Foolishly, Completely Falling

Part Two

Their PR team drops hints that Harry’s moving/moved out anyway. It spreads like wildfire - and if everywhere else is feeling the smoke, Tumblr’s up in flames. It’s a little funny how everyone blames the shippers for it; he even has hate from fans in his ask box. It would have been hilarious if it wasn’t for the fact that the “Larry” corner of fandom seems to be taking it all particularly badly.

People insult him. People insult Harry.

Mostly, people blame him - which is better than people blaming Harry, of course - but it still hurts.

How could they do that OMG I’M CRYING. I DON’T BELIEVE IN LOVE ANYMORE.

HOW THE FUCK DID LOUIS LET IT AFFECT THEM LIKE THAT.

HARRY’S CLEARLY HEARTBROKEN, LOOK AT HIS FACE - CRYINGOMG.

Harry loves Louis more than Louis loves him.

LARRY SHIPPERS HAVE DESTROYED THEIR FRIENDSHIP

Goodbye, Larry Stylinson.

It hurts.

He knows there’s nothing he can do - he knows the truth - but it’s all a little overwhelming all the same. He only hesitates for a moment before he opens up Dusty’s ask box and sends, What do you think?

That it’s bullshit. It’s all bullshit. Harry would never move out, and Lou’d never let anything ruin their friendship.

Yeah, Louis replies, reassured. At least one person still has faith in him; chances are if one person still believes, there are others. You’re right. They’d never let it happen.

“won’t stop ‘till we surrender...”

Louis smiles. He’s just closed the lid of his laptop when his door creaks open and Harry pokes his head in. Louis’ smile softens and he shifts over in the bed, tugging his duvet back in silent invitation. Harry dives into the space and tucks himself against Louis’ side, head on Louis’ pillow. Harry shifts around a little to get comfortable.

“What’s wrong?” Louis asks, accommodating Harry’s movements until he’s found the position he wants to be in. Louis rearranges himself around that.

“Couldn’t sleep,” Harry mumbles, and it’s just like X-Factor all over again. Louis wraps an arm around Harry and tugs him closer - which results in them shifting around all over again, but this time it’s easier. Natural. Harry tucks himself into a smaller ball and lets Louis curl around him. Just like X-Factor all over again.

It doesn’t seem to matter that Harry’s taller than him now - bigger, bulkier - and they’re the biggest boyband in the world. It doesn’t matter that Harry’s a Big Deal, probably more famous than any of them, the sex symbol of the ages. He’s curled against Louis like he’s still sixteen, young and excited, overwhelmed and terrified and in desperate need of approval. He tucks himself in under Louis’ chin, breathes out slow and steady against his chest, fingers clinging slightly to Louis’ shirt like he’s the same boy who’d tucked Louis’ namesake bear into his blazer as a good luck charm because Louis believed in him when he wasn’t sure he believed in himself.

And Louis still wants to protect him from the world.

He still can’t believe that this brave, beautiful boy gives himself over so completely and without reserve to Louis’ care.

Made for each other.

Holding Harry like this - being in Harry’s orbit - is the most natural thing in the world. Louis tightens his arms around him, strokes a hand lightly through Harry’s curls, loose from the hairspray and gel and slightly damp from the shower, and lets the realisation of something he’s been trying to avoid for a while now come.