fic: all the stars and boulevards [ 10 ]
title all the stars and boulevards [ 10 ]
author snuffleslove
pairing zayn/liam, harry/louis, girl!niall
word count 60k
rating pg-13 (now)
warnings slash, swearing, drugs, genderswap, abuse, domestic violence, dub-con
summary zayn and louis take on columbia (university!au)
a/n AU where the boys are international students at columbia university and new york city is taken by storm.
"Zayn, babe," Liam is murmuring, and Zayn wants to ink that feeling on his skin, his name on Liam's tongue, the catch in his voice at the whispered nickname like it's too important to say in one breath. He buries himself further into the other boy, breathing in the smell of his aftershave and sweaty neck. "Hey, your phone's going off like crazy."
"I'm busy," he mumbles, taking a rather unsexy bite out of Liam's shoulder. Liam laughs at him, twists to press his lips to Zayn's temple.
"It's probably Louis though."
"Crap," Zayn whines, "Alright go on, answer him."
"Oh. Alright, hold on," he reaches over Zayn for where Zayn's phone is lying on the night stand, clicking it on so that light floods the now darkened room, "Um. There are. Ok. First one reads, 'It's 9. consider this ur first warning,'" Liam makes a poor attempt to imitate Louis' accent, and Zayn snorts, "And then there's 'It's 9:15 second warning zayner i s2g,' and, in all caps, 'third warning zayn three strike ur out thts a thing in the us!!!!!' and then um 'zayn stop making li come and come already' oh my god," Liam mumbles, covering his face with the crook of his elbow.
Zayn laughs out loud.
"You made a come joke like, an hour ago," he accuses. When Liam uncovers his face, he's smirking even as the last of his blush fades.
"Like your reaction when I say dirty things," he says, grinning. Zayn rolls his eyes, getting out of bed to hide his smile. He stretches out the kinks in his arms and back from sleeping tangled up in someone else, throws on a shirt that's hanging off his desk chair, and dances into some jeans, conscious of the way Liam moves around him too, wondering if they'll be able to make a routine out of this, whether they'll argue about what brand of coffee to make and wear each other's pants. He wonders if, eventually, their beds will smell the same, whether they'll figure out how to manage two bodies in a tiny dorm room shower, whether Liam'll start using Zayn's toothbrush.
When he turns, he finds Liam's rooting around for something, dressed only in sweats that hang low off his hips. Zayn hooks a thumb in the elastic and drags him closer.
"You don't need it," Zayn tells him.
"Hmm?" Liam hums, looking up at him.
"Your shirt, you don't need it. Shouldn't ever have to wear clothes, honestly."
Liam laughs, eyes crinkling with mirth and Zayn traces the muscles that move with his laughter, finger pads catching on his nipples. Liam sucks in a breath, darting forward to kiss Zayn, and Zayn licks into him on a low moan, pressing their hips together.
"Wait wait," Liam says, pulling away slightly, "Before you get me all. I mean, before we, shit. Let me. I need to take a piss."
"Lee-yum," Zayn whines amusedly, sneaking his hands down Liam's sweats to cup his arse, pull the other boy flush against him and demand another kiss. Liam obliges him for a moment, licking at his lower lip before retreating again, large fingers reaching back to wrap around Zayn's wrists gently.
"No, fuck, I really gotta. Just. Five seconds, ok?" he says, edging towards the bathroom, "Don't move. Stay right here," he rushes off and Zayn can only shake his head with a small laugh, try not to be overwhelmed by how desperately he cares about this boy.
He surveys the room while he waits, inexplicably proud of the mess they've made, dirty sheets thrown about, clothes scattered. His eyes fall on the takeaway Liam brought that's probably cold by now and it's only then that he sees the jacket he gave to Liam so long ago, draped carefully over a chair.
He moves to run his fingers over the worn leather, thinks back to blurry brick walls and blurrier stars. Any place that has stars is alright.
When Liam comes back Zayn's got a small smile on his face and he brings the collar up to his nose, wants to see if Liam's left a bit of himself in the creases already.
"Nice jacket," he tells Liam. Liam shrugs, smiling curiously at him.
