Harry woke up slowly, his head felt heavy, a dull ache within his skull. He could use an entire day of nothingness, but with One Direction he rarely saw a day of that empty capacity. He walked himself to the kitchen, taking a glass and filling it with orange juice. He stood at the island and sipped the liquid at a slow pace.
His thoughts leading him to a darker hollow of his mind, one which he explored rarely, but when he did it consumed him. He'd always had a side of himself that was a bit dark, he was easily susceptible to depression, he tried his best to refrain from any emotion that'd lead him to such a sad place, but occasionally he felt the need to visit the sadder parts of his emotional warehouse. It kept him in check, he needed to over think everything in his life from time to time, he needed the sadness to remind him that happiness was not to be taken for granted.
He settled his elbows on the counter top and leaned his body inward, taking a deep breath he let his mind reel further around things that could've made him cry if he'd been in a more emotional state.

He heard footsteps coming and stood up, holding his mug securely in his large hands.
"Morning love." Louis walked happily to his boyfriend and placed a soft kiss on his cheek.
Harry smiled at the older boy's happy attitude and watched as he poured a small glass of orange juice for himself.
"Everything okay?" Louis questioned with a raise of an eyebrow, catching onto Harry's quietness and lost expression.
"Yeah, woke up with a bit of a headache. I'm fine." Harry knew he wasn't lying, he did curse himself for being in such a mood though. He had days where he'd wake up feeling slightly desolate, and as if he needed to be alone for his sanity… even if it wasn't really what he needed in all truthfulness.
"Sorry babe, want me to get you some aspirin?" Louis caught one of Harry's hands and cradled it in his, softly making patterns along his fingers.
"I'll be alright. Thank you though." He kissed the boy in front of him lightly on the lips and excused himself to get a shower in.

As Harry showered he felt a darkness creeping up on him. His mind swirled with the sad thoughts that used to plague him back before he'd been on X-factor. He'd had moments during that time where he'd be a bit down or moody, but not like this… it physically hurt his heart. There was actually nothing wrong in his life, everything was perfect, it was just as it needed to be. But Harry being well… Harry, he couldn't stop the past from rolling into his current thoughts. He thought of how he may have never had the chance to be where he is, if one more no had been said, he'd be at his home in Holmes Chapel, not in London with his best mate and boyfriend. He wouldn't have a boyfriend, he wouldn't have Louis. He wouldn't have love and true genuine feelings for the most amazing person he'd ever met.
He was happy because he'd gotten the yes' he'd needed from the judges and the chance to be in a band with 4 great lads. But he couldn't help wonder if he was worth it. If he was good enough to be standing in the shower he was, if he deserved to live in London, to be in love with a boy he would've never met without X-factor… he questioned his worth to Syco, to Liam, Niall, and Zayn, to the fans… to Louis most of all.

Harry ducked under the shower of droplets and bowed his head to soak his hair even more. He stared as the water swirled down the drain and felt an overwhelming sadness come over him, along with a wave of complete and utter gratitude for being able to have this life.
He flipped his hair back out of his face and applied shampoo, lathering it throughly through his curls. He head swirled with endless thoughts as he put his head under the water again and rinsed the suds away.
He stood under the cascade of water for a long time after the soapy water ceased from his brown hair. He stood there immobile, his thoughts leaving him frozen. He wasn't sure what he was feeling, there was so much emotion coursing through his body he was rendered still. the only movement of his body was his blinking as tears formed and fell steadily. He didn't bother to wipe them away or stop the flow, he knew it was impossible. He didn't want to stop crying either, he needed to have a moment to release his emotions, whatever they were.

