"Come on, I hear you witches are freaky in bed."
Zain looks up from where he's trying to safe the tomatoes from falling to the bottom of the shopping bag and being crushed, his eyes finding Harry almost instantly.
Harry is standing in front of Markus, who Zain remembers all too well from own time at school and had somewhat successfully evaded ever since. Harry looks mostly annoyed, frowning with pinched lips. He's still so very pretty, as always, his hair falling around his shoulders in soft waves. He's wearing one of his long skirts today and a loudly printed shirt.
Zain shakes himself out of it, shouldering his bag and inching towards them. He doesn't want to impose, but with Markus you never knew.
"Then you've also heard that I can give you very painful boils," Harry says cooly, glaring at Markus.
"Don't be like that, pet," Markus says, reaching for Harry. Zain wrinkles his nose.
"Do not touch me!" Harry says, sharply, pulling at his arm.
"Let him go, Markus," Zain says, starting towards them in earnest, because Markus had always escalated things very quickly if things didn't go his way.
"Shut up, Malik, go back to your mummy," Markus snaps, pulling at Harry's arm. Zain's not even sure what that's supposed to do but he also doesn't have to keep wondering because Harry narrows his eyes, seeming to glow suddenly and then Markus yelps, pulling his hand away.
"You fucking witch!" he snarls, cradling his hand. It looks red and burnt and Zain's kinda impressed.
"Don't touch me," Harry snaps again and then reaches for Zain, taking his hand. Zain's slightly stunned at the contact, letting himself be pulled along.
"You okay?" Zain asks once they're a bit further down the street and he's kind of managed to gather himself."You good?"
"Yea," Harry says, straightening and pushing his hair from his forehead, sounding winded. "I'm not good with that kind of spells. I do better with love, not rejection or hate or something like that." He doesn't let go of Zain's hand but slows down somewhat, linking their fingers more comfortably.
"Well," Zain says awkwardly, stroking his thumb over the smooth skin of Harry's hand. "I'd say everyone who pushes that pig away does so out of love for themselves and probably humanity. He's been awful since school."
"Oh," Harry says, looking at Zain with wide eyes. "Zain," he whispers, stopping abruptly. Before Zain can reach, he's taking Zain's face between his hands and kissing him. "You're brilliant," he says, leaning back in to kiss Zain again, lingering with his soft lips pressed to Zain's.
Zain blinks, stunned speechless, and tries to remember how to breath.
"What?" he says dumbly as Harry steps back with a small frown on his face.
"Too bad I can't practise with you," Harry says, mostly to himself. "Oh, too bad."
"What?" Zain repeats, stumbling after Harry as he starts walking towards their houses again, pulling on his necklaces and muttering to himself like he did not just steal all of Zain's brain function with a single kiss.
"Motivation," Harry mutters, "if my motivation for refusal is love not disgust, it should work. If only I could practice. I'll see you tomorrow," he adds to Zain when they come up to Zain's house, turning around to smile at him and stealing Zain's breath again. "Thank you."
"I — see you," Zain says, staring after him, still not quite sure what happened.
🌿
Zain hasn't expected to see Harry so soon again and he almost falls off the bench he's stretched out on, reading, when Harry suddenly stands next to him.
"Hi," Harry says, smiling down at him, still wearing his clothes from this morning. He's put his hair up in a bun now, though, and Zain can't decide what he likes better.
"Hi," Zain says, sitting up and putting his book face down on the small table beside the garden bench. "You startled me."
"Mm," Harry smiles, putting his hand on his hips. "I was supposed to teach Safaa a potion today, remember?" he says, sounding more amused than annoyed. "But you haven't shown up and now it's too late for today."
"So you've come to scold me?" Zain asks, confused.
Harry laughs slightly, running his hand through Zain's hair and showing him the petal he's pulled out. "A bit. I mostly wanted to make sure you'd actually turn up tomorrow. Nine should be a good time."
"Sure," Zain nods, blinking when Harry's fingertips touch his cheek. "She's gone to visit one of her schoolfriends today, they've come back from holiday yesterday evening."
"That's good," Harry says and settles himself onto Zain's lap. "So you're alone?"
"Err," Zain makes, his breath catching when Harry presses his lips to Zain's cheek, gently and almost not there.
"Am I dreaming?" he blurts, distracted by Harry running his fingers down Zain's chest and belly. His skin feels like it's on fire and like he's about to fly apart.
"No," Harry smiles, brushing his nose against Zain's. "You can focus on whatever you want, can't you?" he adds, kissing the corner of Zain's lips. "Nothing is hazy."
"I guess," Zain says, but focussing on anything except where Harry's touching him is actually kind of difficult.
"I know," Harry says, kissing him. Finally. Zain parts his lips and meets Harry's tongue eagerly, grabbing his hips and pulling him closer, stroking his back. Harry moans, rocking forward slightly and Zain sucks his lower lip into his mouth, tightening his hold.
He doesn't know how long they kiss, but they're panting and sweaty when they pull apart. Harry's looking down at him with red lips and flushed cheeks, his pupils dark and large. Zain's desperately aroused, reaching up to cup Harry's cheek and try and pull him into another kiss.
"No," Harry pants. "Your sister is almost home."
Zain frowns, letting his hand drop reluctantly. "How do you know that?" he asks, stroking his hand over Harry's thigh.
"This is your home," Harry smiles. "And Safaa's."
Zain blinks at him, bereft when Harry gets off his lap, pulling his shirt down slightly. Zain hasn't even realised that he'd pushed it up to get at skin. "That doesn't explain anything," he says, reaching out to touch Harry's belly one last time.
"Can't tell you witching secrets, can I?" Harry smiles, leaning down to kiss Zain chastely. "Not yet, anyways." He straightens, opening his hair and shaking his head to let it fall around his shoulders.
Zain stares.
"If you call me to your dreams tonight, I'll definitely come," Harry tells him, mouth slightly parted as he licks his bottom lip.
Zain's mostly sure that he's trying to kill Zain but he's just being infinitely nicer and more cruel than he could be. "Is that another one of your witching secrets?"
"Definitely," Harry says, kissing Zain's cheek again. "Dream of me, please," he whispers and then leaves, just like that, walking across the garden like he hasn't stolen all of Zain's brain power again.
🌿
He dreams of Harry again that night. It is hazy and he can't seem to focus on anything properly, like Harry'd said, but it is still clearly Harry, smiling at him and seeming to glow.
"Thank you," Harry whispers, kissing Zain, like it isn't Zain's dream, like Zain's not the grateful one.
He looks wonderful, gorgeous, breath-taking, his hair falling around his shoulders as his hips undulate, taking Zain deep and sighing with it. His mouth parted and so pink, his eyes so green in the moonlight, his four nipples tight and firm when Zain touches his chest, running his palm over Harry's skin.
"Witch," Zain says afterwards, softly, kissing each of Harry's four nipples in turn.
Harry laughs soundlessly, his belly heaving and his knees dropped apart as he lets Zain kiss his skin, his hands idle in Zain's hair, not even protesting when Zain bites the soft flesh on the inside of his thigh gently.
"Don't forget about Safaa's potion," Harry says when Zain starts feeling drowsy with sleep, laying down with his arms around Harry.
Harry leans down to kiss Zain again. "Nine," he says again, taking Zain's hand and kissing his palm. "Sleep well."
"Mm," Zain makes, the dream fading already.
🌿
If you're confused re: the magic it's cause Zain's confused and doesn't understand yet.
also, as always, idek...