#also like. i entered the fandom through the larrie side | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

maria-scribbles · 4 years

Text

glitter + crimson (let’s start a riot)//part five

summary: in the aftermath of hurricane agatha, the pogues are thrown into a mess none of them are ready to deal with. things that don’t exactly top sailor’s ‘fun things to do this summer’ list: surfing in the middle of a hurricane, getting punched in the face by a stupid kook, and stumbling upon a mystery that turns her and her friends into the damn scooby gang. when she said she wanted an exciting summer, she should’ve been more specific. 🙃

word count: 8.1k+ (it just keeps getting longer and longer 😅)

ship: jj maybank x oc (sailor flynn)

warnings n stuff: mentions of abuse/neglect/gambling addiction, child abandonment, anxiety, self-worth issues, jj being both soft af and hot for his best friend, weed usage, underage drinking, unresolved sexual tension, sailor being thirsty, swearing, guns, fighting, blood, that one trope where two characters only call each other by their nicknames/last names until they don’t because of ~reasons~ that makes me lose my shit every time (like a lot of the obx fandom, i also headcanon that jj stands for jesse james), references to the three stooges (jj=moe, pope=larry, and john b=curly and that’s a fact lmao), to all the boys i've loved before, avengers infinity war, and david attenborough, and a line heavily inspired/influenced by taylor swift's "dress" (a song that happens to be on the playlist for this series)

a/n: we’re finally entering canon territory, y’all (with a few tweaks, of course!) but i’m determined not to make this a rehash/retelling word for word of the show ‘cause that’s just no fun, so expect smaller pieces (vignettes, i guess?) of storytelling as i expand on canon with sailor and the rest of the pogues. think of it like a mixtape of sorts, but with words instead of music if that makes sense lol. this part originally covered episodes one and two but i wrote so much that i had to split it, so we're just covering most of episode one for now (i still can't even believe how much shit actually goes down in the pilot lol). i was veryyyy excited to write the kegger at the boneyard 'cause some ~juicy~ stuff happens there lol. fun fact: the title of this part is a term used by surfers to refer to getting up at the ass crack of dawn to hit the waves. as always, this is unbetaed so any mistakes are mine. enjoy!

gif credit to @jj-maybnks

~Masterlist~

part five: dawn patrol

The next morning, Hurricane Agatha hits the island with all the force of a knockout punch; the sound of rain pounding against the roof echoes impossibly loud throughout the Chateau but Sailor’s bewildered shriek is even louder.

“You’re gonna what the what?!”

John B shrugs as the stunned redhead, lounging on the couch, looks away from watching the storm and fixes him with a wide-eyed stare.

“I’m gonna surf the surge.”

“Hell yeah, bro!” JJ yells from his spot as her footrest, punching his fist in the air and she sends him an exasperated look, both at his enthusiastic encouragement of John B’s downright moronic idea and the fact that she already misses the feeling of his thumb drawing circles on her bare ankle.

“Are you two insane?”

“Possibly.” John B states, grinning when JJ follows that up with, “Absolutely.” The blond boy pushes Sailor’s legs off his lap as he stands which earns him another displeased scowl from the redhead. “Come on, Sail. Live a little.”

“Oh, I’ll live alright, but you idiots won’t,” She takes his offered hand, letting him pull her to her feet and then down the hall after John B as she continues, “because this is the dumbest idea you’ve ever had.”

“See, this is why we keep you around,” He replies, laughing when she dodges his attempt to ruffle her hair and dashes forward to beat him to the spare room. “We do something stupid, you and Kie read us the riot act. It’s tradition.”

Sailor grabs her long-sleeved rash vest -if she’s going to sit on the beach to keep an eye on these fools in the middle of a damn hurricane, at least she’ll wear something that offers a little bit of warmth- and heads to the bathroom to change. “Yeah, and then I’m there to patch you up when you inevitably hurt yourselves.”

“Can’t help that you have that healing touch.” His cheeky response floats through the closed door and she catches herself smiling -wide and just a little bit sappy- in the mirror.

After a quick detour to pick up Pope, who’s already drenched from sneaking out his window, the pogues (sans Kiara who never answered John B’s text in the group chat and, knowing her parents, was probably on hurricane lockdown) head to the beach, where the rugged gray surf hammers against the shore with unrelenting brutality. Sailor trails behind the others as they grab their boards and make a break for the water, blatantly ignoring the barriers that read ‘beach closed’ in large, impossible to miss letters. A few hundred feet down the coast, she can barely make out The Sandbar all boarded up for the storm and she thinks of her mother, wondering if she's riding it out inside or at home; either way Carmen's all alone and Sailor's stomach twists with guilt, both for letting her phone battery die so she didn't have to answer her calls and for leaving in the first place, even though it was the right thing to do for her damn sanity.

“These signs are here for a reason, guys!” She calls over the howling wind, squinting through the rain at the rough waves with her hands tapping uneasily against her thighs. Watching John B run into the ocean with reckless abandon (Pope following with a little more caution, thankfully) immediately puts her anxiety on edge so she sits down heavily on the wet sand, wrapping her arms around the knees pulled to her chest and looks up at the blond boy who stayed behind. “Aren’t you gonna join the other stooges?”

JJ shrugs at her question, glancing out toward their friends before dropping his board to the ground and taking a seat behind the trembling girl, his chest to her back. “This one can’t just leave you hanging out here all alone, lookin’ all sad and shit. It’s kind of pathetic.”

“Wow, you really know how to make a girl feel special, J.” She smirks and scoots back in the sand, lips curling into a full-fledged smile when he lifts his arms to drape them over her shoulders. As he tucks her securely against his front, the warmth of his body helps ward off the biting chill of the rain, and so does the fact that he knows her so well, that he knows this is exactly what she needs to help calm the panicking butterflies in her stomach.

He leans close, lips brushing against the shell of her ear when he whispers his next words like a secret, low and just for her even when there’s no one around to hear them. “Trust me, Sail, you ain’t seen nothing yet.”

She suddenly finds those butterflies in her stomach fluttering for a whole different reason.

The Chateau sits in complete darkness, the power having been knocked out since they returned from dropping Pope off at his house that afternoon. Sailor thinks it’s about ten at night as she lies on her back on the mattress of the sleeper sofa, listening to the wind rip through the trees outside with Binx curled up at her feet. The spare room was way too hot without a working fan, even after she braided her hair off to the side and changed into a crop top and shorts, so she and JJ had returned to the living room where it was cooler, if only by a little bit.

John B has already retreated to his room for the night; he’d been acting quieter than usual since their little adventure at the beach but between a lantern-lit dinner of semi-stale cereal and passing a joint around, she never got the chance to ask if he was okay before he made his escape. JJ lies beside her with his limbs all askew and from the slow rise and fall of his bare chest she’s 99% sure he’s out like a light until, out of the blue, he mutters into the stagnant air, “Can’t keep your eyes off me, huh?”

She blinks heavily -that weed must’ve hit her harder than she thought because she hadn’t even realized she’d been staring- when he lazily turns his head to stare back, a halcyon grin on his face and in the dark, his pupils are blown so wide she can barely see the blue of his irises. Her hand itches with a longing to sweep that one stubborn strand of hair away from his forehead but instead she blindly slides it to the left until she finds his and holds on tight; his fingers automatically lace with hers even as the space between his eyebrows furrows and the smile falls from his lips.

“Sail?”

“I don’t think my dad’s ever coming back.” The redhead’s mouth blurts before her brain can catch up, heavy words lingering like a storm cloud ready to downpour. The thought had been weighing on her heart for a while now, from when she’d first suspected it two months ago, and it feels bittersweet to finally admit it out loud, even when she hadn’t planned doing it.

Her bedmate is silent for a long time as he looks at her through the shadows and she focuses on the touch of his palm against hers instead of the awful mounting pressure behind her eyes -hadn’t she promised herself she was done crying over her dad?- until he asks quietly, “Why? I mean, good riddance 'cause he's kind of the worst, but why?"

“A feeling,” She murmurs around the sudden lump in her throat, biting the inside of her lip hard enough that she tastes the metallic tang of blood on her tongue. “He...he usually comes back after a month or two but this time it’s been almost five.” A bitter laugh escapes from her chest and she shakes her head. “I guess he finally decided he’s done dealing with my worthless ass.”

JJ’s eyes flash like lightning as he rolls over to face her, the hand not entwined with hers reaching up to cup her cheek. “Sail, shut up. Don’t you dare say that.”

“Why shouldn’t I? It’s true,” She says sharply, words acerbic and biting and full of a self-hatred that’s been poisoning her heart ever since she was old enough -eight and far, far too young- to discern the way her dad’s love for her was fickle at best, non-existent at worst. “I could’ve been a better daughter- a perfect daughter- and he might still be here and my mom wouldn't hate me. I should’ve tried harder-”

“Jesus Christ, Sailor!” He interrupts, calloused yet gentle thumb wiping away the tears she just now registers sliding down her cheeks and the shock of hearing her full name come from his mouth makes the rest of her vitriolic thoughts fly out the window. “Do you even hear yourself right now?”

The image of him blurs through the darkness in shades of black and she closes her eyes, jaw clenched in an attempt to quell the tremble of her lip as he goes on in his low, soft voice, “You should’ve tried harder to do what, huh? What could you have possibly done better?”

She’s quiet for a long time, so long that her tears run dry and all that remains is smeared salt on her skin because she doesn’t have an answer. What could she have done? That terrible thought in her mind rears it’s ugly head again, the one that tells her she’s not good enough, that everything’s her fault because she doesn’t do enough, but when she asks it what more she can do, there’s no reply. There never is.

“Hey, look at me.” She hears the rustling of sheets and feels his fingers slip from hers before they come to rest on her cheek, both hands now cradling her face; she opens her eyes to find him hovering over her and the sheer lack of distance between them makes her heart skip a beat. “You...”

“What about me?” Her voice cracks as she speaks and in a mirror of her from earlier, JJ shakes his head, causing that stubborn strand of hair to once again fall into his eyes.

“I wish you’d see yourself the way I do.”

Her breath catches in her throat. “And how do you see me?”

“Fucking amazing.” He says simply and in the dark, she can barely see the flush slowly starting to creep up his neck. “Smart, brave, and loyal as hell. A beautiful badass who doesn’t take shit from anybody. A girl who listens when someone needs to be heard.”

The redhead stares up at him with wide green eyes as he goes on and on, listing all these wonderful little things that her traitorous mind has a hard time processing, let alone believing; he really thinks about her like this? “You care so damn much,” “You’re kind but not afraid speak out,” “You’re the one I trust the most.”

Her hand slowly releases its tight grip on the sheets and slides up his bare arm, feeling the heat of his skin under her palm as she touches his face, not trusting herself to speak because she’s so afraid of saying something dumb or stupid and ruining everything ('like I always do,' her mind echoes).

“You’re my best friend, Sailor, and yeah, you’re not perfect. You drink and you smoke weed and you don’t get straight As in school but fuck, you’re real and so not worthless.” He says each word with such conviction that its impossible not to believe him, as much as her brain screams at her not to. “And I want you to know that what your parents think of you doesn't matter at all, got it?"

Without warning, she flings her arms around his neck and JJ loses his balance, falling onto her with a soft oof of surprise but Sailor doesn’t even feel the extra weight as she rests her face against his shoulder and finally finds her voice. “Thank you.”

He takes her with him when he rolls onto his side, arms wrapped tight around her waist and nose buried in her messy braid. “Just...trying to do the right thing, I guess. For once.”

She pulls back at his words, then leans forward and slowly presses her lips to his flushed cheek, just missing the corner of his mouth. She lets them linger for a beat longer than necessary before leaning back -not too far, just enough- and looking him in the eye. “Thank you, Jesse.”

He usually hates being called by his first name (she found that out pretty quickly into their friendship, “never call me Jesse” being one of the first things he ever said to her) but he just looks at her with a soft, endearing smile on his face as he leans back onto the bed, once again bringing her with him. “Promise me something, Sail?”

She glances up at him from his shoulder and meets his eyes. “Yeah?”

His fingers tuck an escaped red curl behind her ear. “Just...be you. Don’t worry about what anyone else thinks.”

She wishes it were that easy, that she could just step inside her mind and flip a switch and she could stop all those thoughts that’ve plagued her for years but it’s not. It’s gonna take time -time and a lot of patience and maybe even a miracle- but damn it, she’s gonna give it her all, not just for herself but for him and the rest of the pogues, too, the best friends she's ever had, so she nods and settles back down at his side. “I’ll try my best, J.”

“I know you will.”

"Sail, you're the best swimmer out of all of us. Think you can dive down there and check it out?"

The redhead peers over the edge of the HMS Pogue and into the water, where the murky shape of the sunken Grady-White sits thirty feet down on the bottom of the marsh, then nods at the rest of the pogues, an excited grin on her face.

"No problem," She answers John B, hopping up onto the very tip of the boat's bow with practiced ease before diving headfirst into the water to JJ's yell of "diver down!" It's dirtier than usual because of the hurricane but she doesn't let that stop her as she swims down and down until she reaches the top of the boat and pulls herself the rest of the way onto the deck, carefully scanning the area for...fuck. Honestly, she's got absolutely no clue what she's looking for but she assumes she'll know when she sees it.

'It' turns out to be a motel key, resting all alone on the floor by the steering wheel and she quickly reaches out to snatch it, sliding the silver key ring around her finger securely. When she pushes off toward the surface, she leaves the ghostly Grady-White behind with more questions than answers.

The rest of her friends are lined up in a row along the boat's railing, all staring at her with near identical expressions of anticipation as she breaks through the water and holds the key aloft with a triumphant smile.

"The Summer Winds Motel called, they want their key back!"

A little later that evening, Sailor would really regret finding that damn key but right now, she's having a great time dancing at the Boneyard with Kiara at the traditional post-hurricane kegger, second refill of beer in hand, spiked with Fireball from the flask tucked in her back pocket. To her, dancing's a lot like surfing -steady feet, swiveling hips, snapping shoulders- and she thinks that might be the reason she's so bad at it, anticipating the fluidity of water instead of the solidness of dry land. Or it could be that she just doesn't have rhythm when she's a little buzzed. That works, too.

"Ow, Sail!" Kiara winces as the redhead steps on her foot again, rolling her eyes fondly when she throws her head back with a loud, tipsy giggle.

"My bad, Kie!" She twirls in the sand, hair dancing around her shoulders like fire, and finds herself spinning right into a herd of dancing tourons, all too drunk to care that she's spilling her beer all over their feet. Large, olive-skinned hands grab her waist to spin her again and she laughs, smiling over her shoulder at a cute dark-haired touron as he slides one palm over to settle against the bare skin of her lower back. She pushes one hand on his shoulder with just enough resistance that he doesn't get too close into her personal space as he leans in to speak in a low Southern drawl, brown eyes turned a pretty bronze in the glow of the nearby bonfire.

"This probably isn't the best thing to say to a beautiful girl but you kind of dance like a giraffe."

Sailor bursts out laughing at that. "Hey, I think giraffes are very elegant creatures so I'll take that as a compliment!"

The boy grins and she smiles, too, letting him take her free hand and pull her into the throng of dancing bodies. He's almost as bad a dancer as she is but he's fun to talk to and together they gleefully show off their worst moves until their feet hurt -she's lost count of how many times she stepped on his toes- and her solo cup is empty. "Come on," She says and this time, she's the one to grab his hand and lead him over to the closest keg, where John B's dishing out beer with an expert flourish.

"'Sup, Sail," He lifts his chin in greeting as he fills her cup, smirking when she immediately pulls out her flask and adds a long pour of Fireball on top. "Who's your friend?"

"JB, this is Adam, he's visiting from Tennessee. Adam, meet John B, one of my best friends and a total moron," She makes quick introductions, smiling into her drink as he scowls and playfully sprays some beer at her feet before filling another cup and holding it out to the other boy with a jab at her expense.

"Be careful around her, man. She's a handful."

The touron accepts the drink with a shrug and a quick wink in her direction. "Good thing I happen to like 'em a little crazy."

Ugh. More than a little miffed at that, she rolls her eyes and takes a long sip of beer to hide her annoyance when Adam laughs and slings his arm around her shoulders. Calling her a giraffe was actually kind of cute in a very weird, endearing way but he instantly lost whatever points he had with her the second that 'c' word came out of his pretty mouth. She glances around the Boneyard while the boys start talking about surfing (she scoffs to herself, what does a farm kid from Tennessee know about that?), scanning the crowd for the rest of her friends and a chance to ditch him. Kiara's sitting on a big piece of driftwood, chatting up a stunning, deeply tan girl with glossy black hair -she waves when their eyes meet and shoots Sailor a cheeky grin before returning to her conversation- while the ever awkward Pope seems to be stuck in the middle of one of his rambles about autopsies as he stands around the fire, the willowy blonde beside him looking more and more uncomfortable by the second. She'd deliberately lost track of JJ a while ago, after she watched him getting a little too close to a tiny brunette, his hand low on her back as she passed him a drink and ran her fingers up his bare arm, coaxing that killer smile of his onto his face (that girl may have gotten his smile but Sailor got his eyes and they watched her until she pointedly turned away).

Honestly, she's a bit -okay, a lot- peeved. Here she is, thinking that they're the closest they've ever been before (they've always been close, ever since that day in sixth grade, but this is a whole different kind of close), and just when she feels like she may finally be ready to admit some things, some feelings, he's off doing who knows what with another girl; to be fair, she's off with another guy that she'd, until a minute ago, fully planned on kissing, but that's only because of him! Him and some weird need she has to keep him looking at her, to make him jealous -she shakes her head and takes another swig of her whiskey-spiked beer. Nope, nope, not gonna think about that.

Poor Pope looks like he's really struggling so Sailor pushes all thoughts of her blond best friend from her mind and goes to rescue him, ducking out from under Adam's sweaty arm and walking away without a backwards glance, ignoring the confusion in his voice as he calls her name. She pushes through the crowd to her friend and steps right in front of the girl he's trying to talk to, grabbing his hand with her free one.

"Come dance with me?"

The smile of pure relief that breaks out over his face makes her own widen as he lets her pull him back through the mass of bodies to a less-crowded part of the make-shift dance floor, the tension bleeding out of his hunched shoulders with every step.

"You're an angel, Sailor."

She laughs and wraps her arm around his shoulders, leading him in a carefree twirl across the cool sand. "Tell me something I don't know."

Like a leaf caught up in a whirlwind, he's helpless to resist her infectious joy as they dance, grinning like fools and poking fun at each other; for a while, the redhead tries to forget about stupid, clueless boys and focuses on Pope who, while still a clueless boy, doesn't expect anything from her but pure, unconditional friendship that she's all too willing to give (although she did have a teensy little crush on him when they first became friends, she got over it pretty fast the second he started talking about the bodily functions of dead bodies in explicit detail). She shares her drink with him, giggling at the way his face morphs from curiosity to disgust to delight at the taste of her cinnamon beer concoction and lets him down the rest while she drinks straight from the flask that she pulls from her back pocket.

"You've got a shadow." Pope says, slightly nodding his chin over her shoulder and she takes his hand again, slowly spinning herself under his arm to take a quick glance, rolling her eyes when she spots Adam staring at her from the edge of the crowd. "You know him?"

"Unfortunately. Thought he was cute, then he called me crazy." She tucks the whiskey away with a shrug at her friend's sympathetic wince, then steps closer to him and raises a conspiratorial eyebrow. "Wanna help me tell him to take a long walk off a short cliff?"

"Uh-"

"I think I can help with that," A familiar voice cuts off Pope's reply as JJ suddenly appears at her side, slipping his hand into her back pocket to spin her right into the circle of his arms before he plucks the flask from the other and takes a big sip in one smooth kinda sexy move. "Straight Fireball? Damn, Sail."

The redhead carefully schools her features into a blank mask but her body has other ideas, one hand instantly settling on his chest like it's second nature and her face flushing from more than just the alcohol as she casually replies, "You know I like things a little spicy." Completely aware of the way he's watching her every move, she snatches the whiskey back and downs the little bit that's left, trying and failing to ignore the thrill that shoots through her at those bright blue eyes of his darkening when her tongue darts out to lick her lips. Pope rolls his eyes at them both before muttering a quick 'see ya' and hastily melting back into the crowd.

"So, who're we telling to fuck off?" His voice is just a little strained and she feels her cool facade start to crack as she scowls, subtly tilts her head toward where Adam's still staring at her with an expression that looks like he ate a sour lemon. JJ spins her around to take a very conspicuous peek and her mouth curls into a grin, mask breaking completely when he shoots the touron a glare that screams 'try me, I dare you'; the heat from his hand still in her pocket burns as he leans in until his forehead rests on hers. "Let's give him a show."

Sailor hums and pretends to mull it over even as she coyly snakes her arms around his neck and pulls him closer, the harder panes of his body sliding almost sinfully against her softer curves as they sway together, "I don't know, you looked pretty cozy with that other girl earlier..." Is it kind of petty to bring it up? Yes, yes it is, but she can't resist toying with him like he did to her, just as she can't help the breathless gasp that escapes her lips when his fingers press hard into the toned flesh of her ass through her shorts.

"Why, Flynn, are you jealous?"

"Please, I saw that glare you gave him. If anyone's jealous, it's you, Maybank." She fires back while carding both hands through his hair and the pure gratification she feels at his slight shiver is nothing short of euphoric. Out of the corner of her eye, she barely takes notice of the frown Adam sends their way before he turns and stalks off toward the other side of the beach; honestly, she's so caught up in JJ and everything about him -the slow swing of his hips, the hands burning hot against the strip of her back exposed by her crop top, the darkened look in those ocean eyes- that she'd completely forgotten about the touron she danced with earlier in an effort to forget the boy she's dancing with now. She should've known it wouldn't have worked: Sailor could never forget JJ, no matter how hard she tries. He's like a permanent mark on her, a tattoo inked in gold, a beautiful, wonderous scar that she never wants to fade away.

"Seems like we scared him off so I don't have to worry about that anymore." His flushed face is so close she can feel his breath on her lips as he speaks and her eyes quickly flick down to his mouth on their own accord.

"And what about me?" She asks, twirling her fingers in the hair at the nape of his neck, heart beating fast in anticipation as he smirks wickedly at the way her own face turns cherry red.

"Sail, babe, you don't have to worry about a damn thing."

All one of them has to do is tilt their head and everything will fall into place and she can once again know what it's like to kiss him-

"Let it go, Topper!" A sudden, annoyed shout breaks the two apart before they can close that final distance (Sailor's not sure who would've made the first move and she's both relieved and disappointed they won't get to find out), turning away from each other in tandem toward the gathering mass of bodies chanting 'fight, fight!' at the shoreline.

"JB, he's not worth it!" At the sound of Kiara's voice, they take off running across the sand and shove their way to the front of the crowd just in time to see Topper Thornton in all his frat boy glory get absolutely slammed with a hard punch to the jaw, courtesy of John B. The kook barely hits the ground before he's back on his feet and lunging forward to tackle him into the water, landing a hit of his own square in the eye.

"What the hell happened?" Sailor grabs Kiara's elbow and the dark haired girl looks at her with wide eyes as the boys continue to roll around, exchanging brutal blows while a stunned Pope watches from her other side.

"I don't even know, they just started wailing on each other!"

JJ stands silent to Sailor's right, jaw clenched and hands curled into fists as he stares at the brawl and she reaches over to wrap her fingers around his wrist, thumb calmly running circles on his skin.

"Top, seriously! Stop it!" Sarah Cameron stands in the sand just before the crashing waves, yelling furiously at her boyfriend and throwing her arms in the air when he ignores her. "What is wrong with you?"

The moment Topper lands three punches in a row on John B's battered face, Sailor decides she's seen enough. She rushes forward without thinking to grab the blond boy's arm, pulling as hard as she can in an attempt to get him off her friend and barely has time to register what's happening when the fist he was aiming at John B suddenly swings at her. It connects solidly with her left cheek and makes her stumble back, her hand flying to her throbbing face before she goes down hard onto her butt in the surf.

"What the fuck, Thornton?"

"Did you just punch a girl?"

"Ohhhh shit!"

A cacophony of voices yells from the shore as the kook boy stares down at her, momentarily stunned when he realizes who exactly he hit, and it gives John B an opening to wrestle him back into the water and land a solid punch right to his nose. Everything happens so fast after that that the redhead, still reeling in a wide-eyed daze, has a little trouble keeping up. First, Kiara and Pope splash through the waves to her side, kneeling down to help her to her feet with their arms around her waist. Second, Topper gains the upper hand and straight up tries to drown John B, holding his head under the water while Sarah screams at him to stop. And third, JJ -reckless, bold, protective JJ- pulls out that damn stolen gun, effectively bringing the whole mess to a grinding halt when he stalks forward and presses the barrel to the side of Topper's head.

"Your move, broski." He threatens and the beach is so quiet everyone can hear the click of the safety being switched off. The kook slowly raises his hands in the air and John B emerges from the water, stumbling forward onto his hands and knees with a horrible wet cough.

It's all too much for Sailor's poor tipsy self to take. The world spins beneath her feet as her head starts to pound and her shaking fingers fail to find purchase on Kiara's and Pope's shoulders.

"Guys, I don't feel so good," She manages to whisper and their looks of concern (the former) and panic (the latter) are the last thing she sees before her legs give out and everything goes black.

The first thing she registers is the pain that radiates from the left side of her face, her whole head throbbing with every beat of her heart and the sound of loud whispering right by her ear isn't helping at all.

"That's the best you can do, J? Seriously?"

"The power's out! I can't exactly pull ice out of my ass, Kie."

Something semi-cold gently rests against her cheek and she audibly sighs at the little bit of relief she feels, her hand sluggishly rising to hold it a little closer as she mumbles, "I wouldn't want your ass ice anyway." At least she tries to: her mouth feels like it's full of cotton and she's pretty sure the only thing that comes out is unintelligible gibberish.

Sailor opens her eyes and finds herself lying on her back on the sleeper sofa at the Chateau, a passed out John B to her right. Pope sits on the edge of the mattress by his side, holding a beer bottle to his friend's black eye and he sends her a relieved smile when he notices she's awake.

"There she is," JJ says from her other side and she turns to face him, not at all surprised to find him already looking at her, and the unabashed concern in his eyes sends a golden warmth through her whole body. Her fingers slip down the hand that's still holding the bottle to her cheek so she can run her thumb over the delicate bones in his wrist in a silent thank you.

A different, softer hand rests on her knee and she tears her gaze away from his face to smile at Kiara as she says, "Good to see you're okay, Sail."

The redhead sinks back into the pillow in embarrassment and covers her eyes with her free hand. God, she really passed out, didn't she? She passed out after taking one lousy punch to the face by a fucking kook, no less. How completely mortifying. She swallows thickly and sounds like a chain smoker when she says, "I'm so sorry, guys. I'm a total idiot."

The other three conscious pogues start protesting all at once -apparently there's many, many, different ways to say she's not an idiot- and the resulting volume of their combined voices is enough to make her headache even worse. She sits up and scoots back until she's propped against the couch and sets the now warm beer on the side table before massaging both of her temples.

"Will you please shut up, I can feel my brain beating in my skull."

For a second, there's wonderful, blissful silence and then:

"Holy shit, thank you," A groggy voice says to her right and she turns to watch a bleary-eyed John B claw his way back to consciousness. "You guys are fucking loud."

"He lives!" JJ shouts, ignoring the four glares sent his way and reaching over to clap his hand against the brunet boy's shoulder. "Welcome back, dude."

"Ugh," He suddenly rolls onto his stomach -Pope deftly catching the bottle when it nearly falls from the bed- and his muffled voice floats out from the pillow he shoves his head under like an ostrich in the sand. "Knock me back out."

"Aww, poor baby." Sailor gives his back a sympathetic pat and chuckles softly when he blindly feels around for her arm, pushing it away with another deep groan and a 'fuck off, Sail' that lacks any type of venom.

"Okay, now that you're both kind of conscious, let's agree that neither of you will ever fucking do that again. Got it?" Kiara addresses John B and Sailor as she stands from the bed and crosses her arms, fixing the latter with a piercing look that makes her feel like a kid caught with her hand in the cookie jar; she opens her mouth to defend herself but before she can say anything, Kiara turns her furious gaze to JJ and points an accusing finger at his face. "And you! What the hell were you thinking pulling that damn gun out, huh?"

"Jesus Christ, Kie!" He suddenly rockets to his feet and throws his hands in the air. "Sail got socked in the face and JB was getting fucking drowned, I wasn't really thinking much at all!”

The dark haired girl can't seemed to think of a response to that and looks away, staring at the floor with her jaw clenched as Pope, ever the mediator, rises to his feet, too, and rounds the bed to step between them placatingly.

"Let's just drop it for tonight, okay? They need to rest." He says, nodding toward the two still on the bed before wrapping his hand around Kiara's elbow and turning her toward the front door. She immediately pulls her arm from his grasp but still nods in agreement, the hard look in her eyes softening when she glances at her injured friends.

"Yeah, okay." She says and glances down at her watch, wincing when she catches sight of the time. "My parents'll kill me if I'm not home soon, anyway."

"Come on, I'll take you guys home." JJ says with a conciliatory look in her direction as Pope tosses him the Volkswagen's keys from his pocket and when she nods back, a small smile pulling at the corner of her mouth, Sailor knows that all is forgiven, at least for now.

"Are you sure you're good to drive?" She asks and immediately rolls her eyes at his sarcastic reply of "Yes, Mom," and the obnoxious wink he shoots her.

The trio leaves after a quick round of goodbyes and John B waits until he hears the sound of his van driving away before finally emerging from under the pillow and rolling onto his back.

"Sensing the immediate danger has passed, the ostrich cautiously pulls its head out from the sand..." She says in her best David Attenborough impression, laughing when he tosses the pillow at her head with an amused grin.

"Ha ha. I was trying to avoid getting a Kie lecture," He explains, running both hands down his face with a heavy sigh. "It feels like my head's gonna explode."

"You and me both, dude." She carefully probes at her swollen cheek and is more than a little surprised to feel the beginnings of a scab forming near her eye. She knew Topper landed a solid punch but she didn't realize how solid that hit was until now as she catches sight of the tiny bit of drying blood left behind on her fingertips.

"That looks like it hurts. You okay?" John B asks and she looks up from wiping her hand clean on her shorts, stiff from dried saltwater, with a wrinkle of her freckled nose.

"I'm alright. How about you? No offense but your eye looks like shit."

"I'll live." He answers with a shrug as he pulls himself upright on the mattress and leans his head against the back of the couch. "Thanks, by the way."

"For what?"

He sluggishly turns his head to look Sailor in the eye and shrugs again. "For trying to help me out. Sorry I got you punched."

She smirks and reaches over to give his hand a brief, friendly squeeze as she replies, "It's not your fault I got myself punched. I'm sorry your ass almost drowned."

He snorts at that and she's relieved to hear it, knowing that he can still joke around and he's not, like, completely traumatized or something. Poor guy's already got enough to deal with without adding a mental breakdown to the list. She swings her legs over the edge of the mattress and slowly stands before taking a tentative step forward; when her knees hold and she doesn't fall flat on her face, she makes her way to his side and holds both hands out to him with a small, lighthearted smile.

"Yeah, you're delirious. Near death experiences do that to you." She says, helping him to his feet and, after looping his arm over her shoulders and sliding hers around his waist, the two teenagers carefully shuffle down the hall in the dim light of the emergency lantern on the kitchen table to his room, where she unceremoniously dumps him onto his bed. "Sleep it off. And for the love of God, please change. You smell terrible."

She goes to leave as he laughs again, tugging his shirt off and tossing it into the growing pile of clothes near the closet before saying, "Hey, Sailor?"

The redhead pauses with one foot in the hall and leans against the doorframe. "Yeah?"

"You know you're a badass, right?"

She laughs and sends him a wink but her heart is oh so light as she turns and heads to the spare room, calling back over her shoulder, "Nice to see someone acknowledge it. Now go to bed!"

The sound of the Chateau's front door opening and closing startles Sailor awake and she blinks heavily, wondering when exactly she'd fallen asleep. Last thing she remembers she was staring out at the fireflies through the open window as she steadily ran her hand down the length of Binx's back and their ethereal glow, combined with the breeze dancing around her shoulders, must've pulled her right under. Down the hall, she hears a loud thump, followed by JJ cursing as he runs into something and she giggles to herself, rolling onto her side to face the hall. He appears in the darkened doorway a minute later, rubbing his knee with a scowl on his face and she laughs louder at his quiet, venomous hiss of "fuck that fucking chair."

"Rude. It's not the chair's fault you always run into it." She teases and he shoots her a flat, unamused look before turning to glance down the hall toward John B's room, his fingers holding tight to the door frame.

"He's okay, you know. Told him to get some sleep." His head swings to face her when she speaks with soft words and even in the dark, she can see the way his tense shoulders slowly relax and his hand loosens, falling back to his side as he nods, stepping into the room and closing the door behind him.

"And you?" He asks, his eyes never wavering from hers as he kicks his boots off and pulls his shirt over his head; the sight of his messy hair and the muscles in his arms make it a little hard for Sailor to breathe, the gentle wind she once thought of as cool now doing nothing to help calm her flushed skin when she scoots over in bed to give him room to lie down next to her. Binx looks as disgruntled as a cat can look as he loses his comfy spot and jumps down from the bed, only to immediately leap onto the windowsill and stretch out.

"What about me?"

