henlo

also its been a while since i updated (rip) so you might not remember something so you can reread if you want :)

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Niall walked back to the bushes and met with Liam again.

"Do you know where the Grove is? I think Milly is headed there and we need to tell her that she can't eat the berries she picked." Niall explained, looking up at Liam.

Liam looked up then closed his eyes, trying to think, "The Grove is about fifty miles from here, Niall."

"What?" Niall's eyes popped out of his head, there was no way he could get Milly now, she could've taken a multitude of different ways to get there.

"I dont think she's actually going to the Grove." Liam softly suggested, not wanting to freak his humanoid friend out.

"Then where do you think she is?" Niall looked over at Liam, confusion and hope filling his eyes.

Liam awkwardly smiled and shrugged his shoulders, feeling bad for not having an answer.

He was an AI so usually he was able to analyze people pretty well, but he hadnt had much time to be with Milly.

Niall let out a huff, feeling helpless. This was the first time in his journey where he didnt have a plan, Zayn usually coordinated everything.

Zayn.

Niall's heart sank to his stomach, getting twirled around with the butterflies that still flew there. He was still so upset, so hurt that Zayn had lied to him about such major things, but somehow his feelings just didn't care.

His feelings were all over the place, in all honesty.

He'd debated every option of finding Milly, and somehow, finding and talking to Zayn made it to the top of his list.

He decided to go with his gut, reluctantly, and team up with Zayn once again; that is, if he'd have Niall back.

"Ugh." Niall groaned, looking over at Liam dully.

"What?" The robot asked, picking up on Niall's annoyance.

"You know." Niall huffed, crossing his arms.

Liam squinted, "I know?"

"Yes!" Niall whined.

"I told you i dont know where Milly is."

Niall rolled his eyes dramatically, "Fine, if you have to make me say it. We need to meet up with him again."

"Who?" Liam questioned, completely clueless.

"Oh my god," Niall dryly laughed, mocking Liam's obliviousness, " Zayn."

"Oh, well you could've just said so." Liam remarked, looking away to think before Niall could say anything.

They waited a couple moments in silence.

"So?" Niall asked, looking up at Liam.

Niall's voice startled Liam, bringing him out of his self induced trance. He started to think of Zayn, but his mind drifted to his next meal instead.

So, without any ideas, he played a common human defense tactic and turned on Niall.

"I dont understand why you are annoyed with me, I dont think i've done anything wrong." Liam expressed.

Niall stared at him for a second before sighing, "You're right, it's not you. I'm just nervous to meet with Zayn again. Maybe you can just talk to him since I dont even know what i'll say."

"You say 'where is the Grove'." Liam answered.

"No, not that," Niall shook his head, "Well, you're a robot, i dont think you guys have or know about any feelings."

"I have feelings." Liam scoffed, giving Niall a weird look.

"Yea?"

"I can feel my limbs become jerky with movement if my oil is low," Liam somewhat joked, "But i also feel that it's best if you talk to him."

"Yea, okay. I guess i'll just keep it professional," Niall nodded, waiting a couple moments, "Now, where is this damn ghoul anyways?"

~*~

Liam and Niall followed an old train track, hoping it could lead to where Zayn was. Liam had analyzed Zayn's possible whereabouts, and thought he'd most likely be back on his own, in the forest. 

Sure enough, after a couple miles, they heard a familiar voice mumbling to themselves. 

Niall's heart raced and he suddenly stopped in his tracks. "I think it's him." He whispered. 

"You are correct, Niall." Liam affirmed after scanning the area. 

"Can i, um, i dont know, try and-"

"You can speak to him alone, i'll be over here." Liam cut Niall off, pointing to a tree where he would be waiting. 

Niall took a deep breath and gave him a small smile, then turned around to find Zayn. 

He kept reminding himself to be as professional as he could be.

Zayn had his back to Niall, with his arms moving towards each other as he sharpened a blade. 

Niall didnt want to scare Zayn with footsteps, so he started to talk as he made his way over. 

"Zayn, there's something about the red substance that's been with the ghouls we've found. I think it might be from bloodblitz berries instead of bear berries. They both look similar so the people could've eaten it and gotten themselves ghoulish." Niall explained, a little out of breath. 

"Wow," Zayn continued to sharpen his knife, not bothering to turn around, "Isn't that interesting?" 

Niall furrowed his brows, biting the inside of his cheek a little, "I went back to Crimson Cove and found Milly. She's one of my friends and she's got a whole stash of them, i was going to go warn her." 

"And you came to me because?" He trailed, the tone of his voice disinterested and icy. 

Niall was a bit taken back, "Well, because i thought you'd like to come along." 

Zayn let out a sharp laugh, "More like you dont have a god damn clue where to start." 

"I know she's going to The Cove, i can go there by myself." 

"No you cant," Zayn tutted, "You came here because you need knowledge, supplies, and protection." 

"I have Liam." Niall crossed his arms, not liking where this conversation was going. 

"But he's not me," Zayn shook his head, "You need me." 

Niall felt a pang to his chest, and his confidence started to crumble. 

"Look, can you help me or not? Liam doesnt know where the Grove is." Niall admitted. 

"That's a shame." Zayn brushed off, giving a couple strokes to his blade. 

"I'm sorry, okay?" Niall began to tear up, but tried his best to stop, "I know i shouldn't have just left you in the basement of that shitty arcade and i know i shouldn't have said the things i did to you. Im sorry, im really sorry, and you're right. I do need you, i'm naive and oblivious." 

Zayn was silent. 

"And i want to go to the Grove and help Milly, but i can't do it without you. After we're done, you can hate me all you want," Niall choked out, "And that'll be okay because i was so shitty to you. And you wont ever have to fix my mistakes or get me out of trouble. You can walk away and never speak to me again." 

Zayn turned around to face his teary-eyed boy. 

Niall noticed how sunken in Zayn's eyes were, which made a couple of his tears fall. 

"Please." Niall whimpered, looking at Zayn's figure through his blurry eyes. 

"'Please' isnt going to cut it." Zayn said, watching as Niall's shoulders fell. 

Niall squeezed his eyes shut and nodded, turning to walk away. He felt so pathetic. 

"But a cookie might." 

Niall turned around and looked back at Zayn, with confusion and hope. 

"Just not oatmeal rasin." Zayn added, a small smile on his face. 

Niall let out a sobbing laugh, "I'm all out, sorry." 

Zayn softly shook his head, "I dont want them, i want you. C'mere, cookie." 

Niall practically fell into Zayns arms, clinging onto him with so much might. 

The older boy stroked Niall's hair, giving his head a couple kisses. 

"Look at me." Zayn demanded after a minute. 

Niall removed his head from Zayn's chest and looked up, "It wasn't all your fault, i shouldn't have kept my secret. We were both asses, okay?" 

Niall smiled and nodded, looking down. 

Zayn took two fingers and tilted Niall's chin up for a kiss, but Niall looked away.

The older boy assumed it's because he was a douche bag earlier, and shrugged it off, hugging Niall tighter. 

However, Niall just didnt want to kiss a ghoul. 

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fuk u neil why cant u just luv zen for who he iz. too bad it isnt that easyyyyyyyyyy

okay now this is where shit starts kinda falling into place? then blowing up kmao. but yea heres an udapte, ill try to get another one soonish but yall ive been soooo busy but i love writing!

unedited asf