The boy's name is Niall, and he's new to this church community. When they finally get out of the church, snuffling because the organ was dusty, Niall takes Liam's hand and they rush over to the playground. They debate over whether to use the swings or the slide first as their parents rush over to tell them off for playing in their suits.
They decide the swings, if their shouting mums are anything to go by, and have a contest to see who can swing the highest. Deciding that the boys can't get too dirty whilst on the swing set their mothers smile, and then look at each other, gravitating to each other to have a good old yak. Maura's new to this congregation, her family's just moved from Ireland and it seems that Niall was already making friends, and Karen's always happy when Liam's making new ones.
When their mothers are sufficiently distracted by each other, Niall and Liam sneak off the swings, because that slide looks kind of lonely and well, fun too. Liam likes the way his new friend's cheeks turn pink in the cool air and his bubbly laughter. Niall likes the way Liam just watches everything with his big, brown eyes and how he smiles.
Liam lets Niall use the slide first, eyes crinkling up into a smile as the blonde cackles the whole way down the slide, and the elated grin that lit up those tiny pinks lips as he landed in a heap at the bottom. Liam laughs too, barrelling down the slide, and landing on a heap at the bottom on top of Niall. New screams of laughter burst out of Niall, and the two new friends start tickling each other, mussing up their good suits, but having too much fun to care.
As they lay down, puffed from their tickle fight, noses just a few centimetres away from each other Niall smiles and takes Liam's hand. They stare at each other and Liam smiles too. It's a small moment, but Liam thinks he might love his new friend, a lot.
**
Waking up to the sound of rain softly splashing against the roof was like a kind of heaven to Niall.
It meant that he didn't have to go out today. It meant that he could snuggle a little closer into the side of the sleeping boy next to him. Stay in bed a little longer as he traced his pale fingers over Liam's perfect features.
And Niall did just what he said he would. He snuggled even closer into Liam's side, letting his arms brush against his bare waist, trying his hardest not to wake him but also hoping he'd wake up for all the same reasons.
He buried his face into Liam's warm neck, inhaling the faint smell of Liam's cologne that he'd forgotten to wash away the night before.
He brushed his fingers over Liam's face. They knotted in Liam's hair, softly combing through it and then untangling themselves as he felt the smooth skin of Liam's forehead.
When he reached Liam's still closed eyes, he let his pinkie trace the purple-blue veins of Liam's eyelid, and he felt Liam's eyes flutter open as he stared at Niall curiously, but even still, Niall didn't stop.
He scratched his nails lightly over the bridge of Liam's nose, leaning in to kiss it once as Liam giggled beneath him.
He trailed his fingers lower, poking at Liam's face, and then he decided on a bit of teasing.
He angled his face towards Liam's, leaning in so that their lips were almost touching. There were only mere millimetres between their lips, and it took every ounce of self-control Niall had not to lean just that tiny bit further and connect their lips.
He craved the butterflies and the tingles and the goose bumps and the pure joy. He craved the feeling of Liam's lips on his own, but he knew he had to resist.
He parted his lips and darted his tongue out, just lightly licking Liam's bottom lip, and then quickly pulled away.
Liam whined and gripped onto Niall's hips in an attempt to pull Niall even closer into him, but Niall held his ground.
