Who’s Counting?
Niall discovers something his boyfriend has kept hidden from him through their whole relationship. When Liam explains, Niall finds himself more confused than he had been before.
It’s been so long since I wrote this that I have no idea where the post it’s based on is anymore. There were a few of us writing these, but what we planned never actually happened. Anyways, I figured I should post this now, since I haven’t posted anything in ages (we STILL don’t have internet at home. The NBN can jump off a cliff). I’ll see if I can find anything else to post to make up for my absence. (Really, the NBN should be making up for it, but they can’t even do their job properly, let alone apologise.)
"I'll be home soon," Liam promised, chuckling at the pouting face of his boyfriend. "Niall, I'm just going to grab milk from the shop down the street."
"But I want you to stay here," Niall whined, wrapping his arms around Liam's neck.
"Maybe if you'd given me a little warning about coming over, I'd've got some milk earlier," Liam told him, a smile on his face. "C'mon, I'll be five minutes."
"Ten," Niall corrected with a huff.
"Fine, ten, but I'll be back, babe. I can't make you mac and cheese without milk."
Niall sighed. "Alright," he mumbled playfully, tugging Liam down to kiss him quickly. "Be quick, though. I came over for cuddles, which I can't do on my own."
"I'll be quick," Liam chuckled, stealing another kiss before untangling them and heading out of the house.
"Right." Niall looked around Liam's home, then sighed and wandered up the stairs to his bedroom. Pushing the bedroom door open, he sat himself down on Liam's bed with a smile. "Li," he murmured affectionately at how neatly made the bed was. He laid on his back, breathing in the smell of Liam on the sheets.
Deciding to check his phone while he waited for Liam's return, Niall held his mobile above his face and started scrolling through his Twitter feed. He laughed at a tweet and attempted to favourite it, but his phone slipped from his hands and smacked him in the forehead before falling down between the head of the bed and the wall.
"Ow!" Niall sat up and rubbed his forehead, turning to scowl at the gap his phone had fallen down. With a huff, he slid off the mattress to find his phone, crouching and searching under the bed. He frowned when he spotted an old-looking book tucked under there, pulling it out and searching for a title. "What…?"
Absently standing and plopping down on the edge of the bed, Niall curiously flipped the book open. Noticing it was upside down, he turned it around and smiled at the photo that was stuck inside. It was of him and Liam from just the other day, when they were at the park and the older boy had insisted on taking a selfie of them together. Liam had written on the page beside the photo.
'Niall. 30th of October 2014'
"Scrapbook?" Niall half-laughed, flipping to the next page only to find it blank. Instead, he started backwards through the pages.
The next photo looked to be from the day they had first met, with a few smaller photos surrounding it from events such as birthdays and Christmases together. On the page beside was written 'Niall James Horan. 11th of January 2011'.
The next page back made Niall frown. It showed a picture of a boy that looked uncannily like himself, but Niall knew it wasn't him. He studied the photo of the boy and Liam at a roller-rink, arms around each other and laughing as they tried to keep upright. "What the…?" He checked the page beside it.
'Fintan O'Casey. 24th of July 1978'
The next page back held another, black and white, photo. And another boy that was the spitting image of Niall. This boy seemed to be dancing with Liam, something along the lines of the Charleston.
'Fergus Callaghan. 14th of September 1937'
Niall flicked back another page.
Another boy.
Another Niall-looking boy.
'Michael Murphy. February 19th, 1899'
Next page; another boy.
'Seoirse Ó Cuillinn. November 3rd, 1853'
The next wasn't a photograph, but a detailed painted portrait of just the boy.
'Rónán Mac Domhnaill. 7th May, 1812'
'Ciarán Mac Conchobhar. 4th April, 1782'
'Éamonn Ó Branagáin. 19th June, 1745'
Niall shook his head and flipped right to the first page, staring in shock.
'Niall Hore. 13 September 1490'
Snapping the book shut, Niall dropped it on the bed and jumped back, eyes wide and mouth open. "What…?"
