one direction fluff | ♡ {Requests Closed}

Overtired | -H.S.-

Ages:

Louis: 20
Liam: 19
Niall: 18
Harry: 13

♡

"Harry! Bud, this is the third time. You've got to sing like you mean it!" One of the stage managers shouted, giving the teen a headache from how many times he'd yelled.

The yelling wasn't even the cause of his headache. He'd had one since they arrived at the venue for rehearsals, but it was slowly but surely increasing. Tour schedules for boys Harrys age can be brutal. Sleep is crucial, but he wasn't getting much of it. He groaned, walking back to center stage.

"Actually, guys," another stage manager mumbled into the mic, "just take ten."

Harry wanted to cry. Everyone was frustrated with him, but they didn't realize how mentally and physically exhausted he was. He shuffled off of the stage, sighing in relief since the blinding lights weren't making his head bust with pain. He turned when he felt a hand on his shoulder. Liam was standing there, smiling at him softly.

"Hey, bub," he said, handing him a water. "You okay? You're not my little energetic kiddo today."

Harry sat down on a chair, looking up at Liam with teary eyes. Liam immediately noticed, bending down to his height.

"Hey, hey," he said, taking his hand and stroking it with his thumb. "Come on, don't cry. What's wrong, baby?"

"Oi, what happened?" Niall asked, jogging over, Louis right behind him.

"My he-head 'urts," he barely managed to say.

Louis frowned, moving his hand under Harry's floppy curls and feeling his head. "You're not warm, my love."

"Everyone's ma-mad at m-me," he sobbed, wiping his tears furiously with the the back of his hand.

They all shared a look.

"Whatcha mean, buddy?" Niall questioned softly, rubbing his shoulder.

Harry shook his head, trying to catch his breath while he hiccuped.

They were all familiar with this type of breakdown coming from Harry. It meant one thing: he was overtired.

"Hey," Louis said, standing by the chair and cradling Harry's head to his chest (or more like his stomach, since the teen was so small). "You've gotta calm down, babycakes. It's alright. Shh."

As terrible as they all felt for him, they knew that he wouldn't be able to miss rehearsals.

"Okay, bub," Liam said calmly once they got him calmed down. "We have to go back out in a minute, but if you feel too bad, come to one of us, okay? I'm sorry you're having a bad day, precious."

Harry whined but nodded, taking a sip of his water. He took a few sips and sat with his hands in his lap, sniffling still as he swung his legs (so smol his lil footsies don't even touch I cry 😭).

"I know, I'm sorry," Louis cooed, stroking his hair gently.

"Back on, boys!" They heard the manager announce over the intercom.

They got up, Niall's hand on Harry's back, leading him up the stage. They all sent the pitiful looking boy a reassuring smile before spreading out on the stage.

------------------------

They got a good thirty minutes into the rehearsal, Harry's head not any better at all. They'd moved Harry all around the stage nonstop, and he was sweating because of it. He was beginning to think they were out to get him.

"Harry! Far left!" They shouted, making him close his eyes and sigh.

He did as told, walking to the complete other side of the stage while dragging his feet slightly. That was the mistake on his part. He totally missed the wires strewn about the stage. It all happened in slow motion as he tripped on one, it making his stumble backwards and fall on his bum.

Niall, who stood just five or six feet away from him, crossed his fingers in hope that it wouldn't be the boy's breaking point. But it indeed was. He looked up at Niall with tear clouded eyes and the older boy immediately jumped to action. He crouched down and scooped the boy up.

"Yup. We're done," he said as Harry cried into his neck.

He was now embarrassed, his head hurt, and he was extremely exhausted. He'd done enough of holding it together.

Liam helped Louis explain to everyone the situation, and they'd thankfully agreed to letting the boys have the day off.

"Hazza," Liam cooed sadly nearing the very upset boy in Niall's arms. "It's okay, angel. We're gonna go have a nap."

Niall carried him out to the bus, him continuing to cry along the way. He'd given up completely on keeping his "grown up" image. He was just so tired.

"Hey, no one's mad, love," Louis cooed, stroking Harry's cheek, that was drenched in tears.

Harry slowly calmed, still hiccuping and sniffling against Niall's chest.

"Come sit with me, love," Louis said, plopping beside Niall and letting Harry crawl over to his lap.

He sat sideways, his head against Louis' bicep and his legs still in Niall's lap. None of them could hardly handle Harry's blotchy face and red eyes and nose. He looked so vulnerable and sad, they couldn't help but coo at him.

"S'alright, my love. Don't be upset," Louis said gently as Harry looked up at him with tired eyes.

"You can get aaall the sleep you need," Liam said, leaning down and kissing his cheek. "Concert isn't until tomorrow night, yeah?"

Harry nodded, snuggling deeper into Louis' chest and closing his eyes.

"That's right, love. Get some rest," Louis whispered, patting his bum lovingly before he fell asleep.

They smiled when he started snoring softly, putting on a movie at a low volume. Yeah, they could've just put him in his bunk. But that wasn't necessary. He was comfortable finally, and that's all that mattered. All that mattered was his happiness and comfort.

♡