The air is chilly, and Arthur shivers slightly. Alfred is staring up at the night sky, eyes flickering back and forth as though he is counting all the tiny flecks of silver splashed across the velvet darkness.
They are perched together on an old wooden picnic table, the worn slats rough under their palms. Arthur is leaning forward now though, attempting to conserve his body heat.
Finally, the boy by his side glances over, blue eyes wide and curious.
"Cold?" He asks, casually enough that Arthur half thinks it is just a way to make conversation. He nods nonetheless though, a slight grimace on his face. Alfred doesn't even ask before slipping off his bomber jacket, draping it over the smaller boy's shoulders. The fur around the collar tickles Arthur's chin, but that isn't why he smiles, pulling the material closer around himself.
Alfred is back to staring at the stars, night dreaming.
"What are you thinking about?" Arthur asks softly, not liking the sound of his own voice in the quiet.
They are miles away from the town, far enough that the lights are hardly visible over the horizon.
Alfred's lips quirk up slightly, his head lolling to the side so that he can regard Arthur with the same expression he had turned towards the sky.
"The Universe. You. Graduation."
Arthur can't help the expression that curls his features downwards, or the momentary rush of sadness that word evokes. It's complicated.
"Ah. What about it?" He turns his face head away, hoping Alfred didn't notice. Of course he did. He is perceptive at the most inconvenient of times.
"C'mere Artie, don't look like that." The tenderness in his voice makes Arthur want to lean against his chest and cry. Instead, he just pulls the jacket tighter and curls in more tightly on himself.
He feels an arm around his shoulders, pulling him slowly towards a warm body and a steady heartbeat. And then he is leaning before he can help it, careful not to blink loose the tears already gathering in his eyes. Alfred's chin settles on the top of his head.
"You know I'm not going anywhere."
Arthur scoffs, an attempt to cover the vulnerability.
"Of course you are. We both are. That's the point of university." He can hear the subtle smile even if he can't see it, when Alfred responds.
"You know what I mean, Artie. I'm not leaving you. We might be miles apart, but my heart is always gonna be with you."
"Sap." The word holds no bite, as the smaller boy tries to keep his voice from breaking, and fails.
The temperature is dropping, and eventually they will have to make their way back to town. Alfre'd family will wonder, and Arthur's brothers will tease.
But for the moment, Alfred's arms are warm as he holds Arthur close, and the stars only shine for the two of them.
Hope you enjoyed it, thanks so much for reading!
