after all these days

"The less you think me, the more you love me."

[tllthesundies]

we were friends back in the day and u were the first person I thought of when I heard the news. Hope you are doing well 🥰 -Nikki/Veronica 💗

Omgggg!!! I remember you!! It’s so wonderful to hear from you again & I hope you’re doing just as well! ☺️💘

[sm1dfc]

Info dump

Hello! Hi!

The purpose of this blog is to promote and support the works of non-native English speaker creators within the fandom.

We know creating works can be intimidating, and it takes a lot of courage for the creator to share their work with the world. Publishing something not on your birth tongue can be even more frightening.

All the respect to those who dare to take that step!

We see and love you and your works.

We also know that non-native English speaking writers and artists often get overlooked, as they don't get the recognition they deserve for their amazing work, which brings joy to many of us. 

This blog was created for non-native English speaking creators! We intend to support, promote and recommend the fruits of your hard work to the fandom.

Yes, we recognise all the hard work you put into creating something in a second language, let that be looking up the meanings of words in dictionaries, checking the meaning of an expression and whether it fits into your sentence, 

No need to be ashamed of having knowledge and courage.

Some writers or artists can easily be mistaken for native English speakers, while others might have adorable recurring errors or unique sentence structures that reflect the characteristics of their first language. But let's not forget what a feat it is to create something in the first place, then add the fact that these people do it in a different language, one they had to learn first.

Mind-blowing, isn't it?

So, let's share our love and gratitude with these people for making our fandom more colourful!

Make sure to like and reblog their works on Tumblr, leave comments and kudos on AO3, and like/reblog/comment/share on other social media as well.

How to get recommended on the blog?

Based on whether you want one or all of your works recommended/reblogged/promoted, send an ask or DM with the link to your work or masterpost. It is advised to record other social media contacts too, where you want others to find you (Tumblr, AO3, Wattpad, X (previously known as Twitter)).

If you are recommending someone else’s work, make sure they meet the requirements listed below.

Rules and requirements:

We do not ask for you to prove your nationality, if you say you're a non-native English speaker, we believe you.

We don't/won't ask you to prove your identity or your language knowledge.

However, you must be older than 18/21 years old to be mentioned on the blog. By submitting an ask/DM/email to be recommended by us, you declare that you are 18/21 old or older. We do not hold responsibility for checking that fact, as everyone is expected to curate their own fandom experiences, and everyone is accountable to join spaces intended for them.

In case someone else submitted your work to be recommended, and you don't want to be listed on the blog, contact us and we will take it down ASAP.

All pairings are allowed as long as one portrayed character is/was a member of 1D, except reader-insert fics. (Those are currently not accepted for recommendation)

The promoted work(s) must be tagged appropriately. If trigger warnings apply, they must be visibly indicated as well.

AI-generated works are not allowed.

In case someone breaks one of these rules, we will immediately delete all promotions we previously did. We also add this person to our permanent blacklist and block them. If needed, we will reach out to others and let them know about the information that might be concerning for them, too.

Let's see an easy example for this: an underage fic author requests to be added to our recommended fic writers. We add them and monitor their activity to constantly reblog and recommend their work. We notice that they sign up for a fic fest, where there is also a rule that individuals under 18 can't participate. Then, the creator accidentally outs themselves as underage, e.g. posts about their 17th birthday party. We warn them about breaking our rules, remove the posts we dedicated to them, and notify the fic fest's organisers that someone is deliberately breaking their rule.

SERIOUSLY, DON'T DO THIS! WE ASK THIS RULE FOR A REASON. Please follow the rules and wait until you are old enough to join. Once you are old enough, you can join but don't ruin fandom space for others who asked their rules to be respected.

Vocab:

Creator: the person who made the art or wrote the fanfiction.

Sender: the individual who requested the creations to be recommended by us. This could be the creator or someone who wants to promote the creator's work.

Mods: the organisers and moderators of this blog.

The blog plans to promote works in three ways:

Work(s), or a masterpost, is promoted with links requested by a sender.

The creator's works being promoted are either selected by the blog's mods or requested by the Sender by criteria (e.g., creator's favourite fics, creator's less appreciated arts, Sender's all-time-favourites from Creator XY)

The mods of this blog chose the works without being asked (if you are on the *LIST)

All three categories initially needed to be requested in above mentioned ways.

Once you get on our radar(LIST), we will try to keep up with your new content and reblog/recommend it ;) (but you can always send us a reminder if we don't seem to interact with your newer workpieces)

*What is the LIST?

Anyone who requests to be recommended gets automatically added to a list published in a separate post. We curate the list, and if someone wants to be removed from it or added to it, please let us know.

On the list, we will keep a record of the creators' usernames and all social media they want us to make publicly available** (with links). It's an easy way to find non-native English speaker creators who would love some interactions with others within the fandom.

**We will not share personal social media links. We will not link personal social media accounts that are not used for promotional purposes. If your full name, location, or pictures are regularly shared on that account, please do not ask for it to be added to your contacts. In order to protect personal information and prevent doxing, we are not willing to release sensitive personal information, even if you specifically request it.

TPWK!

All the love,

SM1DFC mods

P.S.: We will try to search our new tag: S1DFC and SM1DFC

[likesboys-deactivated20160803]

[holyshit]

the absolute cruelty of death and it leaving this complete lack of ability to find and give closure. he deserved at least the chance to recover, heal, and make amends.

