Hey Robi! For you - a Ziam misunderstanding caused by Louis’ impetuousness.
130. Good. I hope you feel bad.
“I didn’t expect him to react like that, Liam, I swear!”
"Oh fuck off, Louis! You do this shit all the time!” Liam dialed Zayn’s number again, certain it was futile. The calls were going straight to voicemail. It was obvious he’d turned off his phone.”Damn it! When will you learn to keep your damn mouth shut?”
“I thought he would be excited for you!” Louis flung up his hands, defensiveness turning to conciliation. “He’s always been so proud of everything you’ve accomplished, and the offer is a great opportunity for your career. How was I supposed to know he’d get upset? Honest Liam, I didn’t mean any harm. I’d take it back if I could.”
“Good. I hope you feel bad. It still doesn’t excuse the fact that you were meddling in things that didn’t concern you, especially when you didn’t know the whole story.” Liam closed his eyes, taking a deep breath to compose himself. “I didn’t accept the firm’s offer. I had no intentions of accepting it - not when it meant having to relocate to New York. Everything I love is here, and that includes Zayn!”
“You’re not leaving?” Liam spun around at the sound of Zayn’s voice behind him..Zayn stood in the doorway, his eyes red- rimmed, his face a mask of confusion.
“Of course I’m not leaving. And even if I had considered the offer, I wouldn’t have made a decision without speaking to you first.”
Zayn stepped further into the room, his gaze fixed on Liam. “And the other thing you said? About love? Did you mean it?” He reached for Liam’s hand.
“I - uh,” Liam grimaced, shooting a death glare at Louis. “Yeah. This wasn’t how I imagined telling you, but yes. I’m in love with you. I’ve been in love with you for almost as long as we’ve been dating. Remember when we saw Infinity War and I cried when Tony died? You didn’t think I was being dramatic.” Liam glanced down at their intertwined fingers, then back to Zayn’s face, “You just held my hand and acknowledged my pain. That’s when I knew.”
“Knew what?”
“That you were it for me. You let me be a dork, let me by myself, whether that means three piece suits, or jeans and t-shirts. High class restaurants and five star dining, or the greasy kebab shop on the corner.”
Zayn stepped even closer, one hand braced against Liam’s chest, the other curling around the back of his neck. He leaned up,pressing a soft kiss against Liam’s lips, before he pulled away. “Take the promotion, Liam.”
“But why would I? My life is in London.” Liam brushed his lips across Zayn’s, whispering, “You’re in London.”
“And I can be in New York, or Cairo, or San Francisco, or anywhere else they might want to send you. I can write and teach anywhere your job takes you, if you’ll let me. Home is right next to you, wherever you are.”
Liam captured his mouth in a searing kiss full of promise. Lost in each other, they missed Louis slinking out the door.
“Louis!” Zayn’s voice hissed through the headset. “He’s here again!”
“He who?” Louis replied.
Zayn leaned back to peer around the espresso machine and across the backline at his friend.
“The guy! The cute one!” Zayn hissed again. “Swap places with me.”
“How is that even fair? I take all the orders, and now you want me to make them, too?”
Louis glanced over toward the door as he answered, already knowing who Zayn was referring to. The bloke had been coming into the coffee shop almost every day for the last few weeks.
“C’mon, Lou. Let me cover the register. I’ll buy you FIFA coins.” Zayn wheedled.
“Why? So you can stare moonily at him, then whinge for hours about how you didn’t have the balls’to get his name? Not fucking likely.”
“Language, Louis.” NIall’s voice interjected over the headset from his office in the backroom.
Louis glared at Zayn. Zayn surreptitiously flipped him off, huffing moodily when Liam stepped up to the register Louis was manning.
“I do know his name! It’s Liam, and he likes mocha fraps with double whip.”
Louis ignored him, and Zayn shot frequent glances down the counter while he worked on preparing orders. He fought down a red wave of jealousy at the casual way Louis and Liam chatted, reminding himself that Louis was damn near married to his boyfriend Harry, and was just being sociable.
The printer whirred again, spitting out the order Louis had just sent through.
HAH! A mocha frap with double whip.
