He didn't know what was wrong with him. Why couldn't he see the damned lyrics on the page? It wasn't a matter of handwriting; even Louis, who had the messiest handwriting of the five, had unreadable writing. But yet, there the page sat, all grey with blue blurbs.
"Harry, that's your part." Niall interjected, nudging Harry with his elbow.
"Oh. Okay."
"What's the matter?" Liam asked, a hint of concern already lacing his voice. He was the most parental of the group, naturally he'd be the first to ask.
"Nothing, I don't think. I'm just having a hard time seeing the words, Leemo. Maybe I'm just tired." he muttered back, rubbing ruefully at his eyes.
"Maybe you need glasses like me!" Louis teased, tipping his own higher on his nose.
"And me too!" Niall whined, wanting to be noticed as well. It was less of a secret, more of an overlook that the blonde wore glasses as well. He played it off as a fashion statement, but in front of those baby blues were a pair of contact lenses.
Harry shook his head, blinking furiously, batting away the teasing.
"I do not need glasses, jerks. I just need some rest. We have been up all night for weeks!" It was the truth. They'd been in the middle of their second tour, on top of working on their third album.
"He's right. C'mon babes. Let's get some sleep." Zayn mumbled, already stripped down to a pair of basketball shorts, holding his arms out for Harry to fall in. With a nod, he stood, grimacing at the blurry world around him. He was able to distinguish the features that made everyone unique; Niall's blonde hair, Louis' blue sweats, the tan in Zayn's skin, and Liam's red shirt, but it wasn't as if he could tell you if Louis was wearing his glasses still, even if he was now only about ten feet away.
"All I need is some sleep." Harry mumbled, letting Zayn tug him toward the big bed in the back of the bus, not even waiting for the other three. Soon Zayn's long fingers were working their magic, lulling him into the dreamland he'd been missing for a while.
Sleep had come easy, but didn't stay for long. He knew it was late, but it's not like he could tell, his phone not much more than a blinding white sheen of death. He was still lying next to Zayn, and judging by the size of the arm slung across him, Louis was sandwiching him on his other side. As quietly as he could, Harry pulled and slinked his way out from between them, following the sound of the quiet music on the other side of the vehicle. Holding onto the edges, Harry made his way back to where he was before he fell asleep, finding a blurred Niall playing random chords on his guitar.
"Working on a new song?"
"Couldn't sleep?" Niall challenged back, kissing Harry's forehead. Harry shook his head ruefully, leaning on Niall's shoulder.
"What time is it even?" he whined, feeling the familiar jostle of Niall putting his guitar on the ground, before scooping his Harry-bear in his arms, lying them both down.
"Eh, about 4."
"Could you not sleep either?" Harry worried about his boyfriends, understanding the toll this life took on all of them.
"I don't sleep a lot lately. Dunno if it's homesickness, or too much time on our hands." Harry snickered sarcastically, knowing Niall was full of horse manure. If there was one thing they had too much of, it damn sure wasn't time. He meant to tell Niall off for his smart alec remarks, but calloused fingertips were busy strumming across his back, lulling him back again.
Daylight started beaming through the bus' windows, waking Harry from his warm cocoon of Niall's arms. Wiping the sleep from his eyes, he blinked, excited to finally see the world like normal again. Except for the fact that no matter how many times he blinked, and wiped, and crossed his eyes, nothing got any clearer. If he were completely pressed for a response, it was almost bloody worse than last night. Harry was more than grumpy now, he was completely panicked. He really regretted waking Niall, knowing now how little the blonde slept when no one was looking, but he needed to tell someone now.
"Nialler? Babe, wake up. I need you." Harry began pushing on Niall's shoulder, coaxing the older lad to roll completely onto his back.
"Not right now, Hazzy. You know I don't like it in the morning." Harry rolled his eyes, at least he felt like he did. Of course Niall's first reaction would be to think about his lower half before he thought of his other half.
"I'm not talking about that, Nialler. I can't see! I can't fucking see!" He could feel Niall shifting beside him the more his voice raised, but he couldn't seem to calm down.
"S'alright, Haz. Things are gonna be alright." Niall tried to soothe, but Harry;s nerves weren't having any of it. Liam, Zayn, and Louis were bustling out of the back bed area, Louis kneeling at Harry's feet.
"Shh, Harry. We'll get you to a doctor, just as soon as we get into town."
"What if something's really wrong, Louis? What if I'm dying!?"
"You're not dying, baby. We just gotta see what's wrong with your vision. But you just gotta calm down, it can't be helping any." Liam urged, sitting next to Niall, pulling Harry into his lap. Salty tears were leaking from Harry's face to Liam's neck, sobs escaping his lips. They all just prayed it wasn't anything too serious, not ready to deal with any harsh blows.
Harry was being seen by the top optometrist before they could even settle into their hotel rooms, or think about lunch. Louis was doing his best to keep in contact with Gemma and Anne, not knowing much himself. Niall had almost bitten his nails to the quick, standing at the edge of the reception area, before Liam pulled him into his lap, holding tight onto the almost bleeding hands. Zayn was the quietest one as usual, his head in his hands.
"Anne is literally blowing up my phone. Gemma is phoning Des for me, and Robin is trying to calm Anne." Louis sighed, coming back into the room.
"How long has he even been back there?" Niall's timid voice rose from Liam's neck.
"Over an hour. It feels like he's almost in surgery or something." Zayn's muttered, wringing his hands in frustration.
"I wonder if-finally!" Louis cheered, seeing the doctor come into the waiting area. The look on her face though, caused a silence to fall back over the foursome.
"Can you boys follow me? Harry is asking for you lot, and it'll be easier to explain this just once." Louis led the way, walking back through the short, dark hall, before seeing Harry sitting scared to death in the exam chair.
"Sorry about the small accommodations, I don't usually have five grown men in my office all at once. But all jokes aside, let me get to the most pressing matter."
