Wildflower - {lashton au}

Marigold.

Two days earlier...

"Yes, my love," Calum said with a gentle laugh as he talked to Michael on the phone. "I always let you know how the appointment goes, why would I stop now?"

Michael chuckled back, only slightly nervous. "I know that, babe," the older man said with a sigh. "I'm just always worried, you know?"

Calum smiled to himself, butterflies erupting in his stomach because he loves how much Michael cares for him. "I know, Mike," the dark haired man answered. "I'm walking into the lobby right now, though, so I'll call you and Crystal when I leave, and I will let you know how everything goes"

Michael smiled to himself, though he knew his lover couldn't see him. "Alright," he said. "I love you, babe."

Calum blushed to himself. "I love you to the moon and back," he answered before ending the call and slipping his phone into his back pocket. He walked to the check in desk and smiled at Marianne, the same receptionist who always checks him in when he comes for his checkups. After she checked him in, he smiled and turned to walk to the waiting area when a head of caramel curls stopped him in his tracks.

Ashton had his back to Calum, but Calum knew it was him. He was talking to a doctor, their heads tilted in as if they were afraid someone would hear their conversation. Calum furrowed his brows but stood in place and watched as Ashton shook hands with his doctor before turning in his direction.

Calum smiled and waved at the curly haired man, watching as he warily walked over. "Hey, Ash," he said with a smile. "What are you doing here?"

Ashton laughed nervously, trying to steer the conversation away from himself. "I could ask you the same thing."

Calum shrugged gently. "I come to get a colonoscopy and an MRI done every six months," he answered. "Colon cancer and lymphoma are kind of common on both sides of my family, and it makes Crys and Mike kind of nervous, so I like to put their minds at ease."

Ashton frowned. "That's really scary," he said softly. "And also really expensive, you can afford to do that?"

"When your dad is a medical oncologist you can afford to have as many cancer screenings as you want," Calum answered with a laugh.

Ashton laughed back. "I guess that makes sense."

"So," Calum circled back, "back to my question. Why are you here?"

Ashton looked like he wanted to run away. There was no way he could escape Calum's question without lying, and he would feel like the worst person in the world lying to Luke's friend in any way, even if it was to protect himself.

"Ashton," Calum said softly, understanding. "Is it bad?"

Ashton felt like he could cry. He sighed gently before nodding his head. "Yeah," he whispered. "Yeah, it's bad."

Calum frowned, taking his bottom lip between his teeth. "What type?"

Ashton swallowed gently, keeping his eyes trained on his fiddling fingers. "Acute lymphocytic leukemia," he said quietly, almost causing Calum to strain to hear him.

Calum felt his chest tighten. "How long since you were diagnosed?"

"I was 21 when I fainted during one of my classes at uni," Ashton said, walking with Calum to the waiting area to sit down. "They took me to the hospital to do an MRI and that's when we found out. So, about three years."

Calum frowned. "The survival rate, though..."

Ashton nodded. "Yeah," he said, his voice breaking slightly. "And now my body's stopped responding to treatment. So."