It seemed Louis was tired because he'd managed to fall asleep relatively easily while Harry lay drifting in and out of a light sleep. He kept his hand running gently up and down Louis' back feeling the warm solid body below his hand.
He lay staring at the ceiling, going through everything in his head. The way to the station through the wood, the trip down to the port. Going back into Louis' shop but this time alone and he felt miserable. But as he let his mind wonder to the ship, he felt even more so. Even if he was with Niall, he had no prospect of a life at all there.
It eased his nerves and feeling Louis' breath on his skin was helping him too. He now knew Louis liked him back and that was enough for now. Maybe, if he wasn't killed by Zaphior, when all this was over he'd find Louis again and that would be their time.
He needed to leave and soon, but he was keeping the moment going as long as possible. He looked down at Louis, able to see him a little clearer as the sun was starting to rise. His heart pulled in his chest and he kissed the top of Louis' head softly, breathing him in for the last time. He held his breath as Louis made a small noise and nosed into his chest and he couldn't help but smile.
He looked at the clock and saw it was now going on for six in the morning and he sighed knowing it was now or never.
Carefully as to not disturb him and wake him up, he pulled his hand from under Louis, and gently pulled himself out from under him, keeping his head from hitting the bed.
He turned and stood up from the bed feeling cold immediately, and he stood up from the bed looking down at Louis asleep on the bed breathing steadily.
He looked as beautiful as ever and Harry hated himself for doing this, for leaving him but it was the safest thing to do. He wasn't going to ask Louis to risk his life for him.
He walked to the door of the caravan and opened it walking out into the freshness of the morning. He closed the door as quietly as possible and made his way over to his own caravan.
His heart was pounding, the blood sounding in his ears and he gulped as he walked up the steps to his own caravan and opened the door quietly.
He was hit with snores immediately and he closed the door behind him carefully. He looked around the room and moved towards his bunk pulling on his clothes before he slipped on his boots and grabbed the blanket.
He put his coat on, listening to the snores around him and he looked down at his bunk where Ferdinand appeared to be watching him. Harry smiled and held his hand out for the teapot who moved closer to him.
At least with Ferdinand he wouldn't be completely alone, not that Ferdinand could talk to him or anything but at least he was company.
He stood up from the floor, giving Nialls bunk a fleeting look before he walked to the door of the caravan and made a swift exit before he could stop himself.
He'd need food, and he knew where to grab some, so he walked down the remaining steps and as quietly as possible made his way out of the small clearing into the shadows of the other caravans. He walked to the caravan he knew Betty was in and saw, thankfully, there was a little bit of food still left outside by the fire.
He looped his blanket carefully filled it with some food, keeping hold of Ferdinand who struggled assuming Harry was about to put him in it.
"Quiet down," Harry whispered to him tying up the blanket so nothing would fall out and draped it over his shoulder. He stood up and moved back through the caravans. The only thing that felt good was knowing that for once in his life he was taking control of the events, and it felt good to.
Although, the hairs on the back of his neck were prickling with the feeling of being watched. He was sure it was just in his head, paranoia with what he was about to do but as he rounded another caravan he heard a noise behind him and froze.
"I told you not to do anything stupid." Louis' voice said, he wasn't speaking loudly but Harry was very tuned into Louis. He turned around to see Louis stood behind him, one hand on his hip.
"You can't stop me, Lou." Harry said, he'd wanted to avoid this confrontation. He didn't know if Louis would sell him out to the Captain or not now, and he was hoping above everything Louis let him walk out of the camp.
"I'm not going to stop you," Louis said rolling his eyes and Harry felt his shoulders ease up a little, he hadn't realised how much tension was flowing through him until that moment. "If you thought I would you don't know me at all. There's no way I'd throw you back on that boat without a really good reason."
"Then what are you doing here?" Questioned Harry.
"You're not going alone." Louis replied easily and Harry looked up at the sky, the colour a lot lighter than when he had left Louis' caravan. He looked back at Louis, who was looking defiantly at him.
