Chapter 28: When I Think Of The Things I've Done
Chapter Text
~*~ Harry ~*~
Niall finds Harry sitting in the car park zoned out and expressionless. “Harry? You good?”
The bereft feeling doesn’t lessen with Niall’s arrival. “He left.”
Treading carefully into the unknown, Niall says, “Yeah. People tend to do that when they go home.”
Harry shakes his head. “No, Niall. Tommo left. He’s gone, and I don’t think he’s coming back. Ever.”
“Let’s go inside. We can talk. I think I’m missing something here, but the car park isn’t the best place for us to sit, what with cars pulling in to park and all that.” He waves his hand toward a car idling nearby.
Harry lets Niall help him up and ease him into the building. When Harry turns to go into his room, Niall makes a noise and tips his head toward his own room. “Nope. You’re coming to mine tonight.”
Harry sits on the edge of Niall’s bed, feeling unsettled, as if he needs to escape. But he can’t. He can’t shut down. Not here. Not where everyone will find out. Niall pulls him further into the bed to rest against the headboard beside him. Harry winces at the contact of his back with the smooth wood board behind him, but Niall doesn’t seem to notice.
“Talk to me, mate. What just happened?” Harry stills, unfocused and unmoving, and closes his eyes unsure how to begin. “Harry? What was Tommo doing here? Why were you with him? I thought you were at your family’s house this weekend.”
“I was.”
Niall nudges Harry’s shoulder with his own. “You’re going to have to help me out here. I haven’t quite mastered the art of reading minds.”
Harry studies his fingers, trying to figure out how to say the words, until he finally blurts out, “I signed up for Temporary Fix, and Tommo was my match.”
Niall’s head snaps to face Harry. “Wait, what? You signed up for Temporary Fix? Why?”
“I wanted someone with me this weekend. I couldn’t go alone again. I just couldn’t, and you were busy,” Harry explains quietly.
“Okay,” Niall drags out. “And Tommo was your match for the weekend.”
“Yes,” Harry whispers.
Niall cocks his head to the side as he studies Harry’s face. “Did you fuck him or something?”
“Or something,” Harry confirms on a silent breath, and he finally breaks, allowing the tears choking him to flood down his face.
Niall pulls him into his arms and patiently waits for him to calm, then listens with silent support as the words flow like water from Harry. When the words run out, Niall doesn’t offer suggestions or platitudes. He simply stands Harry up, undresses him to his boxers, and tucks him into bed, before shedding his own clothes and crawling in behind him. “Sleep, mate. We’ll talk more in the morning and figure it all out then.”
Harry wakes before dawn, disoriented, heart racing. He sits up straight in the bed, waiting for his eyes to adjust to the dark room. Niall’s room. He whines softly as the weekend rushes back into his thoughts, settling heavy in his stomach like lead.
“Harry?” Niall reaches up to touch him.
“I’m alright. Go back to sleep.” Harry slips back under the blankets and squeezes his eyes closed against the darkness of the room. Niall wraps his arms around him, and Harry allows himself to be lulled back into sleep by Niall’s even breaths.
