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i’ll find you in every single dimension and universe

Chapter 3: so if you were to ask about the pain, i would lie

Notes:

(See the end of the chapter for notes.)

Chapter Text

Liam arrived at Noel's place ten minutes early, despite spending far too long agonizing over what to wear—he'd turned his entire wardrobe inside out in the process. Mam wasn't going to be thrilled about that. In the end, he settled on jeans and a navy flannel. It looked fine, he thought. Presentable.

 

"Off on a date, are you?" Mam had asked with a cheeky grin.

 

Liam had just shrugged. "Meeting a mate."

 

Thankfully, she didn't push. Still, it felt strange, living under her roof again. Like he'd slipped backwards. Then again, this whole thing was backwards—bullocks, really.

 

 

 

 

He knocked on the door with shaky knuckles. Noel answered a moment later.

 

"Hey, mate. You alright?" Noel asked.

 

Liam nodded, offering a hesitant smile. Noel stepped aside to let him in.

 

The flat was small—a studio—but not unpleasant. Band posters on the walls, fairy lights strung up like an afterthought, and a solid collection of records in the corner. It had a homey feel, but it wasn't right. This wasn't where Noel belonged. He belonged in a mansion, with his kids and his friends and his real life. Not here. All because of Liam's stupid wish.

 

"Nice place you've got." Liam said, glancing around.

 

"Cheers. It's usually messier, but I tidied up since I was having company."

 

Company. That's what Liam was now. He used to walk into Noel's house without knocking, drink milk straight from his fridge. Now he was just company.

 

He chuckled dryly. Noel studied him.

 

"You nervous?"

 

"A bit. I don't really play guitar in front of people, so. Not used to it."

 

"Hey. I don't judge."

 

"We'll see about that." Liam said with a smirk. "Might change your mind when you hear my playing."

 

Noel laughed. "Shall we start, then?"

 

"Yeah, sure." Liam followed him over to the sofa and took a seat. A moment later, Noel returned with a sleek black acoustic guitar.

 

He placed it carefully on Liam's lap, handing him a pick. Their fingers brushed—just a second—but it sent sparks through Liam's chest.

 

"Show me what we're working with."

 

Liam cleared his throat, palms sweating. "Alright, uh... this is something I wrote. Ages ago. Real simple, but... my brother liked it."

 

"Go on."

 

Liam started playing Songbird, just the first twenty seconds or so. When he looked up, Noel was watching him with quiet interest.

 

"I can see why he liked it." He said. "Does it have lyrics?"

 

"Yeah, uh—hold on." Liam reset his fingers on the fretboard, started over, this time singing a short verse. When he finished, he looked up, waiting.

 

Noel's face was warm with surprise. "That's... really good. Your voice is amazing, mate. Took any lessons?"

 

Liam grinned. "Nah. Got hit in the head with a hammer."

 

"What—seriously?"

 

"Yeah. Got knocked in the head, decided to be a singer the next day. That's the story."

 

"That's—well, that's new. Never heard that one before." Noel said, chuckling. "But seriously, you've got a gift. Great breath control, your timing's solid, and your voice is raw, in the best way."

 

Liam blushed. "Cheers."

 

"Alright, now—" Noel leaned in, taking the guitar back. "Think you could play something like this?"

 

He strummed through a progression, mostly barre chords—definitely trickier on an acoustic than on electric.

 

"I could try." Liam took the guitar again and gave it a go. One of the chords sounded a bit off, and of course Noel noticed.

 

"C-sharp minor. Try it again?"

 

Liam adjusted, tried again. Still not perfect, but better.

 

"Good start," Noel said, kneeling beside him. "Try putting your thumb here instead." He reached out, adjusting Liam's hand. Their fingers touched again, warm and deliberate, and it sent fireworks through Liam's body.

 

By the time they wrapped up, Liam could actually play the song—not perfectly, but definitely not shite. Now Noel was lounging back on the couch, absentmindedly strumming random chords as they talked.

 

"How'd you get so good at playing?" Liam asked, chin propped on his hand as he watched him.

 

Noel shrugged. "Grew up in foster care. My guitar was the only thing that was mine, y'know? Everything else belonged to the families. So when I felt shit, I'd play. It helped."

