Wildflower - {lashton au}

Poppy.

"What are you nervous about?"

Ashton fiddled with his fingers as the two men sat in Luke's parked car in front of the Clifford-Lauderdale-Hood residence. His nerves were at an all time high, and he knew there wasn't really any reason to be scared, but he couldn't shake the feeling. "I just feel like Calum's had to have told Michael and Crystal," he said softly. "I don't want anyone treating me differently. I'm not dead yet."

Luke felt his heart twinge at the 'yet,' but shook his head gently. "I doubt Calum has told them anything," he assured softly. "This is your business to tell them if you want to, Calum respects that."

Ashton nodded, feeling his cheeks heat up. "I know that, I just." He cut himself off, shaking his head gently. "It's weird for me that someone outside of my family knows. I mean, my old friends know, but they aren't around anymore, and obviously my family knows. And it doesn't seem fair that you and Calum are privy to information that Michael and Crystal aren't, if that makes sense. I'm going to tell them, I just don't want to be treated any differently."

Luke nodded, not really understanding what he meant, but also knowing the feeling very well. "We won't," he said softly, reaching over and intertwining his fingers with the curly haired man's. "I haven't treated you any differently in the last few days, and Calum hasn't either, so I know they won't. It'll be alright. I promise."

Ashton smiled gently, nodding as Luke leaned over and kissed the man on his forehead. "Thanks, Lu."

Luke smiled brightly back at him before turning off the car and unbuckling his seatbelt. "Let's go join our friends, shall we?"

Ashton smiled softly and nodded, unbuckling his own seatbelt and exiting the car with Luke. The throuple's house was all modern-day architecture, parallel and perpendicular walls painted white with large windows and charcoal grey accents for the trim. It wasn't huge, not by any means, but it was sizable enough for the three of them, it seemed. "What does Michael do, again?"

"He owns CLH Architecture," Luke answered as the two of them walked up the sidewalk. "He got his degree and then took a year off to travel before he really started to work. He created the business after Calum joined their relationship, and all three of them co-own the company."

Ashton whipped his head toward Luke with wide eyes. "Is that why he was able to get away with streaking and tackling you in the break room?"

Luke laughed loudly but shook his head. "No," he answered. "He actually came and did that at my job. He wanted to embarrass Crystal more than anything, but she just thought it was absolutely hilarious."

Ashton laughed and nodded along. "Wait, why doesn't Crystal work at her own company?"

Luke shrugged. "She wanted to work with me," he answered simply. "We're in charge of handling crisis relief claims for medical personnel. We basically make sure that if doctors, nurses, psychiatrists or therapists need medical or financial relief due to any kind of disasters, they get it."

Ashton looked at Luke like he just handed him the moon in a glass box. The fondness in his eyes was enough to melt even the coldest of hearts, and he smiled to match it. "That's the most wonderful thing in the world," he said softly. "You're such an amazing person, Luke."

Luke flushed softly before knocking on the front door, smiling to himself. "I'm nothing compared to you."

Before Ashton could say anything, the door was opening in front of them to reveal a bright, smiling Crystal who ushered them in and greeted them with tight hugs. "I'm so glad you guys are here," she said excitedly. "Calum is totally hogging the grill and won't let Michael help, so he retreated to his room to play video games and now I'm lonely!"

Both men laughed gently, allowing the blonde woman to take them into the kitchen and seat them at the island. "Now, Crys," Luke started, a joking tone in his voice, "you know this happens every time, you should be used to it by now."

Crystal rolled her eyes, tossing a hand towel gently in Luke's direction. "Hush your pretty boy mouth," she said softly. "What do you want to drink?"

"I know you make Long Island Iced Tea the night before a cook-out," Luke started with a soft smile, "so I know that's good and steeped right now."

Crystal nodded and pulled out two glasses from the cupboard before turning to Ashton. "Ashton? Same as Luke?"

Ashton went to accept but stopped himself short. He just started a new round of medication, he couldn't have alcohol. How could he explain that to Crystal without her asking what the medication was for? He paused briefly, panic slowly setting in as he tried to figure out what to say before Luke cut in gently.

"I think one of us needs to be sober by the end of the night in order to drive home," Luke said softly. "And with how well you make these, who knows how many I'll drink!"

The three in the kitchen laughed gently before Crystal nodded and turned to Ashton again. "He has a point," she said softly. "I have regular iced tea! Would that be okay?"

Ashton smiled gratefully. "That'd be wonderful, thank you."

As Crystal turned to get the drinks from the fridge, Ashton turned to look at Luke, reaching over to give his hand a gentle squeeze and mouthing 'thank you' to the younger blonde.

Luke nodded back, an adoring smile on his face.

The sliding glass door to the back patio opening caught the attention of the three in the kitchen, who turned to see a smiling Calum wearing a black and white checkered apron and wielding a pair of silver stake tongs in his hand. "Well well well," he started jokingly, walking over to Crystal and kissing her lips gently, "starting the party without me, Hemmings?"

Luke rolled his eyes gently, but smiled at his friend. "Don't act like you haven't had one of these already."

Calum smirked before grabbing a bottle of Miller Lite from the fridge in rebuttal. "As much as I adore my love's knack for making drinks like a pro bartender," he said, snaking an arm around Crystal's waist and kissing behind her ear, "you can't stray away from something as classic as a good lager, my friend."

Luke laughed gently but agreed, taking a sip of his drink and enjoying the light chatter just as Michael entered the room. "I thought I heard your voice, you bloody yobo."

Luke looked shocked, laughing in good nature as his friends laughed along with him. "Me? Yobo? Have you seen yourself lately, mate?"

Michael pointed a finger jokingly at Luke, giving him a faux warning glance. "Don't make me tackle you naked again."

Michael entered the kitchen fully as they all laughed, giving Crystal and Calum kisses on their lips before taking a beer from the fridge himself. "Ashton," he said with a wide smile, reaching across the island and shaking said man's hand, "it's good to see you again."

Ashton shook his hand back, grunting slightly as the tightness of the grip. "You too, Mike."

Calum clapped his hands happily before picking up his drink and ushering everyone to the back patio. "What do guys say we get this shindig started? I can practically hear Michael's stomach growling."

Michael scoffed, rolling his eyes with a laugh. "You say that like I'm always hungry!"

Calum raised an eyebrow. "Is that a false statement?"

Michael pursed his lips gently, nodding to himself. "Point."