Niam One-Shots 2 ||

[210] Enemies or Lovers [RQ]

Prompt: Niall and Liam are portrayed as enemies, but behind closed doors is a different story. How long can they handle keeping it a secret, and will it remain that way?

Requested by: WatermelonBubblegum0

~*~

“Watch where you're going, Horan!”

“Don't take up half the hallway then, Payne!”

The bickering was a daily occurrence for Niall and Liam respectively, but neither ended up fighting to the extreme extent. The pair had built this act since the beginning of secondary school, so ruining it before graduation wouldn't go well for either of them.

They were both closeted and in love with each other, to a degree that nobody would appreciate or understand. The small town they lived in reeked of so much homophobia and ignorance that the idea of escaping oozed excitement and bliss.

Liam and Niall made a pact to finally move out of the town after graduation, which couldn't arrive any sooner. Only a few weeks remained and the days felt slower than the one before.

Niall was more anxious than his partner, who take each day as a new learning and developmental experience. Niall only craved to get away and to live a normal life with Liam, but he'd have to deal with the continuous punches first before their eventual freedom.

“I want to make love to you so bad, but who knows what'd happen if someone were to walk in,” Liam muttered into Niall's ear once the pair entered a barren bathroom in the school during lunch. He'd been craving Niall since their shared fitness class.

“Oh, c'mon, it wouldn't be the first time we've done a quickie inside one of those stalls. Had to bite my tongue so hard that day. God, you were ripping me apart.”

Liam chuckled and smirked against Niall's neck as he kissed and licked at it. “Making this harder for me, Horan. Gonna leave marks on this pretty neck of yours if you don't be quiet.”

Niall licked his lips and moaned under his breath as he felt Liam's rough tongue trail along his exposed neck. “Maybe I want you to- shit! Someone's coming.”

Niall scurried into the closest stall and locked it, standing towards the toilet as he put earbuds in to simulate relief.

Liam glanced over at the person who walked in, and it was the only person that he and Niall could trust in school.

“Shit, it was just you, Louis?”

Liam turned around and punched on the stall a few times. Niall knew this maneuver and stepped out with a sigh of relief.

“Sorry to alert you, fellas. There's an assembly today and I must ask students if they'd like to participate. You two are pretty popular with your factions or... fans, I guess?”

The pair laughed a little at Louis's confusion.

“Anyway, would you two care to join? It'd mean a lot, and I won't blackmail you if you decline. You're the only friends I have when everyone else just uses me for homework.”

Niall and Liam glanced at each other before nodding towards their adorable friend.

“Of course, we'll join. What's the assembly about?”

Louis smiled a little. “It's a talent show. I know you two sing and are known for it, too. I'm sure the school would love to hear your duets and maybe even your chemistry?”

Liam and Niall glanced at each other before nodding at the idea, smiling at their friend.

“That sounds cool. We're definitely down, and I think I have a great idea to end off our talent,” Niall proclaimed with a glowing grin.

Liam and Louis frowned at him, not able to interject his thoughts as Niall walked out of the bathroom with an excited mindset.

When the assembly began, other students performed their talents. Most involved singing and or dancing, while others did unique tricks that still showed extreme talent.

At the end of it, Niall and Liam performed their song titled 'They Don't Know About Us,' which filled the other students with either confusion or absolute sadness.

Niall looked over at Liam who gave him his confusion in the form of a frown.

Liam didn't expect Niall to step closer to him, but he figured out the idea that was mentioned earlier, at that moment.

Their lips molded together in a slow, sweet kiss and neither boy cared about who was watching them because it was their moment to finally show their truth.

It took years to reach this moment, and if some of their peers were booing and some cheering, then that's how it'd end up being as a result of all the hiding and nervousness.

Their peers were split just like that when witnessing the pair, some cheering and whistling while others gazed in disgust and disapproval.

More importantly, their friends cheered them on and watched in amazement after hiding their secret since middle school. It had been years in the making, and they knew a celebration was in order for later that day.

Once their kiss ended, the pair bowed with the band behind them and smiled. They only focused on the positive reactions, holding each other at the side while absorbing smiles and applause from their peers.

“Who knew that many people would accept us?”

The gathering began not too long after the reveal of Niall and Liam's relationship, and their friends were intrigued to know everything about the whole situation.

“I came up with the idea as soon as Li and I accepted Louis's offer to participate in the show. It'd be a surprise, and the outcome didn't matter to me because I wanted to reveal it to the school at some point.”

Liam, amongst their small friend group, smiled at Niall. Their joyous response resulted in the popping of champagne and a short burst of excitement. None of them could believe it.

“We're so proud of you both for being so courageous with everything going on. Does this mean you two will be moving away after graduation?”

The pair gazed at each other and nodded.

“Yes. We've been saving up for a few years now, with the help of our parents, and we'll be moving to Mullingar, my hometown. The people there are much more accepting and the universities there will be perfect for us both.”

Liam couldn't stop staring at Niall as he spoke, infatuated with everything he did, especially after their reveal from earlier.

“That's wonderful news. I don't think any of us will mind traveling over there to visit you two. It'll be worth the time and effort, no doubt.”

The others nodded along with Louis who had given the reward to his best friends. It wasn't biased in the slightest, as Niall and Liam had the best performance vocal and lyric-wise.

“We're glad to hear it. We can't wait for that day to come, but until then, we have to deal with the consequences at school and fight until we're free.”

Liam nodded, rubbing his right hand along Niall's left thigh with a soft smile.

“And I'll make sure nobody stops us from expressing our feelings, even if it disgusts them. Our love is built stronger than that.”

With a bright smile, Niall brings his lips to Liam in a sweet, swift kiss.

Their friends cooed at this action, applauding softly for them in that everlasting moment.

Nobody was going to tear them down anymore.