Chapter Text
Viktor has, like usual, had a very busy, stressful day. However, today was even more so.
Like usual, at the Lush store he managed, someone bit into a bar of soap that was on display.
Unlike usual, this someone had an allergic reaction. And unlike usual, the customer had started to get hives in their mouth. Unlike usual, the customer had to go to the hospital. And unlike usual, Viktor had to convince them not to sue the store. For a few hours. While they had hives in their mouth. And were yelling.
So yes. Very busy, and very stressful.
But that was behind him now. Now it was Saturday, and he had Sundays off. Now Viktor was at home. His comfortable, stress-free home, that had candles, soft blankets, television, and a lovely dog whose barks were worthy to greet a queen.
Home was good. Many say that’s where the heart is, and especially on days like this, Viktor believes that to be true. He turned on the news for background noise as he walked around the apartment, lighting candles and gathering blankets and snacks to build a nest.
Viktor took out his phone and started scrolling through, ignoring the news on the TV with his hand absentmindedly petting his dog. On instagram he could see everyone post snapchats of their local scenery with the temperature plastered on. The new summery weather had half his friends excited, and half in emotional distress, for the sweltering New York summer heat did not go well with everyone.
He doesn’t know why, but Viktor looked up at his television screen. Maybe because the weather report flashed on, or maybe it was because of a fly that passed his peripheral vision. Or maybe, it was magic. It felt like magic because, right when he was about to look down at his phone, a face walked behind the reporter.
The reporter was talking about the farmers market that would be opening for the summer in a week, and then Viktor saw them. They looked so familiar as they passed by. Where had Viktor seen them before? They walked off-screen, Viktor just had to figure out why the person looked like someone he had known and who they were. He fumbled around in his nest for the remote and rewinded the program.
“-farmer’s market opened for the season last Saturday, continuing the tradition- ” Viktor paused a second too late, and the face was blurred with movement.
“-farmer’s market opened for the season last Saturday, continuing the tra-” A split second too soon.
-farmer’s market opened for the season last Saturday, continuing the t-“” Another second too soon, because he got excited.
“-farmer’s market opened for the season last Saturday, continuing the traditi-” He paused again. There, a perfect view. Viktor could tell from watching the tape five times that the person had put some flowers on a market stand, and walked off. This still image of them turning away showed soft features. They had silky black hair that was just long enough to fit into a ponytail, but would still fall into their glasses. They had a look on their face that was half a smile and God, Viktor thought, were they cute.
Now he had to figure out why they looked so familiar. He studied the screen. Closer, closer. It’s on the tip of his tongue. He knows who this is, he does, he just needs to know where from.
He thinks, and thinks, and thinks. Now that he has the image of the person in his head he re-watches the video. They put down the flowers, they walk off. They put down the flowers, they walk off. They put down the flowers…
The flowers.
Viktor audibly gasps when he thinks he realized who it was. God, how could he have forgotten? Could it really be them? Is it?
“Pride boy?”
***
After seeing the boy on the screen, and remembering who they were, Viktor immediately called Chris. “Chris!”
“Aye, Vitya! What’s going on!”
“Are you watching the news!?” He was nearly yelling, consumed with excitement.
“What? Why what’s happening?” Chris gasped, “Oh my god was there an accident? Who died? Viktor what’s going on!? OH MY GO-”
Viktor took the phone off his ear to break away from the screaming Chris. “Chris no, no one’s dead. Calm down.”
“Oh.” He paused. “Then why should I be watching the news?”
Viktor started yelling again. “They’re talking about the farmer’s market!”
“The farmer’s market? Why is that important, wha-.. Viktor Nikiforov are you high?”
“No! Not high! Just very excited because the boy I met at Pride last year works at the farmer’s market during the summer and I just recognized him on the news and he’s still very pretty and cute and I want to see him again but it’s been a year and I don’t know what to do!!” Viktor wailed, a little too fast.
“Woah woah, slow down. Who’s this boy you met last year?”
Viktor took a deep breath to calm down. “Right. Remember when you left me alone at Pride last year? When you left with Matteo?”
Chris replied, “Oh yeah I do! Wait, is this about the guy you kept posting on your snap story? The drunk dancer?”
Viktor almost squealed, “Yes! Him! I just saw him on the news! He works at the flower shop at the farmer’s market!”
“Really? And you saw this on the news? I’ll put it on, when was he interviewed?” Chris asked.
