Chapter Text
Zayn would scream again, but his voice was already hoarse. The Doms had said he’d get 20 hits from the whip, but he had already lost count.
So, Zayn stood limply, from where he was tied up and blindfolded, against the bookshelf.
The hits stopped, and he heard someone — he was too out of it to know who — ask, “Colour please.”
“Green,” he whispered.
“Alright, boy,” the voice said. Zayn felt a cup tipped to his lips, pouring water down his throat. He spluttered, feeling it splash down his face and chest, mixing with his tears.
Then, suddenly, the whip started again, merciless to the last hit.
He must have whined or something, because someone was now whispering in his ear, though it sounded garbled to him. There was also a hand combing through his hair, and another, with a damp cloth, cleaning the sweat and his wounds.
Zayn was still limp and helpless, but he felt lighter, and freer, mostly at least. The emotional part of his brain knew he was forgiven, though the rational part was worried about Louis.
Someone placed him gingerly on his side in bed, dropping little kisses all over his face, and tucking him in, the way you would with a kid.
“Love you, Zayn.”
Taking one last look back to check Harry was doing okay with Louis, Liam followed Niall out into the living room.
Niall collapsed onto the sofa, holding a pillow to his chest. “Fuck”
Liam sat down next to Niall, and gently tucked Niall into him, almost as if Niall was a sub himself.
“You good, mate?”
Niall shrugged, “How’s Zayn?”
“Still sleeping”
Niall smiled a bit, thinking of how peaceful Zayn was when he was asleep.
Liam broke the silence, “You sure you good?”
Niall paused, before saying, “it’s just, I should have known, right? Like, Zayn’s mine , I should have known he wasn’t handling it well.”
“Zayn’s not yours—well, not just yours,” Liam corrected himself, seeing Niall’s sudden glare, “he’s ours, me and Harry’s too. We all should have realized. And you know Zayn, he doesn’t like to say all this stuff, just lets it simmer until, well…” Liam gestured vaguely.
“Yea, I guess. Still feel shitty though.”
Liam nodded, giving Niall a comforting squeeze. They sat like that for a while, until Zayn’s voice could be heard.
“Niall?” came Zayn’s sleepy voice. Liam awed internally at how Niall’s face quietly lit up, like switching on a soft light.
“Gonna check on my boy. Wanna come?”
Liam nodded, following Niall to their bedroom.
Zayn was curled up in the bed, eyes a bit red and puffy from earlier.
“Hey baby,” Niall said, “Wanna cuddle?”
“Always,” said Zayn.
Niall and Liam slipped under the covers, Niall pulling Zayn onto his chest.
“How’s your bum?” Niall asked Zayn softly
“Sore, a bit.”
“Can I see?”
Zayn nodded, letting Liam reach under and pull off the blanket.
“Looks alright, I think,” Niall said, “I’ll put some cream on it tonight.”
Niall kissed his fingertips, and tapped them elightly on Zayn’s bum. Zayn hissed, but snuggled more into Niall.
Liam stroked Zayn’s hair, all three loving the quiet sweetness of the moment. They sat like that for a while, when Niall felt Zayn’s body slightly shake.
“Baby, baby” Niall said, “what’s wrong?”
Zayn’s shoulders shook a bit more, and Niall could feel the wetness of Zayn’s tears through his t-shirt.
“Zayn, baby, look at me,” Niall’s voice was still soft, but there was a hint of a command in it.
Zayn looked up. “Sorry,” he said, “Just, I really fucked up, didn’t I?”
Niall paused, trying to work out how to reassure Zayn without minimizing his actions, “You were a bit bad, but…” he looked to Liam for help.
“It’s all forgiven now, ok, babe?” Liam finished. Zayn nodded, still looking doubtful.
“How’s Louis?”
Niall and Liam exchanged glances.
“He hasn’t really reacted,” Liam said, “Harry’s with him.”
Niall, feeling Zayn’s sadness, added, “It’s all ok, ok baby? We’re not mad at you, and Louis will be ok too. And we should have seen how you felt too, we also messed up.”
Zayn frowned, “It’s not your fault!”
“It’s all of our faults, a little. But there’s no point in going over what's done. We learned, we’ll move on, and it’ll all be ok? You’ll always be my good little boy.” Niall replied. Zayn nodded, pushing his head into the gap between Niall and Liam’s.
“Love you,” he muttered.
“Love you too,” Liam and Niall echoed back.