Chapter Text
Thursday, September 18th, 12:06 am.
"Don't tell me to calm down, Liam!" Louis yelled, pacing back in forth in the car park. Liam watched helplessly, unable to form the words needed to explain himself, to explain this situation. He just couldn't think with Louis yelling at him. He couldn't think with Harry glaring at him from where he leaned against the beat up up car. "If that's even your fucking name, Jesus Christ!" And yeah, Liam supposed he deserved that.
"Louis, please, just- just let me think. I can fix this, I can get us out of this. I can get Niall back, I just need you stop yelling at me every second." Liam begged, his fists clenched at his sides. Louis stopped pacing, turning to join Harry in glaring at Liam.
"Please, be my guest. Fix this, Liam. Because I swear to God if Niall dies, you will too." Louis threatened. Liam took a deep breath, trying to sort his thoughts out, trying to come up with some kind of plan. It was difficult to think though with the icy blue eyes of Louis and the emerald green eyes of Harry fixed on him as if they were trying to make Liam burst into flames with their minds. Of course he couldn't blame them for being so upset, given the circumstances. He was used to this kind of thing, they were not. He spent a good seven years dealing with this kind of stuff whereas they didn't even know this kind of stuff happened. To them, these kinds of situations only happened in movies or TV shows, not in real life. Secret agents, hostages, car chases didn't happen in real life. At least not in their life.
But Liam's life? Well, Liam's old life? It was almost an everyday occurrence. He's been through this countless times, or at least situations similar to this. Life threatening situations used to be like going to the grocery store to pick up that milk you forgot to get, it just happened. It used to be his job to put his life on the line to save someone or stop something horrible from happening. He was used to it, and didn't mind doing it because it meant that the majority of people got to live in peace, not knowing that there really was people out there that truly just wanted to watch the world burn. He hated when people thought they were above everyone else and thought they could do what they want without accounting for anyone else. He hated that and so he was recruited to help stop people like that. But he got out of that. He got out of that years ago, he couldn't do it anymore because he was tired of the lies. He was tired of not knowing who to trust, of not knowing if he would see the next day and he was tired of being so alone. With that job you couldn't have friends or family members even because not only did you have to constantly lie to them but friends and family were only something else your enemies could use against you. Much like right now.
"Okay, I know this seems a little hectic-" Liam started to talk but really, Louis was being impossible.
"A little hectic? No, Liam, this is fucking insane! What the fuck is going on?" Louis demanded. Liam gave a frustrated sigh and had to remind himself that Louis was just scared, that he was scared and he didn't know what else to do.
"Okay, yes, it's crazy. But as I said before... I know what I'm doing. You'll have to trust me."
"Trust you? You've lied to us for two and a half years, how the fuck are we supposed to trust you?" Louis demanded. Liam looked to Harry for help, he was usually pretty level headed and calm, but all he got was a look of confusion, a look of hurt and anger.
"Don't look at me, Liam. I can't help you out of this one." Harry mumbled, casting his eyes to the cement beneath their feet.
"I know," Liam began, defeated. He really couldn't blame them at all. He'd be just as pissed and confused if the roles were reversed. "I know I lied to you. But I'm telling you the truth now. My name is Liam. I used to work for a government organization- don't roll your eyes at me, Lou." Liam sighed as Louis in fact rolled his eyes, turning away and going to stand by Harry and the now probably useless car. "But I got out of that years ago. I don't know what's going on or what these people want but I can promise you, I will get Niall back."
"How?"
"I- I don't know yet. I need more information, I need... I just- It doesn't matter, just go home and I'll-"
"We're not going home." Harry cut in at the same time Louis did.
"Yeah, the fuck right."
"No, you guys have to go home, this isn't some game you can play, if you die, you die. There's no reset, there's no start over." Liam tried to explain as calmly as possible, he knew they were told if they run, they would die but they weren't running. Liam was only sending them home, he didn't want to put them in danger.
"No shit, thanks for explaining that because I thought we were testing some super realistic video game before they put it out for everyone." Louis said dryly, only stopping because Harry had put a hand over his mouth.
"Liam, whoever this is, whoever is doing this knows who we are. Who's to say he won't take us as well? Or kill us, or go after our families? We can't just go home. It wouldn't be safe." Harry said calmly.
"Coming with me won't be safe either." Liam mumbled.
"Well, as much as I hate to say it, because this is all your fault, we're safer with you than on our own." Harry grumbled. "So, you don't have a choice, we're coming with you." Liam sighed, not really knowing how to argue with that then flinched when he heard the faint sound of his ringtone coming from the inside of the beat up car. He doesn't want to answer it, he knows who it has to be, because no one else would be calling him at midnight.
"Is it him?" Harry asked, glancing in through the non-existent windows, non-existent due to the bullets that were recently shot through them.
"Probably." Liam answered, not making a move.
"Are you going to answer it?" Harry asked and Liam couldn't tell if Harry wanted him to or if he was silently telling him not to. Liam sighed, running his fingers through his short hair then took the few steps to the car. He opened the door, the hinge groaning in protest and reached in, grabbing his phone and hitting answer. He held it to his ear as he backed out of the car but didn't say hello, he only waited for them to start talking.
"Good evening, Agent Payne. Glad to see you're still alive."