Let's Roll- Larry Stylinson

Chapter XXVI

They don't take the train. Harry says it's too risky. He says they're going to Tennessee because going to city states would be too obvious. Tennessee is less crowded, people never giving you a second look. The drive there is longer than Louis ever imagined, fading in and out of slumber as they cruise the highway. Harry has been wide awake the entire time, the adrenaline of having to run keeping him alert. He's aware of every sound, every movement. His men are in two cars, one in front and another in the back. Even with the added security, he feels a weight on his shoulders and he's even more fearful of what could happen if they were to get caught because Louis is here with him.

Louis didn't run, didn't choose to leave him like Harry had expected. He had defended his original stance of going wherever Harry goes and Harry was surprised.

He's tried to talk himself out of love for years. Because it ruins you, it kills you every time someone leaves when the going gets tough. It kills you when they say they've fallen out of love. It kills you when the person you once thought of as your world disappears, never to be seen again. Harry has always had distaste for the emotion since he became a part of the mob because it was easier that way. It was less heartbreaking to be noncommittal than to be disappointed when they left. No strings attached was how Harry lived his life up until the now.

Louis isn't like the rest. He wasn't someone Harry could drop once he had his way with him. He wasn't someone he could imagine leaving alone in the big bad city. He wasn't someone he could ever forget. Louis was the exception to every rule Harry had ever made in the past. He was the one who made his heart start pumping again, who gave a different meaning to his life.

His life seemed perfect before. Lavish parties. Riches beyond his wildest dreams. Food whenever he called for it. Car upon car for him to drive. Everything was at it should be, Harry had worked so hard for it all. But when he thinks about it, it wasn't all perfect. He was lonely. He was one person in a house built for hundreds and he felt it when he sat for dinner alone. His lifestyle might be what he always wanted, but not having someone to share it with makes it worth nothing.

Having Louis there, making noise when his feet pattered on the floor, little snores when he slept, giggling into his chest, it was warm. It was the feeling he was missing when he thought he had it all. It was what he needed, the comfort of knowing he had someone that cared, that wanted to see him there alive and well. He didn't even realize he needed that until now, until he steals a glance at Louis and thinks about how much he wants Louis to be safe, how he wants the same for Harry. How he stays because he's dependent upon him, needs him like Harry needs Louis. He never wants it any other way.

He stops at the nearest inn, only an hour past the state border. Sleep has finally clawed its way onto Harry and he needs to rest, just for a few hours. They still have ways to go, Harry having a destination for them in Tennessee. But for now, the little inn will have to do.

He doesn't wake Louis, slipping his arms underneath the boy and walking inside with him. His men are at his tail, piled together closer for extra measure. They never know what lurks in the shadows.

There's no one at the front desk when they enter, the chimes above the door not enough to wake the keeper. His men have to ring the bell a couple of times before the keeper is bustling in, hair disorderly and shirt not doing anything to cover his stomach.

"I'd like five rooms, each with two beds." It sobers the man up. He produces a book from under his desk.

"We hardly ever get any guests." He licks his pen, smoothing out his paper as he prepares to write. "Name?"

"Smith." It's best to not give out the finer details in these situations. The man's pen glides along the paper, every letter connecting as he writes.

"Welcome, Mr. Smith." He examines his back wall, the keys dangling from their hooks. Harry would assume there isn't much variety in such a small place, but the man takes his time in choosing the rooms. "You'll be in rooms nine to thirteen." Harry smiles as genuinely as he can as one of his men grab their keys.

"Right, we won't be here long. I want to leave before sunrise." He tells his men once out of the keeper's earshot. "Be cautious." He warns, the night sky might be cover enough, but if Malik really has it in for him, who's to say he doesn't already have someone following him. One of his men stays behind to open the door for him, tipping his hat once he sees Harry and Louis safely inside.

Harry nestles Louis in the closest bed, covering his clothed body in the warm blankets provided. He looks younger in his sleep, a child in an adult bed. His legs are curled against himself, arms wound under the pillow. He looks comfortable enough for Harry to walk away, to go to his own bed.

His sleep-ridden eyes close and open as he sits on his bed for a bit, chin perched on his hand. He stares at the boy on the bed, wondering how one person could make him feel like his whole life has turned upside down. Louis was supposed to be a passing thing. At least he had assumed it would be that way. Louis never gave the impression of wanting to stay when they had first met. He had thought the boy would have escaped the first chance he got, ran away to the paradise he so desired. Never had he considered the boy to remain at his side, to be so stuck on him like a dog to a human. Louis was like a puppy in his eyes sometimes, with how he sought protection from him, sought food and water. He needed Harry to provide for him, to give him the world because it wasn't in his reach yet.

And Harry discovers that he likes it, likes how Louis craves his affection, likes how Louis steals glances because he's waiting, waiting for Harry to give himself up entirely. As much as he enjoys it, he also hates it. Because it's hard for himself to give himself up completely. Letting Louis in was hard enough, to reveal all that he is to the boy sounds like a test he never wants to pass.

Eventually, Harry dozes off, stuck in the position he was when he let his mind wander. His back cracks in the morning, sore from having slept bent over. He feels hazy, not fit to drive and he updates his men with the news. He'll need one of them to drive. One accepts the task hopping in his car and letting Harry take reign of the back seat. He brings Louis back there with him, squeezing him into his chest as he lies out. Louis accepts his fate, resting his head on Harry's chest as close to his heart as possible.

The sun rises above them faster than Harry would have liked. They reach their destination well past noon. It's as barren as it always is- the house they've stopped at. Harry has estates in a few different neighboring towns and this is one of them. It's not as famed as his other home is and there are no servants awaiting their arrival. Wood paned windows are bashed open to let the light in, the air in the house musky from age. A cool breeze follows them as they inspect every nook and cranny, a formality of theirs to make sure of no other inhabitants. His men clean most of the space as Harry fixes up something outside.

There is hardly any furniture in any of the rooms, Louis taking purchase on the lone chair in the lounge. This house has a different feel than the other, much more antiquated in relation. It has peeling wallpaper, the design unrecognizable in its state. The wood floor shrills with their steps, overly worn and dusty. The few relics in the house are bits of tattered furniture and picture frames whose glass is grimed with soot. It's oddly satisfying to Louis how this home is much simpler than the last. It's not some grand mansion among others. This one rests alone in fertile grassland, away from any problem Louis has to face, will ever have to face. It's calming.

"Alright." Harry re-enters, his men all delivering their undivided attention. "There's a barn outside with cots for you all. Louis will be staying in here with me and meals will be held out in the yard unless otherwise stated." Everyone seems to on the same page, Harry going on. "Every week I'll have one man drive down to the market with me as company to purchase groceries. Any other requests for items will be given to me Saturday morning as that will be the day of our trips." He stands taller, more commanding. "I understand the struggle we are all facing at the moment, undoubtedly at the fault of Malik. We have to stick together to get through this. Once word comes that the police are no longer after us, we can return to our lives." He finishes his grand speech by informing them of an outing for dinner as there is no produce at their disposal yet. He'll be driving down tomorrow morning for that.

His men scatter to finish with their tasks, disappearing after they're completed. Louis remains in his chair, taking in all that will become his home for who knows how long.