Louis enjoyed silence. Especially during times like these when his head was all over the place. Silence was calming and made self reflection a bit of an easier task. It especially made concentrating easier, too. Right now, as he drove and followed Texas' tracking device seen on the map, he needed most of that concentration.
However, the people in his backseat were a bit too noisy right now. Zayn was at the passenger's seat, dozing off, so at least there was one person in the car that made Louis' job a bit easier for himself.
"Mate, that was a genius move." Liam said from behind, for about the fifth time, regarding his little show of "accidentally" dropping a swiss knife in the interrogation room.
"It's a ballsy move, I'll say." Niall said from besides Liam, opening a new pack of chips. Louis didn't call him out on it because he thought Niall was probably stress eating. "I mean, what if that Texas guy never escaped in the first place? It would've been for nothing."
"I would've thought of something else." Louis said distractedly, glancing at the laptop screen that was on Zayn's lap.
They'd been driving for a few hours now and the sky had darkened overhead. Louis made sure to leave a good distance between Texas and themselves as to not be caught following him. Mostly they'd been driving along highways, but recently they'd passed through a small neighborhood. Louis had an inkling that Texas was leading them somewhere far from the city, where Reid obviously hid away.
His phone vibrated in his pocket, but Louis ignored it for now, knowing that it was probably just Katrina wanting to blow his head off. Louis didn't have time for a thorough scolding because of his actions, so he was doing his best to ignore her calls and messages for now after texting her a simple I know what im doing, I'll let you know when we find him.
Maybe Louis was being selfish by racing to Reid's hideout place on his own, but he just really couldn't afford waiting anymore. Informing the council meant letting them take over the entire rescue mission, and after what Louis had done in that interrogation room, Katrina would surely not allow him to come along.
Which would be utter bullshit. Louis wanted to be there when they found Harry again. He needed to be the one to wrap him up in his arms and inspect his body for wounds or any signs of him being in pain. The idea of seeing Harry again made him tighten his grip on the steering wheel, hoping desperately that Harry would be safe and unhurt when he found him. Louis wasn't a religious person, but throughout the entire drive, he'd been praying to any higher being that would listen that Harry was alive and well.
He couldn't afford thinking of the possibility that they were too late.
Louis breathed through his nose heavily, keeping his eyes sharply on the road. Niall and Liam continued talking in the backseat, though Louis could practically feel their nervousness rolling off them in waves. Earlier before Liam had arrived, Louis had hoped that Liam wouldn't make it in time so that he didn't have to tag along. This was a dangerous mission and there was no reason to even be here other than the fact that he was Harry's friend and apparently wanted to help out, whatever that meant. He probably had no clue what they were driving towards. Louis appreciated Liam's concern and show of support, but quite frankly, he would've felt better if Liam had been left behind.
As it was, Liam had arrived running towards his car just as Louis was about to pull out of the parking space. Niall had cheered, probably glad to have a human companion, but to Louis and Zayn, they were both liabilities.
Louis' phone buzzed incessantly again, making Louis groan. He'd been jittery since he left Harry's flat to follow Texas, though he tried his best not to pay attention to it because the last thing he needed now was to be distracted. If all went well, Louis would be seeing Harry in just a few more hours.
Zayn stirred from where he was slumped against the passenger door, stretching slightly as he woke up. He looked out the window, frowning. "Where are we?"
"We just left a small neighborhood called Casmonde. I think we might be close." Louis said, watching as Texas' dot on the map came to a stop, about three blocks ahead of them, making Louis pull over at the side of the street too. The place was eerie and silent, and judging from the old, abandoned buildings, Louis guessed people didn't actually live around here.
"What's the plan when we get there?" Niall asked, leaning over so he could get a better look at the laptop screen.
"Zayn and I go in. One of you two could sit in the driver's seat and be ready to drive off as soon as we get in if we're in a hurry, which would seem most likely." Louis told him.
"Alright, Liam can do that." Niall nodded. "I'll go with you guys."
