Devil, Devil | LS

8. Bleeding

"Might have to leave early," the blue eyed boy rubbed his temples, "not feeling the best."

Louis sat with Matt in the break room. It was just them so the small boy decided to rest his head on the table. He was more tired than usual.

Matthew extended an arm across the table and pressed his hand against the boy's forehead. He hummed, "You don't feel too hot. What's wrong?"

"I've been having these awful nightmares lately and it's just fucking with my sleep. I think I'm starting to get a migraine... kind of dizzy and a sharp pain in my head."

"I can take you home if you'd like." Matt offered. He pulled his arm back, but kept a worried eye on Louis.

"No thanks, Matt. I'm just gonna sit here another minute and then see about heading out."

"Alright." The blonde nodded. "Can I ask you a question? It's stupid, really... but I'm a bit curious."

Louis nodded.

"What ever happened to that Lucifer guy- no second dates?"

Louis chuckled, "Was never a date to begin with."

"No?" The pitch in Matt's voice rose slightly like he was surprised. "Not very nice? Did he treat you poorly? I swear if he hurt you, Lou..."

"He didn't hurt me, Matty." The boy sat up slowly. "Nothing happened."

"Didn't he spend the night with you?"

"Well, yes-"

Matthew crossed his arms and squinted his eyes, "And nothing happened?"

"No, nothing." Louis shook his head slowly. "Luci took me home-"

"Luci? You two are on a nickname basis?" Matt laughed but it sounded more sardonic.

Louis subconsciously pulled away from the space that was already separating them- how could he put even more room between them? There was much distaste for the blonde man at that moment. A sort of discomfort lingered in the air. Louis was beyond baffled by Matt's attitude. Never had he presented himself that way.

Louis started to rise from the chair- maybe it was his cue to leave. His eyebrows scrunched, "What's with you?"

Matthews lips curled up like the beginning of a smile, "I just want to make sure you're being safe."

"You don't even know the man."

"And do you? Hang around him one time and suddenly you know it all."

That was his cue to leave.

The small boy's jaw clenched as he moved sideways and shoved the chair back into its spot against the table. He wasn't sure why he felt so defensive, but he wanted to depart before anything regretful happened. Louis' breath trembled, he pointed a finger, "For your information it's been more than one time, and Lucifer has been quite fair to me. Thank you very much."

So much for any friend of Louis is a friend of mine.

-

En route to home, Louis chose to cut through the nearby park woods along a stream. The sun was setting and the area wasn't safest in the dark, but it would cut his walk by nearly ten minutes if he didn't slow down. He made the trek many times before- it was easy.

Keep your head down and hood up, put any valuables in pockets and stand tall with shoulders wide. That's what his mother always said. She worried constantly about Louis when he had to run errands alone... when his father was too busy elsewhere.