Miles apart (Man × Man) ✔

33) t r i g g e r e d

Nothing could have sobered Ash faster than the flagrant terror in Miles' voice, or the way Benjamin's eyes widened at the sound of a struggle coming from the kitchen. They had thought nothing of the faint clatter they had heard a few seconds ago, but that cry filled them with a rush of adrenaline.

Ash got up to his feet so fast he knocked over a bowl of chips from the coffee table, yet Benjamin had already sprinted across the living room. Ash couldn't have had more than a few seconds to take in the scene in the kitchen, before rushing to help, but it remained sharp and vivid in his mind.

Miles wrestling with Eli on the floor, the muscles in his arms straining to keep him in place. Eli writhing to get back to the knife and smearing Miles' shirt and arm with the blood which was dripping from a cut on his forearm. Eli's panicked scream when Benjamin pressed him against the floor to lie on his stomach.

Ash kicked the knife out of his reach, staring at the others in terror. Miles was trembling when he retreated in a corner and hugged his knees in. There was a smear of blood on his cheek. Benjamin kept whispering in Eli's ear, until Eli seemed to calm down to the point he didn't need to be restrained. 

When Benjamin pulled Eli in his arms, embracing him tightly, he snapped at Miles: "I told you we shouldn't keep drinking, but you always do what you want. Just look at what you've done. Why do you have to be so damn stubborn all the time?"

"I'm sorry." Miles didn't take his eyes off Eli, who was shaking and taking in sharp gasps of air. Then Miles buried his face on his knees and started sobbing. "I'm sorry, I didn't.. I wasn't.." 

"Of course you weren't —" Benjamin started, glaring at Miles, but Ash cut him short.

"Ease off, Benjamin. You didn't tell him why it was so important, and we could all have said no. He didn't force us to drink. It's not his fault." Ash snarled at Benjamin, recovering from the shock enough to get his legs moving. 

Ash made his way to Miles and slid to the floor next to him. Miles was pulling his hair, so Ash gently pried his hands free from the disheveled locks. He wrapped an arm around Miles and pulled him to his chest. Ash moved his hand up and down Miles' arm, while Miles trembled with the effort of trying to hold back his tears. 

"What happened?" Benjamin asked, frowning when his eyes skimmed the cut on Eli's arm. It had already ceased to bleed, and it wasn't nearly as bad as Ash had first thought it was. 

"I.. I don't.. He just.. I.. I'm sorry." Miles whispered and pressed closer into Ash's embrace as if that could keep him from having to answer any more questions. 

"We're all tired and in shock. We can talk about this tomorrow, okay?" Ash decided. His voice was deep and unwavering, making sure Benjamin knew not to push Miles any further. 

After Benjamin nodded, Miles stumbled up and disappeared into the bathroom. He came back with a first-aid kit and when he handed it to Benjamin, he avoided his gaze. Ash could tell from the way Benjamin looked at Miles how much he already regretted raising his voice at him.

Miles picked up the knife next, wiping it clean with a dishcloth, and then proceeded to gather the rest of the knives and other sharp objects. He only made it halfway until he had to take a deep breath and lean on the kitchen counter. When he pressed his eyes shut, tears fell onto his cheeks. Then he took another deep breath and continued his task with shaky hands and rigid movements. 

"Miles, are you okay?" Benjamin asked, softer now that the worst shock was over. When Miles didn't react to his words, Ash walked to Miles and set his hand on his shoulder. Miles shut the last cupboard, done with his task.

"I'm okay." He told Benjamin, with a thick yet firm voice, but didn't turn to look at him. Then Miles turned his attention to Ash, his eyes averted to the height of Ash's shoulders. "Hide these and make sure everything is okay in here. I need to get cleaned up."