The day had already been monumentally shitty. The worst of the worst days. An absolute steaming-pile-of-crap day. So, really, it was only natural to finish it with a perfect cherry on top - his call from Death-Cast.
He was alone when the unmistakabl...
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𝙼𝚒𝚌𝚑𝚊𝚎𝚕 𝙳𝚎𝚌𝚎𝚖𝚋𝚎𝚛 𝟸𝟷𝚜𝚝, 𝟹:𝟹𝟿𝚊𝚖
"Where are we going?" Ashton laughed as Michael dragged him along, through corridor and corridor. They went down a flight of stairs and didn't even bother to slow down and be careful, which was undeniably refreshing. Michael felt oddly free as they ran along, much more free then he'd felt in a long while.
"You'll see," he giggled back, only picking up the pace as their shadows chased them around corners and through hallways. He felt Ashton squeeze his hand and butterflies erupted in his stomach. Every time he looked back and saw Ashton smiling at him, Michael had to work to catch his breath. He didn't know what was happening. He didn't know why he pretended to be Ashton's boyfriend to save him from Luke. All he knew was he saw that douche bothering him and Ashton just looked so wildly uncomfortable. And 'uncomfortable' coming from a guy who has absolutely no shame is certainly something to take seriously. It gave Michael a glimpse into what was, perhaps, a new layer of his boss's son, something he hadn't thought was there before. But, now... now not only did he see it, he was running away with it. He was dragging Ashton along on a crazy venture through the mansion like they were in some sort of movie. And Ashton seemed so happy to be a part of it. Michael couldn't help but feel cocky that he was the one to do it.
"Here!" He breathed heavily, pulling Ashton through a little, hidden door tucked away at the end of a corridor, just past the break lounge in the basement. He flipped the light on and, albeit begrudgingly, let go of Ashton's hand so the boy could look around for himself at Michael's little oasis.
"What the fuck is this?" he breathed, looking around at the little trinkets Michael had snuck into the small, unused office over the course of the past few months. Snacks, comic books, a comfy chair. He turned back with a smile of disbelief on his face. "I never knew this was here. I thought I'd seen every inch of this place."
Michael shrugged, wandering over to mindlessly fiddle with a pair of earbuds lying on the desk. "I don't think anyone knows it's here. I was just bored one day and found it. And the shifts are so long, y'know? And I get antsy - or, well, anxious, I guess. So I started coming in here where no one could find me or bother me. It's not like we do any real work anyway... besides spying on everything you do, that is." He cracked a grin and looked over to see Ashton doing the same.
"That's free entertainment for you, my boy. Be grateful." He leisurely strolled over to the stack of comic books Michael had on the desk. He picked one up and began to examine it, shifting his attention to Michael after a moment and quirking an eyebrow. "When you say you get anxious, you mean..."
Michael frowned and diverted his gaze to the ground, not liking those intense hazel eyes focused on him. "I mean, sometimes I just feel a little sick and sometimes I physically can't make myself breathe. Calum worries so I usually ride them out in here. Can't have him getting all worked up, y'know," Michael joked weakly, finally daring to meet Ashton's gaze. He was surprised to see it unfamiliarly softened. Ashton didn't seem pitying or anything, though. Concerned, perhaps, but nowhere near sympathetic. He hummed after a moment of looking at Michael, his attention diverting to Michael's Nintendo on the desk, which he promptly began to fidget with. Michael would probably complain if he didn't know Ashton could buy him a dozen new ones if he happened to break it, and, y'know, Michael was going to be dead soon anyway so it didn't really matter in the first place.
