⁠☞ narry one-shots

✎ secret superhero

a/n I change my writing styles in this slightly. Lmk what y'all think

Where Niall is a superhero and Harry is a journalist. 

Every superhero always managed to obtain the most legendary origin stories.

It pains me to even think about them let alone elaborate on the matter.

But If I threw around some rather well-known names, I'm sure anyone could spit out the cool tales of how each hero got their power.

And that is my biggest insecurity.

Because I didn't get my superpowers by a toxic spider bite or the inhalation of radioactive chemicals in a lab.

No, most embarrassingly, I was pissed on by a moth while enjoying lunch at my college's survival camp.

Pissed on?! By a fucking moth?!

I know. I still quake in my skin whenever the recollection haunts my memories.

The moth wasn't even doused with gamma rays or injected with a secret elixir.

Apparently I had a genetic mutation in my DNA that activated with absorption of fucking moth excretion.

It's quite the icebreaker, eh?

You could also imagine my disappointment when I was told that my newfound abilities had to remain a secret.

The monks at the monestry I trained in were extremely adamant on that.

But despite my protests, the respect I had for those men was too much for me to break their trust.

However, it also meant that my husband of 2 years kinda had no idea about my secret life.

Yeah, it's fucked up.

So while I still live an ordinary regular(ish) life as Niall Styles, the good citizen of Los Angeles-

-I also live an extraordinary, crazy life as 'The Flicker', protector of LA, personification of liberty and hope, hero to all and slayer if queens.

Yes. Slayer of Queens. The often assumption is linked immediately to Gen Z slang. But no, I actually did slay an evil Queen.

You could imagine the creative headlines after that victory.

I'm just a normal man with an abnormal job.

Ergh.

It sounded like something a popstar would say.

(a/n pls tell me there are at least some Directioners who understand that irony?)

And just because my method of claiming my powers were lame, doesn't mean that my real abilities followed in suit...thank god.

My superpower allows me to control the elements...but with a twist.

I can also harness other people's emotions and create my own natural powers...concerning the elements of course.

So far, the monks and I have deduced that heartbreak is the most powerful emotion and unleashes a ruthless storm that we dubbed 'Heartbreak Weather.'

(a/n no but please can someone feed my ego because it took me hours to fucking incorporate both his albums in his superself)

Despite all this, the superhero life isn't all what it is chalked up to be and I often find myself doubting whether or not it is all worth it....

♡♡♡♡

I felt my body dip as a pair of soft gently lips kissed deeply into my own, the taste of sweet ice cream lingering in my mouth even after they were dettatched.

"Harold!" I giggled out, gripping onto his chest as his strong arms pulled me back up.

"Yes, my darling?" He murmured, eyes hooked onto my face, gazing adoringly.

God, that buffoon always knew how to make me blush.

I could tell that crimson had already dusted my cheeks, especially when my husband tenderly raised his hand to start caressing my face.

He grinned knowingly and bit back a laugh.

His thumb moved in gentle circles and It was my turn to smile as I leant onto his shoulder.

Moments like these were forever encapsulated in my heart.

'In this world, it's just us,' Harry hummed, breath fanning against my ear.

I let out a contented sigh, satisfied by the atmosphere : us swaying in kitchen, under the golden light of the sun, being...just us.

Niall and Harry.

"No it would definitely be Harry and Niall, babe," my husband teased, "I'm the manly one to protect you by leading the way."

"Way to ruin the moment Harold," I wiggled out of his arms and pouted, a faint hint of a smile threatening to break through, "and your logic does not make any sense!"

Harry licked up the rest of his ice cream -our lunch- before placing the bowls in the sink.

He then turned to me cheekily and circled his arms around my waist pulling me closer again, "Sure it does, sweetheart. I can protect you from whatever attacks because it will get to me first."

I opened my mouth to retort, but my watch started to continuously buzz - alerting me of yet another threat to the city.

At the same time Harry's phone pinged and he glanced at it anxiously.

My husband was a journalist. A journalist who, conveniently devoted his articles and basically whole job to LA's beloved hero, The Flicker.

aka me.

He followed around The Flicker's - nee my - very move, landing headlines all over the papers.

So, the plot thickens.

It usually took alot of manoeuvring and half-baked excuses from me to finally slip out his sight.

But, when his work callef upon him...I could finally answer my own job's calling.

Harry pulled me back into his chest, squeezing me in a bone-crushing hug.

"I don't wanna go!" He whined, resembling the likes of a child.

Gently prying him off my body, I let out a relieved puff of air - finally I could breathe.

"Sorry bub," I patted his pouting face teasingly, "But duty calls."

He grumbled under his breath before finally letting out a defeated sigh, "Fine, but I expect some 5 star cuddling after this."

"Anything for my hard-working protector," I pushed myself up on my tiptoes to plant a kiss on his cheek before walking away.

Or I at least tried to walk away.

Before I could even reach the threshold of the door, his large hand caught my wrist and in one fluid move, he whirled me around.

"Love you sweetheart," his eyes sparkled with amusement and he brought my hand to his lips before planting a gentle kiss on my knuckles.

"Love you too, you flirt," my cheeks flushed and I snapped my hand back, finally walking out of the room.

However, as I made my way towards my headquarters, I couldn't help feeling a bubble of nervousness.

