Kings and Beggars of the World - Part 6
Title: Kings and Beggars of the World
Rating: NC-17
Author: braincloud2
Parings: Harry/Louis, ot5
Warnings: Sexual content, unexplained time-travel, and some offensive language.
Disclaimer: I don’t own people. I don’t intend any offense. This is fiction.
Word Count: 30,000+
Summary: Harry’s on tour and he feels on top of the world-that is-until he wakes up one morning to find himself at the first day of the X Factor boot-camp, just sixteen years old again, and absolutely terrified that he’s just lost the last two years of his life.
Pt 1 --- Pt 2 --- Pt 3 --- Pt 4 --- Pt 5
A/N: This is getting really long. It is probably being inspired by nostravario at this point, but it’s not at her level yet :)
All too soon everyone was called back to get dressed and ready for the final results of their auditions. The others messed about; Niall was bouncing in and out of the room, talking almost non-stop, while Zayn was freaking out about what to wear, and Louis started smacking him with one of his toms and yelling, ‘Vain Zayn,’ over and over.
Throughout this, Harry could barely speak, he felt like his stomach was trying to surge up and eat his tongue. Any scrap of serenity he’d had during the day had vanished, and he found he didn’t know what to do with himself. He knew they’d sung better than last time, but what if Simon decided he didn’t like it? What if he’d wanted that raw, inexperienced group they’d been the last time, and had no place for One Direction this time? Harry honestly didn’t know what he’d do if they got sent home this time, because it wouldn’t just be embarrassing or a waste of a good opportunity; it would be soul-crushing, and far more horrible than anything else Harry had gone through so far.
‘Heya, Curly! You ready to go?’ Louis jumped in close next to him, rocking Harry as he wrapped an arm around his shoulders.
Harry looked at Louis, and his arm tightened .
‘Oh, Hazza,’ he murmured ‘Don’t be scared.’
‘I just-God, I want it so much, Lou.’
‘We’re going to be fine,’ Louis said. ‘We were great, and we are absolutely going through.’
‘You can’t know that.’
‘I do though. Look at me, Harry. You don’t know how amazing you were, how incredible you sounded when we preformed. They would have to be flipping insane not to take us through after the way you sang, trust me.’ He set his jaw firmly, his eyes dead serious, and it made Harry’s stomach fizzle in a different way, enough for him to calm down a little.
‘Yeah?’
Louis ruffled Harry’s hair. ‘Yeah. Now let’s get going, we have history to make. Or remake, depending on how you want to look at it.’
1D
The X Factor crew filmed the boys on the same wall as last time. Harry stared out at the swelling tide in the afternoon sun, barely even registering the presence of the camera as Niall leant against him, all warm from the sun, and Zayn’s hand absently skimmed through his curls. They had been asked to sit in silence, which Harry could do easily enough, but Louis at the end kept shifting. Every now and then, he whispered to Liam next to him, and Liam had to duck his head to try and stop giggling.
Finally the crew had got the shot they wanted, and they were brought down to meet Dermot for a brief interview.
‘So how are you feeling boys?’ The man asked, crouching next to the camera, out of sight of its lens as he looked from one to another. ‘Could you tell us what this might mean to you if you got through? How much do you boys really want this?’
Harry squinted in the sun to look at the others, and his chest tightened so much that it felt like his ribs were going to crush his lungs.
‘I think all of us feel the same way,’ he said. ‘For us, it’s not about just getting through to the next stage of the competition, because-when you want something with every fibre of your being, but a simple “no’ could mean the end of it all, while a “yes” could change your life into something beyond fantastic-it becomes overwhelming, and so much more than just a competition. It gets to the point where you can’t focus on anything else, except for how much you hunger for it and the people there with you.’
‘Harry,’ Liam said.
Zayn’s face was creased with distress when his hand grabbed Harry’s knee. Harry looked away quickly, realising half-furiously that his eyes had gone wet again as Niall patted his shoulder and Louis’ fingers dug into his curls.
Dermot whooshed out a breath as he turned away, blinking. ‘Okay that was, wow. Thank you, Harry. Wow, you got that, right?’ he asked the soundman.
