Red vs. Black

Chapter 3

The alley's dark, but from where Zayn's lurking, he can make out just enough of the florist shop on the other side of the street to see what he needs. A brown breasted bird is sitting on top of the store's awning, its distinct white and black fantail sticking straight up and spread wide, ready for flight. Zayn's been watching the shop's door closely ever since he saw its delivery truck pass him on the walk to the restaurant he'd texted Liam to meet him at earlier in the week.  A phone number Zayn's eternally grateful for having secured considering he had no intention on returning Liam's message online, regardless of if he found the male's looks, and interest in him attractive; if they hadn't run into each other on Monday, he wouldn't be standing where he is like a try-hard, waiting on flowers.

The next person who comes out with an order to put in the back of the delivery van is holding an armful of lily bouquets. Too fancy. He waits for the next. Orchids. Way too fancy. Irises. The pink/purple mixture being loaded into the vehicle Zayn doesn't dismiss entirely. It's a nice bouquet, neither in your face, nor overrated. He's sold.

"That's the one, Kiwi," Zayn mutters lowly. "Wait for him to leave and then bring it here."

On command, the Fantail does as it's told, defying its weight of eight grams, and carrying the bouquet from the van all the way to where Zayn's still standing in the shadows behind an industrial bin without so much as a wobble. When he gets close enough, he drops the flowers for Zayn to catch, then perches on the edge of the bin.

"Thanks mate." Shimmying his left arm out of his unbuttoned blue and white striped shirt, Zayn pulls down the back collar of the ebony t-shirt that's underneath it. "Can you fit?"

The bird hops off the metal and onto Zayn's shoulder to evaluate the area that the human's hand is exposing. It chirps once before jumping towards the opening, its body morphing into the tan skin where the bottom of Zayn's neck meets his upper back. For good measure, he rubs the spot where the bird now lives as a tattoo.

As soon as he ventures out of the darkness with his outfit back in tact, Zayn sticks the bouquet under his shirt, waiting until he's out of the florist's line of sight to take it back out. He really doesn't care if Liam sees how much he "paid" for the bundle, surely it would only help his case if he did, but Zayn knows his mother would kill him if he didn't take off a price tag before handing over a gift, so for the remainder of his walk, he looks for a sticker.

Thankfully he doesn't find one, because the second he recognizes Liam standing outside the restaurant, shifting his weight between each foot nervously, he wouldn't be able to think of where a bin might be to toss it.

Liam's come dressed exactly how Zayn had told him to - casual.  Under a sporty, lightweight three-toned jacket of steel blue, grey, and white is a slim-fitting, baby blue t-shirt, tucked into a pair of black chinos. Even the white trainers are relaxed, right down to their scuffed up toes.

"Hey."

Zayn's voice causes Liam to look up from his shoelaces and take his hands out of his pockets. He's shaved. Without the small amount of stubble that Zayn's only ever seen him with, he looks like he's just barely graduated uni. The sight's a breath of fresh air Zayn didn't know he needed; his lungs inhale and hold.

"Hi," Liam smiles, completely disregarding the flowers in Zayn's hand and leaning in to give him a hug. "You smell nice," he says as they pull away, but as soon as the bouquet's being outstretched towards him, he doesn't look to remember the compliment he's just made. He's stuck staring at the flowers in awe, like it's odd being on the receiving end of such a gesture - one that doesn't seem possible for someone to deem him deserving of.

Zayn's fairly certain that with a look of pure astonishment like that, Liam isn't going to break out in hives any time soon, but it's always good to check.