11 [ORANGE]: Curiosity Killed the Cat.

A sudden visit and interesting conversations; Zayn Malik was curious tonight to know more about the crimes happening in Ethereal City, while also trying to get over the guilt he's feeling for playing his father's boss and cheating on his boyfriend.

It was close to nine when Liam decided to leave. Kissing Zayn lightly on the lips, he was taking aback with the lack of interest and passion from his lover, but he decided to pay no head. Zayn went through a lot of stress these past two days, no need to push on his nerves.

As Liam opened the door, he was met with Yaser Malik's medium frame, along with another man who stood behind him at the door too.

"Oh, I see you're still here, Payne." Yaser uttered, patting Liam's cheek lightly.

Liam's eyes were now looking the other man up and down, he was noticeably gorgeous.

"Yes I am, Mr. Malik." Liam replied, he wanted to add that he was about to leave but now maybe I shouldn't leave.

Liam stood aside to let Yaser and his guest get into the house, and you bet he was a bit alarmed when Zayn greeted the new comer using his name.

"Mr. Barnes, it's nice to see you again," although Zayn's voice was calm; he looked at Barnes goggle-eyed.

"Call me James, and it's good to see you too." Barnes smiled and Liam felt his blood boiling, what is this man doing here?

Zayn turned to Liam as his father and James got into the living room, he noticed the way Liam's shoulders were tense as he was burning holes in James' back, much like Harry did this morning.

What's wrong with James that's getting two men pissed off? Zayn thought.

"I'll see you later, Liam." Zayn finally said, gaining his boyfriend's attention back. Liam was having a long face now. Is he jealous? That's a maybe, Zayn giggled wickedly as he pressed an open-mouthed kiss on Liam's jaw and another on his cheek until Liam moaned softly and pressed their lips together.

Liam held Zayn's waist as his tongue invaded the younger's mouth, "Cheeky boy," Liam breathed. He was well aware of Zayn's love to play around, using his charms.

Zayn bit on Liam's plump lip playfully as if confirming what Liam said before he pulled back.

"I'll see you later," Zayn repeated with a smile.

Liam, who was now panting quietly and smiling wide like an idiot, nodded his head before leaving.

Zayn let out a heavy breath, never had he thought that being with Liam would be this stressful.

It's not Liam, he beat himself, it's your cheating self that's making you stressful, His angel said. It was just a kiss come on, his demon replied making his angel roll his eyes.

Zayn shook his head and walked into the living room, now curious as ever to know the reason Detective Barnes was here.

"And how many murders have been committed?" Yaser was asking when Zayn took a seat on one of the velvet armchairs.

"We discovered the sixth yesterday morning, it was a horrible scene." Barnes said, while moving a hand through his brown hair, it was the same length as Zayn's; whom eyes shifted to take over the detective body, muscled in a nice way, Zayn thought.

But his eyes widened when he saw what the young man wore around his neck, the urn of Eros.

It wasn't exactly a urn, since it was much smaller and lighter. However, it usually held four drops of blood that belongs to the lover of the man's who's wearing it, and since four is the number associated with death, the lover -whose blood is in it- should be either departed or loved enough by the man who wears it that the man is ready to die/ kill for him.

And since Eros was the protector of the homosexuals, the two lovers must be men.

James Barnes was gay.

Who's the detective now? Zayn mentally giggled.

And as the rest of the humans, he'd either test James or show that he knows better. Humans love to do that, if you're a doctor for example, you'd expect people to give you medical advice or finds a way to prove that they know about something in your own field better. Zayn won't be any different.

"Sixth?!" Trisha gasped, placing her hand above her heart in horror. "Oh God help us! And the things being written with the flowers were so tormenting, like UNWORTHY, DON'T TOUCH, and what also dear?" Trisha asked Yaser.

"I think there was also one that said, I NEED IT." Yaser added.

"Yeah I saw that one," Zayn mumbled.

"Now six crimes! But how come!? I listen to Welcome to Ethereal Morning everyday, and I only heard about five." Trisha cocked her head to the side.

"We decided not to annonunce the last murder yet," Barnes calmly added.

"Why not?" Zayn asked, making James look at him stunned; like he forgot he was here.

"I can't really tell you that, and I appreciate if you don't mention the sixth murder to anyone, we don't want the news to get to the criminal,"

"News to the criminal? how's it gonna be news to them? They did it!" Zayn mocked, getting a stern look from his father.

"We don't want him to know that we discovered the new crime, he wants hugger-mugger to prevail in our peaceful city, we shouldn't let him has his way."

"May the Lord be with you all, our city is getting dangerous," Yaser added with a sigh. "Honestly you should punish the murderer for what he did to the flowers alone."

James and Trisha showed their agreement with what Yaser said, while Zayn rolled his eyes, is that what concern y'all?

"I don't think that's a crime here, the murderer honoured the dead with flowers, isn't that like the only exception to picking flowers?" Zayn spoke honestly.

"No, he committed a hideous crime and used our innocent flowers to send crazy messages."

He? Him? He? Zayn's thought, are the police sure the criminal is a He?

Zayn knowing himself too well, he wouldn't be able to stay silent,

"You said He, you sure the murderer is a man?"

"You ask a lot of questions, are you aware of that?" James' tone was showing his little irritation.

"Pardon him, James," Yaser laughed dryly, "He has always been so disquisitive."

"Oh c'mon James, let the cat out of the bag," Zayn pressed. And Yaser was getting more and more uncomfortable with his son annoying-self tonight.

"Curiosity killed the cat you know," James faked a smile, showing his perfectly white teeth.

"I'm not a cat!"

"No, you're not! you're going up to your room!" Yaser angrily let out.

"But Papa!"

"Up to your room! Now!"

Zayn huffed, feeling his face flushing with embarrassment at being sent to his room like a child.

Zayn got into his room, throwing himself on his bed with a thud, while crossing his arms over his chest, and pouting his plump lips in dissatisfaction.

I haven't even known why James is here yet! He sighed loudly.

~

General Rules of Ethereal City:

♡ ꜱᴇɴᴅɪɴɢ ꜱʏᴍᴘᴀᴛʜʏ ꜰʟᴏᴡᴇʀꜱ ᴛᴏ ᴀ ɢʀɪᴇᴠɪɴɢ ꜰᴀᴍɪʟʏ ᴏʀ ᴘʟᴀᴄɪɴɢ ᴛʜᴇᴍ ᴏɴ ᴀ ɢʀᴀᴠᴇ ɪꜱ ᴛʜᴇ ᴏɴʟʏ ʟᴇɢᴀʟ ᴏᴘᴛɪᴏɴ ᴛᴏ ᴘɪᴄᴋ ꜰʟᴏᴡᴇʀꜱ ♧

A/n: so what do you think so far??

I just heard my great aunt has passed and I don't feel good.

Anyway, take care love u ❤