Song: Medicine by Daughter

With too many thoughts raking Louis mind and no noise to drown them out in the silence of the room, Louis took it upon himself to do a spot of cleaning whilst Harry was gone.

Usually this was Harry's job. The boy seemed to like spending his free time dusting the surfaces, organising his bookshelf and picking up random articles of clothing that Louis often left on the floor after getting changed. So Louis let him. He saw it as a win win situation anyway, Harry liked to clean; he didn't.

Though now there was nothing to do, nothing to distract himself from his inner conflict, and their room was an absolute mess. He realised this once he stood up from his desk, leaving the newly fixed poster in his draw, and saw how careless he had been over the past few days.

The wardrobe was wide open, clothes falling from their hangers and dangling to the floor. The drawers weren't able to close as Louis would normally shove his jeans and t-shirts into the small space without the energy to fold them. Hoodies and joggers were dotted around the room, and their laundry basket was in need of a trip to the washing machine.

His bed was unmade, and he noticed the once white sheets were now stained in certain places from the many times he had spilt his tea whilst settling down to sleep. He could never got to bed without a cuppa, and of course it had to be Yorkshire, he wouldn't drink any other kind.

His desk was unorganised, snack wrappers laying atop of it along with assignment briefs from weeks ago. Pens and pencils were scattered over his laptop from the time he had knocked the small pot over, and books were laying on the floor around his chair.

Harry's side of the room wasn't nearly as bad, as expected, however their items from the photography assignment were still out in the open. The makeup from Harry's sister sat on his bed, his camera laid atop of his vintage record player, Louis' Halloween props were falling out of the bag they had came in and there were drops of fake blood staining their rug.

He didn't know where to even start, but he sighed and decided not only would it take his mind off things, but it needed to be done. Harry would appreciate it too, and perhaps he could get a little praise for it.

He knew Harry kept all the cleaning supplies in the bathroom and decided to gather those first, only his positive attitude certainly declined once he saw that their bedroom wasn't the only place that needed cleaning.

He groaned and stepped over to the sink where fake blood was spattered all over, the deep red contrasting with the crisp white of the porcelain. He noticed some spots lingered on the mirror too, and a few drops had slipped down the cabinets.

Should've listened to Harry. Fake blood was a terrible idea.

He put his hands on his hips and groaned, closing his eyes before wiping his hair away from his forehead. He had been doing that a lot lately, and it only just hit him that he needed a haircut.

He walked out the bathroom and back over to Harry's side of the room where he had seen the record player before. He carefully took the camera off it and set it aside before lifting up the dust cover, his finger tracing around the vinyl already inside. 'Fleetwood Mac, Rumours'

He remembered Harry talking about his love for Fleetwood Mac and decided to give it a try. He had heard some of their songs before, but he had never been bothered to really take it in. He set it to play and got to work.

He began with the bathroom, cleaning up the fake blood from the sink, cabinets and the mirror, huffing in annoyance when the blur on the glass wouldn't go away- though he got there in the end with viscous scrubbing and a tired arm. He threw away the remaining fake blood and tied the plastic bin bag, replacing it with a new one.

He finished off the bathroom with a sprits of fabreeze and a little organising of their toiletries. One cabinet for Harry's, strawberry shampoo, watermelon body wash, coconut conditioner and an expensive looking bottle of Tom fords Tobacco Vanille. The other for Louis', a basic two in one shampoo and conditioner from Kheil's, vanilla scented body wash, Louis Vuitton Sun songs cologne and a variety of skin care products he hardly uses anymore since attending the school.

An hour in he started on the bedroom, tired and lacking in motivation to finish the job. He started with the floor, picking up clothes and shoving them into the laundry basket which he would take down to the washing machine later. He grabbed another bin bag and collected any food wrappers or junk that he didn't need anymore, setting aside the things he didn't know if Harry would want to keep or not. He put the makeup items back in Gemmas makeup bag and left it on top of Harry's desk for him to take back to her and collected all the Halloween props.

He hummed along to the songs as he stripped both their beds and left the dirty sheets besides the laundry basket. Louis got confused for a moment, trying to remember where they kept their clean sheets, until he checked in the draws under their beds and found what he had been looking for. With much struggle, he made both their beds up and plumped their pillows, smiling with pride once he was done. He had never actually made a bed up before, usually it was done by the maids.

