The Silence That Screams

Louis, Harry, Zayn's POV:

Blood splattered across the inside of the windshield when they finally sped away from the scene.

Granted, it would have been more ideal if the pandas weren’t currently on their tail and Louis didn’t have to murder that cop in cold blood to get the police car they were currently riding in.

Of course, the officer wasn’t giving it up without a fight and Louis didn’t have time to fuck around as he had let his hostage unattended while confiscating the vehicle.

Consequently, the cops were there due to calls coming into the call center faster than the operators could answer them. They increased in volume to a point one would think a zombie apocalypse had broken out.

“This is your fault!” Zayn yelled, turning in his seat and slapping Louis on the head.

Louis cowered from the harsh hit, rubbing the spot by his ear.

“Oy! Didn’t your mum ever teach you manners? You’re supposed to use your words! No hitting.” Louis chastised, looking over to see Sophia slumped beside him against the backseat window, her face still peacefully oblivious.

Zayn gritted his teeth into a tight toothed smile.

“Words?!” He exclaimed, making Louis flinch.

Oh boy.

“Alright, here’s some words for you mate! You are an utter cunt twatter! You are a filthy, no good –“ Zayn started his rage filled rant, only for Louis to reach over the front seat with a sigh and pat his shoulder.

“I think you need some rest, you seem stressed.” Louis noted calmly, his finger going to the younger lad’s neck.

“Don’t you – “Zayn tried to pull away but slumped in the seat next to Harry.

“We still needed him to get the zebras off our arse, yeah? Couldn’t you have done that later when we aren’t in a high-speed chase?” Harry asked sarcastically, turning sharply into a thru-alley.

Louis cocked his head.

“Our equipment is ruined and at the bottom of the riverbed. How helpful could he have been? I mean, we could throw him from the car and he can be the distraction while we get away?” Louis suggested hopefully.

Harry sighed and shook his head.

“Hey, he hurt my feelings. I don’t like being called filthy. I’m not filthy – at least not now, besides the fish shit in my hair – possibly some urine…unsecond thought, let’s get home. I’m seeing Zayn’s point.” Louis rambled, making the leader roll his eyes.

“Do you ever shut up?” He asked the older gent, the ugly bricks whizzing by at blinding speed, the sirens coming up behind them.

“Not when I’m nervous.” Louis admitted, letting out a yell when Harry came out of the thru-way and down another alley to try and shake the buzzards.

“Damien is going to kill us. We have been recorded, we have been put on the radar and all because you think this bloody chick is something special!” Harry admonished in disbelief with a huff. “We’re going to die.” He concluded, the feeling of panic finally hitting him in the balls full force.

Louis huffed, making sure to do up his seatbelt.

“And here I thought you were supposed to be the positive get ‘er done guy.” Louis deflated, holding on when the car took another uncontrollable turn.

Harry almost banked the bumper on a curve but managed to dodge it at the last second.

“Only when we aren’t plastered on every single channel! Louis, this was the opposite of ‘get it done quietly’ if I ever saw! Why couldn’t you have just killed her, hm? Why is it always me getting in trouble with Damien? I don’t like him when he’s upset, mate. That bloke is scary,” Harry complained, seeing he was about to head towards a heavy flow of traffic. He slammed on the brakes and put the shift in park.

“Grab the girl. I hate to do this, but Zayn is on his own. I’ll call Mr. McMichaelson to clear him of criminal charges, explain that he was already arrested and, in the back, when we took over the car,” Harry explained hurriedly, yanking open Louis’ door. “Come on!”

Louis was a lot calmer than he let on.

“Damien would murder him and if I’m trapped in this hellhole, so is he.” Louis smirked, reaching over and pressing a different pressure point.

Zayn awoke with a scream, the feeling of fire radiating up into his head.

The sirens were nearly to them now.

“Cops, come on!” Harry tugged Zayn out through the right driver side at the same time Louis grabbed Sophia and her extremely soaked garment bag.

