Work Text:
Iyasu Midoriya works part-time at a flower shop because she really likes flowers and is deeply interested in floriography. Flowers are pretty to look at, hard to maintain, and great to take care of. What more could she want? Plus, her quirk works on plants too so she sometimes kisses wilting flowers to keep them from dying.
Iyasu expected today to be another quiet day, keeping an eye on the two customers looking at an arrangement of bouquets so she could be ready to tend to them. In front of her is a pretty dark-blue vase with yellow patterning, and a sketchbook with different arrangement ideas. She sketches out a rather shitty flower and frowned when it didn't look at all like a bellflower.
Suddenly, the store's door opened forcefully and the ringer above rang loudly. Iyasu jumped at the sudden noise and looked up at the new customer.
Iyasu smiled nervously at him, taking in his rugged appearance of spiky blond hair (which inappropriately reminds Iyasu of a dandelion) and bright eyes colored like red roses, right above an absolutely terrible scowl that graced his pale skin. He looks around her age. Iyasu gulped at his ruggedness but managed her customer-service voice. "Hi, how may I help you today?"
"How do I passive-aggressively say fuck you in flower?" The boy asked, and he slapped a twenty on the counter, right above her sketchbook. Iyasu noted with disdain how the dollar smudged her art, and then perked up when she realized exactly what he had requested.
"Sorry?"
The boy's scowl somehow deepened and his brows furrowed. "Look, I want to say fuck you in flower, but passive-aggressively. It's for a shitty friend."
Iyasu snorted at his bluntness. "Oh."
"So can you do that? You're the third flower shop today," the explosive boy continued, "I can pay more if it's expensive. I have more than twenty." To prove his point, the boy pulled out a wallet and took out several bills.
"Oh, I've been waiting for you!" Iyasu chirped gleefully, eyes dancing with mischievous mirth. "I've always waited for a chance like this!"
...
Iyasu's green eyes widened and her face burns. Did she just told this random stranger she's been waiting for him?!
The boy also looked surprised, and his cheeks flushed softly, like a blooming Mandevilla flower.
"I-I'm so sorry! I meant that-!" Iyasu quickly rushed, her professional tone slipping, "I wasn't waiting for you specifically, I just-, I was, meant to say- I mean to say that I was... uh, like, waiting for someone- not you specifically- someone to ask-- b-because I'm... really... really into... floriography..."
Iyasu's painful stuttering stumbled into an embarrassing stop, and her cheeks felt like they're on fire. She kept her eyes down, wondering what's wrong with her.
The boy chortled when Iyasu stopped talking. "I get what you mean." He said- and good, because Iyasu does not want to have to explain that again-, and he grinned. "Does that mean you know how to do this?"
"Y-yeah," Iyasu nodded, "I do."
"How much?"
"Um. Wait, I'll have to check out what types of flower needed, then you'll have to decide the size, quantity, presentation type, as well as any extras and when you would want it delivered," Iyasu informed, gaining back some semblance of her professionality as she continued talking. She straightened her posture- when had she slouched?
The blond blinked in surprise at her quick 180 but smirked softly. "Alright," he agreed, "can you do that now? I'm kinda in a hurry."
"Yes!" Iyasu said, and her eyes twinkled in excitement. While she enjoys making arrangements meaning "I love you", "you're the only one for me", or "you're the best mom/dad/sister/etc.", it eventually gets boring. So she always gets excited when customers come in requesting "you're annoying", "I hate you", or "stop talking to me". It's just more fun and refreshing.
"You'll need... since there's no exact flower arrangement that directly says... um, that," Iyasu stumbled over the swear word, "we'll have to go with flowers that implies it. Are you okay with that?"
"Implies?" The blond repeated, tilting his head. Iyasu resisted the urge to reach over the counter and... and what? Iyasu dares not dwell on that.
"No flower directly symbolizes what you're looking for, but we can get a bouquet of flowers all meaning various things, into one pile that implies what you want," Iyasu explained further.
