Connected Lives (a Les Twins FanFiction)

Chapter 34

(song may go longer than the chapter)

Dark had descended by the time Larry stepped onto the metro. The moment he saw Aurelie's shining face and heard her joyfully calling out "Papa! Papa!" as she ran toward him, he knew there was nothing more important to do right then. He had sent a one line text to Laurent -

I'll be late

then gave all his attention to his daughter. He had kept her while Sabine was gone, tucked her in, read her a story, sang her a song. Even after her eyes had closed her tiny, soft hand had laid on his, her fingers randomly squeezing his as she slept. He didn't know how long he sat by her bedside, staring at her, stroking a finger down her little nose or feeling the cloud of hair on her head. However long it was, it would never be long enough. He had left the apartment quickly and silently, sparing only a moment to gather his things and wrap his arms around Sabine. Then he left. And he didn't look back.

Larry braced as the metro accelerated, his arm wrapped around the grab pole, face shadowed by the brim of the black snapback pulled low over his eyes. When the train's motion stabilized he lifted a hand to his face and roughly brushed at his wet lashes. Lauryn Hill's "Lost Ones" poured into his ears, almost painfully loud. His body moved to the music without conscious thought. Like breathing, he danced, sometimes thoughtfully but he didn't have to think about it, his body just did it. He didn't know if he would die if he couldn't dance, but he knew that sometimes he needed it more than air. His phone vibrated for the hundredth time so he finally reached for it, resigning himself to seeing who had blown up his phone the most. The screen lit up with the swipe of his thumb.

Lau. Lau. Lau. Lau. Arnaud. Lau. Lau. Thea. Lau. Thea. Lau. Lau. Lau. Arnaud. Thea. Sarah (that was a surprise). Thea.

Larry stumbled a bit, caught off guard when the train slowed for the stop ahead. He barked an unamused "Ha!" and lifted his head enough to take a quick look around. At the same time he called out to his brother to let him know everything was fine.

Motherfucker, what you blowing up my phone for? You forget how to talk?

OMG Larry! Are you okay?

Laurent's worry, mingled with a touch of anger, came through loud and clear. It made Larry's skin tingle and chest constrict. His right hand drifted across his chest and massaged the muscle over his heart.

Damn Lau. Of course I'm okay. You could have asked earlier, not all the texting and shit.

I couldn't.

Oh. That's weird. Yeah, so I was with Aurelie. Just...I wanted a little more time, you know?

You okay? You're coming back now right?

Yeah, on the metro now.

Okay, we'll talk when you...

Shit.

What??

Larry's groaning thought interrupted his brother. All Lau was getting were waves of dread and an almost panicked need to escape. His concern grew the longer his twin took to respond.

Larry, seriously, what the hell?

Someone recognized me, she's walking over, phone ready. God I am so done with this shit.

Slap a fucking smile on your face. Where are you?

Just left Iéna.

Switch at Roosevelt, I'll have Arnaud get you at CE Clemenceau.

K.

And smile.

Somehow Larry survived the gushing and selfies, even managing a half smile that he thought worked as cocky rather than "I-want-the-fuck-out-of-here." No doubt he would find out later when the picture made it onto IG and was regranned a million times. Lau was so much better with all of this. This encounter had been extra fun since the fan was a professed "Lau girl" and had fished for details about his absence. Not that she didn't love Larry so much though. Of course. He wasn't offended, but the subsequent speculation that would circulate about why he and Laurent were not together was another story. Lau could laugh it all off, but Larry just couldn't and he ended up mildly pissed off every time. Some know-nothing-know-it-all would figure out that the line he was on connected to one near where they suspected Sabine - and therefore Aurelie - lived and would suggest that Larry, the doting father, was certainly spending time with his little girl. They would include a cautionary note to the fandom that should they ever catch him out with Aurelie to leave them alone, obviously he worked hard to protect her or there more photos of them out together.

Larry groaned and slumped in the seat a little. Arnaud's sad eyes flitted to the rearview mirror taking a quick assessment of the condition of his passenger. "I'm pleased that you spent the time with Aurelie Mister Larry...I do wish you would have called me to come get you though." His tone was concerned rather than condescending.

Larry gave a short, hard laugh, "Yeah, me too." He let his eyes slide closed.

"I'll call Mister Laurent, let him know we're on our way..."

"Nah, I already told him," came the quiet reply.

Arnaud looked back, Larry was already drifting into a half sleep. He glanced at the seat next to him where Larry's phone lay, quiet and screen dark, it's battery depleted. Remarkable. Every time.