Together they ran across the road from a small diner, ducking back behind the building and over to another street, the CTVs moving with them to follow their every action.

Zayn was staggering from the sudden jerk of being awoke from his forced sleep and if his brain was thinking straight, he’d have killed Louis.

Give it a few minutes, it was still early.

“She’s deadweight, but she’s light as a bloody feather at the same time. Does Daniel Stone not feed this chic?” Louis asked, keeping up behind Harry while they went like rats in a maze through the alleys to try and escape the CTVs.

“Stop talking, Louis.” Harry growled with order, trying to remember where they could go to avoid the unwanted heat.

Zayn forced out a small hah, putting in his two cents.

“Yeah, that’s like asking the queen to give up her afternoon tea. It’s impossible and it won’t happen anytime soon.” Zayn reasoned, receiving the same glare.

“You aren’t helping.” Harry huffed, looking around.

“Precisely what I’ve been saying! I say we smoke – “Louis started, but paused when he saw the answer to all their problems in way of an open door in the back of a shop. “Hey! There is a God.”

Zayn opened his mouth to say something, but Harry hissed a shh at him before following behind Louis into the back room of a shop.

At that point he’d hide in a rabbit hole if it meant not getting arrested. There was only so much Mr. McMichaelson could do for them – this situation was probably way beyond his control.

The sweet air of baked goods hit their noses, electing a small groan from Louis.

He was hungry from the whiff of street food from earlier, now he took it as a surefire sign.

“My prayers of food have been answered.” Louis smiled, looking around the small back room, the scent of confection sugar and flour was nearly overpowering.

He saw a few scones on a turning tray and didn’t even think twice about setting Sophia on one of the oversized flour bags and grabbing the small platter.

Harry rolled his eyes.

“Sure, Lou. Just make yourself at home, touch things, leave fingerprints – I mean, why not find a girl and shag her right on the sugar bins while you’re at it for more forensic evidence? Do you ever – “Harry’s lecture was cut short when Louis took one of the scones and shoved it into Harry’s mouth.

“I’m hungry, you’re hungry and Achmed is probably starving considering he eats like a mouse.” Louis said, tossing another scone to Zayn.

Zayn caught it with an arched eyebrow, choosing not to retort anything.

“Shut up, sit down and let’s just bloody enjoy the break, hm? I’m tired.” Louis muttered, taking the other six scones and sitting beside Sophia on the large flour bag, the water from their soaked clothes saturating into the burlap sack.

Harry had to chew and swallow before he could reply.

“Stop fucking things up!” He roared once able to, the distressed look in his very jaded green eyes returning.

Zayn decided to take a bite of the delicious treat and fuck out of their business. He was tired too and he gave up trying to reason with Louis on the whole name calling.

Of the list of priorities at the moment, that one didn’t even rank.

Louis decided he wasn’t in the mood to argue with their fearless leader anymore and resumed just looking at him as he settled back again next to their hostage and popped another scone into his mouth.

The silence soared to a rather uncomfortable level inside the small baking kitchen.

Harry did not like when issues left unresolved and there were a good hundred floating around them at the current moment.

Looking to Louis and then to Zayn he took a breath and sat down next to the older bloke, stealing another scone off the tray.

“We’re taking anything we touch with us.” Harry grumbled, biting into the delicious triangular shaped biscuit.

The feeling of sweet raspberry jam filled his mouth.

Louis simply nodded, enjoying the small break.

“I need to call Damien too…see if he can send a car to take us back to the cabin.” Harry cursed as an afterthought.

That wouldn’t go well.

Louis decided breaktime was over and the commencement of fear should return, because if Harry did that they could all kiss their balls goodbye.

He threw the tray beside the unconscious hostage and stood up.

“Howes about I steal another car? It’s not that hard. Damien doesn’t need to know the extra details, does he?” Louis asked, spotting a small corner TV on the wall.

He went over and turned it on.

