#opocc

[risthebrave]

jamie 

sleeping on our problems universe; established relationship, kid fic

Louis jumps when two arms encircle his waist, before sinking back gratefully into his alpha's chest. "You smell like sweat," he complains half-heartedly, lifting his cup to his mouth to take another sip of his tea.

Harry kisses the top of his head, ignoring his comment. "What're you doing up so early?" he asks, voice still raspy from sleep even though he must have been up for a couple hours already.

"Can't sleep," Louis reveals. He traces his fingers down Harry's forearm, smiling at the state of his tattoos. "I hope you've learned not to fall asleep on the couch while Jamie is coloring."

"I dunno, kind of digging this new look," Harry counters, holding his arm out thoughtfully. Jamie had attempted to color in  his rose tattoo and it now looks like a blob of red with a jagged green line making up the stem. His anchor has been scribbled in with bright pink and blue and the ship a bold green and yellow, and there's a few other entirely original designs sprinkled between them. "I particularly like this little one here. I think it's a dog? I can't quite tell. Orange and black is an inspired color choice though. Very Halloween-in-March of him."

"Perhaps our boy will be an artist," Louis jokes.

"He's got a gift," Harry agrees, kissing his temple before stepping back. Louis immediately pouts, missing his warmth. "Gonna hop in the shower. Do you think Jamie wants pancakes for breakfast?"

"I think Jamie always wants pancakes for breakfast," Louis says, amused. "May want to make some extra this time though. He is his father's son."

Harry shoots him a grin before disappearing into the hallway.

originally posted on curious cat 09/13/21 

[risthebrave]

broke up

xmen au; exes to lovers, human louis, mutant harry

"Are you fucking kidding me?" Louis says. "Broke up? We 'broke up'?"

Harry frowns, clearing his throat. "Louis, I don't know if now is the best time -"

"We didn't break up," Louis exclaims, half-hysterical. He's tried his best to avoid bringing it up, to avoid letting all those feelings he's buried away come tumbling out, but he can feel them tear through now. "You. Left. You left me without an explanation and I spent the next two years of my life wondering what went wrong. If something happened to you or if you were even still alive. It took me ages to even consider that you did it on purpose, did you know that? Because you loved me, and I loved you, and I trusted you."

"Louis," Harry says, sadness coating his voice.

"I wore my engagement ring every day for over a year like a fucking idiot," Louis says, voice wavering. "Waiting, and worrying, and hoping. That's not a fucking break-up."

originally posted on curious cat 05/28/21

[risthebrave]

werewolf

free-form; werewolf harry, human louis, established relationship, secrets

"Louis, wait," Harry says, but Louis is already stumbling back, turning on his heel and walking away. A hand touches his shoulder and he shrugs it off, anger and confusion and distress warring inside him. "Louis, baby, I'm sorry."

He shakes his head. Harry doesn't get to be 'sorry' for this. "You lied to me," he says, disbelief evident in his voice. Much to his own horror, he feels tears form, prickling his eyes.

"I'm sorry," Harry says again, moving in front of him and reaching out to grip his shoulders. "I'm so sorry."

"Don't touch me," Louis says, slapping his hands off. "You said no more lies. You promised(italics)."

"I know, I know, I'm sorry," Harry says, panic in his eyes. "Let me explain."

"No," Louis says, shaking his head. "I can't do this anymore."

"Lou," Harry says desperately.

"I can't do this anymore," Louis repeats. "I can't keep being left in the dark. Do you know how rotten it feels knowing that you don't trust me?"

Harry gapes at that. "I do trust you," he insists.

"Then why won't you be honest with me?" Louis asks sadly. "I don't care that you're a werewolf and I don't care if you're part of this group. I understand that you can't tell me everything and you shouldn't have to. But you lied to my face, Harry. And that's not okay with me anymore. I'm done."

"You can't leave," Harry says weakly.

