a/n : this is a long one I guess, feel free to comment. enjoy loves xx
Harry's leg shakes up and down
as he awaits for the shooter to enter the interrogation room.
the drive to the station was decorated in many questions uttered from Louis. if harry wasn't so nervous he probably would've asked back but instead he only limited his speech with answers that consisted of a word or two. eventually Louis got the message and sunk into his seat with his lips pressed tightly.
the door croaks open and one of the guards drags the shooter in, who has his hands cuffed and a careless smirk painted on his face. his black eyes are hooded and glinting with a hint of smugness, far too much to betray the idea of him feeling no regret at all. the guard seats him down infront of harry and chains his hands to the table before excusing himself out of the room.
harry observes him. his hair is blond and buzzed and his eyes are black, interrupted by a scar that runs from above his brow down to his cheek. "hello" his voice sounds in the room.
"hello" he echoes back. his voice is gruff and aged that harry barely holds back a wince. they sit in a tension filled silence.
"you are Ryan williams." harry states as a conversation opener "supposedly the shooter of detective Tomlinson" the brief mention sends a jolt through his veins, though he smashes the idea before it clouds over his mind.
Ryan leans back in his chair "oh yes" he doesn't decline which tangles Harry's mind. he seems relaxed, almost knowing that in a few days he'd be cuddled up in a jail cell.
harry clears his throat "where were you last week?" he discreetly rubs his sweaty hand along his black jeans. Ryan doesn't possess any hint of fear inside of his eyes and it unsettles harry.
"the woods!" he cackles "my favorite place to hang out" he forms the atmosphere into jest and leans further in his chair, eyes challenging.
"yeah? and what were you wearing when you decided to take a walk in the woods suddenly" harry grumbles tightly. Ryan clicks his tongue and tabs his chin with his pointer finger, looking away when he buries himself into his memory. "Oh , I remember now!"
he places his palms on the table and leans onto harry "it was a jacket. I think it was red" he sucks at his teeth then smirks "or maybe it was blood"
harry curls his hands into fists, resisting the compelling urge to leap out of his chair and let his fists touch Ryan's face. instead he mutters "stylish"
"you'd be surprised, detective" Ryan almost purrs.
they sit in silence for a while. thoughts and questions run around harry head , provoking and poking at his brain while ryan stays still with a smirk on his face.
suddenly, he slowly twists his neck towards the glass window.
"your boyfriend's watching"
harry does as little as shrugs. he knows louis' watching. Louis has his sleeves rolled up to his elbows and his arms crossed across his chest as he observes the scene, having insisted on being able to view harry just in case.
Ryan licks at his lips "wouldn't he look lovely as the next corpse?" he purrs gently.
harry tightens his hands into fists "wouldn't you look lovely executed?"
Ryan bubbles out a laugh and leans back in his chair, eyes reverting back to harry "you're easy to get a reaction out of"
harry shrugs and leans back in his chair "why did you shoot Tomlinson?"
as fast as it came, the smile from Ryan's face drops to the ground, overtaken by a scowl. his eyes turn sharp and he surges forwards and proceeds to slam his fists down on the table, the sound echoing through the room. harry doesn't flinch. the words come out of the shooters mouth coated with venom ;
"I don't like being threatened"
Harry's eyebrows stitch together and he drums his fingers along the table "what does that mean?"
Ryan purses his lips together and shifts his gaze on a guard that's stood next to Louis. almost as if a silent messages was sent through their eye contact, the guard shifts and strides through the room with a white paper in his hand.
"detective styles, Mr Ryan wanted me to give you this" he places the paper infront of harry on the table and leaves the room. harry casts Ryan a brief look before picking the paper up. when he opens it, his heart drops.
an arch nemesis can be a friend
your boy toy is in danger
a mentor can be a student
the killer cannot be killed
he's always by your side
20-21-11-8-7
harry rubs at his eyes. Jesus fucking Christ can this killer be clear for once?
he looks up at Ryan how possesses a smirk and stands up, his chair screeching across the ground "it's been a pleasure" Ryan only repays the gesture by a nod, his lips falling into a tight line.
harry escapes the tight space of the room just when his lungs feel too constricted , immediately scurrying besides Louis who glances him with concern. Louis walks over to him and grips his forearm gently "you alright?
the world is painted in black along with the rapid beating of his heart that settles in his ear. he looks at Louis who's eyes are filling up with concern as the seconds pass by "can we get out of here?"
Louis bids the guard a brief goodbye and silently leads harry out of the interrogation room with a hand on his lower back for guidance. harry can sense louis' eyes studying his profile, can sense the questions turning in his head but Louis fortunately is far too nice to ask anything just yet.
when they reach the empty lobby, they both hear it.
"styles!"
they both wince and turn around to come face to face with Anthony walking towards them with a look if concern painted along the wrinkles of his face.
he reaches them and looks between them "styles, are you okay? do you need water?" the questions tumbles out of his mouth but harry just waves him off.
Anthony doesn't seem convinced, but he sighs instead of mouthing his thoughts. then, he speaks again "so , what did you guys settle for?"
the question barely makes sense in the moment , but Louis can sense harry tense under his touch. Louis glances at Harry then back at Anthony "what are you talking about sheriff?"
