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Liam is average.
He's average in the looks department. A good look in the mirror and he knows it, a good look at him and you'd know it too. It's not a bad thing, not at all. It's just normal, he thinks.
He's got plain features. Dark eyes, dark hair. A nose that used to be too big for him (or so the people in his school used to say) but Liam thinks he's somewhat grown into the nose. He's had a bit of a glow up, definitely. In fact, if he puts enough effort into it he could even be something above average.
A bit of gel in his hair, a well fitted suit and a smile can make him look good. By no means will people be begging him to go out on dates with them, but he can get some appreciative glances.
His life's been pretty average too. He'd managed to move out from his hometown to London. A decent apartment, a decent job that pays him well enough.
He's quite funny if he wants to be, sweet and considerate. A little dorky and even a bit shy. But none of it matters. His life isn't anything amazing but it isn't bad at all.
Liam's average and he's okay with it. He thinks he can be even very happy with it once he finds his soulmate. Then maybe he will be able to truly see all colours.
Gold which is what silver is to white, but to yellow, as his friend once told him. Overall, he doesn't mind it because he can see most colours. He thinks it might be harder for his soulmate to not be able to see brown. Brown is everywhere, earth, trees, chocolate. Everywhere.
Liam's pretty much fine comparatively, the jewellery shops are a bit black and white, but the rest of the world is colourful enough for him.
(•ᴗ•)
Zayn is busy.
At the risk of sounding like a really ungrateful bastard, he's tired.
His life is an endless rush of auditions, preparation for a role, filming, promotions, and repeat. Over and over again. Don't get him wrong he loves his job. Loves being able to reinvent himself for each character, loves to forget himself once the camera rolls.
His life is amazing. Everything anyone would want it to be. But it's just a bit tiring.
And it doesn't slightly help that Zayn has travelled all around the world, met so many people and he still hasn't managed to find his soulmate. It's annoying enough that random people come upto him trying to convince him that he's their soulmate.
Trust Zayn he wants to find his soulmate so badly. But finding them, then having to part with them, to go wherever his career takes him, would be difficult, so Zayn simultaneously hopes to meet them and never meet them. He also hopes that they be part of his industry too, because atleast then he can take them with him. Zayn doesn't want to have someone, just to have to leave them behind a lot. He's just frustrated, and feels awfully guilty that he even encourages the thought of not finding his soulmate over something so trivial.
But to make matters infinitely worse he can't see brown. Like brown is everywhere for heaven's sake. Zayn could be having his favourite chocolate cake and not know how it looks. He could be at a park and just see grey stumps for trees, the furniture, coffee, hair. To make matters worse, his stylists make him wear clothes in the damned colour because it apparently compliments his eyes. Not like it matters anyways, because Zayn can't see it!
Okay, so he's a little frustrated about that tiny thing. Thing is he should've found them by now. But he's only travelled almost all of the world, so yeah maybe his soulmate lives in Antartica.
So yeah, his life is great.
(•ᴗ•)
Liam is late.
He's so late for the premiere. So so late. And he's a mess. This is his first big assignment and his hair is flopping into his eyes, his suit is two sizes too big for him and he's sweating through his coat.
"Thank you so much. Keep the change!", He says to the cab driver giving him some money and running out without waiting for a response.
Liam's a journalist and he's been told to represent his paper at the premiere of thr biggest summer release : Delicate Affairs starring Zayn Malik. Liam doesn't need to do interviews or anything, just a movie review. But being late when he's supposed to be a critic of the movie is hardly making a good impression.
Liam had also thought this might've been a good occasion to meet up with a couple people..maybe his soulmate. But looking at the mess that he is, he doesn't think that is gonna happen either. First his drier won't work so his hair is a floppy, curly mess. Then his brand new suit wasn't ready at the dry cleaners so he has to wear his old one from when he was bulking and it's too big on him now that he's cutting, throwing out any opportunity he had to show off his fit physique to prospective soulmates.
He rushes into the room where the movie is being shown making a disastrous amount of noise. He breaths out settling down in one of the front seats. The movie is just starting, thank god.
Calm down Liam, he tells himself trying to focus on the man on the screen.
(•ᴗ•)
Zayn is excited.
He already knows the plot, but he can't quite shake the nervous excitement of seeing his months of hard work on a huge screen, open to criticism. It's dark and there's quite a bit of noise that (shakes Zayn out of his musings) when he barges into the theatre post door closing. He's quite normal looking but Zayn is so irrationally attracted. In a weird way he's never been before.
The lighting in the theatre is dim so he can't make out all of the guy's features, but he's sorta cute.
It's just the guy is sweating through his curls and suit jacket and he looks so nervous. Zayn is unbelievably endeared. And then he starts biting his lips and Zayn's nails start biting into his palms.
Zayn takes a deep breath, trying to refocus at himself on the screen.
But he can't is the thing.
He can still see the man in his seat, he keeps moving like something is uncomfortable and Zayn just keeps staring at him. Mind you, Zayn doesn't stare at anyone, he gets stared at. But something about this guy is just..
