Monday comes around way to quickly for Harry’s liking.
He’s already set aside a spare room for Niall to stay in, and in his mind, that’s as far as he needs to go with providing for this snot nosed kid.
He’s already having to house him after all, he reminds himself. To him this kid is a stranger and he doesn’t know him at all. As far he’s aware he could be an ex convict or secret serial killer - and he wouldn’t have a clue. Although he highly doubts that Bobby would let his serial killer son stay with him; it would after all be too high a risk to his personal safety.
All the same, he isn’t pleased with the arrangement and he’s already prepared a dramatically over the top tantrum for his less than helpful management team. He’s pretty sure they’re going to hate him for it, but if he doesn’t make them fully aware that he’s not happy then how are they meant to know how he’s feeling?
His musings are interrupted when he hears the doorbell sound, and he briefly considers ignoring it in favour of continuing to plan out a series of ways that he could be as awkward as possible leading up to his next set of public appearances. He lets the thought die in his mind when he remembers that Steve has a copy of the key to his flat for security reasons and hurls himself up off his more than comfy sofa to answer the door.
He finds he new boyfriend standing on the other side looking less than impressed flanked by his father and Steve behind him. Niall’s holding a large suitcase in his hands and wearing another cute beanie atop of his head with his blonde hair arranged stylishly around his face.
”Hi…” he says out of sheer politeness, because his mother had raised him with good manners, and he wasn’t about to let the situation effect him so badly that he forgot the standards that he had been raised on.
Niall however doesn’t share his feelings and simply gives him a low grunt in greeting before walking straight past him and into the apartment without a word.
”Make yourself at home why don’t you…” he mumbles once Niall’s inside, and safely out of earshot, before he turns back to hold the door open for Bobby and Steve to pass through.
The two other men both give him cheery greetings and Bobby apologises on Niall’s behalf as he passes squeezing his shoulder. They both make themselves comfortable on the sofa sitting in the middle of his open plan living room looking around appreciatively. Niall on the other hand stands awkwardly to the side crossing his arms and looking anywhere but at him.
He sighs dramatically making a show of swinging the door shut and strolling over to his two bosses slowly.
”So, do you want a drink? Or are you not staying long?” he asks hoping that they aren’t going to stay all that long - because in all honesty he just wants them gone as quickly as possible so he can make a start on ignoring Niall’s existence.
To his relief they both decline with matching polite smiles and a quick “no thank you” each. Steve however takes a slip of paper from the top pocket of his suit jacket and smoothes the edges out crisply.
”No, we won’t be staying long. We simply came over to make sure Niall got here okay and go through the itinerary with you” he says with one of his famous smarmy looks.
Harry bristles as he settles into the armchair in front of them crossing his arms defensively raising an eye brow in question.
”Itinerary?” he asks sounding as though he was completely unaware that such a thing had even been created.
He had already know that something like this was coming - he hadn’t however expected it to come about so quickly. The idea that he’ll have to be seen out with Niall and act so, intimate, with him is enough to make him feel slightly nauseous… He doesn’t like guys like that - and as wrong as society may think that is - it’s just the way he was born, and it isn’t likely to change anytime soon.
”So, we’ve arranged for you both to have dinner tomorrow night at a restaurant that has recently opened downtown. I’ll make sure to send you the details later Harry. But I want lots of shy touches and plenty of smiles shared. I want people to think there’s something going on between you. I want an air of you both maybe wanting more” Steve says making the arrangement sound like something straight from a teenage romance novel.
He looks to Harry for some sign of acknowledgement to his plan and Harry simply nods his head giving him a mock salute. Niall copies the movement looking just as displeased as before. He keeps shooting his father these menacing looks of revenge and Harry hazards a guess that they have yet to make up properly.
”We’re planning on making an statement within the next week confirming you as an item. But for now I want you to act as though this is the first date. The official story is going to be that you met at one of Harry’s studio meetings and had an instant connection” Steve continues to explain looking as though he’s really getting into this.
Harry sighs dramatically knowing that was going to be a complete waste of time. Niall’s clearly not into the idea, and he’s never been with another male before and has no idea whether he’s comfortable with the idea. But from the stern look on Steve’s face he’s knows it would just be better to keep his mouth shut.
”So are we all clear on this?” the older man then asks placing his hands together with a smile.
Harry only nods his head again, turning to look at Niall. It sounds pretty simple to him. Try not to kill each other while they’re in the apartment and act like the love of each other’s life while in public.
”How long exactly is this going to go on for?” he hears Niall ask behind him.