Finally, he tidied his desk and organised their book shelf, placed their clothes back on hangers and folded their items in the draws. He scrubbed the stains off the rug, and removed Harry's picture of his mother from the broken frame, making a mental note to buy a new one as he placed the photo delicately inside Harry's current read, a book titled 'My Policeman'.

The record had long stopped playing, and Louis shut it off, putting the vinyl back in its case just as Harry walked into the room. Louis turned around to see the boy holding two mugs in his hands as he shut the door carefully with his hip, not once taking his eyes off the cups of tea.

Harry finally looked up and his eyes widened at what he saw. The room was spotless, save for the bags of laundry and the bin bags waiting to go downstairs, and Louis stood by his record player holding what he knew was his Fleetwood Mac Vinyl. "Wow. It looks great in here" he said, handing Louis a cuppa. "Made us tea. You like Yorkshire right? One sugar?"

"Yeah. Thank you" Louis replied, taking the hot cup from Harry with a smile. "Um, sorry-" he gestured to the record player. "I can't work without music and I noticed you had vinyl, so-" he trailed off with a sheepish look.

Harry let out an amused huff and shook his head, looking around the room. "No worries. Use it whenever you'd like" he said, "But uh, are you feeling alright?"

Louis' eyebrows pinched together in confusion, "Yeh, why?"

"Well, you're cleaning" Harry said with a chuckle. "I mean I'm not complaining, and thank you for doing my side too. But, I thought you hated cleaning?"

"Oh, I do" Louis grinned, "I just needed something to distract myself- this seemed like the best option" he explained briefly, setting his cup of tea down on his bedside table.

Harry's lips turned down slightly, a look of concern washing over his face. "But you're okay, right? Like really, after earlier on"

"I'm just a bit confused, that's all" Louis shrugged, sitting down on the edge of his bed. "He um- he's never, like, hit me before. So I'm shocked, I guess"

Harry hummed and hesitated for a moment before sitting besides Louis, looking at him warily in case that wasn't okay. He relaxed once Louis didn't say anything. "I would be too" he said, and Louis lifted his head to look at him. "I just hope you understand that what happened back there isn't right, Louis. Your dad shouldn't hit you. Parents shouldn't hit their children, and I know you look up to him a lot, but you must know that this isn't normal"

"I know" Louis said with a sigh. "I know it's not normal, and- like, I'm not stupid. I know parents shouldn't hit their children. But it's kind of my fault, isn't it?" He said in an almost questioning tone. "I was talking back, I pushed him to do it. If- if I had just agreed with him, or not done any of that shit in the first place, I'm sure he wouldn't have hit me"

Harry shook his head with a sad look, "No, it's not your fault. Don't blame yourself for his shitty parenting" he said sternly, earning a glare from Louis. "Oh don't give me that look. Every single thing he said you did wrong earlier on were the exact things teenagers should be doing" he looked at him sternly, "Making friends, being kind and generous. Buying things for people isn't a bad thing Louis, people appreciate it and I don't know about you but I feel good about myself when I give back to others. Don't even get me started on sharing a bed with another boy. It's completely normal, it's not wrong and you shouldn't be ashamed of it. It's not like you fucked me for gods sake"

Louis coughed at the last sentence and a blush spread across his cheeks, adverting his eyes to the floor. "Of course I didn't"

"Exactly. We shared a bed because we had to and we went to sleep- that's it. That is not a reason for your dad to slap you" Harry said, trying to look Louis in the eyes but the boy wouldn't lift his head. "Do you see where I'm coming from? It's not your fault Louis. It's not. And I don't want this to ruin how good you've been lately"

"What?" Louis asked, finally meeting his eyes.

"I don't know- recently you've just been, different? You're more relaxed, open. You don't get annoyed at me as much for stupid things anymore and you don't seem as afraid to let your guard down a little. Hell, you've even been nice on your own accord, this room is a prime example of that" Harry explained, gesturing around the room. "I just don't want what happened with your father to set you back again. I know you don't consider me a friend, but even if it has nothing to do with me I want what's best for you. You've had a rough past just like I have and I've chosen to move past it, you seem to be on the verge of doing the same" 

Louis was stunned by what Harry had said. It was the most selfless and caring thing anyone had ever said to him since his mother passed, and he wasn't sure how to react.

