Zayn quickly made up his decision, asking Harry to stay at the hospital for only a few hours while he went and moved Harry's room into his own. He tore the curtains back, exposing his darkened room to the mid-morning sun.
He then retreated to taking down his paintings, laying them in a shoe box and stuffing it under his bed, before making his way to Harry's room where he un-tacked the beautiful artwork carefully, bringing each and every one back to his room. One of Cinderella and the mice, cleaning and singing there sweet tune. The next, Snow white being kissed by the prince. And finally, Harry's favorite of them all, Was Aladdin and Princes Jasmine, riding on the magic carpet, taking her to a wonderful place like Zayn wanted to do for Harry.
He wanted to take him far, far away, giving him a Castle as promised; A carefree life and a room where he could paint away all day, instead of being bombarded with school work. Because in Zayn opinion, Harry was too smart for all of that, and deserved to do whatever he pleased, every day, forever, and if painting was what his little heart desired, then painting it would be.
"What are you doing?" A deep voice growled. It had Zayn's skin crawling, shivers running up his spine. "I'm moving Harry into my room." He shot back, starting to pin Harry's paintings of colorful Disney scenes on his wall, first his princesses and princes, then the others in which had no theme, but came from Harry's head like a picture.
One of Oliver and company; a movie he enjoyed as a little boy, then Dumbo and Mickey Mouse.
"You're not putting him in here." He father ordered, Zayn's head whipped around. "I'm the only one who cares for him! He's staying in my room whether you like it or not, and if you want him, you'll have to get through me. Shove as many things inside of me as you want but never touch my little brother again!" With that, he shoved the man from his view, slamming the door tight and finishing their room.
He changed the gloomy dark sheets to bright green ones, the ones with little clovers that Harry loved. Next; he set up his and Harry's art supplies together, his on the right of his dresser, Harry's on the left and their stock paper right in the middle.
He knew painting was Harry's life, so it would be there main focus from that point on. His love would never have to worry about their father again because Zayn would take every beating; every rape, Zayn would take it like a man.
For Harry.
~*~
Once finished with his-their room, He grabbed a few paints and sheets of paper, making his way out to the car where he put the things in the back gently, taking the trip back to the hospital.
"Mr. Malik, can I have a word with you?" The morning nurse lifted her hand up in order to get Zayn's attention. "Yes Ma'am?"
The lady led him over to the counter where a very nice seeming, and very well dressed woman stood. "Mr. Malik, this is Ms. Edwards. She's a Social worker and she wants to speak with Harry. Do you think that would be okay?"
Zayn took a deep breath, sucking his lip into his mouth and nibbling on it. "Sure, just...Let me get in there for a few minutes?" Both women nodded, letting Zayn retreat to Harry's room where he snuck around the corner, his little brother glued to the TV, laughing and singing along to Mickey Mouse Club House.
"Oh Toodles!" He squeaked earning a chuckle from Zayn and giving away his position. "Zaynie!" Harry laughed, sitting up in his bed. "Hey there, Charming...Look what I brought you." He held out the papers and paints, enough to draw something extravagant. "We can paint? Really!"
Zayn nodded, placing the paints and paper on the table that rolled over the bed for Harry to eat on. Surely they wouldn't mind if they painted on it?
"What do you want to paint Harry?" Zayn wondered as he scooted in beside his brother, his arm wrapped tightly around him where he dipped the small brush in black paint. "Simba and Nala!" Harry insisted, pressing the brush to the paper, his brother's hand wraped around end of the brush.
A small knock at the door didn't startle the two for once and Zayn instructed that the knock's owner entered the room. "Harry, this is Ms. Edwards." Zayn commented, gesturing to the blond who sat on the chair beside the two. "Is it okay if she talks to you charming?"
Harry smiled over at the lady, nodding his head. If Zayn thought she was safe, Harry would trust her.
Shes started with easy questions first, asking about how many family members they had; how they were related, but when the subject of parents came, Harry's usually hyper voice settled down.
" Harry...Can you please tell me about them?" Harry shook his head stubbornly. "It's okay charming, you can tell her." Zayn rubbed circles on his side putting him at ease. "D-Dad doesn't like me." Harry choked, looking over at Zayn then back to Ms. Edwards. "What does he do when he's upset with you Harry?"
The boy tried to hold back a sob but it ghosted past his lips and it was all Ms. Edwards needed. "I don't want to talk about it!" He cried. "Don't worry Harry, I understand. You don't have to tell me." She ensured, getting up and leaving the room, not before brushing a little hair out of Harry's face and helping to wipe his tears away.
"Why don't we paint some more, baby?" Harry shook his head. Harry never denied painting which was odd, even for Harry who did everything in an odd manner. "Please?" Harry grumbled under his breath, snuggling into Zayn's side.
