The Fighter (AU/Punk)

Sages POV
I open the passenger door and leap into Zayns car. He looks over at me, concern etched on his face.
"What happened?" He asks.
"Just drive, I'll tell you on the way," I say and take a deep breath. He starts the car and pulls out of Harry's driveway.
"You can tell me what happened Sage," Zayn says lowly. I reach over and grab his hand. He squeezes it gently and I start to talk.
"Last night I went to the fights and got pretty wasted. I was walking to my car and some guy approached me. He said I was Harry's girl and that he needed to teach Harry a lesson and he was doing it through me. He took me into an alley and raped me before pulling out a knife. I fought back but he was so much bigger than me. He pinned me down and started cutting into my arm before I blacked out. I woke up in the hospital later last night, called Harry, spent the night there, and now here we are," I breathe out. My hands are shaking by the end. Zayn pulls the car off the road and stops. He unbuckles his seat and reaches over the car to hold me. I wrap my arms around him and bury my head in his neck as I shake. Tears fall down my face steadily.
"I'm so sorry that happened to you," he murmurs and rubs my back soothingly.
"I knew that this was dangerous but I guess I assumed all the danger was in your gang," I whisper. "I didn't think that anyone would come after me to get to Harry."
"Me either," he whispers. I pull my legs up and unbuckle my seat. I crawl onto Zayns lap and he holds me close as I cry. I close my eyes and try to steady my breathing as Zayn rubs my back soothingly.
"So you said he cut your arm?" Zayn asks once I calmed down. I nod and look up from Zayns neck. "This arm has seen better days," he mumbles and grabs my left arm. "The hospital dealt with it so I will just change the bandages later okay?"
"Okay," I mutter and he squeezes my hand.
"Sage," Zayn says seriously. I look up into his warm brown eyes. "From this point on I promise you that I will keep you safe."
"Zayn I can take care of myself," I say weakly.
"I know," he says. "And that's what scares me."
He presses a gentle kiss to my forehead and helps me back into my seat. He starts the car and pulls back onto the road, continuing the drive home.
"I think you should stay with me tonight," Zayn says, glancing over at me.
"Okay," I cave. I really don't want to stay in my apartment, alone.
"I'll stop by your place and you can pick up your things and well head over to my apartment, sound good?" He asks.
I nod in response. He sighs and takes me hand, flicking on the radio as he goes. Some familiar pop song comes on and I sing along softly.
"You're a great singer," Zayn says and squeezes my hand.
"Thanks," I say and blush.
At the refrain of the song Zayn starts to sing loudly, and off key. I laugh as he sings the words after they're already said.
"You're awful!" I shout over his yelling, laughing uncontrollably.
"I'm fabulous," Zayn says and turns the music down. "I'm glad to see you smile."
I grin at the realization that he was being an idiot to make me laugh and look out the window. We pull up to my building and I rush inside to grab some stuff that I'll need to overnight. Last minute I throw in my laptop. I climb back in the car and Zayn begins the unfamiliar drive to his flat.

Harry's POV
After Sage leaves I grab my keys and start my rover, pulling on to the road. I drive without thinking until my surroundings begin to look familiar. I pull to a stop in front of the small, dilapidated house. The red shutters hang off their hinges and the gutters are covered in rust. The white paint is chipped and cracked and black shingles are falling off the roof. I stop the car and stare at it for a moment before climbing out and walking to the front door. A dog barks from the neighbors back yard and a trash can lid clanks against the pavement. I walk onto the creaky porch and knock at the door. The door opens slowly and I shove my hands into my pockets.
"Harold?" A familiar voice says with disbelief.
"Hey Gemma," I say and look into my sisters green eyes that mirror my own.
She throws open the door and hugs me tightly. "It's been too long little bro," she says and squeezes me. I pat her back awkwardly and she pulls away.
"Come on in," she says and ushers me into the house. The inside is the complete opposite of the outside. The pale blue walls and hard wood floors are much more welcoming than the exterior of the house. I sink down on the plush brown leather couch and stare at the photos mounted on the wall. Pictures of Gemma and I stare at me from when we were younger.
"How've you been Gemma?" I ask sincerely. She sits in the chair and crosses her legs.
"Pretty good," she admits. "Thanks again Harry."
I nod at her thanks and she buries her head in her hands. "Seriously Harry you got me out of a horrible situation. I should have been the one protecting you yet you saved me."
I walk over to her and put my hand on her shoulder. "I will never let anyone hurt you Gemma," I say and squeeze her shoulder. Last year I found out that Gemma's husband was abusive. I... Dealt with the situation and now Gemma is living here safely.
"Anyways I'm sure you stopped by for a reason," she says, changing the subject.
I sigh and plop down on the sofa. "Yeah... There's this girl..."

Sages POV
I pull my knees to my chest and hold the cup of tea with both my hands. I rest my head on the top of the chair and watch as Zayn works in the kitchen.
"Do you know what you're doing?" I pipe up as a pan clashes to the ground.
"Yes I know what I'm doing," he scoffs. I giggle but let him work. I look around the flat and am once again astonished about the sheer size of the place.
"How in the world do you afford this place?" I ask as I look out the giant windows to the city.
"That's privileged information," Zayn says jokingly. He walks over to where I am with a cup of coffee. He sits at the table and looks at me. "I have rich parents."
"What a coincidence," I mumble and take a sip of my tea. "So do I."
"Well that's just astonishing," Zayn says and smirks. I smile and he leans back in his seat. "It doesn't hurt that the whole gang thing pays very well."
I nod in understanding. I burst of thunder startles me and I jump.
"Looks like it's storming," Zayn says just as rain begins to pour out of the sky, beating on the windows.
"Yeah," I say and take a deep breath.
"That's a shame," he muses and looks outside. "Now I can't wow you with the balcony view."
"I'm wowed enough already," I say and smile.
"That's just because I'm here," he says cockily and sets down his mug. He grabs the tea out of my hands and pulls me to my feet.
"What are you doing?" I ask as I stand.
"I'm going to give you a tour," he says as though it's obvious. "But you aren't going to be walking," as he says the last word he lifts me into his arms. I laugh and loop my arms around his neck. For some reason I don't mind that Zayn is touching me, I know he would never hurt me. With him it's easy, and comfortable. He carries me to the living room.
"You've seen this already so let's just move on," Zayn says and walks down a hallway. He pushes open the first door. And I take in the nice bedroom. "This is the guest room aka your room for the night," he says. I glance around before he carries me out of the room and down the hall again. "This is the bathroom," he says and I kick open the door to look inside. He carries me to the last door and nudges it open. "This is my bedroom," he says. I look around at the dark bedroom.
"Nice place," I say. I look up at him and he's staring at me intently. "What?"
"I'm glad you're here," he says sincerely. Our faces are only about two inches apart.
"Whys that?" I whisper. He smells like expensive cologne and fresh linens.
"Because this way I know that you're safe," he says softly. I tighten my arms around his neck, drawing us closer together.
"Usually I would punch someone if they said that," I whisper. He smirks.
"So why haven't you punched me?" He asks.
Instead of saying anything I press my lips to his gently. He respond immediately and gently. I pull away from the kiss and he stares at me in awe.
"I've never met anyone like you Sage Matthews," he says reverently.
"I've never met anyone like you Zayn Malik," I say.

Notes

Merry Christmas guys!!
ZAGE OR SARRY?
ARE ZAYN AND SAGE GONNA HOOK UP?
HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT HARRYS RELATIONSHIP WITH GEMMA?

alright so I've been thinking a lot about doing a sequel to this novel because I know where the story is going and I think it would be much better if I split it up into two books, thoughts?