Of course he wanted Louis to come with him but he didn't want to put Louis in danger, the last thing he could stand would be if something happened to him because of Harry.
"Lou-" Harry sighed.
"You're either going to have to let me, or" Louis' eyes sparkled, "I'm going to scream my head off and everyone will come out of their caravans."
"Don't blackmail me, Lou." Harry frowned gripping Ferdinand who was struggling to go over and see Louis.
"I like to think of it more as necessary persuasion." Louis returned taking a step towards Harry who's shoulders sagged even more.
"I don't want you to get hurt."
"I won't, I'm fierce remember." Louis said taking the last step towards him and reaching out to take his spare hand, "At the end of the day, Love, it's my decision and I'm not taking no as an answer so if you want to get out of this place before sunrise we best leave now."
Harry couldn't really argue with him, didn't want to either. He wanted Louis to come with him selfishly and he wasn't asking anything of Louis to be going. It was Louis' choice after all.
"You may be fierce, but you're also small and have no defensive powers." Harry said as Louis pulled him into step with him and gave him a look which actually managed to pull a smile out of him.
"You've enough defensive magic for the both of us, besides. I have a great way of talking us out of bad situations."
"You're the one who gets us into the bad situations!" Harry laughed but was quickly quietened by Louis' hand over his mouth as he pulled them both to a stop.
Voices were drifting over to them, coming in their direction and Harry panicked, they were so close to leaving and he couldn't get caught now.
He looked around them to find a place to hide but before he could do much else, Louis was pushing him to the ground and pointing beneath the caravan nearest them.
Harry understood what he meant and he crawled underneath followed by Louis and they both watched the grass in front of them as the voices got nearer.
"I don't get why he can't stay here," Annes voice said coming into focus and Harry bit his lip as he saw them walking over from Annes caravan.
"We have a plan." The Captain replied gruffly, walking beside Anne slowly and Harry held his breath as they neared them.
"Well it obviously didn't work." Anne snapped and Harry looked at Louis smiling at how his mum was trying to keep him at the camp. "There's just as much chance of Zaphior finding him with you than here with me."
"The boat is always moving around the ocean, it's almost impossible to find." The Captain replied to her which Anne scoffed at.
"And yet here you are," Anne said sarcastically, "He's my son and he's twenty-four years old. It's not the same as when we originated this plan in the first place."
"God she's so like you." Louis whispered as they walked out of sight and they could no longer hear them.
"They're headed to the caravan." Harry said crawling out of the caravan when he knew they could no longer be spotted and Louis followed him. "Lets go before the sun comes up."
"So I can come now?" Louis grinned taking Harrys hand again as they walked in the opposite direction of Anne and the Captain.
"I don't have much choice do I?"
"No." Louis said, "You know, I knew you were planning something when you came to mine."
Harry stayed silent as they kept to the shadows and made their way to the exit, but they weren't as quiet or slow as before. After all, distance was now more important than stealth.
He gripped Louis' hand better, entwining their fingers as they made it to the edge of the camp and entered the trees beyond, not looking behind them.
Darkness still surrounded them, even though the sun was rising, it wasn't coming through the trees yet so they couldn't see much more than a few metres ahead of them. Harry was quite relieved to have Louis there. But worry still filled him about what may happen to Louis, although like he'd said before he really didn't have a choice, Louis was coming because he wanted to and there wasn't anything Harry could say that would change his mind.
"You're not going anywhere, Lad." A voice called out and Harry stopped pulling Louis to a stop too, automatically stepping in front of him as Bates moved in front of them, Cyprus joining him a moment later.
Harrys heart pounded as it sank slightly but he didn't let it get to him, after all, if he couldn't get past two people who weren't there to hurt him, he'd never make it past Zaphiors men.
"Actually," Harry said, "I think you'll find we all are."
He passed Ferdinand to Louis who took him watching Harry intently as he balled his fist beside him and the ground began to shake, the trees rustling around them.
Harry let the power surge through him before Bates and Cyprus who were looking around them in shock flew backwards as branches hit them.
