#niall horan pub

[loveyouprongs]

hope we grow old, but we never grow up

james potter x fem!reader

upcoming content: fluff! mentions of reader being anxious in crowds, mentions of just having had sex but not smut, mentions of alcohol. lmk if you think i missed anything :)

authors note: i hope you like this! i’m still new to writing, so i tried my best! inspired by one of my favorite songs by one of my favorite artists: never grow up by niall horan!🎶 despite any photos used in the header, it’s important that people of all races can identify with my work so please let me know if any of the descriptive language i use is exclusionary, i’m trying my best!

word count: 2.8k

masterlist

“I hope we still dance like we're fallin' in love, Hope we still drink like we're back in the pub”

the noise inside the pub was so loud you could feel the floor shake beneath your feet, or maybe it was just your brain making it up. you were getting jostled and a man elbowed your shoulder, causing the cranberry juice in your cup to slosh over the edge. a sharp gasp escaped your lips that you were sure would get lost in the rowdy atmosphere but james quickly snapped his head to look back at you, eyes trailing down to the red liquid dripping down your hand.

“y’alright, sweetness?” big, brown eyes peering at you as the hustle and bustle of the crowd moved on around you both.

“i’m good,” you said back softly, squeezing his hand that had been tightly grasped in yours since the moment you both walked in. today was the final match of the rugby championship and everyone in town was together to watch in anticipation… and drink, no matter the outcome. james had sweetly invited you out with his friends a few nights ago and you of course said yes. the two of you had begun dating a few weeks ago, and you were eager to learn everything about him and spend as much time as possible with him, even if it meant trudging through sweaty, drunk bodies, resisting the urge to cover your ears.

“sirius got here early so he got a table for us already, we’re almost there,” james assured, squeezing your hand back. as you neared the large booth tucked away in the corner, the weight in your chest lifted at the sight of remus rolling his eyes at whatever sirius was saying, waving his hands expressively.

“they’re here! finally!” marlene squeaked and everyone’s eyes turned towards the two of you and they started making room for you both in the booth. you couldn’t stop the tingly feeling in your chest at how easily they accepted you in their tight-knit group.

“mate, where the fuck have you been?’ sirius exclaimed, slapping a hand on james back.

“if you couldn’t tell, he’s already had a bit to drink,” remus muttered in your ear as you leaned in for a half hug around him. when you first met, you were sure he didn’t like you despite james’ reassurances that he was just a quiet person naturally. you understood that, being quite shy yourself, but you still desperately wanted his friends to like you. so when you instinctually gave him a soft hug for the first time and he didn’t pull away, even initiating it the next time you saw him, you were sure you and remus were becoming good friends.

“oh, i’m sure,” you responded, eyes widening at the collection of empty pint glasses that littered the table.

“what’s the score?” james asked, cleaning his glasses against his sweater with one hand, squinting up at the screen, the other stayed wrapped around yours, even though you were both sitting comfortably.

“not good jamesie, why’d y’think i’ve been drinking so much already?” sirius said, taking another swig of his beer.

throughout the night james was intensely focused on the match, going between not even breathing as he stared at the screen to groaning or shouting with sirius whenever his team made a play. you were fine with the fact that he wasn’t paying much attention to you, knowing this game was so important to him, and you and marlene were catching up anyway.

“y’having a good time, honey bee?” james asked, looking down at you for the first time in a while, his large arm wrapping around your shoulders, warmth immediately overtaking you. you could tell he’s well past tipsy, eyes alight with bubbly frivolity.

“honey bee? that’s new”

“‘cus you’re so sweet,” his hand that wasn’t grabbing at your shoulder came up to stroke your cheek and you were sure he could feel it warming up under his touch. the subsequent smirk that crawled across his face affirmed your theory, all adoring if not a tad smug, but he was charming enough to get away with it.

“i am having a good time, yeah, i mean, i don’t really understand what’s going on but it’s cute seeing you so focused.”

james laughed and you felt his chest rumble against your cheek as he tugged you in closer, “mm, it’s probably good that you don’t anyway, we’re getting absolutely shitted on.”

“it’s only half time, it can still turn around!” sirius slurred emotionally with his head in his hands, a lot like the other patrons in the bar disappointed at the team's performance.

“keep telling yourself that, mate,” remus said, patting his back pitifully, still reading his book.

“you want another drink? i can go get you one,” james offered and you shook your head, preferring to stay relatively sober so james could have as much fun as he wanted. “you’ll let me know if you do though, right? anything you want, i’ll do it for you.”

for the umpteenth time tonight, and for the millionth time in your relationship so far, james made your heart stop as he looked down at you with his unwavering gaze. you knew he was only offering to navigate the crowded bar for you, knowing your aversion to crowds, but such a declaration paired with the tightness of his grip around your shoulders, how you could feel his heart beat against the soft of your arm if you focused enough. something about this moment, tucked away in a pub booth, felt like it was the beginning of forever.

“i know,” you breathed out softly and james lips quirked up in a small smile, as if instinctively, and with a single nod and press of his lips to your head before he turned back to the screen, you knew he felt the same way.

in a way that could only be described as a miracle, the team pulled through and as the reporters announced a home win, the crowd erupted in cheers. “praise be to god!” sirius cried, reaching for remus’ pint while remus tried to keep him away. he’d been cut off around thirty minutes ago when he attempted to throw marlene’s purse at the screen.

“sit down! you’re not even religious!” remus sighed, wrangling in his wild friend. you could only smile as remus tried to feign annoyance but couldn’t help but laugh when sirius started pressing congratulatory, sloppy kisses to his cheek.

“i can’t believe it!” james cried, wrapping his arms around your front, your back pressed to his chest as he towered over you. you were still sat in the booth but james had stood up five minutes before the match ended, pacing to get his nervous energy out.

you titled your head back to look up at him, genuine happiness radiating off his large form. “that was incredible!”

he looked down at you with a beaming grin, “it definitely was! did you see that last play? blimey, can’t believe we pulled it off!”

as he spoke you twisted on your butt to face him, and he caged you in between his spread thighs. “i know! i don’t know how they do it, i would get so tired- oh!”

you were no longer sitting, now fully upright with your feet dangling off the floor, arms tightly strewn around james’ neck as he lifted you in a hug. you could feel his hair tickle your cheek as he tucked his face into your neck. he spun you both around in staggering circles, having to stop when he felt the alcohol quickly begin to travel back up his stomach.

james couldn’t believe how perfect today was. his favorite team winning, surrounded by his friends, and at the center of it all was you. like a figurine from a snow globe come to life, so charming and sweet. so open to becoming friends with his friends, liking what he likes; he still doesn’t know how or why you agreed to a date with him, nonetheless put your trust in his rough hands, but he could only hope that soon he could carry your heart, and you his.

“this whole day is incredible,” he said, lips brushing against your ear as he set you down.

your guys’ bubble was popped when marlene shook your shoulders, not quite as gone as everyone else, but getting there as sangria glossed her lips “babes do you hear this?!” she let out loudly and you tuned back into reality, music now blasting through the speakers as the patrons danced and sung along happily.

“sorry to steal her from ya, but this is our song!” marlene slurred winking up at james who only shook his head and watched you get dragged to the middle of the makeshift dance floor and jump about with the other girls.

“to doing this all next year?” remus spoke, handing james a glass of water, with one for himself as well.

james chuckled and watched as sirius infiltrated your dance circle, horribly attempting to break dance, but you’d never guess based off of the encouraging woops! and wows! from you and the girls hyping him up.

james could do this again next year, and the year after that, he’d quite like it, he thinks.

“I think that we could be like that, every single Sunday in our Sunday best. Laughin' over nothin' with a full wine glass.”

“honey bee, i’m hopeless with this,” james grumbled, giving up on his tie and falling back against the bed. at your silence he rolled on his side to catch a glimpse of your face through the mirror. your lips twisted at the side, surely holding in a laugh you refused to grant him with, not wanting him to know he’s softening you up again.

“it might help if you button your shirt first,” you said, finally turning to face him. even with his face half squished against the mattress and hair sticking up in all directions he was still the most beautiful boy you’ve ever seen.

his eyes slowly grazed up your figure, body he was just ravaging now covered in soft, flowy blue fabric, and your hair was tied up neatly with a bow. James let out a low whistle, heat immediately rising to your cheeks, “well would y’look at you,” he mumbled as if he was speaking to himself, “s’ gorgeous.”

you took a minute to collect yourself, shaking your head at how he still made you this flustered this far into your relationship. “thank you, love. you could look beautiful too if you got dressed.” you now sat primly on the sheets beside him, stroking his cheek.

“too tired,” he said, voice low as he engulfed the hand of yours on his cheek in his and brought it to his lips, “you really wore me out, baby.”

“james!” you chastised, trying to pull your hand away fruitlessly. he smirked against it and pressed a final kiss to your palm.

“what? you did! absolutely mindblowing! that thing y’ did with your hips… oh baby!” he moaned and you slapped a hand against his chest, walking back over to the mirror.

“clearly i didn’t hold up my end of the bargain if you’re able to get dressed s’ fast, lemme make it up to you, honey.”

“no!” you squeaked, quickly gathering your make up and running to the bathroom, james’ laugh echoing behind you. any more talk like that and he actually would convince you to go back to bed with him for another round. but you promised you’d go to marlene’s birthday dinner and you were really looking forward to it. in the back of your mind, you knew it was a mistake to get tangled up in the sheets so close to when you had to leave, knowing james could be absolutely insatiable when he wanted to, but you couldn’t resist!

for the next few minutes, you both got ready in silence. you applying light mascara and blush, and james trying to manage his hair. “need a haircut soon,” he said breaking the silence as he reached over you in the bathroom.

“me too, i think. but i like your hair long.”

“i know you do,” james remarked back, a haughty smirk donning his features once again, falling into a pure smile as you playfully rolled your eyes. as he combed some product into his thick locks you took in his appearance, a plain white t-shirt that hugged his muscles and framed his arms in a way that made you question if he was really from this earth or a Greek god, and fitted slacks, you recognized as the one’s you bought him a few months earlier, after claiming he had no nice going out clothes aside from jeans and the one tuxedo he had for a friends wedding.

“you look really nice, james” you said and he cast his gaze down to you through the mirror.

“thank you, sweetness,” he said back and two sentences, as simple as that, caused the love in the room to blow up like a balloon. the sultry, teasing energy from before now a pure adoration that hung in the air.

“we’re a good looking couple, aren’t we,” james said as you both finished, now looking at the two of you in the mirror.

a startled laugh escaped you, “i suppose we are,”

“no wonder i always want us to be having sex, i mean who could blame me!” james exclaimed, walking to the door, keys jingling in his hand.

“please get it all out now before we get to marlene’s, this is supposed to be a classy party!”

“oh, alright! but i’ll remember this when you’re grabbing at me later,” he said, holding open the car door for you.

“we’ll see about that.”

the sun was beginning to set, casting marlene’s back garden in an orange glow. she set up tables and chairs, all holding delicious food and wine, and fairy lights were strung along the awning.

“marls this looks amazing! happy birthday!” you said, giving her a hug.

“thank you! i love your dress! potter… you cleaned up nicely,”

“it was hard to find a clean shirt, but this one passed the smell test, didn’t it, love?” he joked back, twin gags coming from you and marlene before the three of you erupted into laughter.

“i want you to come meet my best friend at work, she’s so nice!” marlene said and in a flash you both were gone, pastel skirts flowing in the wind.

“‘bout time you got here!” sirius called, hugging james, “was starting to thing you wouldn’t show,”

“sorry, got caught up at home…”

remus rolled his eyes, already knowing what was coming.

“…if you know what i mean,” james finished, wiggling his eyebrows, eating up sirius’ wolf whistles and high fives.

“you keep us oddly informed of your sex life, you know that mate?” remus asked, pushing off james’ hand that took purchase in his hair.

“what else are brothers for?”

“ugh!” remus groaned.

“are they bothering you, rem?” you asked, pulling up a chair at their table.

“aren’t they always?” james and sirius let out matching offended scoffs as you laughed.

“y’always take remus’ side, ‘s not fair!” james whined.

“i have to! it takes two of us to watch over the two of you!”

“exactly,” remus laughed, crossing his arms across his chest.

“well in that case, the two of you can stay here, while jamesie and i settle a bet,” sirius said, mischievously, lighting the adrenaline in your boyfriend’s eyes.

“do i want to know?” you asked james, who sent you a blinding smile.

“siri here thinks he’s faster than me. than me! can you believe him?” james said, stretching his calf. his thighs were hugged wonderfully in his trousers and you quickly darted a glance at marlene’s beautiful -yet muddy- garden.

“have to prove him wrong, don’t i?”

“yeah, you can’t be datin’ a loser, a slow one at that!” sirius retaliated and you knew there’s no way you could talk him out of it then.

“just make sure to be careful of your nice clothes, love,” you pleaded, “you look so handsome, the last thing you need is to be covered in grass stains.”

“promise, i’ll try my best honey bee,” james said back, cupping your cheeks so your lips squished together and pressing a kiss atop them.

“c’mon let’s get this race started! or are you scared, pretty boy?” sirius egged and james ran up besides him. as the boys took off you knew it was only a matter of time before it resulted in a friendly yet frantic wrestling match, as most of their competitions did. so you captured the image of your tall, broad-shouldered boyfriend, dressed like he just came out of a catalog, running under the setting sun in your head now to look back on fondly. his childish giggles carried throughout the air and you had a pathetic smile on your face despite yourself.

“you’ll just have to hose him off before you get in the car,” remus said, content with sitting with you, watching your loved one's mess about, truly happy.

“it’s my own fault for thinking he could keep a white shirt clean.”

#james potter #james potter fluff #james potter x reader #james potter x fem!reader #james potter fic #james potter imagine #mauraders fandom #mauraders #mauraders fluff #james potter mauraders #mauraders fic #maurauders era #harry potter #harry potter fanfiction #harry potter fandom #james potter blurb #james potter drabble

[blingblong55]

This town -Simon "Ghost" Riley

pic credits: @ave661 (middle and right)

Based on a request: (Its a long as so I'll link it so you can read the anons idea) Link here ---- F!Reader, childhood!friends, hidden feelings, angst, friends to strangers ---- A/N: Songs that also fit: Too Young- Louis Tomlinson, This Town- Niall Horan, Back to the Old House- The Smiths, Always you-Louis Tomlinson

It's a story to tell over at the old pub you and he used to hang around on the weekends. But how can a man begin to tell the sorrowful story? How can he explain in his bruised hands he holds the locket you gave him when you two were kids? He will maybe ask if this was a curse, the only curse an old soul like his has. 

It could've been something, it would've been something, it should've been beautiful. 

In this world, it was always he and you. Scraping your knees when jumping off the rocks near his home. Playing tag in the street until the moon greeted you and his mother would call his name. It's the kind of beginning all beautiful loves start with. Friends since childhood, went through life together and by 28, he would have proposed to the girl he had loved his whole life, 40s would be of dropping the kids at school, 50s of early retirement and 60s were for the potential grandkids, 70s would've been the stories shared of their early lives.

Would've...what a shit word that became in his life. 

In the teenage years, after you had some glow-up, you became the girl everyone knew. The pretty, popular and funny girl the school knew of. He was the friend of the popular girl, the one people barely noticed or cared for. Simon was the same kid who always had a scar or bruise on his face, compliments from his father. One thing Simon hated more than the bastard of his father was the guy you were with. Bloke knows nothing but how to wank and fuck any living thing, he recalls.

Why were you with such a guy? It was a must. Like those cheesy movies where the pretty girl stays with the popular guy, all for the status of each other. Your feelings weren't real for that guy. He wasn't funny, wasn't smart and he wasn't Simon. The boy you shared a kiss with at age 7 because of an accidental bump whilst running through the grass. 

It was during a small break between classes that you found him drinking water. You smile. He always did look good, even the stupid bruise on his jaw made him look so good. 

"Y/N," he straightens up. "Simon," you smile cheekily. "Oh no, what's that smile for?" He crosses his arms over his chest and you can't help but get lost in his honey eyes. "Well...I was wondering if maybe we can...talk?" You say, unsure of how to word this confession. "Did my mum put you up to this?" 

"No, this is...me just wanting to talk." 

"Go on," his voice softens. Does he always do this for you?

You hesitate, but what is life without words? You breathe in and say, "I like you...there I said it and... don't stay quiet because you know I get nervous and I will continue to just talk and talk and talk and-"

He cuts you off by saying, "I'm sorry, Y/N, I... don't..think..this..well I just don't feel that way for you. We're friends, nothing more," he ends his part of the conversation, pats your back as he walks away and you are left in the corridor of the school alone. 

As Simon walks to his classroom, his heart and mind fight the words that he had just said to you. Why was that mean? Did I even mean to say them? He thinks. 

Graduation happens. You and he never talked after that day. Not even a congrats or a hug, life went on without him in your life. Throughout those last months in school, he felt a feeling of regret when he'd see you with that guys arm around you. He would occasionally walk around the old park just to see if you would still go on your daily walks. 

