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Liam went to Niall’s room. He always found safety in his friendship with Niall when in an argument with Zayn, their latest one this evening was about some paparazzi photos taken when Liam was with Sophia. Zayn had gotten understandably upset, though Liam’s reassurances hadn’t had much effect, and Liam decided to go cool off the only place he could when he needed security to leave this floor of the hotel.
So here Liam was, sat on a chair in Niall’s hotel room.
“Gonna use the bathroom, be back in a sec,” the irish boy called to him before walking into the ensuite.
“Okay,” Liam called back eyes not wavering from the football game on the TV.
A few moments later Niall walked out of the bathroom.
“They almost scored but it bounced off t-” the darker haired boy was cut off by a shriek from the other.
In a few seconds Liam was on the floor, kneeling beside him as Niall clutched onto his leg. Liam tried to calm himself down. Fuck.
“Your knee?” Liam asked, heavily breathing and taking hold of the younger boys hand. Niall managed a nod. God why today? Liam breathed and tried to control his panic. He pulled his phone from his back pocket and clicked on Zayn’s contact, he always knew what to do. As it rang he managed to send Niall a faint smile, one that said it’s okay. After three rings, Liam heard a beep and moved the phone from his ear to see ‘call ended’.
“fuck he’s still mad” Liam muttered, moving his hand to rub Niall’s back. Liam scrolled to Louis’ name on his contact and set his phone on speaker on the floor as he comforted the other boy. One ring, then he heard a familiar voice.
“Hey Paynoooo” Louis said in his usual playful and energetic tone. “What’s up?”
“It’s -er- Niall. He’s hurt his knee”
“What? Is he okay?”
“Ye- Um, kinda. Could you just come to his room?”
“Yeah, yeah coming. Is Zayn with you?”
“No, called but ‘e didn’t pick up. Think ‘e’s mad at m’” Liam fumbled.
“Okay, be there in a sec.”
Liam shot Niall another faint smile.
“What are we gonna do with you, eh?” Liam teased. “Or is this all an act so you can get the princess treatment? We all know you love that.”
A grin formed on both boys faces. The door swung open and Louis walked in.
“Haz has just gone to get Z. How are we doing bud?” Louis asked.
“‘m okay” Niall said weakly. Louis gave him a sassy glare in response.
“Okay, i’m not so great.” Niall submitted to him. The other two boys appeared in the doorway where Louis hadn’t bothered to shut the door. Liam looked up nervously at Zayn. Was he still mad?
Zayn’s eyes softened around Liam. God, how could he be this stupid? Why the fuck had he clicked ‘decline’ on that call? All because of some stupid argument about something he shouldn’t have given a fuck about? Tears formed around Zayn’s eyes. He was so fucking stupid. This feeling, looking down where his friend- no, brother- was hurt on the floor and he didn’t answer his fucking boyfriend’s call, who looked equally as helpless, on the floor beside him. Zayn felt like he was melting.
“Argh, fuck” Niall grimaced, clutching his knee with another shooting pain.
“Fuck, can someone grab his pain meds -they’re over there-” Liam pointed. “and some water?”
Zayn grabbed the pill bottle from beside him and knelt down on the other side of Niall. He stayed silent, trying to conceal his obvious trembling, though he realised Liam probably saw when he passed the bottle. Once Louis retrieved a bottle of water and Liam gave Niall his pills, Harry left to go get Paddy.
Liam lifted Niall onto the bed.
“Real diva, you are.” Louis teased which made Niall pout as Zayn lifted the blonde boy’s leg to place a pillow beneath.
“Buddy, how long was your leg hurting?” Liam turned to address the boy.
“A while.” Niall muttered.
“And how long is a while?” Louis raised his eyebrows, though you could hear the concern in his voice.
“since this morning” he muttered.
“This morning?” Zayn chirped in. “We did three interviews! We were walking all day, why didn’t you tell us?”
“didn’t want to be a problem. You guys were fighting and” his eyes flickered up to Louis “you and H were stressed about that Eleanor stunt tomorrow.”
“Oh, Niall,” Zayn stroked back his fluffy hair as Niall swatted him away with a glare that a child might give their fussing mother.
“Look bud, you aren’t a burden. Please tell us if you’re hurting even if me and Zayn are in an argument or anything else is going on. Look, you matter a lot more to us than- like- anything, so please tell us next time, okay?” Liam reasoned, with a soft look that layered over the pain. Zayn always thought that Liam was just one of those people. The kind that hurt just as much watching someone he loved in pain as feeling it himself- maybe more. Maybe that was part of why Zayn fell in love with him. And maybe, just maybe, that doubled the pain in his chest from seeing Niall like this, because he also had to see Liam like that.
Harry came back with Paddy soon after, and Liam and Zayn stepped out into the corridor. Once they were alone, all it took was one look at Liam for Zayn to fall apart, silent tears streaming down his face.
“Woah, hey, what’s wrong? I know Niall’s hurt but he’ll be okay.” Liam cupped Zayn’s cheek, wiping away a tear.
“‘m sorry” Zayn wept. “‘m so sorry, didn’t answer my phone ‘nd he was hurt. y-you both needed meh and i didn’t answer the fuckin’ phone”
Liam pulled Zayn in and let him nuzzle into his neck.
“You didn’t know, baby.” Liam whispered into the other boys ear, one arm wrapped tightly around Zayn’s torso and another one gently brushing through the back of Zayn’s black hair.
“You couldn’t ‘ve known. I decline your calls when I’m upset with you all the time, it’s okay, he’s okay, I’m okay.” Liam breathed long, heavy yet steady breaths. Zayn sniffled, head still resting in the crook of Liam’s neck. Liam lowered the pair to the floor, so that he could scoop Zayn’s entire body in his arms and hold him close.
Soon later, Paddy emerged from the room.
“He seems okay, in pain obviously, but theres not much we can do right now. Just make sure he rests and takes his meds every four hours, okay?”
“Yeah, okay” Liam replied.
“And maybe have someone stay with him.” Paddy added as he walked down the corridor.
They walked back into the room.
“Okay, mate?” Zayn asked.
“Ye- What are you guys doing?”
“Oh sweet naive Niall,” Louis teased.
“You didn’t think you were getting rid of us that easily?” Zayn added.
“Wha-”
“Cuddle puddle, mate. Budge over” Liam smirked as the three other still-mobile band members climbed onto the bed. Niall grinned. He loved cuddles. He should get hurt more often.