Forget Me Not (Zayn/Harry; Mpreg AU)

9 - To accept or not to accept

Harry almost drops the puppy in his arms, shocked into speechlessness. Zayn Malik is asking him out on a date. Him. Harry Nobody Styles.

Watching Harry's reaction, or rather his lack of one, Zayn grows nervous but wills himself to push through. He clears his throat and stands straighter. When he speaks again, he tries to put his utmost sincerity into his every word. "I've been looking all over for you," he admits, a weak smile tugging at the corner of his lips. "God, I've been such an idiot for not remembering your face, huh? I have only realized that it wasn't at the Tilley's dinner party that I saw your eyes first only when I came back to the Tilley's property and you were gone. It was when I thought that I couldn't keep up with the lie that I call my life. I was miserable. I was fed up with all the pretend smiles and agreement. Gigi wanted us to settle down. She brought it up that day we were out together at Manchester. It was literally so fucking early for the talk of marriage but she insisted. I told her I'd think about it and she got mad. She walked out on me. I was pissed off but then I saw these curious green eyes staring right at me and my world stopped. I couldn't hear anything else but my heartbeat pounding in my ears."

There's a lump in Harry's throat that is difficult to swallow. He can only stare at Zayn as the older man struggles to finish putting his thoughts and emotions into words.

"From the moment I was born, my life has been decided and I blindly submitted to that plan, until I saw you, Harry. I've always been a person who followed the rules but one look into your eyes made me want to live and not simply exist. That one exchange that we've shared sparked feelings that I've never felt for anyone before. I know all of this sounds bullshit-"

"They're not," Harry interrupts softly. Zayn stares at him, eyes wide. Bravely, Harry steps away from the counter. He deposits the puppy in his arms to the floor and chuckles when the dachshund scurries to where the other dogs are playing. Harry then approaches Zayn. "I felt the same when you caught me staring at you."

Harry feels his cheeks heat up and suddenly he thinks this is a bad idea. Terrible, even. Zayn is so much more and Harry is merely an orphan with nothing to look forward to. Harry is seriously playing with fire right now, letting himself believe that he deserves Zayn.

"Harry?"

Zayn sees the panic clear in Harry's eyes. Slowly, he reaches out to cup Harry's face in between his hands, gently stroking the younger lad's cheek with his thumb. Harry's eyes slide shut and he leans into the warm touch.

"Give me a chance, Harry," Zayn whispers. He steps closer to the curly brunette, their chests almost touching. "Go on a date with me."

"Zayn, I..."

"I'm not the only one that's feeling this...thing, right?" Zayn questions softly, staring straight into Harry's eyes. "Tell me you feel the same for me, Harry."

"I do. But, Zayn," Harry swallows with a bit of difficulty. "We're too different. You and I. We can't. It's not right?"

Zayn scoffs. "Who says so?"

Harry closes his eyes, defeated. He steps away from the circle of Zayn's arms. "Your status in the society that we live in, your family, your friends, basically the people around you. I don't have anything else to offer you, Zayn."

Grabbing both of Harry's hands in his, Zayn shakes his head fervently. "I don't care about any of those," he says. "I want you, Harry. I've been dreaming of us together and it has been my wish to make it a reality since the night you saved me from a crazed bird."

"Are you s-sure?"

"A hundred and one percent sure, babe."

The pet name gets a smile from Harry. "You move fast, Malik."

Zayn chuckles, squeezing Harry's hands in his. "So, what do you say?"

Although every sane inch of him is protesting, Harry decides to take the plunge for he knows that whatever happens, Zayn is worth everything.

"Yes, I'll go on a date with you."