Louis rolls his eyes as he holds his phone away from his ear, wincing as his friend shouts down the phone.
"Calm down? How can I calm down when you're going on a date with your partner?" Liam bellows excitedly. Louis can just imagine him, brown eyes sparkling and lips stretched into a wide grin.

"It's not a date, Liam," Louis spits like his name is an insult. "We're going to lunch, not to a bar where he is going to buy me drinks to make me blush."
"Okay, you made progress," Liam compromises, humming gently as his boyfriend comes behind him to press a kiss to his neck. He leans back into his embrace, eyes fluttering closed.

"Hi, Lou," Zayn calls down the phone, "my Li being a good boy?"
"Always is, Z," Louis answers, teeth worrying his bottom lip as he looks through his wardrobe.
"How's Harry?" Zayn asks, taking the phone from Liam and putting it on speaker, setting it on the counter.
"He's your friend, you should know," Louis grumbles.

Louis and Harry had both been friends with Zayn when they were younger, often using him as a messenger for their flirty confessions. When Harry and Louis were separated, Zayn remained friends with both of them. When he was paired with Liam, Louis had been ecstatic, welcoming Liam easily into his life.

Now Zayn models, trying to encourage Harry to join him. Liam always teases them for being stuck up celebrities, rolling his eyes when Zayn strikes a pose with a ridiculous pout and insists that Liam likes it. Though they joke, Liam definitely keeps Louis and Zayn grounded, not impressed by their riches and their popularity. He loves them both for who they are, not who the public knows them as.

"Well you saw him yesterday," Zayn says matter-of-fact-ly. "You getting ready for your lunch?"
"Yeah," Louis sighs, flopping onto his bed to stare disdainfully at his wardrobe. "I just- I don't know where we're going with it."

He mutters a 'fuck it' and pulls a pair of ripped jeans on, a white t-shirt and his denim jacket. His lips turn down in a frown as he looks in the mirror.

"I look like a sub," he whispers, rubbing at his face, phone forgotten on his bed.
"Lou?" Liam shouts down the phone, wondering why his best friend isn't on the phone. Louis fumbles to pick it up and hold it to his ear.
"Gotta go, lads. Text you later," Louis says rather abruptly.

Liam and Zayn share a knowing look with each other, Liam squeezing Zayn's hip under his hand.
"Okay, Lou. Have fun," Liam says gently. Louis bites his lip. He is such a dick and his friends are so lovely.
"Yeah," Zayn agrees. "Don't stress, just try to enjoy yourself. How about we go for a drink later? You could invite Harry."
"I'll ask him. Thanks, mate. See you later."

He can't help the quirk of his lips when a message from Harry makes his phone buzz.

I hope you know that I want to make this work, no matter what happens with our testing x

Louis feels his smile grow larger, butterflies in his belly making him feel like he was 15 years old again, kissing Harry for the first time. They really need to talk about this, Louis thinks as he grabs his keys and leaves, there have been too many mixed messages already.

Before he begins to drive he types out his reply to Harry, deleting and rephrasing his message over and over until he finally sends it.

Same here. Thank you for being so patient with me x

Harry beams down at his phone, pulling his cheetah shirt on with his black jeans, unable to help the shiver that runs down his spine. As a dom it his instinct to care for people, protect them. He had spoken to Gemma again, worried that he wouldn't be able to give Louis what he wants, what he needs, to adjust to whatever happens -- but Louis approves.

He's not surprised when, on the way to lunch, the display in his car flashes with Zayn's name. He presses the 'answer' button and settles back into his seat.

"Hey, Z," Harry greets. He licks his lips and pushes his hair back.
"You on your way to your date with Louis?" Zayn asks, similar to his boyfriend's earlier question to Louis.
"It's not a date - Louis said it's just as friends - but yes, I'm on my way there," Harry answers, silently hoping he doesn't sound too disappointed when he denies it being a date.
"You nervous about what the tests might show?" Zayn questions, smiling down at where Liam is kneeling beside his feet. He combs his fingers through Liam's hair, scratching gently at his scalp as Liam hums happily.

"Yes," Harry sighs. "But I'm more worried about how we're going to make it work. Louis just doesn't seem interested, yet he says that he is. We really need to talk about all of this."
"Just... take it easy, Haz. If you ever need any help me and Li are always here. I'm a dom partnered with a switch and - yeah, it took some time - we make it work. If you've been matched, it will work."
"I suppose," Harry says doubtfully. "I have to go, I'm here now. Thanks, Z. I'll see you soon. Tell Li I said hi."

Liam squirms closer to Zayn, resting his head on his knee.
"You feeling very submissive today, love?" Zayn asks, already knowing the answer. Liam nods carefully, not wanting to dislodge Zayn's hand from his hair. "Why didn't you tell me earlier?"
"Just didn't want to bother you, I know your Skype call was important," Liam tells him.

Zayn tugs at his hair and pats his lap, inviting Liam to climb up and tuck himself into Zayn's chest. Liam does so eagerly, smiling up at Zayn as he presses a kiss to his cheek.

"Li," Zayn says softly, cupping his cheek, "taking care of you is more important to me than anything. I'm sorry you felt like you were not my first priority. How about I make it up to you?" Zayn suggests, a smirk gracing his lips as the hand on Liam's hip teases along the tip of his jeans. Liam bites his lip, eyes wide as he nods his head quickly.

