Worth Fighting For

Chapter Seventeen

Zayn corners him later. Harry knew he hadn't convinced him earlier and tried to avoid being alone with the older boy as much as he could, and it worked for most of the day. But then, in the little time they have between rehearsal and the show, Louis is sent off with Eleanor, Liam goes to see Sophia, Niall's off who knows where, and Harry doesn't even notice Zayn when he approaches him.

He's sitting on the edge of the stage, eyes closed as his fingers pick out the now-familiar melody to one of his songs he'll never be courageous enough to propose. Harry's voice is soft, thick with emotion as he sings. Zayn pauses at the sight, almost feeling like he shouldn't intrude. Like he shouldn't be watching this. But he does, entranced by Harry's gentle voice and the tune Zayn's heard the boy humming under his breath but never really shared with the boys. 

"I don't ever ask you where you've been."

Harry's soft voice still manages to fill the room and Zayn leans against the doorframe, a small smile playing on his lips at the sound.

"And I don't feel the need to

Know who you're with

I can't even think straight but I can tell

You were just with her

And I'll still be a fool, I'm a fool for you."

Zayn feels tears sting his eyes at the heartbreak in Harry's words, the way his face scrunches up in an attempt to ward off the emotions the song is drawing out of him.

"Just a little bit of your heart

Just a little bit of your heart

Just a little bit of your heart is all I want

Just a little bit of your heart

Just a little bit of your heart

Just a little bit is all I'm asking for."

A flash of anger shoots through Zayn, his fists clenching as he squeezes his eyes closed, jaw tensed. How dare Simon do this to him? To them? Harry's 17. He's a child. Simon is trying to break a child. And worst of all- he's succeeding.

"I don't ever tell you how I really feel

'Cause I can't find the words to say what I mean

And nothing's ever easy."

His voice is quavering, tears straining against his closed eyelids till they burn. Zayn can't see that, but he notices the pain in every tremble of his hands as he plays, his entire body shuddering.

"That's what they say

I know I'm not your only

But I'll still be a fool-"

Harry cuts himself off with a sharp, shaky breath. A ragged sob pulls itself from him as he chokes out a whispered final lyric,

"'Cause baby I'm a fool for Lou."

Then he can't sing anymore, tears closing his throat as he doubles over the guitar, laying it in his lap and bracing his elbows on it as he buries his head in his hands, silent sobs wracking his body. Zayn moves in an instant, the spell bound by Harry's voice shattering at the sight of the broken boy.

In a second, he's at Harry's side, gently setting aside the instrument as he pulls Harry to him, the younger boy sinking into his side immediately, arms wrapping around the Bradford boy's waist as he cries silently into his shoulder. Zayn holds him tightly, shushing him quietly with his arms around Harry's shoulders.

"All of it, Harry," Zayn whispers fiercely. He needs to make Harry remember- believe. "You have all of Louis' heart. I think you always have. I know it might not feel like that but I swear to you, Louis loves you with every part of him."

"No..." The word is barely even a breath, but it still manages to shatter Zayn, who closes his eyes and lets out a long, slow breath.

"He loves you, babes. You don't just have his heart, you are his heart."

"I'm not," Harry whispers, his breaths hitching, "I'm not enough. I'm not going to be enough."

"Jesus, Haz," Zayn breathes, exasperation edging into his words, "he looks at you like you hung the moon and stars, mate. If he loved you any more, it might kill him."

"He's- he's my everything, Zayn." Zayn squeezes Harry tighter.

"And you're his." Harry just lets out a quiet whimper, sinking further into Zayn. Instinctively, Zayn's hand goes to hold the back of Harry's head, to stroke his curls until he calms down. This time, however, it has the opposite effect as Harry flinches away with a sharp yelp. Zayn's eyes narrow as Harry's face scrunches in pain, eyes closed as he tries to fend it off, arms wrapping around himself.

"S-sorry," he mumbles, eyes still squeezed shut. "I uh-" He blanks, blinking. What did he say happened?

"Hit your head on the bunk?" Zayn offers, eyebrow arched. Shit. Harry nods, sniffing as he looks at his lap.

"Yeah. Think I'm gettin' a bit big for them." Harry tries for a chuckle, but it sounds just as forced and strangled as it feels.

"H, you and I both know that's a load of shit," Zayn accuses. He falters when Harry looks up at him, emerald eyes wide and shining with tears, pleading. Begging him to let it go. But no, he can't. If what Zayn thinks happened actually did, he needs to know. His voice softens, though, recognizing the sensitive state of the boy. "It was him, wasn't it?"

"Zayn please-"

"Harry."

"Please," Harry cries softly, closing his eyes as if he can will Zayn away.

"Simon hit you." It's not a question. And the only confirmation Zayn needs is the sharp inhale Harry takes, the way he visibly shudders. "Fuck," Zayn breathes, instantly pulling the younger boy back to him. His voice is hard with poorly-contained rage. "What happened?"

"I- nothing. Nothing happened. I'm fine," Harry sobs, shaking. Zayn wonders briefly who he's trying to convince- Zayn or himself.

"We can go, Harry," Zayn says softly. "Say fuck the contracts and go. We don't have to put up with this, none of us do." But Harry is shaking his head.

"No, no, this- being in a band, performing, it's what we love. It's worth it. The band is worth it." Harry doesn't notice the pained expression that flits across Zayn's face, his own buried in the older boy's chest. "It's just a bump, Z. He- he got mad and pushed me into a wall. I'm fine. I am, really. It was nothing."

"Doubt Louis will see it that way," Zayn sighs. Harry bolts upright, eyes wide as he grabs Zayn's arm.

Otherwise maybe I'll be having this talk with Louis.

"No!" Harry exclaims, desperation in every line of his face. "Louis can't know!"

"But-"

"No, Zayn! Louis will overreact, he'll do something stupid. Please, Louis cannot know."

"I'm not going to lie to him," Zayn says slowly. Harry shakes his head, relief flooding him. This is the best he's going to get.

"No, no, you don't have to. Just don't tell him. If he asks you directly, you can tell him. But please, Zayn, he can't know," Harry pleads. Zayn searches his eyes for another moment before letting out a resigned sigh and reluctant nod. Harry pulls him into a tight hug. "Thank you."

"If this ever happens again-"

"-Come to you," Harry finishes, gently pulling back and wiping at his cheeks with the backs of his hands. He meets Zayn's intense gaze and nods sincerely. "I will." It won't happen again.

He doesn't know who he's lying to- Zayn or himself.

A/N - Next chapter is fluff I SWEAR