"I just want you to be happy." Liam said after a while of sitting on Zayn's lap and watching the sunset.
"I know."
"That's all I've ever wanted."
"I know."
"Being apart was to give you time to think, not to hurt you."
"I know that," Zayn said, linking fingers around Liam's side and peering into his brown eyes. They were lighter than the the shade of chocolate and shiny like pools made of glass.
"I'm grateful that you stepped back because as horrible as it was to be away from you, I saw that I was headed in that direction if I didn't get my shit together." He rested his chin on top of Liam's head.
"My digs at you kept you on edge all the time because you never knew when I'd next be annoyed. My anger will be under control from now on. I promise."
Liam couldn't trust his promises yet, but he appreciated Zayn being open about changing, and wanting to be better.
"A therapist is coming tomorrow for you and anyone else who needs to arrange appointments. You'll visit one for as long it takes!"
Zayn nodded against him. Liam was taking charge. Zayn didn't expect him to help so much, but he was grateful.
Liam was a fighter.
Life had been cruel to Liam in ways that should have torn him to the bone, but Liam never gave up being positive, and Zayn doubted he would ever lose that optimism.
Liam deserved someone who could make him smile every day, someone who could love him unconditionally, someone who could look after him, listen to him, treat him with respect, and give him a good life.
I will be that person now. I didn't try hard enough in the past, but I promise I will make it up to you.
Zayn planted a soft kiss into Liam's hair and melted when Liam smiled and snuggled his head into his chest. Zayn had missed that smile, and hoped to see more of it, especially his big grins.
Zayn lifted a hand to Liam's face and brushed a finger down the bridge of his nose. The sun always brought out his freckles.
"I love you," he whispered into Liam's ear.
Liam closed his eyes and let his muscles relax. Zayn was holding him and loving him. For now, he had nothing to worry about other than mending their relationship.
The rest of the day went fast because they stayed with each other. When the sun set late into the evening, Liam raced to his library and flopped onto one of the beanbags.
Zayn followed him like a lost puppy. He was quiet and carefully edging around his mate, waiting for the moment Liam demanded space again, but that command never came. Two mates couldn't pull at the bond forever, it wasn't natural. They felt better
together, so they stayed close.
After hours of reading and discreetly stealing glances at Zayn, Liam was tired.
After hours of thinking and blatantly staring at Liam, Zayn was tired.
They piled into the bathroom together and Liam paused by the shower door as Zayn hung pyjamas over the side of the bath.
"Oh," Zayn said almost sheepishly. "You're showering? I'll change after-'
"You can join... if you want," Liam interrupted. The way Zayn held him and kissed him earlier had awoken a deep need for affection. They had both struggled enough through the week. Showering together wasn't Liam forgiving Zayn for being so careless with their lives, he was simply giving his body what it craved.
Ever since he connected the bond with Zayn, his body had only ever yearned for him.
"I can?" Zayn asked, stopping by the door. His eyes trailed Liam up and down at the thought.
"You can." Liam faced his back to him to turn on the shower. He heard the bathroom door click shut and felt Zayn's eyes on him as he undressed. Zayn's hands would usually touch him immediately, but Zayn was still waiting for permission, not wanting to push his luck. Liam knew that Zayn never resisted his bare skin. Zayn was being strict with himself, proving to Liam that he was trying hard.
Liam waited by the shower door with his hand under the water. Zayn undressed behind him and when Liam stood under the water, he felt Zayn brush against him as he slipped into the shower too. Liam sensed the awkwardness immediately and decided to do what they usually did in the shower, which was affectionately touch everything.
Liam rubbed soap between his hands and attentively reached up to rest a hand on Zayn's chest. Liam felt his heart thump against his palm.
Zayn's skin was hotter than the water as he
smoothed a hand down the front of his body. Zayn watched him with deep brown eyes and growing pupils. Liam's touch excited him, as it always did. He stayed still as Liam lathered him in soap, touching softly, taking extra care to smooth over every curve. Liam then washed Zayn's arms and when he reached his hands, Zayn intertwined their fingers.
