Heart of Gold // Lashton

0.4.2.

♥ Luke ♥

"He has returned," was what Luke was greeted with when he appeared. He couldn't help but smile at the curly haired boy, shrugging. "You're hard to stay away from."

"Hm, I knew I wasn't the only one making this dream." Ashton was grinning, seemingly proud of his discovery.

"Ah, you're still on that page, huh?" Luke put his hands in his pocket, not able to keep from smiling slightly. He was amused by Ashton's curiosity and need to find an explanation, yet how he managed to not press it.

"I guess," Ashton shrugged, getting up slowly from where he had been sitting on his bed. He still stood somewhat shakily, steadying himself on the wall. Luke had to keep himself from rushing towards the curly haired boy, feeling weird about not helping him. He really wanted to, but he couldn't. He couldn't get attached.

"Not to be rude, but why did you suddenly start appearing in my dreams?" Ashton had straightened himself, looking at Luke with curiosity. It made the blonde smile a little, "you're not rude. Just curious."

Both boys smiled for a moment as they remembered that Luke said that exact thing once before. Right before Luke remembered that he couldn't get attached, but damn, it was way harder than he could have ever thought. "It's not that simple."

"You've said that before," Ashton pointed out, raising an eyebrow and walking closer somewhat shakily.

"I did," Luke agreed, nodding slightly. He knew he had and he also knew that would be his answer to anything related to why he was there. He couldn't possibly tell this boy why he was here, could he? Plus, it was against the rules, so he couldn't anyway...

Ashton looked as if he wanted to say something, but he didn't, pushing himself from the wall and trying to take a step towards the blonde. Luke noticed he was about to fall, rushing forward and catching the curly haired boy before he could get even close to the floor.

"Wow," Ashton mumbled, pushing his hair out of his face, before looking up at Luke. The curly haired boy was blushing somewhat, making a fluttery feeling appear inside Luke's stomach. It made said blonde frown, the feeling foreign as he couldn't remember ever having had such a feeling before.

Luke cleared his throat, helping the boy back to his feet and letting go. "Careful, now."

"Sorry," Ashton mumbled quietly, before looking down at his feet. "I still have to get used to... this."

"Walking?" Luke asked, frowning again. He looked down at Ashton's feet, not seeing anything weird about them, nor noticing anything about his legs.

"Um, yes." Ashton quietly answered, frowning a little. His hands went to his sweats almost subconsciously, picking at them.

"If you don't mind me asking," Luke started, now looking up again in the hope to catch the beautiful hazel colour he had grown to love (unfortunately, he told himself, because he couldn't feel like this), "why?"

"I- I," Ashton frowned, trying to force the words out. He wanted to tell it, it was just hard to think back, "I can't walk. In -- in reality."

Luke stayed silent, not understanding it completely. Sure, he got the part of not being able to walk, but why?

"About four years ago, my dad and I went out. I can't really remember what for, since most of it is a blur, but we were in the car. On our way home, a drunk driver drove us and another car off the road, creating an accident, obviously. My dad -- my dad didn't make it," Luke noticed how Ashton swallowed harshly, his eyes somewhat glossy and his lips turned down. It made Luke's stomach twist and his own lips copy the other's, "I did, with a concussion as well as no feeling in my legs anymore. I've been in a wheelchair ever since."

A silence fell upon the boys, Luke frowning at the curly haired boy's story. It made him feel all these things he never really did before and he wasn't sure if he could hate it. "I'm -- I'm sorry."

"It's okay. I mean, I miss my dad, but I've accepted it. I'm thankful for being alive, even if I can't walk. I can still help around the house enough and all." Ashton smiled a little, trying to mask his sadness.

"You're really brave. And -- it's just, like -- like you have a heart of gold." Luke spoke, his thoughts voiced once again. He really couldn't think of other words.

"Michael always says that," Ashton said, still smiling lightly.

Luke nodded, smiling a little as well. He knew, because he had been there a few times. Not that Ashton knew that, but okay.

"Ashton."

Both boys looked up, an echo-like voice floating through the room.

"What's that?" Ashton frowned, hearing the same once again. He then looked back at Luke, only to see everything fading slowly. "Lucas?"

"You're waking up. It's okay. I'll be back."

"Promise? And promise to tell me why you've started to appear?" Ashton asked the blonde, almost a little desperately. But Luke simply nodded, whether it was because he would be back or whether he would tell the reason. "I promise."

With those words, everything faded and Luke found himself in the control room again, staring at the bedroom he had been in not too long ago. Only now, Ashton was asleep in his bed, being woken up by Michael for dinner.

"That was interesting to watch." Luke let his head snap to the side, seeing Calum leaning on the control board (something that wasn't unusual) while looking at him. Luke merely shrugged.

"I see it, you know." Calum said, giving his friend a somewhat worried look. He had been there once and it was bound to end badly.

"How should I tell him? Should I even tell him?" Luke asked, changing the subject with the questions he had been wondering about.

Calum stayed quiet, watching the blonde for a moment, before sighing and standing up straight. "Tell him. He might as well know, so he can say goodbye properly."

"But it's not allowed, though." Luke then pointed out, chewing on his lip as he tried to think of a way around it.

"Hm, you are not allowed to tell him."

Both looked at each other for a moment, "you can enter his dream as well?"

"I'm not sure if I can while you're there, but I can, yes." Calum shrugged lightly, before looking Luke in the eyes. "Do you want me to tell him?"

Luke thought about it for a moment, swiftly looking back at the tired-looking boy that was just woken up. He couldn't help the smile tugging at his lips, but he pushed it away as he looked back at Calum. "He deserves to know."