Archive of Our Own ^beta

It’s hot. Not even the good kind of heat - the one that comes when you’re around a campfire or pressed up against someone else. In those moments, the heat is bearable. But now, it’s just hot - a demanding heat. A ‘it doesn’t matter how much water you drink you’re still gonna wanna die’ heat.

That’s really the only thing Louis is registering - sun beating down in his face.

His ball cap is doing little to ward off the sun, rays bright as the day hits just afternoon. His shirt is already sticking to his back even though the ballgame is in inning 3.

“Zayn,” Louis groans dramatically. “It’s too fucking hot.”

The Beta hums, taking another drink of his $10 beer. “I know, I can fucking smell you.”

“Hey, fuck off, okay it’s like a million -.”

“No,” Zayn interrupts. “Your fucking neutralizers are wearing off. Fucking scenters.”

At this, Louis stills. It’s not a huge deal, really. Most people are fine with smelling others in public - especially when they’re all pressed together like this at a baseball game. But, still, Louis was looking forward to leaning on his neutralizers as a sort of armor today.

He starts to fiddle with his $10 beer, halfway gone by now, and Louis is considering downing it the rest in two seconds before getting more. Maybe if he gets drunk this won’t be so much of an issue.

“Is it bad?” He finally asks Zayn.

“Nah. Baseball stadiums are smelly anyway. You should be fine.”

The Omega shrugs a little. “I think I’m gonna get another beer. Do you want one? Maybe nachos or something?”

Zayn grunts unattractively. His hear is also pushed up under a cap, his white t-shirt starting to become transparent. “No nachos. Please God nothing hot to eat. But I will take a beer.”

Louis takes that as his cue to get up and go, downing the rest of his drink in one gulp and grabbing Zayn’s discarded plastic cup.

In line for the beer, the Beta behind the counter only minutely glances towards Louis, which reassures him that Zayn was in fact correct - his smell isn’t as noticeable. That, coupled with the fact that no strange Alphas stopped him and asked if he wanted a hot dog - he figured he was probably safe for the remainder of the game.

Or - he was until he saw the Alpha that had taken the empty seat next to his.

After stepping over some legs, Louis finally is able to hand off Zayn’s beer and plops down in his seat - hot metal stinging the back of his thighs before he maneuvers his legs so they’re not on the direct heat.

Through a mouthful of beer, Zayn says “This is Louis. Louis, this is Harry and Niall.”

Louis turns his head and to see a tall, broad and what he can only assume Alpha next to a smaller brunette with a pierced ear. Both are slowly working through their own beers.

The Omega lifts his beer in greeting before turning back to the game.

“Sorry we crashed your game,” the man next to him said, deep voice reverberating.

“All good, man,” Louis answers, continuing to avoid eye contact. “I'm not even a fan, really. Zayn here got free tickets from work.”

“You’re not a fan? It’s the Cubs!” The guy exclaims, beer sloshing over the lid of his cup. “You gotta love an underdog.”

Louis shrugs in his own seat, determined to keep his eyes pinned forward. Zayn has gone quiet next to him, pointedly not adding to the conversation. “I’m more of a soccer fan, if I’m honest.”

The guy snorts unattractively. “Soccer. Come on. What about football?”

Louis lets himself laugh and finally turn to look at the guy head on. The baseball cap is on backwards, wild curls peeking out from under the brim. His shirt is also bearing sweat marks, face flushed and pupils wide - but Louis will chalk that up to the beer. “Football? No way,” he answers slyly.

The Alpha takes a beat before responding with his own smile. “I’m a Packers fan myself,” he quips, wiping at his nose.

“Cubs? Packers? Where the hell are you even from?”

Zayn lets out a snort himself at that, suddenly reminding Louis of his presence. He doesn’t bother with a glance, but does shift uncomfortably.

“New York City,” the Alpha says. “Big Apple.”

Louis huffs. “NYC and you move to Chicago?”

He shrugs and takes another drink of his beer, wiping his nose and foam mustache as he lowers the cup. “I needed a change of pace.”

Louis lets himself look back at the man, who hasn’t broken contact with him since they initiated their conversation. The other guy, Louis assumes another Beta, is fiddling with his phone in-between sips of beer.

“You and your… Partner then?”

That makes the other guy laugh loudly, finally looking up from his phone. His bulky sunglasses cover most of his face. “Mate,” he says through an Irish accent, “I wouldn’t be caught dead dating this lump.”

At the snark, the Alpha blushes, looking down at his beer. If it wasn’t for the pure man he exuded, Louis would say he looks downright boyish.

“In my defense - Niall is only into other Betas,” the Alpha, Harry, responds, still working with his more prominent blush. “And I’ve only ever been with uh, well, Omegas.”

Louis does little to hide his own blush, busying himself with drinking more beer. He’s getting dangerously low on his drink already and is wondering if he should offer to go grab more again.

Sensing Louis won’t respond, Harry continues on. “Niall and I met at NYU. He was in for an exchange program and I guess decided the US of A had better things to offer than Dublin.”

“That better thing was sports marketing, to be clear,” Niall butts in. “I work for a firm that specializes in minor league marketing. Sometimes we get free tickets.” He smiles towards Louis and Zayn.

“That’s cool,” Zayn mutters, crushing the last of his beer. “I do graphic design. Freelance. Got a gig and he offered me tickets after I finished the project.”

“Neat,” Harry says. “I work at a law firm. I get free tickets to like the opera.” He laughs a little self deprecatingly, wipes at his nose again. “And you?” He motions towards Louis.

“Lou’s a professor,” Zayn says, not giving the Omega a moment to answer himself. “English. Shakespeare?”

Louis groans. “Don’t say that, Zaynie. Everyone hates Shakespeare.”

“I’ve never read Shakespeare,” Harry says, head cocked curiously. “Do you teach all his works or just the tragedies or?”

“I like to go between them. I prefer the tragedies I think. Hamlet and King Lear are like,” Louis pauses. “There’s nothing better than that, really.”

Harry nods seriously like he understands.

“Lou, do you want another beer? I’ll go get some while we hit the 7th inning stretch,” Zayn asks, already standing up.

“Sure,” he says, handing over his empty plastic cup.

“I’ll go with,” Niall adds, standing up himself. “Haz, I’ll grab ya one now, but you owe me the next round.”

Harry only smiles brightly, handing over his own plastic cup.

As the inning ends, people in the stands continue to stand up, leaving large spaces around the two.

Harry stretches his arms up, clearly unashamed of his own smell. The Alpha clearly had neutralizers as well - scent starting to sine through the longer the neutralizers continue to wear off. “So, you and Zayn?”

Louis smiles, head rolling back on the chair. He looks at Harry curiously. “Why? You interested? I should tell you - Zayn’s only into Betas as well. You might not have the best of luck there.”

Harry barely entertains Louis’ defense. “Did I not just mention I only see Omegas?” He quips back.

Suddenly, there’s a loud cheer around them. When Louis flicks his head away from Harry, he notices the big screen has put up a kiss cam. He rolls his eyes on impulse.

Harry takes note as well, and they both watch a younger looking Beta blush as the Alpha next to them leans in for a kiss.

“These are so embarrassing,” Louis mutters. “Like worst nightmare.”

Harry huffs next to him as the kiss cam pivots to two obvious Alpha bros who laugh before dramatically leaning in to each other. “What’s wrong with a little PDA?”

“Nothing,” Louis defends. “But this makes it such a spectacle. Like - people don’t need to know how we all kiss.”

At this - Harry laughs. “It’s all in good fun, though. Like - it doesn’t have to be weird. Kissing can be just kissing, you know?”

“Maybe for you,” Louis stresses, breaking eye contact with the screen to turn to look at Harry - who he finds is already looking at him. “But for other people, kissing can be serious. I don’t just kiss anyone.”

Though antiquated - Omegas are still generally shunned for having an active sex life. Or romantic life. Much like the Omegas that came before him, Louis has been ingrained to believe he needs to be pure, clean, virginal for his Alpha one day.

A Chicago baseball game in the middle of summer isn’t really a place to confess that you’ve only kissed two other people in your life.

“I’m not trying to imply anything, Louis. I’m sorry.” And Harry does sound sorry, is the thing. His eyes cast downwards.

“No, it’s fine, it’s -.” His own apology gets cut off by unusually loud cheering in their section. When he looks up, it takes him a moment to register what’s on the screen.

It’s him.

It’s him and Harry.

“Uhm,” he stutters, cheeks turning more red. “I -.”

It seems to be in that moment, Harry registers it as well. “Oh, we don’t -.” But his explanation gets cut off by more cheering.

Louis is sure he looks like a ripe tomato at this point - can’t believe this is a moment he actually must experience. He looks out in the crowd and tries to dissuade them somehow. “We’re not actually -.” But at that moment the operator comes over the intercom.

“Come on, be an Alpha and kiss him already!”

Mortified, Louis can’t do much but helplessly look at Harry. “Is it okay if I kiss you, Lou?” He asks, with a sort of ‘we may as well’ look on his face.

Louis barely finishes his nod before Harry’s leaning in. He cups a strong hand around Louis’ jaw, pulling him closer, and Louis only registers the faint smell of cedar before he feels Harry’s lips on his.

It’s plush. That’s the only word Louis can think of. Plush.

And by the time Louis registers the lavender undertone in the scent, Harry’s pulling away and the kiss cam has moved on to an older couple in another section.

Stupidly, all Louis can say is “oh.”

Harry’s still looking at him, pupils even darker than before. “That was nice.”

Before Louis can add his own opinions about the kiss - sweet, tender, soft, good - he hears Zayn behind him.

“Are you two done eye-fucking for the whole stadium to see or should Niall and I go spend the remainder of the game in the gift shop?”

“Fuck off,” Louis shoots back, grabbing for his beer and doing his best to hide his face under his cap and in his drink.

“Mate, it’s already forgotten,” Niall reassures. “Not like anyone’s gonna remember.”

Yeah, but I am going to remember, Louis thinks bitterly.

“Niall’s invited us for drinks after the game,” Zayn offers to change the subject. “If you’re in?”

“Sure,” Louis confirms noncommittally. If he can manage it, he’ll fake a headache. Dehydration. He’ll need a nap. And then he’ll be able to escape to his apartment, his nest, and sleep this day away. And forget about Harry.

Harry - who has refused to look at him since they broke apart.

————

It’s when Louis’ pressed in a corner booth of a shitty sports bar that he realizes his grave error in agreeing to come with.

After a long day in the heat, not only have his neutralizers worn off but he can smell the rest of the bar. Scents swimming around in his head. That and the lack of water has made his stomach iffy and his head a sea.

“You don’t look great,” Niall comments after pouring waters all around. Harry had offered to get the first round of drinks, to which everyone readily agreed to, so it’s just the Omega and Betas.

“Yeah,” Louis agrees, downing half his water in one go. “Just forgot how smelly bars can get.”

“You don’t go out often?”

“We’re lucky if Lou goes out at all,” Zayn interrupts, drinking some of his own water.

Louis huffs, but only because he knows Zayn is right. He’s never been big on big nights out - not since college, anyway. At 27, he’s worked hard for this degrees, and enjoys his work. He had his party phase, and while he still enjoys a beer, he would much prefer it at home with some friends rather than with a bunch of strangers.

“Harry’s been the same way since we moved here,” Niall adds. At mention of his name, Louis looks up to see where Harry is at the bar and finds him propped against the bar, two drinks already poured and ready in front of him, chatting with a young Omega.

Something bristles inside of Louis, but he tamps it down as fast as he can.

“Seriously,” Niall continues, more talking to Zayn now instead of Louis. “I think we’ve had one night out since we’ve moved here. He’s become a total hermit.”

Zayn hums around another drink of his water. Louis wants to make some snarky comment like ‘looks like he isn’t out of practice or anything’ but he can’t even muster the energy to do that. He distantly wishes he had asked someone to order fries their drinks. Some food would be grounding.

“Is he like… super traditional or something?” Zayn asks, breaking the silence.

Niall shrugs. “He can be. I think he likes the idea of finding his true mate. But he’s not like.. celibate. We’ve had a good laughs in our day.”

The notion of Harry pulling anyone at this moment is enough to make Louis full-on nauseous.

“Though, he’s not dating right now or anything,” Niall adds quickly. Louis’ still focused on Harry, who is now working at gathering all four drinks while still talking to the Omega. “That’s why we moved. Breakup.”

That piques Louis’ interest.

“Don’t tell him I told you,” Niall rushes, realizing what he’s said. “I shouldn’t have said anything. Sorry.”

“No worries, man,” Louis reassures. Though, it really is kind of worries, man. Breakup. That’s new information.

It’s that time that Harry makes his way back to their corner booth. Most of Louis’ own illness has subsided, something he chalks up to the AC and water he’s managed to down, but he still has a lot on his mind.

A breakup.

A breakup so bad Harry decided to move to a whole new city.

“Did you guys miss me?” Harry teases as he slides beer to everyone at the table before taking a seat next to Niall.

“Looked like you didn’t miss much of us,” Niall comments lamely, eyebrows raised.

