I'm fine, We're fine [boyxboy]

Twenty-Nine

Zayn's POV

"You're lucky, Mr. Malik."

Deputy Solt's words echoed through my ears again as my shoes crunched up the rocks that led to the front door of mine and Liam's home. "You could have gotten two years easily with that assault. I don't know why Mr. Styles didn't press charges, but he's the one who said let you go." The way he said it made me think that he actually wasn't upset that charges hadn't been pressed. In fact, by the way the corner of his mouth had twitched, I suspected he had been pleased with what I did. Harry had been gone when a second deputy undid the cuffs around my wrists and he wasn't outside when I left the precinct. I thought that perhaps I would see him on my walk home, but there were only cars and the occasional stray cat. No one was up and about after midnight, the streets were dark. However, I knew there was one person who was awake when I fished my keys from my pocket.

The door squeaked when I pushed it open. The soft glow of the lamp by the couch bathed the small room in light, and Liam was there, curled up on the cushions with a thin blanket covering him. He was sleeping. I eased the door shut and locked it back before discarding my keys on the loveseat. Liam stirred a little, and I did the best I could to keep quiet when I went by him. The air kicked on and gave me a few minutes to wander down the hall. I looked into our spare room. Louis was there. I knew it was him by the quiet snore. I recognized it and his small form lumped under the heavy blankets. Only the top of his head was visible between the pillow and comforter. I closed the door back and went to mine and Liam's room.

The blankets were already drawn back and the diffuser Liam liked to run at night was still running, but whatever scent had been in it was long gone. The bottle of essential oil was beside it. I don't know why, but I refilled the water inside and dropped some of the oil back in and waited while the faint lavender scent filled the room. I inhaled a few good times before moving to take my coat off. There was nothing on my shoulders and I realised that it must have been in my car. And my car, according to Deputy Solt, had been impounded when I'd been in the holding cell. Biting back a groan, I went into our bathroom. I didn't want to see myself, but I flipped the light on anyway. Other than the blood speckling my cheeks and my unruly hair, I was unscathed.

I closed the door and went for the shower, but decided it would cause too much noise at this hour and opted for a quick bird bath by the sink. At least I would be able to get the blood off my face and change clothes. When I was done, I drug on some sweats and a shirt before going back out.

Liam was where I had left him, only he now faced the opposite way. As gently as I could, I pushed my arms under him and lifted him, leaving the blanket to fall to the couch. His head rolled and rested against my chest. He stirred and mumbled something on the way to our bedroom, but made no other sound when I laid him down and covered him once more. My side of the bed was cold when I slid in, but I could feel the warmth seeping into my body when I pressed myself against Liam. The ring around my finger somehow still felt cold and moved my second and fourth fingers just so I could feel it. It fit like a glove. I wanted to raise my hand and look at it, but I remained where I was, wondering now what Liam was feeling, what he must have felt when I walked away from him in the hours before. It was late, I was tired. If this was going to be my last night sleeping next to him, I was going to make the most of it. Before I fell asleep, I plastered myself to him and hooked my arms around him in such a way that he wouldn't have been able to get free unless I woke up and let him go.

-

When I woke up, I was alone. Liam's side of the bed was cold and so knew he had been gone for some time. Usually, I would be drowsy, a little lethargic when I drug my ass out of bed but now I was alert, ears pricked for any sound or scent that would tell me he was still here. There was nothing but the whirring combination of the ceiling fan and central air conditioning at first, but then I picked out a laugh. Louis. He was awake and laughing, and unless he was laughing at his own shitty choices, Liam was in there with him.