{"id":462,"date":"2013-03-28T21:45:58","date_gmt":"2013-03-29T01:45:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/aroceu.com\/fic\/?p=462"},"modified":"2023-05-26T09:36:13","modified_gmt":"2023-05-26T13:36:13","slug":"giant","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/aroceu.com\/fic\/462\/","title":{"rendered":"Giant"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\u201cLouis, where\u2019s the iron?\u201d Harry searched through the drawers in Louis\u2019s bedroom. It hadn\u2019t been on the ironing board.<\/p>\n

Louis had been playing FIFA with Zayn in the living room, or at least Harry thought. When he came outside, the both of them were standing in the hall, sort of wide-eyed like they\u2019d been caught doing something.<\/p>\n

\u201cUh?\u201d said Harry.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s in the closet,\u201d said Louis. \u201cTop shelf.\u201d<\/p>\n

Zayn nodded, as if\u00a0he<\/em>\u00a0knew too, like he and Louis had taken it and put it there which was why he looked so sure of himself.<\/p>\n

\u201cUh,\u201d said Harry again. \u201cRight.\u201d<\/p>\n

He went to the hallway closet, then reached up and grabbed the iron. His shirt rode up as he did so, exposing a little bit of his stomach; but it was sort of like a schedule, a\u00a0thing<\/em>\u00a0that happened–when Harry reached up to get things, his arms would strain, his muscles grew tight, and the edge of his shirt slipped up, always an inch of boxers and two inches of skin peeking out.<\/p>\n

He thought he might\u2019ve seen Zayn and Louis looking at him from around the corner. But that easily could\u2019ve been his imagination.<\/p>\n

*<\/p>\n

Niall had asked Harry to make him dinner. Which wasn\u2019t a rare occurrence, because Harry was\u00a0easily<\/em>\u00a0the best cook out of the five of them.<\/p>\n

But Harry couldn\u2019t find the damn salt.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhere\u2019d you put the salt?\u201d he asked Niall, who was sitting at the counter. Harry didn\u2019t understand. Whether you could cook well or not, it was kind of hard to have a make meal without salt.<\/p>\n

\u201cOh,\u201d said Niall, and when Harry turned around Niall looked very convincingly surprised.\u00a0Too<\/em>\u00a0convincingly surprised. \u201cUh, it might be in one of the shelves. Up… there.\u201d He pointed to where the plates were usually kept.<\/p>\n

Harry furrowed his eyebrows. \u201cWhat\u2019s your salt doing there?\u201d<\/p>\n

Niall shrugged and offered no further explanation. Harry sighed and opened the shelf. Lo and behold, the salt container was there. Harry reached up to grab it.<\/p>\n

He returned to making Niall\u2019s meal. Niall seemed busy on his phone. Which he\u2019d pulled out only after Harry had gotten the salt. Huh.<\/p>\n

Zayn came in, which was really no surprise since they all had keys to each other\u2019s apartments. \u201cGot Harry to cook for you?\u201d he said with a grin, walking into the kitchen and sliding into a chair next to Niall.<\/p>\n

Harry rolled his eyes. \u201cYou know I don\u2019t mind,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Niall said, \u201cI definitely did,\u201d to Zayn and returned the smirk, seemingly ignoring Harry.<\/p>\n

Harry rolled his eyes again.<\/p>\n

After a beat, Zayn said, \u201cYou should get me a bowl.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t know if there\u2019s enough pasta for all three of us,\u201d said Harry. \u201cI mean, I made enough for Niall and I was gonna steal some, so–\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo, it\u2019s okay, Zayn can have some,\u201d Niall interrupted. \u201cGet him a bowl.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay,\u201d said Harry.<\/p>\n

A few minutes passed.<\/p>\n

\u201cAren\u2019t you going to get him a bowl?\u201d said Niall.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen I\u2019m done,\u201d said Harry, stirring the pot.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhy don\u2019t you get me it now?\u201d said Zayn. \u201cAnd make your life easier?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t think my life will be any easier or harder because of when I get you a bowl.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDo you not want to get him a bowl? Is this your subtle way of telling Zayn you don\u2019t want to share pasta with him?\u201d said Niall.<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah,\u201d said Zayn.<\/p>\n

Harry sighed. \u201cOkay, I\u2019ll get you a bowl,\u201d he said patiently, and then opened the shelf a few feet above him and stood on his tiptoes to get a bowl for Zayn.<\/p>\n

