For the drabbles, I would love a doctor Niall fic- like where it gets to the nitty gritty! And, I would also looove a drabble where Niall is a gymnast and is at the olympics and is the best male gymnast in the world!
I chose to do the doctor au cause I had some cute ideas for it! This is short but I liked how it flowed, and if it went any longer I’d just be dragging it out! I hope you don’t mind that it’s Nouis as well, I haven’t done Nouis in a while and since you didn’t ask for a specific pairing I decided to do them! :)
~~~~~
“You know he doesn’t need to be watched all the time, the lad has the call button for a reason.”
It was those comments that had Niall quaking in his hospital shoes in anger, because now he has this new intern acting like an anchor tied to his legs. Louis is his name, a spitfire of constant sexual remarks and know-it-all behaviour that is never-ending.
“This man just got out of a seven hour surgery, Louis, he needs to be watched.” Niall didn’t even give Louis the pleasure of his attention, focusing on changing the I.V that hung over the mans head beside the bed.
“Then ask someone else to check him, maybe a nurse that is actually paid to do that? You’re the doctor, you got shit to do somewhere else don’t you?” Louis was crossing his arms over his chest, leaning against the door frame to the hospital room with a brow raised as he kept a close eye on what Niall’s actions. He talked a lot but Niall gave him credit that he at least watched and learned what Niall was doing.
“Then why don’t you call a nurse down Louis? You are here to help me, so go on the intercom and request for someone to come into this wing and room.” Niall didn’t have another surgery till two o'clock, and it was only twelve, but Louis apparently hadn’t looked at Niall’s schedule like he was supposed to before coming into work today, and assumed Niall was going to be busy from one surgery to another.
This boy had a lot to learn, and he almost cringed at the thought that this Louis guy was going to be longer than assigned since he wasn’t following orders.
“Yes sir.” Louis pushed himself off the door frame and gave Niall a cheeky grin, spinning on his heels and walking off down the hallway. It was only a minute later when Louis’ voice came on the speakers of the hospital, doing exactly what Niall had asked.
At least he kind of listened.
“Alright, now that that’s settled why don’t you come with me to get a coffee and have a nice chat in the cafe?” Louis had spoke as soon as he returned, and Niall was frozen in confusion as he moved to grab his keys that he settled on one of the chairs beside the hospital bed.
“And why would I do that?” Niall asked, still not meeting Louis in the eyes and instead occupying himself by fiddling with the keys and listening the them jingle in his hold.
“Because you don’t have a surgery till two o'clock, we’ve got time to… get to know each other.” Louis winked, and Niall never had his eyes roll as hard as they did right now. He was interested though, hearing that Louis actually did read his schedule. Niall did have a hunch at the back of his mind that Louis wanted someone else to watch the patient not because Niall needed a break, but because he wanted to spend some alone time with him.
It was more than a hunch, since he’s had Louis as his assistant for a good two weeks now and knows that the lad has been trying to get them alone even when Niall is running around the building like his head was cut off–trying to get to surgery rooms, getting constant calls to head to different rooms, appointments to go to. But Louis would be right behind him with a shine in his dark eyes as he asks Niall if they could head out to grab something to eat.
But a coffee wouldn’t be too bad right now, his constant long hours throughout the week has taken a toll on his sleeping patterns, so coffee was really the only remedy to keep him putting one foot in front of the other on his busy days.
But it was coffee with Louis…the annoying student who wanted to get in his pants more than learn about the importance of tending to patients.
“Come on I promise I won’t be too annoying, I’ll even pay for ya!” Louis was moving one foot out the door, looking back over his shoulder almost showing some weird hopeful expression with big eyes and a pout across his face. It made Niall cave in, and he wasn’t sure if it was the free coffee or the way Louis gave him a charming smile when he stepped forward to follow him.
He wasn’t growing fond of an intern, at least that’s what he told himself.
"Hey Zayn!" Louis called out as he jogged up behind the part-time model. "Wait up, we're heading the same way."
Zayn smirked at him. Although they had a bad start, the two had become good friends once their differences had been sorted out. "Only because our boyfriends work at the same coffee shop."
"And bakery," Louis reminded him. "Remember Harry's little rant the other day."
"How could I forget?" Zayn sighed as they turned onto the street Mama Styles' bakery and coffee shop was on. "Harry kept on about it long after you left."
Snorting, Louis snickered, "Sorry, mate."
