i will sing snippet
Since no one seemed to care one way or the other, have another snippet of i will sing! Some of you may recognize a character in this bit from a well-known fic written by a very good friend of mine. (psst over here read it read it reeeeead iiiiiit)
The first few days after Harry and Louis officially come out are a mess; there are more interviews scheduled in the first week than Zayn thinks they've done in a whole month before. A lot of them are only for Harry and Louis, which they all understand, but it still rankles on all of them a bit -- they're a band, a group, all five of them, and it always feels wrong when they're separated. It's even worse now, though, the way everyone seems to be trying to divide them into "the couple" and "those other three", and none of them like it. They all try not to take it out on the interviewers, it's not their faults, but it's obvious that they're unhappy.
The first group interview they have is four days after the news breaks, with Attitude magazine. Their interviewer, Dave, is friendly and young, probably close to Louis in age, and he's done his research. He puts them all at ease right away, starting with the routine questions like how long have you been together and what has the fan reaction been like. Harry and Louis give the answers they've rehearsed, but somehow they don't sound as rote this time, and they embellish a little, telling little stories and adding personal touches that they didn't bother with in the interviews that they didn't care about. After a while Dave includes Liam, Niall, and Zayn as well, asking questions about how they feel about Harry and Louis dating and what it's been like to help them hide their relationship. They joke and tease each other all throughout the interview, Dave joining in easily, and it's one of the most fun interviews Zayn's done in a while.
Which is why it feels sort of like a punch in the gut when Dave turns to him, a smile still on his face, and asks "So, are there any other revelations any of you lads want to get out in the open?" The question is ostensibly for Liam and Niall too, but Zayn knows it's really directed at him -- a test, to see if he'll go along with the lie. He'd known he'd have to expect this kind of thing now (remembered all the times Louis had been forced to lie just because he and Harry were getting "too close" for their managers' comfort), but he'd thought that someone would warn him before this kind of pointed question came up. All four of the other boys turn to look at him, Harry's grip on Louis' hand going uncomfortably tight, and Louis has that look in his eyes that Zayn can't read again. Niall just looks a little sad, and Liam has the best poker face of all of them, managing to look amused at the idea that any of them could have any more secrets. Dave has no idea what he's done, poor sod, was probably just told to ask that question by one of their managers.
Zayn recovers after a moment, just as Dave is beginning to notice the sudden tension, laughing easily and shaking his head. "Nah, we're all pretty much open books now, aren't we lads?" Niall and Liam murmur their assent, and Harry looks at him with such gratitude that Zayn has to look away from him. He turns his gaze to Louis instead, and Louis still has that unreadable expression on his face, staring down at his and Harry's linked hands. As Dave wraps things up and thanks them all for the interview, Zayn leans over and bumps his shoulder into Louis' to catch his attention, raising his eyebrows in question when he looks up. The strange look disappears immediately, replaced with a bright smile, and not for the first time, it hits Zayn that Louis could be an amazing actor if this boyband thing falls through. He means to ask Louis about it, but somehow, he never manages to get him alone for the rest of the day, and by the next, he's forgotten about it.
After that, Zayn never misses a beat when asked if any of them have any more secrets.
The first few days after Harry and Louis officially come out are a mess; there are more interviews scheduled in the first week than Zayn thinks they've done in a whole month before. A lot of them are only for Harry and Louis, which they all understand, but it still rankles on all of them a bit -- they're a band, a group, all five of them, and it always feels wrong when they're separated. It's even worse now, though, the way everyone seems to be trying to divide them into "the couple" and "those other three", and none of them like it. They all try not to take it out on the interviewers, it's not their faults, but it's obvious that they're unhappy.
The first group interview they have is four days after the news breaks, with Attitude magazine. Their interviewer, Dave, is friendly and young, probably close to Louis in age, and he's done his research. He puts them all at ease right away, starting with the routine questions like how long have you been together and what has the fan reaction been like. Harry and Louis give the answers they've rehearsed, but somehow they don't sound as rote this time, and they embellish a little, telling little stories and adding personal touches that they didn't bother with in the interviews that they didn't care about. After a while Dave includes Liam, Niall, and Zayn as well, asking questions about how they feel about Harry and Louis dating and what it's been like to help them hide their relationship. They joke and tease each other all throughout the interview, Dave joining in easily, and it's one of the most fun interviews Zayn's done in a while.
Which is why it feels sort of like a punch in the gut when Dave turns to him, a smile still on his face, and asks "So, are there any other revelations any of you lads want to get out in the open?" The question is ostensibly for Liam and Niall too, but Zayn knows it's really directed at him -- a test, to see if he'll go along with the lie. He'd known he'd have to expect this kind of thing now (remembered all the times Louis had been forced to lie just because he and Harry were getting "too close" for their managers' comfort), but he'd thought that someone would warn him before this kind of pointed question came up. All four of the other boys turn to look at him, Harry's grip on Louis' hand going uncomfortably tight, and Louis has that look in his eyes that Zayn can't read again. Niall just looks a little sad, and Liam has the best poker face of all of them, managing to look amused at the idea that any of them could have any more secrets. Dave has no idea what he's done, poor sod, was probably just told to ask that question by one of their managers.
Zayn recovers after a moment, just as Dave is beginning to notice the sudden tension, laughing easily and shaking his head. "Nah, we're all pretty much open books now, aren't we lads?" Niall and Liam murmur their assent, and Harry looks at him with such gratitude that Zayn has to look away from him. He turns his gaze to Louis instead, and Louis still has that unreadable expression on his face, staring down at his and Harry's linked hands. As Dave wraps things up and thanks them all for the interview, Zayn leans over and bumps his shoulder into Louis' to catch his attention, raising his eyebrows in question when he looks up. The strange look disappears immediately, replaced with a bright smile, and not for the first time, it hits Zayn that Louis could be an amazing actor if this boyband thing falls through. He means to ask Louis about it, but somehow, he never manages to get him alone for the rest of the day, and by the next, he's forgotten about it.
After that, Zayn never misses a beat when asked if any of them have any more secrets.