Here In The Afterglow

Chapter 3.13

When Louis steps out of the shower, late, there's a note stuck to the door in Harry's loopy handwriting.

On the roof with Niall. Take the stairs at the end of the hall. H xxxxxxx

Louis towels at his hair and dresses quickly, feeling cooler now that he's washed the day away. He grabs Harry's jacket from their room before he leaves the apartment, the denim one that he's come to love, just in case.

He takes the stairs quietly and opens the door to the roof even quieter. Peeking his head out, he sees Niall and Harry sitting close to the ledge, smoke curling around them, the tiny orange glow of their joints muted against the background of the city lights. It's cloudy, the night hanging low and catching the color of the taller buildings in the distance. They seem to disappear into the clouds, almost.

"-was basically done by the time I got there," Harry is saying, quiet and distant. "Honestly, I think I might have jumped into the river if I didn't meet him."

"But you did," Niall replies. "Thank God."

"Yeah," Harry huffs a laugh, then takes in a long drag. "Thank fucking God."

Louis' pulse is steadily gaining speed. He feels like he's intruding, but he doesn't want to break this.

"I really did miss you, y'know," Niall says. "That night, I thought you were dead. Carl came running down to the Fair like a headless chicken, screaming the place down. He told me what had-. What he saw, the wound, and your face and-. Everything. You should have seen it, Haz. Should have seen everyone running for you."

"I missed you too," Harry says. "I'm sorry I didn't let you walk me."

"Don't apologize," Niall says. "It's not your fault. It's never our fault. I spent-. I spent a long time thinking about where you'd gone, where your mom had taken you. I'm glad you ended up in New York for a bit, at least."

"Mm," Harry hums. "It's not so bad now."

"Yeah," Niall agrees. "Not so bad."

They take a hit at the same time, exhaling a thick wad of smoke. Louis slips outside and closes the door with a clunk. They both turn, Harry smiling when he spots him.

"Hey, baby," Harry says. He holds out his hand.

Louis slips on the jacket as he walks over to them, then huddles into Harry's side and plucks the joint from his fingers.

"Oi," he says softly. "I was gonna give you one."

"Wanted yours," Louis smiles, then takes a long, slow drag. Harry is watching him intently, his gaze burning into the side of Louis's face. Louis takes one more drag and passes it back. "Thanks, honey."

The smile on Harry's lips curls up slow and syrupy, eyes sparkling in the dark. "That's okay."

"Here, Lou," Niall nudges his shoulder, holds out a fresh joint for him.

Once he feels heavy and sated, leaning against Harry's side quietly while he and Niall talk, he gets lost in the city before him. The streets dip, and he imagines the hills, imagines the towers as pines. He thinks of this little spot, on top of Niall's apartment, as his pine, his summit. He wonders what Liam is doing right now.

"Haz," he says randomly, probably interrupting.

Harry hums down at him, lips against his hair. "Yeah, Lou?"

"You saved my life, I think," Louis says simply, taking another drag.

Niall is silent beside them. Louis sees him glance at Harry briefly, the two of them sharing a look. A few moments later, Niall pats his back softly and stands, shoes scraping on the concrete as he walks dazedly.