Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

The sun flared high in the sky, casting it’s rays into the navy sitting room. After eating lunch and working through the venom Simon had spewed through Louis’ head, the triplets had disappeared shortly, citing an urgent discussion that was ‘alphas only’. Upon their return, Marcel and Harry announced they’d be leaving to run an errand. No details were given to the confused omega before they were kissing his cheeks and rushing out of the home, giddy as can be.

Now, Louis sits on the small sofa he was on last night. Only this time, instead of three giant alphas surrounding him, only Edward remains.

Even in the short time they’d spent together, Louis feels as though he’s seen a million sides to Edward already. The cool, calm and collected gentleman that intercepted him on that damned red carpet. The silent and brooding man he’d been introduced to in the car. The strong and compassionate side that held him close and deterred an impending drop. Even the manic, giggling schoolgirl he’d turned into after the news from the doctor. Most recently, Louis had witnessed the intimidating and mighty alpha Edward could be when undoing Cowell’s mess. Yes, Louis has seen many sides to the oldest triplet.

All of that did not prepare Louis for the Edward he faces now. The alpha sits adjacent to him, just like last night. All the confidence he’s displayed so far seems to have vanished. He’s still stoic and emotionless as ever, but his eyes refuse to meet the omegas. Instead keeping his neck turned and eyes focused on a point across the room, seemingly nervous. An awkward silence has fallen over them in the stillness of the house. Gone are all traces of the domineering alpha that has kissed Louis with all the confidence in the world just a few hours earlier.

It becomes increasingly evident that Louis is going to have to break the silence. Honestly, he’s more than happy to. His body feels weightless without the shackles of oppression holding his true self hostage. All he wants is to spend time with soulmate and let his omega run free. Whatever has his Eddie wound up so tight, has gotta go.

“So, you’re a pretty good kisser.” Louis blurts out the words before his brain can stop them. Probably not a good ice breaker when the person you’re saying it to is drenched in nerves, but the silence is broken so he’ll count it as a win.

Edward’s neck nearly snaps as his head whips over to face Louis. Eyes comically wide and lips parted in awe. “Thank you, Louis.” The alpha forces out finally.

“Mhm.” Louis hums, searching for a way to keep the conversation alive.

“Actually,” Edward cuts in, shoulders dropping as he tilts his head to the floor. He pauses for a moment before continuing. “I wanted to apologize for that. Kissing you, I mean.”

“You regret it?” Louis asks. His heart sinks to his stomach. His first kiss with an alpha and the alpha regrets it?

“No, no not at all. I could never regret any form of intimacy with you, Omega.” Edward is quick to soothe. “It’s not that at all, trust me.”

“So what is it then?” Louis scoots his butt to the edge of the couch, resting his elbows on his knees.

“I do not and could not regret kissing you. I do apologize that I did so both without your permission first and without courting you.” Edward says. His nervousness has lessened. Replaced with the strong, dominant alpha once again.

Louis can tell from the grimace Edward is barely holding back, that being this openly vulnerable, even with the omega destined for him, is excruciating. After the childlike display he put on with Dr, Collins, especially. He decides to put the alpha out of his misery, lest he burst into flames upon voicing anymore feelings.

“Apology accepted, Alpha. Would I have preferred my first kiss with an alpha be with one that was courting me? Maybe, I’ve never thought to much about it.” A chuckle slips past his lips, “What I have thought about, is that I was kissed by not just an alpha and not just a man for the first time, but one of the alphas the gods made just for me. Let’s not ruin that with regrets and apologies.”

Edward’s deep green eyes meet Louis’ endless blue. The alpha gives a firm nod in response. The tension lining his shoulders falls away and the confidence Louis new Edward possessed his returned once again.

“Do you like footie?”

______

Twenty minutes and a short tour of the backyard later, Louis and Edward stand a short distance apart passing a ball between them. A goal is set up, but they don’t use it. Instead, they kick the ball back and forth, talking the whole time.

The yard is huge. Sprawling green grass backs up to a thin line of trees, purple wildflowers dotting the border between. The red brick of the house sparkles under the slowly setting sun. It’s hard to believe the amount of nature and privacy the triplets managed to find this close to the city. Although the home itself is modest, the property must’ve cost a fortune. The scent of the grass and the earth reminds Louis of Marcel. It comforts him immensely even in the alpha’s absence.