"I figured I'd pretend to give it back to you and then steal it from you again, properly this time," he responds lightly, crossing the room to cup Zayn's face, press a chaste kiss to his lips.
Zayn nods, blinking up at Liam, left dazed by the simple gesture.
"Do we have time to eat, or should we get going?" Liam prods softly.
"We should get going, probably," Zayn says, "Wear the jacket," he adds after a moment, "It's yours, now."
--
In the elevator, Liam takes Zayn's hand, a hesitant question in the furrow of his brow, and Zayn reassures him with a playful bite to his knuckles, and then a soothing caress of his lips, blushing at the way Liam smiles at him. He wants to draw they way they fit together, the way Liam leans into him, mouth tilted with affection. He wants to draw the way Liam tucks him into his side, the way Liam's elbow crooks around Zayn's neck, the way Zayn's hand slides against Liam's hip bone.
He wants to draw them to make them permanent, wants something of this to keep in case -
"You're thinking too much," Liam scolds gently. The night is still and cloudy and college walk looks infinite. "Tell me."
"Just," Zayn searches for the right words, "I just. I need you to give me a lot of chances at this because I'm going to fuck this up Li, I'm sure of it. And, when I do I just. I can't lose you, I couldn't bear it. So I need you to -"
"Ok," Liam cuts him off simply. "I will. I'll give you do-overs and take backs, and I'll forgive you as many times as I'm capable of. But you have to promise to give me chances too, then."
Zayn opens his mouth to protest but Liam shakes his head.
"Might forget your birthday," he says, ducking his head, "or get too caught up in my work. I might say something mean or become boring." He turns to face him on Kent steps, grabbing both of Zayn's hands and interlacing their fingers. "Things happen Zayn. To everyone and every relationship. Promise you'll give me a lot of chances too."
"Ok," Zayn promises faintly, leaning forward to kiss Liam. "I promise."
Liam considers him.
"Might get lazy, you know," he says thoughtfully, "lose all my muscle, become fat -" he trails off teasingly and Zayn rolls his eyes.
"Dunno," Zayn says seriously, "If you can't throw me around in bed the way I like anymore -" he dissolves into giggles as Liam's eyes widen in shock and he buries his blush in the crook of Zayn's shoulder.
"Hate you," he mutters dolefully and Zayn laughs, wraps thin arms around Liam apologetically. "Call Louis, tell him to let us in," Liam breathes into Zayn's ear, and Zayn nods unsuspectingly, reaching into his pocket for his phone.
When it begins to ring, Liam starts pressing kisses into Zayn's skin.
"Fuck," Zayn huffs out, "Liam -" he bites back a moan as Liam nips lightly at Zayn's neck. "Fuck, I can't -. Li. I have to -" but he's fisting a hand in Liam's t-shirt, arching his neck into the heat.
"Zayn? What in god's name -" he hears Louis' voice far away through the receiver. "I swear to god if you've pocket dialed me I'll never let you live it down."
"Shit," Zayn's voice breaks and he knows he's blushing bright red, "No Louis, it's. I'm here. We're here," is all he manages before he's clicking off the phone, tilting his head to catch Liam's lips in a frantic kiss. "You're a menace," he breathes into Liam's mouth and Liam huffs a desperate sort of laugh.
"You're gonna come home with me tonight right?," he murmurs, rough and low, "Finish what you started?"
"What I started?" Zayn asks, trying to sound indignant, pulling away slightly and pressing kisses to Liam's jaw. Liam shrugs.
"You start things just by existing," he informs Zayn pointedly, eyes sweeping down Zayn's body deliberately.
"Liam," Zayn laughs helplessly, feeling the blush spread to the back of his neck, "Trying to get into my pants?"
"Again," Liam corrects him, smiling cheekily.
"Again," agrees Zayn, "Well?" he arches an eyebrow, wraps his arms around Liam's neck.
"Maybe," Liam responds, trying to turn his laugh into a smirk. He hooks his fingers in Zayn's belt loops and tugs him close, "How's it working?"
"It's working on making me sick, is how it's working," comes Louis' voice from the doorway, playful and happy. "You two are like gross already, this is going to be awful."
