Coming Up For Air

3.4

"Well I met you yesterday

You took my breath away

And I kinda like the way

That you're so damn unpredictable."

-The Vamps, 'High Hopes'

⚑ Luke ⚐

They began walking back to Ashton's dorms when it started to get oppressively misty, and by the time they arrived at the building the sky had gouged open an artery and rain was sprinting down like it was terrified of heaven.

"That's a lot of water." Ashton said, flushed after they had run through the coldness.

"I'm soaking." Luke nodded in agreement, then looked down at his drenched garments as Ashton led him up the stairs to his tiny room. He pulled a key out of his back pocket and shouldered the door open, and warmth enveloped Luke like some sort of air-blanket because it appeared that Ashton had left his space heater on.

"Do you wanna borrow some clothes?" Ashton asked him, walking toward his dresser in the corner and pulling a few things out.

"Nah--I'll just get wet again when I walk home." Luke said, feeling damp and shivery and significantly smaller than he usually did because storms always made him feel small.

"Stay here, Luke. With me. Tonight. Please." Ashton turned around and looked at him and Luke didn't feel cold anymore--he felt warm, but still shivery because Ashton did that kind of thing to him.

Luke smiled."Okay. Give me new clothes before my legs fall off, please."

"That would be a tragedy. I like your legs." Ashton tried to say gravely but he kept grinning as he handed Luke some boxers, sweatpants and a tee shirt. Luke took them and started to reach for the door to go change in the bathroom, but Ashton stopped him.

"You don't--I mean, it's cold in the hall and--I have to change too and I mean--I'll just turn around?" Ashton was blushing furiously.

Luke was certain he was red as he nodded. "I--okay. Just...yeah. Turn around. I'll turn around for you too. We'll both turn around. We'll both--,"

He stuttered off and then said, "Okay. Yeah. I'm freezing. Turn around now, please," and Ashton nodded and turned around, already starting to pull his shirt off and Luke had to make a conscious and very difficult effort to not watch because he had said he wouldn't, so instead of breaking promises he just pulled off his clothes and pulled on Ashton's and said "Done." and Ashton said "Me too." And then they both turned and looked at each other for what felt like the first time in weeks.

Ashton broke the silence. "This is going to sound weird, but seeing you in my clothes makes me really happy."

Luke felt vaguely like melted chocolate. "Just seeing you makes me really happy."

Ashton blushed and pulled a face. "Gross. That was cheesy, Luke, even for you."

Luke shrugged and reached out for Ashton's hands, pulling him toward his chest and just reveling the in the fact that he could touch Ashton whenever he wanted.

"I knew that whole you-are-what-you eat thing was going to catch up with me eventually. I'm going to have to find a new pizza topping of choice." Luke grinned as Ashton laughed into their loose embrace.

"It's midnight." Ashton said after a while. They were clinging to each other in a casual kind of way: one of Ashton's hands was on Luke's shoulder, and one of Luke's hands was fisted in Ashton's shirt, and Ashton's other hand was resting on Luke's hip, and Luke's other hand was wrapped around Ashton's right bicep.