Chapter Text
*ੈ✩‧₊˚༺☆༻*ੈ✩‧₊˚
"Baby?" Harry heard a soft voice before feeling a tender stroke against his cheek. Frowning, he tightened his eyelids, resisting the urge to wake up.
Then, a chuckle reached Harry's ears, instantly recognizable as Louis'. Gradually, he became aware of Louis's comforting scent enveloping him, soothing his inner omega.
"Baby? It's time to wake up," Louis whispered gently. Harry whined, attempting to push Louis away, but his efforts were futile.
"Come on. Time to get up," Louis urged again, his tone slightly more firm this time.
Harry huffed, finally relenting and opening his eyes. His breath caught in his throat as he realized Louis was right on top of him, intimately close.
"Good morning, baby," Louis whispered tenderly.
"Morning," Harry replied, his mind buzzing with confusion yet warmth. The fact that Louis was still there, holding him, made him feel a surge of happiness, knowing that his words from last night had touched the alpha enough to stay.
Last night, Harry had been fully prepared for Louis to leave after turning his back towards Louis, yet when the alpha chose to stay and comfort him with cuddles and reassurance, something deep within Harry melted.
"I have a match today, and I need to head to uni extra early for practice. It's around 6 now, and I have to be there by 7. Plus, I need to swing by my dorm to get ready. So, I need to run," Louis explained softly, his voice filled with consideration. "But I didn't want you to wake up alone, so I just wanted to let you know why I'm leaving."
As Harry pondered his response, Louis spoke up again, his voice tinged with sincerity. "I know I messed up with the aftercare last time we-er- had sex. I'm really ashamed of that. I don't want to leave, especially after what you said last night. But I have to go. I promise I'll come over afterwards, okay? I promise, baby."
Louis's voice carried such sincerity that Harry felt breathless. The deep, sincere gaze from Louis's blue eyes locked onto him, and Harry could sense the genuine honesty in his words.
Aware that he and Louis needed to have a serious conversation, Harry pushed it to the back of his mind. They could address it later when they both had the time and space to talk openly.
Harry nodded in acknowledgment at Louis's words. "Okay, alpha," he replied softly.
Louis's eyes briefly darkened at Harry's choice of words, but soon returned to their usual deep blue.
It was evident from Harry's words that he was still feeling submissive, embodying an omega-like state. Louis felt a pang of guilt about leaving, but he knew he had to.
Louis tenderly placed a kiss on Harry's forehead, then another on his nose, followed by gentle kisses on each cheek, eliciting a giggle from Harry and a smile from Louis. Finally, Louis pressed a small peck on Harry's lips before running his fingers through his curls one last time. With a lingering look, Louis reluctantly got off the bed, preparing to leave.
"Bye, baby. If you want to come to my game, you should." Louis said.
The frequency with which Louis called Harry "baby" was seriously affecting Harry's composure. Each time Louis uttered the endearment, Harry's breath would catch in his throat, sending a rush of emotions through him.
"Bye, Lou. I'm sure you'll win today! I wish I could come see your game, but I don't feel like being in a crowd today at all. You know? I just want to lay in my nest. I'm sorry. I'll miss you though," Harry said softly.
Louis smiled warmly at Harry's vulnerability, understanding his need for solitude and appreciating his softness. He knew Harry had a submissive and pliant nature, traits inherent to all omegas but particularly endearing in Harry. Every omega had their own requirements for aftercare, some needed more and some less and Harry definitely fell in the 'more' category. Louis found Harry's desire for more to be adorable rather than bothersome.
It made sense to Louis that Harry, still in an omega mindset, would prefer the comfort of home over the bustling energy of a crowd, especially one filled with alphas.
"Of course, baby. It's completely okay. I'll miss you too," Louis reassured Harry. Harry nodded in response as Louis left the room.
*ੈ✩‧₊˚༺☆༻*ੈ✩‧₊˚
Harry desired a day of ease and relaxation, and that's precisely what he was experiencing. He craved this respite after the whirlwind of yesterday.
He sat in his living room, savoring a cup of tea. Having indulged in a bath, he was completely tranquil. Though he missed Louis, he clung to the promise the alpha had made to return after the game. Harry really wanted Louis to win, to be honest he had a lot of certainty that he would.
