Chapter Text
PART 1: Ship of Dreams
“Titanic was called the ship of dreams. And it was, it really was.”
– Titanic, James Cameron (1997)
April 11, 1912 -- 9:00 PM
The night air is shockingly cold and sharply scented with the sea air, and Liam Payne is sprinting down the length of the deck of the RMS Titanic. He has no real destination in mind; he is aiming only to get as far away from his mother and his fiancée Sophia as he can. The soles of his shoes slap on the wet wood, his chest is starting to feel tight from running but the freezing air feels pleasant on his flushed face. He can see the stern of the ship, stars glittering in the velvet black sky overhead. He reaches the rail and leans far over, gazing down at the inky water that seems like it's miles away from where he stands.
He could do it; he could throw himself off the ship and end this. He wouldn't have to go back to America, he wouldn't have to marry Sophia, and he doubts anyone would miss him if he were gone. Sophia only cares about him for his surname and the fortune that is sure to come with the title of being Mrs. Liam Payne. His mother is only concerned that he carry on his father's family name by marrying and giving her grandchildren. There isn't a single person that actually loves him, that cares about what he wants, no one that he feels even remotely close to. He could be in a room full of people and still feel like he was all alone.
Liam climbs onto the first rung of the railing and then the second, and swings his leg over, gingerly balancing his feet on the thin rail. He feels hot tears streaming down his face, can see clouds of vapor in front of him from gasping, trying to catch his breath. Clutching the iron railing feels like holding an ice cube in his hand, numbingly cold. Waves lap the hull of the ship at least 100 feet below him. His whole body is starting to feel numb-- all he has to do is let go of the railing and he'd be falling down and down...
"Don't do it," comes a male voice from behind him. Liam has actually succeeded in climbing over the rail and is slowly turning himself around to face the churning water below. Startled, he looks behind him to see a boy around his own age standing about 10 feet from him on the deck. He's shabbily dressed, definitely not first class, wearing an over-sized dark colored jacket over a collared shirt and baggy slacks.
"Don’t come any closer!” Liam calls out. “And I don't think that's any of your business if I do." He's trying not to let the stranger know that he's choking back tears. Liam turns back and looks down at the water. He is nauseatingly high up and his heart is thudding uncomfortably in his chest-- come on just do it, what are you waiting for, end it...
"I beg your pardon, it's just that if you do, I'll have to jump in after you." The boy says. "And that water is going to be awfully cold so I'm really not looking forward to it." He has a very distinct, and not unpleasant to listen to, Yorkshire accent.
Liam turns back around to stare in shock at the boy. "You don't know me so don’t presume to tell me what I will and won’t do."
"I saw you running towards the back of the ship, looking upset and I followed you to make sure you weren't going to cause any harm to yourself. I'm personally involved now. You jump, I jump." The boy sounds haughty but Liam doesn't face him again to see his expression.
"Why? You don't even know me, why would you follow a total stranger? And just what makes you think that I would care if you tried to stop me? Leave me alone!" Whoever this boy is, he needs to just leave so Liam can get this over with.
"I can't, I told you I'm involved, I wouldn't be able to live with myself if I didn't at least try to stop someone from jumping to their death, even if I don't know that person. I do have a conscience, you know,” replies the boy.
Liam scoffs at his words, disbelieving that a total stranger would be concerned for his well being when even his own family wouldn't.
"Plus, it's in my own interest to try and stop you because like I said, I really don't fancy jumping in after you. Have you ever jumped into water that cold before?" Liam is becoming increasingly more irritated by this boy who is clearly just trying to distract him.
"No," Liam allows. The water, reflecting the black night sky, swirls ominously below him.
"Well I have and let me tell you, water that cold? It feels like being stabbed, you can't breathe, you can't think. Trust me, drowning in water that cold would likely the most painful way to go that I can think of," the boy says, solemnly.
The longer that Liam stalls his jump, the thought of actually doing it is becomingly overwhelmingly scary and coupled with what this boy has just said, it's starting to make Liam question what he's doing standing on this railing.
Slowly and carefully, Liam turns himself around once more to see that the boy has removed his shoes and his jacket and is rolling up the sleeves of his button-down shirt. The boy has a cigarette balanced between his lips and a single strand of silky raven hair falling across his face. His olive skin is the color of coffee with the just the right amount of milk in it and his jaw is sharp with just a hint of black stubble. And the boy’s eyes… Liam couldn’t make out what color they are from where he stands but they're large and intense, framed by thick, long lashes.
He is the most startlingly beautiful person Liam has ever seen.
The handsome boy takes several steps closer to Liam and reaches out his arm. He smirks, his face seems almost familiar and for some reason Liam finds himself feeling safer in the boy's presence.
"Stay back," Liam warns, unwilling to let the boy know he's considering accepting his help.
"Just take my hand. Climb back over, you don't want to do this. Please," the boy pleads. "Let me help you."
Liam feels like a cornered animal. It's been a long time since Liam can remember someone sincerely wanting to help him, and yet here is this complete stranger, willing to help, acting like he truly cares. It almost makes Liam want to start crying again and he feels relieved, confused but relieved. There's something about this boy that makes Liam want to trust him.
"Ok," Liam mutters, turning himself around and shifting his weight so he's clutching the railing with only arm. He stretches out his right arm towards the boy. The boy closes the distance in a few strides and fits his warm hand with Liam's.
"Right... er, what's your name?" The boy asks.
"Liam. Liam Payne." Liam answers.
"Nice to meet you Liam Payne. I'm Zayn Malik," the boy replies. "Right, Liam, just hold my hand and climb back over the railing, can you do that?" Zayn asks, holding his cigarette between his teeth.
Liam nods and braces himself on the railing, pulling himself up so he can swing his left leg over the rail. He leans heavily on Zayn, counting on him to keep him from losing his balance, and he manages to get his right leg over as well. Zayn holds onto him the entire time as he gets both feet back on the deck and finds himself face to face with Zayn, who makes eye contact with Liam.
They look into each other's eyes for a beat longer, and Liam feels his cheeks burn as Zayn's eyes then move over his face. They both seem to realize at the same time that they're still holding hands. Liam glances down at their hands and Zayn grins, his tongue pressed behind his teeth and he lets go of Liam's hand.
"Er... thank you." Liam says finally. Zayn takes a drag on his cigarette, the tip glowing amber against the black sky. He turns away from Liam to blow out a mouthful of smoke.
"So are you going to tell me what happened that upset you so much that you thought you had no other way out?" Zayn asks him. Liam looks down at the wet deck and shakes his head. He hopes that Zayn will walk away if he keeps staring at the ground long enough. He feels emotionally drained and unable to even think about discussing his feelings.
"Is this young man bothering you, sir?" A man calls as pair of crewmen jog towards them.
"No, no, it's fine." Liam assures them, and he sees the angry flush rise in Zayn's cheeks.
"Well, in any case what's a respectable young man like yourself doing in this part of the ship? You must be aware that this is the third class deck." The crewmen's gaze shifts to Zayn with distaste.
