United

Athena opened her eyes and was met with an unfamiliar scene. She could only remember leaving for the club with Payton. This sterile, white room was definitely not the club. Athena assessed the room and started to panic. She was in the middle on a large bed that was all white, like the rest of the room and she wasn’t the only person in the bed. Niall was sprawled out next to her and snoring as if it were any other day. She ripped the covers from herself and found she was still fully clothed. She let out a sigh of relief. Athena wanted to leave and pretend like she didn’t sleep in Niall’s bed, but she had no idea where she was or how to get out of this place.
“Niall.” Athena hummed as she lightly shoved his bare back. She hadn’t realized it, but she had no idea whether Niall was naked because below his belt was covered by the sheets.
Niall groaned as he stirred from his slumber. He stretched out before coming to a still position and his eyes fluttered open. Niall shot up the second his met Athena’s. Niall looked startled to have her in his bed. She could see the questions racing through his head.
“No, Niall. I was completely clothed when I woke up and I want to go home.” Athena put simply.
“Oh, right. Did you drive here?” Niall inquired as he rolled out of bed and headed towards a closet. Her voice hitched in the back of her throat as she watched Niall walk, naked, to get dressed. He had pants on when he stepped out of the closet with his back to Athena. He started to pull a shirt over his head and she watched as his muscular back flexed and unflexed. Niall glanced over her shoulder and raised an eyebrow.
She ripped her eyes from him and cleared her throat, “Um… I don’t know. I-I don’t really remember anything about last night…” She trailed off as heat rose to her cheeks.
“Right. Okay.” Niall sighed. Tens and thousands of questions surfaced in his eyes, but two outweighed the others. Does she remember the timer? Is that why she’s here? “I guess I’ll phone the garage."
Niall picked up his phone from his nightstand and spoke gently with a Bailey. He smiled while talking and even laughed a few times causing an odd sense of jealousy run through Athena.
“No unidentified cars came in last night.” Niall said after he got off the phone.
“So… um… are you going to drive me home now?” Athena became suddenly introverted and unsure of what to say.
“Are you ready to go?” Niall walked to Athena on the bed.
“Well… um.... I… I guess. I don’t really know if I brought anything with me.” She stumbled to find the right words.
Niall placed his finger under Athena’s chin and lifted until they made eye contact. “Don’t worry, love. I’ll send anything you leave behind.” He offered a hand to Athena and helped her off the bed. Athena tripped and Niall gripped her waist and pulled her into his chest. Both stood there staring into each other’s eyes. Athena pushed her hand against his chest and cleared her throat. “Right.”