“You know,” Edward starts, passing the ball back before lifting the hem of his shirt to dab at the sweat building on his hairline. Louis is momentarily struck by glistening abs and a smattering of tattoos. The alpha’s voice pulls his back to focus, “You’re taking all of this a lot better than we expected you to. I’m quite shocked you’ve been this accepting of three grown alphas swooping in and changing so much.”

The words send his mind into overdrive. The last five years he spent in One Direction replaying in his head like a shitty greatest hits album from an artist no one wants to remember. Anxiety starts to claw its way through his body at the memories.

Louis turns away from Edward, dribbling the ball between his own feet as he speaks, “About three years ago is when I got the command to keep distance between me and the pack. No one besides Simon, Amanda, some other execs and security guards knew who I really was. The only comfort I had was Niall, Zayn and Liam. All of a sudden, I couldn’t be around them anymore. I was kept away from my family back home and my family on the road. I had already lost my omega, my family, and now my brothers. It didn’t take long before I started losing myself too.”

He dribbles the ball back and away from the goal as the words tumble out. Once he finds the perfect spot, he stops and looks up to the alpha, shoulders squared and chest puffed. Edward is still standing where he left him, hands now clasped behind his back and mouth set in a straight line. Louis continues to hold eye contact, the forest meeting the sea, as more words pass his lips.

“I have been neglected, starved, beaten down and forced into uncomfortable situations. I have been forcibly suppressed, looked down on and entirely lost. I have been hiding behind a mask for five years. All it took was some pretty little french words out of your mouth and a few seconds with your bothers to change that. Do you have any idea what it’s like to lose yourself like that? Any idea what it’s like for an omega to be abused like that? It’s like watching someone else fly the plane into a nosedive while you’re chained and shackled next to them, unable to do anything but watch it happen. I accepted you and your brothers because I feel it too. I feel the bond we all share, even if we just met. To deprive my omega of that, would mean I accept the hand i’ve been dealt— which I dont. And I accept the changes you’ve made gratefully because the life I was living before you, was not a fucking life at all.” Louis finishes his monologue, swings his leg and sends the ball soaring towards the goal.

Edward’s eyes follow the ball. Watching as it cuts through the air before finding the top left corner of the net. His eyes widen in surprise before looking back to him, obviously impressed. Louis doesn’t let him speak just yet, though. There’s more he needs say.

“I love footie. I’ve always been pretty good at it, but this is the first time i’ve had an opportunity to kick a ball around in a very long time. Even though I have a week off, I’d usually be glued to my phone waiting for Amanda to tell me where to go next.” Louis walks closer to Edward as he talks. Ending up just a step away. He looks up into the eyes of his soulmate, praying to the gods to just be seen, “You’ve given me so much in such a short time. I don’t even know where my phone is and for once, I don’t fucking care. I’m going to see my family tomorrow without worrying what consequences i’ll get for it. I have the opportunity to make choices for myself. I’ve known you for a few hours, but it feels like I’ve been missing you for centuries.” Somehow, his voice has remained steady, assured. With one last deep inhale, he finishes in a whisper, “I would rather die than lose the opportunity to know you, to know all three of you.”

Edward, the most apathetic of the brothers, has moisture shining in the corners of his eyes as he looks down at the omega. Louis holds the eye contact, just letting the alpha process everything he’s said.

Finally, he raises the hands previously held behind him and cups Louis’ cheeks. No tears actually form and his expression remains impassive, but it’s obvious how much hearing Louis’ thoughts effect him.

“You, little omega, are impossibly brave.” Edward’s voice is a hoarse timbre tickling down Louis’ spine. “I am not only proud of you, I am proud to be your alpha.”

The moment feels exceptionally fragile. Louis laid is soul bare. Voicing just how much knowing the triplets has meant to him, even if accepting them this quickly is asinine. Being free and being accepted has kick started the healing process on a part of himself that’s been neglected for far to long.

“For the record,” The alpha leans his head down, breath meeting Louis’ ear. He drops his voice to a low growl, possessive and protective all at one, “Je parle couramment, princesse. Vous pouvez avoir de jolis petits mots français quand vous le souhaitez.” (I’m fluent, Princess. You can have pretty little french words whenever you want)

A shiver ravages his whole body. Edward’s hands on his face the only thing holding him steady. Just before the drop of slick fighting it’s way out can escape, the back door of the house bangs open— revealing a very chipper Harry followed by Marcel, who wears a slight smirk.