Zayn tries to see his eye colour, a blue or a green, or yellow. He thinks he sees an entire rainbow from afar in the man's eyes at a point before he realises it's only the reflection of the movie in his eyes. Zayn sighs, going back to looking at his lips and his hair and his cheeks.
He happily spends the entirety of his premier movie staring at this guy (hey!don't judge him, he knows how the movie ends).
He sneaks a bit to see if he can find the mystery man at the after party but he never does see him. Then life gets busy again and Zayn gets lost in being Zayn Malik.
(•ᴗ•)
Liam is bored.
It's the weekend and he's at a club his friends dragged him to. He's also quite a bit drunk. Liam doesn't love drinking but he does it for the plot anyways. People do say he's a bit uptight sometimes.
He's looking through the crystal of his fancy-girlie-now-empty-vodka-drink glass. A little childish, but a lot of fun. The flashing lights at the club hitting off of the different colours of the small flower patterns in crystal glass make a beautiful pattern. Or maybe Liam's a bit more drunk than he thought he was. He's seeing the red lights slowly fade into something more grey, he thinks it's probably golden, when it's completely covered by a dark blue.
Liam giggles, removing the glass and looking up and closing his eyes.
"Hey.. what brings you here?", he asks, trying to sound as flirty as possible.
"Uhm- I just wanted to get a drink..", the man says.
His voice is oddly familiar. He blinks his eyes open. Looks to his left where none other than Zayn Malik is stood looking at bartender. His cheeks are flushed a beautiful pink. Liam blushes himself looking out at the crowd again.
"Big fan, Zayn.", he mumbles.
"Oh? Thank you. Really!", Zayn says, happily clapping his hands and turning to Liam. Liam thinks Zayn's probably quite drunk too.
Their faces are a bit too close so Liam doesn't look back to him. If he does, he might kiss him and he doesn't think that would go very well since, you know soulmates exist. So he just stares at the crowd as he blushes beet red.
"What's your name? You were at the premiere right?", Zayn asks.
Liam turns to him in shock. How does he know. He sees Zayn pick up his drink and thanking the bartender. He turns back to the crowd as Zayn looks at him again.
"Uhm it's Liam, Liam Payne. And uh- how do you- like remember I was there", he asks, softly.
"Oh- you were a bit loud, rushing in and everything..", Zayn says chuckling.
But it's not condescending in any way. Just teasing, like Zayn's not laughing at him but with him. The thought makes Liam giggle a bit.
"Sorry, I- yeah..I was really a bit of mess that day.", Liam admits.
He finally finds enough courage to look at Zayn again. He finds Zayn looking down at his phone his face lit up by the lights of the club and he's so so so beautiful.
"Yeah.. it's- it was quite cute. I've got to go though, nice talking to you, Li.", Zayn says, distractedly, walking away.
Liam waves half heartedly. Well, at least he got to speak to his celebrity crush. Tomorrow morning Liam will berate himself for being dumb enough to not even look at him properly, or make eye contact, or ask for a hug or request a picture. He'll also hit his head repeatedly for being so awkward. But tonight Liam's just happy he got to talk to Zayn.
(•ᴗ•)
Zayn is in a rush.
He's really late to his family lunch. Late to an official meeting he'd be able to hold his ground, but his sisters are gonna chew him out for oversleeping. And for not being able to function without his store-bought coffee. And for being late. Quite late. So very late.
He pulls on his sunglasses as he steps out of the car, quick stop for coffee before making it to the restaurant where the girls are probably already having their appetizers. If it all goes to plan, then getting coffee shouldn't take more than 5 minutes.
The barista is free because it's nearly 1.30 in the afternoon and nobody (except Zayn) drinks coffee at that time. He's able to get his coffee in 3 minutes flat, taking pictures with a few people as he waits.
He grabs his sunglasses as he steps out again (because Zayn would never wear them indoors, he's not that guy, he never will be). It's really only a second where he's looking down to pull them on when someone slams into him from the side. He completely loses his grip on the cup on his hand as he falls sideways.
Zayn's groaning and checking for damage to his hands when he hears a pained noise from near him.
And there he is, Liam Payne, all soaked in coffee, (it's not like Zayn can see it, but he can tell by the grey patches on his white tee) blushing bright red in pain or embarassment, he isn't sure.
"Are you okay?", Zayn asks, placing a hand on the man's bicep. He might squeeze on it slightly, but that's between Zayn and his reflexes when exposed to fit men.
"I'm drenched in hot coffee, what the do yo-", Liam snaps, cutting off half way as he realises who he's talking to.
"I- I'm sorry.", Zayn says.
"Oh I'm sorry- I.. I'm gonna get some cold water I think.", Liam says holding his shirt away from his body in an effort to stop the burning.
Zayn stands up first, offering a hand to the man.
"I'll help, it was my fault anyways.", Zayn says.
"No no.. it was- well it was both of ours I think..", Liam trails off.
"Yeah uhm.. come on.", Zayn says, awkwardly motioning for Liam towards the coffee shop.