The man gave him the thumbs up.
Dermot nodded distractedly. ‘Good, that’s good. Okay, well,’ he leaned back in towards the boys, and his tone was kind. ‘It won’t be much longer now. I promise, they’ll be ready for you to go in soon.’
The camera crew shuffled back, giving the boys some space, and Harry ducked his head under the weight of the other boys’ hands. Fingers pulled at Harry’s fringe, tucking it away out of his wet eyes, and he glanced up at Louis, who smiled down at him with a strangely intense look.
‘What am I going to do with you, Hazza?’ he asked quietly, but Harry couldn’t answer that.
1D
Simon was sitting just like Harry remembered under the shade by the pool, all the crew standing silent off to one side as the boys approached, the cameras following their faces. Simon smiled at them as they lined up, and Harry instinctively reached for the others against whatever was to come.
‘Hello boys,’ Simon said softly. ‘So, I want to know, do you regret not going forward as solo artists?’
‘No,’ they answered instantly.
‘Definitely not,’ Louis added.
‘Good, because I think the difference from your solo auditions to the boot-camp stage of the competition is phenomenal, although, forming a group out of essentially strangers was an extremely risky move to make. Now, you’re competing with a lot of groups who’ve been together a lot longer than you, and whether or not that risk paid off, well…’
Harry looked down the line of faces. They all looked as young as they had been last time, but he knew how far they’d really gone; so much further than just this.
‘The connection you boys have is genuinely incredible, so while my head is saying it’s a risk, my heart is saying that you deserve a shot, and that’s why it’s been difficult. But I’ve made a decision.’
Harry could feel his insides tearing, and Louis’ hand on his shoulder was branding into his skin from how tightly he was holding.
‘Guys, I’ve gone with my heart. You’re through.’
The boys exploded into sound and motion, and Harry’s head was ringing with Simon’s words even as the other boys slammed into him.
Harry shouted, and pulled back from the boys, he found himself rushing forward with Liam and Niall towards Simon. Simon was grinning wide, so happy to be giving them good news, and Harry loved the man so much for believing in them, and continuing to giving them a chance. He threw himself forward and clung to Simon in a hug that was joined straight away by Liam and Niall. A second later, both Zayn and Louis added their weight, laughing their heads off.
‘Oh, Jesus,’ Niall said, pulling back and turning to Liam. ‘When he started sayin’ something different, I thought for a second we we’re goin’ home.’
Liam’s eyes went wide, and he jumped on Niall, desperately pushing him away from the soundman’s microphone as Niall protested, and asking loudly what he’d done to deserve that.
Zayn came up and hugged him, and Harry hugged back, wrecked from all the emotions going through him.
‘Thank you,’ Louis was saying sincerely to Simon. ‘Thank you so much. This means so much to us, you have no idea.’
Simon was shaking his head, smile so wide it crinkled his eyes. ‘I am so impressed with all of you, I mean it. I honestly think you boys have something special, possibly more than anyone else here. I’ve never seen chemistry like the five you have, not in the outside world and not on the show. I genuinely think what you boys have is extraordinary.’
Harry’s heart thumped in his chest, and he couldn’t believe the praise coming from the other man, because it hadn’t been like this last time. Simon was grinning as he looked from one boy to another, but his happiness was tinged with something like awe, like he couldn’t believe they were actually real.
1D
‘Girls up and down the nation will be jealous of me right now. I’m on the beach, with five very handsome boys who will be going through to the live X Factor shows!’ Konnie said.
The five of them burst into enthusiastic yells, Harry nearly falling off the wall they were sitting on as Zayn grabbed him and screamed in his ear.
‘So boys, tell us what it was like becoming a group.’ Konnie smiled widely, offering Harry the microphone as he steadied himself.
‘Erm, well, basically we met up at my house after the boot-camp, and just kind of lived there together for three weeks.’
‘We mooched off him,’ Liam said, smiling.
Konnie leant forward like she wanted them to tell her a secret. ‘Were there any conflicts during that time? Be honest, now.’
Zayn grinned. ‘Louis and I decided we should wake Niall up this one time.’
