Worth Fighting For

Chapter Six

A/N - IMPORTANT

I'm going camping until Monday and barely managed to slip in this chapter right before we leave in like 30 minutes so I won't be posting again until Monday at the earliest.

The door to the living room opens, showing a wrecked Louis, face tear streaked and eyes red. Liam's on his feet instantly, walking to catch Louis as he runs toward the curly-haired boy. Harry's calmed down a bit, cuddled into Zayn. They managed to get a bit more of the story from him, enough to know Louis should not be around him right now.

"Harry-" Louis starts, his voice raw and broken. Harry tenses in Zayn's arms at Louis' voice.

"No, Louis," Liam says. "We need to talk."

"No, Liam, please-"

"Li, get him out of here," Zayn orders, holding Harry tighter as the boy shakes.

"Please, I just-" but Liam is forcing Louis outside, practically picking the smaller boy up and carrying him. The second he sets him down, Louis bolts for the room, but Liam tackles him to the carpeted floor, pinning his wrists to the ground. Louis thrashes against his hold, frustrated tears flowing down his face. "Please, Liam, he's going to be back soon, I need to- I need to explain please!"

"Then explain to me first, Tommo. Cause Harry's an absolute wreck, and it's your fault." Louis isn't the only one who cares about Harry. All the boys are ferociously protective over the youngest member. And right now, Louis is the cause of his pain.

"Liam please," Louis begs, still squirming.

"Tell me first, Louis." Louis feels like screaming, but instead he grits his teeth and looks up at Liam, forcibly calming himself.

"Let me up and I'll explain everything, I promise," Louis promises. Liam sits up with a sigh before moving to his feet, offering Louis a hand and hauling him to his feet. "It was Simon, Liam. Harry- Harry was right. He was right about everything. Simon- he made me do it. He said he'd kick me out of the band, that he'd ruin Harry's career or- or worse. If it was just me I wouldn't- but god he threatened Harry, Liam." Louis is on the verge of tears again.

"H-he was trying to force a beard on him. Eleanor, that's the beard. He wanted Harry to have a beard, Liam. And I- I couldn't let that happen, I couldn't let that happen Payno. So I offered to take the beard. Then he told me I had to end it with Harry. God I had to beg him to let me do it in person. And now he's gone, but I don't know how long and please Liam I need to talk to him, I need to apologize." He's pleading with Liam now, desperate to get to Harry. Liam's expression is unreadable and Louis is this close to breaking down again.

"Ok," Liam agrees. "Let me go check with Harry."

"Thank you, Payno. Just- just tell him I'm sorry. That I want to explain. Please." Liam starts to leave, but Louis catches his wrist. "Liam, uh, could you- could you not tell the boys about Simon threatening Haz? I- Harry can't find out." He doesn't need to explain why. Liam nods and walks back inside, leaving Louis alone with his thoughts.

"Hey, Haz," Liam says softly as he kneels beside the boy. "Mate, I think you should hear him out." Incredulous exclamations come from the two other boys, but Liam ignores them. Harry looks at Liam nervously, chewing on his lower lip. He doesn't want to see Louis, doesn't want to hear his explanations. But Liam thinks he should. And Liam wouldn't let anything happen to Harry, he knows that. So, with a deep, shaking breath, Harry nods. Liam squeezes his knee and walks over to the door, calling in Louis. Louis walks in, looking almost worse than Harry. But he's still the most beautiful boy Harry has ever seen. Zayn's grip tightens on Harry's waist as Louis comes to kneel in front of Harry. His gaze flicks to the other boys.