Hereafter // L.S

Chapter 29

It was quiet in Hell and Heaven. Silent as Harry flew through both realms, carrying Louis. Almost as if everyone realized what disaster had happened.

But the truth was, all the Demons and Angels were feeling Harry and Louis' pain. The pain together, mixed so much, it hurt everyone surrounding them as they flew quietly, ahead of everyone else. Once Harry made it to Heaven, he landed gently on the clouds, carrying a tired Louis up the stairs to God and Asherahs home.

Soldiers bowed their heads as they walked up, Liam, Niall, and Zayn, following behind them quietly.

Harry walked through the large doors, immediately hearing a loud sob escape Asherahs lips as she saw the state of the boy.

"He needs rest" Harry spoke quietly, looking down at Louis, who peered up at him with sad and dull blue eyes. His aura was damaged, wings plucked and bloody, and arms bruised from needles.

Liam stepped forward and led Harry to a bedroom, with a large and comfortable bed, and a small kitchenette, along with a bathroom connected to it. "You stay here with him and take care of him as long as needed" God spoke, and Harry nodded, laying Louis down on the bed.

Everyone knew he was small, but he looked so much tinier, and so broken.

Louis tiredly looked at God, Liam, and Harry, eyes shutting every few seconds. "Go to sleep" Liam murmured softly, pushing Louis' hair off his forehead. That was all it took for the small Angel to drift off to bed, finally feeling safe.

Harry gently tucked him in, before leaving the room to go talk with the soldiers.

God got back onto his throne next to his wife, looking at the soldiers and the other boys. "What was it like?" he asked, voice powerful but concerned.

Zayn shook his head in disgust, "They were draining his blood, and plucking his feathers! Some looney went on about how he knew Louis could bring them all back to life."

God nodded, frowning.

"We got everyone who was alive in one piece. The rest are being taken care of by a few of my friends in Hell" Harry told him.

Liam spoke up, "We will figure out suitable punishments for them all. But first we will interrogate them to see who the ring leader of this operation was."

"They were hiding in the Earth's core. The only part of Earth nobody touches. We must check back often to make sure nobody is planning or hiding something like this again." God decided, his wife nodding in agreement.

This time, Niall spoke up. "Can we stay here as well, and uh- help interrogate? I think Zayn and myself can be quite intimidating if neccesary. We can do it with Liam! Harry is too attached to Louis and would probably torture everyone... plus I wanna stay and make sure Louis recovers" he was a bit quiter with the last part, cheeks pink.

That statement made Asherah smile big, nodding. "You three are welcome in Heaven anytime. We will make arrangements for you two to each have a bedroom in our home. Harry can stay with Louis" she spoke warmly and motherly.

God nodded in agreement with her.

"I'm going to get back to Louis now that this is settled. Interrogations start right fucking now. I want the leader figured out as soon as possible" Harry growled, God nodding.

"You three are in charge if you want to be." God told Liam, Niall, and Zayn, who all nodded. "Very well. Get to it" he nodded.

————

Louis felt at peace again. He was snoring softly as he slept, balled up and fists clenched around the blanket. When he woke up, it felt like he'd been asleep forever. He whined softly at his headache, looking up when the door opened and Harry stepped in.

A smile grew on the mans face as he walked over, sitting down on the bed and gently pushing Louis' hair off his forehead.

"Hello love" he murmured, voice gentle as he ran his fingers through the sweet boys hair, watching his eyes shut as he relaxed.

"Hi" Louis had whispered, peeling his eyes open to look up at Harry.

"I'm sorry" He immediately breathed out, shaking his head as he looked down at Louis. So battered and in pain. "I want to explain everything, if you're willing to hear me out?" he asked, relief washing over him when Louis agreed, nodding.

"A bath sound okay?"

"Sounds lovely".

Not ten minutes later, Harry was running a warm bath with lavender scented candles lit in the bathroom, and a glass of water on the side of the tub with a bowl of fruit... and of course some pain pills. Harry walked over to Louis who was attempting to sit up, whimpering in pain at each movement.

"Hey, hey" Harry murmured, grabbing Louis' hips and looking down at him. Both of them stared down at each other, breath hitched. They hadn't been this close in a while. "Let me help" Harry murmured, the boy nodding sheepishly.

Louis did let him help. Harry helped him up, gently pulling his shirt off, and his sweatpants, finally getting down to his boxers. "Do you want me to turn away?" he asked, Louis nodding with pink cheeks.

Harry did as told, turning and listening to hear Louis step into the bathtub. He heard a long sigh and turned around, seeing him fully submerged in the tub. His eyes shut as he relaxed, the water soothing on his body. "It hurts" Louis admitted, eyes watering.

"I know" he whispered, kneeling down on the floor next to the tub, and gently playing with Lou's hair again. "Here," he handed him the pills and the water, "-take them."

Louis did as told, and they sat in a comfortable silence as he waited for the medication to kick in. "I have a lot to explain" Harry murmured.

The Angel was quiet, sitting and pulling his knees up to his chest, resting his chin on his knees and looking at Harry, giving him his full attention. "When I told you I didn't want us to be together anymore... I was trying to keep you safe. The last thing I ever wanted was for any of this-" he gestured to himself and Louis being hurt, "- to happen. I just, I really care about you Lou. And I thought because I'm Lucifer's son, and you are God's favorite Angel that it would be an issue. But it turns out I was wrong, and maybe... if I had just stayed with you. None of this would have happened" he whispered, looking down, clearly upset with himself.

Louis shook his head, almost frantically, leaning over towards Harry. "No, no. This isn't your fault. This isn't my fault." he murmured, gently grabbing Harry's chin with his thumb and pointer finger. He lifted the boys face, looking directly at the Demon with a frown. "Harry I don't blame you for any of this.  And I don't want you to blame yourself either." he shook his head, biting his lip.

"I do though."

"You shouldn't."

Lou's words were firm, but they held a lot of emotion, and love. Harry nodded, "okay" he murmured.

"I have something to tell you. The way I had felt with you missing, I'd kick myself if I didn't tell you this... I think I love you." Harry admitted, listening to Louis' suck in a sharp breath.

Harry looked at him concerned when the boys eyes welled up with tears, shaking his head. "Please don't lie to me. Please don't do this because you pity me. Because of what happened" he spoke quickly, as if the words were poisonous on his tongue.

Harry was shocked, "hey, hey" he whispered, leaning even closer to Louis. "I'm not lying" he cupped his cheeks, thumbs rubbing over the boys cheekbones, effectively swiping away each tear that fell while doing so.

"I love you Louis."

Louis didn't even skip a beat as he looked at him, whispering back.

"I love you Harry."

- It's been months. I just graduated from college! I do plan on finishing this book, I apologize that it's been so long! Bare with me!!! x