He blinks realising that he hadn’t thought about that until now, and whips his head back to face Steve. The man frowns and shoots a thoughtful look to Bobby for confirmation.
”Well lets just take this one step at a time. There’s no need to get ahead of ourselves and start putting time limits on things now” Bobby says and for once he looks as serious at Steve.
Harry’s still interested in why Bobby is so eager for him to date his son. Of course he’s not about to ask Bobby outright, that could end messy, and from the look on Niall’s face now is clearly not the right time to open that door. The last thing he needs right now is o get into an argument with his new boyfriend, (plus he rather likes his apartment in one piece instead of several).
He hears Niall give a heavy sigh behind him, apparently he’s not all too pleased about the lack of time limit on their relationship - something that Harry can’t help but agree with. Now he’s in this mess of a relationship, he’s less willing to go down to the heterosexual clubs in the area. If he was still single it would be less of an issue if he was caught. Naturally it would still hit the headlines and cause an uproar, but it wouldn’t be as bad as it would be if he was caught while in a relationship. Niall’s just become another liability to his ever growing pile.
His musings are cut short when Steve lifts himself up swiping down his suit to rid himself of unseen dust and smoothing out the collection of creases that have formed. He offers a particularly charming smile to his blonde boyfriend in the corner before toning down his personality as he turns back to Harry and offers a firm handshake. Harry wants to be offended but instead, on reflex, his eyes twirl upwards rolling to the side in an exaggerated eye roll.
”I’m sure I’ll see you soon Harry. In the meantime make sure to look after Niall. I’ll email you over the address for the restaurant in due course along with the menu and time” Steve tells him with a professional air before sliding past him in the most slimy way Harry has ever witnessed.
Bobby ambles over next after saying goodbye to his son pressing him into a tight hug and smiling down at him. Niall doesn’t return the sentiment and only shrugs him off once he’s done, scowling down at the ground like a pro.
”Make sure to look after him wont you?” Bobby says smiling at him shaking his hand tightly.
”Of course” Harry replies going for the best reassuring look he can muster to back up his confirmation.
”He’s a bit of a handful at times, but he means well I swear” Bobby laughs clamping a hand down on his shoulder that’s a little too tight.
It makes Harry wonder whether it’s meant to be a little threatening. Of course Harry knows how to take a hint and shifts his face into a tentative smile as Bobby grins back at him harmlessly.
”He’ll be perfectly safe. I’ll take god care of him” he adds quickly seemingly placating the overprotective father who moves away with another grin calling goodbyes over his shoulder and closing the door behind him softly.
That just leaves Niall…
Who is no longer leaning against the wall behind him.
-X-
Harry was right when he’s assumed he wouldn’t like Niall.
The blonde had only been there for a total of four hours and they had already fought with each other three times and were currently not on speaking terms.
Niall had taken it upon himself to make himself comfortable once the earlier meeting had concluded. He’d walked straight into Harry’s room and made himself at home there emptying his suitcase and flinging his stuff around the room like he lived there. Of course Harry was not having that and in no uncertain terms had told Niall to kindly remove himself and his shit the hell out of his room.
Naturally Niall hadn’t taken too well to such words and had in return had told him that he could “get bent” and carried on making a mess.
So Harry had taken it upon himself to gather Niall’s things together and had launched them over the side of his balcony that overlooked the sitting room and let them form a lovely pile on the floor below. It had all be amusing until Niall had proceeded to do the same to his stuff.
In the end Harry had compromised and helped Niall to gather all of his possessions up again before leading him to the spare guest room and assisting him in getting set up.
However the truce hadn’t lasted long and the next disagreement soon followed in the form of edible substance.
Now Niall wasn’t a fussy eater per say; he just knew what he wanted. The only problem was that Harry didn’t share the opinion on what he wanted. This of course lead to a clash in options…
Niall wanted Mexican, Harry wanted Chinese.
The end result was four smashed plates, two broken glasses, an over turned potted plant - complete with a soiled carpet that was littered with compost - and a lack of an apology from Niall. Apparently Niall hadn’t knocked it over when he had thrown that glass at him, aiming directly for his head. The only reason he had missed was because Harry had ducked under the cupboard to reach for another kitchen utensil to play darts with.
They ended up settling for curry instead from a near by Indian that Harry had found online.
The third and final argument of the evening (thank God, because Harry couldn’t take much more stress from the blonde) had been over which TV channel they were watching. Harry had wanted to check out that new heterosexual channel that had only just been released. But Niall instantly objected and wanted to check the football league to see if his team were at the top of the board or not.