"Yes I am. I was, er, I climbed onto the rail to see the water and I... slipped and this gentleman was kind enough to help me regain my footing is all," Liam explains, noticing the look on the crewman's face when he calls Zayn a "gentleman." The other crewman is eyeing Zayn's sock-clad feet and discarded jacket but thankfully he doesn't question it.
"Be sure to alert us if you require further assistance and goodnight to you." They both turn and walk away, leaving Liam alone with Zayn once again. Zayn slides his boots back on and retrieves his jacket.
"I'm really glad you didn't jump, Liam," Zayn says, looking up at him from under those thick lashes. "Partly because I actually can't swim and if I had had to jump in after you, we probably both would have drowned. Also because you seem like a good person and it would have been a shame if you had."
"Thanks... I guess," Liam replies. His brain feels fuzzy and his heart won't stop pounding uncomfortably fast in his chest. "I should be getting back to my cabin," Liam apologizes. Zayn nods and says, "I understand. I should probably go too."
"Perhaps you would be able to have some discretion to keep this just between us, Mr. Malik? I don't want anyone else to find out what happened," says Liam hesitantly.
"Sure thing, your secret's safe with me." Zayn nods again, "I hope I'll see you around, Mr. Payne." He turns to throw his cigarette off the side of the ship and gives Liam a smile and a wave as he walks away, leaving Liam to wonder about the strange boy who can't swim and was willing to risk his own life to save Liam's.
April 12, 1912 -- 10:00 AM
Zayn is sitting as close as he is allowed to the latched gate that separates the first class quarters from the third class promenade, on an unbelievably uncomfortable bench. He's been sitting here all morning, hoping to see Liam after the first class passenger's breakfast is finished.
His friend Louis and Louis' new Irish friend Niall are sitting at a table opposite him, already drinking glasses of warm beer and playing a card game. Zayn's right leg is bent, his foot resting on his left knee, his sketchbook balanced on his lap. He's been trying to focus on drawing the mother with her two children who are sitting on the first class deck above him. All he's been able to come up with are a few jagged outlines, the charcoal smudged across the entire page and coating the side of his hand.
More and more first class passengers are now spilling onto the deck overhead meaning breakfast has finished. Zayn scans the crowd for Liam and is able to pick out the boy's scowling face. He is walking beside a very pretty girl with sleek brown hair who is talking animatedly to him. Liam is staring in his direction, but Zayn isn't sure he's really looking at him until Liam's face changes, his eyebrows raise and his eyes widen. He looks away and says something to the girl, pointing down at the third class deck. The girl frowns but kisses his cheek and walks away.
Zayn watches in disbelief as Liam makes his way down the stairs and opens the gate at the bottom of them, letting himself into the third class section. He walks over to Zayn with a shy smile on his face. He's wearing a crisp white collared shirt, paired with a grey suit vest and matching grey slacks. Liam sits on the bench next to Zayn, offering him his hand which Zayn shakes.
"Good morning, Mr. Malik," he greets in his cute Birmingham accent, sounding more cheerful than he did last night, though it seems oddly forced.
"Hello, Liam," Zayn says, forgoing calling Liam by his surname. “It’s nice to see you again.” Louis whips his head around at the mention of Liam's name. Zayn told Louis about meeting Liam last night but he's stayed true to his word. He has kept Liam's secret. Louis nudges Niall and whispers to him and they both look back at Zayn, grinning.
"Would you like to go for a walk with me? I’d like to talk with you. In private," Liam asks, clearly eager to be away from curious eyes and ears that have already taken notice of Liam's entrance onto the lower deck. Zayn has no doubt that Liam's obviously high class appearance will continue to draw attention wherever they go but he agrees anyway. Zayn stands, closing his sketchbook and tucks it under his arm.
“I never got a chance to properly thank you for last night,” Liam says once they're walking along a section of the third class promenade that's less crowded.
“You don’t have to thank me,” Zayn objects. He hates feeling like Liam thinks he owes Zayn for saving his life or something; it makes him feel so guilty.
“Yes, I do. If you hadn’t of been there, who knows what would have happened.” Liam refuses to meet his eyes, choosing to look out over the water, squinting in the bright sunlight.
“Well, if it makes you feel better then, you’re welcome. But I don’t make a habit of rescuing strangers and I don’t want anything from you, if that’s what you’re thinking,” Zayn says defensively.
“No, no, it’s just I’d like to repay you somehow, is all…” Liam starts but Zayn stops him.
“I don’t want you to, Liam. I just want to get to know you, if that’s okay.” Liam nods in agreement.
They walk in silence for a bit until Zayn decides to break the tension by asking, “So what brings you aboard the RMS Titanic, young Liam?” and is relieved when Liam chuckles.
He explains that he is returning to America because his mother wants his wedding to his fiancée, Sophia to be in Pennsylvania. He tells Zayn that he'd much rather stay in Wolverhampton but his mother and her parent's have insisted they marry as soon as possible now that they are both of age. Liam seems reluctant to explain why they have to get married so soon, so Zayn doesn’t pry.
Zayn tells Liam about how his friend Louis had been lucky enough to win their tickets aboard the Titanic in a poker game. Zayn has no real reason to go to America but Louis had insisted that it would be an adventure and he can't say no to Louis. He's hoping that maybe he'll be more successful with his art in America, which is the land of opportunity after all.
They circle the deck several times before Liam looks at his watch and explains that he needs to be back for lunch or his mother will be worried. It's so easy talking to Liam that Zayn hasn't noticed until now that nearly two hours have passed.
"I'm sorry, I'd really like to stay and talk some more." Liam sounds sincere, his warm brown eyes apologetic.
"That's alright," Zayn replies. "Perhaps we'll be able to talk again soon."
"I'd really like that." Liam smiles, blush creeping up his rounded cheeks.
"I'll walk you back to the stairs," Zayn offers. They walk together to the gate and say goodbye again as Liam climbs the steps and disappears into the crowd of people.
Zayn goes back to sit with Louis and Niall, and takes a sip of beer from Louis' glass which is now lukewarm from sitting in the sunlight.
"Have a nice little walk with your boyfriend?" Louis teases causing Niall to dissolve into laughter.
"He's not my boyfriend, Lou. And he's engaged. To a woman," Zayn answers, bitterly.
"Well don't sound too upset about that Zayn, jealousy doesn’t suit you," Louis says. "I'm all in," he tells Niall, placing his fan of cards face down on the table.
"What are you playing for, neither of you have got any money," laughes Zayn.
"Shut it, Z. You in or you out, Horan?" Louis raises his brow, smirking at Niall.
"I'm out," says Niall, his face falling as he puts down his own cards. Louis reveals that he'd been bluffing with a malicious laugh as Niall groans, "Tomlinson, you complete arsehole ." Louis beams and leans forward over the table to collect what appears to be the contents of Niall's pockets.
Zayn takes out his pack of cigarettes and matchbook from the inside pocket of his coat and lights up. Despite the two boys arguing beside him, Zayn finds being on the deck of the ship rather relaxing. He leans back in his chair and shuts his eyes, enjoying the sunlight warming his face and the sound of the gentle crashing waves.
