Not-So-Welcome Gift

Ari settled back into the plush couch and put his feet on the table, using the opportunity to take a break from the ridiculous heels he’d brought to work today. Kyril had scoffed when Ari walked into the cafe that morning, but several of his other coworkers had complimented them, one even begging him for the shop’s name. He stretched languidly, making a satisfied noise in the back of his throat as he did so. He grabbed his cup of coffee in one hand and pulled his phone out with the other, fully intending to scroll mindlessly through social media for the twenty-six minutes left of his break. 

That was, until the coworker who was always visibly judging his illogical fashion choices (who also happened to be his favourite to flirt with, if only for the fact that Kyril never outwardly reacted) poked his Grand-horned head into the break room. 

“There you are. There’s someone out here asking for you.” 

“There’s always somebody looking for me, big boy. I thought you’d be used to that by now.” 

“They don’t usually come bearing bouquets of flowers, or look like they’ve been sobbing for at least three of the past five hours.” 

… “Huh?” 

“Just get out here, you can take the rest of your break later.” Kyril made to leave, but turned to look at Ari again. “And stop calling me ‘big boy’, it’s not my fault you’re a twink.”

“My livelihood depends on my being a twink, sweetheart.” 

The other man rolled his eyes at Ari’s sly grin and left the break room. 

Ari looked down at his mostly full cup of coffee, his inactive phone, and the strappy monstrosities that he’d hoped to be free of for a little while longer. Sighing, he put the first two down on the table in front of him and began shoving his feet back into the third.

A few minutes later, Ari was walking into the main dining area of the cafe. Another coworker bounced over to him, a pleasant smile plastered on her face despite the confused look in her eyes. “Reverie, there you are! A gentleman brought you flowers, and they look lovely! We sat him at table eight for you.” 

"Thank you darling." Ari’s characteristic smile was already in place as he stepped further into the cafe. Table eight was the booth situated closest to the front entrance of the cafe. Because the entrance was almost exactly opposite the hallway he had come out of, and because this mysterious flower-bringer was sitting with his back to the door, Ari was able to recognize him from across the cafe. 

The shock of it stopped Ari in his tracks. Oh, you have got to be kidding me. 

Not only had this bun spilt red wine all over Ari on their blind date the other night, but considering Ari had not given him any information on what area of Burrowgatory he lived or worked in, the fact that he was here could really only mean one thing. The question burst out of Ari’s mouth before he could stop it. “Are you stalking me?” 

“Uh, I… Uh,” The bun had the audacity to look bewildered, as if he never imagined that Ari would see this as anything other than an act of true devotion. His eyes flickered around the now silent cafe, and realized that every other bun was looking his way. The bouquet fell to the ground as the bun scrambled out of the booth and fled. Kyril put down the glass he’d been polishing and went out the front door after him. 

Ari went to pick the flowers up off the floor; it’s not like they had done anything to earn his ire. “I’m so sorry for the interruption, everybody! Please go back to enjoying your time here ~” Ari turned on his heel and kept his head high as he escaped the pitying gazes, heading back to the break room that he’d vacated only a few minutes ago. He closed the door firmly behind him, and sighed.

“Well. That happened.” Ari shook his head in disbelief. “Never underestimate the burden of being pretty…” 

He looked down at the bouquet in his hand, innocent lives that had nothing to do with the discomfort he’d been put through just now. Through all the varying shades of pink, there were three distinctly differently shaped flowers. One had small dark pink heart-shaped flowers, with tiny white teardrops coming down from the point. The second stalk had several symmetrical pairs of tubular flowers with a softly sweet scent. The third type had large circular flowers with bell-shaped petals. Ari traced one with his fingertip; it was velvety soft along its white edge. “I’m just glad you aren’t roses,” he murmured quietly as he went to the sink in the break room’s kitchenette. He found a plastic pitcher and filled it with lukewarm water, unwrapping the bouquet and placing the flowers gently inside. “One thing that can be said, at least that guy has taste.” 

Ari set the pitcher down on the counter, then pulled out his phone to try and figure out what exactly he’d been given. “Bleeding Hearts… Honeysuckle, fitting.” He leaned in and took another whiff of those ones. “And… Gloxinia?” He laughed out loud as he realized that the three flowers had something in common. 

The door to the break room opened then. “Did they tell you a joke or something?” 

“Oh, shut up,” Ari replied light-heartedly to Kyril’s nonsensical question. He gestured behind him at the bouquet, holding up his phone. “Apparently these flowers all symbolize ‘unrequited love’. I would’ve appreciated them more if they were meant for apologies, though. Whatever.”

Kyril stared at him for a moment, then turned to the closet. He grabbed his bun-sized coat and gestured at Ari to take his larger one.  “C’mon. I’m walking you home.” 

“Oh? The boss lady is sending me home because of that?” Ari gestured vaguely in the direction of the dining room, then flashed Kyril a playful look. “Or are you just worried about me?” 

“We’re all worried about you, Ari.” Ari was struck silent by the obvious care in his eyes. “Boss wants you to sign the incident report she’s filling out for the police, then I’m taking you home so I can explain to that roommate of yours what happened, because I’m sure you’ll just brush it off.” 

Ari turned away so Kyril couldn’t see his expression. “Okay, fine.” He pretended to sound a bit exasperated as he fluffed up the bouquet. But in all honesty, he was touched that not only had there been support as soon as he needed it, but his coworkers were also following up to make sure that Ari was going to be safe in the future. “Let’s go.”

“You aren’t bringing your flowers?”

“Would you?”

“Touché,” Kyril responded as he followed him out the door. “Hopefully next time you get flowers, it’ll be from somebody who actually cares about you.”

“Aww, are you offering?” 

“Oh, be quiet.”