JJ rolls over to face her, reaching one hand up to cup her injured face and runs his calloused thumb under the cut on her cheekbone. "Are you okay?"

Nodding, she shifts closer and lays her head on his outstretched arm, covering his hand with her own and effortlessly fitting her fingers into the spaces between his. "I'm fine. Even better, now."

He leans forward to rest his forehead against hers. "Good, 'cause I don't know what I'd do if you weren't."

When those pesky butterflies come raging back with a vengeance, she realizes she's fighting a battle she hopes to lose.

The sound of a conversation in the kitchen, low voices drifting through the closed door of the guest room wakes Sailor early the next morning. Sunlight filters in through the windows and she squeezes one eye shut against the painful brightness, the other still squished into JJ's shoulder. His arm is a welcome weight slung over her hip and his deep, even breaths are soft against her forehead as he sleeps on, dead to the voices down the hall. With the corner of her mouth turned up in a small smile, she smooths his fine blond hair away from his face and runs her fingers along his jawline before carefully sliding out from under his arm and quietly heading toward the kitchen.

Pulling her hair into a messy ponytail, she rounds the corner and stops short when she catches sight of the person standing by the table, her cheerful 'good morning' getting stuck on her tongue; she was expecting Pope and Kiara, not the goddamn sheriff! Shooting John B a wide-eyed look that makes him shake his head (what the fuck did that even mean?!), the redhead forces a smile and hastily offers her a wave.

"Uh, good morning, Sheriff. Sorry to interrupt, just, uh, grabbing some water."

She just nods in acknowledgement before turning her attention back to the brunet boy and Sailor breathes an inaudible sigh of relief. Holy shit, is that woman scary. She heads to the sink and keeps one ear on the conversation as she quickly fills a glass with water and pops two aspirin, the headache from last night made even worse by the addition of a whiskey hangover.

"I didn't realize you had company, John B. Wild night?" The sheriff asks and Sailor meets her friend's eyes again, her anxiety rising when she sees his thinly veiled panic. Her back to Peterkin, she silently implores him to say something, anything -hell, she even tries to subtly mime surfing with her hands to help him out- but he stays silent, so she gathers her courage, plasters a smile on her face, and twirls to face her.

"Busy day, actually. We went surfing all day after cleaning up the yard." She says, jerking her thumb toward the heap of broken branches piled by the fire pit visible through the living room window; when the sheriff turns to look, she quickly elbows John B in the side, ignoring his huff of surprise as she nods her head in her direction.

"Yeah, surfing! All day." He blurts out, sending Sailor a lukewarm glare when she quickly mouths 'what the fuck was that?' before they both straighten up and spin back to the older woman just as she turns to face them again.

"Right." Peterkin hums and arches one eyebrow as she glances back and forth between the two teenagers. "Now tell me, how'd you both get those bruises? They look pretty painful."

"Oh, this?" Sailor asks, pointing at her cheek with a casual shrug, "I tried to hang ten and bit it pretty hard. My board caught me right in the face."

Peterkin looks at her for a beat longer than normal and the redhead does her best to keep her expression neutral as her palms start to sweat. "Surfing, really? Thought you were pretty experienced in that department."

John B adds, offering some much needed back up, "Even the pros wipe out every once in awhile, you know?" He crosses his arms and leans back against the counter. "My board got me good, too."

"Yeah, it just was not our day," She says with a nervous chuckle, refilling her water and slowly starting to back out of the kitchen, pretending she doesn't see the dismayed look her friend sends her way; her anxiety can't take another second of the sheriff's piercing gaze and she needs to get away fast, lest she start recounting every single second of their activities both legal and not so legal- from yesterday in explicit detail. "And I'm still pretty tired so I'm just gonna go back to bed for a bit. Nice talking to you, Sheriff."

After disappearing around the corner before either of them can reply, she creeps down the hallway, keeping her footfalls as light as she can, and she's so focused on trying to listen in on what Peterkin's saying that she runs smack into JJ, standing in the doorway of the spare room. His arm instantly darts out to wrap around her waist and pull her close, keeping her from falling right on her butt as he says, "There you are-"

"Shhh!" Sailor hisses quietly, covering his mouth with her hand, "The damn sheriff is here!"

He mumbles something into her palm but she she holds a finger to her lips, pushing him back into the room and softly closing the door behind them before pressing her ear against it and dropping her hand from his face. He mirrors her position with a question clear as day in his wide eyes, 'what the fuck?', arm still looped around her lower back.

"She's grilling him about yesterday," She says simply, then turns her attention back to the faint voices floating through the door. The duo listens in silence, trying and failing to discern what's being said until they hear the sound of the sheriff's boots on the front porch and her squad car tires crunching through the gravel as she drives away and they exchange a worried look. JJ had it right: what the fuck, indeed.

"Holy shit, guys," John B's voice suddenly says from the hallway. The door opens before they have time to back away and it sends them sprawling to the floor in a twisted pile of limbs; the brunet boy -who'd usually find something like that hilarious- barely reacts to their position and sends them both a tense frown, his next words dropping like a damn anchor in the marsh.

"We need to go check out that Grady-White again, and fast."

Sailor groans and lets her head fall back onto the floor with a thunk. "Here we go."

let me know what you think! fun fact: ostriches actually do put their heads in the sand, but it's not because they sense danger. female ostriches bury their eggs to keep them safe from predators and they'll occasionally stick their head into the sand to check on them and give 'em a lil turn 😊

taglist ❤: @sinkbeneathwaves @jiaraendgame @hmsjiara @maysbanks @alexa-playafricabytoto @sunflowerbecca @obxlife @obx-adventures @sexualparkour @coltonparayyko @miawantsapuppy

51 notes · View notes

setsailtomorrow · 5 years

Note

i've heard whispers you're reading a lot of star trek fics atm... if you have any spirk recs, one wouldn't be against that! just sayin' ...

marie, i have only been waiting for someone to ask!

i also want to start off with saying the fics i’m recommending are all based in the stxi/alternate original series, meaning the reboot films where chris pine (best chris!) plays james t kirk and zachary quinto plays spock. some of the fic might be read as either universe, but all in all the recent films have always been the way i roll.

ABSOLUTE EPIC:

Observations, by anon-j-anon

this epic, 400k, fic is hosted on livejournal but with easy click through links for every chapter. basically it takes the first reboot film and then spins it into the original series universe. some of the chapters and parts are based on episodes, some are the author’s original takes and shapes. the spock voice here is outstanding, the kirk characterisation is a masterful one of pine-meets-shatner. i’ve read this fic twice but i think the last time was in 2013. it’s a big undertaking, and some parts are really fucking difficult to read. but all in all it’s a masterpiece. everyone, no matter fandom, should read it at least once.

EPICS:

The Lotus Eaters, by aldora89

THE WORLD BUILDING! what starts off as a regular retrieve-mission turns in to captain kirk and spock stuck on an unknown planet. what looks to be normal and unthreatening takes a different turn as the night creeps in… this will have you wanting more and more and more. with the mystery of the planet and its inhabitants, the growing relationship between the stranded crew members, and also the unexpected help. 93,5k.

Don’t Stop Believing by kianspo

I WAITED SIX YEARS FOR THIS FIC TO BE FINISHED, and fuck if it didn’t pay off. as will become clear from this list i have a thing for very competent genius jim and spock’s fascination with him - this has that in spades. also a very good spock voice, needed as it is his character that we follow. from being a cadet at starfleet, to becoming kirk’s first officer and the enterprise’s five year mission. 200k and a little extra, plus checkout the series tag!

Atlas by distractedKat

when i read this the first time around it was hosted on ff.net, lucky for us the author has put it on ao3! takes place after the narada incident, spock is encouraged by starfleet admirals to get to know kirk and report back, does he deserve the captaincy? and well, that’s only the beginning. 135,5k divided into parts, lots of action.

Leave No Soul Behind by whochick

an au of the first reboot film and a really good one at that. we follow some of the EPAS - emergency personnel ambulance service. and once again, the world building here is exceptional. the narada keeps showing up and getting away, and all the characters we know turn up and play their part, but in unexpected ways. what’s always true is, spock is frustrated and fascinated, and so is kirk. 259k.

FUN EPIC:

Spoctoria - strive seek find yield, by waldorp, screamlet

you’ll like this one marie! in parts based on the film the young victoria (where emily blunt plays the young regent). spock is the heir to the federation throne and as such he needs to married, and to someone fitting at that. james t kirk is the prince of america, because his brother abdicated, and he is not… fitting. another one where the writer manages to marry the reboot films with great world building, as well as turn side-characters into exceptional loveable, and humours, roles. 68k, extras in the series tag.

Bang a Gong, waketosleep

i haven’t reread this recently, but i know that i’ve read it more than once. i remember it as both hilarious and hot. quite the combo. (pon farr ;) ~23k

SEMI-EPIC (BUT STILL EPIC)

Magpie, by waldorph

growing-up-together au of the reboot films. jim’s life is sad and writers in the stxi fandom love to hurt him even more. in this one, at least he has spock. ~58k

Entering Orbit, by museaway

takes place after the narada incident. jim goes back to iowa to get away from the media, a… misunderstanding has spock following. sharing a house in the middle of nowhere, after the destruction of vulcan, leads to the two getting to know each other. 31k

Something Smart to Do, by kianspo

5+1 - kirk and spock keeps ending up married on missions. five times they didn’t mean to and one time… 21k

Helloooo, Nurse! by lalazee

Jim is a nurse with expert knowledge of vulcan biology, 9k

Slightly newer, post st:beyond

Bluebird, by waldorph

BAD. ASS. WINONA. KIRK. another fave trope of mine, sadly not used by many more than waldorph and their friends. winona as a starfeelt engineer, she left her son on earth because other than george her true love was space and her work… jim understands. mostly. that’s not this fic. just partly. but really good. 7k

And Then I Let It Go, by kianspo

the crew gets some time off after the events of star trek: beyond. kirk goes to do something he always meant to. spock tracks him. 10,6k

asymptote, orphaned

i only have vague memories of this one, but i remember liking it, so i will get back to it. (i’m pretty sure it was written by an author with “anna” in their name and they wrote both larry and e/R as well) summery @ ao3: Spock only deserves so much, and Jim is everything. 4,8k

I COULD GO ON EVEN MORE. all-in-all: everything kianspo has written for the fandom is worth checking out. so are things by waldorph, waketosleep, spicyshimmy. lots of others. if you filter ao3 by kudos you’ll find lots of works by littleb*rdtold - i liked these when written but find that they don’t hold up ten years later. anyone is free to check for themselves of course.

for anyone having read all of these, feel free to come back for more! or if you’d like to rec me something, i’m all ears!

#ashes-and-dust #fic rec ks #that is such an old gif #i had to post it #i think i saved it off lj #in... 2010 #wow

55 notes · View notes

atruththatyoudeny · 5 years

Text

Monthly Reads | July 2019

Happy 28th! Sending out all my love to the authors and artists in this fandom! ♥ Here are all the fics I read and loved this month:

The sanctity of patience | scrunchyharry | historical - arranged marriage - royalty - 22k When young Lord Harry was chosen by King Louis of Bavaria to become his husband and prince consort, Harry thought all of his dreams had come through. His illusions came crashing down when he understood it meant living in isolation in the alpine castle of Neuschwanstein with a husband who turned out to be far from what he had hoped for. His illusions vanished, Harry will have learn to appreciate what has and even, perhaps, fall in love with his imperfect husband and his castle.

The Charles Compass Trilogy | SadaVeniren | fluff - humour - 8k Louis Tomlinson is a successful writer who rents a beach house on the Cape to try and finish the final book in his successful Charles Compass trilogy.

Stealing Flowers | lululawrence | mutual pining - humour - fluff - 4k The one where Louis pines after the Sexy Stranger on the Subway and almost asks him out. That's when the strange posters start showing up around Brooklyn.

If You Wanna Try Me On | zimriya | The Devil Wears Prada AU - boss/employee relationship - 18k To be fair, Harry’d been half asleep when Niall convinced him to put in his CV in the first place. Like, Harry wants to be a proper serious journalist--he’s not about to give up that dream in favour of becoming a personal assistant at a fashion magazine, or...whatever. Harry’s not actually all that sure what Tomlinson Styles even is, beyond his ticket to fame or any of the other things Niall’d spouted off at him, but when he shows up for the interview and is unceremoniously shoved into an office with the Tomlinson part of that equation, all Harry can really think about is that he would like to be a Tomlinson-Styles. ...or the Devil Wears Prada AU that no one wanted. Sort of.

Play Me A Memory | jacaranda_bloom | strangers to lovers - kid fic - emotional hurt/comfort - fluff - 27k Louis lives with his nine-year-old son Jake in a peaceful beachside community on the east coast of Australia, working as an entertainment coordinator at the local five-star resort. Harry is a recluse who lives on millionaires row and writes musical scores for blockbuster movies. When the roots of a wayward willow tree create havoc at his home, Harry is forced to stay at the resort while repairs are carried out. Cue matchmaking storms, muffin preferences, laughter, love, and a whole lotta music.

No Love Like Your Love | Rearviewdreamer | a/b/o - enemies to friends - exes to lovers - soulmates - soulbonding - 43k When it comes to saving the world from itself and convincing rich CEOs of environmentally harmful companies to go green, there's nobody better than Harry Styles. That is, until Louis Tomlinson, his ex and former Alpha, is involved.

Not (heart) Broken | glitteredcurls | soulmates - superpowers - mild hurt/comfort - 14k Every person is born with a unique, personal Ability and a soulmate. Abilities are developed from birth and treasured as parts of each person’s personality, while a soulmate is somewhat of an intimidating prospect; the minute two soulmates are in contact with each other, their powers are voided, only to be reinstated when they regain their distance. How is Harry, a young healer, supposed to feel about the possibility of losing his helpful healing Ability with one look of his unknown soulmate? He figures it can’t be too inconvenient. Until Harry meets them and, well, it kind of is...

Fall in love with the moon (and everything beautiful) | louistomlinsons | fluff - light angst - anxiety - friends to lovers - 10k Louis and harry work in a bookstore together and harry tells dumb jokes and they fall in love

There You Are | lovelarry10 | stripper/exotic dancer - mutual pining - angst - divorce - cheating - emotional hurt/ comfort - 82k Harry’s entire life has fallen apart - in one night, his carefully planned future is suddenly uncertain. Then he meets Louis.

Tiptoe Through Our Shiny City | graceling_in_a_suit | inspired by Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist - miscommunication - mistaken identity - strangers to lovers - famous/non famous - 8k Where’s Fluffy Announces Secret London Show TONIGHT!' Harry stopped breathing. “Pinch me, Niall,” he mumbled. The story of how Harry sees his favourite band live for the first time, and maybe falls in love along the way. AU Loosely inspired by Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist. Loosely.

You Have to Retreat to Advance | 2tiedships2 | a/b/o - fake/pretend relationship - strangers to lovers - 18k The one where Harry is expected to bring his longterm omega to the company's mountain retreat. Since he hadn't told anyone that they'd broken up months ago, he now has to find someone willing to play the part.

Shine On (You Crazy Diamond) | larrymaybe22 | 1970's - glam rock - famous/not famous - strangers to lovers - hurt/comfort - angst - substance abuse - alcohol abuse - internalized homophobia - homophobic language - slow burn - 58k The year is 1974 and Britain’s glam rock scene is in full swing. Enter Louis, a broke and dejected student who finds himself on a tour bus of all places, working as a roadie for the enigmatic “womanizer” Harry Styles. Along the way, Louis discovers the cruelty of fame and that maybe there is more than meets the eye beyond the curls, cocaine, and crazy suits.

Could you love me anyway | SadaVeniren | canon compliant - post-The X Factor era - bdsm - bad bdsm etiquette - dom/sub - under-negotiated kink - subdrop - kink negotiation - mildly dubious consent - 13k Harry and Louis begin playing ping pong during the X-Factor Tour. It quickly gets out of hand.

Easier | allwaswell16 | a/b/o - soulmates - soul bond - exes to lovers - getting back together - angst - fate - destiny - 6k The last person Louis wants to see is his ex-boyfriend who also happens to be his soulmate.

Hot Buns | Snowy38 | TV show - hate to love - angst - drama - emotional hurt/comfort - 51k “You can call me Harry if you like.” “Is that your name?” Louis checked. Harry smirked. “Actually, it’s Harold but I hate it. I hate everything about my life but what do you care?” Louis licked his lips and caught his knees up under his arms. “I care enough to get you out of the gutter, mate,” he accused softly.

I'm Tripping Over Your Every Single Move | lookingfortherainbow | meet-cute - first dates - pining - fluff - 6k Harry is the local swimming star athlete and Louis is the lifeguard that turns Harry into a fish out of water.

The Aurora Zone | Anonymous | blind date - enemies to lovers - 19k The one where Harry is busy crossing off his bucket list while Louis is busy falling for the guy he's supposed to hate.

I've spent a lifetime running (and I always get away) | Anonymous | first meetings - fluff - 5k The eruption of an Icelandic volcano (the name of which Louis decidedly cannot pronounce) really shouldn't be the catalyst for a relationship with a boy he's only just met. Or // the one where Louis and Harry share the back of a car, a cramped bed on a dingy, highly unsafe boat, and their adoration for art (and perhaps each other).

Haunting Beauty | 4ureyesonly28 | 1980's - ghosts - fluff - 6k It’s 1988. Harry has just finished his first year of teaching English and looks forward to a relaxed break. Louis is a poltergeist and has different plans for Harry’s summer.

Meet Me in Montauk | make_this_feel_like_home | Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind Fusion - amnesia - strangers to lovers - lost love - angst - 84k The one where Harry has amnesia, Louis can't handle the pain and Lacuna Inc provides a unique service: the ability to erase a person from your memories.

Two to Tango (series) | rainbowslovehl (Larrymateforlife) ➊ Put Your Best Foot Forward - fluff - meet-cute - ballroom dancing - 6k Louis loses a bet and has to go learn waltz. Harry is the guy who won’t stop stepping on his foot. ➋ Af-fur-mative - fluff - 1k Harry is anxious about the first meeting between his moody cat and Louis.

Uni AU (series) | lightswoodmagic (sarah_writes) ➊ This Might Tickle - Larry - fluff - 4k Louis' been admiring Harry from afar until they become study partners for their first year anatomy class. ➋ When You Smile - Ziam - fluff - 2k Liam’s never seen Zayn smile during classes, but a trip to the zoo for their studies helps him see a lot more. ➌ The Doppler Effect - Larry - Halloween - fluff - 2k There's only one person who figures out Harry's Halloween costume ➍ A Work of Art - Ziam - smut - 4k Zayn meets Liam before he realises he’s the life model for his extra credit class. ➎ My Favourite Word - Larry - fluff - fake/pretend relationship - 3k Louis’ ex boyfriend won’t leave him alone, so Harry steps in.

With Words Unspoken | Anonymous | 1960's - 1970's - strangers to lovers - Louis is 49 - Harry is 47 - mentions of past divorce - fluff - fate - sexual awakening k The one where Louis is lost, Harry is an excellent tour guide, and age is no barrier to finding the love of your life.

Whipped Cream | writingstylinson | hearing impaired - pining - 24kk Harry isn't focused on anything except growing his online photography business and keeping his service dog at his side. It's important since he's always being undermined due to his deafness. The last thing Harry needs are his client's brother trying to convince him to go out on a date with him.

#28th appreciation #1d fanworks appreciation #my reads #my fic rec #larry fics #ziam fics #1d fic #fic rec #1d fanfic

244 notes · View notes

buzzdixonwriter · 5 years

Text

Endings

I’ve always been fascinated by endings.

Not the endings in fiction (though obviously those get a lot of my attention as well), but endings in real life.

One of the most vivid dreams I remember as an adolescent was about ending (oh, you think there’s a contradiction between discussing endings in real life and endings in a dream? Guess again: Dreams are the symbols of events and forces that shape our lives and as such, dreams are truer than reality).

Life magazine ran a multi-part series on World War One (a 50 year anniversary retrospective and holy shamolley, we are as far removed from that moment as it was from the war it commemorated). The issue on the war in the air captivated me, and my dream clearly drew on that for a basis.

In my dream I was a pilot in a squadron that had been fighting the gaudy tri-planes of Baron von Richthofen’s Flying Circus; our airplanes were versions of the Spirit of St. Louis (another one of my manias at that age).

But there was no combat in my dream: The war was over. The armies were being disbanded, everybody was going home.

The ground crews packed up their trucks and drove off, and one by one the other pilots in the squadron got in their planes and flew to their homes.

I was the last one left. I remember the emotional feel of the moment very clearly: It was like a late Sunday afternoon pick up baseball game when there’s no time to start anything new and you might as well just pack it all in and get ready for Monday.

In my dream I stayed on the field for quite some time, maybe half an hour or so. There was an unarticulated feeling inside me that until I left, then it wasn’t really over, that the great endeavor we’d all be involved in -- friend and foe alike -- was still happening, even though the combat was over.

Eventually, I got in my plane and flew off, and when I did, then it truly ended.

Until high school, I never had two consecutive years in the same school when I was growing up.

My family moved a lot (we used to joke we moved once a year just to stay in practice) and so I have no childhood friends that I’m still in touch with.

My life -- and most of my relationships -- was a never ending series of…endings.

Ironic, no?

Indeed, as I’ve posted elsewhere, I grew up more tightly bonded with people I never met face to face, other science fiction fans and monster kids who participated in sci-fi fandom and stayed in contact via mail and through letter columns and fanzines.

Eventually all of those fanzines on pen pal circles changed or faded or dissolved, but I still remember them with great clarity and fondness.

And the feeling holds over for other publications and, yes, even websites.

There’s a certain bittersweet sadness that beckons me whenever I encounter back issues of a fanzine that has run its course, or find a website with lively entries that hasn’t been updated in a decade or more.

I think of Forry Ackerman, the editor of Famous Monsters Of Filmland, the “Acker-monster” as he called himself, and how he put literally thousands of monster kids in touch with one another (and I’m also aware that later he proved to be the Acker-monster in more ways than one, and at best he had a dark side that was very, very creepy and at worst, criminal).

I think of the host of competitors and fanzines that sprang off of Famous Monsters, and I remember how eagerly I awaited the next issue of Mark Frank’s Photon or Gary Svehla’s Gore Creatures or Larry Ivie’s Monsters And Heroes or Frederick S. Clarke’s Cinefantastique. Gary’s still around, still involved in fantasy film fandom and publishing, and the last I heard Mark felt it was time to move on and became a psychotherapist but Larry died without ever getting a chance to enter the pro ranks and Fred took his own life after battling depression for decades.

I think of Richard E. Geis, the editor / publisher of Science Fiction Review (as well as a host of other virtually identical fanzines with varying titles), and how he managed to make his seat at the table the pivotal point of science fiction for two-going-on-three generations of writers, but age and infirmity worked away at him and he, too, faded then expired…quietly…out of view…

I think of George Caragonne, big goofy lovable lunk George who let his inner demons and unaddressed rage consume him and, tragically, many of those closest to him. A teddy bear who turned into a monster.

I think of Tom Spurgeon, The Comics Reporter, and how wonderful and supportive he was of everybody in the industry and how when he died all that wonderfulness came to a screeching halt and God, how I miss him.

I think of Steve Gerber and Jack & Roz Kirby and Gordon Kent and John Dorman and Mark McClellan and Jack Enyart and Len Wein and Bill Warren and scores of others.

(The irony among all this is that the physical deaths of people do not affect me as much as the loss of wit and insight. I loved my parents and my grandmother and my aunt, but when they died my mourning was sincere but brief. I miss them with a warm nostalgia that fond memory fuels. But when I see unfinished work left behind by compatriots, the pang strikes deeper and sharper. Maybe that’s because I see my relationship with my relatives as complete, but with my friends and co=creators, unfinished…)

Framed on my wall is a program from the Harlan Ellison memorial panel at San Diego Comic Con…what, two years now? It quotes Harlan: “For a brief time I was here, and for a brief time, I mattered.”

As Ram Dass said, “We are all walking each other home.” One by one we will get to our destinations and we’ll say so long, and the group will move on without us.

If the group is lucky, there will always be some newcomers joining it, going along with the rest for a ways until the next person reaches their destination.

And if the group is really really lucky, it will continue walking newcomers home long after the original members are gone and forgotten, because what those original members stood for will still be uniting others.

It will give them a reason to travel together, and the group will find comfort in that no matter when or where they started their journey.

Endings.

They happen to all of us, eventually.

But we don’t have to forget what brought us together.

(Don’t go reading anything into this; I ’m not hinting at impending changes in my life. I just encountered one dead website too many, one archived fanzine too many in the last week.)

#endings #Jack Kirby #Jack Enyart #Gordon Kent #John Dorman #Forry Ackerman #Mark Frank #Gary Svehla #Larry Ivie #Frederick S Clarke #Richard E. Geis #Steve Gerber #George Caragonne #Tom Spurgeon #Roz Kirby #Len Wein #Bill Warren #Mark McClellan #Harlan Ellison

4 notes · View notes

rose-of-pollux · 5 years

Text

Inktober for Writers, Day 18

Prompt: Misfit Fandom: Perfect Strangers Title: Don’t Look Back Summary: [Season 7ish] In which Jennifer and Mary Anne’s high school reunion proves to be an awkward situation for them, Larry, and Balki.

Notes: Takes place in early S7. I found it interesting that, based on what Mary Anne lets slip in S5’s “Three’s a Crowd,” it seems that Jennifer had quite a bit of dating trouble in high school; it’s also somewhat implied in S6’s “Speak, Memory,” when Jennifer’s mother assesses that Larry would never abandon Jennifer (implying that she didn’t have that confidence in any of Jennifer’s previous boyfriends). And so, this vignette happened…

Cross-posted to AO3 & FFN.

It was apparent that Balki seemed to be the one most excited about attending Jennifer and Mary Anne’s high school reunion in Iowa, even moreso than the girls. If anything, Jennifer had seem somewhat reluctant to go—something that Larry had picked up on, knowing the feeling all too well; Larry had tossed the invitation to his high school reunion a couple years ago directly into the trash, having no desire to see the likes of Bunky McDermott or Becky Jo Quinn ever again, and knowing that Balki would have begged him to go and take him with him if he’d found out about it. Of course, irony had a funny way of doing things, and Bunky McDermott had ended up finding Larry anyway in Chicago a year ago—and Larry found out the hard way that Bunky was still the mean-spirited leader of the in-crowd that he’d always been.

He’d moved past that, but he knew the memory of it would linger—and there were, clearly, some unpleasant memories lingering for Jennifer. She didn’t talk much about her high school days, but from the bits and pieces that Mary Anne had shared, it was clear that the both of them had been late bloomers, and Jennifer especially so—from apparently not being able to keep a boyfriend to even going dateless to the senior prom.

Whatever else she had been through, Larry was determined not to let it ruin the evening tonight; he would remain calm and as charming as he could and show that Jennifer had done well for herself and had married happily.

She was still visibly nervous as they approached the doors to the rented reception hall where the reunion was being held; she caught his eye, and he gave her a reassuring nod—he did, after all, know exactly where she was coming from, having been the awkward one during his teen years, as well. She did seem to take some reassurance from his, and when he offered his arm, she happily linked her arm through his and entered the hall.

Jennifer had worn her very best evening gown for the occasion to make a good impression on her former classmates, but Larry (in a pressed tuxedo) wasn’t even looking at the dress; his eyes were on her face, as he was still incredibly smitten with his newlywed bride.

Behind them, Mary Anne, also in an evening gown, entered with Balki, clad in his Myposian tuxedo. Mary Anne seemed a little nervous herself, though she seemed far more ready to put her feelings behind her and try to enjoy the evening.

Jennifer found herself wishing that she could do the same.

They dined and danced a little bit, but when it came time for mingling, there was very little that the other guests seemed to have to say to Jennifer and Mary Anne. They were definitely recognized—they received some cordial greetings, but, for the most part, they seemed extremely out of place, despite the familiar faces and settings all around them. As their discomfort increased, even Balki’s enthusiasm began to rapidly wane.

Larry drew an arm around Jennifer and was about to suggest that they duck out early when someone else called out to the group.

“Hey, Lyons! Spencer!”

A group of women were headed their way, most of them following the one in the lead; Larry was forcefully reminded of Bunky McDermott, but he didn’t say anything—he just tightened his hold around Jennifer, who had suddenly gone rigid at the sight of the other women. Mary Anne also seemed to be distressed by their arrival, as well, clutching Balki’s hand and squeezing it with such force that he looked at her in surprise.

The woman in the lead surveyed Mary Anne and Balki for a moment before turning to Larry and Jennifer.

“Lyons, it’s been a while,” she said.

Jennifer hesitated in her reply, and suddenly took Larry’s left hand in hers, holding them up to show off their wedding rings.

“It’s Appleton now,” she said.

“Really?” the lady replied with a smirk. “Well, as I recall, your problem wasn’t finding a man—it was keeping him.”

Jennifer blanched and Larry indignantly drew their hands back so that he could embrace her fully again.

“Those days are in the past,” Larry insisted.

The woman surveyed Larry with a smirk as her friends giggled derisively.

“I give it six months before you realize you could’ve done better.” She ignored Larry’s furious sputtering and turned back to Jennifer. “You’ve still got nothing to offer, have you? Shallow and neurotic as ever, and only a handful of dollars to your name? Nobody wants a misfit, Lyons.”

“You are way, way out of line, Moon,” Mary Anne snapped, her voice uncharacteristically cold.

“I suppose you got yourself hitched, Spencer?” Miss Moon queried.

“…Not yet, but I’m hopeful,” she admitted, squeezing Balki’s hand again.

“Well, you’ve got a better chance than Lyons, at any rate. You, at least, have personality. But not much else… Just another misfit.”

“How you can say such terrible things to Mary Anne and Cousin Jennifer?” Balki asked, stumbling over his English in his shock. “They are kind and caring, and they don’ toss around cruel words like you are doing! That makes them the most beautiful women in the room! They shouldn’t believe your babasticki!”

Miss Moon arched her eyebrows as Balki spoke; Mary Anne was looking at him in admiration, but Miss Moon didn’t seem dissuaded.

“Well, I see why you were attracted to Spencer—you’re just another misfit.” She looked at Larry again. “And what about you?”

“I think you ought to leave,” Larry responded, tranquil fury evident in his voice.

Balki looked over at his cousin in concern; he knew from experience that if Larry was quiet and angry, then it was a much more serious—and almost always righteous—anger than his usual default bluster.

Miss Moon seemed to sense that she was treading on thin ice and walked away with her entourage. Mary Anne sighed in relief to see her go, but Jennifer still didn’t move, her face red with embarrassment.

“Everyone… I’m sorry…” she said, after a moment, her voice breaking.

“Jen, you don’t have to be sorry about anything!” Larry exclaimed, gently touching the side of her face.

“That’s right—you were not the one saying terrible things about people!” Balki agreed.

“Balki, she’s upset that we were insulted,” Mary Anne said, gently. “That group of girls were the popular ones when Jennifer and I were in high school. They didn’t like us very much, and being shunned and insulted by them wasn’t very good for our social lives.”

“I didn’t want to come here at first,” Jennifer admitted. “But then I thought about it, and I wanted them to see that…” She trailed off.

“…See that you got the marriage and the life they thought you couldn’t have?” Larry finished.

She nodded, blinking back tears; Larry held her close as Balki and Mary Anne each put a hand on her shoulders.

“Now I understand why you wanted to go to Bunky McDermott’s party last year,” she added. “I should’ve realized this would’ve ended the same way for me…”

“Well, at least you don’t have a sunburn?” Larry offered. His heart lightened a little to see the traces of a smile cross her face for a moment. “And Jen, whatever she said about… Well, all that… babasticki,” he added, borrowing his cousin’s appropriate description of it. “You know it isn’t true, right?” He knew she knew it wasn’t true, but he also knew all too well how anxiety worked—how reassurance was sometimes everything.

“I know,” she said. “But even the thought of you losing interest in me because you found someone better…”

“I couldn’t find anyone better!”

“…Larry, that’s so sweet of you to say, but there are women better than me.”

“Well, you’re the best for each other,” Mary Anne pointed out.

“Mary Anne’s right!” Balki exclaimed. “All four of us are best for each other—the best of friends. That is how you know you will both have a long and happy marriage—so many years you have already spent as friends, getting closer and closer.”

Mary Anne gave him a hopeful look—this was as close to an allusion of an eventual marriage between Balki and herself that she’d heard him say, and she would hold onto it—for what he described about Larry and Jennifer surely applied to them, too.

Balki now drew one arm around Larry and Jennifer, and the other arm around Mary Anne.

“We may be four misfits… but we sure do fit together pretty well, huh?”

“We sure do, Buddy,” Larry replied. He looked around at his wife and their best friends. The smile had finally made its way to Jennifer’s face in full. “Well, how about we misfits duck out of here early and enjoy a night on the town—just the four of us?”

“It sounds wonderful,” Jennifer agreed.

And Balki and Mary Anne eagerly nodded.

They practically bolted out the door and into the night, not sure what was in store for them, but knowing that they would enjoy it together.

#perfect strangers #Jennifer Lyons #Mary Anne Spencer #Larry Appleton #Balki Bartokomous #inktober for writers

2 notes · View notes

louandhazaf · 6 years

Photo

One of my fics that I really love and (to be honest) feels a little under appreciated is...