Harry at least has the decency to look confused before realizing. “Oh, Anna? She was just by the bar when I was.”

Zayn mutters something like “a modern day Romeo and Juliet” under his breath, causing Louis to snort next to him.

Harry turns to look at him. “I ordered some fries too. I hope that’s okay? The waiter will bring them over when they’re done. I feel like we need some food after that heat.”

Louis knows that, like, realistically, Harry didn’t order them just for him, but well. It soothes his Omega after the sting of the stranger.

“Cheers, mate,” Niall offers, starting on his beer. “We were just talking about the last time we had been out after, like, 7 p.m.”

The Alpha laughs loudly at this. “Oh geez, yeah. I’m much more of a stay at home with a glass of wine kinda guy now.”

Much to Louis’ displeasure, Zayn offers a noise of agreement for him. “Lou too. He needs his free time to review modern reiterations and allusions to Hamlet.”

“Et tu Brute?” Louis mumbles more than asks - looking for any out to change the subject.

“That’s Caesar, idiot.”

Harry laughs lowly and turns to Niall gesturing to a message on his phone. It gives Louis the chance to look at him now, post-kiss. Without the blinding sun, Harry’s features are a lot more defined. His sharp jaw line, his curls appear a lot shorter, and Louis catches sight of a silver necklace that disappears under his shirt.

It all makes him remarkably hotter and Louis doesn’t know what do with that information.

He doesn’t have much time to think about it before the waiter comes by and dumps off a few baskets of fries with ketchup and the rest of their conversation swirls around to getting to know each other further.

————

Zayn’s puttering around in the kitchen, looking for something sweet to snack on - something Louis has told him he doesn’t keep stocked any longer, but he insists on smoking before crashing Louis’ afternoon, anyway - when he says: “Hey, Niall wants to know if you would wanna brunch this weekend with us?”

Louis sets down the paper he was grading carefully, scrunching his nose to realign his glasses. “What?” he calls out uncertainly, sure he’s misheard Zayn.

The Beta comes around the corner from the kitchen with a bag of Trader Joe’s pickle flavored chips. Louis’ favorite. Dammit. “Niall. Brunch. Sunday?”

“You and Niall are talking?”

Zayn crunches around a bite of chips. “Yeah, man. I got his number at the bar the other night. Did you not snag Harry’s?”

At the mention of the Alpha’s name, Louis turns red in a blush. He’s been doing his best to avoid thinking about Harry for the last week, though he did cave the other day and bought a lavender candle to burn at night.

“Oh,” Louis said, realizing how silent it had gotten. “Uh… No. I guess we didn’t.”

Zayn looks at him curiously, clearly thinking through his next words carefully. Louis, at the very least, appreciates the effort.

“I just assumed after you swapped spit on screen at a sold out stadium game you would trade numbers.”

Louis doesn’t even justify the comment with a laugh. “Right,” he huffs. “It was barely a peck. Hardly worth number gathering.”

“But, Lou,” Zayn starts as he plops on the couch - bag of chips clutched tightly. “You don’t kiss anyone.”

“Fuck off, I’m not some high schooler who can’t handle a kiss with a stranger.” Even Louis can hear how defensive he is.

“Well, he’ll be at brunch Sunday. So, if you’re looking for a second chance…” Zayn trails off, stuffing his face with another handful of chips.

And the thing is, Louis does want a second chance. He’s putting up a good fight for someone who is acting like a high schooler with a crush. His mind has been a constant replay of cedar and lavender and the kiss and the way Harry looked at him over fries and -

“Bro, are we watching this movie or not?” Zayn interrupts his thoughts.

Louis rolls his eyes, but he flicks the remote to Netflix - finding the latest horror movie Zayn’s been raving about. “I dunno if I should go. Shouldn’t the Alpha make the first move?”

Zayn snorts next to him. “I know you are not giving me that bullshit. Plus, Niall said he was going through something. Remember?”

Louis doesn’t justify that with a response. He’s too busy trying to forget every little detail he can about the mysterious Alpha from New York City.

Zayn takes his silence as his cue to change the conversation topic. “It’s just brunch, Lou.”

The Omega nods into his lap. He likes brunch. French toast and a mimosa.

And all the neutralizers he can find.

“You can wear that new maroon shirt you got the other day,” Zayn offers to break the silence.

And the new shirt.

————

After a week of prepping for the fall semester, it turns out Louis is incredibly ready for a mimosa. Maybe just straight champagne at this point.

He clicks out of his lesson plans, and opens up the doc where he keeps all of his references for the semester - noting how many highlighted works still need ordering or online links and sighs loudly.

Forget champagne - he’ll need straight vodka.

Louis sighs loudly in the empty apartment and sets his laptop aside for Future Louis to deal with. All morning he’s been going back and forth on what to wear at brunch. What to wear, what to eat. He had to google the menu just to make sure he knew exactly what he was going to get when they got there.

Zayn is on his way over now, though Louis knows they’ll already be late. He’s changed his shirt three times this morning alone, and has backup options laid out for when the Beta gets there and can help him choose his final outfit.

He’s debating scoop neck or Adidas sweatshirt when Zayn lets himself through the front door.

“Lou,” he chastises when he finds the Omega in his bedroom. “Not to go all superiority on you, but you really should keep that door locked.”

Louis waves him off as he shuffles the shirts on his bed around. “Bleh. I knew you were on your way over. It’s fine.”

Zayn rolls his eyes before promptly taking in the scene laid out. “Uhm. Why is half your wardrobe on your bed?”

“Just trying to pick an outfit, Zaynie.”

“Well,” he hums, fingering some of the shirts in a pile on the bed. “What about that gray crop top and a nice pair of jeans? That’s a good brunch look.”

“But the other day you mentioned the maroon shirt,” Louis whines. “Do you know what you're going to get to eat?”

“What?” Zayn asks, brows furrowed. “Bro, we haven’t even left the apartment yet. Of course I don’t know what I’m going to eat."

Louis groans loudly, collapsing on the bed in frustration.

“Bro, you need to like. Relax,” Zayn says, collapsing next to him. “It’ll be fine. No matter what you wear.”

Louis sighs, turning over on his side to face Zayn. The Beta cocks his head to side and they stare at each other for a beat. Initiating a sort of staring contest, Louis waits until his eyes get too dry and then blinks quickly.

“The crop top. And the mom jeans,” he finally grants.

Zayn grunts as he rises up off the bed. “Good choice, babe.”

They ride together to the restaurant - pulling up and Zayn alerting him that the other two are already there waiting for them.

“So,” Zayn starts, unbuckling and getting out of the door. “You decided against neutralizers?”

Louis freezes as he smooths out his top while Zayn rounds the car. “What?”

“I can smell you. Did you mean to not put them on?”

The Omega thinks back to his morning. Shower. Granola bar snack. Clothes everywhere. Zayn coming over.

“Fuck.”

“It’s fine!” Zayn rushes to assure, going as far to reach out to drag Louis into a hug. “It’s not too bad, I promise. Just barely there.”

“Zayn,” Louis whimpers almost desperately. He wants to ask his friend to take him back. This morning has been a disaster from the start. He wants to go home, scent a sweatshirt and curl up on his couch and not move all day.

Without putting up much of a fight, Zayn manages to drag Louis from the parking lot to the restaurant, quickly spotting Niall and Harry at a table in the back.

Unfortunately for Louis, Harry looks just as good as he did at the game. He’s gone casual as well - loose jeans and a white t-shirt with a pastel cardigan thrown lazily over his shoulder. Him and Niall have chosen to sit opposite of each other, and before Louis can think, Zayn has sat next to Niall. Leaving only one open seat.

“Uh, hi,” Louis manages to squeak out, sliding in to the empty seat.

Harry grins, a dimple carving its way into his cheek. “Hey there.”

Louis refuses to make eye contact until he knows he won’t be a blushing mess, but he can feel Harry’s eyes on him. For a moment, he silently thanks Zayn. Maybe the crop top was worth it.

Distantly, he hears Zayn and Niall in their own conversation - something about the latest Marvel movie - when Harry starts to say something to him.

“Uh - sorry, what did you say?”

The Alpha huffs out a laugh. “I was saying I like that shirt. It’s a nice color.”

In that moment, Louis can smell Harry. It’s not entirely indecent to not wear neutralizers in public - but he was hoping Harry had the foresight at least. But now, he can smell the cedar - he can detect traces of the lavender.

“Oh,” Louis finally gets out. “Thank you.”

He finally gathers the courage to meet the Alpha’s eyes, watching Harry rub at his nose before dropping his hand down on the table. “How have you been?”

Louis nods, trying very hard to not think about the kiss.

“Oh, I’ve been good. Just prepping for the fall semester.”

Harry nods back like he understands. “Shakespeare, right?”

The Omega smiles before he can stop himself. “Yeah. Shakespeare.”

In that moment, the water comes by the drop of some glasses of water for the table and asks if anyone would like anything else to drink. When Niall asks for a mimosa, Harry chimes in and asks for a pitcher.

“May as well, right?” he shrugs as the waiter goes off to put in their order.

“How are you doing?” Louis asks back, realizing Zayn and Niall went back into their own world.

“Good, good. We just took on this big property case so work’s been busy.” Harry stretches his arms out as if he’s remembering just how tense he’s been. “Enough coffee runs to last me a lifetime, I reckon.”

Louis hums. “So… you like, intern there?”

Harry laughs loudly, gathering the attention of the two Betas at the exact moment the waiter comes to drop off their mimosa pitcher. After he finishes laughing, he doesn’t hesitate before starting to pour Louis’ mimosa for him.

The Omega mumbles a small thank you though he doesn’t anticipate even touching the glass before his food gets here.

At that moment, Harry decides to finally answer his question.

“No, I’m not an intern. I am a junior partner.”

Mortified, Louis buries his face in his hands. “I’m so sorry. You said coffee… I just assumed.”

Harry lets out another laugh, and then allows his hand to land on Louis’ shoulder in reassurance. In that moment, before Harry realized his error in touching Louis, the Omega lingered in the brief warmth. The familiarity of it all - the thoughtfulness of gestures with no though behind them.

This is what it would be like all the time if you had a mate, he thinks.

When Harry removes his hand, Louis looks up to meet his gaze. For a moment, they hold the look - and it’s only when the waiter stops to take the order does Harry break contact first.

“Don’t worry about it,” Harry reassures. “Like I said, I’m a junior partner - basically an intern to those guys. I mostly just read contracts, punch numbers, blah blah blah…”

“Right,” Louis smiles. “Because that’s so not impressive compared to the Shakespeare papers I grade.”

The Alpha lets out a honking laugh, barely covering it with a drink of his mimosa. “I guarantee Shakespeare is more intensive and difficult than anything I do at my job.” Then he pauses for a moment. “Well, maybe not as difficult as taking the coffee orders.”

“Oh my god, shut up,” Louis banters, giggling into his arm with Harry.

Brunch carries on similarly, Louis learning more about Niall’s work and how he’s currently campaigning for a more inclusive baseball re-brand. (There’s been a notorious divide, not just with race, but genders, sexuality… Baseball for all. Ya know?) And Zayn regales them with details on his latest art project, a hard look at sustainability in a capitalistic economy.

After they eat, the four make their way out of the door - Niall and Zayn veer away from the other two making their own conversation.

“So, uhm,” Harry starts, sliding some sunglasses over his face. “I was wondering if maybe I could get your number? I, uh, well, I was thinking about reading some Shakespeare and, you probably know more than me so…”

Louis giggles a little, letting the back of his hand cover his face. The Alpha is emitting nervous pheromones. “Sure, Harry.” He reaches into his back pocket to pull out his own phone to hand to him. “You can input yours. I’ll text you? That way we have each other’s number.”

Harry nods as he quickly types in his number and waits for Louis to send him the confirmation text. Once they both have each other’s numbers, they glance at Zayn and Niall - still in the middle of their conversation.

“It was nice to see you again,” Harry rushes out in an attempt to fill the silence.

Even through the smells of outside - the mulch, the gas station across the road, the flower beds in front of the door - Louis can smell the cedar scent.

“Yeah,” Louis continues awkwardly. “I’m glad that Zayn and Niall were able to connect.”

“And us.”

Louis looks up to meet Harry’s eyes but finds them covered by sunglasses. “Yeah,” he agrees. “And us.”

Harry rubs at his nose a little, letting out a deep breath. “What do you think they spend so much time talking about?” He asks, gesturing towards the two betas. “Niall spent like most of the last 10 days laughing at his phone because of Zayn.”

Louis shrugs his shoulders, mostly oblivious to the fact that Niall and Zayn conversed quite that much. Zayn is notoriously non-monogamous. His last boyfriend had to have been years ago now.

“Some people just click,” he offers instead, trying to not to be too intrusive, but stealing another glance at Zayn and Niall. Zayn has a sly grin on his face and Niall has his head thrown back, laughing at whatever he said.

He feels Harry’s eyes on him then, and turns to look again at the Alpha. His mind is rendered to mush when he registers Harry’s scent again - this time just a muted sense of joy. “Yeah,” Harry finally agrees. “Some people just click.