Viktor stopped. “Well uh, he wasn’t exactly interviewed,” he cringed at himself. “But you can see him at…” he hit a random button on the remote to see the point where he was paused. “10:22, channel Nine.”
“Okay,” Viktor heard Chris click his TV on and search through the channels. “Vitya, there’s only the reporter here.” Viktor groaned, embarrassed, and brought a hand to his face in shame.
“Look in the background…”
“Wha- all I see is a little bit of the street where the stands are…...and some people walking by, but they’re all out of focus.” Viktor whined. “Vik, is it one of the people? You recognized this guy even though he’s out of focus? And you last saw him a year ago?”
Viktor sighed, “Yes…. he’s the one picking up the flower basket..”
Chris laughed, “Vitya, I can barely see him!”
“Yes but, I know it’s them okay? I focused on him and everything. Plus like, he looked so familiar, like I knew him before. And as it turns out, I do know him! And now i want to see him because he’s so fun and cute and aaah~”
Chris was silent for a moment, and then he spoke, “Viktor Nikiforov, you are so fucking gay.”
“You bet your ass I am. Now what do I do!? I wanna see him!”
“Well, you could go to the farmer’s market, where he should be right now, since he works there.”
Viktor almost screamed again, “Chris you are a genius! I’ll go right now!”
“Have a good time, sweetheart! And try not to stare-”
“Gotta go, love you bye!!!!” Viktor hung up the phone, and ran out the door, almost forgetting to put on his shoes.
***
Viktor arrived at the flower stand, and Pride Boy was there, sitting quietly with who he assumed to be another worker. As they sat, Viktor couldn’t help but stare. His memory was jogging, and fast, at the sight of the boy who was sitting there, in real life, and not on a screen. He couldn’t clearly remember the night, but he knew the face. The face that was up close, nuzzled in Viktor’s chest a year ago, was now looking over at someone else, expressionless, and soft.
Pride Boy turned, and they made eye contact. It only lasted for a split second, but it was eye contact nonetheless, and that was a start. Knowing that it might take a while for Pride Boy to recognize him, Viktor kept looking, sauntering around the stand.
Occasionally, their eyes would meet again, but Pride Boy always looked away. However, Viktor remained smiling, as he knew that whenever he was looking down or away, Pride Boy was staring right back at him.
And that’s what they did, they stared. Viktor smiled the whole time, walking around the stand, and Pride Boy bashfully looking away, sitting with no clear expression. Every time they made eye contact, Viktor felt a little bit of…..sparkle. Nothing too out of the ordinary, just another glimmer in the world, like a glare in glass, or the twinkling of stars.
This, silent rhythm of glances went on for what felt like hours, but was probably closer to a couple minutes, while the other worker tended to other things. And, suddenly, almost magically, they looked up at the same time, and stayed that way. Looking into Pride Boy’s eyes from that short distance, Viktor could have sworn that the world around him became brighter in his peripheral vision, the sunset more vivid, and the flowers more colorful.
Gears turned in Viktor’s head as he thought of something to say. It took roughly five seconds for Viktor’s brain to land on “Hi, my name is Viktor, or you can call me Vitya. I do believe we have met, care to join me for dinner?”. Right when he was about to open his mouth, he was interrupted by the other worker. “Excuse me,” they said, startling Viktor and breaking the gentle stare, “But we have to pack up the stand. Are you going to purchase something? I can ring you up real quick.”
Viktor looked back at Pride Boy, who was now looking back at the ground. It was clear to him that he was intruding, that maybe the boy he so desperately wanted to see again, didn’t want to see him. His face fell. He knew he had to leave, but going without a purchase would be weird. Chris had always told him that he sometimes came off as weird when he first met someone, or rather, met someone for the second time almost a year later. “Yeah, uhm-” He picked up a random flower basket. “How much for these?”
“Carnations are seven dollars for a dozen, fifty cents for one.”
In his rush, Viktor had left his wallet at home, so he had to rely on the change that he prayed would be in his pockets. He shoved his hands into the compartments of his sweats and wriggled his fingers as he walked to the cash register. Thankfully, Viktor was lucky enough to pull out two quarters and a nickel, just enough to buy one and have a penny left.
After thanking the worker, whose name tag read Phichit, Viktor gave one last glance at Pride Boy, just to see if he would look back. When he didn’t, Viktor left, with a sad yellow carnation in his pocket, and a heavy heart.