Posted originally on the Archive_of_Our_Own at https://archiveofourown.org/
works/2015136.
  Rating:
      Explicit
  Archive Warning:
      Graphic_Depictions_Of_Violence, Underage
  Category:
      M/M
  Fandom:
      One_Direction_(Band)
  Relationship:
      Harry_Styles/Louis_Tomlinson, Zayn_Malik/Liam_Payne
  Character:
      Harry_Styles, Louis_Tomlinson, Niall_Horan, Liam_Payne, Zayn_Malik, Robin
      Twist, Mark_Tomlinson, Eleanor_Calder, Perrie_Edwards, Greg_Horan
  Additional Tags:
      Abuse, Sexual_Content, Preachers_Son, Chief_of_Police_Son, Religion_talk,
      i_suck_at_tagging_things, obviously
  Stats:
      Published: 2014-07-24 Words: 7408
****** Better Now That I'm With You ******
by awholenewlevelofcharming
Summary
     Louis is the son of the Preacher and Harry is the son of the Chief Of
     Police; You'd expect them to both be straight and well behaved,
     however, you'd be surprised that they're not.
Notes
     PLEASE READ BEFORE CONTINUING: This is just a short little fic that
     came to my mind three very late nights ago and it's such shit that
     I'm second guessing on posting it.
     I do not mean to offend anyone or anything about religion, I swear,
     it's just fiction. Nothing in this is true, I do not own the boys in
     any way.
     I'm not sure how I feel about it, I might post something later on in
     the week that will explain some things that were left unanswered.
     Anyway, no more spoilers.. Hope you enjoy!
     Happy reading!
See the end of the work for more notes
**********
"Are you going to invite Harry?" Zayn, Louis' best friend, from across the
table asks. "Since you're, you know, fucking him?"
Louis looks away from the darker boy to look over at Harry's table; It's easy
to spot him with those curls. It's a bit ridiculous, how long he's grown his
hair, - So long, in fact that he has to wear them back with a hairband -, and
also how broad his shoulders are for his slim waist. Louis watches as Harry's
head throws back and a loud laugh escapes his lips and Louis licks his own
before looking back at Zayn.
Zayn's thick black hair is tucked behind a beanie because he was too lazy to do
it this morning and he was actually wearing his glasses for once, his light
caramel eyes shinning behind them and he was even sporting a grey hoodie but
still managed to look like a fucking model. Louis was a bit jealous. "Of
course, I will. But you have to invite Liam."
"What?" Zayn splutters, milk sloshing down his chin. "No. No."
Louis gives him a look, handing him his used napkin from his lap and then
looking back at Harry's table; He's surprised to see Harry already looking at
him and when they make eye contact, Harry winks at him. Of course, Louis bites
his lip back, raising an eyebrow. It's not like they're secretive, really, it's
just - Being the Preachers son and the Chief of Polices' son, it wouldn't
really be wise to just flaunt their homosexuality around.
No one really knew about their special relationship, apart from Zayn, Liam and
Niall anyway.
"Why not?" Louis asks when Harry looks away with a grin, his dimple poking out
on his cheek. Those damn dimples, Louis sighs dreamily. Bastard. "He'd say yes.
Like right there. No hesitation."
"I don't even know if he's gay," Zayn moans, burying his face into his hands.
"Like, I can't just -"
"Zayn," Louis rolls his eyes, kicking him underneath the table. "Don't be a
pussy. Just ask him, if he says yes, great! If he says no, then fuck him and
I'll get you plastered."
"Yeah?"
"Of course." Louis holds out his pinky, which Zayn hesitantly takes. "He'll say
yes though."
**********
"So," Louis places his palms flat on Harry's desk, pushing his chest forward a
little. "You're coming to my party right?"
Harry looks up from where he's (what Louis assumes) writing a new verse in his
song notebook. He clicks his pen and places it between his teeth, leaning
forward with a smirk. "Do you want me to come?"
"Don't be a twat," Louis grins back, slapping his arm lightly. "Come on. It'll
be fun."
"Where will Father Mark be?"
Louis rolls his eyes, a light blush fainting his cheekbones. He hates -
especially Harry - when people call his father father in front of him. It just
reminds him that he's supposed to be some good boy who wears sweater vests and
are supposed to be hella fucking straight instead of hella fucking gay aka
Louis Tomlinson, who wears v necks and tight jeans and has tattoos covering his
body. "He's out of town for business -"
"You mean, helping and 'healing' some sick old lady."
"No." Louis says stubbornly, jutting out his chin and staring down at the
younger boy. His green eyes are staring back into Louis' very own blue ones,
eyes sparkling with mirth. "He's out of town.... For business."
"Right," Harry says, eyebrows raising a bit and a flirtatious smile pops on
those sinful pink lips. "Dad's working on a case, so maybe I'll be able to
swing by."
"You better," Louis lightly threatens, his stomach flipping at the fact that it
came out a lot lower than it was supposed to. He hopes Harry doesn't quite
literally take it as a threat, because that was not Louis' intentions at all.
