A Week and a bit in London - Larry AU

Chapter 7 - Another World

Visibly nervous, Harry approaches the local district administration. He grips Louis hand tightly and is shaking a bit as the two men step through the door. In the small entrance room, a small man behind the reception desk asks them: "Hey, how can I help you?"

'What am I doing here? Am I just throwing my whole life away? My whole Family? No. I don't want to go to the Army. I don't want to hide who I am for my whole life. I. Am. Doing. This.'

"I want to declare Asylum."

'It feels so bad to say it. As if I was committing a crime. I am committing a crime. In the USA I can be prosecuted for Desertion of a Civilian and Unpatriotic conduct. There is no going back now. Well, there was no going back before...'

"Ok. You can wait in front of office 6, down the hallway. A clerk will be with you shortly."

The two walk down the dimly lit hallway and sit down on a pair of chairs outside of the office. Harry grips Louis hand even tighter now than before.

"It will all be ok. It was not so bad, am I right?"

"That wasn't the hard part. What if they don't accept me for asylum? What if I have to go back?"

Harrys look portrays panic at the thought as he says: "I can't go back. I just can't."

"You won't have to. It will all work out. You will stay with me. It will all be OK."

Louis closes his arms around Harry, hugging him tightly whilst they wait for the door to open.

After a while that feels way too long, the door finally opens and a young man with an Irish accent says: "You can come in now."

The two get up from their seats, Harry clinging to Louis arm, only to sit down again inside the office.

"So, you two want to declare Asylum?"

"No, only my friend here. I am just here for emotional support."

'I can't go back. I just can't. My parents will have my head for running away. Not even to speak of me being gay. If this doesn't work out, I am a dead man.'

"Y, Yes. I want to do that."

"Ok, what's your name?" The Irish am asks whilst putting a form back into its folder.

"Harry, Harry Stiles."

"Nice to meet you Mr. Styles. What Nationality are you?"

"I am American. US American."

"Good. Age?"

"19."

"Your reason to declare Asylum?"

"I. I. I am Gay. And I don't want to go to the army."

Harry starts shaking as he speaks it out loud. Louis grips his hand tight and whispers: "You are doing so well. It will all work out. I love you."

This only calms Harry down a little.

"Ok. So, you claim asylum on the grounds that your unwillingness to fight would lead to legal repression and that you face discrimination and harassment because of your sexuality?"

"Yes."

"Ok. Considering that the USA maintains an active policy of discrimination and torture as well as a culture of repression against sexual minorities that would be a valid reason. But can you explain the US-Army part in a bit more detail, as far as I am aware, the USA does not operate a system of forced conscription."

'That's good, right? You only need one reason to declare asylum. Right? Why does he want to know about the other one? Does he want proof? I can't proof that I was signed up for the army. I can't even proof that I am gay. How would one proof that?'