"That's rich, coming from you," Zayn snarks back, and Liam hides a laugh behind one hand. But they do break apart and Louis holds the door open for them so they can escape from chilly night air into Kent. Zayn walks ahead but he hears the way Louis swings an arm around Liam and Liam's answering hum of content.
"Zayn," they both call out at the same time, and Zayn turns around, eyebrows raised. The two boys are looking at each other confusedly, so clearly neither had expected the other to call out Zayn's name in the same reprimanding voice. Zayn clears his throat.
"Yeah?" he asks.
They turn back to him at the same time, confusion still not completely erased.
"Stop limping," they scold together again and then, a beat later they burst into incredulous laughter, clutching at each other and smothering cackles into each others' skin and Zayn can only watch with dizzing affection.
"I love you both you know. I mean -" trips out of his mouth then, as if the words have been sitting in his skin and his blood and his bones, let loose by the simple show of tenderness between them and spreading warmth to his core.
Liam's eyes widen and then he ducks his head shyly, but Louis just rolls his eyes, places a sloppy kiss to the side of Liam's head.
"We know Zayn," Louis tells him, and his voice sounds exasperated and light but he's looking at Zayn knowingly, a small smile gracing his lips. He nods his head once. Love you too. He puts his hands firmly on the back of Liam and Zayn's necks, guides them to the elevator, "C'mon lads, let's make some music."
--
"Finally, the newly weds have arrived," Harry teases warmly, laughing when Niall does, hand over his mouth. Zayn rolls his eyes, is about to tell Harry off, but when he chances a glance at Liam he's so happy, smile bright and young and so Zayn kisses him instead, a quick peck on the lips that's accented by background catcalls.
"Here," Niall grins sympathetically, holding out the joint, but Harry steps in between with a hand on Niall's wrist.
"Not tonight, Ni," Harry says with a small shake of his head, "He's gotta be sober for his performance."
"Performance?" Louis asks incredulously at the same time Zayn's eyes widen.
"Sober?" he chokes out. Harry just stares at him pointedly.
"Fine," Zayn grumbles finally, throwing his hands up in the air.
"Right so, what's going on here?" Louis asks impatiently.
"Go on, Zayn," Harry nudges and Zayn sighs.
"I'm. I mean. We're. We wanted to. Right, um. We were going to sing something. Just. A song - "
"Right, what's he going on about then Haz?" Niall asks with a good-humored chuckle, tucking her hair behind her ears. In the candlelight she looks beautiful and Zayn can't help but smile a small smile.
"Zayn has something he'd like to say to Liam," Harry says softly, "Only Ed Sheeran does it better, yeah?"
Their eyes meet and Liam simply smiles at him, smiles like he wants to share all his secrets with Zayn, wants to crawl in and make a home in Zayn, wants to build bridges between them with a thousand more smiles and suddenly it doesn't seem so hard to sing to him, to share a few secrets of his own.
He lets himself be pulled down in between Harry and Niall and Harry waits for Louis and Liam to settle in front of them before tapping a 1, 2, 3 and into Zayn's knee.
"We're gonna pick up the pieces, and build a lego house - " Zayn sings, voice growing in confidence with the way Louis' smile turns tender. Harry joins him in the chorus, voice dropping low and Zayn grins, lets the last of the tension seep into the wooden floorboards beneath him. Harry takes over the second verse and Zayn feels Niall's intake of breath, and he smothers a laugh. Harry shoots him a dirty look before turning back to Louis, expression softening into something stupidly fond.
"I'm out of touch, I'm of love, I'll pick you up when you get down - " they sing together, voices tangling beautifully and Harry turns to grin at him, and then he's stretching out a long leg to toe at Louis, who wiggles and then joins in on Harry's melody. Zayn's eyes widen and then Louis's nudging at Liam and Niall too and then the five of them are singing and it's only two part harmony and Louis hardly knows the words but they sound good
They fade out slowly for Zayn, let him sing the last lines and he does, sings for Liam, their eyes meeting with a spark and a heat and a steadiness.
"I will love you better now," he tells Liam and Liam crawls forward on his knees and slides his palm up to cup Zayn's face, press their lips together.
"You're incredible," Liam tells him softly, and Zayn noses at him, a little embarrassed.
"Thanks," he mumbles, "Yours."