Niall reached over and slapped Zayn in the chest. ‘Oi, I’m defini’ely gonna get you back, don’t you worry.’
‘What happened?’ Konnie asked, an eager gleam in her eye.
Louis shrugged. ‘We dragged him from his bed and threw him in the pool. His girly screams were more than worth it.’
Niall laughed. ‘You’re t’e one who screamed like a girl that time we hid all the Yorks’ire tea.’
Louis gave him a deadly look. ‘A man’s tea is no joking matter, young Nialler.’
Harry sniggered, and Louis dug his fingers into Harry’s spine, making him yelp and twist to glare at him.
‘So, by the looks of you, you’ve all grown pretty close,’ Konnie said, and Harry turned his attention back to her.
‘You could say that,’ he said.
‘We’re the best of friends, really,’ Liam said.
Zayn wrapped his arm around Liam’s neck and pulled him down till he was choking him, cooing, ‘Aw, I just love you, Liam.’
‘I-can’t breathe, Zayn-’
‘Alright, and just quickly now, whose got a girlfriend? Just say yes or no.’ Konnie leaned forward, and went down the line of them.
‘Nope,’ Niall said.
‘No,’ Harry said.
‘No,’ Louis answered softly
They all stopped, and stared at him for a long moment.
‘Er, no.’ Liam coughed.
‘No,’ Zayn finished sharply, brow furrowing as he stared hard at Louis, who avoided their eyes, still with that small smile pasted on his face.
onnie declared them all free for the taking to the public, before thanking them all, and wishing them good luck. There was silence for a second after she left, and then Zayn turned and punched Louis in the arm.
‘You never said anything, you dumbass,’ he accused.
Louis rubbed his arm, wincing. ‘Yeah, well you never asked, did you?’
‘You broke up with Hannah?’ Harry asked slowly.
‘Ages ago,’ Louis said lightly.
Niall scoffed. ‘That’s great, Louis. Now, I feel like a shit friend.’
Harry couldn’t agree more.
Louis frowned. ‘Don’t be stupid. It’s not even a big deal. It’s not like I’m cut up about it or anything.’
‘Then why didn’t you say anything?’ Harry asked, green eyes intent.
Louis glanced at him, and then quickly looked away, groaning. ‘I didn’t want you all to get like this. Honestly, it’s not a big deal. It sucked balls that I had to hurt her feelings, but I wasn’t about to lead her along when I no longer felt the same way about her.’
Liam pressed his lips together. ‘I suppose that’s good then.’
Harry wasn’t as convinced. ‘But didn’t you want to try with her again? Or are you still thinking about Eleanor?’
Louis flinched under Harry’s hand. ‘Can we not talk about her? I don’t want to talk about her on a day like today. I just want to enjoy the time we have left before I have to go back home to my stupid fam-’ Louis cut himself off, and pushed up away from the four of them.
Zayn was quicker than all of them, and grabbed Louis first. Harry was there a second later, blocking the way and fisting his hand into the older boy’s white shirt, his shoulders tense.
‘What are you talking about?’ he asked, voice low as Liam and Niall crowded around them.
Louis huffed a laugh, and tugged at Zayn’s unrelenting hold around his shoulders. ‘It’s not that bad-talk about melodramatic. Look, I think we should all cool down with a lovely swim before dinner. Who’s with me, yeah?’
‘Louis, come on,’ Harry said, hating that smile on the other boy’s face. ‘Why are you hiding? It’s just us here.’
‘I’m not-’ Louis laughed, turning his eyes from Harry’s to look out at the beach. ‘Christ, I’m not trying to hide anything. It’s not even worth talking about, is all.’
‘I think it is,’ Liam said quietly.
‘Yeah,’ Niall nodded, his blue eyes piercing. ‘Come on, Louis, we kno’ you.’
‘Oh my God.’ Louis heaved a massive sigh, before saying flatly, ‘Fine. Look, it’s just my family okay? I don’t like being with them and living in their house.’
‘What?’ Harry stared at him. He thought again about how they might become twisted from who they used to be. ‘No. You love your family, Louis.’