By the time he was about to leave town, he found himself at the old house. He heard your parents moved to a new part of town, so if this was the last time he heard of you, it better be on his terms. And as he walks through the pavement, he finds himself looking at your window. He leans over a car, lights a cigarette and just waits to see if maybe you or some ghost roamed the home. 

Was it the feeling of losing a friend that hurt or losing his one chance to feel something other than pain and hatred? Maybe it's just nervous, after all, he leaves tomorrow. 

You were both just 16, it was puppy love, nothing would've lasted if he reciprocated those feelings, right?

And if it was, why does he feel some kind of hurt as he packs his bags? Why does he want to run to your new home and call your name? Is there a reason why? It's not love, it can't be love, he thinks. I'm not worthy of that, you've heard my dad, he says out loud. "Simon?" Tommy opens the door. "Tommy, not today," he looks back at his bag. "...Fuck" he whispers. 

It's been a long nineteen years since he last saw you and heard your precious voice laugh at a cheesy joke of his. Nineteen years and the feeling in his chest is still there when he arrives home. Manchester was always home for him, it was the only place he knew best when he came back. 

One day, as he was cleaning his closet, looking for his dog's leash, something fell and hit his head. "What the fu-" he looked down and there it was. 

"Why give me this?" A thirteen-year-old Simon asked you. You smile, "You said you wish you could always be near me so you can feel safe...and since I'm going to my nans for the week, have this locket on you, and I swear I'll be there. Keep it safe, okay?" you kiss his forehead before entering the car. He nods and waves, "Call me, Y/N, please!" he calls out and you nod. "Every day!" you scream out as the car drives further away. 

A smile falls on his silent lips, "...Y/N..." his thumb caresses the design. Once he opens it, he feels as if he is that young again. "Are you still there, Y/N?" He whispers and then, realisation hits. It was never nerves or whatever bullshit he told himself back then, it was love, always has. 

All the dots are connecting. For the past nineteen years, he always had some love or whatever all those hookups and awful relationships were, but never did they stick around. Never did he feel more for them than what he has always felt for you. His cold heart still beating warm when he thinks of you. You are all he has ever known, the smiles, the late-night confessions, stories, the silly inside jokes, the feeling in his chest today. 

He hasn't seen you in years, what if you don't remember him? What if when you see him, your heart doesn't call his name when he screams yours? Will you ever even forgive him? Will you wrap your arms around him and call him home like he has called you? 

He must find you, so he calls and looks for you in every corner of this place. He finds nothing, just more lost hope at every corner he looks into. His heart and mind excited each other at the thought this would be some sappy romance moment. His mind creating a script, all truths, just finding better words to tell you he loves you, loved you the moment you kissed the similar scar on the knee at the park when he cried over the pain. He's loved you from the day he learned to say your name. 

Why does he miss you so much today?

Why must you be the drug his body needs? God does he miss you and your addictive heart. 

He has been around the world, where he could've found a good woman who made him happy but no, his heart has always belonged to one girl. You. 

By the time he gets the street right, he finds you sitting down and as he smiles and nearly runs to you, he stops when he sees this image of you. 

Sitting by the fountain, he sees you and a man. His arms wrap around your body, giving you darling kisses as you chuckle. It was then that Simon Riley knew this was it. He will spend his entire life wandering earth, looking for another soul like yours. You didn't see him of course, your fiance capturing all your attention. Simon was close to not caring and pulling you away from that man, but that would be cruel. And as he tries to make up excuses for this man being near you, he sees the ring. 

Oh...oh you fool, he thinks. 

His heart is near death. It screams your name, trying to find you so it can keep beating but when you don't whisper, Simon nods and lets his heart die. Let it rot, so it can learn its lesson, he thinks. 

It would've never bloomed, Simon and you...right?

It's no use to even go and say hi. The locket that contained your picture was still in his fist. It'll be the last reminder of what was meant to be a life romancing in dark streets through town. 

In his head, the home you dreamed of will forever be just a dream. No four kids, no library, no big kitchen so you and he can dance around at midnight. No you...no him...it'll all be stuck and dead in this town. 

He crossed rivers, mountains, and enemies and survived wounds soldiers like him get, all to come home to you. And all this was for nothing. In his world, he would've married you, given you chubby babies and late Saturday mornings. No gun, no bomb and no other man would've kept him away from you. 

In his mind, he is with you. In his dead heart, he sits by and watches that chubby baby learn to walk. He would've adored seeing you in a white dress, walking to him as he wiped tears away when he d his dream of a perfect life was minutes away from being real. 

What a mess he is as he asks for another drink. A mess he never should have been if he had told you that your name is carved all over his body. 

It was this town that saw him live and it'll be this town that sees him die because if he can't have you, at least he has this place. 

A/N: Remember, I collect tears for potions, so please drop them by for collection, thank you. - The place of tears co.

Tags: @liyanahelena @mangowafflesss @goldenmclaren @ghostslillady @moonsua1 @rvivienner @Krinoid24 @iruzias @frazie99 @idklols @saoirse06 @vampsquerade @Juneonhoth @tiredmetalenthusiast @jinxxangel13 @enarien @Simonssweetgirl @luvecarson @willowaftxn83-87 @ikohniik @nobodys-coffee @strawberrychita @sae1kie @queen-ilmaree @pbcartii @Llelannie @Macnches2 @bbyfimmie @avidreadee123 @talooolaaloolla @skelletonwitch @bittermajesties @Nyx_Flower @honestlyhiswife @who-can-appease-me @ghostwifeyy @konigssultwithghost @kaoyamamegami @beansproutmafia @soapybutt17 @asianbutnotjapanese @a-goose-with-a-knife @foxface013 @sleepyycatt @believeinthefireflies95

#cod mw2 #cod #cod x reader #mwii #ghost cod #call of duty #simon riley cod #simon riley #simon riley call of duty #simon riley imagine #simon riley x you #ghost mw2 #simon riley x reader #cod ghost #ghost call of duty #ghost riley #ghost angst #simon riley angst #cod angst #simon ghost riley #simon ghost x reader #simon ghost x you #simon ghost riley x you #simon riley x reader angst #simon riley x y/n

[niallsgoldhoop]

sweet spot

a niall horan short story part one of six / six thousand words-ish nsfw, 18+

“I’m going to get another drink!”

I smile at my friends before turning away from the round table we’ve been sitting at, cutting my way through the crowded bar full of people dressed in various shades of green.

St. Patrick’s Day was the day to go out.

This year, for once, it fell on a Sunday which was the only day that I was off work.

Not that I was complaining— Owning my own bakery was the one and only thing that I had ever wanted and dreamed of.

So this morning when a couple of my closest friends asked if I wanted to go out with them later that night, the only obvious answer was yes.

“What can I get for you?” Looking up at me with a wide smile, the girl behind the bar mixes a couple of drinks before pushing the one in her hand right to the girl next to me.

Biting on my bottom lip, my eyes scan over the rows of liquor bottles lined up behind her. “I’ll just take an old fashioned with an extra cherry, please!”

“You got it, babe.”

Turning her back to me and pouring my drink, I lean against the dark wooden bar top to wait. While I’ve made my rounds to different pubs and bars over the years, I’d never been to Wilson’s before. It was full of sports memorabilia and vintage Guinness signs.

As my eyes take in everything around me, I realize one more thing that this bar has that none of the others have ever had.

Him.

Jesus Christ.

Even from here I can tell his eyes are light— a contrast to the dark chestnut color of his hair that curls out from the bottom of the Boston Red Sox hat perched on top of his head.

Sitting with a small group much like my own, the moment his eyes meet mine from across the distance something shifts deep inside my belly.

Heat blooms across my cheeks as I look away, focusing my vision on the baseball game playing on the television to my left, only I definitely couldn’t tell you a single thing on it.

“See something you like?”

Whipping around at the sound of a low, Irish accent, I find myself face to face with the most attractive man I’ve ever seen.

If I thought he was captivating from across the room?

That was nothing compared to standing right next to him.

Under the brim of his hat, those eyes are so blue that it takes my breath away especially when the golden ring around his pupil catches the light when his fingers grip the brim of his hat and turn it backwards.

Fuck me.

“I—Um—“ Words evade me as he looks over the features of my face, those eyes falling to my lips for the longest few seconds of my life.

Running his hand over the dark scruff lining his jaw, it does nothing to hide the smirk that pulls at the corner of his full lips. “Cat got your tongue?”

This time I realize it’s my turn to let my eyes linger where they shouldn’t as a smug smile pulls on the corner of my own lips.

“Niall.” Holding his hand out to me, goosebumps travel up my arms at the electric touch between us. “And you?”

Just as I go to answer, the drink I ordered slides in front of me, looking so refreshing that I can’t help but pick one of the cherries out and bite it between my teeth, my tongue catching the drop of cherry flavored whiskey from my bottom lip.

“Willow.”

His thoat bobs against his swallow, that thick accent rough and low as he pushes closer to me as someone slides up to the bar behind him, repeating my name back to me as if he was imagining the taste of it on his own tongue. “Willow.”

I’ve never met someone who I’ve been able to fall into a conversation with so quickly. It feels like we stand there forever, slowly drifting closer and closer to each other. The smell of his vetiver and bergamot cologne becomes more and more intoxicating as time goes on.

“So, this is your holiday?” Taking a sip of the amber liquid from my glass, I look up at him through my lashes as the last rays of the sun filter through the old stained glass windows of the bar.

His laugh is loud and full before he leans a little closer to be heard over the noise, his tone playful with something else hidden under the surface. “I guess that depends.”

“Oh yeah?” A smirk pulls at the corner of my lips when Niall reaches out, his finger boldly tracing the thin green strap over my shoulder before following the path of my collarbone. “On what?”

A final peak of the sun hits the gold hoop in his ear just before he leans forward, his soft lips brushing against the shell of my ear. “Are you going to kiss me because I’m Irish?”

“I don’t know—“ Reaching forward, my middle finger tucks into the pocket of his jeans as I look up at him, my head tilting to the side. “Are you gonna kiss me if I’m not?”

Time stands still between us as Niall glances behind him, towards the table of friends he left behind, his hand dropping to my waist where the tips of his fingers slide just barely under the top of my jeans. “Maybe not on the lips— But I can think of some other places I’d like to get my mouth.”

“Here?” This time it’s my turn to look behind me, towards my friends. “I—“

“Well, I’m not opposed to that.” His voice sounds laden with honey. “I won’t lie, Willow— You are one of the most beautiful women I've ever seen.”

A blush crowds the apples of my cheeks as I push a lock of hair behind my ear. “I could say the same about you, Niall.”

“Will they miss you?” Blue eyes look over the top of my head as he looks towards my friends. “Because I know the guys at my table won’t miss me.”

Biting my bottom lip, I shake my head. “They’ll be fine.”

I wasn’t a stranger to a one night stand— in fact, I feel like that’s what I preferred.

Working the hours at the bakery mixed with helping my sister, it just worked out that way. Plus it never really bothered me to be single.

There was something about Niall that felt honest.

Deep in those sapphire eyes with their golden sunset, there was a feeling in my gut of trust.

Ever since I was younger I’d always had intuition that was rarely ever wrong, something that I held close to my heart, letting myself lean into those feelings.

“So what do you say, Willow?” That brilliant smile splits across his perfect features, a couple of small crinkles at the corner of his eyes. “Want to get out of here?”

“Are you asking me to make an Irish exit?” A laugh bubbles out from my lips as I look up to him.

With a shrug of his shoulders, that hand resting along the top of my hip slides along the rough material on my jeans before his fingers dip into the waistband, pulling my body flush with his as his lips brush across my jaw. “Is it still an Irish exit if you leave with someone who’s Irish?”

“Mm, maybe not.” My words come on an exaggerated breath— one not meant for the public to hear. “Let me just send my location to my friends and tell them I’m leaving.”

Niall nips my earlobe. “I can't stop thinking about what I’ll do when I’m alone with you.”

Pulling some cash out of my wallet and pushing it across the bar, I listen to the fire blazing through my blood as I thread my fingers through his, looking up at him with a smile.

“I can't wait to find out.”

_________

I’ve never wanted someone so bad.

The entire ride in the back of the taxi to Niall’s house was like the ultimate tease of his attention.

From the words he whispered against my skin to the way his hands rested heavy on my thigh, his pinky just teasing along the seam of my jeans.

His lips hadn’t even met mine and I already knew just how impactful it would be when they do.

God, how fucking god they’ll feel.

On my lips.

On my skin.

When his hand finds mine as he says goodbye to our driver, butterflies flood my belly as he guides me in front of him to the front door of a quaint bungalow style house complete with a blooming garden.

“Fucking finally.” My body presses into his front door as he reaches into his pocket, the sound of metal keys cutting through the crisp air. “When I saw you— Standing at that bar— All I could think about was getting you here, with me.”

One hand wraps around my waist as the other pushes the key into the lock, turning it and pushing open the heavy door. As much as I’d like to look at everything inside, that idea falls flat when Niall grips me by the hips, spinning us around and pushing my back into the door as it slams shut.

“Are you sure you’re okay with this? With where this is going?” Cupping my jaw, his thumb presses under my chin to bring my gaze to his. “If we’re going to do this— Together— I want you to be vocal, okay? I want to hear you answer me and tell me what you want, what you need. Can you do that for me, Willow?”

I swallow the nerves building up, nodding my head, my tongue rolls over my body lip. “Yes— Yes, I can do that. Please, Niall—“

“Come here.”

When the space between us closes, his lips on mine, I swear to god it feels like the earth starts to spin in reverse.

Soft and supple, Niall moves his lips along with mine as if he’d been doing just that for years. I can't even contain the whimper that falls from my own lips when his tongue teases across my top lip as his hands slide under the thin top that I pulled on this morning.

Just feeling his skin against mine sends a wave of goosebumps across my body, making me arch my back to push myself even closer to his warm body, feeling the heat emanating from him.

“Fuck.” His teeth pull on my bottom lip, just enough pressure to send a jolt through my nervous system. “I could stand here and kiss you all night, Jesus Christ.”

“Mhm.” Is my only reply as my lips travel from his and across the scruff lining his jaw, down to the spot under his golden earring, pulling the skin between my teeth and soothing it with my tongue. “But then I wouldn’t get to see this.” Dropping one of my hands, I cup him through his jeans and listen to the low groan from deep in his throat. “Wouldn’t that be a shame?”

“Yeah? You want to see my cock nice and hard for you— Is that it?” Niall pulls back just enough to meet my gaze as his hands fall from under my shirt. “I’m going to ask you some questions, okay?”

“Okay.” Breathless, I feel the electricity as it buzzes underneath my skin.

“Is anything off limits for you?” Working the button of my jeans, he keeps those blue eyes on mine.

Shaking my head, I feel my heart rate skipping a beat. “No.”

“Good.” A smile plays at the corner of his lips as the unmistakable sound of his fingers pulling down the zipper fills the space around us. “Do you need a safe word just in case?”

“N—No.” I shake my head again. “I don’t.”

A small nod is the only response I get before Niall drops down in front of me, looking up at me from his knees, his fingers curling around the edge of my pants before pulling them down to reveal the skimpy lacy covering my center.

“Jesus Christ.” Strong hands drag up my thighs as his eyes go wide. “This incredible body is just for me tonight, is that right?”

Through dark lashes framing his eyes, the blue fades out as the darkness of his pupils expand. “For tonight, yeah.”

“Are you going to leave that pretty green top on? Or take it off?” The very top of his finger traces the edge of the black lace, making my thighs inadvertently rub together. “Don’t worry— I’ll take care of you.”

Gripping the edges of my shirt and pulling it off, I drop it next to where my shoes and my jeans sit in a small pile, my hand reaching out to run through Niall’s dark hair.

When the soft light from the lamp across the living room catches the silver barbells through my nipples, his eyes close as he tilts his face up to the ceiling, almost like he’s in need of his own savior.

“Willow.” My name falls off his lips on a groan, one from deep inside his chest. “God.”

With my back still against the front door, a small gasp leaves me when Niall’s lips press against my skin, small kisses dancing across my thighs and the soft nips from his teeth adding to the sensation.

“Look at you— Soaking wet.” Dragging his finger over the center of the damp fabric, I tilt my head back when he presses his fingertips to my clit. “I bet you taste sweet, so fucking sweet.”

“Maybe if you quit talking you’ll find out.” I answer.

Niall scoffs, looking up at me. “So the pretty girl from the bar has a bratty side, does she?”

Hooking his finger into the lace and pulling it to the side, I can’t help the way my lips pop open as his tongue moves through my center, the tip of his tongue swirling around my throbbing clit before pulling away.

“Niall—“

“You know, I like brats.” Pressing a soft kiss to my thigh, his nails drag down the back of my thighs before peeling the scrap of material from my body. “So by all means— Keep going.”

Before I can formulate a response, he buries his face between my legs and when he suctions his lips around my clit, it feels like all I can do is not to unravel right then and there. Burying my hands in his hair, I moan out as he goes back and forth between tracing mindless patterns across the sensitive nerve and flicking his tongue in a rhythm that doesn’t even seem humanly possible.

“So fucking sweet.” Resting his head on my lower stomach, I take a second to catch my breath before feeling his finger as he drags it through the wetness he’s created. “I bet this cunt is so tight, so warm.”