"Niall, I'm back, love!" Liam called through the house. There was shuffling downstairs, then a curious, "Niall?" Footsteps preceded Liam poking his head through the bedroom door. "There you are… Niall, what's wrong?" Liam asked, concerned by the look on Niall's face.
"What is that?" Niall whispered, pointing an accusing finger at the book.
When Liam realised what Niall was pointing at, his eyes turned sad. "Niall, let me explain." He touched Niall's shoulder.
"What is it?" Niall demanded, jumping away from Liam's hand.
"Niall, calm down," Liam encouraged gently, slowly raising his hands. "I'm going to explain, love." He carefully extended a hand to Niall.
Niall swallowed and placed his shaking hand in Liam's, allowing the older boy to lead him over to the bed and sit him down. Watching Liam pick up the book and sigh, Niall whispered, "What is it?"
"A lot of pain and heartbreak," Liam laughed humourlessly. He looked up at Niall, putting the book down so he could stroke the blonde's cheek lovingly. "Oh, sweetheart." Squeezing Niall's hand, Liam returned his attention to the book, slowly opening it up to the first page and gently touching his fingers to the delicate painting. "A very long time ago, I met the love of my life. My soulmate. He spoke an exotic language, but I taught him English and he taught me his tongue. We were inseparable." Liam glanced to the boy beside him. "His name was Niall Hore."
Niall shook his head slowly. "But-"
"Ssh, let me finish, babe," Liam whispered, kissing the corner of Niall's mouth. "He was my everything. I wanted to grow old with him. But…" Squeezing Niall's hand again, Liam continued, "I'm an immortal. I don't age, and I live forever. After seven years together, Niall contracted a disease. The time didn't allow for healthcare or any of that so… so I watched him die. I sat and held his hand when he died in the bed we'd shared so many times." Liam had to pause to take a deep death and blow it out again. "After that I swore I'd never love again. But years later, I meet this boy who spoke the same exotic language… and looked exactly like my Niall."
Rubbing the side of his head, Niall looked up at his boyfriend. "Keep going."
Liam gave him a small smile, then continued. "His name was Ardál, and he was just like Niall. They looked the same, they sounded the same… even had the same sense of humour." Shaking his head, Liam chuckled, "It was like Niall had been born again. Like he'd been brought back from the dead just for me. So we could be together again. We fell in love quickly, just like I had with Niall. But the day I told him about Niall… Ardál cried. He told me I had lied to him, that all I saw him as was a replacement for what I'd lost."
Liam stared at their hands, watching his thumb rubbing along the outside of Niall's.
"The killed himself that night. Short and quick with his father's best knife.
"And that's how it went from then on. I'd meet this beautiful boy with this beautiful voice, and I'd tell him a joke that I knew would make him laugh that magical laugh. And I'd fall in love all over again. And just for a while, I'd have my Niall back with me. All that had changed was his name and the time.
"But as soon as I'd tell him about the others, about Niall, he'd break down and break my heart. I'd find him dead the next day, or more recently, he'd die in some way as he fled. Just before you, Fintan, he… he was running and got hit by a car. Died on impact."
Niall sat silently, waiting.
"And now…" Liam sniffled and blinked at his oncoming tears. "And now I've met you." He turned to Niall and held his face between both hands. "You have his name. My Niall," Liam sniffled, his voice breaking. "I met him on the thirteenth of September. Your birthday. And… God, Niall…" Liam's tears fell and a sob fought its way from his throat. "Please don't run away from me," he whimpered.
"Liam…" Niall slowly brought his hands up and moved Liam's away from his face, holding them in his lap and avoiding his boyfriend's eyes. "Liam, I need some time to process this."
Liam closed his eyes and sobbed again. "Please don't leave me, Niall."
"I just…" Niall stood up and let go of Liam's hands. "I just need some space, okay?" He turned for the door.
"Please don't leave the house," Liam begged, reaching for him but not standing. "Please, Niall, I can't see you dead again."
"I'll be downstairs. Seriously, Liam, I just need some space to take this in." Niall gave him one last look before leaving the room.
Liam took several deep breaths, trying to calm himself down. Downstairs. He'll be downstairs. Downstairs. Down… stairs. Stairs.