‘I do,’ he admitted. ‘But I hate them too right now. I hate watching their marriage fall apart again. I hate watching them pretend for the girls and for me that everything is fucking peaches and cream, and I really hate watching them try to forgive each other, and trying to make it work when I know it’s a wasted effort.’
Louis turned his glare on Harry. ‘And why are you looking at me, like this is all your fault? You didn’t do anything. It’s not that bad. I’m fine, I got over it a long time ago. I just really hate watching it happen again.’
‘You should have said something,’ Harry spat out, and he let go of Louis stepping back. He pushed all his hair back from his face. ‘All of you don’t seem to get it. You keep hurting yourselves trying to hide everything, when we’re all right here to help you. I can’t take it anymore. Liam with Danielle, and then Zayn and now Louis-I swear to God, Niall, if you’re hiding something, I will lose my shit!’
‘Er, t’ink it’s a bit late, mate,’ Niall said, staring at him.
‘That is not appreciated,’ Harry said, pinching between his eyes.
‘Okay,’ Louis said, pushing free from Zayn to hook an arm around Harry and pull him in. ‘Sorry. So, maybe we stink at dealing with this stuff, but we’ll try the best we can, just to stop Harry from going bonkers. Alright?’
‘Suits me fine,’ Liam said, smiling, the others echoing the sentiment.
Harry inhaled, pulling in the smell of the beach and cologne from Louis’ shirt. ‘Good,’ he mumbled, feeling drained. ‘We can go for that swim now, if you want.’
1D
‘Harry! Harry, come on, it’s starting! You’re missing it again-come on, you’re on the telly!’ Gemma screamed.
Harry ambled into the living room where his family were crowded around the television, watching the second boot-camp episode. He sighed at the thought of putting himself through another round of his family playing spot-the-boys, yelling every time one of them came on screen.
This had been going on all through the auditions over the last two weeks, with yesterday being the first of the boot-camp episodes. Harry had watched it closely, worried there would be shots of him freaking out, but thankfully whenever the camera caught his face throughout the first half of the episode, he just looked stressed, and throughout the second half, his sister had nearly killed herself laughing over his dancing.
This time, Harry just he slumped down on the couch and pulled out his phone, only half paying attention as he texted the other boys to ask what they were doing.
‘…and the boys’ category started off smoothly, with each of them singing to win a place for the judges’ houses,’ Dermot’s voice-over carried around their living room, and several shots of the various boys singing followed. ‘But we soon hit a snag in the competition when it came to Harry Styles’ turn.’
Harry’s gaze shot to the screen, and his family held their breath as he appeared on the stage, the other four boys in tow.
‘Hello, boys. What’s the problem?’ A wary Simon asked on the screen.
A sick feeling grew in Harry’s gut. He was idiot. How could he not think of this? ‘Viva La Viva’ began playing, and Harry sat in absolute silence as he watched himself launch forward on stage, throwing his whole body into the lyrics and moving automatically in time with the other boys. His eyes flicked from the television to his family, who had all gone very still. It was devastatingly obvious how different the five of them were from their earlier auditions-there was no way his family couldn’t see something had changed.
The song finished and the Simon thanked them, and Harry still couldn’t breathe. His Mum made a sound, and Harry’s eyes snapped to her.
She looked dazed. ‘How-’
‘Well, I’m Liam,’ Liam’s voice came from the screen.
'I’m Zayn,’
‘I’m Niall,’
‘I’m Louis!’
‘I’m Harry, and we’re One Direction.’
Oh God, this just kept getting better. Harry’s heart was pounding right out of his chest. The interview continued in all it’s life-wrecking glory as the five of them messed about, being themselves but also so completely different from what they had been like when they were actually sixteen, and Harry had no idea how he was going to explain this.
Finally the interview ended and the show went to a break. There was silence for a second as everyone turned to stare at Harry like his skin had gone green.
Harry shifted on the couch. ‘Erm…’
‘Harry Edward Styles, where did on earth did that come from?’ his Mum said.
‘When did you learn to sing like that? You’ve never sung like that before,’ Gemma accused him.
Harry hunched down further. ‘Uh-’
His step-father shook his head. ‘That was-incredible, I can’t believe that was actually you. How did you do that?’
