The Walls We've Built (Lashton)

42

For the first time in a long time, both boys who had grown used to waking up to someone, didn't. If it were up to them they would rather stay up all night than sleep knowing the love of their lives are out there, hurt and scared. However, Frank made them sleep, whether it was on their own or by sedative, their choice. Luke kept tossing and turning praying this would all be a dream and when he woke up, Ashton would be next to him. Alive, safe, okay. He laid there awake staring at the ceiling as puddles formed in his eyes, not knowing if his boy was okay, if he was getting hurt, or if he was dead. The only reason he fell asleep was because he made himself take the sedatives Frank offered. It was the only way he could sleep.

Michael on the other hand didn't even think about laying in his bed without Calum. It just didn't seem right, it wasn't natural. It literally felt like a part of him was missing. He sat in his computer chair trying to find anything to pass the time by. Most of it was looking at old photos of the 2 together or playing video games, although it wasn't the same since anytime he'd play games Calum would be with him. A few hours into the night, it pained him to do so, but he forced himself to lay down and watch Netflix on his TV until he fell asleep. But as soon as they woke up, they found their place back at the table brainstorming.

Until an idea struck.

"Okay so, me and Luke switch places, but you and a few other guys follow and storm in before anything drastic happens? What do you think?" Frank pondered slightly before nodding.

"Okay. I'll go call a few of my guys."

Luke sighed out softly at the fact they were making progress, 1 step closer to having Ashton back in his arms. Now he's slept without Ashton before and just like the last times, it was as painful. Even more so this time given the circumstances.

Michael grabbed his gun and a back up one to start cleaning it, getting it ready for what was about to happen. Then realizing Luke didn't have one, he picked one out of their armory in the basement before setting it down in front of Luke.

"Do you know how to shoot one?"

"I've seen people on TV do it. And that one night when you came. That's it."

"Let's go. I'm gonna train you."

The idea of shooting a gun never really frightened Luke, but that was before he actually shot one. Standing with his hand on the trigger, aiming at a far away beer bottle, with Michael telling him to just relax, aim and shoot when he was ready, it all seemed like something from a movie. It didn't feel like his real life.

When finally pressing his finger down on the trigger, he jumped slightly when finding out how loud the sound actually is when you're the one doing the shooting. When it's literally right next to your ear.

"That's not bad Luke. Next time don't take your eyes off the bottle, even when you shoot. That's what we're going for." Michael laughed as they stared at the still standing bottle. "Right. Okay."

This time, Luke knew what to expect when the trigger was pressed, he wasn't going to be surprised with the sound. This time, his arms stayed still when the bullet went flying out the gun and into the bottle making the shards go flying everywhere.

"Oh my God! I did it!" He squealed. "You did!" Michael squealed back. The 2 jumped in excitement until they realized what they were doing. Stopping immediately while throwing in some coughs trying not to think about the fact they sounded and acted like 12 year old girls. "Okay anyways. Let's try more."

Hours upon hours of training and seeing the floor become drowned in shell casings, the boys took a break. They sat on an old wall looking out into the nothingness to pass time.