1D & 5sos One Shots

Better to Be Than to Burn [Ziam-AU]

~*a/n*~

dearest readers,

We do realize that it has literally been like, nine million years since we've updated. I don't know what excuse to give you.

Ashtyn and I have grown apart as friends and hardly talk anymore. (But it's not like we had a falling out, like, I still think she's hella.)

I cannot say when the next update will be, or even if there will ever be another (which, most likely, there will not).

We are both sorry and want to thank you for everything you've done for us.

I love you all

p.s. this is fourteen thousand words long and there's smut in it so

~Ashlyn

Better to Be Than to Burn [Ziam-AU]~

                “We can’t win this war on our own. You know that—”

           

            “Yes! I do know that. So I can’t seem to figure why you feel the need to constantly remind me!”

             Zayn’s parents were arguing across the dinner table. It was a rather regular occurrence in the Malik household. Or palace. Or whatever. However, it was understandable, as making decisions for 10 million people on a daily basis could not be easy. Nonetheless, Zayn only found himself wanting his parents to shut up.

 

            “Oh, could you two just—!” Zayn began only to be cut off by his twin sister, Leigh, kicking him viscously beneath the table.

            Zayn’s father turned to glare at him reprimandingly as his sister smiled around a mouthful of potatoes. Leigh was definitely number one on the list of people who actually gave a shit about Zayn (the list was only about three people long, but still). His attitude usually got in the way of people even remotely liking him, and his parents. Well.

            Zayn and Leigh’s parents had always been focused on one thing and one thing only: Power. Power was the reason they were on the verge of war with an empire three times their size in the first place, and power was the reason King Stanley and Queen Helen were willing to sacrifice their children’s happiness for the sake of their kingdom.

            “Modest forces are stronger than ours, they are bigger than ours, and they will show us no mercy,” Zayn's mother spoke sternly. “I know you don't like the idea of merging with another kingdom, but we have our own to think about.”

The king straightened in his chair and cleared his throat. “Alright then, Helen, who will we be allying ourselves with?”

“Well, the Payne Empire has had previous contentions with Modest as well. King Alexander and Queen Lisa also have a son around Leigh's age who is an heir to the throne.”

“Wait—” Leigh stopped eating as she heard her name. “How are you planning on joining our two empires again?”