Cresting Waves

Paradise Lost

After a quick lunch, their troupe makes their way through the jungle with Niall as their guide. They bring along some machetes to clear the way, and Niall looks absolutely terrifying with the massive blade in his hands. At least if they happen to come across any kind of beast, they'll be sufficiently intimidated by their large group of knife wielding pirates.

Zayn can't stop looking around with wide eyes, holding onto Liam to keep him walking steady. There are all manner of brilliantly coloured birds roosting in the branches above their heads, peering down at them with the same curious eyes Zayn turns their direction. Flowers bloom at the edges of the path they traverse, drifting in the gentle breeze coming off the sea.

Eventually, Niall turns them sharply, and they stumble onto a cobblestone path overgrown with jungle greenery. Zayn's eyes trail the carvings in the stone, the half-crumbled archways they pass beneath. It's like walking through history, like standing in the Greek ruins, or the ancient city of Nineveh. Zayn's jaw is at a constant angle, eyes wide.

"Careful," Liam says fondly, guiding Zayn back straight on the path with hands on his shoulders. "It's quite beautiful, isn't it?"

Zayn turns in his arms. "Oh Liam, it's wonderful! Everything is so fascinating. I can't help but wonder who built these? How long did it take them? What do the images mean?"

"You're truly enchanting, Zayn." Liam runs his fingers through the loose strands of Zayn's hair. Zayn blushes, ducking his chin. He reaches for Liam's hand to tuck his own into, and the two of them continue to follow the line of pirates weaving up the path.

There's a break in the trees ahead, and the great shadow of the mountain looms over them. It's not so steep as to be impassable. There are gentle slopes that snake upwards, and a large, mostly intact black stone staircase. Liam and Zayn edge their way up to the front of the group with Louis, Harry, and Niall to gaze up at it. The hillsides are dotted with old buildings, remarkably preserved, if a bit crumbly.

Niall is favouring his right leg a bit. "Y'alright there, Niall?" Liam asks. Both him and Zayn eye the merrow worriedly.

Niall nods, face a little pinched. "It's just a bit sore, with all this walking. These stairs are going to be a nightmare."

"We'll go slow," Harry assures him, taking his hand and kissing it.

Louis calls out for the crew to go on ahead, and their little five man band makes their way slowly up the mountain behind. Charlie bounds ahead with Calum and his boys, barking excitedly and startling birds into the air. Harry puts his hand on Niall's hip to steady him when he wobbles, and Liam suggests they take a break. Niall insists he can continue, but Louis looks at him so sternly that the merrow instantly caves and slowly lowers himself into a sitting position.

Zayn checks out his knee. The scar looks a bit agitated, but alright. They rest for a while, looking around themselves and committing the feeling to memory. They made it. They're on a mystical island that Zayn didn't entirely believe existed. And he's here with a bunch of pirates. If the him from ten months ago could see him now, in tight trousers and a scoop-necked shirt, old Zayn would be scandalised.

Present Zayn has been through too much to care. He leans back on his elbows between Liam's legs, letting his head loll back onto the man's thigh. Liam smiles warmly at him, tracing his fingers down the line of Zayn's jaw, the slope of his nose. He scratches his short nails through the growing stubble on Zayn's cheeks and chin, feeling the prickle of it. Zayn hums, closing his eyes.

He can hear the sounds of kissing, and he has the decency to be a bit embarrassed that he's witnessing such a private moment between his...friends. He's definitely heard worse being in the room beside them, and he knows they've heard him as well. Still. Awkward. Lips press against his forehead and he flutters his eyes open. He has to shut them immediately when Liam kisses each of his eyelids next, then the tip of his nose. Zayn giggles.