fire ;; lashton

boys.

they’re just boys
breaking hearts

-

Rejection hurts like a bitch.

Which is partly why Ashton was feeling extremely horrible that day.

It had started off normal; both boys didn’t have anything to do and were just relaxing in their room, listening to the music that came from Michael’s. Ashton was playing with his bracelets, feeling extremely navy blue with nerves because God did he want to ask Luke something but fuck he just couldn’t get himself to do it.

“Ash?” Luke asked, turning his head to look at the boy who was hanging upside down off the side of his bed. Ashton hummed in response, looking up so his lovely spring eyes met Luke’s sky blue ones. “Are you alright? You keep playing with that white and purple bracelet.”

Ashton sat up, feeling as if it was just the blood going to his head that made him think Luke just said what he had said. “Uh, I’m f-fine,” He stuttered. Then he furrowed his eyebrows, looking down at his wrists that were covered in cute little drawings done by him and Luke. “Actually, I was hoping I could ask you--”

“Luke?” The door suddenly opened and their heads snapped towards it, seeing a confused but excited Calum. “Do you have a minute?”

The blonde glanced back at Ashton, who was slowly deflating as his courage went down down down. “Um,” He said, looking at Ashton apologetically, but the older lad just smiled. “Yeah. What’s up?”

“You have a visitor.”

Luke’s eyes widened and no sounds came out of him for a moment because he was in a frozen state of complete shock. “W-what? But--but that’s not--I don’t--”

“Do you want to come out and meet him or do you want him to come in here?” Calum asked and Ashton felt himself choke up a little.

“Him?” The boys said at the same time.

“Yes.” Calum said glancing behind him as another nurse called out something. “Now, what will it be?”

“Uh--I, erm, I guess I could go?” Luke said uncertainly, glancing back at Ashton, who had an impassive look on his face. “Ash, c--want to come?” He took his lip between his teeth because in all honesty Luke was terrified that someone had actually come to visit him when the last time he’s been outside (other than with rehab patients) no one had ever liked him, but instead called him a freak. Loser. A mistake.

Ashton sighed a little, not allowing himself to meet Luke’s eyes. “Don’t worry, I’ll wait here.” He said. Luke’s face fell slightly but he nodded, following Calum out the door.

-

Calum led Luke to the main area, where new patients and visitors came. Luke shuffled behind him nervously, not knowing who to expect to be there. He could rule out his family, since they were long gone, and any other relatives he couldn’t remember, not that they cared about him anyway. But anyone at his old school had hated him, so who could it be?

“He’s over there,” Calum said, pointing to a corner of the room. Luke could see a hunched over figure with dark, jet black hair, but he still had no idea who to think it could be. “By the way, he’s not too bad looking.” Calum winked, before walking off down another hallway to help or check on someone else.

Luke gulped, really wishing that Ashton was there with him. He contemplated just turning around and pretending he was never there, but that would make him seem like a coward, which he most definitely was not. So, mustering up the little courage he had, he walked over to the boy whom had come all the way to see... Luke.

His chest tightened as he got closer and closer, and he really wished Ashton was there. Or Michael, even Calum.

But then he was standing behind the visitor, and there was no turning back. His heartbeat sped up and he didn’t realize his finger was moving until it came in contact with a leather clad shoulder and--

“Luke!”

“Zayn?”

-

Jealousy was an understatement.

As Zayn and Luke bonded and talked about things that had happened over the past few years, Ashton couldn’t help but compare himself to the even older man, whom had dark hair, captivating brown eyes, tanned skin and loads of tattoos (which he had been showing off for the past twenty minutes).

“Hey Ashton, do you have any tattoos?” Zayn asked him after a minute of laughing when Luke compared one of his tattoos to an eggplant. Ashton felt like he was being judged as Luke looked at him as well, and he shifted on his bed with discomfort.

“Erm, yeah,”  He said, “On my back.”

“Can I see?” Luke asked, and  Ashton couldn’t help but smile at the excited look on his face. He nodded, turning around and peeling off his shirt from the other side only so his stomach was still covered. He heard Luke’s bed creak as two bodies approached him, feeling two cold fingers he knew belonged to Luke tracing the tattoo.

“ ‘VII.VII.VII.’ ” Luke read out, and Ashton could hear the confusion in his voice. “Is that a date?” He asked, and Ashton let his white shirt fall.

“Yeah.”

“What’s it mean?” Zayn asked and Ashton turned slightly, feeling pressured and sad, kind of like a grey-blue that was always forgotten.

“It’s um, the day my mum died, and the day my dad sent my siblings to Canada. It’s also the day the police found out what had been happening to me and my dad was sent to jail while I was put here.” Ashton explained, his eyebrows furrowed as multiple memories came back.

The bed dipped down next to him and he felt Zayn’s hand on his knee. “Look, mate, I’m sorry. But on the bright side, now you have Luke. And trust me, he’s the best you’ll get.”

And that made them both smile, because now Ashton knew that Zayn wasn’t someone to worry about, and Luke that Zayn was the best straight friend he could have.

(Mostly because he wouldn’t hit on Ashton.)

((So he had Ashton for himself.))

-

NVNBSIBDIVFNVNOOBNJNOOOSIEF yES

L A S H T O N  AF

also woozie zayn hello there

idk where he came from but ok

ps. happy birthday hazza since it’s coming up in a few hours :))))))