"No you're not," Zayn stated blandly as he pulled the shop door open and let Louis in.
"No, you're right, I'm not," Louis smirked. He strolled up to the counter and gave Harry a grin. "Where's my darling leprechaun?" he asked, trying to look through the door that lead out the back of the shop.
"He's a bit busy," Harry replied, crossing his arms and leaning them against the counter. "You're just gonna have to wait," he sing-songed.
Louis rolled his eyes. "I've waited all bloody day."
"I'm sure another ten minutes won't kill you, then," Harry snickered, leaning over the counter past Louis to kiss Zayn quickly.
Sighing, Louis asked, "Can I at least have a coffee?"
"I guess," Harry sighed dramatically, stealing another short kiss from Zayn before turning to make Louis' drink. "You want one, too, babe?"
"You think I'll say no to one of your coffees?" Zayn chuckled, earning himself a proud grin from his boyfriend.
Anne came through the door from the back, giving Zayn and Louis a bright smile. "Afternoon, boys."
"Hey, Mama Styles," Zayn greeted.
"Afternoon, Anne," Louis smiled.
Anne gave Louis a serious look. "Louis. What have I told you?"
"But-"
"No, I've told you. Even Zayn's given in and calls me Mama Styles."
"But-"
"Lou, just go with it," Zayn suggested, patting his shoulder.
"Lou Bear!" Niall came hurrying around from behind the counter and wrapped his arms around Louis' middle, giving him a quick kiss. "Hey," he grinned.
"Hey," Louis chuckled, wrapping his arm around Niall's shoulders.
"How were classes?"
Rolling his eyes, Louis replied, "They were classes. Need I say more?"
Niall laughed and tucked himself more into Louis' side. He looked over to Anne, who shook her head fondly at him. "What?" he asked, wrapping his left arm around Louis' hips.
"You two," she chuckled. "You really do look like really good mates."
"How do you mean?" Niall asked.
"Minus the brief kiss, I would think you two were simply mates, if I didn't know any better," Anne explained as she began tidying up after Harry's coffee-making.
Before Niall or Louis could reply, Harry handed Niall his bag and told them, "You better get a move on and get to training."
"Right." Louis grabbed his coffee and led Niall out of Mama Styles', startingthem back towards the university.
Niall watched his feet as they walked, scuffing them along the footpath. He glanced up at Louis briefly, then back down at the ground.
"What's wrong?" Louis asked, sipping his coffee. "You're being real quite."
Shaking his head, Niall mumbled, "Doesn't matter. Just thinking."
So the two walked the rest of the way to the university in silence, heading into the change rooms together and finding their regular places to start changing.
xXx
After practice was over and the other team members had finished clapping them both on the back in congratulations on their good work, Louis grabbed Niall's hand. "Coming back to mine tonight?"
Niall shrugged one shoulder. "S'pose."
Frowning at Niall's response, Louis silently led the blonde to his block of flats just down the street from the campus. He squeezed Niall's hand as they headed up the stairs, receiving no reaction. Once he had let them into the flat, he sat Niall down on the couch. "Alright, what is it? What've I done?"
"Huh?" Niall looked surprised.
"You're all quiet. What did I do?"
Blinking in shock, Niall half-laughed, "You didn't do anything, you dolt."
"Then what?" Louis asked, eyebrows scrunched together.
Niall sighed. "What Mum said. About us looking like mates."
"What about it?"
Shrugging once, Niall looked down at his hands. "We're not just mates. I don't want people to think we're just mates." He huffed and sat back. "If people think we're just mates, they'll think it's alright to hit on you."
Louis snorted. "Nialler, they're more likely to hit on you," he chuckled. "You're the cute one, remember?"
"Don't wanna be the cute one," Niall muttered, scrunching up his nose.
"Well, babe, you are whether you wanna be or not," Louis laughed. "Hate to break it to you. I'm not cute." Reaching over to take Niall's hand, he added, "And even if people were hitting on me, you know I'd just sass them and walk off, anyway."
Niall shrugged his shoulder and sighed. "I just like knowing that people know we're together. And if we don't look like we are, then do people just think we're mates?"
"Who cares what they think?" Louis dismissed, waving his hand to disperse the idea. "We're who matter, not them. If they don't know, who cares? If they start hitting on you, they'll get what's coming to them. Besides, whether you're taken or not, people still flirt with you. You just don't see it."
