jaan//ziam

३.

Zayn takes pride in interacting with his citizens. He loves riding round town and seeing the stately affairs. He loves seeing couples together despite their financial condition, kids playing lagori* in the streets, shopkeepers vending their exotic goods.
Until he spots telltale chestnut hair and hears that angel-crafted laugh.
Liam looks beautiful (as always) but he's with another guy. With another guy. Who's not Zayn.
Liam's giggling as this kid with brown curls nuzzles at his birthmark and digs his fingers into his hips. Curly gently traces his fingers down Liam's back, over the swell of his ass-
Zayn's snorting and turning away, trying not to let his disappointment show.
He'd thought Liam would eventually warm up to the idea of marrying him.
Oh Allah; what if he has an affair?
Affairs in a small town like Mysore are unheard of.
The Emir bites his lip, furrowing his eyebrows as Liam throws his head back, laughing at some stupid joke curly's made. Curly grins mischievously - shit he has dimples - as his hand wanders yet again. Tentatively traces the swell of Liam's ass, presses his fingertips into the plush skin.
Liam startles and flushes, looks up at the tall man through his lashes and fuck if the Prince's cock doesn't twitch at the thought of being on the receiving end of that.
And with that, Curly grabs Liam (his Liam) by the wrist and drags him off somewhere, their laughter echoing for a few seconds before-
They're gone.
He's gonna have to have a word with Liam.
‡
'Emir, Liam is here to see you'
Zayn nods, massaging his temples, 'Send him in'
The servant leaves and Liam enters the room, wearing cream silk robes, a rose flush high on his cheeks.
'Emir saahib - you summoned me' Liam says softly, looking worried. He reaches up to touch the lovebite adorning his neck sheepishly before tugging his collar over the exposed skin.
Zayn doesn't like sharing.
'Jaaneman,' he muses gently as he pushes himself up from the chair, before stalking towards Liam, graceful and predatorial.
'Don't call me that' Liam weakly snaps, his fingers tightening in his collar. Zayn bites his lip, stopping dead in his tracks.
'Oh' Zayn smiles, close-lipped and charming, 'But I'm the Emir, chaand**, I'll call you what I want'
And with that, he's lunging forward, pinning Liam up against the gilded oakwood doors and kissing him.
But Liam shoves him back and wipes his mouth with the back of his hand.
Ego bruise.
Zayn pulls him back in again, hands snaking around his waist, fingers dancing over the dimples in his back, eyes lingering on lips as he moves in for a kiss again.
Liam wriggles in his grip, turns his face away, does everything possible to get away from the Emir with this repulsed look on his face.
'Stop!'
Inked hands sneak up into Liam's hair and pull his head back. Liam's head hits the oak and Zayn trails wet kisses down his neck, his eyelashes brushing up soft skin every time.
Liam's throat vibrates under his touch, silent pleas trapped in his voice box.
Zayn's fingers edge down Liam's back and Liam shivers in his grip, gasps out something incoherent.
'P-lease stop!'
Zayn hums, his teeth grazing over soft skin; leg slotting itself between Liam's.
'Why should I, jaaneman? After all, if you can disregard simple commands,' he emphasises his statement with a nip at Liam's coffee birthmark, 'Why can't one else?'
Liam shoves him back and his hand goes up to stroke his neck rather sheepishly.
He's breathing heavily and his face is pretty and flushed and his robes are ruffled (and tented) and words dance on the tip of Zayn's tongue like tongues of fire on a wintry night
(-I'd love to wake up next to you)

'Fuck you' Liam snarls, pushing away from the door, smoothing out his robes.
'Here let me-' Zayn starts, reaching for the latter, but Liam bats his hand away with a cold glare.
'Why do you even want to marry me?'
Zayn freezes, tongue darting out to lick his lips.
Liam continues, 'Aren't there better people out there? More rich, more famous, more attractive-'
'But I want you'
Liam visibly shudders. The Emir leans in yet again, but Liam pushes him away yet again.
'You didn't answer my question' he points out. Zayn sighs.
'Because, Liam' Zayn says, 'I loved you since I first saw you'
Liam snorts and the Emir smiles knowingly.
'You'll love me too, jaaneman, just wait and watch'

*lagori - a traditional children's game (that's too complicated to explain I'm really sorry)
**chaand - moon. Another endearment.
Zayn has been giving me heartache bc of his latest photoshoots -SATAN NOT TODAY.
also I've been dealing with some racist bullshit recently from one of my peers, hence the late update. Sorry X
my ao3 is "18ziam" and the fic has the same title 💕