His thoughts keep drifting back to Liam though, and how luck had been on both their sides last night when Zayn had happened to be wandering the deck at the exact time that Liam had been trying to kill himself. He isn’t sure if he believes in fate but he suspects that their meeting had been more than a coincidence.
He’s never met anyone like Liam before, someone so instantly trusting and fragile. Someone that he had felt an instant connection with; that's a whole new concept for Zayn. Everything about Liam reminds Zayn of something or someone- he just can't put his finger on what.
Zayn had stopped paying attention to Louis and Niall’s bickering but he tunes back into their conversation when an unfamiliar third voice joins in.
“And this is Louis’ mate, Zayn. Zayn, this is Harry.” Niall is saying. A boy with thick, dark curls, green eyes and a cheeky smile is sitting next to Niall, hand outstretched towards Zayn. Zayn shakes Harry’s hand and introduces himself. Apparently Harry and his family are sharing a cabin with Niall’s family.
Harry recounts to other three a very long story about almost not being able to get tickets for the Titanic because the money that his father had sent from America had gotten lost in the mail. Harry has a slow, deep voice and a unique and slightly frustrating way of making stories drag on for much longer than necessary in Zayn’s opinion.
Louis and Harry are arguing about the logistics of bartering in a marketplace as Zayn stubs out his cigarette. Niall challenges him to game of poker even though Zayn insists he can’t play for shit. But the more he gets to know the Irish boy, the more Zayn likes being around his easy smile and genuine appreciation for life. Niall ends up beating him without even trying and Zayn isn’t even angry to be handing over two cigarettes and some change.
“Like I said to Niall though,” Harry is saying, “The key is not to tell ‘em how much money you’ve got and just keep saying so and so’s got it for cheaper. And then you’ve got them right in your pocket.”
“I like him,” Louis says to Niall, pointing to Harry.
“I knew you would, Tommo!” Niall grins.
The bell signaling lunch rings as Louis is telling Harry about the party that his and Zayn’s bunkmate had told them about.
And suddenly Zayn has a brilliant idea.
April 12, 1912 –- 8:00 PM
Liam still has no idea how Zayn had managed to get the note to him.
He’d been sitting in the lounge, only half listening to the conversation that Sophia and his mother were having, when a steward had approached their table.
“Mr. Liam Payne?” He’d asked and then he’d handed Liam a folded note and left. Liam opened the paper and read:
Meet me on the third class promenade, 8 o’clock tonight - ZM
And so now Liam is passing through the gate leading to the third class section and has set off in search of Zayn. Zayn is still such a mystery to him. From their conversation earlier on in the day, he’d learned so much about Zayn but he craves more. Zayn’s world is unfamiliar and frightening to him but there's something about it he's so attracted to.
Or is the attraction to Zayn himself? He isn’t sure yet.
It doesn't take long for him to find the other boy lounging on a bench, a book balanced on his lap. Zayn looks up with a smile when he sees Liam and gestures for Liam to sit beside him.
“You came!” Zayn smiles. Liam laughs and offers Zayn a cigarette which he accepts and Liam strikes a match to light both of their cigarettes. Zayn leans closer so Liam can light the end of the cigarette.
“How did you get the note to me, though?” Liam asks, exhaling smoke.
“Well, Niall, did you meet Niall yet? Don’t worry you will,” he says when Liam shakes his head.
“Yeah, Niall’s mate Harry volunteered for it because Louis thought he would be the most charming.” Zayn answers and Liam’s eyes widen.
“So Harry snuck into first class,” Zayn continues with a mischievous glint to his eyes, “And gave the note to the first steward he saw and told him to get it to you. We sweetened the deal with a couple pounds. Louis owed me money from ages ago.” Liam is speechless.
"C’mon, let’s go a party!" Zayn suggests with a grin.
"What kind of party?" Liam asks, but Zayn's already taking his hand and standing up.
"The good kind of party!" Zayn answers, looking back at Liam over his shoulder as he leads Liam by the hand towards a door marked “Third Class Entrance.”
After being dragged down several flights of stairs lined in stark white paneling, Liam can hear loud music, people laughing and cheering and glasses clinking. He and Zayn are suddenly in a cramped room full of people dancing and clouds of smoke. There is a group of people playing fiddles, bagpipes and drums, the music is different to the type of music he's used to but he finds like he likes how it makes him feel; warm and excited. Similar to how being with Zayn makes him feel...
Zayn takes two glasses of dark beer from a nearby table and hands one to Liam. Liam takes an experimental sip, he's never had beer this dark before and he's pleased to discover that he doesn't hate it. It's no champagne, but it's earthy and rich and warms his entire body so he drinks the entire glass.
He feels the pounding rhythm of the drums like they're inside his body and his heart is racing. Combined with his hand in Zayn's, the beer and the crowd of loud strangers, he feels a sense of euphoria like he hasn't experienced since he was a child, riding a horse for the first time.
"C’mon! Dance with me, Liam!" Zayn shouts over the music.
"I don't know the steps!" Liam protests, but allows himself to be tugged into the swarm of people dancing.
"Neither do I, just go with it!" Zayn snakes his arm around Liam's waist and Liam discovers that Zayn's right about making the steps up. He relaxes into Zayn's embrace and tries not to think too much about what his hips and feet are doing.
They spin in fast circles, jumping to the rhythm of the drums, hands linked together. Zayn lets go of Liam and starts to do an uncoordinated sort of Irish jig, out of time with the music. Liam copies him and Zayn's beaming at him, laughing with his nose scrunched up, and whooping when Liam dares to do a spin, kicking his feet carelessly.
Zayn takes both his hands again, crossing their linked hands over each other and starts to tug on Liam until they're both leaning away from each other, anchored in the middle by their joined hands.
"Zayn, no!" Liam giggles as Zayn laughs louder and starts to spin them in a fast circle. Liam can't help it and lets out a scream that's louder and less manly than he wanted it to be. Zayn yells, still laughing as they spin faster and faster, and all Liam sees is Zayn's face, the rest of the world a blur as he tries to keep from stumbling.
The song changes and Zayn stops their spin but still holds on to one of Liam's hands. A boy with bright blue eyes and light brown hair calls to Zayn.
"Louis!" Zayn yells. "This is Liam!"
"Liam!" Louis yells back, "This is Eleanor!" he nods to the pretty girl whose head is wrapped in a burgundy scarf that he's dancing with. Eleanor's free hand is snatched up by a laughing blonde boy as a line of people all holding hands sweeps a large circle across the dance floor. Louis grabs Liam's free hand and Liam tugs Zayn along as the crowd moves in a circle, dancing to the pounding music.
When the song ends, the blonde boy who Zayn had introduced as Niall hands him another glass of beer which Liam downs gratefully. He's vaguely aware that he shouldn’t be getting drunk and should probably head back to his rooms before his mother or Sophia send someone to go looking for him. And if they find out that he's at a party in steerage, he won't be allowed to roam the ship freely until they reach America.