“We’re home, lovers!” Harry yells, arms thrown in the air, head thrown back with a giant grin on his face.

The middle triplet skips over (looking like Bambi on his long legs) and throws his arms around his older brother and omega. After dropping a kiss on Louis’ forehead, he turns and pecks Edward’s lips.

Louis had his suspicions about the brothers being a bit more than brothers, but it wasn’t confirmed until this moment. It’s not that much of a surprise, with the way they describe their love for each other. It’s not even uncommon. It’s not unheard of for children born in multiples to grow up and bond together. Actually, alpha/omega twins have an extremely hard time bonding anyone else. Science has chalked that up to a built in soulmate and moved on. The only slight surprise is the small spike of jealously Louis feels watching his alphas kiss someone else.

The feeling lasts less than a second, but it was there. The absurdity of being jealous that his alphas love each other as much as they love him sends him into a laughing fit. Its, quite honestly, a dream come true. The triplets will not only bond the same omega (Louis), they’ll form a pack. An exceptionally loving pack. Everything he thought he lost, he’s gained right back with these three.

He doubles over in laughter, eventually falling to his knees. Edward and Harry, still wrapped around each other. stand frozen for a moment. Marcel, still standing in the doorway, rushes over and falls to his knees as well, wrapping his arms around his omega.

Laughing so hard he can barely breathe, Louis wraps his arms around Marcel’s neck, hiding his face in his scent gland. “Thank you for being my alphas.” Louis gets out through his giggles. Marcel’s arms tighten around him.

_______

Once Louis calmed down, Marcel saw his opportunity. He had scooped Louis up with ease, holding him to his chest with an arm under his bum and the omegas legs wrapped around him. With a reminder to Harry to start on dinner, he scurried into the house, bringing Louis back to the white sunroom Harry had shown him to before.

The triplets had a very special plan for the night. Nothing could go awry. To ensure that, Marcel needed peace of mind. He needed a few questions answered.

“Kitten,” He started after flopping onto the beanbag, laying flat, Louis straddling him, “What else did the doctor say?”

He watches Louis’ adam’s apple bob as he swallows. Looking at Louis’ face, he can sense the nerves. His brave little omega pushes through them anyway with a hopeful tone.

“Well, after you guys left the room he ran a couple tests. It’s okay to stop my suppressants cold turkey, but it could take a while for my scent to come through. My heat will most likely take around two months to come back, even with three alpha’s around me. He talked a lot about hormones and how they won’t be regular for a while. So, even if I stop taking the pills now, my hormones won’t balance enough to produce a scent or a heat for around eight weeks. Being around you alphas should regulate my slick production, but I may not have control over it for a while.” Louis tells him.

“Mhm.” His hands glide up Louis’ sides to finally cup the back of his head. Marcel pulls him down. He buries his nose in the omegas neck. Louis smells neutral, like nothing but laundry detergent and a faint trace of Edward. It’s intoxicatingly comforting, nonetheless.

A high pitched whimper falls from Louis pink lips before he speaks again, “Dr. Collins said he won’t know the levels of my liver, kidneys or pancreas until the blood tests come back, but he could tell from the internal ultrasound and preliminary checkup that I’m actually really healthy. I can carry our babies just fine.”

“You’re hiding something from your alpha, Kitten.” Marcel growls out. It’s not a command, and he has no idea where it comes from, but his alpha is sure there’s something Louis isn’t telling him. “Tell me, omega.”

Louis’ whole body falls limp. Head falling to Marcel’s collarbone, arms falling limply to the side. It wasn’t a command, but the soulmate bond means Louis’ omega has already submitted to the alphas. Just the hint of a growl in Marcels voice is enough to render him completely pliant. Although he would never take advantage of it, it’s fucking beautiful to watch.

“Dr, Collins said i’m malnourished, alpha.” Louis whispers. Before he can ask about it, Louis shoots up. His legs still straddling Marcels waist, but his hands shoot out as if to surrender. “It’s not my fault, alpha! Amanda says I have to be thin to look good for the paps so she—“

He can’t listen to one more word of whatever his precious omega was about to say. He cuts Louis off, happily.

“Lou, baby, was Amanda or anyone else controlling what you eat?” He asks, receiving a nod of confirmation. “They’re wrong, baby. You know that, right?”

All he receives in response is a shrug of Louis shoulders. That just won’t do. He will not have his omega questioning the very skin he lives in.