Anthony's bushy brows stitch together before he looks at Harry's, mouth swinging open slightly "did you- you didn't tell him?"
harry sighs "didn't have time" Louis feels his skin prickle and anxiety tighten his stomach. he labels himself as an outcast, feeling slightly ignored out of this conversation but he doesn't dwell on it.
pity glints through Anthony's eyes and he tightly presses his lips together "come to my office, will you?" he starts leading him to where his office lays peacefully.
his office is probably the prettiest office amongst all. it's a rich dark wooden color that contrasts with a few linings of gold amongst the celling. wide windows are laying on the wall with a big book shelf lying near by. the book shelf is full of information, books and files and is decorated with chemical bottles and a few pictures frames.
"do sit down please" he says as he places himself on his comfortable chair. instead of leaning back and relaxing though, he leans forwards , his shoulders heaved with tension. Louis shakes his legs you and down, awaiting.
after a beat of silence, Anthony clears his throat.
"one of you have to leave the case"
louis snaps his head up to stare at Anthony with his lips apart, heart sinking rapidly. harry on the other hand remains shallow of any reaction.
"what? why? harry is my partner" Louis tumbles out of his mouth, bones suddenly standing and pacing the room. Anthony sighs.
"I'm sorry Lou, we're short staffed. there's already a case waiting for either of you in Manchester"
manchester.
they'll have to separate.
bile arises in louis' throat and he shuts his eyes tightly to stop any unwanted tears to spill out. his heart is slowly tearing out of it's place. just when he and harry started getting along, just when everything was getting better, just when Harry didn't recoil back Everytime louis' has thrown unexpected affection at him.
god, he was so fucking close to being the happiest person on Earth.
so fucking close.
Louis stores a deep breath in and stands infront of the desk, keeping a steady gaze on Anthony "what's the case about?"
Anthony clears his throat "a missing six year old, she's been missing for a week now"
louis' heart jumps out of his throat "and who's supposed to take the case?" Anthony doesn't answer as much as a shrug.
their current case is nothing they've seen before. it haunts their brains and weighs their hearts Everytime they glance at the files, Louis knows that all too well. he'd do anything to get over with this case, to cuff the killer and hand him over, to find peace.
but then again, he glances at Harry. he knows harry is anything but fond of this case. he knows how his eyebrows knit and his throat tightens when they received a new unsolvable clue. harry looks tired. he's supporting black circles underneath his eyes and his cheek bones are curving in slightly more.
and nothing scares Louis more than harry feeling any sort of uncomfort.
"Louis?" harry questions when the silence stays for too long. Louis looks down at him with pursed lips that later forms into a comforting smile just for him.
and if louis' heart completely fades into ashes , his brain closes up and his lungs constrict , he ignores them as he utters five words "harry will take the case"
"what?" harry's yelp sounds through the office, but Louis doesn't let it enter his mind and be the key to changing the entire idea.
"you're talking the case" Louis insists, features coated in ice. harry stares at him as if he had lost his brain.
"very well" Anthony leans back in his chair comfortably "you'll get clearance for the case in about three days so I suggest you start packing early because in three days you'll be off to Manchester."
something close to happiness glints in Harry's eyes but he crushes it quickly "Christ, do I have to take the case?"
Anthony sighs "sorry styles, short-staffed."
harry stays unmoving for a while before Anthony sighs "you're allowed to go"
they leave the office in an undeniable tension ghosting around them. both are holding themselves in a comforting manner, because nothing about this is comfortable at all.
everything is labeled so much more real when they turn to face each other in the empty parking lot. they both feel bare of their secrets and vulnerable in a way. when they look at each other everything slowly fades away into background noise.
Louis clicks his tongue awkwardly, eyes darting around "well, I suggest you pack your stuff from Anne's house and come back to mine to finish pac-"
it catches Louis completely off guard when Harry grabs him by the shoulders and pulls him towards him to catch the small yelp he lets out between his own mouth.
it takes Louis a few seconds to recognize the feeling of harry's full lips on his and he kisses back with all his might. he settles his hands on Harry's hips and pulls him closer just because he can. their lips mold together as they slot against one another lovingly.
harry cups louis' face and separates the two of them with a light smack lingering in the air "thank you" he breathlessly mumbles, breath ghosting on louis' face.
"for what?"
"for everything"
Louis' answer doesn't come rapidly, instead, he sneaks his hand around Harry's neck and pushes himself on his tiptoes and fits their lips together again. harry gently grips his hips and sighs into his mouth, causing a jolt of electricity to rush through his veins.
"you're welcome" Louis answers against his lips. they slowly etch away from each other, lips pink and cheeks flushes, a scene that can not be caused by 'only friends'.
harry cups louis' face and rubs his thumb along his cheekbone "I'll see you around then?" Louis nods with a blush on his face.
with a hint of shamefullness in his heart, Louis silently agrees that this is where he is most happy. he decides to ignore the awaiting consequences and focus on harry sending him a small air kiss before he gets in the car, and how it alives the butterflies in his stomach