Things Have Gotten Closer To The Sun -starseas on ao3

Twelve

The next evening, Harry watches as Louis fades into the trees up ahead, the bright red of his jacket swallowed up by the white static of the winter.

He's like a fox in the snow, and Harry follows after him.

It's nearing dusk now. They're heading towards the pond to skate and the white sky is melting into a deep blue above, yellow sun dipping low beneath a thick line of pine trees in the distance.

The light is watery, spreading out like a sigh over the horizon.

Harry walks with Niall in silence, keeping his hands shoved deep in his pockets, tall body hunched against the cold. They've both got a pair of ice-skates thrown over their shoulders, and Harry listens as their boots crunch over the snow.

There are seven days left until the end of the world.

"Do you think something's going on with them?" Niall says suddenly.

Harry glances over at him with a frown, watching the side of Niall's face as they walk. His breath looks like white smoke, candlelight hair shining bright even in the dimness. "With who?" Harry asks.

"Zayn and Liam." Niall sighs, rolling his eyes like it should be obvious.

Harry thinks about it for a moment as they near the trees. He thinks about yesterday, when Zayn had watched Liam from behind the glass and said I like him. He didn't get it then, but now he does.

"I think something's been going on with them for a while." He says.

Niall hums thoughtfully, stepping over a snow-covered log as they move into the woods. Harry shivers as the air cools, daylight weakening where the tree branches cast shadows.

When Niall doesn't say anything, Harry smiles, nudging him gently with his shoulder. "Just spit it out, Niall. I know you're thinking something."

Niall glances over at him, pursing his lips before sighing, looking away. "It's just-god, I don't know. Do you feel like this is the right time for that? The end of the world?"

Harry doesn't answer. He just thinks about it.

When the trees begin to spread out and he catches sight of Louis in the distance, a bright speck of color against the muted whites of the frozen lake, Harry thinks he knows his answer.

Shrugging, he looks back at Niall. "I think it sort of has to be."