Pressing one finger inside, he only draws it back to add a second one before hooking them both forward and finding the spot that only those few and far between have been able to find.

“Niall, oh god—“ Letting go of his soft brunette waves, I let my fingers slide up my belly until they find the silver piercings on my chest, messing with them to add another level to the pleasure he’s giving me. “That feels so good, so damn good.”

“Let me.” Moving my hands out of the way, he grips my heavy breast in his hand before flicking the metal and making me cry out. “Put your hands up— Over your head.”

I do as I’m told just as he finds his home between my legs again, the sounds coming from the back of his throat making me whimper louder than I even knew was possible. Especially when he lifts my leg over his shoulder, his tongue working in tandem with his fingers as he eats me with fervor— as if he hasn’t had a drop of water in a desert for years.

“Are you going to come for me like this? Against my front door?” Nipping the sensitive nerve, I feel my walls flutter against his fingers. “How many times has someone made you come before, Willow?”

My eyes flutter closed as he sucks and licks me like never before, his fingers pressing harder inside of me. “Thr—Fuck, three.”

“Challenge accepted.”

Those words are the last ones I hear before he brings me to a pleasure I’ve never known.

“Fuck!” Letting my mouth fall open, I cry out as my orgasm crashes through my body. “Niall.“

He stands up to tower over me, cupping my jaw and letting his fingers dig into my cheeks, a silent question.

When I nod and open my mouth, he lets his saliva mixed with my release gather on his tongue before letting it fall into my waiting mouth.

“Perfect— You are literally perfect.” Crashing his lips to mine, when his hands slide down my thighs, I let him wrap them around his waist before he turns us away from the door. “I’m going to have so much fun making a mess out of you— wrecking you.”

His lips move against mine in a slower kiss than before, taking his time.

I pull back from him just enough to see the dark walls of his bedroom, the bed looking like a cloud from the fluffy sheets and the half made duvet spread across the top.

Niall sits in the edge of the bed, his hands moving across my ass at the same time he drops his lips to my neck, leaving wet kisses down until he takes one of my nipples into his mouth.

“Oh, yes.” Barely a whisper, the sensation of his warm mouth along with his tongue flicking across the metal makes me arch my back. “More.”

Releasing one and doing the same with the other, he pulls away too soon. “Get on your knees first.”

“And if I say no?” I gripping the hair at the base of his neck, I pull until he has to tilt his head back to look up at me. “If I want to be a brat?”

A low laugh falls from his lips as he stands to his full height, turning so that he can drop me down onto the bed, reaching out and grabbing a fist full of my hair just hard enough that I feel the sting in my scalp.

From my scalp all the way to the spot between my legs.

“You want to be difficult? That’s fine.” Working the button of his pants, I bite my bottom lip in anticipation. “You can be difficult with my cock down your throat, yeah?”

When he releases my hair, his hands make quick work of his pants and briefs, shoving them to the floor and kicking them off to be forgotten until later before grabbing his shirt and adding that to the pile.

Just the sight before me makes me whimper.

A perfect amount of dark hair dusts across his chest and even matches the trimmed hair that leads to the most perfect cock that I’ve ever seen.

“Go on, put your mouth on me.” Gripping himself in his left hand, Niall presses the tip of his cock to my bottom lip, using it to pull it down to release it with with a pop. “Let me see how well I fit.”

Opening my mouth, I flick my tongue along the underside of his length, looking up at him through my lashes before closing my lips around him and drawing him in.

“Holy shit.” Dropping his hand, he threads it through my hair instead. “Just like that, baby.”

The small amount of praise makes me take him deeper, letting my tongue run along the thick vein that decorates him. His hand in my hair tightens as he hits the back of my throat, a moan breaking through his lips.

“Open your throat for me, I know you can take more than that.” Niall demands.

Doing just that, I let my jaw relax and when he pushes even further, the intrusion makes my throat restrict— gagging around him and feeling tears rush to the corners of my eyes.

“Again—“

Pushing forward, this time I let him rest at the back of my throat for a couple more seconds before pulling back, using my fist to work him over as I catch my breath.

I don’t waste time before taking him back in my mouth, keeping my eyes on his as I taste the saltiness of him, wishing more than anything he would give me everything— to let me swallow everything he could give me.

“I can’t—“ Shaking his head, Niall pulls back. “You’re mouth feels too good, Will—“

The shortened version of my name makes butterflies erupt in my stomach, ones that I immediately have to tamper down at the reminder that this is what it is.

One night.

A nickname means nothing.

“You’re ruining my fun.” I say with a pout, looking up at him.

“I am?” He grins as he looks down at me, his tongue rolling across the inside of his cheek as I nod. “Fuck, then around and keep your hands where I can see them.”

Eager to please, I maneuver around the mattress until I face away from him, letting my palms run across the soft sheets until they extend in front of me while Niall drops his hands to my ass.

“Willow, were you being honest when you said nothing was off the table for you?” Smooth palms work small circles across my skin.

Turning to look over my shoulder, I catch Niall’s gaze looking at where he wants to be buried, his bottom lip caught between his teeth. “I was being honest— Do your worst, Niall.”

Before I can finish my last breath, he raises his palm and brings it down across my skin making me cry out at the sting of pain.

“How’s that feel?” He asks, bending to press a kiss to the area. “ Feel good?”

“Yes, yes—“

Another sting across the opposite side, this one harder than the other as he squeezes my flesh in his hand. “Good, good girl.”

After a few more stinging strikes, I can feel my arousal as it drips between my thighs, the need for him so strong that I don’t know how to even possibly control it.

“Niall, I need more— Please, give me more.” I beg.

“Tell me now… Do you want me to get a condom?” Voice thick, his lips press to the middle of my bare back as he bends over me, letting his hands run over my breasts and toy with my nipples. “I’ll do whatever you want.”

“No, no.” Shaking my head, I breathe out. “I get tested and I’m clean.”

“I am too.” Warm breath skates across my back. “I can show you the results.”

Rolling my lips together, I whimper. “Don’t make me wait— I need to feel you inside of me.”

Niall presses one last kiss to the center of my back before I feel the blunt head of his cock as he runs it through my center, coating himself in me.

If I thought he was going to say something— I was wrong.

Instead, he grips my hips in his hands and buries himself so deep inside of me that my cries seem to ricochet off the walls from feeling him filling me.

“So fucking perfect.” He says, pulling out to the very tip before slamming back into me and pulling my ass up to meet his thrusts. “My cock fits so well inside you. Can you feel how greedy this little cunt is, huh?”

“Oh— Oh my god—“ A moan slips from my lips as he punishes me for things I haven't even done, his grip no doubt leaving bruises of his fingertips behind. “Fuck, Niall. You’re so fucking deep.”

From behind me, I can hear the sound of his hips meeting my ass, each one more punishing and relentless than the last. Niall lets his hands slide from my hips to my ass, moving just right so that when I hear the spit leave his lips and land perfectly on his cock, I feel myself racing towards another climax.

“I can feel you squeezing me, are you going to give me another one of your pretty moans? Coat my cock?” Bringing his palm down against my skin, my knuckles turn white as I grip the sheets. “Who would have known you were this fucking filthy.”

“Right there, please don’t stop!” The cry from my lips leaves my mouth open as I choke around the moan that follows it. “I’m going to come again. Oh fuck, right there. Please.”

Niall buries himself with such power that my release lets go, barreling towards the finish line as my teeth bite down on the comforter as I push my face into the bed. “God, Willow— You’re squeezing my cock so fucking good, holy fuck.”

He pulls out of me only to pull me to the edge of the bed and roll me over, sinking himself back inside of me, making my back arch off the bed while my hands reach for anything to hold onto.

“I could spend days buried inside of you and not get enough.” Meeting my gaze, Niall slows his thrust as he rolls his hips, grinding the base of his cock against my clit. “A night isn’t enough. Play with those pretty piercings for me, Will, please.”

Using both of my hands, I pinch and play with the sensitive peaks, giving the attention that I love and loving the way his eyes feel as they travel from my eyes all the way down my body to watch where he sinks inside of me.

“Harder, I need it harder—“ I say, biting my bottom lip.

Niall leans over the bed, his hand wrapping around the base of my throat, squeezing just enough to restrict my airway. “You want to be fucked like a slut? Is that what I’m hearing?”

Only able to nod, my voice catches in my throat as he picks up his pace and thrust into me so hard that my back slides up the sheets of the bed. “Oh, fuck.”

“Yeah?” Sweat drips down the side of his neck as he hovers over me, those blue eyes flaring with unbridled lust. “How’s that?”

“So good.” I moan, my nails scratching down his chest and over the muscles of his stomach. “I feel, god. Your cock feels so good.”

“I’ve never been buried inside someone that feels like this.” He moans, tilting his head up to the ceiling. “Strangling my fucking cock. and trying to kill my for everything I have.”

Dragging his hands away from my neck, his hand splays wide across my chest as he pushes me into the mattress. “Come on baby, I can feel you ready to soak me again— Give it to me, let me have it.”

“No. I want—“

Niall groans as he brings his thumb to my mouth, pushing it in deep enough that I gag before he drops it to my clit, working circles around the nerve as I cry out his name so loud that if he had neighbors close enough they’d never have to wonder what his name is.

“Stop being difficult, fuck.” Thrusting into me, he drops his head to mine and pulls my bottom lip between his teeth. “Come around me, now.”

Giving over the control of my body, Niall fucks me as I release around him again, coating his cock and soaking the sheets as he drops his head to my neck, sucking the skin between his teeth.

“There you go, look how perfect you are when you listen.” Low and rough, his voice is like gravel. “Such a fucking good girl for me, Willow.”

I nod, feeling empty as he pulls out of me and grips my knees, pushing them apart to look down at my weeping cunt, the mess he created.

“Fuck.”

Dropping down, he wastes no time before taking my clit into his mouth, the suction so hard that it sends me spiraling into another orgasm and coating his tongue with my release, making me squirm on the sheets.

“Niall, I— I can’t, my god—“

“Get up, let me see you dripping for me.” Niall runs his tongue along his bottom lip. “I’m not done with you.”

“I—“

“Now.” His palm cracks across the side of my breast, making my breath ragged as he fists his cock, taking a step back from the bed and reaching for my ankle to drag me to the edge. “Stand up and bend over. Take my cock like the good girl you are.”

I scramble to stand up, my legs already feeling weak as he grips my hips and turns us to face the dresser along his wall, the oversized mirror hanging above it.

“You’re going to watch me fuck you in this mirror— Watch as I fill this cunt to the brink with me, do you understand me?” Wrapping my hair around his fist once, twice— he tugs on it when I don’t answer. “Fucking answer me, you slut.”

Nodding, I rest my elbows along the top of the dresser. “Give it to me, please.”

“There’s that nice girl I met at the bar.” He smiles at me. “You are so perfect, so beautiful.”

Slower than anything else we’ve done tonight, Niall pushes inside of me; it feels like every single ridge and vein touches the right spot inside of me, filling me up so full that it brings tears to my eyes.

“You gonna cry over this cock?” Pushing harder, Niall places his hands on the outside of my arms flat on top of the dresser, the heat between our bodies an inferno as his sweat slicked skin moves across mine. “Cry over how fucking good we fit— Cry over how well you’re taking me— Taking me so deep?”

Shaking my head, I find his eyes in the mirror. “I can’t—“

“You can.” Niall presses forward, my legs shaking as he reaches around to bring his fingers to my clit and working the sensitive nerve into tight circles. “You can take it, and you fucking will.”

“Niall—“

“You’re going to come all over me again and then l’m going to fill this perfect pussy so full that you’ll be dripping down your thighs for me.” For the first time, his voice falters as I feel his thrusts foster for just a second. “Then maybe I’ll be done with you.”

Pushing up onto the tips of my toes, the new angle causes me to cry out, my hands sliding along the wood and pushing a stack of shirts to the floor at the same time that Niall’s scream blends with mine as he empties himself so deep inside of me that it feels like I can’t breath.

Fucking me through both of our orgasms, I feel the tears as they stream down my cheeks at the same time I gasp for air to fill my lungs.

“Fuck, Willow— Fuck—“ Niall grips my hips as he slowly pulls out of me, his eyes trained between my legs. “Look at that.”

Dropping to his knees, I let my head fall onto my arm. “God.”

“I made such a mess of you.” Using his thumbs, he pulls me apart to watch as his release runs down the inside of my thighs. “I’ve never seen someone look so good coated in me, dripping my come.”

“Niall.” The words from my lips are hoarse as he stands up, wrapping his arms around me and pulling my spent body into his. “I’m so— so tired.”

“You did so good, baby.” Pressing a kiss to my temple, I let myself sink into his arms knowing that it’s a chance I won’t get again. “Let’s go get you cleaned up.”

Carrying me to the bathroom, I don’t protest when he starts a bath and helps me climb inside, the warm water soothing me into a post sex state that I have never experienced before.

As he runs his hands over my body with a lavender body wash, I let my head rest against his chest from where he sits behind me, listening to him as he keeps telling me how good I was.

How good I am.

“You know, you could stay here.” Pressing a kiss to my shoulder, I close my eyes at his words. “Spend the night.”

Shaking my head, I turn to look at him. “This was a one night thing, we know that.”

“Exactly.” Pressing a lingering kiss to my lips, he runs the tip of his nose down the length of mine. “You staying the night is still just one night.”

Chewing on the inside of my cheek, I find myself nodding.

Which is exactly how I find myself curled into his side after a change of the sheets, an oversized Harley Davidson shirt pushed up over my stomach as Niall’s warm palm keeps me pulled into him as his warm and steady breath tickles the hair at the back of my neck.

I let myself relish in his warmth for thirty more minutes before I slip out from the sheets, taking one last look at him before making it to the living room and pulling on my jeans before calling a taxi.

Slipping away from the best sex I ever had and leaving without a note is hard, but it has to be done.

Niall and I were meant for one night and nothing more.

However, when I climb into my own bed still wrapped in that white shirt, I find myself wishing for the first time in a king that there was a potential for more.

That we would be more.

That Niall would want to be more.

With me.

—————

AHHHHH!!!!!

i’m so excited about this story and putting it out here for everyone to read!!! the second part is coming soon and i hope you like this!

-a🍀

#niall #niall horan #niall james horan #one d #cute niall #niall 1d #niall imagine #niall the show #niall fanfic #one direction #short story #niall horan smut #niallhoran #niall flicker #niall smut #solo niall #writers on tumblr #wattpad

[allwaswell16]

Part two of a fic rec of One Direction fics that have touch deprivation in them as requested in this ask. You can find part one here! If you enjoy the fics, please leave kudos and comments for the writers! You can find my other fic recs here. Happy reading!

—Louis/Harry—

✦ Light, Spark and Fire (series) by green_feelings / @greenfeelings*

(E, 239k, music industry) Harry’s working on taking Louis’ walls down, until he builds his own up.

✦ The Longer the Waiting the Sweeter the Kiss (It's Better My Darlin' I Promise You This) by pleasinglouis

(E, 160k, small town au) Louis is a big city omega that can't stand stubborn alphas and Harry is the southern cowboy that hates the city

✦ Invisible String by BoosBabycakes / @boosbabycakes28

(E, 84k, pack dynamics) Louis swears on his life that that man came out of literal nowhere and he thanks each lucky star for having good breaks in his car.

✦ Your Gift is Wasted On Me by therogueskimo / @bravetemptation

(NR, 54k, neighbors) Omega Louis has severe touch deprivation and is averse to touch. But he’s fine. Really.

✦ You're Not My Type (still I fall) by Imogenlee / @imogenleewriter*

(NR, 38k, farm) Harry is only twenty-four and has no inclination to settle down at all, especially not at the behest of an Alpha.

✦ Follow Your Arrow by LadyAJ_13 / @ladyaj-13

(T, 36k, canon) They said Louis playing alpha wouldn’t affect anything.

✦ Too Young To Know by @2tiedships2

(M, 35k, exes to lovers) the one where Harry doesn’t present as an alpha… until he does.

✦ Compass to my Soul by LadyLondonderry / @londonfoginacup

(T, 31k, canon) Louis Tomlinson, omega, is 1/5 of world famous boy band One Direction. He spends his time hoping his bandmates don’t notice him.

✦ never been a fan of change, but we’re still the same by fearsparks / @onlythebravest *

(T, 27k, uni au) after Harry's omega unexpectedly causes him to drop in the pub, their relationship is no longer the same.

✦ tread lightly on my ground by fairytalelights / @lookslikefairytale*

(E, 20k, mpreg) the one where Harry is having Louis' baby, but Louis doesn't know it's his.

✦ Keep Me Closer by zanni_scaramouche / @zanniscaramouche *

(T, 18k, uni au) Louis expects Harry to react poorly, maybe even file a formal complaint and that’s gonna suck ass but Louis won’t say shit cause he knows he deserves it, so he prepares an apology before Harry’s even turned around.

✦ how do I stay tender by jessicamcqueen

(E, 16k, neighbors) Louis has touch depri and Harry is the alpha neighbor that offers to help.

