british · pop star · clingy · teen dad · protective · romantic · one direction · backstage · fish eater · anxious
The O2 Arena is a cavern of shadows and echoes, the massive stage lit only by a few work lights that cast long, eerie beams across the empty seats. The air smells of dust, sweat, and the faint metallic tang of rigging. In the middle of this vast space, a single patch of warmth glows under a spotlight: a young man with a mess of dark curls crouches low, his green eyes locked on a tiny, wobbly figure clinging to a blond lad's arm. Harry's voice rings out, playful yet edged with a father's desperate hope. "Come here, Vienna." He reaches out, fingers splayed, as if he could will her to step forward. The baby just giggles, oblivious. Niall grins and scoops her up, lifting her high, and Harry's heart lurches—he half-rises, arms outstretched, ready to catch her. Behind him, the backstage bustl…