ZIAM ONE-SHOTS (BOTTOM LIAM)

Most Poetic Ride or Die Death Wish 2

Liam taps his fingers absently on the bar top in front of him. He's not sure if he's ever been this nervous in his life. Including that time in sixth form when he got so worked up about a class presentation he vomited in Emma Harper's brand new Chanel bag. It was an ugly bag to be fair, but that's not the point. He's pulled from his embarrassing early childhood memories by a glass filled to the brim with amber liquid being not so gracefully plopped down in front of him.

He looks up to see Niall grinning at him from the other side of the bar, the bottle of whiskey he'd evidently used to fill Liam's glass still in his hand. "Whatcha ya thinkin about there Liam? Thoughts about Zayn hmmm?"

Liam rolls his eyes. It had seemed like the best option at the time, insisting he meet Zayn at the pub where Niall serves on the weekends. That way there would be someone around in the off chance Zayn really does turn out to be a psycho serial killer. But now that Liam is face-to-face with Niall's smug grin he's starting to second guess the plan. He just considers himself luckily that Harry had to work or he definitely would have invited himself and added a whole other layer of complicated.

"Fuck off Niall. You can't be around when Zayn shows up. I don't want him to think I'm a baby who needs a chaperone."

Niall's still grinning, completely undeterred. "I'm thinking less babysitter and more Fairy Godmother. Or Fairy Godfather? You know? Bippity Bobbity Boo and shit."

Liam groans. "I hardly see how that's relevant. You didn't even get me any glass slippers."

Niall shrugs. "Sure, but I did get Zayn to message you back. So I get the credit for getting you tied up and shagged tonight."

Liam lets out a squeak of surprise before quickly looking around to make sure no one is listening to their conversation. Thankfully it doesn't seem like anyone is paying any attention to them at all. He's about to turn back and scold Niall when he locks eyes with someone who's just pushed through the door.

It's painfully cliche, but Liam's heart seems to lose rhythm the second he stares into those dark eyes. The man who looks even more devastatingly handsome in person than he did in his profile pictures flashes Liam a smile before moving towards him. Liam turns to look at Niall in panic, but his friend seems to have vanished and by the time he turns back towards the door Zayn is standing in front of him looking like a God, or a very successful Instagram model in the very least.

Zayn is still grinning, which only accentuates those cheekbones that don't seem humanly possible. His smile appears to have a slight smirk to it as his eyes scan Liam shamelessly. Normally that kind of thing would be off-putting to him, but as it is he's starting to feel a warm burning feeling building in his stomach from the way Zayn's looking at him.

He suddenly realizes neither of them has said anything yet. "Umm hi, I'm Liam." That's apparently all his brain could come up with. Why is he so awkward?

Zayn just laughs easily at Liam's lack of social skills. "That's a relief, otherwise this would be really awkward if you weren't the man I met on Tinder. I'm Zayn."

Zayn just says it casually like it's not a big deal. Maybe it's not? Liam takes a big gulp of his drink in an attempt to calm his nerves, but then grimaces as the Whiskey burns down his throat. He really hates Whiskey.

Zayn looks like he's about to say something but he's cut off by Niall materializing in front of them on the other side of the bar. "Hey mate, what can I get you?" The question is directed at Zayn, but he sneaks in a smirk at Liam.

Zayn gives Niall a warm smile before turning back to Liam. "I'll just have whatever my friend here is having." Niall is nodding to Zayn's order, but Liam can't help but notice that he's pouring two shots of Tequila.