you're cold and I burn (on hold)

the corner. His hair is drenched to his head, <strong>and</strong> for some reason being out here makes him look
smaller, even though he’s much taller than Louis. His baggy clothes are clinging to him now
uncomfortably, making his body squirm, he just wants to be inside, watching tv in the warmth of
his flat. But instead he’s out here in a thunder storm, looking for a possible burglar. How nice did
today turn out? For fucks sake.
The wind is screaming in his ears, his bangs refusing to stay out of his eyes as the rain slows just a
bit. He’s staring down at his bare feet on the grass, trying to calm the panic that’s building in his
chest <strong>and</strong> threatening to spill over <strong>and</strong> make him scream. It’s the fact that he doesn’t know what’s
going to happen that’s making this so scary.
He feels Harry breathe in deep as they turn the corner.
There’s a loud bang as the rubbage can beside Louis’ window falls to the ground. Louis
automatically shrinks behind Harry as his arm tenses to raise the bat in the air, both h<strong>and</strong>s gripping
the h<strong>and</strong>le. His muscles feel like a coil about to spring loose, <strong>and</strong> Louis' face is planted hard
against Harry’s back, his eyes squeezed shut waiting for the sound of wood hitting someone’s
skull, but it never comes. “Oh my god.”
“What?” Louis squeaks, refusing to open his eyes or move from his crouched position.
“It’s a fucking raccoon, Louis. It’s just a raccoon.”
Louis looks up just in time to see the furry rodent scurry away, leaving a mess of their trash all
over the place. It feels like a thous<strong>and</strong> pounds of pressure was just removed from Louis’ chest,
“Holy shit.”
A smile falls over both of their faces as an easy laugh replaces the tension. “Wow, all of that for a
raccoon.”
“Why are we still out here?” Louis says, taking a dash towards the front door. Harry’s longer legs
take him further, <strong>and</strong> he’s in front of Louis in no time. “It’s not a race you shit.”
“You’re losing either way.” Harry shouts over the wind, already in the flat, Louis just rolls his
eyes for what feels like the hundredth time today.
Once they’re finally inside, it feels absolutely lovely. The warm air feels amazing against his
soaking wet skin. The adrenaline is still strong in his veins, pumping wildly through his body. It
feels like a fire, it also feels safe. Louis automatically goes to light all the c<strong>and</strong>les while Harry is
(presumably) putting away his murder weapon. Luckily, the lighter is in the first drawer he checks
<strong>and</strong> its probably because life has tortured him enough for the last day or two <strong>and</strong> he really couldn’t
deal with going on a wild goose chase to find this stupid little lighter. He’s got about ten c<strong>and</strong>les in
the living room alone, but it allows a nice golden glow to surround the room, all while adding an
assortment of fragrances that mix <strong>and</strong> mingle in the air. He can almost see the different scents
floating around <strong>and</strong> swirling into each other, bouncing off the walls <strong>and</strong> meeting happily in the
middle.
The shadows are soft, the room feels soft.
The delicate air is breathed in, <strong>and</strong> its like an injection of relaxation in a heavy dose was just shot
into his body. All of the stress <strong>and</strong> fear of earlier scurried away with that animal, <strong>and</strong> now he feels
kind of silly at how much he overreacted, but its better safe than sorry.
Louis thinks back on the overpowering terror that caused him to leach onto Harry’s shoulders, <strong>and</strong>