Hooch [a n.j.h. fanfiction]

Lance unlocked the door to his tiny two bedroom apartment. An all too familiar sight greeted him. There was a trail of beer bottles littered on the floor leading to an unconscious Niall. Lance grew angry and stormed over to the sleeping boy. He checked his watch seeing that it was the middle of Niall's shift. He missed work, once again. This didn't surprise Lance, but it didn't make him less angry. But anger wasn't the only emotion that filled the the blonde man. Lance was also disappointed but sympathetic at the same time. Knowing what Niall had been through he could understand that he would act out a little, but he never expected it to become this out of control nor last this long. Lance remembers the first night Niall came back drunk. The memory was etched into his brain, and he couldn't get it out of his head. It haunted him day and night, and it kept him awake at night. He couldn't believe he ever laid his hands on his son. It was the first and last time Lance ever did it, but it still bothered the both of them and made things uncomfortable and awkward.

Niall blames himself for his mother's death, Lance knew this. He could see it in his eyes when the subject was brought up, and he could tell the guilt was eating him alive. Lance wanted a good relationship with his son. He wishes he was still in soccer and that they could go to matches together and watch them on television like they used to. But with the situation they're in, Lance thinks it's impossible. It's been hard financially, and emotionally ever since the death of his wife. Not only did he lose his job, he had to move out of their home they'd been in for eighteen years because he could no longer afford it. It broke Niall's heart but Lance couldn't do anything to change the outcome. After they were evicted, they moved into a run down apartment on the wrong side of town. Graffiti littered the outside of the buildings, and there were numerous gangs in the area. Lance was grateful that Niall was smart enough not to get involved in gang activity, but he still wasn't happy with his behavior. It was like Niall was a completely different person and all Lance could think about was where he went wrong. Lance escaped his thoughts when he saw Niall stir, finally waking up from his drunken stupor. The anger in Lance only grew at the sight.

"Niall, get up now," Lance demanded.

"Fuck, Lance, why are the curtains open?" Niall complained, shielding his eyes from the blinding sun.

"Maybe because it's four in the afternoon. Which means you're not supposed to be here!"

"Ah, Lance, get off my back," Niall said groaning.

"No, Niall, I will not get off your back!" Lance yelled. "I'm tired, Niall! I'm god damn tired! Tired of the disrespect, the missing work, the drinking, the money that mysteriously disappears from my wallet every month. I'm tired of it all Niall, and if you don't fix this drinking problem and get help you'll be out this house before you can convince me otherwise. You're going to therapy tomorrow or you're getting out of my house tomorrow and that's final." With that Lance walked into his bedroom and slammed the door.

Niall sat on the couch dumbfounded. He never knew his father had so much anger cooped up inside him. But Niall would never be able to survive on his own, and he knew this. He figured if he went to a couple AA meetings that would get his dad to leave him alone for a while. Niall went into the bathroom to practice what he was going to say to his father. Niall manipulated people for his own selfish reasons, it was one of the few things that he was good at. He managed to get his father to leave him alone for a while, and after his plan he will continue to leave him alone. Once Niall got his look down, he walked to his father's bedroom, and knocked on the door.

He heard his father groan in annoyance. "What, Niall."

"Dad, I'll go to the meetings," Niall said in a sad voice, feigning guilt. "I've put you through this for long enough. I'm going to change for you, Dad."

Tears came to Lance's eyes, and Niall grinned on the inside knowing he had won his father's trust. "Niall I'm so proud of you," his father cried, hugging the boy. Niall thought his father was a coward for crying over such an absurd topic. "I'm going to research some places right now. And remember Niall, you're not going to change overnight. It's going to take some time, but I'm proud of you for taking the first step." Niall smiled and exited the room. As soon as he left the room, Niall groaned.

"What did I just get myself into?" Niall thought.

Notes

thanks for reading :) lmk what you think.

word count: 830