"Come on!" Harry said grabbing Louis' hand again and pulling him off course to get around Bates and Cyprus. They'd obviously been placed in case Harry did what he was doing. They didn't know how many of the crew were out in the forest either.
To make sure they weren't followed, Harry kept knocking them off course, weaving thorough the trees with no actual idea where he was going. He didn't have a compass or anything other than a blanket full of food, a tea-pot and Louis' hand clasped tightly in his.
Worry grew I him wondering if this really was the right thing to do, after all, he still hadn't got a full grasp on his powers yet and he was bringing Louis into it as well. Yet as thoughts of him staying with the Captain, going to the boat and leaving Louis made him grip Louis' hand tighter and continue on through the forest.
"I've no idea where we are," Harry said looking around the trees that had by now all blended into eachother so Harry had no idea if they were going in a circle or not.
"We need to just find our way out of the forest." Louis said and looked over his shoulder as they heard shouts in the distance. Harry frowned, having been going off course so often he thought they'd have lost the crew but by the sound of it, Bates and Cyprus were running through the forest after them.
"Oh crap," Harry groaned and he pulled Louis into a jog, heading straight now instead of weaving them through the trees. Louis kept his pace, both of them looking around them looking for some sign they were reaching the edge of the forest.
Harry had no idea how far they were in it to begin with, had no idea if they were going in the right direction and just instinctively went through the dark forest, scatterings of light only just making their way through in some places.
To Harrys surprise they found themselves back on a path, but if it was the one they'd followed before he didn't know, the sun was low in the sky, shining on them now and Harry pulled Louis towards it knowing they were going in the right direction to get out of the forest.
He could still hear faint shouts too, but he wasn't ready to be caught. Louis squeezed his hand, panting slightly and Harry looked to him while making sure he wasn't about to trip over.
"I can hear hooves," Louis said. Harry, who last time had heard hooves along the path slowed them down but no feeling of dread came with it and instead he looked around them. He could only see so far in each direction where the path curved, and it was almost impossible to determine which direction it was coming from.
"I don't think it's Zaphiors followers." Harry said still looking around himself wildly.
"What-" Louis began before a caravan came into view behind them driven by a horse and to Harrys surprise Niall, who upon seeing them pulled the caravan to a stop.
"I can not believe you were going to leave without me." He said looking down at them from where the horse was tied.
"Oh for god sake," Harry said eyeing the caravan, "Niall did you steal one of the caravans?"
"Anne told me to take it." Niall smiled, "When they found out you'd left. What are you waiting for? Get in. We'll get further in this than on foot."
"Ni," Harry sighed but he heard shouts coming from behind them, closer now and was quick to help Louis up into the caravan behind Niall, hand him Ferdinand and he grabbed the side and pulled himself up too. As soon as Harry was in Niall got the caravan to move and Harry gripped the door frame to stop himself falling over.
"Which direction?" Niall asked.
"Carry on straight for now." Harry said taking a seat at the table where he had a good view of Niall and the horse out of the door. Louis sat beside him and took his hand again smiling as he handed Ferdinand back to him.
Niall eyed them both, turning his head back to look and his eyes focused in on Ferdinand.
"I can't believe you were going to take that bloody teapot but not me." He said turning to check they were dodging trees and roots okay as the horse trotted along the path through the trees.
"He's quiet." Harry said and saw Louis duck his head with a large grin.
"Doesn't moan as much." Louis said and Niall huffed in return eyeing them both again and turning back after looking at their joined hands.
"I liked it better when you were mean to each other and not me."
"I was always mean to the both of you. It built character. Also, I liked it better before you joined us," Louis continued and Harry rolled his eyes but couldn't help but smile at his friends. Louis held no malice in his words and with the way they were both smiling, Harry was sure they were both happy to be with each other still, instead of all separated.
"Still though, I can't believe you were going to take Lou and not me." Niall continued and Harry rolled his eyes, sending Louis a small smile. "I'm your best friend and up until about a week ago, you two were at each others throats."
"He blackmailed me."
"Necessary persuasion." Louis reminded him and Harry scoffed as they both looked out of the door to see they were coming to the edge of the wood.
