These Inconvenient Fireworks (original story on ao3 by complemtattoos)

seven

Louis knows that, in theory, holidays should be a moment of rest, but the days between the closing night of the play and Christmas Eve are a complete blur. When he is not behind the scenes, he is making monographs. When he is not scheduling monographs, he is correcting the exams. When he is not correcting the exams, he is making his apologies to Harry, who he has not seen for days. And when he's not apologizing to Harry, he's preparing for Louis Tomlinson's annual Holiday Extravaganza.

The Extravaganza had taken place on Christmas Eve for the past three years, growing larger and more applauded. It is an impassive date in the social calendar of everyone who matters in Louis 'life, and with good reason: it is Louis' birthday. And it will not go without being celebrated, despite any minor holidays that may follow it.

He had started out as a simple Christmas / Birthday party, the first year he moved to Manchester, before he had many friends. He wanted to impress his new colleagues, so he made an effort. Naturally, when Louis makes an effort, the results are legendary, and his party had been the subject of the teachers' room for weeks. Zayn may or may not have been photographed wearing a head lamp and something else. These are the foundations of friendship.

Unfortunately, its success had consequences. He had to make one for himself the following year, so suddenly, instead of a few bowls of punch and eggnog, there had been a bar full of Christmas-themed drinks. Niall had woken up on the roof of the building dressed as Santa Claus, and Louis had to count one more victory. But then Christmas came again, and he couldn't let everyone down, so he took all the furniture out of his apartment and created a dance floor, with a red and green strobe light. It had been a huge success, even with the cops who came to end the party.

And now it's time to do it all again, better and bigger. He has a reputation to maintain. Unfortunately, the fact that his life fell into a state of disaster over the past month means that he is not as prepared as he normally would be. Last year, by this time, he would have an order of ten dozen sweets, five cases of beer in the snowdrift on his porch, and fifty yards reversed in fake glitter popcorn garland, and Duchess in a record nine minutes before she tore her little leprechaun hat and tried to eat it. This time he didn't even have enough food in his fridge to eat for lunch, let alone accommodate the crowd of people who come to make him happy. He needs to get his ass to work.

Luckily, he sent the invitations (tiny cards attached to glass Christmas ornaments with silk ribbon nestled inside gold boxes in a layer of glittery, funky, glittery tissue paper, Christ, he's good) things get very frantic. But there is still the question of food, drinks, entertainment, decorations, and every little detail. He ends up holding two hundred red plastic cups to his chest at the party store, having a nervous breakdown over tablecloths and alcohol logistics, so he calls Niall and Zayn as backup. It hurts him to admit defeat, but he can't do it alone at the moment.

"You know, you could call Harry," Niall tells him one afternoon, as he is placing the strings of eleven lights along the ceiling of Louis's apartment. - I'm sure he would be willing to help.

"It won't happen," Louis says. He keeps his eyes on the table arrangement he's working on. Red, white and silver is her palette this year. Inspired. He is organizing decorative pomegranates. Pomegranates will keep you sane.

He pretends not to notice Niall and Zayn exchanging a look across the room.

Harry continues to text him throughout the week, offering to pick up anything he might need or stop by to help him pack. Louis shrugs all the time and insists that everything is under control, even when it is clearly not, even when he almost breaks his leg falling off the stairs while he is carrying a box of decorations down from the top of his closet. He feels bad about it, but he fears that having Harry around will cause him to have to talk about feelings, which is not exactly something he feels he can handle now. Or never, really. So, he keeps his head down and hopes that Harry doesn't hate him for it.