Whispers To The Night

chapter 3. blue

L

  Harry's fingers were warm against the side of Louis' neck, pressing and prodding, a curious feel to them as his breath ghosted over his skin. Louis shuddered and closed his eyes at the sensation as he tucked his hands under his own shirt to hopefully warm them up, still freezing despite the other boy's efforts. "Better?" He asked and even though Louis was still shivering, he nodded to ease the other boy's concern. "Yeah. Awesome. Thanks." Harry's face split into a wide grin and he smacked a wet kiss onto Louis' cheek before pressing back, but still keeping close to his side so that the other lad could lean into him.
***
 
  Louis' hands were shaking in the dark, trembling. His lungs felt like they were collapsing in on themselves, his heart beating harshly against his ribs, his sobs echoing through his empty flat like a throaty symphony. His mind was aching, pounding, sending jabs of pain throughout his body and to the back of his eyes, making it hurt to have them open, to see.

  The moon watched, sympathetic toward the mere human, waves of light hitting his arms and face and feet, bathing them in brightness and trying to convey it's hope and life.

  Nothing was working though.

  Tonight was the night where the darkness was too thick for the light to pass through, blanketing him in his thoughts and words of discouragement, making his mind ache even more.

  Louis tilted his head up towards the stars and sniffled, the underneath of his eyes a deep purple.

  I'm sorry.
***

  "Hey, Lou!" Louis looked up from his daily cup of tea and smiled halfheartedly when he saw Harry walking towards him, the lad setting a light green cookie and another tea in front of him before plopping down next to him, grin kind. He stopped short when he saw the his expression and his smile fell, instead replaced with concern and wide, worried green eyes. "Lou?" He reached for the smaller lad but stopped when he flinched, fingers shaking from where they hovered in the air before he was pulling back and clearing his throat, eyes downcast. "Are you, uh, are you okay?" He asked as Louis struggled to form words to apoligze, mouth opening then clamping shut until he finally nodded tersely and rubbed at his eyes with the heels of his hands, letting out a shaky hand.
   Harry reached for him then, all traces of hurt gone from the green of his eyes, and pulled him into his chest, hand warm from where it rested against the small of his back, the other around his neck. "I'm here, Lou."
**
 
  Harry's breathing was soft, calm, steady. It echoed under Louis' ear with every take in before rushing out in a heavy sigh, heart beating against the side of his head.
 
  Louis' hand was resting against his pec and feeling the sturdy build of the boy's chest, relishing in the way it seemed to keep his frayed mind together, strengthening his weakening bones. His eyes were closed so that he could take everything in better, fingers drifting  down from his chest, trickling along his ribs, before coming to a rest on his abdomen, lifting up and down with every  breath he took and warmth seeping into his palm. "Thank you, 'Arry." He whispered softly, listening as the lad let out a happy chuckle.

              "Always, Lou."