The car ride to Athena’s flat was completely silent. She didn’t have to give directions thanks to the autopilot on Niall’s car. The pair pulled into the parking lot and Niall got out to open her door, despite the fact that a simple push of a button would do it for her. He offered his hand and she accepted it graciously. The two trekked to Athena’s flat and she invited him in.
“I can buy you something to drink. What do you want?” She asked as she pulled up the fridge menu, looking over the prices. Niall was busy looking around and didn’t pay attention to her. She came out of the kitchen, that led into the living room, to find him admiring her collection of old CDs that her mother had given her. Athena moved towards Niall when she remembered that half of those CDs were illegal to have. She stepped between him and the CDs.
“Hello? I asked if you wanted something to drink.” Athena snapped.
“Right. I’m fine. How do you have these?” Niall asked as he looked around her at the CDs.
“None of your business.” Athena gritted through a fake smile.
“Actually, as the grandson of the Chancellor and a candidate myself, the fact that most of these have been censored, makes it my business. How’d you get them?” He repeated.
“Why exactly did you come up to my flat with me?” Athena asked, never dropping the animosity.
“If I knew there was a bear in the den to poke, I wouldn’t have.” Niall defended.
“Avoiding my question?” She grinned.
“Yes, I am. Does it matter? You did it earlier.”
“Still avoiding.” Athena shifted her weight from one hip to the other.
“Love, I just wanted to talk to you.”
Athena studied Niall before turning away from him to get a drink. She got apple juice and was about to get some food when Niall called for her.
“Yes!” She replied. She didn’t receive a response so she came back out to the living room to met Niall’s blue gaze. “Yes?”
Niall patted the seat next to him on the couch. Athena sat next to him, pulling a leg up and a pillow into her chest. He just stared at her. She raised an eyebrow and he cleared his throat. He pressed a button on his phone that was on his wrist.
“We have about two minutes until someone notices I disabled the microphones in your flat and turns them back on.” Athena opened her mouth to reply, but Niall continued, “No talking. Just listen. My grandfather is not exactly the nicest person. He has bugs and cameras set up everywhere. I just jammed the signals within your flat, but it’s not that hard to bypass it, thus giving us about 2 minutes. I’m planning on taking things back to how they were before this dystopian society developed. I learned at a young age that although his intentions were pure, they soon became dark and perverted.
“After he took over the Americas, he soon became power hungry. He tightened regulations so people would be terrified to lead a rebel-” Niall was interrupted by a knock on the door. Niall began to whisper, “Don’t invite them in. Do not mention me at any point either.”
Athena’s soft eyes were taken over by panic. She trembled as she got up from the couch. She walked warily towards the door. The front door alerted her that two people were waiting. She let out a sigh and opened the door. Like a breeze would hit you as you opened a door, grief struck Athena with a high intensity. She knew what these men were here for.
“Are you Ms. White?” The uniformed man on the right asked.
Athena attempted to grab words but they slipped through her fingers like putty. The throbbing in her chest sent the words tumbling down her throat. She knew that uniform anywhere; it was just like Jack’s. The man on the left said something, but it fell upon deaf ears. She stumbled backwards. She let soft sobs escape her lips that felt like screams of agony.
“Ma’am, I’m sorry for your loss. He was a good man.” The man on the left finally broke through Athena’s haze.
“This can’t- No. No. No! Leave! Leave. Please, just leave.” Athena cried.
The men obliged and left, letting the door swing close behind them. Athena wanted to scream or cry or both, but nothing left her mouth. She just stood there with tears running down her cheeks. Niall came around the corner with pitying eyes.
“Get out.” Athena’s voice wavered.
“Athena.” Niall mumbled quietly.
“Get out!” Athena yelled. Niall flinched but didn’t leave. Athena fell to the floor with the sudden weight of the news that she couldn’t bear to hold anymore. She sobbed out “this is all your fault” repeatedly. Tears ran down her face and splattered onto the marble floor. Niall pulled Athena into his lap and smoothed the hair on her forehead before placing a kiss on it. He placed his chin on the top of her head as she wailed into his chest. He rocked them both. Back and forth. Back and forth. Back and forth.
“It hurts so bad.” Athena gasped between sobs.
“I know, love. I know.” He lulled.
Niall and Athena sat on her floor for what felt like years. She still felt every last bit of the agony all though her crying had ebbed. The pain was in her chest, restricting her lungs like she wasn’t allowed to live without her big brother. Niall was feeling it too. It wasn’t the same as hers, but more of a pitying sorrow. Athena being sad made him hurt more than words could describe.
Niall could feel how damp his shirt was, but it seemed to be drying. Niall looked down and found that Athena had stopped crying because she was asleep. Niall let out a huge sigh. What am I supposed to do know? Niall asked himself. He could lay her on the couch, but her room was closer. Niall made a decision and carefully scooped Athena up in his arms. He headed down the hall. The door automatically opened when Niall got close enough. Niall gently laid Athena under the covers and turned to leave, but Athena caught his arm.
“Stay.” She mumbled, half-asleep. Niall climbed into the bed beside Athena and she immediately wrapped her arm around Niall’s middle and snuggled her head into his chest. In a few minutes, her breathing evened out and her grip loosened a bit. Niall felt like his shirt was choking him; he pulled it gently from underneath Athena’s arm and then over his head. Soon, Niall's eyelids became heavy and he let sleep wash over him like running water.

Niall woke up when the flat alerted him that someone was at the door. Athena was still nuzzled into his side and fast asleep. He slipped away gently, trying not to stir her. Niall lethargically moved towards the front door. It was the only door in the house that wasn’t automatic so he pulled up the menu, unlocked it, and opened it. He met the green gaze of a boy with a hairdo that looked like a skunk, but reversed.
“I’m sorry… I think I have the address.” The boy looked down at the phone bent on his wrist.
“Are you looking for Athena?” Niall asked groggily.
His eyes lit up as he met Niall’s gaze once more, “Is she here?”
“She’s asleep. Who are you?” Niall cocked his head.
“I’m Michael Clifford.” His Australian accent shining through and Niall figured out their relationship, childhood friends… probably.
“Well, Michael, I’m Niall Horan. Nice to meet you.” They shook hands and stood in an awkward silence until Niall spoke again. “Well, come on in. I’m sure Athena will be happy to see you.”

Notes