Happy #SlaveMeThursday my loves! A pretty good chapter I think but it leaves a lot to be explained. Enjoy!

COMMENTS AND VOTES! MWAH!! Xoxo

***

Zayn was losing his fucking mind.

"Mate, you alright?"

Zayn dragged his head up from his desk to see Niall, with Harry attached to his hip, at his door. "I'm, uh, yeah."

Niall and Harry shared a look before Niall left Harry at the door to go to Zayn. "You sure? You haven't really been yourself the past couple weeks."

"What'd you mean? I'm fine." Zayn felt the lie crawl up his throat, and hated the taste of it on the way out.

"Is that why you haven't been home at a normal time since Li-"

"Don't," Zayn barked. "Don't do that. Don't say his name." 

Niall sat on the edge of the desk and carded his fingers through Zayn's hair in comfort. "What happened, Zee?" 

Zayn swallowed, trying to find the courage to admit he'd fucked up. He'd let Liam go with someone that didn't treat him right. Despite conventional guidelines for a Master/slave relationship, they weren't good enough for Liam. Nothing was. And now Liam was stuck in that house.

"Liam called me just now."

"Is he okay?" Harry asked, in concern, as he stepped closer.

Zayn started to nod then dropped his head back to the desk. "I don't know." 

Niall put a firm hand on Zayn's shoulder. "Zayn, I need you to tell me what happened."

Zayn stood up abruptly, pushing off Niall's hold. "I don't know! He says he's okay, but he's lonely. Marcus never so much as looks at him and he called, begging me to help him."

"But he's not hurt, right? I know Marcus has always been a stern man, but never abusive."

Zayn shook his head solemnly. "At least then I'd have a reason to get him out of there."

"You don't mean that," Harry whispered in shock.

Zayn held a hand up. "Of course-No I don't. But I don't know what to do."

"What can you do, Zayn? You gave him to the one man that holds all of the power. Cross him and you can kiss everything we've worked for goodbye," Niall reminded.

Zayn put his hands to the desk and leaned his weight on them. "I know. Don't I fucking know? I thought...I thought he was a good one. Always seemed so good to us, you know?"

"Zayn," Niall started hesitantly. "You have to remember that the way we are with slaves, the way I treat Harry, isn't typical or even majorly accepted. The only reason we get away with it is because of who we are." Harry moved over to tuck himself under Niall's arm and kissed his jaw. "As long as Marcus isn't being abusive then he's behaving as, what sounds to me, a typical Master." 

"But its Liam," Zayn tried to explain with just those words.

"I know. And this isn't an I-told-you-so, but you shouldn't have let him go."

"I know that now! But what do I do?"

Niall was petting at the soft hairs on Harry's neck to keep himself calm. "There's nothing you can do, Zayn."

"No. No." Zayn grabbed his phone and keys before storming out of the office.

***

He was sure he was speeding all the way home, but he needed to get out of there, away from the truth of Niall's words, and somewhere he could work this out. Liam's text was still open and unanswered. Meet me at the movies.

The movies that Zayn never took Liam to even though he loved movies. How could he pretend that he'd really tried for Liam? Looking back, he'd assumed Liam would always be there, in that precarious state of living with him, until Zayn finally plucked to the courage to admit his feelings. But he was scarred by his past and afraid of his future, and because of that he let the greatest chance at happiness he'd ever been given walk out his front door with someone else.

He left the car to be parked by Marvin and ran inside, through the house, and into the garden. He fell between the roses and petunias on his back, ignoring the dirt surely grinding into his suit jacket. The stars laid above him in a seemingly disorganized sprawl, when really they had more control over their existence than he did. They knew their destiny, their fate. Where to shine and which constellation to be a part of. Zayn couldn't even keep the attention of a single slave.

But he could either sit here and sulk over his loss or he could find a way to get Liam back, ignoring that he was a day late and a buck short. Not to mention up against the most powerful man he knew. Was Liam worth the risk?

Who was he kidding? Zayn knew he'd give up more than his fancy job and comfortable house if he could have Liam by his side.

But how?

Zayn swiped his phone open again and stared at the text. Meet me at the movies. 

Step one. The movies.

***

Liam couldn't keep his hands still long enough to slip his white trainers on. His palms were sweating and he needed to hurry before Marcus left for work. He forced his shoes on clumsily and nearly ran downstairs to wait for Marcus by the front door. The collar of his blue tee was rubbing his neck and his jeans felt weird on his hips. Like he didn't even know himself today. Well this was a moment of truth for him wasn't it? He would go to the movies, and if Zayn was there then his life would be changing very fast. But if Zayn wasn't there then Liam knew he was stuck with this life forever and he would learn to love it.

Marcus came down the stairs, noticing Liam and giving him a lazy good morning smile. "Liam," he greeted. "Up early this morning."

"Yes, I, um-"

"Spit it out, slave," Marcus demanded with no real force, but enough to make Liam tense. 

"I'd like to go see a movie today."

Marcus gave him an appraising look before he said, "We have a home theatre just for that purpose."

