OH, gods, just break my heart!! Louis does hide someone old and weary behind his eyes, and although I've never thought of his silence as a means of protecting Harry it makes so much sense. Because someone does need to protect Harry. But someone also needs to protect Louis, and that's what Harry's for. I hope against hope they cling to each other like this in the night. They really need to. Beautiful and achy. And now I'm crying. *sob*