Hello everyone! So sorry about the irregular updates! I usually only write when I have free time or inspiration (which is honestly quite rare). Anyways this will be the first part of a story that I semi-planned out in my head at 3 AM one night and decided to write. It will be posted in parts as I continue writing it (expect somewhere between 5-10 parts. Sorry it's so long😭). Also sorry for any typos or grammatical errors!
Part one
Word Count: 1771
Summary: Louis (20 years old) volunteers at a homeless shelter that a homeless Harry (18 years old), frequents quite often. I can't say more without spoiling it, sorry!
Louis had just finished sweeping the floor of the kitchen area and was nearing the end of his shift when he heard what sounded like an argument happening from the entry area, where people can check in for the night. He recognized one of the voices as Barbara, the old lady who runs shelter, yet the other voice puzzled him. It was deep, and sounded like it belonged to a boy around Louis age. Whoever it was though, was crying? It was hard to tell however, as whoever it was, they were clearly whispering, trying not to cause a scene.
Upon sensing something was wrong, Louis placed down the broom he was holding and headed straight towards the noise, which wafted easily over the otherwise empty shelter (it was late, and nearly everyone was asleep). As Louis approached, he was able to make out what the two were saying.
"Please, it's freezing out there. I know I'm late but I don't have anywhere else to go. Please." The voice cried desperately, yet still extremely low and softly.
Louis' heart broke for the lad, whoever it was. Working in the shelter for about a year now, Louis was lucky to have only witnessed an encounter like this once or twice. It was truly heartbreaking to witness. You see, the shelter had a max capacity of occupants that they could take for the night, and once that cap was reached, they couldn't accept anymore people. If it was up to Louis, he would say screw it and let whoever it is in, but Barbara was much stricter than he. It sucked, but if a surprise inspection were to occur and the shelter were found to have exceeded the max capacity deemed safe for one building, then the whole shelter could close. So, they had to be strict.
As Louis turned the corner to face the pair, his breath caught in his throat. The boy that Barbara was refusing entry to was Harry. Although Louis and Harry have only ever spoken a handful of times in passing, Louis knows that Harry was very kind. He doesn't know much about Harry's situation or why he's homeless at such a young age (18, bless him), but he's seen enough to know that it sucks and he doesn't deserve any of it (not that anyone really does, in Louis' opinion).
Louis thinks back to the time where he was serving dinner one night. Harry had been second to last in line to be served food, right before a mother and daughter duo. Unfortunately, they had run out of food, only about one and a half servings left to feed three people. Donations were few and far between (people only seem to be generous enough to donate around the holidays) and they didn't have enough to feed the abnormally large number of people in there for a late summer night. Regardless, the remainder of the food was scooped onto Harry's tray, who immediately turned around and handed it to the family with a small smile and a "You need it more than I do." Louis had about bursted into tears at the kind act and gave Harry his own food which he had brought to eat on his dinner break. The poor boy nearly cried when Louis gave it to him, rubbing his sunken-in tummy and thanking him profusely.
Louis shook his head to bring himself back to the present, where Barbara was explaining to a silently sobbing Harry that he couldn't stay here tonight.
Louis surged forward, making himself known to the pair before saying, "Barbara can't you make an exception, just this once? He'll freeze out there."
Barbara frowned, "Louis I know you only want to help, but you know the rules. We can't risk this place getting shut down for everyone because we made an exception for one person." She sighed, "Plus, if we make an exception for one person, then we'll have to make an exception for everyone."
"But—" Louis was about to protest, but was surprised when Harry interrupted him.
"I-it's okay, Louis. Barbara's right. I can't ask you to break the rules for me and risk ruining it for everyone else." And wow, Louis didn't even know that Harry remembered his name. Of course, he had introduced himself to the boy before but they hadn't spoken often enough that Louis was sure he would remember it. There was something about hearing the syllables roll off of Harry's tongue that made Louis feel warm inside though and— stop it Louis, he thought to himself, Now's not the time to get distracted.
"Harry, it's below freezing out there, though. Barbara, please." He protested.
"It's okay, Louis. I-I'll be okay." Even as the words left his mouth Harry didn't seem too convinced that he would be okay. His eyes were still misty with tears, and he appeared to be shaking slightly. "I better be going then. Sorry for the inconvenience."
"I truly am sorry, Harry." Barbara replied, "Why don't you try the other shelter on the other side of town."
"But that's over an hour away by walking!" Louis replied, a bit louder than he intended. "He'll never make it, especially not when it's this bloody cold out."
