Chapter Text
LUKE
“You guys are the fucking worst,” Calum throws in Luke and Michael’s direction, voice muffled by Ashton’s clothed shoulder. Luke knows Calum hates it when he and Michael ruin movie nights, or as Ashton just loves calling them, banding nights. But Luke’s slightly tipsy and definitely bored with the movie none of them is actually watching and Michael is just nipping at his neck and kissing his skin. So obviously he can’t resist that or push Michael off, right. Luke’s aware that Ashton and Calum are totally done with hearing them fucking, but Michael is just so close that Luke can’t think straight.
“Yeah, you don’t see me and Cal making out right in your faces, have some self control.” Ashton mutters sarcastically, head dropping to rest on top of Calum’s. Ashton claims to be the straightest person alive, but no one believes that for a second. “Plus, we’re watching a movie.” He adds, gesturing towards the screen even though the four of them stopped paying attention about thirty minutes into the movie. It’s boring and they have way more fun just drinking and laughing at nothing in particular anyway. Luke loves banding. But he also loves Michael.
“Sorry,” Luke says sheepishly, pushing Michael away from his neck, but not pushing him off him completely. Their knees are still touching and Luke still has one hand laced with one of Michael’s in his lap. Michael moves away involuntarily, making a very dissatisfied noise and sending an angry glare to Ashton and Calum who don’t seem all too impressed by Michael’s fit of anger.
“Oh, don’t you look at me like that!” Ashton exclaims, pointing a blaming finger at Michael who rolls his eyes, but Ashton isn’t finished yet. “You two are loud, you do it everywhere and any time of the day. The least you could do is keep your hands to yourselves during banding nights.” Ashton huffs, looking between Michael and Luke while Calum nods supportively by his side.
“It’s not my fault that I’m just that good,” Michael snickers and Luke bites his bottom lip, looking down at his feet as his cheeks heat up. It’s not that they’re not all open about these things, but Ashton and Calum are clearly upset and it makes Luke feel weird. Luke squeezes Michael’s hand, tries to get him to shut up because this isn’t going to end well, but Michael’s already said enough. Calum wrinkles his nose, shaking his head disapprovingly while Ashton rolls his eyes.
“I did not want to hear that!” Calum lashes out, covering his face with his hands and sighing deeply into his palms. When he calms down he leans back into the couch and glares at Michael. “Let’s just finish watching the movie.”
The rest of the movie is boring but no one says a word or moves a muscle. It doesn’t feel like anyone is actually mad, but it doesn’t feel normal either, the air feels a bit tense and it makes Luke feel strange. By the time the movie is finally over, Calum is fast asleep, his head resting in Ashton’s lap as Ashton plays with his hair soothingly, looking down at him cutely and it makes Luke smile. Luke is sitting between Michael’s legs, back pressed against his chest and Michael’s chin hooked over Luke’s shoulder, holding hands.
“Are you going to wake him?” Luke whispers to Ashton, who doesn’t look away from Calum for a second. Luke still thinks they’re cute. Not that he’d admit that out loud. Ashton would probably skin him if he did, anyway, because Ashton is as straight as a ruler and he definitely does not have a thing for Calum. One day he’ll have to admit it. Everyone sees it.
“Nah,” Ashton shrugs. “I’ll just carry him upstairs.” He adds quietly, grinning down one more time, before he gets up slowly. He carefully lifts Calum off the couch and into his arms, Calum’s legs instantly going around Ashton’s middle, head resting on his shoulder. Luke thinks it’s funny how small Calum looks every time Ashton carries him around.
“They’re so adorable,” Michael says into Luke’s ear, reading his thoughts and he nods. “It makes me want to throw up all over you.” he chuckles and Luke rolls his eyes, laughing along and throwing his head back on Michael’s shoulder. That’s Michael’s weird, yet typical way of saying ‘I think our best friends are being grossly cute, but I’m going to add a mean comment so I don’t sound less tough’. Luke accepts it.
“You like to pretend like you’re so beyond this, but I know you. You’re a huge softie deep inside,” Luke laughs, turning around in Michael’s arms so they’re face to face now. “Don’t forget that I still know you better than anyone else.” Luke grins proudly because he feels like that’s a big thing, knowing Michael more than anyone else in the world. It makes him feel special. Luke presses a quick kiss to the tip of Michael’s nose, making him giggle. It makes Luke’s heat swell in his chest. He really loves his boyfriend.