"What?" Niall asked incredulously.
"Nialler, you get guys and girls flirting with you all the time. You just don't realise they're doing it."
Shaking his head, Niall stated, "They do not. Give one example."
"Josh last week in Tesco," Louis replied triumphantly.
Niall frowned. "He wasn't flirting. He was just saying hi."
"And Michael at the game on Friday?" Louis asked with a raised eyebrow. "How about Luke after your literature class? Or Calum at the bus stop? Or Ashton on the train to Doncaster?"
"They weren't!" Niall looked mildly horrified as he thought about the instances Louis named. "Holy shit… Really?"
"Really," Louis confirmed.
Niall's jaw dropped, then he covered his face with his hands. "Fuck!" He looked up at Louis suddenly. "I wasn't leading them on, was I?"
"You were, kinda…"
"Oh God…" Niall ran his hands through his hair. "Oh god damn it… Fuck, why didn't you say anything?!"
Louis smirked. "Trust me, I think they got the message without me saying a word."
Niall sighed out a heavy breath of relief. "Thank God… You didn't scare them too much, did you?"
"I don't think so," Louis chuckled.
"Jesus… For God's sake, Louis, tell me next time!" Niall smacked Louis' shoulder. "I'm gonna get myself in strife!"
"You'll be fine," Louis laughed, pulling Niall into a hug.
"I'd be fine if my boyfriend was telling me when I was encouraging guys to flirt with me," Niall mumbled.
"Oh, babe, you worry too much," Louis smiled, kissing the top of Niall's head. "Honestly, the look I give them shuts them up pretty quick. It's kinda cute that you're so oblivious."
"Louis, don't call me cute," Niall complained.
"I'll call you cute all I like," Louis snickered. "You are, and that's that. Now come here." He lifted Niall's chin and kissed him, smirking when he felt the blonde sigh against his lips. "There, see? That was cute," Louis chuckled, kissing him again.
"Shut up, Louis," Niall mumbled against the older boy's lips.
"You love me," Louis grinned.
Sighing heavily, Niall supposed, "Guess I do, don't I?" He chuckled a little at the affronted look on Louis' face before kissing him again.
xXx
When Louis entered Mama Styles' the next afternoon, he found himself having to actually line up behind someone already there. He rolled his eyes and waited impatiently, watching Niall chat away to the man in front of him.
"You're very cheerful," the man told Niall. "Most baristas look grumpy and bored."
Niall blushed slightly and smile. "Thank you." He handed the man his coffee and told him the price.
"Is that all?" the man asked in surprise. "Well, I might just have to come back more often, won't I? Reasonable prices, sweet baristas…"
Processing the man's payment, Niall attempted to hand him back his change.
"No, no, keep it," the man insisted. "A good tip never did anyone any harm."
It was then that Niall noticed Louis, his face relaxing almost unnoticeably. "Have a nice afternoon," Niall farewelled the man, who simply stepped to the side and looked to be waiting for Louis to order.
"Hey, Nialler," Louis beamed, leaning over the counter and receiving a hearty kiss on the lips.
"Hey, Lou Bear," Niall giggled before stealing another kiss.
"How's your day been?"
"Classes were same old," Niall shrugged, starting on Louis' regular order. "I've only been here for an hour."
"I know, you told me your shift times before you left my place this morning," Louis smiled. He looked to the man who was still standing to the side. "Afternoon," he greeted with a nod.
"Afternoon," the man replied gruffly. "I'll be off." He made a quick retreat from the shop.
"Thank you," Niall breathed out once the door shut. "He's been in here for half an hour. First he bought one of the slices, then he sat over near the window and just watched me for twenty minutes, then he was standing here chatting while I was making his coffee." Niall shuddered. "He was creepy."
"Why'd you keep smiling, then?" Louis asked.
"Because it's my job."
Anne came out from the back room, giving Louis a warm smile. "How are you today, Louis?"
"Good. But Nialler's just had a guy in here for half an hour watching him like a creep."
Eyebrows raising, Anne looked to Niall. "Sweetie, if you felt uncomfortable, you should've come and told me. I don't want anyone feeling uncomfortable in my shop." Rubbing Niall's back, she told him, "You come find me if he comes back, okay?"
"I don't think he'll be back," Niall shrugged. "I think Lou got the point across that I wasn't interested."
Shaking her head with a fond smile, Anne chuckled, "I'm sure he won't. But if he does, you let me know, okay?"
