Humility (Zarry A.U)

Chapter 14

Chapter 14

*Author's P.O.V*

Three weeks go by with the castle or the king not taking any attack. That doesn't mean that they let their guard down. Speaking of guards, they were a lot better than they were last week. They aren't perfect, though. They need to be perfect in order to protect every single person in this castle. It didn't help that they had gotten some new guards from Queen Beatrice herself, making them slow down their training so they could catch up. It was a present for him becoming king and losing his parents. Harry was getting better and better with his training, however. Could he potentially take on ten now? Absolutely. Maybe two if he plays his cards right.

Zayn was still very much affected by his friend's thoughts of being in love with Niall. That had caused him to distance himself, which he attempted to use his shoulder as an excuse for that. Distancing himself probably didn't help him, seeing as the young king spent even more time with the blue-eyed male. He would hear them laughing throughout the castle or playing silly little games. He didn't dare to read their thoughts for the fear of hearing something that may actually explode his heart. Additionally, he's been seeing Harry and himself in the future acting awkward with each other but didn't know the reason why.

"Why have you been avoiding me?" Harry asks as he barges into his friend's room to see him putting on some pants after his shower.

"I haven't. It's just that my shoulder is still healing." He lies while pointing to scar that seems to be just fine.

"Right." Harry says before poking that area as hard as he can, and he doesn't get a reaction."You liar. I knew it."

"I'm not lyi-" He tries to say but stops when he sees that Harry is staring blankly at him.

"What are you keeping from me?" Harry questions, searching around his room to see if he can find anything but comes up short.

"Nothing." He says, going to put on a shirt, but the young king snatches it away from him and holds it out of his reach.

"Are you courting someone? Do they think you spend too much time with me? Do I know them? How long has this been going on?" Harry asks, pushing him away with a tsk when he tries to take the shirt back.

"I don't know where you got that from, but it's nothing." He says, not noticing his torso being admired discreetly.

"Is it something that I did?" Harry asks, his voice sounding a lot more hurt than it should be.

"You could never do anything to make me avoid you." He says, walking to him and resting his hand on top of his head.

"Then what is it?" Harry asks, and the look on his face was almost just enough to make Zayn confess everything.

"Nothing. I've just been putting my time into making sure that this castle is well protected and keeping its status." He says, and Harry wishes he had the mind reading gift instead.

"Well, can you do that around me from now on?" Harry asks, letting his free hand rub against his scar gently.

"If that's what you wish, my king." He says, those words only sounding good coming from his mouth.

"I wish that very much." Harry replies, fighting the urge to kiss his scar.

"Okay, but I can't do that shirtless." He says before smoothly taking his shirt back, then puts it on.

"I think you can. You could even do it without any pants, and I wouldn't mind." Harry responds, quickly looking away from him because he knows he'll blush like crazy if he sees his reaction.

"Pants?" He asks, gripping the waistband of his pants tight just in case he gets any funny ideas.

A scream suddenly rings out through the castle, which makes both of them fear the worst. That doesn't stop them from rushing off to see what had caused it. They find some guards surrounding something by the front doors, and they shove their way through until they can see. Laying there is one of the guards that Harry remembers from when he was younger. The man has a bloody note stabbed into the middle of his back. The rest of his body seemed untouched besides the fact that the man is missing some fingers and toes. They all assume that he is dead but a painful groan, and the slight moment of his head says otherwise. Harry removes the note before demanding his guards to take him to the medical room.