Until You're Mine | Zaniam Halloween AU [COMPLETE]

ONE

For a few weeks now, Niall has had a weird feeling.

It's close to Halloween, and the city he lives in is notorious for their Halloween pranks, and he knows it could be that. One year, a group of teenage boys released a bunch of tarantulas into the school halls and laughed as everyone was terrified. So Niall wouldn't be surprised if something like that happened again, and he chalks his paranoia up to the fact that he doesn't know what'll happen.

It's dumb, really, because Niall knows he should be happy. His city is really safe other than a few dumb pranks, and he has a great group of friends and an amazing boyfriend. Zayn is great, really, everything Niall ever could've wanted. So the fear he's feeling doesn't make any sense, but he can't shake the feeling that he's being watched.

"Hey, Ni," Niall's best friend, Harry, calls as Niall walks by. Harry works at a bakery not far from his house, and they're clearly prepping for the Halloween rush. Harry's apron is covered in orange frosting.

"You're a mess," Niall laughs, pointing. Harry looks down and laughs, too, a second later.

"Are you coming by later?" Harry questions as he tries to rub off some of the frosting that got on his shirt.

"I don't know," Niall frowns. The two weekends leading up to Halloween, Harry throws huge parties at his house. Normally, Niall doesn't go, because he's not a party person, but Zayn really wants to go this year. "Zayn and I have to find out our couples costume."

"Just come by after. You know it'll be going all night."

Niall nods. "I'll talk to Zayn and let you know, I guess."

Harry grins and ruffles his hair. "Okay. See you later."

Harry walks off and Niall continues his walk home. Even though he's walked this way home for as long as he's lived in this city, something makes the hairs on the back of his neck stand up. Every few steps, he whips his head around, expecting to see someone standing there, but there's nothing. The feeling he's being watched just intensifies. Niall turns back around for the third time and cries out in surprise.

"Gotcha," Zayn grins.

Niall smacks his arm. "Asshole, you scared me!"

"Sorry, babe," Zayn laughs, pulling Niall into his arms. "Are we still going costume shopping?"

Niall nods. "I get to pick this year."

"Fine," Zayn grumbles. He knows Niall will pick something good, though, and his mood lightens as they arrive at the mall.

"I love Halloween," Niall beams as they enter the costume store. It's all decked out with fake cobwebs, creepy looking masks adorning the walls and even skeletons that jump at you when you walk past. Zayn and Niall split up to try and find the best couple costume.

Niall makes his way through the rows, giggling every once in a while at the dumb costume. Finally, he finds one he likes (he decides on Batman and Robin, mostly because he knows Zayn won't complain about it) and sets off to find Zayn.

When he leaves the row, he sees him standing there, wearing one of the skeleton costumes.

"Did you buy that before you put it on?" Niall asks, and he just shrugs. "You idiot. Stop it," Niall laughs. Zayn reaches both of his arms out and grabs him, pulling him in for a hug. Niall laughs, wriggling to be let go, but Zayn squeezes him tighter for a few seconds before letting go. "I found our costume," he adds, showing him the package, and Zayn gives him a thumbs up. "Take off that dumb costume."

Zayn shakes his head, and when Niall reaches up to take the mask off him, he jerks back.

"Dumbass," Niall mutters, but he's smiling. "Okay...I'm gonna go buy the costumes, okay?"

He nods and Niall weaves his way through the rows until he gets to the checkout counter.

"Oh, Batman and Robin! Good choice," Zayn calls, meeting him at the counter, and Niall stares at him in confusion.

"What? You saw these already..." Niall pauses. "How did you get here so fast? You couldn't have taken that costume off that quickly."

Zayn raises an eyebrow. "What costume? What are you talking about?"

Niall stares at him. "The skeleton," he answers slowly.

Zayn shakes his head, looking equally confused as Niall feels. "Then who was in the costume?" he whispers.

Zayn shakes his head. He doesn't look worried. "It was probably one of those idiots who does pranks every year. Just trying to scare you." He fishes out his wallet to pay for the costume, and Niall feels too freaked out to protest.

"But..." he pauses. The hairs stand up at the back of his neck again, and the feeling that he's being watched feels stronger than ever.