Strings Attached (lashton, editing)

Three.

Hearing a harsh, constant knock at the front door caused Ashton to arise from his sleep and crawl from the bed. Without a second thought he found his way to the door, swinging it open to find a vibrantly red headed man standing there holding a small, mousy haired toddler.

"Uh, hi?" Ashton muttered out, rubbing his eyes.

"Is Luke here? I'm dropping his kid off," the man in front of Ashton stated, looking bored and as though he could not wait to get out there.

"Luke? Oh, um, yeah right. He's asleep still..." unsure of what to do, surprised by the man and child standing before him Ashton trailed off. He looked around quickly in a slight panic. "I, uh, I could just take him for now."

"Alright, whatever. This is Tim, put him in front of the TV and he'll be fine," Michael shoved the boy into Ashton's arms before stepping back. "His name is Tim."

"Okay, thanks," Ashton said taking hold of the quiet boy, watching as the red head turned away. What the fuck is going on?

"Oh, and tell Luke that if he's doing this then so can I," the man turned back around to look at Ashton's messy, slept in appearance before pulling the door shut as he turned away again, stomping down the apartment building hallway in his heavy black boots.

Ashton stared blankly at the door for a moment, trying to comprehend the fact that he has his one night stands kid in his arms. Who, had not said a word or made a sound but rather; just stared Ashton.

"Heya kid..." Ashton looked back at the boy who shied away from his stare. "You hungry?"

The boy nodded, the smallest of nods, as he leant into Ashton's shoulder. Ashton turned in a direction he guessed the kitchen would be and walked through the apartment, taking in his surroundings.

For a seemingly young single father he seems to be pretty well off.

Unable to just leave the young boy without his father awake, and unable to wake the pretty blonde man, Ashton spent his morning in an unknown apartment with an (mostly) unknown mans kid sitting by his side watching The Wiggles on the living room TV.

-

By 11am Ashton finally heard movement from down the hallway. Figuring Luke was finally up and awake Ashton woke the young boy by his side who had dozed off.

"Fuck! Fuckery, fuck, fuck!" Ashton heard a scramble from down the hall this time, then a thump as if Luke had gotten tangled in the sheets and fallen down. Hearing fast footsteps and more cursing, a very tired, hungover Luke walk into the living room with his phone in hand looking as distressed as ever. "Fucking hell Michael, my kid!"

Clearing his throat, Ashton gets the attention of the messy blonde in the doorway who finally looked up to see Ashton on the couch with a small boy leaning on him and The Wiggles playing quietly on the TV. Staring wide eyed at the sight and questioning why, when and how his one night stand ended up looking after his kid - something that was never supposed to happen.

Taking in the sight, Luke thinks to himself how the hell he got himself into this and that he will never let Calum drag him out to a club ever again. 

"Oh my god," Luke rushes forwards, scooping his son from the couch and hugging him tightly - who somehow managed to stay asleep. "Thank you, uh, Ashton?" Luke questioned, looking down at the younger boy sitting on his couch, in nothing but boxers and a T-shirt Luke thinks he must've hastily picked up from his bedroom floor.

His name was Ashton right?

"It was no problem, he's pretty cute," Ashton smiled, suddenly feeling awkward in the presence of the man and child in front of him. Feeling as though maybe it was his time to go.

"I am so sorry, I never over sleep like that. In fact, I never go out, I never do this either," frantically trying to apologise to the cute boy, Luke shakes his head as we gestured wildly. "When did Michael get here?"

"Michael? The red head?"

"Yeah, the red head," Luke mumbled, putting Tim back down on the couch figuring his other father kept him up all night like usual.

Luke hated the way Michael parented and he hated leaving Tim with him.

"Oh, um a couple hours ago. Seemed eager to leave," Ashton replied, unsure of how to describe his short, sharp, most definitely not sweet encounter with the man.

"That sounds like Michael alright, never one to stick around," giving a tight lipped smile to Ashton, Luke walked into the kitchen to find some food for himself. "Seeing as you've been forced to stick around and look after my boy for a few hours the least I can do is offer you food. Would you like some?"

"Oh you don't ha-"

"Yes I do!" Luke insisted, forcing Ashton to accept his offer. Turning to look through his fridge and pantry, he frowns seeing he has very little food on offer.

He never got to do his shop, Calum dragged him out instead.

"It seems I have no food, I need to do a shop. Guess I'll be going out, care to join? I'll pay, I owe it to you," Luke turned, raising his eyebrows at the boy now sitting at the table.

Knowing Luke would not take 'no' for an answer, he nodded wondering how on earth he's managed to end up looking after the kid of a one night stand and going for breakfast, with said person. This never happens. This doesn't happen.

Luke smiles, quickly helping all three getting sorted to go. Making sure Ashton has all his things. He too, wondered how this morning happened. Because, this never happens. Not in real life.

Yet, both boys didn't feel opposed to spending a little extra time with the other.

-
An update, more to come.

Thoughts?

Ashton and Michaels encounter?

Ashton and Tim?

Ashton and Luke?

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- Grace