Liam's eyes finally met his mates, and Zayn stepped closer. The water ran over one side of him, washing some of the soap away. Liam's brown hair darkened when wet, and stuck to his forehead.
Zayn's fingertips traced up the back of Liam's hands, his arms, his shoulders, his neck, the side of his face, and into his hair, brushing the strands back from Liam's face.
"Beautiful" Zayn said lowly, aware of Liam's hands returning to his body. He leaned down when Liam gripped his hips. "So fucking beautiful."
Zayn's head lowered until his nose brushed the bridge of Liam's nose. He smoothed it down until their foreheads touched. The noise of the water rushing between them was quiet compared to the sound of Liam's heart of gold thrashing inside.
"I've missed this," Liam whispered.
Showering together was another thing that brought them closer and washed away their troubles.
"I've missed you." Zayn's lips tingled for a kiss, but instead, he lifted his head to let the water stream between their faces.
They stared, and their hands touched, and the tension swelled, and steam clouded around them.
Those oak eyes stared so lovingly, Liam fell deeply into them, like the very first time Zayn had looked at him.
In a swift action, Liam grabbed Zayn's face, tugged his head down, and smashed their lips together.
Zayn's arms wrapped around him and their naked bodies collided. Zayn pushed Liam's back into the tiled shower wall and kissed him hard.
The tiles were cold against Liam's back, but Zayn's hot body shared a warmth that sank deep into his soul.
They kissed roughly, and with desperation. Their hands rubbed every inch of each other, and the tension twisted around them, keeping them so close, they might as well have shared the same body.
They kissed passionately, venturing each other's mouths, kissing each other's necks and sometimes travelling lower.
By the time they were done, they had stood in the shower for thirty minutes, doing anything but washing themselves. Liam's cheeks were red and Zayn knew it wasn't from the heat of the water. He was a little flustered too. Neither of them had expected to dive so far into their affection, but they loved each other, and their bodies enjoyed reminding them.
Though Zayn loved a lot more of Liam than just his body. His Liam was an extraordinary person.
Zayn felt blessed just to be in the same room, never mind sharing parts of his soul.
They got into bed that night with light hearts. The bond was stitching back together with each passing day. Liam knew the bond used stronger thread this time. They were connecting on a level that Zayn kept just out of reach for almost two years.
Now that Liam had pushed through his walls, he had access to everything Zayn could be, and he could be so much more than the person he had fooled the world into believing was the real Zayn Malik.
Liam saw unlimited possibilities, he only hoped Zayn would see that too.
"Goodnight," he said, leaning over his bedside table to switch off the lamp. He then snuggled under the duvet, but Zayn sat next to him, not moving, only watching. When Liam locked their gazes, the expression on Zayn's face took his breath away.
Zayn looked so utterly in love, Liam sat up again to savour such a pure sight.
"Are you alright?" he asked, arching a brow with an odd smile.
"It's just-" Zayn shook his head to snap him out of his daze. "I've fucked up so much in my life, yet I still get to go to bed with someone like you. I don't know why I've been given another chance, but Liam... my god Liam, I won't waste it."
Liam sighed softly with a smile, wondering when they would start talking about other things, and wondering when they had officially moved past this tragedy to talk about other things.
Liam tilted his head and patted his cushion. Zayn shuffled across the bed and they rested their heads on the same pillow. Zayn was vulnerable again. His heart was exposed.
Liam smoothed the back of his fingers over Zayn's cheek until the werewolf's eyes started to close. Liam then touched Zayn's chest, feeling his heart's slow and steady rhythm.
Only when Zayn was asleep, Liam whispered, "I love you. No matter what you do, I'll never stop loving you. Please don't take advantage of that again."
Liam pulled Zayn's heavy arm around him. His mate didn't even stir, so Liam snuggled as close as possible. The only space between them was the fabric of their clothing, but for now, that was close enough for Liam.