Impulse

Chapter Twnety- one

All I know at the end of the day is you love love. There ain't no other way

.*NARRATOR'S POV* 

"Duckling?" Liam stood up from the hotel room floor as soon as he heard the click of an electroniclock.

 Niall looks bummed out and exhausted, having just come back from Styles manor with theconclusion that he's a worse friend than Harry and Edward Styles. The blasphemy wasuncouth and it made him feel inadequate, drowning in self-pity. 

"Love, I'm so sorry." Liam takes the jacket over Niall's shoulder and the car keys, tossing themaway so he can cradle the boy's face in both his hands. "I shouldn't have thrown something like thaton you." 

Starting to shake his head, Niall realises that such a movement would be futile due to the strength ofthe man standing taller than him at the moment. He braces his own hands over Liam's and smilestiredly. 

"It's fine. I'm fine." He insists, authentically drained more for the reason of his own stupidity thanhow idiotic he let Edward make him feel. 

"What happened?" Liam pulls Niall into his arms, placing his chin on the darkening blond tint ofhair. "Where did you go, Ni?" 

"To see Lou." Comes Niall's muffled response against Liam's chest. "I fucked up, Liam." 

"What? How, Duckling?" He leads Niall towards the nearest bed that was one of two, sitting downand pulling Niall onto his lap.Niall doesn't seem fit to talk about it with Liam. Nobody wants to bring themselves down in theeyes of someone else by speaking a blunt truth. 

What would Liam think of him if he learned thatLouis had a panic attack but only Edward Styles could pacify him? 

"Not now then." Liam brushes aside some of Niall's nasty knots out with his fingers. He kissesNiall's nose. "Later, okay?"

 "No." Niall whines and hides from the dull sunlight. "Never." 

Liam chuckles to himself, knowing that he'd get it out of Niall sooner or later. The blond lad wasterrible at containing himself, whilst Louis could go on hiding the truth forever.

* * * * *

Louis had been forced into isolation so he could think about everything that was going on his head.Edward had a difficult time admitting it when his petal only complained that there was too much, itwas too loud and too scary in his own head. 

"No, Edward. I don't want to be alone." Louis was taken to the guest room in Edward's armsbecause he didn't want to walk. 

"You must, petal." Edward stood at the bed but Louis didn't climb off him. "You refuse to talk aboutit and I can only help with this."Louis found himself dropped onto the bouncy mattress, the micro-fibres fitting around his weight.He was overwhelmed and maybe time alone would help but it could also do more damage, so hescrambled off the bed when Edward started to leave. 

"Don't." Edward's voice boomed through his eardrums and Louis froze, looking distraught.

 "Stay with me." His voice shook. He even reached out slowly, the loss of energy causing his hand toshiver. "Pl-Please." 

Edward stepped closer and gave Louis hope, emerald green turning shaky blue into ash. He slappedLouis' hand away and when the boy choked on something as dreadful as a sob, Edward grabbedboth sides of his face. 

"Hush." He pressed his lips fervently to Louis' forehead, their height difference making it easy.Louis' hands, smaller and weaker, gripped Edward's shirt with all the begging and pleas showingthrough the act. His desperation made his back arch when Edward grazed over it with hiscomforting hand. He felt safer here, warmer and less like an explosive. Being this reassured byEdward's presence, Louis allowed himself to be calm.