Chapter Text
Two weeks later, Niall was grumbling from his wheelchair in front of the blank TV. "Louis, I need to go to the loo."
"Okay baby." Louis called from the kitchen, pausing the vigorous vegetable chopping, and helped Niall go for a wee.
"I wanna go by myself," he whined, feeling very much like a child.
"I know, baby. Not for another few weeks, though. I'm sorry."
"I wanna do it!" He whined louder. "I wanna wee by myself, and walk by myself, and get things by myself!"
"Baby, please calm down. Just let daddy help you."
Niall grumbled and weed before limping back to his wheelchair, all with Louis' help of course.
"Good boy, Nini."
"This isn't fair," the blonde huffed.
"I know, baby. But you're being such a good boy for me."
Niall pouted and looked at the remote that was two feet away on the coffee table. Louis had already went back into the kitchen. He stood on two wobbly legs and reached down and grabbed it.
Louis finished their nice meal, scooping everything onto plates for them. He gave Niall a little more than usual, wanting his baby to eat more, and maybe he would heal faster. Logically, he knew it didn't work that way, but dammit, he would try.
Meanwhile, Niall had just turned on his heel to hobble back to his chair. Louis nearly dropped the food when he came into the room and saw his injured boyfriend standing on both legs.
Niall looked like a deer caught in headlights, and for good reason. He knew the conversation they were about to have was not going to be pretty. "L-Louis...I...:
"Sit. Down."
Niall hobbled over and sat in his wheelchair, biting his lip nervously.
Louis put the plate down and stood in front of him. "What are you doing?"
"Getting the telly remote."
Louis sighed. "I know you hate asking for help and I have told you over and over that you need to sit down as ask me because you will get hurt more."
Niall pouted and looked down. "I'm sorry."
"Not this time baby. I've told you so many times. I'm gonna spank you, Ni."
Niall looked up with wide eyes. "W-What? But I..."
"No, baby. If you won't relax and heal this is what I'm gonna do. Understood?"
"But...but..."
"Yes, your butt is gonna be red and sore."
"N-No, please!" He burst into frantic tears.
"Ni, I love you. There's no need for tears yet," he cooed softly and pulled the pliant boy over his lap.
"No, please don't!"
Louis sat Niall up and rocked him softly. "Shh, we're gonna talk first, so I need you to calm down. It's not good for you to be like this."
"I don't want spankings!" he sobbed.
"Shh, calm down baby." The older boy thought for a moment. "Did your pa spank you?"
Niall looked up at him and sniffled. "No."
"Then why are you so scared?"
Something in Niall's eyes darkened. "Nothing. Go ahead." He clenched his jaw and leaned over Louis' lap.
Louis saw the change in his face and sighed. "No baby. I need to know you trust me and that means we need to talk."
"I have nothing to say."
"Then I won't spank you."
Niall's jaw clenched. "You said you were going to, so you might as well."
"Niall. Stop it." Louis pulled Niall up and coddled him. "I'm only scared you will fall and get hurt worse than you were."
Niall wouldn't look him in the eye. "Okay."
"I love you so much, baby."
"I know."
"Please don't get up if I can't help you. It doesn't bother me to go help you. I love helping my baby."
"I'm not a baby."
"I love helping my boyfriend."
He rolled his eyes. "Whatever. Can I go back to my handicap chair please?"
"I don't know what has gotten into you. I've never seen you like this." He sighed and helped Niall into the chair.
Niall calmly turned the tv on and watched it without really paying attention. His mind was a million miles away.
Louis gave Niall his plate along with the utensils and napkin. "Enjoy, baby."
He pushed them away. "I'm not hungry."
"Okay, babe. I'll leave them there in case you do get hungry. I'll be cleaning the kitchen. Call if you need anything."
"Okay." Niall continued to stare blankly at the telly. He couldn't believe Louis nearly hit him just because he wanted some independence. He needed to learn to bite his tongue and listen.
That night when it was time for bed Louis put Niall down beside him and pulled the boy in closely. "I'm sorry about today, love. I'm changing from boyfriend to dom. I did something stupid and irresponsible today with going to punish you without your consent. I get so worried that you're going to get hurt I just want to tie you to the bed and take care of you because I know that way you won't get hurt. I promise I'll never do anything like that stunt again."
Niall shrugged. "It doesn't matter. I'm bad, I've always been bad."
"No Niall. You're perfect. Hell, you're too good for me. You deserve so much better."
"I don't deserve anything." He curled into himself.
"You deserve the world."
"Stop lying to me. You've been lying to me for almost three years. I'm tired of it."
"I'm not lying to you, Niall." He looked at him with sad eyes. "I'd never lie to you." He frowned as Niall pulled away from his arms and hugged himself. "Baby..."
"What."
"I love you."
"So you've said."
"You love me too, right?"
Niall sighed. "Louis...you were going to hit me." He turned and glared at him. "I don't care if it was on my bum. It's not okay."
"I'm sorry baby. I'm so sorry."
"I'm not your sub, I'm your boyfriend, and sometimes your baby, but I'm not your sub!"
"I know, Ni. I know. I don't have any excuses for what happened."
"I can't trust you if you're going to cause me bodily harm."
"Can you give me another chance?"
"Ask me tomorrow." He pulled the blanket up around his neck.
"I love you baby," Louis mumbled and turned away, knowing better than to try and spoon Niall while he was still angry.
Niall had to pee in the middle of the night. He heaved a great sigh and struggled out of bed with minimum groans of pain, unaware of Louis' eyes on him. He hobbled to the bathroom to pee and went back to bed. He hardly slept a wink all night, feeling guilty for yelling at Louis when all the man wanted to do was protect him.
When Louis woke up, his arms were wrapped around Niall tightly and protectively. He kissed the boy's pale cheek. "Good morning, sugar."
Niall was staring at the wall with red, tired eyes. "Good morning," his sleepy voice rasped.
"How'd you sleep?"
"I didn't."
"I'm sorry, bug. Are you feeling okay?"
"I'm fine. Can you take me to my chair please?"
"Course I can." He smiled and quickly stretched before helping Niall wash and change and brush his teeth.
Niall sat in his pajamas and stared at the wall. He didn't want to do anything to anger Louis.
"I love you so so much, sugar."
"I love you too."
Louis kissed the top of Niall's head and nuzzled into his boyfriend's sweet smelling hair.
"Can I have my school books please?"
"Sure thing, baby. Do you need pens or pencils?"
"Both."
"Anything else, sugar?"
"No, thanks." He started on his homework.
Louis kissed his cheek before going to make brunch for them.
He wrote slowly and neatly. He finished about an hour later. "Louis?" He called quietly.
Louis turned the stove down and practically ran to his side. "Yeah, babe?"
"I'm finished. Can you help me to the bathroom?"
Louis nodded and pushed his wheelchair to the bathroom and helped him to sit on the toilet to wee. When Niall was done, he pushed his wheelchair into the living room and sat on the couch. "Darling, I want you to know that I'll do anything for you."
"I know, LouLou," he grumbled.
"Tell me how I can make this better?" Louis took Niall's hand in his and rubbed the back of it with his thumb.
"I'm not mad at you anymore."
"Are you sure about that, sugar?"
"Of course. I could never stay mad at you."
Louis leaned in and kissed his lips gently, feeling just a bit more secure about their unclear future.