‘Uh, we were just messing about? Like, having a laugh on stage and enjoying the moment,’ Harry trailed off at his Mum’s puckered expression.
‘If you mean to tell me that you were putting your careers on the line for a laugh-’
‘No! That’s not what I meant.’
‘Then say what you mean, Harry. I don’t understand how you did that. That was just…’
Harry’s voice went smaller than he intended. ‘Oh. Didn’t you like it?’
‘What? No, baby, of course we loved it,’ his Mum said, her hand running over his hair reassuringly. ‘I just can’t believe… I mean, I’ve always thought you were amazing but not that amazing. You were-’
‘Brilliant,’ Gemma cut in coming over to the couch. ‘You’re actually, like, a superstar and you never told us, you prat.’
Harry smiled as she leant down to hug him. ‘The other lads bring out the best in me.’
‘If by best you mean your inner five year old, then I agree,’ his Mum said. ‘I can’t believe how immature you boys are on camera. I wish you’d at least tried to act like professionals on telly.’
Harry shrugged, falling quiet and feeling very much like he’d just dodged a bullet.
1D
‘That’s not yours,’ his Mum said the next day, just as Harry was about to disappear into his room.
‘What’s not?’
‘That jacket. I never seen it before, who’s is it?’
Harry looked down. ‘Oh.’ He tried to remember and thought it was probably Zayn’s, but Louis had been wearing it at some point. Also it smelled a lot like Niall. ‘I dunno. Louis’ or Zayn’s, I think.’
His Mum rolled her eyes. ‘Honestly, you boys.’
Harry grinned at her and slipped into his bedroom to find his phone lit up with a new text by his computer. He settled down at his desk and scooped up his phone, pleasantly surprised to see the text was from Liam.
Have you checked twitter recently?
Harry blinked at the words for a second. He closed the inbox page and tapped the twitter application on his phone, thumbing down through the list of tweets, not really sure what he was supposed to be looking for. Eventually he gave up and texted Liam back.
What about it?
He received a reply within seconds.
You nong. Go to your profile page.
Harry obediently went back to twitter and tapped the ‘Me’ icon at the top. He stared at the numbers for a second before minimizing the page and calling Liam.
‘I know, right?’ Liam said on answering.
‘How is that even possible?’ Harry asked, pressing his knuckles to his lips. ‘This didn’t happen last time.’
Liam laughed. ‘Tell me about it. Wow. Over 100,000 followers and all that’s really aired are the boot-camp episodes and the Xtra Factor.’
‘But… didn’t it take us ages to get this many last time?’ Harry stood up, from his chair. ‘We were half-way through X Factor before we got this far.’
‘Right, well, you couldn’t have honestly expected it to be the same,’ Liam said.
‘Yes,’ Harry nodded. ‘I could have, actually.’
‘Harry. It’s already been really different, though.’ Liam huffed into the phone. ‘We changed how we got together, we’re performing differently, and we’ve been acting completely unlike we did last time on camera, well, this early on in the competition, anyway.’
Harry closed his eyes. ‘Stop being logical.’
‘Stop freaking out, then.’
‘I am not. It just didn’t occur to me before now, that things could happen this time with our fans that didn’t last time.’
Liam made a sympathetic noise. ‘Look on the bright side. At least we’ll all be together again soon. Just a few more days.’
Harry sunk down onto the bed. ‘Not soon enough, then.’
1D
They all stayed at a hotel in London for a while as the X Factor house was being prepared for them. It was brilliant seeing all the over finalists again in one place, but it was a bit strange also, and Niall in particular had to struggle not to give away how well they really knew these people. So as a precaution, they were staying more to themselves up in their room, as much to save themselves from mistakes as to save the other contestants ears. The five of them were so happy to be back together, that at one point, one of the assistants staying at the hotel had to come down to tell them to be quiet. They did try to calm down, but all it took was one silly remark to set them off again.
Harry laughed from the floor as Liam and Louis shoved all their weight into the door, trying to keep Niall from re-entering their room. Niall yelled obscenities at them from the hotel hallway, dressed only in a white towel after the other four boys had ambushed him coming of the shower.