Niall nodded and Anne went about tidying the benches. "What're we gonna do later, Boo?" Niall asked, propping his elbows on the counter and chin in his hands once he passed Louis his coffee.
"Movie and pizza?" Louis suggested. "And cuddles on the couch."
Narrowing his eyes a little, Niall asked, "Who's choosing the movie?"
"Well, you chose last time…" Louis pointed out.
"Fine," Niall sighed. "But you have to make it up to me with ice cream."
Prompt: ...Nouis, where Niall's a cat hybrid and pregnant and has a home birth...
"Louis!" Niall called out from the couch, cradling his pregnant tummy with his arms and tail. "Lou?"
There was silence through the house, Louis giving no response.
Niall sighed and closed his eyes. "Maybe I can wait." Not even a minute passed before he shook his head. "Lou!"
Louis slowly appeared in the living room doorway. "Yeah?" he mumbled, rubbing his eyes tiredly.
"I need help," Niall replied pathetically, his ears drooping sadly.
Louis just nodded and headed over, helping Niall up off the couch. "There."
"Thank you," Niall breathed out, hurrying off to the bathroom. He returned a minute later to find Louis standing in the same spot, rubbing his eyes with the heels of his hands. "Lou?"
"Three times, Ni," Louis stated blandly. "You woke me up three times last night."
Niall looked to the floor, hugging his belly. "Sorry, Lou," he said softly.
Sighing, Louis held his arms open for the blonde, who gladly moved into them. "It's not your fault. I know you're tired, too."
"Yeah," Niall whispered. He sighed heavily and leaned his head on Louis shoulder, his tail curling around the taller boy's waist. "We better get used to it, hey?"
Ruffling Niall's hair, Louis chuckled humourlessly, "Who says the baby will wake up as much as you?" He held the blonde tighter against him and kissed his ear. "I love you."
"Love you, too, Louis." Niall buried his face in Louis' neck, giving him a few affectionate kitten-licks. He suddenly made a small noise of pain, gripping onto Louis.
"Niall?" Louis pulled back to look at Niall's face. "What's wrong?"
Niall blew out a breath. "I'm okay. I think… I think it's starting, though."
Louis' eyes widened. "Whoa, how is that okay?!"
"I'm fine, Lou, really," Niall assured him. "It'll start slow. Short, really spaced out contractions to start with." He tugged Louis' head down gently so he could kiss his forehead. "But that means we'll be seeing our baby soon," he whispered.
"Yeah…" Biting his lip to contain his grin, Louis gave Niall a tight hug.
"Careful, Lou," Niall squeaked.
"Sorry," Louis laughed breathlessly, pulling back to hold Niall's face in both hands. "Oh God, we're gonna see our baby soon."
Giggling, Niall stole a quick kiss before pulling away. "We still have to wait, though. I need to do something or I'll go bat-shit-crazy." He kind of waddled towards the kitchen, Louis following close behind. "I wanna bake. Let's bake something."
"Okay," Louis laughed, wrapping his arms around Niall from behind. "We should call the nurse first, though."
"Okay, you do that while I grab the things we need."
Kissing the side of Niall's neck, Louis asked, "All good?"
"All good," Niall confirmed with a smile.
xXx
Half an hour later, after Niall had napped on the kitchen floor while Louis did the cooking quite happily on his own, Louis was letting their nurse into the house while Niall sat eating a fresh choc-chip biscuit in the kitchen. "How's he been?" the young nurse asked.
"He's been fine. Really calm. He did take a lengthy nap, though," Louis chuckled. "Niall, Gina's here!" he called out as he led Gina towards the kitchen.
"Hey, Gina," Niall greeted cheerfully as the nurse entered he kitchen. "Biscuit?" he offered.
Accepting, Gina took a biscuit and sat beside the blonde. "Just the one contraction so far?"
"Yep," Niall confirmed.
"How long ago?"
"Half an hour?" Niall asked Louis. "Forty minutes at most."
Gina took a clipboard from her bag and noted down the time. "Right, just let us know when the next one comes."
"Will do-" Niall grabbed the edge of the bench as his ears flattened against his head, squeaking quietly before relaxing again. "Uh, just now?" he half-laughed.
"Okay." Gina wrote on her clipboard again as Louis came up behind the blonde and rubbed his back.
"All good?" Louis checked.
