Fic; 'Your Words All Over Me'; X Factor 2010 RPS; Liam/Louis, Zayn/Niall, Matt/Aiden/Harry; [1/3]
Title: Your Words All Over Me; a love story told in shopping lists
Fandom: X Factor 2010 RPS
Pairing: Liam Payne/Louis Tomlinson, Matt Cardle/Aiden Grimshaw/Harry Styles, Niall Horan/Zayn Malik, assorted others
Rating: T (swearing mostly)
Summary: AU. In which, a) Liam and Louis are stupidly in love; b) Matt, Aiden and Harry are a sort-of threesome; c) Niall and Zayn are friends with benefits and lots of baggage, and d) everyone buys things.
Word Count: ~10,000
Started/finished: mid-December 2010/February 2011
Disclaimer: Didn’t happen in the real world.
A/N: This is a bit of a mish-mash, and it’s way more involved than I originally intended, and it’s multi-media. Long story short, I like to collect shopping lists that I find when I’m out, and I started to wonder what a One Direction shopping list would look like - and this happened. It’s One Direction with bonus!Maiden, and everyone is gay for each other and there’s some angst and stupid domesticity and probably plot holes because I suck at inter-personal relationship development. D: I don’t even know.
Apologies if anyone reading this likes FYD; I ended up making them the token assholes to save having to create OCs. I’m sure they’re all lovely guys.
Credit: Fonts from dafont.com.
Title taken from Ellie Goulding’s Under the Sheets. Lyrics used from: Why Don’t You & I by Carlos Santana; Gimme Sympathy by Metric; The First Five Times by Stars; Just For A Day by Seven Summers; Banana Pancakes by Jack Johnson; Bookshop Casanova by The Clientele; Momentum by The Hush Sound; Fresh Feeling by Eels; You and I by Ingrid Michaelson, and; All I Got by Newton Faulkner.
i. why don’t you and I get together, take on the world and be together forever
Shopping list, written by Liam
“This is the way I see it,” Louis announces, wafting along the electricals aisle of ASDA, the obligatory squeaky wheel of their trolley squealing as they turn a corner. “You’re either the most caring person I know, or you’re the most control freaky.”
Liam is already at a half-jog to keep up, dodging mums with buggies and squalling toddlers. It’s midday on a Saturday and the shop is full. Louis seems impervious as ever. Liam watches him narrowly miss a man’s foot as they coast past racks of new winter jackets and into the bread aisle.
“You’re going to kill somebody,” Liam says when they pause beside the hot cross buns. “Let me have the trolley. You fetch stuff off the shelf or something.”
Louis rolls his eyes. “This is exactly what I’m talking about,” he says, but he relinquishes the handle anyway. “Seriously. You can’t bear to have somebody else in charge in case they screw up.”
“You are a social hazard with anything on wheels,” Liam retorts. He consults his list, and begins pulling loaves off the shelves.
“You won’t trust me with that list either,” Louis points out, but he’s not being serious anymore, and he bumps Liam with his hip.
“Last time you had the list we ended up buying eighteen packs of condoms, a few trashy celebrity magazines, beer and Cheesy Wotsits.” Liam bumps back and smiles. Louis smiles too, blindingly wide and happy and Liam’s heart always does a funny flip when that happens.
“How did we get on to this anyway?” Liam asks, turning back to the whole grains and oats. “My caring and control freaky ways?”
“You were going on about Harry again.”
Liam nods, steering the trolley into the cake section. Harry is on his mind a lot lately.
“I can’t help it,” he tells Louis, a little defensively. “He’s been my best mate since sixth-form. I want him to be happy.”
“I think he is.” Louis leans against the basket, scuffing one of his toms against the wonky wheel. “He’s a big boy Liam, he can take care of himself. He wouldn’t be with Aiden and Matt if he didn’t want it.”
“But he’s not really with them,” Liam says. “That’s what I don’t get. They’re in a relationship, and he’s... he’s just there. That can’t be healthy.”
“So they’re a threesome,” Louis says airily, earning a few strange glances from nearby customers. “So what? We were all practically polyamorous at Uni anyway, I don’t know why this is freaking you out so much.”
“It’s like they’re using him.” Liam crosses a few things off the list and wheels around to the next aisle. “I mean, I love them both, they’re my mates. But they’re so - they’re so -”
“Exclusive.”
“Exactly.” Liam pauses at the breakfast cereal. “Do you want cornflakes or Weetabix this week?”