“A pursuit of three suspects is underway in London, blocking off the sections between Katherine and Elizabeth Street. The closing will expand, going up 139th and 142nd. If you have any information on these three men please call 999. They are armed and extremely dangerous, should you see them; do not approach.”

Louis saw his face clearly from the amateur video someone recorded as they were Inceptioning it up the bridge and into the water.

Zayn’s face was half covered by the door and Harry wasn’t even seen.

Louis scowled, throwing his arms across his chest.

“Okay, so, it’s just my pretty mug that’s plastered all around London?” Louis frowned, though felt relieved when a picture of Harry and Zayn popped up next to his.

Zayn snorted.

“Not my best side and no offense, Lou; I think he might have already seen the extra content.” He noted sarcastically, gesturing toward the screen for emphasis.

The camera stilled as Harry was all but dragging him along.

“We need to get hold of Mr. McMichaelson.” Harry concluded, looking around for a phone.

Louis decided on just watching Harry finish handling the situation, figuring he had done enough for one day. What with being a knight in shining armor to protect the female population and all…or just a savior to one pain in the arse spoiled rich bitch. Either way, he felt accomplished and by the rolling of every single camera angle as they went over the bridge, it was not without its challenges.

“How much pull do you think that bloke has? We’ve been recorded. We will not be able to set foot in London until the heat dies down and that could be months.” Zayn murmured, helping Harry look.

Louis plopped back down on the flour sack next to Sophia, tilting his head at the unconscious girl.

Her breathing was even, but had also picked up some.

That could be good or very, very bad.

Only one way to find out.

“Harry? How good are your reflexes again? Cause I think our situation is about to get a whole lot livelier.” Louis noted, seeing the stiff posture overtake her once limp body.

Harry peaked up from where he was by the stove – which was a weird place to look for a phone.

“What do you mean?” He demanded, seeing Zayn look over in their direction as well.

He could see the slight shiver run down Sophia’s spine involuntarily, which made him shake his head.

It was about to get livelier alright.

Their hostage was awake.

“Homegirl is faking sleep. If she tried any harder it would be as apparent as Kim Kardashian’s ass implants.” Louis announced, standing up about the same time as Sophia’s leg went to kick Louis in the promised land.

Louis caught her ankle with ease and forced it in an unnatural position by twisting the limb as far as it would go and bringing it up into the small over her back when he flipped her onto her stomach.

Sophia let out a scream of pain, the feeling of her tendons stretched out as far as they dared to go.

“Good morning, flower. I see we’re back at trying to hit innocent men in the gonads. Luv, listen, as much as I never plan to have children the rest of my life; I don’t need you to help me. I’m good.” Louis promised, his tone sardonic and rough.

“HELP ME! I’VE BEEN KIDNAPPED! SOMEONE HELP!” Sophia panicked, knowing that if you screamed kidnap, there was bound to be someone nearby that would come and help.

“Liar.” Louis muttered, reaching over to secure a fist into her hair.

Harry and Zayn running over at the same time.

The leader silencing her shrill screams with his large hand.

“I don’t recall blowing my rape whistle for your help, mate.” Louis shot him a look, which Harry returned.

“I don’t recall wanting the beavers on our arse either, but guess what? We got the beavers, the pandas and my FATHER all wanting to skull fuck us up! Now, will you kindly explain to me WHY she is awake?” He gritted his teeth.

Louis did his best to shrug, gripping more securely to her long red, wet locks.

“She smelled your cologne and couldn’t resist? Serious, less is more Harry. It makes you smell like a lemon shagged a forest tree and then pissed summer rain.”

“Are we REALLY having this conversation right now?” Zayn interjected, pointing at the now blank TV. “I seem to remember that we’re in the middle of a crises and need to figure – “

“WHAT the FUCK!” A deep male tone growled at them, his heavy footsteps coming into the room at almost unnatural speed.

Louis let out a squeak and nearly pissed himself at the unexpected visitor.

“Oh, thank God and Christ!” Harry exclaimed, walking over to them. “You would not believe the day this has been.” Harry started, shutting up when McMichaelson lifted his hand to silence him, his eyes going over to Louis.

