He Uses His Strength to Help You

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Louis: “You alright, love?” he asks, rounding the corner into the kitchen after hearing your frustrated grunts and babblings. “I’m… fine..” you reply between twists on the jar of grape jam. “I just can’t get this stupid jar open and I’ve tried everything.” He notices your bristling body and tension held in your shoulders, but doesn’t say anything just yet. “Let me see.” He responds and you reluctantly extend the jar in his direction. With a few quick twists, the top pops off and he hands it back. “Long day, then?” he asks, clearly concerned as you continue feverishly making your dinner. You stop for a moment, and then slowly slide the knife over your bread and nod, trying to hide a few tears that are prickling at the corner of your eyes. He notices and hops onto the counter next to where you’re making your sandwich. “The peanut butter and jam sandwich was a dead giveaway.” He chuckles caringly and you respond with a sad smile. You finish your sandwich by placing another slice of bread on top of the other and slicing it diagonally down the middle. “Triangles? Interesting choice.” He pokes, trying to make you smile. “You want to talk about it?” he asks after a moment of silence, nudging your shoulder with his forearm. You shrug indecisively before finally looking up at him. The concern in his eyes makes you want to start crying all over again. “Well come on then.” He smiles, hopping off the counter and taking your hand, leading you into the living room. “No use keeping it all pent up in there and letting it eat away at you.” An hour later you are amazed at how much better you feel from venting within the safety of his arms.

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Zayn: “Zayn, let’s do something exciting tonight!” You squeal, jumping on the couch next to your lounging boyfriend. He grins as he mutes the TV. “Like what?” “I don’t know… something spontaneous. We need to be more spontaneous.” You laugh and he sits up with better posture. “Okay sure.” He smiles and gives you a peck on the cheek. You gasp and put a hand on his cheek. “Star gazing! Let’s go star gazing! We’ve never done that together before.” “Babe, that sounds great, but we’re kind of in the middle of London. Where exactly do you suggest we go star gazing?” he asks, a laugh in his voice. “Oh. Right.” You say and your hands fall to your lap. “That is an issue.” “Actually..” he starts, “I have an idea.” Your face lights up and he stands, your eyes following him. “Grab a blanket, yeah?” he asks as he walks to the bedroom to retrieve his shoes. Soon you are following him down the alley next to the place you are staying. He stops in front of the fire escape and looks up. “Well.. the ladder is locked from up there, but I think if we get on the dumpster we can haul ourselves up.” You mischievously giggle at his solution and he puts his hands around your waist, using his strength to effortlessly lift you onto the large box. “Having fun?” he asks, grinning. “Of course.” You reply, reaching for the metal gate of the fire escape. After some creative climbing and quiet laughter you find yourself at the very top of the building, looking out over the city. Zayn spreads the blanket and you snuggle up together, taking in the stars above and the city below. “You are a very fun person.” You state cheekily after a few minutes of silence. He laughs and kisses your head. “Yeah, yeah, so are you, you crazy.”

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Niall:  “I’ll get the ice cream.” You smile to the gathering of bodies around your living room before retreating back into the kitchen to dish out several servings of the cold sweet. All of the lads and their girlfriends had come over for an evening of board games and snacks, and after several hours of belly laughs and hilarity, you all have decided to take a break for ice cream. Just as you begin fighting the solid mass of icey sugar, Niall walks in behind you and puts his arms around your waist. “Having fun?” he asks, slipping a kiss between your collarbone and chin. You smile and give a small laugh. “Of course! Playing board games with the boys is always way too much fun. Especially Pictionary and Charades. I haven’t laughed so hard in ages!” He laughs with you with his mischievous belly laugh, the one that you’ve come to love more than ever. You continue your trail of giggles as you dig the ice cream scoop into the container. “Here, let me help.” He smiles, still chuckling and takes the scoop from you. “Thanks. It’s really frozen.” You reply and begin to lick the residue off your fingers as he effortlessly spoons the ice cream into the bowls. You stop licking your fingers after a moment, thinking of a better idea, and wipe a strip of the white stickiness down his nose, launching into another set of giggles. He laughs and returns the gesture with a trail of fingers down the side of your cheek. You reach to “reload your ammunition,” but he traps your wrists with a laugh and pulls you in front of him. You fake shriek and struggle to keep up the attack, but to no avail. He licks your cheek. “Mm. Tasty.” He says and you can’t stop laughing as you lick his nose. “Delicious.” You reply, enjoying the easy, playful banter that you always share with him. He plants a sloppy, ice-cream-lined kiss on your lips before pulling back and licking his own. You giggle, and just as you’re returning his advances Louis walks in. “Oh for god’s sake Niall!” he shouts picking up one of the bowls of ice cream. You burst into even more giggles as he responds with a “Shut up, Lou!” and continues kissing you.