✦ Captain Cupid by @2tiedships2

(NR, 15k, friends to lovers) the one where Niall enlists his friends to help start a speed dating side hustle. Things don't go as planned... or maybe they do?

✦ Breathe me in, breathe me out by @lunarheslwt

(G, 14k, candle shop) Louis is drawn into a quaint candle shop in his desire to find ways to soothe himself while struggling with touch depri.

✦ A Fateful Snow by @parmahamlarrie *

(T, 13k, Christmas) Will Harry allow a simple misunderstanding keep him from the hottest alpha he’s ever seen? 

✦ Get Nesting & Soft Knots by ishiplouis / @pocketsunshineharry

(G, 5k, youtube au) AU where Omega Louis who runs a nesting materials Youtube channel meets Alpha Harry who knits his own blankets

✦ Perfect, For Now by @parmahamlarrie *

(T, 5k, neighbors) Moving to a new city is always hard, being away from home, finding your new community - none of it is easy. Dealing with all of this while being touch deprived is even more difficult.

—Rare Pairs—

✦ (I Was Broke) You Healed Me by @fallinglikethis

(T, 12k, Niall/Harry) Niall Horan is an unmated pregnant omega living on his own after his alpha boyfriend leaves him. 

✦ a little tenderness by @disgruntledkittenface

(NR, 10k, Harry/Niall) Harry’s never been around an omega in depri as bad off as Niall looks; most of the time, there’s an alpha friend or family member who can help out with scenting and physical contact.

#ficrec #trackinghappily #1dficvillage #trackinghome #tracksintheam #1dsource

[dailyniallnews]

The Best Albums of 2023 So Far

One Direction’s Irish bard has always been the soul of warmth and charm, always ready to bust out his acoustic guitar and make a stadium feel like a rowdy pub. But Niall Horan elevates his game with The Show, his third and finest album yet. He gets emotional as he heads into his thirties. He wrote many of these tunes on piano, since his beloved guitars were stuck in tour storage—an especially cruel fate for this guy. It’s full of laid-back Laurel Canyon-inspired ballads, heavy on the mellow, full of feelings about looking for sanity in a time of personal turmoil. As he confesses in “Must Be Love,” “I’m a specialist at overthinking everything.” —R.S.

#the show #9sep23 #article

[1dmonthlyficroundup]

— 1D Monthly Fic Roundup —

Hi, and welcome to the 1D Monthly Fic Roundup for November 2023! Below you’ll find 1D fics that were all published this month in the order they were submitted to the blog. We hope you’ll check out these new fics! If you would like to submit your own fic, please check this post on how to submit or visit our blog @1dmonthlyficroundup​. You can find all our other posts here.

Happy reading!

＊ Ghosted by @haztobegood [NR, 666 words, Louis/Harry]

Harry had dragged his feet when his mate Liam invited him for drinks at Horan’s Pub. He’d wanted to spend his Friday night under fuzzy blankets with a good book and hot cocoa. Besides, he’d protested, they already planned to go out the following week for Halloween. While initially reluctant, Harry’s glad he came. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have met Louis.

＊ Crush by @allwaswell16 [T, 1k, Louis/Niall]

When Niall stops smiling around the office, his co-worker Louis sets out to lift his mood with the help of their office mates.

＊ if i'm being honest by @disgruntledkittenface [E, 22k, Niall/Harry]

Niall is perfectly happy in her dating life, always finding a reason to break things off before her relationships get serious. When she finally gets a chance with Harry, her dream girl, their friend Louis makes her promise to give her a real chance. The only problem is that Harry has a cat… and Niall is not a cat person. Instead of running like she usually does, Niall has to figure out how to live with an adorable menace. And when it starts to feel like love, Niall has to decide: Is she ready for the real thing?

Inspired by Must Be Love.

＊ Milk my mind and make me cream by LovelikeLou / @purrrhazza [NR, 6k, Harry/Louis]

Brooklyn Baby AU: Louis and Harry are both early 70s bohemians who live in Brooklyn, New York. Louis is a sweet and gentle beatnik who wears flamboyant clothes and reads his poetry at underground speakeasies. Harry sings and plays in a punk rock Sex Pistols-esque band, wears leather and hates authority figures. The two are hopelessly in love with each other.

＊ Tuca Tuca (ILikeYouILikeYouILikeYou) by @persephoneflouwers [E, 4k, Louis/Harry]

The San Francisco getaway AU, where Harry is needy and Louis has a flight to LA in a few hours.

＊ Words Weren't Enough by red_panda28 / @red-pandaaa [T, 2k, Harry/Louis]

Louis wandered into the living room, just watching Harry play for a bit.

It made Louis’ heart crack a little, seeing him like that; hunched over the keys, the muscles on his back tense. But it was a quiet sniffle that Louis finally jerked into action, carefully approaching the slumped figure on the piano bench.

“Hey, darling.”

OR Louis finds Harry practicing the piano piece for his last show late at night, and there are some tears, memories and playing the piano together involved

＊ Because Sparrows Mate For Life by magpielivingforglitter / @builtyouahousefromabrokenhome [E, 24k, Louis/Harry]

During his brief awkward small talk phase, the previous tattoo artist had asked about why Harry was getting “a bird tattoo”, too, though without specifying the species. And Harry had started to explain it, but then he’d felt like his reasons were too private and intimate to share with that guy, and most of it didn’t apply anymore, anyway, since the birds were going to be swallows now. So he’d just stammered something incoherent, and then tried to save it by adding that basically he thought they looked cool.

Now, Harry felt like Louis was genuinely interested, and wanted to know so that he’d be able to make the tattoo the way Harry liked it. And beyond that, Harry had a feeling that he could tell Louis anything, and Louis would take him seriously.

So he told Louis all about his reasons. Louis listened intently, and chuckled at the Dark Half references.

Harry even told him about the ‘mating for life’ part.

Louis smiled softly. “I respect that”, he said. “I’m a bit of a romantic, myself.”

For some reason, that made Harry blush.

(Harry’s tattoo gets done all wrong, and he needs someone to fix it.)

＊ must be love by @nouies [NR, 6k, Louis/Andrew Garfield]

AU where Louis doesn’t know how to approach his neighbour, and Andrew keeps receiving homegrown vegetables at his door.

＊ Feeling Feline by LadyAJ_13 / @ladyaj-13 [T, 4k, Niall/Louis]

“I’m telling you,” drifts through the cracked door, and Louis’ ears prick, twitching with interest. “There’s something wrong with that cat.”

“Have you talked to Liam?” asks another voice, worried. Louis thinks it’s the tall one with curly hair. Taller one. They’re all tall when you’re ten inches high.

“Not medically wrong,” the blond one says. “But I swear, and I know this sounds nuts, but I don’t think he’s a cat?”

＊ Fine Line by LadyAJ_13 / @ladyaj-13 [G, 1k, Louis/Nick Grimshaw]

Telling his family was always going to be a big deal, but doing it alone was a sacrifice he could make.

He never thought they’d fall about laughing.

＊ In The Dark by LadyAJ_13 / @ladyaj-13 [T, 666 words, no pairing]

It’s the dreams.

He’d be fine without the dreams… suggesting things. If he could face all this - whatever this is - with a clear, rested mind.

＊ lonely in [paris] by f_ckromeoandjuliet / @louiesonlyangel [T, 5k, Awsten Knight]

Summer flings are complicated and healing comes from the strangest places. // Alternate version of Louis's tour where he's in a secret relationship with Awsten Knight from Waterparks. Based on Awsten tweeting at Louis.

＊ Got My Chaos Automatic by LetTheMusicMoveYou / @letthemusicmoveyou28 [E, 3k, Zayn/Louis/Liam]

Louis shrugs his shoulders as nonchalantly as he can manage in his aroused state. “Let you stay in my house didn’t I?” He narrows his eyes at the spliff still between Liam’s fingers. “Let you smoke my weed. Seems like a fair trade to me.”

Liam raises a brow challengingly. His expression is mostly unimpressed, but even from the other side of the room, Louis can still see the glint in Liam’s eyes.

He likes it when Louis makes him work for it too.

Zayn chuckles darkly. “Looks like someone came home with an attitude. What’s wrong Lou? No one on the road with you that could put you in your place hmm?”

(Or the one where Louis comes home from tour feeling exhausted, yet antsy. Luckily, Liam and Zayn are there to put him back together).

＊ part time soulmates (full time problem) by localopa / @voulezloux [M, 12k, Louis/Harry]

sworn enemies harry and louis are soulmates. everything is going smoothly until the pain hits.

＊ it's the summer of our love by localopa / @voulezloux [G, 3k, Louis/Ryan Ross]

ryan is in love with his best friend and gym bro, louis. the problem? ryan is straight.

＊ if it feels like love (then it must be love) by localopa / @voulezloux [G, 2k, Niall/Shawn Mendes]

niall and shawn are in love. if they could both realize this, that would be lovely.

＊ I See You by @neondiamond [NR, 666 words, Harry/Louis]

An unfamiliar voice disturbs Harry during his bath.

＊ Lucky (In Love) by @neondiamond [G, 3k, Louis/Harry]

When Louis first volunteered to drop off his nephew Lucky at nursery to help out his nervous sister, he was not expecting the owner to be the most gorgeous man in all of London. He makes sure he’ll get to see him again.

＊ softer than satin by cinnamons / @sunbellylou [E, 4k, Louis/Joel (The Last of Us)]

“Wanna go back to bed,” Louis whispered languidly, voice partly muffled by his boyfriend’s lips on his. “Mm, but we just got up, baby,” Joel murmured. Lips touching softly with each syllable. Hands groping the soft flesh around Louis’ hips, kneading at the skin there and feeling his curves.

＊ in the hope of open hands (series) by @justanothershadeofblue [T, 21k, OT5]

Five times the pack is protective of omega Harry, and one time Harry protects them. Featuring Louis and Liam as alphas, Zayn and Niall as betas, and Harry’s as the band's lone omega. A year and some change in which they’re all falling for each other and not quite getting their shit together (until they do, of course).

＊ Simmer Down and Pucker Up by @silverstuff50 [E, 9k, Louis/Harry]

When Louis' sister invites his ex to her wedding Louis is not a happy bunny. But his friends are wankers and their meddling causes the sort of drama that Louis would usually beat the crap out of them for.

Usually...

＊ Just Hold On by @silverstuff50 [M, 3k, Harry/Louis]

“Harry, I’m fine.” Louis says soothingly. “I know I’m safe because you and Joni are there. As long as I can feel you holding me I know I’ll be ok.”

Harry flushes again and can’t stop himself thinking about his hands on Louis' warm skin. He shakes his head stubbornly, half to protest and half to clear his head of the thought.

“It’s just not safe. You’re surrounded by people grabbing and pulling at you.” He looks Louis up and down appraisingly. “And you’re so-“ he stops himself when Joni shoots him a warning look.

“If the next word you say is “small” I will fire you.” Louis says with narrowed eyes. Harry's shoulders slump.

“I wasn’t going to say small.” He was going to say small. “I was going to say, um, reckless.”

＊ she bit someone by larry_hiatus / @larry-hiatus [M, 666 words, Louis/Harry]

Having a little vampire for a daughter is hard enough, but on that one night a year where the air feels darker and human children are trying to ring the bell for candy, it becomes even more difficult.

＊ Hit me baby one more time by @louisthiccsexyglitteryass [E, 12k, Harry/Louis]

Louis is a boxer, and hates one of the members of his club, Harry Styles. Life has a funny way of showing Louis that maybe he doesn't hate Harry as much as he thought, or that Louis maybe finds Harry hot.

#28th appreciation #trackinghappily #trackinghome #ficsfor4am #tracksintheam #1dsource #hltracks #hljournal #hlcreators

[walkingintheheartbreaksatellite]

Hiiiii there! I really liked your Meltdown one shot! It made me think about Save My Life and if you wanted could you write something about that song? I had an idea but you don't have to do it. But what if Niall is having a hard time after 1D break up and when he meets y/n she basically gives him the motivation and encouragement to write his own songs and have a solo career?? Only if you want to do that or even write it.

Thank you so much lovely!!! That means so much!!!🥹 I hope this is everything you hoped for! I do try when writing for this precious baby.

Save My Life

Niall Horan x Reader

Summary- Niall was depressed. He was lacking motivation and he wasn’t sure what to do anymore. But one day, he meets someone who just might save him.

(Wrote this in Niall’s pov so I hope it’s okay!)

Niall’s POV

January 2016, London

It had been a long couple months since we agreed to take a hiatus, and the boys all got to work on their own thing. But me? I don’t even know where to start… It came so easy to me before and now? I can’t even think.

I decided to get out for a bit, and visit a new pub Harry had been telling me about. I decide to take a walk there, needing the fresh air after being trapped inside in an attempt to write.

I enter the almost empty pub and I’m greeted by the most beautiful girl I’ve ever seen. She smiles at me and my stomach fills with butterflies, something that hasn’t happened in a very long time.

“Hey! What can I get for you?”

I smile and take a seat across from her at the bar.

“Just a pint of Guinness, please.”

She smiles and makes it quickly before she slides it over to me.

“Would you like to start a tab?”

I think about it for a second before nodding.

“Yeah I think so. But shouldn’t you check my ID?”

She giggles and shakes her head before giving me a smile.

“No need. I know who you are, Niall. I know you’re old enough. But not like in a bad way because you’re not old-I mean not that I have a problem with older people but…Sorry I’m just rambling now.”

I laugh and shake my head.

“No worries. I appreciate it. What was your name? I don’t think I caught it.”

She smiles and her eyes glow in the light.

“That would be because I never gave it to you. It’s Y/N.”

I tilt a pretend hat and she lets out another beautiful laugh.

“So what’s a girl like you doing working here, Y/N?”

She dries another glass as she looks back at me.

“Just putting myself through school. Going to school overseas isn’t cheap and I’ve got aspirations in life. What about you, Mr. Pop star? Surely you’ve got plenty going on but yet you’re in a bar by yourself on a Wednesday night.”

I let out a sigh and I grip my glass with both hands.

“I guess it’s just been hard since the band went on hiatus. The boys are starting to all branch out and do their own things and I… don’t know. I’ve got so much pent up creativity and no idea how to get it out.”

She nods and puts her rag down before she leans on her elbows and looks at me.

“So you’re in a creative funk and you’re unsure if you can actually do it? Here’s my advice. Don’t compare yourself to others. You’re your own person, Niall. Not Harry, not Louis, you’re Niall. And that is enough. Do what feels right.”

I smile a little and nod.

“Are you in school to be a therapist, Y/N? You’d make a great one.”

She laughs and shakes her head.

“Actually, I want to be a writer. But for now, bartending keeps a roof over my head. I’m glad to be of help though. Got some inspiration ?”

I nod with a big smile. I finish my drink and slide a few pounds to her.

“Thanks Y/N. I think I should get to it before I lose the lightbulb!”

She nods and waves. Her smile is the last thing I see before I turn my back to her and I’m out the door, heading home.

October 19th, 2017

I storm into the pub, as usual, but this time, I’m not as calm as I usually am.

“Y/N! Y/N, you have to help me! I’m freaking out!”

She raises a brow and sets down her rag as I walk up to the counter.

“Niall? What’s wrong? Why do you look so upset? Shouldn’t you be getting ready for your listening party?”

I shake my head and place my hands on the counter,

“I can’t. I’m freaking out! They’re gonna hate it! I’m gonna fail and it’s-.”

She places her hands on my shoulders and it grabs my attention.

“Calm down. You’re gonna do great! Your music is so unique, Niall. No one could be like you. You are one of a kind, Niall Horan. Your fans are going to love your album just as much as they love you. So don’t worry, okay? It’ll be great.”

I let out a sigh and I give her a small smile.

“Would you… Would you come with me? I- I really want you to be there…”

Her eyes widen and her mouth drops.

“A-Are you sure? I don’t want to impose-.”

I smile and shake my head.

“I want you there, Y/N. You’re my friend. Of course I want you there!”

She sighs and I smile, pulling her around the pub and out the door before she can argue.

>>>———————->

August 2018

I’m finally home from tour, or at least back in London, and the first place I go is the pub. As soon as I walk in, Y/N’s eyes train on me immediately. Her eyes light up and she runs through the empty room and pounces on me, hugging me tight.

“Niall! Oh my god! You’re back!”

I smile and nod, hugging her right before pulling away.

“I missed you, Y/N. I really did. Talking on the phone wasn’t enough…”

She looks at me confused and I let out a sigh.

“Y/N… I have feelings for you. I’ve never felt this way before… With anyone. I-I think I love you. A-And I understand if you don’t feel the same but-.”

Before I can say anything else, she cuts me off and surprised me with a kiss. I melt into her touch, pulling her closer to me as our lips move in sync until she finally pulls away with a smile.

“I love you, Niall. I feel the exact same.”

I hug her tight and hold her close, afraid to let go.

>>>——————->

March 22nd, 2020

I hear the front door open as I slump on the couch in the living room of my London home. Y/N comes in, a worried expression on her face.

“Niall…”

I hold my arms open to her and she climbs in my lap, laying her head on my chest. She lays her legs across my lap and I instinctively wrap my arms around her.

“They had to let me go… A-And your album! You were gonna tour with Lewis! A-And now-.”