"Is he okay?" Zayn asked, getting to the point.
"Harry has a form of macular degeneration. There's fluid behind his retinas, causing his vision impairments."
"Can we fix it?" Liam replied, moving to Harry's side, wishing the same strength in his muscles would move to strength in positive vibes he was sending to his lover.
"I really don't want to crush your hopes, but I don't want you to think it's a hundred percent curable. He may regain some sight. He may get worse."
"But, there's a chance, right?" Louis asked, kissing Harry's forehead.
"As long as Harry keeps his will up, then there's always a chance."
That evening, the five lay in their hotel bed, Harry snugly in the middle. His family was on their way from the UK, taking the red-eye into the US.
"What's going to happen now?" Harry asked, the first words he'd spoken since they left the doctor."
"We take it easy for a while; see what your options are. We have some time off coming up anyways." Louis told him, lips against his shoulder.
"And the fans?"
"We'll tell them when the time is right. When we know something for certain." Zayn answered, his voice the calm clarity they all needed.
"Guys, I'm scared."
"We all are,Curly. But we're not going to let you go through this alone." Niall whispered, kissing Harry's cheek.
"Whether you can see us or not, we're not going anywhere."
hihihi~ I know you're not accepting prompts but I have such an awful memory so I thought I'd try to send it over? I apologize if this annoys you ><;; I just really love your work haha~ Maybe a niallcentric one where he was feeling ill or something and but he wants to please the boys so he doesn't use the safety word and ends up hurt but no one realizes at the time? or like he passes out because of the pain and sickness? Then fluff and scolding and apologies?
I promise love, I'm not annoyed with you're sending a prompt. I just don't wanna get your hopes up. I'm running super behind on my prompt list as it is. I'm afraid I'm having a hard time getting my writing spark back, and I'd rather not post anything rather than something I deem as shitty and sub-par.
A very short chapter. Trying to get back into the writing thing. Chapter 2 if everyone likes this one.
Kicking a pebble down the road, he watched as it fell into one of the drainage ditches, the air around him falling silent again. These were the times he hated most; when the moon was highest, and no one was out. He had friends that loved this time, but Liam wasn't always like his friends, he craved companionship, almost as much as he craved his life sustenance. Liam had been cursed as a vampire, years beyond those that he remembered. He'd lost everyone dear to him. Mother, father, sisters. His only friends now were those that also frolicked in the dark. Andy and Maz were the closest to him, the only ones truly in his "inner circle". A lot had shunned him after his decision to not take human blood. He thrived on the blood of animals, species that over populated a certain area. Liam had sworn early on he'd only take human blood if he wanted to take them as a companion. He was written off as soft, a damnation of his kind, and was cast away, only flocked by his best mates.
Walking into the more populated side of town, Liam's sensitive ears picked up the sounds of the local clubs closing for the night. Two AM was a frequent feeding time for Liam's kind. Still a few quiet hours before the sun came up; perfect for draining victims without a chance of being found. Liam himself had just finished his nightly meal, a black bear who he'd actually killed in self defense. His scratches had healed, but his mind still raced, full of images of muddy black claws and a raging roar.
His golden brown eyes were suddenly glued on the silhouettes of four rowdy males. He didn't have to strain hard to see them, even under the harsh street light glow. They were already arm in arm, piss drunk, and stumbling. He felt something, in the spot where his heart used to beat, and it took him a minute to figure out what it was. Lust. But not the lust for blood, the lust for a touch. A kiss. A lust for contact. He wasn't trained on one of them, actually all of them. From the lanky one with all the curls, the smaller blonde with porcelain skin, the darker skinned lad with full lips around a smoke, or the feather haired one on the end, wrapped tightly in a coat.
It was the last one that spotted Liam first. He was shocked he allowed himself to be spotted, usually hiding in the shadows. But these lads were different. He never needed someone so much.
"Oi! What are you doing out here alone so late? And without a coat to boot! Are you mad?" For a smaller man, he was boisterous and vocal. Liam chided himself for not being dressed appropriately for the weather. The snow fell in a small dusting, his breath showing in the frigid air. Yet there he stood, in just a flannel shirt and jeans.
"Louis, pipe down. He's probably out from a bar. You know how warm it gets when you're drinking." His tan mate shushed him, and Liam could hear the the hint of Arabic in his voice. Taking care to keep the cigarette and the smoke from Liam's face, the man spoke again.
"I'm Zayn. You've already met Louis, and this is Niall, and Harry."
"Liam. Pleasure to meet you." Liam was busy taking mental notes in his head, learning what he could about these four. Louis seemed to be the ring leader, Zayn the watcher. Harry and Niall were almost like pets, following whole heartedly, head first in love. He noted all the small things; the way Harry kept Niall's fingers loosely linked within his own. The way Louis grimaced when Zayn took the lead, almost as if he knew it should be him in charge.
"We should get in somewhere warm. There's a diner right there." Niall spoke next, head nodding to the local 24-hour.
"You're just saying that because you're hungry. Again." Harry whispered, already pulling Niall towards the eatery. Liam noted the pooling red in Niall's cheeks. For once, Liam's instinct wasn't to pounce and drink him dry of the heated blood he knew lay underneath. It was to cup that cheek, kiss him until the pink gave way to pure crimson.
"That too. But I don't want our new friend here to get cold." Niall laughed, smiling quietly when Liam followed the quad into the diner. He opted for just a water; something that wouldn't upset his stomach, while watching his new acquaintances with a full heart. They'd accepted him in just minutes, and he sat at the head of the table, laughing with the others while Louis tried to sneak bites from the blonde's plate.
"How old are you, Liam?" Zayn asked him, he and Harry sitting the closest to him.
"Twenty." Liam replied, using the same answer he'd been giving for ages. He wasn't even sure that was how old he was when he was changed, but it looked right.
"Ah. Same as Nialler and me. Well, I'm almost twenty one. Louis is twenty two, and Harry is nineteen."