[tllthesundies]

I cannot believe this was what had to bring me back..

[meyhew]

i have no idea how to process this. it’s not unfathomable and it’s something i’ve thought about many times but i don’t actually know how to process it. what do you mean he was such an integral part of me growing up and he did some fucked up things in part bc of the fucked up environment he grew up in and now he’s DEAD and can’t do anything to try and make amends. what do u mean the boys now means harry louis liam niall zayn. what do you mean he left behind a child less than 10 years old. what the fuck do you mean

[harrysbroadshoulders]

Honestly thought I’d be like 78 years old before I’d get the news that a member of one direction died

[allmylouv]

Louis waving to his family!

[birdasaurus]

https://www.instagram.com/sam__sing/

[linkinmoon]

Franz Kafka, The Diaries of Franz Kafka

[luthienne]

Marilynne Robinson, from Gilead

[Text ID: ...because I want your dear perishable self to live long and to love this poor perishable world,]

[bottomlouisficfest]

I found an angel so divine

Author: april_iris / @april_kmm / @aprilxkmm Pairing: Louis/Harry Rating: Explicit Word Count: 31k Summary:

“Arishem should have abducted a human instead, to fiddle with their memory. Would have been more effective.”

Thena, who had been staring into space for a few minutes, looked up. “Why don’t we just bring a human with us?”

Everyone turned to stare at her.

“What?” she retorted sternly. “Why not introduce him directly to a human being, so he can see how special humanity is?”

Pip, who had dozed off against a wall with his pint still in hand, woke up with a start, while Druig tried to make sense of Thena’s words. “Not a bad idea, but who? Personally, I don’t know any human being worthy enough to represent his entire bloody species.”

Angel. Eros thought.

“Louis!” Pip shouted.

Or Eros/Harry is a dreamboat with singular powers who loves love more than anything and longs to feel it one day, and Louis is the kind human who shows him the way.

Written for the @bottomlouisficfest ✨

[blouisparadise]

Here are some amazing bottom Louis fics posted or completed during the month of August. We really hope you enjoy this list and that you give these fics a lot of love. Happy reading!

1) Untamed Desire | Explicit | 1333 words

Note: This fic is locked and can only be read by AO3 users.

Harry isn‘t happy with the new securities work etiquette.

2) Bet On It | Explicit | 2945 words

Note: The main pairing in this fic is Louis/OMC.

“We should make a bet,” Louis says out loud, waiting for Dante to look up from his tablet and see Louis’ pouty lips. “Not a fucking chance.”

3) The Best Of Friends | Not Rated | 3226 words

This is mostly just narrative. So if that's not for you...well too bad. Oh, and top!Harry Bottom! Louis. So fucking long.....

4) Broken Nest | Mature | 3858 words

Louis hopes no one touches his nest, and when someone does, Harry is there to save him.

5) We Didn't Get It Right But, Love, We Did Our Best | General Audiences | 4965 words

“I can't be arsed to call Harry, it’s his fault” He said, a petulant huff to his tone that would have had Oli smirking to himself on a normal day. “This only happened because I was climbing on the counter to get the bath stuff he keeps where only his obnoxiously long arms can reach.” And really, Louis deserved the feeling that almost winded him when he went to show how he’d had to stretch. The sudden movement felt like ripping a hole through Louis’ skin, and if that hadn’t shut the omega up the genuine fear on his best friend’s face finally did. Damn karma, damn his stupid little animated hands.

6) Snow Storm Rut | Mature | 5560 words

Request: So basically Harry, Louis, Liam, Zayn, and Niall were chilling at a picnic until it started snowing so they all went home. Louis was driving with Harry when they got a text that the storm was so heavy they needed to put the car next to the road. Suddenly, Harry felt his rut coming and needed an omega.

7) Wildest Dreams | Teen & Up | 17383 words

When Harry saw Louis at the Met Gala, it was love at first sight. Except for the fact that Louis has a boyfriend. Louis is head over heels for his beloved boyfriend, he’s sure they are gonna marry one day. But will Harry change all of that?

8) Only the Brave | Not Rated | 20032 words

He can do this. That’s the phrase Louis’ repeating nonstop, like a mantra that will help keep him upright and fighting. He can do this. He has to believe he can do this, or he’ll drop to the floor, exhausted, dead, or whatever, and he refuses to make his efforts go to waste like that. He’s a warrior, he has what it takes to help defeat the enemy. He just needs to make it to the City, and he’ll be fine.

9) Science & Faith | Mature | 36442 words

Louis Tomlinson is a science major who's dedicated his life to proving that love doesn't actually exist. Harry's the philosophy major determined to prove him wrong.

10) I Would Rather Go Blind | Mature | 67788 words

"I would rather go blind" is a heartfelt coming-of-age story set in 1960s England, where societal expectations clash with personal identity, and a young man named Henry embarks on a transformative journey at Oxford University. Harry Styles, the son of a renowned lawyer from a traditional and affluent family, steps onto the prestigious grounds of Oxford with a mix of anticipation and trepidation. Caught between the weight of his family's expectations and his own desire for self-discovery, Harry seeks solace and understanding amidst the bustling student life. It is in this unfamiliar world that Harry crosses paths with Louis Tomlinson, an enigmatic and free-spirited fellow student. Louis possesses an intriguing blend of charisma, wit, and fearlessness that captivates Harry from the moment they meet. Drawn to Louis's magnetic personality, Harry finds himself irresistibly pulled into a realm of adventure, rebellion, and a newfound sense of liberation. Set against the backdrop of a transformative era for LGBTQ+ rights, "I would rather go blind" explores the struggles, triumphs, and personal growth of a young man grappling with his sexual identity in a time of societal conservatism.