Fire and Ice -- Harry really wants to come at the same time as Louis. Or, four times they misfire and the one time they get it right.

Here’s the thing about this fic... I love it so much, and it has an absolutely terrible summary that does it exactly zero justice and I am so shit at summaries that it’s been almost two years (!!!) and I haven’t come up with a replacement.

It does a little bit of justice in that it is a 5-times fic, which, side note, 5times should be more loved in this fandom than they are. But that’s about it. Well, also that Harry does want to come at the same time as Louis... but... well...

When I started writing this, I set out to write a PWP. I wanted lots of sex and lots of Louis & Harry attempting to come at the same time. I set it in Hilton Head, because I have a whole Hilton Head Verse in my head. (I have Liam-based fics, and a miscommunication Larry first date fic, and a soft summer night fic, and an after-hours work friends drinking together after the last guests have left fic, etc etc etc. I have a lot. Someday I hope to write them. Until then, they’re roaming around my head and stopping in to say hi every so often.) So, I thought, hey! a fun way to kick off this whole ‘verse is with a smutty ‘lil thing that will feature sex five different way! whoohooooooo!

But then, fairly quickly into writing it, it became abundantly clear that these characters had exactly zero intention of following my whoohoo what a fun-smutty-good time we’ll have plan.

No.

It turns out that this would totally hit of sweet spot of fics that I like to write... established relationships featuring characters who have a bit of a communication problem... specifically having issues asking for what they want to explore sexually or need to have in the bedroom. This fic spirals pretty quickly into Harry being unable and unwilling to articulate what it is that he’s feeling and why it’s important to him, and putting too much pressure on himself to succeed and then internalizing his failures.

Yeah, no longer a free-wheeling smutty smut fest, is it??? Multiple people have told me they have cried reading this fic! (ps, I love every single person who comes and talks to me about my fics and very specifically about how they relate to my characters. <333)

Harry and Louis don’t even get off in every one of the five times!!!!! That’s how far away from my original premise these characters wandered.

(If someone would like to write me a new summary, I would be more than grateful... hahahahahahahaha laughs until I cry)

Right, back to the point. After I posted this, I realized some other things about Harry and then wrote a drabble and then a bondage fic about his and Louis’ sex life after this fic takes place. I have a few others that I’d love to write... one that specifically explores a very very very very very through and painful discussion of how they enter into a d/s relationship, and then some others that continue to explore their d/s relationship.

So yeah, I’d love it if more people would take a chance on this fic! It has lodged itself pretty firmly in my heart and though I love all of my fics, this one is super special to me.

(Thanks @allwaswell16 for tagging me to do this! Other people should totally do it as well and then tag me so I’m sure to see it!)

#fire and ice

26 notes · View notes

twopoppies · 5 years

Note

I know this is vague but do you know of any fics where there are really strong friendships between the 4 or 5 of them? I would just love to read some larry fics where they are all really close. I know various combinations are usually friends but it's usually a background thing not part of the main story. Thanks in advance even if you can't find any!

Sorry it took me a bit to answer this. But there’s never a point in posting when Harry (or Louis) drop anything new. LOL! Anyway, I love your ask and I hope I’ve got some good ones to offer that you don’t know yet.

The Serpent and the Lion by @louiseparker (E, 212K) Despite the fact that I have zero interest in Harry Potter, I was pulled into this immediately and read all 200+K in two days. The author does a wonderful job of creating a nuanced OT5 friendship, writes great dialogue, and draws a intricate picture of life at Hogwartz. Most of all, I loved the use of flashbacks to tell the story, the deeply layered characterization of Harry, and how wonderfully he and Louis fit together and brought out the best in each other. I’m so happy I found this one.

But If This Ends by nonsensedarling / @absoloutenonsense (E, 107K) This author referred to this fic as their “depressed vampire” fic while they were writing, and it is that. But it’s also a unique story with beautifully fleshed out characters, plot twists, and super hot smut. Go check it out!

and I’m weeping warm honey and milk (that you stay surrounding me) by FangirlFlailings (M, 78K) This fic digs deep into therapy and recovery from PTSD and anxiety. It included everything from great Ot5 friendship, great side Ziam, coming out, commitment phobic Harry, and of course, vulnerable Louis. I really enjoyed this one.

The Section by bananaheathen (M, 11K) Listen... I just discovered this author and I LOVE them. If you liked These Inconvenient Fireworks, read this now! It’s got all of the OT5 friendship, humor, and banter, without the heartbreaking angst. I loved this one.

Saving Symphony Hall by @helloamhere (E, 125K) Probably my favorite OT5 friendship fic. All of them working together towards a common goal, great banter, great characterizations, and (unsurprisingly, given the author) great writing.

Stranger Stars by shaylea / @sunshineandhisrainbows (E, 212K) It’s a really unique fic that takes place on a 6-week safari through Africa. It’s incredibly detailed and the author does a lovely job with the character arcs and with setting the scene.

Domestic Monsters by g-uttertrash (E, 234K 9-part series) What’s not to love? They all live together. They’re all some sort of supernatural being. They’re all super quirky and love each other and it’s 230+K of awesome!

Take My Breath Away by @realitybetterthanfiction (E, 154K) I know I’ve recc’d this recently (and probably 10 times before that), but it’s just got so many wonderful elements – including a great OT5 friendship.

It’s the Little Things in Life That Mean the Most by @realitybetterthanfiction (T, 7K) One of Mac’s kinda wacky crack fics, but I really adore this shapeshifter fic and the way the boys take care of each other.

Atlas At Last by louisandthealien (M, 83K) Beautifully written road trip – 5 boys in a van, lots of pining, and I really loved this author’s characterizations of the boys.

The Finish Line (Is A Good Place For Us To Start) by loadedgunn (E, 122K) OT5 and formula1 plus LoadedGunn. One of the first fics I read entering this fandom and I still love it.

Fall Into Your Gravity by zarah5 (E, 74K) This may be one of Zarah’s lesser known fics, but it’s really good (no surprise) and I loved the boys’ friendships. Plus, it has one of my favorite famous/not famous meet cute moments.

As Golden As The Coast by darkerwings (M, 13K) Another one I read ages ago and remember loving –– enjoy some sweet (and hot) fluff.

Sometimes Fires Don’t Go Out by abrighteryellow / @a-brighter-yellow (E, 17K) I just love this one. All of them work together and the friendships are so quirky and well written.

Ain’t That A Kick In The Head! by keysmashlesbian, wreckingtonlinson (karasunonolibero) (T, 22K) I’ve recc’d this before, but the relationship between the 5 of them is so well done and so funny. Plus, Harry as a disaster gay never fails to make me giggle. Link is to a download.

The Melody You Never Heard by bananasandboots / @anylessreal (E, 30K) I read this one ages ago and really loved the banter and the pacing. To be fair, I don’t fully remember the OT4 interaction, but they’re on a camping trip together, so there’s bound to be some, and it’s a fic I never see recc’d, so I thought I’d add it in!

burn to ash by bethaboo (E, 116K) This was suggested by a friend and for some reason I don’t know if I’ve read it (although I’ve read others from this author and really liked them). But my friend assures me there’s excellent OT5 here!

we’ve got the world in our hands by sarcasticfluentry (E, 55K) Mutants/X-Men from the author of You Are The Blood (which also has great OT5 and super hot smut if you’re into that)

Who Painted the Moon Black by throughthedark (E, 96K) This is the Hunger Games AU. It’s super intense, there’s a lot of dark themes (the E is not for smut, let’s put it that way), but there’s a happy ending. SO well written.

#Anonymous #mine #my fic rec #larry fic rec #ot4 friendship fics #ot5 friendship fics

308 notes · View notes

blackbeltkitten2ficsnships-blog · 6 years

Text

Bad, bad Alphonse Capone (Chapter 7)

Sainte-Hélène.

Fandom/Movie/Series/Ect: Night At The Museum

Setting: Larry is still the night guard, several exhibits from the Smithsonian are at the Museum of Natural History

Pairing(s): Eventual Capoleon, Jedtavius, Teddy/Sacagawea

Characters: Al Capone, Napoleon Bonaparte, Ivan the Terrible (Awesome), Larry Daley, Teddy Roosevelt, Sacagawea, Jedediah Smith, Octavius, Ahkmenrah, Shaka Zulu, several Zulu tribe members, Dr. Richard McPhee, several Mobsters, Antonio Villalobos, Mariana Villalobos, Ramón Espina, Doctor Jess McClain, Docteur Alain Chaput, Claude Travere

Genre/Warnings: Some slightly graphic violence, Foul language, Angst, Fic inspired by a song, I’ll come up with more tags later

Notes: I listened to the song “Bad Bad Leroy Brown” by Jim Croce about a thousand times and decided I just HAD to make a fic. The reason Al and the boys get made into color (as a plot point) is so everyone can see what happens to Al.

If anyone is OOC or this reads like a Dick & Jane, this is my second posted fic and I haven’t done much writing in the NATM field. (Disclaimer: I don’t own the song, nor the characters.) (If anything suddenly changes, I had to fix a mistake I missed.)

ANGST ALERT ANGST ALERT, SOB TIME.

Word count: 1,460

Summary: Al and the boys practically beg (Though they won’t stoop so far as to say they were actually begging.) for him and his gang to be colored up like everyone else. Finally one day they get a paint-job, despite McPhee’s ever-present paranoia; Capone and the gang being popular in grey-scale. Several weeks after they finally get what they want, Al gets in a fight, and doesn’t come out of it well. Luckily for him Napoleon is compassionate enough to put up with Al’s grating personality to help him.

First Chapter | Previous Chapter | Next Chapter | Last Chapter

Al and Claude enter the lobby. Two groups huddle on either side of the room, and British soldiers stand in the middle, creating a wall. Larry stands at the information desk, eyeing the two groups. You could cut the tension with a knife.

Al sighs and rubs his eyes.

“Alright Stache’, come on.”

Al practically drags Claude over to the information desk.

“Slim, what happened?”

Larry picks at the corner of his book, staring at the French soldiers, who don’t look happy to be in the same room as two groups they think of as enemies.

“I heard yelling and ran back here to find them mid-brawl. Your guess is as good as mine as to why they were fighting.”

“Damn idiots, always raring to fight... Claude, you talk to your men, I’ll talk to mine, and we’ll compare stories.”

Claude marches over to his men, and presumably orders them to relax and stand up straight. They still give the British and Al’s men dirty looks, though.

Al is pretty sure Frankie would go off and Ralph would babble, so he’ll start with someone else.

“Hey Tony, come here a minute.”

Tony stares at the French soldiers as he walks over.

“Tony, what the Hell happened here?”

“Well... Umh...”

“Tony, whatever it is, you gotta tell me. We don’t need some kind of all out war with the French guys, alright.”

Tony grimaces and picks at his shirtsleeve.

“Ah, I wasn’t paying attention to everything... Talk to Frankie, maybe.”

Al rolls his eyes. He doesn’t know how Tony manages to be both secretive and gabby at the same time.

“Go sit down, send Johnny back.”

Tony slinks away like some kind of gumshoe and Johnny walks up. Al gives him a questioning look.

“All I know is a fight started and I joined in.”

Al digs his nails into his palm.

“Fine, sit down and tell Ralph to get over here.”

Ralph, per usual, immediately starts shooting his mouth off.

“Listen boss, it wasn’t my idea, someone else started it! I didn’t mean anything I said, it was the heat of the moment! It’s not my fault Frankie decided to poke the Frenchies about Napoleon-”

“Ralph, Ralph! Shut up, relax!”

Ralph clenches his hands and stand up straighter.

“Sorry boss...”

“It’s alright, Ralph, now what happened- Put it simply.”

“Uh... So we were sitting around in the lobby, talking and laughing, the normal. Then the French soldiers walk in, staring at us, sneering, babbling in French, ya know...”

Al motions for him to carry on.

“Frankie made some comment about Napoleon, I wasn’t listening so I didn’t catch it. Whatever it was it pissed the French off. Next thing I know we’re beating each other...”

“Frankie started it, great... Go send him over.”

Ralph draws his shoulders up under the gaze of the French, and points Frankie over to Al.

Frankie marches up, head high, hands in his pockets. The poster boy for defiance. Al almost wants to slap that smirk off his face.

“It wasn’t my fault, they started it.”

“Ya sure about that? Ralph says otherwise, Frankie.”

“You know Ralph, can’t tell a cow from a cat.”

“Hey now, Frank, Ralph might be a little scatterbrained, but he knows what he saw. Now, what did you tell the French?”

Frankie leans his head back and crosses his arms.

“Why do ya care, Snorky? You’ve hated the French since the Smithsonian.”

“Maybe I’m changing my mind about em’. Spill!”

“Maybe I don’t want to spill, see ya later, Al.”

Frankie turns and walks a few steps away.

“Oh by the way Frank,-” Frankie turns to looks at Al. “-don’t call me Snorky.”

Frankie’s face drops but he doesn’t say anything, he just walks away with his head down.

Claude sneaks up beside Al, and makes him jump a little.

“Well, what did you get out of em’, Claude?”

“They won’t tell me what was said, only that your men started it.”

“Mine won’t spill anything either, but I have a feeling this is all wrapped around Napoleon.”

Speaking of Napoleon, he walks through the door. Al jogs over and grabs him by the arm, pulling him out of the room towards the night guard office.

“Wha- Capone!”

Al doesn’t release Napoleon’s arm until the office door is closed and locked.

“What was happening out there, Capone? Why did Frank look so upset?”

“Well... It was a fight.”

Napoleon’s face wrinkles up more than Al has ever seen. It was cute, if Al admitted it to himself.

“Fight? Who started it? Why did it happen?”

Al lays his hand on Napoleon’s shoulder, to get him to shut up.

"Ni- Uh, Napoleon, let’s not talk about it.”

Napoleon’s face smooths out, his eyes wide.

“Alphonse... When do you ever call me ‘Napoleon’? To my face?”

Al feels his face heat up and by the slight crinkle in the corners on Napoleon’s eyes, he’s turning red too. Damn himself, and Napoleon too.

“Shut up. Just shut up.”

There it is, that infinitely glowy smile, all tooth and joy. Damn if he isn’t turning redder.

“I might, for a price...”

“Do I want to ask?”

Napoleon’s done it, he’s struck the nail on the head, finished him off, with that stupid, stupidly cute little giggle; the Goddamn one where his cheeks nearly force his eyes closed, and you can see him bite the tip of his tongue.

If Al had any less self-control, he’d cave right here. Say “Whatever you want, I’d do anything. Anything.” A faint thought of him pinning Napoleon to the wall crosses his mind.

Luckily he yanks himself together in time to hear whatever Napoleon has in mind.

“Walk with me, let me tell you about the art from my time.”

Al stands there like a dope, glancing around the room, seeing if he has any fanatical excuse to say no. He wasn’t going to say no anyway, but it made him feel better about himself.

“Fine. But no three hour spiel on one painting alone.”

“You have a deal, Alphonse.”

It wasn’t nearly as boring as he thought it might be. Napoleon told stories of kings and queens, myths of dragons and the French Revolution. Al doesn’t think about the quiet steps behind him. He know who it is, and he plans to make him leave them alone for a few minutes.

Al muses about what his life would’ve been like during Napoleon’s time between paintings. Mid-thought about what kind of clothing he’d have to wear, he runs into Napoleon’s back.

The painting they’re looking at now is of a familiar figure standing on a hill, facing the ocean, framed by blue sky. Al would’ve said it was “Poetic” or some shit if it hadn’t been for Napoleon’s shoulders shaking a little in front of him.

Napoleon’s inhale was shakier than his shoulders.

“Me on Sainte-Hélène, by Fran Josef Sandmann in 1820, roughly one year before...”

Al lays his hand on Napoleon’s shoulder squeezing gently.

Napoleon swallows thickly, trying to steady himself.

“Roughly one year before I died...”

Napoleon shifts to move on to the next painting, when he notices just which one it is, the one of himself on his deathbed. He jerks and bends over, choking on a sob.

Al just barely manages to keep him from falling over. He pulls Napoleon around the corner, where he couldn’t see the painting.

Napoleon practically sits in Al’s lap when they get to a bench.

Napoleon looks Al in the eyes, his face red and scrunched up, tears running down his face. His Adam’s apple bobs several times and he chews his lip, like he’s trying to think of something to say.

All Napoleon manages is a depressing moan before he buries his head in the gap between Al’s neck and shoulders. Al takes both his and Napoleon’s hats off, intending to run his fingers through Napoleon’s hair, but he’s got a fabric cap covering his hair.

Absently Al wonders why he’s wearing a cap under his hat. Maybe it’s to keep his hat from getting sweaty.

Napoleon squeaks out this pathetic little sob and Al forgets about the cap, and squeezes Napoleon tight, rubbing his back.

There’ll probably be wrinkles in the back of his jacket, the way Napoleon’s hands are clenching the fabric, but Napoleon is more important than something that can be steamed.

Frankie leans around the corner. Al regrettably locks eyes with him.

Al can’t read Frankie’s expression, he almost looks sick, but he also looks a little depressed.

Napoleon lurches, slamming Al back into the wall.

“Sorry, I’m sorry...”

Al pats his back.

“It’s okay, Napoleon.”

Napoleon practically wails at that, and Al squeezes him tighter.

First Chapter | Previous Chapter | Next Chapter | Last Chapter

10 notes · View notes

saffron-nova21 · 3 years

Text

New Favorite Setter (U.W.)

The Next Chapter Masterlist < Previous Chapter • You Are Here • Next Chapter >

Warnings: None, really :), just Ushi being sweet After spending a long ten minutes convincing Kenma that you were, indeed, okay, and Iwa was driving you home, he takes his departure. Though, what had really sold him was the fact that he could set up a movie for you both when you got home.

With Kenma's departure, you find yourself wringing your hands - what were you supposed to do? You'd asked everyone to give you and him a moment to talk and they'd done exactly that. Though, now that he was gone, you found yourself standing alone and watching as everyone interacted with one another. You hadn't exactly gotten this far. You felt like it was your first day at Nekoma, all over again, when your teacher made you stand up to introduce yourself to the class.

You didn't want to help in the gym, at least not when Atsumu and Suna were there, even if Bokuto was with them as well. And Iwaizumi seemed to be reviewing some different exercises with Sakusa and Yaku, leaving you wondering what exactly you were here to do. What help could you possibly be to them? You had half a mind to turn around and leave the gym, maybe you could catch up to Kenma before he walked too far away...

Little did you know that you'd caught the attention of a certain player that had stepped out of the gym to get some water.

Just as you're about to turn on your heel to leave, you find yourself approached by none other than the giant of a man, Ushijima Wakatoshi himself. He doesn't know how to acknowledge your awkward actions, or the fact that you look out of place, though maybe that was a good thing. Maybe you just needed a little push to help you get used to and more familiar with the team.

"I need someone to set for me so I can work on my spikes. I want to work on spiking with my right hand, as well. It will be an advantage on the court." The man stands in front of you, almost apprehensively, while he awaits an answer from you. His words are hesitant, voice void of most emotion. Though you had to give him credit for trying to make you feel more comfortable, despite being so awkward, himself.

As he awaits your answer, he furrows his brows in curiosity. Did you even still want to be here? Should he have just let you take off? Maybe he should walk away before he embarrasses himself, or you. Any prior thoughts of leaving you to your own devices leave him when he hears the quiet breath of relief that you release. "Yeah, I can do that. It's what I'm here for, after all!" You flash him a smile and momentarily Ushijima finds his chest tightening. That was an odd... And new feeling.

What was even more confusing was the way the feeling amplified when you took his hand in yours to tug him towards the gymnasium. He trails behind you without complaint, in fact, finding himself managing a small smile at how quickly you brightened when he interacted with you. He wasn't quite sure why he hated the idea of you leaving as much as he did, but here he was, making up excuses for you to stay with him and train. Though he'd be honest, he was probably about to make a fool of himself: it had been a while since he attempted spiking with his right hand.

As you both entered the gym, Bokuto, Suna, and Miya all turned to look in the direction you'd entered, but they had two sides of the court for a reason. Without a word to them, you're releasing Ushijima's hand and going to retrieve a volleyball for the both of you to use.

Ushijima, while your eyes are away from him, shoots a look of warning towards those on the other side of the net as you both make it over to the side, furthest from the door. Unsurprisingly, the look causes the three to halt in their own practice for a few moments, simply watching you. It had been a while since Suna and Miya had seen you play and Bokuto just... Really loved to watch you play. There was something almost elegant about the way you would set. It reminded him a lot of the way Miya set, though he supposed that made sense, with Atsumu having been your teacher.

"You ready, babe?" Tossing the ball to the opposite hitter, you grin at the way his cheeks darken at the term. "Throw it to me, whenever you're ready, alright, Ushi?"

"You may call me Wakatoshi, if you would like, L/N." The giant of a man nods in your direction with an impassive look on his face. Closing his eyes momentarily, he takes a deep breath, reopening them as he exhales. With his exhale also came the volleyball being tossed into the air.

It only took a brief glance at him to note where he was running and with that, you swung your arms to gain momentum as you jumped into the air. Your hands come together above your head only moments before the ball makes contact with them. All of the volleyball players could tell your form wasn't perfect.

Though even in high school, you hadn't been a setter. Nonetheless, Ushijima hardly had to do any work, your set making contact with his hand perfectly. A loud thud sounds through the room as the ball makes contact with the floor.

Ushijima had expected you to be good, but you really had a talent for volleyball, much like Bokuto had been bragging about. He was sure, though, that it was also a product of being a friend of Hinata Shōyō and Bokuto Kōtarō, who seemed to never want to stop practicing. Turning to face you, he noticed the way you grinned proudly at yourself, eyes flickering to his. He interpreted it as exactly what it was: a silent 'how did I do?' And he didn't hesitate to answer your unasked question.

"I think I've found my new favorite setter."

Damn, Ushi really said that in front of Atsumu too... Anyways.

You don't go by the last name 'Kita' anymore, you coined the name 'L/N' for your social media platform, and because after you left for Tokyo, you hadn't had any contact with your brother or grandmother.

Ushijima hasn't ever really had a romantic interest in anyone before, always focusing on his career. But with the knowledge you'll be around often and your phone number, he'll be changing that.

I'm so sorry these updates are taking so long. April and May are kind of rough months for me, but I am working on updates this week, I promise. Anyways, I hope you're all doing wonderfully and taking care of yourselves. Don't forget how proud I am of you, okay? And don't forget to eat, drink some water, and get some rest. You deserve it. Oh, and there will be much more with Ushi, no worries.

Bold couldn't be tagged.

General Taglist:

@kookie-doughs @halesandy @ermahgerd-larry-and-ziam @its-the-aerieljeane @onlyonew @kac-chowsballs @saltylettuce @thathoneybee3 @daninaninani @akkeyomi @vintagexparker

The Next Chapter Taglist:

@bnha-meme-sanctuary @nachotrash @haijkk @maadaaaa @prettyinblack231 @sakusasimpbot @kellesvt @bebetiny @ash-levi @calumsfringe @z3ld4 @erinoikawa @bandaged-despair @chaseyui @atria-avior @just-that-bi-girl @magical-fandoms @one-simp-more @hxked @universalmay @himboos @tchalameme @borpcorp @cheesey-fox @seven-aces

59 notes · View notes

write-havoc · 6 years

Text

This Is How I Disappear Ch. 32

Summary: A girl named Chuck finds herself in the exact place she doesn't want to be, living with violent men in a desolate nursing home. After her former gym teacher finds her, will he be the savior she was looking for?

Fandom: The Walking Dead AU

Pairing: Negan/Original Female Character

Status: Completed (story continues in The Flame Is Gone, The Fire Remains)

Contains: swearing, violence, sexual assault, blood, smut

Readers 18+ of age only

Masterlists in my bio

Chuck turns her head on the pillow to look at the clock. 10:14 am. She stretches her legs out and sits up to stretch her arms. She feels her stomach lurch and hurries to the bathroom to empty the contents of her stomach into the toilet. Because she hasn’t even eaten yet, it’s not much. She wipes her mouth and turns around to sit on the toilet relieve her full bladder.

“Baby, what are you doing to me?” she wonders out loud in frustration as she rubs her naked stomach.

As she walks by the large mirror over the sink to leave the room, she pauses. She looks at herself turned to the side in the mirror and examines her body. It does look different to her. Her breasts are larger and sporting some visible veins that were never there before. And her stomach is bigger. It could be confused for bloating if someone doesn’t know she is pregnant, but her stomach is still bigger.

She giggles and leaves the bathroom, grabbing Negan’s dirty shirt from yesterday and pulling it over her head. She looks out of the window for a moment, chewing on the dry toast that she made to settle her stomach, and decides that it is a nice day to read outside. The sun is shining bright in the sky and the weather looks perfect.

She takes a quick shower then heads out to Negan’s office to play with the cats for a little bit. Negan had brought up a bunch of cat toys for the animals and a couple more covered litter boxes, to Sam and Jose’s chagrin. It is their job to scoop the litter boxes at the beginning of their shifts to make sure Negan’s office stays as clean as possible. The kittens are getting bigger and Chuck loves to watch them run around Negan’s office chasing each other and playing. She and Negan even named all of them. Chuck named the momma cat Creamsicle. And the kittens are Larry, Curly, and Moe, courtesy of Negan.

The cats keep Chuck company as she sits on the couch in the office and knits more of her blanket. The dangling yarn grabs the cats’ attention for a little bit until they get bored of it in favor of wrestling with each other.

At lunchtime, Chuck makes herself a sandwich and eats it slowly, trying to make sure she keeps it down. After that, Chuck walks across the hall and picks out a navy blue flowy sundress and pairs it with the ankle strap heels Negan had mentioned the day before. Her long hair is pulled into the sleekest bun she can manage to finish off the look.

Chuck grabs a few books and heads to her picnic table outside to read. Her heels dig awkwardly into the gravel that surrounds the table as she situates herself on the bench. The sun is a little hotter than Chuck had thought, so she plans to move to her shadowy tree when it gets too uncomfortable for her. Someone else apparently was reading her mind, because a large shadow covers her from behind.

Chuck turns her head to see what it is and is greeted by Simon carrying a large parasol. She laughs at the sight. “What is this?” she asks with a huge smile on her face.

Simon twirls the parasol a little and wedges it in a gap in the slats on the picnic table, casting the table, and Chuck in shadow. “I saw you out here and remembered seeing this thing in the warehouse. Thought you might need it.”

“I do!” she says appreciatively. “I was just thinking about moving to my shady tree around back.”

His face falls a little. “Well, now you can stay here instead. You know, stay out front.”

She gives him a soft smile. She figures that the mention of the back reminded him about when she was attacked. Which is still a sore spot for him. He feels guilty about not stopping the it. “Yeah. Of course,” she tries to say in a casual tone, hoping whatever bad things he is thinking about would leave his mind and assuring him that she is really alright.

He sits down across from her. “What are you reading today?”

“I, robot.”

“Like the movie?”

She laughs. “Yeah. The movie was based on this. But it’s different. The book is just a bunch of short stories about robots.”

He gives her a goofy smile. “Robots are pretty cool.”

“They are cool,” she agrees playfully. “You think there are still people out there working on that kinda stuff?”

Simon ponders it while he scratches his cheek. “I don’t know. Probably somewhere. Somewhere where the dead aren’t a problem.”

“You think places like that exist?”

“Well,” he rests his elbows on the table. “There are remote islands. And villages on mountains and shit.”

“Hmm. Yeah. You’re right.”

He shrugs and gets up. He takes his knife out and starts to carve into the table right underneath the parasol pole.

Chuck reads aloud what he wrote. “Do not touch. Property of Simon.” She giggles.

“There,” he puts his knife away. “Now you’ll always have a place to read outside. And you won’t have to worry about burning that lily white skin of yours.”

She giggles again. “Thank you. And my skin thanks you. I don’t need anymore freckles.”

“I wouldn’t say that. They’re cute.” He looks at her for a few moments. Then his smile fades. He drops his head then brings it back up, this time with a fake smile on his face. “I better get going. See ya later, kiddo.”

“Yeah bye, Simon.”

When he is out of sight, Chuck lets out a sigh.

Poor Simon. What can I do to make this better for him?

Chuck knows Simon’s still trying to deal with her pregnancy. Whenever he talks to her, he doesn’t really mention it. Like he’s trying not to think about it. And Chuck doesn’t bring it up, afraid that it would hurt him.

She reads for a while longer until her stomach starts to grumble. She grabs her books and gets up from the table. After a few steps, the gravel pulls her heel awkwardly which causes her to lose her footing. She goes down on her hands and knees in the gravel, not especially hard, but hard enough to make her hiss out in pain.

She picks herself up and brushes the dirt from her hands and knees. She notices some blood dripping from a cut on her knee and running down her leg.

A sigh leaves her lips as she looks the wound over. “Great.” It isn’t a huge cut, but it still needs to be cleaned and covered. She gathers up her books from the ground and enters the building, headed for the infirmary.

——— Negan’s POV ———

We pull through the gates to The Sanctuary and everyone gets out of the fuckin’ trucks. I walk back to the truck that Harlan is in and gesture for him to follow me. I see Simon come out of the building, so I walk the fuck over to him with a huge fuckin’ smile on my face.

Simon looks at the man beside me and then to me. “Everything went well, I assume.”

“Yes indeedy it did go fuckin’ well. And I think we are well on our way to a beautiful fuckin’ friendship with those Hill-folk. Anything happen around here while I was out?”

“Nope. Pretty typical day.”

“Good good.” I scratch my beard. “Harlan, this here is my right hand man Simon. And Simon, this here is Hilltop’s Dr. Harlan Carson.”

“Carson?” Simon asks with scrunched up eyebrows.

Harlan holds his hand out and shakes Simon’s hand. “Pleasure to meet you.”

“Yup. He’s a Carson. He just so happens to be our Dr. Carson’s kid fuckin’ brother.”

Simon laughs. “No shit?”

“And he also happens to be a fuckin’ obgyn.”

Simon looks confused. “O-B-G what?”

Harlan answers. “Doctor of obstetrics and gynecology. Obgyn.”

I butt in. “He delivers babies.”

Simon looks at me with wide eyes. “Oh.”

“Welp. Let’s get to the fuckin’ infirmary to get this little family reunion on the road.”

Me and Harlan continue into the building while Simon stays outside to help with the trucks. We walk through and I start to talk about the place. Really talk it up so Harlan will see how fuckin’ awesome it is here. Just up ahead, I see a figure enter my hallway from another one. I see her look around and then turn to me.

Everything drops away from me as I look at her. The only thing I can see is blood. Blood running down the inside of Chuck’s leg.

I think she says something, but I don’t fuckin’ hear it as I run to her.

“No! No no no. Not this!”

I scoop her up in my arms and run her to the infirmary. I can still hear her voice, but I don’t know what the fuck she’s saying. I hear my voice, too, coming out of me like it is someone else’s.

“Fuck, no! Not again!”

I kick the door open and set her in the bed.

“It’s fuckin’ dying! She’s losing the baby!”

Everything around me is a fuckin’ blur. I’m breathing so hard that I think my fuckin’ lungs would burst. My vision starts to tunnel. All of my fuckin’ muscles are tensed and shaking.

The doc isn’t doing fuckin’ anything! Why the fuck isn’t he doing anything!?

Chuck stands up from the bed. I try to push her back down. She needs attention!

“SHE’S HAVING A FUCKING MISCARRIAGE! DO SOMETHING!”

Chuck grabs ahold of my face and shakes me. She is fuckin’ yelling at me, but all I hear is buzzing. What is she fucking yelling?!

——— ———

“Negan, calm down! I’m fine! The baby’s fine!” Chuck stands from the bed, but Negan pushes her back down onto it. “Negan, stop! Calm down!”

Negan looks around wildly before he screams, “SHE’S HAVING A FUCKING MISCARRIAGE! DO SOMETHING!”

Chuck stands and grabs ahold of his face. “I’m fine! Listen to me! The baby’s fine!”

He tries to push her back to the bed again, but she slaps him across the face, stopping him.

“NEGAN, STOP!” she screams.

He brings his hand up to his face and looks at Chuck. The jolt seems to snap him out of it.

“I cut my knee! I’m not miscarrying!”

He looks down to her knee, then back up to her face. He drops his hand from his cheek and turns his head to face Carson and the new man that had followed him in the room. “Give her an ultrasound. Now,” he growls. Negan pushes Chuck to lay down on the bed and starts to pull her skirt up to expose her belly.

“Negan!” She slaps his hands away. “There’s someone else in the room.” She nods her head toward the newcomer.

Carson lifts his head from the ultrasound machine that he is pulling closer to the bed. “It’s okay, Charlotte. This is my brother. He’s a doctor, too.”

Chuck looks from Carson to the other man.

“I’m Dr. Harlan Carson. I’m an obgyn and... I assume you’re pregnant.” He holds out his hand and Chuck shakes it meekly.

“Uh, yeah.” She looks back to Negan, who is still out of breath and then back to the other Dr. Carson. “Y-You’re Dr. Carson’s brother?” she asks confused.

Negan lets out a growl beside her.

Harlan looks to Negan and then pats Chuck’s shoulder. “Why don’t we check you out first and then we can chat later.”

“Uh... Oh, okay.” She knows Negan is still agitated and being impatient. “I just tripped outside and scraped my knee. I didn’t hit my stomach or anything. I didn’t even fall that hard, really. I just happened to land on a sharp rock,” she explains, hoping to calm everyone down.

