Collision; Larry

28.

The day Harry Styles rushes over the big lawn of University of the Three pressing a wingless fairy to his chest and pulling a dazed Zeus along by his arm after being gone for weeks, is a day that will most likely place at least top 3 in the list of the most startling events the place has seen throughout its history.

People are buzzing like streetlights with the news mere seconds after the spirit first whooshes past them, too quickly for anyone to keep up—not that Harry wants anyone to keep up with him. The only thing his brain can process at that moment is that he’s holding their one chance at ending this whole mess in one hand, and a hurt Louis with his other, and he needs to hold on, and he needs help. His heart beats so hard and hot in his chest he feels like it’s going to burn a hole through his ribcage and burst out in front of him—he’s dizzy and his limbs ache, and he barely even notices the high-pitched voices and wide-eyed stares fired after him as he runs, up every staircase and through every corridor and across the big quad, all the way to the university’s hospital building.

He storms through the entrance mercilessly, probably slapping Zeus with the doors, and tightens his grip on Louis’ unconscious body to not drop him in his hurry as he walks right up to the front desk with more dedication than he’s had with anything else in his life.

“We need to see a doctor. Now,” he deadpans. He can see the receptionist look up, startled by the sudden action, and her face pales the second her eyes fall on Zeus. Harry doesn’t have time for this. “It’s urgent.”

“Right,” the receptionist reaches for the phone with a shaky hand and the second she starts talking to someone on the other line Harry takes the opportunity to look down on Louis again. His breathing is faint and his eyelids are shut and lightly fluttering, there’s still a layer of sweat and dirt on his face and he looks so feeble and Harry’s head is pounding.

“Louis,” he tries, because he has to try, and he has to speak, and he has to do something. “Louis. You’re safe. You’re going to be okay, you hear me? You’re going to be okay.”

Louis doesn’t reply, but he fists his hand loosely in the fabric of Harry’s shirt, and that’s enough for Harry right then—it has to be.

It doesn’t take long before nurses arrive to lead them away, and if Harry snaps at them a little too harshly when they freeze by Zeus’ presence, then that’s justified and nothing he’s not willing to fully stand behind because yeah, Zeus is powerful and important and his presence is a bit staggering, but Louis is hurt. It does work, anyway, and they’re taken up a set of stairs and into a room where Louis is pulled away from him, into the arms of a couple of other nurses who start checking blood pressure, temperature, and pulse, and Harry is taken aside to explain both Louis’ and Zeus’ states. Zeus is immediately taken to the de-charming department, and Harry’s told that Louis’ pulse and blood pressure are both way too low, and some of the stitches on his back have come undone and the wounds could be infected, so he’s going to have to stay here for a while. More than that Harry doesn’t get to know before he’s asked to leave.

Harry, quite understandably, does try to protest. Every cell in his body screams at the thought of having to leave Louis like this, but the staff is firm and determined, and Harry supposes that the quicker he gives in, the quicker they will start to tend to Louis. And that’s what’s the most important when it all comes down to it. So with that in mind, repeating it like a mantra to motivate his legs towards the door, he complies.

He’s just about to throw one last look at Louis in the hospital bed and convince himself that everything’s going to be fine so he can actually turn around without feeling like throwing up, when a new, shrill voice rings through the room.

“Let me through! Let me through! Louis!”

He knows that voice.

Harry can’t help the loud groan of frustration that tumbles out of him as his head whips around just in time to see Eleanor of Ourania storm into the room, hands trembling slightly and her eyes livid when they land on Harry. It strikes Harry that as far as she knows, everything is just as it’s always been, and the last thing she probably heard was about Harry chasing Louis through the halls and now he’s returned and Louis needs medical attention.