12) Save Me (From Myself) | Explicit | 159327 words

The problem with being friends with Liam Payne was that he had a lot of friends... and forced them to be around each other. When they finished high school, both Louis and Harry were equally relieved that they wouldn't have to tolerate each other constantly or whatever it was that they did. For five years, it worked out perfectly. They'd only had to see each other a handful of times. Unfortunately, Liam had to go and get engaged, ask them to both be groomsmen, and then go full groomzilla on their arses. With just twelve weeks to plan the 'perfect' destination wedding and throw every ridiculous pre-wedding celebration Liam and his fiancée stumble across, it was safe to say they were firmly back in each other's lives. And no one could have predicted that was exactly what they needed.

Check out our other fic rec lists by category here and by title here.

You can find other monthly roundup fic rec lists here.

[blouisparadise]

Today we have the fourth part to our established relationship rec list for you! If you'd like to check out the previous parts, you can find part one here, part two here, and part three here. If you enjoy our rec lists, please show these fics love and be sure to like and reblog this post to help spread the word. Happy reading!

1) Heaven In These Sheets | Explicit | 3,557 words

Bunny Hybrid Louis has it out for his boyfriend’s phone.

2) Comfort Is Found When I'm the Only Thought on Your Mind | Mature | 5,087 words

Prompt 396: Established relationship - very domestic PWP. Louis complains about being out of his favorite moisturizer, and Harry suggests giving him a facial.

3) Stripper | Not Rated | 6,579 words

Harry is a bartender at the same strip club Louis works at. They're a power couple.

4) Call My Love In | Explicit | 6,601 words

And it’s cheeky and bold and so fucking Louis that Harry’s almost blindsided by it, takes it like a slap in the face to be reminded, yet again, that he is so eternally thankful to have found this boy. This boy who will bite at him with words, with teeth, will claw at him with hands, will destroy his heart by loving it fiercely, will put it back together again with a look, with a thought, and is never, ever, afraid to be so utterly himself around him; Harry’s so in love he can’t think straight.

5) Act Out | Explicit | 6,721 words

Harry leans forward so he's closer to Louis's ear, and murmurs, "If I was your husband, I'd never let you out of my sight." It’s ridiculous. He is his husband. There’s hundreds of photos, and official papers, and rings, and two babies with the last name Tomlinson Styles that prove it. But it’s also possessive, and hot and Louis doesn’t know what he was expecting when Harry told him he wanted to try roleplaying a little, but so far he’s not complaining.

6) Alone Too Long | Explicit | 10,371 words

By the time The Temptress finally reached bay, the Captain only had one thing on his mind, and that one thing was Louis Darling.

7) Under the Same Sun | Explicit | 10,662 words

Louis and Harry live 400 miles away from each other. Sometimes it’s hard. (internet boyfriends, indie bands, and happy endings) “I already miss you. I miss you all the damn time.” Louis says, because it’s late enough for honesty.

8) Out Of The Woods | Explicit | 15,560 words

The past and the future merge to meet us here. What luck. What a fucking curse.

9) Everything I Do | Explicit | 16,390 words

Harry’s ready, has been for a while now, and he’s fairly certain Louis is too, it just hasn’t been on the top of their priority list. There have been offhand mentions, a comment here and there, more in jest than anything, no serious discussion or consideration. Harry stands up straighter, a stomach-churning thought forming in his mind. Has Louis been waiting for him to ask?

10) Three's A Crowd, Four's A Party | Mature | 16,659 words

Harry and Louis tell their five year old they're pregnant.

11) Were We Ever This Young? | Explicit | 17,296 words

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.

12) Divinely Blessed | Explicit | 17,596 words

Alpha Harry prides himself on having the bravest and most caring omega who might or might not just fulfill his sudden curiosity.

13) Under the Lights Tonight | Explicit | 20,905 words | Sequel

Harry’s an A-list supermodel, Louis’s his make-up artist boyfriend. They’re something of a dream team.

14) Suddenly They're Right | Explicit | 22,384 words

Louis is a painting professor with an art block the size of Texas and a global superstar for a non-boyfriend, who he wants to keep.

15) Wrote You a Love Letter | Not Rated | 23,092 words

Where Louis writes love letters to Harry through the good and bad times over their years together, until the very end.

16) The Devil’s In The Details | Explicit | 25,372 words | Sequel

He squeals when Harry smacks his bum as he bends over to pick up his bag, swinging it over his shoulder. Harry smiles smugly at him, bottom lip caught between his teeth. “When are you going to start calling me professor?” He asks. “When you actually are one,” Louis says with his hand on the doorknob. He cocks his head to the side in curiosity. “Isn’t that how words work? You did study English, right?” Louis’ quick to slip out the door before Harry can smack him again, his laugh echoing through the hallways as he makes his way to his next class with flushed cheeks and a bright smile.

