an elephant and an ear of corn
title: an elephant and an ear of corn
pairing: liam payne/niall horan
rating/warnings: G. fluff.
word count: ~850
summary: niall wants to go back to brown. liam doesn't know what to say.
A/N: written for a (straight) male tumblr friend who ships them! also, nonsensical title is nonsensical (it's from my bio class. please don't ask). please enjoy my first fluff piece!
none of this is mine, nor true, no matter how much i wish it were.
"i think i'm gonna change back to brown."
liam lowers his book and looks over at niall, faintly confused. niall's sprawled out on the sofa, fingers pulling pensively at a yellow lock, wide mouth twisted thoughtfully as he stares at his phone.
"erm, change what back to brown?"
niall huffs and looks exasperated. "my hair, you dummy." he combs a hand through it as he frowns, fluffy pieces curling wildly in the wrong directions. liam is suddenly itching to reach out and do the same, but he settles for closing his book and staring at niall.
liam knows niall's not a natural blond, has even helped him through several hair-bleaching disasters, and maybe he's seen some brunette!niall edits when he was sneaking around on tumblr, but for some reason he's having a terrible time picturing it. niall's been blond the entire two years liam has known him, and if liam's going to be completely honest, it seems like the irish lad had emerged from the womb with a head of yellow fuzz.
he's still staring at niall's hair and thinking about the time when niall had let the roots creep up, trying to mentally extend the darker color to the rest of niall's hair, when niall coughs expectantly.
"so, ah, what d'you think?" niall looks suddenly self-conscious and liam scrambles to answer.
"um, well if that's what you want i'm totally fine with it." it's a bit of a lame response and liam tries to smile supportively. niall looks at him doubtfully and scrubs a hand over his hair again.
liam mentally slaps himself. niall isn't insecure, not anymore at least, but he takes criticism harder than most and sometimes a hint of disapproval will have him shrinking back into the safe old routine. and liam doesn’t want that.
he scoots off the armchair and flops down beside niall. niall snuggles automatically into his side and liam resists the urge to just tuck his nose in the crook of niall’s neck and cuddle until paul comes back. he clears his throat and hooks a finger under niall’s chin.
niall looks up at him, eyes wide and blue like the reflection of the sky and a frown still tugging at the corners of his mouth and liam forgets for a moment what he wants to say. when their lips touch liam is just as surprised as niall. neither of them seem to want to pull away and niall's left hand comes up to curl around the back of liam's neck, smoothing over the short curling hairs at the nape.
liam has his hands tangled in the hem of niall's shirt, tugging it up past a sliver of pale hipbone, when he remembers. he lets go abruptly and niall huffs out his disapproval.
"liam, mate, c'mon." niall's voice is half-raspy as he pulls down on liam's collar. liam shakes his head and grins, pressing his forehead softly against niall's hair.
"you're perfect no matter your hair color, niall," he mumbles into the top of niall's head, and yes, that was probably the most awful and cheesy thing liam has ever let out of his mouth and he's not quite sure why he felt the need to say it. he can feel niall blinking, eyelashes tickling against his chin, and liam resigns himself to embarrassment.
suddenly he's being pushed against the armrest and he lets out an "oomph" as niall lands on his chest. their legs are tangled, hanging precariously off the edge of the sofa and liam looks down in surprise. his arms have curled around niall's waist without him noticing and niall's face is buried into the front of liam's jumper. liam wonders confusedly if niall is laughing at him.
finally niall picks up his head and liam's relieved to see that niall's only grinning. liam opens his mouth and "it's true, you know" comes tumbling out and now liam really wants to slap himself because when on earth did he get so corny, but then niall laughs loudly and scrambles up for another kiss.
liam forgives himself after that, especially after they break apart, breathing hard and feeling lightheaded, and niall smiles like his eyes are drops of rainwater and says
"thanks, mate."
//
a week later louis dyes niall's hair red because that's louis's idea of a good joke and "he's a leprechaun they're supposed to be ginger. it goes better with the green." liam worries for a bit but niall laughs uproariously at himself in the mirror and drags liam to the pharmacy for bleach without even wearing a hat.
later they're curled up on the sofa, niall's roots newly blond again ("i suppose i'll just have to wait longer for the brown to grow out"), his hands scratching comfortably over liam's back, and liam decides he should maybe say embarrassing things more often.
pairing: liam payne/niall horan
rating/warnings: G. fluff.
word count: ~850
summary: niall wants to go back to brown. liam doesn't know what to say.
