broken kitten

Beside You

Ashton woke up in an empty bed. He frowned that Luke wasn't around, but normally Luke was gone early in the mornings so he only stayed in Luke's room every once and awhile, but last night they were watching a movie and he must have fallen asleep. Luke had installed an ankle chain weeks ago so Ash could stay in his room, Ashton lifted the covers up to reveal that he hadn't locked his ankle in that night.
Ashton wondered if he had just forgotten or done this intentionally. Were they trusting him? This made Ash feel a little bitter sweet. Yes, he wanted to stay.. but when they locked him in place this gave him no choice. When they gave him the freedom to run, this provided Ashton the opportunity to get away which was now making a concussion choice to stay. He wanted to but he just felt like he was supposed to want to run. All these thoughts ran around in his brain, it was over whelming.
"Hey kid. I got you some breakfast, I-" Luke walked into the room and saw Ashton, with tears welling up in his eyes. "What's wrong?"
Ashton hadn't even realized he had been crying until he felt the tear roll down his cheek.
"You didn't lock me up last night.." Ashton spoke.
Luke sat down next to him. "And that makes you sad?" He questioned, wondering what the emotions were all about.
"No.. No.. I just.. I want to stay here. I love it a thousand times more here than I ever liked it at home.. And I know that the basement doors are still locked so their would be no way for me to get out.. I just.. I feel like if you're giving me the freedom to run.. it's giving me a choice.. Do I stay here, or do I run away? And I obviously want to stay here, but I feel like that's wrong? and I should be running away.. And I shouldn't like it here. I've been here a month, and I just.. It's too much. Please don't give me that freedom. I don't want to have to think about it.. I just.. I want to be 'stuck' here, so I don't have to think about anything else." Ashton rambled on.
"Hey hey.." Luke wrapped an arm around Ashton, pulling him close against his chest. "You don't really have a choice Ashton. You are stuck here. Wether I forget to lock you up one night or not. My door was still locked with the pin code. You aren't going anywhere. I trust you to not go through my things, but not to let you outside and see if you'd come back or not. But I promise I won't ever make you have to choose. Besides you belong to 5Sos now, you know too much. You are literally never allowed to leave us.. or we will find you." Luke spoke in a soft tone, for something that sounded so threatening. He knew it would comfort Ashton.
"Thank you." Ashton whispered into Luke's chest as he held him.

"No problem Kid. I can kidnap you any time." He teased, with a smile.
"Now what I was saying, is I got you breakfast. It's on the counter in the kitchen. Everyone is out working today, and I'm leaving shortly. Shawn had some things to do, Niall is out. So Zayn is staying back to hang out with you for the morning until Ari gets back from her training. You and Ari are on dinner duty tonight. Fridge is stocked, get creative." Luke smiled and gave Ashton a kiss on the top of the head.. He had done this a few times, Ashton learned he only did this on days that he was going to a particularly dangerous client. This kiss on the top of the head was the only psychical affection Luke really gave Ash, aside from cuddling once and awhile, and a hug.
"Okay. Be careful out there today Luke." Ashton spoke with a smile, but he was concerned deep down. Luke and Ashton had gotten pretty close over the last few weeks. They talked about everything, and flirted with each other... not that they'd admit it.
"Bye!" Luke called as he walked out the door. Ashton came around the corner to see Zayn at the kitchen counter eating a bagel.
"Good morning." Zayn smiled at Ash as he walked up to him and hugged him. Zayn hugged him back tightly.. Zayn always gave the best hugs.
"'Morning Zayn." Ashton said letting go and hoping on the bar stool. Zayn began to grab a plate and put Ashton's breakfast together on it and handed it to him.
"How'd you sleep? Any better?" Zayn questioned, concerned about Ashton's sleep lately. Ashton took the plate and began picking at the breakfast sandwich.
"Yeah, I slept pretty good. All the way through the night, no nightmares." He spoke with a smile. Zayn raised an eyebrow at him, as he watched him play with his food.
"I want you to eat all of it, Ashton. Stop playing with your food." Zayn warned in his authoritative tone. Ashton nodded.
"Yes sir." He spoke before taking a bite of the sandwich. Zayn grabbed him a cup of water and placed it in front of him.
"And don't forget to drink as well." He spoke, and then sat down beside him. This had been their new normal. Zayn and Ari had really taken the caregiver role to heart. Whenever Ashton was doing something that wasn't good for him they stepped in. Like not eating, or staying up playing video games, not working on homework that Shawn had given him, being a brat to others. They also stepped in whenever Harry or Louis was rude to him.. they did not take any hateful words or comments made about Ashton. They let Ashton sleep in their bed on the nights that he wasn't sleeping in Luke's room, which seemed to be every other night. Both of them were truly like the parents he never had, it was nice to have people who cared about him in that way. Not to mention he got to cuddle with the both of them whenever he wanted so that was a plus.
"Yes sir." Ashton repeated with a nod. They had talked about Ashton calling them Daddy and Mommy, but he just didn't feel right about it.. at the end of the day they were still his friends and he didn't want to make it weird with them. He especially didn't want to do it in front of anyone.. He felt like maybe if he was in the headspace for it that he might call them those titles, or it could just slip out since he had been practicing it in his head.. but he just wasn't comfortable yet.
As soon as Ashton finished his drink and food, he was allowed to excuse himself from the table. Both boys sat down on the couch, Ashton curled up beside him and nuzzled in under his arm. "You are extra affectionate today. Everything alright?" Zayn questioned, since Ash didn't usually like to