“My beautiful, amazing Kitten,” He noses up Louis jaw, kissing periodically. “You are so, so gorgeous. Everything about you is inebriating. I know I don’t care what you look like, it’s who you are that matters. My imbecile brothers would agree. We just happened to luck out that your looks are just as attractive as the rest of you. You’re divine, Kitten, made to be worshipped.” Louis giggles as he places a kiss behind the omegas ear.

“What’s your favorite color?” He hears Louis ask. The question is so benign yet so unexpected. His head raises from Louis neck leisurely, until his light green eyes are looking into clear blue.

“Gray.” He responds. “My favorite color is gray, Edward’s is red and Harry’s is pink.”

“Hmm. Mine is red, too” Louis says. “Gray is a weird favorite color.”

Marcel chuckles heartily, hands spreading over Louis’ waist and gripping tight. “Remember when Harry said everyone in our town thought I’d be a beta?” Louis nods “Even after presenting, I felt stuck. Not quite an alpha, not quite a beta. It felt like gray. Not quite white but not not quite black either.”

“Almost.” Louis whispers.

“Huh?”

“Almost. It felt like almost. Almost a beta, almost an alpha. Almost black, almost white.” Louis continues to whisper. “I feel like that a lot. I feel almost a lot. Almost a beta, almost an omega. Almost alive, almost lost. Very nearly one thing, but not quite. Almost is gray. You like gray because you lived almost.”

Marcel can do nothing but stare at his omega. His hands still grip his tiny waist as Louis looks down at him, biting his lip.

Even thirteen years later, not one person has been able to put into words how he felt after presenting. Until now, that is. It was a hard time. The whole town already believing you’re one thing and treating you accordingly, just to turn out something else. No one knew how to act around him, least of all himself.

In seconds, Louis understood it. Louis saw him the same way he sees the omega in his lap.

“Lou..” He gets out on a strangled breath, a single tear falling from his eye, “Can I please kiss you?”

Louis barely has time to nod before he closes the distance between them, claiming his lips. He keeps it light, gentle. Trying to convey just how much he appreciates him. Just how much he has changed as a man and as an alpha in the presence of the omega. He presses a strong, close-mouthed kiss to Louis plush lips, pouring all his gratitude into it.

After a couple seconds, Louis’ lips part, asking for more. Marcel doesn’t give it to him. Instead, he moves one hand up to rest his palm over Louis’ scent gland and pressing more kisses to his forehead, his cheek, his neck. Anywhere he can reach.

“Almost, Kitten. We lived the almost, but we can live whole now, together.” He whispers, confining to press his lips to any skin he finds.

“I pictures our babies.” Louis blurts, voice far too loud for the intimate moment. He pulls back, looking into Louis’s eyes, searching for an explanation. “When we met in Vegas. You caught a scent on me because I pictured our pups the moment I caught your scent. I slicked up for the first time in years.” The omega tells him, eyes wide like he’s not in control of the information he’s volunteering.

He looks back and forth in Louis’ eyes for a second. His omega, his soulmate, met him and immediately saw a future with him. Louis didn’t even know his name, but he knew what their babies would look like.

Just as he leans in to kiss Louis again, a knock sounds on the door. “Knock knock, dinners ready!” Harry yells.

He exhales against his omega’s lips. Louis stands before he’s ready to lose the weight on top of him. As he watches Louis plump ass sway out of the room, he closes his eyes to thank the gods. Not only did they send him the most beautiful omega to walk the earth, but they sent him the one person that understands exactly what he went through. That gets him. That saw a future with him immediately.

With one last thanks to the gods, Marcel stands and readies himself for the surprise tonight. Hopefully, Louis accepts.

________

Louis had entered to kitchen to muted, candle lighting. Harry and Edward prepared a beautiful spread of garlic tilapia, green beans and a side salad.Two bouquets of daffodils rested in the middle of the table.

Louis had sat at the table, thankful that the triplets had chosen the smaller five person table in the kitchen over the extended twelve seater in the dining room. Being able to be close to each of his alphas and share a meal they had prepared for him, is a level of intimacy Louis never expected to appreciate so much. Yet here they were, and nothing had ever meant more to him.