"Still doesn't make me any happier about the whole situation." Niall huffed.
"Yes well, it was an easy decision. I'm far prettier than you." Louis grinned and Harry shook his head at the two of them and when he next caught Nialls eye it was back to seriousness.
"What's the plan then?" Niall asked.
"Well I was planning on going to the train station possibly and getting a train from here, was going to try and find Liam. But with the Caravan it is probably better, none of us has much money anyway."
"We should stop off at mine on the way, get a proper shower and maybe get some supplies, i've heard the rebellion is very far south."
"So to Louis' then?" Niall hummed. "Although we already know thats like a three day trek. We'll need to stop at some point and give the horse a rest too, maybe in a town to like Lou says, get supplies. I need clothes."
"Yeah, there's no hurry. Just as long as we get far enough away from here." Harry shrugged and Niall hummed. They reached the edge of the trees and looked at fields covering the horizon in front of them going on for miles.
"Does anyone know you have this?" Harry asked after a moment as they got onto an actual road, the trot of the horse making a calming sound as its hooves connected with the ground.
"Only Anne." Niall replied and Harry nodded slowly. "She's pretty cool, your mum. When the captain came in to get us and saw your bunk empty, he ran out looking for you. Anne knew immediately what you'd done. Told me to grab Louis and take his caravan. When Lou wasn't there I realised you'd left me but decided I'd still help. Anne bought round the horse while the Captain ran off saying something to do with Bates and Cyprus. She looked quite pleased you weren't going back."
"Yeah," Harry agreed, "It's been nice getting to know her."
"Even she was surprised you'd left me behind."
"Oh for god sake Horan, it's no wonder he didn't ask you. Let it go." Louis replied laughing and Niall smiled and shrugged as he looked around at them.
"He didn't ask you though either did he." Niall retorted and Harry dropped his head onto the table. He felt Louis run his free hand through his hair and he looked up again slowly.
"Don't get me wrong, I'm really happy you're both here, but I didn't want anything to happen to either of you so I thought it would be best if I went alone." He told them as Louis' hand dropped from his hair.
"Yeah you're noble and all that," Niall said rolling his eyes, "So what happened when you left the caravan to go to Louis' for hours?"
Harry blushed, he knew his cheeks were getting pinker and as Niall looked back at them he smirked.
"He cried on me," Louis shrugged.
"I'm pretty sure you cried too at one point." Harry huffed and Louis sent him a grin.
"Nah, just trying to make you feel better about being a snotty mess in front of me."
"Of course you were." Harry nodded and sighed as he leant back against the chair. He felt guilty about sending Bates and Cyprus flying off but he was not ready to return to the boat, doubted he'd ever be ready for that.
He watched the sun still rising in the distance, green hills spread ahead for miles and peace once again washed over him. It looked so beautiful, so freeing that Harry smiled at the slightly pink sky knowing they were on their way to try and win his freedom.
They all watched the horizon for a while before Harry turned to Louis who was watching the sky, the colour only making his eyes look a brighter blue and slowly he looked at Harry with a gentle smile.
"No more people telling you what to do, ey?" Louis muttered and Harry smiled back, the thought only making him happier than ever.
"Are you two ever going to separate?" Niall asked looking behind him at the sound of voices and his eyes flicked down at their hands once again and Harry felt Louis tighten his grip, like Harry was about to shake his hand off.
"Look if you're that jealous, I'll give you Ferdinand's hand to hold." Harry said and Louis started to laugh silently, his shoulders shaking with it as Ferdinand looked up at Harry and then tried to bury himself into Harrys coat.
"I don't think he likes that idea." Louis said looking up at Niall, "Sorry mate."
"I think you should just inanimate him and have done with it." Niall said bitterly, but Harry knew he didn't mean it. Although he sent jibes to Ferdinand it was much like the ones he sent to Louis and Harry and only made him know Niall thought of him as one of the group.