A girl’s shriek came from the hallway, and Harry collapsed back into Zayn, just about dying as they heard Niall’s hasty apologies to the girl. Liam and Louis started laughing too hard to keep up the pressure on the door, and Niall shoved it open, slapping at every part of them he could get.
Louis made grabby hands at Niall’s towel, but the Irish lad leapt away over Harry to get to his pants, and Louis tripped on Harry instead.
‘Hello there, Curly, fancy meeting you here,’ Louis sniggered, fingers dancing up Harry’s sides.
Harry squawked and tried to squirm away, pushing at the other boy’s hands, as Louis held him tight. At last, he reached up and swiping Louis’ hair in all in the wrong direction, making him jolt back.
‘Foul!’ Louis cried, as Harry scrabbled up and escaped to the dark bathroom.
He had no time to turn the light on, lunging straight for the door and nearly managing to close it in time but then Louis’ hand whacked into the wood, stopping it short. He slipped inside after Harry, leaving the door open so that the light from the main room flooded inside, giving his eyes wicked gleam as he advanced. Harry grinned unrepentantly even as he backed away-right up until his back hit the tiled wall-and the air seemed to change around them, turning thick as Louis stepped closer still until their chests were almost touching.
Harry stared Louis’ face changed as he pressed closer, his eyes shifting all over Harry’s face as his hand came up to his jaw-and Harry couldn’t breathe but he couldn’t tear his eyes away either. Louis’ thumb pressed against Harry’s lips and dragged along, before lightly digging his nail into the flesh at the corner of Harry’s mouth.
‘Christ. I’m losing my mind,’ Louis whispered, his breath skimming Harry’s skin.
There was a churning burn of feeling spreading from Harry’s throat through his chest and right down to his legs. Harry hauled in air, and his voice didn’t sound like his when he spoke. ‘I’m right there with you, then.’
Louis’ hand tightened on his jaw and he leaned closer as if Harry was drawing him in.
‘Fuck.’
His mouth captured Harry’s and he made a small noise, pressing up and opening beneath him. Louis pushed him back into the wall, his hand sliding around his side and fisting into Harry’s shirt. His mouth moved with Harry’s, slick and consuming, and it hit Harry in a punch how badly he wanted to taste all of him, and he pressed up and licked back. Louis’ fingers tangled with Harry’s, and all his veins were standing out in his arms and neck as he pushed down on Harry, teeth catching on his lip, making Harry gasp and jerk.
‘Lou-’
He could feel all of Louis’ muscles pushing up against him, all harder and stronger than what he was used to. He tried to suck in a breath and Louis pushed into his mouth, the smooth wet muscle of his tongue thicker than any girl’s, filling all of his mouth, and Harry’s jaw was straining to open wide enough as he pushed back with his own tongue. A powerful need shivered at the base of his spine, building to untameable heights, and his legs trembled beneath him as Louis pulled him in impossibly tight.
Louis pulled his mouth away, and Harry dropped his head forward to the other boy’s shoulder, pulling in a shaky breath that was full with the smell of Louis. He shuddered when Louis pressed his lips to Harry’s neck and sucked hard, before nipping at the skin and pulling away completely.
Harry collapsed back against the wall, and he tried to breathe after the rush pulsing through his body. Louis stumbled to the side, looking destroyed with his hair mussed, and his mouth red and open.
‘God,’ Louis said, voice cracking. ‘What the actual fuck?’
Harry snorted against the wall.
‘You-are you laughing?’ Louis asked, voice going scandalised. ‘This is a-a giant change in the dynamics of our friendship and you-’
Harry laughed out loud. ‘Oh God, your voice! I think I made you go through puberty again.’
Louis punched Harry in the shoulder. ‘Cheeky. You’re not that good, Styles.’
‘Yeah? Pretty good, though, right?’ Harry let his head loll back against the wall.
A thrill went through his body as the older boy’s gaze fell to the line of his neck. Louis leaned forward to flick the reddened patch where he’d been sucking, and Harry had to close his eyes briefly to get a hold of himself.
‘Well, if you think so,’ Louis said.
Part 7