———

Though Louis spends most of the first two weeks of the semester stressed out of his mind, his students quickly settle into his class - and deliver some of Louis’ favorite Shakespeare interpretations to date.

While sitting on his couch with a glass of wine on a Friday night, Louis is grading one of his student’s first essay - a quick, three page paper containing reflections of Taming of the Shrew.

He’s adding a missing comma when his phone vibrates loudly.

thoughts on pizza?

Louis smiles, realizing it’s from Harry. The two haven’t texted a lot since brunch a few weeks ago, but they’ve both been swamped with work.

generally positive. depends on the level of pineapple

It only takes a beat before the Alpha responds.

bleh. pineapples on pizza. this is why europeans make fun of americans.

i was considering ordering some. any chance you would want to split?

Louis frowns at his phone. The thing is - he would want to split. But it’s a bit unorthodox to go to an Alpha’s place alone under the pretense of pizza.

Plus, Louis has already changed into his sweatpants - he’s not sure if Harry is ready for that image.

As if reading his mind, Louis’ phone buzzes with a follow-up.

Niall is around tonight if that makes a difference.

sure - send me the address. can be there by 7?

see you soon! :) Harry responds, along with his address.

Louis has the decency to change into real jeans again, though leaves his old band t-shirt on in an effort to look like he didn’t put any effort into his look.

He only spends six extra minutes in his car making sure his hair is artfully messy.

“Welcome!” Harry greets him at the door. For a moment, it looks like the Alpha is going to hug him, but a beat too late, he steps back and lets Louis through the door. “This is our humble abode.”

It’s… cozy. For two men in well-to-do careers, Louis was expecting something more extravagant. But it mostly just feels homey. There are family pictures lining the walls, a TV mounted against the far wall across from a well-loved couch.

There’s an archway next to the couch leading back to what Louis presumes is the rest of the apartment.

Pizza boxes are set out on the coffee table - though a few slices have already been taken and presumably eaten - and a movie is currently paused on the TV screen.

“Niall is around here somewhere - he got a call from his boss. Something about RGB colors? Fuck if I know,” Harry rambles as he walks Louis further into the apartment. “But, yeah, make yourself at home. I know it’s a little small, but frankly, Niall and I just kind of chose a place on a map and moved on down. I think he’s hoping to get his own place when we have to renew our lease.”

There’s a candle lit on a bookcase being used as a general use shelf. One of those air freshener scents, and by the time Louis registers the scent he realizes he’s struggling smelling Harry himself.

“I was just watching Jurassic Park…” He rubs a hand over the back of his neck. “But we can put anything else on. X-Files. Community. We could find a different movie?”

Louis shakes his head. “Whatever you wanna watch. I’m cool with Jurassic Park. Are we cool to eat on the couch?”

The Alpha nods his assent, leading them both to their respective seats, digging into pizza and continuing to play the movie.

It’s the part where the t-rex has broken out of her pen that Harry notices Louis shiver.

“You cold?”

Louis shakes his head no, mostly to avoid being a burden. “I’m okay.”

Harry’s already standing though, stretching a bit. “It’s no worries. My sister is an Omega and she runs cold. I should have brought out a blanket. I’ll go get you something.”

“Oh, no - it’s fine. I don’t want to be a bother.”

The Alpha waves him off as he disappears around the corner.

Louis takes in the silence for a moment - Harry had put the candle out before he sat down earlier, and now that the scent has faded he can finally start to smell the Alpha. It’s only the third time the Omega has let himself register the scent as distinctly comforting.

Just as he’s basking in the scent, the Alpha has come back.

“I couldn’t find any blankets, but I have this old sweatshirt?” He holds up an admittedly beaten crewneck with NYU embroidered on the front. “Would this be okay?”

It’s almost pathetic how much Louis’ Omega suddenly yearns for it. It’s well-worn and loved and he knows it’ll be doused in the Alpha’s scent. He’s nodding before he even registers it, and gladly accepts the clothing when it’s handed to him.

Louis quickly throws it on over his head - smoothing it out while settling back down in the couch. He looks back to thank Harry, but finds the Alpha already looking at him, eyes hooded.

Harry clears his throat and blinks a few times before rounding the couch to go back to his seat. It takes another moment before he picks the remote back up to get the movie going again, and he turns his head like he wants to say something to Louis but gets interrupted by Niall coming down the hall.

“Sorry, mates. Got caught up in a branding emergency. Where are we in the movie?” The Beta plops himself down between Louis and Harry. He reaches out and snags a slice of pizza. “Can you believe I was the one who introduced Harry to these movies?” He asks mid-chew. “I mean seriously, aren’t these movies like… the pinnacle of American culture?”

Niall prattles on, leaning forward to throw his discarded crust in the box to pick up another slice. The movie is playing distantly in the background, and Louis wants to press the collar of the sweatshirt up against his nose.

He resists the urge, but while Niall’s leaned forward, he steals a glance at Harry, who he finds is already staring back at him. They give themselves a moment of eye contact before Harry breaks it, looking away and swallowing hard.

That’s why we moved. Breakup.

What Niall mentioned at the bar weeks ago pops up stubbornly - like a weed. Harry’s here because he was in love and now he’s not.

“I mean I guess if I had to choose like, the, all American movie it would be like… Independence Day. Maybe Back to the Future. But, seriously - he hadn’t seen Jurassic Park. Embarrassing.”

Louis chances a glance back at the Alpha, who he finds rubbing at his nose a little.

The sweatshirt sits heavy on him, but Louis feels wrapped up and comforted. He wishes he was pressed into Harry’s side, heavy arms tight around his waist.

Niall leans back into his seat, new slice of pizza in hand, effectively breaking eye contact between Harry and Louis again.

The movie continues in the background - but Louis' mind is stuck on a never ending loop of breakup breakup breakup.

He can’t help but think about that kiss a couple weeks ago - how he now can’t act like a functioning adult with the Alpha around, and swamped in that Alpha’s scent, his clothes, in his home, it’s doing something to him.

In that moment, Harry sharply inhales, exhaling through his mouth. Niall takes notice, and immediately asks if he’s okay, concern lacing his voice.

“Yeah,” Harry coughs out. “I think that jalapeño pizza is just settling weird. I’m good.” The Alpha straightens up in his seat, pointedly looking at the TV.

“Do you want me to go grab you some medicine or -.” At that moment, Niall’s phone interrupts them in a harsh ring. He takes a quick look at it, and dips out of the room with no explanation.

The movie is now at the point where the velociraptors have begun hunting the guests on the island, and Louis has readjusted his body to lay more comfortably on the couch, trying his best to keep a respectable distance from Harry.

Louis lets his mind wander again as Laura Dern realizes she’s alone in the control tower and the raptors have broken in. Would Harry be upset if he were to snuggle in closer? Just a little? Head on a shoulder, pressed up against his side. Louis wonders if Harry would shove him off, disgusted with his scent - or if he would pull him closer.

The thoughts of Harry holding him must cause him to drift, because when he stirs next, it’s to Harry waking him up.

“Hey,” the Alpha whispers, voice rough. “You fell asleep. Movie’s over.”

Louis blinks owlishly, taking in the surroundings. The pizza boxes have been moved, and the TV is back to the Hulu loading screen. It’s notably darker, only a small lamp on in the corner. Harry’s standing in front of him, small frown line between his eyes.

“Sorry,” Louis mumbles as he stretches and begins to stand. “I didn’t mean to. I’ll get out of your hair.”

“Are you good to drive home? I can give you a ride if you need one.”

“Nah,” Louis waves him off as he makes his way towards the door. “I’ll be fine.”

“Are you sure? You can always crash here. I could take the couch,” Harry continues, rubbing harshly at his nose. “Or you could take the couch. Whatever.”

Louis giggles a little, grabbing his keys by the door. “Nope, I’ll be fine.” He pauses for a moment, looking at the Alpha. “That’s how you know you’re getting old - you start crashing before midnight on a Friday.”

Harry lets out a huff of laughter, though he looks like he wants to say more. He stares at Louis for another beat before the Omega realizes.

“Oh! Sorry,” he begins taking off the sweatshirt, “I didn’t even realize it was still on. You must want it back.”

“No,” Harry says, stepping forward to stop Louis from taking off the shirt. “No, keep it. I, uhm…” He trails off for a moment. “Sorry, no. It’s fine. You can keep it. I can get it back another time.”

Louis’ Omega preens at the idea of seeing Harry again. Soon enough, obviously, for the Alpha to feel comfortable enough to lend out his sweatshirt.

“Here,” Harry says, continuing towards the door, “I’ll walk you out.”

It’s quiet outside, just the general sounds of nighttime bugs chirping and croaking. They step to Louis’ car, and stand awkwardly outside of the car’s front door.

“Thanks,” Louis finally gets out to break the silence. “For the movie. And dinner. And walking me to my car,” he laughs.

He looks up to find Harry grinning down at him. “No problem, Lou. I’m glad we got to see each other. I know how busy work has been for us both.”

Louis smiles back at the Alpha, surely letting out pleased pheromones. “Right? I feel like a year has passed since we got brunch.”

“Exactly,” Harry agrees.

They let another beat of silence fall between them. Louis stays hesitant to leave, waiting for Harry to make the first move.

“I guess…” Harry trails off, and then shakes his head. “Do you want to get coffee some time this week? I can swing by the campus?”

Before Louis can even agree, Harry quickly adds: “Ya know, for the sweatshirt?”

“Oh… Yeah, sure. Just text me. My Wednesdays are usually flexible.”

Harry smiles, though it seems strained. “Great. I’ll see you then.”

And then the Alpha opens the driver door for Louis, ushering the Omega in.

“Drive safe!” He offers. And Louis pulls out of the parking spot.

———

There’s a small coffee shop on a side street right off campus that Louis frequents. The works behind the counter change each semester, but they always pick up on his favorite drinks within their first month.

“Hey Louis,” the sweet Beta behind the counter today greets. “Vanilla cold brew? Our muffin of the day is almond strawberry!”

Louis smiles brightly at them and goes to say yes, please that sounds great when a voice behind him speaks up first.

“Can we make that two muffins and add a black coffee?” Harry says behind Louis, card already out and poised towards the barista. He places his right hand briefly on Louis’ shoulder in greeting, but the touch is fleeting at best.

“Sure!” The Beta agrees, and proceeds to take his card and turn around to get to their order.

“Good morning,” Harry officially greets when they both have their drinks and are sitting in a back corner of the shop. “You look nice.”

It’s well into the school year by now, and Louis was finally able to pull out a nice sweater and just a casual pair of jeans. He appreciates that his job allows him to dress as he wants when he wants.

“Thank you,” he responds, going to take a drink from his coffee. “You do too.” And Harry does. He must have taken a break from his office, decked in tight work pants and a button up with the sleeves cuffed. He has a few tattoos peeking out from underneath the sleeves.

Unfortunately, though, he has clearly chosen to wear neutralizers today - hiding his scent with a strong cologne.

“I, uh,” Louis continues, pushing a small bag towards the Alpha. “I have your shirt.”

Harry looks a little taken aback, almost like he had forgotten the sweatshirt. And he takes the bag gingerly, sparing it a small glance before setting it aside. “Thanks,” he mumbles, and then goes to take a bite of his muffin.

“How has your week been?”

“Ah,” Harry says, licking a crumb off his thumb, Louis pointedly doesn’t stare. “It’s been good! You know that case I mentioned forever ago? We’re finally wrapping that up. There was a moment there where I wasn’t sure if it would ever see the light of day.”

“Oh, good!” He responds, maybe a little too enthusiastically.

“And classes are good?”

“For sure. We have our first few essays coming up, and I’m excited to see what the students come up with this year,” Louis beams.

Harry rubs at his nose a little before going to his coffee and taking a long drink. “That’s good. It must be cool reading different viewpoints each year. Like, refreshed takes every few months.”

“It is pretty neat. Sometimes it can be a bit repetitive, but mostly it’s like viewing the world in a new light through each student. I don’t know if I would do the job if it weren’t for that.”

He looks up to find Harry grinning at him, and even with a bit of almond stuck between his teeth, Louis can’t help but find him hopelessly endearing.

“Apologies,” comes a friendly voice next to Louis. The Omega looks up to find one of his students - a young, though promising Omega named Jasmine. “Professor Tomlinson - I didn’t know you had an Alpha. I just wanted to say hi and introduce myself.”

Harry greets hello and offers a hand in the same moment that Louis says “oh, we’re just friends.”

There’s an awkward beat where Jasmine doesn’t know how to respond, but in the moment her hand meets Harry’s and the moment she realizes he’s not taken by Louis seem to register at the same time. She tucks her hair behind her ear, and offers a bright smile.

“It’s so nice to meet you.”

Harry grins at her and agrees before turning back to Louis.

Louis - who has gone stock-still in his seat. He’s not dumb. He may be a virgin but he’s not dumb. He knows how attractive Jasmine is - and he knows how desirable an Alpha like Harry would be. He pretends like he can’t smell the soft pheromones coming off from the other Omega.

