(no subject)
Title: Breathe Me - Chapter One
Pairing: Harry/Louis (Larry Stylinson)
Summary: Neither Harry, nor Louis, knew what they were getting into when they boarded the Titanic that day. Nobody could have been prepared for what was about to happen to them, because nobody knew just how much their lives would change within the next few days.
AN: Some ages are slightly altered.
-
“Please don't cry, you'll set me off.” Louis said softly, trying his best to comfort his mother and youngest sisters.
“You'll take good care of them, won't you?” Jay's question was directed at Zayn, who was stood just to the side of the Tomlinson's goodbye. Adjusting his bag on his shoulder, he flashed her a smile.
“Of course, Mrs. Tomlinson. Louis and Charlotte will be fine with me, but there's nothing to worry about. We're travelling on the Titanic after all.”
Joanna smiled thankfully at him. He really had been a good friend to the family, not only by arranging tickets for her two eldest children to travel to America where Lottie could finally pursue her designing career, under the care of Louis of course, but he had been there through thick and thin.
“And you'll write? Every week?”
“Mum...” Louis took a step forward, placing his hands on Jay's shoulders as he looked into her eyes. “I will write to you every single day if you want me to. I'll even try to drag Lottie away from her sketchbook long enough to write to you, too.”
They ignored the half hearted protests of 'I'm not that bad!' that came from behind them, as Jay let out a soft sob, pulling her only son towards her in a fierce hug.
“One letter a month. At least.” she whispered into his ear, squeezing her eyes shut as she tried to stay strong.
“And you'll write to us, too?” Louis pulled away from his mother, only to bend down to the twins' level. They were holding hands, tear trails evident on their faces.
“I'll write to all of you.” said the Doncaster boy, eyes moving from one saddened face to the other. “so will Lottie, and even Zayn if you want him to. We're not going away forever, just a little while.”
“Promise you'll come back?” it was Felicite talking this time. She held herself together quite well, only a few tears managing to escape past her eyes, yet her composure never faltered. Quite the little lady.
“I promise.” Louis said sincerely.
The booming horn of the ship reminded the family that there were only a few more minutes left before it prepared for its departure. Phoebe let out a soft sob, burring her face into Daisy's shoulder. All of the Tomlinson's, plus Zayn, shared a quick hug and after a round of goodbye kisses, Charlotte, Louis and Zayn were making their way to the third class boarding station.
Undergoing health inspection was a pretty mortifying experience in itself. They didn't have lice, they didn't have any form of illness at all, and being treated like an animal was just so degrading. First class boarders didn't have to go through this, so why should they? Granted, they had less money, but that wasn't the point. Not everything was about money.
When they were finally allowed to walk along the plank onto the ship, Louis couldn't help but be overwhelmed by the surreality of it all. Here he was, with two of the people he cared most about in the world, going to America of all places.
“They do say it's unsinkable, don't they?” asked Lottie nervously, as they walked through the door, marvelling at the interior of the ship. It was truly as grand as the outside, if not more so.
“According to the guy who sold me the tickets, God himself couldn't sink this ship.” smiled Zayn, putting an arm around the sixteen year olds' shoulders. “Come on, let's go find our room.”
-
“It is marvellous, is it not, Harold?”
“Yes, father.” sighed Harry, his monotonous voice becoming tiresome to even his own ears. He had said practically nothing but 'Yes, father', 'No, father', 'Of course, father.' all morning, yet Denis had yet to realise how uninterested his son was in the whole thing.
“It'll make an amazing impression on Mr. Lawson to see his daughter and her fiancé arrive in such a beautiful ship.”
“Of course it will, father.”
To be quite honest, Harry couldn't give a damn about some stupid boat. He didn't want to leave England. He didn't want to be here, and he certainly didn't want get married to someone he'd met only weeks before.
“I do hope we don't see any steerage on our journey. I don't see why people such as that are even given the chance to be on something as monumental as the RMS Titanic, do you Harry?”
The Cheshire boy opened his mouth to reply, but the words seemed to be stuck in his throat. How could he demote a whole group of people just because one person wanted him to? No-one could help what class they were born into, it was just a strike of luck. He didn't want to cause an argument with his father, not over something so petty, but he couldn't help the guilt that soared through him as he began to reply.
“I suppose-”
“Oh Denis, stop questioning our poor boy. Let's just go on, shall we?” Anne smiled, walking up to them with Gemma and Phillipa in tow.
You didn't have to be a genius to work out that the oldest Styles sibling absolutely detested the latter girl. She was vile, in all senses of the word, but unfortunately for Harry, she had money. The moment that Harry's father had found this out, he had struck a deal with Mr Lawson, arranging the marriage to happen as soon as possible. Harry hadn't understood why, until he overheard his dad talking to his friends, gloating about the fact that the moment Harry turned 20, he would inherit the Lawson fortune, so long as he was married to Phillipa. He had no choice in the matter; it was all planned out.
Harry gave his sister a sympathetic smile at having to keep his fiancé company, which was instantly returned. They had spoken in private when the deal had first been made, away from the listening ears of their father, and they both knew that the other hated their situation, but what else could they do about it? They could only hope that when the time came for their parents to find Gemma a husband, they would find someone with more heart than Phillipa.
“Yes, indeed. We don't want the corridors to be too crowded when we reach our suite.”
The young boy had to fight the urge to roll his eyes. His father was so shallow, it was unbelievable.
-
As it turned out, third class quarters weren't that bad. When they finally found their room, there was already another persons luggage there. It was unsurprising, really. There were three of them, and the room consisted of two sets of bunk beds pushed against each wall, with a dressing table near the door and several compartment holders (which Louis guessed to be where the life jackets were stored,) so there were clearly going to be sharing with someone. He just hoped that whoever it was didn't try to make a pass at his sister, or else the following week was going to very tense indeed.
“I call top bunk.” called Lottie, shoving her bag onto the bed. Louis merely chuckled, placing his own luggage on the bottom bunk, leaving Zayn with the top bunk above the strangers' bed, who was nowhere to be seen.
“Come on, let's get out on deck to wave everyone goodbye. There's only a few minutes before we leave.”
“I wonder who we're sharing with. Better be an alright guy.” Zayn said, shoving his hands in his pockets as the trio made their way through the crowded hallways.
“I'm hoping it's another girl. I don't know how I'd cope sharing with three boys!” laughed Lottie, skipping ahead of them a little.
“Charlotte, don't go too far in front.” Louis warned, jogging to catch up to her.
“Gosh, stop worrying, Lou!” she giggled. Obviously her nerves had now completely faded away, replaced with pure elation over the sense of freedom that was creeping over all of them.
Around five minutes later they found themselves on deck, leaning over the railings to try and catch a glimps of the Tomlinson's in the huge crowd that had formed below.
“There! I see them!” Louis shouted over the chatter, pointing to where his mum and other three sisters were stood, waving.
“Goodbye, I'll miss you!” yelled Zayn, grinning at the people whom he had grown to call a second family.
“I love you, mum. Felicite, take care of Ted!” Lottie had tears in her eyes as she yelled as loudly as she could. She didn't give a damn about the looks she was receiving from the people around her. So what if she was a woman? She would scream her lungs out if it meant her family might hear her, even though she knew there was a high possibility they couldn't.
“Bye guys!” Louis waved, grinning as he heard the horn of the ship once more, before he felt the ground beneath them begin to move.
Their journey had begun.
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Thoughts?