“Well you can’t blame them, they’ve been together for like four years,” Louis says. “Weetabix, as long as that’s cool with you.”
“Yeah, I don’t mind. And I don’t blame them, it’s just - I don’t know how Harry stands it. It annoys me sometimes when they’re around, and I don’t live with it.”
“Neither does Harry.” Louis shrugs. “He’s still living with the girls. He just stays over with Matt and Aiden sometimes. We all stay at each other’s places.”
“I’m still worried. I can’t help it.” Liam parks them behind a cardboard stand full of scented soap in the toiletries aisle. “Anyway, you’re worried about Niall, so you can’t say anything.”
Louis’ face clouds over. “Yeah, but Niall didn’t choose that.”
“He sort of did,” Liam says, “when he slept with Zayn after The Geneva Incident. He knew what he was getting himself into.”
“I told him not to.” Louis watches Liam select deodorants. “I told him that he’d only get hurt. He’s a complete bloody idiot.”
“He’s in love with Zayn,” Liam says fairly. “I mean he was bound to jump at the opportunity, wasn’t he?”
“At least Harry decided to be a third wheel. Niall’s stuck in a three-way with Zayn and Zayn’s baggage. They’re not even together, they just shag every so often.” A man with a young daughter shoots them a disapproving look.
“We’re doing quite well compared to our friends, really, aren’t we?” Liam asks. He’s half-joking, but Louis meets his eyes seriously.
“We’re doing fucking amazing. We’re always amazing.”
Liam doesn’t know what to say so he starts passing Louis things. Louis begins piling them in the trolley, and yeah, this is what Liam really loves. The times when it’s just them living their lives together, not putting on a show, not making out in the cinema to prove a point, not stumbling half-dressed to answer the door with each other’s teeth marks beginning to smart.
Louis is contemplating two flavours of toothpaste. He’s worrying his lower lip like it’s a difficult decision. Liam thinks that the sight of him in sweats in ASDA on a Saturday afternoon is just as beautiful as him spread-eagled on their mattress, breathing Liam’s name like it’s sacred, and - isn’t that distinction the sort of thing people write songs about?
“You’re thinking again,” Louis tells him, looking up. He taps Liam’s head with one of the toothpaste boxes. “Quit it. Nobody is supposed to think that much.”
Liam doesn’t know how to vocalise just how important Louis is to him, or how happy he is that they are both there, choosing toothpaste together, so he just says “I’m trying to make up for how you don’t think at all.” He grabs one of the boxes and tosses it into the trolley. “C’mon.”
Louis falls into step beside him. His hand sneaks over to rest on Liam’s waist, and fuck, Liam really loves his life sometimes.
ii. I’ll remember someday all the chances we took
Text, from Aiden to Harry, sent while Aiden is still in bed
Harry still feels a twinge of guilt when he buys cigarettes for Matt and Aiden. He can’t help but feel like he’s about to be scrutinised by the shop attendant and asked for ID, which is ridiculous, partially because he’s been legal for two years now and partially because buying booze doesn’t faze him. He still fiddles anxiously with his mobile as the cashier slides across the boxes. Images of his mother’s reproachful face always appear, and memories of the time she’d let him have a drag of his uncle’s cigarette when he was twelve, ‘to teach him a lesson’. Harry feels his throat tickle unpleasantly as he pays. Never again.
The variety of the list necessitated two stops; one to the pharmacy and one to some poky corner store a few blocks from Matt and Aiden’s flat. But Harry doesn’t mind. He relishes his own company, especially when flatsharing with four girls made it so rare.
Whenever this comes up Liam tuts and tells him that wanting his own space isn’t reason enough to turn to Aiden and Matt. Harry doesn’t tell Liam to mind his own business anymore, because it never really worked to begin with, and he recognizes Liam’s interference as concern. An affectionate “fuck off, Li” is about as effective anyway.
Harry actively tries not to self-analyse. He’s been friends with Liam long enough to know that it doesn’t help. He’s known Liam since sixth-form, but while Liam went straight into studying law and was on track to become the best barrister in the history of Great Britain or something, Harry took a year off. When he’d come back to start his Psychology degree, he’d found Liam wound tight from stress, and with not much in terms of a social life. Harry likes to think that he’s since loosened Liam up a little. Something must have happened, because Liam is now with Louis, who views deadlines in the same vaguely-defined manner as he does personal space. Harry likes to take credit for that that, too, even though he’s just as mystified as everyone else that they’re still going strong after two years.
