Something About You

Twenty Seven. November, 2017.

'Are you sure you think I look okay?' Isla's smoothing her hands over the front of her trousers, eyes meeting Niall's in the mirror. He can see her hands trembling slightly, an anxious look in her eyes.

Maybe he'd been naive to think that taking Isla to the AMAs would be smooth sailing. He half thought that the glitter and glitz of Hollywood would outshine her anxiety, that she would realize that, although the things here are pretty and expensive, the people are no different, and she fits right in. He'd thought she'd feel confident and sexy with him showing her off in front of everyone else tonight—not nervous and shaky and unsure of her worth.

'You're beautiful,' he tells her, wrapping his arms around her waist from behind, letting one hand travel up to rest on the skin of her belly. After making Niall's suit, Paul Smith had offered to make Isla a dress as well, and Niall'd joined in on the meetings, flipping through pages of fabric samples and silhouette sketches with Isla, Ellie, and Paul. At the end of it all, though, Isla'd settled on a custom suit instead: tight, curve hugging trousers and a matching blazer, low cut enough to expose an intricate, lace bralette and more than a little bit of skin. He couldn't keep his hands off her the first time he saw it, and he doesn't feel any different now. He rests his chin on her shoulders and keeps his eyes locked on hers in the mirror. 'Everyone's going to love you.'

Isla sighs shakily, her hands coming up to cover Niall's, to entwine her fingers with his. 'Sorry,' she says. 'I know it's not about me tonight, I shouldn't be—'

'It's always about you,' he drops a kiss to her neck. 'You feeling comfortable is more important to me than any awards show.'

'Don't be an eejit,' says Isla quietly, but there's a small smile pulling at the corners of her mouth. Niall feels triumphant, heart soaring in his chest.

--

He walks the carpet alone. They'd agreed that they're not ready for any kind of public appearances just yet—that what they have is special, precious, and shouldn't belong to anyone other than the two of them. Still, he lets his mind wander a little as he poses, thinks about what it would be like to smile for the cameras with Isla on his arm, his hand resting on her waist, the look in his eyes showing the entire world how lucky he is to call himself hers. For all Niall values keeping his private life private, he's been feeling an itch lately, a pull to make sure every single stranger knows how much he loves Isla.

It started with Colm's comment and Isla's confession, Niall knows that. But he doesn't think that makes it any less genuine, his desire to start bringing her to more work events, to ease her into his world. It's a mad, mad place, but he doesn't want to be in it without Isla, and it makes his stomach churn to think she ever felt excluded. So, slowly but surely he's been bringing her along where appropriate, introducing her to more and more of the people he works with. But tonight feels like a test of its own, her very first big event, coupled with her first ever trip to LA.

With Tara by his side, Niall stands for quick interviews along the carpet, dodging relationship questions and One Direction digging. He hugs and kisses friends for the camera, talks about his album and tour plans, and tries not to worry too much about Isla, inside the theater with Mully and Emilia. It feels weirder than he anticipated, being separated from her and having to do his job while he knows she's watching him. She can't sit with him either, won't be able to hold his hand when they call out his category, kiss him when he loses—or wins.

But this is better than nothing, he tells himself, shoving his hands in his pockets as he and Tara make the final stretch down the carpet. Having Isla here, even if she can't be next to him, is as good as it gets for them right now.

--

Winning hadn't even occurred to Niall.

When they call his name it's genuine shock—enough that he almost thinks he's imagining it for a second, until Shawn claps him on the back and Tara launches into a hug and holy shit, fuck, he's actually won it, an AMA, all on his own.