Fighting the Sunset

Chapter two, "I'll take care of you."

When Harry asked what he wanted for breakfast, such eagerness in his smile, Louis couldn't tell him that he'd rather not eat anything and instead just stay in bed, he just couldn't.

"Um, how about smoothies?" He suggested. Surely that wouldn't be too hard on his stomach.

Harry nodded, "strawberry and banana sound good?"

Louis nodded, "sounds great Haz."

Harry noted Louis' forced enthusiasm, but didn't say anything. Hand in hand, the two headed to the kitchen. By the time Harry had finished his smoothie, Louis was only about halfway through his.

"What's wrong? Is it not good?" Harry asked.

Louis looked up, startled. "No, no it's great. . . I'm just, savoring it," he said, muffling a burp into his hand.

"Love, surely you're at least a little peckish by now," Harry breathed, frowning deeply.

Louis sighed, Harry was very quickly becoming less oblivious and a lot more attentive. "I was," he promised, stirring his straw around, "but now 'm full again."

"You don't wanna try any more?" Harry suggested hopefully. He just wanted Louis better.

Louis burped again and shook his head at Harry apologetically, "I'll just throw it up."

Harry furrowed his eyebrows, "you don't know that for sure. . ." he tried, "you're getting a bit thin, Babe. Can you please try to finish?"

Louis sighed, biting his lower lip, contemplating.

"Please, my love? If it makes you sick, I'll help you," Harry bargained.

Louis was too tired to put up an argument, so he huffed a little breath, and slowly continued sipping his smoothie. Three quarters of the way through, Louis was feeling extra full. Each swallow was a chore.

"Oh gosh. . ." he said suddenly, the color quickly draining from his face. His throat felt thick, and it made him gag.

"Harry," he choked out, his speech garbled.

Harry acted quick, getting a bin and holding it under Louis' chin as he brought up what little was left in his poor belly. He rubbed his back, whispering sweet nothings in his ear.

"Told you so. . ." Louis said softly when he had finished. His voice lacked the sass and sarcasm that typically came with a comment like that.

"You did tell me Babe, and I'm so sorry.  'M just worried."

"You don't need to be," Louis insisted, "people fall ill when they're overworked. I'm alright, yeah?"

Harry nodded, still feeling a bit uneasy, but trying not to show it.

"Yeah."

Louis cleared his throat and shakily stood up, throwing up always made him lethargic.

"Well, the next song isn't due to start until tomorrow so I'm going to go grab some of that down time we talked about yesterday. Wanna watch a film with me?"

He smiled at Harry. He could see that his sensitive and empathetic Harry was getting really worried now and he was going to do his best to reassure both him and himself that he just needed some time.

Harry nodded, "sure Baby, that sounds nice. You go sit on the couch and get settled, and I'll grab you some medicine, yeah?"

Louis nodded, and sluggishly walked over to the couch, plopping himself down, and resting his head.