Oh Jesus Christ, I mean, oh goodness gracious, Louis thinks, cringing slightly.
He's been trying to stop taking God's name in vain ever since Mark slapped over
it a few weeks ago.
"Yeah?" Harry's pupils grow a little darker and Louis gulps, he knows that
look, he's seen it many times; He's seen it in supply closets, in his bed, in
Harry's bed, in his car, in the bathroom of the church (Louis cries about that
sometimes, begging God for forgiveness sometimes), he's even seen it in the
shower. Harry and himself have a lot of sex, now that Louis thinks about it.
And they're not even dating. "Or what?"
Louis bites his lip to stop a grin from spreading as he pushes more on his
hands, his lips brush Harry's ear even though there are some curls brushing
against it, tickling his chin. "Or I won't let you fuck me until I see stars.
I'll make you beg for it." He murmurs lowly, breathing lightly on his earlobe.
Louis pulls away then, flushing as he turns on his heels and finally takes his
seat beside the boy. Harry hasn't said anything since and Louis fidgets in his
seat, sneaking a glance in his direction. He's surprised when he sees Harry's
mouth agape, still frozen and blushing a dark red and when Louis' eyes trail
down he notices that his jeans are a lot bigger than they were before he walked
into the classroom.
He's grinning when the teacher pulls the classes attention to the front.
**********
"I can't believe Liam said yes!" Zayn exclaims a few days later, Louis and
Niall walking in tow.
Niall claps him on the back and grins and Louis makes a noise of approval. He's
happy for Zayn, really he is, it's just - It's just that Harry's talking to
some new girl named Holland who wears tight skirts and crop tops and wears the
tackiest pink lipstick Louis' ever seen. And it's even worse because Harry
hasn't talked to him in three days and that's like some new record because in
the last year they have at least texted each other once everyday.
Also, with Louis' party coming later tonight, he hopes Harry doesn't invite
her.
Louis clutches his book bag closer to him as the three of them cross the
street; They were on their way to Niall's brothers house, because Greg is over
twenty-one and he can buy beer for the party, - Louis makes a mental note to
thank Niall and Greg later -, and to get snacks and cups and all of the
necessities for the party.
Niall bumps his shoulder, his smile radiant as he looks down at the shorter
boy. Louis holds back rolling his eyes, he was the eldest out of the five and
yet he still gets looked down on. "You alright, bud?"
"Perfect." Louis mumbles sarcastically and ignores the way Zayn and Niall shoot
each other confused looks behind his head. He's supposed to be home and taking
a shower, cleaning up for Mass tonight, but he's really not in the mood. But if
he doesn't, Mark will probably find a way to punish him.
Louis gulps and stops dead in his tracks, looking between the boys. "Look," He
exhales heavily. "I forgot about Mass tonight and I have to go or Mark will
kill me - Like, literally. So, I'll give you the money can you just buy -?"
"Of course, Lou." Zayn nods, understanding. He always understands even when
Louis doesn't say anything - It's probably why Louis is a lot closer to Zayn
than he is Niall, although Niall has his perks that overpower Zayn's own too,
it's a perfect balance. Louis is lucky to have them in his life.
He fishes the money out of his pocket and hands it into Zayn's waiting hands,
gives them both a hug and then he's running around the corner. He trusts them
to get the right booze, they both know that Louis' favorite whiskey is Jack
Daniels. He trusts that they won't fuck it up.
His house is about two blocks away from Greg's, so he pushes his legs a little
faster.
Sometimes he is a little jealous of Zayn and Niall, because Zayn doesn't even
go to church and Niall only has to go on Sundays. But being the Preachers son
you kind of have to go, like, all the time.
When he reaches his home, he opens and slams the screen door to make his
presence known and kicks off his shoes and tosses his book bag on the table by
the door.
Mark is in the kitchen wearing his cassock already and Louis clears his throat,
grabbing a water bottle. "You're late."
"I'll meet you there," Louis shrugs, wiping sweat with the back of his hand off
his forehead. "I got held up after school. No big deal."
"It is," Mark chides, combing his thick brown hair behind his ears. "I don't
approve of this behavior Louis and neither does God. He taught to respect your
elders -"
"Right." Louis interrupts, clapping his hands together and walking towards the
bathroom. He sighs when he hears Mark follow him. "Can I help you? I thought
God had some rule against males being in the same room or something, right?
Personally, I think it's a stupid sin -"
It happens in a blink of an eye and when it does - Louis recoils at the touch.
Mark had slapped him across the face, leaving his skin tingling and red. Louis
swallows down a handful of profanities, knowing it'd only get worse if he
continued to talk. He wasn't really in the mood for it either.
"Don't speak like that in my home."
"Yessir." Louis whispers, standing in the doorway of the bathroom. He wants to
scream at him, tell him it's all his fault that his mother, Jay, left them when
he was only four. That it was his fault for everything horrible that happened
in his life, for all of the judgement stares, for the whispers.
