Louis jumped up from the sofa, grabbing an empty glass bottle as someone fumbled with the lock of the front door before swinging it open.

He slowly creeped forwards, holding the bottle up before looking around the doorframe.

"Oh hello there Harry." Louis grinned, hiding the bottle behind his back like he wasn't just about to hit Harry over the head with it.

"Hello." Harry giggled in response, stumbling as he walked further into the house.

Louis frowned, slipping past Harry to shut and lock the front door.

"Are you drunk?"

"No." Harry grinned, tripping over his own feet.

Louis immediately rushed to his aid, placing one hand on his back and one on Harry's arm as he lead Harry to the sofa.

"You're definitely drunk." He said, and Harry giggled again.

"Your pub is better." He slurred, a lazy grin on his face.

"Well thank you. Right, how much have you had to drink?"

"Loads." Harry drawled.

"Okay, how much roughly?"

"Ask the fella." Harry shrugged, "you know, Mr pub man."

"I don't think it's necessary for me to go down to the pub to ask. I think you're going to need to drink some water though."

"No. No no no, I'd much rather not, thank you."

Louis stood up, "wait there."

"Come back." Harry reached out with a pout.

"I'll be back in a second." Louis wasn't unfamiliar with sorting out drunk people. After all, he owned a pub.

He filled up a glass of water, heading back to the living room and handing it to Harry, who's face immediately lit up when he saw Louis.

"So, I'm going to need you to drink that water, then I'll take you upstairs so you can sleep it off. Okay?"

"No. Let's do something. Let's go for a walk."

"Let's not. Let's get you to sleep this off."

"Stop being boring Louis!" Harry groaned.

"Just drink that please." He motioned to the glass, sitting opposite him.

"What will I get if I do?"

"You'll get a lovely big breakfast tomorrow."

"Greasy?"

"Lots of grease." Louis nodded in confirmation.

"And blueberries?" Harry added, tilting his head.

"And blueberries." Louis added, though slightly confused.

"Okay." Harry brought the glass to his lips, gulping at the water thirstily.

"Can you manage more?"

"More blueberries?"

"Yes, I'll get you more blueberries if you drink more."

Harry nodded and Louis fetched another glass full of water.

When he returned, Harry had kicked his shoes off and was curled up on the sofa with his eyes shut and a cushion held tight to his chest.

"Hey," Louis spoke softly, "are you awake?"

Harry's eyes fluttered open, a smile appearing back on his face. "Hello."

"Can you drink this for me? Then we'll get you to bed."

"Okay." Harry held a hand out, closing his eyes again.

"I think it'll be better if you open your eyes."

"Tired."

Louis sat next to him, taking the glass and holding it up to Harry's mouth.

Harry opened his mouth, allowing Louis to gently tip the water in.

Once he had had enough he slumped forward against Louis, gripping the front of Louis's jumper.

"Hey, come on then." Louis nudged him gently.

"Wanna sleep."

"Well you can sleep when you get upstairs."

Harry rested his head on Louis's shoulder, his eyes still shut. Louis tried to get him to stand but Harry just collapsed back onto the sofa.

"Okay, right. I don't think we'll be able to get you upstairs, will we? You're lucky the sofa is big enough. Stay here and I'll grab you a blanket and a pillow."

"Stay."

"One second Harry. Okay? Just give me one second and I'll be back."

Harry reluctantly let go, following Louis's actions with his eyes.

Louis held up a finger at he ran up the stairs, grabbing a spare pillow and a duvet before running back downstairs. He placed the pillow down, lying Harry down slowly before resting the duvet over him.

"Stay." Harry whined again as Louis stood up.

"Look. I'm getting a bucket in case you're sick in the night. Then I'm going to get my pillow and duvet because I'm pretty sure you're not going to let me upstairs without kicking up a fuss." Louis told him.

Harry propped his head up with his hand, watching after Louis. He was glad when Louis arrived back downstairs, not having liked it much when he was upstairs.

Louis placed the bucket next to the sofa, Harry grasping Louis's hand.

"I'm not going anywhere again. Now come on, you're tired. Go to sleep."

"Promise you won't leave."

"Promise I won't tonight. Though I have to work in the morning. Why are you so intent on me staying anyway?"

"Don't like being lonely."

"I thought you liked to be alone?"

"Alone is different to lonely. Sometimes they're the same. But I prefer not to be alone or lonely." He explained, voice slightly slurred.

"Oh." Louis frowned, not really understanding fully.

Harry just stared as Louis climbed onto the sofa and pulled the duvet over himself.

"You better not snore." Louis warned.

Harry shook his head, "I don't. I sleep like a fairy." He smiled proudly, and Louis let out a small chuckle.

"I'm sure you do. Night Harry "

"Goodnight." Harry shut his eyes, grinning as he waved.

//

Harry awoke the next day with a throbbing headache and a dry mouth, his eyes painful.

He sat up slowly, rubbing his eyes with the back of his hands and looking around.

He was in Louis's living room, and a bucket was sat by his side. Thankfully he didn't feel all that sick, just in desperate need of some sort of greasy food.

"You're awake!" Louis said loudly as he bustled into the living room, "shit, sorry." He quickly lowered his voice as Harry winced.

"Hi." Harry managed a small wave.

"How are you feeling?"

"A little confused."

"You do know you were drunk last night, right?"

"Yeah, sorry about that." Harry looked down, obviously ashamed. "I didn't say or do anything, right?"

"No, no. You were fine. A bit clingy, but you weren't a twat or anything."

"I'm a bit of a soppy, cuddly drunk. I'm sorry."

"Don't apologise. It was fine."

"It's embarrassing."

"It's honestly not. Plus, I own a pub. I deal with drunk people all the time. Anyway, I made you a greasy breakfast like I promised last night. And there are blueberries."

The confused expression returned to Harry's face, "blueberries?"

"You asked for lots of blueberries with the breakfast last night."

"Shitttt." Harry groaned, "I'm sorry. I'm also a little demanding when I'm drunk."

"It's okay, I needed to go to the shops anyway." Louis shrugged with a smile.

"You went to the shops for them? Oh god, I'm so, so sorry." Harry buried his head in his hands.

"Honestly don't worry about it. Come on, go and eat."

Harry nodded, trudging to the kitchen with a hand on his head. A thankful smile appeared on his face as he noticed the ibuprofen next to the plate.

"Thank you so much for doing this." Harry took the ibuprofen before starting to eat the breakfast, smiling a little at the dish of blueberries on the side.

"Of course. I need to get back nextdoor," Louis spoke apologetically, "but if you need anything come and get me."

"I will. Again, thank you."

As Harry was left alone his thoughts began to eat at him again. He shouldn't have been so stupid, getting so drunk and having Louis look after him. He was pathetic. So pathetic. He didn't intend on getting drunk- though maybe in the back of his mind he did- but as he sat there drinking, it almost felt as though the alcohol was cleansing him.

So he drank and drank until he could hardly feel. The alcohol had cleansed him in a way. Ridding him of those awful thoughts and feelings that wouldn't leave him, even if it was only for a night.

Harry didn't feel like he could do much today. His mind was wreaking havoc again, as was the weather outside. He finished off the meal, washing the plate up before making his way upstairs.