steal my breath: a riley/zane fanfic

chapter 6: he's the earth and heaven to you

AUTHOR'S NOTE: For you AU nonbelievers, I DO NOT KNOW IF ZANE CAN SING OR NOT. FOR THE PURPOSES OF THIS CHAPTER AND THIS STORY, HE CAN. OKAY? OKAY.

Zane and Riley walked up to the trivia game, pockets bursting with tickets.

"You might beat me on sports, but I've got history and music in the bag," Zane bragged, bopping Riley on the nose.

"Oh, really, Mister Smarty Pants?"

"Really, Mister Gorgeous Smarty Football Pants."

Just as they were about to tap into the game, a familiar tenor voice rang out from behind them. "Did I hear someone say football?"

The two boys turned around abruptly, looking Drew and Bianca in the faces.

"You two on a date?" she spat.

"Bianca, calm down," Drew reasoned. "Are you, though? 'Cause, y'know. "People are saying, well, that you're gay." He didn't sound homophobic; whenever he asked Riley is he was "y'know, gay," he sounded exactly like that.

"We're on a date," Riley confirmed. "Bianca, you ever been on one? Or have you out-manned all the guys who've tried?"

"You bitch," Bianca snarled as Drew and Zane laughed.

"Aw, c'mon, B; you gotta admit that was funny," Drew wheezed in between chuckles.

"Oh, you're gonna get it, Stavros. You're gonna get it good. You too, Zane."

"What did I do?"

Without answering him, she stalked out of the arcade and into the mall. Drew followed.

"That's, uh, that's my ride," he stammered. "Have fun on your gay date!" Again, he didn't sound homophobic; just awkward.

Once Drew was out of earshot, Riley muttered "Fuck you very much," so that only Zane could hear. His cute boyfriend laughed.

They played a round of trivia and made a fortune; true to his word, Zane had history and music locked up. Boy knew Britney, for God's sake.

Riley knew he was in trouble, though, when Zane spotted the open mic going on at the pub next door. There was a giant crowd of people surrounding it, but the signup sheet was only two people long.

"You gonna do it?" Zane asked Riley. "It's all-ages."

"Sure," his boy replied mischievously. The next two awful singer took their turns, and then—

"Zane Park?" the supervisor announced.

"What?" Zane shrieked in shock before bursting into uncontrollable laughter. "Ri-leeeyyyyy!"

"You've gotta do it now," Riley chuckled, winking at him.

Zane begrudgingly went up onstage, smiling at the crowd.

"So. This wasn't my idea," he admitted. "My…my Riley, over there, you see him? He signed me up. Isn't he gorgeous?"

The crowd agreed. Wolf whistles and catcalls filled the air.

"Back off, ladies, he's mine," Zane said protectively. "So this, Riley, is for you."

He sat on the stool and started to sing a cappella.

I've made up my mind; don't need to think it over

If I'm wrong, I am right

No need to look no further

This ain't lust, I know this is love, but

If I tell the world, I'll never say enough

'Cause it was not said to you,

and that's exactly what I need to do,

if I'm in love with you.

Should I give up, or should I just keep chasing pavements,

even if it leads nowhere?

Or would it be a waste? Even if I knew my place,

should I leave it there?

Should I give up, or should I just keep chasing pavements,

even if it leads nowhere?

I'd build myself up, and fly around in circles

Wait, then, as my heart drops and my back begins to tingle

Finally, could this be it?

Oh, should I give up or should I just keep chasing pavements,

even if it leads nowhere?

Or would it be a waste? Even if I knew my place,

should I leave it there?

Should I give up or should I just keep chasing pavements,

even if it leads nowhere?

Zane let the last note fade out, and a split second went by before the crowd erupted in applause. All Riley could do was stare at the gorgeous man who'd just sung a love song for him. Zane had the most beautiful voice.

Riley watched his boyfriend walk off stage towards him. The smaller boy enveloped him in his arms, whispering "hey, babydoll."

"Hey, darling," Riley responded somewhat half-assedly.

"How'd I do—oh." Zane took in the pensive look on Riley's face. "Too much?"

"No, No, Zane, not at all—it was…beautiful. I loved it."

"Really?" Zane squeaked. "You liked it?"

"You have an amazing voice, honey." Riley smiled and slung his arm around Zane's waist and led him out of the pub.

"Where are we going?" Zane asked.

"My house," Riley replied, smiling. "It's ten. We have two hours to kill before I gotta get you home."

"Mmm, well, your house sounds like a plan." Zane smiled and kissed Riley's cheek.

When the two arrived at Riley's apartment, he dragged Zane up to his room.

"I've never seen your room before," Zane blurted out. "That just dawned on me."

"Well, now's your chance, cutie," Riley cooed.

"But, Riles, we need to talk."

"'Bout what, baby?" he inquired as he led them both to the bed. As soon as they sat down, Zane fixed him in a stare that seemed to last forever.

"Zane, what do we need to talk about?" Riley asked earnestly.

'You know the song I sang? 'Chasing Pavements?'" Zane asked, a tiny hint of exasperation in his tone.

"Yeah. Zane, it really was beautiful. What about it?"

"Riley…god. Do I have to just come out and say it?" The exasperation in Zane's voice was, by then, hard to miss.

"I love you, too."

"Fine! I, well, I, uh—wait, what?" Zane's face was priceless, and Riley started laughing.

"I said," Riley repeated, "I love you, too. You're an amazing guy, Zane. Beautiful, talented, courageous, caring, kind, and you love me. That…was what you were going to say, right?"

Zane smiled. "Yes, baby. Yes, it was."

"Well, okay, loverboy. How about a kiss?"

"Mmm, okay. Love you."

Right as their lips touched, both of their phones buzzed in their pockets.

"Bianca tagged me in a photo on Face Range…what?" Riley stared at his phone, puzzled. "Well, um, okay."

"That's what mine says, too," Zane said uncertainly. He went to his Face Range app, found the photo, and…

"Holy shit. Holy fucking shit. Riley, come look."

The picture was of them, at the arcade, kissing. The caption read "I knew it was true."

"That bitch," Riley swore. "I am going to kill her."

"Riley, Riley, listen to me," Zane implored his boyfriend. "I'm angry, too, but football season's almost over."

"Yeah, and?" Riley said, voice still colored with rage.

"Don't you think it's time to change your relationship status from 'it's complicated' to 'in a relationship with Zane Park?'"

"Baby, I want to, but it's not that simple." Riley stood up and began to pace.

"Explain, then, Riley, because I'm really not getting it."

"Zane, I love you. If we come out before the end of season, you will get hurt."

"And you won't?" Zane asked, incredulous.

"I will, too, but baby, all I care about is you and your safety."

"And I care about you!" Zane protested. "Baby, sit back down."

Riley did as he was told, and Zane curled himself up against the taller boy.

"Should I be afraid?"

Riley sighed and kissed the top of Zane's head. "Darling, I don't know. But we'll get through this together. I know we will."

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