“I’m only a softie when it comes to you. Don’t tell anyone.” Michael jokingly whispers like it’s a secret even though everyone already knows it. He moves his face closer to Luke’s so the tips of their noses are brushing and Luke rubs them together.
“Not to burst your happy little bubble or anything, but I think everyone already knows,” Luke beams. Sometimes Michael makes him smile so much his face hurts. Luke cups Michael’s face with both hands, looking him in the eye and grinning just for a second before he’s pressing their lips together. Kissing Michael is probably Luke’s favorite thing to do. Their mouths just move together so nicely and Michael’s lips are always so soft and nice and it makes butterflies erupt in Luke’s stomach every time they touch.
“Babe?” Michael mumbles quietly against Luke’s lips, nudging Luke’s side. Luke knows that tone.
“Mhm?” Luke hums like he’s clueless.
“I think we need to go upstairs,” Michael smirks, making Luke giggle. He catches Luke off guard as he lifts him up effortlessly, throwing him over his shoulder and making his way upstairs with a crackling Luke on his shoulder.
“My legs work just fine!” Luke exclaims as he kicks his feet in the air, jokingly fighting Michael.
“I don’t think they’ll be working just fine anymore when I’m finished with you tonight,” Michael says, shutting Luke up. “You aren’t such a smartass now, are you?” Michael says smugly, so Luke sticks his tongue out and licks a hot stripe up Michael’s cheek, making him yelp.
“Gotcha.” Luke laughs and Michael rolls his eyes, laying Luke down gently on the bed. One thing Michael never does is get rough with Luke. He can be teasingly angry with Luke and joke around about what he’s going to do to him, but unless Luke ever asked, Michael never got rough. It makes Luke feel safe, he knows Michael will always take care of him and treat him right.
“Hey,” Luke sits up, catching Michael’s wrist before he gets a chance to run off into the bathroom to get the stuff they need. Michael lets Luke pull him back, standing between Luke’s spread legs and looking down at him with a silly smirk. “You wanna know something?” Luke asks quietly. Michael nods, bringing one hand to Luke’s face and pushing his hair off his forehead, never looking away from Luke’s eyes.
“I really, really, really love you,” Luke bites his bottom lip, looking up at Michael. Luke thinks his boyfriend in the most beautiful person he has ever met in his entire life and he makes sure to inform him of that daily.
“And I really, really, really love you. I’ll regret saying this but,” Michael pauses, giggles and kisses Luke’s forehead before continuing. “You’re kind of my favorite person in the world.” Michael whispers and Luke’s smile falters. It isn’t because he isn’t happy to hear that, it’s just because Michael just knocked the breath out of him. He wasn’t excepting to hear that.
“I am?” he blinks up at Michael and Michael shakes his head and leans down to press his mouth to Luke’s.
“Of course you are, who else would it be, Calum?” Michael snorts, always trying to lighten up the mood. But Luke’s too far gone.
“Get the stuff,” Luke rasps, already undoing the tie of his grey sweatpants. “I need you.” He practically purrs and Michael doesn’t need to be told twice. He rushes off into the bathroom with a huge, hungry smile and emerges back not even ten seconds later with a bottle of lube, no shirt or socks and a silly smirk.
“You look so hot, babe.” Michael says, pushing his sweatpants down while Luke is already fully naked on his back and touching himself, eagerly waiting for Michael to join him. When Michael finally gets rid of all his clothes, he gets on the bed and crawls over to Luke, making him open his eyes. Luke takes his hand off his now fully erect cock and smiles up at Michael who’s hovering above him.
“Kiss me?” Luke asks quietly, making Michael’s grin widen.
“Like you even need to ask,” Michael snorts, not giving Luke a chance to respond as he leans down and presses his lips to Luke’s. Michael’s lips are so warm and familiar, they feel really good moving with Luke’s. It doesn’t take long before Michael bites, tugs and sucks on Luke’s lip ring, trying to get him to part his lips enough so he can push his tongue inside. Luke lets him. He moans when Michael’s tongue touches his own, hands moving up from Michael’s back of the neck to his hair, tugging on the freshly dyed red-hair.