Negan helps her pull her dress all the way up to her chest and Carson covers her legs with a blanket.

“How far along are you?” Harlan asks casually as he squirts the gel on the wand and starts to spread it on her stomach.

“Ten weeks,” she answers.

Negan grabs Chuck’s hand and squeezes it tight as Harlan turns the machine on and starts to move the wand over her stomach. All eyes are on the screen as the picture emerges.

“And there’s baby,” Harlan announces as he points to the baby on the screen with his free hand. He pushes a button and the heartbeat echoes through the room. He listens to it for a few moments before he pushes the button again, turning the speaker off, and looks at the screen. “Everything looks good. You have a perfectly healthy and normal baby at ten weeks.” He smiles down at Chuck and she smiles back.

Chuck turns to smile at Negan, but he looks completely stoic, still breathing heavily.

Negan leans forward and wraps his hand around the wand, taking it from Harlan and says, “Get the fuck out,” to the doctors.

Harlan looks confused and turns to his brother. Carson immediately ushers Harlan out of the room without a word.

When the door closes, Negan turns to Chuck. “Do it,” he says with no emotion.

“What?” she asks, confused.

“Do it.” He wiggles the wand in his hand. “Get the fuckin’ picture back up.” He points to the screen with his other hand as he stares at it.

Chuck takes the wand from him and begins to move it back over her stomach. It takes a few moments for her to get the picture back up, but she does.

Negan leans over to push the button Harlan had pressed to turn the speaker back on. The heartbeat fills the room once more and the pair look to the screen. After staring at their baby for several minutes, Chuck turns her head to Negan. His eyes are still glued to the screen and tears are streaming down his face.

“Oh, Negan,” she chokes out as her own tears begin to spill out of her eyes. She moves the wand off of her stomach to hug Negan, but he stops her.

“No,” he chokes out quietly. “Please.” He never moves his eyes from the screen.

“Okay, Negan.” Chuck lays back down and gets the baby back on the screen.

After a few moments, Negan starts to speak. “Lucille got pregnant twice.” His eyes are still on the screen, never straying. “Neither of my babies made it to the second trimester. The first one died at six fuckin’ weeks. We never even got to the fuckin’ ultrasound. We were married a year. It wasn’t a fuckin’ planned pregnancy, but we were so goddamn happy when the test was positive.” He wipes his hand down his face to rid it of his tears. “After that, she got cancer, so we couldn’t... Not with the fuckin’ chemo. When she went into remission, they said she might not be able to get pregnant. But we fuckin’ tried anyway. For fuckin’ years. And it finally happened.” He lets out a heavy breath. “Ten weeks.” His voice cracks as he says it. “A week after our first ultrasound. I got to see my baby once. Then we lost it.” He shakes his head. “The doctors told us it probably wouldn’t fuckin’ happen again after that. It didn’t.” He finally looks down at her.

“I’m so sorry, Negan,” she chokes out. Her heart breaks for Negan and Lucille at what they went through.

He gets up and takes the wand from her, setting it in its place and then wheeling the machine back to the wall. He grabs a towel and moves back to wipe the gel off of Chuck.

“Did I hurt you?” he asks as he runs the towel over her stomach.

“No.”

“Did I scare you?”

“A little. But I understand.”

He nods sadly and pulls her dress back down her legs. She jumps up and throws her arms around his shoulders in a hug. He wraps his own arms around her waist and squeezes her to him.

She runs her fingers through his hair as he nuzzles into her neck. “It’s okay, Negan. It’s okay to be scared.”

They cling to each other for a few minutes before Negan pulls back.

“Shit. You still need your knee fuckin’ patched up.” He opens the door and calls out into the hall, “Come on, docs. Get the fuck in here.”

Chuck sits down on the bed and waits for the doctors to come back in. Carson wastes no time in looking at her knee.

“So you guys are really brothers?” she asks.

“Yes,” Carson answers with a smile as he works on the cut on her knee.

“So what should I call you guys? You’re both Dr. Carson.”

Harlan answers. “He’s your doctor, so he can be Dr. Carson. Just call me Harlan.”

When Carson finishes up, Negan tells Chuck to go upstairs. He then directs Harlan to follow him as he goes to the second floor meeting room.

——— Negan’s POV ———

I sit at the head of the table and set Lucille down in front of me. I fuckin’ dropped her in the hall when I went running to Chuck. Fuck. That’s the first fuckin’ time that’s happened. Fat Joey picked her up for me and waited for me to leave the infirmary, so he could fuckin’ give her back to me.

I gesture to my left for Harlan to take his fuckin’ seat.

“Well, Doctor Harlan Carson,” I say as I rest my elbows on the table. “I’m not gonna fuckin’ lie to you. I want you to stay here. I know you haven’t gotten the fuckin’ ten cent tour of my place, but I can assure you that you will be safe here. Well fed. Respected.”

Harlan squirms in his seat. Shit. He’s not gonna fuckin’ stay.

“I’m not saying you have to make your decision right fuckin’ now. You can take a few days. Hang out with your big bro. Get a fuckin’ feel for the place. And if you wanna stay, I will welcome you with open fuckin’ arms.” I scratch my beard. “And if you want to leave, well, we’ll get you back home safe and fuckin’ sound. I guarantee it.”

Harlan looks at me a bit nervously. “That’s very generous, Negan. But Hilltop is my home. And I have patients there I can’t leave.”

I try not to get fuckin’ angry. All I want to do is fuckin’ demand that he stay. But I’m trying to do this shit differently. “I’m a little fuckin’ disappointed, doc. But it is your choice.”

He nods. “That’s your first child, right? First time dads can be a little overprotective, so I get why you’d want me here full time to take care of baby and mother.”

Fuck. I didn’t want him to know Chuck was pregnant with my kid. I was gonna talk to her first about seeing him. Fuckin’ tell her not to say the kid was mine. But I fucked that up when I freaked the fuck out in front of him. Now another goddamn group will know about my weakness.

“Look, Harlan.” I let out a sigh. “I have enemies. Being a fuckin’ leader of a group will do that. Her being pregnant... It can be dangerous for her if the fuckin’ wrong people found out.” I let out a heavy breath. “If anyone hurt her to try to get to me, nothing would stop me from getting my fuckin’ vengeance on everyone involved. Nothing.” I glare at him. He better fuckin’ get what I’m telling him.

Harlan gulps. “I know the world has changed, but I still operate the same way I always have. Doctor/patient confidentiality still stands with me. And I would never put one of my patients in danger. I won’t tell anyone about her or the baby. You have my word.”

I study his face. He isn’t fuckin’ lying. “Good.”

“I can come back every few weeks to check up on her, if you like. And I’m sure my brother can tend to her without me, even though he’s not a licensed obgyn. You don’t have anything to worry about.”

“Yeah... Carson’s delivered a few fuckin’ babies over his time here.” I rub my hand down my face. I’m trying to calm my-fuckin’-self down with that. “We have another pregnant woman here, too. She’s further along than Chuck. You can fuckin’ check her out, too, while you’re here.”

I raise my radio to my fuckin’ mouth. “Dwight. Get the fuck to the meeting room.”

“I’m close by, sir. I’ll be there in a minute.”

Dwight walks in a couple minutes later.

“Our guest here will be staying a few days. Find him a room and escort him down to the infirmary.”

“Yes, sir.”

I turn to Harlan. “Get big bro to give you the lay of the land.”

They fuckin’ leave and I head up to my room.

——— ———

As soon as Chuck gets upstairs, she goes to her room to change out of her dress and heels in favor for an oversized T-shirt and sleep shorts. She puts on the pair of fuzzy slippers that Negan had brought up for her and goes back into Negan’s apartment. She bums around for a bit before she decides to start dinner.

She settles on spaghetti because they have some of Negan’s sauce still leftover in the refrigerator and it is a quick meal. She isn’t sure when Negan is going to come back up, but she is too hungry to wait much longer. It doesn’t take too long for the food to cook and just as she sits down with her plate, Negan comes in.

“Perfect timing,” Chuck calls out. “I just finished up with dinner.”

“Thank fuck. I’m starving.” Negan gives her a kiss on the forehead before he goes into his room. He comes back out, without Lucille and his jacket and grabs a plate.

“It’s crazy that you ran across Dr. Carson’s brother,” Chuck says with a chuckle. “What are the odds?” She figures that bringing up the other thing that happened today isn’t a good idea. If Negan wants to talk about it, he’ll bring it up himself.

“Pretty fuckin’ good, apparently.” He grabs a plate and fills it with the food still sitting on the stove. Then, he sits down at the table.

“Where did you find him?” Chuck doesn’t know much about where Negan went today. All he said was that he was helping out a community.

He lets out a tense breath. “He’s the doc for a fuckin’ place called Hilltop.”

“Oh. Is it big? The settlement?”

He takes a bite. “Not really. They’re a bunch of fuckin’ farmers.”

“Oh, wow! That’s great. I mean, this world needs farmers.” She takes a bite of her own.

“Yeah. We’re gonna be getting shit from them from now on. Produce and shit. Stuff we don’t fuckin’ have here.”

“Like what?”

He smirks at her. “I want to fuckin’ surprise you.” He takes a bite and chews it with a big smile on his face.

She giggles. “Okay.” She takes another bite. “What are you helping them out with?”

His smile drops and he looks away. “No, baby girl.”

“What? What is it?”

He shakes his head. “There’s ugly fuckin’ shit out there.”

“I know, Negan. You don’t have to hide that stuff from me.”

He lets out a sigh and looks up to her. “These Hilltop people aren’t fighters. They don’t even have fuckin’ guns. And another group has been attacking their scavengers and scouts. Killed a bunch of them.”

“Oh, no,” she whispers.

Negan lets out an even bigger sigh. “Some of the scavengers were women. And they weren’t killed. They were fuckin’ taken.”

Chuck feels a chill go through her body. “Taken?”

“Yeah.” He runs his hand down his jaw. “We’re gonna find them. Get those women home fuckin’ safe and sound.”

She looks down and nods. “That’s good.” She feels so bad for those women, knowing what they must be going through.

“Baby girl, just finish your dinner, please.”

She nods again and takes a bite.

“I’m gonna try to get Harlan to fuckin’ stay for you.”

“Does the Hilltop have another doctor?”

He gives her a look. “No.”

“Then I don’t want him to stay.”

“Come on, baby girl. He’s a baby doctor and you have a fuckin’ baby in you.”

“Are there pregnant women at this Hilltop place?”

He doesn’t answer her, but takes a bite instead.

“Is that a ‘yes’?”

He lets out a huff. “There’s at least one pregnant lady.”

“Then he needs to be there.”

Negan lets out a huff and pushes his empty plate aside. “No matter fuckin’ what, he’s checking up on you fuckin’ often. Amber, too.”

“Then there’s no problem.” She gives him a warm look, but receives a nervous one in return. “I understand you’re nervous about... complications. But we have Carson here. And Kayla. And Harlan can travel here if we need him. How far away is Hilltop?”

“Too far.”

She looks down, unsure if she can say anything to assuage his fears. “I’m fine, Negan. Everything will be okay-“

She is interrupted by Negan’s radio going off.

“Sir, we got word from the team following the barbarians. They followed them to some farmhouse they use as their base.”

Negan stands up and points to Chuck’s plate. “Finish eating.” He walks into the office and starts to bark orders into the radio.

Chuck takes his order to mean “Don’t come into the office,” so she doesn’t. She just finishes up with her dinner and leaves Negan to his official business.

#negan #negan fanfiction #negans thirst squad #negan x oc #negan x ofc #negan x original female character #negan / ofc #negan / oc #negan / original female character #jdm #jeffrey dean morgan #the walking dead fanfiction #the walking dead au #the walking dead #tihid #this is how i disappear #writehavoc writes #writehavoc this is how i disappear

8 notes · View notes

missytearex · 6 years

Text

To Read List - Larry

So much Larry, so little time...

Part 4

got me losing every breath (i'm latching onto you) by kissingiscool

It's a blur to him, chasing Louis down from point A to point B, through a maze of pathways and a chorus of short giggles, chromaticity of canary and fern as dirt sticks to the soles of his running feet, and he feels alive, more alive than he's ever felt in all of the twenty-five years of his life. More alive from the time he first when skiing. More alive than from when he had his first kiss. Just looking at Louis gave him a new definition of alive. He doesn't know how long he's been chasing, but the pounding of his heart and huff and puff of each breath that's punched out of his lungs is so addicting that he doesn't ever want to stop chasing him.

(or an au where louis is a fairy with a fear of thunderstorms and a talent of knitting and harry is a vet with three cats and a lot of love.)

I Would Follow You (To the Moon and Back) by Dick

Everyone has baggage, some people sleepwalk, some have obsessive exes, and others turn into anthropomorphic wolf-like monsters that destroy furniture and run rampant in the forest. Perfectly normal.

Or the one where Harry and Louis have been dating for six months, Harry is a werewolf, and it's a full moon. This time they're going to get it right.

i'll take your pain by suspendrs

It’s kind of romantic when Harry thinks about it, feeling all the pain of the person he’s supposed to love for the rest of his life. Sure, it’s rather inconvenient when he’s in class and his soulmate gets kicked in the balls, or when he’s sleeping and his soulmate knocks his head or his knee off something. It’d be nice if the function helped them to find each other, but Harry supposes he can live with knowing that they’re destined to run into each other someday.

Or, soulmates have the ability to feel each other's pain, and Harry finds his after getting his arse waxed. (Or, the soulmate au crack fic I can't believe I actually wrote.)

Sirène by iwillpaintasongforlou

Harry stumbles across a strange and beautiful creature -merman Prince Louis of Sirène- as he walks along the beach one night. When a bit of magic Louis had never dared to believe in has him trading in fins and scales for real human legs, Harry takes it upon himself to show him exactly how this new human body works.

(Louis is a merman who turns into a human and Harry takes him home and takes him to bed.)

under me, you by hazzafrazza (colberry)

You Won’t Believe Who Was Spotted Leaving Harry Styles’ Primrose Hill Pad! If Harry was being completely honest, it probably wasn’t the best idea to be a world-renowned popstar and an infamous vigilante.

(Especially when all the comic books said never reveal your secret identity to keep your loved ones safe – which was all well and good, until Louis.)

Or: Harry wants a lot of things – fame, glory, Louis – but that last one is particularly hard to get when everyone thinks you’re dating your secret superhero alter-ego and suddenly you’ve become your own worst cockblock.

A Cauldron of Love by zimriya

“Oh for Merlin’s sake, yes,” Niall interrupts finally. “Harry’s been in love with Louis Tomlinson since that time in second year when he went and accidentally peed on him.”

Harry turns to face him, horrified. “Niall!” he squeaks out. “You promised you wouldn’t tell anyone about that!”

Niall just shrugs and wipes his mouth with a napkin. “Aw, come off it, Hazza, was it really a secret?” When Harry doesn’t say anything, he pauses and looks up. “It was?” he says. “Ah, bollocks.”

A Hogwarts AU.

There's a Power in What You Do by LadyLondonderry

Harry moves to a new town under mysterious circumstances.

Louis leads a small pack of werewolves there.

It's all very convenient, really.

Babe, There's Something Lonesome About You by patdkitten

Louis is a hedge witch, who lives a lonely, solitary life. He's quite happy with his shop in Door County, selling New Age magics to the tourists. He also has his cats and his birds to keep him company. But his best friend Liam thinks he needs someone around, and he's got just the person: Liam's friend Harry is coming to the area for the tourist season and since Louis has all this space....

Can't Fool Me by emma1234

“I hate frats,” Louis repeats for what feels like the millionth time.

“Yes, I’ve heard, once or twice or every day for the past three years,” Liam says. His careful tone reminds Louis of how his mom always sounds when one of his siblings is on the brink of a tantrum.

Louis glances speculatively at Liam’s frat brothers, who are still huddled together and chatting, with the exception of the one who’s looking in Louis’ direction. Maybe Louis shouldn’t rule out a tantrum. While making a scene wouldn’t actually free him from fraternity nonsense in the future, it would at least be entertaining.

AU where Louis hates fraternities and would never be into a frat boy. And one of these things is definitely not a lie.

Stories We Don't Want to Tell by tracinginthesand

Louis is the best friend ever. Bar none. He’s convinced. He allows himself to be dragged along to boy band concerts. “As if you haven’t danced around my room to their music multiple times, Louis,” Eleanor says, like that settles anything.

I wasn't looking when I stumbled onto you by Cherrie

In retrospect Louis could see how the pap got the idea. He admitted he saw Harry quite a lot, but he swears they never arranged it. He was only a med student and Harry was a movie star it was ridiculous to think they were dating. Right?

Dust to Dust by dinosaursmate

“There’s no way it’s true.” Harry shrugged, letting out a small laugh. “Louis can’t be… dead.” Dead. The force of the word hit Harry like a ton of bricks. There were actually rumours that his Louis was dead. His heart rate picked up. It wasn’t true. No way. --- Harry, an active participant in the One Direction Tumblr fandom, comes across a rumour that Louis died and has been replaced with a lookalike.

Back From The Edge by sincewewereeighteen

“Guess my eyes are very blue.” “They are.” Harry agrees easily. “You’ve got beautiful eyes.” “You’re drunker than you think.” Louis snorts. “Why’s that?” “We’ve just met and you said I have beautiful eyes. Only people who are in love say that.” He points. “Maybe I am in love with you.” Harry points back, feeling very smart. Yep. Maybe he is drunker than he thought.

Or: the one in which Harry is a closeted actor who needs to do a PR stunt during his break, only he wasn't counting on falling for his beard's best friend. It gets messy.

Take Care Down By The Water by shyserious

Louis has spent his summers at his Granny's in the Isle of Barra for almost as long as he could remember.

This summer wasn't supposed to be any different, but the little Scottish island turned out to be harbouring more than just the gorgeous white beaches, the clear waters, and the town drunk scaremongering the foreign tourists.

Victorian Boy by DonnaHaywardsHead

Victorian AU. Harry the virgin Duke of Somerset knows little of love, while Louis the sly Duke of Warwick knows too much. When the two dukes come together for the Bilsdale fox hunt in York, Harry finds himself drawn into Louis' bed. But when secrets from Louis' dark past come to light, Harry fears that the fox isn't the only one being hunted.

Collision by itjustkindahappened

Mythology/Fairytale!AU in which Louis is a dainty fairy with a temper who wants to be intimidating and Harry hurts people. Naturally, they hate each other.

(Featuring Liam, the big and not-so-bad wolf who’s got a thing for humans, Zayn, a human with supernaturally good looks, and Niall, the cupid who just wants his job to be easier.)

Heart on an Open Highway by afirethatcannotdie

AU. Harry's a popstar about to release his second album, and Louis is the Radio 1 intern who gets his heart racing.

Tell Me A Story by yourpricelessadvice

Louis takes the train home to Doncaster from Manchester. Enter: Harry Styles.

Packed Lunches, Sticky Fingers and Accidental Levitation by LadyLondonderry

Harry Styles is a skilled work-from-home potionist five years out of university with a steady job, a house, and... eight kids.

He also might be heading towards a breakdown if he doesn't get a bit of help.

Enter a meddling pixie and an old university friend he might or might not have had a lot of feelings for.

(Make You Want To) Scream by lululawrence

While Louis' left hand plays with his nipple, his right reaches down and wraps around his dick and that's when he really knows something is wrong.

The dick in his hand does not feel like his own.

Linger by yourpricelessadvice

Louis has a truckload of painful memories and a custody arrangement where a family could’ve been. The last thing he’s looking for is a new relationship.

Harry has accepted that he’s not made for relationships and isn’t interested in getting burnt again.

It’s a good job they’ve both got meddling friends.

It's a Better Place (Since You Came Along) by phdmama

When Harry Styles, a mid-level talent, Finder, and small business owner, sets off on the vacation of a lifetime with his best friend, Niall Horan, he has no idea the changes his life will undergo over the next nine days. He's got it all planned - there's going to be shore excursions, lounging by the pool on the deck of the luxurious cruise ship, not to mention margaritas. What he does not plan for are the new friends, new bonds, or the mystery from his past that comes back to haunt him, and he certainly hasn't planned for Louis.

Try Refusing A Million Times (But You're in Love) by habitbynight

Harry’s a witch selling tea and sweets in The Umbrella, a shop he and his best mate Niall have just opened. But on ‘Official Opening Day’ he runs into Louis, and there the chaos ensues when Harry’s magic trickles into Louis. With Niall and Zayn at his side, it’s a regular quest for love: either Harry gets his magic back from the forbidden Louis whose dating Liam, or he preforms a dark ritual on himself to save himself from Louis’ madness that he most certainly will not survive.

The Shirt You Hate by isthatyoularry

“Soph,” Louis says to his female executive assistant. “I’m making more money than ever, and I have just realised that I have no one to spend it on.”

At thirty years old, Louis is past halfway to becoming a billionaire, and he needs to find the one. He literally stumbles upon his university sweetheart.

Waiting On You by emma1234

“Vampires,” Louis says with disgust, glaring over at the vampire who is noisily slurping from the woman’s neck nearby.

Zayn gives the neat fang marks on Louis’ neck a meaningful look.

“Can’t live with them, can’t live without them,” Louis finishes, ignoring Zayn when he rolls his eyes.

Louis takes a long sip of his milkshake, presses his fingers against the marks on his neck, and definitely doesn’t think about the vampire who left them there.

I'm Not Gonna Beg by mezziedemo

When Harry had given him an ultimatum at sixteen – come out and be with me publically or leave now, Louis’ scared eighteen year old self had walked out. He had meant to go back the next day - but fate had other plans and when tragedy struck, Harry was left to think Louis hadn’t loved him enough and had left him. Now Four years later, Harry has just won X-Factor along with his One Direction band mates, Niall and Zayn. He’s never forgotten Louis, although he’d certainly tried. A chance meeting will change everything and turn both their lives upside down when Harry finds out what happened to Louis. But is it too late for a second chance? NOTE: LOUIS DID NOT DIE! Please give this a read!

For You I'd Bleed Myself Dry by allwaswell16

After a public and humiliating breakup, Louis Tomlinson finds himself on his would-be honeymoon with his best friend, Niall. However, this St. Lucian paradise is not all that it seems. Louis may be particularly vulnerable to an unusually handsome predator.

Prompt: Bloodsucker

Let Me Kiss You by allwaswell16

Harry Styles is on top of the world. He's moving to Chicago to live in a kick ass apartment that he's sharing with his old college friend, Niall. When their old college crew makes plans to hang out, Harry realizes he will be coming face to face with his unrequited crush, Louis. -

H: Tommo’s?

N: Yeah. Tommo. Louis. Tomlinson. Are we seriously doing this? You really gonna pretend you don’t know who I’m talking about? Dude I’ve seen you sign ‘Harry Tomlinson’ all over a piece of paper.

H: That was a long time ago!

N: So you do know who I’m talking about then

H: Yes. Just it was a long time ago.

N: It was 3 years ago not 30 years ago. Anyway I’ll text you the address. Liam and Zayn will meet you there in an hour and I’ll be there as soon as I can.

H: I can’t just show up!

N: Why not? He knows you’re coming. See you there. Later.

You Really Got Me Now by allwaswell16

Louis is the best older brother anyone could ask for. He knows this because he's agreed to help chaperone his younger sister's school trip to Rome. As it turns out, Italy is full of surprises. Fizzy's Italian teacher is surprisingly hot, Rome is surprisingly interesting, and Louis is surprisingly falling in love with more than just the city.

Prompt #77: The impatience at having to listen to someone blather on and on.

got the sunshine on my shoulders by hattalove

five years ago, harry styles left his tiny home town to make it big as a recording artist. he didn't have much regard for what he left behind - a life, a family, and a husband, who woke up one morning to find him gone.

now, harry has everything he could possibly want: he's rich, famous, and adored by everyone he meets, including his boyfriend. but when said boyfriend proposes to him, he's forced to face the uncomfortable facts of his past - and louis, who's spent the last five years returning every set of divorce papers harry sent him.

(or, an au based on the movie sweet home alabama.)

You and I and Plastic Flowers by LadyLondonderry

The mug cracks. It makes a horrible ceramic clacking noise. Whatever is inside is thrown into a frenzy, and Louis finds he can barely keep it still. This was not well thought out. He should have just let the bloody thing have control of the house. That would have been a better option.

He's still trying to formulate a plan of how to get the thing outside when the whole container gives a mighty jerk to the right, throwing him completely off guard, and tumbles onto the tile of the kitchen floor below.

Sweet Dreams by sweetlouist91

"But that wasn't made Harry's heart stop. No, because there on his arm was at tattoo. A tattoo in the exact same spot as Harry's anchor"

Famous Harry finds out about makeup YouTuber Louis by chance in an interview. It's fate after all.

my only working remedy by YesIsAWorld

Harry is a famous actor, and the media portrays him as a lothario who sleeps with every woman he meets. His Team steps it up a notch when Harry is in between movies and they do a promo by launching the contest “Win a Date with Harry Styles!” Everything goes wrong for Harry's Team when the winner is a guy, Louis Tomlinson. But for Harry, everything goes right.

Tall Tales For Summer by turnyourankle

Harry knows something is up when his mum insists on throwing him a birthday party in the summer. He's even more suspicious of her intentions when he notices the guest list is all male.

(Or, modern nobility AU where Harry's mother is trying to set him up without his knowledge.)

How Fast the Night Changes by youbeyou

“I’m sorry, Dominic. I’m-“ Harry tugs on his trousers again, finally getting them to slip over his arse. “I’m pretty sure my boyfriend would be opposed to me going on a date with someone else.”

Harry thinks he delivers the lie pretty convincingly but he doesn’t stop to check, reaching for the next shirt on his rack. Isn’t there supposed to be someone helping him with this?

Dominic stiffens at Harry’s words. “You have a boyfriend? Who is it?”

“That would be me,” an absolutely gorgeous man that Harry’s never seen in his life answers...

Prom Promise by youbeyou

“I’m gonna go to that prom,” Harry tells him, pointing a finger in his ex’s face. “I’m gonna get a date who’s hot and nice and likes me for who I am and I am gonna have the time of my life. And you, Jeremy, are gonna wish you’d never let me get away.” Or

It's two weeks to prom and Harry needs a date.

bulan dipagari bintang by snsk

right now this is his pack, the vampire harry's burning his scent into, murmuring nonsensities about the stars and their stories.

// or: harry is sixteen when he comes into his werewolf form. louis is terribly, wonderfully ageless, and still, always a vampire.

When It's Late At Night by Rearviewdreamer

Louis has zero interest in an ex-boybander turned solo artist when his appearance on the show gets announced, but that's exactly who he gets stuck with when Harry Styles shows up at the Late Late show to promote the release of his debut album. For an entire fucking week.

The Late Late prompt that we all need to get through this excruciatingly hard time.

Let's Fall in Love in a Place You Want to Stay by embro

A George of the Jungle / Tarzan AU where Louis is a model who meets Wild Man Harry in the Congo. He was raised by apes and barely speaks a word of English and turns Louis' life upside down.

Like a Saturated Sunrise by onlyhuman

Louis doesn't necessarily enjoy gardening. Which makes it all the more annoying that someone has been cutting off flowers as they see fit.

Or, alternatively: the one where Louis has a love/hate relationship with his garden and Harry is the most innocent criminal to ever exist.

Right Smart Spell by distortedrain

Seven long and painful years of a muggleborn thinking his love for a pure-blood is entirely unrequited (spoiler: it's not).

For the prompt: Harry is a muggleborn who’s very, very nervous about school at Hogwarts but Louis, a pureblood who is also a first year, takes Harry under his wing and teaches the ins and outs of Hogwarts.

They become super close and Harry comes out of his shell because of the beautiful, bright-eyed boy who likes to get them in trouble (Filch hates them) and Harry develops an unrequited (maybe not so unrequited) crush on his best mate over the years. Harry wanted to ask Louis to the Yule Ball and doesn’t have the courage, and the amortentia they brew in 6th year smells like Louis and home and his patronus and Louis’ match and Harry doesn’t know what it means but he knows it’s important. They don’t end up getting their shit together until year seven. Basically just an overview of their seven years in Hogwarts and beyond.

Close Your Eyes, Clear Your Heart, Cut The Cord by eli_ssabeth

Harry looks bewildered for a second before extending his hand warily. “I’m Harry. Styles." Louis looks at his hand then back at his face before reluctantly shaking it. “Is that your real name?” he asks dubiously. Harry barks out a short laugh. “Yep,” he says, popping the p. “But I get that a lot.” “Oh, I’m sure you do." “You still haven’t told me yours,” Harry reminds Louis, who is definitely paying attention to what Harry is saying and totally not getting lost in his eyes. “Look at that, I haven’t,” Louis agrees, finally letting go of Harry’s hand before offering a strained smile and marching past him. He can feel Harry’s stare on him the entire way to the door.

OR Louis is a paediatric surgeon who hates publicity visits and Harry is a singer who visits publicly. A lot. They fall in love anyway.

My Love is a Fortress (My Love is a Louvre) by zimriya

Harry likes to think he’s juggling the whole part-time uni student, part-time superhero thing rather well, strictly speaking, because despite the fact that he has absolutely no social life outside of uni lectures and clandestine, midnight crime fighting, at least no one’s gone and died on his watch. Yet.

A Superhero AU.

Play Me Like One of Your French Girls by zimriya

Louis is Hollywood’s ‘Bad Boy and Sometimes Darling’, and Harry is the clumsy, endearingly attractive part-time cellist whose cello gets upgraded to the seat next to his on the plane. They fall in love.

Also featuring R&B Superstar Zayn Malik, Olympic Gold Medalist Liam Payne, and Masterchef Niall Horan.

we're still going, eight in the morning by nooelgallagher, yoursongonmyheart

Harry washes his hands quickly before grabbing his phone. His screen lights up to 3 notifications.

DJTommo is now following you!

@DJTommo mentioned you in a tweet!

Direct Message from @DJTommo!

Harry yelps, throwing his phone to Niall who just barely catches it.

Niall looks down at the phone, seeing first the tweet, then the DM. He tosses the phone back to Harry, who nearly drops it. “What are ya doing, mate! Answer him!”

Harry thinks for a moment about what he wants to say. This is his chance to actually talk to Louis Tomlinson. Louis Tomlinson messaged him directly. He can say anything he wants. He begins typing, his fingers shaky.

Niall comes over to stand next to Harry and peers down, looking to see what he wrote. When he does, he lets out a groan.

...Or, the one where Harry owns a bakery, Louis is a radio DJ, and Niall and Liam roll their eyes at their incessant flirting.

baby, you're my only reason by zouisclimax

Harry's famous and Louis' a big fan.

or, "you're a celebrity and you just broke up and i tweeted you a selfie and said "date me" and you thought i was serious?" au

find me cause i'll never find you by highhopes

Harry makes his way through the people, stopping for pictures and hugs and Louis feels his heart beating rapidly in his chest because this is it. This is finally it.

(or, harry is a famous indie singer and all louis wants is a picture)

shine by togetherwecouldbealright

Louis has never seen someone who is as beautiful as Harry is, the faint light overhead casting a warm glow over him. He’s wearing an apron that matches the color of his lips and it’s slightly askew, tied loosely around his waist. His hair is pulled into a messy bun, a single strand falling into his eyes that are filled with a tangible wildness. There’s also a streak of flour across one of his cheekbones that he’s failed to notice.

He’s messy. He’s incredibly messy. But he’s also so, so beautiful that he takes Louis’ breath away. Louis doesn’t think he’s ever felt this way about someone.

Louis is an actor who needs to get away from the real world. He does the only thing that he can and runs away, finding himself in a small town where he happens upon Harry. What Louis doesn't expect is to somehow fall in love and end up having to face what he was running from all along.

Just a Fine and Fancy Ramble by throughthedark

Louis continues to watch as the fit boy waggles his eyebrows dramatically at the penguin. Clearly, he's very invested in winning the staring contest, which means Louis still has time to come up with a plan of attack. He turns to his sisters. “Girls, look cute. You know how to snag a boy right?” College Au where Harry leads an army of penguins and rocks purple penis headscarves, Louis is generally covered in pigeon shit and panicking over worm dissections, Liam just wants to save his pet bird from Harry's ill thought out sacrificial plans, and Niall and Zayn are definitely not dating.

like an animal (i wanna feel you from the inside) by bottomlinsons (grimgrace)

Louis leans a little closer. It’s not difficult – not with the way he’s already pressed so close, straddling Harry’s hard hips with Harry’s equally hard dick nestled tightly between his cheeks.

The paramedic clears his throat and looks away.

(Harry and Louis get a little stuck. Literally.)

Before You Came Into My Life (I missed you so bad) by downhill_tumble

Louis has made a lot of bad decisions after smoking up with Zayn at one in the morning. Oddly enough, texting a random phone number he found tucked into a library book turns out not to be one of them.

Or an AU where Louis is a closeted A-list actor and Harry is just your average Uni student who only signs things with smiley faces.

That Sounds Fake But Okay by dancingontheceiling

Harry Styles is a rookie journalist forced to work the gossip desk at a major New York magazine. Louis Tomlinson is the A-list actor who doesn't appreciate Harry or his articles.

101 Uses For Dragon Eggs by colazitron

Louis just got back from a three week assignment yesterday and today was only supposed to be paperwork he needs to do to finish that up, before he was going to leave early and enjoy the weekend. And then Zayn, the traitor, emailed him about a bloke who was rumoured to have found a dragon egg and apparently live tweeting the whole thing.

