fool's gold [zarry]

trois

Zain hates events. They are loud and flashy and unnecessary and most people thought they were wearing fashion but really were just showing what idiots they were, listening to some idiot stylist or manager who were probably on the wrong kind of drugs.

He tries to smile at the right cameras and people, like Niall wants him to, and shakes hands with some, surreptitiously trying to find a corner he can wait out the worst of it.

"Hey," Harry from the boyband says, suddenly in front of Zain.

Zain halts in his attempt to get away and looks him up and down. He's a professional, no other reason.

"What are you wearing?" he sneers before he can help himself, taking in the boring boring outfit someone has put Harry in. He hasn't even brushed his hair.

Zain wonders if perhaps it is some way to try and get some agency, to have his hair long and tangled when it really just took a brush and a few minutes with the hair stylist he certainly had.

"Louis Vuitton," Harry smiles, brightly, stroking the labels of his suit.

"Yea," Zain says, deadpan. "I can see that. But even Louis Vuitton has got interesting suits."

"Please don't tell me you're badmouthing other designers again," Niall says, appearing at Zain's side like a spectre.

"I'm just saying-," Zain starts but Niall shushes him, waving a hand in front of his face.

"You wanted to hide, so hide," he says, shooting Zain away.

Zain eyes Harry one last time, who's watching them with a mixture of amusement and bemusement. "Go talk to Niall," he says and makes his escape. Hiding did sound excellent.

"What?" he hears Harry ask Niall and nods to himself.

When Niall finds him half an hour later, he's got a satisfied look on his face.

"Look at you, all smug," Zain says, taking a sip of the wine they have been pouring liberally. It was even half decent. "Got a big fish?"

"Got you your little obsession to dress," Niall says, raising his smug little eyebrow.

Zain scowls at him. He hates that Niall knows him too well.

"I'm not obsessed," he defends himself. "He just could be dressed much better."

"I see you know exactly who I mean," Niall says and takes Zain's glass from him, draining it with a big gulp. "Now come, I have at least five people you still need to meet or we might as well not have come at all."

"I'd be all for that," Zain pouts.

Niall shrugs, unsympathetic. "I'd prefer if you weren't a grump but here we are. Come on."

Zain sighs but decides to follow with only minimal protest. Niall had given him Harry to dress after all. That was worth a small reward.

☀️

Chapters are short so we can finally get to the point I guess
Also, i feel like i should put a disclaimer that Zain's views don't represent mine or something 😂