Chapter Text
The wish hadn’t worked, Lukas had closed his eyes, wished his wish, and, the artefact broke. It had just, snapped in half, the flowing that seemed to be emitted by it faded and it fell to the ground.
Since then Lukas and Ashten had grown steadily closer. Having had to raise and teach ellorise how to survive as an adventurer, while simultaneously learning themselves. They had had to sleep in the same tent more times than they could count, they had really grown close to each other.
They hadn’t really realised it but their relationship had slowly grown into one more than friendships, the little kisses on the head, holding hands, the hugs that seemed to last just a bit longer than normal. Obviously they were close with the others too, but not this close, this was a new kind of close. They told each other everything, they sometimes talked all night in their tent, or they would lay under the same blanket when it was cold. Their relationship had started to turn, quietly and un noticeably, but it was happening.
One night, after everyone had gone to their tents and it was just them, side by side staring into the fire. They were sitting side by side and discussing what they did that day, it was Lukas’ favorite part of the day, talking to Ashten about his favourite part, and what they would do tomorrow. There was a small lull in the conversation, a comfortable silence. The only thing to be heard was the evening crickets and the occasional crackle of the dying fire. Lukas looked up from the fire and to his left, towards Ashten. Ashten looked up at lukas. They were face to face, they looked at each other. Ashten though how pretty Lukas’ eyes were, they glimmered in the fire light, with half his face obscured in darkness and and other half gently lit by the dying fire, he thought how pretty he was, how many times Ashten had looked at Lukas, wether it was stolen glances or mid conversation. Lukas looked back at him, always admiring how his hair lay on his face, the little swoop around his forehead and the way it curved and twisted around his horns. They both gently leaned in and kissed. It was magical, they realised how much they had both wanted this moment, waited for it, they hadn’t noticed the relationship grow, but now they noticed they were perfect for each other, how they seemed to be made to die together with a ring around their fingers.
They woke up in the morning under the same blanket, as it had been cold that night. As he woke Lukas remembered what had happened last night, how magical it was, how mystical it was. Then he realised that maybe Ashten didn’t want that, maybe it was just the magic in the light of the fire or the exhaustion of the day that had made it happen. Lukas started thinking; what if Ashten didn’t like him like that? What if it ruined their perfect friendship? What if he just did it out of pity? What if- Lukas was cut off by Ashten waking up. Lukas looked over from where he was now sitting up, Ashten sat up, bleary eyed and still half asleep. Lukas was just staring, confused and scared of what might happen, should he start trying to explain? Should he try to lie about how little he felt for him? Should he just, leave?
“morning sweetheart,” Ashten yawned, sweetie? Ashten had never called him that, it was cute, Lukas liked it. He could feel himself blush and quickly thought of something else, he opened his mouth to say something, before being interrupted by Ashten,
“d’you know what we’re having for breakfast today?” Lukas was taken aback, after all that last night, Ashten was talking about breakfast?! Wait did it really happen? Did Lukas just… dream it? Maybe he had, or maybe Ashten just didn’t remember, well either way he wanted it to stay that way, keep it less awkward.
They sat in silence, getting ready, packing up their blankets and roll mats, getting ready for the day together, Lukas felt awkward, but Ashten just seemed unbothered.
Once they were done packing up, Ashten got up, kissed Lukas on the head, and went to go make breakfast.
Lukas just sat there, confused, what did this all mean? Was it a test? Was Ashten messing with him? Was he… being genuine?
A few minutes later Lukas walked out of the tent, Ashten was standing at a pile of sticks lighting the fire, well, failing to light the fire. He was always a bit shit at it. Lukas walked up to help him
“hey sweetheart,” Ashten muttered, still trying to light his matches, that he left out in the rain last night. He lit another match, it sparked for a second, until the tip of the match fired away, directly into lukas’ leg.
“just give up on it Ashten, they’re clearly sopping wet, just borrow deameys’ matches” Lukas said, patting his leg down
“well the thing is, these ARE his, i left them out last night by accident bc i ran out…” Ashten sheepishly replied, Lukas smiled to himself. He didn’t want to suggest his own matches, that would be too out there, falmouth didn’t keep matches (always made them damp) and ellorice wasn’t allowed them, so his matches it would have to be.
“Want my matches? they aren’t, i like to keep them dry incase THIS happens, i’ll go get some wood” Lukas offered, pulling the matches from his pocket and offering them.
“thanks sweetheart, love ya!” Ashten gleefully replied as Lukas was walking away to get wood.
hold on
love you?