Broulmates ♡ Ziall AU [COMPLETE]

CATORCE

When Niall wakes up, he's in the hospital. His body is sore, and when he looks around, he sees that his parents aren't there. Zayn is asleep at the side of the bed, holding Niall's hand, and Harry is asleep on Liam's shoulder.

Niall can feel tears welling up in his eyes. More than anything, he just wants to forget. He wants to forget Louis Tomlinson all together, but he can't, because he can still feel his lips on his throat.

With that thought, Niall starts to scratch at the skin there, wanting the marks to be gone. He wants the skin to be gone. He wants to be gone, to be gone, gone, gone, so he doesn't have to think or feel or be anymore.

"Hey, sweetheart, stop that. You're bleeding." Zayn is holding his hands, stopping Niall from scratching himself. Niall is shaking so hard. Zayn's face crumples then. "Niall, I'm so sorry," he gasps, and then before Niall can respond, he is weeping tired, heavy sobs. 

This is strange for Niall, because he knows he should be the sad one. However, he leans his cheek against Zayn's head, and they're still holding hands. Niall doesn't know if he can handle holding Zayn or anyone, for that matter, right now, but he hopes this is enough. Zayn's sobs quiet, and then his breathing is just thick.

"It isn't your fault," Niall whispers. "You couldn't have known. You didn't even know I was there." Zayn is so warm everywhere they touch.

"But I --"

Niall just shakes his head. Zayn grows quiet, still holding Niall's hands. Neither of them say anything for a long time.

"I know why you broke up with me," Zayn states, and Niall pulls back. Panic flickers across his face. "It's not because you don't want me, or because you don't love me anymore." His thumb runs over Niall's bottom lip, soft. "You think I deserve better. And I don't know how many times I'll have to tell you that even if there was better, which there's not, I wouldn't want it. I want you, I always have."

"But Louis --"

"I wasn't dating Louis, Niall. I didn't want to, either. We were just friends, and I hate myself for ever putting him in contact with you." 

"You couldn't have known --"

"The point is, I understand now. I understand why you thought leaving was going to be good for me. I appreciate you loving me that much." His hand cups Niall's cheek, and Niall lets out a tired sigh. "Being with you is the only way I can be happy. If you want me to wait, I can wait. If you don't want to be with me, I can understand that, too. I'm just saying -- if you ever want to be with me again, I'm here. No pressure. No rush."

Niall gives Zayn a smile, but before he can respond, his mother comes rushing in with a cup of coffee. She coos over Niall and his bruises. She's about to sit and stay, but she senses the tension in the room, and says she'll be in the lobby if he needs her.

Liam shifts then, and then slowly wakes up, nudging Harry awake soon after. "Hey, you're awake!" he says, moving to sit at the edge of Niall's bed, on the side opposite Zayn. "D'you feel okay?" He brushes a hand through Niall's hair.

"A little sore. Mostly okay, yeah." He gives Liam a sad smile.

"Remember what we talked about," Liam says. He pinches Niall's cheek affectionately, grinning when Niall giggles and bats his hand away. Liam loops an arm around Harry, claiming they need a caffeine boost, and they leave the room.

"You don't have to answer now," Zayn says when they've gone. He's playing with Niall's small fingers, and Niall watches. Zayn shows love through things besides words, besides kisses, and it is beautiful. Niall's heart is melting in his chest the whole way through. "Just know, okay?"

Niall nods. There's a knock at the door and the doctor comes in, so Zayn leaves so the doctor can check up on Niall. He goes down to the cafeteria to find Harry and Liam. He is unsurprised to see Harry sitting in Liam's lap. They look up when Zayn comes in, and a smile breaks across both of their tired faces. 

"How did it go?" Harry asks at the same time that Liam asks, "Did he respond?"

"He didn't give me a solid answer," Zayn answers, smiling. He loves these two idiots so much. "That's okay, though. I don't want him to feel rushed." He fills a cup with coffee, lets the mug warm his hands. "You know, I just want him to be happy, ultimately. Even if that doesn't mean with me."

"It will be," Harry says with a smile, and Zayn smiles, too.