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Acting Like You Feel No Pain

Summary:

Louis has ADHD and has a tough night where he gets sick and overwhelmed. Harry makes it all better.

Notes:

(See the end of the work for notes.)

Work Text:

Louis had always been fiercely independent. He prided himself on his self-sufficiency, a trait that had been with him for as long as he could remember. But tonight, that independence would be put to the test.

It had been an exhausting day for Louis, and the constant overstimulation had left him feeling frazzled. He had kept his discomfort a secret, not wanting to trouble Harry or admit that he wasn't feeling well.

As the evening unfolded, the overwhelming feeling in his gut intensified. Louis lay in bed, curled up under the covers, desperately trying to wish away the sensation of being overwhelmed. But his body had other plans.

Suddenly, he was on his feet, racing to the bathroom, but he didn't make it in time. Vomit splattered onto the bed, a stark reminder of his inability to control the situation.

Panicked, Louis scrambled to clean up the mess. The sensory experience was overwhelming, with every sensation heightened to the extreme. The smell, the sight, the texture of it all was almost too much to bear.

Harry, just arriving home, was greeted with the sight of Louis frantically trying to clean up the mess. He could see the distress in his boyfriend's eyes, the trembling in his hands, and the fear of failure etched across his face.

"Louis, it's alright," Harry murmured, his voice a comforting balm as he took in the chaotic scene. "Let me help."

Louis, stubborn to a fault, shook his head adamantly, refusing to relinquish control. He continued to scrub at the stain, but his trembling hands only made the situation worse.

With the patience that only true love could inspire, Harry knelt beside Louis, gently taking the soiled cloth from his grasp. "It's okay, love," he whispered. "You don't have to do this on your own."

But Louis couldn't bring himself to look Harry in the eye. His emotions were heightened, and he felt like a failure, overwhelmed and overstimulated. He didn't want Harry to witness him in this state.

Harry went about cleaning the mess while Louis sat there, feeling helpless and ashamed. Once the bed was tidied up, Harry led Louis to the bathroom, knowing another wave of sickness was inevitable.

As Louis leaned over the toilet, he could feel Harry's reassuring presence behind him, holding back his hair and whispering soothing words. He wanted to be strong, but in that moment, he felt anything but.

When the nausea finally passed, Harry helped Louis to his feet and guided him into the shower. Louis, his body still shaking, struggled to maintain his balance and slipped, hitting the shower floor.

"Harry, I can do this myself," Louis protested, his stubbornness refusing to let him admit that he needed help, even when it was painfully evident.

But Harry wouldn't hear of it. He was determined to care for Louis, to show him that asking for help didn't diminish his strength. He assisted Louis to his feet, supporting him as they both stood under the warm shower spray.

The water felt overwhelmingly intense against Louis's skin, but Harry's presence was a grounding force. He gently washed away the remnants of sickness, taking care not to push Louis too far.

As the shower ended and Harry wrapped Louis in a warm towel, he could see the inner turmoil in Louis's eyes. The battle between his desire for independence and his clear need for help raged on.

Back in the bedroom, Harry helped Louis back into bed and brushed a damp strand of hair from his forehead. He sat down beside him, their eyes locking in a shared moment of understanding.

"Louis," Harry said softly, "it's alright to ask for help. You don't have to go through this alone. I'm here, and I love you. Let me take care of you."

Louis swallowed the lump in his throat, his eyes glistening with tears. He didn't want to be a burden, but he also didn't want to push Harry away. He needed him, especially in moments like these.

With tears welling in his eyes, Louis nodded, his voice choked with emotion. "I love you too, Haz. Thank you for being here."

As the day wore on, Louis's sickness persisted, unrelenting waves of nausea sweeping over him. It was a relentless battle against his own body. Each time he got sick, he felt the rush of embarrassment and the struggle to maintain control.

Harry's patience and care, though, were equally relentless. He was determined to be there for Louis, no matter how stubborn or resistant he was. The moments when Louis got sick were vivid and unsettling.

