Equilibrium (Vexxieverse Series - Part 5)

We'll Be Alright (L)

TW: graphic depictions of injury

Louis
February
1 Day Later

Once their boys finally got back home safe, they had to spend so much time with the police, lawyers, and security team that they barely had 10 minutes together before they all fell asleep for the night. No one really felt like talking, anyway. They just wanted to cuddle up and trap Liam in the middle so no one else could ever touch him again.

Liam had been so exhausted from staying awake for so many hours that Louis sent him and the others to bed early so they didn't have to deal with anything after the police report was taken. Louis was tired too, but Harry was a mess with guilt, Zayn had just had a gun to his head, and Niall had to shoot someone so the least Louis could do was take care of the paperwork for everyone.

The next morning, Niall shut the set down for the day so they could be together to process the fucking.. trauma of it all. He'd drafted an email to the staff that saw the pictures that explained what had happened and assured everyone that Liam was OK, but he also made it clear they needed their privacy and wouldn't be taking phone calls for the day. Of course, their studio family was nothing but supportive and sent all sorts of flowers and food with their well wishes. They were the best.

The vibe in the house was... complex. Liam was on edge because maybe the boys were crowding him a tiny bit. But they were just worried and had a lot of questions. More than anything, they all wanted to help put him back together, but he kept pretending like nothing was wrong with him. Which was a lie. He kept acting like he'd just gotten into a little fight with his ex. Completely in denial.

Louis was sure Harry was still blaming himself (even though it was fully Liam's fault) and Niall and Zayn wouldn't even look at Harry, which just reinforced it. Louis was just worried about both Liam and Harry. And about how his best friend, who has never left his side for his entire life, had almost gotten himself killed. And a little mad because if Niall would have just checked his email.. anyway it was a lot.

"Guys, we barely all fit in here..." Liam said as they all squeezed into the bathroom around him since it was time to clean Liam's stitches and they all wanted to help. "You know, there's a mirror right here and I have two working hands."

"No," they all said in unison.

Louis squirmed out of the door and pulled boyfriends out one by one, but they just gathered at the door frame and tried to push back in. "He's right, we don't fit. Let's go to the dining room table and set up a station. We barely use it anyway since we have the patio," Louis said. "Oh, but we have to clean them at night, too. I'll have my assistant go pick up a daylight lamp and.."

Liam growled and pushed his way through them and out of the bathroom. They all followed. He wasn't getting away that easily.

Harry was still upset, but he did smirk a little at Liam's protest to their love. "See how it feels? You did it to me when I broke my hand, Liam. Hey come back!"

Liam could pout for a few minutes; that was fine. Just while Louis set up the dining room, though.

Harry wrapped his arms around Liam and walked him toward the kitchen like a giant penguin. While they traveled, Harry whispered things into his ear until Liam finally laughed, but then Harry quickly backed off like he just remembered he'd been hurt and whispered, "Sorry!"

"I'm fine! Harry, come back!" Liam tugged at his shirt.

"No, break it up, you two. Go sit Liam," Zayn pulled Liam away by his hand and lead him to the dining room. Harry let him.

Louis disinfected the surface, then arranged the supplies and care instructions on the table while Niall forced Liam down in the dining room chair.

"Be careful, Niall!" Harry frowned. "Don't push him around like that, ok?"