Zayn leads Liam to the bathroom, his hands itching with a need to touch Liam's waist the entire time. Somehow (by stretching and making fist over and over) they make it to the bathroom without Zayn doing anything weird.
Liam faces the sink immediately, trying to get the stains out, and Zayn albeit a little creepily, looks at the man. Like- really looks at him when the lighting isn't dim or too flashy or when the guy isn't wincing due to hot coffee spilling on him. He makes sure to remove his sunglasses and all too.
He's kinda cute, kinda hot and kinda pretty. He would be Zayn's type, if he had one. But then again, he supposes his type should just be his soulmate.
Liam cleans up in a few minutes while Zayn mostly hovers around awkwardly. He looks up at the mirror, catching Zayn's eyes through it.
"Does it look fine now?", he asks, softly.
"Uhm yeah- Yeah looks fine to me.", Zayn stammers, answering just late enough that it still looked like he was pondering the question. Though that question doesn't really need much pondering.
Pondering? Who even says pondering anyways- forgive Zayn he's reading for a period drama movie.
"Well okay, then.. I can get you a coffee then.", Liam offers turning to Zayn.
"No, that's okay.", Zayn says, smiling.
"No but-", Liam argues.
"Don't worry about it, I insist.", Zayn says.
"Oh, you've got really pretty eyes, Liam.", Zayn says, abruptly.
Liam's eyes widen, he blushes prettily, before looking down.
"Uhm.. yeah, thanks?", Liam says, awkwardly, averting his eyes. Zayn wishes he wouldn't do that, but he can't say that to him.
"Sorry, I know that was weird. My people skills are much better usually.", Zayn offers, awkwardly.
"Oh that's fine... I should really leave now. I've got to wash this before it really stains you know.", Liam says, awkwardly motioning to his shirt and waving.
Zayn nods, looking understandingly towards Liam's shirt. He freezes.
The stains on the shirt match Liam's eyes. Zayn blinks a couple of times.
"Uhm..Liam you're eyes... what's- which?", he stutters.
No, but what the actual fuck.
"Oh it's- they're a bit plain, I know.", Liam says, starting to look uncomfortable.
"No, no, I'm sorry this is so weird, but just- it's really important, what's the- which colour, your eyes- colour are they which?", Zayn says nonsensically.
Liam just looks at him with those concerned... brown (?) eyes?
"Liam..colour of your eyes.", Zayn prods again.
"Oh- it's not a big deal.. ", Liam begins.
"It is! Oh my god!", Zayn cuts him off.
"It's just brown!", Liam says, loudly making Zayn's mouth snap shut.
"Oh this is brown.. Liam I don't think you understand.", Zayn starts.
"What?", Liam asks.
"Is that how chocolate looks?", Zayn asks smiling dopily.
Liam's getting really concerned now, "Yeah I guess. I mean- what's?", he answers anyways.
"Well no wonder I love it so much.", Zayn says, sighing sappily.
"You, Liam, have the most beautiful eyes."
Liam looks at him, blushing. Zayn sounded so genuine, like he really believed Liam's eyes were something special.
"That's rich from you look at your eyes", Liam says, looking into to the other's eyes.
"Theyre- oh. Oh they're what silver is to white but to yellow. They're - they're gold.", Liam stutters. He finds himself blushing harder.
"Well I wouldn't say gold- ", Zayn says, rubbing the back of his head, shyly.
"Don't be modest. They're the prettiest. I can see why gold is so expensive if it looks like that.", Liam says, smiling softly.
"Aren't we both just full of compliments then.", Zayn says, laughing, taking Liam's hand.
"Now if you don't mind a spoiled shirt, I believe we're due for a coffee.. and a conversation, I hope, Soulmate.", Zayn says, as they walk out of the restroom.
Liam laughs, nodding.
(•ᴗ•)
Zayn is beautiful.
Liam already knew this, ofcourse. Seeing as if he was a huge fan of Zayn since forever. But in retrospect, the attraction and attachment he felt towards Zayn ran deeper than a celebrity crush, seeing as the other was his soulmate.
Zayn is the most beautiful man Liam's ever met, known or held. And Liam's quite average, but Zayn seems to think he's something more.
So maybe he's finally happy. Because he found his Zayn. And his Zayn, who everyone wants, wants only Liam.
(•ᴗ•)
Liam is special.
Zayn thought so the very first time he saw him, rushing into that cinema, what feels like ages ago. But now, with every quiet moment, every kiss, every glance they share, he's just more sure that his soulmate is something special.
And Zayn feels so stupid for ever not wanting to know this man (even if it was for a minute because of his frustration). Because after meeting Liam, knowing him, being with him, Zayn doesn't think he needs anything else in his life.
His life was wonderful before but having someone to share it with makes it a million times better. Liam brings excitement into his life, he reminds him how incredible his life is, how lucky he is just by holding his hand. And when work gets in the way, Zayn never feels like he's leaving Liam behind.
Liam makes him realise that it was never about having someone who Zayn would have to leave behind. It was always about having his partner to whom he always returns.
No matter where he goes, no matter how far he flies for his work, all his journeys had only one destination - Home.
(•ᴗ•)