Upon finishing his meal, Harry cleared his throat, looking back and forth between his brothers. Harry had been oddly enthusiastic throughout the meal. The smile on his face hasn’t dimmed in the slightest, even during short silences. The other two hadn’t shown the same excitement, but Marcel definitely seemed on edge. Edward appeared stoic as expected, but he kept eyeing his brothers in a questioning way. Something was definitely going on.

“Hey princess?” Edward says, his voice sounds more strained than normal but Louis brushes it off, giving him his full attention. “Could you bring our dishes to sink, please?”

Louis narrows his eyes at the alpha, “Why? Because I’m an omega and it’s my duty?” He replies in a snarky tone

“No—I…what?” Edward stumbles over his words. He gapes at Louis from across the table.

With a giggle, Louis gathers all of their plates and saunters into the kitchen. If he added an extra seat ti hah hips, it’s no one’s business but his.

After he rinsing the plates and placing them i. the dishwasher, he makes his way back to the table. Instead of finding his alphas in their seats, he finds them knelt in a line on the floor. Harry on the left, Edward in the middle and Marcel on the right.

“Um, Hi?” Louis asks more than states. Harry still has a huge smile splitting his face in two. Edward’s lips are barely quirked and Marcel is smiling softly. From what he can tell, this is good news. It could also be an attack from below. He takes a step to grab a butter knife off the table and hide behind his back, just in case.

“Louis William Tomlinson,” Harry starts, his voice literally vibrating with elation. “You are our soulmate, fated just for us. And, man did we get lucky.”

Edward takes over, “Just like you said you’d rather die than miss the chance of knowing us, we would rather die than miss the honor of knowing you.”

Marcel speaks next, “Edward told me after meeting you that he knew you are the reason he’s an alpha. The first time I held you in my arms, I knew he was right. We are alphas just for you, Kitten.”

Tears are steadily falling down his face at this point. He slips to his knees carefully, shuffling closer to the triplets, not touching them but in arms reach.

Harry speaks again, “You are the most vibrant, delicious omega we have ever met. All three of our alphas have already accepted you as ours.” Harry throws a wink his way, as if he isn’t already there crumbling.

“We’re already falling for you, Princess. We want you forever.” As Edward finishes speaking, he fishes a little black box out of his pocket.

As it opens, Louis sees a shimmering gold band with golden knots on each side leading to one emerald and one turquoise stone in the middle. He tilts his head to the ceiling, closing his eyes. The sobs he he’s desperately holding back cause a hiccup in his chest.

“We don’t have to be gray anymore, Baby. We’re not almost anything anymore.” Louis opens his eyes and looks to Marcel, the other two alphas already looking at him inquisitively. “Would you do us the honor of courting you?”

Sobs ravage through him. Unlike normal, none of the alphas race to comfort him, still awaiting an answer. This is everything he’s ever dreamed of. Living his life as an omega with alphas that respect every piece of him. His sobs are born of disbelief. Simply not being able to comprehend the fact that three of the most amazing alphas he’s ever met want him. Before he can respond, Harry speaks again.

“We’re already halfway in love with you, Dove. We don’t want to love you quietly. When the time is right, we want to love you as loudly as we can.”

That does it. Louis throws himself at the alphas, not caring who catches him. It’s Harry, of course. No one has ever been more ready to catch him than the overgrown candy cane that is Harry Styles.

“Ye—Jesus, Yes. Yes, please.” He finally stutters out.

The triplets engulf him in a semi-suffocating grouo hug. He’s squeezed nearly unbearably tight, but it’s so worth it. Especially when Edward slides the ring onto his finger.

Louis has spent most of the last five years hating everything about himself. Nothing could’ve prepared him for the love he feels for his own skin in this moment. The emerald and turquoise reflect beautifully against the tan of his hands. It feels monumental, to feel beautiful against everything he’s ever been told. Gods, he can’t wait to tell him mom.

The alphas continue to pepper kisses across his cheeks, neck and collarbone. Louis is content to sit with his left hand outstretched, simply admiring his ring.

Louis Tomlinson, formerly oppressed, now an omega being courted. With a sigh, he sinks back into his alphas.

_______

It was decided shortly after the triplets proposal that a movie night was in order. Louis pretty sure it was just an excuse for the three of them to grope him, not that he’s complaining.

They had started with The Conjuring, Louis and Harry cuddled up with Edward and Marcel spooning each of them from behind. From there, there decided on Grease, Louis’ favorite movie. For that one, Edward and Harry were upright against the armrest of the couch with Louis between Edward’s legs and Marcel between Harry’s.

