tw for domestic violence, plus some weeeeed. it's a VERY STRONG larry chapter.

—-

harry could sense something was off about louis the moment he laid eyes on him.

louis wasn't his usual self — he was still doing his thing, interacting with customers and dancing his little heart out — but there wasn't any motivation to it. louis wasn't all there and harry could see it just by a simple glance at him. he looked like he hadn't slept, his eyes were low and his hands were trembling. something wasn't right.

after louis' second dance of the night he spotted harry by the bar and was quick to ask michael for a drink. "i don't care what it is," he told the bartender.

harry swiveled around in his seat. "you okay?"

louis thanked michael for his water bottle, taking a sip and rested his head on the bar. "i just need a moment, i think."

"come with me then," harry stands and leads louis down to his office. louis stared at the floor as they walked, nearly crashing into harry once they made their stop and he couldn't help but let out a small noise of distress when harry turned around to pull him to his chest. harry gave his back a gentle rub as he held him close, frowning, and eased them into his office.

louis curled up in harry's office chair, wrapping his arms around his legs and placed his head between his knees as his shoulders shook. his chest was tightening with each ragged breath.

harry sat on the edge of the desk. "is there anything i can do to help?"

louis sniffles and shrugs.

"do i need to kick someone's ass?"

"maybe," louis chuckles wetly and raises his head. harry leaned over to wipe his tear stained cheeks gently so he wouldn't startle him. "my ex boyfriend found out where i am and he..he's sending me death threats and he's serious. he's always serious. i've changed my number twice because of him already and i gotta do it again and-"

he takes a weak breath and shakes his head. "i can't escape him, he's fucking crazy and won't leave me alone. i-i'm scared, harry. i'm terrified."

"he won't get to you," harry promises.

"you don't know that," louis whispered. "anywhere i go, he finds me. it's been nonstop. throughout our whole relationship, after we broke up, it's neverending and it's never gonna end until he's locked up or dead."

harry swallows thickly and opens his arms for another hug. louis moves the chair closer and leans against him, resting his cheek on harry's chest. dying down to small sniffles, he wrapped his arms around harry's waist.

"what do you mean by he's always serious?" harry asks softly. he raises a hand up to stroke louis' hair. it's soft, feathery, he smells like peaches. "if i can ask that."

louis bites his lip. "he's uh..he's pushed me down a flight of stairs and pulled a gun on me."

"jesus, lou," harry frowns. "he's a shitty excuse for a human. i'm sorry, love..."

"i'm sorry for dumping that on you," louis sniffles.

"don't apologize. i appreciate you trusting me enough with that information."

"it just-" louis sighs and draws back just far enough to wipe his eyes and look up at harry. "i always put on this demeanor that i don't care, i'm a dick to him when everyone else is around but when he starts acting like that it gets a little too much...i was doing good. so good. i came here and thought i could start over and get away from him, y'know? put that in the past and move on and be happy."

"i get it," harry nods and cups louis' face in his hands. "he won't fuck with you anymore."

"you're gonna go all the way to vegas to kick his ass?" louis chuckles wetly when harry shrugs.

"gotta keep my boy safe," harry murmurs. "can't have no loonies running around here, not around us. liam's already defensive over you. he'd beat him in a heartbeat."

"i honestly couldn't care less what happens to him," louis admits. "i just want him gone."

—-

louis ended up going home early that night.

it didn't help that zayn was road-tripping with niall for the weekend to pick up some stuff so literally none of his people were within arms reach. louis didn't want to go because he didn't feel like sleeping in a car for half the trip, plus he had intended to see if harry wanted to go out again. but it seems like every plan he's had in mind failed miserably.

when he got back to the apartment he took a shower and buried himself in his blankets in his bed, staring blankly at his telly that was playing whatever was on a random channel. he felt like shit for dumping his trauma out on harry but if harry's dropping hints that he's interested in him, louis might as well let him know what he's walking into, right?

it's a rollercoaster, his past relationship. it didn't last long but those months were a nightmare. everything was fine and dandy at first until the controlling and jealousy kicked in and he was stuck until he unglued himself. it hurt to leave at first just because he had feelings for mylo, but that wasn't okay. nothing he did was okay.

it only hits him every once in a while, a huge rush of emotions, and when they do, they run him over and drain him entirely.

he's home alone in a city he's not completely familiar with yet, zayn hasn't answered the phone in hours and neither has niall. liam sent him a message earlier asking if he was okay because he hadn't seen him around the club and he told liam he got sick, so that was that.

so, he calls the next best person in line.

"bunny," harry greets when he picked up. "are you alright?"

"i think so," louis picked at the blanket covering his lap. "um..i just wanted to say thank you for earlier."

"it's not a problem, any time you need to step off the floor and chill out you can just come to my office. it's much quieter back here."

louis nods to himself and sighs. "are you busy?"

he hears the sound of keys in the background and harry's asking what he needs. honestly he just needs company, just someone to be with until he calms down. zayn's usually here for these kind of situations but he's not picking up the fucking phone so that could mean one of two things: he's either driving or asleep.

"can you..come over? maybe?" louis gulps. "i know it's late and it's probably weird for me to ask this-"

"i'm actually leaving inferno now. do you want to stay on the phone until i get there?"

"it's like a twenty minute drive and it's dark, you don't need distractions."

"louis tomlinson is a valid distraction."

the smaller lad chuckles softly and they end up staying on the phone the whole time harry drives to his apartment. he explained that he had a small panic attack but the younger lad already knew, he could tell, and louis basically told harry if it happens again to either just have someone hold him really tight until he calms down or to find zayn if he's around.

louis hangs up once harry says he's there and shuffles into the front of the flat so he could unlock the door. he waits in the doorway with his arms wrapped around himself until harry's in front of him pulling him in for a hug. louis relaxes against his chest, mumbling a 'thank you' in his shirt when harry pressed a kiss to the top of his head.

harry tightened his arms around louis' shoulders and just held him. he smells the fruity body wash on the boy and a strong hint of marijuana. "are you stoned?"