Sophia had quieted as well, tensing against the older man’s hold, a whimper of agony escaping her quivering lips.

“Damien is quite distressed. Your day from Hell is plastered all over England. In short, my poor lad, I can quite clearly believe the time you’ve had. Now, ask me about what mines been like.” He forced a tooth baring smile.

Harry took a cautious step back.

Nope.

Hell nope, because the wild look in the old man’s eyes was a clear indicator that Harry should not proceed into that trap.

“Excellent, then you can guess?” McMichaelson tilted his head, genuinely smiling this time.

“You’re about ready to shove your baton somewhere into someone – me thinks you’re not having such a great time either.” Louis interjected, earning the cop’s attention.

His dark eyes shadowed even dimmer, narrowing at the older bloke.

“Oh, Damien had a thing or two to say about you, Tomlinson. He told me to bring you back to the cabin with the hostage should she still be alive.” McMichaelson looked to Sophia, her mouth opening to speak.

Zayn forced his hand over her mouth.

“Still alive.” Louis assured, nodding his head to the lawyer’s daughter.

McMichaelson rolled his eyes, fishing something out of his pocket and walking forward.

“I can see that, thank you, Watson.” He snarked back, closing in the distance between the two criminals that were restraining the young girl.

He felt bad for her, but he also knew that Damien was not to be crossed and he’d much rather continue on living.

“I’m sorry, luv. This is going to pinch some, but you should wake well rested.” The old man promised, uncapping a syringe.

Zayn removed his hand, figuring they all had it under control.

“Why are you doing this?!” Sophia pleaded to the men that surrounded her, the very core of her body shaking uncontrollably at that point knowing even the police weren’t on her side.

“How did you find us anyhow?” Harry asked, looking to the elder cop.

“Damien gave the coordinates to your trackers and I was able to pull them up on my radar. Luckily, I was only a few blocks down from where they are setting up the blocks,” McMichaelson explained, easing the sharp tip of the needle into the girl’s outstretched arm. “Louis, let her go.” He ordered the younger bloke, plunging the drug into her veins.

Sophia groaned, an immediate cold feeling running through her.

“I remember you from somewhere, don’t I?” She looked pointedly at Harry, realizing her world was turning in slow-motion.

Her eyelids began to droop.

Harry looked at her with regarding eyes, reflectively collecting information deep from in his memories and nodding once.

“I believe you do, Ms. Stone. Once upon a time, long ago and in a faraway land – isn’t that how all fairytales begin?” He returned sarcastically, kneeling down so that his face came into focus with her fast-fading sight.

“Styles…” Sophia whispered, the fading thought slowly darkening to a solid black curtain of shadow, the chill of her freezing body descending into a blanket of a cotton candy cocoon.

It was warm and sticky, but she didn’t care. It was safe there and for just a small mercy of peace she gladly gave up trying to understand the world around her.

Louis cocked his head, looking pointedly at their leader.

“She knows your last name? Hm, no one ever remembers mine.” Louis sighed, feeling slightly dejected.

“If you kept them alive they would remember, but you aren’t exactly out there to make social calls, are you?” Zayn retorted, rolling his eyes.

“How does she know you?” McMichaelson stepped in, watching Louis stand up from where he had restrained the hostage, allowing Harry to remain close just in case.

Harry remained speechless for a moment, shrugging after the slight pause.

“Eleven years ago, my father made an office visit to Daniel Stone. It had been one of the first errands I had ever been on with him – considering he had officially ‘adopted’ me from my mother a few months previous to that. We entered into his office and Daniel was at his mirror – his daughter was with him, she was twelve at the time and she was arguing about something pointless and he was explaining why she was wrong – anyhow, Daniel and my father went to talk, ordered me to stay there with the brat.” Harry explained, cocking his head and letting out a laugh.