Liam tries to tell this to Zayn but once he opens his mouth, he can’t remember what he wanted to say and Zayn looks so happy and carefree. Zayn is now dancing next to Louis and Eleanor, a full glass of beer sloshing over his hand and splattering the floor. He raises the glass to drink and ends up dribbling some down his chin which Liam finds adorable. He's not sure if the alcohol or the atmosphere is to blame but he can’t take his eyes off of the beautiful boy in front of him. Liam really wants to kiss Zayn. Which—no, he shouldn’t want to kiss him, should he?
Before he can think too much about it, Liam finds himself calling to Zayn, who looks over at him, beaming in Liam’s direction. He reaches out and puts his hand on Zayn’s shoulder, his other hand behind the other boy’s head and he kisses Zayn. He hears Zayn’s gasp of surprise, the crash of the beer glass shattering on the floor and feels Zayn’s smile against his lips and Liam is unable to contain the laugh that escapes him. He reluctantly pulls away from the kiss to find Zayn laughing too, golden brown eyes burning bright like embers in the darkened room.
“I’m sorry-I-“ Liam begins but Zayn doesn’t allow him to finish.
“What’re you sorry for, love?” Zayn slurs, running the back of his hand over Liam’s cheek.
“I’m-you’re-we’re drunk-and I just-I don’t know why I-“ Words are pouring from Liam’s mouth faster than his brain can process them and he's cut off by Zayn pressing his lips to Liam’s own once more.
Zayn wraps his arm around Liam’s waist, pulling him in close. Liam feels Zayn’s tongue pressing into the seam of his lips and he parts them, allowing Zayn to lick into his mouth. The kiss is sloppy and both his and Zayn’s mouths taste like beer but it's better than any kiss Liam had ever had. Liam feels like he's simultaneously on fire and freezing cold; the heat of Zayn’s mouth and then softness of his lips and tongue have Liam’s brain spinning.
When they break apart, both trying to catch their breath, Zayn's grinning widely and Liam hugs him, spinning them to the music. They dance until the end of the song and then go to join Louis and Niall at a very crowded table where several passengers are playing poker. Louis offers him and Zayn cigarettes as well as shots of whiskey from a bottle that Niall is wielding.
At the table is another boy that Liam hasn’t met yet but he guesses he must be Niall’s friend Harry. Harry is just as charming as Zayn had mentioned he was and Liam can easily see him sneaking into first class without getting caught.
Harry is traveling with his mother and sister to meet his father in America, the same as Niall but Harry is from Cheshire and Niall from Mullingar, in Ireland. Louis, he learned, is traveling alone to America leaving his mother, five sisters and a brother in Doncaster in order to try to get a well-paying job and a better place to live so he can send for them eventually.
The five of them as well as Eleanor and a pretty blonde girl she introduced as Perrie, sit and talk while they all recover from dancing. Zayn has Liam’s hand clutched in his own under the table and they're sitting so close to each other that their thighs press together. Zayn keeps rubbing circles on the inner part of Liam’s hand and shooting him smiles. Liam is finally breathing easier, when the other 5 members of their group get up to dance again and Zayn pulls him to his feet back to the dance floor.
The alcohol is pleasantly clouding Liam’s brain but he remembers with a jolt once they're dancing again that he needs to leave. He tries to push the thought to the back of his mind again but it persists. He pictures his mother’s disapproving expression and Sophia’s stern stance, arms crossed and brow furrowed.
“I need to go,” Liam slurrs in Zayn’s ear.
“What?” Zayn calls and Liam repeats himself.
“Nooo, I don’t want you to go, Liam, stay and dance with me!” Zayn pouts, tightening his grip on Liam’s hips.
“I don’t want to go either, but I really have to. My mum’s going to murder me. She’s probably already sent out a search party for me.” And he doesn’t want to leave, Liam thinks he could stay here in Zayn’s warm embrace, feeling pleasantly drunk but he can't ignore the way his heart is pounding thinking about what will happen if he gets caught down here.
“Do you want me to walk back with you, then?” Zayn asks.
“Please.” Zayn smiles and takes Liam’s hand in his own, lacing their fingers tightly.
“Louis! Niall! I have to take Liam back before his mum gets worried. I’ll be back!” Liam waves goodbye to everyone and allows himself to be led from the below deck space.
They climb several flights of stairs again until reaching a sign in a darkened corridor that reads:
Notice: third class passengers are not allowed beyond this point
“When can I see you again?” Zayn whispers, not wanting to disturb the people in the surrounding rooms.
“I think I can get away again tomorrow?” Liam says, unsure. “Maybe after lunch?”
“Do you want to meet on the third class promenade again?” Liam nods in reply and Zayn nods back.
“I really enjoyed tonight with you, Liam,” Zayn says, brushing Liam’s hair back gently.
“Me as well.” Zayn leans in and kisses his cheek and then meets Liam’s eyes. Liam kisses Zayn's lips, not wanting to break apart, and in that moment, he wants to do nothing more than kiss Zayn for the rest of his life.
As he watches Zayn’s figure descending the stairs, Liam suddenly panics, already feeling lonely again.
“Zayn!” he hisses. Zayn freezes and spins to face Liam.
“Yeah, Liam?”
“Nothing I just-“ Liam stumbles, “I’ll miss you.”
“I’ll miss you too, Liam. But I’ll see you tomorrow, okay?” Zayn’s expression is soft and Liam wants to go with him, he doesn’t want to finish climbing the stairs on his own, he wants Zayn by his side.
“Tomorrow,” Liam breathes and returns Zayn’s smile.
April, 13 1912 – 2:00 PM
Zayn is sitting on the same bench on the deck of the third class promenade, trying again to focus on the sketch in front of him, waiting for Liam. A warm body sits down beside him on the bench and Liam says, “I didn’t know you were an artist!”
“I’m not,” Zayn says, closing the book, embarrassed. The sketch is terrible, just an outline of a woman’s face in profile, strands of her hair blowing across her face.
Liam slides the sketchbook from his lap before he can protest and starts flipping through the pages in awe.
“Zayn, you’re incredible! You could sell these!” Zayn feels his ears burn as he tries to grab the book back. Liam had turned to the page where he had drawn two men in a pub, heads bowed in deep conversation.
“Thank you, but I’m not really. My sister’s a much better artist than I am, actually.”
“Your sister?” Liam asks.
“Yeah, my older sister, Doniya,” Zayn explains.
“I didn’t know you had a sister. I have two sisters, Ruth and Nicola, but they live with their father back in Wolverhampton,” says Liam.
“Their father?” Zayn questions him.
“Yeah, their father left my mum when Ruth was a baby and then she met my father. I’ve only met them twice,” says Liam, sadly.
“Oh, I’m sorry. I have 3 sisters, Doniya, Waliyha and Safaa. They live in Bradford with my mum and dad.” Zayn doesn’t want to elaborate on the fact that he hasn’t seen them since he left home when he was 15 at his father’s insistence that he get himself a good job.
Liam continues to look through his artwork, pointing out the ones that he really likes and praising Zayn.
“Could you draw me?” Liam asks suddenly, looking up at Zayn, brown eyes wide.
