*
It was cold.
That was the first thought Niall was conscious of having that morning. It obviously wasn’t his first thought; somehow he’d gotten up, gotten dressed and made his way downstairs, so he must’ve had some other thought processes. But it was the first thought that registered with him.
It wasn’t snow-inducing, bone-chillingly freezing cold, but it was still cold enough to prickle at his skin, even through the old and slightly dirty jumper he’d thrown on that morning. It was cold enough that he should probably turn the heat on. Liam always used to get frustrated with him for never doing that, instead sitting shivering wrapped up in blankets because he was just too plain lazy to get up.
“What is the point,” He would say the second he walked in the door, flicking the switch as he entered the living room, “in you having a fancy central heating system if you’re never going to actually use it?”
Niall always used to laugh at him when he did this, and eventually Liam would join in. He’d cross the room and squish in next to Niall on his favourite armchair and Niall would wrap him up in the doona too. They’d stay like that for most of the morning, cuddled in and whispering stupid jokes until the house eventually warmed up to habitable temperatures.
********
He eyed the switch on the wall now. He could get up and turn it on. Let it slowly heat up the house. He could make himself some tea. Maybe take a shower – he couldn’t remember when he’d last done that.
Niall did none of these things though. His arms wrapping tighter around his body, he stayed in his chair, glaring at the wall.
Look at this Liam, he thought with a misplaced feeling of defiance.
Watch me just fucking freeze to death on my own. I could go turn on the heat but I’m not going to. What’re you going to do about that, huh?
With no response to his thoughts forthcoming from Liam, Niall eventually averted his gaze to the ceiling. It really was cold this morning. It must be October by now. Or maybe it was even November. He wasn’t really sure anymore.
Either way, it was autumn.
Liam had always loved autumn. He’d force Niall to put on his jacket and drag him out on walks through the park. They’d walk hand-in-hand and admire the way the landscape changed so dramatically as the trees changed colour and dropped their plumage. Sometimes they’d run around like little kids and jump on the leaves, trying to find the most satisfyingly crunchy ones. They’d kick over neatly raked piles and their breath would curl as a fog in the chilly air in front of them as they laughed. When they made it back to one or the other of their houses, red-faced and white-nosed, they’d dump their coats and Liam would head straight to the kitchen to make them both a hot drink. Niall would always try to distract him, poking and teasing, dancing around the kitchen while Liam got increasingly huffy. He’d always concede with a kiss though; and then he’d present Niall with a steaming mug of something delicious.
********
A sharp rap on the door snapped Niall out of his head. The knocks came again and again. Short, sharp and impatient. Niall didn’t bother going to get it. They’d come in eventually.
The sounds of a key scraping in the hole and the door being opened still didn’t give Niall cause to get up. He only wondered who it would be today.
He didn’t have to wonder long before Louis’ voice floated to him from the hallway.
“Fucking hell man, it’s freezing in here. Do you want to die of hypothermia?”
Niall didn’t bother answering. Louis knew the answer to that question.
