#this world's ashes

This World's Ashes

Explicit | 34k

The man stares at him, and all Harry can hear is his own heartbeat, racing.

Then the stranger turns away. He walks a few paces and bends down, picking up a large knife from the ground and shoving it into a pouch attached to his belt.

“I won’t hurt you, you know.”

Harry’s eyes snap up to the man’s face. He’s looking at Harry sincerely, palms held up as though in surrender. There’s still a knife in his right hand, though, so Harry is only slightly reassured.

Harry swallows to combat the dryness of his throat, and then says, “I won’t hurt you either.”

A post-apocalypse AU where Harry, battling his past as he survives in the woods, has learnt not to trust anyone except his dog. Then Louis crashes into his life, with his bright spirit and soft lips, pulling Harry from the depths of a loneliness he hadn’t realised he was drowning in. But there is danger lurking, and Harry’s not the only one wrestling with his past.

Written for the @bottomlouisficfest

As Harry sets the pot of clover above the small fire, he hears a yell, and almost jumps out of his skin.

“Harry!”

Suddenly his heart is pounding, the pulse of it thumping in his ears, blood rushing through his veins. He grabs his blade. He feels as though his throat is collapsing, dry and tight and blocking any words from escaping.

“Harry, you didn’t leave me any bloody clothes!” Louis shouts.

An exhale rushes out of Harry like a waterfall, cascading past his lips as he drops his head back in relief.

“I’ll get you some!” he yells back belatedly.

By the time he reaches the aisle where Louis is bathing, with thick, comfortable clothes clutched in one hand, Harry is blushing in anticipation. He knows Louis is naked and wet, and he can feel a mixture of premature embarrassment and interest exposing itself through the flush on his skin.

Coming soon to @bottomlouisficfest​ :)

@mercurial-madhouse tagged me (two weeks ago but we won't mention that) to post seven sentences of my WIP! I've written this fic for @bottomlouisficfest (go check out all the other fics as well - they've started posting!). Tentatively titled This World's Ashes 😊

Harry stands in aisle sixteen, head tilted back, and gazes at the stars through the hole in the ceiling. A breath builds in his chest, a heavy inhale expanding inside him until his lungs ache. He releases the air gradually, and with it he imagines every thought floating out of his mind, taking residence amongst the stars, where they can't bother him anymore.

A knocking sound startles him.

Louis peers into the aisle, knuckles resting against a shelf. His hair falls about his face, soft strands framing his eyes. There's a shadow of stubble along his jaw, and a part of Harry longs to trail his fingers over it, to feel the scruff under his thumb. He clenches his hands into fists instead.

The wonderful @larryatendoftheday tagged me to share the last line of my fic! It's the first fic I've ever written and so I'm gonna cheat a little and give you the last three lines hehe

Louis inhales deeply, nose pressed into the crook of Harry's neck, lips twitching against his skin.

"Can't get enough of you," Louis murmurs. Harry hums in agreement.