Work Text:
Part One
Early 2026
Since Harry went on that stage for the fan service and then became Louis’ sub, their lives have intertwined, with Louis remaining a kind, soft Dom, and Harry trying his best to be a good Sub, even if he still forgets to eat properly, especially when Louis is away for work.
Their relationship is a lot less formal than many D/S people, and there have been the odd tabloid frenzies that Louis is too busy with his music to be a ‘proper’ Dom. But they shrug the gossip off and continue.
So when Harry came over to Louis’ house and, as always, stripped and knelt as he entered, he was taken aback when instead of kind words and a kiss from Louis, he heard “Present for me Sub!” .
Looking up, he saw Louis was holding a piece of paper and frowning. Louis looked at him, scowling, “Didn’t you hear me?”
And, well, Harry’s never had Louis speak to him like this. He burst into tears.
Which seemed to shake Louis out of whatever spell he was in. “Babe, I am so sorry, you were so good, ready for me and I just barked at you” Louis said as he knelt, bringing Harry into his arms, rocking him and planting gentle kisses on his face.
“What’s wrong Sir?” Harry asked, as he calmed down.
“I, I’ve been invited to the Grammys”, Louis gets out.
“But that’s wonderful, Sir. Why are you worried about it?” Harry asks, puzzled at how an invitation to a ceremony that has eluded Louis before would upset him so much.
“Come sit beside me, love, I’ll read out the protocols for the event” Louis takes Harry's hand and beckons for him to sit on the sofa, not kneel on his special cushion. That alone concerns Harry.
“Protocols?” Harry asks. He’s not sure what Louis means.
Louis starts to read:
Protocols for the 2026 Grammy Awards Ceremony
All Doms are allowed to bring one Sub. Artists who are Subs can only come if accompanied by their Dom.
Doms who do not have a Sub will be given one from an approved pool.
Doms must wear all black, arms and legs covered.
Subs can only wear a collar and a pair of black briefs. This applies for male and female Subs. Artists who are Subs may wear a black sleeveless top.
On arrival, Subs will be asked to present for inspection to ensure their attire conforms with the rules. If deemed unsuitable, they will be housed in a Sub-only area and Doms will be given a pool Sub.
Approved Subs will be given a red, yellow or green bracelet, as decided by their Dom. Subs from the pool will all have green bands.
- Red means only their Dom can touch them
- Yellow means the Sub can be touched by other Doms can touch but nothing else
- Green means the Sub is available for use by other Doms in any way they want. Condoms must be used.
During the ceremony, all Subs will be silent unless asked a question by their Dom. They are allowed to applaud their Dom, but not to cheer..
They will kneel to the right of their Dom and have their food served to them on the floor. Subs are not allowed alcohol.
Doms are allowed to feed their Subs by hand, if they do not want their Subs to eat off the floor.
At the end of formalities, Subs may stay, if their Doms allow it, but speech restrictions remain and they must stay in formal positions, as chosen by their Dom, unless being used.
The Grammy Awards ceremony is a highly prestigious event, and as such, High Protocol is part of this. Thank you for conforming to these rules and demonstrating your high status by having highly trained Subs.
Harry has gasped several times through Louis’ reading, but knows not to interrupt his Dom.
“I won’t go,” Louis says. “It’s too much and it’s not us.”
“But Sir, this is an amazing opportunity, the Grammys. I know the positions, we can practice and I’ll wear a gag if need be to keep me quiet” Harry stops speaking as Louis gives a soft, but reproachful, look.
“Yeah, might need that, eh?” Louis chuckles.
“Sorry Sir” Harry says, taking his Dom’s hand. “I just want the best for you. You’ve worked so hard to get to this point.”
“I know, and I know you’ve been trained, but we only use kneeling and waiting, and even then, not always in scenes. And call me Lou for this conversation; I want you to feel able to debate and contradict. Not that it stops you usually” Louis winks.
Harry blushes. He knows other Doms would not be as patient as Louis is. He takes his time, carefully thinking over his words.
“Lou, it doesn’t say anywhere that I have to do much more than kneel, wait and present positions, and you can choose to keep me kneeling for the entire evening. I trust you to look after me, you would only let people touch me or use me if you thought it was safe” Louis lets out a small growl at the idea of anyone going near his precious Sub.
“When do you have to RSVP?” Harry asks.
“Two weeks” Louis replies.
“Then I have a suggestion. We practice positions and speech restrictions for the next two weeks and if I can’t do it, then I support you not going. I don’t feel happy that you would be given another Sub for the night”
Louis takes both Harry's hands in his “I wouldn’t dream of it. I go with you by my side, or not at all my love. I like your idea. Do you want to start tonight after dinner?”