This wasn't about Harry wanting to be friends, this was him pushing for Louis to do better for himself. He wanted Louis to find himself again, to be his own person and make his own choices so that he could finally be happy and move on from his past. Harry wanted this for him whether or not Louis accepted their friendship, whether or not Louis continued to treat him like shit. He wanted Louis to be content even if he wasn't in the picture.

"I don't know what to say" Louis replied quietly, staring at Harry in disbelief.

"You don't need to say anything, I just wanted you to know" Harry said with a small smile, turning to look at his hands.

They sat in silence for a moment before Louis remembered what he was meaning to give back to Harry, and he almost felt embarrassed as he stood up to retrieve it. "I um, I hope you don't mind, but I had to go in your draws to find this" he said as he made his way back over to harry, the paper still folded in his grasp. "When you told me about your parents yesterday, and Evie, I remembered something I'd done a while ago and I wanted to fix it" his fingers trembled as he unfolded the poster, he couldn't bring himself to see Harry's reaction. "I mean, I'm obviously not the best at like- crafts? And stuff, but I tried my best" he handed it over to Harry carefully, "If um, if that won't do then I could try get a new one, but, I don't know. I just felt like I should at least try. And, I'm really sorry for ripping it in the first place. I didn't know at the time but today i just figured that-"

"I love it" Harry cut him off, looking down at the poster with a wide smile on his face and glassy eyes. "I love it so much, thank you. You didn't need to do this" he looked over at Louis who was watching him nervously. "It um, it's one of the few things I have left of my mother. She got me it. So, thank you"

"Oh. Uh, good. That's great. Like I said it's not-"

"Louis. Shut up, it's perfect" Harry laughed and surprised Louis with a one armed hug that almost sent him toppling to the side with the force of it. Harry let go immediately after realising what he was doing, and he felt his cheeks heat up in embarrassment. "Shit. I'm sorry- I'm just really happy and I tend to go all soft at stuff like this" he apologised, standing from the bed to retrieve some blue tac from his desk.

Louis scratched his arm with a deep blush of his own, pulling his knees up to sit cross legged on the bed as he watched Harry put the poster back up above his bed. "It's um, it's fine" He replied.

Harry looked over his shoulder at him and gave one of his winning smiles before re-focusing on his poster. "Oh! Guess what my sister told me" he suddenly said, jumping back down from the bed giddily. He practically skipped back over to Louis' bed and took a seat once again.

Louis quirked his brow and smiled in amusement. "Oh do tell Harold"

Harry frowned for a second, "Out of all the nicknames you chose that one? Really Lewis?" He said cheekily, his frown replaced by a smirk.

"Never call me that again. Ever" Louis warned with a sarcastic glare. "Anyway, what incredibly interesting thing did your sister tell you then?" He asked, leaning his head back.

"Right, so. You know it's Halloween soon" Harry began, and Louis nodded. "Well, apparently the school is organising a Halloween party seeming as we don't leave for home until mid December. We all have to dress up too and there's a lot of other stuff Gems mentioned but I can't remember. I can't wait! It's gonna be so fun!" He said excitedly.

"Wow" Louis said, his brows raised.

"I know right!" Harry replied.

"No. Wow, I didn't know you could talk that fast" Louis corrected him with a mischievous glint in his eyes, holding back his laugh at the offended expression Harry pulled.

"Heyy. I can talk fast" Harry said with a pout.

"Course you can" Louis shook his head. "But yeh, sounds good. Now that I think about it, I don't think I've ever spent Halloween with anyone other than my sisters"

"Seriously?" Harry tilted his head in shock. "I used to always go out with my friends trick or treating, you know, before everything happened" he said with a slight frown. "After I moved I just spend it with my sister. We've been to a few Halloween parties, they were nothing special, but they were fun I guess" he paused and nudged Louis shoulder, "I would've expected you to be at huge Halloween parties with alcohol and banging music every year to be honest" he said with a wink.

Louis chuckled, "I've been to one or two my fathers colleagues held, but I hated them. I always got stuck babysitting my younger siblings anyway, so I couldn't really enjoy it properly"

"Ah. The joys of being the elder sibling" Harry joked. "Guess I got lucky being the younger one. Gemmas had to do everything on her own first, like going to this school and having all the responsibilities. I just learn everything from her"

"Don't you stay with anyone? Like, other relatives or something? You can't be living alone, surely" Louis asked, realising Harry hadn't mentioned it.