As he’d done for the past two weeks, Zayn took the time while the blender was running to draw a quick sketch with his sharpie on the side of the cup - today it was a rose similar to the one tattooed on Liam’s hand. The blender finished, and he poured out the drink, adding the ordered extra whip, and topping it off with a drizzle of chocolate. He called out Liam’s name as he placed the drink on the counter, offering a shy smile to the attractive man when he thanked him.
Liam smiled when he picked up the cup and saw the drawing..
“You’re really talented.”
“Thanks,” Zayn shrugged. “It helps break the monotony.”
“Oh. Yeah. I guess it would.” Liam said, sounding disappointed.
Which, odd, but -
“Zayn!” Jesy shouted, not bothering to use the headset. “Orders are backing up, love.”
“Guess that’s my cue to leave ” Liam inclined his head with an apologetic smile. “See you tomorrow.”
“Right. Tomorrow.” Zayn hesitated for a second, then turned to walk away.
“Hey, Zayn?”
Zayn whirled back around, surprised Liam knew his name. “Yeah?”
“Thanks for the drink,” Liam lifted the cup, “and the art.”
Zayn watched Liam’s eyes flick between the drawing and the tattoo on the back of his hand, a confused smile lifting the corner of his lips before he backed away toward the door.
“See you tomorrow, Liam!” Louis called out.
“Same bat time, same bat place,” Liam answered him with a laugh. He paused at the open door, calling back to Louis one more time. “Don’t forget, okay?”
Louis nodded, giving Liam a thumb’s up, already moving on to the next customer.
“What was that all about?” Zayn asked.
“Nothing important,” Louis replied, his voice breaking up through the headset.
Another surge of customers pressed into the cafe, leaving Zayn to stew over Louis’ secret while he hustled through the sudden influx of drink orders. It wasn't until their shifts were ending that he was able to press Louis for more information.
“What aren’t you supposed to forget?” Zayn shoved his apron into the bag of dirty linens, side-eyeing Louis whilst he waited for an answer.
“Told you it wasn’t important,” Louis replied, his tone nonchalant, the satisfied smirk on his lips belying the casual response.
“Seriously, you are the most infuriating person on the face of the earth!” Zayn jerked his backpack out of his locker. “I don’t know how Harry even puts up with you.” He slammed the door shut. “Fine. Keep your secrets. See if I care.”
“Are you done having a strop?”
“No - because I’m not having a strop.I asked a simple question and you’re being a dick.”
“Can you shut up for five minutes?”
“Why? So you can continue being a smug bastard?”
“No.” Louis held up a piece of paper. “So I can decide whether or not to give you Liam’s phone number. But hey, if you’re not interested, I can just-”
Zayn lunged for the piece of paper. Louis jerked it away, shoving it into the pocket of his jeans, planting his other hand against Zayn’s chest to stop him from barrelling Louis over..
“Oh no you don’t. Not until you you grovel with the appropriate level of deference.”
“You’ve got to be shitting me? For what? So you can give me a piece of paper that was obviously intended for me?”
“No, for convincing Liam you’re aloof indifference was a put on to disguise your enormous crush on him.”
“You fucking didin’t!” Zany reached for the corner of the slip of paper visibly hanging out of Louis’ pocket.
Louis twisted away. “No, I didn’t, but I could have.”Louis stepped away, putting the trash can between them. “Liam, on the other hand, tends to wear his emotions on his sleeve, even when he thinks he’s being subtle. He wanted to know if you were single. When I said yes, he offered his number and asked me to pass on a message. He’d like to take you out, if you’re interested.”
Zayn eyed his friend skeptically. “No bullshit?”
“Absolutely zero. Cross my heart..” Louis outlined an ‘X’ over his heart with his finger.
Zayn lunged again, twisting Louis’ arm behind his back and snagging the piece of paper from his pocket. He released Louis to check the paper, expecting to find a drink order or something equally stupid scrawled on it, Instead, he found a short note in unfamiliar handwriting.
Dinner and a movie?
Call me -
A phone number followed, and Zayn stared at it, then pulled his phone out of his back pocket.