“Draw you? Sure, Liam, if you want me to?” says Zayn fondly.
“Right now?” Liam asks.
“Er, alright. Do you want to go somewhere a bit more… private?” Zayn looks around at the other occupied benches near them and the people walking past where they sit.
“Okay,” Liam says, brow creased as he thinks. “We could go to my suite?” he suggests.
“Really?” Zayn says, heart racing for some reason.
“Yeah, Sophia and my mum said they’ll be taking their afternoon tea and then going for a stroll on the deck. They should be away for a few hours.”
“If you’re sure it will be okay?” Liam nods in response. “Alright, let’s go!”
Liam removes his heavy black coat to reveal he's wearing a lightweight blazer under it. He gives it to Zayn to wear so he can blend in with the other first class passengers better. The coat is clearly expensive, lined with wool and it smells like Liam’s clean scent and Zayn decides right then that he's not ever going to give it back to Liam. Zayn follows Liam, sticking close behind him, as they enter the first class section of the ship. No one seems to notice that he doesn’t belong as they walk side by side down corridors and take an elegantly decorated gold elevator up several floors.
When Liam finally stops in front of a large ornately carved door, Zayn’s heart is racing with excitement. They enter the suite and Zayn gasps as he takes in the lavishly furnished parlor, which leads into a bedroom that is at least ten times the size of his own quarters.
He sits on a cream colored couch, trimmed with gold, and reclines against the silken pillows. Liam stands before him as if he's awaiting Zayn’s instructions.
“Er, sit in that chair facing me,” he says gesturing to a chair identical in style to the couch. Liam drags it a bit closer to the couch and sits down, asking, “Here?” Zayn nods to him.
“And just, uh turn to your left a bit… good… eyes on me,” Zayn instructs, until there is a nice crisp shadow on the left side of Liam’s face, highlighting the sharpness of his features.
“Can I-“ Liam starts to say, cheeks red. “Do you think it would be okay if I took off my shirt?” he finishes, looking away from Zayn.
Zayn laughs, hopefully to put Liam more at ease. Of fucking course it's okay with Zayn if Liam wants Zayn to draw him without a shirt, what a silly question.
“Sure if you-if you feel comfortable with that…” Zayn trails off and Liam nods already pulling off his blazer and unbuttoning his shirt.
Zayn contains his gasp of surprise at seeing Liam’s sculpted biceps and shoulders, the smattering of dark hair across his very solid looking chest, leaving a trail down over his navel and disappearing into his trousers. The muscles in his stomach are clearly defined, rippling under his golden skin as he shifts out of his shirt completely.
Zayn isn’t prepared for this, he’s thought about what Liam would look like under his clothes but seeing the real thing is frankly better than he’d imagined. He swallows and can feel his face burning, Liam’s own cheeks are already pink.
“D’you want to maybe switch? I think you might be more comfortable on this couch and I could sit in the chair?” Zayn suggests, possibly for his own benefit of seeing Liam lying shirtless on the couch.
“Yeah, that’s a good idea,” Liam agrees.
They switch their seating arrangement, and Liam reclines against the pillows, with his feet still on the floor.
“Make yourself comfortable,” Zayn urges. “Remember, you’re going to have stay in this position for a while.”
“Right,” Liam agrees and he swings his legs up onto the couch. Zayn re-assesses how Liam's now sitting and the new shadows and lines he's creating.
“Can you put your arm up behind your head?” Liam raises his right arm instead of his left like Zayn had wanted and Zayn laughs. “Other arm… okay, yeah like that.”
“How do I look?” Liam asks pulling a dramatic face.
“Just relax your face,” Zayn laughs. “Good… alright and just- try not to move.”
Zayn flips to a clean page in his sketchbook, and sets to work creating an outline with his charcoal pencil. He starts with Liam’s face, trying his best to capture Liam’s likeness. He eventually loses himself in the drawing, pausing only when Liam starts snickering and he has to reprimand him for it.
“Liam, stop giggling,” Zayn's trying to hold back his own laughter.
“I’m sorry, I couldn’t help it. You just look so serious…” Liam laughs.
“Come on, Li, if you want me to do this properly, I need you to just relax. Can you do that for me?” Zayn asks. Liam’s complexion is more flushed than before but he nods and he's able to resume his expression from before.
Zayn painstakingly sketches every strand of Liam’s light brown hair, curling around his ears and at the ends where his fringe lies over his forehead. He brings to life Liam’s kind brown eyes under his full eyebrows, the curve of Liam’s plush lips, the large freckle on his cheek, as well as the smaller one closer to his nose… the birthmark on his throat, the light dusting of stubble over the hardness of his jaw… Zayn draws Liam’s broad shoulders, the smooth swell of his biceps, his toned forearms littered with more freckles, his large, soft-looking hands…
When he gets to Liam’s stomach, he feels himself flushing as he carefully sketches each dip and curve of Liam’s abdominal muscles. Liam starts laughing again, distorting his musculature, as the hard planes of his stomach tighten. Zayn admonishes him again and he quiets, covering his mouth with his hand to stifle his giggles.
Zayn licks his lips, trying not to let his mind wander to thoughts of trailing his tongue over those indents in Liam’s hips… and seeing just how far down that trail of hair goes… no, that's completely unprofessional of him, he needs to focus on drawing and getting hard isn’t going to help his concentration.
Nearly three-quarters of an hour have passed with only the sound in the room being the scratching of Zayn’s charcoal and the soft scraping sound of his thumb smudging lines on the page. He stops his work and looks over the drawing; it's nearly finished, he just has to make a few finishing touches. Minutes later, Zayn glances up to see Liam looking at him expectantly.
“Finished?” Liam asks and Zayn nods.
“Can I see?” Liam sits up, looking as excited as a five-year old on Christmas morning. Zayn nods again and beckons him over.
Liam crouches behind him, hooking his chin over Zayn’s shoulder as they both look at the drawing. He hears Liam’s sharp intake of breath and Zayn silently agrees. It's one of the rare times that Zayn's confident that he's managed to capture his subject’s likeness fairly accurately.
“Zayn… you’re-it’s brilliant,” Liam says. “I’m not that fit, though.”
“Come off it, Liam, ‘course you are,” Zayn assures him.
Liam kisses his cheek and says, “I love it, Zayn.”
Zayn signs the bottom--
ZJM. 13-4-12
--and very carefully tears the page out and hands it to Liam.
“ZJM,” Liam reads, “What’s your middle name?”
“Javadd,” Zayn replies and Liam repeats the name trying to imitate Zayn’s pronunciation.
“Zayn Javadd Malik,” Liam says thoughtfully. “Your name is beautiful.” Zayn smiles, Liam is entirely too adorable for his own good.
“Is this for me?” Liam asks, holding up the drawing.
“Yeah, keep it.”
“Are you sure?” Zayn nods a reply.
“Thank you,” Liam says. “I think I have one of those…” he trails off, walking away from Zayn and searches for something on a table and then a shelf on the other side of the room. He turns holding a leather portfolio, which he slips the drawing into and closes it.
“Let me just put this somewhere where it won’t be found,” Liam says heading for his bedroom, pulling his shirt and blazer back on as he goes.
