Dont Leave Me Behind

chapter one

Louis was jumpy. He knew it, his band mates knew it, even Mark knew it. Shaky leg syndrome, twiddling thumbs, constant hair flicking; he was nervous and stuck on the bus. They were on their way to Baltimore for a concert the next day and somehow Louis had been roped into watching a film with the lads when all he really wanted to do was cuddle up in bed, text his sisters, and fall asleep. But no. Liam was the master of the puppy eye stare.

So there they were, 6 grown lads watching Fox and the Hound and it wasn't going well. Everyone else was either sniffling, wiping away tears, or a combination of the two. Louis had tried to crack a joke, really he had. He had tried impersonating Elmo, demanding food, made farting noise, actually farted; all he had gotten were pillows in his face and sad stares tellng him to just watch the movie please.

But then Louis had started to get this weird lump in his throat, his eyes had started to burn, and he was not okay with this. So here he was, jumpy as fuck watching his best mates cry over a dying cartoon character. Louis did what Louis did best in these situations: he pinched away the tears.

He leaned back into his throne of pillows as a sobbing Niall threw himself at a sniveling mark and grabbed a good chunk of his wrist from beneath his jumper and pinched away. Zayn was trying to console a shocked looking Liam (good its his own damn fault, thought Louis as his fingers squeezed a little harder), and Harry just looked from his hands to Louis eyes as tears trailed down his face.

Louis twisted his skin a bit harshly to away any lingering sadness before opening his arms wide and muttering oh hazza as softly as possible.

His hands full of a onesie wearing Harry, Louis did what he did best, he handled the sadness. This he was used to, combing his hands through long hair, holding tight as tears soaked through his shirt. Usually it was his sisters he was holding, but anyone in need of comfort was welcome.

"Its OK Hazza, its just a movie..." he whispered to the giant in his lap.

"It was sad though Louis...."Harry whimpered, leaning back a bit, "how are you not crying?"

Louis tensed a bit, his mom had found him once pinching himself with pliers, the way she had watched him like a hawk for weeks after, always searching for new bruises or scrapes, was not something he wanted to endure while on tour.

"I've watched it before," he fibbed with a shrug "guess I was just mentally prepared."

Harry nodded, burrowing his face once more into Louis neck, "carry me to bed Lou," he mumbled tiredly, "I'm too sad to walk."

Louis couldn't help but laugh as he heard niall and liam chuckle as well, guess the sad vibe wouldn't last for too long.

"Alright, off to bed we go," Louis stated as he got up with his handful of Harry.

Shuffling and good nights were scattered around as everyone got ready for bed. Once he had thrown harry into bed with a light oomph from the boy, Louis climbed up to his bunk.

The bus shook along the highway as Louis texted with fizzy for a bit, mind wandering back to the movie every so often. When that happened, and he felt like he couldn't breath, he just pinched the growing bruise on his wrist until he sighed in relief.

After a good hour, he bid his sister goodnight with promises to Skype the next day. He was lulled to sleep by the soft snores beneath him and the dull whizzing of cars all around.

A/n: um so I'm not sure where I am going with this, I had a general idea and just jumped right in :) first story ever so any advice critique or help is more than welcome. Thanks!