"So we're playing hooky," Zayn says gently to Niall. Niall has his head in Zayn's lap, and Zayn is gently stroking his hair. "What do you wanna do?"
Niall hums quietly, thinking, and then gasps. "Let's build a blanket fort!"
Zayn smiles, half-sure that Niall was joking, but when Niall jumps up and tugs on his arm, how could Zayn say no?
"Can you help me?" Niall whines, trying to tug the couch over so he can loop a blanket over it. Zayn rolls his eyes, smiling, but helps Niall move the furniture over so that they can cover the TV with blankets. "See? This is good," Niall says when they're finished. He's eating a package of Scooby-Doo fruit snacks head resting on Zayn's chest.
"I don't understand how you can watch 101 Dalmatians so many times," Zayn states, because Niall is literally about to watch it back-to-back.
"It's my favorite," Niall shrugs. "When I was little, I was Pongo for Halloween."
"Stop," Zayn says, because the image of a tiny little Niall dressed up as a Dalmatian puppy is too much for his heart. "That's way too cute. I think I'm dying. You've killed me." He flops his head back and sticks his tongue out to emphasize the whole 'dead' thing, and Niall giggles.
"Can we have matching costumes for Halloween?" Niall squeals. "Pleeeease?"
Zayn is smiling. "What do you wanna be?"
"Let's be Paulie Bleeker and Juno!" Niall shrieks, and then laughs.
"You would have to be Juno," Zayn chuckles. "Get you a little pregnant belly." He rubs Niall's stomach for emphasis, and Niall lets out a peal of laughter.
Niall can't stop laughing at the image. "That would be hilarious!" He wipes his eyes. "I wanna be a taco," he giggles as he scrolls through pictures on his phone.
"I've got it," Zayn says suddenly. He turns his phone around so Niall can see, and Niall lets out a delighted shriek and hugs Zayn.
(Niall has been excited about Halloween since July.)
("Niall, it's July.")
("No, it's pre pre Halloween.")
Zayn shows Niall a picture of Ash and Pikachu.
"You realize you'd have to carry me around all night," Niall notes, "I'm not going to one of those stupid parties again, though."
"I didn't even want to go to that," Zayn points out. "No, we can just hand out candy and watch Nightmare Before Christmas."
Niall smiles so widely in response that Zayn is amazed that it doesn't hurt his face.
~ ~ ~
"Can we get pancakes?" Niall asks Zayn after watching 101 Dalmatians for the second time.
"Get? Why don't we make them?"
"Because you don't have any chocolate chips, I already checked. Please? Then we can go to the comic shop if you want, and you can push me on the swings at the park on the way back." He smiles so cutely up at Zayn.
"Ugh," Zayn groans, "You're so cute, it's disgusting. Yes, God, okay, we can do whatever you want."
Niall lets out a squeak of excitement and then runs up the steps to change.
~ ~ ~
"Chocolate chip pancakes are the best kind," Niall says as they leave the diner, taking Zayn's hand. "I can't believe you don't like them."
"I do like them, I just like the plain ones more," Zayn explains. He interlaces their fingers. "You still up for going to the comic shop?"
Niall nods. "As long as you'll push me on the swings after."
Zayn just winks at Niall, making the small blonde blush. They go to the comic shop -- Niall doesn't care much for comics, but he knows Zayn loves them -- and Niall can't help smiling at how excited Zayn is about everything.
"You're so cute," Niall giggles as Zayn freaks out for the third time over a mint condition Spider-Man comic.
"I'm what?" Zayn retorts, snapping his head over at Niall.
"Cuuute," Niall singsongs, and then bursts into laughter as Zayn starts to chase him around the shop.
"Take it back," he demands when he catches him, ticking Niall until he begs for mercy.
"N-Never!" Niall cries stubbornly, but it's only a few more seconds before he gasps, "Okay, you're not cute!"
"Damn right," Zayn smiles, and lets Niall go after kissing the end of his nose.
Niall is still blushing as they leave the shop, smiling a tiny bit.
"Wow," an irritatingly familiar voice says, and Niall lets out a whimper when he looks up. Henry looks disgusted. "I thought our date was a success, Niall, now you're going out with him?"
"Doesn't it hurt talking with that split lip Liam gave you?" Zayn asks with a smirk as Niall hides behind him.
Henry looks almost embarrassed. "Shut up," he spits. "You shouldn't go out with him. He doesn't put out."
Zayn lunges forward to smash Henry's skull against the concrete, but Niall yells, "No!" and grips Zayn's wrist.
"Let's go, Ni," Zayn says tightly, because if Niall doesn't want him to hurt Henry, he won't. At least, not now. "Let's go to the park, yeah?"
Niall sniffles. "I didn't want him to hurt you."
"Oh, sweetheart," Zayn coos, stopping so he can cup Niall's face in his hands. "Don't you worry about me. I was so angry about what he did to you, I probably would've killed him. It's good that you stopped me." He strokes Niall's cheeks with his thumbs and presses a kisses to his face until Niall is beaming again.
(Then they go to the park, and Zayn pushes Niall so high on the swings that he can almost touch the sky. It's pretty much the best thing ever, and it plasters a smile on Niall's face for the rest of the day.)
(Zayn is proud to be the one that put it there.)
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Broulmates ♡ Ziall AU [COMPLETE]
Fanfiction"It's like...like you and Niall are broulmates." "We're what?" "Broulmates. You know, bros that are in love with each other. Bros and soulmates." "...You're an idiot, Liam. We're just friends." -- Or the one where Zayn and Niall have huge crushes on...