Just Like Starting Over (Zarry One Shot)

Zayn wakes up in Germany with the knowledge that he's got no band obligations today, and it might be one of the best feelings he's ever had in his life. The hotel bed is soft under him, the covers warm and fluffy and he's got nowhere to be until his flight back to London this afternoon.

He's got nothing to do once he's in London either. His mum's been asking him to come back home, but Zayn wants quiet, wants peace and to be able to sleep without his screaming sisters being lovable but irritable pains in his arse. So he's probably not going to go home.

He sighs into his pillow and thinks about getting up, but that requires movement and full alertness and Zayn's awake, but not that awake. He's saved from it anyway, when his door clicks open and Harry comes in bearing gifts of things that smell like Zayn's favorite tea and bagels.

"Got breakfast," he says, uselessly, as he sets the bag down on the bed and waits for Zayn to sit up enough to grab his tea. "Up for a cuddle?"

Zayn moves on the bed, wary of Harry's long limbs around scalding beverages. "Where's everyone else, then?" he asks.

Harry shrugs, shoving half a bagel in his mouth and flicking the television on. "Think Liam went out for a run or something. Louis's, uh, Skyping maybe? He was making faces at his computer when I saw him last." He makes a satisfied noise when he finds Legally Blonde playing, burrowing closer to Zayn and shoving his boots off. "Niall said he's got two weeks where he doesn't have to see us, so he's taking advantage of it. Won't even open his door."

Zayn snorts. Harry's got him the cinnamon raisin bagel he likes, despite the fact that Louis says it's for old men and not even Liam will touch the things. "What about you, then? What are you up to?"

Harry's quiet, and Zayn's metaphorical hackles go up. It's a bated sort of silence, the one Harry only uses when he wants to get his way, and he almost always does.

"No," Zayn says preemptively. "Whatever it is, no."

"Okay, but I haven't even asked you yet?" Harry's good at playing innocent, like he's not about to ask Zayn to do something that's sure to be awful. "Can I at least ask?"

Zayn sighs and shoves a good bit of bagel in his mouth to keep himself busy. "Go 'head, then," he mumbles, and ignores the smile Harry gives him, the cream cheese stuck to the corner of his mouth because Zayn will undoubtedly say yes if he remembers he finds Harry endearing.

"So, I'm, uh, I'm going home for a few days while we've got a break? Like home with my mum," Harry starts. "And, I, uh, it's a bit of a funny story, but she, um, she's been under the impression that I've been unbearably lonely?"

Zayn blinks, but his mouth's still full and he's going to say no to this anyway.

Harry moves closer, so they're in a proper cuddle now and he's cut off Zayn's only means of escaping. "And so I just thought it'd be easier to avoid all her lovely concern and poorly disguised attempts to set me up with someone if I already had someone. If that makes sense."

"It doesn't," Zayn tells him. "Actually, it does. But I'm definitely saying no. Ask Louis."

"Louis's going home," Harry whines. "And I'd never hear the end of it if I told her I was dating Louis. I think she's already bought a dress for the wedding, Zayn. I just can't."

Zayn sighs. "Why don't you just tell her you're perfectly happy not dating anyone."

Harry ducks his head, settled under Zayn's chin and he smells overwhelmingly like that strawberry shampoo he favors so much. "I might be a bit lonely. Maybe." Zayn sighs again and Harry looks up at him, face imploring and needy and honest. "And I wouldn't mind your company for a few days. I'll make it fun for you, promise."