'ash? you okay baby?'
ashton wiped his tears and sniffled, his hands still trembling
'baby? open the door yeah?'
ashton felt even worse when he heard luke's soft voice trying to coax him and he opened the door, the creaking of the hinges the only sound
luke scanned his body to make sure he was in one piece — before tugging him into his chest.
he was so small.
delicate
short
frail
small
depression made ashton like this — interruptions of their one in the morning movie to run to the bathroom and cry — he was having one of those bad days, the ones that sometimes came between the good ones.
'i'm sorry.' he whispered, his cheek in luke's sternum — so little — 'it-it's one of those days.'
luke nodded
'that's okay, i'm glad you're alright, yeah?'
his fingers gently trapped his honey curls
'i'm sorry.' he sniffled 'it-it's a bad day and it's our anniversary and i'm gonna ruin it and-and..' at that thought his eyes filled and his words faded out, drowning with his irises.
'you didn't ruin anything.' he whispered 'i just wanted to spend the day with you — no matter what.'
ashton's stomach churned
'bad day or good day, i'm always here, always will be.'
ashton wanted to crumble to the floor
but instead luke grabbed his hand and dragged him into the living room, laying down on the couch and pulling the smaller boy on top of him.
so small.
his ear reached the top of his sternum, his head under his chin, but his shins weren't aligned to luke's, but he was home.
luke's hand splayed at his back and rubbed in a calming manner, watching as ashton's eyes blinked heavily, the screen reflecting in his eyes.
luke started humming and ashton closed his eyes, his ear on his chest searching hungrily for the vibrations reverberating through him.
he pushed ashton's hair back from his forehead and smiled at his state — and he switched to humming ed sheeran and that's when he saw the smallest worry that was left in his face disappear, his body going almost limp in his hold
'you tired?'
ashton shook his head, despite the fact he was almost asleep, so luke giggled and shut the tv off
'i say.' he pulled a blanket on them, up to ashton's shoulders, and the smaller boy scooted farther up to rest his cheek on luke's shoulder 'we call it a night.'
'but we always stay up till sunrise on our anniversaries.' he whispered, his words sleepily mashing together and luke grinned
'but a certain someone is tired and needs sleep.'
he giggled and ashton sighed — 'kay.' he murmured — and luke ran a hand through his hair, a small smile tugging his lips
'lukey?' he sleepily blinked his eyes open, his eyelashes tickling luke's neck
'yes baby?'
'i love you.'
luke smiled
'i love you too baby.'
ashton woke up in the morning feeling like it'd be a good day.
and luke was happy — he didn't care his 6'4" body was sore and stiff — his heart was beating rapidly at the smile on ashton's face.