"I'll be twenty next month." Harry huffed, causing Liam to smirk.
"It's okay. I'm usually the youngest with my mates." He dared not mention how he was the youngest of his family. The memories of his two older sisters were hard to handle.
"Are you lot from around here?" he took a leap in asking, not sure if he wanted them to say yes or not. Saying yes could be dangerous for all of them.
"Born here, no. But we live here now. We're all from England at least though, except the leprechaun over there." NIall looked up almost immediately, knowing he was being spoken about. Liam liked how he didn't have to pry for information from these boys, that they were so open and trusting. Maybe he shouldn't like it, but he did.
After many rounds of pancakes and pots of coffee, Liam noticed the tops of the clouds turning pink, meaning his time was coming to an end.
"I hate to cut this short, but I really need to be going." he spoke up, tucking his chair against the table.
"Wait! Can we see you again? I'd really like to." Harry halted him, pink lips in a pout at the thought of never seeing Liam again. Liam didn't want to stop, determined to get home before the sun came up, but he didn't want this to end either.
Liam falls down the stairs, and claims he's fine. But when he faints later on, everyone knows the truth.
Waking up on that lazy Saturday morning, Liam was expecting to find warm flesh beside him, most likely either topped with Zayn's raven locks, or chocolately Harry curls, but was disappointed when the only thing that met his fingertips was cooled cotton. Struggling to keep his eyes open, he found himself alone in the bed, but most certainly not alone in the house. Liam was shocked he was able to sleep in as long as he did, hearing the commotion outside the heavy wooden door of their house.
He could hear the distinct voices of his four loves, along with the higher pitched Aussie twang of their friends and tour mates. Michael and Harry had become fast friends, the same with Ashton and Niall. Liam was a little jealous of their budding relationships at first, but it was his chest Harry came snuggling into every night. It was his arms Niall clung to when he was cold and needing a hug. Now the four had become like little brothers, the nine of them almost inseparable.
Opening the door, he peeked slowly outside, ruffling his short cropped hair between his own fingers, checking that the coast was clear. He'd been caught in more than a few shaving cream fights; whining later about not having any to tame his own scruff. Liam could hear Louis and Luke at the top of the stairs, no doubt in the middle of planning something, and he'd rather not know what, deciding to sneak into the washroom before someone noticed his presence. The bathroom smelled of Armani, making Liam smile, knowing it was Niall's favorite. He'd bought him a bottle for Christmas, taking care to wrap the box in shiny gold paper. Taking his time now, reveling in the inviting scent of his favorite Irish, Liam brushed his teeth, and washed his face. He didn't have to worry about walking around shirtless, it was only the boys and their varying degrees of naked-ness anyways.
Passing by the scheming pair, who were heading into one of the other guest rooms, Liam stood at the top of the stair case, watching the chaos in his living room. Zayn was curled by the fireplace, reading the newest novel he'd picked up at the bookstore. Harry was enamored with the FIFA game on the telly, squirming in Niall's lap, as the blonde tried to coach him. Michael was sitting on the floor next to him, his opponent, while Calum nudged him on, Michael sitting between his legs. Ashton was in the kitchen; the smell of pizza rolls wafting to Liam's nose. My, they were a cuddly bunch, but Liam knew none of them would ever want to change it.
It all happened too fast for anyone to react. Liam began stepping down, ready to cuddle with Zayn, have him read out loud. He never saw Harry's shoes; the same shoes he'd been asked to put away the night before. Louis was just trying to get away from Luke, who was busy half-heartedly threatening to dye Louis' hair the same bubble gum pink as Michael's. Liam heard Niall's yelp. A controller chucked to the floor. Screams and muffled words were clouding his ears, and he just wanted some peace.
"Leemo?" Harry's sheepish call was what finally broke through the cloud.
"Yeah, Haz. I'm here."
"Are you alright, mate?" Ashton asked him, his face pale and scared to death.
"Of course he's not alright, doof! Did you see how far he fell? Liam, we need to get you to hospital." Zayn's calculated and smooth voice calmed him a bit as he put two and two together. Between Harry's shoe, and Louis running past, he must have fallen down the stairs.
"M'fine, guys. Really. Just a little shook up."
"Liam. Now's not the time to play super hero." Niall warned, biting nervously at his nails. Liam grimaced just a bit, pulling himself to sit up, resting gratefully against Harry's chest.
"I'm not. I'm alright, Nialler. Stop biting your nails like that, I'm not dying." Niall minded his slightly older boyfriend, still eyeing him carefully.
"Now. Let's get this cleaned up, we have rehearsals tonight." Liam started distracting the rest of the boys, not wanting to have them staring at him like some science project for the rest of the night.
"Alright, but only if you sit and rest. Let us pick everything up. At least relax for now?" Louis pleaded, his big blue eyes putting any puppy dog's to shame.
"Yeah. Okay. But come on, or we're gonna be late, and Paul will skin us alive."
Liam failed to mention to any of the other eight just how poorly he'd been feeling since the accident. He was sure his shoulder was black and blue, his head feeling like a lead balloon. Watching the Aussie's practice was causing him pain; the loud noises and lights like knives on his brain.
"Liam? Liam you hear me?" Paul asked him, breaking him out of his funk.
"Not really. Guess my ears are stopped up. Come again?" Paul shook his head, giving Liam a worried glance.
"I said, you should head back with the others, if you're gonna get ready for rehearsals."
"Oh. Right." Liam said. 'Oh. Fuck.' is what he thought. Pushing himself up and out of the chair, he instantly regretted it.
"LIAM!" Paul's voice bellowed, Liam trying desperately to focus on the deep notes of his calling. Thundering footsteps were at his side in an instant, Paul's arms supporting him. His eyes wouldn't focus; the world spinning around him.
"Louis, call an ambulance. Niall, get me a pillow from back stage. Harry..." Try as he might, Liam no longer could focus on Paul's words, slipping away to the quiet blackness.
