Love is War (L.S.)

3

Louis prides himself on being a confident individual. Things don't shake him; people, specifically don't shake him. He's able to get along with most people - always been somewhat of a social butterfly even though his job prevents him from wanting to get too attached to most. He still does. He's had tons of friends in elementary and high school and he's positive he would have had the same amount, if not more, had he been to college. Most people like him and it has to do with the fact that when people look at him, they don't see something to be intimidated by really. His sass and confidence help him when he needs to be taken seriously, or when he needs to talk his way out of something.

However, there are people that exude fear. It quite literally drips from their appearance. Looking at the man who's stood in the doorway of the boardroom now, Louis' sure he's the epitome of a formidable opponent. Louis watches him as the man takes in the room. Louis watches how he removes his shades and throws them carelessly onto a nearby roundtable. Louis watches how his eyebrows stay furrowed as he observes each frightened person sat at the table, one by one, how he chews on his bottom lip a little with a hard look on his face, and how he walks over to the head chair and finally notices Louis' presence.

Louis is unsure how he wants to play this as he stands next to the head chair with his hands clasped behind his back. The man comes to stand on the other side of the chair and he watches Louis carefully. Closely. Almost a little too close for Louis' liking.

He notices momentarily how tall the man is. He has to be over 6 ft and it definitely works to his advantage. While the little bun that ties his hair together was the butt of a joke a few minutes ago, Louis finds it suits the man's chiseled features, and what the fuck - he needs to get some sleep.

The man's eyes seem to scan over Louis' face as if he's either trying to rack his brain to figure out if he knows Louis, or he's trying to find a flaw in his appearance.

Neither of them says anything. In fact, no one in the entire room says anything. It's the kind of quiet that's uncomfortable but no one's sure how to break. Owing to the change in the atmosphere, Louis decides it best to wait for the man to speak. It doesn't take long because the man licks his lips once and then opens his mouth.

"Are you lost?" he asks Louis. His voice is a little raspy and even though he only says three words, Louis' able to make out his thick British accent and the way the man seemed to say the words with such careful detail as if he had been formulating the sentence in his mind for years before deciding to finally say it.

Louis clears his throat. "Actually I'm here for Maria Tomas."

"You're a bit late," the man responds harsher this time.

"Yeah," Louis places his hands into his pockets and gives a shrug. "From what I hear she's already in the ground. It's quite a shame, really." Louis notices how the man's face hardens a little at his casual tone.

"Did you know her?" he asks.

Louis runs a hand over his face. " Well, if you must know lad, we were lovers. It was so long ago...I - I'm sorry I don't know if I want to speak about it knowing that she's not here anymore." Louis covers his mouth with a hand and turns away slightly.

"You were lovers?" the man questions. He sounds unimpressed, or bored.

"She was my first, if I'm being honest."

Louis' trying his hardest not to laugh but it's quite difficult when he sees Harry narrow his eyes and wrinkle his nose. It's the most expression he's shown.

All traces of amusement vanish when Louis sees the man reach into his jacket pocket and withdraw a handgun. He notices the many rings on the man's fingers at that. The man doesn't point the gun anywhere, simply pulls out the magazine from it, and checks to see if it's loaded. He fits the magazine back in and looks up at Louis, eyes unwavering from his own. In one swift motion, the man pulls the large head chair separating the two of them away from the table and throws it with one hand to the carpeted floor behind them. With nothing separating the two now, the man takes three steps forward and closes the space between Louis and himself.