“Mikey?” Luke barely manages to say against Michael’s mouth. He doesn’t want to stop kissing him.
“Hm?” Michael hums back, the vibrations making Luke shiver. He doesn’t move away from Luke either.
“Have I- have I mentioned how beautiful you look with your new hair?” Luke breathes out quickly before eagerly sliding his mouth over Michael’s again. Luke was so excited when Michael informed him that he was going to take up on his suggestion and re-dye his hair red. It’s Luke’s favorite hair color on Michael, Luke not-so-secretly thinks it looks really great and hot. It brings out Michael’s green eyes, pale skin and red lips.
“All for you, baby.” Michael grins, finally breaking the kiss and looking down at Luke. Luke can’t help but mirror his smile.
“C’mon,” Luke squirms under Michael. “Need you.”
It doesn’t take long for Michael to prep Luke, three slicked fingers sliding in and out of Luke easily as he thrashes around and moans Michael’s name, begging him not to stop and to finally hit the spot he’s been so skillfully avoiding.
“I love when you beg, babe,” Michael smugly chuckles as he slicks himself up. “So hot. I love when you’re needy for me.” He adds and if Luke wasn’t already turned on, he sure is now.
“Fuck,” he chokes, shivering. Michael rolls his eyes fondly and crawls back to hover above Luke, one hand on each side of Luke’s head to support his weight.
“Ready, babe?” Michael asks and Luke doesn’t even hesitate as he nods his head eagerly. One of Luke’s hands moves to tangle in Michael’s hair automatically, the other one draped at the back of Michael’s neck, holding him impossibly closer. Michael doesn’t immediately do anything, though. He simply stays still above Luke, looking him up and down and examining his face. Sometimes Michael does that, just stands there quietly and watches Luke. Not only when they’re in bed, he’d do it when they’re in the living room or when they’re outside getting dinner. When Luke would blush and ask what he’s looking at, Michael would kiss him and tell him he’s just still fascinated by how beautiful he is. It makes Luke’s heart swell in his chest every time.
“Mikey…” Luke trails off, nudging Michael’s cheek with his nose.
“You know you’re, like, insanely pretty. Right?” Michael raises an eyebrow and Luke giggles.
“You always do that,” Luke starts, playing with the soft hair at the back of Michael’s neck mindlessly. “You always look at me funny and then tell me I’m pretty. But you’re way prettier, just so you know.” Luke lifts himself up just enough so he can press his lips to Michael’s cheek, planting a small kiss there before dropping back against the pillows.
“I really fucking love you, Luke.” Michael’s voice is more serious now, and Luke knows he means it. He nods.
“Me too. You know that.” Luke offers a smile and Michael nods, pecking Luke’s lips one last time before moving his hips to position himself.
“We’re good to go, yeah?” he makes sure again. Luke reassures him with a nod.
Luke sees stars when Michael pushes into him. His moves are slow and gentle, but smooth at the same time. He bottoms out and just stays there for a couple of seconds, giving the both of them a chance to catch their breath. When Luke rolls his hips and moans, trying to get Michael to move, Michael simply chuckles and kisses Luke again before pulling out almost completely just so he can thrust back into Luke, making him arch up and groan loudly.
“You’re so loud,” Michael comments as he keeps rocking his hips into Luke. It isn’t news, Luke’s always been loud with Michael. Ashton and Calum comment about it all the time. They make it a general state, ‘you guys are so loud in bed’ but Luke knows it mostly directed at him. But he doesn’t care, he cares about the way Michael’s cock hits all the right spots and the way Michael whimpers above him, how his sweat mixes with the red hair dye and drips down his face. Luke loves the sound of skin slapping skin as Michael keeps thrusting into him and the way the headboard bumps into the wall with each movement of Michael’s hips.
“Fuck!” Luke practically screams when Michael hits his prostate, making his vision cloud for a second.
“Luke you-“ Michael starts, but gets cut off by a bang on the wall above Luke’s head. Michael stills, halfway into thrusting into Luke. They look at each other with raised eyebrows, and then there’s another bang on the wall and Luke jumps.