There was a sudden screech from the hallway, followed by a rolling thudding sound.
"Niall!" Liam ran for the stairs, nearly falling down himself in his hurry to reach Niall, who was collapsed at the bottom. "Niall, Niall, Niall, no, no, no, no, no…" Gently lifting Niall's head, Liam cradled his boyfriend tenderly in his arms, rocking them from side to side. "Niall, wake up, baby, please." He grabbed his phone from his pocket and dialled the emergency services, anything to make sure Niall was okay.
His Niall.
 xXx
Niall's eyelids fluttered as a throbbing pain ebbed trough his body. The throbbing was most intense in his head, which was a fact he was not pleased to note. A pitiful whine was all the complaint he could manage.
"Niall?"
Past all the throbbing pain, Niall could feel a steady pressure on his right hand, weakly returning it.
"Niall!"
"Hush, dear," whispered a kindly older-woman's voice. "We don't want to disturb other people, now, do we?"
Niall was attempting to put the pieces together while struggling with the pain all through his body. Mustering up his strength, he croaked out, "Liam?"
"I'm here, love," he heard sniffled, followed by the feeling of lips pressing against the back of his hand.
It took Niall another minute to find the strength to open his eyes, squinting at the harsh brightness around him. Finally, his eyes settled on the person providing the pressure on his hand. Liam was sitting beside him with tears tumbling down his face, and very obviously not for the first time.
"Hey," Liam smiled through his tears, his voice cracking in just the one syllable.
"Liam." Niall feebly squeezed Liam's hand.
"I've got you, beautiful," Liam whispered, stroking Niall's hair with his free hand. "I'm here."
"Quite a tumble you had there, Niall," the woman's voice spoke, Niall turning his head just enough to see the older lady. "You gave Liam here a right old scare."
"What happened?" Niall managed to ask.
"You fell down the stairs, love." Liam held the back of Niall's hand against his cheek. "I was terrified," he whispered.
"You're going to be fine, Niall," the lady assured him. "No broken bones, but you've got lots of bruising and a headache that will be with you for a while."
Niall nodded a little, flinching at the added pain the action caused. "Thank you."
The lady smiled. "Not a problem. Now, I'll give you two some space." She left the room, her heels clicking quietly as she went.
Looking up at Liam, Niall whispered, "I didn't dream all the stuff you said about that book, right? That was real?"
"It was real," Liam confirmed quietly.
Niall took a few deep breaths. "Okay." He closed his eyes, thinking over what Liam had told him. His eyes opened again when he felt Liam kiss his forehead.
"Sorry, I thought you were going back to sleep."
"With this headache?" Niall asked blandly, earning a slight chuckle from Liam. "I'm just… thinking. About what you said."
Liam held his hand tighter. "Yeah?"
"I…" Niall released a long breath. "I don't wanna be without you," he admitted quietly. "I want to be with you forever."
"Forever's a long time," Liam smiled sadly.
"Not long enough for me," Niall whispered.
Liam's eyes welled with tears. "I've waited five thousand years find you." He leaned down and kissed Niall's lips softly.
"I'd say that's long enough, wouldn't you?"
"I can't just stop-"
"Liam." Niall looked behind him, making Liam turn.
A young woman was stood behind Liam, a small smile on her face. She stepped up to stand beside the bed, resting her hand on Liam's shoulder.
"Mother…" Liam breathed.
"How long did you say?" the woman asked, brushing Liam's hair from his face. "Five thousand years? That's a long time, Liam."
"Nothing's a long time if I can be with Niall," Liam dismissed, squeezing Niall's hand.
"How many times, Liam?" the woman asked gently.
"Fourteen," Liam replied quietly.
"Fourteen what?" Niall asked, looking between them.
"That's how many times I've seen your face cold and lifeless," Liam told him, reaching out to brush his fingers over Niall's cheek.
"I'm number fifteen?"
"How old was the first boy when you met him, Liam?" His mother asked gently.
Liam's eyes widened a little. "Fifteen."
With a nod, his mother smiled, "And do you know how many incarnations a human goes through before they become an immortal?"
