helping and teasing

The greenhouse was a symphony of light and color. Every surface shimmered, every bloom glowed faintly in the enchanted air, and Charlotte, Charlie to her friends, stood at the center of it all, utterly transfixed. Her wide eyes roved over the glowing petals, the iridescent leaves, the vines that seemed to hum with magic.

“Oh, wow,” she breathed, tucking a strand of pink-streaked hair behind one fluffy ear. “It’s like stepping into a fairy tale.”

Primrose, already knee-deep in preparation by the planting table, barely spared her a glance. “It’s not for show, you know. These flowers are crucial for the production of ambrosia.”

Charlie turned, a playful smirk tugging at her lips. “And here I thought you invited me here to enjoy the view. Lucky me, I get the Primrose tour.”

The cherubun stiffened at her tone, his cheeks turning a faint pink. “I didn’t invite you,” he said primly, straightening his already impeccable posture. “You volunteered.”

Charlie winked, her tail flicking lazily behind her. “Details, details. Don’t get shy on me, sugar.”

“I’m not shy,” Primrose muttered, busying himself with the seeds. “Let’s just get to work, shall we?”

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Primrose explained the process with his usual precision, his hands deftly sorting packets of seeds as he spoke. Charlie leaned in closer than necessary, her ears twitching as she watched him work.

“So,” she said, her voice lilting, “what’s first? Do I just toss these little guys in the dirt and hope for the best?”

Primrose shot her a scandalized look. “Absolutely not! These are heavenly seeds. They require delicate handling and careful placement. If you’re not going to take this seriously-”

“Relax, sweetie,” Charlie interrupted, her tone playful. “I’m just teasing. Show me how it’s done.”

Primrose sighed, holding up a small, glowing seed between his thumb and forefinger. “Start by preparing the soil. It needs to be soft and evenly moist, but not too wet.”

Charlie arched a brow. “Moist, huh? Got it.”

The tips of Primrose’s ears turned crimson, and he turned back to the table, clearly pretending he hadn’t heard her.

Charlie grinned, crouching down by one of the planting beds. She scooped up a handful of soil, testing its texture between her fingers. “So… this good enough for your precious little seeds, or do I need to sprinkle some extra magic on it?”

“It’s fine,” Primrose said quickly, his voice tight. “Just- just make a small hole, about this deep.” He demonstrated, pressing his finger into the soil to create a shallow indentation.

Charlie copied him, though her hole was a little less perfect. “Like this?” she asked, glancing up at him through her lashes.

Primrose leaned down to inspect her work, his expression softening slightly. “That’s… acceptable.”

“Acceptable?” Charlie pouted, pressing a hand dramatically to her chest. “You wound me, Prim. I was hoping for ‘perfect.’”

He flushed again, straightening so quickly he nearly knocked over the seed packets. “Just plant the seed,” he muttered, refusing to meet her gaze.

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They worked in relative silence for a while, Charlie planting the seeds with a surprising amount of care while Primrose busied himself with tidying the tools. She stole glances at him every so often, enjoying the way his neatly pressed shirt strained against his shoulders as he worked.

“You know,” she said after a while, breaking the quiet, “you’re pretty good at this. Do you spend all your time here, or do you ever get out and… have fun?”

Primrose frowned, brushing a speck of soil off his sleeve. “This is my work. It’s important, and it brings me satisfaction. That’s enough.”

Charlie tilted her head, her eyes sparkling with mischief. “Satisfaction, huh? Sounds a little lonely.”

“I’m not lonely,” he replied stiffly, though his fingers fidgeted with the edge of the table.

“Sure, sure,” Charlie said, dropping another seed into the soil. “But if you ever need a night out, you know where to find me. I could show you the best clubs in Burrowgatory. Loosen you up a bit.”

Primrose sputtered, his composure slipping. “I-I don’t think that would be appropriate.”

Charlie laughed, the sound rich and warm. “Relax, sugar. I’m just teasing. Unless, of course, you’re tempted…”

He muttered something under his breath and turned back to his work, his cheeks now a brilliant shade of red.

By the time they finished, the planting bed was filled with neatly spaced seeds, the soil carefully smoothed over each one. Charlie dusted off her hands, stepping back to admire their work.

“Not bad, huh?” she said, flashing a grin at Primrose.

Primrose nodded reluctantly, his expression softening. “Yes. It’s… satisfactory.”

“Satisfactory?” Charlie repeated, feigning offense. “After all that effort, I deserve at least an ‘excellent.’”

Primrose sighed, but there was a faint smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. “Fine. You did… an excellent job.”

Charlie beamed, her tail swishing behind her. “Now that’s what I like to hear. You’re not so bad yourself, Prim.”

“Thank you,” he said, his tone carefully neutral. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have other duties to attend to.”

“Of course,” Charlie said, her voice dripping with mock sweetness. “Wouldn’t want to keep you from your oh-so-important work.”

Primrose hesitated for a moment, his gaze lingering on her before he turned and walked away, his posture as rigid as ever.

Charlie watched him go, a soft laugh escaping her lips. “What a cutie,” she murmured to herself, turning back to the greenhouse.

As she gathered her things and prepared to leave, she glanced at the newly planted seeds, their faint glow just visible beneath the soil. Despite her teasing, she felt a small swell of pride.

“Grow strong, little guys,” she whispered, brushing her fingers lightly over the soil. “You’ve got a big job ahead of you.”

With one last look at the shimmering garden, she headed for the door, her steps light and her heart strangely full.