Daggers and Roses (L.S. ~ ABO AU)

Chapter 4 - Warming up to each other

⚠ WARNING: Mention of rape ⚠

The next week was horrible, Louis woke up to a cold bed for the last week. He barely saw Harry, whenever he asked about it he got the same answer each time. 'He was out hunting with other guards.' He was close to his heat and needed an alphas body heat somehow. As much as he hates Harry he could use someone right now. This morning he woke up cold once again. He shivered slightly tugging the covers closer to his body, and curling into a ball. His teeth chatter as he tries to catch a few more hours of sleep. Giving up he grabs a blanket wrapping it around himself tightly and wanders to the kitchen. He found out that's where Liams mother Karen worked. Liam and Zayn had been his caretakers, nursing him back to health. He saw Mrs. Horan every day, she came to his room to check up on him. The shivers were natural, she told him, due to being a mate less omega. He shuffled into the kitchen warmth taking over him as the ovens baked bread and breakfast casseroles.

"Good morning, Mrs. Payne." Louis says sleepily.

"Oh for goodness sake Louis, please call me Karen. And good morning darling. How's your leg been? You're up and walking I see." She says kneading dough for more bread.

"I'm sorry alright, it feels weird calling you Karen." He shakes his head. "It's better I should be getting the stitches out today or tomorrow."

"Good good, now that loaf over there is fresh out of the oven, help yourself." She points to a steaming loaf of bread. He sighs, dragging his feet over to the counter. He tears off a piece spreading homemade butter on top. It melts immediately, he shoves it in his mouth.

"Karen, have I ever told you, you are absolutely amazing at everything?" He says, with bread still stuffed in his mouth.

She grins walking up to him and tapping his chin, "Don't talk with your mouth full darling. And thank you." She smiles at him putting the fresh kneaded dough in a pan.

"Hey Karen, could I talk to you about the party preparations? Gemma will be coming at six-" A familiar voice says. Louis turns towards the entrance of the kitchen. Harry stands there staring back at him.

"You! You've been avoiding me for a whole week!" Louis points an accusatory finger at the Alpha.

Karen looks at Harry confused, "Harry... Why have you been avoiding Louis?" She questions.

"Uh I- Uh..." He stutters, he scratches the back of his neck. "I thought you didn't want me around..." He says in a small voice.

"Ugh, Haz I swear I've been freezing my arse off every morning for the past three days. Luckily Karen here makes everything else in my life warmer. This woman is a healer." He nods towards Karen.

"I see you can walk on your own..." Harry says quietly again.

"Yes! As a matter of fact I can! But still! I'm nearing my heat and you're nowhere to be seen!" Louis says infuriated.

Harry looks down at his feet shuffling them around. His hands behind his back, if you didn't know better you'd think he was an omega. He didn't think Louis would be mad at him for not being there. "Sorry." He mutters.

"Sorry doesn't cut it Harry." He wraps the blanket tightly around himself walking past Harry back down the hall. He would run but his leg is still very much in pain. Harry follows him out of the kitchen sort of angry himself.

"Wait." Louis doesn't listen, "Wait, Louis." Harry catches up to him grabbing his wrist. "What do you want. The first few days you hated me, I thought I read the signs pretty well that you didn't want to be near me. Until you needed me I was trying to give you some space."

Louis bites his bottom lip looking at the ceiling. "That's it, I needed you as soon as you left the room on Tuesday." He jutted out his jaw chewing on the inside of his cheek.