Beep. Beep.
Beep. Beep.
"Leemo?" Quiet whispers, small touches. Tiny beeps. That is what Liam woke up to for the third time that day. It was Zayn's lips on his forearm, waiting quietly for him to wake. Blurred brown eyes cast glances around the room, seeing shapes he knew as Harry and Niall curled asleep on the couch like kittens.
"Louis?"
"Outside talking to your mum. She wants to come."
"No. I'll be fine." He didn't want his boys worrying over him, he damned sure didn't want her panicked over him. She did enough of that when he was little.
"You said that earlier, and we're here. You have a tremendous concussion, and your shoulder was just a breath away from being dislocated. You're not fine. I don't know how you convinced us otherwise."
"Zayn, please. I just want to go home. I've spent my whole life being doted over." Zayn would never know how Liam felt growing up. His sisters not wanting to pick on him because everyone else already did. His mother crying night after night, hoping her baby boy would be just as happy and healthy as he was when she put him to bed.
"Don't worry, babe. Relax. We have to take care of you for a while. I promise though. No mother-hen business. I'm sure Lou will be able to talk Mummy Payne down, even though I'm sure you'll have to call her." Liam rolled his eyes at Zayn's response, but nodded, smiling at Zayn's peppering of kisses. He'd have to compromise, but he wasn't about to give this up for anything in the world.
Hey guys. Wow. I've been missing for quite a while, huh?
Guess it's a good time to tell you where I've been.
My grandmother was diagnosed with breast cancer, and I've been staying with her, helping her out. She's 72 years old, has cataracts in her eyes, basically making her almost blind, and now she's not feeling great from all of this.
I've been barely active on my main, basically reblogging things while at work, or while she's sleeping. I just wanted you to know, I haven't forgotten about you guys. You've kept me sane through a lot, and I really hope to have something soon for ya.
Nouis prompt: Louis and Niall have unrequited feelings for each other, until Louis breaks the silence in a song.
Beams of sunlight filtered through the blinds on his window, making it hard for Niall to accomplish his goal of sleeping in. Groaning, he rolled over in bed, looking for that cool spot he'd long forgotten. As he moved, he felt the soft fleece of something he cherished greatly, remembering the moment HE had given it to him.
It was cold the night before, at the pub that Harry had insisted they all go to. Niall was always warm when he drank, and felt no need to bring a jacket, not even a long sleeve shirt. When the four band mates temporarily abandoned their youngest for a smoke, goosebumps riddled Niall's skin, back pressed against the icy brick exterior of the pub.
"Blondie, you're turning into a right popsicle. Why didn't you bring your jacket out?" Louis asked him, teasing the younger boy. The older blue-eyed boy looked more than cozy, flicking the butt of his smoke into the bushes behind him.
"I..I didn't bring one." Niall sheepishly admitted, his gaze casting downward, scuffing his black Vans across the pavement.
"Jesus, Ni. I can't let you freeze out here." Louis admonished, sliding out of his hoodie, pulling it over Niall's mop of blonde.
"But now you'll be cold." Niall retorted, about to take the sweater off. He could deal with being cold. But he couldn't deal with anything causing harm to Louis, even if it was by his own doing.
"Don't you dare take that off, Nialler. I have my other jacket in the car. Besides, I always said you look good in blue. Brings out your eyes."
'I could say the same for you.' is what Niall wanted to say, but let the moment pass. Just like always. Three years, they'd been playing this same ole' song and dance. From the early days in the X Factor house, where Louis would help Niall wade through his mess to sleep with him when he was homesick, through all the tours where Niall would make Louis tea when they were up later than everyone else on the bus, and all the times Niall let moments of professing his feelings for Louis pass.
He was sure he was nothing more than Lou's Leprechaun. He loved his band mates, but Niall was positive Louis didn't love him like Niall loved him. He'd filled plenty of journals with sappy songs about golden fields and sitting under trees, each new bloom another memory. Louis' blue eyes came to his memory, that smile that he adored, as he found his favorite spot, falling asleep to the memory of his face, and the scent radiating off the sweater he was still wearing.
The familiar tones of his mobile woke him the second time, a text flashing on his phone.
"Meet me at the park, yeah? xx Answer me when you wake up!" from Louis, which made Niall's heart flutter in his chest.
"Lemme get a shower, and I'll see ya there!" he wondered what Louis had in store for him, but he was more than anything just the time to spend time with his Louis.
Louis paced around the park, waiting to see Niall's shock of blonde quiff coming towards him. Had me made the right decision in doing this today? Would he scare Niall away? His dreams last night were filled with the way his crush looked in his jacket last night. Tipsy red cheeks, pink lips puckered around that cigarette. Louis wished Niall didn't smoke, worried it would change his voice, worried about his asthma. But he couldn't deny just how sexy he looked while doing it. Looking down at the ground, he wondered if he'd worried a hole in the dirt beneath him, before he heard Niall's oh so familiar chuckle from the otherside of the street.
"You look like a lost puppy, Tommo." he greeted, and Louis almost felt starstruck. How did Niall make looking sloppy so hot? Baggy dark sweats and bright white Supras, his hair hidden in a beanie, arms snuggled in Louis' sweater. He smiled despite himself, hoping today would seal the deal.
"Shush it, Horan. Thought you'd be up for some footie this afternoon, while the others are pissing about." There was no use in lying, Louis Tomlinson was an ace footballer, but Niall Horan was hot on his heels. His dodgy knees would sometimes get in the way, but there was no one else Louis liked to play against. He wasn't about to tell Niall how he'd convinced, by monetary means or other, to let him have some alone time with his leprechaun. It was really his only chance, the only time to admit to the Irishman that those looks and touches, giggles and sweet moments were so much more than friendly love.
Their game was close, and Louis had even let Niall get ahead of him. Even through all the baggy fabric, Louis could see the way Niall's muscles flexed, wondering how his biceps would flex when he'd put his arms around him, or his legs when they'd spoon at night.