“It’s two in the fucking morning!” Ashton wails groggily, his fist angrily slamming against the wall once more. “I hate you both!” He adds, and then it goes silent for a second. Michael and Luke exchange another shocked look, and Luke is just about to open his mouth to speak when he hears the door to Ashton’s room open and close. It must be Calum.
Luke and Michael listen carefully as Calum says something. Luke can’t make out exactly what it is he’s saying, it’s too muffled and it sounds more like a strange buzzing or humming noise than talking. But then Ashton responds, and Michael and Luke find themselves overhearing a conversation between what sounds like two bees.
“Do you think they hate us?” Luke whispers when Calum and Ashton go silent on the other end of the wall. Sometimes Luke forgets how thin these walls are and that Ashton’s room has a shared wall with Michael’s room where he and Michael sleep and do… other things. He forgets that Ashton’s bed is positioned against that exact same wall and that whatever noise Luke and Michael are making echoes right through and Ashton can hear it loud and clear.
Michael shrugs. He’s about to open his mouth to speak, but once again, he gets interrupted. Luke doesn’t understand what that noise Calum and Ashton are making is exactly, at first. It doesn’t sound like the talking they just heard five minutes earlier, it’s higher and louder.
“Ash!” Calum’s voice rings right into Luke’s skull. There’s no doubt that it’s Calum and there’s no doubt that he’s moaning. Luke gasps.
“Are they…“ Michael trails off, looking between Luke and the wall behind him.
“Yeah, baby,” This time it’s Ashton, loud and clear, growling. He’s growing.
“Oh my God,” Michael breathes out quietly, leaning down close to Luke. Luke wonders how his arms aren’t tired from being propped up like that without moving for so long, but he doesn’t say anything, he’s too confused and shocked. “They’re totally fucking in there. They’re competing with us.” Michael giggles quietly and Luke’s eyes widen. He doesn’t understand how Michael finds it funny.
“That’s so… weird,” Luke whispers back. “I think that’s their revenge. Because we were being so loud.” Luke’s whole face burns with embarrassment.
“Holy shit,” Michael chuckles. His eyebrows furrow, then, and Luke knows he’s thinking about something. Luke’s got a faint idea of what exactly the thing he’s thinking about is, but he keeps quiet and waits for Michael to get there himself.
“Babe?” Michael smirks. Luke sighs and looks up. “Let’s show them who does it better.” Michael says, and that’s all the warning Luke gets before Michael pulls out, then slamming right back into Luke, purposely hitting his prostate and making him cry out.
“Michael!” Luke yells. He doesn’t know if it’s a moan of pleasure or a ‘what the fuck do you think you’re doing’ but he isn’t complaining because Michael is using the headboard for support, getting better leverage and pounding into Luke harder. The headboard makes an insane noise against the wall, and not two seconds later, Ashton and Calum start returning that noise, their own headboard banging against the wall furiously.
“Fuck, Ash!” Calum screams on the other side, his moans perfectly timed with the headboard bangs. Luke opens his eyes and looks up at Michael, he seems so concentrated, so into this. He’s determined to win this little race.
“Hold on, babe.” Michael says before he grabs Luke’s leg, placing it over his shoulder and thrusting into him again. Luke throws his head back with an animalistic roar of Michael’s name, fingers curling around one of the wooden rods of the headboard just so he has something to grab.
“Cal, yeah,” Ashton whimpers. “You feel so good. So good for me.” And Luke doesn’t want to admit that there’s something scarily arousing in this whole unofficial competition they’re having. He knows Michael feels the same, by the way his thrusts quicken and his little gasps of pleasure come faster by Luke’s ear.
“Are you going to come for me, Lukey?” Michael purrs into Luke’s ear, teeth grazing his lobe gently. “Are you going to show them who does it better?”
“Y-yeah, fuck, Mikey.” Luke whines, hips bucking up, desperately chasing his release.
“C’mon,” Michael encourages with another strong thrust that sends electricity through Luke’s whole body. “Show them who gets you like this. Who makes you scream, who makes your whole body shiver, Luke. Come for me.” Michael’s words are more than enough to push Luke right over the edge.
