heaven is a place on earth (lashton)

chapter 2

“So what exactly do you do?” Luke asks as they walk. “In your gang, I mean.”

Ashton gives him a dirty look. “Can you just shut up for five minutes?”

Suffice it to say, Ashton’s less than pleased that not only did he fail to get rid of Luke last night, he also woke up to find Luke sitting on that stupid couch, waiting for him to get up. The fucker had made Ashton breakfast (which, naturally, he declined).

“I could,” Luke says with a shrug, “but it’s more fun this way.”

“You’re seriously twisted.”

“And yet you’re the one who’s still talking to me.”

“Okay, you’re the one who showed up in my apartment after antagonizing me,” Ashton says, scowling. “Then you did some voodoo weird shit and took away my gun.”

“Which I gave back,” Luke says patiently.

“And you didn’t leave. Why are you stalking me? What did I do to deserve this? You’re freakin’ me out, man,” Ashton says, shuddering.

“I told you, I have plans,” Luke says, unfazed. “So, what do you do, then?”

“Forget this. I’m not talking to you.” Ashton shuts his mouth determinedly and strides ahead of Luke. Luke smirks and doesn’t bother to speed up, strolling casually behind. He can tell by the furtive glances that Ashton’s checking to make sure he’s still there. It’s going to take Ashton a while to realize that he can’t get rid of Luke.

Ashton catches sight of the place he’s meeting his higher at and after a quick glance to make sure nobody is watching, he quickly crosses the street with his hands shoved in his pocket and slips into the alley. He disappears into the dim space, and Luke follows. He wasn’t sure about this initially, but he’s prepared to dive wholeheartedly into this.

But the mouth of the alley, a familiar figure appears and Luke groans, his path blocked.

“Lucie,” Michael says with a smile, pulling him in for a hug. “It’s been so long.”

Luke smolders in Michael’s grip. “I told you. I fucking told you, I go by Luke.”

“But we used to call you Lucie before--” Michael starts, and then stops.

“Oh, yeah, before you cast me out,” Luke says irritably. “Rub it in, why don’t you.”

Michael sighs and draws back, looking put-upon. “My apologies, Luke. I’m here on business, you know.”

“What business?” Luke says derisively. “Come to shove in my face again how Father always liked you better?”

“Actually, it does concern you,” Michael says with a frown. He regards Luke at arms’ length. “I know you’re still angry with Father, but you can’t mess with this human.”

“You’re kidding me,” Luke says, pushing past Michael. “No can do, Michael.”

Michael hurries to keep up as Luke approaches Ashton and the dark-haired boy who appears to be handing Ashton little packets of white powder. Drugs.

“Luke! Wait for me!” Michael whispers.

“On the corner,” the dark-haired boy says, pressing the packets into Ashton’s hand. “Three customers, 2-1-1 distribution. Got it? Simple exchange, someone else will handle the money.”

“What if they don’t pay up later?”

“Same thing that always happens,” the boy says indifferently, and makes his fingers into a gun and makes as if to shoot.