Archive of Our Own

“I don’t like this.” Louis is shooting daggers at Harry as he watches him walk around the kitchen, leisurely putting a mug in the dishwasher and checking if his phone is fully charged yet. Louis is sitting by the kitchen island, watching him with narrowed eyes as he putters about. Harry sighs a bit.

“I know you don’t Louis. But you can’t always like how things turn out.”

Louis purses his mouth at this because it is quite a common saying between them. Harry is under the impression that Louis can’t always have what he wants. Louis disagrees.

“You should stay at home,” he pouts with big eyes and Harry turns around and smiles a bit.

“You know I want to.” At this Louis shakes his head vigorously. 

“Nu-uh. If you wanted to, you would!”

At this Harry plops his arms onto the island so his upper body is resting on the counter right in front of Louis.

“That’s not fair,” he says and taps Louis’ nose playfully. “I always want to be with you. But sometimes I have to do other things as well.”

Louis scrunches his nose. “It’s not nice to exclude,” he points out, proud of the big word. “I could come with you?” he offers with a winning smile. Harry smiles again so his dimples show. 

“You want to come with me to Cara’s fashion show? It’s going to be an awful lot of waiting, very boring as well. You didn’t like it when you and Eleanor last went.”

“I don’t like Nick,” is Louis’ reply and now they’re getting somewhere.

“I know you don’t, chipmunk,” Harry assures him. He swipes Louis' fringe away from his eyes and bites his bottom lip. “But I know you will if you spend some time together and Nick was very nice saying yes to staying with you, even when it’s a Saturday, so I need you to be on your very best behaviour.”

"I’m always on my best 'haviour,” Louis says grumpily and Harry hums looking at him.

“But it’s always nice to be reminded, isn’t it?”

Louis gives him an unimpressed glare and scoots a few inches away so Harry can’t reach his hair anymore. Harry only gives him a warning look before he raises himself from the counter.

“I know this isn’t fun for you at the moment and I’m sorry for that, I really am. But just because you’re in a bad mood and maybe a little angry at me, that doesn’t mean you can misbehave with Nick today, okay?” Harry pins him down with a firm look and Louis averts his eyes a bit; he hates that look. “Nick’s never been with you alone like this and he’s probably just as nervous as you are; that’s why you should help each other out and not make things harder for one another? Do you understand?” Louis begrudgingly nods and Harry nods with him. “You’re going to show me what a good boy you are and I’m going to be very annoyed if Nick has to call me up with news about you being disobedient.” Louis mumbles something incoherent into his folded arms and Harry leans a bit closer. “What was that, chipmunk?” He asks gently and Louis raises his head a few inches.

“What if I don’t misbehave and Nick’s only lying to you?” He repeats and Harry hides a smile.

“I don’t really think Nick’s that evil, do you?” Louis nods emphatically with big eyes. “Well, it’s a quite easy solution to that problem, baby. If we make a pinky swear that we’re going to be completely honest with each other you can tell me if Nick’s lying and being awful, and then I’ll believe you and have to get rid of him.” Louis doesn’t look too comfortable with that solution and he shifts a bit on the chair. Harry raises his brow. “Because we don’t lie to each other do we, chipmunk?”

Trapped in a corner, Louis can’t do anything else than shake his head; because he doesn’t lie specifically, but sometimes he forgets to tell the truth and sometimes he forgets it on purpose and Harry doesn’t always see the difference between that and lying.

“I don’t lie!” He says anyway, for good measure, and Harry smiles down at him fondly.

Harry looks down at the clock on his phone laying on the kitchen counter and sees it’s almost time for Nick to arrive. He turns back to Louis, who still looks as glum as ever.

“Shall we go and change you, love?” He asks the boy and Louis shakes his head with a scowl. Harry looks at him for a couple of seconds and decides to give Louis another chance. “If we don’t do it now, Nick will have to do it after I leave,” he warns and Louis gives a frustrated growl at that.

“It’s not fair! I don’t want him here and I don’t want a stupid diaper! I want to be alone!”

“Stop screaming” Harry says firmly. “I’m sorry, but we’ve been over this,” he continues calmer. “Nick is going to come; now you can make this easier or harder on yourself, and I promise you the way you’re acting right now is bordering on ‘harder’.” He gives Louis a look and can nearly see Louis’ brain turn; wondering whether a full-blown tantrum is going to be worth it. Harry decides to diffuse the situation before it gets out of control. “I’m sorry, Lou. But we have an agreement, and that agreement is that we’re going to keep you in diapers for now because it makes you remember to be a very good boy.”

Harry hasn’t even managed to finish his sentence before Louis screams. “I never agreed! I can still be a good boy. I promise. I don’t ‘wanna!”

“It’s final, Louis.” Harry gets back down on Louis’ level and forces him to lock eyes with him. “I think today is a very important evening for you to have an extra little extra reminder to behave. If you’re good today I’m not going to forget it and we can see about not wearing diapers the next time Nick babysits.”

At the words ‘next time’ Louis makes a repulsed facial expression that Harry swiftly ignores. Harry furrows his eyes a bit at the dejected expression on Louis’ face though and he wants to make this easier for him because contrary to what Louis often says, Harry isn’t actually the meanest and worstest person on the planet. Harry understands how hard this must be; not only is Nick, a man Louis is going to interact with later professionally, going to babysit Louis. He’s going to see him as vulnerable as he’s ever going to be. Louis doesn’t really do vulnerable, and he’s still highly uncomfortable with people seeing him like this. And Harry agrees that Nick isn’t the ideal choice. Unfortunately, he was the only one who could help on such short notice that Harry trusts.

“What if we change your diaper, you’re probably wet, huh babe? And then we put you in a nice pull-up instead. And then you and Nick can decide if you’ll change your pull-up or go potty later tonight. Whatever you’re comfortable with?”

Harry encourages Louis with a wide smile and Louis hesitates a bit before he carefully nods and lifts his arms, wordlessly asking for Harry.

Harry smiles because Louis letting his guards down and asking for some comfort never fails to tug on his heartstrings. He moves around their kitchen island and picks Louis out of his chair. He’s perfected carrying Louis for quite a while now and he easily settles him on his hip. Louis locks his legs around Harry’s waist and his arms settle around his neck.

“Good boy,” he praises quietly.

Harry can feel a soft wetness rub against his hip bone and wonders why Louis didn’t tell him that he’d wet himself. He suspects Louis ignored it on purpose, determined to be a big boy now that Nick’s coming over, and that makes Harry, in turn, even more determined not to go easy on Louis just because they’re having visitors.

He moves into the extra bathroom attached next to their biggest guest room (which has been made into a ‘little Louis’ room) and lays Louis down on the changing table that’s specially made for him. He hums a bit and pushes Louis’ t-shirt up from his belly. He gives the soft tummy a raspberry kiss that makes Louis involuntarily giggle and smiles down at him.

“I don’t ‘wanna daddy,” Louis mumbles quietly right after as Harry opens the tapes of the diaper.

“I know, baby,” Harry comforts him and lifts his lower back so he can sweep the wet diaper away beneath him. He continues his humming as he wipes Louis’ crotch with a damp cloth. Louis is looking up at the roof where yellow star stickers are scattered around and Harry gives his hip bone a reassuring squeeze. He powders Louis’ bum before he bends down to the cupboards under the changing table and pulls a pull-up out, one hand flat on Louis’ tummy in reflex as he does so.

“Here you go, chipmunk,” he smiles, and Louis looks up at him, his expression and voice much younger than they were a few minutes ago. The changing table always did that to him.

“I can be very good, daddy,” he promises. “The goodest!”

Harry smiles and kisses his tummy again. 