"Mine," Liam agrees, laughing a little when Niall makes a gagging noise behind them.
"Haz," Louis whispers urgently, "Haz. They're making out so we should too - "
but Harry waves him away, distractedly.
"Guys," he breathes, "Guys," and when Zayn and Liam break apart, Zayn sees the way Harry's eyes are wide and bright.
"We're really good," he tells them, talking fast with excitement. "You know I'm right Zayn. Really good. Guys, we could - "
"No way," Niall cuts him off, shaking her head so her hair falls into her face.
"Jesus, when you get an idea your thoughts go exactly in one direction, huh," Zayn chuckles, but Harry isn't deterred.
"I'm serious guys, listen, what if we - "
"Styles there's no way I'm singing with you lot. I don't sing," Niall says stubbornly, crossing her arms. "I don't ask you to dance," she glares at Harry.
"S'cause he turns into a safety hazard," Liam chimes in.
"Hey," Harry whines, pouting until Louis presses a kiss to his cheek.
"A family that sings together stays together, Niall," Louis tells her sagely, grinning innocently against her dark eyed scowl.
"Hey," Liam consoles gently, "We're a family no matter what, alright?" He tugs on a strand of her hair but she just crosses her arms petulantly.
"Yeah yeah," she grumbles, "Two loved up couples and me."
"You know, I don't think Niall's feeling enough love," Louis says with mock surprise, raising an eyebrow at Zayn that's arched in mischief.
"You're right," Zayn pretends to consider this, biting his lip to keep down his smile, "You're right, I don't think she's feeling enough love at all - "
And then the two of them are pouncing on her, hands searching for her most ticklish spots and she shrieks and giggles and tucks herself into Liam who fends them off one-handedly, laughing at the way they make faces.
"Oi, leave her alone," says Harry, launching himself between Zayn and Niall so that they end up in a pile on the unforgiving wooden floor, limbs bruised where they press together, chests rising and falling in mismatched rhythms.
"Family, yeah?" Niall asks softly. From his right, Louis reaches out to brush a strand a hair from Zayn's eyes.
"Family, Niall," he says, and the rest of them hum their agreement, a chorus of contentment.
author snuffleslove
pairing zayn/liam, harry/louis, girl!niall
word count 60k
rating pg-13 (now)
warnings slash, swearing, drugs, genderswap, abuse, domestic violence, dub-con
summary zayn and louis take on columbia (university!au)
a/n AU where the boys are international students at columbia university and new york city is taken by storm.
"Zayn, babe," Liam is murmuring, and Zayn wants to ink that feeling on his skin, his name on Liam's tongue, the catch in his voice at the whispered nickname like it's too important to say in one breath. He buries himself further into the other boy, breathing in the smell of his aftershave and sweaty neck. "Hey, your phone's going off like crazy."
"I'm busy," he mumbles, taking a rather unsexy bite out of Liam's shoulder. Liam laughs at him, twists to press his lips to Zayn's temple.
"It's probably Louis though."
"Crap," Zayn whines, "Alright go on, answer him."
"Oh. Alright, hold on," he reaches over Zayn for where Zayn's phone is lying on the night stand, clicking it on so that light floods the now darkened room, "Um. There are. Ok. First one reads, 'It's 9. consider this ur first warning,'" Liam makes a poor attempt to imitate Louis' accent, and Zayn snorts, "And then there's 'It's 9:15 second warning zayner i s2g,' and, in all caps, 'third warning zayn three strike ur out thts a thing in the us!!!!!' and then um 'zayn stop making li come and come already' oh my god," Liam mumbles, covering his face with the crook of his elbow.
Zayn laughs out loud.
"You made a come joke like, an hour ago," he accuses. When Liam uncovers his face, he's smirking even as the last of his blush fades.
"Like your reaction when I say dirty things," he says, grinning. Zayn rolls his eyes, getting out of bed to hide his smile. He stretches out the kinks in his arms and back from sleeping tangled up in someone else, throws on a shirt that's hanging off his desk chair, and dances into some jeans, conscious of the way Liam moves around him too, wondering if they'll be able to make a routine out of this, whether they'll argue about what brand of coffee to make and wear each other's pants. He wonders if, eventually, their beds will smell the same, whether they'll figure out how to manage two bodies in a tiny dorm room shower, whether Liam'll start using Zayn's toothbrush.