Louis and Zayn exchanged looks. Sighing, Louis said, "Niall, I don't think that's safe."
Niall looked affronted. "You promised me you'll let me help."
"And you'll help by staying in the car, okay? Your presence here alone is enough, seriously." Louis tried.
"You said I could punch Reid in the face!" Niall exclaimed.
"You actually think I meant that?" Louis scoffed, unable to keep the irritation from his voice. "You're human, Niall. You'll just get hurt. Same with Liam."
Zayn was watching them thoughtfully while Liam just sat there quietly in the back. Niall's face was redder than it was a moment ago. "Then you might as well haven't let me come with you," Niall said, frustrated.
Louis ran his fingers through his hair, twisting around in his seat so he could face Niall. "Look. I know how important Harry is to you, and I brought you along because we all want to help him. But if doing so means risking your own safety, I don't think Harry would like that at all. I'm just being practical, okay? Reid is a strong mutant and for sure he has other mutants to fight for him. No offense, but you'd be too easy a target."
Niall's shoulders sagged. "So I won't get to punch Reid in the face?"
"Maybe when he's already been arrested and tied up. We'll find a way then." Louis said, shrugging.
Niall grumbled under his breath but eventually relaxed against the backrest, crossing his arms over his chest. "Fine. But I'll be the one to drive later. Liam can be on the lookout."
"Sure," Louis said.
At the mention of his name, Liam jumped slightly from where he was intently looking out the window. "Um—guys?"
"Do you think Texas will take long before driving again? I think I need to take a piss." Zayn mumbled, glaring at the screen.
"Guys…?" Liam said, clearing his throat.
"Whatever, mate. You can pee somewhere between those trash bins. Or if there's like a bush or something." Louis said.
"Can I come with?" Niall asked. "Wait, actually, no. I feel like I need to take a shit, so I'll just wait till we find a decent bathroom."
"A bush?" Zayn turned to Louis, sounding incredulous. "This entire block's just a clump of old buildings. Where do you think I'll find a bush?"
"It was just a suggestion," Louis grumbled. His phone vibrated in his pocket again. Groaning exaggeratedly, he pulled it out. "I swear to god Katrina won't stop—"
Louis closed his mouth when he saw several missed calls from Judy instead of Katrina. Actually, she'd been trying to call him since the morning, but Louis didn't really have his phone on him at that time.
"Guys!" Liam whisper-shouted. They all turned to him, surprised. "I think there's someone out there?"
Louis followed Liam's gaze, catching a small movement in one of the dark alleys. It wasn't a cat, for sure, since it was clearly a tall person. Louis cursed.
"I think we've been found," Zayn said, snatching the words straight out of his mouth. "What do we do?"
Louis wasn't sure if Texas travelled on his own or if he had Clay with him. He hoped that Clay wasn't around, because he and Zayn would definitely be outnumbered. Damn Clay's duplicates.
Louis narrowed his eyes as he caught another movement, a swift shifting of shadows under the street lamps. They were all deathly quiet, staring out of the windows. Taking a deep breath, Louis said, "Okay. Zayn, you go—"
Before he could utter out another word, the car was being flipped upside down, Louis' head harshly banging into the roof as shards of glass rained over them. His body lurched towards the ground as the car's roof slammed into the road. Louis' head spun from all the blood rushing to his head from how he was hanging down from his seat. He turned towards the window and saw large feet on the road right next to him. Louis blasted a fire from his free hand (his other hand struggling to remove his seatbelt) and aimed it directly at who he could only assume was Texas who'd so easily flipped them over with his bare hands. His fire grew upwards, and then Louis heard a yell of pain from the large man as he backed away from the car.
Liam and Niall were scrambling to get out of the backseat through the cracked open window on the side where Texas wasn't standing, although they didn't seem to be making much progress. When Louis turned to Zayn, his seat was already empty.
