the light's on but nobody's home || l.s

iv

harry

harry sits alone in the hollow, empty music room as he ponders about what song to play on the piano.

after a few minutes of silence, the only audible sound his breathing, he takes a deep breath and presses on the first keys.

i'm in my bed
and you're not here
and there's no one to blame but the drink and my wandering hands

as he sings, he's lost in his own world, his defensive walls breaking down, leaving just him and his vulnerability. in this moment in time he's defenceless and there's no one that can stop the tears from trickling down his face. there's no one who can help him, no one who can pick up his broken pieces and stitch them back together.

it's in this moment that he's powerless, helpless. and there's no one who can hear his pitiful implores.

•••

louis

louis hastens his pace as he sees that the minute hand of the clock is nearing the digits 12. he not only wants to see harry, but he needs to see him. there's a strange force pulling him, telling him that he has to see him again no matter what.

the beautiful yet tragic symphony of piano keys makes him come to an abrupt halt. there he stands in front of the door of the music room, listening intently as a familiar low melodic voice sings the words to a song he's never heard of. he hesitates at first, but soon enough he quietly opens the door, making the least sounds as possible and what he sees before him makes his mouth open agape.

a hunched over man sits there while flawlessly playing the piano. his back is faced to louis but he knows who that is. it's harry. of course it's harry.

forget what i said
it's not what i meant
and i can't take it back
i can't unpack the baggage you left

louis stands there in awe, too engrossed in this astonishingly melancholic performance. he's almost sure that he hears the man sob and sniffle a few times. is he crying?

what am i now?
what am i now?
what if i'm someone i don't want around?
i'm falling again
i'm falling again
i'm falling

as harry belts his heart out, louis could feel tears pricking in his eyes, threatening to fall. but he holds back. is harry alright? why is he crying?

louis wants to talk to him, he wants to tell him that it's okay and it's going to be alright. he wants to reach out to him and be the shoulder that harry cries on. he wants to be the one to wipe his tears from his delicate face. he wants to kiss the pain away...

but he knows he can't. harry would never accept a mere idiot like louis. he wants to do something but he can't.

so he just stands there, watching with reverence, the man's solo performance of pure vulnerability.

•••

harry

harry keeps on playing until he presses the final key, the baritone ding lulling for a second or two until the room falls completely silent. he sighs and regains his composure, hoping that no one had heard him play.

but someone did hear him play. someone watched his pitiful performance.

and that someone happens to be the person who can't get out of his head, no matter how hard he tries.

he turns around to see the ocean eyed boy, standing there like a mannequin. his breath stops for a moment as he registers that louis had been watching him. he can see that louis swallowed a thick gulp, fear evident in his eyes.

he wants to kiss him right there and then, but he knows better than to do so. he knows that even after all the effort he puts into loving someone, he'll still end up broken and lonely.

so he does his best to push him away from his life.

"how long have you been standing there?" harry questions, eyebrows knitted. he tries his best to look intimidating despite his performance earlier.

"n- not long... i was actually going to pick something up, but then i heard you play and i just couldn't help but–" louis stops talking as harry walks over and harshly brushes past him, walking out and slamming the door shut, leaving a perplexed louis behind.