Glitch [Larry Stylinson AU]

Part III: Dearest dreadful darling

"SWEET HARMONY, SEND US OUT WITH NOWHERE TO GO"

In preparation for the forthcoming Wednesday, Louis had spent the evenings on his own, darting around Sunny Hills to find its hidden nooks, anyplace Zayn and Liam could want to ransack. Among his findings was a broad path into the woods, just around the northern corner of his street, which was littered with pine needles and cones. It was as much of a surprise each time one of them ended up beneath shoes and socks. Several times he had stopped only to see flecks of blood appearing in the white cotton. After that day he made sure to come better prepared.

He'd carried a rucksack with him, containing water bottles, sunglasses, another set of footwear and sweats, and due to the treacherous weather, he had also knotted a sweater around his waist. Unlike Master Detective Zayn, he didn't have a notebook to make observances in, hence he memorised the area best he could so that he would offer clever suggestions. If the bodyguards kept any known information from him just because they were suspicious of him, they wouldn't shower him with hospitality even once Niall was found. His race would be finished. He needed to ingratiate himself with them and all odds were currently set against him.

Another detour had guided him around the Hills editorial office, a highly fashionable block amidst the aged suburbia. Photographs of the Horans littered the entrance, both taped to the windows and framed on the doorstep. Many of them depicted only Mr Horan. The memorial sported flowers in different stages of decay.

In the aftermath of one of his earlier expeditions, Louis had crashed at the pizza parlour and occupied a booth with his packing. Most residents lounged in the so he was left alone indoors with his mental notes about locations and details. They had soon fallen away when dinner arrived.

Chin coated in cheese and tomato sauce, Louis had jumped as Harry entered the parlour, oblivious to his existence and with droopy eyes. Although Louis had planned to be back before dusk, he had called Harry over, offering up pizza, and soon they were both flicking onions and olives from the golden dough. Come closing hours, staff had to shoo them out in the bistre night to wipe tables, and Louis' body had been itching in the desolate streets they walked. He was back on the rooftop with Niall.

Louis had asked Zayn if Harry could join them on the search—using the argument that they would be able to keep a better watch over him if he was nearby—but Zayn had scoffed at the thought, saying it was bad enough one of the newcomers accompanied them, "no offense". Liam would be hostile, he had said, maybe even call of the entire search.

As Louis approached the school, seeing Zayn perched on the hood of a car with his feet on the tire, and Liam squaring the main entrance, he wondered if he should have pressed the suggestion harder. With Harry there would be one friendly face present.

Backpack tight to his spine and his thumb hooked in its strap, he searched for a pause in Lottie's rambling. He found it when she saw Zayn gracing the car ahead.

"So, are you two friends now? You talk a lot on the phone and there's clearly tension there—"

"Lotts—"

"—And maybe something's going on with that other bloke, he seems tense. I mean, I see why he'd be tense—"

Louis patted her shoulder and diverted his gaze from the arctic duo. "Mum's gonna work late a few nights this week, so I was thinking we could binge R-rated movies and order really greasy take-out?"

Lottie's head pivoted from the bodyguards. A streak of acknowledgement flashed over her face, as if she was surprised to be treated as a teenager but didn't want to wield it.

"Saw," she said. "I want to watch Saw."

Louis shook his head, burking a groan. "You're- We're not seeing Saw. You're too mainstream. You're a disgrace to—"