"All good," Niall nodded. The steady movement of Louis' hand on his back made him close his eyes, a soft purring filling the room.
"Good kitty," Louis teased lightly, merely receiving a flick from Niall's tail in return. "Does my Niall like when I pat his back?"
"You know I do," Niall hummed.
Kissing Niall's hair, Louis chuckled, "I definitely know."
With a contented smile and eyes still closed, Niall relaxed into Louis' petting. "Mrrrrrraow."
Gina laughed a bit. "I love working with hybrids. You're all so different."
"Why do you say that?" Louis asked curiously, smiling as Niall purred louder and rubbed his cheek against his chest.
"I've never heard a cat-hybrid meow before," Gina explained. "I have seen dog-hybrids bark, though. And whine. And their puppy-eyes are heartbreaking." Gina held a hand to her chest. "Gosh, I love my job."
"Niall only tends to meow when he's really relaxed," Louis told her, scratching behind Niall's ear. "And it's good you're relaxed," he cooed to Niall, pecking his lips a few times.
"I'm not a baby, Lou Bear," Niall pouted.
"No, you're carrying one," Louis whispered with a grin.
xXx
A few hours and several contractions later, Niall asked if he could lie on their bed. He was tired, unable to cat-nap like usual, and had the feeling his labour was escalating.
"Are you feeling okay?" Louis asked worriedly as he and Gina helped Niall onto the bed.
"Sort of…" Niall shifted constantly, making a short noise of annoyance. "'M so uncomfortable."
"Can I just push your top up a bit, Niall?" Gina asked, doing so when she received a nod of assent. She gently felt around Niall's tummy, taking notes on her clipboard.
"Ah, Lou!" Niall gripped Louis' hand tightly as the next contraction hit, squirming in discomfort. "Ow, ow, ow, ow…"
Niall sucked in a deep breath, gripping Louis' hand tightly. He tried to let the gentle rub of Louis' thumb behind his ear relax him, which worked to some degree. "Thanks, Lou," he whispered.
"I've got you," Louis assured him, resting his cheek on Niall's hair. "You're gonna be absolutely fine, babe. I'm staying right here with you."
"Promise?" Niall asked quietly.
Kissing Niall's forehead, Louis murmured, "Promise."
xXx
It was another few long hours before Louis wrapped his arms around his tired and quietly crying hybrid in a sideways hug. "There, Ni, all done. You did a great job, babe," he murmured.
"Ow," Niall squeaked softly, sniffling and shakily wiping his eyes. He looked to where Gina was working.
"Louis, I'll need you to give me a hand, sweetheart," Gina spoke up. "I just need another pair of hands."
Kissing Niall's forehead, Louis gently helped the worn-out blonde to lay down, guiding his head to the pillow. "I'll be right back, love," he assured him, then headed to Gina's side.
Niall stared off to the side where his head had rolled to rest, too tired to lift it on his own. He heard a small cry, managing to look more towards the end of the bed. "Lou?" he asked quietly.
"Just one second, Nialler," Louis promised, Gina helping him with the little bundle in his arms. He walked slowly to the side of the bed, sitting beside his boyfriend and grinning at him. "Look," he whispered, showing Niall the tiny face in the blankets. "Meet our baby girl."
Eyes filling with new tears, Niall sowly and carefully pushed himself up so he could see better. "Can I…?"
"Of course you can," Louis chuckled, handing the fragile bundle to the blonde. "Look how well you did."
There were a few minutes where Niall simply started at the baby, gently touching her cheek. "Hello, beautiful," he breathed out eventually.
"She's gorgeous, boys," Gina smiled, standing beside Louis and watching them.
"Thanks, Gina," Niall choked out. A few tears crept down his cheeks and he sniffled quietly.
"Oh, Ni," Louis murmured, hugging him and their daughter. "Happy-tears, yeah?"
"Happy-tears," Niall confirmed with a hiccup, burying his face in Louis' shoulder. "Christ," he half-laughed, a tear or two dripping from his face into Louis' collarbone.
"I'll give you two some time," Gina whispered to Louis. "I'll be in the living room if you need me."
Nodding to Gina's words Louis stroked behind Niall's ear. "She got your ears, Ni," he told him cheekily.
Niall laughed more heartedly into Louis' neck, pulling back so he was just resting his head against the brunette's chest and they both could see their child. "And my tail?" he asked hopefully.
"And your tail," Louis confirmed with a smile. "And we didn't even have to leave the house."