"Do you think you'll ever be able to un-animate people?" Louis asked after a moments silence and Harry looked at him for a moment and he frowned. Louis was watching him closely, much like the night before when they'd kissed, only now his eyes were much happier, a glint of excitement for the journey ahead in them.
"I don't think I'd want to even if it was possible." He said and Niall sent them another smug look at their stare.
It was like he knew they'd spent the night kissing and then it hit Harry, he was probably going inside their heads and he turned to him eyeing him before he grit his teeth and let power surge.
"Ow," Niall frowned tipping his head from side to side before shaking it and giving Harry an unimpressed look. "What was that for?"
"Get out of our heads, Ni." He said, and Louis' eyebrow rose as he turned to Niall too and gave him a stern look. "Or I'll learn how to un-animate just to use it on you."
"Getting Horan to shut up would be a bonus," Louis agreed and Niall rolled his eyes looking from them to the road and back.
"And what about you, getting you to shut up would be a bonus too." He replied and Louis smirked lightly.
"Why would he want to get me to shut up?" Louis asked.
"To do the world a favour" Niall replied rolling his eyes and Harry smiled dropping his head onto Louis shoulder for a moment before sitting upright again because even though they'd spent the night kissing, it didn't mean that they were anything more than friends. After all, Louis had thought at that time Harry was off to the boat.
"He wouldn't need to un-animate me to get me to shut up." Louis said and Niall's eyebrow rose up challengingly. Harry was looking between them and he looked to Louis at his words. Louis wouldn't be quiet in any other way, everyone knew that. He liked to talk and joke about most of the time.
"Like you'd shut up voluntarily." Niall said rolling his eyes.
"Well no, but d]he has another way of getting me to," Louis replied and Harry frowned his confusion evident on his face as Louis winked at him.
"I do?" He asked.
"And how would that be?" Niall asked raising his eyebrow and Louis rolled his eyes before he smirked and turned to Harry pressing their joined hands onto Harrys thigh.
"Quite a simple way actually," Harrys heart seemed to flip as Louis' lips met his again, he'd almost forgotten how amazing they felt against his..
"See," Louis said as he pulled back, Harry felt a little bit like butter melting now and he looked at Louis as he retook his seat smiling at Harry who felt a little speechless. "and obviously It works both ways."
"So what's happening?" Niall asked them after a moment and Harry looked away from Louis towards him.
"We're in an apparently borrowed caravan on the way to my shop." Louis replied with a smirk and Niall rolled his eyes as he turned back to them.
"You know what I'm on about," Niall returned as he looked between them and Harry found himself flushing slightly. "Are you two actually a couple or what?"
"We've not discussed it," Louis replied easily and Harrys throat went dry at the conversation. Now was when he'd find out if Louis wanted anything more than just kisses when he felt like them or actually had a desire to be with Harry as much as he desired to be with Louis.
"Okay, so let's discuss now, since we're not separating again." He said and Harry saw Louis' cheeks turn a soft pink as he gave Niall a steady look. "We have plenty of time in this."
"How about we have some breakfast." Louis stated but Niall made a tutting noise,
"There's plenty of time for breakfast, good try Tomlinson." He said and Harry smiled unwillingly as Louis' cheeks went a deeper shade of red and he was distinctly not looking at Harry, although their hands were still joined on Harrys lap.
"And what is it you think we should discuss then Nialler?" Louis asked, his eyebrow raising.
"Well Louis, do you happen to have a crush on Harry?" Niall asked with a grin when he saw just how flustered Louis was becoming. Harry kept his eyes on Louis too, he couldn't help but feel hopeful that he was finally going to get a clear answer from him. He also felt like as soon as he'd get the answer he'd combust spectacularly because his insides seemed to be burning up.
"I mean, I guess." Louis said looking down at the ground and Niall scoffed.
"Say what you're thinking, Lou. Or do you want me to tell Harry exactly what's going on in your head?"
"Get out of my head, Ni." Louis all but growled at Niall who cackled.
"So, do you have a crush on Harry, Louis?"
"Yes okay, I always have." He was still looking at his feet and he buried his head into his hand Harry wasn't holding and Harry found himself smiling having finally got an answer after so long.