17) Fetish For My Love | Explicit | 27,388 words

Louis has too many worries to even think about a moment of peace in the days that now exhaust him and become a complete rush for him. Fortunately, Harry doesn't take long to take care of the matter as he knows that he has wanted it so much, finding the solution in a particular sheet full of colored stickers.

18) Lovin' Online | Not Rated | 27,627 words

“Huh?” Harry asks, muffled by his forearm. He feels lips on his face and the tip of Louis’ nose against his ear when Louis repeats himself. Brain sluggish with sleep, it takes a moment for him to process the words, but his eyes snap open, and he’s met with darkness. He's got to be dreaming, there’s no way Louis just said what he thinks he said. “What did you say?” He can see the vague shrug from Louis before he turns around to toss the towel with the pile of their discarded clothes. “Did you say…” he starts slowly, automatically slinging his arm around Louis as he gets back into bed and throws the blankets over them. “That we should make a sex tape?” Louis asks rather nonchalantly for such a big proposition. He cuddles easily into the warm body and confirms, “Yes, I did.”

19) Like The Stars Above | Explicit | 33,759 words

Louis has a witchy little secret that is slowly ruining his relationship. When that secret comes out, it turns out that he has a lot more to worry about than just losing the love of his life. He might lose everything.

20) Beneath The Shining Stars | Explicit | 35,207 words

A Hamlet retelling/AU on steroids, where Harry is Hamlet, Louis is Horatio, and comedic chaos ensues (with a dash of tragedy). Featuring the rest of OT5 and the original characters of Shakespeare's "Hamlet".

21) These Hallowed Woods | Not Rated | 35,535 words

Louis becomes Luna of the Tomlinson Pack after the untimely death of his father, the Pack Alpha. Saddled with his newfound responsibility and an unpleasantly demanding pack council, he finds secret respite in the arms of a rogue wolf that camps out just outside his territory. The only problem? The rogue has no idea who Louis actually is, and as Louis falls harder and harder for the man he escapes to every night, the weight of his lies steers him along a path of certain misery.

22) This Glass House | Mature | 42,072 words

While deployed, Alpha Harry gets injured by an IED explosion, leaving him to deal with severe injuries in its devastating aftermath. During his road to acceptance and recovery he learns with the help of Louis and their children just how important family can be for the mind, body, and soul.

23) Show Me Life Like I've Never Seen | Mature | 42,948 words

Louis never expected to leave the small art studio three blocks down from his job with anything besides the painting he caught a glimpse of and simply couldn't forget.

24) Til' The Darkness Softly Clears | Explicit | 45,430 words

Something thuds nearby, and Callie sits up in bed, eyes still fuzzy from sleep. She yawns and rubs her eyes, looking around the room for the source of the noise. When she doesn’t see anything, she huffs quietly. Sliding to the floor, her feet take her towards the door. At the doorway, something disturbs the silence again: the distant sound of footsteps. Callie holds her breath and creeps out of the room. On the landing, she stands on her toes to peer over the railing. She can see the front door, and, outside, through the windows on either side of the door, she sees a shadow pass by. It walks one way, then disappears from sight for a second before it turns and walks back in front of the door. Callie’s eyes widen, and she backs up from view when the figure pauses its pacing directly in front of a window. Slowly, it turns, and it seems to stare right through the window, directly at her.

25) Flash Back To Me | Explicit | 73,068 words

Louis narrows his eyes, wanting more than anything to tell Liam to go fuck himself, but he can’t be sure, is the thing. As much as he knows for a fact that he would never date someone like Harry Styles, he has months missing from his memory. And it’s scary to think that, in that time, everything he’s come to know about himself could have changed so drastically.

Check out our other fic rec lists by category here and by title here.

[blouisparadise]

Today we have the third part to our friends with benefits rec list! You can find part one here and part two here. This is an amazing list of fics, so please check them out and show the authors some love! If you enjoy our rec lists, be sure to like and reblog this post to help spread the word. Happy reading!

1) The Sucking Method | Explicit | 2,668 words

Note: This fic is the first in a four-part series. Each of the fics are bottom Louis.

Louis tries to quit smoking, but none of his methods work. Harry comes up with a new idea that involves lots of sucking.

2) Odd Behavior | Explicit | 3,651 words

Harry cheats, but not on Louis.

3) You And Me Got A Whole Lot of Chemistry | Mature | 6,989 words

The one where Louis and Harry are lab partners who learn that casual sex plus a kissing booth equals the start to a beautiful relationship.

Keep reading

[theoptia]

George Seferis, from Collected Poems 1924-1955; "Raven"

Text ID: stagnant life between sleep and death,

[tuna-melts]

Hi! This is a fic rec of 52 of my favorite canon fics, organized by length from longest to shortest. Enjoy!

Hiding Place by orphan_account (365k)

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.

One More Time Again by orphan_account (232k)

Harry looks down to where Louis is cradling his hand between his own. Louis' hands are slender, the bones delicate, the nails bitten short. The 2-8 on the backs of his fingers is gone, but the faded scar from a skateboarding mishap in Year 7 is still there.

Harry's hand is awkward, knobby-boned and naked, no rings, no tattoos. It's too big for his wrist and his wrist too big for his arm. Yet it still somehow fits in Louis' in the painfully perfect way it always did.