I let out a small fry as I hold her close, running my fingers through her hair.

“I-I know, Petal. But it’ll be okay… I hope… You’ll move in with me. We’ll quarantine together. That way you can focus on school and you won’t have to look for another job. Okay? Does… Does that sound okay?”

She’s quiet for a minute before she nods against my chest. Things were rough, but at least I had her.

>>>——————->

June 2020

I sit at the piano, agonizingly as I attempt to be productive. Quiet patter of feet echos through the house until I feel someone sit next to me on the bench. Y/N. I turn my attention to her and she runs her fingers through my hair.

“You okay? I could hear you dropping f bombs all the way from our room.”

I sigh and shake my head.

“I-I’m frustrated, Y/N. I’m tired of this… I didn’t get to tour and I just- I don’t know… The most I can do is go live on Instagram… that’s not exactly a concert…”

She kisses my cheek and I sigh again.

“You’ll be able to put in your show, I promise. You’re doing what you can right now and that’s all we can do, babe. It’ll come to you. But you don’t have to do it alone. I’ll be here. Every step.”

I smile and peck her lips.

“I think you saved my life, Y/N. And you do every day.”

She pecks my lips a few times and loops an arm through mine.

“And you saved mine.”

The next day

I find myself back at the piano and for the first time since lockdown started… I feel inspired. Extremely inspired. I want to write a show.

>>>————————->

January 2023

“Please Niall? You said you finished it! I want to listen! I love your music! You know I do!”

I laugh and shake my head as Y/N clings to me with a pout.

“I’m sorry Petal, but I can’t do that. You’ll just have to wait like everyone else.”

She puts more and lets me go, folding her arms across her chest as she slumps on our bed.

“I should write a column on boyfriends keeping secrets from their girlfriends. I’ll get a lot of hits since YOU’RE KEEPING IT A SECRET FROM ME.”

I laugh and shake my head as I take my place next to her on the bed, taking her hand in mine.

“I promise, it will be worth the wait. Can you do that for me, Y/N? Just hold on a little longer. 5 months then it’s all yours.”

She sighs and squeezes my hand, giving me a small smile.

>>>———————->

June 9th, 2023

“Niall, please? It’s the release day! I just want to listen to it! I’ve only heard the bits you’ve teased!”

I laugh and shake my head, taking a seat next to her on the couch as I pull an AirPod out of the case and I place it in her ear.

“You can listen but I want you to listen to this one first. This album… I’m so proud of this one. This is everything I’ve ever wanted to make. And it’s all thanks to you. This is save my life.”

I hit play on my phone and she smiles as it begins to play.

Eyes are bloomin'

The floor is shakin'

Walls are movin'

Feelings changin' now

So, I'm rolling through it

Like I'm floatin' ten feet above the ground

As you float up to me

I just gotta tell you now

Ever since you walked in

I'm seein' a new light

Ever since you walked in

It's startin' to feel like

You might save my life

She tears up as she listens and before it’s over, I pull out the AirPod, much to her protest.

“Niall! I was-.”

I pull her into my arms and place my lips on hers, pecking her lips a few times before I whisper to her.

“You saved my life.”

She smiles and pecks my lips, cuddling up in my arms. I was lost before I met her. But she saved my life.

>>>—————————->

I hope that was okay! Thank you for requesting!!!! Please like and reblog! Let me know what you thought!

Please fill free to check out the rest of my writing!

Tag List

Those I couldn’t tag are in red!

@be-with-me-so-happily @swiftmendeshoran @babyiamperfectforyou @freedomfireflies

@kaminokatie @harrysmimi

@violetsandfluff @fruitmans @fruitmansrecs @strwbrrydaydreams

@rafaaoli @kimmi-kat

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@that-mcu-fan @styles-barnes-bitch

@purple9950

#niall horan #fanfiction #wattpad #niall james horan #niall horan fanfiction #niall horan x you #niall horan the show #niall horan x y/n #niall horan fluff #niall horan x reader #niall horan fic #niall imagine #nialler #niall fanfic #solo niall #niall 1d #niall the show #niall

[itslottiehere]

almost birthday twins — h.s

hello beautiful people 🤍 in honour of harry’s birthday — and mine as well! hehehe — i decided to write this little story to celebrate! if you want to, i’d be really happy to hear your feedback! you can do so in your reblog, under this post or in my asks! i thank you all in advance <3 hope you’re all having a great day or night wherever you are!! happy reading <3!!

tw: none!

word count: 2.2k

masterlist | leave your feedback or requests here

—

“so, how are we feeling, almost-birthday girl?”

she shrugged. “i mean, i’m not all too excited to celebrate getting older, i guess?”

her friend rolled her eyes, and laughed a dry laugh. “god woman, how depressing! how about celebrating the fact that you were born and that you get to live this fantastic life with the best of friends by your side?”

she laughed, and wrapped her arm around her shoulders. “mmh, i guess it isn’t so bad then.” she tugged her friend closer. “are the others already inside?”

“yes! so let’s hurry up before i freeze my ass off. did you really have to be born in february? couldn’t you have been born in summer?”

“it’s not like it was my choice!”

.

at home, harry was finishing styling his hair for the night, when niall barged into his room.

“dude, are you almost done? you’ve been at it forever.” he whined, almost stomping his foot like a child.

harry kept looking in the mirror, fixing his already perfectly styled hair. “do i not get a pass, not even on my birthday?” he side eyed his friend, laughing a bit. “but don’t worry, i’m almost done and we can go.”

“yes! i want you to get wasted tonight… and maybe meet someone?” he whispered that last part, but harry heard it loud and clear.

yes, he hadn’t been on a date in over a year. yes, he hadn’t even thought about seeing anyone after his last girlfriend left him. yes, it had been a while and his friends — particularly, niall — have been pushing him to go out and have fun with someone, but he wasn’t ready, not yet.

he was in love with her, and pretty convinced she was the one. so, when one day he came home to a packed suitcase and a way too serious faced girlfriend, his whole world came crashing down.

“H?” niall called after him, harry hadn’t realised he was staring into nothing. “are you okay?”

harry cleared his throat before answering. “yeah, yeah, i’m alright.”

“i-i’m sorry, i didn’t mean to make you sad, especially on your birthday, oh fuck i-”

“niall, it’s fine.” he gave his friend a tight lipped smile. “i know you didn’t want to.” he straightened his shirt, ready to go, and added, “but maybe you’re right, maybe i should get out there.”

“that’s my boy!”

.

“here’s the birthday girl!”

her friends cheered while she arrived at the table.

“well, actually my birthday is in a few hours-”

“you know what we meant! c’mon, sit down, we’ve already ordered the first round.”

she wasn’t a huge fan of her birthday: of course, it was nice to be out with friends, but she never liked to make a big deal out of it. so, going out to have a drink with a couple of friends was what she preferred to do, it was low-key and all she really wanted.

so that’s what they did every year, sometimes on the exact day of her birthday, sometimes the night before, so they could wait until midnight and start her new lap around the sun together.

once the drinks arrived, her best friend raised her glass. “to the almost birthday girl, the best best friend i could’ve asked for. to a hundred more birthdays. cheers!”

“cheers!”

.

the boys walked into the pub, shaking the february chill from their shoulders, and walked up to the counter.

“hi! i have a reservation: horan, party of 4?”

“hi! let me check where we have you seated, and i’ll accompany you to your table in a second.” the waiter politely smiled, and went looking for their table.

after a little while he came back, with an embarrassed smile on his face.

“so, we actually have a little problem.” he said timidly. “it seems there was a double booking for your table for another party, and unfortunately we don’t have any other tables available. i did ask the present party if they would mind sharing the table, and they are okay with it! it might be a bit of a tight fit, and i understand if you prefer to leave. again, i’m really sorry this happened.”

niall slowly nodded. “uhm…do they seem like fun people?”

the waiter smiled and replied. “they seem very nice. one of them is a regular, she’s plenty nice, it’s her best friend birthday party tonight.” the waiter kinda blushed a little at the mention of the regular costumer. “i’m sure you’d have a nice time.”

niall looked at harry, asking silently for his opinion. harry shrugged. “it’s a nice coincidence that we’re both celebrating our birthday party. so, why not?”

niall was very happy about his friend’s decision. “please god, let them be nice people. please.” he thought. he knew harry needed to have a good night out, and he wanted him to have a nice time. and deep inside, he had a good feeling about tonight. there was something in the air.

harry and his friends went towards the table, seeing other four people already sat down. there was a girl smiling big, chattering with the other couple of people at the table, and beside her another girl, a bit more quiet, nursing her drink and playing mindlessly with the straw. she was quite pretty, harry thought. he noticed the way her hair flowed down her shoulders, the slight natural pout of her lips, and the way her eyes crinkled when she laughed.

yeah, quite pretty.

once they got closer to the table, niall broke the ice and introduced themselves. “hi! we’re the other people who booked the table.” he laughed slightly. “i’m niall and this is harry, our birthday boy!” he put his hands on harry’s shoulder, shaking him a little.

harry’s cheeks reddened a little, which she noticed. it made him look very cute, she realised.

“so… do you guys mind if we joined?” niall continued.

her best friend smiled wide, looked at her and then back at niall. “the more, the merrier!”

they decided to seat the birthday boy and girl close to each other, which brought a slight smile on both of their faces.

harry noticed how her eyes seemed to smile just as wide as her mouth, when she smiled with her teeth showing; and she noticed how his cheeks would be dented by the cutest set of dimples she had ever seen.

the conversation flowed easily, niall and her best friend hitting it off and challenging each other in who would be the quickest in drinking a guinness. the loser would have to offer the winner a drink, so the stakes were very much high.

she and harry were a bit more shy with each other. this wasn’t unusual for her, since she was normally on the quieter side, especially when she had to talk to someone she didn’t know. harry, on the other hand, was very talkative, he just found her very cute, especially the way she scrunched her nose when she downed the shots niall kept ordering for them.

“c’mon birthday twins, let’s take a picture of you two!” her friend suggested.

niall came rushing back with, yet, another tray of shots. “wait! drink up!”

she sighed, and harry shook his head in disbelief: the hungover tomorrow was gonna be a bitch.

harry turned towards her, eyes a bit glossy, smile a bit crooked and his voice slightly slurred. “you feel like taking another one? you don’t have to, if you don’t want to.” he assured her.

she smiled at the sweetness of his words. “yeah, i want to. at the end of the day, our birthday comes only once a year, right?”

“right.” harry nodded and smiled.

taking a deep breath, they took their shots and her friend snapped a picture of them, picturing an overly confident harry and her with her eyebrows scrunched together from the burning taste of the tequila.

“aw, you look proper cute!” niall exclaimed and, winking at harry, he mouthed, “she’s cute, get her number.”

harry rolled his eyes and mouthed back “stop it”, afraid she might have seen what his dumb friend was telling him. and it’s not like he hadn't already thought about it. she was beautiful, funny and so sweet: how could he not?

fortunately for him, she didn't see any of that because her eyes were shut because of the alcohol making its way down her throat and her stomach. her head was feeling a bit floaty, and the room was spinning a bit. tomorrow was gonna be a blast.

“so-” harry softly spoke. “is today your birthday? mine is too!” she could sense that his enthusiasm was heightened by his inebriated state, and laughed a bit at the way his eyes opened wide.

“actually, it’s tomorrow.” she replied. “my friends and i usually wait for midnight together, so that on my actual birthday i can meet up with family and such. which is gonna be so much fun to do tomorrow, with the hangover and all that.”

“oh, i bet.” he smiled. “so we’re almost birthday twins, i’d say, yeah?”

“yeah,” she chuckled. “i guess we are.”

.

drink after drink, as continuous laughter filled the air, the night wore on, and her birthday was fast approaching. only thirty minutes before midnight struck, niall asked if it was okay if harry opened his presents, and at that harry tried to tell him that he could wait until after midnight, but she was very firm in her decision.

“absolutely not! you have to open them now, it’s your birthday! i'll open mine after midnight, now it’s your moment.” 

at that, harry smiled and unwrapped the presents got him, absolutely grateful for every single one of them.

but what he was most grateful was that night: this reservation mishap brought him the biggest present he could've asked for.

.

“just a minute before midnight!” her best friend smiled big. “so, feeling any better about ‘getting older’?”

she looked at her and mirrored her smile. “you know, i think i do a little.” she sighed. “tonight was a pretty legendary night.”

“oh, i know.” her friend snickered. “life gave you a huge gift tonight: a cute curly boy who can’t take his eyes off of you. he seems pretty fond of you, you know?”

she shook her head. “oh stop, he doesn't. he’s just a nice person, that’s it.”

her best friend raised her eyebrows, “whatever you say.” and then she whispered to her: “just know that i'm right about this, and that you’ll end up getting his number.”

“yeah, right.” she rolled her eyes. “so, how much longer?”

“twenty seconds! i'm so excited!” she clapped her hands with excitement.

the almost birthday girl chuckled, “darling, it’s not new year’s eve, you know.”

“still! i'm excited to celebrate you. we all are.”

she looked around the table and saw that her friends were looking at her, and so were her newly found friends. she could feel her heart being full of love and appreciation for every person sat at that table, old friends and new. 

 harry put his hand on her knee and squeezed it lightly. 

“you ready, birthday girl?”

she smiled, looking deep into his eyes. “yes, i am.”

as soon as midnight struck, she felt her best friend arms around her, tugging her in the tightest, bone crushing hug. “happy birthday, sunshine!” she looked at her with pure affection in her eyes. “i hope this year brings you all your heart desires, no one deserves it more than you.”

the birthday girl smiled softly, and batted her eyes to stop tearing up. “thank you so much, for everything. i'm so grateful for everything you do for me, i love you so much.”

“oh darling, i love you so much more. but no tears on your birthday! happiness, happiness all around!”

everyone around the table wished her a happy birthday and took their turn in giving her a hug.

finally harry turned to her, leaning close to her ear, and whispered: “can i be the first to give you your present?” 

she was taken aback and surprised. “wait, how can you have a present for me? we haven’t even met before ton-”

before she could finish her sentence, harry’s lips were placed on hers, kissing her so delicately but also firmly: his lips were soft and plump, tasting a bit like the alcohol they sipped during the night. his mouth moved slowly, as if he was tasting the moment for all it was. 

she felt her cheeks growing hot by the second, especially when she heard niall cheering of joy. she didn't know why it seemed like a huge surprise to him, for harry to kiss someone, since harry was a more than good looking guy, but she didn't care. this was the best kiss she’d ever had in her whole life, and she didn't want it to end. 

but alas, it did, but not before harry gave her a quick last peck, at which she smiled fondly. his lips were a deep red and slightly swollen, a bit shiny from her lipgloss. he gave her a toothy grin, and spoke. 

“happy birthday, darling.”

“you too, harry.” she smiled timidly, her face burning.

harry scrunched up his nose. “mmh, you’re kind of late.”

“oh c’mon, just by a minute.”

--

taglist: @a-strange-familiar @neverstaisfied

#my writing #harry styles #harry styles angst #harry styles writing #harry styles fanfiction #harry styles fic #harry styles fanfic #harry styles blurb #harry styles fluff #harry styles one shot #harry styles os #harry styles x reader #harry styles x y/n #harry styles x you #harry styles birthday #harry styles imagine #harry styles fic rec #harry styles fan fic #harry styles smut #harry x reader #harry x y/n #harry x you #harry styles series #harry styles au #harry styles story #harry styles concept #harry styles masterlist #harry styles fic rec

[daisiesonafield-blog]

Louis Tomlinson is sequestered in the executive boardroom of a swanky hotel in suburban London, and is treating it the way a pupil might a classroom when the teacher’s popped out. He’s leaning back on his chair, feet up on a radiator, hands clasped behind his head and a cigarette on the go. “All right?” he says, grinning impishly.

Despite huge global success with One Direction (70 million albums sold), which prompted a fanaticism that made Beatlemania look tame, he seems remarkably unaffected and far more normal than one might expect from someone with 35.8 million Twitter followers. He’s a 31-year-old so unassumingly bloke-next-door that the bloke next door wouldn’t look twice.

“I’ve always had a problem with ‘ego’,” he says, “and I’ve always been worried about being one of those people in the public eye who just loses all sense of reality, and becomes an arsehole.” As if by way of explanation, he adds: “I’m from Doncaster.”

And so while his former 1D bandmate Harry Styles, a superstar, floats through life like the fashion world’s favourite clothes horse, Tomlinson kits himself out in JD Sports: Kappa T-shirt, black sweatpants, Adidas socks, scuffed trainers. When he tells you he often frequents his local pub unmolested, you believe him.

“If someone does come up after an hour to ask for a selfie, I won’t say no and I won’t run away,” he says, “’specially if I’m three pints deep!”

Of the five members of 1D, Tomlinson has had the slowest start to a solo career. There are compelling reasons for this — family tragedy for one — but he’s also had to figure out who he is without the band around him. “With this job,” he says, “there’s so much room for overthinking, you know? Someone from the record label will tell you they like your stuff, but you find yourself thinking: yeah, but do they? It’s the fans that help you really believe in yourself.”

