bulletproof - calm ot4

7- could you ever feel past these hands?

I saw right through you on my basement floor, but could you even see past my chest? Could you ever feel past these hands? Your intentions were only skin deep.

-

Michael's phone buzzes on the coffee table. The tattooed boy is sitting on his deteriorating couch, trying to focus on his homework--not that that plan is really working out--without getting distracted. He contemplates not answering the text, but--like usual--curiosity quickly overcomes him.

Michael picks up his phone, sliding it to unlock it. His eyebrows lift in surprise, certainly not expecting a text from Ashton.

Can I come over?

Michael finds this request a bit odd, considering that he's never been alone with Ashton and he still isn't sure if the two actually...like each other. But Ashton is his boyfriend, and he decides that a little company wouldn't hurt. Plus, it would be a nice distraction from his dreaded homework--hell, maybe Ashton can even help him with it!

He dials the muscular boy's number and presses the phone to his ear.

"Hey," Ashton answers on the first ring, his voice sounding slightly defeated.

"Hey, what's up?" Michael asks, frowning slightly. He doesn't like it when his boys are upset.

"I hate my family," Ashton states simply, and it causes the tough boy to chuckle.

"Don't we all?" he points out.

Ashton groans. "Can I please come over? My stepdad just got home and I really don't want to deal with him right now."

Remembering the terrible things Ashton has told them about his stepdad, Michael quickly obliges. "Yeah, of course. Do you want me to come pick you up?"

"No, I can drive."

Michael is confused. "Then why do you walk to school every day?"

"Never said I liked driving," Ashton says, but Michael doesn't think it's the full truth. "I'll be there in ten, okay?"

"Drive safe." Michael says this without even thinking, and it takes him a second to realize the words actually came out of his mouth.

God, these boys are making him soft.

"Yeah, okay, Mr. Tough Guy," Ashton giggles.

"Shut up," Michael says, but he's smiling. "I'll see you in ten."

-

Around ten minutes later, there's a harsh knock on Michael's door. He pulls himself up off of the couch and opens the door to find a tired looking Ashton with purple bags under his eyes.

"Hey," Ashton says, grinning despite his exhausted exterior.

"Hey," Michael says slowly, stepping out of the doorway to let Ashton come in. "You look tired."

Ashton shrugs, making his way to the couch and plopping down. "I was up all night studying. Mom's not happy about the 'B' I got on my last Spanish test."

Michael frowns, settling down next to him. "Do you wanna take a nap or something?" Michael offers. "You can sleep in my bed." He wants to offer to sleep with him as well, but he thinks that might be too straightforward.

Ashton shakes his head, declining the offer. "I'm not tired. I just don't wanna be around my family right now."

"Okay." He picks his textbook up off the couch, placing it on the coffee table. He's not going to ask Ashton to help him with his homework, not when the poor boy is like this. "C'mere," Michael says, patting the space in front of him.