Luke’s nails dig into Michael’s shoulder as he literally screams Michael’s name like his life depend on it, his whole body shaking with pleasure as he comes between their stomachs. Luke keeps moaning and crying out Michael’s name and random curse words as Michael keeps fucking into him until he comes too. A loud, sweaty and beautiful mess above Luke. He could come again just watching Michael come.
They’re both trying to catch their breath when they hear it happen for Ashton and Calum. It’s loud and Luke is really terrified they’re going to break the wall down. The headboard bangs against it mercilessly and there’s a clear cry of pleasure that is definitely Calum coming from behind the wall.
Once it’s all over, there’s silence. It feels like no one breathes, blinks or moves a muscle. Luke’s chest rises and falls quickly, his nails still digging into Michael’s shoulder, this time it’s the nerves. This whole situation feels so tense and weird all of the sudden, it’s like a weight on Luke’s chest. His two best friends just heard him completely falling apart in Michael’s arms.
“We need to get you cleaned up, babe,” Michael says eventually. He pulls out of Luke gently, pecking Luke’s lips quickly before rolling off the bed and offering his hand to Luke. Luke takes it and follows Michael into the bathroom where they shower quickly. Luke doesn’t say a word. Michael helps him shower and dress in fresh underwear before they climb into bed together.
“Why are you so quiet?” Michael asks abruptly, his warm breath hitting Luke’s face. “What’s wrong?”
Luke shrugs. “Doesn’t it… that, feel weird to you? Cal and Ash just totally heard me get fucked.”
“It’s definitely weird, but I’m tired and I have you in my arms right now. And we just had, like, really amazing sex. So I think it can wait for tomorrow.” Michael concludes, and Luke thinks it’s so typical. There’s something so Michael about how he’s so clam about this. It’s not a secret that Michael is the most experienced one out of all four of them, he always has been and he takes pride in it. Luke doesn’t know exactly what experiences he had, but he knows it’s enough to ensure his calmness when it comes to anything sex related. He’s always been the calmer, more relaxed one in their relationship anyway, not just in bed. Luke thinks it’s good, it balances out all the anxiety Luke has about everything. He feels it for the both of them and Michael is always there to reassure him.
“Yeah,” he sighs, shoving his face into Michael’s neck and inhaling he familiar scent. “I guess we can talk about it tomorrow. ‘m tired.” Like on cue, he yawns.
“Go to sleep, Lukey,” Michael murmurs, squeezing Luke closer and tighter. “I love you.” he whispers into Luke’s hair. Luke smiles against Michael’s skin. He feels so safe, he feels at home.
“I love you more.” He barely hears himself saying before he quickly falls asleep, feeling like it would be alright after all. As long as he has Michael.
*** *** *** *** ***
Luke panics when he wakes up and Michael’s arms aren’t securely wrapped around him. If there’s one thing Luke hates, it’s sleeping without Michael. Whether it’s falling asleep or waking up, Michael needs to be there with Luke and hold him close. Luke’s clingy like that. Plus, last night’s… events, left Luke feeling kind of anxious. He doesn’t want to have to face Ashton and Calum all by himself.
“Mikey?” he rubs his tired eyes with his balled fists, looking around the empty room. He doesn’t get a response and frowns, wondering where Michael went. He usually doesn’t even get out of bed without Luke. Hell, he doesn’t ever wake up before Luke does. So Luke grabs his phone from the nightstand and unlocks it. It’s just after noon and he has two texts from Michael.
From: Mikey
[11:56am] Stop stressing, I know you’re stressing
From: Mikey
[11:58am] I’m downstairs making food, Cal and Ash left before I woke up. Come down when you’re up, love you
Luke smiles down at his screen, Michael knows him too well.
Luke barely manages to drag himself out of bed and into the shower. He has a rushed shower before getting comfortable in a pair of sweats and a baggy t-shirt. When he’s done, he climbs downstairs cheerfully, feeling reenergized and clean.
Michael’s slouching on the living room couch, barely balancing a plate with something that looks like an omelet that’s about to freefall to the floor on it in his lap while playing X-box. Luke beams at him, he’s so Michael. Luke just stands there, leaning on the doorframe for a couple of seconds, just watching Michael. He really loves him, it’s kind of gross and cheesy, but he does.