"I'm spent." Niall laughed, the ball rolling away from his feet as he laid in the grass. Louis shook his head, letting his heart override his brain, sliding down to the ground, lying crossways from Niall, he head close to the blonde's tummy.
"Well hello there." Niall teased, trying to calm his nerves of having such an intimate moment, Louis so close to him in such a setting.
"You're awfully close."
It came out wrong, and Niall bit at his tongue trying to stop the vile words from spewing out. If anything he wanted him closer. On top of him, under him, all over him.
"I just wanted to be close to you. Can I be close to you, Nialler?" Louis reached out, taking Niall's hand within his own, marveling at how much bigger his were, even if he was the younger one.
"Lou." Niall breathed, thoughts caught in his throat, watching tan fingers caress his pale skin.
"If only you knew, Nialler. If only you ever knew how much you mean to me. All these feelings never told." Cerulean met aqua as their faces stared deeply at one another, and Louis' bravery piqued again.
"In the morning, when I wake, and the sun is coming through..." he sang, and Niall could swear he was touching heaven,
"Oh, you fill my lungs with sweetness, and you fill my head with you." Niall let him sing most of it alone, his ears craving more and more of Louis' under appreciated voice, joining him by the end. Their duet closed with Niall's fingers wrapping tight around Louis', staring back at him with a smile.
"I love you, Nialler. I always have."
"I thought you only loved me as a friend. I've been crushing on you for ages."
Louis rolled over to his stomach, crawling over, planting a small and hesitant kiss on Niall's lips.
"Can I be close to you?" Louis whispered again, lips ghosting against Niall's.
"I don't think I could ever have you close enough."
Twenty minutes had passed without any word from the house down the block. Louis had done his best to bandage up Sean's knuckles and face from his scuffle with Greg, but Zayn was having no luck in soothing Niall's nerves. The blonde looked rattled to say the least; blue eyes water logged and red, cheeks blotchy and tear stained, and hair that looked like he'd been in a wind tunnel. Niall couldn't sit still, his mind wouldn't let him. Every thought took him in a different direction, and none of them made sense to him. Nothing about this situation made sense.
It took another thirty minutes before Harry and Liam re-entered Sean's house, three sets of concerned eyes waiting for them to speak. Niall lay fitfully in Zayn's lap, barely sleeping.
"Should I even ask what happened?" Louis mumbled, Harry curling up in his lap.
"Let's just say, we should thank our lucky stars our families accepted what we had to tell them. I really don't know how Niall's been able to cope as well as he has so far. I might have nightmares with the words Greg and Denise spat about all of us."
"D'you reckon they'll come to the concert tonight?" Zayn asked, worried brown eyes looking down at Niall's grimacing sleeping face.
"They might. Greg was pretty quiet when we got ready to leave. I don't know if we broke him at all, but we definitely put a dent in his thought process." Louis curled his arm tighter around Harry, Liam kneeling on the floor next to where Niall was resting. Running his thumb across Niall's cheek, it was enough to wake the Irishman. Seeing who woke him, Niall immediately sat up, checking Liam over for bruises and scratches.
"I'm okay, love. See, all here. Harry too." At the sound of Liam's soothing voice, the walls around Niall's heart crumbled, leaving the boy a sobbing mess in his lover's lap. Liam pulled him into the floor with him, rocking him from his lap.
"Shh now Nialler. It's all gonna be okay, yeah? I wouldn't lie to you, would I?" Liam tried to ease, but Niall just gripped tighter to his shirt, letting out every bit of emotion he'd been holding back since the holidays. Liam held him until he passed out from exhaustion, fingers still clutching to fabric. Zayn helped him to stand, carrying him back to their room. Sean awkwardly mumbled something about getting lunch from one of Niall's favorite shops, exiting quietly. He was fine with their relationship, but love like that was private, even if they were in his home.
Thirty minutes before the concert, Niall had barely existed. Barely went through warmups, barely hugged Lou and Lux when he finished getting ready. Niall was a shell of himself, just going through the motions. He felt at home with the fans, who knew nothing of the behind the scenes drama. These Irish fans were just glad to have their country man back.
He'd left his room in search of some hot water to make tea. Lemon ginger always soothed his nerves, and he prayed it wouldn't fail him now. Succeeding in his journey, he was returning, taking his first sip when he looked at his door and nearly spilled everything.
"So that's why you weren't answering." A small smile dared crossed his face, and Niall thought it was ludicrous. What was Greg doing there? Wearing a "family of One Direction member" pin on his shirt, holding hands with Denise, who smiled sadly over at Niall.
"You shouldn't be here." Niall growled, finally tired of crying. He reached for the handle of his door, but Denise's hand reached out first, stopping him.
"Please, Ni. Listen to us. Just a few minutes?" His patched together heart tugged a bit, always a soft spot for her. She was Greg's only serious relationship, and she'd been there for Niall during a lot of his hard times.
"Just a few minutes. I promised Calum I'd watch them perform." he shrugged, walking in, waiting on them to follow suit and take a seat.
"Well?" Ice cold blue eyes trained on them, Greg swallowing thickly. Niall thought it was funny, seeing as Greg seemed to be great with words when he was cutting his little brother to bits just weeks ago.
"Did Harry and Liam tell you what happened this morning?" Greg glanced over at Niall, both of them still showing trauma signs from earlier. Greg had the bruises and marks, but Niall's was written in every twitch, every nervous glance.
"No. We didn't talk about it after they came back. I didn't need to hear what sickening things you called them. I'm doing my best to clear them out of my head." Tears stung at the corners of his eyes, but he dared not let them fall.
"We talked about you. About us. About your relationship. Your feelings. Our family. They made me realize how much of a prick I've been. I've forgotten that you were my brother, my blood. I should have known you were gay a long time ago Niall, and I think I did, but I couldn't handle it. So I shut you out. When mom and dad went crazy, I blindly went along with them. I took the coward's way out, and left you there to suffer alone. I called you things I shouldn't have, I abandoned my brother. All I can really say now is, can you forgive your shithead of an older brother?"