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Liam:  “Ahhh!!” Liam lets out an excited yell and runs up to you, suffocating you in a huge bear hug. You let out a massive grin and laugh as your body is pressed firmly into his. “I’m so excited you’re here!” he exclaims, pulling back and looking into your eyes. “You alright?” “Yep!” you excitedly affirm and give him a peck on the lips. He smiles and he begins chattering about who’s doing what and what the schedule is for the day and where you’ll be staying and when lunch is and how he’s got everything all planned out as he picks up all of your luggage in one fell swoop and begins walking toward the airport exit. “Liam, let me help you.” You interrupt him. “No no, I’ve got it.” He simply counters and continues his excited babbles. You smile as you fall in step beside him, giggling a bit at the bags strewn over his shoulders and in his hands and trailing behind him, because you know it’s because he wants to treat you like beautiful fine china. Not because you’re inferior, but because that’s the way he thinks a lady should be treated, just the way his mum always told him, and he goes to adorable lengths to make sure he treats you just like that. You run your hand up his bicep and lean over the bags to kiss his shoulder while you wait for the elevator. “What?” he asks, stopping his explanations and smiling. “Nothing, continue.” You give an impish smile back, silently admiring his strength and excitement. He laughs and goes on, leaving you to quietly enjoy all of his adorable subtleties as you leave the airport hand in hand.

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Harry: With the drizzling rain outside cooling things down, you decide that today is the perfect day to get some cleaning done. After a slow morning together, Harry disappears upstairs to tinker with something while you get to work cleaning the downstairs. When you’ve finished dusting, cleaning the bathrooms, and organizing the fridge, you pull out the vacuum from its place in the hall closet. “Harry?” you call up the stairs, “Can you come move the couch for me to vacuum?” “Yeah, be right there.” He responds and a few minutes later he descends the steps and moves towards the living room, quickly bending down and lifting the couch so that you can sweep underneath it with the vacuum head. You smile at his muscles tightening under the weight of the couch and he notices, returning with an impish grin. “You like that?” he asks slyly. You roll your eyes. “Don’t let it get to your head.” You playfully retort over the sound of the vacuum. He laughs and kisses your cheek before heading back up the stairs. Your heart swells a little bit and you marvel for a moment at how content you are to just be at home doing housework together. Nothing fancy, nothing exciting, not even necessarily “together” all the time—but being together, running a home together, helping each other out, enjoying the small, everyday moments like the one that just transpired.  Not being able to keep it to yourself for another moment, you flip the vacuum off and dart up the stairs. You quietly round the corner and for a moment observe Harry without him noticing you are there. Concentration is apparent on his face and you decide that it suits him well. With a small giggle you emerge from the doorway. “What?” he asks slowly, a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. “I’m just happy.” You reply and he stands to meet you. “Oh yeah? Why’s that?” he asks, clearly already aware of your answer, his eyes agreeing. “Because of.. because of Louis, obviously.” You play. “Oooohh. Louis. Right.” He nods, ignoring your words, and placing a kiss on your lips. You giggle, continuing. “He texted me the nicest thing earlier, you know.” “Did he now?” he responds, not concerned with your commentary, and continues his kisses. “Mhmm. About how great I looked in that dress you picked out.” He stops for a moment and looks at you, eyebrows furrowed. “You’re being silly, right?” he confirms. “I don’t know.. am I?” you raise your eyebrows and he playfully glares at you, seeing through your sarcasm. “You’re cute when you’re jealous.” You quip, poking his nose. “You’re cute when you smell like bleach.” He banters back, trapping your hand and grinning. “Well then I guess we’re both in luck, aren’t we?” you reply, causing a few casual chuckles to escape from the both of you before you begin retreating back towards the stairs. “Louis really did text me, though.” You call on your way out. “Whaaat?” Harry stretches the word in a higher pitch, and then begins after you for an explanation. You trot down the stairs laughing and shriek as he quickly follows suit.

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