He hates Mark most days.
"I'll meet you at church, okay?" He hates the way his voice cracks, hates how
tears begin to form in his eyes but Mark simply turns around and is out the
door before Louis can say anything else.
Louis strips bare and gets into the shower, sobbing into his fist.
**********
At Mass, Louis keeps his head down and sits in his normal spot on the very far
left side in the very back.
Harry brought Holland tonight.
Louis tries not to cry again.
**********
"I'm so sorry, Louis." Mark says quietly when he finds Louis curled into a ball
later that evening. "I have prayed for you to forgive me, I love you."
Louis simply nods, his head loose on his shoulders. Part of him is considering
to cancel the party tonight and another part of him wants to get really fucking
drunk and forget today even exists.
Mark is quiet for a moment, obvious that he's contemplating saying something
else, but instead, he gives Louis a pat on the shoulder and says, "I'll be back
Sunday morning. I left money for food on the kitchen counter and don't forget
to take out the trash, please. Love you."
"Thank you. I will." Louis mumbles, because, well, that's how he was raised. To
always be polite and trust God.
**********
"I'm here to get fucking smashed!", is Niall's greeting when he opens the door
to Louis' house.
Louis changed into his best red jeans, the ones that made his ass look big, and
a black v neck that showed off his collarbone and arm tattoos. His hair was
styled into a lazy spiky quiff and he wore his favorite blue socks. Louis
chuckles and hits his shoulder with his fist, blinking when a crowd of people
follow in behind him. Niall was very friendly, a loud bubbly boy that loved to
curse and tell amazing jokes. So he pretty much knew everybody.
Zayn came in shortly after, Liam's hand in his own and Louis raises his
eyebrows. "Sooo," He drags out the word and both boys blush as they walk
through the house. "You two a couple now or -?"
"Is that vodka?" Liam grins, clearly avoiding an awkward question. Louis shoots
Zayn a look and he shrugs, grinning, completely oblivious and so in love that
it actually hurts Louis to look at.
Liam doesn't even drink.
Someone (Louis thinks it's his friend Stan) shoves a blue cup into Louis' hands
and he shrugs, gulping the remains of it.
Strawberry vodka? Louis hums in approval as he roams over to the living room
where his sound system is set up. He made a playlist a few days ago with over a
thousand songs, just for this party. He turns his iPod on and turns it at it's
highest volume.
The crowd that's surrounding his house now yells and hollers in excitement,
causing Louis to grin and lazily dance along to the music.
Almost an hour later, Louis is playing beer pong deep into his home when
someone grabs his waist and pulls him in to a backwards hug. "You look so
good."
He's drunk and a bit confused, but he could recognize that slow drawl from
anywhere. He lets Greg play for him and he turns around in Harry's arm, raising
his eyebrows. He's too drunk, he knows, because he shouts, "Where's Holly?
Hollvert? Hollaid? Holland? Holland!"
"Holland?" Harry chuckles, looking a bit tipsy himself. Louis knows this
because his eyes are bloodshot, causing his eyes to look a lot more blue than
green. "Probably back at College, I suppose."
"College?" Louis feels his eyes bulge out of his head. "A college girl? Wait
why was she at our school then?"
Harry raised an eyebrow. "She was there volunteering, remember? You're father
set it up, Lou. She was there trying to recruit seniors to go to Holy Cross."
Louis shrugs, relief coursing through his veins when he realizes Harry doesn't
have a thing for tight skirts and pink tacky lipstick after all. He sways
forward, giggling when Harry's massive hands reach out to steady him. "Strong
Haz," He slurs. "Strong baby."
"You're wasted, babe."
"Tell me'a'bout it." Louis hiccups, smirking.
"You alright then, Lou?" Harry's eyebrows come together then, pressing his palm
to his cheek and tilting Louis' head up to force him to look at him. Louis
does, of course he does, and immediately wishes he didn't.
Harry looks so fucking sexy like this - pink cheeks and red-bitten lips and a
loose white tee that shows off his chest tattoos and Louis licks his lips.
"I want you to fuck me," He slurs in Harry's ear, giggling again when the hands
tighten around his waist. "Please? Please, I want you so bad."
Harry's breath hitches in his throat, wrapping an arm around Louis' waist and
pulling him in closer. "You sure, babe? You're a little too drunk right now."
"Haz," Louis frowns, tugging one of Harry's curls. "Take me to my room."
"Okay, Louis." Harry whispers, the noise getting drowned beneath the loud
music. He pulls away from the smaller boy and grabs his hand, entangling their
fingers.
Louis follows him upstairs, swaying on his feet and letting his eyes bounce
around the house before their landing on Zayn's very own. He gives him a look,
well he thinks he does, because Zayn simply raises an eyebrow and nods.
Hopefully Zayn will control everything if it gets too out of hand. Hopefully.
