if it means a lot to you (Harry/Louis Merman AU #3)

Chapter One

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H

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The end of November brought waters that were simply too cold to endure. Harry poked his head out of the water on the twenty-ninth after a sinking sleep in his bivalve shell bed to see that it was snowing outside in the human world. That was definitely their cue to leave and head off to their palace in the Southern Atlantic. Harry wished he didn't have to. He wished he could walk up on land and go reside with Louis and Zayn in their flat and not have a care. Maybe he wanted to do that more only because he and Louis were no longer friends, nor anything more than that. Were they ever anything more? Harry didn't know, but whatever they were wasn't at all active... and probably would never again.

It was the brink of December and there wasn't a day that had gone by he didn't regret everything he did and didn't do that caused Louis to hate him so much. Louis never said so in so many words, of course, but it was so clear in his voice, his eyes, his actions that night that he hated Harry. Harry couldn't even blame him. If he were in Louis' shoes, then he would hate himself, too—and he did.

It was the brink of December and Harry still had his father's Small Council to advise him and take care of just about everything in the kingdom. Simon had suggested a festival to go along with the marriage and to celebrate the still new king. Harry didn't want it, but the fest was going to happen regardless because everyone else thought it was a splendid idea. Everyone from everywhere in the kingdom could come along, too, into warmer waters. So, Harry just nodded and said, "That's fine." and that was that.

The festival included games, music, incredible food, and contests that granted huge prizes to winners. It was a usual thing to hold in the kingdom as a day of fun. Harry did his very best to participate happily within it, but his mind was always elsewhere. At least everyone else seemed to be having a good time. At the end of the day, that's what mattered: everyone else. Harry had to make sure everyone else was happy, safe, and content with their lives. With that in mind, during the second half of the long festival—it had lasted an entire weekend—Harry had become much more active in joining in on the festivities. He was social and polite to those he spoke to and he focused on the fact that this was how he should be. He should be the good king and put everyone else first. Harry thought it was good to keep his mind there and he grew a bit happier thinking he was doing an okay job at it.

It was the brink of December and Aeron Averosi was such an ideal bride and queen that it was almost sickening. She was polite, beautiful, sociable, had a burst of her own personality, was very kind to Liam and Niall, and certainly didn't smother Harry. It had finally gotten to the point he was able to automatically put on any sort of smile he could muster whenever she swam over to him, like it was some second nature thing to do. Taking her hand in his—despite how very wrong it felt inside of his heart—calling her terms of endearment, always being around her... it was just... it was just an automatic thing for him to do. He felt completely empty otherwise. No one ever knew, of course.

It was the brink of December and things were hectic with wedding plans. It would happen in the southern palace. Everyone who wanted to come within the kingdom was invited. There were Atlantian merfolk, fish, cephalopods, and other critters that came around nearly every day to show him the newest! and in style! trends in merfolk attire. They seemed to be just as extravagant as what he wore for his coronation except these were more wedding themed.

It was the brink of December and Harry never rested, never had time for himself these days. He was always either at a Small Council meeting, on his throne listening to the troubles the commoners had, or meeting very important but very boring people. He couldn't remember when the last time was that he actually spoke to either Niall or Liam for longer than a minute, or together, alone, so they could be themselves for a little bit. His mother fussed over him all the time and so did Simon of all people. It was beyond annoying. Gemma was off doing her own thing because she could. Harry was happy that at least one of them was content.