Wildflower - {lashton au}

Rose.

"There's no way!"

"You underestimate me, Irwin."

"But running through the entire executive building stark naked and tackling Luke in the break room?" Ashton looked disbelieving as he recounted Michael's story, laughing hysterically with everyone else. "That sounds a little too good to be true, mate."

"I literally have a video of it in my phone," Crystal said as she leaned across the table, already having looked for the video and pulling it up to show Ashton.

Luke sat back with a blinding smile as he laughed while Ashton watched the video. When it was over, all five at the table were almost crying with laughter. Their meals were almost completely gone, the wine bottle completely empty and all of them completely happy.

Luke, however, was probably the happiest.

He loved seeing Ashton look so carefree and bright, as he'd always been since they met one another. He was so beautiful in Luke's eyes, and he could almost feel his heart pounding out of his chest just from looking at him. Calum noticed Luke's adoring gaze, reaching under the table to lightly pinch his knee. When Luke looked over at Calum, the maori boy was giving him a sincere smile, one that said "I'm so glad you're happy."

Luke gave him one back, tears threatening to brim his eyes.

"I really want to thank you guys for inviting me here tonight," Ashton said sincerely, smiling at all four of the friends around the table. "I know I haven't known Luke that long, and the three of you even less, but it means a lot to me that you all trust me to befriend someone you care so much about. I can tell that you all really love each other."

Crystal, a little tipsy from the wine, fanned her eyes with her hands. "Ashton, you're going to make me cry." Everyone laughed softly as Calum put a hand on her leg and Michael kissed her cheek.

"And I know that you didn't have to meet me, but you wanted to, and that..." He trailed off, his emotions almost getting the better of him, but he shook his head and smiled. "That means a lot to me. So. Thank you."

"Ashton you seem like a wonderful person," Calum said, smiling at him meaningfully. "Any person who makes Luke as happy as you do is totally okay in my book."

Ashton nodded again, smiling as Michael raised his wine glass. "To Ashton," he said.

Luke, Crystal and Calum all put up their glasses as well, smiling at the hazel eyed man. "To Ashton."

———

"So, Ashton," Calum said as they all gathered their things, "do you live around here?"

"I do, yeah," said man answered, pushing in his chair as they headed toward the exit. "I Ubered over here, it's not that far of a drive."

"Why don't you have Luke take you home," Crystal asked, genuinely curious as she draped her jacket over her arm. "Better than wasting money on an Uber if you live so close."

"Oh, it's not a problem—"

"I can take you home," Luke said softly, smiling as the curly haired man turned to him. "I don't mind."

Ashton hesitated. "Are you sure, Luke?"

Luke nodded, stuffing his wallet back in his suit pants as they walked out of the restaurant. "I'd be happy to."

After that was settled, they all said goodnight to one another before climbing in their respective cars and heading to their destinations. As they drove, Luke turned to Ashton. "You had a good time, right?"

Ashton looked at Luke like he was crazy for a moment before laughing gently. "Luke," he started gently, "don't be silly. I had an amazing time."

Luke nodded, smiling giddily to himself. "Good."

They drove in relative silence, other than Ashton telling Luke how to get to his home. The two just listened to the radio, enjoying each other's presence in the small car space.

Once they got to Ashton's, theo two looked at each other for a brief moment before Luke spoke up. "May I," he started shyly, clearing his throat. "May I walk you to your door?"

Ashton felt himself flush but allowed himself to nod anyway.

The two men exited the car and walked up the seemingly long sidewalk to Ashton's front door. "Let's make this a regular thing," Ashton said with a smile.

Luke grinned back at him. "You know," he started softly, "Calum loves to grill. Maybe I can convince him to have a cookout next weekend."

Ashton just smiled wider. "I'd love that," he said. "I wonder if he'll let me help. I love cooking."

Luke laughed. "He's more of a 'let me do this on my own' kind of guy," he said. "But he might let you help if you ask."

Ashton nodded as they stepped onto his front porch. "Well," he said softly, "this is me."

They couldn't explain it out loud as to why, but neither of the two men wanted to say goodbye for the night. Luke was trailing his eyes all over Ashton's beautiful face, his chest tightening as he really looked at him. "Hey, Ash?"

"Yeah?"

Luke licked his lips softly before whispering, "Don't hate me, okay?"

Ashton furrowed his brows in confusion but before he had time to answer, his breathing was being stopped as the taller blonde stepped forward and pressed his lips to the older man's.

Luke didn't know what compelled him to do such a thing, but he just felt that if he didn't kiss him right then he was going to explode. His hands softly gripped Ashton's biceps as he breathed through his nose, ready to pull away when the curly haired man didn't respond to the action.

But then Ashton kissed back, and this time, when Luke breathed through his nose, it was a breath of relief. It was a breath of contentment; a breath of 'Finally!' if you will.

It was a breath of happiness.