✯ Zianourry ⏯ OneShots ✯

At it again. ⏯ L.P.

Cute little Lilo picture :)

In the quiet hours before dawn, the rhythmic clang of weights echoed through the empty flat. Liam Payne, his mind plagued by a whirlwind of stress and anxiety, sought solace in the familiar embrace of the gym. As he pushed himself to his physical limits, each repetition of the bench press served as a temporary reprieve from the weight of his worries.

Meanwhile, in their respective rooms, Harry, Louis, Niall, and Zayn stirred from their slumber, the sound of the weights cutting through the early morning silence like a sharp knife. Concern etched their features as they exchanged worried glances, knowing all too well what it meant when Liam turned to his intense workouts.

"He's at it again," Harry murmured, rubbing the sleep from his eyes.

Louis nodded, his brow furrowed with worry. "I'll go check on him."

As Louis made his way to the gym, the others followed close behind, their footsteps silent as they approached the door. Peeking inside, they found Liam, his brow furrowed in concentration as he lifted the weights with determination.

"Liam?" Louis called out softly, his voice tinged with concern.

Liam paused mid-lift, his chest heaving with exertion. "Hey, guys. What are you doing up so early?"

Harry stepped forward, his green eyes filled with worry. "We heard you working out. Are you alright?"

Liam forced a smile, despite the fatigue that weighed heavily on his shoulders. "Yeah, just needed to clear my head, you know?"

Niall frowned, his blue eyes searching Liam's face for any sign of the truth. "You always do this when you're stressed, Liam. We're worried about you."

Zayn stepped forward, his voice soft but filled with concern. "You don't have to pretend everything's okay, mate. We're here for you."

But Liam's walls remained firmly in place, his shoulders stiffening as he brushed off their concerns. "I appreciate it, really. But I'm fine, honestly."

Louis exchanged a knowing look with the others, silently conveying the depth of their shared worry. They knew better than to push Liam when he was in this state, but that didn't stop the ache in their hearts as they watched him retreat further into himself.

With heavy hearts, they left Liam to his workout, knowing that some battles he would have to face alone. But as they returned to their rooms, the bond of brotherhood that united them served as a silent promise: no matter what challenges lay ahead, they would face them together, one step at a time.

As the days passed, Liam's stress continued to mount, casting a shadow over the once vibrant flat they called home. His smiles grew more forced, his laughter more hollow, as he retreated further into himself, seeking solace in the confines of his own mind.

Concern weighed heavily on the hearts of his bandmates, their worry deepening with each passing day. They tried to reach out, to offer support and comfort, but Liam remained distant, his walls seemingly impenetrable.

One evening, as they gathered in the living room, the tension in the air was palpable. Liam sat apart from the others, lost in thought, his expression unreadable.

"Hey, Liam, you alright?" Niall ventured, his voice laced with concern.

Liam's response was curt, his tone clipped. "I'm fine, Niall. Just tired, that's all."

Harry exchanged a worried glance with Louis, silently acknowledging the growing rift between them and their friend. "You've been saying that all week, mate. We're starting to get worried."

But Liam's patience had worn thin, his frustration bubbling to the surface. "Can you all just drop it, for once? I said I'm fine!"

The boys recoiled at the sharpness of his tone, taken aback by the sudden outburst. Louis stepped forward, his voice gentle but firm. "Liam, we're not trying to annoy you. We're just worried about you, that's all."

But Liam shook his head, his jaw clenched with pent-up anger. "Well, don't be. I can handle my own problems, okay? I don't need you lot constantly hovering over me like I'm some fragile flower."

Zayn's brow furrowed with concern as he approached Liam, his voice soft but filled with empathy. "Liam, we're not trying to smother you. We just care about you, that's all."

But Liam pushed him away, his eyes flashing with frustration. "I don't need your care, Zayn. I just need some space."

With a heavy heart, the boys watched as Liam retreated to his room, the weight of his words hanging heavily in the air. They knew they had overstepped, that their concern had only served to push him further away.

But as they gathered in the living room once more, a silent resolve settled over them. They would give Liam the space he needed, but they would never stop caring. For in the end, no matter how far apart they may seem, the bond of brotherhood that united them would always remain unbreakable.