Heart of Gold // Lashton

0.2.2

♥ Luke ♥

"So how was that?"

"Scary." Luke breathed out, watching the beanie-clad boy sleep peacefully through the simulator.

Calum chuckled. "If you haven't done it before, I understand."

"How come I haven't known about this in all the time we've lived? We're more than a hundred years old!" Luke threw his hands up in frustration, frowning at his friend.

"You just never needed to."

"And you did?"

"Yes."

They looked at one another for a moment, before Luke slowly spoke, "why?"

"You wouldn't understand." Calum said, shaking his head. He turned to the simulator, once again leaning on the control board.

"Try me." Luke challenged, narrowing his eyes at his friend. But then he thought about it and he realised he might know the answer already. "Was it-"

"Yes."

"But-" Luke cut himself off, not knowing how to continue. He felt bad for his friend, still did, always had. But it was against the rules and he knew that. That's why he was always happy when none of his 'subjects' sparked his interested.

Well, until now...

"Sometimes your head just can't win from your feelings." Calum mumbled, running his hands over his face.

Luke frowned slightly, not taking his eyes off the sleeping boy. He couldn't. And as Calum's words rang through his head, Luke might have thought that it was true and he might have understood Calum just a little bit better.

"Anyway. Do you think you're closer to figuring it out?" Calum asked, directing the subject elsewhere. Luke noticed, letting it go and sighing. "No."

"Then why did you stop? You could have been in his dream until he wakes up." Calum raised an eyebrow at his friend, finally looking at him again.

"I felt like an intruder."

"Well, you got a week. And no one's stopping you from going back." Calum stood up straight, walking closer to the blonde and standing next to him. "Just don't get attached."

"I know." Luke mumbled, watching his friend walk off. A week sounded long for their assignment and it kind of was, but at the same time it was nothing. They always had to do it before then anyway, or else they'd be on temporary break to the Never, which wasn't pleasant. It happened to Calum once and he was almost traumatised. So no, they didn't really take a week for such a thing.

But in this case, everything was different.

Luke's eyes moved up as he saw the boy being woken up by a nurse, his dinner brought. The boy seemed reluctant to eat, but he did thank the nurse politely and eventually ate, seeming to drift off with his thoughts.

The fun thing about the simulator was that anyone controlling the simulator could also see the subjects thoughts. And of course when someone is deep in thoughts, one can't help but be curious.

So, with a button, Luke heard Ashton's thoughts in the room he was in, the voice familiar and strangely soothing.

"It was strange to see that boy... But he seemed nice. That once again proves people shouldn't judge by the outside. I wonder if he really exists?"

Luke snorted, before smiling. Ashton was thinking about him.

Wait. Why was he smiling? He shouldn't be affected by this boy. Of course if things were different, maybe they could be friends or something, but no. Luke was the hearttaker and he was here to take his heart. He couldn't like this boy in any way.

Even if he wanted to.

"This food looks yuck," Ashton's voice sounded again, Luke looking up to see the boy pout at the food in front of him. "But it'll have to do. I can't complain."

Luke frowned at the boy's thoughts, shaking his head. "How can I take a heart of gold?"