By the time both movies were over, it was nearing 10 p.m. Louis, not wanting to miss a second with his family, recruited Harry to sleep with him. With a small peck to the lips for each alpha from Harry and Louis, they were off to bed.

Louis is laying is the guest bed he had temporarily commandeered as his own in one of Edward’s soft grey tee’s and Marcels loose boxers. Harry lays beside him in nothing but teeny tiny, right black pants. Louis can’t even find it in him to be uncomfortable.

Sharing a bed with Harry is an experience for sure. The second Louis was in the bed, the aloha flopped on top of him, no holds barred. Just dead weight falling upon his small, omega body. Then, he octopus limbed Louis’ whole body. Quite literally suctioning every one his limbs to whatever part of Louis he was touching. All of that was followed by a million kisses pressed to his cheeks, neck and all the way down his spine.

Finally, Harry had settled, spooning him from behind. Neither were asleep yet, but the alpha let out content sighs, nuzzling his face into Louis’ skin every few minutes.

An experience for sure.

After a while, Louis felt the need to speak. For once, he didn’t question the words coming out of his mouth. He was simply comfortable enough to let them pass freely.

“Hey Hazzy,” He started. He turned over, snuggling up to Harry’s outstanding pecs. “You have some nice tits.”

A honking laugh bellows in the quiet room. Gods, this alpha is so gods damn adorable.

“Thank you.” Harry says, giggling. “That wasn’t you wanted to say though, was it?”

“No, it wasn’t. But gods damn…” Louis trails off. He sneaks a hand up to grip one of Harry’s pec. It’s unbelievably firm, yet still has a slight spring to it. He abandons the groping and buried his face deep in the alphas cleavage instead.

“That tickles!” Harry yells as Louis continues to burrow himself deeper. Light laughter flows from each of them.

With his face as deep in Harry’s glorious cleavage as he can get, Louis asks the question burning his tongue, “What did Eddie mean exactly when he said we can take the whole industry down?”

He has a good idea of what the alpha meant, don’t get him wrong. Without his commands, Louis is sitting on a gold mine of misconduct and illegal activities. He just need the reassurance of what’s expected if him. Even if he’s able to have a choice now, it’s nice to have his alphas opinion.

“Oh,” Harry says, then promptly falls into a fit of giggles. “He meant we can plant recording devices and cameras on you to get proof of their wrongdoing Plus, with our connections to the industry, we can get security footage from certain venues you’ve been in in the past and any you may go to. Marcie told us your scent won’t come for weeks, so we could do all this without anymore pills or special soaps.”

Harry says it all with small chortles and obvious satisfaction. After all the bad days Louis has had, Harry is a breath of fresh air.

He thinks back to his conversation with Marcel. The gray, the almost. He was unaware just how much that meant to Marcel as he was saying it, but he meant every word. Louis, of all people, knows what it’s like to live in the almost. He was almost a beta, but presented late. He was almost an omega, but was forced into suppression. He was almost Liam’s omega, but couldn’t tell him the truth. That last thought sends a stray sting to his heart, causing a whimper to fall from his lips. Nonetheless. Marcel is his gray.

Harry has been nothing but sunshine to him. The alpha can answer every question he’s asked with enthusiasm no one else could hold. He holds Louis like a treasure and looks at him like he’s the answer to the universe. One whiff of his scent and Louis is docile and cheery. Harry Styles is the first drop of sun after an eternity in darkness. If Marcel is Louis’s gray, Harry is his yellow.

Edward is more complicated. He’s dominating and protective, yet hates to show it. Edward is rage and dominance and protection. He’d sooner leave a conversation than admit to being emotional. Yet, somehow, he’s changed himself for Louis. He leapt across a room, squealing and squawking, just to show Louis how little an omega baby versus an alpha matters to him. He fidgeted on a sofa for endless minutes, working out how to apologize for a very welcomed kiss. Edward Styles, is Louis’ red. He’s adrenaline and danger all wrapped up in a beautiful, curly bow.

He decides quickly after that, altogether, the Styles triplets are purple. They’re the nights sky watching over a moonlit crowd. Fireflies and shooting stars and galaxies unexplored. They’re the ocean depths hosting a million life forms, unexplored and uninhabited. They’re the horizon at sunrise, harbingers of hope and new beginnings.

Louis snuggles impossible closer to Harry. “Let’s burn it to the ground, Haz.” He says, whispering loud enough to be heard.

