Chapter 58: For You

Present

Harry walks into his home, dropping the keys onto the hallway table that is next to the door and pads his way into the kitchen, hand pressing against the middle of his forehead. He immediately begins loudly rummaging through his cupboards and drawers in search of a pain killer to relieve the headache that had been nagging at him all day. 

“Everything okay?” Louis steps into the kitchen, blanket still secure around his shoulders and head. He had lounged in the living room most of the day, watching youtube videos on his phone, and talking to Arthur until the boy had to rush upstairs to get ready for his outing with some guy he refused to tell Louis the name of. 

“Yeah, yeah,” Harry waves him off, voice agitated and anything but kind. Louis’ eyes widen a little and his shoulders slump. Harry glances up from where he is pushing around objects in his drawer and sighs when he sees Louis’ changed composure. “Sorry. I am sorry, I didn't mean to snap. Just have a really bad headache coming on and can’t find anything to help it.” 

Louis shrugs his blanket off and lays it over the kitchen stool. He then moves himself to get Harry a glass of water and motions for him to sit down. “Here, have this and take a seat. I will look for the medication.” 

Harry whispers a thank you and does as told, sitting on the blanket Louis had previously had wrapped around him, one hand on the glass of water and one fisting at the blanket to focus on anything but the pounding of his head. Louis quickly and carefully looks through the drawers and not long later, finds an aluminum strip full of pills. “How many do you need, love?” Louis looks up, his hair flipping backwards. He quickly pushes it out of his eyes and presses the drawer in with his knee.

“Two, please,” Harry mumbles, face dropped into a look of misery as his headache gets worse. Louis snaps two out into his hand and passes them to Harry before grabbing the younger's free hand and rubbing his thumb over the skin there, comforting the boy slightly. 

“Do you need anything else?” Louis asks when Harry presses his head to the smaller boy’s shoulder and whimpers. Louis places his hand on the back of Harry’s head, massaging his curls gently. He tries not to hiss when he feels the scar that lays underneath them. “Hazza?”

“Can we sit on the couch?” Harry asks and Louis agrees easily, taking Harry’s hand and leading him to the living room. They sit for a few minutes before Harry is speaking up again. “Where is Arthur?”

“He went up to get changed for his date… or whatever it is,” Louis replies. Harry nods slowly. “Why did you go to Niall’s?” Louis asks, voice filled with nerves. 

“I got some more clothes for you and made sure Niall knew you were okay.”

“You didn’t tell him... Did you?” Harry shakes his head quickly and places his hand on Louis’ own. 

“I won't tell anyone unless I have permission, Louis. I wouldn't do that to you. This is your thing and you decide who needs to know, okay?” Louis nods and glances down at Harry’s thighs instinctively and Harry notices, pulling away from him. “What?” Harry whispers, voice wavering. 

“Nothing,” Louis whispers back, biting his lip and looking away. “Just know. I wouldn’t-I won’t tell anyone about…” Louis swallows thickly and laughs without humour. “Sorry, blabbering again.” 

“Did you eat today?” Harry changes the subject.

“I had a pancake… And half a slice of bacon. I feel like Arthur thinks I didn't like his cooking. I feel bad.” Louis stares down at his hands, a small pout on his face. "He was so nice to me."

Harry grins and chuckles. “Nobody likes Arthur’s cooking, love.”

 “I can't cook either,” Louis admits and turns to Harry with a small smile. 

“You two could be twins then.”

“Something like that…” Louis mumbles in reply. “Can we talk about last night?” 

“I did hurt you, didn’t I?” Harry’s face drops and he reaches gently for Louis’ arm, slowly lifting up the sleeve, and sure enough, a bruise has marked Louis’ skin in a yellow and purple mix. “I am so sorry, Louis. I promise I didn't mean to,” Harry begins to tear up and Louis cups his face.

“It is not your fault, Harry. You hear me? I know you didn’t mean it, please don’t feel guilty.” Louis watches as Harry nods between his hands, his eyes dropping to Louis’ lips for a second. Louis gulps and begins to lean in slowly and hesitantly. 

“Everyone decent?” Arthur walks into the room, his hand covering his eyes. "No smexy time happening?"

“Open your eyes Arthur,” Harry snorts as they jump away from each other, a red blush rising to both of their cheeks at the thought of what was about to happen. Arthur peels his hand from his eyes and spins.

“Is this outfit okay?” Arthur has a dark red button up on and a black pair of pants, which he has tucked the shirt into. “It isn't too much, is it?” He pouts and nervously tugs at his sleeves. 

“You look amazing!” Harry comments and Louis huffs before realising the attention is now on him. 

“Yeah, you look great,” he forces a smile as he looks at Arthur’s perfect body, that is curvy and well proportioned. Nothing like Louis’ own. Arthur thanks them both and claps his hands excitedly. 

“I hope he thinks so!... I better get going.” Arthur rushes to get everything before saying goodbye to the two. Once gone, an awkward silence fills the room. 

“Well,” Harry slaps his legs and stands up, holding his hand out for Louis to take. “Wanna come sit with me while I make us dinner?” Louis happily accepts and places his smaller hand into Harry’s bigger one, butterflies fluttering in his stomach at the touch. 

-*-

Louis gulps down more of his water after swallowing the tiny, chewed up food he had had in his mouth for a good ten minutes. He hadn’t eaten much on the plate Harry had made him, and he definitely noticed the looks he was getting from Harry. “Haz, I don't think I can eat anymore.”

Harry looks at Louis’ barely touched plate and frowns a little. “Louis, can you please have a few more bites? You’ll get sick again if you don’t eat enough.”

“No.”

“Please, Lou?” 

“I said no, Curly,” Louis grits, emphasising the ‘curly’ in a harsh tone, watching as Harry flinches, his eyes widening. Louis stands up abruptly and walks off, holding back tears as he does so.  

Harry slumps in his seat, visibly shaken from the triggering word. He releases a breath of air he didn't know he was holding in and stands, walking the short way to the kitchen where he begins to put the left over food from the pot into a container, ready for Arthur when he comes home.

He hears footsteps behind him not long later, but doesn't pay any mind until he hears the sound of cutlery scraping against the plate. Harry turns to see Louis eating—trying to at least, still seeming to be struggling, but definitely putting in my effort than before.

“I am sorry, Harry. It slipped out, I didn't mean it,” Louis mumbles, his face full of sorrow. He eats some more food as Harry smiles a little.

“I am sorry too. I shouldn't have pushed you so hard."

"Please do," Louis whispers. "I care about you, Harry and there is no way I can do this without you. I know I am hard to deal with, but I am trying and I'll get there, okay?"

Harry smiles and walks over to where his own near-finished plate sits at the table. "Okay."

A/N: hi bbys! I hope you liked this chapter! <3 I can't believe we are nearly at sixty chapters. I think this book will be overtaking on his knees in chapters...

- Did you enjoy this chapter?

- Thoughts on Larry's interactions in this chapter?

- How do you think Louis is handling his eating disorder?

- Do you think Harry is strong enough to help him through?

- How do you think Harry's own issues are going? Do you think being around Louis will be too triggering for him?

- How do you think Arthur's date may go?

- What do you think/want to happen next?

Please leave some comments and have a great day/night! <3