Aiden and Matt’s flat is on the fourth floor. Harry takes the stairs two at a time in an effort to burn off some of his pent-up energy. He’s still buzzing with it when he arrives at their door and thumbs the doorbell.
Aiden greets him in nothing but boxers, bleary-eyed and with a purpling mark on his collarbone.
“Sorry for making you get that stuff,” he says as Harry steps inside. “Matt gigged late last night and we’ve not really gotten up yet.” He smothers a yawn in the crook of his elbow and loops his other arm around Harry’s shoulders.
“It’s fine mate.” Harry lets Aiden lean on him as they manoeuvre into the kitchen. “Is he still asleep?”
Aiden nods, grinning. “He’s a lazy fucker.”
Harry begins emptying the bag onto the countertop. “Oh yeah? When’d he give you this then?” He pokes at the mark on Aiden’s exposed neck.
Aiden’s smile turns predatory. “Why do you think he’s so tired?”
This is the response Harry was expecting. He smirks as Aiden slopes off towards the bedroom, presumably to rouse Matt. “Hey Aid,” he says. “Here.” He tosses him the box of Durex.
“Cheers.” Aiden cocks his head, and he’s really fucking pretty when he’s sleepy and hung over and well-shagged. “Joining us in a bit?”
“Well I don’t do your shopping for nothing.”
Aiden flips him off and ambles back into the bedroom. Harry thinks that maybe Liam’s right, and this isn’t normal. But he can hear Aiden murmuring ‘good morning’ even though it’s one in the afternoon, the rustle of sheets as Matt kisses him, and he doesn’t really care.
iii. and every day it’s changed since then, in every way I’ve changed since then
Old shopping list, compiled by Matt and Aiden over the course of a week; note added by Harry at the end of the week, after it became obvious that they hadn't done any of said shopping
Every week of Aiden’s life seemed to get progressively more awesome and ridiculous by turns.
If he had to pinpoint it, he would say it started in the fifth week of his first year at University. He’d been minding his own business in a local coffee house, his head buried in a book and the table in front of him strewn with papers, when somebody had dragged a chair up to his table and sat down.
Aiden raised his eyes slowly, wondering who it was that had gotten lost.
“Hi,” the guy greeted him with a pretty smile. “You’re on my English Lit course, yeah? I’m Louis.” And he stuck his hand across the piles of books and notes and didn’t move it until Aiden shook it tentatively.
“Aiden.” Louis was still smiling, and Aiden wondered distantly when he’d start laughing and admit that he’d only come over because his mates had dared him to or something.
Instead Louis said, “You fancy coming out with me tonight? Just for a drink.”
Aiden blinked and said the first honest thing that popped into his head. “Um, not really.”
Louis wasn’t fazed. “Oh? Why?”
“I don’t know you.” Aiden coughed. “You’re probably taking the piss.”
Louis stared at him in something like fascinated respect before scooting his chair in closer and leaning on his elbows, ducking forward like they were having a secret discussion.
“Okay, I admit that I just wanted to see if you spoke. But I mean it about that drink. Nothing funny I swear. I just like to get to know people, that’s all. And you seem awesome.”
Aiden didn’t ask why, because he was slightly worried what the answer would be. But Louis seemed sincere and despite normally being cautious, the thought of another quiet night in his room didn’t really appeal to him.
“You’re buying,” he told Louis, because he was only up for it if there was free alcohol involved. Louis grinned at him.
~
Aiden went along to the pub, half expecting Louis to not show up. He was surprised to find Louis waiting for him, grinning, with two beers. And Louis turned out to be excellent company. Within an hour Aiden felt like they were best mates. After two Aiden found himself (under Louis’ orders) sitting next to a hot guy in a cap, chatting about his degree and the guy’s band, and then exchanging telephone numbers. It was a surreal experience and Aiden hadn’t thought much of it.
“Don’t act so surprised,” Louis told him when the guy had texted him the next day. “I saw you flirting your arse off with him. You’re not innocent in this.”
Aiden ducked his head, blushing furiously. He was more baffled than anything else. In forty-eight hours he seemed to have acquired a friend and a hot date, and it was a bit much to take in.
“You can thank me later,” Louis informed him, leaning over to steal half of his muffin.
Aiden was so pleased that there was apparently going to be a ‘later’ that he let Louis finish his coffee as well.
