Seeing Double

Chapter 8

A/N: Thank you for the love and support on this fic! <3

A/N: Domestic abuse (pushing), violence & swearing

Asher took a step forward, "I warned you—both of you!" he snapped, pointing his finger between Liam and Theo. "You clearly don't respect me, to think we had something special."

Liam panicked, "what? we do, I wasn't doing anything bad?" his hands shook as he walked forward, "baby just listen to me, please." He said as he tugged on Asher's jacket, "I love you," Liam said "if we go home I can explain but-"

Asher chuckled darkly, "see! You don't care about me, you just want to go home," he scoffed in disbelief, "you're so fucking selfish and you don't even see it."

"He's selfish?" Theo asked, a harshness in his tone. "When was the last time you looked in the mirror?"

"Please don't," Liam begged, turning to face Theo.

"Cause from where I'm standing, you've been doing nothing but pick on him and make him feel like shit." Theo continued, not backing down from his twin.

"Did he tell you that?" Asher snapped, daring to glance in Liam's direction.

"Okay no," Liam said shaking his head and stepping between the both of them. "Seriously guys this isn't the right time, we don't need to cause a scene," He pleaded with Asher, giving his best puppy dog eyes.

Asher laughed, "you know what?" his arm snaked around Liam's waist as he tugged him closer to his side. "Liam's right," Asher said, much to everyone's surprise.

"I am?" Liam asked himself.

"Yeah, cause at the end of the day I still won," Asher laughed. "I've got Liam, friends and a scholarship. You have nothing and no one. Heck even our parents consider you a failure, the defected twin, right Theodore?"

"Asher stop," Liam said, noticing the saddened yet angry expression upon Theo's face. "You're going to embarrass yourself, let's just walk away." Liam said, knowing how much Asher's reputation meant to him.

"Fine," Asher shrugged, as if the argument didn't bother him even though it really did. He barely got in the door before he was pushed over, face first onto the ground. Liam tripped to the side, his head hitting the back of a cabinet. Once he realised that he was on the ground, he watched as Theo and Asher began to fight.

Theo had charged at him, now the pair were rolling around the ground like idiots. "Stop," Liam snapped, trying to pry the brothers apart but it only resulted in Liam being shoved back by Isaac and Brett who seemed more interested in cheering for Asher, "don't touch me."

Brett looked him down, "or what?" he hissed. His taller height towered over the younger boy, "are you going to cry? If I remember correctly you were pretty good at that."

Liam immediately retracted, his heart racing as he stared down his ex. He felt lightheaded as he took several steps back, "running off already?" Scott laughed, grabbing Liam's wrist and bringing him back towards them except this time he was squished between Isaac and Scott, "parties just getting started."

"The party should have ended a while ago," Liam retorted, watching as Theo punched Asher across the face. That only encouraged Asher's rage, he threw punch after punch to Theo's rubs and face. Only when Liam saw Theo's nose begin to bleed did he decide to intervene.

"Stop it!" Liam yelled, standing behind Asher and trying to pull him back. He could hear Theo coughing as Asher continued, "Asher stop it!" Liam's fear increased as the coughing did, a reminder of Theo's asthma entered his mind.

Liam finally managed to drag Asher back, using all of his strength to get the twins separated. "Stop it please," Liam begged, his voice raspy as Asher turned to face him. His eyes burning with anger and his breathing rapid, "just clam down, let's go outside."

Asher pushed him back, "get fucked," he spat.

"Asher! What the fuck?" Liam yelped, never had Asher laid a hand on him like that. He quickly followed his boyfriend outside, the backyard now vacant except for empty drinks, a pool and some snacks. "Did you really just push me?"

"Did you really just get in between me and my brother?" Asher snapped back, "I fucking told you to stay away from him and you continue to defy me! You don't fucking listen to me Liam, you don't care. You are a selfish brat!"

Liam's eyes watered, "I'm not..." he replied. He wanted to believe he wasn't, he didn't consider himself selfish or a brat. He always worked for what he achieved, his dad had money but he always spent it on the both of them.

"Now you're talking back, wow..." Asher scoffed, "I don't know why we're even together Liam," he shook his head. Liam felt his stomach drop at his words, "you treat me like shit and you continue to do things to hurt me, that's not love."

"I do love you, very much." Liam bit his lip as he felt his world crashing down around him, "and you love me... right?" he took a step closer, taking Asher's hand only for the other boy to pull away. "Asher," Liam whispered, his eyes watering as he felt his anxiety rising.

"Don't," Asher said.

"I fucked up," Liam said, "I made mistakes and I want to fix them, I love you Asher... I don't want—I can't lose you okay? Please, j-just tell me how to make it right and I'll fix this. Baby, I'll fix this for us."

"Fine," Asher replied, "but if you keep making these mistakes, we're done. I'm not dealing with this shit, it's hard enough with finals and family shit. I don't need you making my life any harder," he said.

Liam nodded, a tear sliding down his cheek. "I am sorry," he said, his voice raspy and full of hurt. "I never meant to hurt you, I don't understand what happened between you guys? You told him to take me to the movies and now you're trying to kill each other, and I'm not allowed near him? I just don't understand."

"You don't need to, just shut up and do as you're told for once."

"But I'm confused, you always shut me out and I want to help you, but I can't if you don't let me in," Liam replied, desperately trying to get Asher to open up to him.

"You can't!" Asher yelled, taking a step forward and getting in Liam's face. "You can't fix me so stop fucking trying!" Liam bowed his head down, unable to meet his eyes in this moment. "Stop fucking crying Liam, I don't want to hear it."

"I can't help it! You're yelling at me," Liam bit back, his voice breaking as he spoke. He wiped the fresh tears off his face as they continued to fall, "I don't like being yelled at... you know that."

"Oh my god you're so fucking whinny," Asher hissed, "you complain about everything! Nothings ever good enough for you!"

"It is!" Liam yelled back, surprised at his own words. He was never one to yell, but right now his own emotions were riding high and after the events of the night his emotions were turning into rage.

"Oh really?" Asher asked, his voice suddenly calm and almost menacing. "Cause to me, it seems like you're just yelling at me." He caught glance of the pool, the water shining underneath the moonlight.

Liam followed his eyes, "Asher no," he said.

"Maybe you need to cool down," Asher replied, not giving Liam enough time to back away before he was picking him up from behind and tossing him into the pool. The loud splash caused everyone to come back outside, laughter echoing around as Liam came back to the surface.

A/N: I just want to quickly say that if anyone ever treats you the way Asher is treating Liam, please leave them immediately. This is domestic abuse, even though it's mostly verbal. It is not okay and they will not change. Please take care of yourself <3

Published: 22nd April 2024
Word count: 1353