Chapter Text
A sunny late Autumn day in Venice, Italy, 2002. A cool breeze blows past a small flower store, jingling the wind-chimes outside and carrying the scent of the fresh flowers along with it.
As the breeze flows down the street, it blows back the six pigtails of a man walking towards the store.
Reaching the door, he pulls a set of keys out of his pockets and unlocks the door. As he closes the door behind him, he flips the "closed" sign in the window over.
Hanging up his jacket on the rack, he takes the adjacent apron and puts it on over his deep purple sweater. The name on his name tag reads, "Illuso".
After donning his apron, he turns to his various racks of flowers. "Hello everyone, let's have a great day today!"
Illuso begins to tend to his flowers, going over them with a spray bottle to make sure they're well moisturized and trimming flower stems that have grown too far. Illuso smiles with content performing these various tasks, handling them gingerly and gently with the utmost care.
Taking the oldest flowers, he performs his daily routine of carefully placing them one in each of his braids. He happily smiles in the mirror, admiring his work.
As he sweeps up fallen petals, the bells above the door ring with the entrance of a customer. A man walks in, blonde hair reaching down to his bare shoulder, which was exposed in his soft tank top.
"Heyyy!" calls out the man, trying to get Illuso's attention. Illuso looks up from sweeping to greet the man.
"Ah, hello Melone!" Illuso says cheerily. Illuso looks the man up and down, noticing his tank top, shorts, and flip-flops. "What are you wearing? Aren't you cold? It's almost thirteen degrees out there."
Melone chuckles heartily. "For as long as we've known each other, you're still asking that? You know I love the brisk cold air!"
"Ah, I suppose that's true." Illuso replies.
"Besides," Melone mutters under his breath, "most of my clothes are about this revealing anyways." The two friends continue in friendly chatter for some time.
"So, what can I get for you?" Illuso asks.
"Well, it's Ghiaccio's birthday, so I was thinking about getting him some white roses."
Illuso looks at Melone confused for a little before asking, "W-wait. Isn't Ghiaccio allergic to roses?"
Melone mischievously chuckles before he smiles and nods his head. "You bet he is!"
"A-alright, if you really want them. You know he's gonna get mad right?"
"Pshhhhh whatever," Melone says waving his hand dismissively, "he's always mad, but he won't be after I give him his real present anyways."
After ringing him up and giving him the flowers, Melone leaves with a friendly wave and a cheer.
After Melone is out of sight, the smile on his face slowly fades. He sighs with relief, releases the tension in his whole body, and breathes deeply to try and relax.
It’s wasn’t so much Melone that stressed him out, Illuso would’ve tensed up around anyone. Despite how outgoing and friendly he acts, social interaction drains his energy and leaves him a nervous mess on the inside.
The main reason he opened up the store was that he loved flowers, he puts on a brave face for the actual talking and selling portion. He still considers his frequent customers very good friends, but talking to them stresses him greatly.
He takes a deep breath as he approaches his mirror hanging on the wall in the back room. A sort of electric energy starts flowing through him, sending tingles down his spine. Then next inside the mirror, a figure starts to appear. After slowly fading in, the figure fills out.
“Man In The Mirror” Illuso calls out.
Illuso has had this power for as long as he can remember, and this wouldn’t be the first or last time he used it. Reaching out, Illuso and his stand grab each other's hand, and he gets pulled into the mirror. It’s a strange feeling. Like being born all over again.
After coming back to his senses, he finds himself inside the mirror world. It’s almost indistinguishable from the real world, but there is a difference nonetheless. Everything is mirrored, the atmosphere is heavy, dust swirls around the air, and it’s even harder to breathe.
Illuso has gotten used to this place however, so the oppressive world doesn’t bother him. If anything, the heavy weight pressing on him feels almost comfortable, like a tightly wrapped blanket around him.
He’s so used to this world because of his frequent visits. He uses this world to take a break, escape from it all. When he’s in this world, he can forget about all his worries, with no one around to judge him.
Illuso sits on the ground in front of the mirror and holds his legs close to his body. After that, he just sits there taking the time to relax and decompress.
Suddenly, he hears the bell above his door ringing in the real world. Illuso wasn’t sure how long he had been sitting there before he heard it. It could’ve been minutes or even hours.
Taking a minute to breathe deeply and gain some motivation, he stands up and leaves the mirror world. Coming out from the back room, he greets the customer.
“Hello! Sorry about the wait, I was working on something in the back.”
Standing there before him was a tall man, with sharp features, slicked-back dark hair, wearing a black suit. Illuso would have felt slightly threatened had he not known the person.
“Hey, don’t worry about it.” says the dark man.
“So,” Illuso continues, “what can I get for you, Sorbet?”
Sorbet takes a minute to look around the shop. “Well, I was just getting home from shopping and I figured I’d stop by here and get something for Gelato. Y’know, just a random act of romance.”
