#flickerofziall

“Yeah?” he asks, biting down on his lip to contain the ridiculous smile fighting to break out. He’s got a hand at the back of Zayn’s neck and scratches lightly.

It’s Sunday morning, the sun is shining into their bedroom through the gaps in the blinds, and Niall is happier than he’s ever been in his life.

“Yeah,” Zayn repeats, pressing Niall back into the pillows when he kisses him again. His grin is wicked when he pulls back a little later. “Even though you just asked me to marry you in bed, with morning breath and no ring yet. Didn’t even get down on one knee, you barbarian.”

Niall laughs. “You know me knee’s probably gonna thank me for it. Reckon I might still be down there, unable to get up.”

Zayn snorts. “I’d’ve pulled you up, like. But honestly, you didn’t plan this, did you?”

“Nah,” Niall admits, face hot. “Pretty spontaneous, to be honest. I’ve known I want to marry you for a while, though.”

Zayn lies back down next to him, one arm tight around Niall’s waist. Niall kisses his shoulder.

“Yeah, me too,” Zayn murmurs, and it makes Niall’s heart race, the fact that he’s this lucky. “You make me so fucking happy.”

Because yeah, there’s Shawn. He’s probably the greatest thing about tonight, although Niall would never tell him that. They sat next to each other for the entire award show, which was wonderful yet terrible because Shawn looks so good in a suit Niall’s not sure how he managed to tear his eyes away at all.

Now, with a little too much alcohol in his system, Niall’s scared he’s not gonna be able to stop looking once he starts. Still, like magnetism, his eyes are drawn to Shawn. And yeah, he doesn’t think he’s ever gonna be able to look away, not when Shawn’s face is flushed a lovely shade of pink, his eyes hooded and a little glassy, lips wet from whatever drink is in his glass. This is, Niall thinks with a rush of heat over his entire body, probably what he would look like right after coming, tired and fucked out and satisfied. Not that Niall would give him much time before making him come again, if he got the chance, no matter how tired he might be. He imagines Shawn being into that.

Fuck, he thinks, not the time for a stiffy, Horan.

“Niall?” Shawn asks, making Niall jump and tear his eyes away from Shawn’s mouth.

“Sorry, what?” he asks with a laugh that he hopes covers up the fact he was just thinking dirty things about his friend.

“I asked what you were smilin’ about.” Shawn’s very close, even closer than a few seconds ago, and Niall has to look up to him.

“Just thinkin’ how tonight was good, wasn’t it?” he says. “Both won an award, you an’ me.”

“You and me,” Shawn repeats, small smile on his lips. He downs the rest of his drink and slams the empty glass down on the counter, flinching at the noise. It’s cute, and Niall laughs.

He stops when Shawn takes another step closer, so close he can feel his body heat, and puts one of his big hands on Niall’s arm. Niall looks down and feels a shiver run down his spine. This is all too much, he’s had too much to drink to deal with this.

“You know what would make it even better?” Shawn says. He’s now fully pressed against Niall’s side, bent down so Niall can hear him over the noise of the party. Niall just keeps thinking about how they’re in public, how this must look, and how he never wants it to stop.

“Hm?” he makes, his hand settling at Shawn’s hip. He doesn’t know what he’s doing, but he can’t not touch him right now.

Shawn leans even closer, whispers it like a secret, “If you would come home with me.”

Niall takes a step back like he’s been burned, feeling hot all over. “You’re drunk, Shawn.”

“So what? Still know what I want. Been wantin’.”

He looks so earnest, eyes big and almost pleading, and Niall’s heart stutters in his chest. “Fuck.”

A grin flickers over Shawn’s face, it’s dirty and looks fucking hot on him. “That’s the goal.”

Niall lets himself be pulled close, Shawn’s hand strong on the fabric of his shirt, and palms at Shawn’s hip where they’re hidden by the bartop. He can’t believe this is happening, doesn’t know if they should be doing this tonight, with so much alcohol involved, but he knows the last thing he wants is to stay at this party.

read on ao3

It’s quite the view, actually, when Niall steps outside their hotel room onto the balcony, but his stomach still swoops with fear when he thinks of the drop right behind Shawn. They’re on the fifth floor, that’s way too high to be sitting on the railing!

“Get down there babe,” he says, voice still a little rough from sleep, “you’re gonna fall.”

Shawn looks up from where he’d been plucking on the strings of his guitar with a frown on his face. “I’m not a baby, I can look out for myself.”

He looks like a painting, Niall can’t help but notice, in his checkered pyjama pants and with his ruffled hair, one lock falling almost into his eyes. Fondness rises in his chest at the way Shawn’s brows are drawn and he lifts his phone, swiping open the camera app.

“Stay like that,” he says quietly, bites his lip to keep from smiling. Shawn stays still for just long enough to take one pictures, but breaks out into a smile immediately after.

“Not mad anymore?” he asks, turning his body further in Niall’s direction. He’s still sat on the railing though, and that won’t do.

“Wasn’t mad,” Niall says and takes a few steps towards his boyfriend. “Just worried about you.”

“I’m not gonna fall, Niall,” Shawn whispers, but he sounds distracted, his eyes clearly on Niall’s mouth. Niall smirks and Shawn snorts. “Don’t be so smug. You haven’t gotten a good morning kiss either yet.”

“True,” Niall says, gently taking the guitar from Shawn’s lax hands and leaning it against the railing next to them. He slides his arms up Shawn’s arms, his firm, beautiful, strong arms, and cups his neck, leaning in close to murmur, “good morning, petal.”

Shawn huffs, his breath tingling on Niall’s lips and wraps his arms around Niall’s middle before crossing the last few inches between them. He tastes minty and Niall smiles against his lips, endeared by the thought they both took care to brush their teeth before this.

Gently, he lets his hand move from Shawn’s neck to his back, pulling just enough to get Shawn to move away from the railing.

He bites at Niall’s lip lightly, laughing a little. “That your plan all along?”

“Maybe,” Niall says, doesn’t move an inch away and he gets his way when Shawn deepens the kiss again. “The bed is still warm.”

“Hmm, is that so,” Shawn hums, and suddenly his hands are under Niall’s bum and he’s lifting him up as if that’s a thing one just does. Niall wraps his legs around Shawn’s hips, and okay, he knew Shawn was strong, but this is, like, really hot.

Shawn carries him inside without being even a little bit winded, and drops Niall onto the bed before following, caging him in and grinning at Niall wickedly.

“Got your way, huh?” he says and Niall doesn’t reply, just pulls Shawn in by the back of his neck.