Zayn chuckles, a thumb tugging at his chin so he releases his lip.
"Words, babe," Zayn reminds gently. Liam flushes and squirms as Zayn blindly undoes his belt.
"That sounds good, Z," Liam agrees, moaning as Zayn pulls him down to press their lips together. "Can I- I want-"
"Hm? What was that?" Zayn teases, finally pulling Liam's shirt up and over his head.
"I want to be good for you," Liam tells Zayn, whispers it against his lips like it's a secret they've never shared.

Zayn smirks and his lips travel down Liam's jaw, hands stroking firmly up and down his torso in time with his hips rocking.
"How about I open you up, nice and slow, on my fingers, put in a plug to keep you nice and full and then you can blow me? Want to make me feel good?"

Liam groans at his words, the lips on his neck and the hand pushing down on the bulge in his pants, nodding his head eagerly.
"Yes, please. Please, Z--"
"Patience," Zayn scolds lightly and nudges Liam back until he stands up in front of him. "Pants off, upstairs."

Liam is quick to follow his instructions, squeaking and laughing when Zayn pinches his bum on the stairs.
"Hands on me, above he belt," Zayn tells him before peeling off his shirt and climbing onto the bed. Liam flushes even more, the pink travelling down his neck and to his chest.

He knows what Zayn is doing; whenever he thinks Liam is being impatient he just draws it out even longer, allowing himself to play and tease, but Liam can only have so much. It's the best kind of torture.

Liam starts to draw back after a long while - too long - of just kissing and feeling, to voice his concerns about Harry and Louis. His fingers slide up to tangle in Zayn's dark hair as he sucks a mark into the column of his throat, enjoying the vibrations he feels as Liam talks.

"Do you think they're okay?" Liam asks worriedly. "I just want them to--"

Zayn shushes him gently as he shuffles further down the bed. He smirks up at Liam, looking up through his lashes like he's in anyway innocent, and sucks another bruising mark just beside the dark patch of hair between his legs, close but not close enough. Any worries Liam has die in his throat as Zayn wraps a hand around his dick, small licks to the top driving him crazy.

"I'm sure they're fine."

Louis' breath catches in his throat when Harry meets him at the front of the restaurant. He looks--
"Wow," Harry breathes, stealing the words straight from Louis' mouth.
"Thanks?" Louis laughs lightly and pushes his hair up, away from his eyes.
"Sorry," Harry chuckles, a wide grin on his face as he holds the door open for Louis. "You just look great when you aren't trying to hate me."

They stay silent until they reach their table, Louis shuddering when Harry's hands settles on the back of his neck, smoothing down his shoulders to pull his jacket off and then pull his chair out. A tension he didn't even know was there leaves him when Harry's warm hand settles on the base of his neck for a gentle squeeze before he pulls away. Louis sighs and grabs Harry's hand as it leaves him, smiling shyly up at Harry as he returns the squeeze to his hand and lets go so they can sit down.

"I wasn't trying to hate you," Louis denies quietly, staring at the table in front of him. "It was obvious that you didn't want this so I didn't want to force it on you."
"Lou," Harry says softly, resting his hand over Louis'. "I do want this, if you do. We just need to talk it over so we can both be happy."
"I do! Want this, I mean. I just don't know how we're going to fit together."
"I know," Harry agrees.
"I suppose the tests might clear it up a little," Louis murmurs, pulling his hand away to rub at his eye. Harry looks at him, quiet as he tries to figure out what to say.
"Hey, we were okay when we were younger, we'll be okay now. It'll all be okay," Harry reassures, though he's not sure who he is trying to calm down: Louis or himself.

Louis' mum hugs him when they arrive at the testing centre, smiling warmly at Harry though her eyes give away how worried she really is. She kisses Louis' cheek and assures him that she'll be waiting right outside.

Harry pulls Louis to his chest in a quick hug before they go in, relaxing with him in his arms.
"Just do what you think is right," Harry whispers as Louis wraps his arms around him.
"Thank you," Louis mumbles. He knows that the contact with Harry is relaxing but he can't find it in himself to initiate it the way Harry seems to.

He looks away as the nurse takes his blood, can't find it in himself to smile when he does as he leaves. A few minutes of foot tapping and nail biting later, someone delivers his second test.

"There are cameras in this room to ensure there is nothing to tamper with your results. Take as long as you need, press the buzzer if you need anything. Good luck, Mr. Tomlinson," the worker explains politely before closing the door and leaving him to his thoughts.

Harry chats nervously with the nurse as she draws his blood, thanking her quietly as she wishes him good luck. He nods along as the second worker gives him his test and explains what he already knows. The worker wishes him good luck, too, before ducking out and closing the door behind him.

He sighs as he looks down at his test, hoping he and Louis will be okay after this.

The test is the exact same as the one they did when they first turned 21. The questions are simple, but now that he have to do it again, Harry doubts his first answers to them. Louis really struggles.

He skips to the last section that he just knows will be awful. This is set out with many statements, five circles alongside it correlating to the 'strongly agree, agree, unsure/neutral, disagree, strongly disagree' that they shade to show their opinions.

"Do you identify as submissive, dominant or a mixture of both?" Louis whispers to himself. It's the last question of the test, but Louis hasn't filled in any of the other questions in the whole paper. He knows that they take this answer into consideration, although it is his answers to questions like 'I feel the need to please' or 'I enjoy taking care of people' that really determine what classification he gets.

He just doesn't know the answers to those questions anymore.