१०.

'Salaam maa [greetings mother]' Zayn says into the telephone mouthpiece, smiles when he hears the Rani respond the same.

'Zain you haven't got hurt, right?'

'No Maa, both Liam and I are fine. Sab kheriyat [everything's fine]'

She hums across the line and stays silent for a moment.

Zayn is just about to hang up when he hears her speak up again.

'Liam is not faithful, isn't he?'

Zayn's heart sinks a little bit and he shakes his head, tries to sound as convincing as possible when he disagrees.

Silence.

'Beta would you like me to break this engagement? I can always-'

'Maa he's faithful, sach mei [truly]-'

'Zain', she interrupts sternly, 'I know when you're not being truthful'

Zayn doesn't reply.

The Rani sighs, 'Zain if you don't take any action soon, I will do something myself-'

'No' Zayn interrupts frantically, 'No- i-it's fine. I'll talk to him'

Because although he knows exactly what Liam is doing behind his back; he doesn't want to let him go.

‡

He gets back and as promised, Liam is lying on the bed, his full lips red and bitten, a pair of lacy, baby pink panties adorning his ass.

And as much as Zayn wants to rip them off him- they need to talk.

The Emir looks away before he gives into temptation and coughs into his hand, hoping Liam gets the message.

Out of the corner of his eye, he sees Liam frown, confused, as he sits up and pulls the chhaddar [blanket] over himself.

Zayn sighs in relief and turns back, before taking a seat opposite Liam.

He plucks at the thin black thread around his hand and opens his mouth to speak before Liam's already cutting him off.

'Zay-Emir, I have something to tell you. Actually, both Harry and I'

Zayn raises an eyebrow and barely starts saying what before Harry's walking out of the bathroom, wiping his hands.

On noticing the Emir, Harry just smirks before taking a seat.

Beside Liam, the Emir notes sourly.

'How did he get in?' the Emir asks pointedly, just as Liam is about to talk.

Liam looks sheepish as he says 'I let him in'

'What?' Zayn sighs, raising his hand to his forehead and massaging his temples, 'The guards let him in without any identity confirmation?'

'I said he was your friend' Liam mumbles and Zayn sighs, pulling his hand away from his forehead.

("An Emir should never look worried" his tutor said when he started classes)

'Whatever' Zayn hums, irritably, 'Are you guys still in touch?'

Liam probably picks up on the bitterness in his tone, because he's reaching forward and grabbing Zayn's fingers, squeezing gently.

And in that one moment, Zayn can't help but hope that Liam was in fact faithful to him.

Harry frowns at the action and clicks his tongue, 'Of course we're still in touch - I love him'

Zayn is about to retort about how he sounds like a fucking animated, cliché Disney character when Liam interrupts them both with a loud "wait"

Both the Emir and Harry shoot each other dirty looks, quietening down nevertheless.

Liam looks between the two of them, before speaking

'So Zayn-'

'Did he' Zayn interrupts unapologetically, points at Harry, 'See you like... that, just now?'

And for a short second Zayn is distracted; biting his lip as he eyes Liam's abs and that tempting bit of lace poking out over the blanket. The things he'd do to Liam-

Harry snorts, waves his hand around carelessly 'Oh believe me I've seen him in much worse-'

'You fucking-'

'Stop it!' Liam yells, 'I'm pregnant okay?! Now carry on fighting like fucking dogs'

Zayn freezes; devoid of emotion for a second.

Zayn lets go of Liam's hand, squirms as if he's touched something impure.

Liam protests weakly as the Emir shakes his head and snorts disdainfully, a weak attempt to mask his sadness 'Of course - you're such a whore, I should've listened to mama-'

'What did you say?' Harry interrupts as he jumps to his feet, towering over the Emir dangerously.

'Nothing' Liam chides as he guides Harry back down, looking hurt and vulnerable and everything that could bring Zayn's arms around him in a heartbeat.

He doesn't know what to do anymore.

Zayn turns around and swears, before turning back and screaming.

He sweeps his hand across a small table beside the bed, shoves a burning oil lamp to the ground, his pulse jumping in his ears as a crash resounds through the room.

