Strings Attached (lashton, editing)

Eleven.

Laughing alongside his friends, Luke could feel his body relaxing more and more as his night went on. He'd been sat on the couch, surrounded by his college friends for over an hour and slowly but surely drinking up his box of beers. Ashton had stayed glued to Luke's side the entire time they'd been at Calum's, quietly pitching into the conversation every now and again. But he was mostly just watching Luke smile and laugh as he drank his own beers. 

Ashton liked to watch Luke smile and laugh. He liked the way Luke had relaxed and wasn't worrying about a hundred and one things in that moment. 

Leaning forward in his seat next to the blonde beauty, Ashton nudged Luke's side telling Luke that he'd be back in a bit. Ashton took in a deep breath of the crisp November air as he stepped onto the balcony attached to Calum's apartment. Admiring the view of the stars above him, Ashton let his mind slip back to Luke sitting inside having, what seemed like, the time of his life. In the short time Ashton had known the man he had never once seen him quite as happy as he had been all night. 

Ashton liked shy Luke, but he liked this one more. 

"Hey," Ashton turned around to see Luke stepping out of the sliding glass doors and coming towards him. "You alright out here?"

"Yeah, I just wanted a bit of air." Ashton smiled back at Luke, who was standing right in front of him watching him carefully. "You look like you're having fun."

"I am," Luke smiled another blinding smile. "Thanks for coming, I know Calum and his parties can be intense. He's never been one to go easy. When we were in college the flat he was living with some of our friends had the police show up every other weekend."

"No way," Ashton laughed. "I can't imagine you being in that situation."

"Oh I never was, really. Even in college I wasn't a big partier," Luke watched as Ashton smiled at him, a gleam in his hazel eyes. Before he could over think his actions once again; Luke opened his mouth, stepping closer to the younger boy. "This might be a stupid thing to say, but I really like you Ashton. Like, a lot."

"I'm glad one of us said it," Ashton smiled back at Luke, bigger and brighter than Luke had ever seen him do so. "I was getting scared you only wanted to be friends."

Letting out a breathy laugh through his ever growing smile, Luke brought himself even closer to Ashton.  Luke could feel his confidence build in his body, thanking the half dozen beers he'd consumed to allow himself to be a little more fearless. 

"Do you mind if I-" Luke got cut off by Ashton grabbing his cheek and bringing their faces together in one swift motion. Luke let himself melt into the kiss and bring his hands to hold onto Ashtons neck and shoulders. "Guess you don't mind."

"From you? Never," Ashton smiled before he pulled Luke back in for another kiss and gently turning them around so to push Luke against the balcony railing. 

The two boys paid no mind to the world around them, only focusing on the other and the fact that after over a month or small touches and hugs they were finally doing what they'd been too scared to do the whole time. 

Luke didn't think he'd felt so good, so relaxed and comfortable, in a long time. 

"Why is it, I can only kiss you when I've been drinking?" Luke pulled away, moving his hands to loosely wrap around Ashtons torso. 

"Tell me about," Ashton laughed at Luke. "I've been waiting for it. Maybe you should have a few beers more often."

Laughing as he held Ashton close, Luke enjoyed the warmth coming from the younger boys body and appreciated his carefully sculpted face. Luke hadn't seen someone as gorgeous as Ashton in a long time. 

"Shall we go back inside? I don't like to party, but if I'm gonna do it I sure as hell won't half-ass it," Luke glanced inside where he saw his best friend watching them from the couch. Taking Ashtons hand, Luke lead the two back inside where they squished in right next to each other on the couch; not wanting to lose contact. 

Leaning back into the couch and taking in the events of outside Luke felt a wave of relief wash over his body. He could still feel the fear of bringing Ashton into his life tingling throughout his body, but now it was being pushed out by the happiness he felt running through his veins. Luke took in the sight of Ashton taking a sip of his drink and laughing with Luke's friends, he smiled small as the boy looks back at him for a moment. 

Luke felt good, he didn't care about the fact that he could have his heart broken all over again. He didn't care that he needed to protect his son, he just knew that letting Ashton into his life wouldn't be reckless. 

"I saw that outside, it was cute," Luke whipped his head over to look at Calum sat on his other side. "Really Luke, I think he's good for you. I'm glad to see you let go a bit more, bud."

"Thanks Cal," Luke smiled back at his best friend who raised his beer at him, giving a silent cheers. 

Letting all the worries and stress about Tim that usually fill his body go, Luke finished his drinks and made sure to enjoy himself with his friends because he knew he wouldn't do that again for while. He let himself be closer than ever to Ashton and didn't think twice about asking the boy to stay at his apartment again. 

He didn't even let the thought of Michael dropping Tim off in the morning stop him from doing what he wanted to do. What he knew he deserved to do. Luke was learning to be more fearless. 

--

Yikes, don't love this but here we go! 

I'd love to hear your thoughts :)

Their kiss? 

Calum saying he likes Ashton?

Ashton and Luke telling their feelings? 

Luke feeling himself let go of his fears? 

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- Grace