Undercover (Larry Stylinson)

19. reunited

The car ride to the airport was unbearable. Harry had to pull over several times just to steady his breathing. His hands were sweaty and kept slipping off the wheel. And when a car cut him off, he jumped so high in his seat he nearly hit the ceiling.

To say he was nervous about seeing Niall again for the first time since Moscow would be an understatement. Part of him just wanted to turn around and go home, avoid Niall forever. Wallow in his guilt for the rest of eternity.

But he knew he had to see Niall, as guilty as it made him feel. As terrified as he was. That was his best friend. The man who sacrificed everything for his safety. The man who gave up his own life so Harry could live his. The very least he could do in return was pick him up from the bloody airport.

And so, as he pulled up his car to the pickup area, Harry took a deep breath, closed his eyes and tried calm himself down. He began to envision things going well. Niall laughing and smiling and patting him on the back like old times. Because even despite the horrible things that happened, Niall was still his best friend, right?

His question was quickly answered when Niall walked out of the automatic doors of the airport exit and made a mad dash to Harry's car. He waved his arms wildly, a big smile on his face, and then dashed to the driver's seat.

Harry opened the door and hopped out, ignoring the dirty look of the people behind him. He hugged Niall tightly, wrapping his arms around the shorter lad's shoulders.

"Niall, oh my god, I'm so happy to see you," Harry choked out, nearly crying.

"Me too lad," Niall said, pulling away from the hug. "You look great."

"Let me grab those," Harry said, taking Niall's bags from him. "And thank you. You look lovely too. I love the brown hair."

"Well, I really didn't have a choice," Niall said with a laugh. "There was no hair dye in Moscow."

Harry nodded, but felt his hands begin to shake as he placed the bags in the trunk. Niall began to climb into the passenger's seat and Harry joined him in the driver's seat, fastening his seat belt before driving off.

"I, um, how was your flight?" Harry asked. He gripped the wheel harshly, biting his tongue as soon as the words left his lips. Since when did he try to make small talk with Niall?

"It was fine, not too long," Niall said with a smile. "I got a beer to make the time go faster."

"Ah, that sounds nice," Harry replied. "Guinness?"

"They didn't have it! I hate Bud Light, but it was better than nothing," Niall said.

"Nice," Harry said.

Silence filled the car and he turned to Niall, who was looking out the window.

"So what are you doing out here?" Niall asked. "A way's away from everything."

"Um... I just wanted like a slower pace of life," Harry said. He turned to Niall, his green eyes meeting Niall's blue ones.

"Right," Niall said with a nod. "Right, it makes sense."

"I think you'll like it," Harry said. "It's kind of cozy. And my neighbor Louis is really nice."

"You smiled extra wide wide when you said 'Louis,'" Niall chuckled. "Who's the lucky lad?"

Harry blushed, nearly stopping the car. "We're not. Nothing... we kissed a bit and that's it."

"Ohhhh," Niall said making kissy lips. Harry giggled, shooting him a dirty look.

"It's really complicated with him, I don't think it's gonna work out," Harry admitted.

"Well, you never know," Niall said with a shrug. "I've been on Tinder left and right since I've been back. So horny after the past few months with no sex. I needed to fuck someone."