Bent Bunny Ears {5SOS}

Five

Ashton ignored his phone as it buzzed inside of his jacket again despite knowing it was his mom again because he had just up and left when he should've waited in the car.

He couldn't wait, running as fast as he could manage despite the aching in his legs from the last forty minutes of continuous running and the tightness that came in his chest from being breathless. The feeling of his feet being seconds from bleeding wasn't enough to stop him or slow him down for a second, mind reeling and stuck on his best friend having to deal with his demon.

How could he let this happen? Why didn't he say anything before? Why didn't he kill Michael when he had the chance? How didn't he see the signs? Why did it have to be Calum-his Calum of every single person on the earth to have to deal with this and be another mark? He tried to stop blaming himself but it seemed to be the only thing of comfort that wasn't replaying what had happened for almost two years and worrying about what had happened to Calum. What had Michael done to one of the last good parts of Ashton's life?

Another thing soiled by the other man, taken and destroyed and Ashton couldn't let Calum fall into the same cycle of self hatred and disgust as him. He wouldn't be able to live with himself anymore, hardly able to do it now and it felt like knowing Calum had become the same victim he was had become enough to send him over. Was he too late? He shouldn't be running into things blindly, especially considering he knew exactly who Michael was and the lengths gone to protect an abuser, but he needed to get to his best friend, to stop anything worse from happening to him.

What could be worse?

He couldn't think of Calum being dead, almost tripping and crashing into the floor when his mind threatened with a small glimmer of what the boy could look like on the basement floor of a lavish, secret having home, being walked over unknowingly by guests, rotting until he was thrown away and the only memories left where those by his friends and family and Michael. He couldn't imagine having to go to Calum's parents and his sister, standing before them and telling them their son was dead, having them find out about what had happened to him and his last moments were spent suffering, hating himself and even wishing for death.

Was Calum immediately plagued with the thoughts of such hatred and disgust like Ashton was once he finally went home and saw himself, that only continued every time he was with Michael and especially afterwards. He didn't know how to get rid of them from himself, let alone Calum. He couldn't keep thinking off it, taking out his wallet and his key to the home. He felt his stomach turn just as the key did, pressing on the pad to type the code to unlock the home, another reason why he cried so much harder on his birthday as he punched in the four digits and the door unlocked.

He let himself in, looking around the disgustingly familiar home with his stomach in tighter knots and he suddenly felt so much more aware as his pores opened and he had to swallow down bile. He never thought he'd come back to this hell, let alone want to because of Calum. He turned the second he heard steps, keeping his composure and the sudden nerves and need to puke had been burned into nothing but hatred and anger as he glared at the blond holding a wine bottle as he poured the rest into the glass in his other hand.

"Well, if it isn't number six. Breaking in an entering is a crime. I should call the cops, y'know?"

"You wouldn't dare. A cop coming to your house in the middle of the day. What would your neighbors say?"

The blond only chuckled despite clearly not being amused in any bit with his blue eyes set into contempt as if Ashton was the one he should be blaming.

"Where is he?"

He didn't bother speaking again when Luke teased and asked who he was talking about, staring back with the same look as Luke shrugged and told him that he wasn't there. He ignored his phone again, Luke tilting his head as he spoke up.

"Sounds like you've got something to do. You should head out, considering you being here is still an ongoing crime."

"You're stupid if you think I'm leaving this house without my best friend."

Luke smiled, downing his glass in seconds from where it was full as he shrugged and sat his glass to the side. He stepped closer, Ashton not able to help the automatic way he recoiled and stepped back too, clearly amusing the blond as he crossed his arms.

"Hmm, still quite the firecracker, aren't you, number 6? He's not here anyway, probably out being a whore like you. I'm sure he could find a lot of things to do. I'm sure you could teach him a thing or two, as well."

Ashton made himself seem annoyed rather than hurt, feeling that same echo of guilt of if Calum could hear them. He didn't want the brunet to hide himself away like he had done, to feel like no one would believe him and no one would listen when he knew he'd make sure Calum wasn't seen that way and listened to and his story was understood.

"Please, just because you're some cheap whore, clinging to your last name, doesn't mean every poor victim your fucked up husband gets his hands on is the same."

"Wouldn't you know from experience?"

He couldn't make a response or even think from where he was grabbed, suddenly feeling as closed in as months ago with Michael's arms around his body and pulling him to his chest. His chest felt like it collapsed in seconds, trying to push away as his legs went weak and slowly started to slip from underneath him. Luke stepped closer, grabbing his arm and slapping against his inner elbow.

"About time you've done something useful. Though I'm sure you came down just to hold your precious pet?"

Ashton tried to move his head when Luke condescendingly pinched his cheek and glared at Michael, the man looking down but tightening his arms around the younger boy to only prove him right. The boy screamed but was muffled by Luke's quickly shoving his shirt in his mouth, sending a look that could kill as he grabbed his face and snapped.

"Shut up, six, or else I'll go down there and kill your little boy toy right now."

He only quieted down because he didn't put it past the blond, still trying to struggle his way out with just wanting Michael's body to stop encasing his like a helpless insect caught in the webs of a spider, hating the feel of his warm skin against his arms and neck. Luke stepped back but watched as Ashton struggled the full couple minutes it took for the Propofol to work through his system and send him slumped in the arms of his teacher, Michael coddling his body and picking him into a bridal carry and laying his head to his chest as Luke scoffed.

"God, you're so pathetic. Take him downstairs before he wakes back up."

Michael shied back, holding Ashton and moving downstairs as supported the boy gently.
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AN: hello, another update. Ty for reading along. I really like seeing the way you guys are reacting to the story, like I do everytime ofc.

Ashton's trapped along with Calum and Luke had some very deep, wrongfully directed, hatred towards Ashton as well. A lot to think about and hopefully I'll finish the editing for the next chapter quickly so I don't keep you guys waiting too long.

Tysm for hanging around. Love ya!! :)

<3 ...