jaan//ziam

१६.

Liam moves into the palace.

He feels so lost the moment he steps in with 3 small suitcases and Harry already gone to chat up the "cute blonde" servant.

The Rani greets him at the entrance with a smile on her carefree face and a puja thaali [a plate with various items used in Hindu worship] in her hands.

No sign of Zayn.

She mutters various prayers and circles the plate 5 times in front of him before dipping her ring finger into the the kumkum [a red powder] pot and drawing a line over his forehead.

'Nazar naa lage [may the evil eye stay away]' she says with a fond smile, before setting the plate down and pulling him away, ignoring his protests of "but my suitcases-"

They wind up outside the same brass door that Liam remembers so vividly, waiting outside for Zay-the Emir's news.

'Just go inside' she speaks up when Liam doesn't make a move to do anything.

Liam bites his lip, and his next words leave his 'I'm not sure Zay-Emir Sahib would appreciate me doing that'

The Rani raises her eyebrows, and obstinately crosses her arms over her chest, 'Kyu? [why] You're his fiancé-you can do whatever you want here!'

'Also, Liam. You know you can call him just Zain?' she adds, looking suspicious.

Liam just smiles weakly. How is this woman so nice to him?

She purses her lips, but turns to the door and pushes it open herself.

The first thing Liam spots is Zayn. And his heart jumps.

The next thing he sees is Gigi in Zayn's arms. His heart sinks again.

They jump away from each other when they spot Liam and the Queen, colour filling Gigi's cheeks.

Liam glances at the Rani, who is glaring daggers at the pair.

'Zain', she says coldly; disapprovingly; and Zayn grimaces.

Gigi realises Liam is staring at her, and turns to him with a sweet smile.

Liam looks away.

'Your fiancé is here. Please stop this atrocious behaviour and greet him properly'

Zayn huffs and gets off the bed, comes up to stand in front of Liam in 1, 2, 3 long strides.

With everyone's eyes on them and Liam's eyes on the floor, Zayn lifts his chin up with two fingers.

'Salaam' he says lowly, a dangerous gleam in his eyes contrasting the loving smile on his lips.

And then he does what Liam would never have expected him to do.

He kisses Liam.

Liam gasps, shocked and Zayn's arms go around his waist, tugging him in closer.

His fingertips dig into the cushion of flesh along Liam's hips and his hard abs are pressing into Liam's bump in the nicest possible way.

Liam hesitantly sets his hands on Zayn's shoulders and Zayn hums softly.

The kiss is awkward nevertheless; their noses bump more than twice and Liam thinks he hears a giggle from a corner of the room.

He whimpers helplessly when Zayn pulls back; Liam's lip between his teeth for a moment.