“She told me that all happily ever afters begin with Once upon a time, long ago and in a faraway land – she was stuck in Disney mode, I guess.” Harry finished, taking the handcuffs wordlessly from McMichaelson when he had held them out.

He turned Sophia’s wrists back to their normal position behind her and secured the metal rings accordingly.

“Not too far off. Zayn’s Jafar, I’m – uh…” Louis stopped to think.

“Hades.” Zayn growled.

“I’ll take it! Harry’s Scar and – “Harry reached over and took McMichaelson’s gun from his pocket, pointing it at Louis.

Unlike his, that particular piece was ready to use.

Harry looked about ready to do just that.

“Scar needs Hades to kindly shut the fuck up right now. We need to get the hell out of here before the heat caves in on us.” Harry brought their attention back to the issue at hand.

He looked pointedly at McMichaelson as he said that.

The older man wasn’t stupid.

“I can get you guys to the cabin safely, but I’m not sure what you’re going to do about your father when he shows up tomorrow. I was to make sure I got you all home safe and sound so he can personally deal with the issue at hand himself when he arrives.”

Louis snapped his fingers.

“Damien is most certainly Ratigan! Remember when he throws one of his –“

McMichaelson grabbed the gun off Harry just as he pulled the trigger, a bullet going into the wall beside the short criminal, causing him to yelp and duck down.

“Christ, it was an observation! Your father is a big, huge rat!” Louis exclaimed, seeing Zayn just stood there unimpressed.

McMichaelson stepped in before Harry ended up committing homicide.

“This isn’t the time! Now, I have the squad car out back and I need you three to quit measuring your cocks for a second so we can figure out how we are getting everyone into the trunk.” McMichaelson thought, looking at Harry, Zayn and Louis.

Nope, Louis was not playing hug your fellow criminal in a tight, dark space game.

“What? The trunk? Fuck no. I’d rather wave surf atop of the bloody car or underneath it, but you are not squeezing me in with two blokes that look like they want to murder me. Not happening mate.” Louis insisted, folding his arms across his chest.

Harry’s lips curled up, revealing a sharp, nasty and vindictive smile.

“I will chop you into pieces and place them neatly inside and then, I will – “Harry felt McMichaelson slam his hand over his shoulder to silence him.

“You three are going in the trunk. Harry, you will go in first and lay down. You will press yourself up in the furthest corner so Zayn can do the same. It will be a tight fit, but Louis will get in last since he’s the shortest,” McMichaelson ordered, stepping in to stop yet another argument. “Boys, we’re running short on time. Let’s go.”

He picked up Sophia without another word, knowing the CTVs were already offline. He had personally saw to that when he went in to save Harry’s ass.

Louis walked over to where he had touched the tray and followed the elder officer out without a fight.

Zayn stood frozen, shaking his head.

“Nope. Tell Damien it’s been real, but I fully accept the consequences of my actions. Officer? Lock me up and throw away the key.”

Louis stopped, his eyes bright with entertainment.

“Oh yeah…” He remembered, which made Harry groan.

“I will drag you inside that trunk kicking and screaming, Z. We need to go.” Harry marched to the much skinnier bloke, grabbing his arm and dragging him along.

Louis practically skipped beside them, helping to pull Zayn on his other side.

“NO! NOT THE DARK!” Zayn begged, his feet dragging against the slippery bakery tile.

“Stop being a child!” Harry growled, Louis feeling the desperate pull from the other male strengthening, which made Harry stop. “Louis? I’m done. With you, with him and with this whole cocked up, dog’s dinner situation. For once in your pathetic, miserable fucked-up life, try doing something RIGHT for once!” Harry exploded, making McMichaelson to try and calm him.

“Harry –“ He started calmly, but he was having none of that.

“NO! This was supposed to be a simple, in and out job! I was supposed to prove to my father that I could keep everything under control, but I can’t! I can’t because Louis-fuck-everything-up-the-arse-Tomlinson had to try and take the reins, which I was perfectly FINE operating and derailed us all to the 9th circle of hell in the middle of Satan’s ass crack! At this point we aren’t even on the bloody slopes anymore!” Harry exploded, reaching for his McMichaelson’s gun again.

