Flowers in Bloom

    “Are you ready to see them fully bloomed?” Dove spoke up from next to Yukio, looking up at him with a smile as the duo were making their way to the greenhouse. The taller bun will roll one of his shoulders, seeming a bit uncertain about the whole thing. 

    “I… honestly don’t know. For all we know, something could’ve happened that caused them to wither up or---”

    “We saw them just a few days ago and they were fine! Have a bit more confidence in yourself! And in nature for that matter, it takes a lot to break them down like that.” He’ll frown weakly at his friend’s words, knowing they were right but his vice kept him from admitting it. “One step at a time, Yukio. One step at a time…” 

    “I feel like I should be concerned at how well you can read me.” Dove just giggled at the response. “I know we saw them a few days ago, but still… I don’t know how to do any gardening and kind of skipping ahead of normal plants to cherubun flora is a very stupid thing on my part to do.” 

    “I promise, you’ve been doing a great job. Despite what you and Primrose have been saying.” The small cherubun smiles and takes a hold of his hand to give it a gentle squeeze. “And look at it this way! Once we harvest the flowers, you’ll only have one more thing to help with regarding them and you’ll be done with Primrose.” The wintery bun chuckles at Dove’s second comment. 

    “Maannn, I must really be hating the guy if you’re openly saying that at this point.” He’ll look up at the greenhouse and stop walking as they’ve now arrived at it while talking. 

    “You’ve never gotten along with him, not from the start. Remember, I had to keep you from punching him when we first started making these trips out to the greenhouse.” His shoulders droop a bit at that, once again knowing they were right. “Beanny even said that you were happy to vent to her about him.” 

    “...You know, I’d say she’s a snitch, but out of everyone to tell, I can’t be that upset with her.” 

    “She told Primrose, too.” 

    “...Okay, now a bit more peeved.” 

    “Primrose did ask her to. Then she told him to be a bit more open-minded with you.” He’ll tilt his head then quietly walk into the large building in front of the two. “Yukio?” 

    “I don’t see him being open-minded with me. Others? Maybe. But me? Nah. I know well enough that how I’ve acted is part of why he treats me the way he does. I deserve it.” Dove will frown a bit, watching him. “So, I understand if he never treats me better. I don’t want to constantly be at ends with him, but forcing people to try and get along isn’t good either.” He’ll look over his shoulder at Dove, who still hadn’t followed him in. “You coming, little angel?” They’ll snap out of it and quickly catch up to him. 

    “Sorry! Was just thinking…” Yukio will tilt his head and continue walking, this time with Dove walking with him. 

    “Thinking about what?” 

    “How you are an interesting individual.” He’ll blink, staring blankly at his friend, unsure what they mean. “You don’t know a lot, but you’re wiser than you let on. You can be a bit hot headed but also warm-hearted despite the cold appearance. You’re rough around the edges, but very sweet despite that. You’re just very interesting.” The wintery bun was so confused by what spawned this thought process, but chose not to pry further. The two walked in silence for a short time, looking at all of the different plants that were scattered within the greenhouse. It always stunned Yukio, every time they came here, the flora seemed to be more and more gorgeous after each visit. He was envious how everyone at the embassy had the ability to grow and raise these plants, even if they were more for medicinal reasons and drinks of their own creations. “What’s on your mind?” Dove spoke up, breaking the silence. He hummed softly as he kept his gaze on their surroundings. 

    “Just thinking of how everyone at this place manages to make everything here beautiful.” He took a deep breath as he softly continued. “I’m envious of how they manage to have all this stay consistently beautiful without any major issues.” 

    “The beauty of diligence. Which is what you’re here to learn and what you’ve been doing for these flowers. Though…” Yukio was about to respond but yelped out when Dove grabbed his arm, making him stumble backwards for a moment. “Can’t really continue working with them if you walk by them.” He’d blink at those words then look around the area and spot the patch of flowers, now in full bloom, right next to the duo. His gaze went from completely confused to utterly sheepish within the span of seconds. “It’s alright, we were both in our own worlds for a little bit. Come on~ Let’s get to harvesting these flowers!” The light bluenette gently tugged on their friend’s arm, pulling him towards the plot. “And luckily, I made sure to have the necessary tools set up ahead of time!” He turned his gaze to the ground and saw a couple of clippers and gloves placed near the plot of dirt. “Here! Put the gloves on and pick up one of the clippers!” They immediately hand him one of the sets of garden gloves and put the other pair on their own hands, excited to get to work. Yukio smiled softly at Dove’s excitement and unhooked his wrists from his belt then put the gloves handed to him on. “Excellent~! Now, take these clippers…” The small cherubun handed him one of the two clippers and he gently took it from them. “Now, gently take a hold of the flower’s stem, towards the bottom near the dirt, and snip at that spot. Liiikkkkeee…” They carefully kneeled on the ground and gently took a hold of a flower’s stem near the spot in the dirt it was sprouting from, then took the clippers and snipped at the spot they mentioned. “So! Give it a shot!” He gulped, nervous to attempt it but followed suit. He kneeled on the ground next to Dove and slowly, but cautiously, followed their instructions. Once he snipped the stem and had the flower in his hand, he let out a shaky sigh of relief. “You did it!” 

    “Yeah… But now we’ve got a fuck ton more to collect.” 

    “Nothing we can’t get through with the two of us~!” That got the wintery bun to chuckle once more, after all their chats today. It felt better to laugh around Dove than be silent and stiff. “Oh, um… I should warn you, while we’re harvesting the flowers.” 

    “What’s up?” Dove shifted a bit as Yukio continued collecting the flowers. 

    “Remember how I said you have one more thing to do after harvesting the flowers?” The tall bluenette nodded his head as he continued. “Well, um… The last thing you’ll have to do with Primrose.” Those words made him pause his work and slowly turned his gaze to his small friend. “Yes, I’ve tried talking to him about letting me do this last bit with you, but he was insistent that I’d done enough guiding and that he was going to finish it.” Yukio was silent as he stared at his friend, blankly. “...Yukio…?” He took in a deep breath then slowly turned his gaze back to the flowers and continued working. 

    “...Fine. And I promise to try and be friendly.” He heard a gasp from his side as he continued talking. “However, if he does piss me off, I make no promise to not give him a--” He yelped and dropped his clippers as Dove practically tackled him into a tight hug. 

    “Promising to be friendly is more than I could ask for! Thank you, Yukio.” His heart melted at the hug and shifted so he could wrap his arms around the cherubun to return the hug. 

    “No problem, Dove… Now, come on. We need to get these harvested before Primrose scolds the both of us.” The little cherubun giggled at that. At least the rest of this day wouldn’t be too bad in the end.