inevitable entanglements » a.i. + l.h.

18

Ashton dropped his chemistry book on the floor when he saw a bruised, beaten up blond standing in his door frame. There was blood on his lips and his hands and his arms were wrapped around his stomach while he croaked out Ashton's name.

"Luke?"

His question lingered in the air as he ran towards the door, kicking his book to the side in the process. Luke didn't respond, he just wheezed with a pained look on his face. He leaned against the door frame, seemingly incapable of standing up all by himself.

"What happened?"

Ashton asked as he wrapped Luke's arm around his shoulder in an attempt to support him. Guiding him towards the bed would cause him a lot of pain, but he couldn't just keep standing there. Besides, Luke had come all the way to Ashton's room on his own.

His face twitched in pain when they moved and he clung tighter to Ashton's body, panting slightly against his neck. Once they finally made it to the bed, he fell down on the mattress with a groan. His body ached when it touched the soft material.

"Can I... Please... Have a moment?"

He asked, still out of breath. He didn't want Ashton to think he didn't want to answer his question. He wanted to tell him everything, his body just wouldn't let him. Ashton realised that Luke just need a moment to regain his breath and to calm down and offered to get Michael for him.

After Luke nodded, he left the room, careful to lock the door behind him. He didn't mean for Luke to feel trapped, he just didn't want anything to happen to him.

He didn't have to say much to Michael, apparently his face said enough. Michael hurried to his check up room, grabbing his bondages and creams that he feared he would need. The thought of something bad happening to Luke scared him more than he had expected and he had to try his best to keep calm. After all, he would be useless if he panicked.

Michael couldn't help but sigh in relief when he saw Luke lying on the bed. He was beaten up and bleeding heavily, but he hadn't been raped, he hadn't been tortured.

"What happened?"

He asked, his eyes flickered between Luke and the speechless Ashton, who didn't seem to know more than he did.

"I swear it was self defence."

Luke croaked, avoiding his gaze. Michael could see the guilt in his eyes and couldn't help but wonder if there was someone roaming the castle's corridors in an even worse state than Luke.

"Who did you have to defend yourself against?"

He asked, already familiar with panicky Luke. It was impossible to get answers that were longer than two sentences if the boy was in shock. When something bad happened, he seemed to fall back into old habits.

"Calum."

While questioning Luke, he pulled off the blond's shirt, taking advantage of the distraction. He bit his lip at the sight of his bare chest, trying his hardest not to let his worry show. Although he doubted anything was broken or bruised, it did look painful.

"Why did Calum attack you?"

Michael decided to save the worst part for later and wetted a cloth to clean Luke's face. He seemed to have a black eye and a somewhat bruised lip, but apart from that he was okay.

"I think he used to be the duke's favourite and now he doesn't want him anymore. Your father said he wanted me instead."

With that part over, the only thing left to do was his chest. Luke's eyes widened at the sight of Michael's hands reaching for his wounds and he let out a soft whimper. Michael sighed, he hated this part of being a doctor. In order to take away the pain, he often had to make it worse first.