Louis trips on the door frame when Harry drags him into his room, causing him
to fall into Harry's embrace and giggling when Harry huffs out loud. The curly-
haired boy reaches behind Louis and shuts the door.
It's quiet for a few moments, save for the fact that the music downstairs is
traveling upstairs and his heartbeat is in his ears and Harry's breath is
coming out into little puffs of air. Louis placed his hands around Harry's
shoulders to stop him from spinning. "Hi."
"Tell me what's wrong," Harry murmurs, his thumb brushing along Louis' bottom
lip. "You're acting weird."
Louis doesn't say anything, scowl evident on his face. He was always a good
liar, even when he was shit faced. Kind of. "Nothing."
"Louis."
"Harry."
"Louis, please. Tell me what has you upset." Harry begs, his green eyes
sparkling because of the street lamp outside of Louis' window. Louis can barely
make the outline of Harry's jawline, let alone his face - But his eyes.
Louis gulps and shakes his head, he's not supposed to be feeling this way about
another boy. He isn't even supposed to be touching another boy like this; It's
a sin.
An abomination to his father. His father, shit - Louis looks up at Harry then,
looks at the way his eyes are filled with worry.
He doesn't realize he does it, doesn't realize he surges forward and lands his
lips on Harry's own, tugging at the back of his neck and pulling him forward.
He nibbles on Harry's bottom lip as Harry pushes him against the door, hand on
his waist and so very warm and the other one tangling into his hair.
Harry kisses back, of course he does, but when he cautiously presses his tongue
against Louis' teeth, Louis is gone for. He opens his mouth a little wider and
Harry presses him further against the wall, slotting himself between Louis'
legs.
Harry swirls his tongue around Louis' own, a soft moan escaping the back of his
throat, and Louis rubs the side of Harry's back.
When Harry pulls away to suck a mark on Louis' lower neck, Louis tilts his head
to the side and makes a quiet appreciative noise. "Fuck me." He says quietly.
Harry's hands find Louis' waist again. "Please."
"After you tell me what's wrong." Harry breathes against Louis' neck, lips
brushing the skin there. Louis shivers against the touch, eyelids fluttering
shut. "You don't beg... You're Louis Tomlinson."
Louis giggles at that, feeling a lot less drunk and a lot more horny, and wraps
his arms around Harry's waist. "I just want you to fuck me, okay? Don't worry
about it."
"I'll always worry about you..." Harry breathes.
And it's like - They're not even dating.
Louis breathes out a little harshly through his nose, pulling away and tugging
down his jeans and waddling over to his queen sized bed. He can already feel a
headache start to form, feels the way the floor shakes because of the music and
doesn't look up until he's flat on his back.
Harry's eyebrows are dipped in the middle, the corner of his lip turned down.
"Lou?"
"What about Holland?" Louis asks quietly and great, this wasn't supposed to
happen, "Did you fuck her? Was her tight skirts and big boobs enough for you?
You know, I'm not even supposed to be fucking you. Let alone having feelings
for you - Fuck, I'm so fucking stupid. I'm just some stupid faggot boy who is
an abomination to this whole goddamn world -"
"Hey, hey," Harry growls, crawling over him on the bed, his hands on either
side of Louis' face. "Don't say that, okay?"
Louis' breathing seems to slow down, he hadn't realized he was breathing
heavily now, but Harry's there. He almost always is. "It's true."
"It isn't." Harry whispers, pressing his thumb against Louis' chin. The way his
curls fan over his cheeks make Louis' stomach churn. "I didn't do anything with
Holland except talk about College. And dad made me show her around the high
school and the town.. She's nothing, love."
Louis can't help the relief that drowns his body, making him breathe a little
easier. He bites down on his lip to hold back a sob, closing his eyes shut.
"Okay."
"Okay?" Harry murmurs, before leaning down to peck Louis on the lips one more
time. "You okay, then?"
"I'm okay." Louis nods, before opening his eyes and swallowing. "I want you to
fuck me."
"Louis," Harry chuckles, kissing the side of his face. "You're drunk, love. I
can't take advantage of you like that -"
"Shut up!" Louis cackles and raises his hips to thrust against Harry's own.
Harry bites his lip and looks at down at Louis again, but this time with lust
dancing in his eyes.
They're kissing again when Louis lets out a low teasing moan and Louis trails
his fingers up underneath Harry's shirt before Harry pulls away and sits up on
Louis' thighs, pulling off his shirt.
Louis ogles him, mouth falling agape as he rubs Harry's thighs lightly. His
butterfly tattoo in the middle of his stomach, just below his nipples, was
glistening with sweat already. The two leaves on his hips are hidden behind his
jeans but Louis knows they're there.
He's admired Harry's body for almost a year now, studied it from head to toe.
He knows that Harry has four nipples, knows there are multiple little moles
scattered across his body, knows that there's a dip between his two shoulders
and his collarbone and shoulders are twice the size of his waist.
