little love

10

another day had passed, and ashton had fixed the hole in the wall, and all he had to do now was fix the scratched up paint. since he had to repaint, he figured he might as well repaint the whole kitchen. it felt like it was time for a new color.

it felt like they needed something new. maybe this paint would be it.

ashton wasnt going to paint the walls just yet, because it was a decision for both of them. the older boy wanted calum to go with him that way they could look at different colors together.

maybe they could paint it together, too.

it was about three in the afternoon when ashton decided that he had had enough. calum hadn't come down at all (which, really wasn't a surprise. the older boy knew that calum was most likely wallowing in his own sadness). ashton knew calum hadn't eaten all day, or at all in the past four days. he knew calum hadnt showered, or made any attempt to even get up. so, ashton was going to make him.

thats what also got under ashtons skin. calum broke the wall, they argued, and then calums been wallowing in sadness for the past four days. the older boy didn't know why it bothered him so much - life goes on, in ashtons eyes. you work for what you want. if calum was that upset, he could've come down and apologized. ashton didnt see why he had to apologize.

all he did was wake up early, eat, and then go do some work around the house that needed done.

ashton goes up to the their bedroom, and with every step he took to get to the bed, he felt his chest get heavier and heavier. calum was still in the same hoodie, curled up on ashtons side of the bed, and still had his paci bobbing in his mouth.

ashton knew calum.

all it took was one look, and he knew calum was in his headspace.

"hey, sweetheart," ashton says softly, sitting next to calums body on the bed, "can you look at me, please?"

of course ashton was still upset. he was allowed to be. but this - calum swimming around in his deep depression, had to stop. ashton cared enough to set his ego aside, and step up to take care of him.

as soon as ashton says that, calum looks up with hopeful eyes surrounded by red, sadness, and fear.

ashton didn't understand why he saw fear in those brown eyes, but he did.

"da-daddy?"

ashton cringed at calums voice. it was still so scratchy and deep from not saying anything.

"yeah, sweetheart. daddys here. and daddy knows you haven't eaten anything either. so, how about we get you up, we take a tubbie, and then we go eat something?"

"no hungwy," calum mumbles, snuggling his stuffie closer to his chest.

"you've got to be a little hungry, sweet pea."

"no, daddy. sowwy," calum whispers.

"okay, well how about we still get up and take a tubbie?"

calum shrugs, and looks into ashtons eyes. the older boy knows calums too far deep into his depresssion, and he absolutely will not do anything unless ashton does it for him. it has ashton biting his lip.

"okay, come on," ashton says, and flips the covers off of calums small, shaking body. another sigh escapes ashtons lips. there were old, yellow stains on his boxers, the hoodie, and the sheets. ashton knows calums got to have some sort of infection going on since he's used the bathroom in his pants multiple times.

calum really needs a bath.

ashton pushes all of his thoughts to the side as he picks calum up, and carries him to the bathroom. he sets the little down on the toilet, starts the bathwater, and then strips calums clothes. he immediately throws the boxers in the trash, but he knows he can save the hoodie so he tosses that into their hamper.

once calum was wiped clean, he set the little down in the warm water. a loud whine escapes calums lips as his eyes start to water. ashton knew the water probably hurt his red, irritated skin.

"daddys coming, sweet pea," ashton says as he strips himself naked. then, he climbs into the tub behind calum. the little is instantly leaning back against his daddy, and reaching out for his hand.

the little squeeze that ashton gives when they're fingers are interlaced gives calum the hope that they were okay.

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just for y'all
comments? predictions?
unedited
love u