Both Horan boys were in tears, not even trying to hide it anymore. Niall really didn't want to. Words cut deep into tissue he didn't think he'd ever be able to forget. But he needed Greg and Denise. His parents hated him, his boyfriends could only do so much, and Sean, though his best mate for years, was only a surrogate sibling. Greg was his idol.
"I wouldn't go as far as saying all is forgiven, but I'd like to have a brother...and a sister again." Cautious smiles rose across three faces, interrupted by the knock at Niall's door. Greg knew better than to hug him, waving bye to him instead. Denise was the one with the courage to kiss his cheek, whispering "good luck" in his ear as they left. Paul was at the door, stunned to see Niall in the same room with them.
Niall stepped out on stage later that night, looking around at the people surrounding him. Fans and friends cheering his name. His friends in the band grinning widely everytime he came near them. His four lovers leaving sweet grazes and touches in random moments. But the ones that mattered the most to him right there were sitting square center, watching him with the biggest grins on their faces. For now, the only piece of his family still intact. Niall may not have been a hundred percent at that moment, but by the looks on their faces, he was that much closer to getting there.
I know it wasn't one of the winners, but would you consider doing a part two to the Harry Potter one? There hasn't been like any Potterx1D fics lately, and I loved how you wrote it. Please, I know you said you loved Harry Potter!
Like this post if you'd wanna see a Part 2 to the One Direction Hogwarts prompt!
This is the sequel to Prompt 45. There's also a note waiting at the bottom of the sequel. Hope you guys like it!
Looking at the boarding pass in his hands, Niall's throat closed in from worry. It was their first trip back to that place. The place that he came from, the place that he'd always be so proud to say was his own. But now it was the place of hate, the place of sorrow, and the people that hated him called home. One Direction had a group of shows in Ireland, which meant Niall had to go home, and face his demons.
Harry had called ahead, making sure someone of Niall's childhood group was there to meet them at the airport. Niall needed a familiar face in Ireland, someone that still cared about him. And of course, they could always count on Niall's other half, Sean Cullen. Sean was waiting for them, half asleep himself in the Dublin airport when their flight snuck in, trying to avoid the crowds. Niall's blue eyes scanned the terminal, afraid of what he might find.
"You! You big dummy! Why haven't you come to see me?" Sean called out, pulling Niall's smaller frame into him. Feeling that security, hearing that accent, Niall broke down in tears. Gripping Sean's shirt like his life depended on it.
"I was just kidding, Nialler. No need for the waterworks." Pulling his 'brother' off of him, he could see the pain in Niall's face. Something had happened to him. Clutching the blonde tight to his body, he looked at the other four.
"You guys have some explaining to do on the drive home." Niall shivered at his tone, also remembering who lived on that same street. Greg. His big brother who swore he'd protect him from everything, but now almost considered himself an only child. Sensing his anxiety, he was settled in the middle of the backseat, flanked by Louis and Harry. Liam and Zayn were doing their best to calmly explain to the other Irishman why his best friend hadn't been around. Sean's lips were becoming familiar with about every curse word known to man, threatening to drive their SUV into the elder brother's house, just so he'd learn a lesson. Niall just shook in panic and frustration.
"You guys are staying with me. Between the five of us, we're about the only thing keeping him sane. We're not leaving you, right, Ni?" Sean watched, a rock in the pit of his stomach, as Niall pathetically leaned against Louis, nodding quietly. He'd kill Niall's family if they got the chance. They'd already killed the Niall James he knew and adored.
That next morning, Niall woke up to chaos.
"Why is he not here? Where did he go?"
"You know damned well where he went, Liam. He waited until we went to sleep, and he's probably over there. Niall's going to be a wreck when he finds out."
"Niall's already found out." Liam replied, seeing Niall in the other room, already shrugging on a pair of jeans and his Supras.
"Niall, wait!" But he didn't listen. Feet thudded against pebbled pavement, racing the same route he'd walked a million times. Shouts could be heard two doors away.
"HOW DARE YOU SAY THOSE THINGS TO HIM! HE LOOKED UP TO YOU! YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO BE HIS GOD DAMNED BROTHER!" Tears pricked at Niall's eyes, flinging open the door, not even waiting for someone to answer if he knocked. Sean was on top of his older brother, raining blows on Greg's face and torso. Denise, Greg's wife, was crying in the corner, not knowing how to respond.
"Get off 'im, Sean."
"Niall, he's."
"Get off 'im, mate. He's not worth it." Niall's cold and steely demeanor scared everyone in the room. He should have been the one bruising and bloodying his knuckles across Greg's face. And yet he stood in the threshold of his brother's house, looking around at the pictures of them when they were younger, hearing the footsteps of his four boyfriends catching up to the scene.
"I see you're all here." was Greg's only reply, stumbling up into his wife's shaking arms.
"Zayn, you and Louis take Sean and Niall back to the house. Greg, me and Liam need to talk to you. And no is not an option." Niall wondered if Harry was going to hit him too. And then he wondered if he actually cared or not.
*MESSAGE* Consider this a teaser, consider this a part two. THERE WILL BE A PART 3! I just posted exactly what I wrote, not stopping to re-write and edit anything. Part 3 should be up tomorrow/Saturday :) That is...if you still want it!
how was niall def in that when Louis was talking to Zayn and niall heard him?
he's mostly deaf (stated in first story). i have a friend that's that way. he can kinda hear me, but i have to be right next to him, or looking right at him.
Sequel to Prompt 62: Zouis parents with 13 year old Liam, 8 year old Harry, and a deaf 4 year old Niall.