"The goodest? Are you absolutely sure, chipmunk?” He teases and Louis nods gravely.

“You are the absolute best, Lou. And I’m trusting you to be brave now too,” Harry says gently and puts Louis’ legs in the legs of the pull-up.

“Is it the one with croc’diles, daddy?” Louis asks hopefully as Harry helps it over his bum. Harry adjusts it so the pull-up is laying comfortably around Louis' waist before he nods.

“Sure is, baby.”

That’s when the doorbell rings and both Louis and Harry look towards the door. Fat tears start to roll down Louis’ cheeks within three seconds and Harry widens his eyes.

“Hey, hey. It’s just Nick, Lou. It’s alright.” Louis doesn’t stop though, so Harry takes him in his arms again. He doesn’t want to take Louis out before he’s finished changing him, but he can’t leave Nick outside either, nor can he leave Louis when he’s so visibly upset.

When Louis realises that Harry is walking towards the front door he buries his head in the crook of Harry’s neck, ashamed. Harry cuddles him comfortably and whispers reassurances to the boy before he’s in the entrance hall and opens the door. 

Nick widens his eyes comically as he sees Harry in the door with a very large, very diaper-clad Louis in his arms.

“Eh, hi,” he says unsurely and Harry will give him that; he takes it all in stride. Harry positively beams at Nick.

“Hi! Come in.” He ushers Nick in with one hand and closes the door behind him with the one that isn’t holding Louis up. And it’s not like Nick thinks Louis is overly heavy, because he probably isn’t, but Harry is holding the entire boy up with one arm and the help of his hip and he doesn’t even breathe heavily. “Sorry about this,” Harry says and shrugs at the lump of flesh in his arms. He’s secretly glad that Louis' face is flush against his neck because Nick is openly staring in a way that would only embarrass Louis further.

“It’s alright,” Nick says belatedly, his eyes having been focused on Louis’ arse and diaper -  a diaper with small, green crocodiles on, may he add - and he now guiltily looks up and straight into Harry’s eyes. Harry raises his eyebrow in a silent ‘is this okay?’ and Nick gives him his brightest smile.

“Do you ‘wanna say hi, Lou?” Harry asks Louis and Louis shakes his head in answer. Nick doesn’t quite know what to do. This is the insufferable boy that Nick doesn’t even really like; the one who always comes with a biting, verging on rude comment, the one who has Harry wrapped around his little finger. And now he is all embarrassed and shy, in a diaper.

“You know Nick, Lou?” Harry prods. “Can you be a good boy and say hello to him?” Nick doesn’t quite know where to look. He’s never really been good with kids, but he didn’t actually think it would be that much of a problem, because Louis wasn’t, you know, an actual child.

Louis turns around in Harry’s arms and Nick gives his best smile when he notices he’s being looked at. Louis’ face is blank and a little red around the eyes.

“Come one, babe.” Harry prods and Louis gives an annoyed “hi”. Nick’s smile falters a bit, but Harry is quick to reassure him.

“He’s very shy. He’ll be his usual self in no time!” Nick doesn’t know if that’s really what he wants, but he nods and Harry changes his grip on the boy. “Just sit down. I’m just ‘gonna put him in some trousers,” he explains and Nick nods again, but the two boys are already gone.

Nick wants to freak out. He wants to send a text to Fiona that says ‘I’m with Louis Tomlinson and he’s in fucking diapers. What am I supposed to do?’ but this is a secret, so he only loses his mind in silence.

***

Louis is quiet when Harry carries him back to the bedroom. 

“You okay, chipmunk?” Harry asks quietly and Louis shrugs in his arms. Harry sighs a bit but doesn’t push it. He lays Louis down on the bed and goes to the ‘little boy’ closet they have in the walk-in closet of the guest room. When he has his back against him, Louis talks quietly.

“He doesn’t like me.” Louis sounds a bit odd when he says it, like it’s neither here nor there and Harry furrows his brows as he finds soft jogging bottoms with the cookie monster on, for Louis to wear. He turns around and sees Louis still laying on the bed, fiddling with his fingers.

“Why do you say that?” Harry asks and Louis gives him a du-uuh look.

“Because he thinks I’m just a baby! And maybe he doesn’t like babies. And maybe he doesn’t like big boy babies. But I’m not even a baby, daddy!” Louis looks at Harry with desperate eyes and Harry shushes the more and more frantic boy.

“You listen to me Louis Tomlinson; you are the best baby in the world and Nick is going to love you. And if he doesn’t, then we won’t bother with him anymore.”

He lifts Louis’ legs and puts them in each of the jogger-bottom legs while Louis easily complies, absolutely ready to hide his baby diaper away.

“But he’s your bestest friend,” Louis interjects and Harry shakes his head resolutely, pulling the joggers over the clad arse and tying the twines.

“You’re my best friend, babe. And I am always, always going to choose you.” Louis smiles shyly up at him and Harry takes a hold under his butt and tugs him into his body, for a hug. He gets up and Louis braids his legs around Harry’s waist as Harry straightens. 

“I don’t ‘wanna be little,” Louis admits miserably and Harry knows that if he’d given Louis time and the right prodding to get out of his headspace, he probably could have switched back to his big self in time, but Harry hadn’t let him and he stands by that. Sometimes Louis had to do as he was told, even if it was difficult, maybe even more because it was difficult.

“ ‘M’not a baby, daddy. I’mma big boy. I don’t need stupid pull-ups and stupid babysitters. ‘Specially not stupid people who don’t ‘ppreciate me.”

Harry grins widely and looks at Louis. “He’s going to fall in love with you, Lou. You don’t know how wonderful you are.”

“I’ll only break his heart, daddy,” Louis sighs seriously and Harry can’t help it, he lets out a loud bark. 

“Oh no, you’re way too young to break someone’s heart, baby boy!”

“Nu-uh. I’m older than you!” Louis reminds him and Harry smiles again and starts to walk out of the room and towards Nick waiting for them.

“You’re right, baby. But you’re still too young. I don’t want you to start breaking hearts before you’re at least 50!” Louis lets out a giggle at that.

“But that’s ages and ages ‘till!” He laughs and Harry smiles fondly at him, earning him a sunshine smile back. 

Nick doesn’t look any less freaked out when they come back, but now at least Louis is looking at him from his place in Harry’s arms, even if he is still completely quiet.

***

Nick had heard the end of the conversation and Louis’ laugh and he must admit, this is sweet. It sounds like they’re having a great time together and Harry seems good with Louis, but Nick still can't  understand why they’re doing this or how serious it is, and he still can’t get over how strange it all looks. He’s happy, at least, that Louis has jogger bottoms on; seeing a grown-up man like that would surely make anyone a bit uncomfortable.

“When are you leaving, Haz?” Nick asks, trying to hide his nerves. 

Harry smiles down at him and puts Louis down on the sofa next to Nick. It looks like Louis wants back up in his arms, but is too embarrassed still to demand it. 

“Not long at all.” Harry sits next to Louis on the sofa arm and Louis cuddles into his side at once. Harry strokes his back in soothing motions and turns around to Nick.

“I’m just really happy you said yes, Nick. I haven’t seen Cara and Kendall in ages and I think it’s going to be really fun.”

“Fun with the ladies, eh?” Nick says playfully earning him a rude look from Louis and an awkward laugh from Harry. 

“I’ll admit it’s been a while,” he says sheepishly and Nick desperately wants to ask about him and Louis, luckily he has some tact.

“It’s alright. I can always swing by when you’re after some girly parts and curves.” Some tact, not a lot. 

“Poo-face,” Louis mutters and Nick raises his brows. The remarks he usually gets from Louis normally has a bit more depth. 