 

Liam nodded slowly. It hurt, hearing that—this version of Noel, growing up in the system. Still, maybe better than growing up with their da. He couldn't know.

 

"What about your family? They support you doing music?"

 

"Yeah. Mam's brilliant, really. She backs whatever I do. My brothers too..." He paused. Lie carefully now. "My oldest brother's always chasing work, but he's cool. The other one's off being a roadie for some band. He's the one who taught me to play. He's amazing at it."

 

Noel's eyebrows rose. "He taught you all this?"

 

"Mostly. Before he went away."

 

"Must be nice. Having two brothers. Always wanted one.” Noel said softly.

 

Liam bit his tongue hard. Too many things he wanted to say. Things he couldn't.

 

"Your dad not in the picture?" Noel asked.

 

"Nah. Mam left him. He was a fat cunt who used to hit us. So yeah—definitely not winning Father of the Year."

 

"Sorry to hear that." Noel said, still playing gently.

 

Liam cleared his throat. "Y'know... you're really good. And my band's actually looking for a lead guitarist. Would you be interested?"

 

Noel paused, fingers halting mid-chord. "You takin' the piss?"

 

"No, for real. We could use someone like you. You're impressive. Thought maybe you'd want to meet the lads, do a rehearsal?"

 

Noel stared at him, then looked away, eyes dropping to the guitar in his lap. He seemed to be thinking hard.

 

"I mean—no pressure, obviously." Liam added quickly. "Just a one-off rehearsal. The lads are cool. Proper funny. Could be a laugh?"

 

Noel gave him a puzzled look, then slowly shook his head with a smile. "Alright, mate. What the hell. One rehearsal, yeah?"

 

"Exactly."

 

"Right. Count me in."

 

 

 

 

 

•••

 

 

 

 

 

"I miss me kids, man…" Liam said suddenly, taking a sip of his pint.

 

Bonehead studied him, then took a swig of his own. "Still wild to me that you're some divorced dad with actual children. Never thought you'd turn out like that."

 

The pub was packed, music a bit too loud for comfort. Maybe Liam was getting old— like proper old.

 

"Like what?" Liam asked, squinting at him.

 

Bonehead shrugged, then changed the subject. "So tell me about your kids."

 

Liam let out a breath. "They're all brilliant, honestly. Lennon—my eldest son—is in a band, does a bit of modelling too. Molly's my daughter, she's amazing. Proper clever, got a university degree and everything. And Gene, my youngest, he's in a band too, and does modelling for big names like Burberry and that. I'm proud of all of them."

 

"Sounds impressive." Bonehead said.

 

"People say they only made it 'cause of the Gallagher name. Maybe that's true a little. Gave 'em a boost. But they've got talent of their own, every one of 'em."

 

Bonehead leaned back in his seat, still watching him. "Sometimes I think you're full of shit and this is all a wind-up. But then you say stuff like that, and I believe you."

 

"Wish it was a joke, mate." Liam muttered.

 

"Are we still friends? In that mad universe you're from?"

 

" 'Course we are. We even play together sometimes—even though Oasis broke up over a decade ago."

 

Bonehead blinked slowly, like the name hit differently now. "Oasis." he said. "Christ. What if this is your universe, though? You just time-traveled back, and your reality's gone for good?"

 

Liam shook his head. "God, I hope not. I just wanna get the hell outta here, go hug me kids, tell 'em all about this. Gene'll take the piss. Molly won't believe me, but she'll try to look understanding. Lennon'll half-believe it, then team up with Gene to take the piss together."

 

Bonehead gave a small, sad smile. "So... you told Noel about joining the band, yeah?"

 

"Yeah."

 

"When d'you wanna do rehearsal, then? I'm takin' my gran to the hospital tomorrow."

 

"Not tomorrow, then. We haven't sorted it yet."

 

"What you gonna tell Guigs and Tony?"

 

"That I made a new mate. That he's godlike on guitar and I want him to rehearse with us."

 

Bonehead raised a brow. "Not gonna mention your little crush? Or the time travel bit?"

 

"I've got a feeling they won't be as chill about it as you."

 

"Nah…" Bonehead said with a smirk, raising his glass. "They're not as high as I am."

