Embrace

Chapter 2

 To be wanted is one of the most intoxicating feelings one could ever experience. To claw at flesh and gnaw at bones because skin deep isn't deep enough. To press your nose to their neck because their scent alone falls short and you must breathe them in like oxygen never existed. A snippet in time where nothing matters but the now. Playing with fire because you are earth and desire to be molten. A maddening ocean in a storm laying to rest in the eventide of chaos.

Niall hadn't felt like that in a long time. Towards the later years of his relationship with Jacky, being desired was something he could only stare at from the outside of a rainy window. Although if she was getting it from elsewhere, why would she focus her attention on him?

It was a sad thought, wishing to be desired. To be wanted. It was keener than the vast blackness of loneliness. It drove down deeper, it's edge just sharp enough to not linger, but dull enough to tear as opposed to cut. Leaving haemorrhaging strips in its wake.

The sound of a car horn almost caused Niall to jump from his skin as it rattled through the apartment. He clutched his chest frowning angrily as he stalked over to peek out the windows. Moving the curtain aside, he peered down to the street to see Will sticking out the drivers side window and waving enthusiastically. Grinning like an absolute mad man as he spotted Niall, who returned the wave with a slight wiggle of his awkward fingers.

Will pulled himself back in to the car as he began to notice the various pairs of, now angry, eyes of the neighbours staring at him from the block of windows. He likened them to very large bats in a very large cave who's yellow orbs just catch the light enough for you to question what awaits you in the after life. And judging by the state of the old woman on the second floor, her crooked nose sneering judgementally from the window, the folks here were twice as bloodthirsty as any horror movie bat.

It didn't take long for Niall to appear. His bag seemed more like it was packed for an entire week as opposed to a weekend. Like he had suddenly become paranoid he might shit himself five times in a row and therefore needed to pack seven times as much underwear "just in case".

Will was taken aback by the emergence of Niall. The scruffiness of his hair that stuck up at odd angles, defiant against the wind, no matter how Niall gave awkward swipes with his free hand to stick them down. There was a tired sleepiness to his movements, like he was simultaneously trying to stretch himself awake as he walked, that indicated that he hadn't long woken up, and Will could not help but stare. Suddenly enthralled by how he looked. Paralysed by a hunger, a need, a twitch.

Fuck, is that what he looks like when he wakes up?

Will found himself biting somewhat on his lower lip, dragging it through his teeth, and tightening his grip around the leather steering wheel like he was bracing himself against the sheer force of his attraction, that it was only when Niall was at the foot of the car that he shook himself out of it and got out to help with the luggage.

"Jesus, man. We're only going for two days, how much did you pack?" He laughed, taking the bag by the handle and round to the boot of the car.

"I didn't know what the weather would be like, or whether it was a dress up occasion or if there would be one. I dunno. Better safe than sorry though right?" Niall responded scratching the back of his head. There was a slight weight of guilt, dropping with a thunk in his chest as he noticed the crates of beer in Wills boot. Niall hadn't bought anything to contribute to the weekend. Would they hate him for it? Think him selfish? He devised that hopefully Will would have to stop for gas and he could pick up something that didn't look like he had made no effort whatsoever.

"You always were a worrywart, come on: it's a fair few hours to the lake so we got some rubber to burn baby! Plus I know a place on the way, does the best pancakes, and yeah I know its a breakfast food, but you have to try them. My treat." Will beamed, lightly tapping Niall on the bicep with his knuckles before practically skipping back round to the drivers side door.