Well there was no way in hell Harry was watching that crap - even if Niall was his guest. There was no way he was letting this arrangement interfere anymore with his life than it already was. Niall could go and swing for it, for all he cared right now.
Sadly Niall didn’t concur with his thinking and had made a grab for the remote in his hands and toppled over landing ungraciously in his lap spilling hot curry down the front of his clothes.
A fresh change of shirt, many insults, several bruises and a half hour later they were sat down in stony silence watching the discovery channel while David Attenborough prattled on about mountain lions.
It was safe to say they hadn’t spoken since, and Harry wasn’t planning to strike up a conversation either.
-X-
Time moved way too quick in Harry’s opinion.
One moment he was lying in bed thinking about the many ways in which he could hijack his own car and drive far, far away; and then the next he’s walking down the side of a high end street hand in hand with his new favourite person.
Due to last nights incidents they were still on bad terms. Niall had reluctantly agreed to keep up his end of the bargain and co-operate and Harry had agreed to follow his lead since he had never been with another boy before. He’d been hoping that Steve would forget to send the directions to the restaurant so they wouldn’t have to go. But as ever he’d forgotten that he wasn’t blessed with the best of fortune and Steve’s email had arrived at 4pm exactly. This left them with precisely two and a half hours before they had to be there.
Of course Niall had decided to be his ever charming self and stay in the shower for well over an hour and had used up all the hot water - despite Harry’s warnings combined with his shouts of “get the hell out of the shower” through the door. This had made them late by about ten minuets as Harry had rushed to get ready and tame his head of curly hair.
The restaurant was one he had never had the pleasure of visiting before, and out of sheer curiosity he had looked it up while Niall had been soaking up all of his hot water. It was of course the over the top, fancy, high class type of place - the sort that A list celebrities would go to dine. The kind where they pulled out the chair for you and sprinkled gold chippings into the deserts. It was the kind of place Harry hated with a fiery passion that could rival the darkest pits of hell.
These thoughts accompanied him as he walked down the street with Niall, pretending to be deeply engrossed in the one side conversation Niall was holding with him. He’d forced a fond smile on his face as he listened to the blonde rattle on hoping to whoever was listening above that it would pass.
A bright flashing ahead of them drew his attention away from Niall and he glanced over feeling a sinking feeling in his stomach arise as he realised what it was. In front of the restaurant that Niall and him are about to go into is a cluster of paparazzi snapping pictures of everyone who enters (famous or not).
Harry huffs to himself and turns his eyes away from the constant flashing coming from the cameras and prays that they won’t notice them just yet.
Niall however doesn’t seem all that bothered by them and continues to walk along side him as though they aren’t even there. It’s fairly impressive really and Harry finds that he has no choice but to be in awe of him - not that he’s going to let Niall have the pleasure of knowing that.
But naturally as they step closer it becomes clear that Niall was just putting up a front like Harry. About ten metres away from the hoard of flashing Niall falters slightly and grips his hand tighter briefly as one of the paps looks up and spots them.
”It’s Harry Styles!” he yells jumping up and rushing towards them.
The others around him then leap up; following like demons from hell after the leader. It was like a wall of flashing light was swarming towards them as they continued to snap pictures of them shielding their eyes with their hands and trying to keep moving forward.
Next to him he feels Niall’s body shift closer to him and he curls an arm around the blonde shielding him with his body slightly. Even through his large winter coat he can feel the tremors shake Niall’s smaller body while his hand comes up to cling onto the thick fabric of his coat.
”Harry!”
”Look this way Styles!”
”Whose your new arm candy?!”
”Are you dating!?”
”Is it true you’re leaving the industry?!”
A barrage of stupidity surrounds him as he fights his way forward taking Niall with him. He tries to peer through the lights and wonders whether they’re going to write a stupid article broadcasting the imagine of him frowning, giving it come crappy title about him looking angry and not being in a good mood. Maybe they’ll even make up some lie about him and his “date” not having a good time - after all it probably won’t be far from the truth.
It takes a while (and no doubt has definitely made them late), but they eventually make it into the restaurant after making their way past the security on the door. Harry’s still worked up, courtesy of the paparazzi outside, and Niall looks no better all red faced and heavy breathing. A small (very small) part of him wants to apologise; but the other reminds him of the lack of hot water from earlier.
”So” Niall breathes trying to catch his breath. “You want to go and find out table?” he asks nodding towards the lady waiting at the desk with a soft smile and apologetic look.