Harry, though, seems to have a harder time ignoring the obvious, and rubs at his nose a little stressfully. He takes a long drink of whatever is left in his coffee cup.

“Right,” Jasmine says, sensing the newfound tension in the room. She doesn’t look at Louis and for a moment, the Omega is glad. “Well, again, I just wanted to say hi. I’ll see you in class tomorrow, Professor Tomlinson.”

Louis doesn’t even offer her a goodbye before she makes her way to the door.

“Sorry about that,” Louis says, finishing off his muffin. “I don’t know why she acted like that.”

Harry looks at him incredulously for a moment before shaking his head. “It’s okay. We’re an Alpha and Omega out together, I’m sure other people would assume we’re together.”

Before he can help himself, Louis lets out a loud laugh. “Oh, that. Yeah.”

“I mean,” Harry huffs, sitting up straight and crossing his arms. “It happened to us at the baseball game.”

“No way Jasmine would have asked us to kiss, thank God,” Louis says, cheeks warming at the reminder.

“Thank God?” Harry asks, staring back at the door as if he can will Jasmine to reappear and ask for her opinion.

Louis senses the distress quickly. “Look, she’s a nice girl. If you want to meet her again, I’m sure she would be down.”

“What?”

“I’m just saying she’s pretty, I get it, like if Omegas were my thing I would understand so -.”

“No,” Harry interrupts, aggressively. Louis looks up to meet his eyes, finding them dark and nearly feral. “No, I don’t want her number. Or to meet her. Or frankly to see her again.”

“Oh,” Louis whispers down at his lap. “Okay.”

“Look,” Harry starts, sitting up a little straighter and leaning across the table. “I’m here with you, yeah?”

Louis nods minutely down in his lap, and pointedly does not look at Harry. For some reason he’s feeling incredibly put out, like he did something bad.

“Louis,” the Alpha says sternly, finally getting the Omega’s attention. “Let me walk you to your next class.”

Louis lets him and leads him a few buildings over where he has his next lecture. The duo were quiet on their walk over, but just the fresh air has seemed to bring a sense of calm to the both of them. Whatever that… episode was in the coffee shop can be forgotten now.

It’s 2022 - Alphas and Omegas can be friends. Louis knows this. But to find two just hanging out alone in coffee shops who aren’t courting or dating or whatever must be strange.

It’s certainly something Louis does not do often.

“Thanks for walking me to class,” Louis says, looking up at the Alpha. For a moment, it feels like he’s in college again, letting his boyfriend walk him to class before he runs of for a job interview or something. That thought leaves him excited.

“Of course,” Harry nods. He shifts uncomfortably on his feet. “Look, I’m sorry about that thing in the coffee shop. I’m not really sure what came over me.”

Louis frowns as he tries to understand. Wasn’t he the one to cause a scene?

“It’s fine, Harry. It’s already forgotten.”

“I appreciate it. But I just…” Harry trails off and looks around quickly. “Look, I gotta go. I appreciate you giving me my shirt back.”

“Of course, it’s no problem.” Though, distantly, he knows how much he’ll miss it. He’s embarrassed to admit it, but the sweatshirt became his go-to of what to wear to bed.

“Can I uh… Can I give you a hug?”

Louis’ head shoots up to confront Harry. He meets his eyes, finding nothing but earnestness. “You want to hug me?”

Harry shrugs his shoulders. “I still feel bad about the coffee shop and I don’t want to leave you like this.”

Like this feels like a stretch even to Louis.

“I don’t want to leave with you thinking I’m mad or frustrated or whatever. I’m not.”

“Oh,” Louis whispers.

It’s already strange enough for the two of them to be hanging out with each other and no one else. Even in public spaces, Louis is sure the image they gave off was something akin to a  couple - there is a reason Jasmine made the comment she did.

The PDA… That’s something else altogether.

“It’s stupid, never mind,” Harry rushes out, already starting to back away.

“No, here, it’s fine,” Louis finally acquiesces, holding his arms open and stepping towards the Alpha. “It’s not like we haven’t already kissed or anything,” he tries to joke, but it gets lost in Harry’s shoulder.

For a brief moment, Louis doesn’t register anything but Harry’s scent - which, still buried under neutralizers and cologne, he still picks up faintly. Then, he starts to feel Harry’s arms wrapped tight around him, pressing him tightly agains the Alpha.

For a brief moment, all he can feel, smell and think is Harry.

For a brief moment, in the middle of a busy college campus - it’s just them.

Then, Harry pulls away, offers one last goodbye, and sets off towards his car, leaving Louis to return to his class.

———

Jasmine doesn’t show up to class all week.

———

“So, he’s like… courting you?”

“What?”

Zayn maneuvers until he’s sprawled out on Louis’ couch. “He’s courting you? Right?”

Louis breaks his eye contact with the TV to glare at Zayn. “What about what I’m telling you has led you to the conclusion that he is courting me?”

Zayn crunches a mouthful of jalapeño puff chips from Trader Joe’s. “He gave you his sweatshirt. He bought you coffee. And now he wants to meet for dinner?”

“He took back that sweatshirt, I buy you coffee, and you get dinner with Niall all the time.”

“Well,” Zayn starts, taking a long drink from his beer. “Maybe Niall’s trying to court me.”

Louis huffs out a laugh and rolls his eyes. He was enjoying a quiet night in with Zayn - movie, trashy snacks and drinks, and just a general decompress with his best friend. Naturally, Harry came up and now he’s being subjected to this inquiry.

“Dinner is too casual to be counted as courting.”

“That can be true - but that doesn’t mean it’s necessarily true.” Zayn fires back. “I think coupled with the coffee and the shirt -.”

“That he took back.”

“And the shirt… I think he’s a-courtin’.”

Louis takes a beat and turns on Buzzfeed Unsolved just to have some sort of noise that isn’t Zayn’s incessant voice.

“Okay, first of all - don’t ever call it a-courtin’ again. Second, you’re forgetting one crucial part to this story which is: Jasmine. She was basically drooling over him in public and he didn’t seem to mind too much. Even with me right there.”

Zayn grunts into the chip bag. “Are you sure he was acting like that because of her? Because sometimes you don’t realize how strong your own scent is. And you’re not always good at remembering your neutralizers.”

The Omega takes a deep breath. Without a consistent boyfriend or scenter in his inner circle - he’s never been able to train himself to control his scent well.

“Trust me, I think he was mostly disgusted by my scent than anything else.”

Zayn shrugs, and settles more comfortably on the couch. “And, yet, he wants to get dinner with you. Not lunch, not coffee, not some shitty movie night with pizza but dinner.”

Louis sighs loudly and turns to look at the Beta, who he finds already looking at him. “Remember when we first met them? And we were at that bar? And we were all kind of sun-drunk and just generally drunk drunk? Well, remember how Niall mentioned Harry went through a breakup?”

“Babes, I’m not sure what this has to do with him wanting to take you to dinner.”

“Well, like, it was a bad enough breakup that they moved to a different city, right?” Louis continues. “He must have been like really in love with this person and I just don’t think that this is something he would really want and even if it is -,” he rushes out before Zayn can disagree. “I don’t think this is something I could even match. I can’t be what he wants. I’m just… inexperienced and needy and it would be like work on his part and there’s no way this Alpha who-.”

“Okay, woah, let’s slow down,” Zayn finally interrupts, turning his whole body to meet Louis head-on. “First - you have no idea what’s going on in his head. Okay? Like none at all. I am just teasing - maybe he is courting, maybe he really does just want a friend. Either way - that doesn’t have anything to do with you, okay?”

Louis won’t meet his eyes, but nods in his lap a little. He feels Zayn’s hand reach out to grab his own and squeeze tightly.

“Second: it’s not your responsibility to determine what other people want. I want to be your friend. Harry clearly wants something with you. It’s not your job to tell people what they can and cannot handle.

“And third your experience level has nothing to do with anything. You could have slept with 100 Alphas or no Alphas,” Zayn looks at him pointedly. “It won’t change anything if the person you’re with is who you are meant to be with.”

Louis sighs again, knowing Zayn’s right. After being friends with the Beta for nearly a decade, he’s come to accept the fact that he’s right more often than not.

Damn his sensible Beta brain.

After another beat, Zayn settles back against the couch, turning to officially start watching the show. “Where is he taking you to dinner?”

“Celeste.”

“He’s taking you to Celeste? Louis what the fuck?”

“I know, I know!” Louis rushes out, knowing that answer doesn’t support his “just friends” argument. Celeste is a notorious date spot. It’s good food, good drinks and a generally good atmosphere.

His sister would remind him that it’s pricer too and it’s a great place to see how much an Alpha is willing to put out before he asks you to put out.

“I mentioned I’ve always wanted to try the drinks there and now we’re going Friday night.”

“Bro, you better dress the fuck up. Like, seriously. Niall and I tried going there the other night and it was packed and we were wildly underdressed.”

“Why was Niall trying to take you to Celeste?”

Zayn grunts. “He wasn’t. We were just walking by and saw it. I said the same thing - their drink menu looks insane.”

Louis looks at him questioningly, but ultimately lets it die.

———

Harry picks him up at 4:30 on Friday. It’s only been two weeks since he spent any sort of time with the Alpha, but just seeing his face has reminded Louis why he was so hesitant to agree to this in the first place.

The Alpha is wearing tight, straight-legged pants. Though his footwear is more casual with just a pair of Vans, his satin top is coupled with beautiful, striped cardigan. His hair flops effortlessly on the top of his head, and he even shaved his face for the occasion.

“These are for you,” Harry greets, handing him flowers. “I saw them at Trader Joe’s this morning and couldn’t help myself.”

The sunflowers are huge and, frankly, radiant. Louis takes them shyly, tucking them into his chest, careful not to get flower petals on his own outfit - a light pink crochet top with a white heart in the middle and a pair of his own tight dress pants. He has a dusting of eyeshadow on, and even thought ahead and threw some mascara on as well.

“Wow,” he murmurs. “These are gorgeous. Thank you.”

The Alpha looks entirely too pleased with himself with a big grin showing off his dimples.

As the two make eye contact over the flowers, it becomes all too apparent they both decided to forgo neutralizers for the night.

“Let me just put these away, come on in,” the Omega grants, stepping aside to let Harry in. “Sorry, just ignore the papers. I made a rookie mistake and assigned too many essays this year.”

Harry lets out a huff of laughter as he surveys the living space. Louis finds an old plastic water bottle and fills it with water before setting the flowers inside.

“Alright, you ready?”

He finds Harry looking at some photos framed on the wall. He’s looking at a picture of Louis and his mom from when Louis was in grade school. “Is this your mom?” he asks.

Louis nods slowly. “Yeah. That was forever ago. Back before she had all the girls.”

“She’s beautiful.”

Louis blushes on her behalf. She would have loved how charming Harry is. “Was,” he finally grants. “She passed about two years ago.”

Every time he says it, he knows he’s going to get an odd reaction. People never know how to console children who have noted that their parents are gone.

But he trusts Harry.

“Oh, Lou, I’m so sorry,” Harry says, turning to fully look at him. “That must have been hard.”

“It was, but that picture always makes me smile. She was the best mom. And I miss her all the time, but that picture is always there for me to remember her.”

There’s a beat of silence after Louis’ words, making him feel uncomfortable.

“Anyway, we don’t need to talk about my dead mom,” he tries to joke. But, when he looks at Harry, he still finds Harry frowning at him.

The Alpha reaches a hand out and rests it on Louis’ upper arm. “Whenever you want to talk about something like this, I am here for you, Lou. If you wanted to spend all night sitting here and talking about her, we could do that.”

Louis sniffles, breaking the eye contact to wipe at his eyes. “No,” he finally manages to get out. “I appreciate it, but nah. I want to finally go try the sugar daddy drink.”

Harry lets out a honk of a laugh and leads them out the door and to his car.

Celeste is crazy busy - as Louis would have predicted. They had tried to get there early to beat some of the crowd, but they still have to fight through the crowd to get the bartender’s attention.

Harry keeps a heavy hand on the small of Louis’ back as they break through the crowd to get their drinks, and leaves it there even when the bartender walks over to take their order.

Before Louis can even say a word - Harry has already handed the bartender his card and asked for “one sugar daddy and one old fashioned, please. Tab open. Thanks.”

Even with all the scents mixing and mingling, Louis is still able to pick up on Harry’s cedar wood scent, comforting and heavy on him as the Alpha’s arm stays secure behind him. He glances over to look at the Alpha, and finds him staring straight ahead, watching the bartender move, but a hand reaches out to rub at his nose.

“Hearing you say the words sugar daddy was funnier than it had any right to be,” Louis says to break the silence between them. “If I had known you were ordering, I would have just asked for a gin and tonic.”

Harry breaks into a grin and looks down at the Omega. “It was no problem. Frankly, I want to try it myself but don’t want him to think this big strong Alpha goes around ordering drinks called sugar daddy.”

Louis giggles and Harry’s arm tightens around his waist. “Thank you for the drink.”

