[This is where shit hits the fan. Just an FYI...]

***

"Okay, Luke. You can do this." Luke said to himself as he got out of the limo. Michael had gotten out moments earlier, and after a really tense car ride home from the bar, Luke wanted nothing more than to just get back inside and tell Adam to keep driving until he was braver.

    He didn't even understand why Michael was upset, they'd barely interacted all afternoon. Luke had made sure he was good, he didn't speak to anyone besides Harry and Naba, he never answered back, and he did what he was told. Maybe Michael was just having a bad day, but he was uncertain about what was going to come from this. 

    Luke walked inside, hanging his jacket up, as well as the one Michael had thrown on the couch in the foyer and searched for the boyfriend he'd been trying to ignore for a couple days.

     He had finally made his decision, and he needed to talk to Michael.

    "Hey, Michael? C-can we talk about something?"

    Michael sighed heavily, slamming the refrigerator door shut.

    "Did you go shopping yesterday?"

    "N-no, I told you I had rehearsal."

    Michael scoffed, heading to the pantry instead and pulling a box of pasta from the cabinet.

    "So uhm, I just..." He'd been rehearsing the lines in his head the entire day, but he couldn't seem to form the sentence when it counted. "Recently I feel like...What was the reason—"

    "Luke, if you're not going to actually say anything, just let me make my food in peace." Michael snapped, slamming the pot full of water on the gas stove and igniting the burner. "You're so annoying, god."

    "Well, that's sort of what I want to talk about,"

    Michael glanced over his shoulder with a raised eyebrow.

    "You want to tell me how annoying you are?"

    "No," Luke shook his head, wringing his fingers as he sat on a stool on the island across from the stove. If he didn't have to look at Michael, it might make things easier. He focused on the bills and other pieces of mail that were on the counter in front of him. 

    "Then what is it? It's been a long day, Luke."

    "Uhm, just don't think everything has been okay." Was what he managed to say. That was not what he'd rehearsed, but all that went out the window the second he stepped inside. His mind was blank, all he could feel was panic and stress. 

    Why was this so hard?

    Michael rolled his eyes, turning around to face Luke.

    "You're gonna need to elaborate more. I don't know what that means."

    "With...with us," he whispered.

    "Excuse me?" Michaels face hardened. He ditched the pasta, extinguishing the flame and leaving the pot on the stove before making his way over to Luke.

    It was hard because he knew Michael wouldn't react well. 

    "I just...we've been distant and, I don't know...you seem unhappy with me so often. We just need to t-talk," Luke stutters as Michael slowly invades his personal space.

    "We need to talk?" he growled, face inches from Luke's. The smaller boy tried to lean away but was stuck between his angry boyfriend and the countertop. "Exactly what about?"

    "Ab-about us." Idiot, you just said that. He's going to get mad you repeated yourself. You're wasting his time. Luke winced.

    "Yeah, what about us?" Michael snarled, taking Luke's hand and bringing him into the living room, his food long forgotten. "Spit it out,"

    "J-just, I don't know..." Luke was even more nervous now. Maybe he would think better without his boyfriend breathing in his face. He'd wanted to get his point out to Michael before he got upset, but the instant Luke faltered, Michael had pounced.

    "You gonna tell me you're not happy with me?" Michael let go of Luke, pushing him onto the couch and flopping down next to him. "Tryn'a tell me you've got some new lover who's better than me?"

    Luke sighed, tired of Michael bringing that up.

    "I've never cheated on you," Luke said warily. He needed Michael to understand.

    "Then why are you so discontent?"

    "Me?" Luke tilted his head to the side. "You're the one who seems bored with me all of a sudden, you never want me around your friends, and basically just use me as an employee you have sex with."

    Michael looked at him in shock. He hadn't expected Luke to say something like that.

    "You're the one who got a part in a show and suddenly started having all these ideas. Everything was fine before you had even a bit of fame."

    "That isn't what this is about, Michael." Luke put his head in his hands. "It wasn't the musical that gave me these ideas, it was—" Luke stopped himself before admitting Ashton's comments were the only things running around his head. Maybe he did deserve better than this. Look at the way Michael had just treated him. Was he better than that?

    "What? What could possibly have given you the idea that you're so unhappy with me?" Michael shouted, jumping up from the couch and pacing around the room. "Am I that horrible of a person? I do my best for you, Luke, you have to admit that," Michael looked over at Luke, who nodded. Michael of course had his ways to show Luke how much he loved him. He just hadn't shown them much lately...

    "I know, but—"

    "What, I need to do more for you? Dig your parents out of debt again? Send your brothers to college a second time? Provide literally everything you have without asking you for anything, except a little bit of help at the bar?"

    "Michael, that's not—"

    "This outfit," Michael walked over to Luke and tugged at his shirt roughly. Luke gritted his teeth as his head was knocked back and forth as Michael shook him. "I paid for this. Did I ask for anything? No. Your phone, the food we have here, the apartment. Who pays for all of that?"

    "You do, but I didn't mean--"

    "So is it really that crazy to wonder why you're so unhappy all of a sudden? What did I do to deserve that?"

    Luke sighed. Michael wasn't getting it.

    "You don't, it isn't that I'm unhappy,"

    "What is it then? Because that's what you've been telling me." Michael crossed his arms over his chest and stared down at Luke.

    "You get angry at me all the time, you don't want me to hang out with your friends, and you won't let me have my own friends," Luke said quietly, staring at his lap. He could tell Michael was furious. "I just don't know if this is working..."

    "You don't..." Michael trailed off angrily, "You don't know if it's working? As in this relationship? You want to end it..."

