Let You Go (Larry Stylinson)

Conversations

Louis stays completely off-radar for a week or so. Having left his phone at the other house, he doesn't text anyone, not even Niall, and Harry reluctantly agrees not to say anything to anyone. Harry calls his management, tells them he's gonna need a couple weeks off to sort out some important things. They ask why and ask how long he'll be away for, but he waves it all away.

This is important for him. And that's all they need to know. 

It doesn't stop him from wondering though, and at night he lies awake, questions chasing each other through his head.

What happened to Louis?

Who did that to him?

Why?

How dare they hurt him?

Exactly a week after Harry first carried Louis back to his apartment, he decides to ask. Louis is sitting on the sofa watching something on the telly and he flinches when Harry approaches. Harry's heart breaks a little bit every time it happens. How could someone mess him up so badly that he can't relax even for a second?

"Louis?" Harry asks timidly.

Louis pauses the TV and looks up towards Harry in reply. 

"Can I sit?" 

Louis laughs a little bit, scootching over. "Do whatever you want love, it's your house."

Fuck. He didn't mean for that word to slip out. Still, Harry acts as if nothing happened and obediently flops on the sofa with Louis.

"What do you have planned, Louis?" Harry asks quietly. "It's not that I want you gone, but I just feel bad that you're wasting away in this crusty apartment when you could be out there doing so much more." He gestures vaguely out the window.

"Your apartment isn't crusty," Louis replied indignantly, neatly avoiding the question. Harry laughs softly, shrugging his shoulders.

"Yeah, I suppose you're right. It's a pretty decent apartment." He sighs deeply. "It's just that you haven't left it in a week now. I mean... you can't possibly live your life hiding in here." Harry pauses for a second. "And, well... people are going to notice that you're missing after a while. They'll ask questions. They'll come find you. It'll be... a hassle, that's all."

Louis doesn't answer for a long time and Harry doesn't rush him into answering, just lets him sit. Finally, Louis mumbles something inaudible.

"What was that?" Harry gently asks.

Louis' eyes remain fixed on the floor. 

"I'm scared," he whispers finally.

Harry wants nothing more than to bury Louis in a hug and pretend that nothing's happened and that there are no problems. However, he knows that this is important. It's more than that. It's crucial.

"Why? Who are you scared of?" Harry whispers, scared of overwhelming the boy in front of him. Louis shakes his head, his eyes pleading.

"Please," Harry asks softly. "I have to make sure you're safe."

So once more Louis fixes his eyes on the carpet and buries his face in his hands. "H-him. We were sort of together-- for a while. He-- he..." Louis takes a deep, shuddering breath. "He started hitting me... it got-- worse. He cut me off from everyone and then... then..." another pause, another deep breath. Harry wants to vomit. He knew it would be bad, but this bad...? "He did it again. Worse. I thought..." Louis lets a choked sob escape him. "... thought I was gonna die. He left me there, on the floor. I called everyone and you... you picked up," Louis finishes in a whisper and can barely hold himself together anymore. 

Harry is crying too. He's tried his best to keep his distance until now but he can't anymore, and he holds Louis in the tightest, securest hug he can manage without hurting him. Louis clings to him, doesn't ever want to let go. 

So they don't. They sit there, tangled up and holding each other close. Harry cries for Louis and Louis cries for so many things. Himself. Harry. All the what-if's. 

They cry together until neither of them has any tears left and even then they stay where they are, neither of them moving until Louis falls asleep. Harry carries him to the spare room and tucks him into bed before finally going to bed himself. He's exhausted. 

And heartbroken.