“You’re calling him now? What happened to aloof and uninterested?”
Zayn flipped Louis off, opening the door of the back room. The call connected, ringing once before being answered.
“Hello?”
“Is -uh - Is this Liam?”
Zayn heard a sharp intake of breath.
“Yeah, this is Liam.”
It’s Zayn. From Pret. I’d love to go to dinner on Friday-”
The door closed behind Zayn, separating him from Louis’ gloating smile.
6, 29, 52, 54, 57. Brb I didn’t finish reading. I was afraid I’d forget some.
fallinglikethis said:
83,88,94,97,100
****
No way am I doing all of these! I have fics to plot and write!
I’m combining one prompt from each of these lists - 57 and 94 -
57. We could get struck by lightning, but you want to kiss in the rain.
94. You’re an idiot. I married an idiot.
“This weather is absolute shite!” Zayn said, staring morosely out the large window.
“So you’ve been saying since you woke up this morning, mate.” Lous joined him to stare out at the sky, rain sheeting down the panes of glass. He clapped Zayn on the shoulder. “It’s England, what did you think the weather was going to be like?”
“It wasn’t supposed to rain - not today.” Zayn flopped on the divan, kicking his stockinged feet up on the table in front of him. “How could you let this happen, Lou?”
“Shit, of course!” Louis sat down next to Zayn, falling across his legs in a mock faint of despair. “How remiss of me, as best man, to not ensure Mother Nature didn’t piss on the Malik-Payne wedding. Will you ever forgive me?”
“You’re a dick!” Zayn shoved him on the floor, laughing at his friend’s theatrics, before a wistful smile overtook him. “I just - I wanted it to be perfect. Liam deserves a perfect day.”
“Aww, Zee, the weather isn’t important. You’re marrying the one person willing to put up with you, and all your friends and family are here to witness it.”
The door opened while Louis spoke, Zayn’s mum entering and overhearing what he said.
“Is he fretting? Are you fretting, Zayn?” Trish hustled over to her son. “Oof, son, get up! Get up before you wrinkle your trousers!”
Zayn rolled his eyes, but stood up. “So, what? I can’t sit the rest of the day?”
“Don’t you be cheeky with me Zayn Javadd Malik. And stop fussing. Rain on your wedding day is good luck. A wet knot cannot be untied easily, sunshine.”
“You are one of the wisest women I know,” Louis interjected, pressing a quick kiss to Trish’s cheek.
“And you’re a charmer who I rarely take seriously, but I’ll take this.” She patted Louis’ cheek. “Now go check on Liam whilst I finish getting this one ready.”
***
As much as Zayn wanted to memorize every minute of the wedding ceremony, the majority of it passed in a blur, the only thing he could focus on being Liam’s face - his shy crooked smile, the single tear that slid down his cheek, the earnest determination as he spoke the vows they’d written together.
And then the officiant spoke the words he felt like he’d been waiting for his whole life -
“Ladies and Gentlemen, please join me in congratulating Mr. and Mr. Malik-Payne as they share their first wedded kiss!”
Zayn cupped the side of Liam’s face, leaning closer to press their lips together, sinking into Liam’s arms on a deep sigh of contentment. The room erupted in applause, and the bubble Zayn had spent the last few hours in burst open, everything dragged back into crisp, technicolor focus, but all he saw was Liam - his husband.
“We did it.” He whispered against Liam’s lips.
Zayn felt Liam’s smile in his reply. “We did. I love you.”
“I love you too. Forever.”
“To infinity and beyond.” Liam said, his amusement bubbling out in nervous laughter.
Zayn rolled his eyes as he pulled away, tangling his fingers with Liam’s when they turned to face their friends and family. “You’re an idiot. I married an idiot.” He muttered under his breath.
“You did. I’m you’re idiot, though, and you love me.” Liam lifted their joined hands, brushing a kiss across Zayn’s fingers and the ring he’d slipped on his hand just minutes before.
They moved together down the aisle and were quickly enveloped by their parents in hugs, a flurry of well wishes raining down on them.
