for your eyes only

T W E N T Y - S I X

Harry is sleeping when he sees his dad. His father, who was always there for him no matter what. It has been so long since his father had come in his dreams that he had almost forgot how his touch felt like, except, he didn't. The first time he had seen him in his dreams, he was ten and it was the night of his father's funeral. His father had said that he would always be there for him, and that he shouldn't be upset he is not there with him anymore.

This night, Harry gasps awake as soon as his father appeared. He was saying something. Something like 'Help... Needs it..."

He closes his eyes, and slowly gets up. He is exhausted and his throat is dry. And there's this little tug in his chest, somewhere where his heart is, pulling him downstairs.

And when he does,

"Zayn?" All the colour drains from his face when he sees Zayn, sobbing his heart out in his mother's arms. He immediately runs towards him, all his exhaustion and his dry throat vanishing away. "Zayn?!" he runs towards him, and collapses on the floor beside him and his mom.

"What happened?" he mouths to his mom, who shakes her head slowly, concern etched on her face.

Somehow, Anne and Harry are able to pull Zayn up in Harry's room. Zayn has stopped sobbing, but tears are still flowing down his cheeks, and that's what's making Harry so worried. Zayn has never been in such a depressed state, even when telling him about the abuse.

Zayn is on Harry's bed in no time, wrapped up tightly in a warm blanket to warm his freezing body. Anne makes some hot chocolate for both of them. Then she leaves them alone, but not before placing a ginger and motherly kiss on Zayn's forehead that makes his eyes water.

They both sip their hot chocolate in silence. Harry wants to ask Zayn what's wrong, but he thinks better of it. So he stares at his hot chocolate instead, the colour reminding him of Zayn's eyes.

Zayn speaks up, in a voice so small it almost doesn't sound like him. "Claire died."

Harry's head jerks up. After such a hard life, God took away Zayn's main reason to live too? A sharp pain goes stinging in his chest. "How?"

Zayn shakes his head, "I don't know. I didn't ask Alec." and then his tone changes, turning low and dangerous "But I swear of that fucker has anything to do with it..."

Harry interrupts him, "Ask him, then."

Zayn nods, looking exhausted, and looks around for his phone. "I don't have it." he finally says, sounding empty "I left it in my hotel room."

"Take mine."

Zayn takes it, without a word, and leaves the room. It hurts Harry a little bit, but he doesn't let it affect him. Zayn needs some time alone.

The minutes extends. Five minutes, ten minutes, fifteen minutes... Until finally Zayn comes back, eyes red and swollen from crying, tears still running down his cheeks.

"Car accident." He hiccups "I need to go back to Bradford."

Harry doesn't need to think twice. "I will come with you."

And Zayn didn't think twice either. "No."

That sends another shooting pain in Harry's heart, and this time, he couldn't hide his pain when he says, "Why not?"

Zayn shakes his head for the millionth time, "You have a whole life of yours, Harry. I am not taking you."

Harry is ready to fight, but so is Zayn. This will take whole night.