“Of course,” Harry responds as the bartender brings their drinks over. He mumbles out a thanks and hands Louis his drink as they walk away. “The upstairs bar may be less crowded?” He offers and Louis nods as Harry continues to lead them upstairs.

Luckily for the two of them, the upstairs bar is less crowded, and they find a table near the edge of the building.

The upstairs section is mostly windows, which the staff have decided to be open, leaving a nice breeze coming through the bar. “This is nice,” Louis says, still looking around. The drink, the view, Harry - it is nice.

And for a moment, he lets it pretend like it’s a date.

“Is the breeze too much?” Harry asks, watching Louis wrap his arms around himself. “You always stay so cold. Here, take my cardigan.” The Alpha offers before sliding the clothing off and handing it out to Louis.

“Oh, no, I’m fine,” Louis hesitates, though the Alpha waves the cardigan again a little. “Okay, okay. Thank you,” he relents, and puts it on. He’s immediately greeted with Harry’s scent before anything else, his shoulders relaxing in response.

He is, unfortunately, warmer.

Harry rubs at his nose a little and smiles at Louis. “There. Much better.”

“Even though this cardigan definitely clashes with this top.” Louis pulls on the sleeves a little. “And a little big.”

“Nah, it looks good.”

Louis takes a long drink of the sugar daddy and smiles in appreciation.“Is it as good as you had hoped?”

“Yeah,” Louis affirms, offering the glass to Harry who accepts it and takes a drink of his own. “What about you?”

“It’s good. A little sweet, but sweet’s not a bad thing,” Harry grants, giving him back the drink. “Any chance you would want to try mine?”

Obvious innuendo aside - the Omega smiles back and politely declines, and the two carry on with their conversation. Harry asks Louis more questions about his family, and in turn, Louis learns a lot about Harry as well.

He learns that Harry’s family resides in New England, his mom, Anne, owns a greenhouse and his sister, Gemma, does research at a local college.

“She’s doing like doctoral research on like… feminist literature? Like she just did this whole thing on feminist theory applied to horror specifically through the lens of Hispanic authors. It was sick.”

“You’re telling me that your sister has all of this experience in literature and you didn’t think to mention it to the Shakespeare professor until now?!” Louis sputters out, already finishing off his second drink.

Harry laughs, taking the last drink of his second glass. “Yeah, well, like… Shakespeare is a little different than what she reads.”

The chill has fully set in now, though the Alpha doesn’t seem to be affected at all, which makes Louis all the more grateful he’s taken the Alpha’s sweater. Between the drinks and their scents mixing together, Louis has managed to convince himself this is in fact a date. The sun is creeping ever-lower and that and Harry have made a sort of picturesque Friday evening.

“Down for one more round? After this, I know this pizza place and we can get beers and split a slice?”

Louis absolutely beams. “That sounds perfect.”

Harry smiles back before taking off to go get their next round. The Omega takes the free moment to shoot Zayn a text about how it’s going, to which the Beta responds “get it, Lou!!!!!” Which is what he’s laughing at when Harry returns, credit card and drinks in hand.

There’s a beat of silence after the Alpha sits back down. And maybe it’s the fact that this is drink three on an empty stomach, maybe it’s the pheromones, maybe it’s just because Louis is a fucking idiot but the next words out of his mouth are:

“Harry, are you trying to court me?”

He immediately regrets it the minute it’s out of his mouth, cringing at his own words and looking down at his lap. He grasps at his drink and silently prays to disappear. If he had just kept his mouth shut -

“Uhm,” Harry stutters out. “I guess that’s a fair question.”

Courting isn’t essential any longer, but it’s not uncommon either. Usually, an Alpha expresses interest, and the couple goes through rounds of courting which usually end with some sort of commitment agreement - marriage, bonding, a relationship. It’s typically a year-long process, but Louis has never been courted before and is unsure of what the signs would even be.

“I think…” The Alpha hesitates, playing with his glass. “I think I want to court you.”

The noise in the bar has been completely sucked out. Louis’ ears feel numb, unsure of what to digest, and knowing his palms are sweaty and stomach is twisting in knots. “You think?”

Harry coughs in his hand awkwardly and takes a deep breath before answering. “Uhm, yes. I think. I… I like you,” he admits quietly. “I like you a lot. But there’s some things that I just… It would be hard. Courting you.”

Louis furrows his brow in thought. “Because of me?”

“No,” Harry rushes out. “No, not because of you. I uhm.”

There’s another beat of silence where Harry fiddles with his drink again. He starts emanating nervous, bitter pheromones start radiating off the Alpha.

“I was in a relationship. Before.” He finally says. It’s something Louis already knew, but he still lets the news shock him. “Uhm, back when I lived in New York. We dated - we courted - for years. I mean, they were it for me.”

Louis stays silent, letting the Alpha continue the story. He feels like he knows the ending already, but he needs to hear it from Harry himself.

“She ended it. I was finishing up law school, already working at a practice. She wanted to move out of the city, somewhere quaint. I asked her to just wait,” Harry’s voice goes low, like there’s something wedged in his throat. “I asked her to just wait until I finished school. But, she was ready then. She broke it off and left.”

Harry’s story makes it worse somehow - he didn’t want it to end. If Harry had made one different decision, Louis wouldn’t be here right now. If he ditched New York City for this Omega, Louis wouldn’t be wearing his cardigan.

The Alpha clears his throat. “It was hard. I was trying to take the Bar and trying to start my career and my one constant was gone. I told myself that was it - I just wanted to do work.

And, anyway, after that I needed to get out of the city. So, I finished school, took the Illinois bar and just got on the first plane to Chicago. My mom cried for a week,” the Alpha tries to laugh. “I think the only thing that kept her sane was Niall moving with me.”

Harry doesn’t offer any more explanation, but Louis decides to keep quiet for another moment longer. He loved her and she left him.

“I didn’t want to date again,” the Alpha continues. “I… Courting is so intimate, it’s borderline sacred, you know? Like, I took it very seriously. And I was… Not good after it all ended. Who would be?”

Louis takes a deep breath and looks up at Harry. “But you asked me here.” Harry nods slowly. “So…”

“So, I met you,” Harry offers. “And I loved your snark. And you’re smart. And you just… You smell so good. I don’t know. It was just one of the most immediate feelings I’ve ever had - that I needed you closer.”

They both stare at each other for a moment.

“I just needed you closer.”

It’s one of the most painfully vulnerable declarations of love Louis can honestly think of. He’s spent most of his life studying Shakespeare and love and tragedy and suddenly he can’t remember how any of those scenes go. What candle does Romeo hold if he killed himself only three days later?

“This…” Louis starts, gaining Harry’s attention. And for once his brain wins and he says something he means: “This needs to be serious, Harry. I can’t… I can’t be led on either. I don’t want you to flip-flop later.”

“No,” Harry says, reaching out to grab one of Louis’ hands. “I don’t want that either. Which is why I haven’t said anything earlier. I thought after I gave you my sweatshirt that would be enough but then you acted like you didn’t want it and I paid for the coffee that time and -.”

“What?” Louis laughs. “You took the shirt back, Harry. What else was I supposed to do? Put it in my nest and assume you would know?” The Alpha shrugs, as though that’s exactly what he expected Louis to do. “And, Christ, Harry, Jasmine was basically ready to fall on her knees for you and you didn’t say anything.”

“Exactly - I didn’t say anything!” Harry defends, but he’s laughing. “I was just waiting for her to leave. I just kept waiting.”

Louis lets out a laugh himself, and then they’re both laughing. Nearly two months of miscommunication has brought them here - tipsy confessions on a Chicago night.

“Kissing you at that baseball game was everything to me, Louis. I hope you know that.”

The Omega blushes and he’s sure he’s also emitting some pretty intense pheromones right now. The alcohol slushes uncomfortably in his stomach and he, yet again, wishes he had waited until they had a slice of pizza before having this conversation.

“It meant a lot to me too,” he finally mumbles out. “I don’t… Like, that’s not something I -.”

“I know,” Harry interrupts, squeezing his hand. “I know how important stuff like this is to you. I understand.”

Louis huffs, still refusing to make eye contact. “It’ll be awkward. Taking it so slow.”

“Louis, look at me.” Harry asks, gently. But Louis keeps his head downcast. “Lou, please?” He asks a bit firmer, finally getting the Omega to look up. “It won’t be awkward. Or it will, but that doesn’t matter. I want to at least try this with you. And if being patient is part of the deal - that will be fine. I don’t want to rush into anything either.”

Harry’s eyes stay earnest and though Louis has heard horror stories - accidental bondings, bad bondings, partners who start the courting process to leave halfway through… Omegas aren’t meant to be replaced, they don’t have the emotional capacity to deal with a back-and-forth. That’s why sleeping around is discouraged, that’s why people tend to stay with their bondmates forever. And as much as that scares Louis, as much as he shakes when confronted with the idea of intimacy, Harry looks genuine.

He looks like he means it.

“Okay,” Louis whispers.

“Okay?”

“Okay.”

Harry grins, letting go of Louis’ hand to down the rest of his drink. “Maybe ‘okay’ can be our ‘always’.”

Louis laughs as he finishes his drink too. “That was almost sweet.”

“Come on, pup,” Harry says, standing up and offering his hand. “Let’s go get some pizza, yeah?”

At the pizza shop, Harry downs a slice of pepperoni and then two slices of veggie while Louis sticks to his white pizza - the two splitting a pitcher of beer. Louis spends as much of the night as he can pressed up against the Alpha, rubbing shoulders and hoping to leave the restaurant smelling as much like Harry as he can.

Harry drives Louis home, and even walks him up to his apartment. As much as the Omega wishes he would kiss him, he appreciates Harry’s hesitation.

Instead, the Alpha dips down and scents him slightly before leaving him dazed and so, so happy.

———

Though Louis would disagree - Harry does not consider drinks and pizza their first date.

He makes his opinion well known in the days following their da - outing - claiming that Louis deserves a real date. Candles. Flowers. Wine instead of beer.

So, Louis gets dressed up - he finds his nicest clothes (that he can afford on his salary), he does his makeup, he even shaves (just in case). Harry has kept their date spot a secret, so Louis just hopes that he likes the menu and that it won’t be as stuffy as he feels right now in his dress clothes.

The date is a disaster from the start.

The restaurant overbooked, leading both Harry and Louis to stand and wait for a table for almost an hour. The waiter trips and drops their wine on the way over, and the kitchen has informed everyone they are out of chicken.

“I am so sorry,” the Alpha says, squeezing Louis’ hand from where it’s clasped across the table. “I had no idea. I thought this was going to be -.”

“It’s fine,” Louis assures, squeezing back. “I’m not that worried about it. We could always bail and go to McDonalds.”

Harry looks almost distraught at the thought. “You deserve better than McDonalds.”

“Is that what this is about?” Louis laughs. “Harry, I don’t care where I am. I just want to be with you.”

The Alpha grunts, but looks away from Louis quickly. He drops his hand and clenches his own into fists. “It’s just - you’ve never been with anyone, Lou.”

And, well. Yeah. It’s true. He hasn’t. But it still hurts.

His Omega whines a bit, dejected.

Harry’s head shoots up suddenly. “No, no - that’s not, please don’t whine again. That’s not what I mean at all.” He looks around to see if anyone in the restaurant has noticed Louis’ whining. “I just mean I want this to be perfect for you. I don’t want you to be with another Alpha this time in two years telling them about this asshole who tried to take you out for McDonalds instead of a real dinner.”

Harry sighs and rubs his hand over his face. “I just think that you deserve the best, okay? I know this hasn’t been the best date, but I want it to be.”

Louis goes from embarrassed to unbelievably fond in a matter of moments. He can’t believe this Alpha, sitting in front of him. He has no idea how he got so lucky in this moment, but he’ll just enjoy it as long as possible.

“Harry, this is the kindest thing anyone has ever tried to do for me. Let’s not beat ourselves up, yeah? It happens. I’ll probably end up spilling some wine on my white top before it’s all said and one,” Louis says, trying to lighten the mood. “I’m just so, so happy to be spending time with you. So, while we wait for the food - why don’t you tell me what else is in store?”

The Alpha finally smiles back at him, toothy grin and all. “Well, Louis, this is not only our first date, but also the beginning of our courting.”

The Omega can’t help but blush.

“So,” Harry continues, reaching out to grasp at Louis’ hand again. “The first stage of courting is all about getting to know each other, right? I figure now is the time for us to take our time, for us to be patient. Neither of us want to be hurt. This is the time to try to ensure that will never happen.”

Louis is practically beaming.

“And,” Harry keeps going, squeezing at Louis’ hand. “I want to be with you as much as possible. We’ll start to get acquainted - with each other, with our scents.” Louis’ smile broadens even further. “Next, we’ll work on quality time. We’ll start spending time at each other’s homes, learning more about hobbies and routines. After that, we’ll meet each other’s families and work on the bonding of our families before our own bonding, which, of course, will happen during the final stage.”

The Omega can smell the happy, thick scent of cedar wood from Harry’s words. He figures he’s releasing his own pleased pheromones when the waiter stops by the table to drop off their food.