***
The reception swung into high gear after dinner, Zayn and Liam making their way around the room to stop at every table and thank their guests for coming. On their second trip around the hall, they passed near the large windows that framed the main entrance. The rain had softened to a misty drizzle, the stars barely visible through the heavy, leaden clouds. Liam pulled Zayn to a halt next to him, starring contemplatively at the door.
“What’s wrong?”
“Do you trust me?”
I fucking hope so - I just promised to spend the rest of my life with you.”
A smile graced Liam’s mouth. He teased a soft kiss across Zayn’s lips. “Come with me.”
“Come with you where? We have a room full of guests.”
“Outside.” Liam took a step toward the door, stopping when Zayn tugged on his hand.
“Have you lost your mind? It’s raining.”
“And?”
“Our tuxedos will be ruined.”
They’re insured. Given our friends, I wasn’t taking any chances of them being irreparably damaged at our expense.” Liam pulled Zayn against him and slid his arm around his waist. “Please, babe?” Liam cajoled.
Zayn softened, but still hesitated. “Why are we going outside?”
“I want to kiss you in the rain.”
Zayn leaned back to stare into Liam’s eyes “How much have you had to drink?”
“Not a drop.” Liam kissed Zayn again. “I’m drunk on love.”
Oh my God! You really are an idiot.” Zayn exclaimed with a laugh, but allowed Liam to pull him out the front door and under the overhang.
A roll of thunder greeted them, followed by a crack of lightning, the storm suddenly intensifying to a heavy shower.
Liam let go of Zayn’s hand and stepped out into the rain to spin in a circle with his arms outstretched.
“Come on, Zee - kiss me in the rain.”
Another roll of thunder, another dazzling streak of lightning illuminated the sky, setting Liam in stark relief against the storm raging around him.
“you’re insane!” Zayn shouted over the deluge, even as he watched Liam, entranced by his unbridled joy. “We could get struck by lightning, but you want to kiss in the rain.”
Zayn took a tentative step forward, and Liam swooped in to pick him up and haul him out into the parking lot, his laughter surrounding them. Zayn cradled Liam’s face, staring into his eyes.
“You’re ridiculous,” he whispered, his eyes already drifting closed as he leaned into Liam’s gentle kiss.
Liam loosened his hold on Zayn’s waist, allowing him to regain his footing, even as Zayn’s head spun at the emotion pouring out from Liam.. Zayn gasped at the nip on his bottom lip, opening his mouth to Liam’s delving onslaught. Zayn had no idea how long they stood there, tasting, seeking, their breaths coming in short huffs as their lips melded over and over. The rain slowed again, and still they kissed, the world washed away. Renewed, like the promises they’d made in their vows.
listen, if i told you what my favorite parts of the fic were, i would pretty much just be copy/pasting the whole thing in a message. the description of the farm! how both liam and zayn were BOTH 3 dimensional characters with independant motivations! the main conflict between them and how it related to the secondary conflict between zayn and simon! the fact that the ending wasn’t “and everything turned out perfectly and nothing was ever bad again”! i love it so much.
and another thing: your liam characterization was really compelling. it wasn’t the same cookie cutter one a lot of people use (and there’s nothing WRONG with that characterization, but it’s not the only way to read him). sksksks i just love the whole thing.
**********
Oh! I’m tearing up. What amazingly kind things to say!
The farm was so much fun to research and write. When I was a little girl - up until about 10-12 years old - my step-grandmother’s family had a cottage up the mountains of Pennsylvania, so I was already loosely familiar with the area. Researching the vineyards, the types of wine that grow, and creating the bed and breakfast was a challenge, but I relished every bit of it as it was coming to life. And then, the beautiful artwork Jinny created for me, capturing some of my favorite elements.
Liam is so much more complex than most people give him credit for, and I love exploring facets of his personality. I’m so happy it hit right in the reading.
While I like to believe in happily ever after, these two still had a lot of external conflicts to deal with. To imply all was well and perfect would have been a fallacy. The epilogue will not be all sunshine and roses as the work through the complications of their relationship and Liam’s career, but I hope its realistic and true to the original story when it wraps everything up. Your lovely messages have inspired me to re-tackle working on it.