Evening was the favorite time of the day for the boys in the Malik-Tomlinson household. Liam had finished his homework for the day, helping Harry with his puzzle books. Niall was content in his Papa's lap, Louis loving how he had a son that was just as enamored with football as he was. Zayn was in the kitchen, fixing up cups of tea and cocoa for his boys, before settling next to Lou and Niall, staring lovingly at the smallest of their family, kicking his legs, mimicking the players on the screen.
"I remember when those two were just about his size." Louis muttered; the rumbling of his chest sparking Niall's attention.
"Ni size?" Niall's tiny voice whispered, just loud enough for them to hear.
"A bit bigger, but yeah, bub. Wanna see?" All three of his sons nodded furiously, loving to hear stories about the past. Both Harry and Liam knew they weren't born to Louis and Zayn, but they were where they belonged. Louis passed Niall over to Zayn, heading to a small bookshelf in the corner of the room.
"Who that?" Niall asked, almost as soon as Louis returned to the sofa with the two scrapbooks. Liam's was a powder blue, Harry's a bright primary red. Louis was holding the blue one on top, a tiny Liam staring back at him on the cover from his first day at school. Bright blue eyes were looking back at him, waiting on an answer, causing Louis to laugh. He put up his left hand, waiting for Niall to do the same. They'd come far with their ASL training, and were working on his spelling and letters now, since next year he'd be starting primary school.
"L. I. A. M."
"'ee-um!" Niall cheered, simply beaming as Louis nodded, opening the book. Liam blushed at the sight of his smaller self through various stages of growing up. The husbands took turns telling quick stories of their favorite pictures and moments, taking time to make sure Niall heard them too.
"Liam was a shy little bug. He loved to be read too, even though he could read the pages faster than we could!" Zayn chuckled, seeing a picture of he and Liam reading one winter's evening. Closing the first book, Harry beamed.
"Me next! Me next! Right, Papa?"
"Right you are, baby Tarzan. Let's see. Harry was just a year older than Niall is now when we brought him home. All I remember at first were curls and big green eyes."
"Not much has really changed!" Liam giggled, Harry sticking his tongue out in response.
"Harry was the little brother Liam needed. He was always so loud and silly, it really helped Liam not be so shy."
"Look! My first day of school!" Harry loved school, even if his teachers did regularly call home about his chatty nature during class. He loved learning about dinosaurs, and kings, and places his Papa and Baba promised to take him.
"Harry boo boo?" Niall asked quietly, poking a page that had Harry's first trip to the emergency. He was six years old, spraining his ankle when he tried to keep up with Louis playing football outside.
"Yeah. Harry had a boo boo. But we took him to the doctors, and they fixed him right up, didn't they, Hazzy?" Zayn asked, Harry sticking his foot out and wiggling it around.
"Barely hurt after they gave me a lollipop."
"Doctors fix Ni when Daddy bad." Zayn and Louis' eyes met over the heads of their sons. Niall had spent weeks in the hospital recovering from that night that his father left in handcuffs. No one expected the recovery that Niall had been able to accomplish. So he wasn't the biggest, or the boldest, he was certainly the bravest.
"Yeah. The doctors fixed you up too, took care of you when Papa and Baba couldn't." The room grew silent, no one quite knowing what to say, until Louis sighed.
"I was actually going to save this until the weekend, when we had more time, but why not get started on it tonight?" Getting up, Louis reached for a bag sitting in the corner, producing a scrapbook just like the other two, in a brilliant green. Niall signed "book", pointing to himself, questions in his big eyes.
"Yeah baby, it's your book."
"Ni book! Ni book!" Niall slipped off the couch and sat in the floor with Louis, holding the book as if it was made of precious metals and not green plastic.
"I even have the first picture." Zayn spoke up, taking an envelope off the mantle of the fireplace. It was full of pictures they'd developed the weekend they brought Niall home. He had this picture duplicated, knowing it was going to be the favorite.
"Perfect, love." Louis mumbled, gazing at it before setting it in the cover slot. Dressed in a little red polo and khaki shorts, Niall slept peacefully in the backseat of their car, one hand tangled with Harry's, his head lolling on Liam's shoulder while he sucked his thumb. Already inseparable, their first night together.
Zayn took out his favorite markers, carefully drawing out Niall's name across the top, just as he did his other sons.
"What say, Baba?"
"What do you think it says, little man?" Niall's forehead scrunched as he focused on the letters, the permanent marker just drying.
"Say family?" Zayn reached down to pick his youngest up, sandy hair tickling his neck.
One of my favorite radio DJ's passed away unexpectedly last night. Kidd Kraddick suffered a brain aneurysm Saturday in Louisiana.
I used to get up every morning and listen to him while I got ready for school, and then at work. He and his "Kidd Kraddick in the Morning" team on "Dish Nation" every night that sent me to bed in giggles.
A lot of you might remember Kidd as the guy that interviewed One Direction last year when Dallas won the #Bring1DtoUS competition. Harry called him "Daddy" and he called Khloe Kardashian for Niall. He interviewed them again last year when they came for the actual concert
Everyone's seen this picture by now. It's of Kidd and Harry on MONDAY. Just last week after this year's Dallas concert
.
Now this is what I saw about 3 AM Dallas time, still just freaked out. Kidd was a staple here. It's hard to know he's gone.
Liam is a cat hybrid. What happens when the boys find out?
*Note. Yes, I used Texas. No, I have no shame :)
It wasn't as if he deliberately held it from them. No one swore him to secrecy, and he wasn't ashamed of it. Liam was just...scared. Not everyone was always kind when they found out about his secret. Some were downright rude, pushing and using fists instead of words. Liam took up boxing as a pre-teen, building up muscles to help shield from the pain. But he knew he couldn't hide it forever, it just wasn't supposed to come out like it did.