Harry breaks into the biggest, dimple-popping smile. “Yes Sir. May I kneel at your feet now?”
“Course babe, tell me all about your day” Louis says as Harry leans his cheek against Louis’ leg, Louis’ hand playing with Harry’s hair.
Day 1 is less than successful. Louis decides Harry should do a presenting kneeling pose, like child’s pose in yoga, and hold a bamboo tray on his back. “If you can do this, you can kneel normally for a three hour ceremony.”
Harry lasts ten minutes before wiggling his hips cheekily and the tray clattering to the floor. So Louis dials it back to kneeling, no talking, while they watch a crime drama. Harry manages 30 minutes, before he gets excited and moves out of position, pointing at the TV and saying he knew the car dealer was a baddie. As soon as he speaks, his face falls and he turns to Louis, full of apologies.
“It’s OK, it’s my fault. Maybe they’re right and I’m away too much, not a proper attentive Dom” Louis says, trying not to take his stress about others’ perceptions of him out on Harry.
“Then punish me Sir.” Harry says, back in a perfect presenting kneeling pose, hands outstretched to touch the tops of Louis’ feet.
Louis hates punishments. He does them rarely, as the dynamic he has with Harry doesn’t usually require them. But if they’re going to be a High Protocol D/S pairing, he has to modify his behaviour too.
“OK, I need you to stand in the corner in presenting pose, legs apart, hands behind your head. I’ll set a timer for ten minutes. Then you will receive 30 spanks, for the 30 minutes of the drama you were unable to be quiet for. Colour for this?”
“Green Sir” Harry says, no sign of distress on his face.
“Up you get and assume your position. I will be here the whole time. Do not move or talk.” Louis gives Harry a reassuring smile as he goes to the corner and takes up his stance.
“Starting the timer now. Use your colours if it’s too much”
Harry wiggles his fingers slightly at the start, but then stays in perfect position for the rest of the time. When Louis’ phone beeps, he calls Harry over, sitting him on his lap. “You did really well. Are you ready for your spanking?” He can see Harry is slipping, the time in the corner in position pushing him into a submissive frame of mind. He realises he needs to do more of this for Harry when they’re together. He’s a smart, independent man, but he’s biologically a submissive, and he needs guidance and rules and, sometimes, punishments.
"Yes Sir, please?” Harry murmurs softly as he moves himself over Louis’ lap, resting his head in his hands on the sofa.
“Now, this is a punishment, so you are not to move or come. I don’t expect you to count, but if you do, those are the only words apart from your colours I want to hear. Understood?” Louis runs his hands over Harry’s pale bum, contrasting with his tanned legs and back. Louis loves to spoil his Sub, and because he can afford to, they spend a lot of their downtime in tropical resorts or on his yacht. Harry is a gorgeous tanned colour, and it makes his bum look even paler.
“Understood Sir” Harry says and Louis starts to land smacks, turning the milky white skin pink, then red. Harry is perfect, staying still, though Louis can tell he’s struggling, but he's trying to be good, trying to be good so Louis can go to this stupid awards ceremony. Louis’ heart is full of love at how well his Sub takes care of him. By the 30th smack, Harry has tears running down his face, but he hasn’t uttered a sound. Louis scoops him up “My beautiful boy, such a good Sub, took your punishment perfectly. May I take care of you now?”
Harry is making hiccuping sob sounds as he nods and Louis wipes the tears away and showers him with kisses. As Harry’s breathing settles and the crying stops, he buries his face into Louis’ t-shirt.
“Hey babe, no need to be shy, you did beautifully” let’s go and put something on that bum of yours, soothe it.” Louis leads Harry to the bedroom and gets him to lie down on his tummy.
Applying soothing cream to Harry’s skin, Louis continues to praise him. “You did so well tonight, I know we haven’t done a lot of formal Sub training together, but I’m going to try harder, I think it will help with your self care too, am I right?”
Harry turns to look at Louis, eyes tired. “Yes Sir”
Louis climbs in beside him, deciding that one night of not brushing teeth won’t kill anyone. “Come here, babe, you deserve a reward after that” Harry turns to him, scooching in close. Louis wraps his hand around Harry’s dick, still semi-hard, and slowly brings him back to hardness, swallowing his moans with kisses as Harry returns the favour and they come, flushed and breathless.
Louis cleans them up, then kisses Harry again “Sleep my love, good night”
“Good night, Sir” Harry mumbles as sleep takes him.