Easier [Ashton Irwin]

16

'Cause you're so damn beautiful (Oh)
You're so damn beautiful (Oh-oh, oh-oh)

~~~

    "We should go out and do something." Sydney's voice broke through the violent silence that encased the two.

    After the previous events, the two had moved to sit on the sofa, a blanket thrown over their shoulders. Sydney had made the two coffee, having called into work and telling Casey that she couldn't come in because Ashton needed her. Casey understood — Sydney wasn't really needed to work at the small coffee shop, but Marcus and Casey liked having her around when she picked up hours here and there. That's why her hours were so flexible. The television was on, a Marvel film playing: Spiderman: Far From Home. Ashton didn't like Tom Holland, the man who played Spiderman, but maybe that had something to do with the fact that Sydney had a lot to say about the twenty-three-year-old in a spandex suit. But he would still watch the film, of course. Anything for Sydney.

"What do you mean?" Ashton asked, craning his head around to get a better view of the girl cuddled up next to him.

    "We haven't done much since you've come to mine — which isn't a bad thing, of course. You needed a break." Sydney quickly reassured. "But your mum's gonna arrive here with Lauren soon, and I thought it would be nice to go out tonight."

    "To do what?"

    "To eat?" Sydney suggested. "I dunno. I just thought it would be a good idea for you to get out of the house." When she received no reply, Sydney assumed that Ashton was opposed to the idea. "You don't have to if you don't want to, obviously. We can always get a Chinese or pizza or something."

Ashton shook his head. "No, I wanna go out. You're right; it'll be good for me."

"We'll get your lots opinion on where to go once they get back and then I'll book it or whatever." Sydney planned.

Ashton nodded and the two friends turned back towards the tv, snuggling in closer together as they watched the superhero film.

~~~

"ASHTON!"

Ashton's head snapped up at the happy shout that sounded from the apartment door, and the pattering of feet grew closer to the living room. Ashton's smile grew as the blonde threw herself into his arms, wincing slightly as she pressed against a few of his bruises.

Lauren pulled away from her brother, grinning at him. "I've got so much shit to tell you." She spoke excitedly as Harry, Anne and Daniel entered the room.

Lauren knew. Ashton knew Lauren knew, yet she hadn't brought up the topic, whether that be by straight up saying it or asking him how he was. Ashton was grateful for that — it made him feel normal, even if it was for a few seconds. Lauren was good at that; she always knew exactly how to make a person comfortable, and it was a gift Ashton could only wish that he possessed.

"And I can't wait to hear about it." Ashton replied as he pushed himself into a more upright position on the sofa. He smiled at his parents as they entered the room. "Sydney and I were thinking — well, it was mostly Sydney: what do you guys think about going out for food tonight?"

Anne smiled at her son. "That would be lovely."

~~~