“Let’s change the world, Dovie.” Harry whispers.

He lets out a soft snort. At this point, he’s somewhere between wake and sleep. Drifting in and out. They stay that way for a long while. He would’ve believed Harry to be sleeping too if it wasn’t for the consistent rise and fall of his chest, never changing enough to indicate sleep.

“I like that you give me nicknames.” Harry says in a low tone. It’s not a whisper, but it’s quiet.

“Yeah?” Louis asks, half asleep.

“Yeah, makes me feel important for once.”

That has Louis flying up. Fuck his R.E.M cycle, Harry Styles just said something less than happy. That alone takes precedence to everything else in the world.

The room is shrouded in darkness, even facing Harry, he can’t make out any of his facial features. Instead, Louis uses the pads of his fingertips to trace the alphas face, dragging feather-light touches around each of his features.

“You’re so important, Haz.” Louis whispers. Anything above that would disturb the atmosphere of the room.

Harry sighs deeply before responding, also in a whisper, “Edward and Marcel are better at the important stuff. I’m just kinda, ya know, there.”

Louis traces his fingers up to harry’s eyes, taking the opportunity to lean down and kiss each eyelid. “Remember how we met?” Louis asks, trailing his fingers up to Harrys’s hairline, “I was having a panic attack and you helped me. You stopped it. I wasn’t even aware you were triplets. You were just a hero in the bathroom. That was important to me without either of your brothers being involved.” He leans in to peck the alphas forehead before traipsing his fingers down to the alphas chin, softly stroking his strong jawline.

“You’re incredible.” Harry says on an exhale. Louis goes to drags his fingers back up to Harry’s lips, but it’s stopped when a large hand engulfs his.

Even in the darkness, he can see Harry’s piercing emerald eyes boring into his own. He nearly choked on a breath waiting for the alpha to speak.

“I’ve slept with and been with many omegas.” Harry tells him.

The pause after Harry’s words is enough for Louis to lose is breath, even if the words themselves had already done the job. He nearly chokes on it, desperately scrambling to find an anchor.

Louis spent his whole life saving himself. Intentionally or not, he did. Somewhere along the way, that became extremely important to him. He doesn’t need his alphas virtue, but he does require respect. From what Edward and Marcel have divulged, they haven’t sought out physical connection with an omega outside of their ruts and haven’t sought out a romantic connection, full stop. Knowing Harry had done both, is dagger to his delicate heart.

As much as he wishes to provide some leeway, fidelity and loyalty are far too important to him to pass up. Harry just admitted to seeking out omegas outside of a rut. That means, while Louis was suffering alone, one of his alphas was out there trying to pull.

Completely unnecessarily, if feels like a betrayal. Not just to Louis himself, but his omega as well. It curls up in his chest, desperately trying to force out a whine. Louis doesn’t let it out, but it’s a near miss. The feeling is nothing but frustrating. Harry didn’t cheat on him. Harry didn’t even know he existed. But, it makes him question how serious Harry actually his now. It makes him jealous it wasn’t him. It makes him angry he wasn’t able to be honest sooner. It makes his heart bleed for Edward and Marcel. Where were they while Harry was out with these omegas?

“Lou?” Harry’s voice breaks through the fog in his head.

“Sorry, i’m exhausted. What were you saying?” Louis shakes himself back into focus.

“Forget about it. Sleep, little dove. We have a long drive to Doncaster tomorrow.” Harry says, slipping his arm around Louis’ middle.

Louis lays along side the alpha for a while. He listens to him breathe and snuffle. All the while thinking about the amount of omegas Harry could’ve brought into this bed. Brought into this home.

As soon as he’s side Harry is asleep, Louis slips out of the bed. He barely spared a glance as he slips out the door and pads down the hallway. He’s not mad, per se. It’s just an obstacle he needs to wrap his pretty little mind around.

He finds the master bedroom easily. As he slips inside. two figures shoot up in the darkness.

“Princess?” Louis hears a tired, dark voice ask.

“Can I sleep in here, alphas?” He asks, twisting his fingers together.

“‘Course, Kitten.” Another sleepy voice gets out.

In the dark of the bedroom, Louis pads to the bed. He flops in the middle, immediately pulled into well defined arms.

“Sleep, babe. We gotta get you home tomorrow.” Is the last thing Louis hears before he’s out, sandwiched between two large bodies.