strings that snap | larry

six

"Louis. Good to see you." Mr. Latier, much like Louis, is drinking his morning coffee. He steps back to let Louis through. "Wiress! Louis is here." There's no noise in response, but Beetee wasn't expecting any.

"Feel free to sit down." Beetee says before shuffling down the hall of the suite.

Louis does just that and makes himself comfortable, sipping at his coffee while he waits. Unlike his room, it's not overwhelming. A steely gray color was present throughout the place. It had a very industrial look to it. 

Wiress comes in seconds later, still in her pajamas. She gives Louis a smile before rummaging through the kitchen. "Hi!" She chirps. It'd probably be one of the few words she would say today.

"G'morning Wiress." Louis likes to think of himself as friendly, but he knows he can be intimidating. He's super careful around Wiress. She's such a kind soul.

"Do you guys need help with anything before you head back?" Louis raises his voice so Beetee can hear him from where ever he was.

"Already on it." Beetee is coming back with a black bag in tow. "But it's important. Think you can handle it?"

"Sure I can." Louis says as Beetee sets the bag on the table and opens it up. It's a camera.

"Wiress wants some pictures." She makes a noise of approval from the other side of the room.

"Of what?" 

"Anything. Your life, someone else's. Landscapes, or maybe a skyline." Beetee sighs as he takes inventory of all the photography equipment. "We don't get out a lot, as you can imagine."

"Anything for you two." There's a squeal from Wiress and Louis thinks this is the most vocal she's been in a while. She sets down the glass of orange juice she just poured and her feet patter across the floor.

She's fast because Louis can't even react before he's tackled to the floor. He's not hurt or surprised, but he's laughing. "You're welcome." He pulls himself out from under her and offers her his hand.

"You take care of it." She whispers, picking up the bag and handing it to him. It feels like such a huge responsibility.

"Of course I will."

****

He's done helping people for today. The only two that had stayed behind with him were Haymitch and Jasmine. At least, that's what he thought until there was a knock at his door. 

Had he missed a client on his schedule? Prudence hadn't called him.

He pulls himself up off the couch, setting down his book. He wondered who would be out now. This morning it was beautiful, but now there was rain and the sun had set.

"Please open the door." The voice sounds desperate, but not like he's heard it in person. He peers through the peep hole. Under any other circumstance, Louis wouldn't answer the door for this particular guest.

But he looked like a wet dog, his eyes looked red, and he looked just as desperate as he sounded.

Louis reluctantly opens the door for Harry.

"I'm really sorry Louis, I just--" The boy starts. He's all choked up. Louis wastes no time finishing his sentence.

"Need someone to talk to." Louis sighs and let's Harry into his suite. "But I'm warning you, I don't deal well with criers."

Harry wipes at his nose as he stands in the middle of Louis' living room. The older man just sighs. This was going to take more work than we thought. He goes to the bathroom to get a towel for him, and when he comes back the boy is sitting on his couch.