Each time, Louis would clutch his stomach, his face contorted in discomfort. His pale complexion would turn even paler, beads of sweat forming on his forehead as he'd scramble for the bathroom, hoping to make it in time.

Harry would trail close behind, ready to hold Louis's hair back as he leaned over the toilet. The sound of Louis retching was harsh and heartbreaking, a painful reminder of how vulnerable he was in those moments.

The room would be filled with the acrid smell of vomit, an uninvited guest that hung in the air. Harry, undeterred by the unpleasantness of it all, would fetch a damp washcloth to cool Louis's clammy skin and offer comforting words to soothe his distress.

After each episode, Louis would feel drained, his body trembling. Harry would help him back to bed, tucking him in and ensuring he had water within reach. He'd whisper words of reassurance, reminding Louis that he wasn't alone in this.

But it was in the moments that followed that the true power of their connection revealed itself. Harry would climb into bed beside Louis, wrapping his arms around him, offering a haven of warmth and comfort.

The way Harry held Louis was as tender as it was reassuring. He would cocoon Louis in his arms, creating a safe space where Louis could let his guard down. Their bodies pressed together, the steady rhythm of Harry's heartbeat providing a comforting backdrop.

As they cuddled, Louis felt an overwhelming sense of gratitude and love for the man beside him. He had been so used to being the strong, independent one, but in his vulnerability, he had found a new strength in letting someone care for him.

"I love you, Harry," Louis whispered, his voice filled with emotion. "Thank you for being here."

Harry pressed a loving kiss to Louis's forehead. "I love you too, Lou. I'm always here for you, no matter what."

In the heat of their warm embrace, Louis's heart swelled with affection for Harry. He felt safer and more loved than ever, and it was in this moment that he decided to lean in for a kiss. But then, just as their lips were about to meet, Louis stopped. A pang of self-doubt and insecurity struck him. He pulled back slightly, uncertainty clouding his eyes.

"Harry, I..." Louis began, his voice wavering. He swallowed hard, struggling to find the right words. "I understand if you don't want to kiss me right now, after... after throwing up. I wouldn't blame you."

Harry's gaze softened, and he reached out to gently cup Louis's cheek, his thumb brushing away a tear that had welled up in the corner of Louis's eye. "Louis, you don't need to worry about that. I don't care about a little vomit. I care about you."

He leaned in and pressed his lips to Louis's, a gentle, reassuring kiss that spoke of love and understanding. In that moment, Louis felt the weight of his insecurity lift, replaced by the warmth of Harry's unwavering love and acceptance.

But as night settled in, Louis's stomach had other plans. He was struck by another bout of nausea, and this time, it was while Harry was fast asleep beside him.

Louis, not wanting to wake Harry, quietly slipped out of bed and made his way to the bathroom. The room was dimly lit, and the sound of his own retching filled the silence.

Unbeknownst to Louis, the noise had roused Harry from his sleep. Harry's concern for Louis was always on high alert, even in his sleep. He followed the sound, his heart sinking as he realized what was happening.

Harry entered the bathroom just in time to see Louis leaning over the toilet, his face contorted in discomfort. Without a word, Harry knelt beside him, holding back Louis's hair and offering a reassuring presence.

Louis was overwhelmed by a mix of emotions, from embarrassment to gratitude. He had been trying so hard to handle it all on his own. Yet here was Harry, always by his side, no matter the circumstances.

When the episode passed, Harry helped Louis to his feet and guided him back to bed. Louis was teary-eyed, feeling vulnerable and exposed.

"Harry, I'm so sorry," Louis whispered, his voice filled with regret.

Harry simply smiled, his eyes filled with understanding and love. "You have nothing to apologize for, Louis. We're in this together, through the ups and the downs."

After the unsettling episode in the bathroom, Louis and Harry returned to the warmth of their bed. Louis felt vulnerable, but he also felt a deep sense of gratitude for having Harry by his side.

In the stillness of the night, Harry's caring instincts were as sharp as ever. He couldn't help but worry about Louis's well-being. The sickness had taken its toll, and he wanted to do whatever he could to comfort his boyfriend.

