inferno // l.s.

twenty two

this chapter holds some SERIOUS information regarding a character's past. this is the one and only time this topic will be mentioned because of the situation that occurs. you do not have to read this if it is too much, you can skip this chapter and still be up to date for the rest of the fic — but this is a very important chapter regarding our boy. i love him, i love everything about him, but his story is important too.

trigger warning for mentions of sexual assault, talk of addiction/drug use.

we almost see boss man and a bartender throw hands. this chapter is long as hell.

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louis and harry have been glued to eachother's hip since chicago and it's way more than obvious. the lingering stares from across the club, the kisses at the end of the night when they get in their cars and louis' more-often-than-not random appearances in harry's office made the blackwater clique connect the dots the fastest.

the only people that really needed to know were mitch and liam because mitch was harry's upper hand, liam was just there. liam knew from the jump that harry was infatuated with the pretty little stripper and didn't hold it against him. then there's zayn, who just waves at harry when he walks in the apartment and niall, who asks why his boss is always hanging out with his friends. then niall caught the duo kissing and mumbled "i owe liam fifty bucks" but said nothing more after that.

it's pretty nice, really, because louis' feelings for harry just keep getting stronger and stronger and he knows, he's confident for once in his life that someone feels the same way about him. it could also just be that "puppy love" stage and it could easily be squashed in a matter of seconds.

but it's when harry's up at four in the morning getting mcdonald's with him when they're too stoned to function or when he reminds louis to finish his college assignments, when harry doesn't fail to remind him how pretty he looks that day or, louis' favorite part, harry says "we" instead of just "i." he's always included when it comes to harry. "we need to go to the store," "we gotta stop by and feed emma," "we were invited for drinks tonight" — harry doesn't make plans unless louis can go, too.

the fact harry and zayn have grown pretty close as friends makes him happy also because zayn and mylo had a rocky relationship. zayn had his speculations but never spoke on them and mylo didn't like zayn because he felt like he was trying to fuck louis or just mooch off of him when that wasn't the case at all.

now, all zayn has to do is step in the doorway with a joint lit and he passes it straight to harry so he can try whatever strain he had on him at that time. that's their bond, it's weed. everyone could use some good weed in their life.

when zayn found out a month ago when they came home from illinois that louis actually did ask harry to be his boyfriend, he celebrated with him by splitting a bottle of wine completely down the middle and wishing the best for him because louis deserves it. louis deserves the happiness, the confidence, the healthy. he knows harry can give that to him just by watching from the sidelines.

louis pushes his glasses up his nose and chews on his lip as his eyes skim the screen on his laptop once more. the sounds of little clicks fill the air as his fingertips race away on the keyboard. he's been on a roll today. harry found out louis didn't do his work for a whole week and promised no kisses and no dates until he got everything back in place and that's a threat louis doesn't take lightly. don't starve him of affection or attention or he will have withdrawals. it's day two of no kissing and he can tell harry is itching for it but he's pulling through.

he hears the flicking of a lighter beside him and the bed dips with harry's all too familiar weight. he feels his body press against his side so he moves his arm to tangle his hand in the mess of harry's hair and lean down awkwardly to press a kiss to the man's temple. this has been a common thing too, when louis actually does his schoolwork harry just cuddles up to him and watches his little brain work it's magic.