When he turns, he finds Liam's rooting around for something, dressed only in sweats that hang low off his hips. Zayn hooks a thumb in the elastic and drags him closer.
"You don't need it," Zayn tells him.
"Hmm?" Liam hums, looking up at him.
"Your shirt, you don't need it. Shouldn't ever have to wear clothes, honestly."
Liam laughs, eyes crinkling with mirth and Zayn traces the muscles that move with his laughter, finger pads catching on his nipples. Liam sucks in a breath, darting forward to kiss Zayn, and Zayn licks into him on a low moan, pressing their hips together.
"Wait wait," Liam says, pulling away slightly, "Before you get me all. I mean, before we, shit. Let me. I need to take a piss."
"Lee-yum," Zayn whines amusedly, sneaking his hands down Liam's sweats to cup his arse, pull the other boy flush against him and demand another kiss. Liam obliges him for a moment, licking at his lower lip before retreating again, large fingers reaching back to wrap around Zayn's wrists gently.
"No, fuck, I really gotta. Just. Five seconds, ok?" he says, edging towards the bathroom, "Don't move. Stay right here," he rushes off and Zayn can only shake his head with a small laugh, try not to be overwhelmed by how desperately he cares about this boy.
He surveys the room while he waits, inexplicably proud of the mess they've made, dirty sheets thrown about, clothes scattered. His eyes fall on the takeaway Liam brought that's probably cold by now and it's only then that he sees the jacket he gave to Liam so long ago, draped carefully over a chair.
He moves to run his fingers over the worn leather, thinks back to blurry brick walls and blurrier stars. Any place that has stars is alright.
When Liam comes back Zayn's got a small smile on his face and he brings the collar up to his nose, wants to see if Liam's left a bit of himself in the creases already.
"Nice jacket," he tells Liam. Liam shrugs, smiling curiously at him.
"I figured I'd pretend to give it back to you and then steal it from you again, properly this time," he responds lightly, crossing the room to cup Zayn's face, press a chaste kiss to his lips.
Zayn nods, blinking up at Liam, left dazed by the simple gesture.
"Do we have time to eat, or should we get going?" Liam prods softly.
"We should get going, probably," Zayn says, "Wear the jacket," he adds after a moment, "It's yours, now."
--
In the elevator, Liam takes Zayn's hand, a hesitant question in the furrow of his brow, and Zayn reassures him with a playful bite to his knuckles, and then a soothing caress of his lips, blushing at the way Liam smiles at him. He wants to draw they way they fit together, the way Liam leans into him, mouth tilted with affection. He wants to draw the way Liam tucks him into his side, the way Liam's elbow crooks around Zayn's neck, the way Zayn's hand slides against Liam's hip bone.
He wants to draw them to make them permanent, wants something of this to keep in case -
"You're thinking too much," Liam scolds gently. The night is still and cloudy and college walk looks infinite. "Tell me."
"Just," Zayn searches for the right words, "I just. I need you to give me a lot of chances at this because I'm going to fuck this up Li, I'm sure of it. And, when I do I just. I can't lose you, I couldn't bear it. So I need you to -"
"Ok," Liam cuts him off simply. "I will. I'll give you do-overs and take backs, and I'll forgive you as many times as I'm capable of. But you have to promise to give me chances too, then."
Zayn opens his mouth to protest but Liam shakes his head.
"Might forget your birthday," he says, ducking his head, "or get too caught up in my work. I might say something mean or become boring." He turns to face him on Kent steps, grabbing both of Zayn's hands and interlacing their fingers. "Things happen Zayn. To everyone and every relationship. Promise you'll give me a lot of chances too."
"Ok," Zayn promises faintly, leaning forward to kiss Liam. "I promise."
Liam considers him.
"Might get lazy, you know," he says thoughtfully, "lose all my muscle, become fat -" he trails off teasingly and Zayn rolls his eyes.
"Dunno," Zayn says seriously, "If you can't throw me around in bed the way I like anymore -" he dissolves into giggles as Liam's eyes widen in shock and he buries his blush in the crook of Zayn's shoulder.