When Harry finally shimmies out of his jeans, their already hard cocks rub
against each other through their boxer briefs. Louis lets out a filthy moan,
wrapping his arms around Harry's neck. The younger boy pulls away again, but
this time there is a certain intensity in his eyes. "Louis."
"Yeah?" Louis breathes out, looking up at him. His large hands trail down
Louis' tummy, before he snaps his gaze back up, eyebrows twitching. Louis is
about to ask what's wrong, why Harry is looking at him like that, but Harry
interrupts before he gets the chance to;
"I need the lube."
Louis smirks and reaches over on his nightstand, yanking open the drawer and
tossing it next to Harry's thigh. The taller boy is still on him, eyes
concentrated and tongue poking out of his lips as he coats his fingers with it.
He breathes heavily through his nose when Harry rubs the tip of his finger on
Louis' hole, gently easing his way in. He's teasing, Louis figures, because
he's moving slowly, Louis ruts his hips down quickly. Harry chuckles to himself
quietly, pressing a light kiss on the inside of Louis' thigh. He pulls away
again, but keeps his finger in, his eyebrows dipping together in frustration.
"Goddamnit, no. Louis, listen -"
"What? What the fuck, Haz -?" Louis sits up on his elbows, panting quietly.
"I want you."
"... Okay...? Well, you're kind of in me, so -"
"No, I mean." Harry shifts, causing his finger to go in deeper and Louis lets
out a yelp, involuntarily grinding his hips down, so Harry inserts another
digit. "I mean, like properly. I want you, all of you - All the time. I want
you to be mine."
Louis stares at him for a moment, a blush forming on his cheeks as he lays
there feeling exposed. His heart feels like it's about to explode if Harry says
anything more, because he doesn't know how he feels - Well, he does, but he's
too afraid to admit it. He can't love another boy, he can't even date another
boy; How would this work out?
He doesn't have much time to think about it because Harry's already going back
to work, his hand that isn't inside him, brushing against the underside of
Louis' cock, teasing, always teasing.
Harry kisses the inside of his thigh again, licking a thin stripe and causing
Louis to let out another moan. He doesn't say anything else, simply just pulls
his fingers out and replacing it with his cock, carefully lining his cock up to
Louis' hole, before gently easing in. His breath hitches and Louis bites his
bottom lip roughly to stop another moan leaving his lips, looking up at Harry
with wide eyes.
"I love you," Harry whispers, his hand trailing down Louis' cheek. "You're so
beautiful, Louis, I love you -"
Three things happen at once; Louis nearly has a heart attack because Harry's
never said it to him before, especially while he was inside Louis, secondly the
noise downstairs turns into frantic yelling causing the music to die down and
lastly; The door swings wide open, hitting the back of the wall with a loud
thump.
Harry scrambles off Louis with a yelp, Louis letting out an embarrassingly loud
squeak. "Harry Edward Styles."
And - Louis' life is over.
"Dad?"
"Is that - Louis? Father Mark's boy?"
Louis scrambles to cover himself with his comforter, eyes nearly bulging out of
his head as Harry shamelessly pulls on his pants and his tee. Although he's
blushing, he seems unbothered and Louis can't, for the life of him, figure out
why. "Dad, what are you - What's going on?"
"There was a noise complaint." Robin squints, clicking his flashlight off and
sighing. "I'm sorry Louis, I'm going to have to call your dad -"
"What?!" Louis exclaims, heart pounding in his ears. "Please don't, please,
please I'll do anything, I promise, I swear, I -"
"Dad," Harry puts a hand on Louis' hand and Louis recoils at the touch,
breathing deeply through his nose and moving off the bed to pulls his jeans on
underneath the covers. He doesn't look over at Harry, tears already welling in
his eyes. "Dad, come on. It's not like we were doing illegal drugs or anything
-"
"This house reeks of booze, Harry." His father raises an eyebrow, mouth
quirking down at the corner, just like Harry does sometimes. Louis' heart skips
a beat when he realizes he noticed something so small. "You're seventeen; I'm
almost positive that you are all under the age of twenty-one and I can't just
brush this under the rug -"
"Do you have to tell my dad?" Louis begs, feeling like a small child who just
got caught doing something he wasn't supposed to. "I'm eighteen, I can take
full responsibility, I swear -"
"It's not like that, Tommo, I'm sorry -"
"Get out."
"Lou," Harry whispers from beside him and tries to grab his hand again, but
Louis shoves him away, screaming at the top of his lungs. "I said get out!"
"Louis." Harry's voice breaks and Louis looks away, glaring down at his dirty
rug and shakes a little when Harry gets up without another word but before he
leaves the room, he stops in the doorway, his father already trudging down the
steps, and bites his lip. "Remember what I said, okay? I'm sorry, babe. Please
don't be mad at me, I can't stand it when you're mad -"
"I'm not mad at you," Louis assures, his voice shaking. "Just. Give me some
space for a while, yeah?"
