Addiction. (Harry Styles AU)

Chapter Fourty.

I was hoping, praying, that this would've been a nightmare. My nightmare has never changed before, but I couldn't help but hope this was a new nightmare. That I would wake up and it would end. Niall would be okay. And the whole thing was just in the my head.

But when I opened my eyes, everything was the same.

Niall was in a hospital bed in front of me, tubes connected to him and to machines that bipped. His eyes heavy as he battled to keep them open for us.

Harry was by my side, standing with his arm around my waist. A gesture I would usual adore and be fangirling over on the inside. But right now it's not a soft and gentle gesture. It's a strong and protective one. He's holding me up, he's holding me together. The grip he has on my hip is actually too strong and if I was paying any real attention to it then it would probably hurt. But my mind is clouded with thoughts of big men in balaclava masks attacking my best friend.

The doctors have said that he will be fine. They've bandaged him up and given him pain medicine, 20 stitches in his side for the gash there. Luckily, nothing was too serious. He just needs rest.

"Will he be okay if we leave?" I whisper to Harry. I don't want to leave him but I need to get home, I have to check on my mother and I'm exhausted. But if these people are going to come here and hurt Niall some more then I'll stay here.

"Yes, they won't come here." Harry's voice is hushed but filled with a serious tone. I have to take his word for it. It's not like I could really stop them. If him and Niall can't, then I've got no chance.

"Can we go please? I need to get home" Changing my voice so that its louder and directed at Niall, "I'll be back tomorrow I promise, get some rest". Placing a light kiss on his forehead, Harry and I exit the room and the hospital.

"Fuck, we left the car outside yours when we came in the ambulance"

Instead of talking I just entwine my fingers with his, much to his surprise, and give him a tired smile to show him that it's okay. He understands me perfectly and we both begin to walk out of the car park and towards the direction of my house in peaceful silence.

If only my mind would be as silent as our voices.

Who was doing this to my beautiful boys?

What was the point? What could they possibly gain from doing this?

Is it a warning? But for what?

Why Harry and Niall? What do they have in common that these people would attack them?

Me.

"Harry?"

"Yeah?"

"You need to tell me what's going on, and you need to do it now"

Our movements stop just as we reach my street, standing in front of each other as he stares down at me. His fingers still locked in mine as his free hand comes up to my face and caresses my cheek. I can't help but lean into his hand and close my eyes as his thumb rubs tiny circles on my cheek which soothes me to the core.

When I open my eyes Harry gestures to my house and continues walking until we're at the front door.

"I'll explain inside, you need to relax first"

"I need you to tell me everything"

"Please?"

He's opened the front door and is gesturing inside with his arm, as if to give me a guideline to follow. His eyes full of concern and... Worry?... As he stares down at me, silently pleading with me not to argue with him.

Of course, I give in. How could I not?!

Walking inside I slide my shoes off at the start of the stairs as Harry closes the door and follows closely behind me. When we get to my room Harry insists I sit on the bed while he refuses to, pacing up and down my room in front of me as panic begins to cover his face. Eating him up. Consuming him from the inside out.

"Just spit it out Harry!"

He stops.

Facing me, dropping his hands to his sides and straightening his back. For a moment I could've sworn it was Niall, he does the exact same thing when he's bracing himself for the worse. Literally physically braces himself.

"I moved here to get away from bad people. Some friends- well not friends, more like acquaintances- got me into trouble with these real tough guys. We thought we could handle it, but we couldn't. We were way out of our depth with these guys."

I'm mentally trying to piece together how this information connects to what's happening now, to him and to Niall.

Niall.

"Was Niall one of your friends?"

"Yes. Kind of. We didn't really know each other, we'd only met a couple times, 5 times max. I was in the whole thing way deeper than him, I guess he'd just heard about me, heard the rumours and shit. I'm good at fighting so heard spread pretty quick within gangs that I was a threat"

"But Niall wasn't in a gang"

"He wasn't a fighter, but he was there Francesca. I think he handled the money or something, I don't really know. Anyway, the point is that's how we know each other. The guys I was fighting for wanted to start messing with the big guys and we were nothing compared to them. It was a death sentence, so I ran. And came here. I had no idea Niall would be here"

He's calmer now that he's talking but I can see the darkness behind his addictive emerald eyes, the fear and panic.

He's come to side beside me, but I can't look at him anymore. I've turned my body towards him but my head is set straight across my room, giving Harry a side view of my face.

"The guys who were too big for us? They're the guys messing with us now"

"But why? Why are they bothering with you if all you did was walk away from it all?"

A sigh is released from the dark boys chest and I'm suddenly terrified of what he's about to say.

"They're messing with us because of you Francesca"

I snap my head right so that I'm looking him dead in the eyes. Tears beginning to fill my eyes already. I know what's coming now. I don't want him to say the words but I know he has to. He needs to say it for himself and for me.

"They work for your step dad.."