(no subject)
Title: Comfort (Part B)
Pairing: Harry/Louis (Larry Stylinson)
Summary: Prompted by an Anon on Tumblr; everyone knew that Harry, knew that he was afraid of hail storms. Nobody really knew why, maybe it was because with each pebble that hit the window, the lightning would illuminate the room, causing it’s shadow to creep along the floor, maybe not. All they knew was that when it happened, the youngest boy needed comfort.
Important AN: This can be classed as a prequel/tag-along to Reality, however it can also be classed as a stand alone. I have added something in this that doesn’t feature in ‘Reality’, and so if you class the two together, please ignore the reasoning behind his fear that Harry eventually gives.
The older boy stayed quiet, not wanting to push Harry further than he was willing to go at that minute. After a few more seconds of silence, he continued.
“Mum hid it from us… I was only a kid. Gemma remembers it more, probably why she’s managed to get over it. She was always stronger than I was.”
He let out a shaky sigh, Louis ran a hand through his hair comfortingly. He knew that always helped to calm Harry down.
“I-I never really spent time with my dad, you know… he was always at work, and mum made me go to bed before he got home. I didn’t understand it at the time, but….” he cleared his throat, arms tightening around Louis a little more.
“But I was with Gem in the living room that night. He came home early, angry about something. I remember…” he bit his lip, and Louis’ felt the movement against his skin. He squeezed Harry in the hug a little, trying to sooth the trembling that had started back up again. It worked, and after a few minutes, Harry continued again.
“I remember mum was in the kitchen. He followed her in, and she told us to go upstairs. She shut the door, but she had forgotten that the lock was broken. It was left ajar, a-and we heard sh-shouting.”
The younger boy’s voice broke during his sentence, and it made Louis’ heart clench to listen to how utterly fragile his friend sounded.
“I wanted to stop them from fighting. I didn’t like it, Gemma was trying to get me to go upstairs but I… I didn’t listen. I opened the door just as he h-hit her. He hit my mum, Lou. My mum.”
Louis felt wetness against his neck and knew that Harry was crying as he relived the memory. He felt his own eyes prickling with un-shed tears as he listened, but he knew that he couldn’t break down, too. He had to be strong for Harry through this.
“I shouted at him. I said… I shouted ‘Stop it! Stop it, you’re hurting her.’ and he turned to face me. The look in his eyes… it was like he wasn’t my dad any more, he was someone different and I didn’t like it. I-I said ‘What kind of a man hits his wife? It’s not nice.’
My mum didn’t move. She was leaning against the counter with her hand over her cheek, staring at us. Dad wasn’t moving either. Until… I don’t know when it happened, but he hit me, too. That was all it took for mum to push him out the way. She went mad. Absolutely mental, Louis. Of course, he didn’t like that very much, either. He th-threatened her. Told her that me and Gemma better be in bed by the time he got back, and that they were going to talk.
When he left… we were all frozen for a few minutes. Mum knew that he’d probably be at the pub for about an hour, and after he hit me, she swore it wouldn’t happen again. She packed our bags in about twenty minutes, and by the time he got back we were long gone.
I’d been watching movies with Gemma that night, too.”
And then suddenly, it all clicked into place. Why Harry never spoke about his dad, why he didn’t tolerate violence in any sort of way, why he was scared of hail storms, and why tonight had been even worse.
The movies… the storm….
“Oh God, Harry…” He whispered, voice breaking as the tears he had been trying to hold back since the story started began to fall.
“I’m sorry, I’m so, so sorry that had to happen to you. I’m sorry…” he continued to whisper apologies profusely into his ear as they both silently cried.
It was heartbreaking.
All Louis could think about was that Harry had been hurt. Anne had been hurt, and god knows what would have happened to him and Gemma if they hadn’t gotten out when they had.
“It’s not your fault, Lou… you shouldn’t have to apologise for something that twat did.” Harry mumbled pulling back so he could look at his friend.
“And you shouldn’t have to feel bad about a fear that isn’t irrational in any sort of way. That’s not your fault, Harry. None of it is… you’re strong to have kept this to yourself for so long.”
“Robin was a big help.” Harry smiled softly. “He helped us to realise that not all guys are total pricks. And now the way he is with mum… it’s nice. To see her her happy, and so in love after everything… it makes me feel a bit stupid sometimes because they’ve both moved on, and I’m still stuck like a baby getting scared over something as stupid as a storm.”
“It’s not stupid, Harry.” Louis repeated, staring intently into his eyes. “It’s just human nature… Okay?”
It took a minute before Harry nodded stiffly.
“Okay.”
The Doncaster boy smiled at him, leaning forwards to kiss his forehead gently.
“Thank you, Lou.” Harry said quietly.
Louis shifted a little, so that he was laying along the sofa, before pulling Harry gently down with him. The younger boy laid his head on Louis’ chest, closing his eyes in contentment as he tried to drown out the soft ‘clacking’ noises against the windows.
“I love you, Harry.” he said sincerely, and even though he couldn’t see the younger boys face, he could tell that he was smiling.
“I love you too, Boobear.” he replied quietly.
They drifted off to sleep some time later, still wrapped up together.
Outside, the hail calmed and ceased its falling. By morning, the rain had washed it all away