Who's Joking? (Stylinson)

44: Discourse of a Dictator

Song for the last bit of the chapter :')

Idk how this is 4k? Enjoy!!!!! This is a craaazy one :0

45 votes and 550 comments for an update <3

The door swung open without warning.

Harley barely had time to glance over his shoulder before Harry stepped inside, moving like he owned the place. Louis followed a step behind, looking only slightly less intrusive.

The apartment was dimly lit, with the glow of a streetlamp filtering through the half-shut blinds. The air was thick with the scent of cigarette smoke and cheap antiseptic, masking the sharper undertones of whiskey and blood. The place was small and cluttered but not messy—like someone lived here without bothering to make it feel like home. A half-empty bottle of liquor sat on the counter, bandages tossed carelessly beside it. A faint siren wailed in the distance, muffled by the city's hum.

Harley exhaled sharply through his nose, shaking his head as he tugged the hem of his shirt down over the fresh bandages wrapped around his ribs. "Jesus," he muttered, wincing faintly at the movement. "Ever heard of knocking?"

Harry just grinned, unbothered, flicking a glance around the dimly lit room. "Ever heard of locking your doors?"

Louis shot him a look, stepping forward. "Wouldn't have stopped you."

Harry hummed, considering. "True. But it's the principle of the thing."

Harley rolled his eyes, shifting against the window frame. "What do you want?"

Louis ignored the bite in his tone, eyes flickering to the thick gauze taped over his ribs. His stomach twisted slightly. "What happened?"

Harley's smirk was immediate, sharp and teasing. "What, this?" He gestured lazily to the bandages. "Bit of metal, no big deal."

Louis frowned, stepping closer despite himself. "Does it still hurt?"

"Not as much as your face does," Harley deadpanned. He reached out and pinched Louis' cheek between two fingers, grinning when Louis swatted him away. "Anyone ever tell you you're gonna get frown lines? Lighten up, princess. It's not my first rodeo."

Louis hesitated, glancing down briefly before muttering, "I didn't know."

"Yeah, well, it's not like Mister J over there is much for details." Harley motioned toward Harry, who had taken up residence in the doorway, arms crossed, watching the exchange like it was his evening entertainment.

Harry waved at the two of them, flexing his fingers with a grin.

Louis huffed, shaking his head at Harry before looking back at Harley. "Do you need anything?"

Harley blinked, clearly thrown off by the question. Then his smirk returned, slower this time, like he was enjoying dragging out the silence just to watch Louis squirm.

"Oh, birdy," he purred, "you want to play nurse with me?"

Louis groaned. "Never mind."

Harley laughed, the sound rough but genuine, and that alone was enough to ease some of the tension in Louis' shoulders.

Then, before he could think better of it, Louis closed the distance between them and hugged him.

It wasn't much but it still took Harley by surprise.

"Uh." Harley's arms hovered awkwardly at his sides. He looked over Louis' shoulder toward Harry, still lingering by the door, and sent him a pointed, wide-eyed look. "What is he doing?"