"Louis -"
"Space. Please, leave." He mumbles, falling on his back. His breath hitches in
his throat when Harry slams the door behind him, eyes screwing shut tightly as
he listens to the noise die down. He waits until he hears nothing, not even the
music, before he gets up and throws on a random sweater he found on the floor.
He slowly walks down the steps and realize he's alone.
He cleans up the mess quickly, scrubbing at the floor because someone spilled
alcohol all over the carpet and once he realizes what fully happened, he curls
in a ball and accidentally cries himself to sleep.
**********
Louis' dad comes home the next morning, because Officer Styles called him.
He slaps him awake.
Louis cries the whole day.
**********
Louis hasn't shown up to school for a week.
Harry chews on his thumbnail as he walks down the corridor, Liam's arm wrapped
around his shoulder in an almost protective manner.
Since the whole school knew of Louis, they definitely knew of his
disappearance; It was quiet without him, there was no yelling down the
hallways, no playful shoving and loud laughter - It was just, quiet. Too quiet
and it made Harry twitchy. "You don't think it's a bit weird?"
"Father Mark must've thrown a fit," Liam sighed, squeezing his shoulder with
his hand. "I don't know, my mom drove by his house the other day, she said no
one was there."
"I told him I loved him, Li." Harry groans into his hands, scrubbing away the
tears that threatened to fall. "He didn't even say it back, I -"
"Shh, I know." Liam does, he's heard it ever since the party ended, after Harry
got in his dads cop car and drove off with an empty feeling in his chest. "He
loves you back, I'm sure of it."
Harry doesn't say anything else because Zayn comes up and grabs Liam's hand,
kissing him on the cheek and Harry ignores the way his heart sinks to his
stomach. Liam automatically grins and presses his lips to the darker boys, and
Harry has to force himself to look away.
Zayn pats Harry's shoulder, giving him a look that Harry's so used to these
last few days. It basically means I haven't heard from him yet, I'm sorry. HE
looks absolutely worried himself, bags under his eyes and pale as a ghost; And
it's like, Harry knows Zayn and Niall are worried too, because well - Why
wouldn't they be?
The night after the party, Harry called Louis' cell five times. Each time, it
went straight to voicemail. He even later knocked on Louis' window, but got no
answer on the other side. He'd considered just knocking on the front door a few
days later, but he chickened out last minute because he was afraid of what
would happen.
He runs a hand through his curls in frustration, biting his lip raw until he
finally gets to his seat.
He opens his notebook as Liam and Zayn take their seats next to him, talking
quietly amongst themselves; He's happy for them, happy that they've agreed to
stop being ridiculous and finally managed to say one word to each other without
stumbling over a decent sentence.
He hears a few people shuffle behind him, but he ignores them, that is, until
someone whispers. "Did you hear that he hooked up with a guy at the party?"
"No way," He hears and he immediately recognizes the voices of Eleanor Calder
and Perrie Edwards. "Isn't that, like, against his religion?"
"Well, he has a bunch of tattoos and curses a lot - You don't think he gives a
crap, do you?" Eleanor asks incredulously. "Anyway, apparently someone told
Mark and he had a shit storm, literally went AWOL. Like, he only told Father
Bill that he was leaving and he didn't show up to yesterdays Mass."
Harry tenses suddenly, eyes widening as he realizes that his dad must've told
him everything. He practically begged him not to and he promised he wouldn't,
but - Did he?
"Who do you think he hooked up with?"
It's quiet for a few moments and Harry strains his ears to listen, but all he
gets is a quieter whisper that he can't understand.
He rolls his eyes and tries to focus on his work at hand.
**********
"You didn't tell Louis' dad about...." Harry pauses, making gestures with his
hands. It's later in the new week and they were at the kitchen table eating
some new pasta salad his dad wanted to try. "You know."
"About... You two fondling each others penises -?"
"Dad!"
"Well!" Robin chuckles, throwing his hands up in false surrender and rolling
his eyes. "It's true, isn't it?"
"No," Harry snaps, lowering his voice, trying to muster up a good lie.
"Absolutely not -"
"You're in love with him."
It catches Harry by surprise, so he sits there with his mouth open and wide
eyes.
You see, when Harry came out to Robin, he simply grinned and gave him a hug and
then asking him to go get a beer for him - Which, wasn't surprising. It was
just.. Weird. He expected Robin to yell at him, or even give him a speech
because of how religious Robin was, but nothing could come between the love he
has for his son, no matter what he did or who he was.
Robin raises an eyebrow when Harry doesn't answer. "So, have you told him yet?"
"What? I - No - Yes - How did you -?"
"You gonna finish a sentence, boy?" Robin chuckles, stuffing a noodle into his
mouth before shrugging. "Every time you invited him over you looked like a love
sick puppy -"
"I did not!"
"That and you looked like you wanted him to lick you from head to toe."
"Dad, can we please." Harry groans, before punching his plate with his fork.
"Anyway. Did you tell his dad or not?"