Louis lets out a flat laugh. "I'm well aware," he says bitterly, because of course that's all that Harry cares about. The full moon, his pack, everything but Louis. "I'm going to go hang out with Elsie at the House, and you should go back to your pack. They need you." He starts walking backwards, expecting Harry to say something else – to fight him.

But all he does is nod, looking resigned as he runs a hand through his hair. "Okay."

"Okay," Louis echoes, heart wilting as he turns away from Harry and shoves his hands in his pockets. Okay.

originally posted on curious cat 05/28/21

[risthebrave]

risky 

sky high au; louis has fire powers, harry as plant/earth powers

Harry tries to focus on reading his menu, but his eyes wander of their own accord, finding Louis' familiar figure a few tables down. He can see his lips moving as he talks to the family that are seated in the round booth, but that's not what Harry's paying attention to. 

Louis is smiling. It's a small, server smile, but a smile nonetheless. It softens his face and his eyes, making him even more beautiful than he already is. There's a flower tucked behind his ear – a slightly wilted daisy. Harry can't stop himself from looking, baffled by the sight. It had never occurred to him until now that he's never seen Louis smile before. He wonders if anyone has. 

Niall's past words return to him then. His warnings and all the rumors. However, the more Harry sees of Louis Tomlinson, the less he's swayed by those whispered cautions of danger. He's intrigued by him, he realizes. Everyone he's talked to seems to think they've gotten Louis figured out, but in reality, he's a mystery to them all. It makes Harry wonder again if someone so timid and gentle on the outside could be capable of what they claim he's done. 

He stares blankly at the page, scripted words blurring in his vision. His penchant for risky decisions is what continues to get him in trouble, both this morning and time after time in the past, but that doesn't stop him from making another one then and there.

originally posted on curious cat 05/28/21

[risthebrave]

hiss

free-form; abo, nurse/single mum louis au, surgical intern harry

"Look, the fresh blood," Zayn mutters and Louis follows his gaze to the small group of surgical interns following Dr. Jennings as she recites the basic rules in rapid succession. They're all wide-eyed and nervous, high off the feeling of being in the hospital and so close yet so far from the OR. There's a layer of confidence in them too - the kind of self-assuredness you wouldn't find in anyone except the surgical department. 

Louis looks over them with an amused face. He's only been a nurse here for a few years but he's seen his share of new interns and they all have the same excitement on their face, the same pure and untainted love of surgery and of everything they're doing. Somewhere in the next few weeks between the long hours and excessive brunt work, that look will fade, but the determination never will. 

He's all too familiar with the feeling, his own determination settled low in his stomach where it's been since he first stepped foot inside the hospital as an eager and bright-eyed new nurse. 

Their area of work chews you up and spits you out but they'd all do it over and over again. 

"Who do you reckon's going to be the best?" Zayn asks, voice coming out in a low hiss as another nurse passes them and they pretend to go over some charts, not wanting to be caught gossiping. 

Louis hums thoughtfully, trailing his eyes over each person critically. There's four in all. A beta with an anxious look on her face, eyes darting around helplessly as Dr. Jennings continues barking out her expectations. Two alphas - a woman and man -  who are listening more diligently, if a little reserved. The man has a stiff look about him - a by-the-book rule-follower if Louis ever saw one. But the fourth one is who catches his eye. An alpha who's staring at the whiteboard, eyes lingering on the names of some of the more intense surgeries scheduled for today. There's a gleam of something in his eye that tells Louis that he's willing to do whatever it takes to get up on that board, a layer of pure and unabashed excitement in his eyes. 

His eyes wander over the man's broad figure, shoulders filling out his lab coat. He's got a head of dark curls and handsome angled features. As if sensing Louis' attention, the alpha turns and meets his gaze. Sharp green eyes appraise him slowly and Louis flushes, embarrassed at being caught staring. 

"Him," he murmurs to Zayn, exhaling through his nose when the alpha finally looks away. 

originally posted on curious cat 09/16/20

[risthebrave]

baby + tiny

jafitd sequel; witch louis, medium harry, established relationship, ghosts

“I like this one,” Harry calls out from down the hall.

