boxer ⋆ luke hemmings ✔️

38. In Love.

"I'm sorry, mate. I don't know why I came here... why I'm telling you all of this. I just didn't know who else to turn to,"

"It's... alright,"

"No, it's not alright. I worried you. I'm sorry for almost breaking your door down- I'm not really a thoughtful person when I'm angry,"

"Hey, forget about it. It's okay, really,"

Calum gave the boxer a tight-lipped smile. It was all he could do in that moment; force an expression other than the simple one of distaste on his face.

He really did feel bad for almost ripping Luke's apartment door off of it's hinges. Then again, Calum found that he couldn't have stopped himself even if he tried; Chase's confession about a certain family friend of theirs— Rick Morane— had his head spinning in a bounty of furious, confused circles, and he had no idea how to tame it.

It took Luke back, to an extent. Calum showing up at his front door, furious and irritated, reminded him of the numerous times when he himself had done the exact same thing as a teenager; drunk and stoned and angry, ranting to Calum about his shitty family life on the sole basis of teenage angst. And Calum would listen, even offering a few pieces of useful advice here and there.

Luke guessed that this time, it was his turn to repay the favour.

Only he wasn't quite sure how to. He did just make Sophie cum on his dick a mere ten minutes ago, after all— there was simply no going back. Or escaping the guilt.

"The kid was nearly crying. He felt so guilty, you wouldn't believe," Luke watched as his best friend reached over, taking a sip of black coffee from the porcelain mug in his hand. He sighed, "He rambled... on and on and on, non-stop about my little sister, and the piece of shit who touched her up," Luke winced at his use of words, "Said he wanted to tell us earlier, but didn't know how,"

"If you don't mind me asking," Luke began slowly, "Why did he suddenly decide to come out with all of this?"

"No clue," another sigh. Luke felt bad; it was evident in Calum's eyes that he was in pain. Pain of knowing what had happened to Sophie, and probably pain of knowing that he also could have done something to prevent it.

It also reminded him of the first time he found out. In the alleyway, with Rick shoved right up against the wall— at least Luke had been successful in protecting the little girl ever since. Calum, however, not so much.

"He told us you knew," Calum said, his eyes trained on the rim of the mug. Luke tensed. The man's eyes flickered upwards, "He hinted it, at least. Mali just assumed he didn't want to land you in trouble. That true?"

"Cal, look-" the boxer was about to lean forward, ready to explain himself without spilling too much. But Calum just shook his head, eyes closing to regain himself.

"Don't apologise. You knew, but you didn't tell us, kept it to yourself. It wasn't your place," he said. Luke's shoulders slumped, "It's okay. I get it,"

He was right. In their eyes, it really wasn't the blond's place. But he still should have told them, rather than taking matters into his own hands by acting like Sophie's own personal shield of protection.

Which, from Calum's point of view, was a piece of hidden information. To the Hoods, Luke probably looked like a bystander who did nothing but disregard the entire situation- when in reality, he was so much more than that.

Luke had always had good intentions. Now it was just a matter of whether or not Calum could see that.

"What do I do, Luke?" the other man groaned, tilting his head back and pinching the bridge of his nose. The low hum coming from the TV opposite them seemed to slow time, and although Calum had only been in the apartment for a mere ten minutes, it felt like much longer. "I'm such a bad brother. Goddamnit, I'm the shittiest brother there is,"