Restore (Sequel to Purge: Larry au)

Chapter 23

TW: PTSD, brief mentions of suicide, talks of panic attacks and nightmares, talks of death/dying

The next day

Harry's helping Ella make lunch for Darcy and Seamus when his phone buzzes in his pocket. He pulls it out and his eyes widen when he reads the messages.

Lou 💙: i need you

Lou 💙: please come home harry

Harry's heart starts to race in his chest. He turns to Ella. 

"I have to go," he says. "Can you watch Darcy for me?"

Ella nods, looking confused. "Of course, but where are you going?"

"Louis just texted. I don't know what's happening but he needs me and I have to go see what's wrong."

Ella raises her eyes. "Are you sure, Haz? Last time you saw him, he attacked you."

Harry hesitates, knowing that's true. He knows Ella hasn't forgiven Louis for that, but he knows Louis, and he knows that he wouldn't ask Harry to come back if he didn't really need it. 

"I'm sure. I know what I'm doing. I'll call you if I need help," he says. 

Ella nods. "Okay. Be careful."

"I will. Thank you for watching Darcy." With that, Harry turns and rushes out of the door, getting into his car and driving back to his and Louis's house. 

He gets in through the garage, toeing off his shoes in the mudroom. 

"Lou?" he calls. "Louis, where are you?"

No response.

Harry's starting to get really worried, so he looks around the entire first floor, finding no one. He rushes upstairs then, and immediately heads into their bedroom. 

It's there that he finds Louis curled up against the wall, arms wrapped around his legs, which are tucked against his chest. He's rocking back and forth on the floor, shaking and sobbing. 

"Lou," Harry breathes, walking over to him. He kneels (with some difficulty) beside Louis, reaching out to touch his shoulder. 

"Harry?" Louis whimpers, looking up at him with tears in his eyes. His phone lays forgotten on the floor beside him. "You came?"

Harry looks at him softly. "Of course I came, baby. You needed me."

Louis sniffles and wipes his nose with his sleeve. "Thank you."

Harry nods, leaning over to kiss his forehead. "How can I help you?"

Louis draws in a shaky breath, rubbing at his eyes to get rid of the tears. "I just... it's so fucking hard Harry. I'm having such bad withdrawals, and so many nightmares and flashbacks and I just... I need you here... with me. I know you don't need me at all, but I need you. Just so I don't do something stupid, like ruining it all by going out and getting drunk or buying more smokes or something. I don't want to mess this up. I want to get better for you." He hesitates for a moment before he voices the last thing. "I want to make you proud."

Harry sighs softly, pulling Louis into his arms. "Lou. I'm so proud of you, love. You're getting help, and you're trying so hard to do better. I'm so grateful for that. It would have been so easy for you to have ignored me and to have continued what you'd been doing, but you realized something was wrong and you're fixing it. You have no idea how proud  that makes me."

Louis lets out a soft whimper and Harry holds him tighter, pressing soft kisses into his hair. "I love you so much, darling. And I know how hard this all is. Thank you for trying, and for calling me instead of doing something you'd regret."