Through the Dark

Cracks in the Armor

Louis paced his living room, checking his phone every few minutes. It had been hours since Harry had left, and the silence was eating away at him. Every possible worst-case scenario ran through his mind, each one more terrifying than the last. He tried to shake off the unease, reminding himself that Harry had promised to be careful. But the nagging worry wouldn't go away.

He debated calling Harry but decided against it. Harry needed space, and Louis didn't want to push too hard. Instead, he flopped onto the couch, running a hand through his hair in frustration. His mind was restless, unable to settle on anything but Harry and the mess they were tangled in.

Just as he was about to lose the last of his patience, his phone buzzed. Louis grabbed it, relief washing over him when he saw Harry's name on the screen.

Harry: I'm on my way back.

The message was short, almost clinical, and it did nothing to ease Louis's anxiety. But at least Harry was coming back. That was something.

Louis quickly replied, asking if Harry wanted him to pick up anything-food, drinks, whatever might help-but Harry's response was even shorter.

Harry: No, I'm good. See you soon.

Louis stared at the screen, a sinking feeling in his chest. Something wasn't right. The Harry he knew wouldn't brush him off like this, especially after everything they'd been through the night before. But he couldn't push too hard, not when Harry was already on edge.

When Harry finally arrived, Louis could tell something was different. The way Harry carried himself, the tightness in his jaw, the way his eyes darted around as if looking for threats-none of it was the Harry Louis knew. It was like he had put up a wall, shutting Louis out.

"Hey," Louis greeted him, trying to sound casual, though his worry was clear in his voice.

"Hey," Harry replied, his tone flat. He kicked off his shoes and shrugged out of his jacket, avoiding Louis's gaze as he walked into the living room.

Louis followed, watching as Harry sank onto the couch, his movements stiff, almost robotic. "How did it go?"

Harry hesitated, staring at the coffee table. "It went... okay. I talked to him. We have a plan."

There was a hollowness to Harry's words that made Louis's heart ache. He wanted to reach out, to pull Harry close and tell him everything would be alright, but he knew Harry wasn't ready for that.

"What kind of plan?" Louis asked gently, sitting down beside him.

Harry's fingers fidgeted with the hem of his shirt, a sign of his anxiety. "It's complicated, Lou. But he said he can help, get me out of this mess."

Louis didn't like the sound of that. "What's the catch?"

Harry looked up at him, his eyes filled with a mix of fear and resignation. "I have to do something for him first. Something I'm not proud of."

Louis's stomach twisted. "Harry... what did you agree to?"

Harry's jaw clenched, and he looked away, unable to meet Louis's gaze. "I can't tell you. It's better if you don't know."

"Better for who?" Louis shot back, his voice rising with concern. "Harry, you're scaring me. Whatever this is, we can deal with it together. But I need to know what you're getting into."

Harry shook his head, his shoulders tensing. "You don't understand, Lou. If I tell you, it'll put you in danger too. I can't risk that."

Louis reached out, placing a hand on Harry's arm. "I'm already in this with you. You don't have to carry it alone."

Harry's eyes flicked to Louis's hand, and for a moment, Louis thought he might open up. But then Harry pulled away, standing up and putting distance between them. "I don't want you involved, okay? Just... trust me on this."

Louis felt his heart break a little. He could see the pain Harry was in, the fear and guilt that was eating him alive, but he didn't know how to break through the walls Harry was putting up.

"I do trust you," Louis said softly, standing up as well. "But I'm scared for you, Haz. Whatever you've agreed to, we can figure it out together. You don't have to do this alone."

Harry turned to face him, and for a split second, Louis saw the cracks in Harry's armor-the vulnerability he was trying so hard to hide. But just as quickly, the walls went back up.

"I appreciate that, Lou. I do. But this is something I have to handle myself."

Louis wanted to argue, to tell Harry that he didn't have to face anything alone, but he could see the determination in Harry's eyes. Harry had made up his mind, and nothing Louis said would change it.

"Just promise me you'll be careful," Louis said, his voice pleading.

Harry nodded, his expression softening slightly. "I will. I promise."

It wasn't enough to ease Louis's worry, but he knew he had to let Harry take the lead on this. Pushing too hard would only drive him further away, and Louis couldn't bear the thought of losing him completely.

"Okay," Louis said, though it was the hardest thing he'd ever done. "But if anything happens, if you need me-"

"I'll call you," Harry finished, managing a small smile. "I know, Lou. And I'm grateful for that. More than you know."

Louis nodded, feeling like they were both teetering on the edge of something dangerous, something that could change everything between them. But for now, all he could do was trust that Harry knew what he was doing and hope that they wouldn't lose each other in the process.

"Do you want to stay here tonight?" Louis asked, knowing Harry might need the comfort of familiar surroundings.

Harry hesitated, then nodded. "Yeah. I think I'd like that."

Louis let out a breath he didn't realize he'd been holding. "Good. I'll make up the spare bed for you."

As he moved to get the guest room ready, Louis couldn't shake the feeling that things were spiraling out of control. He wanted to protect Harry, to shield him from whatever was coming, but he knew he couldn't do that if Harry kept shutting him out.

When the bed was made, Louis found Harry sitting on the edge of the couch, staring at nothing in particular. He looked lost, like he was barely holding himself together.

"Come on," Louis said softly, holding out a hand. "Let's get some rest."

Harry looked up at him, the exhaustion clear in his eyes. He took Louis's hand, letting himself be led to the guest room.

As Harry lay down, Louis hesitated in the doorway. "I'll be just down the hall if you need anything, okay?"

Harry nodded, but his eyes were already closing, the weight of the day finally dragging him under.

Louis watched him for a moment, his heart aching with worry. He wanted to say something, anything, to make this better, but he knew there were no easy answers. Instead, he quietly closed the door and headed to his own room.

As he lay in bed, staring at the ceiling, Louis felt more helpless than he ever had in his life. Harry was in trouble, and no matter how much he wanted to fix it, he couldn't do it alone.

The night stretched on, and despite his exhaustion, sleep didn't come easily. Every sound, every creak of the house, made him tense, his mind conjuring images of Harry in danger, of the fixer's deal gone wrong.

Eventually, Louis drifted off into a fitful sleep, but even in his dreams, the fear lingered. He was afraid of what the morning would bring, afraid of losing Harry to the darkness that seemed to be closing in on all sides.

And most of all, he was afraid that by the time he figured out how to help, it might already be too late.