Until You're Mine | Zaniam Halloween AU [COMPLETE]

SIX

"Niall..." A warm hand on his cheek, brushing his hair back. "Wake up, sweetheart."

Niall nuzzles closer into the hand. It's so warm, and he is so warm, he just wants to drift back off to sleep.

"Zayn," the same voice says softly. "It's time to wake up, come on."

Confusion worms its way into Niall's mind, waking him up a little more, and he blinks. Liam is sitting at the edge of the bed, trying to gently shake Zayn awake without jostling Niall too much, since Zayn's arms are still wrapped around Niall.

"Zee," Niall yawns, elbowing Zayn gently. Zayn lets out a sleepy grunt and nuzzles his face into the back of Niall's neck. It tickles, and he giggles a little, attempting to squirm away.

"Should we let him sleep a little more?" Liam asks.

Niall nods. Zayn is a heavy sleeper, and getting him out of the bed right now is unrealistic.

"Do you want to get up?" Liam asks.

Niall nods again. He wiggles out of Zayn's grasp with only slight difficulty, and he goes to the bathroom quickly before meeting Liam in the kitchen.

He hesitates in the doorway, staring warily into the kitchen. "I won't bite," Liam chuckles, and Niall sits down at the table. "I mean, unless you're into that."

Niall ducks his head, blushing. "Shut up! You can't -- you can't just say stuff like that!"

"Oh, yeah?" Liam asks, smirking. He rests his elbows on the table, leaning forward so his face is inches from Niall's. Niall swallows hard, and he can't help the fact that his gaze flickers from Liam's eyes to his mouth briefly. "Because it seems to me like I can do whatever I want." And his hand goes and touches Niall's face, his fingertips trailing down his neck.

Niall shivers, and then jolts back, away from him. "Well, not me."

"Not you?" Liam snickers. "As in, I can't do you?"

Niall lets out a groan and buries his face in his arms. "Can we just eat, please?"

"I know something I'd like to eat," Liam replies, but there's a laugh in his voice. He's having way too much fun with this, and Niall lifts his head out of his arms just so he can glare at him. "Okay, okay, sweetheart, I'm done. I'm sorry. It's so easy to get you riled up, and it's so cute."

Niall just sticks his tongue out at Liam to keep from swearing at him.

"What do you want for breakfast?"

Niall shrugs. "I don't know what you have. Or what you can make."

"How about French toast?" Liam offers, and Niall nods. "Do you want to help me?"

Niall shakes his head, leaning his cheek against his folded arms. He's still tired, despite having probably the best night of sleep he's ever had. He wants nothing more than to go back to bed right now.

"Hey," Liam's voice says, running a hand through his hair. Niall would slap his hand away, but he doesn't have the energy. "The food's done, you dozed off for a minute. Can you go get Zayn up?"

"Okay," Niall says with a yawn, and pushes back from the table. He makes his way back to the bedroom, stumbling a bit from sleepiness. "Zee," he says, shaking Zayn's shoulder. "C'mon. Food."

Zayn doesn't say anything, just grabs Niall around the middle and tugs him into the pull out bed. Niall yelps in surprise, and Zayn just pulls him close, nuzzling his face into his neck.

"I'm gonna get you out of here," Zayn whispers into Niall's neck. His voice is raspy from lack of use, one of Niall's favorite sounds. "I promise."

"Together," Niall agrees, and Zayn hums in agreement.

"Food's getting cold," Liam calls from the kitchen, so Zayn and Niall untangle themselves and make their way into the kitchen. "Morning, sleepyhead," Liam greets Zayn fondly.

"Morning, stalker," Zayn mutters in response, and Liam rolls his eyes. They eat quickly, and Niall feels much better than he had the night before. He's about to ask if he can go back to sleep when Liam speaks.

"So," he says, sipping his coffee. "Rules."

"Do we have to have rules?" Niall whines.

"Yeah, we're not three-year-olds," Zayn frowns.

"Because I like order," Liam shrugs. "Look, I'm not going to hurt you guys. That's not why I'm doing this. I just...I saw you suffering, and I had the power to stop it. So I did. Is that so wrong of me?"

"Uh, yes," Zayn replies.

"I just need to know you're safe," Liam continues, as if Zayn hadn't even said anything. "I just want to take care of you, to give you a better life after what I saw." And his voice goes softer. "Please."

Niall and Zayn's hearts go soft in both of their chests, not that they'd ever admit it.

"So. Rules. I have three. One, no swearing. It's vulgar and rude, and I won't tolerate it. Two, be respectful. I can handle some backtalk, but if you're crossing a line, you'll be disciplined. Three, if you try to escape, and I find you -- and I will find you, and bring you home -- I'll separate you. You two will never see each other again."

Niall gulps. "Never?" he asks in a terrified voice, staring at Zayn. He can't handle that. He can't handle the thought of never seeing Zayn again, of never holding him again. Never kissing him again. He would lose his mind.

"That seems a little extreme," Zayn says quickly, having the same thought process.

"I don't want to have to do it," Liam says sincerely, "but rules aren't rules without enforcement."

"Um..." Niall chews on his lip. "What...what happens if we break a rule?"

"Punishment," Liam says simply. "I don't really know what yet. I'm a fan of soap in the mouth after swearing --" Niall grimaces, "Or maybe making you do extra chores around the house. Like I said, I haven't decided. But they won't be enforced until we move."

"Move? Move where?" Zayn demands.

"What's the fun in having you know?" Liam grins. "Anyway, that's all I've got for now. I'll tell you both if there are any new rules." His gaze suddenly goes soft. "I know you're both still tired, so you can go back to sleep if you'd like."

Niall and Zayn shuffle back to the bedroom and curl up together on the creaky mattress.

"Zayn? I can't even think about never seeing you again," Niall whispers.

"I know. Me neither." A pause. "But we have to try, Ni. We have to get out of here."

Niall wants to cry. "But he'll find us. You know he will."

"...I know," Zayn says, hesitant to admit defeat. "But we'll think of something. Don't worry."

Niall doesn't know how not to.