Now. There are a lot of kids on twitter who tweet about dragon eggs they’ve found. A lot. But ninety-nine point nine percent of those tweets are about eggs that are not dragon eggs, whether the kids tweeting know that or not.

The only reason that Louis allows for that point-one percent chance that someone could be tweeting about an actual dragon egg is that, well, someone could. Weird things happen all the time.

Zero to Sixty in Three Point Five by RealityBetterThanFiction

Harry bumbles himself out of a bind...and into a boyfriend. It's Niall's fault, of course. As it always is.

rapture in the dark by stylinsonsupporter

Harry Styles is a breakout musician who has shed his boyband label in favor of embracing his inner brooding rockstar. His PR team think that his rebrand is the perfect time for Harry to come out of the closet and have devised the perfect plan for doing so. Enter Louis Tomlinson, up and coming (and very openly homosexual) model whose public image as America's Sweetheart is the perfect foil for Harry's new edge. From a PR standpoint, it's a dream come true - a power couple that can slowly coax the public into accepting Harry's altered image. The only problem? They hate each other.

Or, Harry does the Winter Girlfriend routine with Louis instead.

Let's Go Get Away by letsjustsee

When Louis had moved to the island a year ago, he only wanted two things: to serve good food to good people, and to live on the beach. Was that too much to ask for? Apparently the universe thought so, because Louis had only gotten three months of blissful, uninterrupted beach living before Harry Styles moved in to the empty shop next door. Louis was hoping whoever took over the space might be a tour guide, or even another restaurant (with non-competing menu options, of course), but no – he had gotten Harry Styles. The guy who wore Hawaiian dad-shirts unironically. The guy who spent his time making soap by hand out of goat’s milk.

Or, a fluffy AU in which Louis owns a restaurant that's next door to Harry's shop, and Louis is completely unaware how smitten he really is.

The Way You Make me Feel, It's Real by larrymylove

It was supposed to be a simple road trip to the beach for a lad's holiday with Liam. Louis' car wasn't supposed to break down, and he wasn't supposed to be trapped at some creepy little bed and breakfast run by who Louis is convinced is going to 'Norman Bates' him, and he sure as hell wasn't supposed to fall in love with Harry Styles along the way. But sometimes, the universe has other plans.

The AU in which Louis and Liam are forced to stay at the B&B Harry runs, and Louis really cannot stand him (who runs a B&B at the age of twenty anyway?) until he finds himself really not wanting to have to say goodbye.

Were We Ever This Young? by letsjustsee

“How did it go?” he asked, still not having gotten any hints from Louis’ face. “Obviously it went amazing, Harold,” Louis said, reaching for Harry’s hand, “Was there any doubt I would smash it?” Immediately after finishing his sentence a young girl burst out of the classroom behind Louis, pushing through her peers, sobbing her eyes out. Harry and Louis both took her in, watching as she rushed through the crowd and disappeared behind the many bodies. Harry looked at Louis in confusion, about to voice his concerns before Louis cut him off. “Teenagers, am I right?” Louis said casually, “So bloody sensitive. You hungry? Let’s go.” And with that, he pulled Harry through the groups of students by his hand, Harry too shocked to utter a word.

Hogwarts AU in which Harry and Louis both return to give talks to seventh years about the 'real world' with slightly varying results. Inspired by the Chilton scene between Rory and Paris in the new Gilmore Girls.

Then We Talk Slow by letsjustsee

The picture showed Harry smiling widely (with a fucking dimple) at the camera, his glossy brown curls situated artfully around his shoulders. Louis couldn’t see his whole outfit, but it seemed to consist of a pink, floral button-up with most of the buttons undone. Louis could also detect the dark outlines of tattoos on his chest, although he couldn’t quite make out what they were underneath the shirt. What he could make out was that his own heartrate seemed to have picked up significantly. Shit. This was so not good. Not only had Louis drunkenly sent messages in a deliberate attempt to interact with this man, he was now insanely attracted to him without ever having met him in person. Maybe Liam was right – drunk tweeting really was a horrible, rotten idea.

A famous/non-famous AU in which Louis banters back and forth with his new record company on Twitter, only to find out that Harry is the man behind the tweets.

Empty Skies by green_feelings

For three years, Harry has been running from his past. Now, he is moving to London and pledges to fulfil his only dream -- making it big in the music industry. Not everyone has a place, though, and the competition is tough. As is his past catching up on him.

Louis is part of the biggest boy band of the world, and getting there had meant a lot of hard work, as well as sacrificing parts of his heart and soul. He's still happy. Maybe not as happy as he could be, but who is he to complain?

Featuring Perrie as Harry's adorable flatmate, Niall as his manager, and Liam and Zayn as Louis' bandmates.

Kiss the Boys by FallingLikeThis

“Being able to blatantly kiss pretty boys out in the open is my favorite part of Pride,” Harry says without preamble, leaning into Louis’ space, inviting pink lips quirking up as they get closer to him. “You up for it?”

“Um,” Louis glances at Zayn for help. He’d thought for sure after the way he’d just seen Zayn and Harry kissing, there had to be something more going on there. The last thing Louis expects to see on Zayn’s face is a knowing grin.

Harry leans closer and for a split-second, Louis wants to meet him halfway but then he thinks better of it. He doesn’t know the landscape here and in just a couple of weeks living with him, he’s already learned that Zayn is really bad about holding his feelings in. He doesn’t want to risk stepping on the toes of his closest friend here at Uni. So, at the last second, Louis raises his empty hand and covers Harry’s mouth before the boy can complete his mission.

“Sorry, Curly,” Louis says jokingly, “I just don’t know where that mouth has been.”

Dress you up in my love by LucyStarkid

Harry is single, and more than anything wants to find love. Agreeing to sign up to a dating website was a bad, bad idea. Niall's bad, bad idea. Louis is single, but has no interest in relationships. Or so he tells himself.   Harry is a lawyer whose boss, Nick, happens to give him a bonus, which he decides to splurge on a new work wardrobe. Louis is a frustrated designer, working as a personal shopper at Selfridges. Louis happens to be working on the day a very beautiful, but out of his depth, new customer ambles into their department in need of advice. Louis might have just found the muse he never knew he was looking for.

Featuring: Sophia as Louis' colleague, with a somewhat unhealthy obsession with his love life, whilst being oblivious when it comes to her own. Liam as the ‘IT bloke from downstairs’ with the mother of all crushes on Sophia. Niall as Harry's sport's writer flatmate who spends most of his time making Harry's life as complicated as possible. Zayn as Louis’ flatmate and lifelong best friend, whose cat, Noodle/Princess/Princess Noodle loves Louis more than it loves him. And Nick as Harry's boss and one of Louis' regular customers: is Imelda Marcos reborn.

Paint Me In A Million Dreams by green_feelings

Harry's one of Hollywood's biggest actors, has made a name for himself in prestigious films and lives the life of a superstar. There's just one thing missing to make it picture-perfect, but the one Harry's in love with is completely out of reach for him. Enter Louis, one of Hollywood's biggest actors himself, who just came out of the closet and taps new genres in the industry. When Louis sacks the role Harry auditioned for in Scorsese's next big film, their irrational feud starts. Who could have guessed it would get even worse when for promo season, their teams decide to present them as a couple for publicity?

In short, Harry's in love with someone and doesn't care about dating anyone else, Louis never felt home in L.A., Liam writes love songs for someone he shouldn't write love songs to, and Niall makes everything better with good food.

Take A Bite Outta Me by LithiumCrystal

Louis truly resents the implication that he is basically Harry’s own version of Bella goddamn Swan, because seriously, no. Just no. But the issue is that even this stupid Meyeresque revelation has done absolutely nothing to dampen his attraction to this weirdly charming vampire man who dresses in 8000 pound coats and hangs around in dilapidated buildings with his merry band of ethical bloodsuckers.

Louis is a slightly inept vampire hunter. Harry is a slightly unique vampire. They meet.

Twelfth Night by QuickedWeen

Queen Anne holds a masquerade ball to try and find matches for both her children on Twelfth Night. While anonymity reigns, Prince Harry spends the ball getting to know a handsome stranger.

Carried Away Like Butterflies by dinosaursmate

“Actually…” Liam said, scratching his chin absently. “I have a friend who is moving to London soon.” “Without anywhere to live? Who is it? Do I want them living in my home?!” “You met him at my birthday party. Harry, from Cheshire. Remember? Really tight jeans, curly hair down to here?” Realisation dawned on Louis, staring at Liam who was gesturing round about his nipples. Did he remember Harry? Did he remember Harry? He remembered Harry’s square front teeth biting into his collarbone, and he remembered Harry moaning, loud and obscene with no provocation. He remembered Harry dropping to his knees at the edge of the bed and roughly pulling Louis closer. He remembered, vividly, Harry’s lovely plump lips wrapping around his- “Lou?” “Uh- what?” Louis said, startled. “Oh, yeah. Um, I think I remember him.” - It was probably a huge mistake for Louis to let his former One Night Stand move into his spare room, especially when said One Night Stand doesn't seem to remember him.

Drowning In Your Eyes by smittenwithlouis

"Capt’n Styles, are you certain of this? They be attracted to man-made light." "What is? Sharks?" The young blonde asks in terror. "Worse than sharks, lad. There'll be flesh eating mermaids upon us in minutes, mark my words!” Paul huffs as he continues to wave the bright lantern in front of him, “And Captain Styles here, has us bait!” Or: The Pirates of the Caribbean inspired au where Harry is a fierce pirate who holds the heart of a beautiful merman.

Black with Autumn Rain by whimsicule

“Thank you,” Geoff says, taking a sip of his tea. “What did you tell him?”

Louis has a sip as well, lets the tea burn down his throat too quickly, too hot, and he feels it all the way down to his stomach. “The truth. Essentially,” he replies after a moment, licking his lips, relishing the slightly bitter taste of the brew that’s never quite strong enough for Louis’ liking. At least it’s not decaf. “That my dog scented it. That I didn’t touch the body. That I came here first thing.”

Geoff nods pensively. “Did he believe you?”

“Probably not. There’s only so many people who can drown on dry land before it gets fishy.”

or: Harry is a journalist, Louis has lots of secrets and the moors aren't exactly the ideal place to rekindle a lost romance.

kiss me on the mouth (and set me free) by tempolarriefics

Harry, being his endlessly patient self, asks with a wry smile, “And who am I going to spontaneously marry for financial aid?”

He clearly intends for it to be a rhetorical question, for it to shoot down Louis’ ridiculous marriage idea. But Louis answers easily, “Me. You’ll marry me."

aka the not-so fake marriage AU in which Harry and Louis get married to keep Harry from dropping out of uni (and if they discover that they’re in love along the way, well, that’s neither here nor there).

Three French Hems by 100percentsassy, gloria_andrews

In which Louis is a designer at Burberry and Harry spends December wearing Lanvin… and Lanvin… and Lanvin.

Wild And Unruly by 100percentsassy, gloria_andrews

Harry is a cowboy sitting on the biggest oil reservoir in Wyoming, and Louis is the paralegal assigned to pressure him into selling his land.

amaryllis by hattalove

"Where are we?" "Um. A little while out of London?" Niall tries, seemingly the only one willing to not be mysterious and provide Harry with information, and. Oh. "London London? As in, the capital of England London?" he asks, just in case he'd misheard. "No, the other London," Louis laughs, low and biting. He comes closer finally, the moonlight just enough to reveal a sharp-cut jaw and pale skin. "Sorry, Pup." Nobody's ever called Harry a "pup". Frankly, he finds it quite insulting, but he lets it slide to try and comprehend his current crisis.

or the one where harry gets bitten by a werewolf. louis is the mysterious not-quite alpha, liam and zayn have Things going on, niall is their token human, and together, they watch a lot of TV.

Put Your Hands on Me in My Skintight Jeans by iwillpaintasongforlou

Harry is a popstar who --according to the media-- does a lot of cocaine and fucks a lot of boys. Louis is a waiter at a gay nightclub who finds it hard to believe that anyone who wears a straw hat to a bar can be the party animal Harry's made out to be.

(Famous!Harry meets non-famous!Louis in a club and things progress from there... in the direction of Louis' bedroom.)

What do you mean he's coming? by MediaWhore

When Harry accepted to be his sister’s Maid of Honour, despite how non-traditional of a choice he was, he didn’t think writing a speech for the wedding reception would be this hard. Now, not only does he have less than two weeks left to find something moving and inspirational to say, but Gemma just confided in him that her old childhood best friend is going to be in attendance. The one who moved to LA and they haven’t seen in fifteen years because he was too busy becoming an Academy Awards winner. But hey, no pressure. It’s just Louis Fucking Tomlinson.

Harry is screwed.

In My Dreams I'm Christmas With You by thoughtlessblogger

“I stole a baby,” Niall says calmly.

“Okay, first of all, Niall, that's not a baby. I'd say toddler,” Louis corrects before he truly processes what Niall's said.

When Niall frowns at him, it hits him, then, the severity of the situation.

Niall has stolen a child.

The Importance of Body Language by zimriya

Harry really has no idea how he’s going to get out of this one. After the little incident with the fishing wire, he’d been told that under no circumstances was he to visit the surface of the water, as he is the heir to the throne and his safety is essential to the continued existence of their underwater society. Or something. Harry loves his mum, but there’s really only so much talk of royal duty a prince can take before he does something drastic. Like purposefully disobey her strict instructions to stay under the sea for the rest of his natural life, and instead swim too close to a human ship and get himself spotted by none other than the unfairly attractive Prince Louis Tomlinson, for example.

Needless to say, Harry is fucked.

A Little Mermaid AU. Sort of.

Every Little Thing He Does Is Magic by perfectdagger (sincerelyste), star_k

There were only a few things Louis didn’t believe in. You could include in that list the Easter bunny, the tooth fairy, and also Father Christmas. Having four little sisters, though, he had to pretend that all of them were real for the sake of keeping their imagination alive.

Surprisingly, there was one thing, that not until his oldest little sister turned 11 did Louis believe in and did he think would actually be real: magic.

Louis’ sister was a witch and everything he knew would never be the same again.

Part 1 of the Mistletoes & Wrackspurts series, or the Hogwarts AU where Louis is a muggle, Lottie finds out she is a witch and Harry is Lottie’s wizard friend from Hogwarts, with a lot of magic, letters, owl cuddles and crushes on boys from different worlds.

anything you ask and more (orphan_account)

louis knows that he's in love the second harry begins speaking about the bolsheviks. (or, louis is a history teacher & harry is the fit curator that he desperately wants to mongol invade him, however many times niall tells him he's a psychopath.)

Search and Rescue Me by wildhalos

Louis never really paid attention to Harry until they get stuck in the locker room together. Inspired by this au meme.

Mine Now by aclosetlarryshipper

After Harry is expelled from private school, he joins a secret competition to get back at the boy who made it happen.

~or~

This is the story of how Harry finds himself pouting in Louis’ passenger seat with a raging boner on the way to seduce his ex boyfriend.

Come Along With Me by darkofthenights

"A little magic can take you a long way." — Roald Dahl or An AU where Harry is a magician and Louis doesn't believe in such a thing.

Orange Canvas by aclosetlarryshipper

Few can handle Louis Tomlinson on the dance floor, much less match him in skill and fervor. Louis has obviously met his soul mate; he just never expected him to be wearing a red snapback and to chew gum like an entitled Mercedes owner.

A spring break (kind of) fake relationship AU

True Love's Gold by alivingfire

Gemma starts responding to every single one of Harry’s texts—regardless of subject—with i don’t care, talk to louis. Liam lets Harry complain to him for hours on Skype, pretending he’s not doing other things while Harry whines about his problems. Niall thinks the whole thing is hilarious, texting Harry links to articles titled So, you want your man to propose? and 15 ways to get him ready for the aisle! and follows each of these up with page upon page of laughing emojis. Harry tries everything, literally everything he can think of short of grabbing Louis by tattooed forearm and yelling, “PROPOSE TO ME BEFORE I COMBUST.”

Or, it takes a village to arrange a proposal, but that doesn't mean it's going to go as planned.

taken by the wind by scrunchyharry

When he decided to move to London with his sister, Harry thought he would finally get to learn how to control his magic. He couldn't possibly have predicted that he would fall for her neighbour.

Or the one where Harry is a clumsy witch and Louis is making everything worse just by existing.

To Be Loved and To Be In Love by RealName

First Dates AU. Louis Tomlinson is a thirty-year-old divorcee whose friends have signed him up for the Channel 4 show First Dates. Harry Styles is a twenty-eight-year-old lawyer who has never been in a long-term relationship. They are filmed going on their first date.

a long way down (to the bottom of the river) by MediaWhore

“ Most people would call Harry silly for believing in curses. Childish would also be a probable insult thrown his way. In their little town full of little people, Harry’s whimsical nature and beliefs mean that he’s subjected to frequent judgemental looks and whispers. It doesn’t usually bother him. Most people don’t know about the magic thrumming through his veins or about how powerful words can truly be. Most people don’t carry around their ancestors grief like a burden. They don’t have to pay for deeds hundreds of years old like Harry and his family have. They get to love freely without fear.

Harry and his kin aren’t so lucky.”

a practical magic au in which Harry and his sister accidentally kill her abusive boyfriend with magic and Louis is the D.I working the case.

Just Hear This and Then I'll Go by allwaswell16

Former boy band member Louis Tomlinson can’t stand pompous indie artist Harry Styles, but with a new record label to launch he is going to have to endure his pretensions to snag up and coming new artist Liam Payne, who happens to be Harry’s oldest friend. Luckily, Liam seems to be very interested in 78 Records and maybe a little more than interested in Louis’ best friend. Too bad Harry won’t be making this easy on any of them.

Or a modern day Pride and Prejudice--Louis is Elizabeth, Harry is Mr. Darcy, Zayn is Jane, and Liam is Mr. Bingley. Oh, and Niall is Mrs. Bennett. Obviously.

You're the Light by allwaswell16

Before beginning a new graduate school in the fall, Louis Tomlinson decides to spend the summer working in Chicago as an editor’s assistant for the Chicago Tribune newspaper and staying with his old college roommate. What he finds on his first day of work is a tall, gorgeous editor named Harry who has the most beautiful green eyes he’s ever seen—and who also happens to be his new boss.

Young Gods by sincewewereeighteen

“Why don’t you stay?” Harry looked down at him and snorted. “What?” “You’re not my type, Louis”, the boy rolled his eyes sitting on the edge of the bed to put on his boots. “Says the man you just had sex with”, Louis pointed feeling smart, but Harry was one step ahead of him, with the answer on the tip of his tongue. “You see, if you were my type, I wouldn’t have”, Harry winked, cheeky as hell. “I would’ve gotten to know you first.” “Bullshit”, he accused the boy not letting it show how intrigued he was. “How can you know I’m not your type if you don’t know me?” “How about I list five things about you to prove I’m right and if any of them are false I’ll lie down again.” “Ok. Go.”

[Or: the one in which Louis is a model and Harry's supposed to be a normal guy... Until he isn't.]

Just Me, You, And This Box of Matches by tomlinsunshine

Louis is fairly sure that his new neighbour is going to destroy him. And also their apartment building, and the dumpsters outside, and all the forests within a thirty mile radius. But. Mostly him.

Welcome to Gilmore's Hollow by kassio

Don't call Louis an empty-nester. Yes, his only daughter is is about to start university, but he's only 35, for God's sake. He finally gets to look forward to life as a young-ish bachelor in... the sleepy small town of Gilmore's Hollow. Okay, maybe that's not terribly exciting, but he'll get by with a little help from his friends, and plenty of pastries from Harry Styles' bakery.

(A Gilmore Girls inspired Harry/Louis AU. This is what happens when you start watching Gilmore Girls on Netflix, then get sucked into 1D/Larry hell at roughly the same time. You don't need to know anything about Gilmore Girls to read and enjoy this fic.)

Sail Across Me by iwillpaintasongforlou

Harry is a prince that is about to be forced into marriage against his will and running away to sea seems like a much better option. Louis is the captain of the infamous pirate ship The Rogue and he has a thing for helping defenseless creatures. Especially when they're as pretty as this one.

if you'll be my star, i'll be your sky by g_uttertrash

Louis smiles in the smuggest, most infuriating way, like he knows every thought filtering through Harry’s mind. He probably does.

“I thought you were a student, yeah,” Louis says, voice quieter now, leaving Harry to lean over the baluster somewhat to hear. “But I hoped you weren't.”

(or, Harry Potter AU where Harry takes a teaching post at Hogwarts and gets a little more than he expected when he meets the fit Transfiguration professor, Louis, who looks oddly familiar... Featuring Messrs. Horan, Malik, and Payne as well, along with some familiar faces from the HPverse)

All the Right Moves by cherrystreet

This is the third game in a row that Harry has been distracted by the noisy boy in the stands, five rows back.

There’s really no reason that he should feel compelled to stare into the audience as frequently as he is, but he can’t help it. This boy is a nuisance. And he’s loud. Even from basketball court with nine other players running by him, shoes squeaking on the shiny hardwood floor, and thousands of cheering college students, Harry can hear this boy nearly shrieking, his laugh more like a cackle than anything.

It’s seriously obnoxious.

i can be the motor (you'll be the gasoline) by kiwikero

Harry is a British pop star living in LA. While trying to escape his reality of publicity stunts and record sales, his Harley breaks down. Stranded in the mountains, Harry has no choice but to call for help.

And, somehow, a fit tow truck driver with the ocean in his eyes might end up fixing more than just Harry's bike.

These Constant Stars by stylinsoncity

Louis’ career has nowhere to go but up. He’s living at the height of New York City on the precipice of an epic promotion. Life is good and only getting better. And then one day, things turn disastrous.

This is a story about life, death, and punk rockers turned guardian angels.

In Vogue by otpwhatever

'Is that why David Beckham has been featured multiple times on the pages of your life's work? Does your criteria seriously consist of one thing – a man's ass?'

'Well the ass is a man's best asset,' Harry smirks, holding the Martini glass high up his face. 'And don't call the magazine my life's work. There are far more important things in life, Louis Tomlinson, than what's printed on the pages of a magazine.'

Fashion AU. Louis is the editor in chief of Vogue magazine, and Harry's running British GQ. Featuring Zayn as the crazy creative director and Louis' confidant, Liam as the sports writer that gets to sit front row at fashion week and DJ Neil as the only sane person in the whole story. (There are no skinny jeans in this fic)

In the Clear by aclosetlarryshipper

After Princess Gemma and her fiance Niall are captured by the witch from across the land, Harry and Louis are forced on a journey together to save them.

Featuring Lumberjack Liam, Magical Zayn, unsolicited tattoos, and untangling the past.

Also known as The Larrietale.

Your eyes will lead me straight back home by hopelesswriter

Their not-date was a total disaster. Ok not a total disaster, maybe not a disaster at all but Louis was so infuriating!

"Are you even for real?" "What? So you have the person you love get you a fucking ring, go to the city hall and make it official, but in essence, you belonged to each other since the moment you decided to commit?" Harry threw his hands in the air. "What about romance?! And why do you say ‘fuck’ so much?" "Romance is dead, young Harold. And maybe I just think a lot about fucking." Or the AU loosely based on the movie 27 dresses in which Harry is a photographer and he is totally Jane and Louis is definitely Kevin, except he is Jane too, he just needs the right person to get it out of him.

Heart Devoured by alittlewicked

When Louis came to, it was with a start, claws sunken into the mattress below him and the foreign but somehow familiar scent of vanilla and cinnamon deep in his lungs. With blood rushing heavy in his ears, he rutted down into the soft bed and whined breathily at the relief the movement brought him.

“Come on, Lou, look at me!”

Carefully he rolled over and slowly blinked his eyes open for the first time that day. And came face to face with Harry, Niall’s business partner and the most beautiful boy Louis knew.

Or the No Control / Werewolf AU with fairytale elements and some fortune cookies where Louis is a new werewolf suffering from awkwardly popping claws and ears at all times that wakes up to Harry (who he may or may not have a crush on) in his bed when all he can remember is taking a little frog home with him to help him over a break-up.

Throw Your Arrows by mcpofife

Louis agrees to come meet Zayn's coworker. He meets an annoying, overconfident (extremely fit) guy first.

Your Plans and Those Slow Hands by sweetums

"Louis, people are looking."

Just as he says that, Louis looks up to see a man at a small table, alone and perched on a stool, holding a cup of coffee. Instead of drinking his coffee, he's openly gawking at Louis.

"What are you looking at?"

Louis addresses him sharply. He'll be damned if he’s the one made to feel embarrassed. This is Liam's intervention. On second thought though, this man is quite attractive. Brunette curls, amazing jawline, big hands and even better arms by the looks of his biceps bursting out of that black t-shirt.

"I mean, hi."

AU based on that episode of Friends where Monica makes sex noises when she gets massaged. Harry and Louis meet at a coffee shop at the expense of Liam's embarrassment and Louis gets well and truly wooed by Harry's dating abilities.

electing strange perfections by deadsea

Harry and Louis meet through a mutual friend (Niall) and end up going Christmas shopping together.

On the Go by phdmama

From this post because I could not resist.

Found My Missing Piece by styleandsin

“@harrystyles followed you.”

“@harrystyles liked your tweet.”

“What?” He whispers in astonishment, because there’s no way. But he clicks on Harry’s profile and sure enough, the little grey “follows you” appears by his name. After taking a second to just stare at the screen, he quickly takes a screenshot and sends it to his sister. Lottie is one of the few people who would understand his shock. Niall would certainly just make fun of him for it.

Louis and Harry are both fashion bloggers. Louis' been following Harry for years. Harry and his blog really gave him the confidence and the push to make his own. His sister and best friend have been making fun of his silly little crush on him ever since. But that's all it is, a silly, harmless crush because there is no way Harry knows who he is. Or does he?

Crash Landing by FullOnLarrie

Louis crashes weddings for the thrill of it. He gets dressed up, uses fake names, and makes up stories to go along with each new persona. Sometimes he'll find someone on the guest list to spend the evening drinking and dancing with (among other things). No strings attached and he never sees them again. That is, until he meets a fellow wedding crasher.

Only Reason by letsjustsee

“We are so lucky to have with us one of the leading experts on beekeeping in the modern age, Dr. Louis Draper.” No. No, no, no… “I know I speak for many of us when I say that this man’s books have guided our practice, or helped us get started,” Harry continued, and Louis watched as the crowd nodded their heads in agreement. Oh shit. No. What? No. But then Harry was gesturing towards him, saying “Dr. Draper?” into the microphone, the crowd was applauding, and Louis found himself walking up the stairs to the stage.

Or, Louis is most definitely smitten with Harry from the second he sees him, but he is also most definitely not the world's foremost expert on beekeeping. He decides to roll with it anyway.

Unbelievers by isthatyoularry

It’s Louis’ senior year, and he’s dead set on doing it right. However, along with his pair of cleats, a healthy dose of sarcasm and his ridiculous best friend, he’s also got a complicated family, a terrifyingly uncertain future, and a mortal enemy making his life just that much worse. Mortal enemies “with benefits” was not exactly the plan.

Or: The one where Louis and Harry definitely aren’t friends, and football is everything.

Empty Skies

Featuring Perrie as Harry's adorable flatmate, Niall as his manager, and Liam and Zayn as Louis' bandmates.

Have Faith In Me by stylinsoncity

As the son of Anne Styles, millionaire owner of one of the world's most luxurious fashion labels, Harry has spent his last seventeen years living in carefree extravagance. And now he's grown tired of it, along with the pressure from his mum to follow in her footsteps and the constant care given to him by her past assistants.

When his mum's newest assistant, Louis, moves into the guesthouse, Harry determines to be treated differently. To be treated like an adult. Except Louis is not at all what Harry was expecting...

This is a story about growing up, growing in love and having the faith to make it last.

Nameless Night by green_feelings

For their 18th birthday, every person receives a letter that reads a simple date. That is the date you'll meet your soulmate. Harry and Louis have different beliefs, live in different worlds and have different dreams, hopes and fears. Yet, they're not so different from each other when it comes to love. When their paths cross, there is no doubt they belong together. Except for that one, essential difference: they didn't receive the same date.

Or, a fic about differences that make no difference at all: Harry and Louis are soulmates. In every way possible. Featuring Niall as a role model, and Liam and Zayn as a different kind of role models.

Hiding Place by alivingfire

Louis never wanted a soulmate, didn’t really care for the whole Bonding thing at all, really. Enter Harry Styles, who’s wanted to be Bonded for as long as he could remember. With one fateful meeting in an X Factor bathroom, Louis gets a dagger on his arm and the realization that just because Harry is his soulmate doesn’t mean it’s mutual.

From the X Factor house to Madison Square Garden, from the Fountain Studios stage to stadiums across the world, Louis has to learn to love without losing himself completely, because someday his best friend will Bond to someone and replace Louis as the center of his universe. Meanwhile, Harry begins to think that maybe fate doesn’t actually know what it’s doing after all, because his other half has clearly been right in front of him the whole time. All he has to do now is convince Louis to give them a chance.

Or, the canon compliant Harry and Louis love story from the very beginning, where the only difference is that the love between them is literally written on their skin, and there’s only so much they can hide.

Learning to Eat by photo41

Celebrity chef Louis Tomlinson has a problem. He’s opening his first restaurant in 9 weeks, and he has yet to hire a pastry chef- apparently people think he’s ‘standoffish’ and ‘rude’ and ‘quick to temper’. Whatever. He ends up saddled with an annoying, happy-go lucky rookie who also happens to be obnoxiously good looking. His tv presenter and pop star best friends only add to the drama, and for fucks sake would everyone please stop quoting Julia Child?!

Kitchen AU where Harry helps Louis re-learn how to eat. (METAPHORICALLY)

Every Good Boy Deserves Cookies by recklessandbrave

"Y-yeah?" Louis asks breathlessly, "And then?"

Harry giggles and moves his bum back to meet Louis. "Add the vanilla and crack the eggs, beating it all in with salt," Harry says.

Or where Harry is a chef who teaches a class and Louis swears it's only Harry's bossiness that turns him on, not the recipe for cookies and Harry likes being praised.

Check Please by zedi

Louis has a shit date. Harry offers to cover the bill. They maybe fall in love.

Float Down Like Autumn Leaves (Stay Now) by hopelesswriter

Sometimes life plays more tricks than treats on us. Sometimes we plan our future and hope for the best but our world is turned upside down. Sometimes the crispy air of October brings the smell of pumpkin spice candles instead of dead things- and sometimes, when it’s meant to be, there’s absolutely nothing we can do about it.

The AU in which Louis has a 6 year old daughter with a costume emergency that puts her school's annual Halloween party at risk, Halloween decorated cupcakes are hard to find and tall men look absolutely ridiculously cute in giant vegetables costumes. Co-starring Harry, who makes really good food for the kids. Featuring Niall, who works in a bakery but has a part time job as a babysitter. And as much as he doesn't believe in love at first (or second) sight, Louis is really infatuated and really wouldn't mind seeing Harry again.

taste on my tongue by bethaboo

Louis Tomlinson, second place winner on TXF four years ago, is looking to reinvent his career.

Harry Styles is a baker who is desperate for a bakery of his own.

Louis doesn't bake. Or cook. Or know how to use an oven.

Take Louis. Take Harry. Add in a heaping cup of sexual tension. Another cup of delicious (and not so delicious) food. A smidgen of competitive spirit. A dash of hopes and dreams. And you get Kitchen Wars, a TV show that promises to be the must-watch event of the fall.

Every Story Ever Told by Rearviewdreamer

Becoming a best-selling author isn’t as difficult as Louis would have guessed. It seems all you need these days is the perfect blend of alcohol induced philosophy, complete disregard for one’s dignity, a live blog about how fucked love is, and a bored publisher interested enough to offer him a deal.

Skin New, Hands True, My Hands All Over You by PearlyDewdrops

Harry designs wedding cakes, so of course meeting blissfully happy couples every day is part of his job description. Unfortunately, it's caused Harry to perpetually hope each new day is the one he'll find love, too. That is, until Harry realises everything he's ever wanted is right under his nose in the shape of his best friend, Louis.

But predictably, Harry only comes to this epiphany when Louis starts seeing someone else. And this is not a John Hughes movie as far as Harry is aware. Everyone else is pretty sure, though.

Featuring a heavy dose of pining, copious amounts of alcohol, drunk dialing that results in a situation reminiscent of Rachel Green's, a ginger cat that likes to interrupt intimate moments, and a Halloween party that changes everything.

'Til I Tasted You by kiwikero

Louis is Harry Styles' biggest fan. It doesn't matter that Harry is famous for being a food blogger and Louis can't cook to save his life.

At least, until Harry offers to give Louis a cooking lesson. Then it matters just a teensy bit.

You You You by isthatyoularry

“Infamous boybander leaves club together with unknown,” read the headline. Underneath were pictures of a boy with dark curls, green eyes and very tight pants. They both studied the article for a moment, reading it through quickly. “Is that…?” Louis frowned. That guy almost looked exactly like... "HOLY FUCKING SHIT!" "Louis," Niall said, looking absolutely fucked over. "You just fucked the most wanted guy on earth. You just fucked Harry Styles of One Direction."

Or, the one where Harry and Louis meet at a club and Louis takes Harry home, only for him to realize that the boy who just made him breakfast half naked is Harry Styles from One Direction.