"Harry? Are you okay?' Louis entered the bathroom after realizing that Harry had been in the shower for nearly an hour.
"I-I'm.." Harry's lips couldn't form a sentence. He felt cold, the warm water had run out ages ago and he had goose bumps littering his entire body.
Louis knew Harry was troubled and pulled the curtain of the shower back, revealing Harry standing directly under the shower head as freezing cold water rained down on his flawless skin.
He quickly switched the water off and inspected Harry's face for any signs or clues as to what was wrong… he found nothing.
"…baby." Was all Louis said as he grabbed a towel and wrapped it around the tall boys body carefully. He guided Harry out of the shower and towel dried his hair for him.
Harry didn't speak or look at Louis, he stared at the white wall in front of him. He felt the lump in his throat and stinging at his eyes, but did his best to swallow it down.
Louis took his hand and led him to Harry's room, sitting the hollow boy on his bed and securing the towel around his cold body.
Louis quickly pulled out a pair of sweatpants and underwear, along with a worn t-shirt. He sat on the edge of the bed next to Harry and looked into his beautiful green eyes, searching for an answer, but the eyes looking back were darker than usual and glazed with a shine you saw only when someone had been crying or was about to.
Louis felt to helpless, he brushed his fingers across Harry's cheek, down to his chin, over his lips and back again.
"I love you." He whispered the words to Harry, who didn't answer, he could barely hear the boy beside him. He felt like he was stuck in a trance and everything around his was deafened and blurry.
Louis understood that he wouldn't get a reply out of the boy, and helped him into his shirt and then his underwear and sweatpants. Harry let the older boy control him, lifting his arms, pulling him up, sitting him down, guiding him where ever he needed to go. He was on auto pilot.

Louis made a call to management and told them that Harry was not able to leave the house, and that he needed to stay with him. They were fairly understanding after Louis had raised his voice and sternly told them that he would not be letting Harry out today and nor would he be leaving him alone.
Harry didn't talk much. He made sounds, 'mmm' and something that sounded like a whimper as he laid on the couch.
Louis didn't pry or bug him. He made him food, that he didn't touch, poured him beverage he only sipped at and never finished and sat near him and kept a steady gaze on him.

Louis laid on the couch, his eyes watching Harry as he sat straight up in a chair near him. He was rigid and completely entranced by nothing. He held an empty stare and it made Louis' heart ache. He watched hopefully as Harry shifted in his seat, hoping he was going to speak or react… something, anything.
But he didn't speak, he rose from the chair and walked slowly over to Louis, he motioned for Louis to make room and then laid down next to him. His face right next to Lou's, he pressed his body close to the warmth of the smaller, yet older boy and felt the heat radiate through his veins. Louis laid motionless, stunned by the sudden act, for a moment, he then wrapped an arm around Harry, his fingers of the other appendage finding the boy's slightly damp curls.
Harry pressed closer to Louis, his face buried in the crook of his neck, their legs intertwined and warmth spreading through his cold body.
Harry laid in Louis' arms and silently thanked God for the boy, he was so grateful to have him, and the fact that he'd taken care of him when he wasn't wouldn't utter a single word made him appreciate the arms around him even more.
He felt Louis dip his chin and kiss his hair lightly, and the feather light touches along his skin were delightful. Louis traced every feature of the young boys face and memorized every centimeter along his skin.
Harry's heart swelled at the gentleness, at the purity of Louis' touch.
"Lou, I never want to live in a world where you don't exist." Harry's throat was dry from lack of drinking anything and he felt bad for being so odd today.
Louis was startled by the sound of his voice, Harry didn't move, he just spoke the words quietly, like it was something he needed him to know.
"Why are you saying such a thing? I'm not going anywhere." Louis held onto Harry a little tighter.
"I just… I never want to be without you. You're everything to me, absolutely everything." Harry felt a shiver up his spine, the lump in his throat was back as well.
"Harry, I love you… you're my world." Louis brushed his fingers through Harry's hair lovingly. He felt Harry press against him and grab his t-shirt into his fists, as if he needed to hold onto something for assurance that Louis' wouldn't disappear.
"Please-" Harry's voice came out in a cry, leading to a small stream of tears escaping his eyes.
"Baby, don't cry." Louis cooed and rubbed the boys backing soothingly.
"Please, don't ever leave me…please." Harry clung to Louis with such desperation it broke Louis' heart. He couldn't help but shed tears as the beautiful boy gripped at his shirt and hands and pressed impossibly close to him.
Louis held Harry so tightly, so securely that his muscles ached, but he didn't let up.
"I'm never going to leave you. Harry, I love you so much, I will never let you go."
And Louis didn't, he held Harry all night, even as he fell asleep he kept Harry secure in his arms. Harry didn't sleep, he just laid next to blue-eyed beauty and felt blessed and incredibly thankful to have Louis in his life.
He eventually got up and carried Louis to his bedroom, setting him under the covers and crawling in beside him, his head on his chest and arms around his torso. It was how it was supposed to be.
Harry was warm and comforted, his thoughts lightening from the gray/black cloud they had been all day, they softened into a light pillow of airy questions, floating miles away from his mind. He breathed Louis in one last time and whispered, "I love you Lou, I'll love you everyday for the rest of my life," before he let his eyes close and fell into a much needed slumber.