"young Harold," Niall said turning to him, his eyes shining and Harry grinned at him earning one in reply, "What are your feelings towards Louis here?"
"I've had a crush on him since I can remember." He said truthfully and easily, "My first real crush was Louis Tomlinson."
"Brilliant, wasn't to hard was it?" Niall asked them and Louis sent him a sneer, but there was laughter bouncing around his expression and Harry smiled as he looked at Louis.
"Shut it Horan, or I'll throw you off of this caravan and leave you in a ditch."
"Ah but who will drive and leave you two love birds to it if I'm not here?" Niall asked, "And speaking of, would you Louis like to take Harold here as your boyfriend?"
Harry rolled his eyes as Louis face palmed and ran his hand over his eyes.
"Thanks Niall," He said and Harry grinned as Louis looked back up dropping the hand from his face, "I think we can take it from here."
"Can you?" Niall questioned still looking between them and the road, Harry kind of loved this conversation and he was holding his breath to find out the answer. "Because it's been a stupid amount of years with you two secretly pining and yes I've known about it, you're both as subtle as a damn walrus in a seals territory."
"weird analogy." Louis muttered, and Harry couldn't help but chuckle at that and Louis caught his eye. "I would though, you know, since there's no long term leaving planned."
"Me too," He said his heart feeling like it was in his throat, after so many years this was actually happening and he was a hundred percent sure he was dreaming until he pinched at his thigh and the sting told him he wasn't. The conversation felt softer all of a sudden until Niall let out a loud cheer and pumped his hand into the air almost making him topple off the seat.
"I now pronounce you boyfriends!"
"Was that necessary?" Harry asked him and Niall grinned looking back at him.
"You needed a push," He shrugged.
"and maybe you do too." Harry said eyes flicking to the moving road below them and Niall rolled his eyes.
"You know, you're awfully mean to the guy who just officiated your boyfriendhood."
"Oh for fuck sake." Louis muttered standing up from the seats , dropping his hand from Harrys, he walked over to the door and closed it and they heard Niall whine as Louis pushed the bolt across the door. He turned back to Harry who grinned and rolled his eyes playfully at their friend.
"So boyfriend," Louis said walking back to him until he was standing in front of him, "How about we try for a bit more sleep then we can take over driving from Niall for a bit."
"Sounds good to me," Harry smiled, he loved the way that sounded as Louis said it and he stood up from the seat aware of the fact they were moving and he'd probably go flying at some point.
Louis took his hand and directed them over to the bunks, it seemed this was the caravan Louis had been staying in too, it was the only empty one after all and they got into the bunk much like they'd been a couple of hours ago and Harry looked at Louis laying beside him with a smile.
"Why didn't you tell me about your plan?" Louis asked his hand coming up to run along Harrys arm.
"I didn't want to encourage you to come and get hurt." Harry replied and Louis rolled his eyes but gave him a fond smile none the less.
"So what have you got planned?" Louis asked and Harry shook his head.
"I'll tell you more about it when we get to yours, Niall should be in on the conversation too." He said and Louis nodded before looking over to the door.
"He probably is, knowing him he's in our heads right now." Louis said rolling his eyes and Harry grinned.
"No he isn't, I'm pushing him out of out heads. He couldn't listen in if he tried."
"Awh my beacon boyfriend," Louis cooed and Harry smiled and looked at the blanket between them, he felt happier right now than he had in his life. He had his two favourite people in the world with him. He'd met his mum, found out about his father and sister and he was finally somewhat in control of his powers. He was himself and that's all he could have ever wished to be.
They watched each other for a moment in the bed and Harry couldn't stop smiling, Louis' hand slowly stroking his wrist and he sighed and closed his eyes feeling content, even with the looming journey ahead of them.
A/N
Of Course Niall and Louis wouldn't let him go off alone!
Plus, Louis and Harry are now a thing... finally, right?
Will they find Liam and Zayn?
What will happen if they get to the rebellion?
Will Zaphior find Harry?
Tune in tomorrow for more!
Lana x