“Hey,” Luke rasps finally, flopping down on the couch next to Michael and nearly sending the plate with the omelet diving to the floor, but Michael catches it last second.
“Hey, babe,” Michael grins, pausing his game and getting rid of the remote so he can face Luke and press a quick kiss to his mouth. Michael tastes like coffee and it makes Luke smile against his lips. “I woke up before you.” Michael beams triumphantly. Michael’s usually the last one out of bed.
“You wore me out last night,” Luke chuckles and brings his hands up to cup Michael’s face, his thumbs tracing shapes into Michael’s soft skin. “I hate waking up without you, you know.” Luke pouts, still stroking Michael’s skin gently.
“Me too, ‘m sorry. I was hungry and you looked so peaceful,” Michael explains. “I didn’t have the heart to wake you.” He says and Luke’s heart leaps in his chest. It’s funny how they’ve been together for what feels like an eternity in the best of ways, but Michael still gets Luke all flustered and excited with every word he says and every time he touches him. Luke hopes that never changes between them.
“’s okay,” Luke smiles widely and drags his lips over Michael’s, just a brief, barely-there brush of their lips. “I think I can forgive you. On one condition, though,” Luke giggles at Michael’s expression.
“And what’s your condition, you sneaky goofball?” Michael rolls his eyes fondly.
“I want food. Lots of it,” Luke drops his hands from Michael’s face, getting down to business. Everyone knows you don’t mix business and pleasure. “And coffee. Make it lots of that, too. Please.” Luke bats his lashes innocently. He knows Michael’s weak for that.
“Yes, your majesty,” Michael fake-bows in his seat. “Anything else I can do for you princess?” Luke loves when Michael call him that. He also sees how Michael’s struggling to pull a straight face as Luke’s bubbles a happy laugh.
“No,” he rubs at his beard like he’s pondering. “I think that’ll do, for now.” He grins happily and Michael laughs too this time, leaning close so he can press his lips to Luke’s again before he gets up and wonders off into the kitchen.
“If Cal was here right now he’d make a stupid comment about how whipped I am,” Michael yells from the kitchen and Luke laughs quietly. The mention of Calum’s name makes Luke feel weird. He doesn’t know how to bring what happened last night up, doesn’t even know how to talk to Michael about it.
“Not that it isn’t true!” Michael adds, making Luke roll his eyes at no one in particular. He loves how Michael’s the only one who can make him smile no matter what.
When Michael returns with an omelet and a cup of steamy coffee and a smile, Luke decides he needs to get it off his chest.
“Thank you,” Luke smiles as Michael hands him his coffee. He takes a sip and sighs, looking at Michael.
“What’s up?” Michael pokes Luke’s cheek with his finger, settling next to him, body pressed up close to Luke’s side. Luke shrugs and sighs again.
“We never talked about what happened last night,” Luke admits quietly. “And I have a feeling Cal and Ash woke up and early and took off before we woke up so we don’t have to see each other.” Luke voices his thoughts. He has a feeling Michael knows what he’s talking about.
“Yeah,” Michael nods. “That’s what I thought too,” Michael plays with the hem of Luke’s shirt mindlessly, his fingers ghosting over Luke’s skin. He’s too nervous to even react to Michael’s touch. “Does it bother you? What happened?” Michael asks, looking up through his beautiful, long lashes.
“I don’t know,” Luke meets Michael’s concerned eyes. “A bit, I guess? It doesn’t feel like other times when they heard us and yelled at us the next day. This was on purpose. They made sure we hear them and we made sure they heard us. Doesn’t that feel… I don’t know, just weird, to you?” Luke searches Michael’s face for an answer. His two best friends heard him in a way only Michael gets to, they might be joking about it all the time, but it’s different when they’re right there on the other side of the wall, listening and purposely making more noise to make sure Luke and Michael hear them too.
“It’s definitely, um, different,” Michael chuckles gingerly. Luke knows he’s uncomfortable, he knows talking about this brings Michael out of that comfort he’s been feeling about this, it makes him uneasy. “I guess it doesn’t bother me as much, though. It’s different when you’re getting fucked, probably.” Michael chuckles again and Luke blushes.