"Oh, um" Harry hesitated, fiddling with the duvet cover beneath him. "I don't have many relatives, so we stay with a close family friend my parents knew most their lives. They're more like our godparents really"

"Oh. Is it not awkward staying with them?" Louis asked. He couldn't even imagine having to live with a family friend, such as one of his fathers co-workers.

"A little at first I guess, but I've known them my whole life so it wasn't too bad. And now we're settled in- I mean it's been six years, so I'm comfortable with it" Harry explained with a shrug. "They're really kind too. They take good care of us and they're accepting, so it's good, yeh"

"How-" Louis stopped himself before he could ask the question that had been plaguing his mind. He didn't know how much Harry could take, and he didn't want to push the boy too far. But once he got an assuring nod from him, he finally brought himself to ask. "How did Gemma survive? You don't need to answer if you don't want to, I'm just curious"

"It's fine" Harry gave him a tight lipped smile. "She was staying with a friend, like I was, only I was the first to return home. So, in the morning when I found them she was the first person I called. Or, well I had the next door neighbours do it for me because I was so young at the time, I didn't know what to do so I just ran to their house. She was devastated when she heard the news, but she was fussing over me more than taking care of herself. It took her a while to get back on her feet- sometimes I feel guilty that she worried over me more than herself, she's not much older either"

Louis let out a pitiful sigh, looking at Harry with a sympathetic look. "God that must have been awful. I thought it was bad seeing my mum like- that. I can only imagine what you saw"

"It's different for everyone I suppose. Yes the way my parents died was gruesome, and I had to see them in a disgusting state. But that doesn't mean your situation was any less horrific than mine. You can't really compare it. It doesn't matter how they died, we both lost people dear to us" Harry replied wisely, and it was moment like these that reminded Louis of how intelligent Harry really was. Not just a academically, but morally.

"Yeah, I guess that's true" Louis agreed.

"I uh, I didn't really want to ask this but I've been wondering for ages- you know, because it was in the news and all, but they write bullshit half the time-" Harry began, stopping once he realised he was about to start rambling again. "How did your mother die?" He asked hesitantly, watching closely to gain Louis' reaction.

Surprisingly Louis didn't throw a tantrum, he didn't shout, or panic at the question like he would've a few weeks ago. He stayed calm. Sad, but calm. And Harry was thankful for that fact. He stayed quiet for a beat, as if pondering how to word it, or preparing to answer the tough question.

"I was ten too, same age as you were" He began with a shaky voice, "It's a little hard to remember, but my parents had been acting off a little while before she passed, and my father would shout at me and my siblings if we questioned anything" he paused with a gulp before continuing, and Harry placed a warm hand on his knee as if to comfort him.

"For a while my mum was kept in my parents bedroom, we weren't even allowed in to see her just to say goodnight or show her a drawing we had done- Father told us she was contagious or something. I don't know what with, but he said that was a good enough reason for us to stay away. So we did" Louis bit the inside of his lip and twiddled his fingers as he spoke, barely noticing the small squeezes from Harry's hand.

"One morning the maid woke me up and told me to go to my parents room, she said my father and my sisters were waiting for me" He continued, his eyes glazing over with unshed tears as he told the story for the first time. "I got so excited thinking I could go see mum again, I could finally talk to her about all the studying I had been doing and how I was going to make her proud- I never got to tell her" he stopped as his voice cracked and a sob threatened to escape his lips.

Don't Cry. Don't fucking cry.

"I ran inside, straight up to my mothers bed. I don't even know how I didn't register my sisters crying- I was probably too happy in the moment" he sniffed and wiped his nose, "I-I thought she was asleep. I t-tried to shake her, i was confused because she wouldn't answer me. So then I started to panic"

Kind of like you're doing now.

"You don't need to continue if it's too much" Harry cut in, growing concerned once he noticed how badly Louis was shaking.

"My dad tried to pull me away when I started screaming" Louis felt the tear drop escape his eye but he was too lost to care, enveloped by the memory. "I was screaming for her to a-answer me but she wouldn't. S-she was on her death bed and I didn't even realise until my father told me she was gone"

Mum! Why won't you answer me? Please mum. I'm right here! Talk to me please! Why aren't you listening? Mum! Mum! Mum!

"A-apparently it was a h-heart attack. That's what he told me" Louis looked up at Harry with tears streaming down his face, "She d-died alone Harry. She was a-all alone, hadn't seen us in weeks"

Harry gently pulled Louis head down against his lap whilst the boys body wracked with sobs, loud, pitiful cries emitting from him as he closed his eyes shut tight and just cried, and cried, and cried.