He blinks back the sting in his eyes.

On the morning of his second sold-out performance at Madison Square Garden, Harry wakes up to find that he's sixteen years old, on The X Factor, and that he has a chance to make things right.

A canon-compliant fix-it fic (sort of).

Given A Chance by fabby / @fabby1d (173k)

Five years after One Direction took their last tour, the last thing Louis Tomlinson ever expected to happen while on a tea run at the local Piggly Wiggly was to run into his ex-boyfriend and ex-bandmate Harry Styles.

The odds of them ever running into each other again had to be super slim, right?

Wrong.

What happens when you mix ex-boyfriends with a large serving of Small Town America? Will Louis and Harry be able to set aside their differences, or will Louis be able to stay breezy as fuck in the wake of Harry’s arrival?

(or, the one where Louis and Harry run into each other five years after One Direction ends and learn how to love each other again. Featuring: Reggie as the overweight labrador, Niall as Louis’ last grip on reality, and Nowheresville, North Carolina as the setting for Louis’ worst nightmare to come true.)

And Then a Bit by infinitelymint / @infinitelymint (158k)

“We’d like to give the fans what they want.” Magee states, placing his hand on the table in front of him and leaning forward. “We want to give them Larry Stylinson.”

Or, take a parallel universe where Louis and Harry were never together, mix in a two year hiatus and an impending comeback, pour in a dash of lost fans, two tablespoons of strong friendship and a Modest! employee with a good idea. Add a squeeze of pretending to be a couple, lots of kisses and a tattoo or two. Stir. Serve: the mother of all publicity stunts.

(aka Harry and Louis fake a relationship for publicity. Eventually it becomes a lot less fake and a lot more real.)

It Goes, It’s Golden by lucythegoosey / @harryrainbows (150k)

The chaos Zayn left in his wake wouldn’t feel so disastrous if Harry had Louis. But everything between them crashed and burned a long time ago. All Harry is left with is a hopeless longing and a fear that the band’s current disarray will set in for good.

… And then he finds himself stuck on a sixteen hour plane trip with Louis Tomlinson.

This could either be the most awkward flight of Harry’s life, or the beginning of an atonement he’s been dreaming of since 2013.

Canon Compliant AU in which Harry and Louis broke under the strain of it all and now, years on, there’s a chance to put all the pieces back together. Set in early April 2015 all the way through to October. Written in Harry and Louis’ perspectives, alternating every chapter.

After All These Years by LifeInAColorWheel (127k)

It’s been seven years since One Direction went on hiatus and it’s been eight years since Louis and Harry broke up. They’ve been strangers to one another since then.

But, over the course of a weeklong boys’ trip, history between Harry and Louis resurfaces.

Or,

The one when Louis and Harry don’t talk, connect again years later, and reflect on why their love collapsed.

Just Ask Me To by TellMeThisIsNotLove / @tellmethisisnottumblisnextfuckup (120k)

“You’re telling the truth,” Louis whispers.

“Of course I’m telling the truth!” Harry doesn’t even care that he sounds exasperated.

“Oh my god.” Louis grabs the wall behind him as if looking for support. His body slides down against it until he’s sitting crouched on the floor.

He mumbles something but Harry can’t really figure out what it is. He crouches down, and looks desperately at the breaking boy in front of him.

“You’re telling the truth,” Louis whispers. “You were not supposed to–”

“I was not supposed to do what? Tell me please,” Harry urges, taking Louis’ hands gently in his.

Or the X Factor era canon fic where they learn how to be a couple and that not everyone is going to be on their sides especially those with plain white t-shirts and saccharine smiles.

Burn to Ash by bethaboo / @bethaboolou (116k)

Harry is sitting there, so fucking casual, and Louis realizes in a split second he was not ready. When Harry walked out in Detroit and never looked back, he was a boy verging on a man, still only twenty years old, but there's a man in his place now. Hard and resolute, yes, but still, for the first time in a long time, Louis can kind of see the old Harry in him. The soft, directness of his gaze, the hesitant smile he gives to Lou, the way he wrings his ridiculously large hands in his lap.

He's a little bit the eager sixteen year old puppy dog again, his innocence and sweetness resurrected miraculously, and Louis freezes in place. He was prepared to face the asshole Harry. He was prepared to meet a whole new Harry.

Louis is not prepared to meet one of the old incarnations of Harry, and it absolutely tears him up.

Or the fic where Harry spirals out of control, the band breaks up, and then he shows back up, five years later.

The Blue In Your Eyes Is the Tenerife Sea by lookingforparadise (105k)

Where We Are Tour

Untangle Me by suicxne (103k)

Louis finds himself out of place in LA, unable to get at an itch that’s been bothering him for years. He supposes back in the early days, home hadn’t been a place. It’d been a person. He’d etched it permanently into his skin for fucks sake. It was always him and Harry. Stuck to each other like super glue. Pulled together by some magnetic force, existing in their own bubble. Everyone could see it, but that was half the problem, wasn’t it?

It’s not like Louis can pinpoint the exact moment in time when him and Harry fell out of sync. There wasn’t really one at all. It had been a gradual slip, like the tide wearing away at a sandstone cliff. Chipping the solid foundations until there was nothing left to stop the structure falling to the waves below. It’s not like he spends all of his time sitting around moping over a lost friendship, he’s good at distractions. But LA only seems to accentuate the distance between them. Two separate planets, not even in the same solar system.

