Two Ghosts. //Larry AU//

0.1

My fingers tap rhythmically on my knee as voices drag on all around me. I think I've counted the tiles in this room probably 20 times. I look across the table and start to take in the boy in front of me — the way his eyes are tired and the frown on his face is evident, I wish I could hug him. He feels my stare and we make eye contact, a small smile takes the frowns place and I mouth the words "love you." To which he places his hand over his heart and taps twice, a thing we seem to have had going on for a few years now.

He looks away from me and continues to listen to the men telling us what to expect in our next interview, and a list of questions to avoid, the usual. I begin to make a mental list of food I need to buy when everyone stands up around me, breaking my thoughts. I stand up and walk over to Louis, who's waiting for me by the door. My hand slides down the inside of his arm in an attempt to comfort him and he smiles again before I remove my hand and we begin walking down the hall, Niall and Liam ahead of us.

"That meeting dragged on, right?" I asked quietly, trying to make light conversation.

"Yeah.. it really did." He responds with a small voice.

"Look it's going to be okay, I swear it." I promise him, I can't stand to see him like this and I know everyone else has picked up on it too — he's usually the most vocal.

"I know it is, and I'm glad I have you to help me through it." He says, with sincere eyes and I smile and take his hand in mine. He hesitates momentarily before returning the gesture and threading his fingers through mine.

————

I walk inside and sigh with relief and the scent of home hits me. I love our home, it's simple and I think that's what we both appreciate about it so much. The floors are wooden and the walls are white, it has two bedrooms and two bathrooms. The kitchen is my favourite part. Our black stone bench tops and sleek black splash backs contrast nicely against the white tiles on the walls.

"Thank god today is over." Louis says and takes a seat on the couch in our living room. The drive home was long as usual since we live so far from everything.

"I wanna go visit her..." he quietly says, breaking me from my thoughts.

"I know you do, and we will, we just have to find some time." I say back with an equally timid tone.

"I shouldn't have to 'find time' Harry, she's my Mum I should just be there with her." Louis had just found out that his mother was diagnosed with leukaemia, chronic lymphocytic leukaemia to be exact. By recently I mean yesterday, over a phone call with his sister, Lottie.

"Come here..." I say and open my arms, he slides over to me and places his head on my chest as my arms wrap around his frame. "I'm so sorry that I don't know what to say.. I wish I could take your pain away."

"Don't be sorry, if I didn't have you I don't know what I'd do. You're the only thing keeping me sane." He whispers and I look down expecting a smile but am met with a blank face. He's always telling me these things, making me feel loved and safe. I need to find a way to get him home... the timing is so shit with our fifth and final album just being released. Final? Is it our last album? The thought of that saddens me and I have to change my thoughts. My focus is dragged back to my small boy when I hear a small sniffle... please no. I lift his face to be level with mine and he can't meet my eyes. Tears are flowing down his face faster than I'm sure he'd like them to and I don't tell him to stop. He needs to let this out. I pull his head into my neck and comfort him while he shakes in my arms. My heart is breaking to see him this way.

I've never had to deal with anything like this. I've never had to watch someone I love be so sad and broken. I was texting Lottie before, she said Johannah is looking well and is positive. I think if Louis was to see her he could start to feel slightly better. He needs to see that's she is okay for now, and that she doesn't plan on leaving him anytime soon. Just as I don't.

"Come on." I say and move him off me after 15 minutes of quiet besides the odd sniffle. He is calmer now, I'd like to think because of me.

"Where are we going?" He asks with a hoarse voice which sends a sharp pain to my chest. I stand up and grab his hands, pulling him up with me. I place my hands on either side of his face and wipe away the remainder of his breakdown from his cheeks.

"We're going to look up flights to Donny." I say and take his hand as I begin to walk to the desk where my laptop sits.

"What?" He says. "Harry, we can't."

"We can and we will." I respond with force, trying not to sound rude but hoping he understands that I'm not messing around. I think it will do both of us good to get out of the city for a while. We leave for LA in two weeks and I know he needs this if he's going to make it through that trip.

"Let's get you home." I smile and pull him to sit on my lap, kissing him softly on the cheek as my laptop lights up ready for me to make my boy happy again.

•••••

(Ok I know this is shit but I'm so up in my Larry feels lately I had to write. I promise chapters will get longer and it will get better. Stick with me.)