Your Greatest Fan

When you find a crying Liam Payne alone in an empty studio, you better believe it's from nothing simple. The last time Harry saw Liam cry was the night he and Danielle decided breaking things off was for the best and even then, it wasn't as wet and sloppy as this.

Harry knows he's not the best talker and he probably wouldn't be very helpful in this kind of situation but when you find the rock of the band breaking down, you pick up the pieces and fix that shit!

"Hey" he says, very quietly like he doesn't want Liam to suddenly get up and fly out through the window, which, of course, Liam would never do because one: he doesn't have wings and he's no superman, not really. And two: because Liam is never one to run away from anyone who wants to chat.

He wipes his eyes and nose with one of the towels that the crew conveniently leaves on the back of some chairs and looks up at Harry with a pout that he's trying to force into a smile. It doesn't work. The smile falters after a second.

Harry closes the door behind him and stands on his spot for a minute fiddling with the lock until it snaps and he walks over to Liam.

"You need something, Harry?" he asks, clasping his hands together between his knees when Harry sits next to him. Harry shakes his head. "Just wanted somewhere quiet to sleep" he says. Liam chuckles low and silent and Harry congratulates himself on the biggest accomplishment he's had all day. He thinks of something to say. "So what's going on with you?" 

Ridiculous. Harry pinches himself on the side for it. Liam doesn't look perturbed though. He shrugs a shoulder. "Oh, you know"

"Yeah?"

"Yeah"

They sit silent for a while, Harry's eyes documenting the interior of the studio for lack of anything better to do. Liam keeps his eyes on his hands.

"Hey, you want to sleep? I'll leave if so" he tells Harry after one more minute of dead quiet.

Harry snaps his head down so fast he actually cricks his neck. "Oh no" he says, reaching up to rub at the muscle and then reaching further to the back of his neck to pass it off like he's fixing the tiny hairs there. "I uh...you were here first, so I should leave"

Liam nods and doesn't say anything else.

Harry looks down at his shoes and for the first time in his life, notices how awkward they are. He scowls at them. "Harry?"

"Oh god, Liam. Sorry"

"For what?" Liam asks. 

For my stupidity Harry wants to say. "I'll go now" 

He stands up and all of a sudden, Liam's hand is clutching the back of his jumper. "Actually, I changed my mind. Keep me company for a while longer, will you Haz?" he says, smiling up at Harry with the realest smile he's had all morning. "Okay" Harry gives him a smile in return.

                                                                  ----<@@@****@@@>----

 "You wanna know why I was crying, don't you?"

"Yes, if I'm being honest"

"Do you want me to tell you?"

"Am I allowed to be sarcastic?"

Liam laughs. His eyes are crinkled and bright, no longer red. And he looks so much better now. Harry's smiling down at his awkward feet.

"Alright" Liam says. Harry looks at him like he's waiting.

"You'd think I'm over it, wouldn't you? Danielle" he pauses, the corners of his mouth twisting up ever so slightly at her name. "I think it only hit me now that I'm never going to have a normal life again. I'm never going to go out without people trying to get pictures. I'm never going to say anything without people questioning the meaning behind it. I'm never going to be just another one of those people who gag when they see their idols, cause I'm someone's idol now. I'm fine with that and this is honestly what I've always dreamed of. I'd never want to be anywhere else. Not if that means I have to give this up and leave you boys" he breathes. "I just wish sometimes things didn't get too much"

Harry chews on the inside of his cheek. Of course he knew it wasn't just him who thought these things and none of the lads ever had to say anything out loud to let the others know it was inside their heads as well. It's always been kind of obvious since everything started. What amazes him is Liam's constant inability to audibly blame the ones who are truly at fault, as if he owes the world a favor when at the moment, it should be the other way around.

"You know you don't have to act like it's all your fault, right?" he mutters, not really looking at Liam. "Because it really isn't. And it's alright to let it out. It's alright to blame others from time to time. Hell, remember blame Niall?"

Liam snickers. He doesn't think he's forgotten. Louis started that trend, and everyone at one point, including Harry's mom, dove into it like it's the awesomest thing he's ever said. Just one more reminder for Liam of how much he loves or should love his life right now; this one with the four best people he's been blessed to spend it with and having the power to influence people's actions. Maybe they should start campaigning for world peace. Maybe he should add that to his list of things to do before he dies, or at least before the fame does.

"Sorry I'm not as good as Louis and Zayn with advices and not as huggable as Nialler. But if you ever, ever need someone to lean on, you know" Harry's voice dwindles before he picks it up again. "You know we'll always be around to take your hand when you've fallen over"

"Or leave me down and laugh at me cause it's funny" Liam adds to lighten the mood. "cause maybe I'll fall into a pile of poop and I'll be too smelly for you guys to save"

It's Harry's turn to laugh. "Maybe" he says.

"You were lying when you said you weren't good with giving advice"

Harry scoffs and drops his gaze. He's hiding his imminent blush. "not really an advice, is it? I'm just saying things"

Liam lifts an arm and drops his palm on top of Harry's head, rubbing the curls.

 "You wear your heart on your sleeve, Harry. Do you know what that means?"

Harry shakes his head.

"Means you never really have to say anything to let people know you. You know how much some of us want to be like you?"

Harry's eyes land on Liams lips as he speaks. "I don't, really" he says, leaning in a little.

"No. Course not. You'll never know" Liam reminds him, his fingers finding their way down the spot where Harry's skull meets his spine, cradling his head in his palm and plays with his hair. Harry relaxes into his touch like a reflex.

They stare at each other like that for a moment until Harry finds the courage to close the gap.

Liam closes his eyes.

He sees Harry's dimples first when he opens them again.

"Funny, cause I've always wanted to be like you. I'm trying not to be too obvious with how I feel sometimes. Lou and Nialler are always taking the piss out of me" says Harry. He presses a finger on the spot where he kissed Liam's cheek. "Try not to make Louis too jealous with that" he says before standing and unlocking the door. He looks over his shoulder. "Liam?"

"Yep?"

"You know we're always close when you need some fans, alright?"

"I know"

Harry smiles his billion dollar smile before closing the door and leaving Liam -not alone. Not really.

End