"I promised I wouldn't, didn't I?" Robin sighs, rubbing the back of his neck.
Harry squints at him for a second, because he knows something. Instead of
pressing on the matter though, he simply finishes his food and puts his plate
into the sink. He knows his dad wouldn't do such a thing, he trusts him, but.
Why would he be hiding something from Harry?
Harry hopes it's nothing too serious.
**********
At midnight, it'll be three weeks since Louis disappeared.
Harry begins to question everything, wonder why, wonder what happened, wonder
if he'll ever come back. Every time he thinks about it, he thinks he might
break down, might have a panic attack and just give up on everything.
Niall, Zayn and Liam all try to get him out to do something other than go to
school and church, but Harry just can't not knowing if Louis is okay.
It all started with just random hook ups at random times; It wasn't supposed to
end up with Harry being helplessly in love with him and not knowing if Louis
felt the same. He knew Louis probably couldn't and probably wouldn't do
anything other than keep him hidden - Keep him a dirty little secret because of
his father.
It wasn't - He wasn't expecting the whole relationship deal like Liam and Zayn.
He was expecting the same thing just with more hook ups and more romance, of
course.
But Louis' gone and Harry is hopelessly lost.
He doesn't know what to feel, dreading the fact that he wants to talk to the
feathered haired boy but can't, wants to know how he feels and if he feels the
same way Harry does.
Harry was so in love with Louis that it hurt; He was in love with the way his
eyes crinkled when he smiled too hard or laughed, he was in love with Louis'
laugh and in love with the two dimples at the bottom of his spine and he was in
love with the fact that Louis' feet always smelled when he took off his shoes
because he never wore socks and he was in love with the way Louis folded up his
jeans to show off his ankles, the way Louis' tummy showed through some of his
shirts sometimes and loved the way Louis would pout when he wouldn't get his
way.
Harry was so in love with Louis, he was gone. He was someone else when he
thought about the older boy.
He flops on his back in frustration. It was almost three in the morning and he
still wasn't in bed. It's a Saturday night, granted, but he told everyone he
wanted a early night in just to be by himself for a moment and they all backed
off. But he just couldn't fall asleep.
His phone beeps beside his thigh and he contemplates on whether or not he
should answer or just try to sleep some more.
It beeps again and he rolls his eyes as he unlocks his phone blindly, about to
tell whoever it was to stop fucking texting him. However, when he sees Louis'
name across the screen, he nearly breaks the bed with how fast he sits up.
Lou:):
Haz, please meet me at our spot
Lou:):
Please!!!!!!! AND THANK U xxxxx :))))
And that's all it says - No explanation, no warning, no nothing.
Harry furrows his eyebrows, but gets up nonetheless, changing into a fresh new
outfit before he quietly escapes his way downstairs. Robin is off tonight,
already safely sound asleep in his bed and Harry quickly and quietly slips out
the door.
Their spot is right behind Harry's house, really, a small creek with trees
surrounding the area and a little broken bench that Louis loves to sit on
anyway. He slowly makes his way over, already spotting him.
And - He really tries to contain his tears.
Louis is wearing Harry's sweater, causing it to fall to his thighs and hang
over his hands, his fringe swooping across his forehead and he just - He looks
so, so tired and different that Harry just stands there for a moment. Louis
walks over cautiously, tears falling down his cheeks before he finally roughly
wraps his arms around Harry's neck, pulling him in and breathing into his neck.
Harry automatically wraps his arms around Louis' waist, pulling him closer and
closer because he missed him, missed him so much it physically pains him. "What
- Louis, what happened? Are you okay -?"
"Shush," Louis whispers brokenly. "Just, please. For a moment."
"Okay." Harry whispers back, shivering when a breeze picks up and ruffles them
both. It's quiet for awhile, but Louis never lets go of him, clinging to him
like his life depended on it, and Harry's arms are getting tired and he's
getting a little hot like this, but he doesn't let go either, kissing the top
of Louis' head and everywhere else he can reach.
Finally, Louis pulls away, cheeks dry but eyes still swimming with tears and he
leans up to peck Harry's lips. "Hi."
"Hi," Harry breathes back, lips brushing against Louis' own. "I missed you."
Louis laughs, although it comes out strangled and forced. "I've missed you
too.."
"I love you." He says, because he can't help it but when Louis goes quiet
again, he misses it. Misses the sound of his voice.
"I think I love you too."
And that's - He'll take that. That's one of the best things Harry's ever heard
in his entire life, he can't help the way his whole face lights up at the
statement. He doesn't care though, because Louis William Tomlinson thinks he
loves him back and that's all that matters.
"I've got some explaining to do, don't I?"
**********
".... So he sent me somewhere in East Texas." Louis leans his head on Harry's
shoulder.
They finally moved to the bench after some time and Louis never let go of
Harry's hand - They never stopped touching each other since the hug, but Harry
doesn't mind at all. "What happened there?"