Louis didn't even fight it. He didn't fight the first sense of comfort he had ever received about his mother. He had never had a shoulder to cry on about this, never told anyone the story, never been able to let out his sadness since that day when he was ten years old crying for his mother to wake up. Now he had that comfort, even if it came from the most unlikely person he could imagine.

He didn't even know why he had been so quick to open up once Harry had asked the question. Maybe it was because he felt like he owed it to him after yesterday, maybe it was because he knew Harry could relate to him, maybe he even trusted him a little even if he wouldn't admit that out loud. He didn't know why, he just did it.

And even though he was embarrassed that he was laying on Harry's lap, crying his eyes out as he re-lived the traumatic experience, he couldn't stop himself. He couldn't stop the emotions flooding out of him at a rapid pace, or the unstoppable tears pouring down his face, but he knew it was because he had held it back for so long.

Since that day, his father had never let him cry openly. He was never to speak about his mother, or even comfort his younger sisters when they couldn't help but let a tear or two fall every now and again. Since the funeral, it was as if his mother never even existed. And Louis had learned to keep those memories away. He had pushed them to the very depths of his mind just like his father had told him to, so it was no wonder he was in such a panic now.

"It's alright, I'm here okay. You're not alone in this. I've got you" Harry whispered as he hushed him, softly running his fingers through Louis hair in hopes that it would calm him down.

Louis didn't answer him, and once again guilt consumed Harry for even asking the question. He wasn't sure why he did, but it seemed like a good enough moment seeming as they were on the subject- and the question had been lingering in his mind ever since he first read about the tragic death in the newspaper.

He never thought he would actually get the chance to even ask what had really happened. He never would've thought that he would ever meet Louis Tomlinson, never mind share a room with him, and it only just hit him how surreal it was.

Like pretty much everyone in Doncaster, he had known of the Tomlinson's and the praise attached to their name. He had heard of them even back when he lived in Cheshire, and now that he had one laying on his lap- the idea he had of them in his head didn't at all match up to what Louis was like in real life.

Though then again, he wasn't quite sure what the real Louis Tomlinson was anymore- he didn't know what was an act and what was truly him.

He knew for a fact that a lot of what Louis did was just to please his father. He had most likely changed a lot over the years to fit Mark Tomlinson's criteria for a perfect son, but he also knew that flashes of the real boy were starting to prop up more often- today was a prime example.

"That's it, you're alright" Harry said as Louis begun to calm down a little. The tremble across his body was near enough gone, and his cries had lessened substantially. He was still wary though, gentle with him. Now it was Louis' turn to be fragile. "Wanna sit up for me? Your teas going cold"

He felt Louis nod slightly against his knee and he sat up slowly, finally revealing his red face and puffy, bloodshot eyes. Harry smiled sadly at him and wiped away his fringe before leaning across to the bedside table, retrieving Louis cuppa and holding it out for him. "Is it warm enough for you? I can go re-heat it if you want?" He asked as Louis took the cup with trembling hands.

"It's fine" Louis rasped out and took a sip, thankful for the heat that soothed his throat. He kept his eyes down, already regretting what had just happened. He hated crying in front of people. Absolutely despised it. And the last person he wanted to have a breakdown in front of was Harry.

"Can I get you anything? Or- wanna do anything to distract yourself?" Harry asked, watching Louis carefully. He noticed how he wouldn't meet his eyes, looking into his tea cup almost shamefully. "You don't need to be embarrassed"

"But I am" Louis admitted, one hand leaving his cup to wipe under his eyes. "You shouldn't have to deal with this when I've been nothing but nasty to you"

Harry looked around for a moment, his eyes lighting up when he saw a box of tissues on Louis desk. He quickly stood up to retrieve them and handed some to Louis. "Don't be. You had to 'deal with me' yesterday when I was in the same state- so I guess were kind of equal now" he said, setting the box back down on the bed. "It's nothing to be ashamed of. It's normal to cry when you've lost a loved one. Hell- I do it all the time"

"Doesn't mean I don't like it though. I don't like crying in front of you- or anyone really" Louis replied quietly, gulping down the last of his tea. Harry took the cup away and set it back on the table, "Thanks" Louis mumbled.

Harry nodded and turned back to him, "Why don't you?" He asked.