Harry notices her straight away and sends her a charming smile from where they’re standing. She’s pretty, very pretty, with her blonde her piled onto of her head in a neat bun letting a few wispy stands fall around her face framing it perfectly. She’s not to thin, but well shaped and curvy, and her uniform is well fitted to her figure. Cute curved lips are pulled into the perfect smile and decorated with a thin layer of pink gloss - cherry flavoured perhaps?
Niall elbows him from the side shooting him a raised eyebrow when he turns to glare at him. It’s clear that he’s not going to get any action tonight with Niall here on duty. Then again he guesses he shouldn’t anyway since his latest escapade is still fairly fresh in his managements mind.
So instead he shoves his hand into Niall’s and strolls over to the girl standing at the main desk pushing a dazzling smile to his lips and nodding his head to her.
”Table booked for two?” she asks them upon arrival picking up two menus for them smiling coyly at their intertwined hands.
”Ah, yeah that’s right” Harry confirms to her. “Could you make it a private booth please?” he adds as they’re walking dropping his voice down a little.
She girl beams back and nods directing them towards the back of the restaurant and into a more private section where there are high topped booths for extra privacy.
”Of course not a problem” she tells them and places them in a booth towards the end of the row, sliding the menus onto the table for them and letting them know that someone will be back soon to take their drinks order. With that done she turns on heel and walk away.
Harry grins at her retreating form waving her off cheerily before turning back to look at a less than impressed Niall.
”What?” he questions letting his face fall into an innocent look.
”You know what” Niall huffs picking up his menu irritably before scanning through it. “You were clearly flirting with her. I don’t know how you can be so stupid. It’s no wonder that you’re in this mess acting like that with every girl you see” he states with an annoyed air and Harry can’t help but wonder if he’s directing the words to him or just making observations for himself.
All the same Harry takes it personally and pulls his face into a frown looking over the top of his menu at Niall.
”I was not flirting. I was simply being nice” he argues slamming down the menu to make a point that he’s not happy with Niall’s accusations.
Niall snorts at him and rolls his eyes in an obvious manner, going back to browsing the menu casually.
”Yes, you were being nice. But it just so happens that you were appreciating the view at the same time did it?”
Harry full on glares at him now looking him dead in the eye and goes to open his mouth in retaliation.
”Excuse me. Are you ready to order your drinks?”
He quickly bolts up realising that he had subconsciously leaned in to Niall as they had been having their “heated discussion” over the table. He smoothes out the menu turning it to the drinks section quickly and glancing it over briefly. His eyes land on the cocktails and he quickly points to the second one down without checking what it is.
”Could I get one of these please?” he asks smiling when their waiter nods and scribbles down the order for him before turning to take Niall’s as well.
Once they’re done and the drinks have arrived he jerks his head back to Niall and glares again watching as the blonde takes a quick sip of some orange fruity looking cocktail innocently. He’s got his phone on the table scanning through it idly reading his messages.
”Who are you texting?” he asks genuinely interested.
Niall hadn’t really talked much about himself after all. He tended to keep himself to himself and didn’t really let much slip about his personal life.
”My boyfriend… Well ex-boyfriend now I guess”
”Ex?” he asks raising an eyebrow in question.
Niall nods giving a noise of confirmation. His fingers continue to tap various buttons on the screen of his phone as a small smile plays on his lips.
”My dad doesn’t like him…” Niall explains, his eyes never leaving the small screen in front of him.
”So your dad split you two up and banned contact then?” Harry summarises giving a small shrug as he does.
A sigh leaves Niall’s mouth at the statement and he places his phone down on the table face up - it’s the all confirmation that what he said was true.
”Sean, my ex, is a footballer. Do you follow the game?”
Harry shakes his head quickly. It’s not like he hates the game per say. It’s just that he’s never been enthusiastic enough to actively follow a team or sit through a match. He’s thankful that Niall doesn’t comment on it though, instead he carries on explaining. It then strikes Harry that this is the first actual conversation that they’ve had that hasn’t ended in a fight.
”Well he’s pretty good as far as players go. He’s a striker for MX7 (A/N: This is just a team I made up. In the story that are a very successful team that only take on the best players) We met at through one of my friends, Louis, who’s also on the team and just clicked…”
”And your dad doesn’t like him why?”
”He thinks that a sporting career is a dead end job… Too much pressure if something goes wrong and you can’t play anymore”
Harry frowns into his drink as he rolls the opinion around his head thinking to his own job. It seem a little silly of Bobby really, because his own job is much the same.