"very," louis nods, leaning back to let him in, "very, very stoned."

"bummer you didn't share," harry teases. louis leans back to flash him a very small grin and locks the door again, pulling harry to his room by his hand.

"please don't mind it, i'm just sad," he admits. he crawls in his bed and motions for harry to come next to him. harry carefully takes his boots off and sits beside louis, who lays his head on his shoulder with a yawn.

"i was gonna try to sleep but i couldn't 'cause my brain is on overdrive," louis shrugs. "niall an' zee are gone and i'm alone. it's boring."

"'s pretty boring when you're by yourself," harry agrees. "do you want to smoke? or just hang out for a bit?"

"both," louis says and sits up, leaning over to grab his bowl and lighter. he lets harry hit it first since he's already pretty high but he's never been one to refuse more weed. while harry takes his hit, louis changes the channel to cartoon network and nods approvingly when he sees adventure time on the screen. they pass the bowl back and forth until it's out and harry's eyes are nearly the same pink shade as louis'.

he also gives harry a little bit of background on why he left his ex. what started their relationship — mylo was a customer at paralyzer, how it slowly changed — drugs, lots and lots of drugs, and how it ended — louis walked away.

harry's features change from time to time. shock, anger, confusion, but never pity. it pains him to hear and learn the things louis went through. louis is...louis. louis is a happy-go-lucky person that can literally make anyone's day. but he's also this bright, energetic ray of sunshine that has been clouded over by a storm. it's overcast until it creeps in and darkens everything out entirely.

maybe that target wouldn't make him feel any bit of remorse now that he knows this information.

"can i tell you something?" harry asks quietly.

louis sets the finished bowl on his nighstand and blows out the last bit of smoke. "what's up?"

"you're really cute when you're stoned."

louis feels a blush creep onto his cheeks and he hides his face. "stop it."

"you're cute in general," harry shrugs. "just thought i'd let you know."

"thank you," louis chuckles and curls up against his side.

"when will the boys be back?"

"sometime tomorrow," louis shrugs. harry nods and moved to lay down, pulling louis down with him.

"do you want me to stay with you until then?" harry asks as louis lays his head on his chest.

"if you want to, that's fine," louis yawns. "you're really warm and i'm sorry i'm being really clingy right now. it just helps."

"i got you," harry assures. "anytime you need me i'm here, okay?"

louis nods and thanks him softly as harry rubs his hip with his thumb. they lay there stoned watching adventure time for another hour or so when louis mentions he's hungry and offers to get them something to eat if harry's up for food as well.

"a caramel frappe from mcdonald's sounds fantastic right now," louis says as he pulls a hoodie over his head, tying the little strings into a bow. "with fries. or nuggets. i just have the munchies."

"the feeling is mutual," harry says as he puts his shoes on. "you wanna drive or me?"

louis stops mid tie and looks up. "you."

harry nods and grabs his keys. louis grabs what he needs and leads them out, locking the door behind them.

the drive to the nearest mcdonald's was quiet for the most part except for the low volumed aerosmith song playing on harry's radio.

harry reaches across the middle console for louis' hand, keeping a gentle grip on it as he drives the nearly empty streets. louis takes in the details of his rings, admiring the way they glistened under the streetlights. harry's hands were much larger compared to his smaller ones but they were gentle with him.

he tries to hand harry a twenty for their food but harry only shakes his head and hands over his debit card to pay. louis nearly pouted like a child the whole time they were in the drive thru until harry leaned over to kiss his cheek and grab his hand again. it's like harry was just as touchy-feely as he was. he didn't mind it at all, if he was honest. harry, for some reason, made him feel safe. they've only known eachother for nearly two months and been on one date, but it felt like so much longer.

it's nearly six in the morning when louis feels a tad bit sleepy and harry's cuddled up to him in his bed. the munchies are long gone, harry's chest is pressed firmly against his back and louis couldn't help but let a few tears fall freely. he's been overwhelmed all day, too shaken up to even finish his shift at work and he feels so..small. so tiny, so vulnerable.

and harry's dropped everything to come be by his side. talked him through his panic attack and gave him company and has been so patient with him this whole time.

it's unbelievable.

the faint sound of sniffles catches harry's attention from the tv and he leans up on his elbow, using his other hand to brush some of louis' hair out of his face. "'s okay, bunny, i'm here."

he could tell louis was strong just from what the man had told him at the club and during his short stay here at his apartment. louis didn't have to tell him anything, he could have left things the way they were and just said 'i'm fine' but he completely broke down and told him as much as he could. if louis wants to leave his past life in the past then that's okay, that's more than okay.

he just hopes louis doesn't lose himself in the process of renewal.

louis nods slowly and wipes his eyes. "thank you for being with me."

harry laid back down and pulled louis close to him, pressing his nose into the boy's shoulder. "of course."

he grabs louis' hand and intertwines their fingers, occasionally checking on him to make sure he was alright until the smaller man fell asleep with jumbled thoughts and a twisted stomach.

—-

):

so louis broke some of those walls down which is huge. he trusts harry enough to let him know why he is the way he is and how..somewhat, far he's come. louis is an abuse survivor and that will be part of this storyline.

thoughts on louis letting him in and harry being by his side to console him? where do you think this will take them?

as i mentioned previously this was a strong larry chapter and it only goes from here. all good things, all good things.

sorry it's short, i've been struggling a bit mentally but i think im gonna be okay. just give me some time. xx