Somehow, those five boys that had come from such different backgrounds and tried out for solo careers were now growing closer by the second. Liam himself was tucked under Zayn's arm, the Bradford boy's shoulder supporting his head while they waited in the airport. The youngest pair in their band of brothers had flown to Ireland, Harry getting to know Niall's stomping grounds. They'd taken a late flight in, a rainstorm keeping them from flying in earlier. The plan was to stay at the home of the eldest, Louis Tomlinson's home already bustling with his four little sisters, but "Mummy Jo" wanted her time with her four new babies. Five teenage boys cramped in Louis' bedroom made for interesting sounds and messes, but never once did Liam's secret ever come out.
Three years had passed since then, and the boys were on top of the world. They were in the midst of their second tour, flitting around from city to city, state to state. It was a balmy night in Houston, Texas; the five boyfriends climbing onto their bus sweaty, sore, and in major want of cuddles. Liam was the first to shower, slipping into his pajamas as Louis pushed through, screaming that he wanted some hot water before "Curly sops it all up in those locks of his!" Liam just grinned, pouring himself a cup of water, sitting on the couch next to Zayn, who was expertly smoking with the window open.
"Hey." Zayn muttered, barely awake. Liam wondered if Zayn would just wait until morning to wash up, he was always sleepy when he had his midnight smoke.
"Hey yourself. You gonna take a shower?"
"I'll wait. Louis' already in there, and Harry takes ages. Me and Niall will just wait until morning."
"Where is the leprechaun anyways? He's been quiet." Zayn just cocked his head towards the back of the bus, already dark, the hum of the air conditioner the only sounds.
"Asleep. It's the heat, makes him sleepy." Liam remembered seeing his flushed cheeks and hooded blue eyes stumbling off stage after he did his now ritual last jump from the stage.
"You don't look so awake yourself. C'mere." Zayn eased, nudging Liam's shoulder, letting the younger lad into his chest. Liam had to admit that now that he was back on the bus, watching nothing but dark tree lines go by, he was exhausted. They had a five hour trip ahead of them to Dallas, plenty of time to sleep. Letting his head fall into Zayn's lap, Liam was halfway to dreamland when he heard it.
"Li, is there a bump on your head?"
"No, why?" His eyes were already closing, he took a good minute to figure out what Zayn was even talking about before his eyes bugged open.
"Liam. What. The. Hell?" Liam shot up, but he knew Zayn had felt them. Soft, fuzzy, brown, cat ears. Liam James Payne was a hybrid, and after three years, his secret was out.
Louis had come out of the shower at that point, he standing with Harry at the edge of the "living room" of the bus.
"Oi, what's with all the shouting? I heard you over Louis' singing!" Harry giggled, but Louis could see the seriousness in those pairs of brown eyes.
"Liam's been hiding something from us!" Zayn shrieked, Liam scurrying to the opposite side of the couch, wide eyed and full of fear.
"What, what's so big you're yelling like that!?"
"I'm a hybrid. I'm part cat." Liam muttered, picking at the hem of his shirt.
"You're what?"
"Half cat, half human. Well, mostly human..."
"YOU HAVE CAT EARS, LIAM!" Zayn was frustrated to say the least. Three years, and Liam hadn't said anything? How could he not have noticed!?
"Will you lower your voice? Niall's asleep." Liam argued. He didn't want an even bigger scene on his hands.
"Was. Was asleep, Leemo." Niall grumbled, walking into the room dressed only in his boxers, cuddling perfectly into Liam's side. Liam hesitated, not wanting another boyfriend to push him away.
"Niall, did you know..." Zayn sputtered, wanting Niall to know who, what, he was sitting next to.
"I heard everything, you big mouth. I don't care. He's still my Leemo." Liam smiled, stroking Niall's hair and back, shushing him back to sleep, appreciative of the blonde's love. Niall was always the different one, of course he'd be the one to understand.
Watching the scene in front of them unfold, the anger began to subside. Harry sat next to the pair, Louis at his feet, Zayn sitting at the end.
"Liam, I'm..I'm sorry. I'm just frustrated it's been three years and we're just barely finding out."
"I didn't want you guys to leave me." Liam whispered back, his eyes focused on Niall's pouting, sleeping lips.
"Hey. Remember that night by the fire? When we all cuddled around Blondie there when he felt like he was holding us back for being chubby? We promised each other through thick and thin."
"I remember. But this wasn't something I could gain or lose. I was born this way, and a lot of people didn't like it."
"So screw 'em. Or don't. Cause the only people..."
"Shut it, Hazzy. What the lump up there is trying to say is, we love you, Liam. It's a shock to get used to, but we will. And you're not getting rid of us any time soon."
"Promise?" tears were in his eyes as brown, blue, and green looked back at him.
"Promise."
"Ditto."
"You know it."
"Shut up. I love you all, but shut the hell up." Niall groaned, Liam's chest rumbling in laughter.
"Sorry. Sorry." Liam purred, laughing again when Niall snuggled closer.
"I love it when you do that." Niall smiled, kissing Liam's chest before slowly falling slack against him.
It wasn't meant to come out that way, but it did. And falling asleep that night, after kisses were shared, I love you's were told, and he somehow got Niall moved to lay down beside him, Liam was finally glad his secret was out.
The hybrid one where Niall was a dog one and the others were cats, please? The Zouis parents with 13 year old Liam,8 year old Harry. Adopting Niall, 4, who’s deaf. THE HOGWARTS ONE, I WILL GIVE YOU MY SOUL IF YOU DO THAT. Lost Boy? It's not a must, but that was adorable, okay. And Hating myself,needing each other, that one you also don't need to, but it was really unique and deep. Okay, that's all. Thank you :)
I can't believe it!!! I'm finally going to the 1D concert on Monday!! THEY'RE IN MY STATE RIGHT NOW GUYS!!!!
I've had my ticket since May of last year. I didn't even go to the UAN concert until June of last year. That's devotion right there; buying a ticket to their SECOND tour before you even attend their FIRST tour!!
Got my friend a last minute ticket too. We won't be sitting together :( but we're both going!!! Now, just the last minute checklists...