Tolerate It || l.s ✓

Chapter 39

Louis unlocked the hotel room door at half 6. He squinted, trying to adjust his eyes to the darkness.

The curtains were drawn, the lights were off, and Harry was curled up in the middle of the bed, the duvet clutched in his hands as he slept.

Louis carefully tiptoed around the room in an attempt to keep Harry asleep. He slipped his shoes off, getting changed into joggers and a baggy t-shirt. He grabbed the remote, turning the telly on and immediately muting it. He turned subtitles on, flicking through the channels until he reached some film he vaguely recognised.

Louis sat down on the bed gently, laying back. Despite his best efforts to avoid waking Harry, Harry's eyes slowly fluttered open. Louis looked down at him as Harry looked up, though his eyes shut again and he shuffled closer to Louis.

Harry rested his forehead against the side of Louis's thigh, lightly clutching at the material of Louis's joggers. "Sorry for waking you." Louis said, stroking Harry's hair.

"'s okay." Harry murmured. "Can't sleep all day anyway."

"Are you feeling any better?"

Harry shrugged, nuzzling closer. "I don't know. Just feel a bit shaky. How was the rest of your day?"

"Missed you." Louis pouted, "it felt strange without you."

"I'll be there tomorrow." Harry lifted his hand, squeezing Louis's leg gently.

"I know, H. It's okay that you came back today though. You needed a break."

"I'm so thankful that you understand me." Harry sighed.

Louis smiled down at him. Harry slowly sat up, opting to rest his head on Louis's shoulder instead.

"Hold on, is that my jumper?" Louis asked.

"I'm sorry, I'll take it off." Harry said instantly, moving to sit up and Louis placed a firm hand against him to stop him.

"No, darling. I don't mind at all. Keep it on, it's cute." Louis told him as Harry looked to him with wide eyes.

Louis smiled slightly as he thought of Harry digging through his clothes to take that jumper. He knew he should feel like his privacy had been invaded but this was Harry so he couldn't bring himself to care.

Plus, if Harry had taken Louis's jumper in an attempt to feel some sort of comfort, Louis was happy to be of help.

The two ended up in a comfortable silence, watching the TV. Their hands were clasped together on Louis's lap, and Harry still had his head on Louis's shoulder.

A quiet mewl sound came from Harry, and his face immediately scrunched up as his hand tightened around Louis's.

"You alright?" Louis frowned and Harry nodded instantly.

"That nod was too fast for me to believe you."

"Arms." Harry said, ashamed. "Got fresh cuts." He added as almost a whisper.

"Oh, my love." Louis sighed, his heart sinking. He brought a hand up to Harry's head, caressing the side of his face with his thumb and gently scrunching and un-scrunching his fingers in Harry's hair. "Wanna go for a walk?"

Harry nodded. "I need a smoke actually."

"C'mon then." Louis stood up slowly, helping Harry up.

//

"Lou?"

"H?"

Harry nodded towards the building nearby. Louis followed his gesture, raising his eyebrows and turning back to Harry.

"We're free the night after next, and we have nothing the following morning so hangovers are welcome."

"Harry Styles, are you seriously suggesting we go to a gay strip club?"

"No, just a gay club. The stripping doesn't happen on Thursdays, read the sign."

"Alright, alright. Attitude." Louis laughed.

"It would be fun, don't you think? I feel like I've not been out in forever." Harry stubbed out his cigarette, placing his hands together.

"Harry Styles, are you begging me?" Louis raised an eyebrow at Harry's hands.

"I can get on my knees too, if you'd like." Harry tried to bite back a smirk.

"People might talk if you get down on your knees in front of me." Louis returned.

"People will talk about anything." Harry shrugged. "If me getting on my knees is what it'll take for you to go to the gay club with me, that's what I'll do."

"No, no!" Louis laughed, placing a hand against Harry's chest as Harry started to drop to his knees.

"Is that a yes to the gay club?" Harry tilted his head, and Louis nodded. Harry's eyes lit up and his mouth split into a grin.

"Thank you! You're the best!" Harry wrapped his arms around Louis. Louis hugged him back instantly, squeezing him. Butterflies flooded Louis's tummy as Harry's lips gently pressed against Louis's shoulder.

"You're ever so welcome, princess." Louis huffed out a fond laugh. Harry pulled away, red dusting his cheeks- whether it was from his confidence in placing the  ghost of the kiss against Louis's skin, or whether it was the pet name, Louis didn't know. Perhaps it was both. "You're not bringing anyone back to our hotel room, mind."

"I know that." Harry huffed, "I just wanna have fun."

"And I'm not letting you go home with anyone in a place that we don't know."

"Alright, mum." Harry pouted.

"Cheer up, buttercup." Louis lifted his hand to pinch Harry's cheek. "I just don't want you getting hurt."

"You're sweet to me, Lou." Harry smiled softly. "Thanks for looking after me."

"I'll always look after you." Louis reached forwards, ruffling Harry's hair.

"Hey," Harry started quietly, "do you want to go to that café we walked past the other day? I don't think I'm ready to go back to the room yet."

"If you can remember how to get there then let's go. But don't rely on me for directions cause I'm shit."

"I remember." Harry took Louis's hand, beginning to tug him along.

Louis stumbled after him, snorting at Harry's eagerness.

"Also, I'll pay." Harry added.

"Babes, you don't have to pay."

"No, I want to." Harry said, "my treat. A thank you for looking after me."

"I don't need thanking, H. You deserve to be looked after."

"Let me do something nice." Harry squeezed Louis's hand. "Please?"

"Okay." Louis sighed. "Fine, you win."