Burning Skies » larry

Chapter 18

Harry realized that after recent events, his life wasn't exactly going to go back to normal despite how much he wanted it to.

Even though they tackled the problem with Harry's attention-grabbing aura, it didn't change the fact that Reid's men knew exactly where to find him anyway. They had most probably already followed him to the Coffee Nook, to Abbington, and to his flat. They knew all they needed to make sure Harry didn't escape their sight again.

Harry wasn't keen on the idea of dropping everything and hiding away in some hidden location, obviously, though that seemed to be one of the solutions that could help right now. But Harry didn't want to run from Reid. The man had ruined Harry's life enough, so he wasn't going to let him shatter the new one Harry had built from scratch. He was going to stand his ground this time.

That didn't mean he was any less anxious or paranoid about what Reid's next move might be. Right now, all they could do was anticipate whatever might happen next and hope that they were prepared to face it.

Harry didn't stop going to Abbington, of course. He always had someone with him, mostly Louis, though occasionally Zayn took his place. Harry didn't like the feeling of being too babied or watched over, but Louis and Katrina wouldn't take no for an answer.

Also, Louis had taken it upon himself to claim the couch in their living room for the foreseeable future. He practically lived in Harry and Niall's flat now. Harry needed to get used to the sight of a sleep-rumpled Louis in his living room whenever he walked out of his room first thing in the morning.

Harry had also just recently discovered that his apartment building suddenly hired a new security guard—a woman named Angie who also happened to be a mutant. So there was that.

Louis tailed after their car whenever they drove to and from Abbington. Louis joined him at the Coffee Nook behind the counter more than before. Basically, Louis had become Harry's shadow or personal bodyguard or both and Harry was having a hard time processing his thoughts about how he truly felt about all this.

He appreciated everyone's concerns for him, really, especially after Louis had informed Katrina about Harry's true association with Reid and his gang. He appreciated how much they looked out for him, but he also couldn't help feeling like he didn't deserve it at all. He wasn't anyone special to be given this much time and attention to. He felt guilty that all he did was take and take and never give anything back in return.

Louis would always tell him "we protect our own" and that Harry was part of the family, meaning his personal problems were also theirs, but as much as he felt welcomed by the mutants at the shelter, the guilt still weighed him down.

If there was any upside to everything that had happened these past few weeks, it was his daily training sessions with Louis. For the past few days, they'd merely practiced in the flat, but after a particularly messy incident of a frozen ceiling, Louis figured that they should find some other place to train. The shelter was a good option, but the drive was too long for it to be worth it, so Louis promised to find them a place somewhere nearby.

They were currently driving to that place right now with the radio's turned up in the car. Harry was singing along to some rock song while Louis kept on giving him teasing looks. Harry paid him no mind and continued his head bang.

"How much coffee did you have today?" Louis asked, his voice laced with amusement.

"The usual amount." Harry replied, finger-combing his hair off his forehead as the song ended.

"Which is?"

"...four cups, I believe."

Louis choked on his laugh. "No fucking wonder."