It’s enough for Harry though, because he pinches Louis' thigh in a warning.

“Apologise, please,” he says and Louis howls and rubs the sore spot harshly. 

“But I don’t like him!” he whines and well, that’s just being rude now, isn’t it. 

“Louis!” Harry says mortified and he sends a quick look at Nick who shakes his head dismissively. He’s heard worse, mostly from the same boy.

“Apologise right now or your night will start very sorry,” Harry threatens and even Nick shrinks a bit. Seeing this dynamic is so very, very strange. And worst of all, Louis seems to be threatened by that.  He mumbles a quick sorry, then looks at Nick hatefully like this was all his fault. 

“He’s honestly very pleasant,” Harry explains and Nick nods, sure he is. “But yeah, thanks. I know you don’t handle a lot of kids. The only thing you should know is: don’t trust them.” Nick widens his eyes because Harry must have gone against every parenting book in the 21st century by that statement. Harry nods gravely at his expression. “I’m not even kidding: never trust them. Whatever they say, think 'what’s in it for them' before you answer. Take Louis: he’s a devil in disguise. He will make you cry before the night’s over.”

Nick gives a shocked look in Louis' direction and the boy in question sends him a sunny smile in return.

“What happened to ‘pleasant to be around'?” Nick squeaks. Harry smiles unapologetically and bloody winks.

“I haven’t made any food, Louis would probably like to order in. All of our pamphlets are in the top drawer which Louis can show you. His bedtime is 22.00. That means the lights are off by then so if he wants a story or something you should put him in bed by half nine. As you saw, I’ve got him in a pull-up. That means that if he has an accident you have to change him by the second, or else it will be uncomfortable for him. You have to ask him regularly and check because he won’t tell you a thing if you don’t.”

Harry’s interrupted by an indignant “I won’t have any accidents!” while Nick nods and tries to remember everything Harry ticks off of his fingers, not thinking too closely on the holy shit, I might have to change him. How am I ever going to manage to look him in the eyes after? part of it.

“You have to put him in a proper diaper before bed. As I said; the pull up doesn’t absorb the wetness nearly well enough. If he doesn’t do as told you can put him in the naughty spot in the kitchen for a few minutes. If he tries to leave or continues to misbehave you have my blessing to increase that time a reasonable amount. Don’t hesitate to call! I’ll have it on vibration all night.”

By now, Louis isn’t cuddling up against Harry’s side anymore, he’s pouting by himself with his arms crossed and his lip wobbling.

“Don’t let him watch anything too horrible on the TV and don’t let him manipulate you. All his toys are in his room; if he wants to play with them he can play here with you supervising, especially if he’s colouring, don’t even ask. Make him clean it up as well. Obviously don’t let him anywhere near the oven and-”

Harry hesitates and Nick looks up at him, there’s something vulnerable in Harry’s eyes.

“Just- he’s three, Nick. He’s a child.” Harry looks penetratingly at him and even Louis has stopped pouting enough to gauge Nick’s expression.

“Yeah,” Nick says quietly and intently, clearing his throat a bit. “Yeah, I get it, Haz. Well, I think I do. You- eh, you can trust me.” He’s as honest as he can get and it seems like it’s enough for Harry because his shoulders loosen and he nods. He looks down at Louis and is quiet for a few seconds before he gives the boy a kiss on the forehead.

“I’ll be home tonight, chipmunk,” he murmurs and Louis nods. He’s looking so sad Nick’s heart aches. “I wasn’t joking earlier; if Nick has to call me up for anything disobedience-related, you’re going to have a very sad week. Consider this your first and final warning.”

Harry stands up and kisses the boy again.

“I love you boo, I’ll be home when you wake up tomorrow.”

“Wake me when you come home!” Louis demands with big eyes and Harry hesitates for a few seconds before he nods.

“I will, babe. I love you,” he continues softly and Louis nearly jumps up from the sofa and into Harry’s arms.

“You can still stay, daddy,” he whispers, clearly trying to be private. Nick pretends he didn’t hear and that he isn’t as shocked as he is. “You, me and Nick. It could be fun?”

Harry hugs him hard and lets Louis cling to him when he straightens. He walks towards the kitchen, picking up his phone, wallet and keys with one hand, the other bouncing Louis up and down.

“It would be very fun, no doubt about it, but we both have plans and Cara would be very sad if I cancelled on her and Kendall now.” He walks to the entrance hall where his shoes and coats are and gives one final kiss to the side of Louis’ head. “Do you want Nick to carry you or do you want to stand on the floor?” He asks and Louis immediately wiggles so he can get on the floor. Harry and Nick share a smile that Louis doesn’t see before Harry’s all dressed and waves goodbye to the boys.

"Just promise you’ll call whatever it is, okay?” Harry implores with his head still inside of the door and the rest of his body outside the threshold.

“Shoo!” Nick wails and wafts his hands. “You have to let them leave the nest at one point,” he teases and Harry flashes him a dimple before he’s gone with a “bye, Lou!”

When the door is closed behind Harry, there is an awkward silence. Nick turns around and gives Louis a smile that isn’t returned and he sighs. They both look at each other for a few seconds and Louis raises his eyebrow in a way that does not resemble a child at all.

“So,” Nick says, keeping Louis’ gaze. “Nice to get him out of the house, huh?” Louis rolls his eyes, turns away and promptly leaves. Nick looks after him for a couple of seconds before he slowly follows him into the living room. He widens his eyes when he sees that Louis has sat down on the carpeted floor playing with some blocks he didn't notice earlier. Nick looks on for a few moments and ruffles his hair awkwardly. 

“Do you need any help?” He offers the boy and Louis looks at him with a patronising stare.

“You can leave?” He says sweetly and Nick only shakes his head. 

“Yeah, that’s not going to happen. So you can drop the attitude.” Louis huffs and goes back to his building. Nick sighs and seats himself on the sofa, switching the TV on. The noise is nice to drown out the tense silence.

‘Is he always this hostile?’ he texts Harry and doesn’t get a reply before almost ten minutes later. It’s a simple ‘hang in there! xx’ and Nick sighs again.

After almost an hour, where Nick has watched reruns of Keeping up with the Kardashians, silently hating and loving everyone simultaneously, Louis’ building subsides more and more and Nick shoots him nervous looks every other second. It’s only when Louis shuffles a bit back and forth Nick makes a connection. 

“Eh, do you need the bathroom or something?” He asks uncertainly, and Louis shakes his head looking affronted.

“I’m a big boy,” he explains and Nick nods awkwardly, stroking his hand up and down his chin awkwardly. 

“Are you hungry, then?” He tries again and Louis nods shyly.   

“A bit,” he admits. He’s silent for a few seconds before he says equally as quiet. “My tummy hurts a bit, I think I need daddy.” Nick doesn’t quite know what to do with that so he only nods.

“Maybe your tummy hurts because it doesn’t have any food in it?” Louis looks like utter dejection at that though and Nick tries a big smile. “Harry said you were allowed to choose dinner today! You wanna check what’s in that drawer of yours?”

Louis sighs like the whole world is on his shoulders before he stands up, leaving his block empire behind. He walks in front of Nick to the kitchen where he goes straight to one of the drawers.

“I want Indian!” he exclaims as he opens the drawer. “And you can’t say nothing, because daddy said I had to choose.”

Nick’s never liked kids or been very good with them, but he does know how to handle brats.

“I think he said you could if you behaved, and that wasn’t very polite now was it?” He temporarily wonders if it’s wrong of him to enjoy such a sudden rush of power, but as he sees Louis pout adorably, he decides that yes; having some power over Louis Tomlinson is definitely his new favourite thing.