Or the one where Harry and Louis finally get it right.

You’ve Got My Devotion (Hate You Sometimes) by lucythegoosey / @harryrainbows (95k)

Harry was in the biggest boy band in the world. He was also one half of the best (or worst, depends on who you ask) kept secret relationship in the music industry.

Now, almost five years on, after One Direction has broken up, and Harry and Louis' relationship has as well, a video threatens to put everything at risk.

One determined Irishman, a massive publicity stunt and two begrudging exes are all it takes to bring One Direction back to life and maybe, just maybe, Harry and Louis' mangled love life too.

Or: Harry and Louis are forced to fake-date after an old video from when they were dating emerges.

Happy To Be Found by ashavahishta / @ashavahishta (69k)

The weeks spanning October 2012 - January 2013 are a rollercoaster for Harry and Louis. There's shows to play, an album to promote, publicity stunts to be acted out...and several new tattoos to be inked. Throughout it all, the boys focus on the most important thing in their lives - their relationship.

To The Ends of the Earth by stylinsoncity / @stylinsoncity (68k)

During a yearlong hiatus, Louis visits Harry at his cabin in Idaho, where long-buried feelings ignite like the fire keeping them warm.

The Dark and the Dentist by sunshiner (66k)

“I know this song,” Louis whispers, and Harry has to lean his ear toward him to pick up what he’s saying. “It was written for people to dance to it. We should be dancing.”

We can’t, Harry almost spits, but it’d be stupid of him. Louis knows they can’t. Even if he looks like any regular Parisian in their twenties, and Harry looks like any hipster Parisian in their twenties, they can’t anyway. To be fair, they probably wouldn’t do it even if they were out. But if they were two uni students, both in Paris for an exchange, meeting over fallen books at the library, or because of mutual friends, or watching Monet’s Water Lilies?

“How would we dance?” Harry murmurs, mouth almost pressed to Louis’ cheek, so close he can feel his warmth. What a picture they must make, two millionaires freezing in a park and dreaming of a different life.

An account of the events of November 2014. Canon-compliant.

Time Passed by coffinofachimera (66k)

Louis struggles with their relationship as Harry grows into his identity.

Bigger Than Life by rippedgloves (48k)

“Boybander Harry Styles spotted leaving West Hollywood joined hand in hand with new beau, Xander Ritz”

His heart drops in his chest as he scrolls down, ignoring the short irrelevant article and looking desperately for a picture. Sure enough, there’s pap shots of Harry and Xander, walking hand in hand, looking drunk and cheerful and together.

And that’s—that’s really not what Louis was expecting at all.

Drifting, Weightless by dinosaursmate / @dinosaursmate (41k)

“We’ve been asked to do a gig,” Niall said slowly. “Harry and Liam are completely up for it, I am too.”

“Alright. What’s the catch?” Louis asked with suspicion.

“It’s, um…” Niall cleared his throat. “So, Juliana was contacted by this themed cruise company, and they want us to do a four-day One Direction cruise.”

The words hung in the air as Louis’ right eyebrow slowly crept up and he fixed Niall with a stare.

“Absolutely not.” Louis rolled his eyes. “You’re essentially asking me to go on a working holiday with my ex. Stranded on a boat in the ocean for four days.”

“Cruise ships are huge! You don’t have to see him in your down time.”

---

Harry and Louis are exes with benefits until they're not, and the Mediterranean Sea might just be the perfect place to work through some unresolved issues.

Yeah, He’s A Looker (But I Really Think It’s Guts That Matter Most) by devilinmybrain / @thedevilinmybrain(40K)

Five times Oli was asked to do something that was outside of his job description, and the one time he didn't have to be asked.

Nonstop Earthquake Dreams of You by luminaries (37k)

And there's heat behind it, blazing, plasmatic, like stars crashing together, like an explosion in space, like a supernova, like a black hole--everything else sucked out of existence. There's no bed and there's no pillow and they're not lying down, just floating somewhere, somehow, and there's no room and there's no X Factor house and there's no Niall snuffling or Liam's deep, even breathing and there's no wind or traffic outside and there's no hum of the heating unit and it's all just Louis. All encompassingly Louis.

  or, harry falls hard and finds louis already at the bottom

We’ll Be the Fine Line by garblegorf (32k)

“…hey, Harry. It’s Louis…… um, yeah. Listened to the album tonight. It’s real good mate. Um, yeah, just real, impressed. I was kinda putting it off, ya’know, didn’t know if I wanted to listen to it. Saw you went on James and, uh, Saturday Night Live. Couldn’t watch you, have a hard time watching you on these things……. Anyway, mate, just thought I would drop a line. Don’t need to call me back. Alright.”

Louis listens to Fine Line, and, drunk, he leaves a voicemail for Harry after months of not speaking. This reminds Harry of a time before everything fell apart, slowly, painfully, a time when the two of them were still in love. And he desperately wants to go back.

Loved By Your Mother by superglass / @gaymoustache (31k)

Harry stretches out like Venus with her lover, growing sleepy in the late afternoon light with a baby growing inside her. Perhaps not literally, not physically. Not exactly.

or

Harry struggles to come to terms with wanting to have children, and what that means for their relationship. Canon compliant, set a few years into the future.

