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Louis had been careful. So bloody careful, especially revolving around his new nesting habit that came out of the blue. Whilst it wasn’t uncommon for Omegas to nest, he wasn’t in dire need of one. He wasn’t anywhere close to his heat- was definitely not pregnant- and he hadn’t taken up nesting as habit since he was a pup himself, seeking comfort in times of distress. Okay, maybe he was just a bit more stressed than usual, but you really couldn’t blame him. After all, it definitely wasn’t easy being in the worlds biggest boyband whilst hiding the fact that he was an Omega.
In Louis’ opinion, it wasn’t fair that he had to hide his secondary gender. He was a great singer and he definitely brought some personality to the group. The only issue was that Simon and Modest! Management felt that it would be inappropriate to have a member who was openly an Omega, so whilst Harry, Liam and Zayn were Alphas- Niall and Louis were Betas. Luckily, it wasn’t hard for Louis to pull off the fact that he was a ‘Beta’. After all, he had Niall to learn from, who was actually a Beta. Although, he must say, taking scent blockers and suppressants everyday got exhausting after a while.
So, as the only Omega. No one really understood Louis in the way he’d want them to. He also didn’t have an Alpha to take care of him, so heats and stressful days were dealt with in loneliness, something no Omega should be subjected to. So, Louis had to be careful enough that no one—not even Liam, who was annoyingly observant about this kind of thing—had noticed the way his nest was growing, piece by piece, in the corner of his hotel room. It wasn’t exactly hard for him to hide anything, as typically the Alphas of the group understood Louis didn’t want to be constantly surrounded by them. And Niall? Well, he isn’t the smartest Beta in the shed.
When they started touring, he quickly learnt how exhausting it was, and for an omega like Louis, even more so. There was no real time to settle, no space that was truly his own, and no chance to let the constant hum of his instincts rest. The interchanging scents of new and old workers were potent in the air, and let’s not mention the smells of his Alpha bandmates alone can overwhelm him at times. Hotels were impersonal, impractical- always changing- and the tour bus was even worse: narrow bunks, no privacy, travel sickness and too many communal areas rather than private. The only perk was that Louis got a whole section of a bunk to himself. No one occupied the one above or the one below, making them the perfect place to hide out and calm down.
So, naturally without realising, Louis had started to build the one thing he could build in his sleep. A nest.
It wasn’t a conscious decision to build a nest out of his bandmates clothing, but, Louis supposes he’s always found Harry’s scent quite.. addictive. The first thing had been a hoodie, one of Harry’s, left crumpled on the floor of their dressing room. His intentions when approaching the hoodie was to scoop it up and throw it into his bandmates bag, so the brunette wouldn’t forget to wash it. However, the scent of Harry was just so appealing, touching the dirtied fabric alone sent shivers down Louis spine. One sniff couldn’t hurt right?
So, trying not to be a creepy Omega, Louis (hesitant, yet swiftly) brought the cotton to his nose, inhaling deeply with purpose. And holy shit did all his nerves dissipate, for once during a show his hand didn’t jitter. Louis had told himself he’d return it, but with that one whiff he took of Harry’s scent- deep and rich, something warm and grounding beneath it- the hoodie accidentally fell into his bag instead.
However, this one time incident became a habit. Over the course of the American leg of their tour, Louis had grown quite the collection, whilst Harry on the other hand, lost 3/4 of his clothing that Louis knew the boy wouldn’t double check for in an attempt to find it. He’d gain all sorts of Harry’s clothes- from bandanas to socks, yeah call Louis weird, you name it- he’s probably got it… (Except Harry’s boxers because Louis does know boundaries.)
Louis tried not to think too hard about why it had to be Harry’s. Why did it have to be Harry’s scent? That’s something the blue eyed lad asked himself every night he spent curled up against his nest. Maybe it was because they were close. They always had been, from the very first moment they’d met. Maybe it was because Harry was an alpha, but he wasn’t pushy about it. He was warm, open, safe. Or maybe Louis just needed something, and Harry had it. Or, possibly the teeny tiny crush Louis has had on the man for years just ignited something in his Omega instincts.
Either way, the nest had grown, tucked away in the corner of his hotel room, a mess of blankets, pillows, and stolen clothing that smelled like safety, like home.
And no one knew. Louis’ secret sanctuary had been successful in every relocation- from one hotel to another. It was a miracle that Harry didn’t smell his own scent coming from Louis’ bags on the tour bus.
Until now.
Louis packs at the last minute. Every. Single. Time. Always running late, putting the bus behind schedule, annoying literally everyone who has authority over him. So, maybe it wasn’t a complete surprise that they decided he needed an Alpha to help him pack in time. Louis somewhat scoffed at the thought of him needing someone to help him, because he was a more than capable Omega and he knew that. He was just a bit.. lazy at times.
“Need help?” A voice called out, followed by a knock and the creaking of his hotel room door.
Louis barely had time to react before Harry was stepping into his hotel room, all dimples and curls, arms already reaching for the duffel bag by the door. He was aware that Harry would be coming by to help him, but this soon? He hasn’t even packed his nest up yet!
Louis shook his head as he moved towards the entrance where Harry stood tall and proud, like he often did. The sheer confidence Harry always had sparked some sort of jealousy in Louis.