Liam nodded. "I know. I wanted to see one that wasn't on DVD yet. Plus," Liam tried for a smile, "you can't beat their popcorn."

"I don't know, Liam. I shouldn't be letting you out until I put a ring on that finger," he nodded to Liam's right hand. "You're just too lovely, and I don't want anyone getting the wrong idea."

Liam called up the card he was hoping he wouldn't have to pull. "Actually, speaking of the pairing ceremony. I wanted to stop by our planner's office and formally introduce myself. Get started on things, you know. The ceremony will be happening soon enough and I'd like to be involved in the planning."

Marcus seemed to soften at the talk of pairing. "You would?" Liam nodded."What a perfect slave." Marcus waved him off. "Okay, spend the day out. But come back to me with many updates about the ceremony. I'd want to be involved as well."

"Of course, sir."

Marcus brushed a hand along Liam's cheek as he walked out the door for work. Liam ran back to his room and grabbed a jacket and his phone. He opened his conversation with Zayn and typed out; I got out. Please be there.

***

Zayn woke up to a buzz. He rubbed his eyes and opened them to a blinding light, groaning before turning away from the source. His face pressed against something wet, making him lurch back and sit up. He rubbed his eyes again and when his vision cleared he saw the vibrant colors of his garden and realized he'd fallen asleep out here last night. 

He remembered the buzz and picked up his phone. I got out. Please be there. From Liam.

The movies. Shit, the movies! Zayn scrambled upwards and back into the house, back covered in grass stains and dropping little crumbles of dirt in a trail behind him. He wrenched off his clothes and quickly showered. When he came back to his room, Marvin was folding his dirty clothes and putting them in a small cloth sack to be taken for washing, or disposing if they couldn't get the stains out.

"Good morning, sir. I knocked, but you didn't answer. My apologies."

"Whatever," Zayn brushed off the formalities. "I'm going out. I'll be back...um, later." Zayn pulled on a pair of jeans and a loose tee before sliding into a chunky boots that he only donned when he was enjoying a day off.

He was just about to run from the room when Marvin called his attention. He turned to see Marvin holding his phone out to him, messages still open to Liam's conversation. He gave Marvin a pleading look, and received an understanding one in return.

***

Liam shifted from foot to foot, waiting outside the theatre. Zayn wasn't here. But he couldn't leave just yet. Just in case. His heart was just about in his throat when he heard a soft, weary version of his name. He looked around in confusion, but didn't see anything. Then he heard it again, a little louder, coming from behind him. He turned and saw a sight for sore eyes.

Zayn was leaning against the side of the theatre in simple clothes, hair still wet. Liam's face broke into a smile and he immediately went to hug Zayn, but he pulled back and walked further into the alleyway.

"Go inside. Theatre seven. I'll be in in a minute." Liam nodded, but didn't leave.

"Go on," Zayn chuckled.

"You look good," Liam said instead.

Zayn bit down on his fond and looked to the ground. "So do you." Liam brightened. "Now go inside. I'll be right there."

Liam debated reaching out to him again, but instead just turned and went to buy his ticket. The theatre was nearly empty, since they were here for the first showing of the day, and Liam strode down the hall and into theatre seven. It was empty so Liam went up the back row and down in the center seat.

The previews were playing, but Liam wasn't watching. His eyes kept scanning the floor, ready for Zayn to come around the corner. His hands were itching to touch, just to see that he was really here.

But Zayn didn't come around the corner. Instead, he came from the back fire exit. Liam got up and started towards him, but Zayn put a hand up and stopped him at the top of the stairs. Zayn shuffled up the stairs and stood chest to chest with Liam, shirts just barely brushing.

Liam couldn't stop licking his lips and flexing his fingers. Zayn was just staring at him. But then Zayn lifted a hand and curled it around the back of Liam's neck before pulling him forward and kissing him firmly. Liam's vision was a kaleidoscope of colors before he shut his eyes and let Zayn kiss him deeper. He sighed into Zayn's lips and put his hand on Zayn's hips. Zayn wrapped his other arm around Liam's back and pulled them flush together. Liam groaned at the closeness and feeling of Zayn against him.

By the time Zayn pulled back, Liam was breathing and grinning. "I know you haven't been properly touched, and I'm sorry for that," Zayn explained, "I know you must be going insane right now. I just wanted to give you something."

"Thank you," Liam breathed against his lips. "I'm so glad you came."

"I'm glad you got to come, too." Zayn's cheeky smirk gave away his real meaning, earning a light punch from Liam, but he just laughed it off and held Liam closer. "I'm so sorry I let you go."

"You're here now."

Zayn nodded in agreement. "But, we have to talk about some stuff."

Liam slid his fingers next to Zayn's and pulled him to sit in the back row with him. "Okay, talk."

Zayn rubbed over Liam's knuckles before bringing them to his lips for a kiss. When he dropped their hands to his lap again he said. "Marcus owns my company, and my house. And my car for that matter. Everything. He owns everything."