Something felt...off.

♡♡♡♡

Something was definitely off.

I dodged another car plummeting down towards me, hissing slightly as it's corroded metal grazed my skin.

Usually my injuries would instantly heal the moment I got hurt, but for some reason something was preventing me from doing so during the current fight.

"Better watch out lad, imma get Zayn to do a diagnostic scan whatnot on this little shit of a monster to see what the fuck is happening!" A voice spoke through my headpiece.

That was Louis. He (and Zayn) were both AI that helped me out a bunch as The Flicker.

Even though they were practically robots, they had more humanity than most people in this cruel world.

Maybe I'm biased though, because, in fact, they were two of my closest and best friends.

"On it Tommo," I mumbled, utilising the wind to levitate higher and higher.

Closing my eyes, I centred myself, trying to beckon any strong emotions lingering in the air.

In a public fight like this, it wasn't unusual for fear to clutch onto the atmosphere and I smirked in triumph managing to summon a great load of fear.

With one click of my finger fire rain started to pelt onto the monster - a colossal blob of goop - and it shrieked in pain.

The monster started to shrink, but it didn't seem to go down without a fight, aggressively shooting flaming balls of liquid everywhere.

"Okay, Flicks, I've developed the report," Zayn's voice crackled into my ears.

I gave him the to ahead to start talking, zipping around a d trying to deflect it's attacks away from the bystanders.

This monster is called a Ferioliviop and is made of an acid-like substance called Feriol. We ran a background check with your DNA and Feriol, it seems the substance can drastically damage you." Zayn then added with urgency, "Don't let it's acid balls hit you either, because they are also made of Feriol."

"Okay, will d-" I cut myself off when I caught from the corner of my eye a streetlight being hurled straight at a bystander.

That bystander being my husband!

His eyes widened in horror, knuckles stark as he gripped his camera shakily.

In a swift blur, I flashed towards him, catching the pole in my hands and discarding it away from the people.

He let out breath if relief and thanked me before anxiously mumbling out a ' my husband is gonna kill me.'

Damn straight.

I flashed him a reassuring smile and fought off the urge to check if he was okay.

What? He was my husband after all.

Maybe I should've secured my own safety before daydreaming about my husband.

I never do anyway.

It all happened in a flash.

My intercom screeched as Louis screamed out a,"BEHIND YOU, YOU IDIOT!"

I spun around to be faced with an incoming ball if acid descending towards me at rapid speed.

In a haste, I tried jumping out of the way but it was too late.

The acid ball collided with my left leg and I let out of a bloodcurdling scream, pure agony searing through my veins.

And with that, the monster disappear with a ashen puff of smoke.

But the damage was already done, I felt my strength flicker out as I sunk to ground, body trembling with pain.

"Fuck Niall, we're coming to pick you up," Zayn's voice was strained with worry and I could only grunt in response.

My eyes landed on Harry, who carded his hand through his hair and jogged up towards my slump figure, where people had already gathered.

Murmurs ran through the crowd and uncertainty lingered in the air ; the people didn't know what to do.

Well, except a certain curly-haired brunette who immediately crouched next to me, eyes blown wide.

"You okay man?" He stuttered out, guilt pooled in his downcast eyes

Hacking out a few coughs, I managed to find the strength to lay a comforting hand on his shoulder, "Don't worry about me Harry. I'll be fine."

His eyes, which were already as big as saucers, grew comically wider before narrowing, "How do you know my name?"

Fuck.

I mentally cursed at myself for such a stupid slip up before rushing out an answer, "I-er...saw you before with a name tag on...yeah."

He hesitated before giving me a weak smile, "Oh, okay."

Stumbling to my feet - or my non-crippled foot - I decided dispersing the crowd was the best thing to do while waiting for backup.

"Alright everybody! What a fight, eh?" I grinned warmly, masking the excruciating pain burning up my leg, "You all are safe now, so let's go back to what we're doing, yeah?"

The crowd collectively echoed out a noise of agreement, a few people grumbling about 'missing the action'.

Slowly, but surely, everyone started to walk away, going back to what they were doing.

I gotta commend the people of LA, they were quite resilient to continue their lives so normally after such an event.

Soon I was left, wobbling on my feet, a much calmer Harry still standing next to me.

Concern etched his face as he stared at me, and he offered his hand as if to say 'you can lean on me.'

I waved him off, eying a familiar vehicle zooming towards us, "I'm good lad. Now go back and write a masterpiece - I didn't risk my life for you to post some half-baked shitty article."

He chuckled heartily at my joke, the trauma of the past hour totally wiped away from his melodious voice.

"Alright mate, stay safe," he patted my shoulder before walking away, dialing a number in his phone.

I barely noticed when a frantic Zayn and off-the-rails Louis dashed towards me and started smothering me in their care.

I tuned out Louis as he lectured me in a shrill voice about 'not being a fucking idiot' and how I should 'pay attention to the dangerous monster you are battling like a sane, normal superhero.'

Trust me Lou, there is nothing 'sane' or 'normal' about being a superhero.

Zayn squeezed my hand in reassurance, the panic draining away from his face.

It was nice to have such caring friends, but the only thing I could think about was 'Who was Harry calling?'

♡♡♡♡