He's probably sleepy, Zayn thought, moving the table away from the two and cradling Harry closer, kicking off his shoes and getting under the covers with Harry still in his arms.
"W-Why did she want to know about dad?" Harry whispered, his horrid sobs finally drowned out. "She wants to make everything better. Don't worry love, she's going to help. Things are going to get better."
The two then returned to painting, their hands working together to paint Simba and Nala playing in the grass. It made Zayn smile, watching the things him and Harry created, the beautiful pictures with vibrant colors and such realistic shapes. "Zayn?" Harry looked up at his older brother who was blowing softly on the paint to make it dry faster.
"Yeah, Charming?"
Harry shuffled around a bit, twiddling his thumbs. "C-Can...Can we give this to the nice ladies?" Zayn smiled, picking up the paper and getting up from the bed. "We sure can."
Harry giggled wildly, grabbing the cart the held his IV and rolling it along with them down the hall to the nurses' station where all the ladies smiled at him. "We made this for you." Harry smiled handing the painting to one nurse who passed it amongst them, aweing and thanking them.
"This is really beautiful Harry." One said, rubbing his shoulder lightly. "Why don't we hang this up, Yes?" She pined the portrait to the wall with tacks, admiring it workmanship before pulling the boys attention back to her, but mostly Zayn's. Harry's attention was on the bag of water in which dripped into his arm. "Charming?" Zayn regained his attention.
"We just wanted to tell you that you could go home now."
Harry's face shattered, his eyes becoming red. "Harry, baby it's okay, It won't be very bad." Zayn insisted, kissing Harry's temple before leading Harry down the hall, Harry 's hand intertwined with his. The dark skin complementing the pale perfectly.
He was moved back to his room were the nurses took off the IV and heart monitors, Zayn re-dressing him in some clean clothes.
Harry then said goodbye to the nurses, all of them standing and waving him off. "Goodbye Harry." They all repeated, making Harry think this place wasn't so bad after all.
" Harry wait here for me?" Zayn set him down in the wheel chair he would be brought down to the lobby in, and went to talk to one of the nurses. "Ma'am..." The nurse looked up, smiling at Zayn. She had dark hair and the most beautiful eyes, she was older and slightly reminded Zayn of his mother that he seldum recalled as the only one who ever really cared for him. His current 'mother' was no real mother at all.
"I need to sign him out..." The nurse grabbed the papers, sighing before she handed them to Zayn. "I can see you care for him, but you can't sign for him...I'll have to talk to your parents before you can sign him out." Zayn bit on his lip, giving the nurse a number to call in which she could reach his dad.
She set it to speaker phone, Harry's body shaking when he heard the man's voice. "Hello?" He said annoyed. "Hi, Mr. Malik? I'm a nurse at London bridge medical, I called to request your permission to sign your son Harry out of the hospital?"
The man laughed, making a coughing sound at the end. "That retard's no son of mine." He spat. Harry sobbed lightly, Zayn walking over to caresses his shoulders. "You're not a retard baby, its okay."
"M-Mr. Malik, all we need is your permission." The nurse repeated, his eyes watering at the sight of Harry; quivering in pure fear. "Yeah, whatever just gets that fucking brat home. He's in trouble."
The nurse could barely hang up the phone, she wanted so bad to scream at the man, to tell him just how wonderful Harry was. "H-Here you go, you can sign him out." She said, wiping the stray tear from her cheek. "Don't worry, he's going to be okay...He still has me." Zayn smiled half-heartedly, signing the papers before continuing to speak.
"Uhm...Will we get the bill in the mail or-" "Oh no honey don't worry about that, we covered it." She smiled, standing again from her seat in front of a computer. "If you and your brother need anything, feel free to give me a call. I'm Mrs. Darling, but you can call me Jay, Okay?"
Zayn nodded gratefully, putting the phone number in his pocket and giving Jay a hug before returning to Harry.
~*~
When they found themselves at home, Zayn pulled his little brother to their room, their mum stumbling down the stairs, a bottle of tequila in her hand. "Look who's is home." She slurred, shoving Harry's shoulder.
"Ignore her." Zayn mumbled, bringing Harry to his room. "We're sharing now."
Harry's jaw dropped, looking around at the walls which were lined with their art, the bed lime green just how Harry liked it, complete with their paints and pencils set up on the dresser. "It's not our castle, but it will do for now."
Harry only nodded, pulling Zayn onto the bed, soft giggles leaving his lips. "Are you happy charming?" Zayn wondered, planting bittersweet kisses along his neck. "Yeah," Harry nodded, staring at the ceiling on which Zayn painted some stars.
"Pretty." He pointed at the big star in the middle. "That one's for you." Zayn stared as well, his arms soon wrapping around Harry; letting him nap there.