Wildflower - {lashton au}

Orchid.

The hotel they were staying in for the weekend was nicer than any hotel Luke had ever stayed in. There was a separate sitting area and separate kitchen, closed off by their own doors, as well as the bedroom. It almost seemed like a small apartment, and Luke would have assumed that it was, had Ashton not had to check in and get a room key at the front desk.

Luke looked around the room nervously, shuffling back and forth slowly on his feet as Ashton started bustling around the room. The taller man felt like a shy kid in front of a group of people, when in reality it was only himself and Ashton in the room. Ashton finally appeared in front of him, smiling that wide smile that popped out his deep dimples. "What're you standing around all nervous for, Blondie?"

Luke chuckled softly, looking down at his turned-in feet. "I'm still just having a hard time believing that you did all of this for me," he said quietly.

Ashton smiled, laughing gently. "Hey," he started, "I didn't just do it for you! I like Anarbor, too, y'know." The two boys laughed before Ashton looked at Luke sincerely. "In all honesty, though, I wouldn't have done this if you hadn't mentioned that you liked them. I figured that you don't do this kind of stuff - like, spontaneous trips and such - so I thought I'd drag you out to do something for yourself, for once."

Luke looked at Ashton with soft eyes, a million emotions running through him. He wasn't joking on the phone that morning when he said he could've kissed Ashton through the phone. No one - not even his ex - had gone through the trouble to do something special for Luke, even if it did benefit him as well. Luke felt like he could cry, but he willed himself not to.

"No one has ever done anything like this for me," he said. "Like. I've done things I wanted to do with my friends and such, but no one has surprised me in such a way just because they wanted me to be happy and have the experience. It's just a weird feeling. I've only known you for - what, five weeks now? - and you've already done more for me than anyone else has. And I have no idea how to thank you."

Ashton smiled, and Luke saw something in his eyes that he hadn't ever seen before. He thought it looked like happiness, but it also seemed like .. remorse? He didn't understand what Ashton could be remorseful about, but he didn't have much time to dwell on it before Ashton was nudging his shoulder. "Don't get all soft on me, Blondie," he said with a chuckle. "Go put your bag in the room."

Luke chuckled back and nodded, walking toward the room. When he opened the door, he stopped short, causing Ashton to look over to him. "What's wrong?"

"Uh," Luke started nervously. "There's only one bed."

Ashton came up behind him with furrowed brows, as he pulled out his phone and checked his online reservation. He read over it and then hummed softly. "I guess they ran out of double bed rooms," he said simply.

Luke chuckled. "I'll sleep on the couch, no worries."

"No way," Ashton said in disbelief. "This whole trip is for you, I'm not letting you not take the bed."

Luke rolled his eyes with a slight smile. "We can argue about this all day, Ash," he said. "Please just take the bed?"

Ashton shook his head again, taking Luke's suitcase into the room and dropping it on the bed. "Looks like we're sharing a bed for the weekend, Hemmings."

Luke shifted on his feet softly. "That won't bother you?"

Ashton furrowed his brows softly, complete and utter confusion gracing his features. "Why in the world would that bother me?"

Luke shrugged. "I don't know if it's obvious from the everything about me," he started, "but I'm gay, Ashton. I didn't think you would want to share a bed with.." His voice trailed off, uncertain, and Ashton knew he didn't want to say it out loud.

Ashton wanted to laugh. He wanted to laugh hard. He wanted to laugh so hard that his cheeks and his ribs hurt. The look on Luke's face is the only thing that stopped him. Luke was being serious. He legitimately thought that Ashton would be absolutely appalled to sleep next to a gay man. Suddenly, a feeling came over Ashton, one that he had never felt before. He wanted to find whoever in the world caused Luke to have that uncertainty, and he wanted to bring his fist to their face until he was too tired to swing anymore. Instead, he walked over to Luke and immediately threw his arms around the man's neck.

Luke was slightly taken aback, but he quickly regained his composure and wrapped his arms around Ashton's midframe. The taller blonde felt tears prick at his eyes, but he will get them back once more as he allowed himself to get lost in Ashton's embrace. When the two men finally pulled away, Ashton brought his hands to settle on both sides of Luke's neck as he looked into his eyes with nothing but sincerity. "First of all," he started softly, "I'm bisexual. So, you being gay does not faze me in any way whatsoever. Even if I was straight, the fact that you like men would not immediately turn me off from wanting to be your friend and wanting to be around you. You are stuck with me, Luke Hemmings, whether you like it or not. So get used to it."

Luke chuckled softly, nodding as he allowed Ashton to hug him once more before pulling away completely. Once they were apart, Ashton headed toward the kitchen, calling over his shoulder, "We leave in two hours! Take a shower and get ready!"

Luke laughed loudly, already pulling clothes from his suitcase. "Is that your way of telling me I stink?!"

Ashton was completely out of Luke's line of vision, which made it even funnier when he called back, "Straight up like the inside of a trash can, Blondie!"

And between laughs, Luke knew that he was falling harder for Ashton with every passing moment.