Luckily, the cop had enough sense to back away, keeping the girl cradled to his chest.

“Sometimes things happen, lad. Time to pull up your knickers and accept it. That’s what being a leader is all about. Your father was certainly…impressed.” McMichaelson chose his words carefully.

His father was more or less surprised of the devastating damage they had done, not the situation that they had ultimately failed at accomplishing.

“See? All that screaming of killing us for nothing.” Louis assured with a smile.

Harry scowled the same time the cop did.

“Oh, he’s going to kill you, Louis. Damien says that he expects you to stand in front of him tomorrow. Says to tell you that he’ll be personally dealing with you first,” McMichaelson replied, walking to him and setting the girl in his arms. “You kidnapped the girl, she’s your responsibility.

Louis took her gently, cocking his head and looking down at her peacefully resting face.

McMichaelson did that solely so Harry would stop trying to shoot the older lad.

He turned toward Zayn.

“As for you lad, you’re getting in that trunk.” McMichaelson told him with authority, watching Louis take a step to the left and hand Sophia out to Harry.

Harry took her wordlessly, knowing Louis was about to put Zayn on the floor and any other time he’d of protested, but they needed to LEAVE.

“Like fuck I am.” Zayn challenged, brown eyes darkening in the contrast of weak light. They were shining with determination to delay the inevitable.

Sad for Zayn that he was too focused on the leader.

“Shame.” Louis said aloud, almost disappointed at the miniscule challenge.

This sentence catching Zayn’s attention.

“What – “He didn’t finish before seeing a fist fly at his head.

Zayn dropped down and rolled back a few feet, popping back up onto his feet against one of the cooking stations.

Louis drew near with purpose, his gaze no longer amused. He had been waiting for a fight and fuck it all, he was going to lay his cards out on the table and have one.

Sure, he was going to regrettably die tomorrow, but he wanted to go home and sleep. A tired criminal would not make for a well-rested dead man the next day as his mother always said.

And by mother, he meant mother hen Styles that was being of no help at all.

“KNOCK IT OFF!” McMichaelson yelled, watching Zayn grab a dough roller and a metal egg beater to ward off Louis.

Louis held the tray in his left hand, ready to shield.

“Stay the fuck away from me! I’m afraid of the bloody dark, you know that!” Zayn sounded desperate backing away from the station, the tools set in front of him.

“You should be more scared of what I’m going to do to your hair,” Louis responded calmly with a sadism sort of tone, inching forward again. “We need to go.”

“No!” Zayn protested, striking the wooden roller out.

Louis caught the other end with his free hand and jerked it so the younger man tripped forward.

Zayn let go of his end though beforehand, making Louis pull and fall back into the decorating station.

Food coloring, icings of every consistency and color sat neatly placed at the side of a one-layer cake with blue icing.

‘Happy 98th Birthday Grandma’ It read.

Louis looked at it and then to Zayn.

Zayn threw the egg beater at him.

“Don’t even think about it!” McMichaelson stomped his food, taking the girl from Harry so he could get the situation under control, but Harry just backed up.

“No, we wait until this settles. I won’t be trapped in the boot with two fighting rams bucking each other in the balls.” Harry stood his ground firmly, watching on with emotionless green eyes.

If this is what it took for them to get Zayn peacefully in the back of the boot, so be it.

His radio came to life, a lead had come up from a fellow officer.

McMichaelson sighed, knowing he had to knock the tip off for all their sakes.

“Suspects spotted on foot, London’s Eye. Everyone spread out and get over here!” McMichaelson called through his radio.

He stuffed it back into his pocket.

“Take the car, use the backroads – I can get you fifteen, maybe twenty, but I can’t piss around no more. I’ll come get my car later. Good fucking luck with this picnic.” McMichaelson muttered, tossing the young man his keys and running from the building.