He set it on the counter and then glanced at them. \u201cAre you happy,\u201d he started, but Zayn and Niall were\u00a0staring<\/em>, elbows on the table and chins in their hands.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhy are you staring at me?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re not staring at you,\u201d said Niall quickly.<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah,\u201d said Zayn. \u201cWe\u2019re observing the plant behind you. It\u2019s placed quite nicely.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cVery nicely,\u201d said Niall.<\/p>\n

*<\/p>\n

Harry was taking a shower. Louis had gone home for the weekend, so the other boys had been alternating flat-sitting which was really only to keep Harry company. They\u2019d already alternated six times three hours in.<\/p>\n

When he opened the shower curtain, his towel wasn\u2019t there. He sighed and walked out, and spotted Niall\u2019s recognizable hair and Liam\u2019s recognizable back in the living room. Before Harry\u2019s shower, Liam had just left and Zayn had just come in.<\/p>\n

\u201cHave you guys seen my towel?\u201d he asked Niall and Liam. \u201cI swear it was in the bathroom.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cCheck your bedroom,\u201d said Niall.<\/p>\n

Liam got up. \u201cI\u2019ll help look,\u201d he said, smiling at Harry. His cheeks turned a bit pink when he realized that Harry was naked.<\/p>\n

Harry tried to press back a chuckle, but Liam said, \u201cshut up,\u201d so apparently\u00a0that<\/em>\u00a0didn\u2019t work. They walked into Harry\u2019s bedroom and Harry said, \u201cOh, it\u2019s just on top of my dresser.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWonder how it got there,\u201d said Liam, in what very much sounded like his\u00a0I\u2019m trying to convince you that I\u2019m not lying voice<\/em>. Which really didn\u2019t make any sense, because, well. What would Liam have to lie about? He\u2019d just left. And then had gotten here. Or something.<\/p>\n

Harry reached up and grabbed his towel. When he turned around, he caught Liam looking right at him.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat, checking out my bum?\u201d he asked with a giggle.<\/p>\n

Liam\u2019s eyes hadn\u2019t been looking in that direction, actually. \u201cNo,\u201d he said blankly, shaking his head. \u201cNot at all.\u201d<\/p>\n

Harry shrugged and wrapped his towel around his waist. \u201cRight, well,\u201d he said. \u201cThink I\u2019ll just join you on watching the telly, I\u2019ll put clothes on later.\u201d<\/p>\n

They walked back into the living room and Harry pinched Liam\u2019s arse just for fun. Liam pulled away with a little giggle so Harry thought that he\u2019d do something back, but Liam just joined Niall back on the couch and whispered something in his ear and Niall said, \u201coh, I\u00a0hate<\/em>\u00a0you,\u201d and Harry felt like he was missing something.<\/p>\n

*<\/p>\n

Harry fell asleep with Niall as company and woke up with Zayn playing Xbox in the living room. Liam came in later and Zayn said that they were going to go mess with Louis\u2019s stuff, to which Harry replied, \u201cjust don\u2019t move around all of his hair product.\u201d<\/p>\n

He was putting his dishes from breakfast in the sink when he heard a small\u00a0smash!<\/em>\u00a0and hurried into Louis\u2019s room. Zayn and Liam were standing there, looking guilty, a broken lightbulb at their feet.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was his fault,\u201d Zayn said hurriedly, pointing at Liam.<\/p>\n

Liam hit his hand away.<\/p>\n

\u201cUgh<\/em>,\u201d said Harry, and went to Louis\u2019s closet. \u201cWhere does he keep the light bulbs…\u201d<\/p>\n

He rummaged through the boxes below, and then peered at the higher shelves. \u201cAh,\u201d he said, spotting the box that had\u00a0LIGHTBULBS<\/em>\u00a0written on the side in Louis\u2019s large, scrawly handwriting. He got up on his tiptoes to grab it. His shirt must\u2019ve ridden up three inches.<\/p>\n

His arms hurt when he set the box down.<\/p>\n

Liam looked like he had hearts in his eyes and Zayn was texting. \u201cWhat?\u201d said Harry.<\/p>\n

Niall appeared in the doorway.<\/p>\n

Harry sighed. \u201cAre you gonna switch again? Why don\u2019t all three of you stay, if you want?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDo you want us to?\u201d Liam seemed to have snapped out of–well, whatever.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou<\/em>\u00a0seem to want to,\u201d said Harry, searching through the box for a light bulb that pleased him. Or that ticked Louis off. Louis never liked the swirly ones.<\/p>\n

\u201cWell if you insist,\u201d said Niall, now joining them on Louis\u2019s bed.<\/p>\n