“I understand.” says Illuso, “To be honest, I’ve always admired how open you’ve been about the way you feel towards him. I wish I could be that open about… you know… like how Melone is with Ghiaccio too.”
Sorbet nods understandingly. “I get what you mean. It’s not easy, but when you’re ready it’s the most gratifying feeling, to be yourself.”
A moment of silence passes in the store, almost as if both men were simply soaking in all that had been said. “So!” Illuso says after snapping out of his contemplative state. “What can I get you?”
“Oh! Right.” Sorbet snaps out of his silent state too, almost jumping at the sudden shift from nothing to something.
“Uhhhh I don’t know. I’ve never been too good at flower shopping, though I suppose you already know that.” Sorbet chuckles and scratches his head confused.
“Well, we do have some Autumn daffodils in bloom right now.” Says Illuso, gesturing towards a display
“Oh, those are perfect! I’ll take them.” Sorbet reaches into his pocket and pulls out his wallet and takes out the required amount.
“Very good!” Says Illuso with a cheery smile.
Completing the purchase, Sorbet quickly exits the shop, eager to get home with his gift.
With his departure, Illuso starts to think about the conversation the two just had. He wishes he could be open and honest about himself, but he opens so little to others about basic things, he could never be open about something that big.
Being lost in thought, staring at the floor, he doesn’t notice the bell ring and another customer enter. After seeing a person in his peripheral vision, he snaps back to welcome them.
Looking up he sees a man who is very much in contrast to the previous one who was just in the store. His soft features and clothing complemented by his fluffy, very soft looking blonde hair.
The man playfully leans towards Illuso, trying to get his attention. “Helloooo~?”
The only thing softer than his hair was his voice. He and the previous customer were so different in almost every way, it’s hard to believe they’re dating.
“Ah hello, Gelato!” Illuso says as he fully snaps to.
A wide, sweet grin grows on Gelato’s face. Gelato’s expressions are almost sickeningly sweet, but Illuso always enjoys talking to him.
Out of all his regular customers, he feels the closest to Gelato as a friend. The way Gelato’s bubbly attitude fills the shop puts Illuso in a better mood, and he feels as though Gelato genuinely enjoys talking to him.
“So,” Illuso says, fully brought back from thinking, “what brings you here?”
“Well, I was just out and about with some friends, and I figured I’d stop in here and get something for Sorbet!”
“A-ah…” Illuso resists the urge to explain that the recipient had just been here to do the same thing.
“And I’ll save you some time too,” Gelato says, “I already know what I want. I’d like some Autumn daffodils please~!”
Illuso swallows the urge to laugh at the coincidence, the urge to tell him, and the urge to exclaim how cute the two men are. “S-sure, I’ll ring them up right now.”
As Illuso is wrapping up a bouquet for the man, Gelato begins to speak.
“Isn’t love great?”
“Yes, it really is.” Illuso replies.
“Do you have anyone special in your life, hun?” Gelato asks.
Illuso’s face reactively turns red. As he starts to get embarrassed, Illuso is glad he has his back to Gelato, as he’d probably get a kick out of seeing the reaction his question got.
“I uh… I’m not sure.” Illuso answers, followed by a nervous chuckle.
“Ohhhh sounds interesting~. What’s keeping you so unsure?”
“Well,” Illuso replies, “for starters, I’m not even sure if he’s… y’know…”
“Mm I understand hun, that can be a hard roadblock to get over. Believe me, I know. I wasn’t sure at first with Sorbet either.”
“Really?” Illuso asks as he turns around to face Gelato. “How’d you find out?”
“Well, I straight up asked him. After knowing him for long enough, I knew he would just laugh it off if he wasn’t. No harm no foul.”
Illuso pondered if he should or even could do the same.
“I know how hard it can be, but it’s worth the risk. Love is always worth it.” With these words and friendly goodbyes, Gelato leaves to deliver the same flowers he would soon receive.
Illuso needs some time to think over all that had been said. Between Gelato and Sorbet’s separate comments, he has a lot to mull over.
Entering the mirror world, he slumps onto the floor once again and lets his mind begin to wander. He starts to think about the man that has been occupying his thoughts for months. Should he ask him? Would asking him ruin the friendship they’ve been building for so long?
Illuso asks these questions to himself almost on repeat, hoping the repetitiveness would somehow produce an answer.
Just then, he hears the familiar bell ringing again. Illuso hoists himself up, leaves the mirror world, and beings to pep up to greet the guest.
“Hello! How can I h-“
Illuso stops in his tracks. There he was. The person he’s known for 6 months and been in love with for 5.
Standing alone in his shop is the tall, tone bodied, chiseled-featured, caring, warm, funny man Illuso can’t stop thinking about.
“Surely a man like that could get any woman he wants,” Illuso thinks to himself, “so what are the odds he’d fall in love with an awkward, sad man like me?”
After thinking to himself for a minute, he resumes his previously interrupted welcome. “Oh, hello Formaggio! How can I help you?”