The alpha evoked a multitude of emotions within Harry. All he desired was for Louis to reciprocate his feelings with the same intensity. He yearned for Louis to feel as helplessly drawn to him as he did to Louis. Harry couldn't comprehend how Louis hadn't yet realized they were soulmates; every sign pointed towards it—the initial peculiar attraction, the palpable sexual tension, even the unintentional bonding. He felt an urgent need for Louis to grasp the truth.
Harry was convinced that he had fallen in love with Louis; for him, it was essentially love at first sight. He found himself hopelessly pining for the alpha.
Harry's hand instinctively gravitated toward his bondmark, now fully healed. He tenderly rubbed it, feeling his inner omega purring with contentment.
Harry allowed himself to envision a life with Louis, complete with everything he desired: children, a beautiful home, marriage. However, he couldn't shake the shudder of doubt creeping in, wondering if Louis shared the same feelings.
These doubts weighed heavily on Harry's mind, adding to his anxiety about the upcoming conversation they desperately needed to have. He came to the realization that one of their biggest issues was their failure to communicate effectively with each other. Regardless of how their bond originated, accidental or not, they belonged to each other.
Their bond was quite strong now, as expected for soulmates, but it's strength was also due to the kindness and responsibility Louis demonstrated after the near-dropping incident. He made a concerted effort to provide regular cuddling to Harry, nurturing their connection.
At this moment, Harry yearned for the comfort of cuddling, especially after the adventurous night he had experienced. His inner omega emitted a soft whine, longing for Louis's return. With evening approaching, he found himself missing Louis even more. His day had been rather lazy; after Louis left, he retreated to his nest, slept, indulged in some ramen and fruit for dessert, took a bath, read a bit, and was now sipping tea. With nothing left to occupy his time, Harry's longing for Louis had intensified. Harry knew he could be quite clingy and Louis mostly handled that well especially for his age.
Then, as the bell to his apartment rang, excitement surged through Harry. He hastily placed his half-empty tea cup on the coffee table and dashed to the door, eagerly flinging it open.
Harry swung the door open to find Louis standing there with a wide grin. "We won!" Louis exclaimed.
Ecstatic, Harry leaped into Louis's arms, who chuckled and embraced him, planting a light kiss on Harry's hair.
"I knew you would," Harry said, beaming up at Louis.
Louis simply hummed in response, closing the door behind them. With Harry still in his arms, they walked into the apartment together. Harry, feeling a bit awkward, walked backward as they both laughed, shuffling their way to the living room.
Louis gently broke the hug and settled onto the sofa. Without hesitation, Harry sat beside him, moving closer and resting his head on Louis's shoulder.
"Someone's feeling cuddly today," Louis teased softly, a smile playing on his lips.
Harry, feeling a pang of worry that he might be too clingy, began to apologize. "Sorry. I-"
Louis frowned slightly at Harry's apology. He wouldn't hear any of it. He cherished it when Harry got all clingy.
"Hey, it's okay. I didn't mean it like that, my baby," Louis reassured quickly and gently. He then wrapped his hand around Harry's arm, pulling him closer and enveloping him in a warm embrace.
"You're too nice, Lou. Tell me if I'm being annoying," Harry murmured against Louis's chest.
"You're never annoying. I love it when you want to cuddle. I find it adorable," Louis reassured, holding Harry closer.
"Never?" Harry challenged, raising an eyebrow.
"Well, except when you force me to do a group project with useless people," Louis retorted with a playful smirk, raising his eyebrows in mock indignation.
Harry rolled his eyes at Louis's complaint. "You survived, didn't you? And your group did well."
Louis let out a dramatic sigh. "I had to beg them to do their work. It was a rough week," he whined, leaning his head back against the sofa with a playful pout.
Harry chuckled at Louis's response. "You deserved that."
"No, I didn't, you little shit," Louis retorted
"Stop whining or I'll make you do another group project," Harry threatened teasingly.
"Oh?" Louis responded with a raspy tone, raising an eyebrow. "You'll make me?" he challenged.
"Hmmm. I'm the boss there," Harry asserted, locking eyes with Louis.
"Don't make me remind you who the boss elsewhere is," Louis countered, his hands sliding from Harry's waist down to his ass, cupping it gently. "Must still be sore, huh?" he added with a knowing smirk.
Harry blushed fiercely at Louis's remark, confirming that his ass was indeed still sore. Rolling his eyes playfully, he replied, "Shut up," trying to hide his embarrassment with a hint of mock annoyance.
Louis playfully spanked Harry, causing him to gasp and hit Louis's chest. Louis chuckled teasingly, deciding to have mercy on Harry, he moved his hand from Harry's ass back to his waist.
