Behind Closed Doors *Narry*

Chapter 23

The ride over to their flat took less time than expected, Niall let the boys ramble on about what had happened while he was away. It made him feel better that they didn't force him to talk about his experience and he liked hearing all the knew things that were going on in the boys' lives.  Harry didn't talk all that much as he tried his best to concentrate on the road and the sound of Niall's laugh. 

It was awkward when they got to the apartment, they didn't really know what they were supposed to do. When the boys got there they all just retreated into the kitchen to save themselves from the silence that was ensuing. Niall just stood in the doorway like he'd never been here before. He was just standing there with his duffel bag staring up at the pictures on the walls and taking in his surroundings. He didn't know he'd missed this place until now, seeing it again for the first time in months. 

In the kitchen Liam, Zayn and Louis all started making supper and chatting away about nonsense while Harry went back in search of Niall. When he found him he smiled at the look of awe on his face. 

"You miss this place?" Harry asked as he leaned against the door frame. 

"Yeah, I really did," said Niall after he snapped out of his daze. "It feels like forever since the last time I've been here."

"Well now you're back and you don't have to go away again if you don't want." Niall nodded looking down to his feet. He was alone with Harry. He was alone with Harry. His cheeks flared up as he remembers the words he wrote in his letter and the things he said he had to tell him. 

"Um, so, Harry, how've you-" Niall tried to find something to say to make up for the silence falling between them. But then Harry was coming closer to him, brushing his thumbs softly against his cheeks. 

"You know how much I've missed you, Niall?" Niall just hums leaning into Harrys warm hands. "So much..." Then he's hugging him tighter than he's ever hugged him and Niall feels whole, and he just feels at home. 

"I can't believe I'm home," Niall decided to say "It feels sort of surreal, like I'm going to wake up in the hospital again." His grip tightened on Harry's shirt. 

"You're not going to, this is very real," Harry snuggled into Niall's neck and hummed against his skin there. 

"Hey boys! Suppers almost ready, why don't you help set the table?" Liam's booming voice echoed throough the halls. The two boys sprang apart faster than humanly possible, looking at each other like they'd been doing something they shouldn't have. 

"Coming!" Harry rasped, scratching his neck uncomfortably. "Shall we then?" He made a hand gesture towards the kitchen, laughing. 

Niall dropped his duffel bag and made to go towards the kitchen before Harry grabbed his hand in his. He froze a little and looked down at their joined hands, a smile itching on his face. Harry bit his lip pulling Niall and himself towards the kitchen. 

"Where have you two been?" Zayn asked, pulling utencils from a drawer. 

"Just talkin' in the living room," Niall said timidly. He detached himself from Harry reluctantly and made his way towards the counter. Harry watched his every move like they were limited, admiring the way he shuffles his feet against the ground, how his hair falls a little too long on his neck. 

Louis and Liam were talking amongst themselves about something stupid like the footie match while Niall  looked for something in the drawers. Harry frowned but contined to watch him. Zayn saw him pull scissors from the drawer and almost went into panic mode, but didn't for Niall's sake. That was until Niall started bringing the scissors towards his wrist. 

"Niall! What are you doing?" It wasn't Zayn though, it was Liam and he sure did sound panicked. 

Niall didn't even look up, he chopped the hospital bracelet from his wrist and watched it fall to the ground.  He sighed in relief, he felt like a giant weight had been taken off his shoulders.