Two Degrees of Separation

Chapter 24: Worth It

Author's Note: Just some worried Harry for you, again!  Side Note: I now have "Worth It" by Superfruit stuck in my head, due only to the title of this chapter.

Chapter 24: Worth it

Harry and Scott had postponed their next three shows. Scott's reasoning was medical necessity. Harry's was simple: worry.

The fact that he got to spend some extra time with Scott as he recovered was certainly helping Harry to cope with the stress he was currently under.

Much to Scott's dismay, however, the news regarding why the shows were postponed broke on TMZ yesterday.

Harry looked down at his boyfriend, who was asleep on his back, wincing in his sleep every few minutes. Harry opened Instagram with a sigh. He opened up his notes app on his phone and began typing.

What happened at my show in Atlanta on Tuesday was entirely unforgivable. To think that there are people in this world who can call themselves my fans, and yet turn around and so savagely hurt someone who means so much to me is extremely unsettling. I've never been so ashamed. Please, lift each other up. Be the best versions of yourselves. And please, PLEASE show respect for me and for @ScottHoying.

Harry read it once, took a snapshot, and posted it to his account. He watched as comments of support flooded his feed.

I hope Scott is okay!

We're sorry your fans disappointed you Harry!

I love you 2 together.

Harry smiled to himself, continuing to scroll through the loving comments. His brow furrowed when he found a few that weren't so supportive.

Ugh. @ScottHoying is not nearly hot enough for @HarryStyles.

Harry deserves better than @ScottAnnoying

Thanks to the guys who beat the shit out of @ScottHoying. Next time call me to help!

Harry could feel his blood boiling. They were few and far between, but they were the only ones Harry found himself looking at. He could feel his skin becoming hot as he mentally urged himself not to hastily reply.

"Penny for your thoughts?" Scott's voice grumbled next to him. Harry looked down into Scott's clear blue eyes, trying to ignore the bruises surrounding them.

"People suck."

"That, they do. But most people don't, so there's that," Scott muttered as he attempted to sit up. He groaned, clearly giving up after a moment.

Harry reached out to assist, but paused when there was an obnoxious knock on the hotel room door. He walked quickly to answer, looking through the peephole first. He laughed when he saw who was on the other side.

"What the hell are you doing here?" Harry asked, unable to contain his smile upon seeing his best friends. They each wrapped him in a quick hug before Louis rushed past him.

"Enough of that, where's the patient?" Louis called out, but stopped short when he laid his eyes on the bruised form on the bed. "Oh, God, you poor thing."

"Why? What's wrong with me?" Scott asked sarcastically, grabbing his side as he shifted into a seated position.

Liam approached him first, reaching out to hug him as lightly as possible.

"Our fans are absolutely mental sometimes, Scott. I'm so sorry you had to find out that way," Niall said.

"Yeah, evidently. They're a bit different than ours, that's for sure."

"So what are you guys gonna do about the twitter war?" Liam asked, his eyes darting between Harry and Scott.

Scott found Harry's gaze, and they silently articulated a "what the fuck" kind of moment.

"You didn't know...?" Niall started. "#HoyingVsStyles is trending."

Scott leaned forward to place his face in his hands, exasperatedly.

"What are they saying?" Harry asked as he opened twitter.

"Basically, it's all of our fans and Scott's fans going at it. They've all come to the conclusion that one of you doesn't deserve the other, but the disagreement lies in terms of who doesn't deserve whom." Louis added, rubbing his chin.

"Great." Harry replied, typing out a tweet.

"What are you doing?" Scott asked, standing up, slowly. He flinched, and Liam was by his side, as though ready to catch him, immediately.

"Telling my fans to knock it off before I lose my damn mind." Harry responded, robotically as he focused on writing his message. He looked up in confusion as Scott's bruised knuckles came into view as he placed his hand over the phone, grabbing it, gently.

"Don't. Calling attention to it will only make it worse. We should just... be quiet about it." Scott said, sounding slightly disappointed.

"I'm not hiding you," Harry said, his voice containing an edge to it that made Niall reach out to place a reassuring hand on his shoulder.

"You don't have to hide him, Harry, but Scott's right. If you join the fight, you're condoning it more than you are condemning it," Liam said.

The boys remained with them for an hour or two, before slipping out quietly after Scott had dozed off for the fourth time. They only left after Harry had agreed not to get involved in the Twitter fiasco.

That didn't stop him from reading tweets, however.

@ScottHoying is better than @HarryStyles will ever be. It's not #1Direction, it's #1Delusion

Harry laughed to himself at the hashtags. He didn't mind when they were targeting him.

Scott should have died that night. Do us all a favor and finish the job yourself @ScottHoying

Scott awoke with a start when Harry's phone collided with the wall. Harry buried his face in his knees, grabbing and tugging at his hair in frustration.

How dare they tell him to die.

Scott placed a hand on Harry's back, tracing circles there, soothingly.

"I can't stay quiet."

"Yes, you can."

"I can't. I can't have them talking about hurting you."

Scott's hand stilled where it lay on Harry's back. Scott shifted into a seated position, hissing as he tweaked his side a bit too much.

"Can I ask you something without you getting mad?" Scott asked, tiredly.

"I'll do my best, but I can't make you any promises," Harry stated, truthfully.

"Should we just call it?" Scott asked. Harry could have sworn his heart had stopped beating.

"What do you mean?"

"Is this worth it for you? Is it worth being so upset?" Scott pondered, and Harry was overwhelmed by the tone of genuine concern for him in the moment.

"Worth it for me? You had the shit kicked out of you. Is it worth it for you?"

"Yes, but I understand if you don't feel the same."

Harry gaped at his boyfriend. He hated every little thing about this conversation. He grabbed both of Scott's slightly damaged hands, lightly.

"You are worth everything. I love you. A bunch of idiots isn't going to change that."

"Good," Scott smiled, softly, the relief evident in his eyes. Harry leaned in, placing a soft kiss on his cheek.

"I have a question, though..." Harry asked, biting his lip.

"Okay..."

"If you lay on your back, like... really still... can I ride your dick?"

Scott cackled with laughter. Harry loved that sound. "We can certainly give that a try."