Hello, darlin’ and thanks for sending one in! I have soooo many of these to do! OMG! I didn’t expect that at all!
You’re first -
111. Delete it. Now.
Liam had tossed and turned all night, the unbearable heat in his bedroom driving him out to the slightly cooler living room in the wee hours of the morning. He cracked open the garden window, hoping for any shred of a breeze to dispel the oppressive heat that had settled over London for the past few days. Sweaty curls clung to his forehead, his earlier shower proving useless in the sweltering temperatures.
He’d been so uncomfortable the day before, he’d even gone so far as to dig out a pair of clippers, all but begging his flatmate to shave his head. Zayn had demurred, insisting Liam would regret the decision once the weather broke. Easy for him to say. Zayn always managed to look like a walking wet dream.
Liam had almost foregone the flat in favor of asking the stunning man out, but he’d been desperate to find a place to stay, and the price was too good to pass up. He’d tamped down his attraction, settling for developing a friendship with Zayn when he discovered how much they had in common. In the weeks since he’d moved in and come to know him better, though, Liam had only become increasingly more infatuated with his flatmate.
He laid down on the sofa and tucked a pillow under his head, breathing a sigh of relief when the curtain rippled from a cooling waft of air. He fell into a fitful doze, his dreams, as they often were lately, filled with visions of Zayn.
He was woken a few hours by a repetitive clicking sound, and the sense of someone moving around the room. He cracked open one eye, his face mushed into the sofa, to find Zayn leaning casually against the door frame, his camera in hand and focused on Liam. Another shutter burst sounded, followed by Zayn lowering the camera to offer him a slow lazy smile that shot a wake-up call straight to Liam’s cock.
“Morning, Liam.”
Groaning, Liam snapped his eye shut again.
Do I even want to know why you’re taking my picture?”
“Free lance work. Photo spread on how people are coping with the heat.”
“There’s no coping - we’re all slowly melting away.” Liam groused. He rolled onto the floor, shoving himself to his feet, belatedly remembering he’d foregone pants in favor of comfort when he’d gotten out of the shower the night before. He turned quickly, adjusting the loose fit off his basketball shorts in a futile attempt to hide his obvious semi. Another burst sounded from the camera, and Liam flipped his flatmate off over his shoulder. He staggered down the hall toward the bathroom to take a piss and a cold shower.
When he reopened the door, a towel wrapped around his waist, Zayn was lying in wait again with the camera.
“Can you fucking not?”
Zayn looked up, his eyebrow quirked over the admiring glance he dragged down Liam’s wet torso.
“The camera loves you. It’ll make a great centerfold.”
Well it feels like cheap porn. Delete it.” Liam reached for the camera, but Zayn jerked it out of his reach, dancing back a few steps.
No, I don’t think so.”
“Damn it Zayn!” Liam lunged for the camera, grabbing hold of Zayn’s wrist “Delete it. Now.”
Liam never knew if what happened next was an accident, or an intervention by fate. As Zayn twisted away, he tripped on the carpet, and fell into Liam. The towel around Liam’s waist came untucked, slithering to the floor, and the two of them fell on top of it.
“Oops.” Zayn said, his voice muffled against Liam’s chest. A burst of laughter followed, Zayn’s leg sliding between Liam’s naked thighs. Liam gasped at the unexpected friction against his cock, and they both stilled. Zayn’s breath ghosted across Liam’s skin. Liam shivered, his hands grabbing Zayn’s hips. The stifled moan Zayn uttered proved Liam’s undoing.
He hauled Zayn up to eye level, his mouth desperately seeking Zayn’s in a hard kiss. Zayn parted his lips, welcoming the onslaught Liam unleashed, tongues sliding around each other, their breaths coming in heated gasps as they pressed into each other. Liam felt the hardening of Zayn’s cock and rolled his hips against it. He slid his hands under the elastic waist of Zayn’s joggers to grasp his ass.
Breathless, Liam broke the kiss and asked, “Your bed or mine?”
