late nights with zayne driving back from a date
cw: just fluff and bit of angst
Zayne's arms move with ease, biceps flexing and veins tensing with each bend the car turns, left hand expertly turning the wheel as the right rests warmly on your thigh. He glances at the car clock, which reads 11:03 pm.
After what seemed like weeks, he had finally been able to get a reservation at the restaurant you had been practically preparing to perform a summoning on the ground of your apartment bedroom for. After returning from work and walking into the house and seeing candles lit in a circle on the ground for the past not one, not two, but three days, Zayne had gone to whatever ends he had to, finally succeeding when he found out Greyson knew the owner's son.
To say it had been worth it was an understatement; Your wide eyes and bright smile as you threw your arms around his neck when he told you he was taking you there at the heart of Linkon tonight had left him weak. In between watching you excitedly take clearly over a few dozen pictures, go off like a chatterbox about each and every dessert you knew about, and feed him spoonful's of everything that was served with eyes that were nothing short of shining diamonds, he was nothing but a lovestruck fool drowning in a type of honey much sweeter than the one on his tongue, obediently listening to your matter-of-fact talks like the smartest student in the class having gone dumb for you all of a sudden, eating whatever you fed him with no care or concern of the cavities he would get the morning after.
Now, as you both drive back home, Zayne's eyes land on a white speck of something that floats by in the air. A moment later, another lands on the outside of the windshield, near the top where the rearview mirror is. It's snowing.
"Would you look at that, sweetie. I see even the tiny snowflakes couldn't miss out on the fun tonight, hm? They just had to join us," Zayne's low, warm voice fills the inside of the car.
There's no response. Eyes still on the road, Zayne's eyebrows tense.
The response he receives is nothing but the silent sound of the engine. As tempted as he is to turn and take a quick glance at you, safety always comes first. Always, especially when you're in the car with him. Zayne handles your life like a precious gem, guarding you and protecting you with his own like the blessing you are.
When the next red light finally comes, Zayne gently halts the car, turning to look at you immediately.
As soon as Zayne's eyes land on you, he goes silent.
Shoulders bent forward in a slumped over position, your curtain of long, sleek hair delicately frames your drooping face, and partially covers the eyes shut closed underneath it.
Laying eyes on your sleeping figure, an uncontrollable wave of warmth and tenderness wash over Zayne, sweet, sticky honey oozing through the broken cracks in his heart and mending them back together, making him whole again. Unable to hold back the corners of his lips that curl into a gentle smile, he lifts his hand, reaching for you.
Delicately taking hold of your chin, Zayne's warm fingers caress the smooth skin. His index finger grazes down along the thin line of your nose, lovingly brushing past the tip of the bone. His thumb runs lightly over your plump lips, fallen open slightly in your slumber, then gently glides over the soft skin of your cheeks where your lipstick is smudged from when he kissed you earlier. The rosy shade matches with the bright red dress he gifted you for your anniversary last year, the one you look oh so beautiful in right now.
A single pearl dangles from each ear, swaying back and forth, back and forth, as the car vibrates silently. Zayne's eyes drink in your gorgeous neck, adorned by the necklace you insisted on wearing today, the one with the thin gold metal chain and a single ruby hanging from it.
Zayne's tender gaze falls on your delicate hands, fingers still wrapped loosely around the take-out box you wasted not a second on stuffing with leftovers when he gladly let you. He can't hold back a soft smile to himself, chuckling under his breath. It reminds him of a hungry little squirrel named Clopidogrel with its dear acorn.
Your silver ring gleams in the faint moonlight from overhead. Hand descending, he takes the single snowflake that gleams on the metal band in his hands, the elegant jewel that he remembers as once having been so cold in its box when he first bought it, now pleasantly warm to the touch after having come in contact with your heat. The same way he did when you came into his life.
Zayne's gaze rests on your subconscious form with a sense of tenderness he once would have never imagined he could even feel. You, the angel who came into his life and blessed him by taking his hand. Bound yourself to him, rested on him, gave him a place to rest, a place to live. Lifted him, saved him.
Zayne blinks. And blinks again.
He can't move; it's just not possible. You're too gorgeous like this, the moonlight spilling in through the window and showering over you like an angelic existence, the soft glow that illuminates the delicate features of your face. He's too full of love and warmth, he might just explode. Zayne's heart can't take it anymore. He can barely breathe, stunned into stillness for a moment. It's too much for him.
So much so that tears come to his eyes.
There, in the peaceful silence, Zayne finds himself falling in love with you all over again.
Lips quivering, Zayne's breath stutters, heart hammering in his chest. He opens his mouth. Amidst the losing struggle of holding back the liquid that wells up in his eyes and threatens to spill at any moment, a single string of words comes out.
He says it like a hushed promise, in a low whisper, like he's making a secret confession before your drooped over form. One he is doubtful you will ever hear.
Your slumped head moves forward subconsciously, teetering on the edge for a moment before Zayne gently catches your chin in his warm palm. A low purring sound comes from the bottom of your throat, and then a faint murmur. Zayne has to strain his sense of hearing to make you out over the silent whirrr of the engine. The words are almost inaudible, but they're there.
"mm... love... you too..."
Zayne's eyes widen. He's about to open his mouth to speak again, but suddenly the dim light bathing your stilling figure turns from red to green. He has no choice but to turn back to the wheel.
As his left hand takes the wheel again and his right moves to gently run his fingers through your soft, smooth locks, your words echo in Zayne's mind again and again. Taking a shaky breath and swallowing the lump that has formed at the pit of his throat, a tender smile adorns Zayne's face.
As the tears he failed so desperately at holding back finally fall free down his cheeks in slow, delicate waterfalls, Zayne maneuvers the car through the streets of Linkon, headed back home. But his mind is barely on the road ahead.
No matter what, he will protect you. You've given him everything, everything. So much that a man like him could never be deserving of. No, he's too unworthy for you. No matter what the cruel, merciless world throws at you or at him. He will protect you. Even if the cardiac doctor himself has to one day rip out his heart with his own bleeding hands, even if he has to carve the wounds of Astra deeper into his arms with the blade of his own self-inflicted agony, he will. But he will never, ever leave your side. Never.
Swallowing again, this time a bit more slowly, Zayne tilts his head to rest it on your drooping shoulder. When he says it again, his voice is still low, still tender, but a bit more firm this time. A bit less hesitant. A bit less scared.
a/n: Hi guys. β€οΈ I haven't written in a while. I can't keep track of time well, but its been around a few months at least. I have quite a lot of requests, and I would like to apologize since I haven't been doing well. But I will be getting to those as soon as I can. For now, this oneshot is just a little thing I thought of at like 10 in the night, its not that good in my opinion honestly but im hoping it will help get me back on track. I just want you guys to know that each and every one of you matter to me so much. Even after not having been on tumblr for so long, each and every message and comment I see coming back after all this time have truly made my day. I feel seen, and I really appreciate any reblogs and comments so i can make you all feel seen as well. Please don't ever hold back from expressing your gratitude to others. I've tried doing this for years and am now just plain out regretting it. You guys are the reason this blog stays up and about, and the reason I stay up and about. although i technically run this blog, i do it so someone out there can feel better, feel loved after reading my work. its like a connection between all of us. I couldn't have made it even this far without all of you. welp i wrote so much in this a/n. anyway that being said ill be trying my best to get back on the grind with requests and other things soon so pls do stay on the lookout! π once again thank you so much from the bottom of my heart. β€οΈβ€οΈ ill see you all on the next one and pls do feel welcome to keep dropping in those requests i love seeing them fill my inbox everyday! bye! β€οΈβ€οΈππ
