Cresting Waves

The Voyage

Zayn sleeps longer the next morning than he ever has since boarding the ship. His back does still hurt a bit, but its better than it has been recently. He stretches as he carefully climbs down from his hammock, letting his eyes adjust to the darkness for a moment before looking around. Calum and his boys are asleep already, the faint blue glow of Luke softly illuminating their little area. Zayn smiles softly, then flushes suddenly as the memories of last night begin to clear up.

Had he really allowed Liam to see him in such a state? To touch his body and-and take him into his mouth? Oh god...how was Zayn ever going to look Liam in the face again? He slides his fingers into his hair, the strands coming loose from the braid as he grips it. His cheeks feel overheated, a sweat breaking out all over his body. He feels like he needs to jump overboard and cool down a little.

One of the boys lets out a loud snore, startling Zayn out of his spiralling feelings of shame and embarrassment. Maybe...maybe if he just pretends like it never happened, they can forget about it and everything will be normal. Shaking his head and accidentally letting all his hair fall down, he makes his way towards the doors and the stairs. He tries to blow it out of his face as he makes his way on deck, but he's directly hit by a strong wind that makes it all a mess anyway.

"Malik!"

Zayn flinches at the loud shout, scooping his hair out of his eyes to find Tommo approaching him from across the deck. A quick look over his head shows Zayn where Liam is-standing at the helm.

"You're quite the sight," Tommo chuckles, coming to stand by him and giving him a wink that Zayn doesn't really understand until the captain blurts out the next bit with a smirk. "Have a good time with Payno last night?"

Hiis face is immediately blazing again, glancing around in a panic to see if anyone else is listening. Everyone seems busy, and Harry and Niall are nowhere in sight. "He told you?" He asks in a hushed whisper, and Tommo laughs.

"Please. Liam's not one to brag about his...intimate moments. He's quite chivalrous that way. No, Malik. We heard you." He claps Zayn on the shoulder.

"Oh so it's even worse, then. Lovely." He's going to combust. So he not only has to face the reality that Liam heard him making those sounds, but Tommo, Harry, and Niall had as well. Tommo said we, after all.

Tommo laughs, which doesn't help Zayn's situation at all.

"Where's the nearest island you can desert me at?"

He seriously thinks Tommo is going to choke with how hard he's laughing. "Come on, it can't be that bad. You're among thieves and sinners my friend. No one here will judge you for enjoying the simple things in life."

Zayn wants to roll his eyes, but Tommo's words give him pause. He is right, in a way. There's nobody on this ship who is concerned with...his virtue. And Liam...well, if Liam just so happens to be the man he shares that with, it can't be all bad. Zayn still probably won't be able to look him in the face anytime soon though. In the unlikelihood that he sees his parents again, well-he's been on a pirate ship for almost two months now. They'd assume the worst anyway.

"I...yeah, yeah I guess."

He nearly jumps as he looks up to find Liam standing just behind Tommo. "Goodmorning," Liam says softly, a slight pink flush dusting his cheeks as he smiles at Zayn.

Zayn feels his own face flood with heat, tugging at the hem of his loose shirt. "Goodmorning." Out of the corner of his eye, Zayn can see Tommo roll his eyes.

"Shall I leave you two alone then? Please, don't have sex on the deck. You'll send everyone into a frenzy."

Zayn coughs and splutters, frowning heavily as Tommo cackles and turns to walk away, slapping Liam hard on the back. Liam winces, shaking his fingers through his hair. The two avoid each other's eyes awkwardly.