We Can Take the Long Way Home by eleadore / @eleadore (27k)

“Fertile,” Louis says, and then laughs because it sounds stupid to say out loud. He hasn’t ever really thought of himself in those terms. Baby-making terms. It’s just one of those things his body can do, like exercise, or go without tea. Doesn’t mean he will.

or,

The band takes a break. Harry and Louis come together.

True Love's Gold by alivingfire / @alivingfire (27k)

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.

Through the Chaos and the Calm by xogucciblue / @xogucciblue (25k)

Harry had thought he’d been prepared for his first solo tour, and in some ways it is exactly what Harry expected. But in other ways it’s entirely different. It’s lonelier than he remembered, all the waiting around backstage, the endless hours on tour buses, the days he’s so tired he thinks he could melt into the asphalt of a rest stop in the middle of America and happily stay there forever, and the nights he’s too keyed up to sleep. It’s alienating. He feels unmoored, drowning in all of his too-big emotions. Without the chaos of four other boys to keep him distracted, to keep him grounded, he’s afraid it's only a matter of time until he loses himself in it for good.

But then there’s Louis. Through it all, there’s still Louis. Waiting for Harry at the end of every show, ready with a bottle of water and sweet words of praise, beside him in dressing rooms, challenging him to ping pong tournaments to pass the long, empty, waiting hours, and holding him through the restless nights, soothing him with reassurances that he’s there, that he understands, and promising that he will never, ever, let Harry truly get lost.

- - - - - - - - - - - -

A collection of timestamps spanning the 2017 leg of Love on Tour.

True North by navigator, quitter (25k)

Altered-canon non-au set between November 2012 and January 7th, 2013.

Every Arrow That I Aim Is True by estrella30 (24k)

“I can see you don’t believe me,” Harry says, pretending to be stern. Louis chuckles a little but doesn’t get out of the bed. “Anyway, I texted Liam and told him you’re with me. He said to stay here as long as you need, and he’ll deal with the show over there until you want to come back, all right?”

Louis doesn’t say anything again so Harry whispers, “Just stay here with me for a while, yeah? I’ll take care of you.”

Louis is quiet. He never picks his head up, but Harry can see the pillow move from where he’s nodding and his fingers tighten around Harry’s. “Yeah,” Louis says. “Yeah, all right.”

You Turn Me On, Make You Radiate by ballsdeepinjesus (15k)

When he presses inside for the first time in weeks, he’s pretty sure he sees stars behind his eyes at the staggering sensation of Harry’s body squeezing every inch of him. When he bottoms out, he stays buried inside for a minute just to catch his bearings, listening as Harry takes sharp breaths beneath him. When he finally feels like he’s under control, he presses his lips against Harry’s ear and whispers, “Are you ready husband?"

Harry throws his head back and groans. “Call me your spouse.”

[...or, a self-indulgent snapshot of hl’s sex lives over the course of 10+ years]

I’m Captain On A Jealous Sea by devilinmybrain / @thedevilinmybrain (15k)

It’s not that Louis doesn’t like Nick. He is, if he’s being honest, kind of indifferent. Louis gets that Nick is just doing his job most of the time, being loud and prying, not having boundaries. But it’s just a little too much for Louis’ taste. Louis, who has learned over the years, when to be loud and when to know that coy is the game. But, it doesn’t matter really. He’s not required to like everyone, doesn’t have to make nice with them outside of having a camera shoved in his face. He can let Nick be Nick and it shouldn’t affect Louis at all.

Except.

What Louis actually has a problem with is the way Nick Grimshaw looks at Harry.

To Have and To Hold by sweariwouldnt (15k)

“Do you think maybe…. am I getting cold feet?”

Louis doesn’t know what to say, instead he puts his book away and turns to his side, to face Harry. Harry looks at him from the side of his eye and then focuses his eyes back on the ceiling.

“Do you think you are?”

Harry makes a move resembling a shrug. “I don’t think I am.”

“Do you not…want to get married?” Louis starts hesitantly, knowing that it’s probably even silly to ask but he has to.

Harry turns to him, and takes his hand, kissing the knuckles. “I do, I do the most, it’s what I’ve wanted more than anything, I just… I don’t know. I feel… weird.”

Harry has a habit of planning their wedding when he feels down. It's not ideal, really.

Still I Call It Magic by orphan_account (14k)

non-au. harry and louis before and after concerts throughout the last 4 years.

Stop the World (‘Cause I Wanna Get Off With You) by devilinmybrain / @thedevilinmybrain (12k)

Five times Louis and Harry get walked in on at the worst time, and one time Louis makes sure they don't.

Cut To The Bone by tilthesundies / @tllthesundies (11k)

There are some things Louis can’t understand.

This is one of them.

Harry celebrates his birthday in Japan. Louis stays with him.

Wild Flower, My Face of Love by orphan_account (11k)

It feels like a lifetime’s worth of adoration when Harry kisses him – just to kiss him, just to feel his lips, because even 15 minutes without them is 14 minutes and 59 seconds too many – and when Louis holds him back, wraps his arms and legs and lips around him, it’s like an inexplicable familiarity between their souls that just four years can’t explain.

Or: the one where Jay gets married.

The Ways We Fight by sweariwouldnt (10k)

How Harry and Louis learn to disagree with each other.