 

Liam laughed, clinking his pint against Bonehead's. "Cheers to that."

 

 

 

 

 

•••

 

 

 

 

The room was thick with the kind of noise that felt like home. Drums thudded, amps buzzed, and Liam's voice soared over the chaos as they barrelled through the end of Helter Skelter. Tony came in a bit late on the last fill, Guigs was grinning like a loon, and Noel—Noel was on fire.

 

Not literally. But nearly.

 

His guitar playing was sharp, instinctive, like he'd been doing this with them for years. Liam caught himself watching him again, a little too long, a little too obviously, and shook it off by diving straight into the opening line of Come Together, voice low and drawling.

 

"You lot really gonna make me sing John and Paul tonight?" he said during a lull, tossing his head back, sweat sticking to his fringe.

 

"You're the one who said you were born for this!" Bonehead called from behind a tangle of cables.

 

"Yeah, well, I lied."

 

Everyone laughed.

 

Liam leaned against his mic stand, watching Noel fiddle with his pedals, casual and confident like he belonged here. Like he'd always belonged here.

 

He turned to Bonehead and muttered. "You gave me a certain look when you first met him."

 

Bonehead just smirked. "Still giving it."

 

Another round of chuckles. The band rolled into Rain next, and Noel jumped in without being asked. Seamless. It made Liam's chest ache a little.

 

By the time the set wound down, the room smelled like sweat and cheap beer, everyone grinning and loose. Liam clapped Tony on the back, then tugged at Noel's sleeve.

 

"Oi. Come here a sec."

 

Noel followed him into the hallway outside, still holding his guitar pick like he wasn't sure whether to pocket it or toss it.

 

"What's up?" he asked, leaning against the peeling wall.

 

Liam hesitated for a beat, licking his lips. "So... we're playin' a set at The Boardwalk this weekend. Just a little gig. Nothin' massive, but enough to get seen."

 

Noel raised an eyebrow. "Alright..."

 

Liam shifted, hands in his pockets. "You were great today, mate. Proper brilliant. I was wonderin' if you'd wanna... join us. Play the gig. See where it goes."

 

Noel blinked. "Join the band?"

 

"Yeah. If you want." Liam shrugged, trying to sound casual. "Could use someone who knows what the hell they're doing on guitar. Plus, you don't talk much. That's a bonus."

 

Noel huffed out a breath, half-smile forming. "Dunno. Sounds like a headache."

 

"Could be…" Liam agreed. "But it could be fun too."

 

There was a long pause. Then Noel said, quietly, "Fuck it. Alright. I'm in."

 

Liam grinned—wide, real. "Yeah?"

 

"Yeah. Just don't make me sing."

 

"No promises."

 

They both laughed. From inside, Tony shouted, "You two done makin' out or what?!"

 

"Just about!" Liam called back, still looking at Noel.

 

And for the first time in a long time, something felt like it was falling into place.

 

 

 

 

 

•••

 

 

 

 

 

The street was mostly empty, slick with rain from earlier, the sky still smudged with grey. Liam walked with his hands shoved deep into his coat pockets, trainers splashing through shallow puddles as he went nowhere in particular. Just walking. Just thinking. Just trying not to.

 

He stopped when he saw the phone box. One of the old red ones, chipped and fogged up, half-forgotten on the corner by the off-license. Something in his chest tugged.

 

Without really deciding to, he stepped inside. Shut the door behind him. The scent of rust and damp paper clung to the glass walls. He dug into his pocket, pulled out a few coins, and dropped them in with a rattle.

 

His fingers hesitated over the numbers.

 

Then he dialed.

 

He could hear the ring on the other end. Once. Twice. Again.

 

No answer.

 

He waited anyway. Just in case. Just one more second.

 

The line went dead with a soft click. His breath fogged up the glass in front of him.

 

Liam pressed his forehead to it, eyes shut.

 

"...Sorry, kid," he whispered. "Didn't mean to leave."

 

There was no reply, of course.

 

Just the silence of a world that hadn't made him a father yet.

Notes:

im so glad y’all are enjoying this fic i thought it would flop cause the idea came to me after binge watching supernatural and the matrix series while high as fuck didn’t expect people to actually read it lol thank y’all so much for the support, love ya!!!