Louis went with a simple pasta dish while Harry ordered a steak. The waiter sets Harry’s down first, and then Louis’ before bidding them a good meal. This is their first date, and as is customary, Louis waits until Harry takes the first bite before he starts his meal as well.

After a few bites, Harry continues his words. “I want this to be a partnership, Louis. That’s something I’ve thought a lot about since my last courting… I don’t ever want you to feel like you can’t tell me if you’re drowning.”

“Harry,” Louis interrupts. “No, I would never I-.”

“I know,” Harry smiles sadly. “Look, I can’t predict the future, but when I look at you all I feel is security. I am so happy to be here, with you, but I also know how important communication is.”

“It’s important to me too. Even when it’s uncomfortable it’s important.”

“Exactly. I want this to last - and that means trust and communication and honesty.”

Louis gives a faint smile, and the two finish their meal in relative silence. Louis declines dessert, as he doesn’t want to overeat - already feeling stuffed. At the same time, he silently hopes he gets another hour or two with the Alpha. 

Harry leads the two out of the restaurant, keeping a hand on the small of Louis’ back. “Do you want to maybe just drive around for a little bit?” He asks when they finally get back in the car.

“Yeah, I don’t want to go home yet.”

Harry smiles at him, and then proceeds to put the car in drive.

———

Louis is practically drowning in coursework. Briefly, he thinks he must look exactly like any cartoon character with miles of papers stacked around their head, their desk buried underneath pencils and stacks of three-day-old empty coffee cups.

Midterms hit him hard this year, and he is kicking himself for not realizing it when doing his course planning over the summer.

He makes a quick note on a sticky to rework the final projects for the semester so that neither him, nor his students, feel like they’re going crazy.

Louis wraps up the paper he’s currently working on, before turning to mark the grade online, making it official. He throws the paper in the “completed” corner, and when he swivels his seat to grab the next paper he sees a figure in his office’s doorway.

“Jesus Christ,” he yells, immediately backing away from the door, breathing hard until he realizes who it is.

The scent of cedar comes to him in waves, most likely in a comforting effort so the Omega knows the Alpha didn’t meant to startle him.

“No, just Har-.”

“Don’t finish that joke,” Louis glares at him, still trying to even out his breathing. “God, you scared the hell out of me.”

Harry offers him a sympathetic smile, before walking fully into the office, closing the door behind him. “I didn’t mean to. I’m sorry.” He offers a hand to lift Louis out of the chair and give him a hug in greeting. “I just wanted to drop off some food for your lunch.”

In that moment, Louis notices the brown bag in his other hand, a bright yellow ‘M’ on the side of it. His stomach grumbles loudly.

“Just for me?” He asks, taking the bag and sitting in one of his two chairs on the other side of his desk. He takes a peak in the bag and snags the burger in there and notices a salad. “Ah, not just for me,” he laughs and hands Harry the food.

“Do you mind if I intrude? I just thought it would be nice,” the Alpha asks, before taking the seat opposite of him. “Hadn’t seen you in a while.”

Louis nearly whines at the thought. It has been a while. Between Louis’ midterms and Harry working on this big case, Louis can’t remember when he saw Harry last. Must have been two or three weeks ago.

“I know, I’m sorry,” the Omega apologies, taking a bite out of his burger and swallowing before continuing.

Harry shakes his head as he unboxes his salad. “No, don’t apologize. We’ve been busy. It’s okay. I just missed you.”

Louis blushes at the thought of Harry thinking about him. He takes a moment to take the Alpha in, since it has been weeks, and the suit he’s wearing coupled with the fact that he hasn’t shaven in a few days does little to settle the stirring in Louis’ gut. He’s wrestling with balancing a cherry tomato and a piece of lettuce on his fork when he catches Louis’ eye, the Omega shyly looking away.

“You know, I’m free on Saturday. We could go do dinner, maybe get cozy back at my place?”

The couple has been teetering on the edge of the next level of courting for probably a few days now. That means less public outings, more private nights in. They’ll let their natures speak for themselves, and spend more and more time in each other’s spaces.

It’s been nearly two months since they began courting, and Louis and his Omega, are ready for that next step with the Alpha.

But that doesn’t mean he won’t play coy.

“What kind of Omega do you take me for, Mr. Styles? Inviting me back to your apartment alone?” He nudges Harry’s foot with his own, smiling around the last bite of his food.

The Alpha’s chest rumbles thoughtfully. “The kind of Omega who likes calling me Mr. Styles, apparently.” He shoots back, taking Louis’ trash out of his hands, and gathering all the waste for the trash can. When he sits back down, he looks at Louis for a moment. “But, if you’d more comfortable, we can ask Zayn and Niall to join us.”

Louis smiles at him, thankful to have an Alpha courting him who is so thoughtful, who takes every potential concern and addresses them. “No,” Louis says, shaking his head without breaking eye contact. “No, that’s okay. I think just us would be nice.” He nudges Harry’s leg again affectionately.

In the back of his mind, he starts to picture these kinds of dates happening more often. The more casual stuff, how easy it is for the two to fall into a domestic routine. His Alpha bringing him lunch, missing him, just wanting to see him.

Harry smiles back, shoulders loosening in relief. He reaches forward to take Louis’ hand, and holds it tightly with his own. “I think then we can discuss the next phase of our courting. I…” the Alpha pauses, looking down at their joined hands. “I think we’re really getting along. And I’m looking forward to getting to know you, getting to know your Omega, better.”

Louis is fully blushing now, averting his eyes to the wall behind Harry’s head. “I’m excited for it, too.” He whispers, feeling Harry squeeze his hand affectionately.

It’s everything Louis’ read about in stories, heard about from friends and knows could really be the beginning of the rest of his life.

Harry looks back up at him, and the two stare at each other, smiling dopily until a sudden ringtone breaks the tension.

“Oh, shit,” the Alpha says, standing up. “That’s my cue. Back to the office. Grind doesn’t stop, etcetera, etcetera,” he rambles as he grabs his stuff, silencing his phone. He does a check over once more, before looking back at Louis. “Thanks for lunch, baby.”

The Omega blushes at the sweet name, looking back at the floor. He can practically smell Harry’s smugness. “Baby, huh?”

“Stop, Harry,” Louis says, teasing.

“Alright, sweetheart,” the Alpha responds, still smiling cheekily, doing nothing to help the blush on Louis’ face. “If I had known calling you nice things got this kind of reaction, I would have started doing it a long time ago.”

“Were you calling me mean things, then?”

Harry barks out a laugh. “Absolutely not, honey.”

“Oh my God, weren’t you going to work?”

“Yeah, baby. But first, can I have a quick hug?”

Louis nods, still blushing, and steps forward to Harry and lets the Alpha pull him close against his chest. He lets himself smell Harry unashamedly, letting the scent of cedar and lavender clear his head, calm him down - pack it up, carry it with him for the rest of the day.

In return, Harry buries his nose in Louis’ hair, pulling him tighter against his chest, a low growl rumbling through the room - nonthreatening, just a calming sound. And for a moment, it’s just the two of them.

When they break, they give each other a small goodbye before Harry makes his exit, but not without leaving his scent behind for Louis to bask in.

———

“For an Omega who has been courting the same Alpha for months now, you think you would be better at picking out the outfits you can wear around him.”

Louis sighs pointedly at Zayn, who is perched on the Omega’s bed with an apple. “Thanks, Z. This is really helpful.”

“It’s just dinner and then his place, right? Do like… a nice t-shirt and then ask him for a hoodie. He’s bound to give it to you,” he punctuates with a loud crunch of the apple.

“I don’t want to be the type of Omega who assumes, though.”

“Fucking scenters, ridiculous. You both like each other, be done with it.” Zayn chews through his bite of the apple. “Where is dinner?”

Louis shrugs his shoulders as he sifts through his shirts. He finds a pink cable knit sweater he thinks he could make work and picks it to try on. “We’re just doing something casual. I think probably like a sandwich place. Maybe pizza.” He throws on the sweater and steps out of the closet for Zayn to see the choice.

“Nice. The restaurant choice. Choose something more low key outfit-wise.”

Louis nods, and heads back to the closet. “Thanks. What are you getting into tonight?” He asks, as he looks for a plain, light blue t-shirt he knows he has.

“Niall’s picking me up and we’re doing a movie.”

The Omega finds the shirt he’s looking for and swaps the sweater for it, stepping back out to show Zayn. “I think it’s nice you guys became friends.”

Zayn looks up from his apple core. “Perfect. Then you can ask for his jacket. Alphas love that shit.”

Louis nods again, this time smiling, smoothing down the t-shirt when he hears Zayn mumble something. “Sorry, what did you say?”

Zayn takes a beat before answering him. “I said: we’re not friends.”

The Omega stands, embarrassed for some reason before he remembers what he said. “Oh, Zayn, you guys hang out all the time. I think that it’s okay to call him your friend.”

Zayn huffs out a laugh. “No, I’m saying we’re more than friends, Lou. Me and Niall. We’re seeing each other.”

It’s another moment before Louis can respond, shocked by the news. “Zayn! That’s great,” he rushes to the bed to tackle the Beta into a hug. “I had no idea!”

“I know, you’ve been caught up with Harry.”

Louis pulls away and sits back on the bed. “I’ve been a bad friend. I’m sorry.”

“No, Lou. It’s okay. I’m excited for you. I just didn’t want to like… I don’t know. Talk about me.”

“Zaynie,” Louis starts, moving closer to cuddle his friend again. “You can talk about things you’re excited about. That’s okay. That’s part of the friendship deal.”

At that moment, Louis’ phone pings in his back pocket, and he pulls it out to see a text from Harry, saying he’s 10 minutes away.

“I should go,” Zayn says, interrupting Louis’ thoughts. “I’ll let you finish getting ready for your big date, and I’ll go get ready for Niall.”

Louis smiles at Zayn and pulls him into another hug. “Hey, I’m really happy for you and Niall,” he whispers. “And you can always talk to me about this kind of stuff. Even if I’m busy. I want to hear about it.”

Zayn huffs out a laugh. “Sure, babes. Have a good date with Harry.”

The Beta takes off soon after that, and Louis takes his time doing up his makeup and making sure he puts his good pants on for the Alpha, who shows up almost exactly 10 minutes later, ringing his doorbell.

Much like their first date, the Alpha greets him with flowers. He looks nice and casual in tight jeans and a sweater. “Lou,” Harry says, “that shirt is not gonna cut it. It’s freezing out there!”

Louis giggles cutely, at the nickname and at Harry’s protective tendencies. He walks towards the kitchen to put his new bouquet in a vase. “Zayn said I should wear this because it would mean you would give me your jacket.”

Harry looks like he still disapproves, even as he takes the bomber jacket hanging off his arm to hand put on Louis himself. He walks around the Omega, making sure to smooth the arms down Louis’ side, and if Louis hears correctly, he takes a quick sniff to take in the combined scent of them.

“At least you’ll be warm,” the Alpha grumbles, taking one more look at Louis in his clothes.

“If I had known how easy it was to get a hold of some of your clothes,” Louis starts, linking arms with Harry as they head out the door, “I would have started faking being cold months ago.”

The Alpha lets out a bright laugh, letting Louis’ arms go to open the car door for him. “Baby, you just had to ask.” He lets Louis climb into the passenger seat. “You know what it does to an Alpha to see a pretty Omega in their clothes.”

Louis blushes, and shoves Harry away from the seat so he can get buckled, hearing the Alpha’s laugh while he rounds to the driver’s seat.

They end up at a low key pizza parlor, as promised. It’s wonderfully unassuming, and Louis manages two slices of pizza while Harry downs three and a beer.

“You still wanna go watch a movie,” Harry asks, sucking off a spot of grease from his thumb. “Or are you getting tired?”

Louis’ too excited at the potential discussion of the next steps of their relationship for him to go home quietly. “No, I’m not tired,” Louis smiles at Harry.

“Great,” Harry smiles at him as he stands up. The Alpha piles on their paper plates and tosses them in the closest trash can. He offers Louis his hand. “Let’s go pick out something fun, what do you say?”

Seated closely together on Harry’s couch, one of Harry’s arms thrown around the Omega’s shoulders, scents pleasantly mixing in their own private moment. They decided to go with one of the new Marvel movies Niall was raving about to Harry.

“Did you know that Zayn and Niall are like… Seeing each other?” Louis asks, breaking the silence.

“Uh,” Harry says, scratching at his face. “Yeah. They have been for a while?”

“Yeah, I had no idea. Zayn just told me today.”

Harry lets out a laugh. “Babe, they’ve been seeing each other longer than we have been seeing each other.”

“Yeah, I mean, I know that now.” Louis emphasizes. “I just can’t believe how private they were with it.”

“It’s cause you live alone. They come over and fuck like rabbits all the time,” Harry laughs, jostling Louis’ shoulders a little. Then, realizing his crude language, he corrects himself. “Sorry. Sleeping together. Making love. Whatever.”