In the band, Zayn Malik had the best voice and Styles had the best everything else. While the other three — Tomlinson, Liam Payne and Niall Horan — were hardly driftwood, each has nevertheless had to dig deep to carve out a solo persona that would compel beyond the bubble.

“I do miss the boys,” he says, “and I do definitely miss being one of the five, but I like doing my own thing too. It was time.”

It’s a bright winter’s day, and the man in sports casual is enjoying special dispensation here in the hotel: permission to light up. Had this been denied, there might well have been a problem, for Tomlinson chain-smokes with the wild abandon of Mad Men’s Don Draper.

After the release of his second solo album, Faith in the Future, in November, he adds another necessary notch in the belt of any self-respecting pop star next month: the documentary. All of Those Voices is a routine behind-the-scenes look at 21st-century celebrity but stands out for the multiple crises of confidence Tomlinson feels any time he’s not on stage.

“This is a confidence game for anyone,” he says earnestly, “and there’s been plenty of moments of vulnerability throughout the entire process.” An overriding concern of the documentary is not just whether people would be interested in him, but whether they’d take him, someone discovered on a TV talent show, seriously.

When Styles won his Grammy awards this month — he collected two and won four Brits — he used his acceptance speech to say that “this doesn’t happen to people like me very often”. This was swiftly ridiculed across social media because of course white men tend to win quite a lot. But what he likely meant was that it doesn’t happen to the product of manufactured boy bands, many of whom have the use-by date of a pint of milk.

“Only Harry knows what he means there, it’s hard to speculate,” Tomlinson says, “but we all came from relatively humble beginnings, and now we are where we are.”

But while Styles is a once-in-a-generation talent and knows it, his erstwhile bandmates — and this one in particular — need convincing.

Louis Tomlinson comes from a big family — his mother, Johannah Deakin, married twice and had seven children — and was a hopeful child actor before in 2010 auditioning for The X Factor. This is where 1D were created, “masterminded” by Louis Walsh. Deakin, who had Tomlinson when she was 19, was his biggest fan and they’d always been close. When, for example, Tomlinson lost his virginity, it was she he told first, not his friends.

In 2016, a year after One Direction split, she died from leukaemia, aged 42. Two years later, his 18-year-old sister, Félicité, who’d been struggling to get over her mother’s death, accidentally overdosed on cocaine, painkillers and an anxiety drug. The combined loss hit him hard. Aside from the single he wrote about his mother’s passing, 2020’s Two of Us, his mourning has been largely private.

He squints through a veil of cigarette smoke. “Some of the things that have happened recently have been quite drastic, yeah, but then so much in my life seems to have been pretty extreme, one way or the other.” In 2016, at the age of 25, a brief relationship with a Californian stylist, Briana Jungwirth, resulted in a son. “There’ve been challenging times, definitely. It’s funny, but I couldn’t even tell you how many years ago my mum passed, I just blank it out. But for the first 18 months, I’d take any form of bad luck personally. I’d feel every tiny thing. But now I genuinely feel I’ve come out the other side. I feel more empathy for everything and everyone these days.”

After his 2020 debut album, Walls, failed to set the world alight, Tomlinson called time on his relationship with Simon Cowell. “It was mostly amicable,” he says, nodding. “Simon always had my best interests at heart, and I liked him. He had his faults of course, like all of us, but it was always inevitable I’d have to go off and do my own thing.”

His new record, then, was a leap into the unknown and he elected to write not with professional songwriters but rather fellow creative artists: Theo Hutchcraft from the band Hurts, Joe Cross from the Courteeners and the singer-songwriter James Vincent McMorrow. “And that was a big difference, huge. These are people who live and breathe music. It’s the first time I felt really comfortable doing my own stuff, you know?”

Previously he’d been encouraged to sing like a nice young pop star should, without regional inflection. “When I was in the band,” he says, “working with professional songwriters whose entire aim was to write the hit single, they’d tell me that singing in my natural accent wasn’t commercial. Sorry, but what a shit idea! Who wants to sound like everybody else? I dumbed down a little bit in the band, because you do, but I’ve learnt who I am now.”

The album, which has its inspiration firmly in early Noughties indie, sounds more Kaiser Chiefs than One Direction. A risk, then. But when it came out, it debuted at No 1. While this did wonders for his confidence, it’s clear from the documentary that he still needs people — a support group — around him. He actively courts the friendship of his touring band, not necessarily a given among solo pop stars, and he seems almost always sociable. It’s when he’s not up for group activity that people worry. There’s a revealing moment in the documentary of him having just appeared on James Corden’s US talk show. Backstage Corden, an old friend, pleads with him not to go quiet on him afterwards. “You vanish, you change your number, no one knows [where you are],” he says.

Until recently Tomlinson lived in London with his long-term girlfriend, the model Eleanor Calder, but recent reports suggest they’ve split up and he’s dating another model, Sofie Nyvang. Life, clearly, is complicated. Perhaps that’s why he smokes so much. He says, though, that he feels finally relieved of the myriad pressures that once clung to being a pop star whose fanbase was predominantly teenage. Such as?

“Well, being a role model for one. I never wanted that. I always had to worry whether it was OK if, say, I was seen here or if I could get away with smoking a joint there, before concluding: hmm, probably not. But I never wanted to be the perfect pop star, especially in the climate of Instagram. I don’t want to put an artificial world out there. I think it’s important that people see your scars, your flaws.”

It’s never easy growing up in public and Tomlinson had no choice. “When One Direction split up,” he says, “I was mortified, I was absolutely gutted. I was a bit bitter, I suppose because it just felt like another loss to me. But I’ve a better understanding of things now, and there’s not as much anger. It is what it is.

“Getting back together at some point is hard to imagine right now,” he continues, “but I’d be surprised if we lived out our lives and didn’t have a moment where we had a reunion, or whatever you want to call it. I’d be up for that.”

When I ask what it’s like watching Styles’s ascendance into the biggest star of his generation — something that might delay such a reunion — he blows out a long plume of smoke.

“Well, it’s not a surprise is it? We were always aware that Harry fit that mould, and it’s been an amazing thing to watch. Envy? At the start maybe, when I was trying to find my feet, but it’s never healthy to cross-reference your own success with others is it? These days I’m learning to elevate myself in those moments when I have to. I didn’t know how to do that before, but now? Now I know I f***ing can.” All of Those Voices is in cinemas from March 22,  allofthosevoices.com

-Full article. Feb 23 2023. Link here. Free link here.

#this author is an asshole #it's obvs he gives no shits about louis or this subject #and he's pretty biased and judgemental #other than that it's louis image to a T #like i said in my tag post a few mins ago #it reads to me like a poorly written and slightly judgmental article #it’s a bad article and the author shows no to little care about the subject #or interest in Louis to begin with #but it’s also the same image push they’ve been going with for all of lt2 #so Louis is saying #this is me #I’m not the lad from 1D anymore #this is who i am #with a heavy dose of PR and image #louis february 2023 #all of those voices #aotv promo #louis' image 2023 #louis' image #it is what it is #long post

[nialljamesxo]

Niall Horan attending the Irish Pub Crawl on February 23rd, 2024.

#* . ⊹ irish eyes are smiling ⊹ › niall #hollywoodfameevent #hollywoodfameoutfits #hfrp ireland

[iguana-eyanna]

Back To The Start

Summary: Lewis is nervous to speak the words he longs to say when his best friend comes back into his life again.

A/N: this was requested by @haarrrys

hope you enjoy!!

You got off a long flight, drawing air as you hated the smell of airplanes. You hated airplanes altogether, often feeling naseua and was forced to sit next to the most horrible people.

But you made an exception, especially when you're supporting your longest friend: Lewis.

You've been best friends since diapers, as the two of you often got in trouble at school for talking too much in class. As you got older, Lewis even snuck you into a pub he was performing with his brother's band. He even was there for you at the hospital when you broke your leg and showed up to every physical therapy appointment.

So when he left home to become one of the world's greatest songwriters, you were beaming with pride. You two would be talking in different time zones as one missed the other or someone just wanted to say hear the other's voice. So when Lewis really wanted you to come to America to see him sing, you didn't pass the opportunity.

So that brought you here, waiting outside of the airport with your luggage as you were looking for a familiar face.

You suddenly see someone parking near the pickup area and got out of the car with his signature hoodie and sweats, but wears a face mask. Maybe he was just being cautious for your safety or he didn't want to be recognized, but you knew that mop of hair anywhere.

You ran up to Lewis, smiling underneath your mask as both of you opened your arms to give a bone crushing hug.

"Hey, you." Lewis murmured in your hair.

You chuckle a bit, relieved that you're finally here with him.

Once you let go, there was this sudden pause. It was like both of you just realized this has been the first time you're together in person since the pandemic. There have been really tough moments in the past two years, but you were so thankful that it brought you here.

Lewis returns back to his senses as he coughs to the side, regaining speech. "Let me grab your bag, you must be exhausted." He said, already reaching for your luggage. Once he goes to the back, you settle in the passenger seat. Lew comes back to the driver's side, grinning that you're actually here.

"I thought you'd be surrounded by security guards and drive in a limousine." you joked as you two hit the highway.

"Please, you think I have the money for that? But that will happen this week for the concert." He said.

You shake your head, laughing. "I still can't believe you're singing at THE Hollywood Bowl." You said, noticing the L.A. night sky.

"Me too, I've been so busy with touring and press that I completely forgot." He said, making a turn.

"Oh, I'm Lewis Capaldi. I'm so swamped with making my mark in the industry and hanging with Niall Horan that I forgot that I'm singing at the most iconic place on earth." You sarcastically stated.

"You do not say Niall's name in vain." Lewis remarked until both of you were in fits of laughter. Soon enough, you turned in at the hotel you're staying. Both of you got out and took your luggage up and walked inside without a hitch. After taking an elevator, Lewis lead the way as he opened a door with his key. You two walked in and see that it's a two beds facing a TV and a sliding door that showcased most of California.

"I saved that bed by the window for you. I know you like the sunlight hitting your face when you wake up. Still think that's weird." Lew said, placing your luggage by the foot of your mattress.

You roll your eyes at him as you sit down by a lounge chair. You look out again, still not believing you're here.

"Okay, I'm going to shower. Would it be okay if we could order takeout?" you ask, already getting up.

"Yeah, I'll order us some food and drinks. Take your time." He said.

"I'm going to venmo you whether you like it or not!" You shouted as you made it to the bathroom, knowing he'd always cover the bill.

All you could hear was him chuckling under his breath before he was on his phone, searching for where to order food. Suddenly, he gets a notification on his phone from Twitter. He presses it with curiosity and his eyes squint at the tweet.

Suddenly, he realizes that it's a picture of him and you hugging at the airport not even an hour ago that read

"Singer Lewis Capaldi picking up mystery girlfriend?"

Lewis felt disgusted that someone took a picture without your consent. He was always protective of you, even when you were kids. He exits twitter and just focused on getting food.

He headed down to grab takeout and knocked on the door, announcing it's him

"I'm good, Lew!" you hollered.

He opens the door and walks in to see you in your uni sweatshirt, shorts, and fuzzy socks. You look up and smile brightly, making him warm inside.

"Yes, I'm starving!" you grinned, raising your arms to reach out for the bag. He sat next to you on your bed as you opened up the platter.

As you started eating, you noticed how Lew wasn't saying much.

"Hey, what's bothering you?" you ask, taking a bite.

"It's nothing, trust me." Lewis said, picking his food.

"Lew, it's me for crying out loud. You don't look ok." You said, putting down your food.

He takes a deep breath and follows your actions, wiping his palms as it became clammy.

"A pap took a picture of us at the airport and a tabloid is speculating we're an item. I'm just getting upset that I got you in this mess." He said, knowing you're a private person.

"Thank you for telling me, but I knew things like this were going to happen. You did warn me after all before I came here, and your manager told me to watch a 30-minute video about media exploitation." You said, making Lewis laugh again.

You reach out for his hand and squeezed it.

"I'm fine, you're fine, we're all fine. Soon this will all blow over like it never happened, trust me." You said.

Lewis felt a bit relieved after your words as he held onto your hand for a bit longer.

"Okay, but I still promised you a day of shopping and sightseeing. So don't think you can stay here in this lavish hotel without me."

You threw your head back, laughing as you lied onto the bed. Lewis did the same as he stared at you naming the things you've always wanted to do in your stay here.

The next day, it was filled with laughs and adventures with Lew's security guard. As a joke, Lewis signed up for those tourists buses that go around Hollywood boulevard searching for celebrities and you two were snickering that no one knew he was even on the bus.

You then took a stroll around and pointed out a clothing store, saying you needed an outfit for the concert. You were looking at the racks, not finding anything that sparked your interest. Lew came on your left, holding a hanger that had a dress.

"Thought this would work." He said.

You thank him and took it, still searching for more things.

Soon, he sat down on the couches as you walked out to show him your fits. Some were cute and silly, but nothing really stuck.

"Okay, I'm trying out yours. Ready?" You ask out loud.

"Ready as you are!" He hollered.

You slowly made your way out, feeling a bit nervous. Lewis' eyes widen a bit as he sat in his seat properly, looking at you.

"Wow." he said.

"Really? I thought it was alright, but I wasn't sure." You said, twirling around as you stared at the mirror.

"You look... pretty." Lewis said.

You slightly blush as you look back at him.

"Yeah, because you picked it out for me. But, I will be getting this dress. Thanks, Lew." You said, smiling at him before you changed.

Lewis' heart started beating a bit faster as he dramatically sat back on the couch.

"Oh no." he whispered to himself.

He's in love with his best friend.

After that moment, he's been feeling so nervous around you. You've noticed his mannerisms and thought that you did something. So, you two were hanging out, pretending that nothing was wrong. Lewis felt so bad but he knew if he uttered one word, he'd scared you off saying he loves you.

On the day of his performance, you haven't shared a lot of words with each other. You were kinda relieved as he was swamped with sound check and fittings. You decided to just find a place to breathe and found a staircase no one was using.

You put your hands on your temple as your elbows rested on your knees.

"Hey, I've been looking all over for you." a voice called out for you.

You look over to see Lewis standing at the top step. He then walked down and sat next to you.

"You hiding away from me?" he jokes.

"Lew, not now." You said lowly.

He was taken back by your tone.

"What's going on?" he asks sympathetically.

You release a sigh and look at him.

"Are we okay? Because half of the week, you've been wanting me to fly out here to support you and now you've been avoiding me every time we're alone." You stated.

Lewis is now in a bind, realizing his actions were hurting you.

"I'm sorry, believe me when I say this. I've just been feeling, I don't know how to say it without-"

Lewis gets cut off as he hears an announcement for him to be backstage in 5 minutes.

"You need to go, we can talk about this later." You said, feeling a bit let down.

Lewis tried to talk again, but you weren't ready to listen just yet.

He got up and left you, feeling guilty that he hurt you.

Finally, he was on stage singing, giving a great performance. He tried his best not to show his emotions but his mind felt like tangled wires. Once he came to his closing number, he looks to his left and sees you standing there, looking so proud at him. One thing about you is that even if you and him had arguments or fights, you would always still support each other no matter what. It's when Lewis realized that there was no one else who could replace you.

He takes a swig of his water and returned to his microphone, going off script like he usually does.

But this one was different than his past performances.

"I'm not very good with words, especially when I swear like a fucking sailor."

The crowd laughs along with him, but you can tell he's getting a bit shy.

"This song I wrote awhile back... it was meant for someone. I really missed them since I left home, so I decided to write a song about it. The first time I ever performed it was in front of her over facetime, and she said it was her favorite song. But little did she know, it was me telling her that I loved her."

He looks back at you for a moment, giving you a look that had a thousand words. Lewis turns away.

"Here's to everyone who want's to go back to the start." He said, grabbing his guitar as he started to play.

Out of focus, didn't take a second to notice Now we're separated by oceans, vast Couldn't make this last

I wish I'd have stayed 'Cause love can find a way to make your feet run heavy Make your heart run steady Then it breaks, so I'm praying that you're feeling the same

You know I spent some time in Hollywood tryna find Something to get the thought of you and I off my mind So tell me honey, oh, when you're just a step away from falling apart Do you ever feel like going back to the start?

Backstage, you were beyond speechless as you stand there, listening to your best friend's words. You finally understood every lyric he sang.

If you can hear me, does it really have to end? I feel you close, although you're eight hours ahead If we can pick it up, then just tell me where and when We'll go back to the start again If you can hear me, does it really have to end? I feel you close, although you're eight hours ahead If we can pick it up, just tell me where and when We'll go back to the start again

You know I spent some time in Hollywood tryna find Something to get the thought of you and I off my mind So tell me honey, oh, when you're just a step away from falling apart Do you ever feel like going back to the start? Oh, you know I would if I could Maybe I spent more time in Hollywood than I should So tell me honey, oh, when you're just a step away from falling apart Do you ever feel like going back to the start?

The audience cheered after he was done singing. Taking off his guitar, he whips his head around to you, slowly making his way in your direction.

Your feet walk up to him till both of you run towards each other, enveloping each other's embrace as he crashed his lips into yours.

Everyone roared as they see you both kiss on stage. As if on cue, fireworks start to spark out loud. You pull away, staring at the person you've loved all along.