~
The guy’s name turned out to be Matt, and he wasn’t perfect but he was the closest thing to it that Aiden had ever seen and the feeling seemed to be mutual. Aiden is crap at subtlety and ended up blurting out something about how he was pretty sure he loved Matt on their fourth date. Matt pulled him into a kiss in the middle of the queue in Starbucks and that had been that.
~
Aiden thumbs through the stack of mail from that morning, mixed in with loose papers and receipts they’ve forgotten to bin. He begins separating bills from freebies from other things when he comes across the old list. It’s a grocery list from last month, labelled as ‘Week 2, August’. Aiden smiles as he scans it. He and Matt are rubbish at lists and end up using them to write each other little notes whenever they’re in the kitchen instead. Harry usually fetches them things when they’re low, which is most of the time.
Harry is a recent addition. Aiden himself doesn’t quite know how it happened. They’d known Harry since Liam introduced them in second year, fresh from a gap-year in Spain, all tan and dimples and infectious laughter. Aiden had liked him in the same way that he liked everyone remotely associated with Louis. It hadn’t been until sometime this year that things had shifted. This is something that Aiden can’t pinpoint; whenever he tries, he remembers new things. Glances, off-colour jokes, strangely awkward pauses shared between the three of them. And those just muddle him up, because they were just friends, still are friends, but now there’s added sex which none of them can complain about.
Aiden knows that Liam doesn’t really approve. Louis acts bizarrely proud, as though his dream has always been to have friends in a threesome. Zayn and Niall have their own problems and Harry occasionally joining Aiden and Matt after a night out doesn’t bother them.
“Morning,” Matt grunts as he stumbles into the kitchen. He’s wearing Aiden’s cardigan with the buttons done up wrong, and Y-fronts that Aiden is pretty sure don’t belong to either of them. “Tea?”
“Please.” Aiden folds the junk mail in half and begins tearing open envelopes. “Hazza up yet?”
“He’s out like a light still.” Matt is spooning sugar into three mugs anyway. “Doesn’t he have a lecture on Wednesday mornings?”
Aiden pulls a one-shoulder shrug. “Probably. We’re such a bad influence.”
Matt hums as the kettle begins to boil. Aiden abandons the bills to mould his chest to Matt’s back, linking his hands at Matt’s naval. Matt leans back into him and half sighs half laughs, and Aiden feels the tremors through Matt’s ribs. There’s something musical in it, percussion against bone. Aiden digs his chin into Matt’s shoulder.
“Do you have work today?” Aiden asks, already knowing the answer.
“Yeah. I’ve got to be there for twelve.” Matt twists to plant a kiss on Aiden’s cheek. “I’ll drop Harry off, if he likes. He’ll only distract you if he’s here. Didn’t you want to work on your book today?”
Aiden cringes. “Um, yeah.”
“I don’t know why you’re so self conscious.” Matt begins pouring the water. “I’ve read some of your stuff from Uni, your writing is great. People are going to have to read it eventually.”
Aiden nibbles on Matt’s shoulder rather than answer. His book is three-quarters finished, and he hates it and loves it in equal measure. He’s wanted to write since forever, but gets an uncomfortable squirm in his stomach at the thought of anybody reading his material. Matt is good natured about it. Aiden has his laptop password protected to keep the others, especially Louis, from reading it behind his back.
“You should go wake Sleeping Beauty,” Matt says. “Tell him there’s tea and scrambled eggs if he hurries up.”
Aiden presses a kiss behind Matt’s ear, peeling himself away. “Okay.”
Harry’s taking up their whole bed as usual, limbs spread out in every direction. Aiden twitches aside the duvet to squeeze in beside him, shoving his chilly fingers into Harry’s neck. Harry makes a noise of protest.
“Rise and shine,” Aiden says, fingers dancing over Harry’s chest. “Matt’s making breakfast. Don’t you have a lecture?”
Harry’s eyes spring open. “Shit, what time is it?”
“Ten thirty.” Aiden watches Harry’s expression shift from horror to disappointment and, finally, mild regret.
“Oh, well, that’s not happening.”
“Matt said he’d give you a lift back home. He’s got work in a bit.”
“Alright.” Harry stretches and yawns. “Cool, that’s good of him.”
“He’s awesome like that.” Aiden wraps Harry in a hug, burying his nose in Harry’s hair. “He’s leaving me here alone to write.”
Harry chuckles. “Your life is so hard.”
“It really is,” Aiden agrees emphatically, even though it’s not, and Harry knows it.
(part two)