The Omega shifts uncomfortably under the Alpha’s arm, thinking of his best friend going at it with someone else. Zayn isn’t a virgin by any stretch, and Louis has been regaled many stories of his nights out, but when he realizes that Zayn and Niall have been seeing each other just as long, if not longer, than himself and Harry, it leaves an ugly feeling in his gut.

“You okay?” Harry asks, interrupting Louis’ thoughts.

“Yeah, I was just uhm…” He trails off for a moment. “Yeah, I’m fine.”

The Alpha sighs loudly, and Louis’ cringes, knowing he’s irritated Harry. “Louis, we gotta be honest with each other. I can’t not have open communication between the two of us. My last relationship ended because we weren’t talking to each other and I can’t stomach the idea of me losing you for the same reason.”

Louis feels himself get emotional. Jealous because of Harry’s ex, angry at himself for not being open about his emotions, and uncomfortable at the situation as a whole. He takes a deep breath before he responds, willing the churning in his gut to relax.

“I know. I’m not trying to hide anything from you or anything, I’m just feeling embarrassed, I guess.”

Harry reaches out to grab the remote and pause the movie, letting the two talk in a quiet room. He turns to Louis slowly, retracting his arm from around his shoulders and reaching to cup his face. “Why’re you embarrassed, baby?”

Unable to escape Harry’s serious face and tone, Louis relents. “I’m sorry that Niall and Zayn have been together for so long and have… You know, had sex, and we’ve only had the one kiss.” He rushes it out quickly, face burning and eyes closing so he doesn’t have to see the look on Harry’s face. “I’m sorry I’m making us go so slow.”

Louis won’t look at Harry, but feels as the Alpha wraps himself around Louis, tugging him into a hug, so tight that Louis has trouble breathing for a second. His face is tucked into Harry’s neck, breathing in the Alpha’s scent - and he feels Harry do the same to them. And, for a moment, they stay embraced, scenting each other.

When they break, Louis feels Harry wipe tears off his face. “I want you to listen to me, Lou. Right now, listen to me. I don’t care about any of that. If you told me today you never wanted to have sex with me, I would be okay with that. I mean it. I… I care about you. So much. Please know that.”

Louis sniffles a little, leaning back into Harry’s hand on his cheek.

“Do you understand, baby? Do you understand?”

“Yeah,” he whispers, looking back at Harry. “I care about you too.”

The Alpha takes a deep breath, eyes closed and brow furrowed like he’s schooling himself into a more neutral expression. “We are at your pace. No matter what,” he reinforces, meeting Louis’ eyes again.

The air is heavy between them, but Louis can’t stop himself before asking: “Do you uhm… Do you want to have it? With me?”

“Have what, baby? Sex?” Harry laughs a little, causing Louis to blush more, if that’s possible. “Yeah, I want to. You know I think you’re gorgeous. But, Louis, I don’t need it by any stretch.”

Louis can smell the honesty in Harry’s scent, his cedar and lavender coming through so strongly. “I want to too,” he admits quietly.

Harry grunts, pulling Louis into another hug. The Omega can feel his chest rumbling, can smell the pheromones he’s emitting. He hears the Alpha grunting something lowly and barely makes out a “good, that’s good.”

The Alpha pulls back to look at Louis again. “Can I kiss you?” He asks, almost quiet.

Louis is nodding before he realizes it, letting the Alpha lean in, cupping his face.

It’s soft, just like Louis remembers. Harry’s lips are commanding but never overbearing, the perfect amount of pressure.

Unlike their first kiss, this is more intimate. Just the two of them, without an entire stadium of baseball fans watching their every move. Louis presses in more closely at the thought, letting his tongue slip into Harry’s mouth.

A low groan rumbles in Harry’s chest, the Alpha reciprocating before pulling away suddenly.

Chest heaving, Harry looks at Louis and lets out lowly, “You’re wet.”

Louis must look like a state, face and neck flushed, panting in an Alpha’s living room. He does, in that moment, realize he’s wet. “I’m sorry.”

“No, don’t apologize. I just think we need to slow down. I think we got too ahead of ourselves.”

Louis nods, willing his breathing to slow a bit. When he looks back up at Harry, the Alpha has a grin on his face, full and proud. Louis can’t help but laugh, which sends Harry laughing and the two spiral together.

When Louis leaves for home that night, he’s given a deep kiss.

———

The Alpha invited the Omega to his place for a Sunday dinner. He insisted on cooking, and when Louis pulls up there’s a roast in the oven and mashed potatoes being made on the stove.

“Oh, so it’s a full Sunday roast,” Louis exclaims walking through the door. “Smells good.”

“Just figure I’d treat you to something nice after. I was excited to see you today.”

Louis can smell it, the excitement. Nothing inappropriate but just an extra layer to Harry’s scent.

The Omega helps himself around the kitchen, pulling plates and glasses to set the table. Niall made himself scarce, probably at Zayn’s. Now that the two of them are more public with their relationship, they have only spent more time together.

“There’s wine in the cabinet there,” Harry says, gesturing towards one of his cabinets. “If you want some. I got a red.”

“Sure,” Louis says, pulling the wine and finding a set of wine glasses. “This is nice,” he adds, watching Harry take the roast out of the oven.

It is nice. Domestic even. And all Louis can think about is this could be their life together. Them doing this once a week. Inviting people over to share the dinner. Going out to dinner.

Being together.

Harry turns around to find Louis lost in thought. “Sit, please,” he says gesturing towards the table. He pulls the plates and begins piling the food on. “I mean, I didn’t slave away all day for us not to eat.”

Louis grins as he takes a seat, thanking the Alpha when his plate is set down.

The two enjoy their dinner, Louis taking special time to praise the Alpha’s cooking. Harry has never been too traditional, and Louis loves that he breaks some barriers just to do something nice.

Louis’ been thinking about Harry a lot lately, beyond the normal level of ‘this is a person who is courting me’ thinking. Since they kissed a few weeks ago, Louis’ mind has been a constant string of just the Alpha’s name. It’s repeating itself, on a timeless loop. He’ll be getting coffee in the morning, wondering if Harry likes peppermint mocha’s. Or if Harry would prefer a black sweater over a white sweater. Or maybe Harry’s favorite superhero is the Black Widow and not the Hulk.

He’s also been thinking a lot about sex. Having to hear about Zayn’s adventurous activities with Niall has him wondering more and more about what the Alpha would be like in bed - caring? Would he be gentle? Would he love Louis?

The couple make their way back to the living room, Louis sprawled on the couch with one of Harry’s hoodies thrown on. The Alpha has his feet in his lap, checking between his phone and the movie and glancing at the Omega.

“We still good to meet up with your parents in a couple weeks?” Harry asks.

Louis nods, looking back at the Alpha. “Yeah. I’m excited. Your mom seems so nice.”

Harry smiles, dimple popping in a cheek. “Yeah, she’s great.”

They sit in silence for another moment. “You know, after meeting the parents comes…” Harry trails off but Louis knows.

“Yeah,” he whispers.

“How do you feel about that?”

That’s another thing Louis appreciates about the Alpha - his willingness to openly communicate, check in and make sure they’re on the same page.

“I’ve been… I’ve actually been thinking about that.” Louis admits, cheeks tinging pink.

“Oh?” Harry asks, interested.

“Yeah,” Louis licks his lips. “And. I want to, obviously,” he huffs out a laugh. He waits for Harry to make a joke about it, but it never comes. Ever the patient Alpha. “But I think I want to like… Soon. Too.”

There are so few words said that Louis is worried Harry wouldn’t even understand what he was trying to say.

But, as always, the Alpha knows exactly what Louis is saying.

“You want to have sex before we bond?”

Harry’s scent is stronger now, pheromones almost too strong to handle. And, when Louis nods his confirmation, the scent only grows stronger.

“Baby,” Harry murmurs, sitting up straighter on the couch. “Are you sure?”

“I’ve thought about it. I know what I want.”

Harry hesitates again, like he wants to make sure he isn’t dreaming the words. “I just don’t want you to feel pressured at all into this.”

“No, I… You’re my Alpha, Harry. I know you are.”

Harry closes his eyes, head leaning back against the couch. “I just want you to be sure it’s what you want.”

Louis almost laughs at the Alpha’s insistence. “I am sure. I know it’s weird because I’m… I’m whatever. But, an Omega knows.” He laughs a little, rubbing his hand on the back of his neck. At the junction of his shoulder and neck, where a bond mark will one day sit, an aching feeling has made itself known. Like his body almost can’t handle the idea of knowing and not being bonded. “I’ve never been more sure about anything.”

When he looks back at the Alpha, he realizes Harry’s already looking at him. “Alright, baby.”

“Unless…” Louis lets the idea creep up on him. “Unless you don’t want to?”

Harry almost laughs, scoffing at the idea instead. He scoots closer to Louis on the couch and pulls him close. “Oh, I want to,” he says, cocksure. “I’m so happy, baby,” he says nuzzling into Louis’ hair, chest rumbling with a happy growl.

Louis can smell how happy Harry his, and a little turned on as well. His thick, Alpha scent cloying in Louis’ nostrils.

For a moment, pressed against Harry’s side, all he can think about is a future where this is every evening. Dinner, talks and a movie.

With his Alpha.

———

It’s quiet in Harry’s apartment. It’s been discussed. But that does little to ease the nerves in Louis’ guts.

He spent all day getting ready, making sure he’s cleanly shaven, his skin is nice and soft. He’s only eaten light foods today, and even the salad at dinner made sure he had enough energy but didn’t make him any more nauseous than he could be.

And dinner was so nice - so romantic - Harry held his hand the entire time, gaze flickering between the candle on the table and back to Louis. Tension has been in the air for hours, and Louis was ready to get back to Harry’s place to get started.

They’ve been planning this for a month now, and as excited as he is, the minute he sets foot in Harry’s apartment, the nerves finally pool in Louis’ stomach.

They met with Harry’s parents for lunch and promptly planned a trip to meet Louis’ family. This is the next step. The final step before bonding.

Though he’s nervous, practically shaking with it, he can scent his Alpha, who is currently locking the door behind the two of them, but emitting all the calming pheromones he can, in obvious response to Louis’ distress.

The lights were off when they got back, and the silence coupled with the lack of light paired with his own swirling stomach is doing little to offset the nerves.

Harry throws his keys on their dish by the door, walking around to turn on their living room lamp, squeezing Louis’ arm as he passes him. “Sorry, Niall left a few hours ago. Must have left the lights off.”

Louis smiles, albeit a small one. “It’s fine,” he says in a quiet voice, watching Harry go around lighting up the apartment. He takes a few deep breaths. He trusts Harry. It’ll be okay.

The Omega steps out of his shoes and leaves them by the door, taking off his socks as well. He follows Harry’s scent back to his room, where he finds the Alpha tidying up around the room, turning on some fairy lights before turning around to smile at the Omega.

“Hey,” Harry says softly, walking towards the Omega. He must have taken off his shoes at one point as well, Louis notes, briefly looking at the Alpha’s bare feet, before feeling him grab the Omega’s arms and squeezing lightly. “Are you okay?”

“Yeah,” Louis whispers, almost immediately in response. “Yeah, I’m okay.”

“We don’t have to do anything you don’t want to do.”

“I know.” He trusts him. He trusts his Alpha.

Harry leans a little, waiting for Louis to tilt his head to the side and expose his neck to lightly scent him. The minute Harry’s scent hits, Louis feels himself start to go lax. He smells cedar, lavender and pure Alpha without any of the neutralizers, and if it wasn’t for the Alpha’s strong grip, he’s sure he would be sinking to the floor.

He knows the exact moment he starts to slick up because that’s when Harry lets out a low growl, licking a long stripe up his neck.

“Fuck, baby,” he groans, pressing himself against Louis, letting the Omega feel just how hard he is becoming - how ready he is to knot Louis.

Though he feels ready, Harry must smell Louis’ apprehension. He takes a step back and a deep breath and looks Louis in the eye. “Why don’t we go lay down, hm? Start nice and slow.”

Louis’ nodding before he even realizes it. “Nice and slow,” he repeats, licking his lips.

Harry follows the action with his eyes before offering a small smile, then taking his hand and walking towards the bed.

Harry’s dark navy comforter sits made up on the bed, and Louis almost feels bad about disturbing the well-made bed if it weren’t how excited he was. When Harry sits down next to him, Louis lets himself fall back into the Alpha’s orbit.

Harry grabs Louis’ waist and turns the Omega towards him. Their eyes meet again and Louis nods one sure nod before the Alpha leans in to kiss him.

For a moment, Louis is transported back to when they first met, before they knew each other, before Louis knew he would fall in love with this handsome, kind and incredible smart Alpha - he’s transported back to that first kiss. He remembers it so clearly. How unsure he was, how unsure the kiss itself was.

But now, in Harry’s room, with the low light of the fairy lights, with the Alpha’s scent so strong, so central, Louis feels anything but unsure.

The two press closer together, Harry letting his tongue press against the seam of Louis’ lips until Louis fully lets him in.

Harry moans lightly, and grabs Louis’ hips to pull him even more closely, chest rumbling in satisfaction as the Omega sits himself on Harry’s lap.