"Hate you," he mutters dolefully and Zayn laughs, wraps thin arms around Liam apologetically. "Call Louis, tell him to let us in," Liam breathes into Zayn's ear, and Zayn nods unsuspectingly, reaching into his pocket for his phone.
When it begins to ring, Liam starts pressing kisses into Zayn's skin.
"Fuck," Zayn huffs out, "Liam -" he bites back a moan as Liam nips lightly at Zayn's neck. "Fuck, I can't -. Li. I have to -" but he's fisting a hand in Liam's t-shirt, arching his neck into the heat.
"Zayn? What in god's name -" he hears Louis' voice far away through the receiver. "I swear to god if you've pocket dialed me I'll never let you live it down."
"Shit," Zayn's voice breaks and he knows he's blushing bright red, "No Louis, it's. I'm here. We're here," is all he manages before he's clicking off the phone, tilting his head to catch Liam's lips in a frantic kiss. "You're a menace," he breathes into Liam's mouth and Liam huffs a desperate sort of laugh.
"You're gonna come home with me tonight right?," he murmurs, rough and low, "Finish what you started?"
"What I started?" Zayn asks, trying to sound indignant, pulling away slightly and pressing kisses to Liam's jaw. Liam shrugs.
"You start things just by existing," he informs Zayn pointedly, eyes sweeping down Zayn's body deliberately.
"Liam," Zayn laughs helplessly, feeling the blush spread to the back of his neck, "Trying to get into my pants?"
"Again," Liam corrects him, smiling cheekily.
"Again," agrees Zayn, "Well?" he arches an eyebrow, wraps his arms around Liam's neck.
"Maybe," Liam responds, trying to turn his laugh into a smirk. He hooks his fingers in Zayn's belt loops and tugs him close, "How's it working?"
"It's working on making me sick, is how it's working," comes Louis' voice from the doorway, playful and happy. "You two are like gross already, this is going to be awful."
"That's rich, coming from you," Zayn snarks back, and Liam hides a laugh behind one hand. But they do break apart and Louis holds the door open for them so they can escape from chilly night air into Kent. Zayn walks ahead but he hears the way Louis swings an arm around Liam and Liam's answering hum of content.
"Zayn," they both call out at the same time, and Zayn turns around, eyebrows raised. The two boys are looking at each other confusedly, so clearly neither had expected the other to call out Zayn's name in the same reprimanding voice. Zayn clears his throat.
"Yeah?" he asks.
They turn back to him at the same time, confusion still not completely erased.
"Stop limping," they scold together again and then, a beat later they burst into incredulous laughter, clutching at each other and smothering cackles into each others' skin and Zayn can only watch with dizzing affection.
"I love you both you know. I mean -" trips out of his mouth then, as if the words have been sitting in his skin and his blood and his bones, let loose by the simple show of tenderness between them and spreading warmth to his core.
Liam's eyes widen and then he ducks his head shyly, but Louis just rolls his eyes, places a sloppy kiss to the side of Liam's head.
"We know Zayn," Louis tells him, and his voice sounds exasperated and light but he's looking at Zayn knowingly, a small smile gracing his lips. He nods his head once. Love you too. He puts his hands firmly on the back of Liam and Zayn's necks, guides them to the elevator, "C'mon lads, let's make some music."
--
"Finally, the newly weds have arrived," Harry teases warmly, laughing when Niall does, hand over his mouth. Zayn rolls his eyes, is about to tell Harry off, but when he chances a glance at Liam he's so happy, smile bright and young and so Zayn kisses him instead, a quick peck on the lips that's accented by background catcalls.
"Here," Niall grins sympathetically, holding out the joint, but Harry steps in between with a hand on Niall's wrist.
"Not tonight, Ni," Harry says with a small shake of his head, "He's gotta be sober for his performance."
"Performance?" Louis asks incredulously at the same time Zayn's eyes widen.
"Sober?" he chokes out. Harry just stares at him pointedly.
"Fine," Zayn grumbles finally, throwing his hands up in the air.
"Right so, what's going on here?" Louis asks impatiently.
"Go on, Zayn," Harry nudges and Zayn sighs.
