Ravaged // h.s. au

3.

Louis

 

After taking Harry to the hospital, and silently driving him home, I drove around town for a while, needing the air to soothe my racing heart, desperate for a calmness that went past the noise in my head. I hadn't hit him hard enough to release even a portion of all that had been roaring within me, ever since they got Gypsy back. I still hit him though, and I couldn't help but think that wasn't what a friend was supposed to do.

Harry had always been a brother to me.

We were assigned together, and we just worked.

And Gypsy was his wife, but she was my best friend as well, and it didn't seem fair that he'd get to mourn her like that, and expect me to watch.

Sure, I haven't been able to be around her without having this stubborn urge to break down and cry, but I managed through it.

Watching one friend break under this was one thing, but watching two, was just impossible.

I couldn't do it.

I needed him to be strong and I needed him to fight and I needed him to hold me back when I held him as we both cried but he was unable to do any of that.

He was a constant reminder of all that had happened and I couldn't bare it.

I couldn't see him drink himself away like that, not anymore.

The sun was beginning to rise, and I found myself driving to the station. It was the only place I found slight comfort in. It was where I felt the most at home. And to be quite honest, I didn't feel like being alone, or being around people. I didn't know what I felt like, but I didn't want to go home and allow myself to think any more of it, so the station was the only place for me to go.

My clothes were a mess, I had Harry's blood drying on my knuckles, and on my shirt, but I didn't care, as I walked into the station, towards my desk. It was early, so very few people were there, and for that, I was thankful. I sat myself down, and immediately began skimming through the paperwork I had accumulated. My eyes were burning with the lack of sleep, and my muscles were screaming in protest, but I chose to ignore all that, focusing on the task on hand, until I felt a familiar presence, standing beside me.

" Louis." He called, voice stern, but never unkind. I remained unresponsive, leaving the finished file I had in hand, and retrieving another one.

" What the hell happened to you?" He questioned. I desperately wanted to ignore him until he gave up and left, but knowing him, he'd do anything but. I sighed, dropping the file, and tiredly rubbing my eyes.

" I beat Harry up." It was silent for a bit, but then there was screeching sounds, before he was seated on a chair, right beside me. His arms were crossed against his chest protectively, and his features were hard, but worried.

" Explain." He demanded.

And so I did, feeling the weight on my chest lifting, slowly, unwillingly. I needed to put it out there, so that it wouldn't completely drown me. He listened, the way he always did; never giving anything away, never judging, absorbing it all. Once I was done, he gave a single nod of understanding, although, his eyebrows were furrowed, giving away his weariness.  

" He probably earned that one." He finally breathed. I couldn't help but smile, once I saw the hidden humor behind his eyes.

" You need to go home and clean up though. You're a mess. We can handle it while you're gone." Zayn rose to his feet, beginning to walk away.

" No, I think I'll just wash up here, and maybe you can send me somewhere, if there's anyone to bust or something. I need to keep moving." He then tilted his head towards me, eying me with something I couldn't quite understand, nor relate to.

" You sure you're up for it? We can always send Niall, you know how he is about busting people, especially when they're bound to make a run for it." I didn't have it in me to laugh just yet, and from the looks of it, neither did Zayn. So he smiled weakly, and so did I.

" Maybe some other time, I'll clean up and meet you at your office."

" Oh no need, Cleo was going to go on her first mission today, and since she's your partner, then you might as well go together." I groaned, rolling my eyes at the mention of her.

" Come on, Zayn, isn't there anyone else who can babysit?" This time, Zayn actually did laugh, shrugging his shoulders, as his phone began ringing.

" Don't get yourself or her killed!" Zayn called, before declaring his name into the phone, and walking away. I went into the showers, taking my sweet time cleansing all reminders of the previous night, draining every last drop of the alcohol I had consumed. I changed into my spare clothes, putting on my vest, in preparation for the job. Before I could even walk out of the locker room, Cleo was walking towards me, a single cup of coffee in hand.

" Morning, partner." She greeted, her tone ridiculing.

" Not in the mood." I said, concentrating my full attention on collecting the things I needed to finish this job.

" Are you ever in the mood?"

" Nope, not really."

" All because of that drunk frie-"

" Don't. Just, don't go there, or so help me God, I'll-" My now trembling hand had somehow slammed the locker shut, taking the gun and triggering it, pointing it towards Cleo, like that would somehow defend my heart against that consistent break. I wasn't going to shoot her, the gun had no bullets in it, and I knew that. I was just trained to defend myself against any possible threats, and breaking down seemed like the largest threat then, so holding the gun was an instinct. She lifted her hands in the air in surrender, though her eyes revealed no seriousness. I looked away, continuing to load my weapons and tighten my vest.

" Fucking hell." I hissed under my breath, frustrated with myself and her and Zayn and Harry and all that had led me to this. Her hands dropped by her side, as she silently drank the rest of her coffee.

" You're taking too long." She whined, after barely a few silent moments passing.

" I'm sorry, I need to not get your sorry ass and mine killed, high orders."

" Don't worry, I'll protect you." She triggered her gun, a smug smile on her lips. I scoffed, triggering my own gun, before we both turned to walk out of the changing rooms.

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A/N: harry's pov is gonna come soon, but I don't know how soon.

anyway, let me know what you thought of this :)

ily x