Zayn takes the opportunity to discreetly adjust himself in his trousers, which are feeling a bit too tight. When Liam returns, Zayn suggests that he leave in case Liam’s mother and fiancée return. He doesn’t mean to put so much emphasis on the word fiancée but it isn’t lost on Liam from the scowl on his face.
“I wish she wasn’t my fiancée,” he grumbles. “If it were up to me, she wouldn’t be, but I don’t have a choice,” he says sadly.
“Of course you have a choice, Liam, it’s your life not theirs.” Zayn doesn’t know why Liam feels like he can't choose what he wants for his own life. He must feel so trapped and helpless and Zayn is beginning to understand why Liam had wanted to throw himself off of the ship the other night.
“My mum and dad are making me marry Sophia. Her family is also wealthy and my parents are good friends with her parents. She was promised to my family when she was still a baby, we grew up together and I’ve always known that we were going to get married. I was never able to choose for myself what I wanted because my parents always told me that they know what’s best for me and I trusted them. Until I met you.” Liam hides his face from Zayn as he says the last part.
Zayn feels his heart thudding uncomfortably loud as Liam’s words sink in. Until I met you. He's frantically trying to think of a way to tell Liam that he feels the same way when Liam continues, “When the ship docks, I’m getting off with you, Zayn.”
“Liam,” Zayn says, taking the other boys face in both his own hands, “That’s insane.” He whispers and Liam presses his lips to Zayn’s in response.
“I know, it doesn’t make any sense,” Liam says as they break apart. “But it feels right… we-us together… I feel safe with you. This feels right.” Zayn nods, noticing the way Liam’s eyes have gone glassy, tears threatening to spill over his bottom lashes.
“Me too, Liam.” Zayn is at a loss for words so he just comforts Liam, holding him tight against his own chest and he feels Liam’s arms go around his waist. They stay like that until Liam has stopped sniffling and Zayn reminds him gently that his mother and Sophia could be returning at any moment.
“Yeah, I’ll walk you back,” Liam agrees.
“You better!” Zayn teases, slotting his hand with Liam’s and leads them from the room and back down the corridor.
They kiss goodbye, Zayn pushing Liam against a wall around a corner by the stairs leading down the steerage section of the ship.
“Bye,” Liam giggles, as Zayn takes Liam’s bottom lip between his teeth, hand low on Liam’s lower back.
“Bye,” Zayn parrots, pecking Liam’s jaw, trailing kisses down to the birthmark on his neck.
“I’ll… ahhh … I’ll see you tomorrow?” Liam asks, moaning as Zayn teases the sensitive skin below his ear.
“Definitely,” Zayn agrees, moving back up to kiss Liam’s lips one final time.
April 14, 1912 – 6:30 PM
Liam smiles to himself thinking of the morning he’d spent with Zayn as he sips his red wine. They’d met after breakfast and after playing a quick game of poker with Louis, Niall and Harry, they’d gone for a walk together. That walk had been interrupted by Zayn dragging him to the toilets where they had snogged before someone knocking frantically on the door had forced them to break apart and exit the loo, earning them a startled look of disgust from the older man on the other side of the door. Zayn had tugged them away, both dissolving into fits of laughter as they ran together down corridor after corridor, past people shouting at them to stop running.
Liam pushes the mashed potatoes around on his plate with his fork; his steak is only half finished and he hasn’t touched the sautéed vegetables. Everyone at the table is engaged in several different conversations, but to Liam it's all the same mindless chatter. He feels disgusted just being in their presence, sick to his stomach even just entertaining the idea that this could be what the rest of his life looks like.
He tries to remember his life before he met Zayn, even though that was just a mere 3 days ago. The dread that had plagued him imagining his wedding, being forced to move into an impossibly large mansion with Sophia, her having his children. Endless balls, yachts and parties all with the same people that he's always surrounded by, people he feels nothing for. It's such a haunting sense of detachment he could never quite put into words until now. Ironically, sailing back to America, which was the very thing he had been dreading for months, has actually turned out to the best thing that has ever happened to him. Zayn is the best thing that has ever happened to him.
“Liam, darling, are you feeling alright? You’ve hardly touched your food.” Karen Payne shoots him a stern glare from where she is seated across the table from him.
“I’m fine I’m just not that hungry, mum,” Liam explains. Under the table, Sophia puts her hand on his thigh. He turns to his left to look at her and she smiles at him but her eyes are full of concern. He wants to push her hand away but knows it would be out of character if he does.
Sophia looks very pretty, as she always does, wearing a pale pink dress embellished with glittering stones woven into the lace that covers the plunging neckline. Her dark brown hair is twisted up into an elegant chignon, leaving a few curling bits to frame her face.
She may be beautiful but her feminine softness is nothing compared to the way Zayn’s long lashes almost touch the tops of his sharp cheekbones when he blinks. Or the sound of Zayn’s laughter and the way his tongue pokes from behind his white teeth when he smiles. Or the way that Zayn’s long fingers feel tracing over Liam’s flushed skin… and the plush, softness of his lips moving against Liam’s… the way Zayn tastes, sweet like butterscotch candy with a hint of smoke… what Zayn’s pink lips would look like wrapped around his cock…
“Liam,” Sophia repeats, nudging his arm.
“What?” he asks, mentally shaking himself from his thoughts of Zayn. He looks up to see Sophia staring at him, brow furrowed in concern and annoyance.
“What is wrong with you?” she murmurs through clenched teeth, digging her nails into his thigh.
“I’m actually not feeling all that well, mother, may I be excused?” He ignores Sophia completely and is already standing up from his chair. His mother raises her eyebrows in concern but she nods and gestures to dismiss him. The rest of the people at the table also look at him suspiciously, Sophia’s lips pursed in irritation, and he nods to them as he excuses himself.
Liam isn’t sure what time dinner finishes in steerage or where their dining room is. He wishes, and not for the first time, that there was no such thing as the classes; he wishes that he and Zayn could be free to eat together and spend time with each other without fear of repercussions.
As Liam walks out onto the first class promenade overlooking the third class deck, he spots Zayn immediately, almost as if his thoughts had summoned him. He is sitting at a table with Louis, Niall and Harry. Liam practically sprints down the stairs, almost running into two girls standing at the bottom of the staircase, who shoot him dirty looks.
“Zayn!” he calls and Zayn’s head whips around to face him.
“Liam!” he stands up so fast that his chair is knocked over behind him, his hand of cards lay forgotten on the table. He's wearing the large black coat that Liam had let him borrow over a white shirt and brown slacks.
“I thought you’d still be at dinner?” Zayn reaches him in two long strides and immediately wraps his arms around Liam’s waist and presses a kiss to his lips.
“I left early.” Liam explains, sinking into Zayn’s warm embrace, allowing Zayn’s sweet and smoky scent to envelope him.
“Boo!” Louis protests and starts throwing his cards along with Niall’s and Harry’s at them.
“Oi, what’d you do that for?” Niall yells, scrambling to recover all the cards before they are blown off the deck and into the water, Harry curses as he helped gather the cards.