Liam sobs loudly into his hands and Zayn is absolutely disgusted.

Absolutely and utterly repulsed.

He whips round pulls Liam up by his robes and grips his shoulders tightly so he doesn't stumble.

'Who fucked you?!'

Liam just cries and cries and cries, and Zayn:/.

Zayn tries not to let his stance waver. Ignores his own instincts to apologise and kiss him everywhere and hold him tight in his arms.

He pushes it deep, deep within himself.

'I said who fucked you?!' he yells again, but he thinks he already knows.

Harry stands up quietly and clears his throat. He looks ashamed and smug at the same time and the Emir's heart sinks.

'Emir saahib - he's carrying my baby'

Zayn snarls and lets go of Liam. He ignores Liam's muffled gasp as he rushes towards Harry and shoves him backwards.

Harry falls to the floor and Zayn kicks him in the centre of his chest. Harry arches off the floor, violently coughing.

'Don't hurt him' Liam yells, shaking. Zayn ignores him.

Zayn's angry; fuming, in fact. How dare they do this to him?!

He growls and stamps on Harry's chest, digs his heel into his sternum: relishes in Harry's pained expression.

Liam gasps and Zayn snaps his head to him.

'YOU SHUT THE FUCK UP-YOU-YOU FUCKING SLUT!'

Liam whimpers, but takes a step forward despite his better thoughts, 'Zay-'

'NO' the Emir screams, almost slaps Liam in that moment.

His hand's shaking next to Liam's face and Liam's cowering and Harry's practically dying beneath them.

Someone must've heard all the noise because there is a knock at the door, an 'Emir saahib sab kuch thik hai? [Emir is everything okay?]'

'Haan [yes]' Zayn yells back before turning back to Harry and Liam; eyes closed, eyebrows furrowed, aching to hurt someone.

'Fuck' Zayn screams; raises his hand to slap Liam across his fucking treacherous smug-pretty little face.

He can't do this.

Liam whimpers and Harry makes a warning sound, stares Zayn in the eye defiantly when Zayn looks down to him.

Zayn growls and massages his temples, feels the tears bubbling up.

'Leave' he rasps, avoids eye contact with them at all costs. He's not weak.

He feels anger bubbling up again in his being; a fiery rush erupting within him like a dormant volcano.

He's tolerated this bullshit for far, far too long.

'Zayn please listen-'

'FUCKING LEAVE MY ROOM RIGHT NOW' he yells again, kicks Harry in the chest again - once, twice, thrice.

Harry gasps for a short second before he bucks up, blood spewing out of his mouth-serves him fucking right- and Liam lets out a choked sob.

Zayn stamps Harry as hard as he can so he can show him at least a fraction of what he made Zayn feel by impregnating Liam.

His fucking jaan.

He's so blinded by his own rage; his own bloodlust that he doesn't realise when Liam wrenches him away from Harry.

Liam looks threatening-despite his puppy dog eyes and trembling lips-as he pulls Zayn in and coldly whispers, 'Do not fucking lay another foot on him'

'WHY THE FUCK SHOULD I NOT?!' Zayn shoots back, and before he knows it he's raised his hand and slapped Liam.

Aside from the ringing in his head everything goes pin-drop silent.

Liam clutches his cheek with flaring nostrils and wet, angry eyes before storming out of the room.

He may have forgotten he's only wearing panties.

Harry stumbles to his feet beside him and when Zayn turns to face him and yell at him too, he's met with a punch to his nose.

He thinks he may have heard something crack.

He stutters backwards, feeling dizzy all of a sudden.

Through blurred vision, he sees Harry shake his head at him before storming out, following Liam's path.

(And if after that, Zayn slides against his bed and cries like a baby-no one needs to know.)

‡

hey what's up it's been a while

(I had to😇)

i'm vvvv sorry for that late as fuck update, but i have had a lot of work recently, with unit tests coming up and all 😬

(Warning: this may happen quite frequently from now on😥)

hope this chapter was good-liam's pregnant with harry's kid oooo.

since we're not allowed beef here in India, I decided to put some into this chapter 😊😉

in the next chapter I'll make sure to explain when liam got pregnant and all tha😰