A/N: written for a (straight) male tumblr friend who ships them! also, nonsensical title is nonsensical (it's from my bio class. please don't ask). please enjoy my first fluff piece!
none of this is mine, nor true, no matter how much i wish it were.
"i think i'm gonna change back to brown."
liam lowers his book and looks over at niall, faintly confused. niall's sprawled out on the sofa, fingers pulling pensively at a yellow lock, wide mouth twisted thoughtfully as he stares at his phone.
"erm, change what back to brown?"
niall huffs and looks exasperated. "my hair, you dummy." he combs a hand through it as he frowns, fluffy pieces curling wildly in the wrong directions. liam is suddenly itching to reach out and do the same, but he settles for closing his book and staring at niall.
liam knows niall's not a natural blond, has even helped him through several hair-bleaching disasters, and maybe he's seen some brunette!niall edits when he was sneaking around on tumblr, but for some reason he's having a terrible time picturing it. niall's been blond the entire two years liam has known him, and if liam's going to be completely honest, it seems like the irish lad had emerged from the womb with a head of yellow fuzz.
he's still staring at niall's hair and thinking about the time when niall had let the roots creep up, trying to mentally extend the darker color to the rest of niall's hair, when niall coughs expectantly.
"so, ah, what d'you think?" niall looks suddenly self-conscious and liam scrambles to answer.
"um, well if that's what you want i'm totally fine with it." it's a bit of a lame response and liam tries to smile supportively. niall looks at him doubtfully and scrubs a hand over his hair again.
liam mentally slaps himself. niall isn't insecure, not anymore at least, but he takes criticism harder than most and sometimes a hint of disapproval will have him shrinking back into the safe old routine. and liam doesn’t want that.
he scoots off the armchair and flops down beside niall. niall snuggles automatically into his side and liam resists the urge to just tuck his nose in the crook of niall’s neck and cuddle until paul comes back. he clears his throat and hooks a finger under niall’s chin.
niall looks up at him, eyes wide and blue like the reflection of the sky and a frown still tugging at the corners of his mouth and liam forgets for a moment what he wants to say. when their lips touch liam is just as surprised as niall. neither of them seem to want to pull away and niall's left hand comes up to curl around the back of liam's neck, smoothing over the short curling hairs at the nape.
liam has his hands tangled in the hem of niall's shirt, tugging it up past a sliver of pale hipbone, when he remembers. he lets go abruptly and niall huffs out his disapproval.
"liam, mate, c'mon." niall's voice is half-raspy as he pulls down on liam's collar. liam shakes his head and grins, pressing his forehead softly against niall's hair.
"you're perfect no matter your hair color, niall," he mumbles into the top of niall's head, and yes, that was probably the most awful and cheesy thing liam has ever let out of his mouth and he's not quite sure why he felt the need to say it. he can feel niall blinking, eyelashes tickling against his chin, and liam resigns himself to embarrassment.
suddenly he's being pushed against the armrest and he lets out an "oomph" as niall lands on his chest. their legs are tangled, hanging precariously off the edge of the sofa and liam looks down in surprise. his arms have curled around niall's waist without him noticing and niall's face is buried into the front of liam's jumper. liam wonders confusedly if niall is laughing at him.
finally niall picks up his head and liam's relieved to see that niall's only grinning. liam opens his mouth and "it's true, you know" comes tumbling out and now liam really wants to slap himself because when on earth did he get so corny, but then niall laughs loudly and scrambles up for another kiss.
liam forgives himself after that, especially after they break apart, breathing hard and feeling lightheaded, and niall smiles like his eyes are drops of rainwater and says
"thanks, mate."
//
a week later louis dyes niall's hair red because that's louis's idea of a good joke and "he's a leprechaun they're supposed to be ginger. it goes better with the green." liam worries for a bit but niall laughs uproariously at himself in the mirror and drags liam to the pharmacy for bleach without even wearing a hat.
later they're curled up on the sofa, niall's roots newly blond again ("i suppose i'll just have to wait longer for the brown to grow out"), his hands scratching comfortably over liam's back, and liam decides he should maybe say embarrassing things more often.