Niall Centric One-Shots

The Card Game of Life

A.N.: I'm still working on the prompts, but I had this idea, so I wrote while I had the inspiration. Enjoy, please. (While reading this imagine Harry and Niall sitting at a table, playing card games above dying people . . . . yeah.)

__ _

Niall sighs and flips over an Ace, "Your turn."

Harry mimics the action, but instead of an Ace he puts down a two of Hearts.

This goes on for three other turns until Harry puts down a Jack, and then the slapping starts. Niall screeches, partially from the pain of Harry's large palm slapping his own and partially from victory.

"If you want her to live, you've got to win the game."

Harry snickers and shuffles the cards in his hands, "Don't you think this is a bit morbid? You know, playing a game of Slapjack above a dying body."

The heart monitor below them falters, and the healthy pace slows and drops a few inches. Niall shrugs and puts down a Queen, "It's not like they know or can see us, so why does it matter?"

"It matters because Death is winning, but she was good morally."

Niall wags his finger in the air as Harry puts down a Diamond, "Ah, my young tattooed angel, that's where you are wrong. She sexually harassed her co-worker."

"But she worked as a babysitter for the Church's daycare."

Harry bellows deeply when he's gathered the stack of two cards and mocks Niall, "If you want to drag this girl to her death, you've got to win all these cards."

Niall squints his eyes at Harry, "I'm still ahead by five cards."

Harry points to the monitor below his head, "It's getting healthier." Niall twists his eyebrows in concentration, eyes set heavily on each card that's turned over. He can hear the weeping of the family around him, but it doesn't affect him. He was Death for fuck's sake; he's drained of any pity or emotion associating with remorse or guilt.

Niall rolls up his black sweater paws and twitches in concentration when a five of Spades is put down. He has three cards now; Harry none. Niall carefully puts down his first card, nearly sighing in relief when it's revealed to not be a Jack.

"Go again."

Harry has this smirk on his lips like he could tell he was going to win, but he wasn't the guardian of fate. That was Liam.

"What was her name again?"

"Taylor."

Niall hums in response as he calmly puts down his second card, nimble fingers twitching as the card touches the pile of cards. Niall looks Harry in the eyes, his stature of relaxation not leaving his eyes. Harry has a gleam of competition in his eyes, and his eyebrows are raised, "Go on; my spidey senses are tingling."

"You're a fucking angel, not a super-human. You're not even mortal."

Harry rolls his eyes and slaps his hands on the table impatiently, "So? She's a good person, and I don't want to lose her. She was a vet once in secondary."

Niall shakes his head as his fingers find their place on the fold of the card. "She did that because she had to get her hours in; she doesn't even like animals."

"Volunteer work! She was helping!"

Niall leans forward, eyebrows raised and says, "She microwaved her hamster, and she pushed her younger brother down a flight of stairs."