Heart of Gold // Lashton

0.8.2.

♥ Luke ♥

Luke shivered as he got out of bed, feeling cold and nervous, even though his room was pretty warm and there was nothing to worry about. It had just been like that ever since he had returned from the Never. He had only been in there for about ten minutes, according to everyone, but he was still freaked out. The Never wasn't a fun place, no matter how long you had been there.

After finding himself some warm clothes and managing to eat something, he slowly made his way outside. He didn't feel like flashing himself towards wherever he had to be, so he walked. Which also gave him time to think.

He knew he had to visit Ashton sometime, because he had been focusing on himself all the time. And he had promised the boy he'd visit him, yet he hadn't. It made him feel bad and on top of how he was feeling already, well, it didn't make it better for him.

Though luckily, he didn't have an assignment yet, so he could recover a bit. But he knew an assignment was coming soon and perhaps that was why he was becoming nervous.

As Luke was approaching the simulator, he heard talking. One voice pretty loud and clear and definitely Calum's, as the other was a bit more hushed, though, familiar.

He walked a little quicker, burying his hands in the pockets of his hoodie. Anything to keep warm as he approached the simulator.

Once he stood in the door-opening, his eyes widened at the two people inside it. They didn't notice him yet, giving him time to take in the person he had missed quite a lot. From how he looked so alive, to his tamed curls that were a little shorter and his arms that had gotten some muscle. In the short time Luke hadn't seen him, he had changed so much. "Ashton."

The two in the simulator stopped speaking, both turning to the blonde in the doorway. Ashton's eyes widened at him, his lips tugging upwards lightly as he breathed out a 'hi'.

Luke opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but not sure what. After all, he had too much to say. He wanted to apologise for not visiting, but he also wanted to ask the boy what the hell he was doing here, in the simulator. And also, he really (really) wanted to kiss the boy.

Ashton on the other hand, seemed to be holding himself back, taking in the blonde with the biggest eyes ever. Which made Luke think about how he looked, because yeah, he looked bad. And he knew it.

"Luke." Calum started, a big smile on his face, in contrast to the more grim looks of the other two. The blonde averted his eyes to his friend, slowly raising his eyebrows.

"Ah, Luke, you have arrived as well."

Luke turned around, seeing the familiar man standing behind him. "Sir."

"Go ahead, enter. We have some things to discuss." The man gestured into the simulator, watching Luke step in and then following himself.

"I'm confused." Luke mumbled, looking up at the man through his eyelashes, not daring to look at him fully. Which was weird in a way, to see a boy with so many tattoos and piercings so shy, or broken more.

"I assumed." The man nodded, closing the door of the simulator and turning on the lights. "Ashton is here, because he got an offer."

Luke raised his eyebrows at the man, daring to look at Ashton quickly to see the boy smile a little.

"Since Ashton has a special heart, as you must have noticed, he deserves a choice. This between a second life or becoming one of us, an immortal."

Luke's eyebrows raised even more, his insides suddenly churning in the best way and happiness slowly igniting inside him.

"Ashton has made a request, which will make him become an immortal, living his life to give others just that." The man spoke, making Luke look at Calum. Because what if this meant Calum was resigning? Could he even do that? But Calum wouldn't leave him, would he?

Ashton watched Luke's reaction, seeing the blonde practically stare down Calum. That was, before the man spoke again. "Now, as for your request, Ashton, I have asked the Higher Council and they have taken it in consideration. They will need some days to come with a definite answer, so until then, you can continue on with your life here and prepare for a change."

The curly haired boy nodded, smiling a little at Calum, before looking back at Luke. Said blonde was watching the man speak, slowly moving his gaze to Ashton, quickly looking down when he saw him already looking. He still felt bad about everything.

"Fine. Now that is settled, I will leave you all to it. Luke and Calum, report to my office tomorrow morning for your new assignment."

With those words, the man left the three boys in the simulator, as well as an awkward silence.

"So... I'll be getting something to drink, before taking you home, Ash." Calum said, waiting for the curly haired boy to agree before going off and leaving him with the blonde immortal.

"Hi." Ashton spoke quietly, making Luke look up slowly, his eyes meeting Ashton's again. He opened his mouth, wanting to greet the boy back, but he felt his throat constrict at all the emotions coursing through him. Ashton seemed to notice, as he approached the blonde and simply pulled him into a hug, not saying anything else. Luke let the boy's arms wrap around him, putting his head on the boy's shoulder as he tried to keep everything in. He didn't want to break in front of him.

"It's okay, Luke. There's nothing to worry about." Ashton mumbled, his one hand rubbing the other's back slowly and soothingly. Those words were enough to make hot tears escape the blonde, his body shocking lightly as he cried silently, his hands fisting the other's shirt as if he would disappear. And maybe that was his biggest fear in that moment, that his comfort would disappear and he'd be all alone again, wandering around an empty place like the Never.

Ashton whispered sweet nothing's to the blonde, holding him close and trying his best to comfort the boy. And if Luke was honest, it worked. And maybe after he stopped his tears, he pretended he still needed comfort. And maybe he smiled a little as Ashton rocked them back and forth, his face pressed into the blonde hair of the other. And maybe, just maybe, Luke thought that everything could be okay for once.