“No, I’m fine. Can you wait there to hold the door open though?” He spoke softly to the Alpha, somewhat subconsciously submitting as he walked away, hearing the confirming hum fall from Harry’s lips. Louis knew Harry wouldn’t invade his space, that he would listen to the elder boy. And that Harry did, until Louis had to be a complete idiot and drop his full arms of shampoo, conditioner and body wash; a God-like clutter thrashing through the hotel room, instantly alerting Harry.
“Lou? You alright?” He heard the Alpha call out. And before he could respond, he could hear Harrys heavy footprints trotting with urgency to the closed room. Harry opened the door to the bedroom, his eyes scamming around the room as Louis observed the reaction from his bandmate. It wasn’t long until Louis saw Harry’s gaze hover to where his nest is, watching as his nose twitched at the potent smell of his scent.
And that’s when Harry froze.
So did Louis.
The nest was obvious—there was no way to pretend it was anything else. Piles of soft fabric arranged just so, the careful layering of scents, the sheer amount of Harry’s clothes mixed in with Louis’s own. The way it had been perfectly nestled in the corner of the room, near the balcony door where he could smoke from the comfort of his delicately crafted nest. He was aware that Harry wasn’t dumb- Harry most definitely knew he was looking at a nest, and one that smelt of him too.
It was unmistakable. Unavoidable. Louis felt a flush of blood rise to his cheeks, tinting them a blotchy baby pink.
Harry didn’t say anything at first. He just… looked. Looked between the painfully obvious nest with all his missing clothes and Louis. This obviously made Louis want to crawl under the nearest piece of furniture and stay there forever because what the fuck! Harry was never supposed to know about his.. well, nest.
“Well,” Harry said finally, voice soft. “That explains a lot.”
Louis swallowed hard, his heart hammering in his chest. “Explains what?”
Harry turned to face him fully, something unreadable in his eyes. “Why I keep thinking I’m losing my clothes. Thought I was going mad.”
Louis opened his mouth, then closed it. “I—I was gonna give them back.” he sniffled, rubbing his nose “I promise, I really was going to.”
That made Harry grin, eyes crinkling at the corners. “Yeah? Didn’t look like it.” The younger boy laughed, walking closer to Louis.
In response, Louis huffed, folding his arms over his chest. “I needed them.” He rolled his eyes.
“Omega things. You knot-heads wouldn’t understand.” He tried to speak playfully, taking his words from a place that wouldn’t make him bawl out crying, but he was utterly failing to do so.
Harry’s expression softened again. “I get that,” he said, quiet, serious. “You could’ve just asked, Lou.” He mumbled, hesitantly placing a hand on Louis’ arm, his coarse, padded fingers rubbing at the soft, milky skin.
Louis looked away. He didn’t have an answer for that. He just slightly leaned into the touch of Harry’s, trying not to be noticeable.
They stared at each other, Harry’s eyes more understanding than Louis had imagined.
“Can you, um, take me to your nest?” Harry gently whispered to the boy in his grasp, still rubbing his skin. He watched as Louis slowly swallowed, before happily nodding, taking Harry’s hand in his and walking him over to the nest.
“Beautiful nest, Omega” Harry whispered, Louis somewhat startled by the way Harry had addressed him. Harry, or any of the boys, never addressed him as Omega… Just as Louis. They had never seen a need to use their gender status in conversation. Louis nodded, smiling weakly as he crouched down to touch the fabric before sitting down completely on the scented clothes.
“Thank you, Alpha” Louis mumbled shyly, bringing a slightly tattered, black hoodie to his nose, sniffing the scent of Harry’s drug-like pheromones.
After a long pause of observing Louis, Harry stepped forward, right up to the edge of the nest and softly took the jumper in his hand.
His scent had faded a little, Louis realized. He’d been sleeping in it too long.
Harry glanced up at him. “You sleep better like this?”
Louis hesitated. Then, in a voice barely above a whisper, “…Yeah.”
Harry nodded, like that made perfect sense. Then, to Louis’s absolute horror, he watched as Harry engulfed himself in his Louis’ favourite hoodies of Harry’s. One he had stolen the second time he felt the need to take clothes for a nest.
“No—Harry, wait—” He whimpered, eyes slightly bulging out of his sockets.
But the fabric had already settled over his broad shoulders. Louis braced himself, expecting Harry to scold him, maybe tell him it was weird— Maybe the compliment was just out of his Alpha instinct. What would Louis know? He was just a stupid, creepy Omega.
Instead, Harry grinned. “There. Should smell better now.” He spoke as a wave of pheromones wafted through the room, and it didn’t instantly click with Louis.
Louis blinked. “…What?”
Harry shrugged. “You like sleeping with my scent, yeah? This’ll make it stronger.” He spoke proudly, watching the realisation hit Louis’ face. Harry had scented the jumper for him… For him! He didn’t call him weird, but encouraged it?
Louis’s brain short-circuited. His mouth opened and closed uselessly.
And then, Harry opened his mouth again.
“Can I join your nest, Omega?” He mumbled timidly as he moved closer to Louis nest.
Harry held his breath, begging for anything but rejection.
“Please, Alpha”