Whispers To The Night

chapter 6. midnight

H

It was Louis' last day on the machines.

His mum and sister were staring, beautiful eyes shining, tears spilling down their cheeks as they watched the pale boy and his crying counterpart, hands linked.

Harry hooked his chin over Louis' bony wrist and studied his impassive face, chest feeling as if it were caving in on itself and heart feeling as if it were about to thud out of his chest, blood loud in his ears. "Please." Harry croaked for what felt like the millionth time since he arrived at the hospital, throat closing up and eyes filling with relentless tears.
**

It was midnight, and Harry wanted to scream.

Louis hadn't woken up, and the doctor was already walking inside the room with a sympathetic look in his grey eyes, similar as they had been a week ago. "I'm so sorry." He whispered as he walked forward, hand already reaching for the machines, mouth set in a tight line.

Harry hid his sob in Louis' side, body trembling with the sudden force of reality and he screamed into the fabric of the mattress, not being able to help the ache spreading through him. His mum was there in a flash, sinking down next to him and pulling the boy into her chest, allowing him to sob harshly into her shoulder.

All movement stopped, though, when the doctor let out a soft gasp and there was a small, familiar sounding whimper.

"Haz?"
**

Louis' fingers were gentle in Harry's curls, a comforting weight that had him sighing and closing his eyes, the ache that had been in his chest for the past weeks finally dispersing. His legs were carefully curled against the lad's side and his head was resting on his chest, hands clutching tightly to Louis' free one and nose tucked into his neck, breathing him in. "You okay baby?" Louis croaked and Harry wanted to scream again, because he was the one who had nearly died and he was asking if harry was doing alright, if he was okay.

Harry couldn't help the whimper that escaped his throat and Louis cooed hoarsely at him, tugging the younger lad further into his chest and planting a soft kiss to his forehead, murmuring soft words into his ear. "It's alright, baby, it's okay. I'm here. You're okay." He whispered, rocking him back and forth.

Harry bit down harshly on his tongue to keep his sobs back as he buried his nose deeper into Louis' neck, the occasional sniffle escaping his carefully concealed dam, eyes squeezing closed. Louis gently pulled his head back and his blue eyes studied over his tired features, a frown playing along the edges of his thin lips. "It's perfectly okay to not be okay, alright doll? You can cry, sob, and/or scream. You went through hell, darling, and it's okay to just break down for a little while, not be as strong as you want to be. So, let go baby boy." Louis whispered.

Not three seconds after the last few words left his mouth, Harry was sobbing into his shoulder, because he shouldn't be this broken and weak when Louis was the one who had been shot and nearly killed. He couldnt help the slight sliver of relief that shot through him though, the way his chest seemed less heavy and his mind less clouded, how his entire seemed lighter.

Louis petted at his curls through the whole thing, whispering encouraging words and kissing all over his flushed face.

Thank you .