All I've Ever Known

28 - Louis

Louis finished buttoning up his shirt in the mirror, giving his hair one last sweep and ensuring everything was in place. He held the edges of his closer to his body, letting out a deep sigh as he stared at the reflection looking back at him. Looping his tie around his neck he continued to look at himself curiously. His face fuller, no longer able to see dark circles forming, his cheeks puffier, not in an unpleasant way though. He could see he looked better, healthier even. Although he still was uncomfortable with some aspects of his body, his stomach and thighs mainly, he was glad they had filled out more over the last few weeks.

Today's the day, he told himself. Willing his nauseated stomach to calm down, steady his breathing. He walks over slowly to Harry's bed and sits on the edge of it, fiddling with his fingers and thinking about everything that will be revealed today in court.

The past two months have been hard on him, Louis has felt pressure to act like everything was going to be alright, that this would all work out in the end. Mainly for Harry's sake, as his boyfriend's anxiety had been a consistent battle over the past few weeks. Leading up to today Harry's sleep had been somewhat non-existent and Louis was extremely worried about today's outcome for him, for them as a couple. Louis, Harry and their team of three lawyers had been meticulous, gathering up every shred of evidence against Simon and Syco over the weeks. Every email, every text message, Louis was even able to use his connection with a former employee of Syco to have his original gag order contract send to his team which was a huge day of celebrations, as this alone was a large piece of evidence of Simon's fuck ups. They had convinced some other parties involved to send in witness statements, some other's were coming to make statements in person today at the courthouse. Louis continued listing things that had gone right in this process, but it didn't do much to stop the shake in his breath and the tremble in his hands.

"Lou?" Harry called from somewhere in the house, his voice full of trepidation.

"Bedroom, babe", He called back, rubbing his hands up and down his thighs soothingly.

Harry entered hesitantly, a sad smile on his face. Louis smiled back softly, giving him a once over in his shorter hair neatly in place. Louis had been so shocked when he came home weeks ago with a buzzcut, but he had grown to love it over time. Harry's hair was now in an 'in-between' stage he called it, the front and back slightly longer, sort of a posh mullet if you will.

"You look handsome", Harry smiled walking over to Louis and running his hands over his shoulders, smoothing out the material nervously.

"You look beautiful", Louis replied with a soft smile, Harry's face heating up in response to the easy compliment.

Louis dropped his head in another shaky sigh, Harry kneeling down on the floor in front of him, his hands placed on top of Louis' on his thighs.

"Lou?" Harry's voice broke squeezing his knuckles softly.

"I don't know what I'm going to do, what we're going to do if this doesn't work today." Louis softly mumbled, his heart hammering in his chest.

"Babe", Harry started, "Whatever happens today, we'll get through it together. I promise, I will do everything I can up on the stand, and so will you". Louis sniffled slightly, nodding his head.

"I just hate this, feeling out of control. You know how much I struggle with it, and in this situation, I feel like I've done everything I can to make it work, to win. But, like what if we don't? I'm so scared Harry, I'm scared I'm going to lose you even more to this, I couldn't live with myself if this doesn't work", Louis gasps out.

"Louis, look at me," Harry says seriously, holding Louis' face in his palms.

"I'm here, I'm not going anywhere. All of those years without you by my side, I felt like I was just going through the motions of life. I did some great things, and had some good times, yeah." A tear dropped from the side of Louis face, Harry's finger sweeping it up instantly.