Lawless [h.s.] AU

Chapter Seven

October 2313
Charlotte Reign

"You're sure you're ready for this?" Harry asks, towering over me.

I adjust the new outfit we've put me in, thanks to the hoards of extras Madison brought me earlier. I look good, strong. I feel... confident is too strong a word but I'm something like it for sure. The thought makes me laugh quietly to myself before I answer him. 

"Yes, I can do this Harry, I promise." I tell him, truly believing it myself. 

He smiles gently at me, not a sight I've had the pleasure of seeing until now. "I'm sure you can, I just want to make sure you're feeling confident about it, not nervous at all... Zayn, he'll be able to smell your fear off of you." Somehow the fear in the tone of what he's saying doesn't match the confidence the words themselves suggest. He's worried. 

We've stayed up pretty much the rest of the night with one another coming up with a plan. We even woke up Niall to join us, so that he's also in on it since I'll have to do some rather dangerous things. 

Neither of us knew that he slept in the nude, without any covers. My eyes will never be the same.

"Oy, H, she's gonna be great. Won't you Charlie?" Niall asks me still comfortable on Harry's couch; thankfully now in pajamas. 

"Niall, please don't egg him on. We're all tired, and I need to get downstairs to Zayn soon, it's nearly 9 am." I tell them, grabbing my other things from the ground, cleaning the living room. 

"Leave that, Charlotte, you go do what you need, I can clean this up. If you want..." Harry grows timid before collecting himself to continue, "I can turn the guest room into just, well, your room if you'd like." You can just come back here after time with Zayn.

It's not my shock that makes things strange for us all, it's Niall's audible gasp at Harry's offering the guest room to me that gives the air a new sense of tension.

"You never even let me stay-"

"That's because you have an entire private wing, Niall. Shut up." Harry cuts him off never even making eye contact with him. 

Harry's eyes never leave mine. "The guest room is yours, if you would like it. I understand though, with everything, if you would feel more comfortable in Niall's guest room." 

"I'm..." I think it through, all the things we've gone over. 

The closer in proximity I am to Harry the more danger I'm in - we agreed, but for me personally, it seems like the farther I am from Harry the more dangerous it will all feel. I can't deny the strange and sudden pull between us, and since I'm now going to be more of a plant in Zayn's home, I want to be close to Harry. 

"I'd like to move in here, if I may, no offense to you Niall."

"Well I am right offended, I am a great roommate!" 

I laugh a bit, knowing he doesn't mean it truly. "I'm sure that's true Niall. It just seems to me that it would be easier for debriefs if I'm living with Harry in the evenings."

Niall scoffs and mocks me a bit under his breath. I continue to grab my things and make my way into the guest, well my room. When I enter, I give it another look, really examining my new home for the foreseeable future. 

The silence is broken when I hear Harry's voice at the door. "You can do whatever you want with the place, decorate it, change the art, the bedding, whatever, truly. I want you to feel comfortable here."