Look After You (Niam One Shot)

BANG! Another cloud of thunder roared as the lightning flashed across the sky. Football captain Liam Payne reaches out for his teddy bear only to be met with disappointment. He sighs, tossing and turning as he tugs his covers tight over his head. His fists ball the warm blanket around him as he holds tight for the storm.

Liam hides in his bed, cowering from the thunder rolling in. The dorm remains quiet as Liam hears nothing but the loud banging of the storm mixed with the soft snores of his roommate, honors student Niall Horan.

Niall lay in his bed, peacefully sleeping until the silence is disrupted by the loud thunder rattling the building. Liam lies nuzzled in his bed, fearful whimpers escaping his mouth. Niall rustles in his bed, sitting up as he hears the small noises from the bed across from him. Without skipping a beat, Niall rises from his bed, swinging his feet over the edge of the mattress until they meet the floor. “Um, Liam, you okay mate?” he asks quietly, his voice groggy and rough.

Liam hides his face further into his pillow, not wanting his roommate to see him so vulnerable and scared on the very first night of Uni. As the bright flash of lightning illuminates the room, Niall can see Liam shaking, shivering under the covers.

Standing up from his bed, Niall approaches Liam carefully. Slowly he peels back the corner of the blankets revealing a small looking Liam, shimmering tears staining his cheeks. Gently swiping his tears away with the pad of his thumb, Niall caresses Liam’s cheek. “Have you been crying mate?” Niall asks softly.

Without further hesitation, Niall follows his nurturing instincts, peeling the blankets back and climbing into the bed with his new roommate. Liam freezes, unsure of why the small blonde has made himself comfortable inside Liam’s bed. With an arm slung round Liam’s waist, Niall rubs soothing circles into Liam’s back.

CRASH! With another sudden pang of thunder, Liam finds himself jumping into Niall’s arms, nuzzling his face into the crook of the younger boy’s neck as he lets out panicked gasps for breath. Niall reacts almost immediately, gasping at Liam’s reaction as he pulls him closer, whispering soothing things in his ear to calm him, lightly stroking his hair all the while.

“What’s wrong, love? Are you afraid of storms?” Niall softly asks voice clear with concern. Liam hesitates then shakes his head no.

BANG! Another clap of thunder rang throughout the room. Liam grabs at Niall tightly and nods frantically. Niall holds him tight and keeps consoling him. “Liam, what do you normally do when there are storms back home?” Niall questions in hope that he can help comfort him. Liam hesitates then looks up at Niall and their eyes meet. Liam immediately looked away then cuddled more into Niall, not wanting to tell him about his childish teddy bear.

“Iusuallycuddlewithmyteddybear,” Liam mumbles incoherently. Niall chuckles, “Speak up, love. I didn’t get a word of that.” Liam sighs, still averting Niall’s gaze. “I usually cuddle with my teddy bear, but I left him at home.”

“Liam, love, if it means that much to you, why didn’t you bring it with you?” Niall asks.

“I was embarrassed,” He frowned, looking down at the sheets. “I didn’t want people to make fun of me.” Liam’s cheeks were pink as he admitted one of his most personal secrets.

Niall pressed a soft kiss to Liam’s forehead as he leaned in to whisper in Liam’s ear, “I’ll be you’re teddy bear then, okay love?” Liam nodded his head shyly against Niall’s soft, pale skin.

Holding Liam tightly against his body, Niall coos in his ear, slowly lulling him to sleep. As the two boys allowed their eyes to flutter closed, they listened to the silence. The sounds of rain dripping against the windows and roof, the soft breaths from each other’s mouths, and the occasional clap of thunder in the distance echoed around the room as they fell asleep. Niall could feel the steady beating of Liam’s heart against his chest as the older boy’s hair tickled his nose, nuzzling in even closer than he thought possible.

Liam felt his heavy eyelids pealing open. Something felt different; there was something new about this feeling in his chest. As Liam’s eyes adjusted to the light he realized what was different; he was being held in the arms of his roommate. His eyes shot open as he slowly wiggled slightly out of Niall’s arms, allowing the grip to ease up.

He could feel the butterflies flitting about in his tummy as he looked at Niall sleeping peacefully. He couldn’t be falling for this boy after one night, could he? Maybe that wouldn’t be such a terrible thing. Liam thought back on the warm feeling in his heart as Niall pulled him closer, whispering sweet nothings in his ears to comfort him to sleep, it was something he had never felt before.

Liam felt the arms around him moving, pulling him closer again as Niall began to stir. Niall awoke with a large smile to a very pensive looking Liam. He gave him a questioning look, giggling lightly, “Stop thinking so hard, you’ll get wrinkles.”

“Sorry,” Liam mumbled nervously.

“Don’t be,” Niall assured, “How are you doing?”

“Better,” Liam says quietly as his cheeks started turning rosy. Niall tenderly pushed Liam’s chin up with a finger so that they were looking directly at each other. “You shouldn’t be embarrassed. Everyone needs a cuddle from time to time.”

Niall wasn’t only talking about Liam, though. In truth, last night he had one of the best night sleep he has had in a while. As he looks back, he realizes how right it felt when Liam was in his arms; it felt as though they were made for each other.

“Thanks for being my teddy bear” Liam whispers with sincerity.

“That’s what I’m here for, love. When need be, I’ll be right by your side.” Niall says peacefully, but forcefully enough to know he means it.

The boys locked eyes and gazed at each other in a comfortable silence. Still lost in each other’s eyes, they get closer and closer to one another. Liam notices Niall’s gaze shift between his lips and back up to his eyes, and that’s when he loses all control.

Liam pushes his head up to capture Niall’s lips in his own. He was relieved and so full of joy when Niall responded and kissed back. Their lips fit together like two puzzle pieces--destined to be united.