“I’ll see you lads later!” Zayn calls over his shoulder as Liam grabs his hand and tugs him away.
“Cheers, Zayn, yeah go and have fun with your boy-“ Louis’ shouts faded away as they rush along the deck, hands linked.
“Where’re we going, babe?” Zayn asks him and Liam has no real answer. There's not really any place that they can go but all Liam knows is that he needs to be alone with Zayn.
“I dunno, just want to be alone with you.” Liam grins at him. Hand in hand, they race along the deck and through the stained glass revolving doors into the foyer containing the massive grand staircase. Liam brings them to a stop, looking around, racking his brain for a place, anywhere that they can go to be alone.
“Mister Payne?” a man’s voice calls from behind them. Liam yanks Zayn behind him instinctively, shielding him from view, as he catches sight of a tall man that he recognizes as one of his father's business partners. He's fairly sure the man’s name is Franklin and he's one of the members of the party sent by his father, to accompany Liam’s mother to ensure that they made the journey from Wolverhampton to New York.
“C’mon, we’ve got to run!” he hisses to Zayn, knowing that Franklin had likely been instructed to follow Liam when he left the dinner table to make sure he was returning to his suite as his mother has become increasingly suspicious about his behavior over the past two days. They take off together, weaving through crowds of people standing outside the gymnasium at the bottom of the staircase.
“Stop!” Liam hears Franklin calling after them.
“Who is that?” Zayn whispers.
“One of my father’s mates,” Liam explains why Franklin is chasing them in a low whisper as they sprint down corridor, after corridor.
They reach the elevator just as the attendant is about to close the iron grates. There are a few other people crowded into the small space with them and some shoot Zayn curious looks because they don’t recognize him. Franklin comes to a stop in front of the grate as the elevator starts descending.
Zayn smirks up at him and flips him off just as they're being lowered from view. Liam holds Zayn’s hand tightly behind his own thigh, stifling giggles each time Zayn catches his eye and starts laughing. They're the first ones out of the elevator when it shudders to a halt, the attendant shouts after them to not to run in the hallways.
Liam realizes that they're now on the lowest level of the ship, the same level of steerage that the party he'd attended with Zayn had been. He lets Zayn take over in leading them as this part of the ship is more familiar to him.
“Do you know where you’re going?” he asks Zayn, laughing and feeling high from the adrenaline.
“Not really,” Zayn admits. “I haven’t actually been there but I’m pretty sure that if we can find the baggage room, no one will be able to find us for a while.”
“That’s brilliant, Zayn!” Liam pants, his heart thudding against his ribcage. Fortunately, they don’t run into anyone as Zayn leads them up and down the mazes of white corridors and around sharp corners. They reach a door emblazoned with a gold plaque that reads, CREW ONLY , and Liam breathes out a sigh of relief when Zayn tries the doorknob and it opens onto a set of very steep stairs.
“Too fucking easy!” Zayn laughs.
“Zayn, I don’t think we-“ Liam tries but Zayn cuts him off, “It’ll be fine, Li, I got you.”
It's dark and much warmer than in the corridor as Zayn pulls him onto the steps and Liam tentatively descends the stairs. The further down they go, they can hear men’s voices shouting, deafening machinery and smell an overpowering smell of burning. This must be the boiler room; where the coal powered steam engines are.
They reach the bottom of the fourth flight of stairs and when Liam thinks that they can’t possibly go any deeper into the bowels of the ship, they exit into a vast darkened chamber several stories high filled with grinding machines and massive gears churning. There are several dozens of fires burning brightly and hundreds of men shoveling coal, covered head to toe in soot.
“We really shouldn’t be here,” Liam hisses in Zayn’s ear, pulling him close.
“I know!” Zayn replies with a wicked grin, squeezing his hand and tugging him along.
There is a relatively clear path past the boilers that they're racing along. Liam covers his ear with his free hand in an attempt to drown out the noise and holds his breath to avoid choking on the fumes. Voices are shouting down to them, warning that they don’t have permission to be here and it's far too dangerous. Liam has broken out in a sweat both from the unbelievable heat from the flames and from the adrenaline coursing through him. The door at the far side of the chamber is steadily getting closer and closer as they run towards it.
They skid to halt outside the door and Zayn yanks it open and slams it behind them after pulling Liam to the other side. They are now in yet another corridor, this one shorter and more dimly lit of any that they’ve been in. The door immediately in front of them reads, BAGGAGE , and Zayn pushes it open, cheering that it isn’t locked. Liam collapses against Zayn as the door slides closed behind them. Zayn searches for a lock and succeeds in sliding the golden chain to ensure the door stays shut.
“That… was… mad!” Liam doubles over trying to catch his breath. Zayn pounces on him and catches him around the waist, kissing him. Liam kisses him back, and Zayn is walking them backwards into the room until Liam feels the back of his legs slam into something very solid.
“Ow!” he gasps, throwing out his arms to stop himself from falling into a tall stack of suitcases.
“Shit, are you okay?” Zayn curses, his features a mask of concern.
“’m fine,” Liam assures him, giggling, “Look!” he points to one of several cars in the center of the room. Zayn’s eyes practically sparkle as he realizes what Liam is insinuating.
They reach the car and Zayn stops outside the door, clearing his throat and extending his hand. Liam opens the door for him and helps him step up into the carriage, shutting the door with a snap behind him. Liam climbs up into the driver’s seat and still giggling, affects a Cockney accent, “Where to, sir?”
Zayn leans over the partition and grasps Liam under both his arms.
"To the stars," he whispers against Liam's neck and drags him backwards.
Liam then finds himself pinned under Zayn on the velvet seat, gazing up into Zayn’s mischievous eyes. Zayn is straddling his hips and when their lips meet, he feels Zayn’s smile against his own. He shrugs out of his suit jacket and Zayn removes his borrowed coat. Zayn’s fingers unknot Liam’s bow tie and undo the buttons on his shirt. Zayn’s warm hands slip under fabric, fingers playing over his chest. Zayn breaks the kiss to ask, “Is this okay?” Liam nods and captures Zayn’s lips once again.
Feeling bold, Liam presses his own hands down Zayn’s back and under the hem of his un-tucked shirt, caressing the smooth skin of Zayn’s lower back. He gasps into Zayn’s mouth when Zayn’s thumb finds his nipple and gently teases the sensitive bud. Zayn snickers as he sits up, pushing Liam’s open shirt off his chest and then leans down again to mouth over Liam’s exposed chest. He places a hand on both of Liam’s sides under his ribs, smoothing his palms down over Liam’s hips.
When he starts trailing kisses down the middle of Liam’s belly and over his navel, Liam’s hips buck up without his permission. Zayn laughs and Liam can feel the vibration in Zayn’s throat on his lower stomach. Zayn’s hands hover over Liam’s fly and he looks up at Liam through his long lashes.
“This okay?” Liam nods frantically in response and Zayn unbuttons his trousers and eases them down past Liam’s hips. All thoughts of embarrassment from the spot of wetness and how his erection is straining against his pants are forgotten as Zayn palms his cock. Zayn gently strokes him through the thin cloth and Liam concentrates on not jerking his hips up in search of more friction.
