you played it back: liam/louis
title: you played it back
author: rumpledlinen
rating: nc-17
pairing: liam payne/louis tomlinson, harry styles/nick grimshaw, zayn malik/perrie edwards
warnings: alcohol use, emotional cheating
disclaimer: lol this is one of the most untrue things i've ever written
summary:
“You know,” Liam says, closing his eyes. Louis’ hand on his wrist is the only thing keeping him grounded and he turns his hand over, lacing their fingers together and squeezing. “Sometimes I wonder if she’s, like, the one.” He feels silly even as he says it but he can’t help the worry laced through his words.
“Yeah?” Louis asks, so, so gentle.
Liam nods, and he turns his face to press his lips against Louis’ shoulder. “I mean-this can’t be the happiest I’ll ever be,” he says, small and sad. “Can it? She’s not the only one that could ever love me. Right?” Desperately, he needs to hear it. “If I left her, would anyone else want me?” It’s not a question of him loving somebody else, but of somebody else loving him.
The grip on his wrist tightens, but only for a moment.
word count: ~87K.
read it on ao3!