Out in the Cold (Zianourry) ON HOLD

Eight

"Jesus, Lou!" Harry all but yells, squeezing his eyes shut and laying his palm against his chest, trying to calm his racing heart. "It's been a week, you've got to stop giving me a heart attack every morning!" 

Louis doesn't respond to Harry's fear; instead he lays his head on the pillow right next to Harry's and reaches out to tangle his fingers in Harry's hair. "It's all gone," He whimpers, mournfully staring at the cut strands of hair, trying to twirl it around his finger.

It doesn't work.

Harry sighs, forcing his eyes to open and stare at the male laying on the bed next to him, surprisingly feeling calm instead of fear. "It'll grow back soon, love."

Louis' pout only deepens, and before Harry can react, he's diving forward, burrowing his head into Harry's chest while simultaneously managing to keep his hand tangled in Harry's hair without pulling. Harry doesn't push him off; he finds himself doing the opposite and actually pulling him closer, propping his chin on the top of Louis' head.

Liam barges in the room then, sighing and shaking his head when his eyes land on Louis. Liam is honestly a bit surprised, but extremely happy, when he sees the position they're in; Harry allowing Louis to cuddle against him, and Harry actually cuddling him back. "I'm so sorry he keeps sneaking in here, H. Did he wake you again?"

"'ts fine, Li." Harry mumbles incoherently, waving his hand in the general direction of Liam without opening his eyes. "Bit creepy, but fine." His hand falls back down, landing on Louis' face, causing the boy to let out a pitiful whine.

"Rude. Hazza. Very... very..." Louis' voice trails off, as he presses his face further into Harry's chest.

Liam smiles softly at the pair falling asleep before him, backing out of the room and quietly shutting the door. He turns around, coming face to face with the blond boy. "Hey, Ni."

"Hey, Lima. Harry still asleep?" Niall asks, keeping his voice low.

Liam nods his head, unable to help the grin that spreads across his face. "And he's not the only one."

"What do you mean?" The blond asks, furrowing his eyebrows.

"Louis went in there again this morning. They're actually cuddling together as we speak."

Niall's blue eyes widen in shock, before a pout takes over his face. "No fair! I told Louis I wanted to cuddle with him first." He whines.

Liam rolls his eyes, far more fondly than he means too. "I'd say maybe you could join them, but we don't need to risk Harry panicking." Liam tells him, grabbing Niall's arm and beginning to pull him away from the door. "Maybe soon Harry will let you."

"I hope so." Niall sighs, allowing himself to be pulled, but not without casting one last longing look at Harry's closed door. "He's starting to get more comfortable around us, I think."

Liam nods his head in agreement. "I think so too. He still doesn't like us spending money on him though. Even though I've told him about a thousand times that we have plenty." He leads himself and Niall into the kitchen, letting go of Niall's hand to walk over to the fridge.

Niall takes a seat at the table, watching Liam move around the kitchen. "You're going to cook breakfast this morning?"

Liam nods, glancing over his shoulder to say, "Yeah. Maybe bring it to Harry in bed, let him relax."

"I fully support this plan, but Harry's food tastes better."

Liam rolls his eyes, but offers no argument. Harry's definitely the best cook in the house.