He’s wet - he can feel it, and before he can stop himself, Louis grinds lightly into Harry’s lap. At the feeling of his Alpha’s cock, kicking in his lap, the Omega lets out his own high whine.

“Harry,” Louis pants, and feels the the Alpha press his groin back up into Louis’, growling lowly in his chest “ - Alpha.”

“Yeah, baby,” Harry groans, tightening his arms around Louis’ hips. Harry pulls back to look back at Louis. “You still okay, Omega?”

His voice is hoarse, sounding like they’ve been going at it a lot longer than they actually have been. Louis whines again, closing his eyes to avoid seeing Harry’s face. “Alpha, I’m wet.”

“Oh, baby,” Harry huffs out a laugh, dipping his nose into Louis’ neck to start scenting again. “I know, I can smell you.”

Louis whines loudly again, and buries his head into Harry’s neck, relaxing as he takes in Harry’s scent again.

“Omega,” Harry says gruffly, tugging at his shirt. “Can I take this off, please?”

The Omega nods is assent, detracting from Harry’s neck long enough to let the Alpha pull his top off. When the cold air hits his skin, he suddenly feels exposed. “Yours too,” he mumbles, now tugging at Harry’s shirt.

Harry’s built, Louis knew that. But to see it in the flesh, his toned stomach, his lean muscle, his pebbled nipples. His pants are sitting low enough on his hips that he sees the begging of the coarse hair trailing down to his groin.

Louis runs his hands down Harry’s chest, feeling his muscles for himself, his chest heaving with deep breaths, hands stopping as the reach the beginning of Harry’s waistline.

He looks up to find Harry already looking at him. “Can I touch?” Louis asks in a small voice.

Harry doesn’t answer for a moment, arms laying limply by his side, taking in Louis like he doesn’t want to forget this moment. “You can do whatever you want to me,” he says, so uncharacteristic of an Alpha it takes Louis a moment to realize what he was talking about.

Taking a shuddering breath, Louis slowly pops open the button of Harry’s jeans, the Alpha lifting his hips so they can shimmy the jeans off him together, leaving Harry only in his boxers.

He’s big, which Louis figured as much. Has spent enough time pressed agains the Alpha to assume there was more than your average weight there, but he's still surprised to find the Alpha’s cock hard, pressed up against his boxers, thick and long.

Tired of the staring, Harry reaches out to run his fingers through Louis’ hair. “You okay there, sweetheart?”

Forever grateful with how patient his Alpha is, taking his time, and never forcing Louis into anything, Louis only gives him a slow nod. “Yeah.” he says, taking another moment to feel Harry’s hands in his hair. “I want to taste.”

Harry grunts loudly, bucking his hips involuntarily before taking a deep breath. “No, baby, tonight is about you.” He grabs for Louis’ shoulders, as if to pull him back up, but Louis doesn’t miss the way his cock starts to blurt out cum.

“No,” Louis says adamantly, shaking his head, shimmying lower to lay his head in Harry’s lap. “No,” he repeats, “I want to know what you taste like.” And then he promptly places a kiss over Harry’s cloth-covered cock.

“Oh,” Harry says, hips jerking again. Louis starts licking through the material, suckling slowly on the head. “Okay, baby, let’s just -.” Harry cuts himself off, slowly pushing at Louis’ shoulder. “Let me just get these off.” He lets out a frustrated noise as he wrestles with his boxers, cursing again when they get stuck around his ankles.

Now free, Harry’s cock is bare for Louis to take in. He was right, it is big, almost intimidatingly so, but the more Louis thinks about taking it, Harry making him take it, the wetter he gets.

The Alpha’s big hand jerks over his own cock slowly, fingers tightening around the head. It’s been years since he’s been with anyone, and when he knows that he’s got the prettiest Omega he’s ever seen in his life asking to suck his cock - well, it won’t be a long ride.

Louis ducks his head back down, Harry’s hand going from his cock back to Louis’ hair, fingers carding through the strands. “Just take your time baby, take it slow. We can stop whenever you want.”

But Louis isn’t listening, he’s wrapped his own hand around Harry’s cock, jerking it slowly, and then he puts his mouth over it.

Harry groans, and Louis may not know much, but he knows to cover his teeth, and he takes more in until he starts gagging.

“Sorry,” he pants pulling off, face heating in embarrassment. His hand still jerking around the base. “I’m -.”

“Hey,” Harry cuts him off, tugging lightly on Louis’ hair so he looks up at the Alpha. “It’s okay, baby. Just take it nice and slow. You’re being so good. Yeah,” he groans, watching Louis duck back down. “Just the tip, baby.”

Louis suckles lightly before sucking more firmly, hand around Harry’s cock tightening involuntarily.

Harry groans loudly at that, fingers tightening in Louis’ hair. “That’s a good boy. Just like that, baby. So good.”

Spurred by the reaction, Louis’ continues sucking for a few more moments before Harry’s hips jerk up, choking him again.

“Sorry, baby, I just…” Harry trails off and Louis lucks up i time to see his flushed face, head thrown back in a grown while he jerks himself off. “I was getting too close.”

Louis takes a moment. “Oh.” Then another beat. “Was I good?”

Harry’s hand starts to slow down and eventually stops. He reaches up to touch Louis’ face with his clean hand. His thumb wipes under Louis’ eye, taking away a loose tear that must have escaped while Louis was sucking him off.

“Baby, you were so good,” he says, emphasizing his statement by leaning forward and kissing Louis. When he pulls away, his hand lingers on Louis’ face. “That was so good. I just don’t want to finish before I’m in you.”

The Omega’s face flushes, and he can feel himself getting impossibly slicker. Now that he isn’t distracted with Harry’s cock in his mouth, he feels how uncomfortable his own pants have gotten.

That, partnered with Harry’s words, has him squirming again, eager to get to get moving on to something else.

Harry notices the shift in Louis’ demeanor, a nearly-smug smile taking over his face. “Yeah, Omega? Do you want me inside you?”

Louis’ nodding before he realizes it, forgetting Harry long enough to start to undo his own pants, not taking enough time properly undo them and starts shimmying out of them.

“Baby, slow down,” the Alpha says, grabbing his hands to stop him. “I got you, sweet thing. Let’s get you more comfortable.” He unbuttons Louis’ pants and tugs them off along with his boxers, throwing them off to another corner of the room. “There we go,” he whispers, hands groping at Louis’ ass, a low growl reverberating from Harry’s chest.

The Omega is grinding down on Harry’s lap, nose in Harry’s throat - all he can smell, feel, hear his his Alpha. His own cock is standing proud, and every time he grinds his ass down on Harry’s, his rubs against the Alpha, the friction giving Louis what he needs front and back.

Distantly, Louis realizes he’s keening, whining high in his throat, his movements getting faster but all he can do is smell Harry, taste Harry and -

“Stop,” he says, with a hint of his Alpha voice.

Louis stops, almost instantly, breaths coming out harsh and fast. “I’m sorry,” he whimpers. “I - I didn’t mean to…” he trails off, still trying to catch his breath.

“No, baby. It’s okay,” Harry assures him, letting out calming pheromones. “I just thought we should take some deep breaths, get you comfortable, yeah?”

“Yes, Alpha,” Louis says, tucking his head into Harry’s neck to take in his scent.

“So obedient,” Harry praises, running his hands down Louis’ sides. “Let’s lay you down, let’s get nice and comfortable, yeah?”

The Alpha manhandles Louis until he’s on his back, legs splayed on the bed. He’s too turned on to feel embarrassed, ass slowly grinding into the bed below him. Harry stares reverently, like he can’t take enough of Louis’ in, between his flushed face, his small cock standing tall, his legs, bent at the knee.

Harry grabs his own cock again and strokes it a few times before he leans over, left hand placed by Louis’ head. His right hand traces the Omega’s ass, still steadily leaking slick on the bed.

Louis feels fingers trace over his hole, hips bucking. “Please,” he whines.

The Alpha doesn’t hesitate, pressing his finger into Louis. At the Omega’s whining, one finger becomes, which becomes three.

“How are you feeling, baby? Feeling okay?”

Even through the haze of his own hormones, Louis knows what Harry’s asking. Is he ready?

His eyes open, his head suddenly clear as he looks at Harry. Tone low and serious he says, “I want you.”

The words are enough for the Alpha, moving to lean back over the Omega before situating his cock at his entrance. “If at any point you want to stop, just say the words, baby,” and then starts to push in.

The first push is almost unbearable, Louis wincing at the sting. He turns his face to the side, finding Harry’s hand pressed in the mattress. He grabs at the hand, pressing his nose into Harry’s wrist, taking in the smell of Alpha. His Alpha.

“That’s right, baby,” Harry murmurs, pressing in deeper. “It’s alright. Your Alpha’s here.”

At those words, Louis feels himself fully relax. His Alpha is here. His Alpha will take care of him. His Alpha cares about him.

“So good for me,” Harry whispers finally pressing himself all the way in. “So good. Are you good?”

Louis nods, feels himself get a little wetter at Harry’s gruff voice. The Alpha gives him another moment before he starts up a rhythm. Every time Louis feels like it’s too much, he presses his face closer to Harry’s hand.

He lets out a groan involuntarily when Harry angles his hips just right. “Oh.”

“Yeah, that’s it. That’s a good Omega,” Harry grunts, hips snapping faster. “You feel so good, sweetheart.” Harry’s face has a thing sheen of sweat, and when Louis opens eyes he finds the Alpha already looking back at him.

“You feel good too,” he murmurs, hooking his arms around Harry’s neck to pull him into a kiss.

“You don’t hurt?” Harry asks.

“No,” he murmurs, relishing in the drag of Harry’s cock.

“Good, that’s so good.”

The Alpha keeps fucking in to Louis, taking breaks to nip at his neck, to kiss him, to scent him. And Louis just feels so -

“I love you,” he gasps suddenly, feeling Harry pull his head out of his neck. “Alpha, I love you.”

“Louis,” Harry says, also out of breath, his movements never slowing. “I love you too, fuck, I love you I -.” He cuts himself off for a moment. “You have to tell me if you can take my knot, Lou. God, I love you so much. But, I gotta, I want to -.”

“Knot me. Please,” Louis gasps, bring Harry back closer to him. “Please knot me. I want to feel it. I need to feel you, please.”

“I love you so much, Omega,” Harry cries as he presses in deeper, knot forming at the base of his cock.

Louis feels himself press in before his knot pops, and it’s big and it hurts and it’s warm but it’s everything he has ever wanted with the one person he wants it all with.

For a moment, the two are quiet, taking in each other’s scents, feeling each other wholly for the first time.

“Was I… Was it good?” Louis asks, shyly.

“Oh, baby,” Harry says, turning to look at Louis. “It was so much better than I could have ever imagined. I love you so much.”

Louis sniffles a little, overwhelmed by his first knot, overwhelmed by the scents… All of it sending his emotions into overdrive.

“I love you too,” he sobs out, letting Harry pull him ever closer, scents mixing.

He feels a kiss pressed to the top of his head. “Rest, Omega. You were so good. Let’s sleep now.”

Louis nuzzles into his chest, and they both succumb to sleep.

———

8 months later

The bedroom is filled with boxes, the bed barely fit between the doorway and now lays askew under the large windows letting in the natural light the couple loved so much.

Louis makes his way through the home - something simple. A one story house with two bedrooms and two bathrooms, a kitchen and dining room. Just big enough.

“Baby, let me carry that,” he hears from behind him, his Alpha coming up to grab the box out of his hands. “Oof,” he groans, the box being heavier than he anticipated. “What the hell is in here?”

Louis giggles cutely, taking a moment to drink in his Alpha in his muscle shirt, biceps flexing. “Books. You do know I’m an English teacher, right?”

Harry huffs as he walks towards the second bedroom. “Still so many books. You know we’ll have to find a new place for these soon, right?”

The Omega follows him through the house. “Yeah, yeah I know. With any luck by the next time my -.”

“Your heat comes, I know too.” The Alpha interrupts, proudly. He sets the box down next to another set of boxes, undoubtedly also filled with books. “Then we can finally turn this place into a -.”

“A nursery,” Louis finishes for him, laughing at the Alpha’s disgruntled face. When Harry first met Louis’ family, the first thing he asked was permission to finally bond Louis. The two were overeager, almost too excited to get started on their future together.

“I don’t know why you’re so excited. You’re the one who is gonna have to build all the new furniture and paint the walls and shit.” He leans against the wall, waiting for the Alpha to come up to him, placing his hands on the Omega’s hips.

“Baby, I would build a thousand cribs for you.”

Louis squints at him. “Are we expecting a thousand pups?”

Harry groans, pressing his hips into his Omega’s, nuzzling into Louis’ apparent bond mark. “We could?”

“Ha! Sure, if you’re the one carrying them.”

“I would if I could,” Harry says, genuine remorse in his voice. “You know that.”

Louis hums, arms looping around Harry’s neck. “Well, let’s not get too excited. Maybe one to start with, and then we’ll go from there.”

Harry growls lowly into Louis’ neck. “God, I am so excited to spend my life with you.”

“Me too, Alpha.”