"Louis," Barbara gave him a pointed look.
"It's okay, thank you for the suggestion. I'll try there." Harry gave a sad smile. "I better be going now, thanks again."
Before Louis could protest, Harry had turned on his heel and walked out of the door of the shelter, onto the cold street.
Louis sighed dejectedly, before moving to sign out, grab his jacket and keys, and sulk home. He knew he couldn't ask Harry to stay with him because that was also against the rules, but he desperately wanted to run after Harry and take him somewhere warm and safe.
After about another 20 minutes of tidying and a quick goodbye to Barbara, Louis was out the door and making the quick walk to his car in the car park round back. Even in the 30 seconds it took him to reach it, he was already bloody freezing under his thick winter coat. He can't imagine how Harry must be feeling in nothing but his torn jeans and jumpers.
He sighs as he starts his car, driving down the road towards his small home. On the way there he passes a park, and if it weren't for the red light he was stopped at, he wouldn't have even taken a second glance at it. Upon further inspection, however, Louis sees a figure curled into themself on the bench, seemingly shaking in the cold. It couldn't be, Louis thinks to himself as he pulls over and jumps out of his car.
As he approaches, he recognizes the poor boy on the bench to be none other than Harry, who is hugging himself and sobbing violently. Louis' heart breaks again.
"Harry?" he says softly as he nears the bench. Harry's head snaps up, hands scrubbing the tears off of his face.
"Louis?" Harry croaks out once he identifies the figure before him. "W-what are you doing here?"
"I was just driving home and I happened to see you out here. Are you alright?"
"Yeah, m'okay. Thank you for trying to help me earlier."
"It's okay, I just wish I could have done more to help."
"It's okay," Harry smiles sadly at the ground. "I'll be okay."
"Will you though?" Louis returns, and Harry just sighs, looking at the ground with cloudy eyes. "You're shaking, love."
Harry blushes at the pet name. "It's cold."
"Where are you going to sleep tonight?" Louis asks.
Harry looks around before turning back to Louis and shrugging. "Here, I suppose." A few tears slip from Harry's eyes as a whimper escapes his lips.
"Oh, love. May I give you a hug?"
"Yes please," Harry struggles to reply, trying desperately to hold in the sobs threatening to escape his lips. Louis immediately moves to sit next to Harry, wrapping his arms tightly around his shaking frame.
"Come home with me." Louis blurts out, heart hurting from seeing Harry so scared and cold and upset.
Harry's head snaps up immediately. "N-no I couldn't, Louis. I can't. I won't."
"Why not?"
"I can't impose like that, Louis." Harry whimpers. "You barely know me, why are you being so nice to me?"
"You're not imposing, Haz," Louis lets the nickname slip past his lips. "Plus, wouldn't you do the same if you were in my position?"
Harry sighs. The truth is he would, but this is different, he decides. "I— I can't," he cries.
"Harry please? I wouldn't be able to sleep knowing I left you out here in the cold. Please I just want to know you're somewhere safe for the night."
"But— but why? I'm just a— worthless homeless kid. Why don't you just leave me here." Harry sobs violently.
"Harry," Louis gasps, heartbroken even further. "You're absolutely not worthless, love. Don't ever say that about yourself. I know I may not know you very well, but I've seen enough to know that you're easily one of the kindest people I've ever met, and no one deserves to be in the situation you're in. So, please? Let me help you?"
Harry's tears picked up slightly at the sound of Louis' compliment. As much as Louis thought he had finally convinced Harry to go with him, it turns out Harry is stubborn. "N-no. I'll go to the other shelter if it brings you peace of mind but— thank you so much for your kindness b-but, I can't accept your offer. I'd feel too terrible."
Louis sighed. "How about we make a deal? I'll drive you to the other shelter, cause it's far too long of a walk, and if it's full you come home with me. I have a spare bedroom with its own bathroom and everything."
Harry seemed to be in deep thought for a moment, bottom lip caught between his teeth as he weighed the pros and cons of each scenario in his head. Louis thought it was incredibly cute. No, Louis, No, he thought to himself.
Finally, Harry sighed. "Okay. Yeah, okay. Thank you, Louis."
Louis smiles brightly, momentarily not being able to contain his excitement. "Yes! Alright then. C'mon up you get. I've got a spare blanket in the backseat and I'll crank the heat so you'll be nice and toasty."
By now, Harry's tears had mostly stopped. "Thank you so much, Lou. Really."
Louis blushed at the nickname. "Of course, Love." And Louis watched as Harry's cheeks turned an even darker scarlet.