\u201cI never insisted for anything,\u201d said Harry. \u201cYou<\/em>\u00a0were the one who–\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, yeah,\u201d said Zayn. He wasn\u2019t texting anymore. \u201cHave you found a bulb yet?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAh.\u201d Harry pulled out the single swirly bulb left. Louis must\u2019ve missed it when he was throwing them out. He\u2019d been scolded on it for wasting money, but, well. They had plenty of money.<\/p>\n

Harry went over to Louis\u2019s lamp, which was even taller than the shelf had been. \u201cHow\u2019d you even break this?\u201d he said, straining up to screw it in. \u201cI\u2019m the tallest one here.\u201d His shirt felt like it was half off and his muscles ached when he settled back on the balls of his feet.<\/p>\n

When he turned around, all three of them were looking at him.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat?\u201d Harry said.<\/p>\n

*<\/p>\n

Louis came back on Wednesday, and Harry and the other boys hugged him when he entered the flat.<\/p>\n

\u201cMissed you too, but do we have to do this every time one of us goes home for a bit?\u201d Louis said with a laugh, patting Harry\u2019s shoulder and Niall\u2019s face. \u201cWhat are the rest of you boys doing here?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThey haven\u2019t left me alone all weekend,\u201d said Harry into the crook of Louis\u2019s neck.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s true,\u201d said Zayn.<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t blame,\u201d said Louis, and when Harry pulled back he patted Harry\u2019s cheek<\/p>\n

They scurried after Louis like sheep to his bedroom, and Louis opened his suitcase and dumped everything on the floor. Liam looked down at it disapprovingly as Niall started rifling through his stuff. Zayn joined him on the floor, searching through Louis\u2019s shopping bags.<\/p>\n

\u201cHarry, love,\u201d said Louis. \u201cWould you mind putting my suitcase in my closet?\u201d<\/p>\n

He batted his eyelashes and Harry shoved Louis\u2019s face away from him. \u201cFine,\u201d he said, picking it up with ease. \u201cWhere do you want it?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cTop shelf.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhy do you put\u00a0everything<\/em>\u00a0on your top shelf?\u201d Harry muttered under his breath, and went to the closet and put the suitcase next to Louis\u2019s other boxes. He stood on his tiptoes and pressed it all the way in.<\/p>\n

\u201cLiam left me out last time,\u201d he heard Niall say behind him.<\/p>\n

\u201cI made up for that,\u201d said Zayn\u2019s voice.<\/p>\n

\u201cYes, thank you Zayn.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat are you talking about?\u201d Harry said, turning.<\/p>\n

Louis waved a hand. \u201cNothing, nothing,\u201d he said, and then looked around the room. \u201cIs the lighting in here different or is it just me?\u201d He scrunched his nose. \u201cI don\u2019t like it.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s what I made up for,\u201d Zayn muttered.<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, I changed it,\u201d said Harry, and started out the door. \u201cTo the bulbs you don\u2019t like.\u201d<\/p>\n

Louis opened his mouth, but Harry called over his shoulder,<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd I\u2019m not changing it again!\u201d<\/p>\n

*<\/p>\n

Harry had been invited to a party today. He\u2019d asked Zayn if he wanted to come with, which he did, and then they were going to pregame in Zayn\u2019s flat.<\/p>\n

But then the other boys had come and three hours passed and Niall was sitting on the couch with a bowl of weed in one hand, and a beer bottle in the other.<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t know which one I should do first,\u201d he said, swaying between both of them and giggling.<\/p>\n

Louis was on the ground. Liam was next to him.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou guys,\u201d Liam said, and then hiccupped. \u201cTour resumes–hic!<\/em>–again in a–hic!<\/em>–few days.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s redundant,\u201d Zayn said lazily.<\/p>\n

\u201cDid you have a point in saying that?\u201d Louis said to Liam.<\/p>\n

Harry was furrowing his eyebrows. He was still furrowing his eyebrows.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat\u2019s redundant about saying that?\u201d he asked in the direction of the ground.<\/p>\n

\u201cI didn\u2019t say anything was redundant,\u201d said Louis.<\/p>\n

Harry said, \u201cI didn\u2019t say you did,\u201d and kicked his foot between Louis\u2019s legs. He only touched a thigh, but Louis rolled over and mock-groaned in pain.<\/p>\n

\u201c \u2018E was talkin\u2019 to you, mate,\u201d Niall said, elbowing Zayn.<\/p>\n

\u201cRight,\u201d said Zayn. \u201cHey, hey Harry.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s gettin\u2019 hot in here,\u201d said Zayn.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo take off all your clothes?\u201d offered Louis.<\/p>\n

