broken kitten

Catch Fire

Ashton's first night in Zayn and Ari's room, he spent most the night tossing and turning. Every time he shut his eyes terrible nightmares would being.
"Hey kid. Are you alright?" Zayn shook Ashton's shoulder. Ashton's eyes open widely and looked up at Zayn. His chest rising and collapsing quickly as he gasped for air.
"You've been moving around for hours. Are you normally this fidgety of a sleeper?" He questioned.
"Y-Yeaah.. I just get like.. really bad dreams. I dunno. I'm okay. Could I maybe get some water?"
Zayn nodded and left the room for a moment, then returning with the cold bottle of water. "Here." Zayn handed it to him, and Ashton quickly gulped down half the bottle.
"Thank you." The boy stated with a soft smile.
"I'm going back to sleep. I'm here if you need anything." Zayn spoke, and was asleep instantly once his head hit the pillow.
Ashton was a little confused at the fact the man who had only 24 hours ago threatened to shoot him, was waking him up concerned why he was so restless. Ash wondered if Zayn was just pretending to care or if when he was on the job he had to just turn his emotions off and when he was at home he was able to be himself. Ashton gave him the benefit of the doubt that he truly had a heart somewhere in there.
After Zayn woke up with him Ashton didn't sleep much. Luna had cuddled into Ashton at point in the night, which brought some comfort to him but he really just wanted to be home. His home is where his sleeping medication and his inhaler.. he should have probably mentioned to his kidnappers that he had asthma.. Ashton also missed his own bed, and personal space. Maybe one

day he'd have a room of his own again.
Ashton was staring at the ceiling and before he knew it, Zayn and Ari's alarm clocks were going off. He heard the stirring and watched as the couple started to unravel from each other.
"Hey Ash. How did you sleep?" Ari yawned out, as she shifted in her bed to be able to see Ashton. "Uhm.. I don't know. Not well." Ashton admitted.
"Oh no.. I'm sure it's just the stress of everything and a new space. You're body will adjust soon enough." She spoke optimistically.
"I hope so.." Ashton said trailing off. He wasn't sure how many sleepless nights his body could handle, and who knows how long the stress of being kidnapped would last.
"I'm going to take a shower. Boss wants us out the door by 6:30." Zayn groaned as he got up and headed to the bathroom, half naked with only his boxers on. Ashton couldn't help but take a quick peek at his bare chest, and morning bulge. He reminded himself to look away before he had any dirty thoughts.
"He's not much of a morning person." Ariana explained as she hoped out of bed. She was wearing little booty shorts, and a tank top that barley came to the waistband of her shorts. Ashton thought about how cute she is.
"How's our patient doing?" Ari walked over to Ashton's bed, crossing her legs as she sat on the edge close to Luna who was in Ashton's arms against his bare chest.
"Good.. I think. She hasn't been crying or anything so that's a good sign." Ashton explained. Ari reached down and looked at the kitten's leg, and unraveled the bandage.
"Everything looks to be healing good. I'll change her dressing in a few hours and she'll be good to go for the day." Ariana explained with a smile.
"Why are you so good at this?" Ashton questioned curiously.
"I'm a nurse. I normally work on people, but cuts are easy to treat. I work in trauma so I see a lot of shit." Ari explained as she got up off the bed.

"Oh.. Wow that sounds interesting.." he spoke looking at her, wondering how a nice nurse, like her wound up here.
"It is. But I love my job. It's so amazing saving people like that." She began walking towards her closet.
Ashton sat up in the bed and placed Luna down in her little cat bed. As Ash stood up, he began walking to the closet as well, but he was quickly reminded of the chain around his ankle. He crashed to the floor, tripping himself on the chain. "Ow." Ashton cursed out.
Ari came rushing out of the closet to Ashton's side. "What happened? Are you okay?" She asked, sitting him up.
"Uhm Yeah.. I just forgot about the ankle thing and began walking... Stupid." He frowned and touched his forehead as it hurt, he realized he had banged his head on the floor, and there was a little bit of blood now.
"You aren't stupid. It's okay. Let me get a bandaid." She spoke softly to him, like if she made fun of him, he would break. He really felt this sense of fragility while everyone was talking to him.. maybe Ashton is fragile.
Ariana returned with a small bandaid and placed it on the small cut in his forehead.
"Zayn has the key to unlock you.. so we will have to wait till after he's out." She explained. "Also I'm picking you up some clothes today so you don't have to wear Zayn's. What's your style?" Ari asked.
"I dunno.. I don't care I guess." Ashton shrugged, that wasn't the truth, he had a specific style but he felt weird requesting clothes.
"Sooo. If I bought you a dress, you'd wear it?" Ari smirked with chuckle. "Or if I bought you a shirt with my face on it.. you'd wear it?"
Ashton chuckled. "I mean technically I don't think I'd have a choice, right?" It was true. He would have to do whatever they said.
"No you don't really. A dress and a shirt of me. Got it. But on the days I don't feel like humiliating you.. What do you want to wear? Seriously?" She questioned.
Ashton and Ari spent over half an hour discussing what he should wear. Ashton liked the idea of letting Ari be his personal stylist. He liked the idea of not having to think about things.. like what to wear.