Sweetheart • muke •

Chapter Nine

•December•

And I knew I would end up falling in love with you, I was okay with that.

"What?"
Calum asked, dumbfounded. Ashton was simply standing in the corner, watching everyone. He noticed the way Luke helplessly looking towards Michael as he snuggled into the boys couch. He noticed the way Calum looked hurt yet relieved that he didn't have to care for Luke 24/7, which hurt Ashton. But most importantly, Ashton noticed the way Michael's eyes flickered between Calum and Luke, becoming hard and cold when he looked at Calum but then turned soft and warm when he looked towards Luke.

"I- I wanna s-s-stay"
Luke nervously stuttered out.

"Luke you can't stay" 
Calum said

"Yes he can"
Michael chimed in. Luke smiled small as his eyes flickered towards Michael again. Calum looked back at Michael and glared, then looked back down at Luke with a hurt expression. Before he could speak again, Ashton spoke up.

"Cal, if he wants to stay let
him. He'll be fine here, I know it"
Ashton assured, giving Michael a knowing look. Michael nodded in understanding as Ashton pulled on Calum's arm 

"Be safe Lukey"
Calum said, looking down at Luke with no further intentions of getting him to come with him.

"Love you Cally"
Luke whispered. Calum smiled softly as he leaned down and pressed a small kiss to the blondes forehead.

"I love you too Lukey"
Calum whispered against the blondes forehead before letting Ashton pull him out of the apartment. Michael sighed, walking over and sitting beside the blonde.

"You can stay for as long
as you want, okay sweetheart?"
Michael gently spoke. Luke nodded, smiling softly as he scooted closer to Michael. Michael returned the smile as he held his arms out for the blonde. Luke, without hesitation, crawled into Michael's arms, wrapping his frail, bruised arms around Michaels waist. Michael smiled softly, wrapping his own arms around lukes small body. Michael gently ran his fingertips against the blondes arms, finding it heart warming as the small boy leaned into his touch with a sigh of contentment.

"M'tired"
Luke mumbled, burying his face in Michael's arms. Michael gently rubbed his thumb over lukes cheek, smiling softly down at the blonde.

"Get some sleep, sweetheart. I'll
be right here when you wake up"
Michael whispers softly, continously brushing over lukes cheek softly, letting the quiet tv be background noise to the blondes soft breathing.

A few minutes later, lukes heart rate became a steady, calm beat and soft puffs of air were leaving his slightly parted mouth. Michael was running his fingers through lukes soft blonde hair, still slightly damp from his bath. Michael chuckled softly every time lukes nose would twitch in his sleep, then he'd bring his sweater pawed hand up and swipe at his nose until he settled back into Michael's lap, sighing contently.

Michael smiled down at Luke.

The sun was setting and the small rays of different colors streamed into the room, bouncing off the walls and projecting onto lukes pale, bruised face. Michael brushed his finger tip across lukes cheek, venturing up his small button nose and across his forehead, trailing down and across his lightly freckled cheekbones.

Michael knew he shouldn't be admiring the blondes beauty as much as he was.

But he wasn't afraid of the feelings building inside for the blonde.

He wasn't afraid of letting himself fall for the bruised blonde beauty.
In fact, he was waiting for it.