"I'm glad we stayed here," Niall yawned, his eyelids drooping a little.
"Comfortable and familiar," Louis nodded. He stroked his fingers through Niall's hair. "Do you want me to take her so you can have a nap?"
Shaking his head, Niall mumbled, "'M fine. Wanna hold her."
"Okay," Louis chuckled. Shuffling them a bit, he moved so he was holding Niall from behind he could catch him and their baby if he fell asleep. "What names had we picked again?"
"Anna or Lydia."
Lightly rubbing their baby's catlike ear, Louis asked, "Which do you think suits her better?"
After a moment of deliberation, Niall looking up at Louis and replied, "I think Lydia."
"Me too," Louis agreed with a nod as Niall looked back to their daughter. "Lydia Horan-Tomlinson."
Niall shook his head. "Just Tomlinson," he said quietly.
"Just Tomlinson?" Louis frowned.
"Yeah…" Niall clasped his hand with Louis'. "Lydia Tomlinson." He glanced to Louis shyly. "I was hoping maybe… maybe I… I could…" Biting his lip and blushing, Niall whispered, "Maybe I could take your name? Since we've kinda been together for five years a-and… and now we've got Lydia… I mean, we're family now, right?"
"We'd be even more like family if you married me," Louis said, trying to make the comment sound off-handed.
"Could I?" Niall asked.
"Would you?" Louis squeezed Niall's hand.
"Yeah," Niall breathed.
With a slight smile, Louis asked, "Then will you? Will you marry me, Niall?"
"Yes," Niall sniffled, blinking at tears as his eyes met Louis'. "For real?"
"For real," Louis grinned, beaming even wider as Niall nodded more and cuddled into him. They sat together quietly for a little while, then Louis murmured, "Lydia Tomlinson." Niall nodded against his chest. "And Niall Tomlinson."
Niall giggled quietly, smiling to himself and watching Lydia squirm a bit. This was his family now; himself, his future husband, and their beautiful baby girl.
Also, I now have a fan account on Twitter, where I should hopefully be letting people know when I've updated/posted on here :) @GleekPlusDirect
summary: niall and louis are maybe an explosion waiting to happen in ten, nine, eight…
this is based off of lang leav’s ‘rogue planets’
also found on ao3
When Niall was a child he would push his brown hair up and off his forehead and press his nose against the window while counting down from ten. He would imagine something happening at one – a catastrophe of some sort. Some days the stars would combust and some days his parents would divorce and some days the park would catch on fire. When nothing would happen, he would feel relieved, sure. He would back away from the window and wipe off the sticky fog, breathing deeply and slowly and surely.
And there was also a small part of him that maybe felt something like disappointed.
When Niall first sees Louis he counts ten. He watches Louis’ eyes and his small waist and his ski slope nose and waits for the explosion. Niall is sitting on a loveseat at the bookstore and when this boy sits next to him (he’s pretty, so pretty) his breath catches a little and the boy smiles and Niall counts nine.
His smile is life-shattering and dizzying and healing all at once and it throws Niall off center. There’s a part of him that he had thought died when Seamus shouted at him ain’t nothin’ but a faggot. Haven’t your parents told you? Your kind are freaks! in year four. The portion of him that had allowed dreams of big eyes and small children and a too-tiny bed with too many people trying to fill it. But Louis grins slow, like molasses, and Niall can feel it seep into his chest and piece him back together.
Louis asks him on a coffee date and then buys Niall tea.
Niall’s hands are shaking because this is new and intriguing and terrifying so he spills some of his drink on his sweatpants. Louis throws his head back and snorts like he’s been deprived of laughter for a decade.
When Louis walks him to his car he presses his number into Niall’s skin and then presses his lips into Niall’s. They taste bitter, because he takes his tea no sugar, and Niall counts eight.
Louis invites Niall back to his flat and they watch indie movies with the volume low and he pushes Niall into the couch and pushes into Niall’s life and pushes into Niall.
He bends down, folds his body over Niall’s until they’re pressed skin against skin and shudders into his ear something that’s maybe your eyes are the same color I imagine the sun will be when it dies. Louis’ hands are everywhere and Niall counts seven.
