Two hours later Gemma finally decided they had enough pairs of tight jeans and striped shirts to last. Why she had bought striped shirts, Louis didn’t understand. She had said they went well with Louis’ adorable personality, and when Harry agreed with her, Louis couldn’t help the bright red blush on his cheeks.
Louis had grown a lot closer to Harry, but Gemma still scared him. She was loud and she teased Louis about his little crush, and she always pointed out how tiny he was, but Harry would always tell her off for it, then tell Louis he was perfect just the way he is.
Currently Louis and Harry were seated on the couch watching Doctor Who, well not really watching it, it was more like background noise while Harry slowly tortured Louis with wet willies, purple nurples, and tickle fights. A tickle fight was Harry’s form of torture as of now; Louis giggling loudly and Harry pressing kisses all over Louis’ face.
“Haz! Stop! I n-need to breath!”
“Fine.” Harry pouted and leaned back against the couch. Louis chuckled and snuggled into Harry, their bodies fitting perfectly together. Louis right leg was draped over Harry’s knee, his nose nuzzled into Harrys neck, and Harry’s hand rubbing gentle circles into Louis’ thigh.
“I’m so glad you fell in my pool.” Harry mumbled against Louis’ hair, his beanie long gone ever since their first tickle fight.
“Me too.” Louis sighed contently.
Harry made the daring move to hold Louis’ hand, feeling instant butterflies explode in his stomach, and smiled wider when Louis didn’t pull away.
“Go to sleep Lou-“ Harry was cut off by Gemma’s loud scream.
“Jesus Christ Gemma! What the hell was that for?!”
“There are cops! Everywhere on our street! Turn on the news!” Harry changed the channel from Doctor Who to channel three news.
Gemma gaped at the screen “Louis is that you?! Did you kill somebody?!”
“N-no! Read the headline.” He shouted
“Local Teen Louis Tomlinson Is Kidnapped.” She read out loud “Harry did you kidnap him?!”
“No! They’ve got it wrong!”
“I ran away!” Louis tugged at his hair “They’re gonna kill me when they find me. They’ll beat my ass so hard I won’t move for weeks.” Louis sobbed into his hands
“shhhh.” Harry wrapped his arms around him. “I’m going to keep you safe. I promise.” A reporter came on screen, running her mouth
“Louis Tomlinson was reported missing this morning by his parents, but police didn’t respond immediately, they waited until around 4 this afternoon to start a search, starting in the boys very own neighborhood. Suspects names are being held until further notice.” Gemma turned off the TV.
“Out.” She said to Louis
“w-what?” he looked up at her
“Get out of my house.”
“You will NOT talk to Louis like that! I am sure he has a perfectly good reason for doing this! Don’t you, Lou?” Louis swallowed thickly but nodded.
“I do.” He squeaked. “I really do.”
“Tell it then.” Harry watched in interest as Louis pulled off his shirt, but then gasped.
Dark bruises scattered along Louis’ chest, and how Louis had managed to pretend like he was enjoying the tickle fight without crying out in pain, Harry didn’t understand. He shuffled on the couch and gave Harry a view of his back, and he noticed tiny, red, dots. Everywhere. Harry recognized from the shape what they were, cigarette burns.
“Cigarette burns…” Harry mumbled
*Flashback*
Louis face was pressed against the kitchen counter, his father was pinning his wrists behind his back. Louis sat there sobbing, waiting for the sting of his father’s belt to sound across his bum.
“Fuck. I forgot my belt in the bedroom. Hey, Jay!” Louis’ mother looked up from her ashtray
“Yeah?”
“Give me your cigarette.” Louis gasped and whimpered
“No, no. please-“ Louis let out a scream of pain as the burning stick was pressed to his back. His father lit it again and pressed it to his back again. Over, and over, and over.
“I hope you learned your lesson, fag.” Louis nodded and sobbed
“I-I’ll never call y-you dad again.”
*End of flashback*
Louis squeaked as Harry ran his finger tips along his spine, where most of the burns were.
“Oh my gosh, Louis I’m so sorry I didn’t-“
“Get out.” Harry growled “Let me take care of him without you in the room.” Gemma stuttered a few more times before giving up and walking upstairs to her room.
Harry pulled him into his lap. “I’m so sorry they did this to you.” Louis whimpered as he felt Harrys warm lips press against the top of his spine. “Shhhh, its okay Lou. I’m here now, and I will never hurt you.”
“Please keep-“ Louis stopped talking, looking like a deer caught in the headlights, hoping Harry hadn’t heard the beginning of his sentence.
“Please what babe?” Harry gently stroked Louis’ hair.
“Please keep me here, in your arms.” Harry shushed him softly and gently pushed Louis head onto his shoulder, and Louis’ eyes fluttered shut, prepared for slumber. Harrys hand found its way to Louis’ and they intertwined their fingers.
“Always.” Harry breathed out before watching Louis fall asleep.