Chapter Text
Barely making it through, barely making it to being put in a band together, was a huge test as it was. This, however, might push them to their limits.
With everyone in the world either a child, a daddy or a neutral it didn’t come as too big of a surprise when the five of them sat down to talk their orientations out at Harry’s bungalow (Technically his step dad’s but in the long run it might as well of been his) that the whole spectrum was represented, though it did come as a surprise as who was who. They’re sitting outside, all of them finally having unpacked, watching as Harry roasts them marshmallows for s’mores.
“Well boys,” Liam says, rubbing his hands together, “I guess I’ll go first?”
You aren’t suppose to ask people about their classification, is the thing. It’s something sacred, something you only share with those you trust the most. If someone finds your orientation out on accident, through malice or other means, they can and usually do go to jail. Too many of those labeled under the child classification are abused for it to be otherwise. Still there are nods around the camp fire, some more convincing then others. Niall and Louis are a tangle of limbs the farthest from him, seeming to be trying to hide behind each other. Zayn has both of their feet in his lap, one of his hands on both of them. This whole band arrangement thing will never work, Liam knows, if the two of them don’t try to fit in.
“I’m a daddy.” He says with confidence he doesn’t feel. “Most of the kids back home are neuts so I was bullied a lot. A lot of them thought I was gonna come out a child so” He shrugs. “they thought I wouldn’t fight back. Took up boxing, shot up six inches and they left me alone.”
Harry finally stops poking at the fire long enough to look at them. “I’m a daddy too. Well, we’re pretty sure I am.” Rolling his eyes he sits down next to Liam. “It’s still too early to tell for sure.” Being sixteen and the youngest of the band he won’t settle into his assignment for another month or so.
Zayn shifts, a little uncomfortable. “I’m a neutral. My mom’s a mom and my dad is a child so it came as a shock.” He shakes his head. “I hope it doesn’t change anything?”
Liam and Harry both shake their heads, a little relieved, both selfishly hoping Louis and Niall will be neutrals too. Having two daddies in one group is going to be hard enough, if they tried to add anymore it could, would, end in bloodshed.
They all turn their attention on the mass that is Louis and Niall, both trying to make themselves seem as small as possible. Both are avoiding looking at Liam and Harry, pushing and pinching to get the other to talk.
Zayn sighs and rolls his eyes before patting them both on the leg. “They’re both children.” Harry and Liam both laugh, thinking he meant it figuratively but then he nods his head to Louis. “He told me this morning when we first got here, Niall overheard and came clean too.”
Liam and Harry turn and stare at each other, before turning to face the children, their jaws dropped. Two daddies and two children in a group.... No one could fathom this ending well.
“Is that the reason you didn’t want to room with me?” Harry asks Louis, a little hurt.
He begins to nod his head, then shakes it, curling farther in on himself. Niall makes a soft sound, patting his head. Zayn smiles at the littles before frowning at the other two.
“Don’t make them uncomfortable!” he snaps, shushing them when they whine. “They just met us and they don’t owe you anything.”
“We know that! But if we want this band to work we need to be honest with each other.” Liam pouts.
Zayn rolls his eyes, muttering something under his breath. “Look we just met each other. They’re scared. I’d be fucking scared if I was unclaimed in a group with two daddies too! So just give them a break.” He moves and pulls Louis and Niall apart, sitting between them and smiles a little smugly when they cuddle in under his arms. “Give them some time, mates, before you interrogate them.”
They sit in silence for a few moments before Louis lets out a big yawn, making Zayn laugh. “C’mon babe, let’s get the two of you into bed.” He stands up and takes both of their hands, leading them carefully around the fire and inside to tuck them in.
Liam and Harry are both silent as they watch, waiting until the door closes behind them before facing each other.
“This could cause a problem.” Harry muses.
Liam raises a shoulder, seemingly unconcerned. “They both can sing, Harry, and Simon wouldn’t have put us in a group if he thought it wouldn’t have a good outcome.” He shifts and stands up. “I don’t know about you but I’m going to head to bed, we have a long week ahead of us.”
Harry sighs before standing up and following him. Hopefully tomorrow would be better.
That’s where their story begins, this is how it ends.
******
They make it. They make it through boot camp and through all the live shows and then they're voted off. The five of them are closer then ever, brothers in every sense of the word even though Niall and Louis are both still a little weary of Harry and Liam.
So when they're voted off they're devastated. Zayn spends the night at a hotel with Louis and Niall curled around him like little puppies, both wiggling and demanding his attention while Liam and Harry watch on.
******
Understandably when they find out Simon Cowell is going to sign them they’re all excited. Four of the five have managed to get through the live shows without their orientations being discovered.
(Zayn, the odd man out, had been found making out with one of the neutral camera people he had to come out and tell everyone he wasn’t being taken advantage or or taking advantage.)
They’re all siting around a large table, the windows behind them over looking London. Louis is whispering excitedly to Niall about Zayn taking them to the London Eye later when Simon steps in.
“Hello boys.” He takes a seat at the head of the table, rearranging some papers before looking up and smiling at them. “Boys, this is Richard Griffiths and Harry Magee. They’re going to be in charge of you.” The two men offer seemingly happy smiles to them but Louis shudders and tucks himself in closer to Niall and Zayn anyways.
Magee speaks up. “We need to know your orientations before we can sign anything. And you can’t lie to us if you want us to protect you.” His cold gaze sweeps over the five of them. “Now who wants to go first?”
Zayn rolls his eyes. “You know mine.”
“We do. We will be discussing options for you later, Zake.”
“It’s Zayn.”
He waves his hand dissuasively, focusing his attention on the other four. The wrinkles by his eyes tighten. “We’ve already figured them out so I won’t bother asking again. Harry and Liam are daddies.” Harry opens his mouth, no doubt to protest, but he continues on over him. “Not surprising since you have tons of children following you.” He purses his lips as he stares down Niall and Louis. “You two pose the most trouble.” He shakes his head.
“Trouble?” Zayn snaps, preparing himself to stand up and start throwing fists if he has to.
“Yes, trouble. Children aren’t allowed in the industry unclaimed.” Simon says casually, turning the page of the contract sitting in front of him. “Especially since Louis is approaching his nineteenth birthday.”
“So are you saying you called us here to not sign us?”
Griffiths stands up and puts his hands on the table. “We are offering you a solution here, boys. All you have to do is agree and the contract is yours.”
Uneasy they share glances between each other before motioning for them to go on.
“Liam, you are going to claim Louis. Tonight if possible. Harry you’re going to do the same with Niall. When you’ve claimed them you will come back here and we can sign the paperwork. We have complexes ready for you to move in, and everything is ready for you. What you do next is up to you.” Simon stands up and ushers the other two men out. “Come along, we need to leave them to think about it.”