optional // l.s.

twenty eight (*)

you read it correctly.

small trigger warning of thoughts of self harm.

---

louis puts his phone down and his head in his hands. he let out a loud groan before collapsing his arms onto the table, laying his head on them. stewart sensed his agitation and sat at his feet, patting his paw on louis' knee.

"hi, buddy," louis says softly and scoops him up, setting the big pup on his lap. "where's daddy, hm? is he in our room?"

"he's right here," harry snakes his arms around louis' shoulders and kisses the top of his head. "what's wrong, baby? heard you fussing."

louis sighs and pets his dog's head, scratching between his ears. "dad called me, he said he'll be getting out soon. like, a month or so, soon."

"oh," harry fish-mouthed.

"yeah..."

harry gives him a gentle squeeze. "'s okay, love. you're an adult now and you don't have to be around him if you don't want to."

louis nods and sighs. "i know, haz."

stewie rubbed his paw on louis' leg and harry backed up so that the boy could stand. louis picked his puppy up and held him close, rubbing his fur.

"it's gonna be okay, right, buddy?" harry cooed and nuzzled his nose close to his own. "tell lou, 's gonna be alright!"

louis chuckled and held his arms out. "take your son."

"i think he wants you, babe," harry pushes his arms back and kisses his cheek. "i'll be up in the bedroom if you need me."

---

louis hasn't been the same louis that harry knew.

harry knew him as this bright eyed, high spirited boy that he fell in love with. yes, he has had his troubles and heartache, but louis was really a positive light that should never have been blocked out. lately, the boy was in a pit of sadness and harry couldn't figure out what to do.

"love?" harry knocked on the bathroom door. "louis, babe, please come out."

"i don't wanna," came louis' reply and he flinched when the doorknob was gently jiggled. "just give me a few morw minutes, haz. i'll be out in a second."

harry lets out a defeated sigh and slides down to where he's also sitting on the floor, blocked from louis by a measly piece of wood. "are you okay?"

louis sniffled and shook his head. "yeah, i think so."

"can you tell me what's wrong?" harry pleaded.

harry could tell louis was crying by the way he kept having to catch his breath. the sniffles and louis' little coughs, harry knew something was up.

"baby, please open the door," harry begs.

"harry, i'm okay."

"you aren't doing anything you shouldn't be doing, are you?"

louis gulped and stared at the cabinets before him.

"lou, open the door now," harry says and his tone meant it. louis whimpered and put his head in his hands, burying his face in the soft sleeves of harry's sweater.

moments later, a lock was being turned and harry knelt beside louis to check his arms. he pulled his sleeves up, letting out a small sigh of relief when they weren't covered in little cuts and pulled louis' shorts down, checking his thighs. he did a full body examination just to make sure louis didn't relapse and he sits beside the boy, tugging on his sweater.