Chapter Text
Two weeks went by where Shouto’s life was back to its usual consistency, and yet everything felt turned upside down.
He knew why, but there was nothing he could do about it.
Even if Ground Zero - Katsuki - asked him to stay that day. He must have felt bad for Shouto, for all the trouble he went through staying there all those days.
It hadn’t been troublesome. It would have been worse if he had stayed home, tossing and turning with the images of a hero dying in his arms.
He knew Katsuki got out of the hospital two days ago, because he’s been keeping an eye on the news.
The shop is mostly back on its feet.
It’s clean and fresh and he got a new glass - three-layers this time - and he even changed the color of the name painted on it - Rei’s Gift - from a whitish-blue to a striking orange, for no reason other than change is good sometimes .
He was petting a budding Amaryllis , already exploding with red, when the bells jingling on the door brought him out of his thoughts.
The man in front of him was wearing a cap pulled low to hide his eyes, a baggy black t-shirt and a choker around his neck, jeans ripped, shredded really.
He recognized him at first glance.
“Hey, Katsuki.”
Katsuki lifted his chin up and let Shouto gaze into his eyes unabashedly.
“I’m glad to see you recovered.”
“Pff. It wasn’t that bad to begin with.”
“Yes, it was.”
“Wasn’t.”
“I got blood all over myself, I think I would know.” There was more bite in that than he intended, but he was frustrated and worried and the memory of Katsuki unconscious on the floor still made him shiver. He didn’t need the reminder.
Katsuki sighed. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean it like that.”
“How did you mean it then?”
“I mean that I’m okay. Adjacent.”
“Adjacent.”
“Yeah.”
Katsuki looked away from him, his eyes catching on the colorful vines of Morning Glory, reaching for the petals.
“I can’t stop thinking about you.” Katsuki whispered, and Shouto was sure he misheard so he took a step forward.
“What?”
“I-” Katsuki reached for his wound and looked at him. “I can’t- stop thinking about you staying with me, and the flowers, and your damn stupid laugh! Shit. I owe you my fucking life.”
Shouto was shaking his head but Katsuki wouldn’t have it. “I do. But that’s not why I’m here. Well, it is, but- I wouldn’t even be considering this shit if- if you hadn’t stayed all those fucking days, I wouldn’t- I shouldn’t. Shouldn’t drag you into this but I’m being selfish. And there’s a part of me that wants to know what you’re gonna say.”
“I don’t understand what you’re trying to say.”
Shouto was desperately trying to find Katsuki’s train of thought, but it was jumbled and messy. He wants to know what I’m going to say? About what?
“Go out with me.”
There was a sharp intake of breath and Shouto knew his eyes were wide with surprise.
He almost wanted to ask out loud, are you guys seeing this?, to his flowers, but his mouth was shut with shock.
He had been thinking about Katsuki for weeks. Worrying. Wanting. Longing.
The only thing he thought to do was rush towards the back and grab a bouquet of flowers - pink, red and white - and dump the camellias on Katsuki’s arms.
At the look of utter confusion from the other, he mentally kicked himself for his emotional stuntedness and proceeded to explain.
“Flowers mean something.”
He picked a white camellia from the bundle. “Adoration.”
A pink camellia. “Longing for you.”
A red camellia.
He dared look Katsuki in the eye, and the look he received back was parts intense and astonished, and he almost stuttered his last words out. “Passion and deep desire.”
“Weird way to tell a guy yes, Half and Half.” Katsuki said, his eyes betraying the relief and satisfaction he felt.
Shouto felt sheepish, and like the flowers were laughing at his awkwardness. Maybe he did spend too much time alone here.
“But it suits you.” Katsuki said, placing a flower - pink, Shouto noticed, wondering if the choice was purposeful or not - behind his left ear.
Shouto didn’t mean to, but it’s been so long since anyone has been this close to him, this intimate, that his left side got out of control, flowery ashes falling on his shoulder.
His cheeks got impossibly red and he hid his face in his hands as Katsuki laughed and laughed.
The sight of Katsuki, head thrown back and teeth glinting in the low light, made him feel like he was blooming inside.
He also thought that maybe Amaryllis weren't the right fit, after all.
Katsuki was more of a Dandelion kind of guy.