More Scales- Larry Stylinson

Chapter 20

Niall sat with Liam, snuggled up on the couch. The puppy was giggling and kissing all over Liams face, sitting on his lap. Liam chuckled, holding the hybrid close.

"I love you, Niall, I missed you so much." Liam hummed, kissing his cheek and giving him a squeeze. Liam was vaguely aware that they were sitting in his living room,. But also they were in a sandy desert? It didnt matter. Niall was here and thats all that matter.

Suddenly, Niall let out a shout of pain, clutching at his chest. Bullets started to rain down on the. The man scrambled to his feet, grabbing his gun and pulling on his helmet.

"Niall, run!" Liam shouted. "Go!" He called. The couch melted away, troops around him rushing forward into the gun fire.

"Payne! Snap out of it, god damn it!" Liam heard his commanding officer shout. Liam turned to look towards the sound of the mans voice, his head spinning.

"Niall!? Niall find somewhere to hide!" Liam shouted, the sound of bullets and screams in his ears. This all felt so familiar, what was going on?! Where was Niall?

"Grenade!" Chris shouted. Liams eyes widened as the man dove onto the ground in front of Liam.

"No, Chris, dont-!" Liam shouted before the man blew up right before his eyes. Liam cried out, covered in blood and bits of his fellow soldier.

"N-Niall?" Liam called brokenly, looking around the chaos and just trying to find Niall. "Niall! Please come back! Are you lost?!" He called. The desert melted away to his street at home. He was looking around for Niall. He was still being shot at, and men were still dropping beside him as the invisible enemy advanced.

"Niall?!" All Liam could feel was panic. What if they caught Niall? What if they were torturing the pup? Oh god, what if Niall was dead-

Liam sat bolt upright, gasping sharply as the sound of his phone pulled him awake. Liam was panting, his eyes wide and his heart racing. It slowly registered in his head that he was okay and that he was in his bed. He sighed weakly, rubbing over his face. Liam reached over to his nightstand and turned off his alarm, tossing his phone onto his matress. Liam got up, frowning a bit. He hadnt had a bad dream like that in a while.

He felt like he couldnt breathe. His heart wouldnt stop racing.

"Window...Television...Light switch." Liam started to mutter, looking around and naming things he could physically see, touch, smell and hear. Liam took another calming breath. His hands were trembling a bit

He missed Niall so god damned much.

Usually the puppy would be there to ground him. He would help Liam through any panic attacks or bad dreams. The longer Niall was away, the worse it was getting.

And it had only been a handful of days, if that.

Liam finally felt that his heart rate was going down, feeling more in control of his breaths. His mind wandered over to Chris. He hadnt dreamed about him in a while.

The man had saved Liams life, as well as the men around him when he dove onto an active grenade. He hadnt given anyone a chance to kick it or try and run. Though maybe if he had, it would have gone off as soon as it did. Liam swore sometimes he could still feel the other man on him after the explosion, even after all these years. As if his body parts were burned into his flesh.

Liam sighed softly, his mind wandering to Chris' husband. The man had just gotten approved for adoption. He was going to surprise Chris when he got home. But the man never returned.

Liam grabbed his phone once more, turning it on. He saw that he had missed a call from the shelter about an hour and a half ago.. Liam perked up, forcing away his thoughts of the past. Maybe his puppy was going to come home? He was surprised that the phone didnt wake him. He had the sound on.