Badlands ♡ muke

8 ⋇ morpheus

"Someone's feeling better," Calum commented the next morning when Luke was helping him with his injuries.

Luke blushed. "M-michael made me a tea."

Calum smiled at Michael. "Valerian? I don't know why we didn't think of that sooner. We should make a supply, Ashton isn't sleeping that great either."

Luke looked at his friend who looked annoyed about Calum's remark.

"I'm fine," He said before walking towards the river.

Besides his brothers, the son of Ares was his closest friend so Luke knew well when something was off with Ashton. He excused himself and walked after him.

"Ash?" He called once he didn't see his friend near the river.

"Here," the older boy was sitting in the bushes sharpening his weapon.

"You okay?" Luke smiled at him. "I'm sorry if we haven't talked much in the last couple of days, I just wasn't feeling like myself."

Ashton's gaze was anything but the usual warm and friendly.

"Yet you could still talk to Michael."

Luke wanted to call him stupid, how could he talk to Michael. But he realized he did. They were constantly exchanging notes and if Ashton woke up the night before to see them that close, he could have got a wrong idea.

"Ashton," Luke said in shock when he realized something that should be clear to him before.

He sighed and closed his eyes. "I was so stupid."

"What?" Ashton groaned.

Luke didn't know if he should laugh or cry.

But many hearts could be left cold.

"Ashton, nothing is going on between me and Michael."

"But you wish there would be," the older boy challenged him. "Don't deny it, your eyes are following him around like a lost puppy."

Luke could deny it but it wouldn't make a difference.

He always considered Ashton to be a friend, nothing more. He was like a brother to him, however, explaining that to the demi-god would probably hurt him even more.

"You don't even know him," Ashton said.

"And you do?"

It looked like Ashton wanted to say something.

Luke bit his lip, "You do know him."

The older boy rolled his eyes. "I won't talk about him."

"You can't or won't?"

He noticed it before when Calum talked about Michael. How he was choosing his words, careful not to say too much.

"It doesn't matter," Ashton sighed. "Just don't expect me to wipe your tears when you find out."

"I never did," Luke said.

"Why do you think I came with you anyway?"

"Because of Calum."

Ashton huffed.

"Ashton, Calum is in love with you, don't you know that?"

The surprise on Ashton's face was probably similar to Luke's from a few minutes ago.

"And I'm sorry for not reading your signals sooner, I was just convinced you liked him too."

"I guess it's not just mine and your heart that is being left cold," Luke said before leaving Ashton alone with his thoughts.

⋇⋇⋇

Thoughts?

Michael helping Luke? Luke sleeping on his lap?

Ashton? All the broken hearts?

Why is Ashton warning Luke about Michael?

I hope the last part wasn't too confusing. I'm v tired.

Love, Lucija ♡