Harry just stood there, the keys landing on Sophia’s chest.

“OKAY! EVERYONE STOP!” Harry ordered, seeing the egg beater bounce off Louis’ chest. “Zayn –“

Grandma’s cake was suddenly picked up.

“Louis, no. Put the cake –“

Louis let the creamy heaven of dessert fly forward.

Zayn wasn’t so lucky when it came to the quicker reflexes and found his face buried under baked batter and sickly colored icing.

Sadly, Louis took it one step further and grabbed the blue dye off the table.

The palate of the cake dropped to the ground with a splat, Zayn’s hands trying desperately to remove the processed food from his youthful face.

“Louis! PUT it DOWN!” Harry ordered sternly, throwing Sophia back on the flour bags and walking over to physically calm down the situation. “No one has to ride in the boot! KNOCK IT OFF!”

Louis held the blue coloring out and squeezed, the liquid smearing all over Harry’s face.

“Step off, Harry! Give me a fucking reason!” Louis challenged, his mind completely snapping.

It was fine a moment ago, but now Louis lost his bloody trolley.

Harry was seeing red and though he knew their time window was closing, he needed to step up and put Louis in his place.

So, he did.

His hand balled into a fist and he made sure not to spare any feelings when it snapped forward and knocked Louis clean to the floor.

Everything calmed back down then.

Zayn’s heavy breathing mixed with his overexertion and tied in to Louis’ softer intakes, the men finally at a standstill.

No one moved for the moment, but Harry was the first one to speak.

“If we survive tomorrow lads, believe me when I say that the way this cabin is run is going to change tremendously,” He promised, swallowing thickly and trying to wipe his stained face up. “No more fighting, no more funny, haha, Louis smart ass comments – no nothing. Unless you are addressed, you will not speak.”

Louis scowled, glaring up silently at their leader.

“Do you understand?” He made it clear, glowering between the both of them, though it was hard to look at Zayn with his face and head full of cake.

They both remained silent, looking down at the ground, Louis rubbing his sore jaw.

Harry wasn’t having it and he bent down to kneel eyelevel with Louis.

“I asked a fucking question,” He gritted out. “Do you understand?”

Louis sneered right back, but nodded his answer.

“Yes, Harry.” Louis responded back, his blue eyes darkening in tone to contrast Harry’s jaded green ones.

Harry gave a gesture of satisfaction and stood back up again, holding his hand down for Louis to take.

“Get up.” He ordered, seeing Louis stand without help.

Harry ignored the blatant dismissal, turning to Zayn.

“There’s a sink over there. Clean yourself up and meet us in the car.” He continued his authoritive demands.

Zayn wasted no time and ran to the aide of the accessible water.

Harry nodded with contentment, picking up the keys that fell when he tossed Sophia on the flour.

“Grab her dress and anything else you’ve all touched.” He finished, picking Sophia up without another word and making his way outside to the police car.

Harry opened up the boot, looking around as he made sure no one saw him put their soon-to-be-dead hostage into it.

Looking down to shut the lid, it felt almost bittersweet. This whole thing had been a complete waste of time. Louis had ruined their whole operation in London for the foreseeable future unless McMichaelson was able to get things back on the downlow and Ms. Stone was now most likely going to suffer a worse kind of torturous death than she would have if Louis would have done what he was ordered to in the first place.

With a final glance at the young woman, a small shake of his head could barely be acknowledged from how stiffly Harry moved it.

“For what it’s worth lass? I’m sorry Louis got you into this.” He apologized, seeing the two men come out with the side.

They slid silently into the backseat, turning away from one another to stare out their respective windows.

With a final glance, Harry shut the boot and wordlessly got into the right driver’s side, turning on the engine.

The car started to life.

“Right – to home then?” He asked rhetorically, placing the car into drive.

Louis snorted.

“Yeah, the cook and the doc are waiting for us like good little housewives.” Louis whispered to himself quietly so no one could hear, deciding to sulk for awhile longer.

Notes