Better Man [Cashton AU]

v

it only takes calum another two months to call ashton in the middle of the night and gasp out a stream of frantic words. all ashton figures out is that he needs to pick calum up from wherever he is, and he does.

he finds him on a pavement a few blocks down from the party he was previosuly at. his shirt is ripped apart, leaving it hanging open and off of his shoulders, exposing his skin to the cold autumn air. his face in covered by his hands, muffling the violent, scared sounds leaving his lips.

ashton gently eases his into his car and drives back him to his house, giving him clothes and the bathroom to use before curling up in bed next to him, tentatively holding onto him as he calms down and falls asleep.

ashton can't help but fear his explanation the next morning.