." Louie was laying it on pretty thick, but Boyd didn't suspect any ulterior motives yet.

"Alright. Try not to stay up too late."

"I won't. I promise."

Boyd finished brushing his teeth and headed for bed, noticing Louie slip out the door, his laptop bag in tow.

…Why did he need his laptop bag to get a drink? Boyd flopped down on the bed, muddling over this new twist for a few minutes before finally getting up, getting dressed, and going downstairs.

He expected to find Louie tucked away somewhere, answering emails. Instead, he found Louie at the bar, presenting some new Louie Inc. scheme to a handful of investors.

Boyd froze in his tracks, stunned and betrayed.

He would have understood it if Louie had cracked and needed to catch up on a little work but this was something else entirely. The whole trip was a lie, a facade. And if this was how Louie was acting now, it couldn't be the only lie.

Anger replaced shock as he stormed back upstairs, beginning to pack up his suitcase. He was all packed up and sitting on the bed, expectantly, when Louie returned 45 minutes later.

Louie's expression shifted from satisfaction to surprise.

"Boyd? What are you doing up?"

"I'm going home," Boyd said curtly.

Louie's eyes widened, "What? Why?"

"Because I saw you downstairs with those investors, Louie."

"Boyd, honey, it's not a big deal, it was just a quick meeting. The rest of the trip will be all about us, I promise."

"This trip was never about us! You planned this whole trip around a business meeting and then lied and said it was about us. If you'd told me it was a business trip I would have been okay with it but you lied and hid it from me and I'm not going to let you disrespect me like that. I'm going home."

"Okay," Louie said, sounding distressed, "Let's go home."

"No, not us, me. I need some space, Lou. And you need time to decide what your priorities are."

Boyd grabbed his suitcase and left, leaving the room key and the car keys on the dresser.

He made short work of the flight home, only breaking down when he was back in their bed. As he sobbed he couldn't help wondering if this was the end. What if Louie didn't choose him? What if Louie couldn't choose him? Everyone was capable of change, but what if Louie didn't want to?

Boyd only got some rest when he ran out of tears. It was a pretty restless sleep, though, and he didn't quite feel like getting out of bed the next morning.

Eventually, Louie would come home. Eventually, Louie would have to make his choice. Boyd had already chosen. If Louie wasn't willing to put in the work to be more honest and put Boyd ahead of his business then Boyd was going to leave.

"Not leave," he mumbled to himself as he stared up at the bedroom ceiling. "Just take a break."

He'd move back in with Gyro and maybe space and time would make Louie reconsider. But he so hoped it didn't come to that. This was their home, Boyd wanted to stay here and keep making a life with Louie.

Boyd had plenty of time to think, and to wonder if he was blowing things out of proportion. But he didn't think he was. Louie had lied so readily and so easily. If Louie'd just told the truth it wouldn't have been a big deal but to know his husband was hiding things from him hurt like hell.

Louie didn't return until late afternoon, which hopefully meant he'd been thinking about things as long as Boyd had.

"Hey, I didn't know if you wanted me here, if you need more space I can go-"

"Of course, I want you here!" Boyd snapped. He'd been crying again. "I want you to want to be here."

Louie moved to sit next to Boyd on the edge of the bed.

"I do want to be here, Boyd. I promise."

"Don't make promises you can't keep, Louie," Boyd said sharply.

Louie hung his head, taking a few minutes to compose himself. "What do you want me to say?"

"Unbelievable," Boyd said, standing up.

"Boyd, wait. Please don't leave again, I'm so sorry."

"I'm sorry too, Louie because I actually believed you when you said that I was enough for you. I didn't even ask you to give up your career I just asked to be enough for you. I want you to have a job that makes you happy but… Sometimes I need to be a priority."

Boyd broke down again, "God, that sounds so selfish…"

"No, it doesn't. I've been selfish, Boyd. I knew what you wanted and I thought that if I hid it well I could have both. Sometimes I obsess over work and I need to learn when enough is enough. But you're my priority, and I will do whatever it takes to show you that."

Boyd moved to sit next to him, taking Louie's hands. "Like what?"

Louie blanked.

"Tell me some tangible steps you're going to take to be better and I'll believe you. But you have to be honest with me, Louie. Because I don't think I could handle you lying again."

"I should probably talk to someone, about why I feel like my business always has to be growing, huh?"

"That's a start."

"And when the work day is over, I'll turn my laptop and my work phone off, unless there's an emergency."

Boyd nodded, urging Louie on.

"I'll delegate some of my work to other people," Louie offered. "And I'll spend that extra time with my wonderful husband."

Boyd smiled a little, "That's more like it."

"I don't deserve a second chance. But if you gave me one, I'll never stop trying to earn it."

"We both have to put in work to make this relationship work. But it's worth it."

"It is worth it. You've always been worth it."

Boyd beamed, leaning and capturing Louie's lips in a kiss. Which, for the moment, was the only thing Louie could focus on.