He changes his mind three seconds after though, when Louis lets out a shrilling scream and runs away from him. 

“Eh, Louis?” Nick yells out to the now empty kitchen. “Oh crap,” he curses.

He goes back to the living room but there is no one there except for Kourtney and Kim arguing, so he moves along to the room he knows belongs to Harry. When it’s locked he figures out it’s probably because there’s a very distressed Louis inside.

“Unlock the door, Louis!” He tries to demand. His voice isn’t as firm as it ideally could have been though, and even though Louis is younger, he isn’t stupid so he only gets a clear “no” back.

“I’m counting to three!” Nick warns, trying to remember all of the Supernanny episodes he’s watched (that means all of them, Nick loves to judge others for their mistakes). 

“Nuh-uh,” Louis screams. “I’m not coming out before you leave, you’re just stupid and old!” Nick’s affronted and knocks on the door pointedly.

“One!” It’s quiet. “Two!” There’s still nothing and Nick lingers. “This is the last. Three!” Nobody comes out and Nick groans. “This isn’t funny, Louis! Get out this instant!”

The little demon child actually laughs and Nick sees red. He can hardly handle Louis on a good day; this Louis and this setting, yeah he doesn’t bullshit around.

“Come out or I’m calling Harry. We’ll see what he has to say!” The laughing ends abruptly and Nick smiles to himself; he’s certain that if he could’ve seen his own reflection, he’d see The Grinch.

“He willn’t believe you!” Louis says. He sounds far too unsure though, and Nick smirks. 

“Yeah? You think he would believe a baby over me?”

The door opens and Louis stands in the opening, looking up at Nick.

“M’not a baby,” he says seriously and Nick snorts. Yeah well, babies get tricked.

He holds the door open and lets Louis slide past him. Nick probably shouldn’t start a fight with him, Harry wouldn’t like that. He wonders what he should do regarding the whole incident, but Louis doesn’t mention it so Nick decides against it as well as they walk down the stairs and back towards the kitchen. 

Louis finds the Indian brochure where he had dropped it on the floor and gives it to Nick with a sweet smile that Nick sees right through.

“Thank you,” he says anyway as he takes it and dials the number.

“Nine,” Louis says. And when Nicks scans the menu, “Tandoori Chicken.” Nick hums and sees through the sides selection. “I said-” Louis continues and Nicks cuts him off right there.

“I heard you the first two times, Louis. I’m just looking for myself.”

Louis mumbles something about “Daddy says it’s nice to remind,” before it goes down to insulting mutters Nick really doesn’t want to know about.

When he’s figured out what he wants he presses ‘call’ and orders. The call didn’t even take a minute and he smiles, getting a bit hungry himself, when he hangs up. 

“Is the food finished yet?” Louis asks and Nick blinks. 

“Yeah...not quite.” Louis looks disappointed and shoots Nick a look. 

"You’re not really fast.” Nick blinks again and Louis sighs and leaves the room. Nick vaguely wonders how Harry would feel if he slapped Louis, but he guesses it wouldn’t be taken too well. “I’m bored!” Louis says the second Nick appears in the living room. 

“The food should be here shortly,” Nick answers. “Just play with your blocks or something.”

“You’re boring.” Nick ignores that and seats himself on the big, cosy sofa. “I don’t know why daddy likes you at all.”

Nick answers flippantly, “and you’re quite annoying so the same goes for you.” Louis bites his lip at that and fuck, maybe he would cry or something now? And then he would run and tell Harry and Harry would look at Nick all judgemental and disappointed.

“Hey!” Nick says forcefully chipper. “Do you ‘wanna watch a film or something?” Louis looks a bit suspicious at the sudden gleeful offer, but he nods slowly. “Why don’t you find a movie and I’ll find some plates?” Nick suggests and Louis nods again, before almost running for the shelves.

When Nick comes back from the kitchen; plates, soda, glasses and cutlery in hand he sees a happy Louis with a blue-ray in his hands. 

“Do you like Lilo and Stitch ?” Louis asks hesitantly and there’s something soft over his features and Nick gets a sudden urge to just wrap him up in his arms. He nods and makes sure to give Louis a genuine smile. 

“I love Mr Bubbles,” he admits and Louis’ smile grows wide. He almost jumps up on the sofa. 

“That’s daddy’s fav’rite too. But Lilo’s mine. She is the bestest friend ever.” Louis is quiet for a few seconds before he belatedly adds; “After uncle Zayn. Zaynie is the bestest. And daddy.” He puffs his chest out and looks at Nick like he expects him to disagree, willing to fight on it; but Nick only smiles.

“My best friend is Aimee,” he says and Louis grins widely at that. 

“Really? So you’re not going to steal anyone else’s?” He asks carefully, suave, and Nick shakes his head a bit because - yeah, it was fun being a bitch towards Louis when Louis gave as good as he got, but when he was this young and unsure it kind of sucked the fun out of it.

“I’m not ever going to steal anyone else's,” he promises. 

“Not even daddy?”

“Not even d- ehm, Harry,” Nick says coughing a bit. Louis smiles pleased at that and shuffles the Blu-Ray into Nick’s hand impatiently. 

“I ‘wanna watch the movie. You’re too slooow.” Louis drags the ‘slow’ out and Nick rolls his eyes so hard it hurts, but he’s also smiling the smallest of smiles and complies. 

He gets up and tries to work the fancy Blu-Ray machine Harry’s got which in reality is just snobby and more complicated than the cheaper stuff. And don't people just use streaming services now anyway, why does everything with Harry have to be so extra? He manages it after a couple of minutes though, when Louis already has pretended to die from boredom three times on the sofa. 

Nick sits down on the sofa next to him and fixes the rest with the remote. He’s skipping the first trailer when Louis’ shrilling voice reaches him.

“No! No! What’re you doing!” Louis looks at him scandalised, his mouth and eyes wide open. Nick looks agape at Louis, waving his hand a little at the TV. 

“Lilo and Stitch, remember?” Louis shakes his head vigorously, curling his legs up under him.

“ ‘Gotta see the trailers! 'S so we can get the cinema feeling,” Louis looks at Nick like he’s a little dim and Nick skips backwards with a sigh. Louis positively beams when he sees the trailers for movies that came out over a decade ago and that are all sitting on their movie shelf.

Nick snatches the blanket that’s laying on the armrest and nestles down on the sofa until he wouldn’t’ve moved even if he was paid. Louis settles next to him, but makes sure none of their body parts touches. He looks longingly at the blanket, but when he realises Nick’s eyeing him his mouth goes firm and he makes a point at looking straight forwards at the TV.

Half an hour into the film the doorbell rings. Nick takes a couple of seconds trying to figure out what it means before he remembers the food. Louis looks at him with mischievous eyes and Nick groans a bit as he stretches. 

“Stay here,” he instructs, not thinking the delivery guy would be too understanding of seeing a world-famous pop star dressed and behaving like an overgrown child. He guesses Harry probably has his own rules for that too because Louis only nods solemnly and stays put. 

Nick stretches for the remote and pauses the movie, before getting up.

“Heeeey,” Louis says in such a Harry fashion Nick almost whips his head. “I was watching that!” Louis pouts and Nick rolls his eyes.

“So was I. And it’s getting to the interesting part and I don’t ‘wanna  miss anything.” Louis giggles a bit before he suddenly remembers himself and abruptly stops.

Nick hurries out of the room so Louis won’t see his faint blush and smile. He walks steadily to the door and opens the gate so the delivery man can enter. After a couple of minutes he does, and Nick pays him and takes the food with him back to Louis who’s sitting just where he left him. 