"I don't know- probably because my father told me I shouldn't, something like that" He screwed the tissues up on his fists, "I don't like feeling vulnerable. And, well I haven't thought or even spoken about that since her funeral. So its hard, I guess. I kind of lost it a bit there" he said with a wet chuckle that died down in the throat a second later.

"Everyone loses it at some point, so don't blame yourself for it" Harry smiled, "Look. If you're not comfortable talking to me about it, because, well it's me- I think you should bring it up to your counsellor" he suggested nervously.

"You're joking right?" Louis looked at him as if he'd gone insane. "If I'm not comfortable talking to you about it why on Earth would I tell a stranger?"

"She's not exactly a stranger anymore though is she" Harry gave him a pointed look, "Um, you know how I mentioned I'd been in therapy a while back?"

Louis nodded slowly, "Yeah. You denied it right after"

"I know. I was scared to tell you back then but I'm not anymore- not as much anyway" Harry admitted, and a chill washed over him the longer Louis stared at him with those intimidating blue eyes. "After what happened, I was in therapy on and off for around three years ish" he said, and Louis eyes widened. "I'm still in contact with her if I ever need it, but she really did help me overcome my parents death. I know it sounds scary, but trust me, it's worth it in the end"

Louis let out a deep breath and looked away. "I don't think I can do that. It's taken me over a month to tell you, I've only known her for a week"

"Yes but doesn't that make it easier?" Harry questioned knowingly. He had been through it after all. "I found that because I didn't know my therapist it was easier to open up to her because she had nothing she could judge me from, she didn't know anything about me other than the fact that my parents were murdered and I had to see the outcome. They legally can't speak on anything you tell them outside of counselling, so that shouldn't be a worry either"

"I know, that's not my issue" Louis said with a frustrated groan. "I don't know how to explain it. I just- I don't think I can. Or at least not right now, maybe in the future, but- yeah" he sputtered, not knowing how to explain himself. "Can we move on from this?"

"Uh, yeah sure" Harry agreed reluctantly, he wanted to help Louis but he didn't know how to get through to him. "Anything you want to do?"

"Um, well I'm pretty tired- so. I don't really wanna leave the room" Louis replied, yawning behind his hand.

Harry thought for a moment until an idea struck him. "We could watch a movie on my laptop if you wanted, just relax a bit?"

"Oh god" Louis snorted, "It's not going to be another sappy romance movie is it?"

Harry stood up to retrieve his laptop before sitting back down besides Louis again. "Doesn't have to be, though I bet you secretly love them" he said with a wink, opening his laptop and getting Netflix up.

"Nope. Absolutely not" Louis denied, shaking his head. "I like horror, action, comedy. That type shit. Not romance"

"Whatever you say" Harry rolled his eyes and began to scroll through many different films. "What do you wanna watch then. Your choice"

"Um" Louis leaned over to see the screen better, "Slow down yeh, can barely see them" he said, and Harry went through slower. "What about- hereditary"

Harry stopped and hovered over the icon, a picture of a lit house amongst the darkness with the word 'Hereditary' written in white at the bottom. He swallowed thickly and hesitated to click.

Louis narrowed his eyes with a smirk playing on his lips. "Oh what? You're not scared are you?" He asked with a teasing lilt to his voice. "Is Hawwy scared of howor movies" he added with a childish tone, nudging his shoulder.

"I am not!" Harry screeched out and clicked on the movie with determination. It's fine, he thought. There were lights on, he wasn't alone and it was the middle of the day.

"You sure?" Louis grinned and stood up, quickly closing the curtains with one swift yank. "Even in the dark?" He crept back over to Harry and turned off the lamp.

Harry eyed him and shuffled back on the bed, slipping his legs under he covers as he drew the duvet up to his chest. "Yeah. I'm completely fine with it"

Louis wasn't convinced. He got under the covers, careful whilst in the dark, and got comfortable for the movie. "Mhm, we'll see about that won't we" he said, turning to look at the screen. "Play it"

Harry pressed play and snuggled further into the pillows, the laptop resting on half of his lap and half of Louis'. For a while the movie was fine, odd, and a little confusing, but fine- and Harry had begun to relax. Dare he say even enjoying it.

At one point, the young girl on the screen stayed silent until she randomly clicked her tongue against the roof of her mouth, and Harry couldn't help but laugh.

Louis furrowed his brows with an amused smile on his face as he turned to look at Harry. "What you laughing about?" He asked, staring at the boy who was laughing under his breath.

