✯ Zianourry ⏯ OneShots ✯

Just... exhausted. ⏯ L.P.

Niall's POV:

I rubbed my eyes as I shuffled down the hotel hallway, my feet dragging a bit from last night's late studio session. Liam had texted us earlier, saying he'd meet us in his room in the morning. It wasn't unusual; we often gathered there to start the day together, catching up before heading out to whatever was on our schedule.

I reached Liam's door and slid the keycard in, hearing the familiar click of the lock. Stepping inside, I expected to see Liam already up, maybe making coffee or scrolling through his phone. But instead, there he was, still cocooned in his duvet, his messy hair poking out from the top.

"Hey, mate, rise and shine!" I called out, trying to inject some cheer into the room. But Liam didn't stir. Strange.

Harry, Louis, and Zayn filed in behind me, their expressions shifting from confusion to concern as they spotted Liam still asleep.

"What's up with him?" Zayn asked, furrowing his brows.

I shrugged, walking over to Liam's bed and giving his shoulder a gentle shake. "Liam, wakey-wakey!"

Liam groaned, his eyelids fluttering open slowly. "Hmm? What time is it?"

"Morning, sunshine," Harry chimed in, perching himself on the edge of the bed. "You okay?"

Liam rubbed his eyes, wincing slightly. "Yeah, just... exhausted."

"That's not like you, mate," Louis remarked, taking a seat on the other side of the bed. "You're usually up and at 'em before the crack of dawn."

Liam let out a soft chuckle, though it lacked its usual brightness. "Guess I overdid it yesterday. Got a massive headache."

I frowned, worry knotting in my stomach. Liam rarely complained about anything, especially not his health. "Have you taken anything for it?"

He shook his head weakly. "Nah, just want to sleep it off, to be honest."

Harry exchanged a glance with the rest of us, concern evident in his eyes. "Well, you heard the man. Let's leave him to it. He needs some rest."

I nodded in agreement, patting Liam's leg gently. "Get some more sleep, mate. We'll hold down the fort."

Liam managed a small smile, gratitude flickering in his tired eyes. "Thanks, lads. I appreciate it."

As we made our way out of the room, I couldn't shake off the worry gnawing at me. Liam never showed any signs of slowing down, always the one to keep us in line and on schedule. Seeing him like this... it was a stark reminder of how demanding our lives could be.

But as we gathered in the hallway, I knew one thing for certain: no matter what, we'd always have each other's backs. And if that meant letting Liam catch some much-needed sleep, then so be it.

As we walked away from Liam's room, I couldn't help but hope that when he woke up again, he'd be feeling more like himself.

The day had passed slowly, the worry about Liam lingering in the back of my mind like a heavy cloud. We'd checked on him periodically, making sure he was resting comfortably. But as the hours ticked by, my concern only grew.

Finally, as evening approached, we decided to pay Liam another visit, hoping he'd be feeling better.

I slid the keycard into the door once more, my heart pounding in my chest as we stepped inside. But this time, Liam wasn't in bed. Panic surged through me as I scanned the room, my eyes landing on the bathroom door slightly ajar.

I rushed over, pushing it open gently, and my heart sank at the sight before me. There was Liam, slumped against the bathtub, his face pale and drawn. The toilet beside him was filled with vomit, a stark reminder of just how unwell he was.

"Oh, Liam," Louis murmured, his voice heavy with concern.

We gathered around him, kneeling down beside him. Harry reached out to shake him awake gently. "Liam, mate, wake up."

Liam stirred, his eyelids fluttering open slowly. He blinked up at us, confusion clouding his eyes for a moment before he winced and pressed a hand to his forehead.

"What... what happened?" he mumbled, his voice hoarse.

"We found you like this, mate," I said softly, gesturing to the mess beside him. "Are you okay?"

Liam shook his head weakly, swallowing hard. "It... it turned into a migraine. Couldn't keep anything down."

My heart ached for him, seeing him in such pain. "Why didn't you tell us it was this bad?" I asked, my voice tinged with frustration and worry.

Liam let out a tired sigh, his shoulders slumping. "Didn't want to worry you guys. Thought I could tough it out."

Zayn placed a comforting hand on Liam's shoulder. "You don't have to tough it out alone, mate. We're here for you."

Together, we helped Liam to his feet, supporting him as we guided him back to bed. We made sure he was comfortable, placing a bowl beside him just in case. And then, we settled in around him, determined to stay by his side until he felt better.

As the hours passed, we took turns keeping Liam company, talking softly or just sitting in companionable silence. And though Liam's pain didn't magically disappear, there was comfort in knowing that he wasn't facing it alone.

As I glanced around at my bandmates, united in our care for Liam, I couldn't help but feel grateful for the bond we shared. No matter what life threw our way, we'd always have each other. And in that moment, that was enough.