“I felt kind of… exposed. I don’t know if it’s bad, it’s just,” Luke shrugs again, stumbling over his own words. “It really isn’t bad, there was something even…” Luke doesn’t continue that sentence, voice trailing off. He hopes Michael understands.
“I know,” Michael says, relieving a bit of the stress that’s been burdening Luke’s chest since everything ended the night before. “Me too. It was definitely, um. Hot, in a way?” Luke looks up and Michael’s blushing. That doesn’t happen so often anymore. Luke thinks Michael looks really cute when he blushes.
“I thought I was weird for thinking that.” Luke bites his lip and Michael shakes his head. “Plus, I knew we both kind of new the day would come where Ash and Cal finally stopped being stupid and got together but, I mean, I never thought that would be how it’d happen…” Luke giggles, making Michael laugh.
“I think we should just all talk about it. I mean, we don’t have to say everything, but we do need to have a conversation.” Michael concludes and Luke agrees, nodding. He takes another sip of his coffee and melts into Michael’s side.
“Do you feel better? I could see that it’s bothering you,” Michael pats Luke’s thigh.
“Yeah, I do,” Luke smiles quietly, biting down on his now-cold toast. “Thanks, Mikey.” Luke pecks Michael’s cheek and finishes eating his breakfast in a comforting silence, while Michael strokes his back and thigh and lets him know he’s there. Not that Luke ever doubts that.
*** *** *** *** ***
CALUM
“So?” Ashton’s quiet voice snaps Calum out of his daydreaming.
“So, what?” Calum raises an eyebrow, confused. Ashton sighs.
“So, are we alright?” Ashton asks and Calum could swear he’s blushing. Ashton never blushes.
“Yeah, I just,” Calum tries, not sure exactly what he’s trying to say. “Can I just say it?” he doesn’t know where this wave of bravery comes from, but he’s going to use it while it’s there and just be blunt and go for it. He’s never been one to just overcome his shyness and speak up.
“Please say it,” Ashton’s eyes are wide and Calum can’t tell if it’s fear, worry, regret, anger, disgust… the list goes on.
“I liked it, Ash, like, a whole lot.” Calum speaks fast, trying to get as much of it as he can while he can. “I like you. I know we’ve been tiptoeing around this for months, and I know this isn’t the first time we do something. But it’s the first time we did that thing. You know? What do you think?” Calum searches Ashton’s eyes for a response. He’s scared and he just sort of, kind of, came out to someone for the first time.
Before Ashton, Calum never really thought he was into guys. He’s always liked girls, but one day Michael made a silly comment about how Calum stares at Ashton and how they should just fuck already and it hit Calum like a train. He’d carry around that feeling for months, not telling anyone. But then one day after a concert, Luke and Michael snuck into a closet and just went for it, not caring that their whole staff could hear and he and Ashton sat in the dressing room in silence. Somehow, Ashton tongue ended up in Calum’s mouth, and before Calum could even process anything, Ashton was on his keens between Calum’s, with his cock in his mouth.
Ever since, Calum and Ashton developed this routing where they’d suck each other off at random places, maybe tug each other off in the shower or grind on each other late at night after Michael and Luke had finally gone to bed. It was convenient for Calum, he got a release and the guy he liked. But now, Calum thinks they might have a chance for an actual relationship.
“I- Cal,” Ashton sighs, staring down. Calum’s heart nearly jumps out of his throat, this doesn’t sound good. “You know I like you, hell, the whole world knows I do. But would this be… complicated? Weird? I don’t know.” Ashton refuses to look up and Calum sighs.
“It isn’t complicated or weird for Michael and Luke.” Calum points.
“I guess you’re right,” Ashton nods. “But they are Michael and Luke. Isn’t it different?”
Calum shakes his head. “Fuck that, if they get a chance, why shouldn’t we? You know they wouldn’t mind. Michael’s been encouraging me to do this for months.” It slips before he can stop himself, but it’s too late now. Ashton looks up at him with those huge, irresistible eyes of his.
“Really? Why didn’t you ever say anything?”
“Because you’re Ashton, you’re into girls and nothing but girls. And I’m not a girl.” Calum’s whole face burns a hot red. This is the most honest conversation he’s ever had with anyone in his entire life, probably.
