a voice as soft as wild honey, a skin softer than down [2/?]
pairing: louis/harry, harry/zayn, louis/harry/zayn, liam/zayn, liam/danielle - if you can't take the heat get out of the kitchen
rating: eventually nc-17
wc: 1255 [this chapter]
summary: originally written for a prompt on the kink meme - All these kitten posts are making my heart ache. But I can't seem to find one of Zayn? harry & louis adopt zayn, a cat hybrid. hijinks and drama ensue. also liam is a kitten.
a/n: what have i gotten myself into
Louis’ mind is still whirling with new information as he drives back to his flat, mind only half on the road. Liam can hiss, Danielle had told him. Louis thought that was the coolest. He ate regular food but had a special affinity for shrimp. She’d even shown him where his tail connected seamlessly to the skin of his back, Liam blushing a little and twitching his ears under the scrutiny.
Louis didn’t want one for his own, though - not at all. He knows Harry would be absolutely against the idea, and he certainly doesn’t have time to look after another commitment.
Louis sights Harry’s silver car in the stall next to his in the parking garage, feels his face split into a smile. He might be a little tired but the idea of spending five or six uninterrupted hours with Harry sounds nothing short of heaven right now.
*
When they’re lying in each other's arms that evening, sweaty and exhausted and practically grinning with joy, Harry brings it up.
“Have you read the news lately? We - we haven’t even had time to talk about what’s going on.”
Louis blushes a little. “I told you I was over at Danielle’s today? Well, she bought one.”
Harry bristles. “From one of those breeders?” he asks, tone disgusted.
Louis half shrugs. “I dunno. Said she paid a fortune for him. He’s cute.”
Louis can feel Harry’s face scrunching in disgust against his skin. “I read an exposé,” he sniffs. “They don’t get the rights we do, Lou. The government actually considers them less than human.”
Louis stays silent, resigned to letting Harry vent about his activist cause of the week.
Harry nearly seems to read his mind. “I know this must seem just as silly as the Bonsai Kittens were last week,” he starts determinedly, and Louis snorts because it’s just so typically Harry to get caught up in a cause that doesn’t even exist. “But it struck a chord with me. Everyone needs rights, hm, Lou?”
Harry fingers the hair at the base of Louis’ neck sadly, and Louis feels a pang in his heart. He knows that Harry wants nothing more than to get married, to have a big old traditional wedding in a picturesque chapel with roses and cake and his entire family there.
He hugs Harry as closely as he can. “We won’t get one,” he murmurs, more to assure himself than to tell Harry.
Harry is silent, then - “There’s lots that don’t have homes,” he starts. “Once they could be sold legally tons of rejects from the underground market got completely abandoned since they aren’t worth anything. There’s a shelter in Harlesden.”
“Ah -Harry? Are you suggesting something?”
“I just want to help someone, is all,” Harry replies defensively. “Besides, I’ve been getting lonely. Your job is too demanding.”
Louis sighs. “I know. But doing something like this is going to be a lot of work, Haz. I mean - imagine how messed up some of these people could be. I’m not gonna leave you alone all day with someone from Harlesden.”
Harry huffs frustratedly. “I’ve been thinking about it for days now. I promise I’d take good care of him.”
“Don’t you just want a puppy, or something?”
Harry giggles. “No, Louis. You sound pretty taken yourself with this Liam character, I think you’d like to get one too.”
“It’s weird, Harry. Don’t you think it would be weird to just have a random extra person in our house?”
Harry shakes his head fervently. “No! They need affection, they want to be owned. They aren’t happy living by themselves. They’re so adorable, Louis, and they help around the house, too.”
Louis sighs. “Maybe I’ll think about it. If we’re getting one, we’re going to a breeder, though.”
“But I want to rescue one! What’s the point if you just want to give money to a breeder who’ll replace whoever we get within the day?”
“Hazza. I’m tired. What if I call in sick to work tomorrow and we talk about this with clothing on.”
He feels Harry relent, relax into his body. “Kay. I guess.” He knows that the only reason he’s given up so easily is because he’s thrilled that Louis is going to call into work. Louis cards his hands through Harry’s hair a little wistfully.
“I love you, Hazza bear. It was nice spending time with you today. I wish I could do that every day.”
Harry sighs, nuzzles into his chest. “Me too.”
“I’m sorry I’ve been gone so much,” Louis mumbles, toying with a curl and half-asleep already.
“It’s okay. You’re just lucky I love you so much.”
Louis’ lips twitch, and yeah, he is really fucking lucky, he thinks semi-consciously as he drifts into sleep.
Harry’s up before Louis is the next morning - which is strange. Louis awakens to the scent of eggs and bacon. Glancing at the clock, he finds the face blank and the cord unplugged. He narrows his eyes. Harry.
Louis grabs his phone from the bedside table and powers it on quickly, checks the time. Shit. Nine forty five. He should have phoned in to work hours ago. He’s about to dial the number when Harry waltzes into the room and snatches the phone from his fingers, pocketing it.
Louis blinks stupidly for a moment. “I need that! Why - why did you unplug the clock?”
Harry smiles demurely. “I called work for you. They were very understanding.”
Louis eyes his boyfriend suspiciously. “...Thanks.”
“Breakfast is waiting,” Harry calls as he leaves the bedroom.
He’s cheerful and polite all through breakfast, pouring Louis’ orange juice and even offering to butter his toast. Louis eyes him warily until finally memories from the previous night seep into his sleepy skull, and he points at Harry.
“You,” he exclaims accusingly, “want something, don’t you.”
Harry’s eyes are just a little too wide to actually pass for innocent. “What,” he states, setting his silverware down.
“Think you’ll just butter me up,” Louis grumbles. “You sly thing.”
Harry’s mouth forms a small smile. “I guess you’re onto me,” he sighs. “I just. Can’t we just go look?”
Louis groans. “Today? Don’t you want to stay in?”
“I really would like that,” Harry says wistfully. “But I feel...I feel like we need to do this today. This sounds dumb. But I think someone needs our help.”
“Oh my god,” Louis mutters.
“Please, Lou?” Harry fixes him with that face, that damn face with the wide eyes and quivering brow and hopefully parted lips. “I just get so lonely,” he says quietly.
Louis collapses in a heap on the table, barely missing his eggs. How can a human being inspire overwhelming guilt, adoration, and frustration in someone all at the same time? It wasn’t healthy.
“Okay.” He sighs mightily, ignoring Harry’s sparkling grin. “But we’re looking, Harry, I’m not bringing anything home with us today.”
Harry smiles on. “I’ll be in the car, okay? I’ll bring up directions on your phone.”
Louis rubs his face, but can’t help feeling a little endearment towards Harry’s excitement. Just taking a look wouldn't hurt anything, right?