Looking out the window, he saw Zayn already crawling to his feet on the pavement and gesturing with his arms. A second later, the car was being turned over once again, this time back on its wheels. Louis blinked a few times to clear his dizziness before undoing his seatbelt and hastily climbing out of the car and running to Zayn's side.
"Thanks," Louis said, doubling over and resting his hands on his knees. With the car between them, Texas was standing in the middle of the road, patting the fire spreading up from his pants.
"No problem," Zayn said. Just then, Texas advanced at them. Zayn punched his right arm out with his palm facing Texas, sending the man flying across the road where he slammed against the wall of the nearest building. Zayn kept him there.
Liam and Niall scrambled to their sides after getting out of the car, their eyes wide and faces pale.
"What the fuck," Liam said, panting.
"This the Texas guy?" Niall said, glowering at the man pinned to the wall.
"He is." Louis said. He and Zayn walked closer to their opponent, looking up at him a bit since Zayn had landed him a bit high on the wall.
"You're a bunch of idiots," Texas spat, unable to move with Zayn's hand still outstretched towards him like that.
"Why's that?" Louis said.
"You think I wouldn't find that tracking device?" Texas hissed.
Louis raised an eyebrow. "I knew you'd find it. Just not right away.
"You have some guts trying to attack Reid," Texas snarled. The scar across his face looked redder than usual. "He'll kill you and your little friends with a flick of his hand."
"I'm sure you'd like that," Zayn said nonchalantly. "I don't know if he'd appreciate you leading us to his hiding place, though."
Texas laughed humorlessly. Zayn clenched his jaw and fisted his outstretched hand, making Texas wheeze as he was pushed even deeper into the brick wall which was cracking and crumbling a bit from the pressure of his body against it.
"You haven't found shit," Texas said breathlessly.
Louis heard Liam and Niall's footsteps behind him, coming closer. Louis fisted his hands at his sides and glared up at the man. "You'll help us find him." he said firmly.
Texas laughed again, though it sounded strained now. "No."
Louis kept his face completely passive aside from the small twitch in his jaw before shooting a burst of flames near Texas' dangling feet, lifting his pointer finger to make it rise up a bit and lick higher up his legs. Darkly, he said, "Oh, you will."
Texas' face immediately morphed into a look of panic. He tried moving his legs, but Zayn kept him in place. It wasn't long until a pained cry left his mouth.
"Shit! Put it out!" he yelled, sweat running down from his hairline. His face screwed up in agony as Louis guided the flames even higher so the heat could be felt up his torso.
"Louis," Zayn said warningly. "We need him."
"I know." With another upward motion of his pointer finger, the fire seemed to engulf Texas whole, his loud cries echoing down the empty street.
"Louis!" Zayn gasped.
"The fire's not touching him," Louis snapped. Louis made sure there was enough distance between his flames and Texas' skin so he didn't actually get burned alive. Well, most of the fire, at least. "It's the heat that'll get to him."
"This better work," Niall mumbled from beside him. Liam was staring up at the fire looking like he was seconds away from fainting.
A few more minutes filled with pained cries, and then:
"Okay! I'll do it—" Texas said, cut off by his own agonized cry.
Louis got rid of the fire with a single sideward swipe of his arm. Zayn lowered him down so his feet were touching the ground, but made sure to keep his back glued to the wall still.
Texas was sweaty and red. Louis smirked. "I'm glad you're cooperating."
Texas opened his mouth to respond, but right then, a laser beam appeared out of nowhere and cut through the wall right above Texas' head, nearly decapitating him. They whirled around, catching a glimpse of dark red laser beams coming from one of the alleys before diving to the side and evading the said beams of heat.
"Who the fuck is that?!" Niall yelled from where he was kneeled behind a car, looking hysterical.
"Get down!" Zayn yelled from his spot behind a dumpster, shoving Liam out of the way with his powers just as another laser beam cut through the pavement where Liam had been mere seconds ago.
Louis turned towards where Texas had last been, and he could only make out the top of his head peeking out from beneath a pile of debris that had fallen on top of him.