You Give Me Fever (What A Lovely Way To Burn) by OneDirectionsErections

Louis walks in on Harry jerking off in the shower. What happens after is just… Impulsive and spontaneous.

Big Hands, I Know You're the One by samajama

Louis and Harry move in together after the X Factor house, which would be exciting, if they could stop walking in on each other wanking.

Incoming Package by HelloAmHere

There weren’t a lot of pilots who were willing to be couriers and there weren’t a lot of pilots who were willing to be couriers who were under six feet tall and capable of doing cheaply with oxygen and there weren’t a lot of pilot couriers under six feet tall and oxygen trained who would take a job like this from AMAZON. Even if COD Harry Styles was on the other end of the elevator to hell.

Strawberry Champagne (Anonymous)

Louis has lived eight whole years surrounded by insufferable roommates who couldn’t practice any privacy spells to save their lives, all cramped up in an old dormitory in the grand and majestic castle of Hogwarts. One would have thought it taught him some elementary stuff like… never sharing his living space with another person ever again.

Except, it’s not as simple, is it?

or : Louis Tomlinson, quidditch extraordinaire sees his name and reputation dragged through the mud and seek refuge in the muggle world. Enter Harry, full time vegetable enthusiast and really fucking cute.

won't you wear my watermark by bottomlinsons (grimgrace)

The new Earl of Harrisson is a young man, an impulsive romantic, forced to shoulder too much responsibility far too soon. He is also Louis’ soulmate, but there’s nothing to be done about that. At least, as far as Louis is concerned.

The Earl, it seems, will take some convincing.

(A slow burn Regency AU featuring secrets, seduction and, our favourite, soulmarks.)

I Left My Heart In Melbourne by EmmyLouWho

Harry rattles off his email, which is disappointingly normal ([email protected]). One of Louis’ favourite parts of his job is keeping a list of all the ridiculous emails that people use (highlights of this week’s list include HotBoiiiii6969 and noGIRAFFESinhereplease).

Louis brings up Harry’s profile on his screen, and shit. He’s gorgeous. Harry is exactly the kind of guy who doesn’t need an app to get dates, he probably has people falling all over him at the supermarket.

♡♡♡

Or: only Harry Styles could manage to fall in love using a dating app... without actually using the dating app.

Written for the Larry Abroad Fic Challenge 2018.

Prompt: Melbourne, Australia.

Milan, Live On Tour by glitteredcurls

Before Harry leaves for tour, Louis tries to steal photos of Harry to keep to himself during the months of distance. One strange obsession for him is capturing pictures of Harry brushing his teeth.

(or, a one shot based on the tour photo for Milan)

Someone Drunk, Someone Stoned (Nirvana Covers The Hole In The Wall) by spaceboyharry

All Louis had to do was get good grades and get a degree. Hot, horny, and determined frat boys with bad pick-up lines and devilish smirks were NOT included in the college brochure.

You Came Along And Moved Me, Honey by flowercrownclem

Louis was gone for Harry from the moment they met, already planning their wedding and picking out rings in his head, and after months of living in each other's pockets they knew almost everything about each other. The one thing Louis didn't know about Harry was what he did for a living. Faced with vague answers and question-evading, Louis begins to imagine scandalous and dangerous secrets that Harry must be keeping - but maybe Harry's secrets aren't so sinister after all.

In which Louis thinks Harry's hiding a life of crime and Harry just really likes candles.

At Night When The Stars Light Up My Room by theplaceofyouandme

Harry’s about to enter Louis' galaxy, littered with stars that need fuel to shine brighter.

just bend and we can learn to love again by jaerie

Louis is a single dad of twins just trying to get through each day one step at a time. Harry has his own struggles as a young dad. Maybe Louis' curiosity and nosiness has found just the friend that he needs in his life. Maybe they both just need each other.

honey, make this easy by sweetums

He knows the site that Jemma used to advertise for a nanny when she was preparing to return to work from maternity leave so he quickly finds it on Google. The loaded page claims to be “your compass in the complex sea of childcare” and Harry thinks, great, since he needs all the guidance he can get.

AU; Harry’s sister recently passed away, leaving him with temporary custody of her daughter. Needing help, he hires Louis as a nanny and the boy turns out to be help in more ways than he expected.

Prelude to Forever by AlwaysAqua

@StylinHarry: So I kinda fell for a boy yesterday at #ChiPride. Kissed & fireworks went off. Literally. He’s a drama teacher. Goes by “Louis” but I prefer Sunshine. Very pretty. The prettiest. Got separated & I’m a fucking idiot who forgot to get his number. Anyone know him? #helpfindsunshine

Or, Louis and Harry meet at Pride in Chicago and spend the day falling for each other before getting accidentally separated.

Sing You Butterflies by objectlesson

Louis stares for a moment before some primal sympathetic force in him activates. He has to help this boy. He can hardly walk, and he seems so young (yet ageless, beyond age, like a sea turtle or a parrot or a tree or something else odd and magical), and on top of all that, he has body glitter clinging to his skin, like that roll-on stuff his sisters used to use as preteens, only pink-gold and twice as thick. It’s, like, professional grade. He’s also wearing grass- and dirt-stained pink silk women’s underwear, so maybe he’s from London. Maybe he’s a drag queen who crawled all the way from a nightclub in Soho just to save Louis from his horribly mundane and woefully heterosexual neighbours out here in the middle of nowhere.

---

or, Harry’s a clumsy unicorn who accidentally stomps on a witch’s garden and is turned into a human as punishment, so he wanders into a nearby village covered in glitter, still figuring out how to walk on two feet, and meets the fairy-tale-fine Louis, who has to teach him how to live as a human and stop him from eating soap.

The Things You Hide by LiveLaughLoveLarry

Louis has been an MI6 agent for four years. Now he wants out. Unfortunately, his superiors have other ideas. Their solution: a 'mission' in the Greek Islands, one that's more vacation than actual work. Harry is an avid photographer who shows him around the area. He's open and carefree and everything that Louis wishes he could be. Along the way they fall in love, and maybe Louis learns a little about love, a little about lies, and a whole lot the meaning of home.

Stranded In A Dream by FullOnLarrie

Harry leaves everything behind for a job in Vegas which doesn't quite work out as planned. Feeling down on his luck, he meets Louis, a dancer for Britney Spears, who's determined to help Harry turn things around. They may or may not end up married.

Soft Wings by FullOnLarrie

Harry is a Dolly Parton fan who wants to get a tattoo in tribute to her. Louis is the tattoo artist.

Don't Want Shelter by FullOnLarrie

Louis and Harry have known each other all their lives. Friends as children, they danced around each other as teenagers, and have spent the last twenty-five years either screaming at each other or not speaking at all. Except for that one time ten years ago…

When Hurricane Nicole threatens the coast, they end up stuck together in their families' old vacation home that they begrudgingly co-own.

During the storm, and in the months after, they’re both forced to reevaluate their history and what they mean to each other.

Mercedes Boy by FullOnLarrie

There's a surprise waiting at home for Louis after he finishes his day on the tracks at the Mercedes AMG Driving Experience.

read you for some kind of poem by mentalistecbm

He likes to imagine that he’s always aware of Harry’s eyes on him, but the spark that flashes across his body at how often Harry licks his lips while looking at his throat doesn’t feel like something he’s explicitly and consciously acknowledged before, but it feels familiar. Usual. Right.

(Louis is human, and Harry is lucky enough to be his vampire boyfriend.)

break open the sky by karamelised

Being a werewolf isn't always easy. Especially if you have no idea what you're doing.

Werewolf au. Harry might be a werewolf, but he still wants to experience Uni like everyone else. Turns out he learns a lot.

to the light by fondleeds

“Hey,” Louis kicks his leg out at him, misses by a mile, but Harry’s cheeks still glow at it, all close-mouthed smile and dimples. “It’s Christmas. I refuse to let you be lonesome and dejected on Christmas.”

"It’s not Christmas yet,” Harry says, matter-of-fact, like he knew that before Louis told him about it that first week of December, when the lights had started appearing and Harry had risen out of the water with such wonder and dreaminess in his eyes, the last dustings of snow caught in his wet lashes.

“It’s the Christmas season,” Louis responds. Harry rolls his eyes at him.

AU. Harry is a mermaid lost at sea and Louis is a boy determined to make his first Christmas a memorable one.

Forget-me-not by SexyAsswoMan

“I- I can't move” the elder one finally croaked out, and with more distress Harry came to see that the vines had wrapped itself around the lad's ankles. With a dumb nod Harry took a couple of steps forward. He could see Louis flinch with his sudden movement but he tried not to think about it. Instead, he lifted his hands, and tried his best to concentrate, hoping his power would listen to him just this once around the other man and untie him. Ever so slowly, the vines started to detach themselves from Louis's calves, and soon enough, the man was free.

With shaking legs, Louis stood up from the position he was in, and suddenly the air around them got thicker.

“You're- you're a witch.” Louis hissed under the harsh wind, making Harry flinch at the accusation in his voice.

or,

Where Harry had something he did not wish to have. Louis was just trying to figure him out.

Elysian by wonderlou

“What could be it, Niall?” Harry asks gently with a sigh. He slouches down further into his chair, crossing his arms lazily across his chest. He is bored. He has been bored for five years straight, but even more so now that his one interest has shut himself out entirely. Harry had not even heard from Louis, not since last night, not since he had gotten on his nerves so much that he was torn between knocking him out and smiling in surrender to the slight awe he felt. Louis is opinionated like no one he’s ever seen, but his voice is honeyed; high-pitched and indignant. Harry is nothing short of entranced.

Or, Harry is running out of time to fall in love, but with Louis, it seems as if there’s all the time in the world.

no place to call home by suspendrs

“What are you smiling about, Harrison,” the boy spits, body language suddenly getting defensive. “I’ll have you know that I’m-”

“Harry,” Harry interrupts, giggling. “My name is Harry. And if you’re not called Peter, then what are you called?”

The boy tilts his chin up slightly, surveying Harry like he’s checking if he’s worthy of knowing something as important as his name. “Well, Herschel, it’s nice to meet you. I’m Louis.”

Or, Louis isn't Peter Pan and Harry isn't Wendy and Neverland is nothing like Harry thought it would be, but it's perfect anyway.

you flower, you feast by stylinsoncity

He's King of the Underworld, but don't assume Louis has it all. He could stand for some excitement in his monotonous, eternal life and maybe, even.....a soulmate.

(Despite not having a soul.)

And along came "Harry".

The Lonely Planet Guide to Second Chances (Anonymous)

When Harry and Louis broke up, the last thing on Harry's mind was the non-refundable surprise trip he had booked for them across Europe. Harry was supposed to be moving on, not sightseeing with his ex. In hindsight, touring the continent with Louis was probably a bad idea. So naturally, that's exactly what Harry did.

Or, the breakup travel fic featuring romantic sunsets, awkward bed sharing, and second chances against a backdrop of some of Europe's most iconic cities.

Is it so wrong that you make me strong? by SilverShadow1

Harry goes to college and gets comfortable in his skin and thrives. He is majoring in women’s studies, has a cat that he hides from residential life and is the president of the LGBTQ club on campus. During his sophomore year, he organizes a welcome party for the LGBTQ first years and meets Louis.

Harry and Louis meet at university and bring out new sides of each other.

I Won't Give Up So Come And Get Me by runaway_train

“I can’t believe you’ve roped me into this.”

Liam sighs and looks at his best friend slash flat mate behind him through the mirror he is currently standing in front of. “What are you talking about Louis? How have I roped you into this?”

Louis is lying sprawled out on his back on Liam’s bed, watching him try on his eighth top from a pile on the chair next to him. “You know perfectly well how. I was quite content spending my Friday night staying in watching Netflix with a takeaway and now I’m being forced to go on a blind date with some bloke while you make bedroom eyes at your new boy toy.”

Liam turns towards him, hands on his hips. his face set in a deep frown. “That’s a load of shit. Firstly, I didn’t force you, you were perfectly up for it last week when I asked, you’re just getting pissy with me because you are nervous. Secondly, it is not a blind date. Zayn suggested that he meet you as you’re my best friend and then I suggested he bring along his best friend to make it a bit more even, who said anything about you guys getting together?”

The one where Louis meets Harry and it all just seems too good to be true...

Bottoms Up by Harryskiwiposes, iicfhome28

Louis turns his attention back towards Harry, who’s talking animatedly to the couple wearing the matching shirts. His curls whip around his head and his dimple is out in full force. Harry pulls a little rainbow flag out from the inner pocket of his jacket, sticks it in the air and announces “all right cuties and beauties, follow the nice colorful flag for a good time!”

Louis sighs as he falls into step with the group. He is so fucked.

Or: the one where Harry is a VERY flamboyant tour guide and Louis can't help but fall head over heels

Missed Connections: Circumstance Will Decide by Harryskiwiposes

Louis looked at the picture. It couldn’t be. It couldn’t. He zoomed in to get a better look. It was. It most definitely was. It was the blue bandana guy. With his wonderful, beautiful dimples. The wonderful, beautiful dimples that Louis had been searching for all week.

And he was with Liam. Right now. Liam was with Louis’ blue bandana man, at Ed’s gig. The gig that Louis had slept through. Someone upstairs was having a really good laugh at Louis’ expense.

Or - the one where Louis is desperate to track down the cute, fit guy wearing the blue bandana, but the universe seems to have other plans.

Laundry Room by beautlouis

The third Wednesday of the new year, Louis finds himself in the laundry room, just as he was the last Wednesday and the one before that. He’s doing pretty well with his New Year’s resolution. The only problem so far is the company he finds in the laundry room. It seems that it’s just him and one other boy who’ve chosen late Wednesday nights as prime laundry-doing time. That wouldn’t be a problem except for who the other boy is.

He’s seen this boy around; it’s hard to miss the long-legged, long-haired dream that lives in Louis’ complex. He likes to wear very sheer shirts and very high boots; he is incredibly fucking gorgeous and yeah, Louis’ noticed him but he’s never spoken to him. Until tonight, apparently.

[Louis and Harry are both students living in the same apartment complex. They end up having the same laundry night and time. Louis can't stop staring at Harry and he can't figure out why Harry consistently points out Louis’ inside-out shirts, and his untied shoes, and messy hair. Enter slow burn-ish flirting, banter, awkwardness, and a lot of laundry.]

Baby, Honey by lovelarry10

Harry's been talking about sex and babies on stage too much for Louis' liking, so he decides to give him what he wants...

Or the one with the aftermath of Harry's Detroit concert...

every color that you see by larryutopia

It wasn’t often that Louis would sacrifice an afternoon full of relaxing and eating coco pops to look at art from hundreds of years ago. But then again, most days aren’t Zayn Malik’s birthday.

Zayn likes art, Louis does not. Harry gives them both a tour of the National Gallery in London. Flirting and artistic dirty talk ensue.

Your Lips, My Lips, Apocalypse by Harryskiwiposes

The club isn't the best place to find a lover.

Or is it?

Alien Roadtrip! by HelloAmHere

For the first time in his life, Louis doesn’t know where he’s going. Harry doesn’t mind.

OR: roadtrip with desert feelings, too much snack food, and empty motels. Harry is definitely absolutely not an alien. That would be ridiculous.

Green Jello (orphan_account)

In Liam’s defense, he’d mostly been joking.

Louis didn’t see it that way, of course, but he wasn’t sure anyone else would either, had their best friend dared them to jump into the ocean in the middle of December “for the vine,” and they’d ended up in the hospital with a nasty case of pneumonia and a very high chance of being stuck there through Christmas.

***

Louis is stuck in the hospital for the holidays. The only spot of hope is his unfairly pretty nurse.

Doctor's Orders by larrymylove

Louis was fucked was the thing. And if he wasn’t currently in the situation he was in, he’d laugh at the irony of that statement.

Louis gets into a bit of a predicament and has to go to the hospital. Harry is the doctor in charge of his care. Based on the prompt I saw on tumblr about Louis getting a sex toy stuck inside of him, and Harry being the doctor who has to remove it.

Shot of Pure Gold by gezurak

The arrival of spring makes Louis feel like Dr. Frankenstein - "it's alive" coming first as a whisper, then a near hysterical shout. Except instead of one rather useless monster, it's hundreds of (admittedly, not so) useless monsters as London's plant life awakens from a winter of dormancy and attacks him with pollen.

Or, Louis has hay fever and Harry is an immunologist.

your heart is a slow train coming by ifthat

"Right, Louis. You always have him," she offers with a teasing smile, and Harry makes another face.

Bringing Louis to his sister's wedding, as his date. That just sounds a bit disastrous. Louis works under him, as in, he follows Harry's orders and helps him with just about everything. He's a wonderful nurse, and really loves the kids, works with them so well Harry is constantly amazed by him. Not to mention Louis' his best mate.

"Don't think so," Harry shakes his head, heart racing at the mere thought, reaching for the remote and setting up Netflix.

(And at the End of the Day) I Will Return to the City of Lakes by taggiecb

Louis Tomlinson, Doctor, and chair of a well deserving children’s charity is thrilled to be contacted by the team of famous pop star, and also long time star of Louis’ dreams Harry Styles, to create a fundraising opportunity. Nothing actually goes the way Louis thought it would.

decorated emergency by harrapunzel

So what if they kissed once. It was the end of a shift that had seemed to drag on for twelve days instead of twelve hours. Their doctor was slow and felt the need to transfer every single patient, putting more work on every member of staff. Harry was stressed. Louis was the one who crowded him up against the door in the break room. It was Louis' fault, he was always pulling shit.

It’s Hard to Say It, Time to Say It by kikikryslee

Harry sighed. “We have a lot of clothes in stock, sir-” “Please don’t call me ‘sir,’” the guy said. “I’m only twenty-six.” “OK, then. We have a lot of clothes in stock, dude, so finding something else in your size won’t be a problem if it means you’ll buy something. What are you? Like, an extra small?” The guy actually had the nerve to look offended. Harry resisted laughing. “Hey! I’ll have you know that I’m a medium!” “In what?” Harry asked, looking the guy over. “Children’s?” --- Or, the one where Louis is an annoying customer who won't leave Harry's shop on time, and Harry is counting down the seconds until Louis leaves. Until a chance encounter at a concert, and suddenly, Harry really doesn't want Louis to leave.

For Better and For Worse by phdmama

Written for the HL Summer Exchange - @Waterproofbabyvamp, I hope I did justice to your prompt!! (Based on the prompt: "1.Harry and Louis have been together for 5 years and they've been getting questions when they would be getting married and start a family. Bur harry doesnt have the time. They were arguing one morning when Harry had enough and left for work. He's a doctor and works at the a&e there is a call that there has been a bad car crash and that there is more than one patient coming in. Harry does his job good and works on the first patient and everything goes great until his next patient is Louis.")

Hold My Heart by Awriterwrites, phdmama

“Excuse me, mate, I’m the window seat here.” The voice was soft, apologetic, and accented in something a bit unfamiliar — northern England, maybe, Harry thought.

“Oh,” Harry jumped to his feet and moved aside, “I’m sorry, I didn’t see you standing there.”

The other man laughed as he swung a bag into the overhead compartment and slid into the seat. “You were well caught up in that book, mate. What are you reading?”

Harry paused, wondering how to explain the fact that he was reading an epic and x-rated romance that was the story of a relationship between a prince and the man he’d enslaved. “Oh, you know, just some fiction my sister recommended.” He turned to look at the man and froze.

Sitting next to him was Louis Tomlinson.

***

Or, the one where famous Louis Tomlinson offers his hand and a lot more to his seat mate on a transatlantic flight.

hope your heart is strong enough by tieduptwoships

Doctors AU. Louis and Harry were taught in medical school that you will not be able to save everyone but that’s just life, it happens. That doesn’t mean they’re not going to try.

Soft Place To Land by DuchessKitty16

Harry is emotionally recovering from a death of a loved one and a break up with his boyfriend. He's only recently moved to Manchester and is in need of new friends and someone to make him smile again. He meets his next door neighbors - 3 handsome guys who work at the hospital up the street and who Harry immediately wants to get to know; especially the compact curvy one with the gorgeous blue eyes. One night when he's baking Christmas treats Harry burns his hand and goes next door to get help. Louis takes care of the burn on his hand and maybe also helps heal Harry's broken heart.

the dead things we carry by MediaWhore

September ‘49 He hasn’t seen him since that day in France, that horrible muddy day where for one terrifyingly long second, Louis really thought he was going to die. He winces with the phantom pain, the hand not holding his cane going to his stomach automatically, remembering the franticness, the tenderness, of Harry’s hands while Louis was bleeding out.

This is the man who saved Louis’ life.

For one second, Louis fears Harry won’t recognise him, but his eyes widen when he turns to his left and they meet Louis’. He takes a step forward, reaching for him with a shaky hand before stopping himself.

“Louis,’ Harry says with a shudder and Louis doesn’t think his name has ever carried more weight.

This is the only man Louis ever thought about kissing for real.

“Oh,” Mrs. Padley says, clearly taken aback. “You two know each other?”

There are some things people never fully come home from. Until, one day, if they’re lucky, home comes to them.

You and Me, We're in this Together by themitamlads

When professional football player Louis Tomlinson gets a terrible concussion that could possibly ruin his entire life, Harry Styles swoops in and takes him in as his patient.

or, an american football au where Louis is a famous professional football player on the Green Bay Packers and Harry is a doctor who won't let his patient give up on his life no matter how terrible it is.

now i need someone to breathe me back to life by tippytoetomlinstyles

“I’m going to kiss you.” Harry breathes, meeting his eyes. Louis smiles.

“I’m going to kiss you back.”

It’s surprising how gently Harry kisses him. Louis didn’t expect for him to take it slow, but he wouldn’t have it any other way. Harry’s lips are plush and soft and indeed taste like the wine that stained them a beautiful shade of pink. Harry’s hand is cupping his cheek, and he’s grateful that their eyes are closed because he’s blushing like a sinner in church. Their bodies press together, not for any other reason than the fact that every inch between them feels wrong if they’re not together completely like this. Louis’ brain is making no sense. But kissing Harry is great. It’s wonderful. It’s every possible positive adjective he can think of. Which is none at the moment. His brain is blank. He absolutely loves it.

or the one where Louis is a nurse and a midwife, and Harry is so clumsy he just happens to fall into Louis' life and turn everything upside down in the best way possible.

never mind the odds (i'm gonna try my luck) by spit_on_me_larry

Louis Tomlinson is going to be the journalistic voice of his generation. He’s just waiting for his editor to realize it. For now, he’s stuck writing fluff pieces for the Life and Style section of London Now Newspaper.

His latest assignment is more of the same rubbish: a profile of Harry Styles, plastic surgeon and one of London’s most eligible bachelors. Louis is intent on writing something smart and biting and unexpected; if it makes Harry look like an idiot, that’s just the price of good journalism. That is, until Louis gets to know Harry and realizes he might be kind of perfect.

Featuring Louis as a writer/workaholic, Harry as a plastic surgeon with a heart of gold, Zayn and Niall as Louis’ colleagues and long-suffering best mates, and Liam as everyone’s favorite pediatric surgeon and Harry’s right-hand man.

Falling For Me Won't Be A Mistake by Rearviewdreamer

Harry is married to his job and so overworked that he doesn't know how to stop. All it takes is a forced Hawaiian get-a-away, the warm tropical breeze of the island, and the most beautiful, elusive man he's ever seen to make him remember what living is like outside of work. Well, that, and the little souvenir he accidentally takes home with him.

DOCTOR, DOCTOR by sylva

Paediatrics AU. Harry and Louis are competing for the same position. They have differing outlooks, a heavy amount of mutual irritation, and all manner of reasons why getting romantically involved would be a terrible idea. Somehow — well. Things end up happening.

He wants your job. Remember that.

Secret Little Rendezvous by iheartallthefandoms

Harry's a realtor, and has been living at one of his company's houses. What happens when is he caught there by the beautiful and bubbly Louis Tomlinson, one of his fellow realtors? Will he rat him out or bring him home for Christmas?

(Won't You) Stay to the A.M. by lululawrence

Harry tucked a few loose strands back up into the bun on top of his head and headed to the front of the building. He really would rather no one saw him behind the gym where he worked if possible so they wouldn't have a chance to catch on that the address he gave for work was actually his friend Ed’s and the number belonged to his buddy Niall. Harry didn’t like the term homeless, because he was making at least some money now and he was actively looking for a better gig so he could actually afford at least a bed in this massive city, but that’s basically what he was. It’s nothing to be ashamed of, he knew that, sometimes shit just happened and this was how it turned out, but he also didn’t want to broadcast his situation if he didn’t have to either. Especially if Louis Tomlinson, Britain's most talented young actor, was going to be frequenting Harry's place of employment on a regular basis.

falling for your hallelujah by whiskeyinthejar

There's a homeless boy who's made his new place outside Louis's work. Louis, in unexpected generosity, offers him a cup of coffee and a sprinkle doughnut. No one really expected it to become a Thing.

(In which Louis works in a cafe, Harry has no home, and it's freezing cold but no one cares).

Brooklyn Saw Me by alreadyhome

In the cold and unforgiving city of New York, Louis doesn't have a home and Harry wants to give him one. But as their heartstrings become increasingly intertwined, and the snow continues to fall, home is getting harder and harder to find.

Show me wealth, I'll show your heart by harrystylesandstuff

Harry knows the value of money. He knows how to negotiate numbers, knows its worth in engines, and knows the amount he needs to secure for his business. What he didn’t know was that, if spent wisely, money is the one thing he really doesn’t need.

Or AU where Harry has more money than he can handle, Louis can’t handle not having any, and they both find out the greatest wealth isn’t countable.

Heart Without A Home by Snowy38

Louis is staying at the shelter when a late entry pulls at his conscience and he decides to share his precious bed with the mysterious Harry. The pair somehow find an instant bond but Louis can't help but feel Harry is hiding something...

Featuring Zayn as a chef, Perrie as the shelter manager and Liam as a helper- and Louis' best mate.

And listen to the thunder by starsandnightskies

2063, the world is overpopulated and the rich and wealthy have built a space habitat for them to live on - Elysium. Louis and Harry try to find their way through many difficulties together but will their love survive?

the beauty of the blistering sky by kiwikero

When the world goes to shit, it's all Louis can do to keep himself alive. That isn't enough, though, when his mother and siblings are back in their hometown, and he has no way of getting in touch with them. He plans to make the journey alone, but a twist of fate brings him Harry, a stranger with a kind smile in a world that's forgotten what kindness means.

Together they set out for Doncaster, and along the way Louis finds out that, with people like Harry around, there might be hope for the world yet.

Vanity Over Empathy by sweetlullabies

“Listen,” Louis growls, his voice at a scarily low level. “I’m not asking you. I’m telling you. If you don’t let us stay here, it’s going to be tragic when your minions find out you’ve been killed with your own weapon.”

They stand there for a moment, wrists tight, the veins of their arms fiercely evident as Louis holds the spear in the direction of Harry’s abdomen with everything he has. The air of the tent is thick with tension as they stare each other down and Louis continues to use his utmost strength.

Louis finally releases him harshly, locking eyes with him in order to understand that the guy is on the same page.

In a world with no remorse, Louis is getting along just fine in the race of survival, but he faces a minor setback once he finds himself stuck with a polar opposite.

Please Remember Me Once More by peachyzain

Everything has gone to shit, as in most of the UK has been destroyed by the corrupt government and nobody can be trusted. Louis and Zayn are partners in crime armed with devilish good looks, quick wit, and actual weapons. Liam is a guarded badass with a soft spot for one particular boy. Niall is a box of giggles and dick drawings, and a surprising amount of knowledge. Harry is a particularly affectionate boy with no memory of a life before Louis found him in the woods.

Fake Tears and Garlic Bread by loueas

“His date is a twat,” Harry announced, interrupting Niall and Nick, “if I had someone that pretty wanting to have dinner with me, I’d probably arrive an hour early and take him somewhere much nicer.” “Aww Hazza, what a sappy romantic you are,” Nick cooed, “Maybe you should go and tell him that, might cheer him up.” “You think?” Harry perked up, “Maybe I should offer to be his date instead?”

Or, Louis is fed up of having to pay for his food and decides to pretend he has been stood up by his "date" in order to blag himself a free meal, Harry is the clueless romantic dragged into the equation, Zayn and Liam think Louis is an idiot, and Niall just really loves garlic bread.

the love is ours to make (so we should make it) by lingerielarries

“I’m.. Harry. I nanny? For Ernest and Doris?” Harry responded.

“A nanny? How old even are you? You look twelve.” Louis remarked. Something caught Louis’ eye, and a closer look revealed that Harry had a coat of pink nail polish on his fingers.

“Nineteen. I’m nineteen.” Harry replied.

“Right. Nineteen, wears pink, flower crowns and paints his nails. Who the actual fuck did my mum hire?”

the one where louis takes some time off from life to return home, only to be met with a strange boy in pink and a flowercrown as the nanny of his siblings.

its not a good morning without you by me by whatmakeslarrybeautiful

Harry and Louis have a day off, a day in, and its a lazy morning. They are painfully in love. Teasing, playfulness, and a lot of smiles ft. a bit of awkward Harry.

Draw by dolce_piccante

AU. An overworked university student, an endearing chatterbox, art, loads of fluff, and nudity. Lots and lots of nudity!

The Kids Are Alright by ashavahishta

Alex's first day of school definitely doesn't go the way Louis hoped.

What About Tonight by taggiecb

Louis loves his new career. It might just be killing him, but he loves it. What he doesn't love is how easily the boy he cares most about seems to move in and out of his life.

prompt #593 The despair at how long it takes to get there.

Caught My Attention by kassio

Reason #27 - Your one chance with a celebrity.

When he managed to stop ogling Harry's body and look up, the first thing Louis noticed was that Harry’s face was probably the most perfect face he’d ever seen. He’d seen him in that film, but he was even better in person. Maybe it was the smile.

The second thing he noticed was that that smile was directed at him. He’d been caught staring. Harry’s smile only widened when Louis locked horrified eyes with him. He tilted his head curiously, and his eyes flicked down Louis’ body. “Who’s this?”

Louis had been around long enough to know when someone was checking him out. He hadn’t expected to see that look from Harry fucking Styles.

Let's Redecorate Our Lives by thoughtlessblogger

He pauses with his hand on the doorknob. Turning to Harry he says, “Prepare yourself.”

“It can't be that bad,” Harry replies with a glint in his eye.

“You'd be surprised.”

Slowly, he opens the door, stepping aside and motioning Harry in.

Harry takes the room in silently, standing in the center and turning on his heels with wide eyes. When he's finished, he turns to Louis, who's leaning in the doorway. “This is horrendous.”

Louis hires a decorator and gets more than he'd anticipated.

lightning before the thunder by delsicle

Harry came from one of the most powerful lines of fire mages in the country. He was supposed to be a natural at magic, a prodigy, even.

But instead he was in the X-Factor contestant house kitchen at two in the morning, wearing only his pants, and he had just set the stove on fire while making snacks for his bandmates and the boy he was in love with.

Or, just another X Factor fic featuring dumb boys with dumber crushes, growing pains, random fires, and a dragon.

i never did believe in the ways of magic by binarysunsets

Louis can’t shake the feeling that there’s something in the woods, pressing close and watching him with a heavy gaze. It makes him antsy, fills him with jitters. He wants to run, or scream, but he knows to do so would only put him in danger if there’s actually something out there after all. He’s sure he’s just imagining it, but his heart nevertheless pounds in his throat.

When Louis Tomlinson goes on a songwriting retreat to the Laurentian Mountains of Canada, this isn't how he expects his evening to go.

or the au where Louis is a singer who has been cursed to never make music again and Harry is a reclusive witch of the Canadian mountains who's going to help him break the curse.

come on, jump out at me by g_uttertrash

Harry is a witch from a long line of power, an ancient line that’s one of the strongest left alive in their hemisphere. He can cast spells without a word if need be, fly on a broomstick, and has a black cat (a kitten, really) named Felix that is his animal familiar. He can shape galaxies in his cupped hands and can destroy them just as easily. He can choose exactly how to use his power, for encouragement and support, or for more nefarious causes if he wishes to.

And as fate would have it, he’s scared of haunted houses.

(Harry is a witch who carries around a stuffed pumpkin, Louis is a vampire with too much time on his hands, and their best mates Zayn & Niall aren't exactly what they seem...)

under your thumb by strong

where the year is 1975, louis is the leader of a misfit group of boys in venice, and harry is a roller skater who somehow finds his way in

work those shorts. by nopehes (orphan_account)

The AU in which H&L are basketball captains from rival schools who hook up during late night 1v1 basketball sessions.

down in atlantis by polka_stripes

Inspired by Atlantis by Bridget Mendler for the HL Song Exchange, for insomeniax

Harry's sick of his string of shallow relationships and doesn't want to crush on Louis if he's just going to be broken up with after a few months. The heart doesn't always care what you want, though, and Harry's is going to dive in deep.

-- Sunday - Day 5 Harry should have known Sean wasn’t serious about him, that Harry was just another lay, albeit a reliable one. He looks at the workout for the day and sighs.

2x (4x canceled dinners) 2x late night “hey come over” texts before a big exam 3x unfulfilled promises to visit over the summer

Despite what Harry had been trying to tell himself, their relationship had never made it out of the shallow end. --

Double-Play by photo41

For tumblr user cheerleaderharry; write me an au where harry is a ballboy for a triple a minor league team and louis is the hotshot shortstop on the cusp of being called up to the majors who flirts with him from the dugout, hanging over the railings winking at him

Harry’s studying abroad in the states with his best mate Niall, and somehow gets thrust into the world of baseball. Not that he minds though, as baseball is chocked full of attractive players, especially Buffalo’s shortstop, whose favourite past-time seems to be using as many baseball pick-up lines as he can. Directed at Harry.