Harry faced him slowly and stopped laughing, only to click his tongue just like the girl had done, finishing with an easy grin. Louis huffed out a chuckle and shook his head, looking back at the screen. "Idiot" he mumbled.

Harry ignored his comment, continuing to click his tongue over and over again in a rhythm that almost sounded like a made up song. He paused and looked at Louis expectantly, and the boy rolled his eyes before returning back one small click. "Can you shut up and watch the movie now?" He then asked.

"Fine" Harry replied, holding back his smile. And he did- for a while. He stayed silent and watched the movie, holding back from laughing every time the girl clicked her tongue. Eventually he couldn't help himself, and he clicked his tongue once again just to spite Louis.

Whilst Harry laughed Louis groaned and roughly grabbed the pillow beneath his head. "That's it" he said, swinging it straight at Harry's face.

Harry squealed and his hands quickly moved up to cover his face just as the pillow hit him, muffling his words. "Louis stop! I won't do it again I swear!"

"Oh you won't will you?" Louis laughed, pressing the pillow down, the laptop swaying on their laps. "Promise me then. Promise me you won't" he taunted whilst Harry thrashed beneath his hands.

"I won't, I won't I swear!" He heard harry say with a giggle. "Louis! I can't fucking breathe!"

"Promise me" Louis repeated, lessening on the force he was using to press down, a playful grin spread across his lips.

"I promise!" Harry shouted, and spluttered for air once Louis removed the pillow. His face was flushed red and his hair was a mess, but that childish smile never went away. "God you could've killed me" he said dramatically, looking up at Louis as he panted.

"I almost wish I had" Louis replied, shoving the pillow behind his head before laying back down.

"Almost?" Harry questioned, his voice a pitch higher than usual.

"Hm. Almost. If I killed you I wouldn't have anyone to clean for me now would I?" Louis said sarcastically, reaching to put the laptop back in place.

"You fucking cleaned today!" Harry accused, "You should do it more often too. I'm not picking up your boxers anymore, don't want to get contaminated" he said, nose upturned as he made a disgusted expression.

"My boxers are clean thank you very much" Louis scoffed, "Nobody's making you go near them"

"Well who else is going to pick them up? You sure as hell won't" Harry replied. "You should be paying me for the torture I have to endure staying in a room with you"

"Oh please, if you hated rooming with me you would've moved out ages ago when you had the chance. I did offer for you to swap with Liam but no, you didn't take it" Louis said smugly.

Harry gawked at him for a moment as if he didn't know how to reply. "B-because, Liam's room mate is apparently creepy. I'd rather deal with you being messy than him" he huffed and pressed play on the movie again, it must have shut off when the laptop fell. "Just watch the movie"

Louis smirked and looked back at the screen, "you're so shit at lying" he said under his breath, and Harry paused the movie again.

"What was that? Didn't quite hear you there" Harry looked at him expectantly, his tone thick with sarcasm.

"Oh no, nothing. Must've been the wind" Louis brushed it off. He knew Harry had heard him, but it was fun messing with the boy.

Harry looked at him for a moment before pressing play again. "Windows not even open" he mumbled with a pout, and Louis decided not to reply.

As the movie picked up and the scenes gradually got even more terrifying than the last, Harry became tense with every lead up and jumped at every scare, his hands balled into fists under the duvet that had now been pulled up under his chin.

Louis almost felt bad, though he couldn't deny that it was funny seeing Harry squirm. Whilst the movie had no effect on him, and he watched it as if it were a comedy, Harry had wide eyes, flinching every few seconds from a sound or image, or sometimes even from Louis himself when he couldn't help but scare the boy during the silent moments of the film.

Harry would then complain at him for a while, telling him to 'cut it out' and 'stop playing around'. This was probably the reason why it was nearing the end of the day by the time the movie was almost finished, due to how many times they had to stop the film for some lighthearted bickering.

They never even made it to the end of the film, but neither of them knew that. The credits rolled on the screen, faintly lighting up their sleeping faces in the darkness of the room as Harry's head rested on Louis' slack shoulder.

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Author notes:

Hey guys! Hope you enjoyed the chapter!

Now you know a little more about what happened to Louis during Jays death, and I honestly wasn't even planning to write this part until a little later on in the story, but I just went with the flow I guess haha.

Why do you think Louis suddenly opened up about it? Leave your opinions!

Love you all xxx