”Yeah but that could be the same for any job. Singing is the same, my voice could go tomorrow and it would be all be over for me” he says watching as Niall nods in agreement.
”Yeah that’s what I said… But I guess it’s because of the other stuff that happened too” Niall goes on trailing off slightly towards the end and looking back down to his phone.
A smirk settles on Harry’s face. He’d known that there had had to have been more to it then what Niall had said earlier. Bobby wasn’t as shallow to have banned Niall from seeing this Sean kid just because of his career.
”But it wasn’t Sean’s fault! He used to get taken to these huge after event parties and such. So we used to go to them and end up drinking a fair bit…” he trails off again allowing Harry to connect the dots.
”Well that doesn’t sound good. No wonder he’s so concerned about you. Sean should have taken you home or made sure that you didn’t get yourself into such a state” Harry tells him sternly, having a change of heart.
Niall of course doesn’t take his opinion on the matter well and his previous gloomy expression twists into a bitter anger.
”Yeah well it doesn’t matter now cause I’m stuck with you anyway” he bites back darkly.
”You’re blaming me for your boyfriend issues? It’s not my fault that your dad won’t let you be with your alcoholic ex” he replies snidely.
”Don’t call him that!” You’re just upset that you can’t go and get your heterosexual kicks!” Niall hisses loudly back placing a large amount of venom into his words which are poised and aimed to hurt.
Harry flinches back as they hit him watching as a satisfied looks sweeps across Niall’s features. He grits his teeth in anger and turns to glare at an adjacent vacant table to the right.
So… Niall’s just like everyone else. He’s just as judgemental and opposed to being heterosexual as the rest. Why is everyone always so against him all the time? Why can’t people just let him be?
Pushing back at the table Harry gets up and from the corner of his eye he catches the questioning look that Niall shoots him. But he no longer wants to continue dinner after such a sour comment. He’s done what he needs to do and has shown Niall off to the media while painting the picture that they’re the perfect pre-couple going to have a cosy private dinner together.
”Where are you going?” Niall asks him in a tone that you might use to talk to a disobedient five year old.
”Home” he responds angrily without looking back to him, pulling out his wallet from his back jean pocket ready to pay the bill for the drinks that’s no doubt waiting for them. “And you’re coming too” he adds as an after thought.
He can’t really leave without Niall after all. It would ruin that image that he supposed to be trying to create. By storming off without the blonde it would look as though the dinner had gone badly and the headlines tomorrow would not be the ones that his management were wanting to see.
”But we haven’t even ordered yet!” Niall tells him from the table in a heated tone.
”Doesn’t matter” Harry mutters back in response. “I’ll order something in if you’re that hungry” he compromises.
”You’re being ridiculous Harry. What’s wrong? You were fine a minuet ago”
He doesn’t answer the more than obvious question, and when it becomes clear that Niall isn’t going to move without force, he reaches for the blondes slender wrist and yanks him from his seat.
”Oi!” Niall yells stumbling into him and attracting the attention of their waiter.
Strategically Harry leans down to his ear, keeping his voice low.
”You’re going to hold my hand, put on that carefree smile and walk out of here with me looking like you’re had the time of your life or so help me God, I’m going to tell your dad that you’ve been in contact with your ex”
Niall stills in his grip and looks as though he’s trying to comprehend what he’s actually just said. After a moment of deliberation on Niall’s part, he looks back up at him with such a nasty look that it even takes Harry by surprise. Just as he’s beginning to wonder whether or not he’s pushed Niall too far, a hand slips into his and he stands up on the tips of his toes to press the curve of his lips against his ear.
To anyone else it might have looked seductive or as though Niall was pressing a kiss to his ear. But Harry knew it was anything but as the blonde hissed words into his ear.
”If you ever threaten me again I won’t hesitate to make a scene in public the next time we’re out - regardless of whether you tell my dad or not” he warns him darkly before pulling back and setting his best and brightest smile in place.
Harry can’t find the right words to retaliate with and so Niall turns on heel walking towards the exit taking a stunned Harry with him. The Irish lad then makes a show of beaming to the girl behind the desk who had first served them while Harry pays the bill.
Even when they finally make it outside into the cold air Niall continues to hold his composure and keeping the bright eyed smile and sticking close to Harry’s side until the reach his parked car.
However as soon as they across the threshold of Harry’s apartment Niall disappears from his side and into the depths of his temporary room.
He can’t help but feel an eerie sense of déjà vu.