"Is that Johnny?!" Niall yelled. He screamed when a laser beam nearly cut him in half, but luckily, he was able to scoot over right before it touched his skin.
Louis' eyes widened. He looked at the source of the laser beams, gasping when it was in fact Johnny standing there and destroying everything. Louis spotted his special shades hanging on his shirt.
"Fuck," Louis narrowly avoided the beam that cut through the car in front of him, effectively slicing it in two. Louis took a deep breath before glancing at Zayn.
"Zayn! Cover me!" he yelled. He didn't wait for a response before jumping out from his hiding spot and running straight towards Johnny.
"Johnny! It's me!" Louis yelled.
Which was a stupid idea, because right then Johnny was turning his head to the sound of his voice, thus bringing his laser beams with him. He felt an invisible force push him to the side just as a red line of laser passed through where he was standing a second ago. He sent a silent thank you to Zayn before peering over the wall and finding himself only a few steps away from Johnny who had his back turned to him.
Bracing himself, Louis leaped from his spot and snatched the shades from the front of the kid's shirt as he crouched behind the boy, dragging it upward over his mouth and nose until finally, he put it over Johnny's eyes, causing all the chaos to come to a halt.
In the sudden silence, he could hear Johnny's small whimpers and sniffles. Louis hastily turned him around so he was facing him, taking in the poor kid's trembling frame and tear-stained cheeks before pulling him into an embrace.
"You're okay," Louis murmured as Johnny cried into his shoulder.
Zayn, Niall, and Liam all emerged from their hiding spots and approached them. Liam had a large, smoking hole in the back of his jacket, but they all seemed unharmed. They crouched down around Louis and Johnny, wearing worried looks.
"It's okay now, everything's okay," Louis said soothingly, rubbing a hand down his back.
"I'm s-sorry," the kid cried, but pulled away from him. "I was just so scared I thought you were bad guys—!"
"It's okay. How did you end up here, Johnny?" Niall said. There was an urgency in his tone, the same urgency Louis felt.
He sniffed. "I was taken from the café. The bad guys, t-they have Harry," and then he was crying again.
Louis didn't even have time to process anything before he was pulling his phone out and ringing Judy. As he waited for her to pick up, he told Zayn, "I think it's time to give Kat an update."
As soon as Judy picked up, Louis said, "Johnny's here. He's with us. He's safe."
He heard Judy let out a cry of relief. "Thank goodness! I need to talk to him, please,"
Louis gave his phone to Johnny. The sound of his mother's voice seemed to make him cry harder.
Louis glanced at the mess around them—the scorch marks and destroyed properties Johnny had caused. The pile of debris where he'd last seen Texas was now merely that: a pile of debris. The man had gotten away.
Louis clenched his jaw, hearing Johnny say "the bad guys, they have Harry," and feeling his stomach turn. Spiking rage bloomed in his chest from it all—Johnny being dragged into this mess somehow, Harry left at the mercy of those evil mutants, them being so close yet so far. Louis swallowed the lump in his throat and accepted his phone when Johnny handed it back.
"You're safe now. You'll be taken home," Louis assured him.
There was a sudden determination in the way he shook his head. "No. Harry needs our help."
"I know, I—"
"I know where he is and I'll bring you there," Johnny said, tugging him by the arm. He was still slightly trembling and occasionally sniffing, but he made up for it by straightening his back and furrowing his eyebrows in pure determination.
It wasn't ideal. Louis should have Liam or Niall bring the boy home, but the kid was right—he knew where Harry was and he was their only chance of finding him now that Texas had escaped their hold. Louis glanced at his three friends for confirmation. When they all gave him a nod, he turned to Johnny and pulled him into another tight hug.
"You're a brave boy, Johnny." he said.
When they pulled away, Johnny merely gave him a nod before leading the way to Harry. Louis could only hold his breath and hope that they could handle whatever they had to face.
The thought of having Harry in his arms again was enough of a motivation.