"I'm. I mean. We're. We wanted to. Right, um. We were going to sing something. Just. A song - "
"Right, what's he going on about then Haz?" Niall asks with a good-humored chuckle, tucking her hair behind her ears. In the candlelight she looks beautiful and Zayn can't help but smile a small smile.
"Zayn has something he'd like to say to Liam," Harry says softly, "Only Ed Sheeran does it better, yeah?"
Their eyes meet and Liam simply smiles at him, smiles like he wants to share all his secrets with Zayn, wants to crawl in and make a home in Zayn, wants to build bridges between them with a thousand more smiles and suddenly it doesn't seem so hard to sing to him, to share a few secrets of his own.
He lets himself be pulled down in between Harry and Niall and Harry waits for Louis and Liam to settle in front of them before tapping a 1, 2, 3 and into Zayn's knee.
"We're gonna pick up the pieces, and build a lego house - " Zayn sings, voice growing in confidence with the way Louis' smile turns tender. Harry joins him in the chorus, voice dropping low and Zayn grins, lets the last of the tension seep into the wooden floorboards beneath him. Harry takes over the second verse and Zayn feels Niall's intake of breath, and he smothers a laugh. Harry shoots him a dirty look before turning back to Louis, expression softening into something stupidly fond.
"I'm out of touch, I'm of love, I'll pick you up when you get down - " they sing together, voices tangling beautifully and Harry turns to grin at him, and then he's stretching out a long leg to toe at Louis, who wiggles and then joins in on Harry's melody. Zayn's eyes widen and then Louis's nudging at Liam and Niall too and then the five of them are singing and it's only two part harmony and Louis hardly knows the words but they sound good
They fade out slowly for Zayn, let him sing the last lines and he does, sings for Liam, their eyes meeting with a spark and a heat and a steadiness.
"I will love you better now," he tells Liam and Liam crawls forward on his knees and slides his palm up to cup Zayn's face, press their lips together.
"You're incredible," Liam tells him softly, and Zayn noses at him, a little embarrassed.
"Thanks," he mumbles, "Yours."
"Mine," Liam agrees, laughing a little when Niall makes a gagging noise behind them.
"Haz," Louis whispers urgently, "Haz. They're making out so we should too - "
but Harry waves him away, distractedly.
"Guys," he breathes, "Guys," and when Zayn and Liam break apart, Zayn sees the way Harry's eyes are wide and bright.
"We're really good," he tells them, talking fast with excitement. "You know I'm right Zayn. Really good. Guys, we could - "
"No way," Niall cuts him off, shaking her head so her hair falls into her face.
"Jesus, when you get an idea your thoughts go exactly in one direction, huh," Zayn chuckles, but Harry isn't deterred.
"I'm serious guys, listen, what if we - "
"Styles there's no way I'm singing with you lot. I don't sing," Niall says stubbornly, crossing her arms. "I don't ask you to dance," she glares at Harry.
"S'cause he turns into a safety hazard," Liam chimes in.
"Hey," Harry whines, pouting until Louis presses a kiss to his cheek.
"A family that sings together stays together, Niall," Louis tells her sagely, grinning innocently against her dark eyed scowl.
"Hey," Liam consoles gently, "We're a family no matter what, alright?" He tugs on a strand of her hair but she just crosses her arms petulantly.
"Yeah yeah," she grumbles, "Two loved up couples and me."
"You know, I don't think Niall's feeling enough love," Louis says with mock surprise, raising an eyebrow at Zayn that's arched in mischief.
"You're right," Zayn pretends to consider this, biting his lip to keep down his smile, "You're right, I don't think she's feeling enough love at all - "
And then the two of them are pouncing on her, hands searching for her most ticklish spots and she shrieks and giggles and tucks herself into Liam who fends them off one-handedly, laughing at the way they make faces.
"Oi, leave her alone," says Harry, launching himself between Zayn and Niall so that they end up in a pile on the unforgiving wooden floor, limbs bruised where they press together, chests rising and falling in mismatched rhythms.
"Family, yeah?" Niall asks softly. From his right, Louis reaches out to brush a strand a hair from Zayn's eyes.
"Family, Niall," he says, and the rest of them hum their agreement, a chorus of contentment.