Jealousy Loves Company by sweariwouldnt (10k)

How Harry and Louis work together throughout the years to try and keep the green-eyed monster at bay.

Starry Haze, Crystal Ball by you_explode / @nobodymoves (10k)

Freedom. Harry’s not sure what exactly it means anymore. For him, for Louis. Personally. Professionally. Musically. There are so many layers to it, and it feels like as he gets older, the thicker those layers become.

Non-AU. A brief look at 2020 and the journey Harry and Louis are on with their careers and closet. Inspired by the Devil card.

Read You Like A Book by becka (8k)

Louis realises Harry can read his mind. He'll do anything to make Harry admit it. Set during the North American leg of the WWA tour.

Reminiscing the Other Day by tilthesundies / @tllthesundies (8k)

“Spain,” Harry says. “This weekend.”

Louis blinks. “Are you asking me, or telling me?”

“Asking,” he says with a huff.

Harry's invited to a wedding, and there's only so much Louis can hide.

How I Imagined Us by orphan_account (7k)

“I think about how lucky I am. The whole time, I just keep thinking about how incredibly lucky I am. “

“Because you’re kissing me?”

“Because I’m kissing you and you’re…” Louis stops. Then continues, quietly, “Because you’re the love of my life, Haz.”

New York is one of Harry’s favourites.

[Sometimes reality is shitty and Louis plays Scheherazade.]

In the Heat Where You Lay by orphan_account (7k)

“You’re with me, baby?”

Harry kisses his mouth, pulls him further into their room by his wrists. His large hands come to cup Louis’ face and he kisses Louis so softly, little brushes of their lips like they’re still 16. Harry cradles him. He has to tip downward and hold Louis close because that’s how Harry kisses when they’re in for a long night. As Louis’ senses come back to him, that much he figures out quickly. Harry’s going to fucking ruin him tonight.

“Do you know how much I love you?”

Louis doesn’t respond to the mumbled words against his lips. His fists tighten around the ends of Harry’s shirt and he opens his mouth for Harry’s tongue, hopes that's enough of an answer.

Harry and Louis fuck after Brussels.

Garden of Eden by superglass / @gaymoustache (6k)

Another soft, grainy laugh. A puff from the joint. Green smoke towards the ceiling. Then hazy blue eyes back on his. “Said you wanted to tell me something. Was really important.”

“Oh,” Harry says. There was a reason he came back, an excuse he made up to find Louis and sucker him into letting him sit on his lap even though his weight often puts those thighs to sleep. “Can’t— um. Let me try to remember.”

or

a snapshot of being high and in love in Jamaica.

Right Where You Are, That’s Where I Am by etherealbliss / @givesuethemoon (6k)

It’s been years since they’ve properly said those three words to one another, but now, as they both sit on the floor in this massive room, bodies tanned golden from the sun that’s found them in the middle of rural Sweden… It just feels right.

or

a snapshot of Louis and Harry's time together in Sweden during their two weeks off in August 2022.

No Good Unless It Grows (Feel This Buring, Love of Mine) by iwantstylinson (5k)

It wasn’t until they were settled in and lying idly on the couch with their bodies intertwined that Harry whispered, holding back tears, “I’m not who I want to be.”

Louis leaned down, lips close enough to graze Harry’s cheek, and asked simply, “Well, who do you want to be?”

Harry had thought about growing his hair out for a lot longer than he had even realized.

At the End of My Rope by safona / @saffona (5k)

"Baby?" Harry mumbles, voice laced with sleep and a shiver goes through Louis at hearing the term. He hasn't called him that in so long, in that voice and, clearly, even Louis' body fucking misses it.

"Did you cheat on me?" Louis finds himself asking. If he's being honest it's more so he can see Harry's reaction, than a genuine question, but what has he got to lose?

Sure enough, Harry's face changes from sleepy to the most incredulous look Louis' ever seen on him. He actually looks terrified, all wide eyes, mouth gaping like he can't believe Louis would even assume that and Louis would laugh at it, but he's so done with the way Harry's been acting, he just wants to know what the hell's going on.

Light Me Up by ashavahishta / @ashavahishta(4k)

Harry and Louis' first days at home after Japan.

Rock Those Blue Jeans, Baby by shakespearesque (4k)

Louis has a hate/love relationship with the video diaries. He has a love/love relationship with Harry, though, and the video diaries don't help with that at all.

A Touch of Your Love by casuallyhl / @casuallyhl (3k)

or; the one where they go to Crete and Harry is definitely hiding something

Brothers? By devilinmybrain / @thedevilinmybrain (3k)

"I mean, I've never had a brother, so maybe what Louis and I do in our free time really is just familial bonding." Harry's grin turns wicked, gets that little glint in his eye that unfairly makes Louis' cock jump again. "We just do what other brothers do, right? No funny business."

A Complainy Popstar by snsk / @snsknene (2k)

Harry wants a baby. He settles for a pet rat. Louis sort of hates the pet rat very much a lot.

Living Love in Slow Motion by ashavahishta / @ashavahishta (2k)

Just a typical Sunday morning

One Day Like This by navigator (2k)

Sleepy non-au set the morning of May 3, 2013.

You’ll Never Need to Doubt It by supernope (1k)

Louis has cinnamon swirl hair and Love, Actually on DVD, and they've got five hours to Dallas, and everything is fluff.