Niall is making muffins while Louis sleeps. He tiptoes around Louis’ kitchen but he doesn’t know where everything is yet. When he tries to remove the muffin tray he tips over a kettle and it clangs to the floor. Louis wakes and stumbles into the kitchen, rubbing his eyes and wearing nothing but Niall’s white jumper. It contrasts with his skin, the hem hanging near his knees, and his hair is fluffy – he looks about four. He takes a look around the room, which is admittedly a mess, and then pulls Niall up from the ground and back to bed.
I love you he avows into Niall’s shoulder, and Niall counts six.
Love you for trying.
Louis slams the door to their flat shut and throws his bag on the ground. He’s silent when he goes to put the kettle on the stove and his hands are shaking as he gets the green mug with the chipped handle out of the cupboard. Niall is sitting on the couch quietly and watches as Louis spins around the kitchen to find the milk and a spoon and a teabag and tries to crawl out of the room but then–
"Niall! Ni– fuck! Did you use the last teabag?" He screams then, "Niall! Get back in here! Motherfuck, you can’t even own up to it!"
Niall is trembling and then nods quietly. He hasn’t, he swears (he doesn’t even like Yorkshire tea), but that doesn’t stop him from uttering a yeah– yeah, Lou, I’m sorry, I hadn’t even realized and, I’m sorry but I think we have another box in the hall closet? Let me go get it for you.
He reaches in the back of the closet, tucks his hand under the spare bedsheets and finds a monogrammed box of tea. Honestly he had been saving it for Christmas but this is possibly more important.
When he hands the box to Louis he starts crying and Niall counts five.
Louis’ lost his job at Boots and he’s just started going back to school to become a teacher. Niall swears it’s fine, his job at the bank is stable and he’s bringing in enough to pay rent and groceries with some left over for Louis’ school, but.
Louis is independent and refuses to rely on anyone– wouldn’t let Niall pick up his half of the rent or any of his tuition or even the heating bill. He’s stupid and hard-headed and protected.
Which is why Louis is furious when he finds out that Niall has been paying in full for the electricity and the water and the food. It’s not a big deal– Niall can afford it and Louis is still trying to find a new job, so the bills had completely slipped his mind and Niall picked them up.
It takes Niall five and half days to persuade Louis to come sleep in their bed again, and Niall counts four.
Louis starts taking classes every night at LCC and he finds a part-time at the Unicorn Theatre down the road. He’s exhausted more often than not, and one day he accidentally mixes colours in the wash and his work uniform comes out pink.
It’s different than every other fight because Louis doesn’t draw in and shut down and he doesn’t lash out, he just breaks.
He’s sobbing on the kitchen floor into his stained polo and his cries only increase when Niall walks out of the laundry room with a bottle of bleach.
Niall tries to reach out but every time he comes close enough to touch Louis he curls in on himself and shakes harder.
Niall calls all of Louis’ professors and asks for the homework assignments. He calls Louis in sick for the rest of the week at the theatre and then slides down a wall and watches Louis until he looks up with red-rimmed eyes and Niall counts three
All Niall can hear is Louis’ voice and blood rushing past his ears. He hears the words clearly though, and he almost wishes he couldn’t, can hear themaybe this isn’t working, I don’t think we’re at the same stages in our lives. I don’t know how much longer I can keep this up.
Niall cries for the first time throughout all of this and flinches away when he feels Louis put his hand on Niall’s shoulder. He covers his face and walks into the shower, locks the door behind him, which is a first as well. Niall scrubs the soap into his face, into his eyes, and counts two.
Niall throws his clothes into a bag that he thinks might be Louis’. He can hear Louis’ racking sobs in the other room and squeezes his eyes shut every time he can’t remember who’s jumper is whom’s.
He knows the white duvet on the bed is his, but leaves it because he ripped Louis’ old maroon one. The memory makes him bite his lip and breathe in deeply, Louis on top of him and in him and around him with cheeks stained pink and raw lips and Niall’s hand fisted into the comforter so tightly it had torn.
He zips the bag and walks out of the bedroom slowly. Maybe he’ll have a friend come and rescue the rest of his stuff. Maybe he won’t; a selfish part of him wants Louis to remember him for years and years because he’s unable to flush Niall completely out of the flat– always finding an old toothbrush or a hidden box of Tetley tea.
Niall drops his set of keys in the bowl by the door and it clangs loudly. He can see Louis cringing on the couch and he unlocks the door and countsone.
"Stay," Louis calls and Niall shudders wholesomely and collapses on the floor.
He is relieved, so relieved– and a little disappointed.
