Have I forgotten how to love; remind me once again

Chapter Six

A/N Oh my, Covid is a bitch. I feel like shit, but at least I get to stay in bed all day. Enjoy the result of before mentioned combined with a strict diet consisting of yoghurt, ice cream and tomato soup. 

Louis and Harry sleep for almost two hours, the other boys quietly eating in the kitchen, carefully and quietly, not wanting to disturb the much-needed rest and closeness. All in all, it really is surprising that the two of them doesn't sleep for longer, considering how sleep-deprived they both are.

It isn't easy to tell what exactly wakes Louis, because he is ever so accustomed to Harry's weight on his body, the curls tickling his nose and the soft snores interrupting his boy's breathing once in a while, but he is immensely grateful, despite how much he desperately needs the sleep. For now, though, he just relishes in being able to enjoy this moment, Harry's soft smell surrounding him with an offer of familiar comfort.

Louis' hand is still tucked in Harry's curls, and mindlessly he resumes his nuzzling from before they fell asleep, tugging lightly on each curl within reach, just the way he knows Harry adores, and his boy hums contently and pushes himself even closer, Louis' heart so filled with happiness that all else glides easily into the background for a deliriously joyous moment.

But of course, good things never seem to last, and it's bare five minutes later that Harry's even breaths turn more irregular, and Louis unfortunately knows all the signs of his love waking up. Sure enough, Harry is fiddling in Louis' arms for a moment, and then his bright green eyes open, fluttering a bit to adjust to the light, and then his body is hastily jerking away from Louis who lets him go with a sad smile. "Sorry. I um.. Sorry", Harry mutters while scrambling even further away from Louis, the two of them all too quickly ending up in each their end of the couch.

"No worries. I don't mind", Louis hums softly, quickly changing his disappointed smile to a more comforting one. But Harry looks away from Louis with blushing cheeks despite his reassuring words. "Sorry. I really didn't mean to", he repeats. And that's hurts a little bit, because Louis knows it's true, and he desperately wishes it wasn't. An awkward and slightly tense silence stretches between them, and Louis wants to cry when Harry shuffles to his feet, presumably to leave Louis alone - something he does not want to be.

Then, with the blink of an eye, his worry of solitude is replaced by hot flashes of panic as Harry falters and grasps his side, an expression of pain scouring his facial features. In an instant, Louis jumps to his feet, grasping Harry's shoulders and replacing him carefully on the couch, despite his panicked stage. With a gentle hand grasping Harry's chin, Louis' frantic voice calls the other boy's back into the living room.

"Where does it hurt, Haz? Is it bad? Do I need to call an ambulance? Hazza, baby, look at me. Where. Does. It. Hurt?" For some reason, the words draw out a tight and not at all convincing smile on Harry's lips, and despite pulling another face of discomfort, he answers calmly, just as Liam joins Louis' side. "'m fine. Just stood up too fast is all".

Neither Louis nor Liam seems too convinced, and Harry tries again. "Really. No need to baby me, I'm fine. The doctor said pain was to be expected. That much I remember at least". The last part is added in an almost snarky tone, and Louis feels it like a physical lash across his face and he recoils a bit, noting once-a-fucking-gain that he shouldn't treat Harry's like a baby - well, not like his baby anyways.

With that, Harry stands up abruptly - too abruptly, Louis wants to say, but he feels it isn't his place, and he lets his heart walk away with angry steps to the kitchen, the four of them too stunned to speak for a moment.

Of course, it's Zayn, the ever-present voice of calm reason, who breaks the silence first. "This is hard for him too, okay. It isn't personal." Then he redirects his dark eyes to Louis and continues. "Let's get you something to eat too. We have already eaten, but we'll keep you company and then call it a night, hmm?".