London Bridges

Chapter 5: Mother Dearest

"Congratulations, you've ruined us!"

Louis groans as the shrill voice pierces his sleep. Theres still a chance he's dreaming, albeit a rather cruel and disturbing dream to be fair, so he buries his face deeper into his pillow.

"Wake up! Do you two have any idea what you've done!"

Louis huffs, blindly reaching across the bed.

"Li, be a dear and kindly show the witch out," he yawns, tapping what is probably Liam's face.

"The press is being absolutely ruthless!"

"Mum, how did you even get in here?" Liam asks, a mixture of exasperation and concern lacing his still sleepy voice.

"Li," Louis whines again. "Your mother has killed my morning boner, send her out."

He can hear Liam's suppressed chuckle and Karen's scandalized gasp. Louis grins and rolls over, ready to face whatever fresh hell has been brought with the coming of Liam's mother.

"Good morning Mrs. Payne," Louis greets, falsely sweet and letting the blanket drop low across his very bare body. "Care for a cup of tea?"

Karen turns a worrisome shade of red before scowling.

"I would not," she says stuffily. "Perhaps you should have some class and put some clothes on. I'd rather not be privy to the life of sin and debauchery you've led my son into."

Louis grins, shrugging lazily as he reaches over the side of the bed for his pants. As much as he's enjoying antagonizing Karen Payne, he'd rather not have her see his bits.
Liam, however, doesn't take so kindly to his mother's scorn.

"This is my house, Mother," Liam says, his tone biting and dangerous. "It's Louis's house, and you will not come in here and speak to him that way."

If they didn't have such an unattractive audience, Louis would have pitched a boner for real.

"Why are you here, anyway?" Liam continues. "How are you here?"

"I had Roger locate where you've been staying."

"Good use of company resources," Liam scoffs. "Having head of security track down the son you want nothing to do with."

"Which brings us back to why you are here," Louis says, laying a gentle hand on Liam's thigh.

He knows even though Liam is putting on a brave front he's hurt by his parent's absence.

"I wouldn't have to track you down," Karen grits. "If you weren't besmirching our name all over London."

"What are you on about?" Liam asks, frustration finally getting to him.

Karen doesn't answer, just thrusts the newspaper she's holding so close to Liam's face that he has to lean back a bit to avoid being smacked by it. A primal growl emits from low in Louis's chest, his muscles tensing at the sign of aggression.

"They've papped us," Liam says, his voice so soft and unsure that it snaps Louis's attention back to him.

Louis leans in to get a better look at the paper, and he can't help the small grin that tugs on his lips. The half page photo spread is all murky ink and blurred image at best, but its undoubtedly them. He can see the tattoos on his lower wrist where he has his fingers tangled in Liam's hair and the watch Liam has worn for as long as he's known him, with the Payne Industries crest engraved on it's side, is distinctive and plainly visible from where Liam is gripping his waist.

"Why is this even a big deal?" Louis asks. "Theres plenty of people snogging in the streets of London."

"Yes well, plenty of people aren't heir to Payne Industries snogging another man," Karen answers.