Hey! Just finished live a thousand lifetimes and oh my god that was a Trainwreck of emotions all one after the other. Absolutely loved their dynamics, and the last two chapters just about killed me. Quick question, if you feel up to answering: have you given any thought to writing the z+Lou conversation? The one that's bound to happen at some point after the end? If yes, do you feel like sharing? If not, I'm just gonna make up and angst that ends in hugs piece in my head. Love love loved it xx
Oh love, those last two chapters are brutal - I hope you had a strong supply of tissues, chocolate, and alcohol.
Long answer, short - yes I have thought about it. I am actually working on an epilogue that takes place over the year following Zayn showing up at the press conference. I am so focused on making sure I line things up properly, I legit plotted out an entire world tour, and the epilogue will consist of multiple timestamps during the tour when Liam and Zayn are able to carve time out together.
I work a job that is considered essential, and things are still a bit crazy now, so my writing has slowed down a good bit, but my hope is to finish that over the next month to six weeks. Hope that answers your question.
And since you’ve been so lovely, please find a snippet of the epilogue under the cut - there are no major spoilers- just a bit of Zouis for you.
“Do you think it’s fair?” Louis asked, taking a step closer.
“Do I think what's fair?” Zayn pinned Louis in place with a hard stare.
“The lies by omission. Everyone - the media, the fans, hell even the record label -all think he’s involved in a secret relationship.”
”He is, isn’t he?”
“They think it’s a woman, Zayn.” Louis tilted his head, a grimace curling his lips. “He shouldn’t have to deal with the speculation, the innuendo, every time he’s spotted near a member of the opposite sex.”
“You think it’s wrong for me to keep him in the closet.”
“I didn’t say that.”
“You didn’t have to.” Zayn sat down on an amp. “I’ve thought about it, you know. I almost came out years ago, but I worried about what the repercussions would be for Liam if I did.”
“Fair.” Louis walked over, motioning to the spot next to Zayn. Zayn nodded in wary acquiescence, and Louis made himself comfortable.
“Is this where you tell me if I can’t let Liam be himself, I need to let him go?”
“Nah, mate.” Louis stared off into the distance, his thoughts obviously somewhere other than where he sat. “I have no right to sit in judgement. No one does.”
“Then why ask?” Zayn paused, then asked the real question pinging around in his mind. “Has Liam said something?”
“Zee-” Louis paused, and Zayn tensed. It was the first time Louis had used his nickname since before he’d left the band. “Even if it bothered him, he’d never say a word. He’s still floating in a love haze, and as far as he’s concerned, everything is fine.”
“You disagree.”
“You know me, or at least you did. I worry.”
“I love him, Louis. I’ve been in love with him for almost half my life.” Zayn rubbed his hand across the back of his neck. “I’m not planning on going anywhere. He’s it for me.”
“I get that. It’s how I feel about Harry.” Louis stared at his hands resting in his lap, twisted the engagement ring on his finger. Zayn knew only a small part of everything Louis and Harry had been through over the years, but he had an inkling how monumental it must have been for Louis the first time he’d worn that ring in public. “But the lying was hard. Harder on me than Hazza, and it bothered me even more every time he had to lie to protect me.”
I just finished reading your northern lights fic and I couldn’t help but tear up at the end the whole thing was so lovely and the ending was just beautiful it was such a delight to read 😊
This was so lovely to receive tonight!
I loved researching that story - so much so that I would love to make the trip myself! And oh my gosh, even covered in snow, it looks so peaceful and serene!
Isa did such a beautiful job on the artwork, and the manips she made of Louis and Harry were so absolutely perfect! I found tons of pics for her, but what she created was beyond my wildest dreams. I even found pictures of the the exact ring style that I described in the fic, so I would have a reference. I’d considered using the picture of the ring for the section breaks in the story, LOL
Thank you so so much! I’m thrilled you enjoyed reading it!
Hey. Rumor has it that you’re looking for a new writing project. May I humbly suggest a Ziam au of the song Costume Party by Lauren Duski? Oh my gosh, I’m getting chills just thinking about what you’d do with it. ❤️❤️
OH FUCK MY LIFE
I’d never heard that song until now, and SHIT - this may have to happen, cause I freaking love it!