He wants to say something nice to him because of it, but he doesn't know what to say or how it would be taken so he leaves it be, instead opting for putting the food on the table and unpausing the video. 

“Sit properly,” he tells Louis after watching the other boy for a couple of seconds. 

“I can eat on the sofa,” Louis answers with brows furrowed in concentration. The thing is, Nick has no idea how ‘old’ Louis really is. He seems like a child with some things and a toddler at others so he doesn’t want to take any chances, especially not with the furniture. Who knows, Louis might even make a mess on purpose.

“We can both eat properly,” he finally says and Louis pouts adoringly. Nick feels something churn in his belly but doesn’t think about it, instead pouring some coke into a tall glass for Louis to drink. Louis looks on with wide eyes and Nick stills his movements carefully.

“Do you- eh usually not drink coke?” He asks but Louis nods vigorously with his entire body, still eyeing the glass.

Nick doesn’t bother asking any more, he really doesn’t want to know, he decides. Instead he pours some for himself as well, before turning the cap back onto the bottle and finally focusing on the movie.

They eat in somewhat silence, the food is delicious and Nick makes a note to himself to take a picture of the menu so he’ll remember what the place is called because this is heaven. He does almost regret not ordering a pizza though, because Louis has managed to spill food everywhere except himself. There’s food all around his plate, the table and the carpet. Nick sighs. He wonders if it’s too rude to expect Harry to clean it all up when he comes back home. It’s not like Nick’s actually getting paid, so it would only be natural that he didn’t do too much besides looking after his non-child. He looks down at the white carpet under Louis’ legs and the big, red smudge there. He’s feeling generous so he decides to clean it up after he’s finished eating. 

Louis finishes eating before him, and after carefully taking a big gulp off of his soda he leans back on the sofa Indian style. Nick changes subtly between watching the movie and watching the kid. Because fuck, even if Louis wasn’t acting as a child he would still be just that; a kid. As soon as Louis has abandoned the food Nick takes his plate with him and snuggles up on the sofa; luckily Louis is so engrossed in the film that he doesn’t notice it. Nick’s glad because he’s sure that would end in a “that’s not fair” argument. Isn’t Louis at that age?

He mourns the fact that he didn’t buy double portions when he’s finishing his last bite. He’s on his way to clean up that bloody smudge when Louis leans to his side, just a fraction. Nick stiffens and holds his breath as he looks down at Louis; he’s positively snuggled up to Nick’s side, his eyes tired. Nick can feel his heart beating faster and he has no idea why, it’s just Louis Tomlinson for God’s sake. He’s halfway out of the sofa and he knows he should clean that sauce stain, but if he gets up now Louis will wake from the peaceful state he’s in and Nick won’t feel his warm skin next to his again for the rest of the night, or probably ever if he thinks about it. Nick’s still breathing heavily when he gently lowers himself back on the sofa, earning him a soft purr from Louis that makes him involuntary gasp. 

Nick scoots lower and lower down on the sofa for the next ten minutes, not even focusing on the movie anymore, only making sure his movements are as slow as possible. If Louis weren’t completely engrossed and being a child, he would definitely have noticed. The Louis Nick’s used to would have noticed something was up a long time ago. But this one doesn’t and that’s how Nick ends up almost lying horizontally on the sofa with his legs stretched and Louis curled up in a ball behind his legs, his head resting on Nick’s arse and thighs. Nick somewhat manages to get the blanket over the both of them, but he makes sure not to look Louis in the eyes. He idly wonders how this could happen. 

His heart is still beating fast as Louis’s skin touches his, no, not even that; at Louis’ clothes being in contact with his clothes. Nick can feel himself growing hard and he has to repress the urge to touch himself. How the hell did this happen? Nick’s never had any feelings for Louis whatsoever, only a mild disgust at his pop star attitude and how he was so accustomed to getting everything he wanted by snapping his fingers. Louis could be sweet, Nick had seen that on many occasions, but his brattiness didn’t weigh up even one little bit. But now, today, something has shifted within Nick and he can’t understand what. 

He steals a glance at the boy next to him and nearly chokes. Louis is sucking his thumb; one hand splayed on Nick’s arse and the other being sucked on with rhythmic movements. With a jolt, Nick realises what’s different with today and he feels sick. Is he some kind of sick bastard who enjoys that Louis is acting like a child? Or no, not even acting like it, he’s being a child - and Nick is getting hard by it. He starts to cold sweat and he just wants out, this is too much for him. He needs to get the hell away from Louis, pronto. But he can’t move.

Nick had seen Louis and Harry interact, and even from those few minutes he’d seen this was nothing sexual at all. They didn’t play “the daddy” kink to sprite up the sex life; this was something real and Nick’s fucking sullying it. He’s, he’s getting off by the idea of Louis, of Louis being small and vulnerable and fuck, he needs to stop thinking right about now. 

This is wrong, this is sick. This is borderline paedophilia, isn’t it? Who’s to say that won’t be the next step? When Harry brought Louis out in only the diaper, Nick was intrigued. There’s no use in denying that, he knows he was. Louis is so loud and brash and condescending and watching him at the mercy of someone else, of Harry, of himself -  it’s exhilarating. Louis wears diapers because Harry tells him to, he’s changed when Harry decides he should be, he’s going to bed on the time Harry sets and if he disobeys, Nick’s dick twitches, if he disobeys, he’s punished. Louis is completely at Harry’s mercy. Why? How the hell could Louis allow this? 

Nick feels like he’s hit some sort of breakthrough and maybe this is it, maybe he isn’t attracted to the - the diapers or the child stuff, maybe he just enjoys Louis being helpless? Hasn’t he often thought, when he’s been with the boys, that Louis could use a good old spanking? And now, now, he has the possibility. 

Nick feels guilt ridden at that thought, sparing an ashamed look down at Louis lying quietly and happily watching the film, idly sucking his thumb with his fringe falling into his eyes. Nick’s hit with an urge to stroke the hair away from his forehead, to wrap him up in his arms and to kiss him softly, longingly. Nick swallows and closes his eyes, breathing heavily. He’s fucking scared; he’s scared of what’s happening to him, he’s scared of the sudden desire of taking Louis away from Harry; of never leaving him with a fucking untrusty, unworthy babysitter, but instead cook him food and change his diaper and read him stories and fuck him into the mattress.

***

Not long after the film ends. Nick watches through most of the credits rolling slowly over the screen before he finally casts Louis a long look. He’s still snuggled up to him, his eyes droopy. 

“You tired?” Nick asks a little breathy, reaching for his phone that’s still laying on the table, checking the time. It’s a quarter to eight and Louis shakes his head furiously. He’s refusing to look into Nick’s eyes and Nick starts to feel his warning bells go off. He takes in Louis’ figure; he’s a bit stiff, with red splotches high on his cheekbones and his eyes shifty. 

“Did you, eh, did you have an accident while we watched the film?” Nick asks and feels like a tit, but the way Louis’ entire face reddens betrays him even as he shakes his head again. Nick breathes heavily, this is it. “Because if you did, we have to change you Louis. That’s what Har- eh, daddy said.” Nick tries to let his voice be as considerate as possible, and fights to keep an even tone, even as he’s suddenly hit with an urge to pick Louis up and march on to a changing table.

“I said no,” Louis says, but it doesn’t come out willful and impudent, but rather vulnerable and insecure. Whatever blood had rushed into Nick’s dick at the thought of seeing and touching Louis’ bum and penis swiftly moves back up to his head and his heart goes out to the boy. Nick’s somewhat scared of showing his emotional side, being particularly scarred by a scathing remark by Louis on an earlier occasion he tried to bond with him, but he tries to fold his facial features into a compassionate expression, moving his thumb a little where it softly lays over Louis’ waist.