Liam snorted and then giggled and started to curl up. Distantly Harry thought he looked like a puppy ready to take a nap. He also might\u2019ve said that out loud, because then Liam shouted, \u201cI do not!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo,\u201d said Zayn. \u201cNo, no, no.\u201d He waved his arm somewhere behind him. \u201cYou should open a window,\u201d he slurred.<\/p>\n

\u201cOh yeah!\u201d said Louis. \u201cA window. You should open one.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAlso we can get lung cancer,\u201d said Liam.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m not going to get lung cancer,\u201d said Harry. \u201cI don\u2019t smoke, like–like these two.\u201d He gestured to the couch blindly.<\/p>\n

\u201cHey, I don\u2019t as much,\u201d said Niall. \u201cIf anyone\u2019s gettin\u2019 lung cancer, Zayn\u2019s getting it first.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo I\u2019m not,\u201d said Zayn, and poked Niall\u2019s side, and Niall giggled and tried to poke Zayn back. There was a lot of giggling, Harry observed. A lot of it.<\/p>\n

\u201cCan you get lung cancer from doing drugs?\u201d Louis asked thoughtfully.<\/p>\n

\u201cWell there\u2019s, like, smoke,\u201d Liam started, practically, but then frowned. \u201cBut I don\u2019t know if it\u2019s the same smoke, which you can get lung cancer from, from cigarette smoke, or like, other smoke…\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYer makin\u2019 no sense,\u201d said Niall, and Zayn caught him off-guard and jabbed him in the side again. Niall nearly fell off the couch laughing.<\/p>\n

Harry tried to laugh too but it also felt like a cough. \u201cYeah, \u2018m gonna open a window,\u201d he said, climbing onto the couch and walking steadily toward the top hatch. He reached up and unhooked it and started tugging it down; Zayn\u2019s windows always stuck.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe could die,” he said, “\u2018n like. Like there\u2019ll be newspapers that\u2019ll say,\u00a0ONE DIRECTION DIED BECAUSE THEY WERE GETTING TOO HIGH<\/em>. Except it\u2019ll rhyme so maybe they\u2019ll make a song about us, like let\u2019s get high high high till we see the sun, which is pretty high, you\u2019re really high, you\u2019re gonna die, turning heads down \u2018cause they\u2019re staring at your gra-a-ave.\u201d<\/p>\n

He giggled to himself and turned to jump down. The boys were staring at him, though, like he was Jesus towering over them or something.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m not Jesus,\u201d he said to himself.<\/p>\n

Niall tackled him, then, causing Harry to fall down and nearly slip with a small, \u201coof!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHarry,\u201d Niall was saying, stroking him. Stroking his back, Harry noted. \u201cHarry, you\u2019re so nice.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI am nice,\u201d said Harry, and then, \u201cI am?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou are quite nice,\u201d said Louis, joining them. He pressed the sensitive spot on Harry\u2019s back near where one of his tattoos was. Harry flinched and giggled and hit him away.<\/p>\n

\u201cHey, pass him over, you gotta share,\u201d said Zayn, and Harry instinctively let himself up so he could flop next to Zayn on the couch. Niall wouldn\u2019t let go though, had wrapped himself around one of Harry\u2019s legs.<\/p>\n

Zayn lowered one of his shoulders and Harry burrowed his head into his neck. Zayn\u2019s hand was traveling farther and farther downwards till it was at the hem of Harry\u2019s shirt.<\/p>\n

\u201cTryin\u2019a cop a feel?\u201d Harry said, lifting his head. Zayn shook his head, but his thumb was stroking at the skin there.<\/p>\n

Louis had attached himself to Niall so they were now a leg hugging train. Liam was slowly crawling towards Harry and Zayn till he was at the edge of the couch, looking up at them with big eyes.<\/p>\n

\u201cCan you open more windows, Harry?\u201d he said. \u201cLike–hic!<\/em>–a lot of windows?\u201d<\/p>\n

Harry was confused, but he supposed that wasn\u2019t strange when he was inebriated. \u201cSure,\u201d he said to Liam. \u201cIf it gets hotter in here, yeh.\u201d<\/p>\n

Liam nuzzled his head into Harry\u2019s thigh. \u201c \u2018S probably gonna get hotter,\u201d he murmured. \u201cY\u2019should just open all the windows.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNow,\u201d agreed Louis.<\/p>\n

\u201cForever,\u201d Niall said into Harry\u2019s jeans, the same time Zayn whispered into his hair, \u201cchange all the light bulbs too.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re weird,\u201d said Harry, falling against them. \u201cAll of you. You\u2019re so weird.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

\n
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