After a few minutes of them sitting in comfortable silence, Harry felt the need to break it.
"We should probably talk," Harry said, avoiding Louis's eyes.
"We should," Louis sighed in agreement.
"I don't know where to start," Harry admitted, feeling a bit overwhelmed.
"Let's start with what happened to you in that bathroom. And don't lie this time," Louis said, his tone shifting from gentle to slightly stern.
Awkwardness washed over Harry as he realized he didn't want to talk about it, but he knew he had to. All day, he had been ignoring the issue, he couldn't avoid it any longer.
"It was ummm- well," Harry began, sighing as he gathered his thoughts. Still avoiding eye contact with Louis, he continued, "I overheard you and Niall talking about your date and I... I guess my inner omega got hurt by that. I-I understand that you can do whatever you want. I don't want to bind you to this if you don't want to. I know it's just instincts for you. It's fine. It was stupid of me. I overreacted. You can go on dates..." Harry trailed off, wincing at the thought because it stung his inner omega.
"Just stop," Louis said firmly, halting Harry's rambling. Gently, Louis lifted Harry's chin, making him meet his gaze. "I didn't go on any date, Harry," Louis said softly, his tone reassuring.
"Oh? But you told Niall—"
"I was talking about my mom setting me up with her friend's daughter. She's been doing that for a while. I always refuse. It's just a joke between me and Niall because he knows I say no every time my mom tries to do that," Louis explained.
A strange sense of relief washed over Harry. Thank goodness. He relaxed, nodding in understanding.
"And that made you sick? Oh, babe. I'm sorry," Louis said softly, pressing a kiss to Harry's head. Harry blushed slightly in embarrassment at how he had misread the situation, feeling grateful for Louis's understanding and affection.
"I haven't been with another omega since the day I saw you, Harry," Louis assured out of nowhere, his tone sincere.
Harry frowned, recalling something that had been weighing on his mind. He knew he had to ask, it was now or never. He had been wondering and overthinking about the blonde omega he saw with Louis in the bar that one night.
"What about that blonde omega you were at the bar with?" Harry asked, his curiosity getting the better of him.
Louis chuckled at the question, which only deepened Harry's frown. "That was my sister," Louis explained.
"Oh! I'm so sorry, god," Harry mumbled, feeling embarrassed for jumping to conclusions.
"Yeah, her name's Lottie. I actually have told her about you," Louis revealed.
"You have?" Harry asked, surprised by the revelation.
"Well, not everything. But I have told her some of it. I hope you don't mind, we're quite close so we share everything. Plus, when she saw me getting all pissed and not looking away from you at the bar, she got pretty suspicious," Louis admitted, his ears turning pink as he revealed the last bit, which Harry found insanely endearing.
Harry giggled, "I don't mind at all, Lou. I think it's sweet that you're so close. If you want to ask me something, you can."
"I do want to, actually," Louis admitted, his eyes slightly darkening with intensity.
"Yeah?" Harry encouraged, intrigued by Louis's sudden seriousness.
"What's up with you and that alpha that was with you in the bar?" Louis asked, his voice slightly raspier than before.
"Liam? Lou, I told you then too that he's just a friend!" Harry reassured, sensing Louis's concern.
"Yeah, but Niall told me he saw you and him having breakfast at a café the morning after the day almost dropped. You'd told me you were too busy to have breakfast with me though," Louis said, his voice tinged with hurt and confusion.
Harry's heart clenched as he saw the hurt in Louis's eyes. He couldn't believe it. Did Louis really think that he chose Liam over him? The notion was unfathomable and sent a wave of distress coursing through Harry's veins. Oh God, no.
"No! I was having breakfast alone at the café. He just bumped into me, and we decided to have breakfast together. It wasn't planned, Lou. Liam has his own omega. We're just friends. And I'm sorry for not having breakfast with you. I just... *sigh* it's just that when you said this bonding was just instincts to you, I... I felt bad because... because I wanted it to be more. So I just needed to get away from you for a bit, to clear my head," Harry explained, baring his feelings with honesty. He had finally said what he had been wanting to for so long. What was causing him so much distress. Tears welled up in his eyes as he spoke.
"Baby," Louis said, his frown deepening as he looked at Harry with a sad expression. Harry could tell that Louis's reaction was in response to his confession, to the fact that Harry had expressed a desire for their bond to be more than just instincts.