"You have a funny way of showing your feelings." You said, tearing up.

Lewis wipes away the tears as he smiles at you.

"I'm sorry, for everything." he said.

"There's only one way for me to forgive you: kiss me again." You said.

Lewis smirks, then kissed you again as you wrap your arms around his neck. Fans cheered for you again as fireworks still go around the venue.

That night was the best night at the Hollywood Bowl, as Lewis got to be in love with his best friend.

#lewis capaldi #lewis capaldi imagine #lewiscapaldi #lewis capaldi fan fiction #lewis capaldi x reader #lewis capaldi x you

[blingblong55]

Normal People- Simon ''Ghost'' Riley

You and Simon were once together when you were younger, you eventually grew apart. Years later you two by some coincidence meet once again.

A/N: listen to any of these songs, trust me!!! (This Town-Niall Horan, Photograph- Ed Sheeran, Strange-Celeste, Like Real People Do- Hozier, Sparks- Coldplay)

Based on a request:

GN!Reader, little angst, lovers to strangers(in a way) to lovers again

You and Simon have known each other since primary school. Neither of you knew you'd end up falling in love by the time secondary school came around. It was always you two against the problems of life and teenage drama. He asked you to be his boyfriend/girlfriend by year 10, ever since that day you and him were more than inseparable. His mates always teased him about it, it was rather adorable how much he would blush when they'd mention you two as a couple. He would sneak into your room after hours, whisper everything and try to contain his laugh when you'd say some terrible jokes. At times you two would sneak up to the roof and just stare at the stars all night.

One night as you two watched the stars he asked you to school formal. It was a big deal amongst friend groups and couples, so you of course said yes. That night as your friend group all drank beer by some campfire after the dance, you sat on his lap. He was all quiet, his eyes never leaving yours. "I love you, r/n'' he whispered into your ear. You looked at him with puppy eyes. You smiled and kissed him.

Ever since, any time you really meant it, he or you would say it, even if the time wasn't right, it could only be said when it was meant and no other time. As time went on, he joined the military, you stayed back and finished college, when he came back, you were working as an assistant. One night he went to visit his mum, she advised he visit you. And as he walked the streets, there you were with the same friend group. You and your friends laughing and drinking, everyone with their significant other, you sat with them, an empty stool next to you.

"Okay Simon, I understand, and don't worry darling, at every table I sit by, I'll save ya a seat, that's a promise''

''you don't have to do that, love''

Eventually one night you and him broke up. His role in the military got more serious, it demanded more of him. And you both knew it was time to just call it quits. You two had grown apart, it was an event that had to happen. You would move out to Dublin soon, a top Uni there accepted you(see what I did there,,anyways). Simon would have to leave England for months on end, it was just bound to happen. So when you called it quits, you moved to Ireland and he to somewhere in the world, wherever the military took him.

He carried a picture of you both from the night of the school formal. It was you and him sitting by the campfire, you in your attire and he in his suit, he had his arms around your waist. The way you two smiled at the camera, a true moment where he felt safe and at home.

--------

He was now 29, soon to be thirty, you'd be around the same age as well. He was now a lieutenant for the army, you a successful company executive. There were nights were he wondered where you were in Ireland, if you had met someone new, if maybe you had written him letters but just never sent them out. If you had maybe settled down, if you even remembered how at some point you were his life, the sole purpose why he always was a better man.

At drunken nights, thats when he thought of you the most. How you kissed him on rooftops, sneaked out just to talk to him, or the nights where you played the piano at some pubs. Maybe it was the sense of home, belonging that he missed, but maybe it wasn't, it was your sweet voice, how you would caress his face, rub his back, listen to his problems, kissed him under that stormy night, how by morning, you two laid on the couch at his mum's drinking tea and eating soup because you two got sick.

On cold lonely nights in the desert, thats when he missed you the most.

But as any true mystery in this world, you one warm night found each other once more. You in some jeans and a white tee, he in a black shirt and an old pair of jeans. Manchester was quite boring if you've been a local. You pushed your trolly around the store, you accidentally bumped into a tall man. ''Shit, sir I am incredibly sorry I was looking at this stupid stupid date on the-'' You looked up from the can of beans.

''R/n?''

''If it isn't Simon Riley'' you said in a happy tone.

He noticed the same old locket he gave you on your 16th birthday, it was a picture you took on a booth. You and him smiling at the camera. It gave his chest a good kind of ache. It was nice to know he was thought of.

''I thought you'd forgotten all about me, love.'' He walked up to you, his arms opening a little. You too walked to him and hugged him, ''not in a million years, Simon.'' You kissed his cheek, oh that warm fuzzy feeling of belonging.

He looked at you, his hands caresses the sides of your face. He looked at you, mesmerized you hadn't changed a bit, your smile still warm and beautiful. He smiled as his hands had a feel for your still soft skin. Your eyes welled up a little, it was a relief he was still on this Earth.

The many nights you wished you went to Sunday school and learned to pray, to believe, to hope. One night you did though, you had just arrived from Ireland, you went to a local church, you sat there and whispered, ''please, if you really are real, if he is still out there, just..keep him safe, please''

''You look rather ravishing my love.'' He smiled at you, he looked all over your face, studying it and remembering all of the small details.

''Sorry, again for hitting your bum with the trolly.'' you chuckled. He shook his head, ''s'right, love.'' he said almost in a rather happier tone. It was crazy to see you here, but he wasn't complaining, thats for sure.

''when did you get here by the way?'' he took your trolly, and tossed his basket on it, he pushed the trolly and walked towards the next aisle, you following along.

''Here in Manchester? well lets see, I came back I think 6 years ago?..yeah definitely six. And you?''

''Got back last week, you know the whole army thing.'' he said as he happily looked through his list of must buys.

''Hm I see...I suppose your partner made that list for ya?'' you asked in a curious way, looking for a 'no, my mum needs this,,,no partner..been waiting for ya' type of answer.

''No, I am making some dinner for myself, and no, no partner,,,still.'' he had given up in trying to find someone after you, and that one failed date he had about 8 years ago.

''ah I see well-''

''do you..y'know, have someone to go home to? is this to forward or-''

''no no, not all, no, its not forward..um..no I don't been too much of a selfish person since my job.''

It was silent for a few minutes as he walked down the aisle. ''so,,,I get to have a second chance? or we..we can be friends? I would be okay with just anything..or not..I don't know.'' he let out a nervous chuckle as he tossed a box of sponges into the trolly.

''well..i..um do you want us to..have a second chance or-''

''yes!,,,if you're okay with it, I want to work on us, I have more time now, maybe not the most time but..this is going to sound-''

''stupid? cheesy? weird?'' you tried guessing.

''all?'' he chuckled, ''i..always thought we would end up together, you know the whole living together, walking down the aisle to me, I don't know maybe getting a dog and taking him on walks on our days off,'' he shrugs, ''its dumb, but I always thought you'd be my...my future, my little something.''

''The one thing I can get to be selfish about.'' you said, he looked at you, blush spread across his face.

''yeah,,,the one thing I can get to be selfish about, I like that,,so?''

''lets be selfish Simon, together.'' You kiss his cheek.

'Maybe the events in our lives were set in motion a long time ago. There's an old Buddhist saying that when you meet your soulmate, remember that the act to bring you together was 500 years in the making. So always appreciate and be kind to each other.'

-Spencer Reid (Criminal Minds)

REQUESTS ARE OPEN

A/N: I just rewatched and re-read Normal People, that shit is just so..real. Anyways anon I hope you enjoyed it!

#cod 141 #cod mw2 #cod x reader #mw2 141 #task force 141 #ghost cod #141 x reader #cod #mwii #141 #simon riley imagine #simon ghost riley #simon riley x reader #simon riley #simon riley x you #ghost mw2 #cod ghost #ghost call of duty #ghost hc #ghost x reader #ghost fanfiction #ghost x you #call of duty mwii #mw2022 #mw2 fanfic #mw2 2022 #call of duty #cod mwii #cod modern warfare #cod x you

[niallsgoldhoop]

despise

a niall horan one shot - the show famous niall almost three thousand words cw - sexual acts, sexual language, name calling, foul language, 18+

“So what’d you do to piss her off this time?”

Standing next to the small set of metal stairs, I can’t help but smile as I look to my left. “Oh you know— Decided to wear this and that instead of what I was scheduled to wear.”

“It’s no wonder she can’t stand you.” Shaking his head, he chuckles. “See you out there, mate.”

Without another word, I watch as he makes his way up the small stairs and gets settled in place, the rest of my band doing the same as we get prepared to give the crowd a show to remember.

Looking down at my shoes, I can’t help but let out a small laugh.

What I was supposed to wear and what I decided to wear are two different things.

It’s like if I listen closely I can already hear Reed Foster cursing under her breath, my name falling from those raspberry lips about how much she can’t stand me.

Ever since I met her there has been that electric buzz of tension between the two of us. To this day I’m still not sure what makes her despise me like she does, but I don’t really care. However that doesn’t mean I don’t try and mess with her any chance that I get.

Irritating her is like a game— One that I always win.

As I listen to the crowd on the other side of the curtain and the music starts to play, my feet carry me up the stairs and my hands pull the old and weathered cream colored guitar over my head before checking to make sure my earpieces are fitting correctly.

Taking my place, a flash of movement draws my attention to the side of the stage that I just came from, stealing my attention away for just a second.

“You are the absolute worst, Horan.”

Crossing her arms over her supple chest, Reed stares me down like she wants to murder me. Just the fire in her eyes sends heat flooding through my body.

She may hate me, but I can feel the heat in her gaze when she thinks that I don’t notice.

Just like she doesn’t know that it’s her face I see when I’m alone and need a release.

A secret for a secret, you could say.

For weeks I’ve been getting under her skin and just waiting for the moment it boils over— waiting for what it brings out of her.

Waiting for her to play.

So with a mischievous grin, I look over to her and wink, gaining an eye roll in the process. “Right back at ya, Foster.”

Even under the dim lighting I can see the way she rolls her eyes before turning on her heel, middle finger up in the air.

Fuck, I love a challenge.

Always have— always will.

—— Reed ——

Niall Horan was a pain in my ass.

I swear to god there wasn’t one day where he didn’t do something to piss me off.

From switching the stage outfits to hiding my things, it was a miracle that I hadn’t quit or punched him in that smug ass smile that was always there when I was around.

It didn’t matter that his blue eyes were the color of a perfect sky or that he always smelled like the most expensive, delicious cologne.

Niall was frustratingly handsome.

I knew he was attractive and it didn’t matter that I thought of him when I— No, fuck him.

“Do we have to go back?” The words fall off my tongue as I look across the table. “Because I’m fine with staying here.”

“We could stay if we wanted to get fired.” Laughing, my coworker turned best friend pulls cash out of her wallet.

Groaning, I pay for my tab and stand up to follow her out of the pub. “Maybe I want to get fired.”

“Please, don’t lie to me.” She grins over her shoulder as we climb into the back of the car waiting for us. “We both know you love your job.”

“Love the job, can’t stand the employer.” I manage to mumble under my breath as the car pulls away from the curb.

We left after the first couple songs of the show started, both of us knowing exactly how long we had to go get something to eat or a drink before we had to be back at the arena in time to have everything packed up and ready when it was over.

In the time we’ve been doing that— not once have we been late, but seeing how slow the traffic is moving, it looks like today could be our lucky day.

“I’m so sorry about that, ladies!” Our driver gives us a tight smile. “Normally it’s not so bad around here.”

Waving my hand in front of my face as we walk backwards, I plaster on a fake smile as I dig through my bad for my credentials. “Don’t worry about it!”

The two of us finally make it inside before going our separate ways, leaving me to gather up the last of the things that are in Niall’s dressing room, hoping that I can finish before he gets off stage. From the sound of it, I’m not going to make it considering that the unmistakable first few notes of Slow Hands reverberate through the building.

“Goddamn it.” I mumble. “Fuck, fuck, fuck.”

Working as fast as I can, dread pools in my belly knowing that everything won’t be finished by the time the show is over.

By the time Niall makes it back to this room.

With my back to the door and shoving things into the cases they belong in, the sound of the door opening doesn’t even register to me in my rush.

But the sound of a rough, low voice paired with an Irish accent does.

——Niall——

“To what do I owe this pleasure?”

Whirling around, Reed drops everything in her hands as I lean against the doorframe, the post-show adrenaline pumping the blood through my veins.

“Fuck you.” The words fall from her pouty lips. “I was just leaving.”

“Looks to me like you weren’t even close to leaving.” Stepping up to her, it’s impossible not to notice the way her eyes fall to my lips before they roam over my body. “See something you like, Reed?”

Snapping her gaze back to mine, those pretty eyes narrow. “Not a damn thing.”

“That doesn’t seem like the way you should talk to your boss, does it?” Pressing even closer to her, my tongue rolls across the inside of my cheek. “Besides— I think you’re lying.”

Once again, her eyes fall from mine and grace the edges of the cream colored top that I chose tonight, one that leaves my arms bare.

“You think you’re so full of yourself.” Her tone is venomous but her pupils dilate all the same. “I’m just packing up—“

Reaching behind her, I grab a handful of things from the suitcase and let them clatter to the floor, raising a brow at her. “Seems to me like you just wanted to spend some time with me.”

“Oh yeah? Who told you that?” She scoffs.

I love this game, the back and forth.

Reed is all bark and no bite… Although I don’t mind it a little rough from time to time.

Her pulse jumps under the smooth skin of her neck as a low laugh falls from my lips. “Nobody had to tell me, I could see it right here.” The tip of my finger brushes across her pulse, the wild rhythm beating under the callous that lies there. “Want to lie to me again, hm?”

“Can’t seem to recall a single day that I was excited to see you.” She laughs, letting her finger draw a gentle path down the inside of my arm. “Must suck for you, doesn’t it?”

We’ve drifted even closer to each other over our verbal sparring, leaving us only a couple inches apart, her lips inviting me in.

“What are you gonna do?” Taking the chance, I nip her bottom lip, the whimper from the back of her throat traveling straight to my groin. “Be a brat? Be a good girl?”

She doesn’t even give me an answer before the tension bursts between us, her lips finding mine in a kiss that is anything but gentle. I can't help but groan at the minty taste of her or the way her small hands fist the front of the silky sleeveless shirt I wear.

“Fuck.” My words are short as she pulls in my bottom lip with her teeth. “Always knew you were full of fire.��

My lips fall from hers, traveling across her jaw and down to the hollow at the base of her throat, a moan coming from her lips when I harshly suck the skin into my mouth to mark her.

“Niall—“

“Yeah?” I nip her earlobe. “Keep saying my name— I like the way it sounds.”

Gripping the hem of her shirt and pulling it over her head, a groan sounds from deep in my chest as she stands in front of me in the laciest thing I’ve ever seen.

“You’ve been hiding all of this from me?” I say, my fingertips toying with her pebbled nipples through the fabric. “Pretending you hate me?”

Glassy eyes find mine as Reed tries to catch her breath. “I do hate you—“

“Liar.” Bringing my hand up to her throat, I let it rest against her skin for just a moment before she gives me a subtle nod, only then letting my fingers press gently into the sides. “I guess if you hate me so much you don’t want any of this, do you?”

Silence settles between us, her swallow thick under my palm.

“Get to work, Reed.” I let go of her. “Take this belt off.”

Tucking her bottom lip between her teeth, her fingers fall to the belt around my waist, the sound of the metal barely heard over our heavy breathes.

“When you get this belt off, I want you to get on your fucking knees, yeah?” Using my finger, I lift her chin so that she meets my gaze. “Did you hear me?”

Reed nods. “Yes.”

“Yes what?” Fire races through my blood.

“Yes, sir.” She says like the good girl she is.

As my pants fall to the ground, I reach behind my and pull my top off and throw it somewhere behind me, too worked up by the sight of the woman on her knees before me.

“Tell me, Reed—“ Brushing my thumb across her bottom lip, I push it inside her mouth and groan at the feel of her warm, wet mouth. “Are you gonna suck me off like the slut you are? Gonna be good for me?”

With a nod, she swirls her tongue around the tip of my finger.

“Good. Take off the rest of my clothes.”

As soon as the words are out of my mouth, she reaches up and tucks her fingers into the waistband of the black briefs doing nothing to conceal how fucking desperate I am to be in her mouth. My cock juts towards my stomach as I step out of the fabric, wrapping my fingers around the silky skin. The pearly drop at my tip shines under the lights of the dressing room as I watch Reed take in the sight before her. From here, I can see her legs shift as if she’s trying to get her own relief from the tension between us.

“Is this what you want?” Leaning forward, I spread the drop across her bottom lip. “Tell me.”

“Yes, yes… I want it, Niall.” Her eyes are wide as she looks up at me.

I smirk down at her. “Beg for it, slut.”

“I—“ Reed takes a deep breath. “Please fuck my mouth, please. I want to feel you down my throat.”

