War ⇔ Cashton ✓

Bleeding Hearts

Warning: short chapter, but it's cute.

ASHTON

Seeing Calum walk across that stage to receive his diploma has to have been one of the best moments of my life.

He's been through so much in his eighteen years of living, a bonewhite streak that always seems to strike his chest right when he thinks everything will be okay. He's lived in fear, brown eyes wide and gleaming in the hollow reflection of the moon, tiptoeing down the hallway to avoid waking up the monsters that sleep below it.

His parents have built a dark fort of black mirrors inside his mind, reflecting all of the mindsets that he wants to avoid. Baptized in murky water, held under too long by the unforgiving hands of his parents. Mud permanently covering the interior of his lungs like the frosting on a cake.

Yet, all the same, he walks across that stage with his lips stretched into a smile, his eyes crinkling at the corners as he accepts the diploma he had been looking forward too for so many years. I've never been more proud of him in my life, especially due to everything he has had to go through.

We're currently back at Calum's house, since his parents left the house earlier and won't come back until later. I try to ignore the fact that they didn't come to his graduation.

Calum's head is resting on my shoulder, his hands playing with his graduation cap in his lap. His body is still swallowed in his graduation gown, one too many sizes bigger than in should be. I've never seen him look so peaceful.

The television is in front of us, showing a movie neither of us is watching. I play with his hair, wrapping the little dark strands around my finger while he smiles softly. He turns and looks up at me, smile growing wider.

"I'm so proud of you," I say, mouth pressed against his hair. Calum's cheeks turn a tinted pink, nuzzling his nose into my shoulder bashfully. "I love you so much." I gently grab his hips and pull him into my lap so I can see him better.

"I love you more," Calum counters, smiling brighter. I break into a grin, taking his hands and holding them together above his head as I push him down on the couch, my forehead against his.

"I love you most," I say. Calum lets out a laugh before I press my lips against his.

His lips are sweet, moving against mine with ease. My hands let go of his to hold the back of his neck, the other supporting my body above his. I feel Calum's hands running through my hair, getting caught in all the tangles as he pulls against them. He bites down on my bottom lip as I do, and I shiver.

"God," I grunt, opening my eyes to see Calum's brown eyes staring happily into mine. He leans up and kisses my nose. I laugh, pushing myself off the smaller boy and pulling him up with me.

"Can we go somewhere?" Calum asks, lips red and slightly swollen from mine against his. I lean into him, wrapping an arm around his shoulder.

"Actually, I have someplace I want to show you." I say, suddenly remembering about what I did yesterday. I quickly stand up, picking up my jacket from where it lays on the floor. My heart springs against my ribcage, clawing with nerves.

"Where?" Calum asks from behind me, curiosity filling his voice. He slips off his blue graduation gown, standing next to me a long sleeved white shirt.

I avoid his answer. "Do you need a jacket? I don't want you to be cold."

"We live in Australia," Calum reminds me, laughing.

"Whatever," I mumble, kissing his head before grabbing my keys. "Come on. I can't wait to show you."

I take Calum's hand as we leave his house, locking the door behind us as we start walking down the sidewalk.

"We're walking there?" Calum asks, surprised.

"It's in a walking distance." I assure him, swinging our hands as we walk. Calum smiles, skipping a little as we listen the sounds around us, cars on the highway and birds in the trees. Looking at Calum, I know he's enjoying himself. He's always loved being outside.

"How's your photography going?" I ask him. Calum blinks, looking a little surprised.

"My photography," he repeats. He looks up at me, a faint smile on his lips. "I haven't taken anything recently. Not since you've been back."

I turn to the right, Calum right beside me. We're almost there.

"I should start taking more, though. I want to take some of you. I don't have enough of you." Calum says, and I bite my lip.

"You have pictures of me all over your room." I remind him. Calum shakes his head, laughing.

"Still not enough."

I pull us both to a stop when we finally reach our destination, making Calum look up in confusion.

"An apartment complex?" He says, eyebrows furrowed.

"Your apartment complex," I say, smiling. Calum blinks, so I pull out a key from my pocket. "This apartment is yours. And Mali's. It's for both of you."

Calum stares wide-eyed at the key in my hand, not making a move to take it. "You..."

"I bought you and Mali an apartment. My house is only a block away." I say slowly, not able to fight the smile on my lips. "I don't want you with your parents anymore. I want you safe."

Calum remains shocked, staring at the key a moment more before breaking into a huge smile, taking the key with dainty fingers and tracing the edges on the metal. He looks up at me and leaps forward, wrapping his arms around my waist and nearly knocking the breath out of my lungs.

"Thankyouthankyouthankyouthankyou--" Calum says, his words slurring together from the excitement in his voice. I laugh, pulling him away.

"Go on, go in." I say, and the boy quickly scurries up to the front door, carefully placing in the key and twisting the lock, squealing when it clicks. He slowly pushes open the door, glancing back at me with big brown eyes.

I'm quick to step behind him, walking inside beside him as I flick on the lights. I've been here several times before, getting necessary furniture and appliances to be situated inside so that Calum won't have to buy it all. It's nothing nice, mostly items on sale at furniture stores and old chairs from the basement in my house, but I know Calum could care less.

"Oh, my God." Calum says softly, covering his mouth as he takes a look around. He bounces a little on his toes, turning to me once again. "I love you. I love you so much."

Seeing Calum happy is pretty much the equivalent to rainbows painting colors across the sky. His cheeks get pink and his eyes form laugh lines at the sides, making him look even more precious than he did before. Seeing him smile is my ultimate goal in life, it's all I could ever want.

Seeing him happy makes it worth it, everything that has happened to me throughout life. Watching my dad leave for war, receiving the letter that marked his death. Attending the painful funerals of my siblings, who died so young, so vulnerable. Made it worth it when I cried in my bunk alone at night with Michael and Luke asleep, begging for someone, anyone, to get me out of the hell I put myself in and put me back in Calum's arms. Made it worth it when I watched Luke bleed in my arms and watched Michael fall with a heavy thud in the mud. Calum makes it all, undeniably worth it.

And I can't thank him enough.

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A/N:
I hope you liked this chapter? I feel like it's been a while since we had some fluff. mainly because I'm shit at fluff, but still.

did you guys like the jet black heart music video?

I loved it so much but seeing my baby boy michael cry was like a fucking stab to the chest

please comment and vote and stuff and I'll see you soon! I'm writing the next chapter soon, so I'll have it up after christmas.

I love you to the moon.

bye.