“I understand this is a little difficult for you. I haven’t changed your diaper before, and it might be a bit odd for both of us, but some time has to be the first and Har- eh, daddy, said you needed to be changed before bed anyway, so it’d be a shame if you got a diaper rash for no reason.” He stops his rambling and looks at Louis closely. His face is still pink and there might be some tears in his eyes and fuck - this is not what he wanted. 

“Don’t make me,” Louis whispers pitifully, barely audible and Nick can feel his eyes suddenly getting the slightest bit blurry and huh, he guesses Harry was right when he said Nick would cry before the night was over. Nick clears his throat and realises he has to be strong for the both of them; he is after all the adult, he thinks with a grimace. He dabs at his eyes in a sweeping motion (to get rid of the pesky and uncalled for burst of emotion at  having an innocent, sweet little thing appeal to his kindness and beg for mercy,) and decides this needs to be dealt with practically.  

“Hey now, chin up,” he says, voice carefully controlled and soft as not to scare the boy. “It’ll be over in a whiff.” Louis doesn’t seem overly reassured and Nick bites his lip thoughtfully. “Come on, Louis! It’s not like I haven’t changed a diaper before and it’s not like you haven’t been changed. I am an official babysitter on official babysitting duties and I take that very seriously.” He turns his head in a pompous manner and sees Louis hide a small giggle. Something in his heart leaps.

Nick lowers his voice in confidentiality and exaggeratedly looks around to see if anyone’s there to listen. “This is actually a secret, but a friend of mine is having a baby soon and I’ve been a little bit worried I won’t be very good at changing the baby’s diaper. I’m quite embarrassed about it actually and I was really hoping babysitting you would help me out. I thought to myself: if anyone can help me practise my diaper changing skills and let me know what I’m doing wrong, it will surely be Louis Tomlinson!” Louis full on giggles at that, a playful and somewhat devilish smile on his face. “To be honest, it was one of the reasons I really wanted to watch you.”

“You wanted to watch me?” Louis asks suddenly, looking up at Nick with surprised eyes. “I thought daddy forced you?”

Nick snorts a little. “Contrary to popular opinion, your daddy can’t actually force me to do anything,” he replies, perhaps a little petulantly, before he softened his gaze, seeing again something so vulnerable and childlike in Louis’ eyes that he never would have thought would be there before. He suddenly hates everybody who ever made fun of Louis or made him feel like he was less deserving of everything he had, including himself. “Harry mentioned he needed the help and I offered, begged even,” he added, not feeling the slightest bit guilty about the lie when Louis’ eyes light up and his features get a self-satisfactory smirk, because Nick knew if Harry ever mentioned needing a babysitter again he probably would beg. “You know, for the diaper practice,” he added anyway for good measure, not particularly liking the calculating smile growing on Louis’ face.

“I’ll help you out,” Louis said with a serious look on his face, before once again letting it turn gleefully. “I’ll tell you everything you do wrong!”

Nick snorted again. “I don’t doubt it,” he mumbled as he straightened up on the sofa, jostling Louis as he rose. He was about to ask Louis if he wanted to be carried, desperately wanting to feel the soft flesh against his own body, but before he was even able to formulate the question Louis had dashed out of the sofa and ran towards the hallway. 

Nick purposely unhurriedly followed him into the en-suite connected to a guest room furnished with toys and was met with Louis standing facing him, trying to lift himself up on a big changing board that was slightly too tall for him.

“Hey, be careful!” Nick chided and rushed towards Louis, putting his hands around his hips and giving him a lift. It felt like his fingers burned where he had touched the delicate hip bones under the t-shirt that had ridden up, as Louis plotted his arms behind him, but it didn’t seem like Louis thought anything of the gesture at all.

“ ‘M always careful,” he said freely and Nick couldn’t help but smile at that, somehow doubting that statement very much. 

Louis laid down on the changing mat and suddenly looked a little hesitant again, as if suddenly remembering what they were about to do. Trying to ease his mind, Nick started talking, too loud and too quick, narrating everything as he found diapers and wipes on the shelf under the table, hidden by a little black and fancy curtain that was very Harry trying to be edgy and cool. Nick thought he should get one. 

It seemed they were both equally nervous as Nick slowly dragged Louis’ pull up down his legs. His breath caught on an inhale as he looked down at the soft and pretty genitals that belonged to Louis Tomlinson, but he made sure his face didn’t convey anything as he thoughtlessly threw the pull up away and started wiping Louis down, his hands only slightly fluttering as they ghosted over Louis’ dick, balls and crack.

“I’ve got stars,” Louis said, loud in the encompassing silence and Nick almost guiltily looked up from Louis’ groin to his face and then his hands that were pointing towards the roof. “When it’s dark, some of them glow,” he added proudly and Nick forced himself to nod.

“That’s wicked.”

Way too soon, he had cleaned what could be cleaned and he gently lifted Louis’ bum to fit the new diaper under him, taking his time and softly taping the ends and letting his fingers slide between the diaper and Louis’ arse, making sure the flaps were unravelled. 

“All done,” he said somewhat shakily and Louis looked at him, something analysing in his eyes. 

“You’re way too slow,” he commented promptly. “A baby would have cried ages ago, but I am a big boy,” he added pointedly.

Nick swallowed. “I’ll - I’ll work on that,” he said somewhat breathlessly.

“You should,” Louis replied dead-pan and Nick could feel himself huffing. 

“Alright, calm down you,” he said loftily, rolling his eyes, grabbing Louis by the armpits and lifting him down on the floor. “I am the professional babysitter here, not you” Nick says and turns around to wash his hands, not wanting Louis to see the effect the experience had on him. 

Louis is still standing there, staring at his back, when he lathers up with soap. “I’m just saying you’re not very good,” he states straightforwardly and Nick turns around and flicks some water at him.

“I was excellent,” he simply states over Louis’ indignant screech at having the water droplets hit his face. 

“You’re worse than Uncle Ni,” Louis grumbles sourly and Nick just huffs, walking out with an airy puff.

“Doubt it.” He tries to hide his smile as Louis blows up in indignation and practically stomps after him telling him how slow he was, and how bored Louis was, and how he practically had died; Nick commenting some ‘sure's and ‘of courses’, while making doubtful noises the whole way to the living room. 

Louis had worked himself up in a right state by the time Nick had reached the kitchen and he continued to yell at Nick while Nick rummaged through the kitchen cabinets for cleaning supplies. Sure, arguing with Louis was different in this state; more childish insults hurled his way than snide, soul-destroying remarks, but it still gave Nick the same satisfaction of seeing Louis riled up; except rather it resulting in a biting and sarcastic Louis, it was an adorable and soft version that gave Nick the same, if not even more pleasure. 

“You’re stupid and I hate you!”  Louis, in the end, screamed, stomping his foot and walking towards his room in an angry fit. Having softly smiled and laughed to himself while cleaning the carpet stain, Nick suddenly looked up in confusion, wondering if he’d gone too far and if he should follow Louis. 

Luckily, before he had time to stress out about the fact that he was baiting and possibly bullying a small child, Louis came back in a huff; all loudness and big movements, drawing equipment in his hands. He threw it all unceremoniously on the floor and Nick winced at the ruckus it made. 

Lous, quite passive-aggressively, started drawing and colouring something that looked suspiciously like a man with a quiff having a piano fall on him, and Nick felt increasingly bad. But Louis (and Harry) had to give him some slack here! It’s not like Nick was used to seeing an adult think and behave like a small child; it was to be expected that he messed up and slightly overestimated Louis’ capabilities, surely. 

