it's a baby! → stylinson mpreg au

[chapter one]

it’s funny how things so big start out so small. it starts with a late night.

louis comes home stumbling drunk and careening into harry’s arms. “harry!” he says, giggling and cheerfully intoxicated. “harry, this is mark, say hi mark-” louis doesn’t pause as the guy still standing in the doorway mumbles a slurred hello mark “-and we’re gonna need my room all to ourselves tonight, okay?” he grins. “okay, thanks. love you!” he pats harry’s cheek before ambling off towards his bedroom, mark winking at harry as he follows.

harry notices the pig starts staring at louis’ arse as he walks away, drooling all over himself. he clenches his jaw. “you’re welcome to stay in the living room if you’d like, though. it’s late,” louis adds, and harry can still hear the smile on his face.

he sighs quietly and stops louis with a hand on his wrist. louis always does this. he calls harry, sniffling and shaking, saying he’s made a mistake and that he’s finally ready. he wants this. and harry always makes the mistake of believing him. he always gets up out of his bed, gets dressed, lets himself get hopeful. and every time, louis finds a way to screw it up. it’s just never been this hurtful before.

“louis,” harry says quietly, holding his wrist a bit too tight, his voice just a bit too steady, but his eyes. he can’t hide the hurt shining in his eyes. because it does hurt. it hurts every time. every single time louis calls him over and then sends him home, cradling his own fractured heart in his hands.

and louis can tell, his smile dims. he glances at mark. “why don’t you go get yourself ready in my room, i’ll be there in a second,” he says with a wink, ever the charmer, and harry crosses his arms over his chest while he waits for the intruder to be gone.

“why did you call me tonight, louis? do you take pleasure in breaking my heart?” harry hisses, and louis honestly looks surprised, the question taking him off-guard. harry’ll have to write that one down for the records.

“what? harry-” 

harry shakes his head and holds up a hand; louis falls quiet. “this is it, louis, okay? this is the last time. i won’t do this anymore. i won’t tell you i love you at three in the morning when you call me crying. i won’t drive over here thinking, fucking hoping, that this time you’ll finally be ready. that you won’t run from me. i’m done. i’m done, louis. this is your last chance. if you send him-” he jabs his finger toward louis’ bedroom “-home, i’ll stay.”

louis’ eyes were cloudy and muddled with alcohol when he got home, but now they’re clear, the tears making them glint in the moonlight. harry’s surprised to see that he’s emotional about this. “harry,” he croaks, swallowing thickly.

“louis, please think about your answer. it literally means the world to me right now,” harry says, but he sounds defeated, as if he knows louis’ answer already. and he does, really.

“i-” louis opens his mouth, then pauses. he looks pained. harry can’t help the twinge of hope shooting through his chest.

the moment is interrupted by mark, yelling from the bedroom. “louis!” his voice travels to them quickly, and louis sighs, shakes himself a bit. his smile comes back to his face, no more tears; louis had always been a chameleon.

“coming!” he calls, giggling slightly before he turns back to harry. “gotta go,” he breathes out, shuffling back to his room without another word.

the weight of what louis has just told him hits harry square in the chest, knocking all of his breath out of him. he stumbles backward as if louis had actually hit him, and in a way he has. the reality that louis doesn’t want him, or doesn’t care enough to try for him is like a slap in the face.