"Louis," Harry whispered in the quiet of their shared moment. "Do you want me to make you some soup?"

Louis turned to him, a faint smile touching his lips despite the exhaustion and the late hour. "Haz, it's 2am."

But Harry's determination was unwavering. He leaned in and brushed a gentle kiss against Louis's forehead. "I don't care what time it is. I just want to take care of you. Do you want some soup?"

Louis's heart swelled with affection for the man who had seen him through one of the most difficult nights he had experienced. He nodded, his voice soft with gratitude. "Yes, Harry. That would be nice."

After Harry's offer to make soup, Louis decided to follow him to the kitchen. He wrapped a blanket around himself, feeling a bit chilly without a shirt on. Harry was shirtless as well, but that didn't bother either of them.

As they entered the kitchen, the warm, welcoming scent of simmering soup greeted them. Louis found solace in the cozy atmosphere, but his heightened sensitivity from the recent episodes of sickness made him feel a bit overwhelmed.

Harry glanced at Louis and chuckled, "You'd be a lot warmer if you just put on a hoodie, you know," he said, trying to bring some lightness to the moment.

However, Louis misunderstood his words and thought Harry was making fun of him for his vulnerability. He felt his temper rise, and he shot back, "Harry, I've been feeling terrible all night, and you're making fun of me now?"

Harry's eyes widened in surprise, realizing that Louis had taken his comment the wrong way. "Louis, no, I didn't mean it like that," he said quickly, stepping closer to his upset boyfriend. "I was just teasing, babe, I would never make fun of you. I'm sorry if it came out wrong."

Louis took a deep breath, realizing that he had reacted too strongly. His overstimulated state had made him more sensitive to comments, even well-intentioned ones. He wrapped the blanket around himself a bit tighter, feeling the tension in his shoulders ease.

Harry, his expression soft and caring, said, "I'll make it up to you, I promise. Let's get you some soup, and we can relax together, okay?"

Louis nodded, his anger dissipating as he understood that Harry meant no harm. They both stood in the kitchen, the warmth of the soup and their love filling the space. Harry continued to prepare the soup for Louis, and as he served it, he couldn't help but sneak in a playful smile, determined to make amends.

With their meal complete, Louis felt a bit more like himself, thanks to the soothing soup and Harry's care. 

With a teasing grin, Louis said, "You know, Haz, I'd bend you over right now if I wasn't fucking sick."

Harry chuckled  "Oh, really, would you now?"

Louis playfully wagged a finger. "Well, if I didn't feel like I was on a rollercoaster of nausea, I might've considered it."

Louis and Harry made their way back to bed, wrapped in a sense of comfort that came from their understanding of each other. Louis, still feeling a bit overstimulated from the earlier episodes, snuggled up to Harry, seeking the warmth and reassurance of his presence.

With a gentle smile, Louis reached out and began playing with Harry's hair, his fingers running through the soft locks. It was a soothing, rhythmic motion, and it helped to calm his own racing thoughts, the tactile sensation grounding him in the present moment.

Harry closed his eyes, enjoying the sensation of Louis's touch. Harry let out a soft moan at the sensation, much to Louis's surprise. Louis playfully kicked Harry's leg. "Harry," he warned, a hint of amusement in his voice. "You're supposed to be the one calming me down here."

Harry grinned, his eyes filled with affection. "I can't help it, Lou. You have a magical touch."

Louis chuckled, and his fingers continued their gentle exploration of Harry's hair. As he played with the strands, he leaned in, placing a sweet, lingering kiss on Harry's forehead.

Their intimacy wasn't about physical desire at this moment but about the deep emotional connection they shared. It was the affection, the tenderness, and the understanding that bound them together.

Harry whispered softly, "You make me feel so loved, Louis."

Louis looked into Harry's eyes, his gaze filled with warmth and devotion. "And you make me feel safe, Haz."





Notes:

I just found out that anxiety can make you get sick so now I know why I’m sick like every other week at school and it’s not just that I have a shitty immune system 💀

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