They were quiet for a few minutes, and Nick was shocked and very proud of himself for managing to wipe the white carpet completely clean of tandoori sauce. He took a picture of it for good measure and sent it to Aimee, demanding she bow down to his superiority, before he stole a glance at Louis. 

His drawing had softened somewhat; now being delicate and soft, rather than forceful and harsh, and Nick stared at him for a couple of seconds, until Louis, without looking up, pushed a paper in front of him and, with an infinitesimally movement, redirected the box of colouring pencils so the opening was closer to Nick. Louis was still drawing various ways a quiffed man with an ever-increasing large nose was being hurt; for example by having a brick fall on his big toe and having a camel lick his face off by the looks of it, but Nick still saw the gesture as a peace offering and he smiled softly, laying himself down on his stomach and drawing with Louis in comfortable silence. 

Way too soon for Nick’s liking he saw the clock ticking towards nine o’ clock and reluctantly realised that a good babysitter would start preparing Louis for bed. It was another fifteen minutes before he opened his mouth to do so. 

***

It was hell. An exhausting, screaming (on Louis’ behalf), cursing (on Nick’s behalf), fighting it every single way and i- am-never-ever-having-children hell. After eighty-five minutes Nick had pleaded, threatened and bribed Louis to such a degree that he was now lying in Harry’s bed with a clean face, brushed teeth and soft pyjamas on. Nick had no idea if Louis was meant to lay in Harry’s bed as he had seen Louis also had a little-room with a race car bed himself, but one tired look at Louis’ drawn up and petulant face was enough for him to not start an argument about it. Especially since Harry had never actually specifically stated where Louis was to sleep. 

Louis seemed incredibly tired (perhaps five temper tantrums did that to you, Nick wouldn’t know), but he now had his thumb in his mouth again, and his arm squeezed around a purple elephant, with his eyes closed as Nick finished the third story of the night. 

He closed the book quietly, wondering if he could sneak away, when Louis' eyes opened and he demanded “one more.” Nick shook his head, determined this time. 

“I’m literally about to lose my voice, Lou,” he said sternly, not wanting another fight but ready for one. 

Louis looked at him for the longest time, but apparently (thank God) saw something in his eyes resonating with him, because he just nodded, before drawing a circle on the bedding with his right hand and letting go of his left thumb that had previously been occupying his mouth. 

“Can I just quickly change something on my drawing?” he asked with wide, earnest eyes and Nick shook his head sternly.

“No way.” He was not a fucking puppet Louis could just do with as he pleased and then wring up when he was done, he was not Harry. 

“Please!” Louis begged with that soft and childlike voice and if Nick wasn’t so fucking exhausted he might have yielded.

“Not happening. You’re going to sleep or so help me God,” he threatened, not for the first time that night.

“Please,” Louis asked again, sweetly. “Just something really quick and then I promise I will sleep and it’ll be our secret that you’re such a bad babysitter.” Nick gawped; the audacity, the insolence . Louis apparently took his horror-stricken God, why me -face as permission because he slipped up like a cat and Nick honestly wondered if he was about to cry again. 

He didn’t say anything as Louis sat down on the floor with a couple of colouring pencils. And while he could see that he was trying to be efficient and to the point, Nick couldn’t help but growl “Louis” six minutes after, in what might actually be the voice he would use if he ever were to throttle someone.

“Finished!” Louis exclaimed, smiling placatingly at Nick as if he was being a little bit dramatic, before slightly blushing and tucking his drawing into Nick’s hands and jumping up in the bed, grabbing a hold of his elephant again and closing his eyes before Nick could have a good look.

It was the same drawing he had been working on earlier and Nick could see more detailed ways of Nick being hurt (specifically an alligator eating his head that he hadn’t comprehended earlier,) but; in the top corner of the drawing Louis had drawn a little boy with sand-coloured hair and blue eyes, with a superhero cape on, flying to all the Nicks’ rescues. It sloppily said ‘ To Nick, from Lou’ in the top corner and Nick had never felt anything like the burst of adoration and fondness in his life as he did that moment. A weird I-definitely-have-to-talk-to-a-psychiatrist-about-these-conflicted-sexual-but-warm-and-fuzzy-while-also-weirdly-protective-and-shielding-mix-of-emotions burst kind. You know, the ones you have. 

Nick softly looked down at Louis, who still had his eyes closed, and turned off the night light.

“Thank you so much, Lou. I’ll hang it on my fridge,” he promised and swore he saw a small smile in the dark. He gave Louis a soft kiss on the forehead with only a second's hesitation before turning away.

“Good night, Louis. Sweet dreams.” He closed the door softly, still holding onto the drawing with something bubbly and warm spreading in his chest. 

***

He was lazily watching a Hallmark movie, only half paying attention when he heard movement behind him. With a mini-heart attack, he whirls around and is met with Harry. 

“Fucking hell, Haz,” he admonishes quietly and Harry giggles, before plopping down on the sofa next to Nick. 

“How was it?” Nick asks, surveying Harry’s dishevelled state. He’s obviously drunk; with wide blown eyes; wet, plush lips that he’s biting down on, and a rosy blush high on his cheekbones.

“S’ good,” Harry drawls, leaning his head back on the sofa cushion and smiling lazily.

“You get lucky?” Nick noses, waggling his eyebrows suggestively and Harry laughs again.

“A gentleman never tells,” Harry replies soberly, grinning at the way he obviously knows that’s going to grate on Nick’s nerves. Nick’s a slut for gossip and he doesn’t appreciate coyness, thank you very much. 

“Good thing you’re no gentleman then,” Nick quips back and Harry barks a laugh, unnaturally loud in the quiet room. 

“I did something indecent, basically in public, that definitely made me realise I’m way too drunk, so I went home before I finished what I started,” Harry allows and that definitely has Nick’s interest piqued.

“What did you do? Did you finger someone? Receive a blow job? I demand answers, Styles!”

Harry just laughs quietly again and ignores him. 

“How was Lou? You have a nice evening?” Harry asks in lieu of replying, a little nervous, and Nick lets his secret night escapades slide because Harry seems almost vulnerable waiting for his reply and Nick can understand why Harry is more preoccupied with Louis’ welfare than spilling his secrets at the moment - what with Louis never having had a babysitter outside of the band before tonight, and all.

“I honestly don’t know how to even answer that,” Nick replies honestly and Harry scurries his brow. “We’ve had a few challenges, and I was close to throwing him out of a window a few times, but that’s more to do with it being Louis than - you know.” Nick smiles softly and gives Harry the drawing that’s been sitting on the table for the last few hours.

“He’s a psychopath,” Nicks says, and it’s not half as disgruntled as he meant for it to be. 

“Oh, I know,” Harry replies distractedly, studying the drawing with interest.

“He decided to save me in the end, so I’m taking it as a win,” Nick says after a few moments of silence and Harry smiles fondly at the drawing, as if Louis had drawn hearts and puppies, not dismemberments and decapitations.

“This is why he’s not allowed adult films,” Harry laughs with a fond smile. “His imagination is very volatile, even when he’s being little.”

Nick wants to know more. He wants to know everything about Louis; how he differs as big and little, how they even figured out this was something they wanted or needed to do, when he can see Louis again. Nick is, perhaps, a little obsessed. 

“He’s a good kid. I can understand why you’re doing this, even though I can’t comprehend how you’re able to at your age,” he offers, wanting to give Harry some accolades for the gigantic task he’s performing. He’s a nineteen-year-old boy with the world at his feet and instead of spending his well-earned break hitting up his famous friends; travelling, partying and having sex, he’s looking after Louis. Even tonight, when he was meant to just have fun, he didn’t go home to whoever person he was with, knowing he had to get home because Louis would need him in the morning. 

