~*~ Louis (continued) ~*~
It’s almost an hour later when Harry shifts in Louis’ lap, whimpering with small aborted sounds. “You’re okay, love. You’re safe.” Louis cards his fingers through the long strands of Harry’s hair, releasing the knots from the drying curls.
“Is he awake?” Niall sits up and asks cautiously.
Harry tenses and clambers closer to Louis like he is trying to crawl inside him. Panic rising, his grip on Louis tightens. “Easy.” Louis kisses the crown of his head before he realizes what he’s doing. Not that he wouldn’t have done it anyway, but the natural, unchecked response stuns him. “It’s just Niall. Is it alright if he’s here?” Harry’s body relaxing against Louis is his only response.
Niall lets out the breath he is holding and leans forward, reaching his hand toward Harry. “Can I touch him?”
Harry stiffens again, and Louis shakes his head. “No.” Niall jerks his hand back and nods his understanding but doesn’t quite succeed in hiding the look of hurt that crosses his face. “Don’t take it personally. Give him time.”
“Okay,” Niall says. They sit in silence until Harry’s breaths even out again, exhaustion prevailing. “Can I ask you a question?” Niall inquires, breaking the ensuing quiet in the room.
Harry subconsciously burrows closer into Louis in his sleep. Once he’s settled again, Louis replies, “You can ask. Doesn’t mean I’ll answer.”
Niall’s gaze doesn’t waver when he asks, “Why did you leave him before?”
“He deserves better than me,” Louis whispers without preamble.
“Seems to me, you’re what he wants, though.” Niall motions his hand at Harry. “And obviously what he needs.”
Louis doesn’t respond, allowing Niall’s words to infiltrate him at every point. Could he really be what Harry needs? Can he let go of his demons and give his everything, his past, his present, and his future, to Harry? Can he allow himself the opportunity to have something he wants? Can he finally permit himself to be happy? Can he finally be free?
When Louis doesn’t answer, Niall continues, “Surely, you can see it. I mean, look at him. Hell, Harry and I are close, but he’s never been like that with me. He’s never been that tunnel visioned and determined in his need to be as close as humanly possible to me. Before everything, before he pushed me away, we slept together nearly every night, and of course, most of the time, we would end up cuddled together. But with you, it’s glaringly different. With you, it looks like he would crawl into your skin if he could. The room is electric, and he’s just sleeping.”
Louis remains silent, still not trusting himself to speak. Is his connection to Harry as loud as Niall is indicating? Is it really strong enough that others can not only see it, but feel it, too?
“What’s holding you back? You two clearly have some kind of bond. Shit, Tommo, you dropped everything and came running when I texted that it was bad, no questions asked. You say he deserves better than you, but if your response is anything to go by, you’re exactly what he needs and deserves.” Niall cut his eyes to the side as if considering whether to continue. Taking a deep breath, he steels his expression and looks back at Louis. “And whether you admit it or not, I think you need him as much as he needs you.”