"Can I make a hopeful stab in the dark and say fifteen?" Niall asked.
"Fourteen," the woman chuckled. "You're number fifteen, Niall."
"I'm… I'm one of you…?" Niall asked in disbelief.
"You would have figured it out on your own in a few year's time," Liam's mother smiled. "It tends to occur to the individual at around age twenty five that they've stopped ageing."
Niall looked to the boy beside him. "So… I have forever?"
"God, I hope so," Liam half-laughed, holding Niall's hand tightly.
Turning his attention to Liam's mother, Niall asked, "If I'm immortal, how come I'm in so much pain?"
"The removal of death does not remove pain," she chuckled lightly.
"Don't I know it," Liam sighed.
"You will heal faster, though."
"So…" Looking up at Liam beside him, Niall whispered, "I'm the last in a long line…"
"You are, sweetheart," Liam admitted. "But… but I think you probably mean more to me than any of the others." Kissing Niall's temple, he whispered, "I didn't cry for the others anywhere near as much as I cried for you. Even… even when Niall died, way back in 1497, I didn't cry as much as I did yesterday for you."
Niall moved his head towards Liam, earning a small smile and kiss on the mouth. "You didn't cry before he died, though," Niall murmured. "Not before any of them. Any of… me."
"Niall?" Liam whispered in disbelief.
"Y'know, I still get my breath knocked out of me when I look at you. Just like I… he… I…" Niall frowned for a moment. "Just like I did five thousand years ago."
Liam glanced to his mother, then squeezed Niall's hand. "Nialler?"
"Oh god…" Niall whispered shakily, pressing his eyes shut.
"You found the memories," Liam told him gently, stroking Niall's cheek. "It's okay, love, just take a minute."
Niall was shaking slightly, but calmed down a little. "So much sex," he breathed out.
Liam had to laugh, half-laying on the bed and wrapping Niall in his arms. "Probably. It doesn't seem like quite so much over five thousand years."
"It's pretty damn intense all at once, though." Niall closed his eyes and leaned his forehead against Liam's chest. "Five centuries, fifteen first meetings, fifteen first kisses, fifteen first times… thirteen broken hearts, fourteen goodbyes… and one incredibly stupid immortal who just couldn't let go," Niall chuckled, shifting his head to press his lips to Liam's neck.
"I just wanted you to remember," Liam whispered.
"I have now," Niall murmured. He sighed heavily. "You've seen three before me fall down stairs."
"I know. I knew what would happen only seconds before you screamed."
Niall huffed. "I didn't scream," he pouted.
"No, you're right, it was more of a squeal," Liam smirked.
"It wasn't," Niall whined, poking Liam in the ribs
"Loud, high pitched, leaves ears ringing… I'd say it was a squeal," Liam deducted, laughing as he felt Niall jabbing his ribs more.
"I didn't," Niall huffed.
"I think you definitely did," Liam chuckled, kissing the top of Niall's head. Niall made a noise of complaint.
"Liam."
Looking to his side, Liam saw his mother watching them.
"I should go," she smiled, leaning down to kiss Liam's cheek. "Feel better soon, Niall." Kissing Niall's cheek as well, she straightened herself up and left them alone.
"That's the first time I've ever met your mum," Niall noted, closing his eyes contentedly.
"Because she looks the same age as us," Liam laughed. "Can you imagine me telling you that a woman who looks like she's my sister is actually my mum?"
Niall hummed a laugh. "Yeah, s'pose." After a comfortable silence, Niall asked, "Did it get easier? Telling us, I mean. Like, was it easier to tell me or Ardál?"
"Well…" Liam sighed and kissed Niall's temple. "It got easier in a way. But it also got harder." Cuddling the blonde close, he whispered, "I knew the best way to explain it with you, but when I told Ardál I didn't have that terror or expectation that he'd die soon after."
"So the words got easier and the feelings got harder." Niall carefully draped his arm over Liam's hip, his thumb rubbing small circles on the brunette's lower back.
"Pretty much."
Smiling, Niall nuzzled into Liam's shoulder. "You don't have to do that ever again."
"Never again," Liam agreed with a fond smile. "Never again."