    "No, I wanted to talk to you," Luke looked up, instantly regretting looking in Michael's eyes. They bore right into Luke's soul, making him want to shrivel up into a little ball. "I love you, Michael, but if things keep going like this... I don't know." This wasn't coming out right. 

    "You don't know." Michael scoffed. Luke stood up and tried to put his hand on Michael's arm, but the older man shoved him away. "You don't know if you want us to continue. Great, that's just great, Luke."

    "Michael, it doesn't have to be like that. Of course, I want to be with you,"

    "It doesn't seem like it!" Michael shouted, walking out of the room. Luke trailed after him, following his boyfriend into their bedroom.

    "I'm sorry you're upset and I'm sorry. I don't want to break up with you, I just—"

    "Oh, we're not breaking up."

    Luke blinked twice.

    "I know, I said I don't want to. We just need to work out—"

    "No," Michael turned around, eyes blazing. His fists were clenched at his side, and he took a step toward Luke. Instead of letting himself get backed against a wall, Luke turned around so he was in the middle of the room. Michael kept getting closer until the back of Luke's knees pressed against the bed and Michael set his hands on Luke's hips. Michael faced him. "We're not breaking up. I'm not ready to give you up, baby. You're mine." Michael pressed his lips to Luke's in a hungry kiss, which Luke hesitantly returned, not knowing where this was going. Michael tightened his grip around Luke's hips, leaning around to nibble on his ear.

    "B-but—"

    "No, Luke. You don't get it." Michael smirked, looking strangely like the Cheshire Cat from Alice in Wonderland. "You still owe me. I'm not letting you get away. Not any time soon."

    Luke's eyes widened. He didn't like how Michael was acting right now. He tried to push him off, but he was too strong.

    "Mikey, please g-get off,"

    "Baby, don't resist. You couldn't leave me even if you wanted. I could ruin your family again, they still need me, you do too." Michael taunted, kissing down Luke's neck. The boy shivered at his ministrations, as well as the threat Michael held over him. "I never want to hear anything like that from you again, understood?"

    "Y-yeah," he breathed out. Luke was terrified. He didn't know what was happening, but he knew there wasn't much he could do. Maybe he could make a run for it...

    "Good. If you obey me, we'll have no problems." Michael smiled sweetly at him. Luke took a deep breath before pushing Michael off of him, sending the boy tumbling to the floor. Luke quickly hopped over him, fumbling with the door handle before pulling it open. If he could get outside, he could get the attention of some random people and they'd help him. "LUKE!" Michael called, getting up to chase him.

    Luke finally opened the door, stumbling down the hallway. Outside, he had to make it to the front door. Michael still had his phone, so there wasn't anyone he could call. He had to get out.

    He rushed down the steps and into the foyer, sliding in his socks on the slick tile. He was about to reach the door when he felt himself being pulled back onto the floor.

    Michael sat on his chest, pinning his arms down with his knees.

    "You stupid fucking brat!" he screeched, small spit bubbles flying from his lips. "I give you everything and this is how you repay me?" Michael moved back a bit and punched Luke right in the chest. Luke tried to double over, but all he could do was lift his neck up and cough. Michael was still restraining him.

    Luke finally regained his breath and looked up at his boyfriend in terror.

    Michael shook his head, jaw clenched as he surveyed the trembling boy underneath him.

    "This is just the beginning, Luke. You don't know how good you had it before. Your attitude is going to change quickly or this," He slapped Luke's cheek hard. "This will continue. Got it?"

    Luke let a sob slip, he couldn't help it. He was scared and hurting. He needed to get away, but he couldn't.

    Michael got up, lifting Luke with him and shoving him into their bedroom.

    He sat Luke down on the bed, getting in next to him.

    "I'm sorry it had to come to this, Lukey. You know I love you, right?" Michael said with an apologetic frown. "I just can't lose you, baby. You're so important to me."

    Luke just nodded, not able to speak.

    "If you ever try anything like that again, or tell anyone this happened, your parents are toast. Your brothers too. If you think you can live like that..."

    "N-no, I...I'll be good," Luke assured him.

    "I know you will baby. You're my good boy." Michael kissed his cheek and Luke did the best he could not to flinch at the display of affection after the rage he'd exhibited. His mind was so confused. Michael looked at him. "Say it, tell me you're my good boy and you're going to listen to me from now on."

    "I will, Michael, I promise, I'll listen and I-I'll be good, I swear. Please don't do anything to hurt my family."

    Luke's family had been in debt before he met Michael. His dad had cancer, and the medical bills they had from his chemo and all the specialists were tremendous. After Luke and Michael started dating, Luke had mentioned something to Michael about how he had to work so much to help his parents, so Michael offered to clear some of their debts and set his father up for life in Florida so he and his mom could relax without worries. Without Michael's generosity, Luke's father would be dead by now without the proper treatments.

    "I wouldn't dream of hurting them, Lukey. You just need to listen and everything will continue on like usual, yeah?"

    Luke nodded, watching Michael nod contentedly before settling down in bed, pulling the comforter over himself.

    "Turn out the light, will you baby?" Michael leaned over and kissed Luke's cheek.

    Michael rolled over as he turned the light off, leaving Luke with the entire evening replaying in his mind over and over again.

***

Sooooo, that's not great. Nope. Aaaaany thoughts?

ALSO, I MET WATERPARKS YESTERDAY, AND I'M STILL NOT OVER ITTTTTTT. JUST BEEN  LISTENING TO THE ALBUM ON REPEAT AND TELLING ANYONE WHO WILL LISTEN ABOUT IT. 

Hope you're doing well <3

~ashtonfortherwin