“You’re special, you’re Calum,” Ashton smiles and reaches out for Calum’s hand over the table, covering it with his. “You’re my Calum, we’ve always been a team, right? While Luke and Michael were doing their thing and being a couple before they were actually being a couple, we were together, being us. I like it better than I like what I had with any girl I’ve ever seen before.” Calum’s heart races.
“What are you saying?” Calum’s eyes are wide with hope. Ashton grins.
“I say let’s try. I think- I know we can make it work. We’re us.” Ashton lifts Calum’s hand from the table and kisses his knuckles quickly before placing it back on the table, Ashton’s bigger hand still covering his.
“So, what do we say to the guys when we get home?” Ashton asks, taking a sip of steamy mug of coffee. “We can’t avoid them forever, in case you forgot, we’re in a band together. We’re going to have to do something about it eventually.” And Calum knows that’s true, but it doesn’t make him want to go back to the house. If anything, it terrifies him even more. He’s just had one nerve-wracking conversation, he isn’t in the mood for another one.
“It’s my fault.” Calum mutters into his own cup of coffee. Ashton’s head snaps up, his piercing eyes boring into Calum.
“No it isn’t,” Ashton shakes his head and sets the mug down. “You didn’t fuck yourself, you know.” he lowers his voice and rolls his eyes at Calum with a snort. Calum blushes, looks around, feeling paranoid. That’s a conversation they really don’t want any lurking fan or paparazzi to overhear. It’s awkward and embarrassing as is, the last thing they need is to have it all over Twitter.
“It was my idea, though,” Calum looks down at his plate, avoiding Ashton’s face at all costs. “I thought it’d be funny, to give them a taste of their own medicine. I didn’t expect them to play along.” He admits, pushing around the cold food in his plate with his fork. His stomach makes a protesting noise, he isn’t hungry, just nervous.
“It doesn’t make it your fault,” Ashton insists. He always makes Calum feel better, he always knows how to calm him down when he’s in one of his moods. Maybe it’s just one of Calum’s moods. He doesn’t know how to say what he wants to say, he’s afraid of what Ashton will think. Calum doesn’t want to admit that even though his idea was a joke at first, just to tick Michael and Luke off and make them realize how he and Ashton feel when they have to listen to them going at it daily, once they were actually doing it, Calum found it kind of… arousing.
He doesn’t want to mention it to Ashton, he thinks it’s weird. He doesn’t want Ashton to think he’s weird. Who thinks it’s a turn on when they’re having a moaning competition with their best friends? It’s just fucked up. Calum’s fucked up.
“There’s something else, right?” Ashton asks carefully. Calum finally looks up at him. “There’s something else that’s bugging you. I can see it. Talk to me?” Ashton offers a smile that makes Calum think that maybe sharing his thoughts with Ashton wouldn’t be so bad. Ashton never judged him before, why would he now?
“Did you, um, did you think it was maybe a little…” Calum struggles and stutters, trying to find the right way to say it. “I think I was kind of, uh, turned on.” Calum admits, leaning closer and saying it in a whisper. His whole face flashes red, he’s so embarrassed. He covers his face with his hands, not wanting to look at Ashton when he laughs at his face and tells him he’s being weird.
“Cal?” Ashton tries, reaching out and prying Calum’s hands off his own face. “I thought so too. I just didn’t want to say it because I didn’t want you to think I’m a creep.” Ashton snorts, shaking his head and leaning back into his seat, dropping Calum’s hands.
“Really?” Calum raises his eyebrows. He wasn’t expecting that answer at all, but it makes him feel a whole lot better.
“Really,” Ashton nods. “But we still have to talk to Mike and Luke. There’s no way we’re brushing this off,” he adds. Calum knows they don’t really have a choice. Sure, they woke up extra early and snuck out of the house for a walk and a late breakfast afterwards, but they can’t avoid half of their band for the rest of their lives.
“I know,” Calum sighs, sinking further into his chair. “That’s what I’m worried about.” He bites at his bottom lip nervously. Ashton immediately makes him feel a bit better when he pushes his foot between Calum’s under their table and they play footsies like a couple of thirteen year olds on their first date.