leather jacket::malum/muke {COMPLETED}

prologue

WARNING: IF YOU HAVE NOT READ FLOWER CROWN, YOU WILL NOT UNDERSTAND LEATHER JACKET, SO PLEASE GO READ THAT ONE FIRST XX

the day of the incident

8:00 am

michael walked into the local wal-mart, a list of items in his hand. tomorrow was his sister's bake sale, and she wanted him to help out.

by buying her things.

like he usually did, because he spoiled her. he loved her, that's why.

since he had no clue where to find any of these items, he carelessly roamed around, finding himself among the stuffed animals in the kids section. he grinned like a child, reaching for a big penguin that reminded him of luke.

luke.

michael wondered how he was doing, considering that he was seeing a person that wasn't there. it was weird, as he never knew a person like that, which was why he shied away and ignored the boy for a while. he needed to figure out what to do.

he wanted to do something about it, take all of luke's suffering away, but he couldn't do that. he couldn't take away what luke was seeing, and that terrified him. eventually, he was going to get sent away to get better.

michael didn't want his flower boy to go away.

he sat down up against the shelves, bringing his knees up and cuddling the penguin into his chest, smiling. smiling because of luke.

luke made michael feel like he belonged. in society, in the world. like he wasn't just another reject, like he meant something. luke cared about michael, and michael cared about luke.

after all, he loved luke more than he loved anyone else ever before. he loved him with a burning passion, a flame brighter than any of the stars in the huge universe.

if only luke knew that.

he hadn't contacted him in weeks, though he desperately wanted to. how could michael love a person like him?

how could michael sit around and watch as the boy he loved got torn apart by his own mind? your imagination was supposed to be beautiful, it wasn't supposed to be filled with darkness and demons. it was supposed to be your safe haven, the place you could go to when you were sad or mad or confused. it was supposed to be safe.

but his illness has destroyed that.

sad now, michael got up, still clutching the penguin, and got an abandoned shopping cart from the next aisle. he put the stuffed animal in the seat where you normally put your children and collected all the items on the list, his thoughts haunting him.

would they ever stop?

when michael payed, he saw luke walking into the store. he stood and debated for a few seconds whether or not to go over there, but finally, he pushed the cart towards the taller boy.

"luke!" he exclaimed, wrapping his arms around his torso cautiously. luke gently squeezed him back, flashing him a quick smile. his expression was calm, but his eyes were screaming in panic.

"hey michael, i've been looking for you."

"is something wrong babe?" michael's eyebrows furrowed, determined to find out what was wrong with his boy.

"no-no it's just that, um" he looked around as if searching for something, turning back to face michael, "can we talk?"

when michael nodded, luke motioned to follow him out of the store. they walked back out into the packed parking lot, luke not even asking what all of his supplies were for. usually, luke would've been excited about it, probably asking to help out.

michael didn't quite want to question him yet.

"what did you need to talk about?" he asked as he put the groceries away in the back of his car.

"don't move."

there was a click of a gun, and michael's heart sped up. he turned around slightly so that he could see luke, and the gun that was being pointed at him.

michael knew that luke probably thought ashton was doing all of this, and luke wouldn't even remember what he did.

he put his hands up, "luke- baby, please don't do this."

michael's hands were slightly shaking, terrified at the thought of what would happen to the both of them if luke pulled the trigger.

but luke wasn't even holding the pistol right. he held it with his left hand, the weaker of the two, and was not supporting it with his other hand. his posture was off, and his aim would sure be off. luke couldn't make the shot.

he didn't even know how to hold the gun.

"m-michael you don't understand" he yelled, "i have to do this!"

michael dove right before luke pulled the trigger and started running, clutching the stuffed penguin to his chest. this wasn't the luke he knew.

this wasn't luke at all.

he hid behind a big silver ford, crouching down and looking under the vehicle for any sign of luke.

he could hear him talking in the distance.

"where the fuck are you michael? all ashton wants to do is have a little fun!" he exclaimed.

michael was scared to death. this wasn't like all of the video games he played. this was real, and the thought of getting shot fucking terrified him.

when shots rang out again, michael squeezed his eyes shut and held the penguin tighter in his arms.

he could hear the footsteps now.

so he opened his eyes, and luke was right next to him.

"i'm sorry luke" a tear rolled down his pale face, and that's when luke pulled the trigger.

-

lilac boy: it's okay

lilac boy: i understand why you did it

lilac boy: it wasn't your fault, luke

lilac boy: i'm sorry it had to end this way

lilac boy: fuck that's so cliché i'm sorry

lilac boy: i'm sorry lucas

lilac boy: i'll always remember you

lilac boy: because i am in love with you

lilac boy: and i hope that i never stop being in love with you, flower boy