"I just talked to a few priests. My dad," Louis chokes out a laugh. "My dad
said he wanted to pray the gay out of me."
"Do you know who told him?" Harry demands at once. "I will fight them -"
Louis lets out a watery giggle. "Shut up, Hazza love." Rolling his eyes, he
says, "You can't even kill a fly without feeling bad. But no, I don't. He won't
tell me either.. All he said was that it was someone at the party. The priests
in Texas - They - They made me do prayer several times a day and..."
Harry's quiet, thinking of who it could be, but Louis lets out another sob and
Harry immediately wraps his arms around Louis' waist. He presses a kiss to the
side of his face, wrapping his legs around Louis' body so they could properly
cuddle. "It's okay, baby, you're here now."
"He hit me," Louis whispers causing a shiver to run up Harry's spine. It leaves
a sour taste in his mouth and he's about to pull away and go wake up Robin to
do something about it but Louis clings on to him tighter. "He's cried so many
times these last few weeks, begging me to forgive him. He's only hit me a few
times before, it's nothing too bad, I swear, it's like spanking a child -"
"That's wrong, Lou, and you know it -"
"It's fine," Louis shakes his head, hiccuping. "It's fine, I promise. He's
begged me to forgive him, he spent all day at church confessing and - And, when
I got back from Texas he said he didn't care anymore."
"What do you mean?" Harry's eyebrows come together then, loosening his grip to
look at Louis, but Louis lets out a little noise and snuggles his face into
Harry's neck.
"He just, I don't know, said he wanted us to be okay again. He said it will
take him a lot to forgive me, but God did this for a reason. That he'd accept
me as long as I continue to go to church and respect our religion and - He just
wants us okay. He knows it's wrong, but - But God also said to love your
children and -"
"I know, Lou." Harry says when Louis begins to quicken up his words, causing
another sob to break through his lips. He's still a little upset about the
hitting part, so he breathes out. "You have to tell me if he hits you again,
promise?"
"He won't," Louis begins to say, but Harry pulls back with an intensity in his
eyes. "I promise."
"Thank you."
A certain calm quietness surrounds their bubble again and Louis sniffs while
Harry wipes away his tears with his thumb, tracing down his cheekbone and his
jawline before finally pressing down on Louis' bottom lip. It's swollen from
all the biting he's been doing to it, so Harry leans forward to press a feather
light kiss to it. "Hey, Haz?"
Harry pulls away, smiling softly down at him. "Yeah, babe?"
"I don't think anymore," Louis mumbles and Harry stares down at him in
confusion. Louis simply smiles slight up at him, his hand reaching up to brush
off a strand of hair off Harry's cheek. "I'm definitely in love with you."
**********
Two mornings after, Louis finally shows up to school again.
The four boys already knew he'd be coming back today, since they had a little
reunion yesterday.
Harry was going a little bit crazy though.
He didn't know how to act around Louis in public, he didn't know whether or not
he could kiss him before he leaves for his next class or if he could hold his
hand down the hallway or even if he could walk him to his next class.
He was losing his mind just thinking about it.
He tugs at one of his curls that keeps falling into his eye, pulling it back
and watching as Louis, Niall and Zayn walk his way.
Harry isn't stupid and neither is Louis. He hears the whispers about Louis,
hears the different rumors that aren't even true. But Louis told each of the
boys to keep their mouth shut and to promise not to tell anyone.
They promised but only because Louis laughed and said it was funnier to keep
them guessing anyway.
Harry tugs his watch further down his wrist and Liam smirks from beside him.
"Calm down, bro. You're so obvious."
Harry is about to say something back, something about Zayn, but Niall's
laughing loudly about something Louis has said.
Louis is funny. He's always funny. Harry clears his throat before those
thoughts come back.
Ever since Louis came back, he'd been stuck to his side. They had sex a total
of four times already and Harry couldn't be happier.
When the five of them walk down the corridor, Harry hadn't been paying
attention to what Niall was talking about - Probably about some girl - until
Louis grabs his hand, entangling their fingers.
He looks up, but only to see Louis looking at Niall with pure interest.
He stares at their hands for a moment, face lighting up when he looks back up
again. Louis had reached for his hand blindly, searched for it even without
looking.
Harry's heart swells as he looks at the older boy, smiling to himself when
Louis laughs loud and bright at something Zayn said, and he can't help but peck
Louis' temple.
It gets Louis' attention, because he turns around and gives Harry that smile,
the one where it nearly splits his face in half and the crinkles by his eyes
nearly take up his whole eye sockets so he can't help but grin back. "You
alright?"
"Better," Louis says quietly, stepping in front of him and giggling when Harry
wraps his arms around his waist from behind, falling into step again. "Now that
I'm with you."
Harry tries to control his heartbeat, grinning when the boys make gagging
noises from beside them.
End Notes
     I'm sorry if there were any mistakes; I'll fix them asap.
     Please let me know how you think! And don't forget to follow my
     tumblr. ily thank u
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