Chapter Text
“So,” Phichit started as he began packing up a box of flowers to load on the truck. “You’ve been pretty quiet since this afternoon. Care to tell me why?”
Yuuri took a breath in through his nose, and let it out in a sigh. “You know damn well that you already know.”
“That’s true. But I wanna hear you say it. And explain it, because what happened there was very weird.”
Yuuri paused, hands mid- taking off his rubber gloves, and turned to face Phichit, who returned the gesture with a snarky grin. “Ugh. Fine! He’s just… nice, okay? Is it wrong for me to like nice people?” He threw off the rest of his gloves with a smack as he spoke, then continued packing.
“Maybe not wrong,” Phichit said, “But you did appear to fall in love with him in less than what, fifteen minutes total? I’m happy for you, Yuuri. I really am thrilled, but fifteen minutes?”
“Don’t get me wrong, I’m just as confused. But you saw the way he looked at me! How could I not? Besides, I have the strongest feeling that I’ve seen him before.” He bent down and picked up a box. “I just...don’t know where.”
“So like I said, fifteen minutes of knowing him?” Phichit started, walking into the truck. “Actually,” he said, walking out and dusting his hands, “Isn’t it more like three minutes? Since all you guys did is stare at each other for most of it?”
“Shut up,” Yuuri retorted, finally placing the box he’d been holding the whole time in the truck. “Besides, don’t they say that the eyes are the window to the soul? So don’t I know him better than you’ve known everyone you’ve met online?”
Phichit scoffed. “Okay, I see where you’re coming from, but Loren and I had a real connection! We talked for hours every day! You can’t get closer than that.”
“I suppose you’re right. How are they doing, by the way?”
“They deleted a few months ago, so I don’t know,” Phichit said, nonchalantly, which made Yuuri snicker. “What? They said it would only be for a while until drama died down! They’ll come back and we’ll be just the same.” By the time he was done defending himself, Yuuri was bursting with laughter. “What?!” Phichit whined, eventually joining in on making fun of himself.
“Okay but seriously, he gave you a three dollar tip, and you were over the moon. What the fuck,” Phichit questioned with a calmer tone, as the two of them continued to load the truck.
“Well,” Yuuri grunted as he lifted a box, “It’s kinda like, these times when he’s been around, um- oh god, how do I put this. Uhm…” he paused, at a loss for words, because how could he describe the feeling? He actually knew how to describe it, but it was far, far too sappy to be said out loud. How Viktor’s presence made him feel had been running in his mind since the night he first saw him, but putting it out there would likely be a mistake. Yuuri continued to work as he thought it through for a moment, Phichit watching as he moved. It took a minute, but Yuuri finally broke. “The flowers they- they looked brighter. They looked prettier when he was here and I got a sort of, tingly vibe. I don’t really know. It felt kinda magical, to say the least,” he paused, looking away to avoid eye contact after his confession. “And the tip was three dollars and forty cents.”
Phichit stood there, staring back as Yuuri awaited his reaction. His face started to move, very slowly, into a smile. “Awwwwww! Yuuri!” Phichit cried out, running toward Yuuri to give him a hug, which he accepted, but didn’t return. “That is so cute! You had a love at first sight moment! Like in a fairytale!” He continued to babble on for a moment about “prince charming” and “flower fairies” as he nuzzled in Yuuri’s chest.
Yuuri stood, wrapped in Phichit’s arms before tapping him on the back. “Phichit, honey, we need to load the truck. You know, so we can go home.”
“Right, right sorry,” Phichit said as he let go. “This is just, a dream come true! I mean come on, how many times have you dreamed about a pretty guy coming here and sweeping you off your feet?” They both started to walk off, moving as they talked.
“I don’t know, not very many if I’m being honest.”
“Well I have, and I can’t believe it’s gonna be real! For you, at least. I’m so excited for you, Yuuri!”
“Hey hey, calm down. Like you said, we haven’t really talked or anything.”
“I know what I said earlier, but I didn’t know that it was magic! And I mean, you are on friendly terms with Vitya,” he argued, singing the name with a lilt and flutter of the eyes, “so that’s a huge step.”
“Do you really think it was magic that did this?”
“Well I mean, you did say that he looked really familiar, so maybe you were lovers in a past life or something. And you also said that the flowers looked more vibrant when he was around, which is impossible, since Katsuki Florals already has the most beautiful flowers in the world.”
After loading the last box, all that was left was the tent, which they both had to fold up together. Yuuri beamed shyly at the praise. “Oh stop, you know we’re only local.”
Phichit pushed the folded up tent in the truck as Yuuri started the engine. After getting in, he replied. “I do, but maybe it’s just my bias, since I’ve never even bothered to look at other companies. You can’t think another florist has better flowers if you don’t look at them.”