Louis scoops Venus up and goes to where Harry is leaning against the frame of a doorway. He peers around his side to look into the room, and then frowns. “Out of all the bedrooms in this castle, you pick the tiniest one?”

“It’s cozy,” Harry defends. “Do we even know if this place has heating? The bigger rooms are so drafty, baby. And you know you get cold so easily.”

“That’s what you’re here for,” Louis mumbles, slipping past him to step into the room for a better look.

originally posted on curious cat 05/28/21

[risthebrave]

gaunt

little mermaid au; mermaid louis, prince harry

Louis’ arms are aching by the time he finally drags the human to shore and anchors him on solid ground. The human’s face is gaunt and ashen, body limp and still as a statue. Well, not completely still. Louis presses the pad of his finger to his neck, relieved to feel the slight flutter of his pulse against his skin.

He takes a deep breath, curling his tail around him as he pulls himself out of the water and onto the sand. He’s still vibrating from adrenaline, heart thundering in his ears. He just saved a human — an actual human!

The sound of the waves crashing against the shore finally register and he turns to stare out at the ocean. It looks so different from up here, blue stretching to the horizon and bleeding into the dusky pink of the sky. Every human that looks out to the sea sees this, completely unaware of the world that lies hidden far below.

A slight breeze brushes past him, ruffling his hair. He turns to look at the human again, clothes drenched and face slack; he looks peaceful. Hesitating, Louis pulls himself closer, reaching a hand out and hovering over the man’s face. Oh so carefully, he presses the tips of his fingers to his cheek.

His skin is cool to the touch.

originally posted on curious cat 05/28/21

[risthebrave]

dad

free-form; yuri on ice au, louis as yuri, harry as victor

Louis yelps as his hip slams painfully into the side of the doorframe but he doesn't stop to recover, rushing into the locker room and into the inside baths while his skin burns with the sting.

There's around a dozen men showering and soaking in the main bath and while Louis would normally be more interested in dripping wet, naked guys, he feels like his heart is going to pound straight out of his chest. His dad's words ring through his head as he scans his surroundings for him. When he doesn't find him, he yanks open the door to the outdoor bath.

He came with a really good-looking foreign guest.

There's only one good-looking foreign guy Louis is aware of who has a labradoodle named Clifford and that's-

Louis stops short, body going rigid as his eyes land on the figure laying in the pool. The steady thrum of the fountain dulls into a low drone as Louis takes in the chiseled, tattooed chest that he's spent way too much time admiring under the covers in the cloak of darkness. His eyes wander up to curious green eyes and pink lips pulled into a half-smile.

He chokes, hands shaking as he points helplessly. "You're... Harry Styles."

The half-smile curves into a smug smirk, his dimples prominent. Louis blushes furiously. "What are you doing here?" he croaks.

Harry stands up slowly, using a small towel to wipe his damp forehead. He stands up... completely naked.

Louis suppresses a whimper as inches of taut muscles and long legs are revealed, pointedly keeping his gaze focused on Harry's face and refusing to let it drop lower.

"Louis," Harry drawls, voice deep and amused. It sinks into Louis like honey, making him shudder. "Nice to meet you. Starting today, I'm officially your coach. I'm here to help you win the Grand Prix Final."

The words process in his mind slowly and when they finally register, Louis' mouth drops open in shock. "What!" he exclaims. His voice pitches almost to a shriek but Louis is too stunned to feel embarrassed.

Harry just grins, using the towel to wipe his collarbone and pecs. "Do you have a bigger towel?" he asks, sounding unbothered at the fact he's standing completely naked in front of a stranger.

"I..." Louis trails off, swallowing thickly as he averts his gaze. Confusion and disbelief war in his mind along with the urge to demand more details but all he does is nod. "I'll get one," he says stiffly, turning around and stumbling to the bench where they store extras.

He did say once that Harry Styles never fails to surprise him, he just had no idea his highly acclaimed unpredictability would result in this.

originally posted on curious cat 08/16/20