“Are you going to keep acting like you hate me? Like you haven’t wanted me down that pretty little throat for weeks?” Raspy and low, my voice sounds like it’s been drug through gravel. “Keep going, let me hear you praise me, Reed”

Her chest expands with a deep breath before her tongue darts out to taste the moisture left there, those pretty eyes fluttering shut. “I don’t— Please. I think about you when my hand is between my legs— Niall—“

“Open your fucking mouth.” Impatience travels through my body. “Take this and shut the fuck up.”

Those lips open and I don’t waste any time pressing my hips forward, watching as she takes my cock into her mouth like that’s all she’s ever wanted. Immediately she brings her hand up to mine, moving it out of the way so that she can circle her dainty fingers around me.

“There you go—“ Fisting her hair, the strands are soft and silky against my skin. “Letting me use you like a pathetic slut to get off.”

Reed moans around me at my words, the reverberation sending a chill up my spine. The combination of her lips wrapping around me and her hand feels euphoric.

“Niall—“ Pulling back, Reed drags her tongue along the vein that maps out the underside of my length. “I want more—“

“You want me to fuck you?” I ask in a low laugh, watching her nod as she circles her tongue around the tip of my cock. “Only good girls get fucked, Reed. As far as I’m concerned, you’ve got a lot to make up for.”

“Please—“

Gripping her hair even tighter, I shake my head. “Shut up and open that pretty little throat.”

Surprisingly, she does what I say.

This time I can tell she’s waiting for me to take control… So I do.

Thrusting my hips forward, a string of curses fall from my lips as I feel myself hit the back of her throat over and over, the pleasure so intense that I can feel it traveling up my spine at a rapid pace.

Looking down, Reed’s dark lashes are clumped together from her tears, the pressure of feeling me so deep causing her to gag and contract around me as I push even deeper.

“Fuck— Just like that—“ I tilt my head back. “Keep choking on my cock like that.”

Pressing forward, I let my hips rest for a couple of seconds, feeling her throat grip me again before pulling out enough so that she can catch her breath.

“You okay?” Checking in with her, she nods before reaching for me again. “Greedy little thing, aren’t you? Who knew all it would take to shut you up would be to stuff your mouth with my cock?”

Moaning around me, watch as she slips her hand under the hem of the black leather skirt, another whimper coming from the back of her throat as her eyes meet mine.

“There you go, get yourself off while I fuck your mouth.” Sweat drips down my skin. “Shit— Good girl, Reed— You feel so good.”

Tears fall down her face as she moans around me, her hand moving as she brings herself to her own peak, making me realize that Reed Foster might be one of the sexiest women I’ve ever seen.

Maybe I’ve just been blind by wanting to get on her nerves, but now seeing all the valleys and curves of her body displayed in front of me it makes me feel like maybe I need more.

“Fuck, Reed—“ I groan, the words like gravel. “I’m so close. Are you going to take what I give you? Swallow everything?”

As soon as she nods, the balloon at the base of my spine pops into a sea of euphoria as I empty myself down her throat, feeling like it might never stop.

“Good god.” Pulling my hips back, I run my hand through my hair. “That was—“

Meeting my gaze, Reed uses her thumb to catch a drop of my release that spilled out of her mouth, flattening her tongue to taste the last bit that she can. “I don’t even know what to say.”

“Come here.” Bending down, I slide my hands under her arms to pull her up to stand. “You did so good.”

A soft smile pulls across her face, the lights of the dressing room playing off the sheen of sweat on her body. “Thank you.”

Looking behind me, I see the door that leads to the personal shower and before I can stop myself or overthink, I tug her hand and pull me with her.

She may have hated me before, but she won’t hate me after I give her what she just gave me.

On a night like tonight, everything changes.

Starting now.

________

this was my first requested one shot so DONT HATE ME if it’s bad alsndkwksn

ily

-a🍀💖

#niall #niall horan #niall james horan #one d #cute niall #niall 1d #niall imagine #niall the show #niall fanfic #one direction #flicker #niall smut #solo niall #wattpad #harry styles fanfic rec #harry smut #oneshot #harrys house #heartbreak weather #request

[apureniallsource]

Niall Horan is not worried about turning 30. The singer-songwriter, who famously devoted a portion of his youth to One Direction, will be crossing that threshold later this year, and he wrestles with maturity in “Never Grow Up,” one of the best tracks on his upcoming album, The Show: “I hope we still dance like we’re falling in love/ Hope we still drink like we’re back in the pub/ Hope we grow old, but we never grow up.”

“I don’t care anymore,” he says of the impending milestone, chatting with Consequence over Zoom. “We speak about what happens from 16 to 20, and 20 to 24, but more actually happens between 25 and 30 than I thought. Your interests change, and things happen in your life — the kind of things you write about.”

According to Horan, it’s a “lovely day in London town” when we speak a few weeks prior to the release of The Show, out June 9th. He comes across as easygoing, humble, and grounded, but also seems very excited to talk about his music. The album’s two pre-release singles, “Heaven” and “Meltdown,” have provided listeners with their first window into The Show, an album that plays like a natural extension of his previous two full-length efforts.

It’s the hope of most artists that each project is their favorite to date, and the vocalist confirms that his personal anticipation for this release is high. “I feel like I’ve got my best work here,” he notes. “If you don’t back yourself, who’s going to back you?”

The Show‘s 10 tracks were developed with some of Horan’s trusted collaborators. He reveals that part of the project was written in Nashville, Tennessee — “What a town,” he says with a smile, shaking his head. He tries to make a visit to Music City at least once a year, he explains, and “Never Grow Up” was one of the songs that came from his time at Starstruck Studios, located on a block lined with songwriting houses, labels, and publishing companies.

“Never Grow Up” was co-written with Julian Bunetta, John Ryan, and Shane McAnally, the last of whom is one of Nashville’s true producing and songwriting gems. The sonic landscape of the song, and most others on The Show, is where Horan seems to be particularly comfortable, surrounded by acoustic guitar, truthful lyrics, and a reliable drum beat.

“If I’m sat still for even a minute, I’m always thinking of something to write. I write a lot of stories,” he says of his process. Narratives are always turning over in his head, both real and imagined. “I like to have an idea before I go anywhere near a studio or before I start to sit down and write something.”

While The Show slots neatly into Horan’s discography, this album feels different to him for a few reasons. For one, “There’s no heartbreak,” he confirms. That’s quite the contrast to his previous project, literally titled Heartbreak Weather, which dropped on March 13th, 2020 as the world screeched to a halt. Like many other artists, he felt inspired by the stillness that came with a global pause. “Stillness was something that actually was more thought provoking than I thought it would be,” he explains. “Reflection. My outlook, and feelings and emotions that I hadn’t really cracked into — they were a big, big part of what this album’s about.”

There hasn’t been an abundance of downtime for Horan recently, who also recently wrapped his role as a judge on Season 23 of NBC’s The Voice. Next, in support of The Show, Horan has mapped out an enormous 2024 world tour (find ticket details here), and the gears turning in his head while discussing the trek are practically visible. “My favorite thing about my career is being able to have an effect on people’s lives and create things for them to relate to,” he shares. “Hopefully we can just keep that going, and maybe gather some new people along the way.”

He describes himself as tied inherently to his artistry. When asked what goals he might have or what he might be looking forward to just as Niall the person rather than Niall the artist, he’s a bit stumped. “I just want to take it all in, because I feel like I’m so fired up. I haven’t toured and done shows in five years now, so I’m just more grateful than ever.”

For someone who has spent over a decade centered in the spotlight in a variety of ways, Horan seems to have his priorities quite clear when asked how he prefers to be seen by people. “I’ve been told if you’re a nice guy, that’s a good thing,” he jokes. “I love meeting new people and love chatting. To be told I’m a songwriter and a nice guy? I’d take both of them to the grave with me if I could.”

#niall horan #06june

[dailyniallnews]

The former boyband member Niall Horan on his new album, headlining the Electric Picnic, turning 30 and taking on the world, says Louise Bruton

Sunlight pours in through the large bay windows of the Westbury Hotel and Niall Horan is a little tired. In Ireland for less than 36 hours, he’s fitting in this interview and a surprise appearance for 80 of his biggest Irish fans, all in the build-up to the release of The Show, his third solo album. Once upon a time the five-star hotel would have been mobbed by hyperventilating fans, but today he got in unnoticed.

“If someone had said to me in 2013, ‘Do you want to go for a coffee?’ I’d go, ‘No, you’re joking? That’s nuts.’” Over an Americano, a low-key Horan relives the hysteria of once being in the boyband One Direction. Since the group’s formation on The X Factor in 2010 and their indefinite hiatus announced in 2016, the Mullingar man wasn’t able to walk down the street without people pulling over in their cars to take a gawk, let alone meet pals for coffee. Unsure if he developed a fear of being surrounded, he recalls that he “nearly became a bit of a recluse”.

Going unnoticed doesn’t mean that Horan’s star has faded. With his previous albums reaching the top of the charts in the UK, the US and Ireland, and charming everyone so much as a coach on NBC’s The Voice that he’s back for the next series, he’s on top of his game, but he has learnt how to live under the radar.

“When the band stopped I went travelling in Asia for four months, just staying in shite hotels and hostels and I could do more than I expected,” he says. That trip encouraged him to reconfigure how he moves through the world. Dividing his time between his homes in Co Westmeath, Los Angeles and London, he lives as much of a normal life as he can when he’s off the pop star clock. “In this world you give people a handshake, they take your arm off, so I just keep my private life private,” he says.

In London he travels on the Tube and in Los Angeles he claims that the paparazzi only want his photo if there’s some “other famous fella in the bar”. He doesn’t play the game of going to certain restaurants just to be seen. “It’s a shame, though, because some of the nice places in LA are like that,” he says. “You have to take that risk sometimes to get a bit of grub.”

This September sees two big events that capture the stark difference between his private and professional lives — headlining Electric Picnic and turning 30. In Stradbally he’s looking forward to experiencing “the Irish love again” from the main stage, but it’s his 30th birthday party happening later on in the month that has him jittery.

“This sounds mental, coming from a pop star, but I don’t really like attention,” Horan says, so he’s “splitting the adulation” with his best friend from home. Thousands of fans screaming at him? Grand. His closest friends and family singing Happy Birthday to him? Nerve-racking.

That milestone birthday has him feeling reflective. “At my age you start to think a little bit more,” he says, joking that he’s probably 65 in showbiz years. “I don’t remember overthinking much, or ever, up until the pandemic.”

The first lockdown was the longest he has ever taken off from work. Hunkering down in London and with no pubs to go to, he was “in the best shape” of his life. He also became official with his girlfriend, Amelia Woolley, and took stock of who he is. “The last five years have been more formative than I was expecting,” he says, and it’s no surprise that this maturity syncs up with leaving the bubble of One Direction. “I had to do a lot more growing up than your average 16-year-old.”

With his peers Lewis Capaldi and Selena Gomez releasing documentaries on their struggles with fame, does he wish that he did anything different with his career? “I think if I’d had any way of a dodgy experience, I’d probably say I would change a few things, but I’ve always had a good experience with it,” he says.

“I was well supported. It’s all about the people you have around you, I think. Coming from a small town and wanting to take over the world,” he pauses to punch the air like a rock star, “in my head at the time I was ready, but most 16-year-olds are probably not.”

The Show is a different beast from 2017’s lustful Flicker and 2020’s self-explanatory Heartbreak Weather. For one he’s in love, but more thought has gone into this album. Horan’s newly considered approach to songwriting makes vulnerability look easy. “I’m in a good place in my head,” he says, but he’s hesitant to call this a happy album.

“When you’re happy I feel like that scares some writers,” he says. Bursting into a rendition of Pharrell Williams’s song Happy, he notes that if you’ve historically done cheery songs you have to show the full “umbrella” of happiness. So instead of taking the sunny route, he writes in a relatable way about the work that goes into feeling good and falling in love.

“There are artists out there that get so introspective that you have to pull out a thesaurus to see what they’re talking about,” he says, and that’s why his latest single, Meltdown, works so well. With an anthemic quality built for festivals, the chorus guides people out of a panic attack. “I was big on writing a song about feeling anxious at 180 beats per minute. The song is fast and

I wanted that because that’s what that feeling feels like,” he says, mimicking a shortness of breath. “It has to feel rapid and then the chorus just comes and it slows down.”

It’s apparently based on a few personal scenarios, and he suggests that good communication has always been a skill of his. “I think I’m a good talker,” he says, exaggerating his candidness. “I have no problem telling you how I feel. Do you want to hear it?”

Busy, at peace and taking nothing for granted, Horan’s new material is a true representation of where he is in life. With a busy year ahead with festivals, turning 30 and a freshly announced 2024 world tour, it’s time to stop thinking so much and get on with The Show. Or, as he puts it more directly: “Let’s get out and have a f***ing good time.”

Niall Horan’s album The Show is out on Thu. Tickets for his tour next year are now on sale

#niall horan #the show #4june2023

[rooftopwreck]

ooh ooh, 58 for the Spotify wrapped fic idea thing!

Hello, Hello TJ! I have two ideas for this!

The First one is a sequel to the angsty Modern AU Dreamuse Break Up I came up with for @ghostboyjules where in this one there's reconciliation, healing and a hopeful ending. Oh, just thinking about it makes me 🥺

The second one is set in 1989 where Hob thinks he got stood up. It's more of an introspective look on how Hob's feeling, starting to get a little drunk and melancholy as the day stretches into night as he waits in The White Horse.

I'll dive into the first scenario instead bc I have an actual idea for it than the second which is mostly just Hob having some sad lonely drunken musings before his night gets worse (he doesn't know about the pub shutting down yet rip)

My mind is complicated Find it hard to rearrange it But I'll have to find a way somehow Overreacting lately Find it hard to say I'm sorry But I'll make it up to you somehow

Years after their mutual break up, Dream and Calliope happen to run into one another (haven't decided should it be a quiet balcony at a Gala or something more mundane). They have polite (albeit stiff) conversation, making nice and catching up. After that they can't seem to stop happening across one another, it's almost as though it's fate.

They continue to make polite conversation each time. Once, Dream makes a dry remark, it makes Calliope laugh. Dream is simultaneously delighted by her joy and overcome with a sense of grief. He takes his leave shortly after but not before Calliope suggests it would be nice to keep in contact again.

Dream struggles with the love he had for Calliope, their falling out, his own failures in their relationship, how they seem to get along better than ever despite their interactions are tainted by shadows of their past and how it feels the same but also very different. She feels different but also the same. He wonders if he's changed at all and if the man he is now is worth her time despite everything that's happened.

Seeing her again brought back old grievances, not against her but himself. He considers making amends if he wants them to start again as friends. He has missed her dearly.

Did I miscalculate this? Let's just go back to basics Forget about what's come and gone 'Cause I hate to see us like this Breaking up on nights just like this We should be shooting for them stars of gold

It is good to see him again, Calliope thinks. It might have been good to hom too, she thinks. That is until he suddenly froze up and backpaddled out of the conversation at the speed of light, but never in an undignified way, just as he used to. After so many years, she thought she had a good enough read on him, that he did not hate her as she initially thought, that he was comfortable with her. Perhaps she is mistaken, perhaps she is too hasty in her desire to have Dream warm up again, perhaps he was reminded of their past and remembered he would rather not reconnect.

Calliope wishes they could put aside their past and work towards something new. They've both changed a lot, they're not the same as they once were. Their relationship will not be that of the past. It can be something new if Dream comes around to the idea.

So tell me you want it A thousand miles away from the day that we started But I'm standing here with you just tryna be honest If honesty means telling you the truth I guess we lost our focus And it's killing me that we could go to war like this But I'm standing here with you just tryna be honest If honesty means telling you the truth Well I'm still in love with you

They make tentative steps together, navigating this new friendship. Sometimes, they make more mistakes than they do progress. Sometimes, they make leaps and bounds, bonding in a way they haven't before. It is good, they are good. Things are alright, they're more than alright.

Dream has not smiled quite so much in a long time. Calliope's eyes twinkle brightly as she teases him. Her smile soothes something inside him, it settles him. It is not to say she has lost her spark, but it is a warm, almost banked fire, instead of one that rages wildly. He feels at ease, like he belongs.

He freezes. He had not intended this to happen, but between their conversations and not-dates since they first reconnected, he's in love with her. He had been, but it's different but still the same. He should leave. He needs to go, he cannot burden her with this. This was not what Calliope had desired when she suggested they keep in touch. He's fucked this up again. He needs to go.

Calliope's hand settles on his and pulls him back. She calmly asks him not to panic and run, to please talk to her if there is something wrong, to be honest.

So, he does. He's still in love with her, new and different. He's fucked up their friendship by carrying this torch, if he hasn't already, then he will. He doesn't know what will happen next, he's terrified of losing her again after just having her back in his life.

Oh, we'll be alright Oh, it'll be alright Oh, we'll be alright Oh, it'll be alright

Calliope cups her hand around his and gently says she loves him too. Whatever comes next, they'll figure it out together. This time, they'll be alright.

#thank you for sending a number!! i cant believe the numbers worked out nicely that i can give them a better ending 😭😭😭 #fic idea kinda just turned into quasi fic musing oops! (haha muse-ing) #I hope you had some fun reading this monster. i am clearly no writer but i enjoyed doing this immensely 💜 #asks #tj_dragonblade #v's chatter