Yuuri replied, hands on the wheel, “You’ve seriously never looked at another catalogue? Phichit, how would we know what our competition is if we don’t look at other’s work?”
“Why would I if I already know that we’re the best? Other companies don’t have your mom’s secret.”
“Phichit, you do know the stuff she gives us is just regular plant food, right? All companies use it.”
“I don’t know, Yuuri. I don’t think regular plant food sparkles like that,” he argued.
“That’s probably the sugar you’re seeing.”
“Well whatever it is, I’m still gonna think it’s fairy dust because that’s more fun. Why won’t you let me have fun, Yuuri?”
Yuuri let out a laugh that was almost a scoff. “I let you have fun! Remember a couple minutes ago, when I humored you about the flower fairies and Prince Charming?”
“Okay I guess you’re right, and you did go cryptid hunting with me when we were teenagers, so I’ll let it slide.”
“And I never said you were wrong about the flower fairies, did I? You might be a little off on the Prince Charming part, but you have solid evidence on the fairies.”
“Oh please,” Phichit retorted, “Who else besides a Prince Charming could ever sweep you off your feet in a matter of minutes?”
“Hey!” Yuuri started, finally pulling into the driveway of the shop, and parking. “I never said I was swept off my feet, I said he’s pretty and makes the flowers look pretty. That’s all,” he rebutted.
After they both got out of the van, and began walking to their separate cars, Phichit responded. “Maybe so, but my stance on the flower fairies trying to put you two together still stands.”
“You only joined my family business for the fairies, didn’t you?” he called out as Phichit neared his car.
“That’s for me to know and for you to judge me for!” he shouted, opening the door.
Yuuri laughed at his magic-loving friend. “I’m gonna check and make sure the kids didn’t ruin the shop. See you Monday?”
“Yeah man,” Phichit called from the window as he started the engine. “Be sure to let me know if Lover Boy magically comes to your apartment to save you from a poisoned apple!” he yelled, driving away before Yuuri could respond, leaving him to shake his head and laugh with his hand on the knob of the shop entrance.
***
Now that he was alone, what Yuuri needed now was time to think. Phichit had been right about a lot of things.
1. Yuuri had seen Viktor twice, and was already in total awe, which was a type of crush he’d only known as a schoolboy.
2. It would be very difficult for the flowers to look more vibrant. At midday, a couple days after rain, flowers tend to reach peak beauty. For Viktor’s aura to have that power was sort of magical. Maybe.
3. What is truly in Katsuki Florals plant food could very much be a mystery like his mother claims, and now that Yuuri looks back, it is a little glittery. But that isn’t important.
What is important is why the fuck Viktor makes Yuuri think so much. That is when he isn’t around, all Yuuri thinks when he is around is “pretty boy” repeatedly, unless he represses it to form actual words. Which is really funny, because it’s the same voice that always ran through his head when he had crushes as a teenager. Yuuri forgets which flower represents youth, but there must be an abundance of it this season.
Yuuri stood in the middle of the store, and it looked pristine as always. It’s surprising, given that the store is managed by teenagers during the day, besides the times his parents come in to help out if there’s a big order, like for a wedding. But they’re good kids, and they know what they’re doing, if you pay them well.
The clipboard on the counter read that ten orders were made and seven of them were fulfilled. The other three are for a Sunday event and will be delivered the next day. Business is slower this time of year, when Katsuki Florals is split in two for the farmer’s market. It slows, but right before a big boom. The local LGBT+ Pride parade buys thousands worth of flowers every year. It’s the height of Yuuri’s family business, and his joy. Every June, the stand and the shop can be found with a rainbow flag billowing in the breeze. Katsuki Florals is famous for its colorful bouquets that burst with popularity during this time. In fact, the farmer’s market as a whole becomes more busy during June, since more young people come around.
How lucky it is that it comes in only a week and a half? Perhaps, Viktor could come around more, too. Maybe their status could bump from friends to better friends, or if possible, a dating status. Perhaps Yuuri could actually have a date to Pride this year, instead of going alone, and feeling sad at the bar all night.
Yuuri looked at his phone for the time. 9:05, it reads. If he stayed any longer, he realized, he might fall asleep there, so he left the store and got in his car.
***
Running a business and working there full time means late dinners, especially if you stay in your shop to think for forty-five minutes. Too tired to cook, Yuuri boiled up an instant ramen in the microwave, watering the houseplants while he waited.
After sitting down with his food, Yuuri unlocked his phone to check his notifications, to see what he missed. A message from facebook read 1 New Friend Request!
He opened the app, and right on the top there’s a new friend request from Viktor Nikiforov.
Yuuri stared at it for a moment, a smile on his face, and clicked accept as he took another bite.