Harry's heart sank as he looked down, closing his eyes, bracing himself for what was to come, for Louis's rejection. The anticipation of rejection weighed heavily on him, the fear that Louis didn't want him becoming almost unbearable. Holding his breath, he waited for the inevitable blow, tears brimming in his eyes, unable to bear the thought of facing the truth.
"I understand, Lou. It's okay. You're young, you need your freedom. It's okay," Harry said, resigning himself to the possibility of rejection. Unable to bear the thought of hearing it directly from Louis, he attempted to pull away from Louis's arms and get up from the couch. However, before he could leave, Louis growled and yanked him back into his embrace. Startled, Harry gasped and settled back onto the sofa, meeting Louis's gaze directly.
"I want it to be more too. It's much more than instincts to me. Much, much more," Louis said softly, his gaze filled with fondness as he looked at Harry as if he meant the world to him. He gently tucked a curl behind Harry's ear, and Harry leaned into the touch, feeling overwhelmed with emotion. He was so incredibly happy to hear that Louis felt the same way, he thought he might faint from sheer joy.
"I'm sorry I made you feel like that, baby. I want you so much. What I feel for you, I can't explain it in words. The only reason I've been distant is because of the fear that you didn't want this, because of the guilt I feel due to bonding you without having your conscious permission. That guilt burns deep within me, love. I'm genuinely so fucking sorry about that. About everything. I've been acting like a proper knothead," Louis explained, shaking his head with remorse.
"Oh, Louis, please don't feel guilty about that. It was bound to happen. In a way, you did have my permission," Harry said, reassuringly.
"Huh?" Louis blinked in confusion.
Harry shook his head, a small smile playing on his lips. "You haven't figured it out yet?"
"Figured what out?" Louis asked, still puzzled.
"We're soulmates, Lou," Harry revealed.
Louis gasped at the information, eyes widening.
Louis sat in stunned silence for a few seconds before he started blabbering, "Holy fuck! That's so fucking rare though!"
"Rare, not impossible," Harry shrugged, a hint of amusement in his voice.
"That makes so much fucking sense! The tension between us! The constant urge I felt to bend you over any surface during the first weeks of uni. The weird protectiveness I felt over you. The fact that I couldn't say yes when an omega offered to spend my rut with me, y'know, the first one I got? And of course I wouldn't have marked you for no reason! You're my soulmate. Of course you are!" Louis exclaimed, amazed, as everything seemed to click into place.
Harry giggled at Louis's words, finding the alpha's ramblings endearing.
"So.. um, we're like a proper couple now?" Harry asked shyly, his heart fluttering with anticipation.
"Hmm, let's see. You're my soulmate and bondmate, you complete me in every possible way, and you belong to me. Yeah, I'd say we're pretty serious and a proper couple," Louis replied softly, with a hint of sarcasm, making Harry giggle and roll his eyes playfully.
Louis gazed at Harry with fondness before leaning in, and Harry mirrored his actions, closing his eyes in anticipation. The kiss that followed was soft, gentle, and filled with an overwhelming amount of love between them.
As their lips parted, Harry whispered against Louis's lips, "I love you."
Louis grinned, his eyes shining with affection. "I love you too," he replied, his voice filled with sincerity.
Louis leaned back slightly, and both of them opened their eyes, their cheeks flushed with intense blushes.
"Can I ask something of you, though?" Louis said, his voice soft with a hint of mischeaviousness.
"Of course," Harry encouraged.
"Next time we fuck, could you wear your glasses? And maybe we could do some foreplay where you're a sexy librarian? I can't stop thinking about that since I saw you in those glasses, to be honest." Louis said, chuckling, but his tone indicated he was entirely serious about his request.
Harry blushed furiously, grabbing a nearby pillow and playfully tossing it at Louis's head.
"Come on!" Louis protested with a laugh.
"Fine, you knothead!" Harry replied, giggling as he gave in to Louis's request.
"Can't wait," Louis said with a mischievous grin.
Harry rolled his eyes. "Shut up. You're so annoying," he teased back. Then, his eyes fell on his half-drunk tea, and he let out a small whine.
"What?" Louis asked, raising an eyebrow.
"You completely made me forget about my tea!" Harry pouted, pointing towards his neglected cup.
Louis leaned in once more, kissing the pout away gently. "I'll make you a new one," he promised, their smiles merging into the kiss.
*ੈ✩‧₊˚༺☆༻*ੈ✩‧₊˚