Harry shrugs. “It is what it is. Louis needs me and I love him, so.” He doesn’t sound bitter about it, just like a man who has come to terms with this being his life and is oddly content with it having turned out the way it has.

“You’re a good man, Haz,” Nick offers and Harry looks softly at him.

“I appreciate that, Grimmy.”

Nick gets up, regretfully thinking that Harry looks dead and deserves some hours of sleep, not a friend obsessing over his life choices and his live-in man child.

“I had a good time though, all in all. He’s fun to hang out with and I’ll happily help out again if you ever need it. You ‘gotta make sure you take care of yourself too, H,” he adds sternly, grabbing his drawing and moving towards the hallway.

Harry smiles gratefully and nods. “I’ll remember that.”

At the door Nick turns around. “He also didn’t exactly go to bed when told so he might be a bit tired tomorrow. And he refused to sleep in his own bed, so he’s currently in yours.” Nick smiles winningly and Harry groans loudly. 

“I guess I shouldn’t have expected anything else,” he states and Nick blushes at the defeated reaction. Right now, he couldn’t think of a better message than a soft, sleepy Louis Tomlinson: clad in pyjamas, thumb in mouth and cuddling an elephant, in his bed. But he guesses that’s why Harry is the daddy and Nick is the pervert who will check out some very grey zones porn when he gets home.

“Toodles!” He sings-songs before leaving the flat, desperately hoping it won’t be long until the next time Harry’s horny -  a sentence he honestly never thought his brain would conjure up.

***

Harry chuckles softly and goes to the kitchen to grab himself a glass of water. He feels slightly more sober than on the drive home, but he is definitely going to have a hangover tomorrow. For a second he almost hopes Louis will wake up as his big self, rather than as a hyperactive, clingy, little boy desperate for Harry’s attention. 

He opens his bedroom door and smiles softly at the sight of Louis sleeping in his king-size bed. Louis is sprawled in the middle of it; cocooned into the duvet with a firm grasp on Luna, his favourite elephant which Liam bought him while in Australia. He looks so small in the big bed and Harry has to force himself not to pet him and stroke the hair from his eyes, not wanting to risk waking him before he’s ready for bed himself.

He washes his face, brushes his teeth and undresses at record speed. He’s about to crawl under the duvet when he realises he’s only in tight boxers, and he wonders if he should put on some pyjamas. But surely, that would make Louis more self-conscious if he indeed did wake up big tomorrow, wouldn’t it? He decides against it after a few more minutes and lays down. 

“Baby,” he says softly, waiting for a reaction. He moves closer to Louis and puts a hand on his warm back, stroking it softly to rouse him, but already regretting promising Louis he would wake him up when he came home. 

“Daddy?” Louis mumbles softly and arches back in his touch with a satisfied purr. 

“Yeah,” Harry whispers softly, moving even closer and kissing Louis’ head chastely, hoping he’s managed to wash the worst of the alcohol breath away. “Just wanted to let you know I’m back, and that Nick’s left,” he explains and Louis scoots backwards into Harry’s warmth.

“Let’s get you into your own bed, baby,” Harry offers softly, but allows Louis to drape his arm over his own body in a moment of weakness.

“‘Wanna sleep with you, daddy. Please,” Louis whispers, voice small and soft with sleep. 

Harry wants to say no. As a principle he’s not too fond of Louis sleeping with him; if not due to anything else, then simply because Louis gets so fucking awkward about it when he’s his normal self and Harry tries to bring it up to ensure no boundaries are being crossed. But they’ve both had big days today; they’ve been apart the whole evening, they’ve both probably been just as nervous as each other (if not for wholly different reasons), and Harry can treat them, can’t he? He can let them indulge in this for one night, taking comfort in each others’ arms, when Louis so clearly needs to feel loved and cared for.

“Alright, baby,” he allows softly and Louis burrows into him gratefully, prompting Harry to spoon him properly, before he tangles their fingers together. 

“Missed you, daddy,” he whispers, his words breaking on a yawn, and half-asleep.

“Missed you more, love,” Harry whispers into the night, pressing a long kiss into Louis’ soft hair and closing his eyes tiredly. 

***

When Harry wakes up, he can feel unease and tenseness exhuming from the stiff body he’s spooning.

“Lou?” he murmurs groggily, confused. He gets a noncommittal grunt back.

“Fuck, I’m hungover,” he groans and the body stills suspiciously. 

Harry furrows his brows. “What’s the matter? You never woken up with a man before?” he asks jokingly, trying to diffuse the tension, and Louis is still way too quiet and way too still. 

Harry opens his eyes, regretfully as it hurts, to see what’s going on and whether he’s completely misjudging this situation, for the first time in a very long time.

“What’s going on? What are you thinking?” he asks softly, tugging on Louis so he’ll turn in his arms and he can look at him closer.

“What do you mean, what am I thinking?” Louis answers a little snootily back. “You fucking left me with Nick yesterday. You didn’t even fucking try to pull me back,” Louis accuses.

“Language,” Harry chides automatically because he’s still half asleep, and he expects to get yelled at for it, but instead Louis recoils a little at the admonition, turning slightly pink. Harry furrows his brows.

“I told you yesterday I thought it was for the best, and from what I’ve gathered you had a nice time?” Harry asks slowly.

“That’s not the point!” Louis pouts stroppily. “It wasn’t a nice thing to do.” Harry looks down and realises that Louis is still holding Luna tightly in his hands. 

“Baby,” he says softly and Louis visibly flinches at the endearment, before trying to hide his reaction. 

“Don’t talk to me like that, I’m not your baby” he says bratty, but his voice wavers slightly.  

Harry softly strokes his hair. “You’re allowed to be upset with me, sweetie,” he reassures Louis softly, tugging him so he can lay on Harry's chest, and softly lifting his pyjamas top up to stroke his bare back. “You’re probably feeling many big emotions right now, aren’t you, chipmunk?” Harry asks, sympathetically and Louis is still wound too tight under his hands. Harry closes his eyes, feeling the room spin slightly. “You don’t have to feel all those big feelings right now if you don’t want to, baby. You don't have to fight the pull. We can talk about them whenever you’re ready, sweetheart, no matter how many days pass,” Harry reassures him and in response Louis starts tugging away with a jerk, a grumpy pout painting his features. 

Harry doesn’t let him, interlacing their other hands together. “Don’t you want to lay in bed with daddy for a bit? I’ve missed my cuddly boo-bear,” Harry teases softly, but genuine.

“I hate you” Louis practically growls. 

“You're my baby and I love you,” Harry replies softly and just like that, like a sack of potatoes, Louis slumps into him, burrowing his face into Harry’s neck and curls. 

“Promise we can talk later?” Louis asks softly, a vulnerable tilt in his voice, and Harry hums. 

“We can talk about it today sweetheart, and we’ll talk about it again when you’re big,” Harry promises softly and Louis clings to him before moving to straddle him. He lays on top of Harry’s chest, octopus styles, limbs sucking themselves to every part of Harry’s skin.

“I don’t hate you,” Louis mumbles, self-consciously, into the dip of Harry’s neck, and Harry hums and kisses his cheek tiredly, missing most of his face, still stroking his back softly.

“I know that, baby,” he reassures softly. They lay like that for a long time; Louis burrowing more and more into Harry’s skin, breathing warm puffs of air into his neck. Harry can physically, even though half-asleep himself, feel the moment Louis lets go and allows himself to fall fully into little-space, even before he opens his mouth.

“You’re my bestest friend, daddy”. 

Harry smiles softly. “And you’re mine, baby”.