“Is that a Louisville slugger in your pocket?”

Swallow My Words by YesIsAWorld

Senior year is stressful. On top of balancing school work, family, and friends, Harry's lacrosse team is vying to win the state championship, he's not sure where he's going to college yet, and he has a secret boyfriend that no one can know about.

You Turned Around, And You Stole My Heart by leonardodicaprio

Louis commits petty theft, Harry hates his job. It all works out in the end.

Crash by hilouriously

Louis likes to skateboard through empty walk ways. Harry likes to keep a first aid kit in his bag. Their worlds collide, literally.

Things Never Change by FullOnLarrie

Harry is about to graduate from college with a degree in Library Science, Louis is an antiques dealer. They meet and fall in love.

Long Before We Both Thought The Same Thing by allyasavedtheday

“So are you admitting you love Harry yet?”

Louis pauses in the middle of his story about the movie he and Harry went to see last night to raise an incredulous eyebrow. “What are you on about? Of course I love Harry.”

Has Zayn lost his mind? He’s been friends with Louis for nearly seven years and Harry for six, under what circumstances did it appear like they didn’t love each other?

“Okay, let me rephrase,” Zayn says, an amused little quirk to his mouth like he knows something Louis doesn’t. “Are you admitting you’re in love with Harry yet?”

Louis stares at him in bewilderment, mouth working as he tries to form a response. “I…what?”

Or, Louis maybe, sort of realises he's in love with his best friend of almost twenty years and he maybe, sort of thinks that said best friend could love him back? A prequel to If You Asked Me If You Love Him (I'd Lie).

Who You’ll Become by yourpricelessadvice

Harry’s twenty seven - as of four months ago - and he has got this adulting thing down to a fine art. It’s not that he’s unhappy with his lot; he’s got a decent job and thankfully enough money to do and have fairly nice things, a wonderful partner and a small but close knit family that he obviously loves – but it isn’t exactly exciting.

Life has a funny, funny way of sneaking up on you, though.

Oblivious by Speechless

"You say it's nothing serious after you've been obsessing over it for months," Liam observes, pausing their videogame. "But now you barely talk about it-" "You guys fucking ignore me whenever I try!" Louis shouts, bumping his shoulder against Liam's and hurting himself in the process. "You're postponing sex, when it's obvious that Luke's up for it at this point." Liam ignores him. "For some reason you've left Harry in the dark about it-" "What?!" Louis snaps, banging his controller against the coffee table. "I have not!" "And no matter how blatant it is, no matter how fucking ridiculous you both get when it comes to it-" "Shut your hole." Louis urges, pinching his thigh, as soon as Harry enters the room. "Shush."

* Where Louis gets a little crush on Luke and for some reason Harry starts acting weird *

Into The Blue by zarah5

AU. In which Louis is Harry's scuba instructor and quite happy to provide the requested special treatment, pun fully intended. It can't be all that difficult to convince Harry that they're on the same page, right? Also, Niall and Liam may or may not be dating, and Zayn is surrounded by emotionally stunted idiots. He bears it with dignity.

Give Me A Chance (orphan_account)

au. Louis gets bullied a lot. Harry's captain of the football team.

Your Name Is Tattooed On My Heart by mcpofife

Louis is ready to find the love of his life, but first he has to stop falling for the punk rocker next door.

You Got Time by bandshirtedboybanders

The thing is, Louis wasn’t meant to exist without Aaron. They’d grown up together and into each other. Forged together by pain and trials they were too young to deal with. Forged by love too of course, an absolute fuckton of the stuff. Melded together until they were two halves of a whole. Now, Louis just feels like half a person.

Or, the one where Louis' pretty sure he's already loved and lost his soulmate, and then he meets Harry.

Hold Me Closer by balanceds

Louis Tomlinson is one of the most promising dancers of the English National Ballet, on track to become the youngest principal dancer in the company's history. That is, until forces conspire to significantly complicate his life, including: a surprise ballet, an unfairly attractive guest choreographer, and being pushed into a rivalry with his best mate. Featuring lots of wine, dancing, pining, and a happy ending.

you are my favorite place by soleilouis

harry meets louis at a basketball game. he doesn’t know why everyone seems to think that they’re an item (aside from, maybe, the hundred paparazzi photos of them that come out the next morning).

No Bleeding Hearts by whoknows

“I’m going to come out,” Louis says abruptly. His grip on the controller is tight, knuckles whitening. He doesn’t look at Harry when he says it.

“What?” Harry says. Louis sucks in a breath through his teeth.

“When we re-negotiate our contracts. I’m going to come out.” Harry fumbles with the controller and manages to set it down on coffee table without cracking it in half.

“I don’t think that’s a good idea,” Harry says. Louis is still pointedly not looking at him.

“I’m not having this argument with you again, Harry,” Louis tells him. He leans forward and deposits his own controller on the table beside Harry’s before standing up. “I’m gonna go to the hotel.”

didn't even know that love was bigger by imsosorry

"Do you know why I shave so often now?" Harry demands. He's talking so fast he's almost nearing normal human speed; Louis can barely keep up. "It's because I'm terrified you're going to kiss me and feel my stubble and panic. I'm afraid every time we make out that you're going to feel my dick through my pants and run off in the opposite direction. I'm changing myself for you, and that's not what relationships are supposed to be about - "

"When have I ever asked you to change for me?" Louis says. "I don't want you to do that. Christ, Haz, we've been doing this for six days, and I'm sorry if I'm not exactly caught up yet."

(Sequel to Not Ready to Lose Today. Or, the one where Louis and Harry get together and have to figure out how to get it right.)

And I've got something missing tonight. by whisperedbrave

That night, much like many others, he finishes his dinner and falls asleep to the sound of his neighbor and his piano.

or the one where Harry's upstairs neighbor plays the piano every night. one night he stops and Harry can't sleep.

Back to the Sign, and Play Through the End by tomlinsunshine

Louis is a globally renowned pianist; Harry is the worst page turner this world has ever known.

What is simple in the moonlight, never really is.

And then they're talking, like they always do on late nights. They talk about the future, about the cute girl who was checking Harry out at Tesco's, about the cute boy who asked for Louis' number the other day. They mostly end up talking about their auditions for the school of their dreams, though.

Louis plays piano and Harry plays guitar and they're both trying to get into Juilliard but feelings sort of happen.

glowing like the moon and burning like the sun by amemorymaze

"The soft glow from the winter sun is filtering it's way through the glass windows, bathing the boy in a blazing glow. Harry just lets a blinding smile light up his face because that’s the way he always sees Louis – smothered in light, shining and bursting from him, glowing like the moon and burning like the sun."

Where Harry has trouble sleeping and Louis (un)intentionally helps him.

You, Me, And These Piano Keys. by larrymylove

Louis Tomlinson is one of the most renowned concert pianists in the US. The piano is his one true love, his passion. He can’t imagine not enjoying what he does for a living. Until Harry Styles, the British popstar Louis loathes - with his curls and his tattoos - commissions Louis to play at his birthday party. Now all Louis can think about is how he just wants this to be over. And that Harry Styles is in drastic need of an attitude adjustment. And maybe - just maybe - Louis is the one to give it to him. Something I whipped up quickly because I wanted to get this idea out and work on my other fics soooo it's not the best. But it still makes me smile!

AKA: The one where Louis plays the piano, Harry is a brat, and Louis may or may not be falling in love.

I Don't Want A Lot For Christmas by taggiecb

The prompt: Harry can't go home this Christmas to see his family and he's kinda super sad about it. He's just not feeling the holidays this year, and the asshole who lives above him WILL NOT STOP PLAYING CHRISTMAS SONGS ON THE PIANO, seriously it is 2 in the morning and Harry has had enough.

It's set in New York city, but they are both British. There isn't a whole lot of anyone else in the story, mostly just the two of them.

Force of Nature by Holdmyhalo

Louis is a shy, young musician who doesn't want to go to Harvard.

Harry is a confident, second year athlete who likes to have a good time.

When their paths cross while their families are vacationing at the same lake resort, what begins as a summer of fun becomes a defining journey that might just change everything.

feels like home to me by tippytoetomlinstyles

“Please kiss me.” Louis breathes and Harry smiles. Louis closes his eyes and wraps his arms gently around Harry’s neck, pulling him closer. It’s Harry who seals the final distance between them and their lips touch.

If Louis were to write an essay on clichés, he’d write this. Kissing Harry is like kissing the sun. Harry is warm and full of light and even in the dark room he’s beaming brighter than anything Louis could ever imagine. Kissing Harry is like kissing a flower. He smells so lovely and he’s perfect and his lips are as soft and delicate as a flower petal. Kissing Harry gives him fireworks and white lights behind his eyes and he feels like a star exploding and becoming something new and brighter. Kissing Harry feels like home, and it’s scary and wonderful all at the same time.

or the one where Harry is the quarterback who wants to be a photographer, Louis is the piano prodigy who like being a wallflower, and it's a roller coaster of a life but they're along for the ride.

And I'll Be Here When Only the Silence Remains by louisniall

The one where Louis is a top notch mute violinist and Harry might just be the person he trusts most.

Will You Do Something? (orphan_account)

Louis needs a fake date. Harry may regret agreeing to help.

Based on the hidden-camera show What Would You Do?, which sets up fake scenarios in which the actors do something strange or inappropriate in a public place, in order to see how bystanders intervene or speak up. (It often, but not always, involves someone discriminating against a minority-group person, with both played by actors). In particular, this story is based on this humorous segment.

Now I've Got You In My Space by stylesforstiles

Harry Styles and Louis Tomlinson almost met on X-Factor

They meet on Dancing With The Stars instead

An Au

You're Either In Or You're Out by betheproof

Louis' tone is maybe a bit harsher than necessary, but he still stinging from the suggestion that he was staring at Harry. Sure, the way his legs are encased in those skinny jeans is mildly intriguing. But Louis is here to be the next Top Designer, and he'll be damned if he lets a pretty boy with a sinful mouth get in the way of his dream. Especially if that sinful mouth is spewing phrases like bohemian pantsuit. Honestly.

Or the one where Louis tries out for Project Runway, Harry is his stupidly gorgeous competitor, Liam is Tim Gunn, Zayn is the supermodel host, and Niall is the guest judge who knows nothing about fashion.

Put It All On Me by LoadedGunn

"Yeah, yeah, give it to me, that's it, spread your legs a bit, there you go."

The camera follows Louis as he does. Maybe if the modelling thing doesn't work out, he could try the porn industry. Then again, he's a bit too stocky to be twinky and a bit too twinky to be anything else. He likes that about himself, though. Well, directors and photographers like that about him. He could pull off pretty and edgy, could do GQ in the morning and a perfume commercial in the afternoon. Right now he thinks he could pull off anything, because it's Harry fucking Styles directing him.

Or, a Top Model AU where Louis is accidentally there to make friends, not become Britain's Next Top Model. (Also Zayn is the supermodel host.)

Big Brother will see you now by elbb87

Harry Styles is looking for love, Louis Tomlinson is looking for a decent wage and to figure himself out. When they both end up in the Big Brother house, Louis must face his fears head on. How will Louis handle the tasks and the eliminations each week and how the hell will he cope being locked in a house with the green eyed boy and 8 other total strangers for 8 weeks?

The Words I Sing by irishvelvet

Louis is enjoying his Hiatus when his management decides that it'd be best for him to be one of the coaches in the upcoming reality show, Next Big Star. He is tasked to find a prodigy he could train, but then he finds Harry. And Harry, he's just everything and so much more.

The fic where Louis is the coach, but Harry is the one who opens up his world. Featuring Harry and his extensive knowledge of song lyrics which he uses to flirt with Louis.

Chef-Mate by Roxygrl803

Harry agrees to be a celebrity chef on a cooking show. This year, the premise is a little different and the chefs are paired up with other celebrities including football player Louis Tomlinson

When We Were Younger by dinosaursmate

About a week after Harry started visiting this particular chat room, he was watching some kid argue with the whole room about football, personally disinterested as he tipped a bag of crisps into his mouth. He happily chomped on the crumbs, taking a swig from a glass of Ribena to wash them down, glancing at the screen and very nearly spat the squash back out again. His heart was pounding wildly. The display icon of the argumentative newcomer had caught his eye, and not in a good way. He gulped as he clicked the picture, and when it popped up in full resolution, his heart nearly fell right out of his arse. - Sixteen year old Harry Styles’ world turns upside down when he logs on to gay teen chat to discover somebody has stolen his photos and used them as their own.

Spirit to a Dove by alienharry

For as long as it’s been on the air, Harry’s been an avid watcher of Trivialities. He’s always imagined what it’d be like to compete on the show himself, and when the opportunity arises, he’s fast tracked to join the new cast for the show’s eighth season.

Alliances are formed, strategies are planned, and Harry finds himself with his very own nemesis. Between trivia and physical challenges, Harry’s making the most of his time in the house, but nothing could’ve prepared him for Louis Tomlinson.

Rise To The Top by LarryUniverse

No more excuses came around when Louis saw the auditions for next season's of Britain's Next Top Model. Facing high expectations for his first choice modelling career, he is lead with his 15 opponents in a battle for the crown. Only with an open heart like his, he falls head over heels for a contestant, against the rules and could lead to possible failure of his future career.

or the au where Louis auditions to be in britain's next time model and he falls in love with harry while on the tv show but that's against the rules but who cares.

Midnight Memories by If I Could Fly_ (ifIcouldfly_hs)

Louis Tomlinson moved to London a week ago and is desperate to not spend New Year's Eve all alone at some dive bar. So, he swipes left a bunch until he lands on a boy with emerald eyes and chocolate curls.

Harry Styles is yet again, the fifth wheel among his friends. They force him to download some stupid dating app, even though online dating is completely the opposite of how he wants to find "the one".

The one where Harry and Louis match on Tinder and realize they're soulmates.

I'll be flicking stones at your window, I'll be waiting outside 'til you're ready to go by rockdatbody

Soulmates AU where you can't see colours until you meet your soulmate.

Harry never thought he would find his while performing on stage in front of thousands of people but hey, things happen.

Drawn to You by lululawrence

It had started with Louis getting in trouble for coloring on himself when he hadn’t touched a felt tip pen the entire day. Through the years, the random drawings had evolved and changed. There was a period in sixth form when his soulmate must have gotten shy or something, because the drawings only happened after school hours and in places that others wouldn’t be as likely to see. The inside of his bicep, his thigh. A couple times he even had drawings appear on his ribcage. While he didn’t mind those few years, he did seem somewhat soothed when they began to appear on his left arm again. He’d missed them.

Or that completely self indulgent soulmates au that plays out in not always romantic ways.

Deep Within The Mystery of Your Eyes (I Am Home At Last) by patdkitten

It's a world where you discover your soulmate after skin contact and finding your world exploding in colour. Louis has been blind his entire life. He makes do quite well, thank you very much, and he's glad that he doesn't have to see colours fade in and out of his world. Harry trains disability dogs, and, during a chance meeting with Louis at a local market, he discovers that Louis' his soulmate. He comes up with a wild scheme - train his current dog to be the perfect dog for Louis - in order to keep Louis in his life, and maybe convince him they're soulmates.

string theory by graceana

au. louis buzzes with something and glows with another.

The last few players are trickling off the bus when Louis looks down at his hands to see that he is pretty simply put, glowing gold,” Aww what the fuck is this shit. Is it that noticeable?” He whines, doesn’t even make a big deal out of it like it’s a normal thing that should be happening right now.

aka. a cliche soulmatey-fate thing.

Veni, Vidi, Amavi by FallingLikeThis

“Do you think it’s true?” Louis asks.“That soulmates really exist?” “Of course they do,” Harry’s answer is immediate. He catches Louis’ wrist and brings his hand to his lips, pressing a kiss into his palm before placing it over his own heart. “I already found mine.” Louis smiles. “Does that mean that you’ll love me forever?” He asks, whispering against his lips. “Even in the afterlife?” “Perhaps,” Harry grins slyly, nudging their noses together lightly and teasing Louis with a brush of his lips before pulling away again. They haven’t said those words yet, though Louis must know. Harry tells him in every single other possible way. “I wouldn’t even go to the afterlife without you.” “You’d stay with me? Haunt me?” He asks, wrapping a hand around the back of Harry’s neck, tangling his fingers in Harry’s hair. “I’d stay,” he agrees. “I’d wait for you forever.” “Promise?” Louis asks coyly, moving to straddle Harry’s lap. “I promise,” Harry answers, pulling Louis to him so that they can finally share that kiss.

Harry remembers why he stayed now, why he’s always had that feeling of waiting. He was holding out for Louis, his soulmate. He was keeping his promise.

Your Name Tattooed In An (Arrow) Heart by warmcuppatea

Harry always believed in love.

He was raised to believe in it, raised to love just the idea of love. He lived in a house full of girls - so no one could blame him for daydreaming about the day, the hour, the moment that his heart would be filled, that he would fall helplessly in love with The One.

(or, the story in which everyone has a soulmate, and a heart on their wrist signifies if they've met them. and harry's dying for a soulmate when all his friends already have their own.)

More Than Anything by LycorisLife

Being able to see through the eyes of your soulmate may seem like a dream come true to many, but reality proves a little more complicated. For two young boys it's all they could ever wish for but as time passes by they come to realise that there's no pain quite the same as longing to have someone who just isn’t there.

Oh How I Hate This Red String Of Fate by CalamityK

Harry thought being able to see people’s strings die would be the worst thing about his gift, until at twenty-two he finally met the other end of his own. --------- Or that soulmate AU where Harry can see the red strings of fate that tie everyone together.

it's you i find like a ghost in my mind by magneticwave

In a serious, like, fit of cosmic irony, the name on the inside of Louis’ wrist is HARRY.

Nothing's Gonna Stop Me But Divine Intervention by kikikryslee

“So… what’s next on the soul mate search?” Louis asked. “I don’t know,” Harry answered. “Whatever I’m doing isn’t working. I’m not finding him anywhere.” “He’ll get here. I know it." “Yeah. I know he’s out there somewhere; I just have to figure out where.” --- Or, the soul mate AU where Harry overthinks everything having to do with finding the love of his life, and Louis doesn't think there's a Mr. Right for him at all. It takes them a while to realize that their soul mate is the person they want it to be: each other.

You Know Sometimes Words Have Two Meanings by alienharry

"... Two souls are sometimes created together and in love before they're born." - F. Scott Fitzgerald

Harry and Louis navigate the universe.

#larry #to read #larry to read #one direction #1d #mine

1 note · View note

lynfraser09 · 7 years

Text

Grateful for Something

Title: Grateful For Something

Rating: T

Word Count: 10,226

Fandom: Dear Evan Hansen

Pairings/Characters: Evan Hansen / Connor Murphy

Summary: AU Canon-divergent. Another disastrous holiday and two lonely boys who find each other.

Notes: A belated Thanksgiving themed story.

OR READ ON A03

Connor flopped onto his bed so hard it made the bed frame shake and hit the wall with a loud thud. He waited a second and then forcefully reached up to shove at the head and as it hit the wall, it made another loud thud and scraped a bit of paint off the wall.

He rolled on his side seething, shaking with the force of the rage building inside of him.

He replayed the scene that had happened just a minute ago over and over in his head like a bad movie he couldn’t turn off.

A fancy, bountiful meal his mother had worked literal days on. The dining room table set with the Good China and surrounded by aunts, uncles and cousins who only bothered to show up once a year.

It wasn't really his fault - he had promised his pleading mother he would behave and he did or he tried to. He had kept quiet at the far end of the table, constantly keeping his eyes on his plate hoping to just be ignored.

Then Uncle Ben, his father's brother of course, had to be the one to attempt conversation with him. To ask him about school: “fine” and plans for college. He had none and everyone knew it. Connor had a retort ready about how college was a waste of time and money when his cousin, Perfect Boy - almost definitely receiving a full ride to one of the top schools in the nation - Joe made an offhand comment about how he'd just be majoring in drug use.

It had only escalated from there, ending with the horrified faces of his aunts and uncles, disappointment scrawled on the faces of his mother and Zoe, and a screaming match between him and Larry that the neighbors surely had heard.

He was out of his seat before he could really hear Larry's demand for him to leave.

He grabbed his pillow and shoved it over his head tightly. It wasn't long before the heat and lack of air started to suffocate him. He debated keeping it on but realized it wouldn't work. Instead he tossed his pillow across the room, it hit the desk and knocked several items to the floor in a clammer.

Now hot, sweaty and irritated he stalked over to the window and threw it open.

He let out a small gasp as a rush of cold air hit his dampened skin.

He closed his eyes, his fists curled at his sides, his breathing sharp and shallow as he took in the fresh air.

After a minute, and still feeling stifled in the ridiculous sweater his mom made him wear, he tore it off and threw it to the floor.

He was now only in an undershirt and the cold, brisk air felt good against his skin.

He glanced down, frowning at the various red marks on his arms. He tightened his hands into fists, his fingernails digging into his palm.

He growled under his breath and searched his messy room until he found his desired hoodie.

He roughly pulled it over his head and stalked back to the window. He had no interest in remaining in that house and knew he had to get out. The only question was his destination.

He knew where he wanted to go, where his first thought always was to go after an incident like this. A far corner of the park where boys like him went and got so high they almost forgot they weren't wanted by the families.

His body itched, ached, screamed for it - because it had been a surprisingly long time - and he had almost made up his mind when he spotted his phone sitting on his desk.

He stared at it a long while and then walked over to grab it.

He opened his contacts, his finger hovering over the one name that might have just been as miserable as he was.

He remembered the conversation he had had with a few of his classmates the day before school let out for break.

Alana had come over to ask everyone about their thanksgiving plans, after giving great detail about her own plans. Jared said it was only his parents and grandparents. Connor had rolled his eyes and grumbled about seeing his extended family and then all eyes had fallen on Evan.

He shifted nervously and explained that his mother usually had to work on thanksgiving and that he would be alone. Alana expressed her sympathies, Jared cracked a joke about what he could do on his own but gave his friend a slightly sympathetic look behind it, and Connor, though he wished he could have been alone, had started to see that Evan became uncomfortable in social situations, and probably wouldn't have enjoyed a huge thanksgiving meal a la the Murphy's, but the constant lack of his mother’s presence sat heavy on him.

Evan brushed it off with a shrug, saying it was no problem. Connor told him he would have invited him over to their dinner but didn't want to expose Evan to that kind of disaster. Evan had glanced at him kindly, sadly and thanked him for the thought anyway.

Remembering that look on Evan's face he finally decided and opened a text.

To: Evan

Is your mom still at work?

He sent the text and turned around to sit at the edge of his desk.

His fingers drummed impatiently against the wood but really it was only a minute before his phone vibrated and lit up with a new message.

From: Evan

Yes

Then, a few seconds later:

From: Evan

WHY?

SORRY

Why?

Evan, in his haste, often fat-fingered the keyboard and sent him capitalized text messages. Evan always followed it up with an apology and a correction but Connor found it amusing, almost endearing. It was an Evan Hansen quirk, one of his many, one that Evan probably berated himself for, but all together just made Evan, Evan.

To: Evan

I'm coming over

He didn't wait for Evan’s response and slipped the phone into his pocket. He knew Evan was alone and if he didn't go to Evan he would go elsewhere.

He pulled his hood over his head and slowly pulled open his door.

He could ear the muted sounds of his family attempting to reconcile their family dinner and scoffed. Continue on as if everything normal, as if Connor didn't even exist, which was par for the course really.

He continued to quietly sneak down the hall. Despite being tall, he was also thin and surprisingly stealthy and he had become an expert in slipping out right under his parents’ noses. He even had the added advantage of having the extra family over to provide distraction.

He only held his breath for a moment as he passed the dining room. He thought he might have seen Zoe catch his eye as he darted past. It was day to day whether Zoe cared enough to rat him out but after a few more steps and no disturbance from the room, if she did see him, she didn't say anything.

He was about to head straight for the door when he caught sight of something on the kitchen counter.

He smirked to himself as he slunk into the kitchen, grabbed it, stuffed it under his hoodie and then continued towards the door.

The front door was far enough from the dining room that they probably wouldn't have heard him anyway but Uncle Ben had just cracked a joke that had his aunt, cousin and Father laughing hysterically, allowing him to slip out the door completely undetected.

He felt a light vibration in his pocket and knew Evan had finally responded to him. He ignored it and instead started off towards his house.

The sun had been setting when he left and it was nearly dark by the time he reached Evan’s.

With nearly frozen fingers he knocked on the door. He barely had to knock twice before the door swung open.

The two boys stared at one another, Evan with slightly wide, inquisitive eyes.

Connor inched his way towards the open door, already feeling the heat from within. “You gonna let me in or just let me freeze to death?”

“Oh! Yeah, s-sorry…” he stepped aside and Connor stepped in through the door, nearly sighing in relief. He usually didn't mind the cold, prefered it actually but the temperature really had dropped as the sun disappeared and the cold bit at any exposed skin.

He looked around the small entrance hallway, completely dim, with only a light in one of the far rooms.

He lowered his hood and turned to Evan who had now closed the door. “See much, Hansen?”

Evan blinked at him. “W-what?”

“It's fucking dark ,dude.”

“Oh.” Evan looked around, seemingly noticing it for the first time and then shrugged. “Well it's just me so...I don't need the lights I guess.”

Connor preferred the darkness himself so he only nodded. Then he headed straight for the source of light and heard Evan following behind him.

It turned out to be the living room where Evan had set himself up for the evening. The tv was on low playing some nature documentary, his laptop and phone were on the table, beside what looked like a barely touched frozen pizza and a blanket tossed haphazardly across the couch cushions, where Evan had obviously made himself comfortable for the night.

Wordlessly, Connor entered the room and took immediately to the couch and plopped himself down onto it.

He looked up to find Evan in the doorway, watching him curiously, fiddling nervously with the hem of his shirt. Another Evan Hansen quirk.

“So, uh...what...what, uh happened? I mean… why are you here? Not that I don't want you…”

“My family fucking sucks, that's what happened.” Connor snapped, cutting off his rambling. “But no surprises there, right?”

Evan frowned and walked further into the room and then finally took a seat beside him on the couch.

“They didn't want me there and I didn't want to be there so…” Connor shrugged and then threw his arm over the armrest. “Here I am.”

Evan stared at him and then pressed his lips together. “S-sorry…”

Connor lifted his brow. “You've got nothing to be sorry for.”

His hands twitched on his lap. “No, I know, but thanksgiving is you know, a time for family or whatever so I'm just...sorry…”

Connor huffed. “Well fuck thanksgiving and fuck family. It's a stupid holiday anyway.”

Evan nodded slowly and glanced down at his hands. “Yeah...yeah it is.” He said quietly.

The pitiful loneliness in his voice almost wish he had invited Evan over or better yet, ditched his family hours ago to hang out here instead.

“I can see you really got into the holiday spirit too.” Connor motioned towards the pizza on the table. “Nothing like that good ol’ thanksgiving holiday frozen pizza.”

That finally got the intended results and a small smile tugged at Evans lips. “Yeah, well I can't make a turkey and Mom doesn't have time so…” He flapped his hand in the direction of the pizza.

“Turkey is lame.” Connor said and reached for a slice of the pizza, only then remembering the package he had slipped under his hoodie.

“Hey, I brought us something…” He removed the bottle from under his hoodie and placed it on the table.

Evan’s eyes widened as he leaned in toward it. “Is that….wine?”

With a smug smirk, Connor snatched a slice of pizza and relaxed back on the couch. “Yep, snatched it before I left. My aunt brought it over...it's imported from Italy or some shit. Really expensive and really pretentious.”

Evan eyed it warily, as if he had never seen a bottle of wine before in his life. He glanced up to Connor and flushed as Connor stared at him with an amused smirk.

“I, ah, never have had wine before.” Evan admitted a little shyly and Connor snorted past a mouthful of food. He swallowed, then said, “No shit, Hansen.” He grinned, the first real smile all week.

“You're about as clean as they come.” Evan’s brow shot up and they both suddenly remembered a dark night, just a few weeks ago, where Connor had a moment of weakness and so did Evan and they both confessed their little secrets - Evan had not fallen from the tree and the attempt on his life after the letter incident had not been Connor's first.

That night in fact had been a turning point in their friendship where they were not only just barely friendly but found an understanding and kinship with one another. Neither had ever opened up to someone that way before, because no one else would get it, but they held each other as they cried out their frustrations and desperations and feelings of utter failure and loneliness and hopelessness.

They didn't really speak about what had happened after that but they did become nearly inseparable, much to the confusion of everyone around them, Zoe and Jared in particular.

Connor quickly clarified, “Substance abuse wise.”

Evan’s brow furrowed and he straightened up almost defensively. “I mean...I’ve had alcohol. Jared had some, I don't...I don't remember what he said it was but, he made me try it...and it was...uh, cool?”

Connor sniggered quietly at the way Evan’s nose scrunched up. “You don't have to pretend to like alcohol. If you don't like it, you don't like it…” He shrugged and took another bite of pizza.

Evan’s shoulders relaxed. “It was pretty gross.” He admitted with a small smile and Connor smirked at him.

“It's not my drug of choice either but I figured why the hell not. Especially if it will piss off Larry. Wine is okay, especially the fancy stuff, you might like it.”

Evan glanced back at the bottle, his eyes narrowing as he scrutinized it, then coming to realize that it was only written in Italian.

“O-okay, I'll try it.”

Connor grinned and reached over and slapped Evan gently on the knee. “That's the spirit.”

Evan jumped, tensing momentarily at the sudden contact but then gave a shaky smile.

Connor shoved the rest of the pizza into his mouth and then hopped to his feet.

“Do you know where your mom hides the bottle opener?” Connor asked after he swallowed and started to head off towards the kitchen.

Evan followed him with his eyes and pointed towards the kitchen. “Yeah, it's uh.. in the drawer on the left, near the fridge.”

Connor froze and turned slowly around, his eyebrow twitching up. “In an open drawer near the fridge?”

Evan nodded and smiled a little sheepishly, understanding Connor’s look. “She uh, knows I don't drink so she doesn't have to hide it from me.”

“Jesus.” Connor ran a hand through his hair. “To live in your house Hansen…” He muttered and then disappeared around the corner, heading towards the kitchen.

He found the bottle opener exactly where Evan said it would be along with several bottles of wine and various other alcohols sitting freely atop the counter.

Connor scoffed and shook his head. The urge to snatch one was strong but he resisted - Evan was his friend and Heidi seemed to at least tolerate him - he couldn’t piss off the one family that might actually like him. He ignored the bottles and rifled through the cabinets until he found two glasses and then returned to Evan.

He returned to find Evan once again staring at the wine bottle, nervously running his hands together, his leg bouncing up and down.

“What's wrong?”

Evan helped and jumped, clearly not hearing his return. His hands flew apart and pressed down against the couch, his leg still bouncing as Connor approached with an inquisitive look.

“N-nothing!” Evan protested.

Connor gave him a skeptical look as he once again sat beside him on the couch. “You don't have to do this you know, it was just an idea…”

Evan’s eyes widened and he shook his head fervently, now running his hands against his thighs. “N-no, I want to! It's fine!” His voice squeaked and Connor stared, unconvinced. Evan shot him a further still unconvincing smile smile but started nodding fervently. “It's fine, it's fine.”

“Alright…” Connor set the two glasses down and then grabbed a hold of the bottle.

Evan jumped again as the cork popped but smiled as Connor glanced over to him. It was still not quite genuine but Connor could see the hint of excitement in his eyes.

Connor smirked to himself and grabbed one glass, filled it about halfway and handed it to Evan.

Evan accepted it and sniffed at it curiously while Connor poured his own glass.

His nose twitched at the aroma and Connor watched, enthralled and amused as Evan eased the glass to his lips and took a sip.

Evan coughed a little as the alcohol went down his throat and he stared at the wine glass, contemplating as he licked his lips.

“It's not too bad.” He decided, turning to Connor with a smile a moment later. “P-pretty good actually.”

Connor smirked. “Well how about that...we found Evan’s poison.”

He extended his own glass out towards Evan and Evan stared at it a moment before smiling again and reached up to clink against his.

“To expensive stolen wine, new vices and fucking thanksgiving.”

Connor then took a large sip of his own drink and settled back down against the couch.

Evan took another sip, a little more greedily but not quite as large as Connor’s and slowly relaxed back himself.

Connor could feel Evan’s eyes on him as he drank and finally lowered the glass down, narrowing his eyes slightly.

Evan caught his gaze and quickly looked down at his own glass and started to twist it gently between his hands.

His thumb traces circles along the glass and he looks into the swirling red liquid as Connor went for another slice of pizza.

“Connor...do you, uh, want to...talk about what happened?”

Connor froze, his hand on the crust of the pizza and a dark look crossed his features as he turned to Evan. “Why the hell would I want to do that?”

Evan shrunk into himself and Connor cursed himself for snapping at him but really, did he really have to bring it up?

“I-I don't know. Sorry, I just thought...well, my therapist says it helps to talk about it and... sorry I know that's stupid.”

