repercussions ✓

XX. BREATHIN'

ALMOST AS SOON AS THAT TWEET GOES UP, Luke is hammering on the door of Ashton's bedroom like a crazed axe murderer.

At first, Ash doesn't let him in; there isn't any reason why he should. He's just going to repeat the usual bullshit about how 'they're all here for him' and 'it'll all be OK'.

That isn't real. He knows that for a clear-cut, goddamn, obvious fact. That isn't anywhere within the realm of real.

But eventually, Ashton fears for the safety of his door and Luke's shoulder, and wearily stands up to let the younger boy in. As he stands and regards him, it's blatant that there's no way to describe the look on his face other than pure fear.

"What, Luke?" Ashton says harshly, falling back down on his bed. "Everything you could say to me... I've heard it all before."

"How about this one?" The terror in his eyes has hardened to something more infuriated. Something, some sort of tell-tale sign tells Ashton that Luke wanted to see him broken, because then at least they could actually organise some way to help him more effectively. Then it'd mean they could pass the Tweet off as a call for help.

"How about what?" Ashton snaps. Their 2017 dynamic, the way they'd always be there for each other, seems to have been completely flipped on its head; honestly, neither of them want to see each other, or anyone else, right now.

Luke seethes for a second, before staring straight ahead. "Stop saying things like that. On Twitter."

Ashton is about to cut him off, saying that Luke's wrong, he has heard that before, when Luke continues talking.

"Oh, hell no, now that you've refused our help so many times, I don't give a fuck about your health. I care about the band, Ash. I care about people not blaming our management for you getting hung up on a break-up that you caused!"

He laughs, slowly at first, but finally picking up speed until he's unable to stop. Luke's instantly disconcerted: it reminds him of that serial killer fanfic he read and subsequently hated.

"You know what? Get out. Go away, Luke. Maybe I'll talk to Cal. Maybe he'll stop blaming me for breaking up with someone who was constantly emotionally manipulative and ruined my life for the time I was with him. I thought you'd have understood and sympathised, you know? You went through it as well. Remember how I always let you cry on my shoulder and rant to me, no matter how triggering it was? Because I do. And-And you know what, Luke? I expected you'd do the same for me, in-in a heartbeat."

He stops crying for a moment, just long enough to look Luke up and down.

"But c-clearly not."