Chapter Text
The sun was hanging low in the sky, having just strung up above the horizon. Golden streaks ran through the cloudy sky like the strokes of a paintbrush.
The air was crisp — cool but not cold.
Sunny walked into the flowershop, eyes quickly spotting Basil admitted the world of color.
Basil looked up from the papers on the counter.
They greeted each other with a silent gaze. The air itself seemed quiet.
“Hi Sunny.” Basil said softly. “How are you doing?”
“Better.” Sunny smiled weakly.
Basil exhaled slowly, a smile creeping up his face.
“Thanks…” Sunny exhaled, rubbing his arm.
“For yesterday.”
Basil’s expression softened. “A-anytime.” Somehow he felt warmer.
Sunny’s smile brightened slightly — still small, but from him — it felt almost radiant.
Basil’s heart skipped a beat. He snapped his eyes down, back to his paperwork in a vain attempt to ignore the flutter in his chest.
Sunny shuffled over with a faint quickness in his steps, tugging at the ends of his sleeves.
He slid onto the seat next to Basil and leaned in, setting his elbows on the counter. “What are you doing?”
Basil jumped in his seat, trying — and failing — to maintain his balance.
Sunny took his wrist, holding him up while he refound his balance.
Once he was steady, Basil froze, blood rushing to his face.
Sunny noticed Basil tense. He shrunk, pulling his shoulders in tightly. “S-sorry.”
Basil shook his head in surprise. “What—”
“N-no! It's not— It's just—”
Basil took a deep breath.
“It's fine.” He smiled. “You just startled me.”
Sunny exhaled, lowering his head. “Sorry for scaring you.”
Basil leaned in slightly, hand brushing against Sunny’s. “I just told you I'm fine! You don't have to apologize so much.”
Sunny looked back up at Basil. Basil’s eyes glimmered. Like he was upset that Sunny apologized.
Sunny smirked, a playful glint in his eye. “Okay, I'm sorry for apologizing to you.”
“Uh—” Basil giggled. “Sunny…”
For a second, Basil thought he heard a quiet giggle from Sunny as well. Soft and almost unnoticeable — but full of warmth.
Basil tore his gaze away from Sunny and his shining eyes and his silky-smooth hair that he wished he could ran his hand through and his—
He shook his head, planting his gaze firmly on the the still incomplete inventory report he'd been trying to finish for at least an hour. If only his thoughts were so easy to manage.
“W-well… I need to get back to this now.” He snuck a glance at Sunny.
Sunny nodded silently, standing up as Basil returned to his work.
Quietly, Sunny sauntered through the store, eyes drifting from flower to flower. He was looking for something — something specific.
There it was — a pink Tulip.
His heart beat quickly as he plucked it. The stem was soft between his fingers as he spun it gently, back and forth. Something bloomed in his chest as he held it
Sunny furrowed his brows, nodded firmly to himself, and returned to the counter where Basil was still working.
He found the jar. The one that held all the flowers he gave before.
The water was cloudy now, and some of the flowers inside had already mostly wilted.
Still, with a quick exhale, Sunny set the Tulip within, fitting snug between the others.
The water rippled around the stem.
He smiled, content.
“Done!” Basil groaned, stretching his arms out. His pen clattered against the countertop.
“What have you been doing Sunny?”
Sunny was snapped out of his reverie.
“Uhm—” His gaze flickered between Basil and the flower he'd just set in the jar.
“Flower.” He quickly pointed it out before taking off, leaving the store with his hands on his face.
“H-huh?” Basil blinked.
His gaze drifted to where Sunny had pointed—the jar. Now with a fresh, pink Tulip.
Oh.
His breath caught. Slowly, he reached out a finger to touch it. As if he would pass straight through it.
The petal was soft, folding back slightly at his touch. It was real. His touch lingered on it. A vivid, fresh pink among the fading colors. Clear. Undeniable.
“Sunny…” Basil whispered, pink dusting his cheeks.