“Is it alright if I take these off?” Zayn whispers and Liam nods and then moans, mouth unable to form words. Liam lifts his hips so Zayn can pull his pants off which is slightly awkward given the cramped space. Liam’s cock is curving up onto his belly and steadily leaking precome. Zayn takes him in his hand and Liam almost cries out with relief at finally being touched. Zayn licks his hand and carefully rolls down Liam’s foreskin, using precome to slick the glide of his hesitant hand. Zayn’s brows are furrowed in concentration as he slowly jerks Liam, twisting his wrist each time he reaches the head of Liam’s cock.
As good as it feels, Liam can't help thinking that all the attention is focused on him and he can clearly see Zayn tenting his own trousers. Not sure what he's doing, Liam reaches for the waistband of Zayn’s trousers and pants, “Wanna- ahhh -“ -- What is it that he wants to do again?
“’s alright, Li, wanna suck you off…” Zayn grips him, hand sliding up and down his length, eyes locked on Liam’s, tongue darting out to trace his lower lip. Liam’s brain nearly short-circuits; "suck you off"… what the hell does that mean? Is he really going to… ohhh…
Zayn dips his head to lick the tip of Liam’s dick. Liam hisses in pleasure and throws his head back as Zayn takes Liam’s cock into his mouth. His outstretched arm is now pinned under Zayn’s chest, where his fingers had been fumbling awkwardly for the button on Zayn’s slacks. His fingers freeze and he gives up trying to undo Zayn’s trousers, as Zayn’s mouth is clearly demanding his full attention.
Zayn seems to know what he's doing which should make Liam jealous that Zayn has done this for someone else before but it doesn’t. Zayn places a hand on either of Liam’s bare thighs as he bobs his head, swallowing Liam down. The warm heat of Zayn’s mouth feels incredible, like nothing Liam has ever experienced or imagined. His whole body feels like it's on fire as he moans, unable to articulate actual words, his heart pounding. He feels himself nearly hit the back of Zayn’s throat and Zayn gags a bit before going back to stroking the base of his cock with a tight hand and sucking on the head.
If Zayn keeps this up for much longer, Liam knows he isn’t going to last and he supposes that the polite thing to do would be to warn Zayn of this before he just goes and comes down Zayn’s throat. He tugs on Zayn’s hair, words and moans spilling from his mouth that make no sense, his thighs are trembling ominously, heat pooling in his belly as he's pushed closer to the edge by Zayn’s skilled mouth.
"Zayn... I-I'm..." Liam gasps.
Seeming to realize what Liam is trying to tell him, Zayn pulls off and sits back up causing Liam to moan at the loss of Zayn’s mouth. Zayn curses loudly as his head collides with the ceiling inside the car. After staring at one another for a couple seconds, they both burst out laughing at the absurdity of their situation; Liam’s cock is leaking on his stomach, his hand is almost down the front of Zayn’s trousers and Zayn is still swearing as he rubs the top of his head.
Zayn is then nearly crying with laughter as Liam stammers, “’m sorry, I don’t know what I’m doing…”
“’s okay, you’re alright babe, you’re doing fine.” Zayn cups his jaw and kisses him in reassurance.
“Is your head okay?” Liam asks around Zayn’s lips and the other boy nods.
“Your mouth … it felt so good …” Liam gasps causing Zayn to dissolve in giggles again, pulling back from Liam’s mouth.
Liam finally succeeds in undoing Zayn’s trousers and Zayn undoes the buttons of his own shirt, peeling it off his shoulders. Zayn helps Liam to wiggle his trousers down his thighs and settles himself on top of Liam again, one knee in between Liam’s thighs. Unsure of what he's doing, Liam reaches into Zayn’s pants and wraps a hesitant hand around Zayn’s cock causing Zayn to moan loudly into Liam’s shoulder where he's slumped.
“Wait… lemme just…” Zayn pants, pushing down his pants so Liam has better access to his dick. It feels strange to be stroking a cock that isn’t his own and he has no idea how Zayn prefers to be touched so he just wanks him in the same way that he would for himself. He tightens his grip and presses his thumb to the underside of the head of Zayn’s dick. Zayn gasps out another moan and Liam felt precome blurt over his fingers so he must be doing something right.
“Am I-this- is this right?” Liam breathes and Zayn groans in answer, “Ahhh… fuck, feels so good, Li…” Liam feels Zayn’s open mouth against his neck now, breath hot on his chest as he continues to jerk Zayn off, trying to keep some semblance of a rhythm. Zayn is practically thrashing on top of Liam, moving his hips in time with Liam’s hand.
“Faster, Liam…” Zayn gasps and Liam does his best to pick up the pace but it's awkward with Zayn lying on top of him. Plus, it's quite distracting having Zayn grinding down on his own still hard cock, precome easing the slide against Zayn’s belly.
“Here…” Zayn moans, shifting himself up and taking Liam’s cock in his hand. He adds his hand to Liam’s so their dicks are pressed together and both of them moan loudly, Liam feels tears pricking the corners of his eyes from the intense pleasure. Zayn's more just mouthing over Liam’s unresponsive lips than actually kissing him as Liam cries out when Zayn takes them both in his hand, his loose fist creating a tight hole for them both to fuck into.
“Zayn… ‘m gonna-” Liam whimpers as Zayn moans, “Li, ‘m so close,” Liam's not sure whether his eyes were already squeezed shut or not, hands clawing at Zayn’s back as he arches his back as much as he can; he's so close to going over the edge. He mouthes at some part of Zayn’s face, his muscles all clenching and then spasming in sweet release, he's on fire… and he nearly blacks out as he comes, sparks exploding behind his eyes… not even able to enjoy the sound of Zayn following quickly; feeling Zayn’s cock twitch against his own and feeling their combined release, spilling hot on his stomach.
Zayn's still coming down from his orgasm when Liam stops shaking violently and is able to feel his face once again, realizing he must not have been breathing as he came. He rubs wide circles over Zayn’s shuddering back as Zayn fights to catch his breath. Liam has never had such an intense orgasm in his entire life, never felt this satisfied and he's still panting like he’s just finished running a marathon.
He opens his eyes to see Zayn collapsed on his chest, lips parted and eyes shut in ecstasy. The windows of the car are completely fogged up and both of them are drenched in sweat. He wishes they could stay like this forever, blissed out, bodies pressed together in the sauna-like humidity inside the car. Liam is vaguely aware of the pool of drying come trapped between their stomachs as he lays on the seat under Zayn’s warm weight.
Zayn has picked his head up by now and is smiling lazily at Liam. He stares back searching Zayn’s wide amber eyes, noticing for the first time that Zayn has a small freckle in his left eye, right on the edge of his caramel colored iris.
“Hey,” Zayn murmurs, eyes shutting halfway. Liam makes a noise of agreement and kisses Zayn’s nose and then his lips.
“I could stay here forever, y’know,” Liam says and Zayn sighs contentedly.
“Me too,” Zayn agrees.