Connor stared at him silently and Evan began to shift uncomfortably in his seat. He took another sip of wine and laughed, bitterly, and shook his head. “Sorry…”

Connor sighed and grabbed another slice of pizza before leaning back. “It's fine, Ev, I just don't want to talk about it.”

Evan looked up, his fingers tapping nervously against his glass and then slowly relaxed as he nodded. “O-okay, yeah, I get it.”

Connor continued to watch him quietly, slowly taking another bite of pizza. Evan shifted again under his intense stare but smiled softly.

Swallowing the cold pizza suddenly became hard against the sudden lump in his throat and Connor frowned.

He shifted his gaze ahead of him, staring at the wine bottle. The expensive wine bottle that seemed to mock him just by it's presence as a representation of everything everyone expected him to be, and everything he was not.

“My cousin is in asshole.” He said suddenly, sharply and Evan looked over to him, silent but listening.

He laughed bitterly. “I mean my whole family are assholes but he's an exceptionally large one. He spent the whole dinner bragging about himself, his beautiful girl, his fantastic grades, he's Fifth In His Class You Know,” he said with an exaggerated snooty accent that was so unexpected Evan snorted into his wine glass and despite himself, Connor had to smirk at his reaction.

It soon faded and he waited for Evan to compose himself before continuing with a sigh.

“He has the opportunity to go to any damn prestigious school he wants and everyone loves him and is so proud of him and you know whatever, it's fine, I'm used to his arrogance but then it came to me. And he basically said I would be nothing but a no good stoner for the rest of my life and, he's not wrong but…”

“Yes he is.” Evan’s voice was so quiet he barely heard it over his own slowly burning rage and self hatred but Evan’s voice did cut through like warm fire and he stopped and turned to him.

Evan stared at him seriously, inching closer.

“He is wrong, Connor. You’re-you’re not...that's not all..." Evan paused, pressing his lips together, finding frustration in searching for his words, “You are so much more than that.”

“Oh, really,” Connor scoffed, his face screwing up in self-loathing, “what am I?”

Evan suddenly grew nervous, using one hand to fiddle with the ends of his shirt. “You're smart.” He said and Connor laughed out loud, only quieting at Evan’s serious frown. “I know you are, Connor. We-we may have really only known each other for a few months but

...we’ve been going to school together for...for years and I've seen you and you know things! Like, uh,...like remember just last week in the library, you knew the answer to a math question that even Jared couldn't get.”

Connor’s brow furrowed and he frowned but said nothing. He did remember that and thought nothing of it. Well he thought Jared was an idiot but math had always come easy to him - he only failed classes because he didn’t do any of the work.

“And I know you care...about things and people, even though you don't like to show it. I mean...you’re the only one who seems to give a crap about me. And I've seen your, uh...doodles on your work at school and you’re very talented and...well...they’re stupid, okay? Your family I mean! They're just stupid and wrong about you and I think you're great so…” Evan finally trailed off and looked down and he rubbed his hands against his jeans.

Connor stared at him, his heart thudding painfully against his chest. That had to be one of the nicest things anyone had said to or about him in years.

I think you’re great.

Connor took a deep breath. Connor wasn't good with compliments. Giving or receiving. So he wasn't sure what the hell to do with that.

“I'm not drunk enough for this shit.” He muttered as he reached for the bottle and poured himself another glass. He nearly downed the whole thing and then let out a breath as the alcohol burned pleasantly through his body. “Look can we...not do this?” He inclined his head toward Evan but didn’t dare look at him.

Evan looked up, eyes wide and nodded quickly. “Yeah, yeah sure of course. I’m sorry... I just…I just wanted to...”

“I know what you were trying to do...and….thanks but...I can’t.”

“O-okay, we’ll just drop it.”

“Thanks.”

Evan nodded, watching Connor carefully. Connor sighed and pulled his knees up to his chest. It was a little awkward on Evan’s smaller sized couch but he was thin enough to manage to stay comfortable.

He could feel Evan’s eyes on him and his jaw tensed but he kept his eyes ahead of him, trying not to focus on Evan but on the television.

He stared blankly at the screen, his mind drifting.

Connor furrorwed his brow as he finally focused on what was on screen - a camera panned almost dramatically across a large forest. “What the hell are you watching, Hansen?”

Evan ducked his head but smiled abashedly, his face lighting up. “It's called uh, Call of the Forest and it's all about the forests all across the Northern Hemisphere and how they are preserved and how old they are, they are ancient you know?, and how, uh, basically trees and forests are the key to reversing climate change and are ...what?”

Connor knew he was smirking at him but he couldn't stop it if he wanted to. The wine was just starting to kick in and Evan was almost a different person when he was talking about trees - almost relaxed and carefree. Connor wished he was that passionate about something.

Connor snorted a laugh, shaking his head. “You are such a dork, Ev.”

Evan froze and Connor thought maybe he had gone too far - he tried not to insult Evan - and he didn't mean to come off insulting. It wasn't an insult, not in his mind. He didn't give a shit about trees and he’d rather do literally almost anything other than watch a documentary on them but he somehow didn’t mind watching Evan talking about it.

Then Evan flushed, looked down and rubbed at his jeans. “Yeah, I know…”

“Relax.” He leaned over and gave Evan a playful, gentle shove on the arm and Evan winced for a second before laughing nervously and Connor realized telling Evan to relax was like telling the sun not to set. “It’s fine - you’ve got an interest, maybe it is weird as all hell but its an interest. Though no offense dude, its not mine so…” He looked pointedly at the television.

Evan looked up and nodded quickly. “We can change it...its fine...I, uh...don’t know…” He furrowed his brow and inched his way towards the edge of the couch, searching frantically on the table for the remote.

He finally found it buried underneath some napkins and presented it to Connor with a nervous smile like it was some sort of priceless jewel.

“Thanks…” Connor drawled, smirking as he slowly reached over to take it from him.

He flicked through a couple of channels as Evan scooted back against the couch, cradling his glass of wine between his hands, his eyes intently focused on the quickly changing channels.

Eventually Connor let out a frustrated sigh at finding nothing good to watch and he glared heavily at the football game playing on the screen.

“You like sports?” He asked Evan and Evan shook his head.

“N-no...not really.”

“Me neither.” His eyes narrowed at the screen and they sat in silence for a few long moments.

Finally, Connor turned to Evan.

“You've got video games or something?”

---

Fifteen minutes later, Connor was squatting on the couch cushion, propped up on the balls of his feet, with Evan on the floor, both fully invested in the one game Evan had managed to find.

Evan didn't really have too many video games, it was mostly Jared who liked to play them and who brought them over and forced Evan to play them. He usually left with them but had left behind Mario Kart on his last visit.

“Ah, shit, what the hell Hansen…” Connor growled as Evan overtook him and Evan grinned, his lips pursed, his brow furrowed in concentration. The wine and the fun of the game had started to relax him.

Connor shifted his weight to his toes, leaning forward as he focused on catching up to Evan. He remained just on Evan’s trail but Evan ended up finishing the race.

Connor sighed dramatically, falling back onto the couch while Evan grinned triumphantly, shooting Connor a look over his shoulder.

“How the hell are you this good?” Connor asked, leaning in toward Evan. “I thought you didn't play.”

Evan shrugged, still smiling. “I play. Well, I play this one. Jared left it here months ago and never asked for it back. I only play when I'm really bored and I'm home by myself a lot so I get really bored a lot…”

Connor narrowed his eyes. “Fine.” He snatched up the controller. “Best two out of three?”

Evan nodded, returning confidently to the screen. Connor scooted to the edge of the couch and they were off again.

Rounds later, Connor had won a few but Evan remained reigning champion and Connor threw his controlled down in defeat “Fine, I give up! Tree Boy wins the game.”

Evan smiled as Connor glared pathetically. “Don't be a sore loser.”

Connor’s brow lifted at Evan’s sudden boldness. Evan only continued to grin at him, place the controller down and twisted around to face him.

“You're the sore loser.” Connor muttered back, crossing his arms and hid a smirk as Evan chuckled.

“I didn't lose.”

Connor tossed a pillow, hitting Evan in the shoulder. “Shut up.”

Evan grabbed the pillow and tucked it under his arms and to his chest, still smiling to himself.

“You want a rematch?”

“And have you kick my ass again? No thanks. Let's just turn on the tv or something.”

Evan nodded and grabbed the remote off the table before he crawled back up onto the couch, settling himself back in his corner.

Evan turned off the game and turned on Netflix and after a little bit of arguing - well suggestions made from Evan and Connor groaning at nearly every one and Evan visibly wincing at some of Connor’s suggestions- they finally decided on some comedy movie that neither of them had seen.

Before the movie started, Connor had gone rummaging throughout kitchen to look for more food and came back with a bowl of popcorn.

They settled back onto the couch, a blanket spread across their laps with the popcorn bowl between them.

Both had long since relaxed, the video game and the consumption of wine releasing most of the pent up tension, especially in Connor. The wine even seemed to help Evan relax a little bit more than usual.

So as the movie started, they both relaxed into the couch and got lost in the script and the comedy. Connor was laughing for the first time in...he couldn't even remember when he had had a real laugh.

At some point in the movie, Connor could feel Evans eyes practically burning a hole in his head. When he glanced his way he found Evan’s cheeks slightly flushed from the alcohol, and a happy, little relaxed smile on his lips. Connor raised an eyebrow at him and shifted in his seat, pulling his knee up to his chest under the blanket.

“What?” he nearly snapped.

“I’m really glad you’re here, Connor.”

Both eyebrows shot into his hairline and Evan only continued to smile at him, a little more shyly.

“And... I-I have to say, even if it's stupid, which, it is, of course, because it's me...but... it's thanksgiving and my mom always said to...to try and think of something you’re thankful for and I really never could because,” He shrugged, “What do I have to be thankful for?”

Connor’s stomach dropped at the painful reminder of how alike he and Evan were in that way and he frowned and pulled his leg closer to his body.

“But uh...I do now, I think because I’m thankful that you’re here so...yeah.”

Connor stared at him silently and Evan quickly shot his gaze down to his lap, tapping his legs nervously, slowly starting to shake his head.

“Damn Hansen….” Connor croaked out a few seconds later and Evan looked up slowly. “How much did you drink?”

Evan flushed pink and laughed a little. “I didn’t...not that much…” He glanced at his nearly empty glass of wine which he had in fact abandoned after their video game match. “I mean it though, Connor. I was going to be alone, again, and then you showed up and I’ve had a lot of fun. More fun than I’ve had in ages so...thank you...for coming over.”

Looking at Evan, seeing the light in his eyes, Connor could see that he did mean it. Deep down, Connor always thought maybe Evan was afraid of him, felt pressured to hang out with him when he didn’t really want to. In reality, Evan was the only one who seemed to truly like him, to genuinely want to be with him for no other reason than friendship.

“Thanks for letting me in.” Connor said with a half shrug, trying not to let on how much it actually meant that someone wanted him to stay instead of always kicking him out or at the very least making it clear he was not wanted.

Connor wasn't good with emotions. Except anger, that one he excelled at. No, it was the good emotions, the emotions that put a weird warm tingle in his belly that he didn't know what the hell to do with.

He actually was grateful he had somewhere to go that wasn’t a cold park, where he would be free from judgement and could actually just be himself. No it was more than that, it was a relief. A near overwhelming relief once he thought about it. As if one ton of the two ton weight he constantly carried on his shoulders had been lifted.

After a few moments of silence, desperate to break the sudden moment of vulnerability, he reached into the bowl between them, grabbed a piece of popcorn and flicked it at Evan’s forehead.

Evan jumped and blinked quickly while Connor grinned and hid a laugh against his knee. He lifted his head a second later, “No more of that emotional shit, alright?”

Evan’s face softened and he laughed. “Alright.” He agreed and seemed to debate with himself for a moment. Then he also picked up a piece of popcorn and tossed it at Connor, which landed in his hair.

Connor’s eyes narrowed playfully as he picked the popcorn out of his hair and stared Evan down as he popped it into his mouth.

Evan snickered quietly, his lips pressed together tightly. He then laughed aloud, shielding himself with the pillow as Connor reached into the bowl to grab a handful and threw it at him.

Evan peeked out hesitantly from above the pillow and the sight made Connor laugh aloud. Unable to resist, he grinned mischievously and threw yet another handful at Evan.

After a few more rounds of popcorn throwing, mostly from Connor as Evan hid strategically behind the pillow that sent most of the popcorn to the floor, they finally settled back to rewatch the movie.

Evan mumbled something about having to rewind because they had missed so much of the movie and Connor blamed Evan for it with a smirk, whilst getting one more popcorn throw in.

Once the movie had resumed playing, they both retreated to their separate corners of the couch to quietly continue the movie.

Connor had slumped against the armrest, using his arm as a pillow while his long legs propped up on the table. Across from him, Evan had curled his legs up beside him, still cuddling the pillow to his chest as he rested his head back against the couch.

It was the sudden slam of a car door a little while later that finally broke the tranquil peace the movie had put them into.

“Mom’s home.” Evan muttered in acknowledgement, drowsy from the last remnants of the alcohol in his system and Connor grunted quietly.

Then his eyes widened and he quickly shot up as Connor lazily lifted his head, his brow furrowing.

“Oh shit, my mom’s home.” Evan squeaked and Connor sat up as panic quickly spread over the other boy’s face. His whole body tensed and his breathing started to become quick and labored as his eyes zeroed in on the wine bottle on the table.

Connor reached over and placed his hand on Evan’s knee. “Hey, Ev, it's okay...I got this.” He moved quickly and snatched the bottle of wine off the table, shoved the cork back in the top, and shoved it between his legs and recovered his lap with the blanket.

Evan let out another short wheeze of panic and Connor finished the job by grabbing the two glasses and shoving them to the floor beside the couch, out of any immediate site.

He turned back to Evan who only seemed to grow worse and now trembled in his seat.

“Shit...Ev, hey, look at me.” Connor leaned in towards him, trying to catch his attention and Evan looked to him, wide-eyed. “Breathe, Evan, come on...the wine’s gone, she won’t know.”

Evan looked around quickly, surveying the scene of the living room before him, filled with half eaten pizzas and bits of popcorn but no clear evidence of any alcohol.

He took in a shaky deep breath, held it for a few seconds and then let it out slowly.

He jumped again, shooting back against the couch, trying to appear relaxed and casual as the keys jangled in the door and pushed open a few seconds later.

“Evan, honey?” Heidi Hansen’s voice called into the house

“In here.” Evan called out, his voice still shaky and he cleared his throat, shaking his head. Connor pushed himself back into his corner of the couch, trying to appear as casual as possible, something he was rather an expert at, while keeping an eye on Evan.

“I know I’m late, honey and I’m sorry but I brought you some - oh…” She suddenly appeared in the doorway and froze as she caught sight of Connor sitting beside Evan on the couch.

“H-Hi Mom.” Evan forced a small smile to his lips and glanced over his shoulder to Connor, then back to his mother. “You, uh - remember Connor Murphy?”

Heidi blinked in surprise for another moment but then a slow smile spread across her lips. “Yes, yes of course. Hello Connor.”

“Hey.” Connor greeted, curt but friendly enough.

Heidi shifted her bag over her shoulder, her eyes scanning the room, taking in the mess, and the TV still on and playing the movie and her smile widened as she looked back the boys. “I didn’t know you were coming over. Of course you are always welcome here but it's thanksgiving, shouldn't you be with your family?”

A dark look quickly flickered over Connor’s face but he quickly steeled his expression and shrugged. “My family dinner ended early. I knew Evan was alone today so I thought I’d keep him company.”

A flicker of pain flashed across Heidi’s tired eyes but as Evan’s forced smile faded into a more genuine and soft smile she also smiled.

“Well that was very thoughtful of you, Connor.”

Connor’s face twitched and quickly shifted a look to Evan.

His body was tense and he fiddled mercilessly with the blanket on his lap. A nervous behavior that would have given anyone else’s guilty conscience away but Heidi seemed to suspect nothing of her anxiety-ridden son.

“Well,” Heidi took another look at the room, “I can see you found the pizza, that’s good...and the popcorn too apparently, but incase you boys are still hungry I brought home some turkey and all the fixings.” She lifted a large plastic bag. “There was a potluck at the hospital - lots of food so, if you want it…”

“Thanks, Mom.” Evan said quickly. “We’re kind of full though…”

“Okay.” Heidi said, still smiling awkwardly. “Well it will be in the kitchen if you want it. I’m just gonna go change...you guys enjoy your movie.”

Heidi’s gaze lingered on them a moment longer and then she disappeared around the hall.

Evan held his breath, waiting until her footsteps quieted and then let out a loud, heavy breath and glanced over to Connor. “Do you think she knows we were drinking?”

Connor’s lips twitched. “She will if you say it any louder, dude.”

Evan’s eyes widened and he sealed his lips tightly together.

“It's fine, I don’t think she knows anything. You’re definitely not drunk, Hansen.”

Evan frowned and a funny look crossed over his face. He slowly drew his knees up to his chest. “I think I'm gonna be sick.” He muttered and dropped his forehead to his knees.

Connor raised his brow and very much doubted it. “If you puke I'm leaving.” He deadpanned.

Evan groaned quietly. Then he spoke, his voice heavily muffled by his legs. “You have nowhere else to go.”

Evan probably didn't mean it the way he said it but the cold, harsh reality hit Connor like the cold stab of winter air. “Ouch.”

Evan slowly lifted his head, his eyes widening in horror. He did look a little pale and clammy. “Ohmygod. Connor, I am so sorry I didn't mean..”

“You did and you're not wrong. I don't have anywhere else to go.” He turned away from Evan, staring blankly ahead to the TV that was still playing. His hair fell in front of his face and he didn't bother brushing it out of the way. “Fuck knows I don't want to go back to that house.”

Evan was quiet but he could feel his eyes on him. The beginnings of rage once again began to squeeze around his heart until finally Evan said,

“You could stay here.”

Connor slowly turned back to him and Evan gave him a small smile, his cheek now resting on his knees. “For tonight, I mean.”

Connor lifted a single brow. Was Evan really offering a sleepover?

“Your mom would be cool with that?” He briefly wondered why he actually cared about that.

Evan shrugged. “She won't mind...I don't think. Not if we don't wake her up or anything.”

“Okay...cool. Thanks.” He tried to play it off casually but he couldn't deny the relief he felt of not having to go back to the scolding he would no doubt receive as soon as he walked in the door. He could at least delay it for another day and hopefully Larry would be too hungover to really yell.

He felt a hard knot in the pit of his stomach at the reminder of the family he had left behind - and what they would do when they discovered he was gone.

As far as they were concerned he was still in his room but his mom would probably come to check on him after everyone had left. It was always his mom - with a soft, sad, pleading voice asking if he was hungry and then following it up with a sigh.

He sure as hell didn’t want them blowing up his phone all night with texts and calls demanding that he come home.

For that reason alone, he groaned and pulled out his phone to text Zoe.

To: Zoe

I'm staying at Evan’s. Tell mom.

Almost immediately he received the reply.

From: Zoe

So you did leave? Wtf Connor. They're gonna kill you.

He scoffed and Evan glanced up at him, his brow furrowing curiously. Connor shook his head, dismissing him.

To: Zoe

Great. Let them.

“Your mom?”

Connor barked a laugh and shook his head. “No. Zoe.”

“Oh.”

Connor glanced sideways as Evan’s voice shot up. Evan was staring down at his knees but his cheeks were stained a light pink and Connor rolled his eyes.

He had not forgotten Evan’s letter- he would never forget Evan’s letter- but the words about Zoe in particular had seared themselves rather unfortunately to his brain. Of course his only friend would have a weird crush on his sister.

Fortunately, whether he was smart enough not to, or just too shy, Evan never discussed his feelings for her in front of him.

He did however flush red and became even more twitchy when Zoe met up with them at school. Zoe was friendly to him and Evan had become a little better at talking to her but it was still almost painfully awkward to watch.

He shoved his phone back into his pocket and decided to ignore it for the rest of the night. It clanked noisily against the wine bottle that was still tucked in his lap. He hastily removed it and tucked it against the side of the couch next to the glasses.

Then he threw himself roughly against the back of the couch, startling Evan and causing him to look over to him inquisitively.

Connor ignored the look and instead focused on the tv to where the credits were rolling accompanied by some highly obnoxious rock music. “Movie’s over.”

“Yeah.” Evan said quietly. Connor noticed he did not complain about them missing parts of the movie this time. Still, he clicked back a few scenes or two and Evan’s face lit up a in a small smile that made it worth it.

They sat through the end of the movie, Evan slowly starting to relax again, his legs uncurling as he rested back.

As soon as the end scene played and it flickered back to the obnoxious credits, Connor returned to the home menu and flipped through the other movie choices until he found another one that looked halfway decent. He made a low, questioning noise in the back of throat, half-heartedly asking Evan’s approval.

Evan grunted noncommittally in reply and Connor shrugged and hit play before tossing the remote to the table.

He frowned as he shifted his tall body around on the small couch trying to find a comfortable position. Eventually his legs ended up propped back up on the table as his body slumped into the couch, his shoulder and head rested against the armrest.

Around halfway through the next movie, Connor felt Evan’s foot brush against his upper thigh and his chest tightened at the unexpected contact. Then Evan’s foot continued to travel back and gently tried to squeeze in the space between the couch and his ass.

“What the fuck are you doing, Hansen?”

At the lack of response or further movement from Evan, he frowned and lifted his head and glanced over to him.

Evan was fast asleep, one leg stretched out while the other was curled up at the knee. His head lolled against the back of the couch, the pillow still tucked under his chin.

If wine helped relax Evan, then sleep was even better judging by the smile on his face and the complete lack of tension in his body. Connor had never seen him like that, he wasn’t even sure Evan could fully relax.

For that reason alone, he dare not wake him. Connor scoffed at himself and his sudden thoughtfulness - but he knew better than anyone sleep could be an escape. Sometimes it was plagued by nightmares but most of the time if he was asleep he didn’t hurt and it must have been that way for Evan too. He rested his head back against the arm of the couch, trying to gently shifted around Evan’s foot digging into his back without waking him.

He continued to watch the movie, allowing himself for once to not dwell on his dark thoughts that hung over his life like a permanent raincloud, but to enjoy the stupid simplicity of a comedy, even allowing the occasional genuine chuckle or two.

After a while, Connor felt the rumble of hunger in his stomach and remembered the food Heidi had said was in the kitchen.

He lifted his head and threw another glance to Evan who was still sound asleep. Slowly and carefully so not to wake Evan he got to his feet. Evan’s foot twitched and then so did his face but he only snuggled further into the pillow. Connor covered his exposed foot with the blanket and shook his head and then headed for the kitchen.

He froze in the doorway, his heart leaping to his throat as he saw Heidi sitting alone in the dim kitchen, pushing around her fork on her barely eaten plate.

He was about to turn and leave, sacrificing his hunger for the avoidance of an awkward encounter with Evan’s mom, when Heidi lifted her head and noticed him.

Her face softened at once when she saw him and she gave a small little smile. “Connor, hi. Are you hungry?”

Connor stared at her silently for a moment but his momentary panic had ebbed at her welcoming gaze. He nodded and took a hesitant step into the kitchen.

It was so different than his own - small, a little messy and Heidi sitting with a smile, yet he still expected a reprimand, as always when he tried to sneak into the kitchen to grab a late dinner.

“Come in,” Heidi gave him an encouraging wave, “Please, help yourself.”

He continued to walk inside, feeling abnormally tall and awkward in the small kitchen with Evan’s short mother, who, hunched over in her lonely chair, seemed even smaller.

“Thanks.” He muttered as Heidi pushed a stack of two plates toward him as he approached the table.

He silently grabbed the first plate and purposefully avoided Heidi’s gaze as he grabbed a fork and stuck it into the styrofoam container of turkey.

“Would you make a plate for Evan too?” Heidi asked quietly and Connor tensed further. “I...I’m not sure how much he has eaten today but he usually... doesn't. He likes Turkey though.”

“He’s asleep.” Connor said cooly.

“Oh.”

She said nothing more but Connor grabbed a few more pieces of turkey with his fork and placed it onto the other plate and Heidi let out a small audible sigh of relief.

Connor felt a small ache in his chest. Maybe she wasn't around as much as Evan would have liked but at least she cared.

The silence was almost painfully awkward. Connor could feel Heidi watching him and he quickly hurried through scooping the various sides onto his plate, desperate to escape.

“Are you alright, Connor?”

The question was so sudden and said with such gentle affection that Connor froze, his breath catching in his chest.

No, he wasn't alright, he hadn't been alright in years. He forgot what alright felt like. It was a stupid question to ask but Heidi asked it with such genuine concern that he avoided his usual snarky remark.

He slowly lifted his head and his chest tightened at the way she was looking at him with genuine concern in her sad, gentle eyes.

He kept his face stoic, blank. He could not allow himself to show emotion in front of Evan’s mom.

“Fine.” He said shortly and Heidi pressed her brow together in a way that reminded him of Evan.

She clearly did not believe him but didn’t push it further, only smiled, a small sad smile at the corner of her mouth, and nodded.

Connor quickly turned back to his food and scooped one last spoonful of mashed potatoes onto Evan’s plate and then grabbed both plates and two forks.

“Uh...thanks for the food.” He muttered quickly, hastily looking up to her to only briefly, awkwardly make eye contact, and then as she nodded in acknowledgement he turned and headed out of the room.

“Connor?”

He froze in the doorway and closed his eyes tightly, resisting a sigh - he had almost made it out of there. He turned halfway around to look over his shoulder to acknowledge her.

She was smiling sadly. “I just wanted to thank you...for coming over and being here with Evan. I…” She sighed and closed her eyes and Connor tensed uncomfortably, suddenly itching to escape as Heidi became emotional. She shook her head slowly. “My shift ran later than I thought and I hate to leave him alone for too long. So I’m just glad that he has a friend. I didn’t really think he had friends - other than Jared.”

Friend.

A word that has been lost to Connor a long time ago. He couldn't even remember the last time he had a friend. All of his friends, before Evan, were not even friends but people who needed an escape just as badly as he did. Just a little bit of company while they all lost the world. They didn’t speak to each other when they weren’t high, except to plan a deal maybe.

To Connor that had been friendship, because that was all he had known.

Then there was Evan. Then there was understanding and acceptance. Then there was video games and stupid movies and popcorn fights. Then there was a tiny bit of light that was beginning to crack through the darkness.

Frankly, Connor thought he was a horrible influence, a shitty friend and just an overall bad person, and that Evan deserved much better but he was too much of a selfish asshole to let him go. Fortunately for him, Evan was just as desperate for a friend, and for some reason actually seemed to like him.

They were one hell of a pair, the two of them. An unlikely pair to everyone, including them but somehow it worked. Connor didn’t really care how or why - just that it did.

Connor wasn’t sure what the hell to say to her - there were those pesky and confusing as all hell good emotions again.

“Uh...yeah...no problem.” He eventually settled on, then before she could say anything else he muttered another thanks, holding up the plates and then turned on his heel and left the room.

He walked quickly back to the living room, desperate to get as far away from that awkward situation as soon as possible.

The dim lighting of the room, the silence from the couch where Evan still slept and the buzzing of the tv as the movie continued to play, gave him at least a little bit of comfort. The room, the scene had become familiar, his safe haven.

He walked around to his side of the couch and was vaguely amused to find that Evan had not moved a single inch. If not for the gentle, rhythmic up and down of his chest, he could have almost been dead. Connor shook off the weird, uncomfortable tightening in his chest at the thought.

Connor placed down Evan’s plate on the table, knowing it wouldn’t be touched despite Heidi’s hopes and then carefully settled back down onto his side of the couch with his own plate.

He ate most of what was on the plate. He was more hungry than he realized, despite having eaten most of Evan’s pizza. The popcorn had mostly ended up on the floor and he had barely eaten at that disastrous meal at home. He didn’t have an appetite then - being forced to listen to Cousin Joe’s Greatness was nauseating.

Fully satiated by the delicious, albeit slightly cold, meal, he slumped back against the couch to continue watching the movie.

He made it through that one and half of another, only being distracted by Evan’s occasional snort in his sleep and Heidi moving around in the kitchen.

His eyes finally growing heavy, he lifted his head to glance over to Evan. He had moved only slightly, his back flat against the couch cushions as he clutched the pillow tightly to his chest. There was the tiniest bit of room beside him and carefully so as not to kick Evan in the face, Connor moved to stretch out his legs across the couch in the space left.

Connor Murphy was a great deal of things but graceful was not one of them.His attempts at moving slowly were not successful and he cursed under his breath as he ended up nudging Evan’s shoulder with his shin.

Evan let out a small, sleepy groan, his whole body growing rigid. His brow furrowed, his lips pursing into a frown as he turned his head toward the disturbance.

“Mom?” He mumbled and Connor discovered that Evan’s voice when thick with sleep was much deeper.

“Not even close.”

Evan blinked his eyes open in surprise, as if he had forgotten he was there. “Connor?”

“Yeah. Bunch up.” Connor nudged him again. “Did anyone ever tell you you're a couch hog?”

“No?” He scrunched up his face in drowsy confusion. “I never slept on the couch with another person.”

He watched with groggy, squinted eyes as Connor shifted around trying to get comfortable.

“Especially not one so...”

“So what?” Connor prompted, giving him a look.

“Tall? You're really tall.”

Connor huffed. “No shit.”

Evan grunted as Connor shifted and kneed him again, this time in the side. Evan scooted up and shot him a vague look of irritation. “You did that on purpose.” He muttered.

Connor smirked. “You were in the way.”

“I’m always in the way.” Evan muttered under his breath and tightened his arms to his chest, attempt to make more room for Connor’s long legs. He grunted and groaned, making accompanying scrunchy faces until he finally fell back onto the couch and stopped moving with a hard sigh.

“That can't be comfortable.” Connor noted as he observed Evan curled in on himself, packed like a sardine between him and the couch.

“W-We’re two teenage boys trying to fit together on a small couch...what about that says it would be comfortable?”

Connor shrugged. “I've slept in worse places.”

Evan frowned and lifted his head but thankfully didn't ask. The last thing Connor wanted was to get into that conversation.

“Loosen up a bit, Ev. Go back to sleep.”

At that Evan yawned and once again attempted to shift his position on the couch. This time Evan was the one to elbow Connor in the shin and they both winced as bone met bone.

“Sorry.” Evan muttered genuinely and Connor rolled his eyes.

Finally, Evan turned partially onto his side, his back pressed against the back of the couch and his pillow now sandwiched between him and Connor’s leg to act as a cushion.

His legs were stiff and awkward, stretched out beside Connor. Connor was partially propped up against the armrest, his height making it impossible to even attempt to squish fully onto the couch like Evan.

He pulled his hood back over his head, acting as some kind of pillow and folded his arms tight across his chest.

He had indeed slept in worse places and while it wasn’t the most comfortable place in the world, he wasn’t about to complain. At least it was warm.

It had just gone quiet again and Connor had just closed his eyes when Evan started to wiggle beside him.

Connor tensed and froze, waiting for him to settle down. He frowned as Evan’s hand started to move between them, his fingers twitching, searching for something.

“Evan, what the hell.” He growled lowly, opening his eyes just a crack to peer at him.

“Sorry, I just...I want to…” Evan’s hand flapped around some more until he finally grabbed a hold of the blanket that was trapped under them. With a force the nearly knocked Connor off the couch, forcing him to think quick and grab a hold of Evan’s leg just to keep himself up, Evan lifted the blanket.

Connor swore and Evan froze, staring at him like a deer in headlights. Connor shot him a light glare and Evan winced as Connor’s fingers dug into his leg as he pulled himself back up.

As Connor straightened himself up, finally releasing his vice grip on Evan’s leg, Evan slowly gave him a sheepish smile.

Connor simply grunted and frowned at him, scrunching deeper against the couch and closing his eyes.

Connor let out a slow, deep breath as Evan slowly began shifting again.

He opened his eyes a moment later when he felt the warmth of the blanket fall over his lap. He watched as Evan settled himself back down, adjusted the pillow back against in the space between their bodies, and then fixed the blanket so it could cover them both as equally as possible.

Then finally he settled with his hands on his lap over the blanket.

“Are you done?” Connor asked dryly, the corners of his lips twitching up despite himself.

“Yes.” Evan mumbled and gave one final wiggle. “Sorry.”

“Don’t apologize.” Connor said with a soft sigh and closed his eyes as he settled back with a yawn. “Just don’t knock me off the fucking couch again.”

“Okay. Sor…” He cut himself off and cleared his throat and they both fell into silence.

“Goodnight.” Evan muttered so low it was like he barely said it at all but Connor had heard it.

He grunted quietly and tightened his arms further to his chest. “‘Night, Hansen.”

Within minutes Evan was asleep again but Connor did not find sleep so easily. His eyes were heavy and he could feel the edges of sleep trying to pull him in but he simply was not getting there as fast as he would like.

He wasn’t sure how long he was there, just barely awake, hanging onto the edges of consciousness.

He realized, as he lay there with the warmth and comfort of Evan pressed up beside him, that he had made the right decision in coming there tonight instead of acting on his destructive instincts. This friendship thing was actually a pretty good feeling. He didn’t really have a lot to be thankful for, his shitty life didn’t provide that for him, but with Evan he could at least now be grateful for something.

“When you’re falling in a forest and when you hit the ground,

all you need is for somebody to find you.”

#dear evan hansen #tree bros #evan hansen #connor murphy #fanfiction #fandom:deh

19 notes · View notes