The boy rolled his crimson eyes, hurting Iyasu's sensitive feelings, but nodded. "I'll take what I can get."
Iyasu beamed. "Alright! May I have a name?"
"Bakugou Katsuki," the blond said, and he smirked devilishly, "for Kirishima Eijirou."
If we were close, I would totally call him Kacchan, Iyasu thought before flashing him a smile. "All right, Bakugou."
"Geraniums symbolize stupidity, and they're quite striking too," Iyasu said, "foxglove is insincerity, meadowsweet is uselessness, orange lilies are hatred, and best of all, yellow carnations. They fully mean you have disappointed me."
Bakugou stared at her sketchbook, amazed that she managed to sketch out the flowers so quickly. Nevermind the fact that all the flowers look like scribbles and are poorly drawn-- it's the thoughts that count. He grinned and looked back up, staring at Iyasu, with wild fire dancing in his peony-red eyes. "I'll take it."
Iyasu couldn't help but return his enthused smile. "Great! Luckily, we have them all in-stock today, so it shouldn't take too long." Iyasu peered over his shoulders, tip-toed, annoyed at how tall he is compared to her. "And since there are no other customers, I think we can get your order by today."
Bakugou was smiling down on her, looking rather pleased with their height difference. "Yeah, yeah," he drawled, then leaned over the counter with crossed arms, his eyes as bright as dahlia flowers, "do whatever you need to do, Lily-pad."
"Lily-pad?" Iyasu squeaked, her face once again feeling way too hot.
"Yeah, aren't those things green? Like you?" Bakugou blinked, but Iyasu could see straight through his innocent-act. He was teasing her.
Iyasu tried to fight her blush, thinking of other things (like her teacher, naked) to erase her embarrassment. She nodded almost bashfully. "I-I'll go... um, g-go get the floors- ah, I-I mean the flowers! P-please, wait!"
And Iyasu dashed to the backroom, a door that leads to a greenhouse, with furious red cheeks and wondering why she's so flustered. Meanwhile, Bakugou watched her go, his cheeks stained slightly pink as he smiles softly at the endearing florist.
Iyasu carefully scanned the greenhouse, looking for the flowers she and Bakugou decided on. As she walked across the greenhouse, occasionally grabbing the flowers needed, her thoughts were swarming.
The latest customer with the hyacinth eyes and dandelion hair-- and Iyasu should really stop comparing people to flowers-- who keeps on teasing her to the point of blushing and stuttering. She finds herself wanting to know why he wanted a "fuck you" bouquet, what his friend did to deserve the flowers, and why someone like him would choose flowers instead of... literally any other alternative.
But she's kind of glad he chose flowers. It was enjoyable meeting each other, and Iyasu quickly grew fond of him. She shook her head, almost knocking over a plant in the process, and continued marching down the aisle for the needed flowers. Some of the flowers usually don't grow within the current season, but the shop owner has a plant-based quirk which she cast over the entire greenhouse. No flower could die, but they could still wilt and turn brown to the point of being basically dead--that's where Iyasu came in. She has a healing quirk that works on plants as well, and all she needs to do is kiss the dying plant. Therefore, they have all sorts of flowers in their shop.
After several painful minutes of trying to spot the flowers, Iyasu rushed back with five different types of flowers balanced dangerously on her hands.
Bakugou was still waiting by the counter, his fingers tapping furiously on his phone with his face resembling hellebores flowers. Is he... texting his girlfriend maybe? Iyasu thought, blinking. Why is he so red, and who is he texting so passionately?
"Hey, I'm back!" Iyasu said, keeping a smile on her face, even though she suddenly felt very discouraged.
Bakugou whipped his head up, looked back down, typed another message, and then shoved his phone down his pocket. "Heya." He greeted. "Got everything?"
"Yup! We need to discuss how you want it arranged, size, quantity, and if you want any extras." Iyasu said.
"Arrange it however you want, I want it in a small, and... three of every flower." Bakugou decided quickly. "What are the extras?"
"Extras are little teddy bears or maybe a card," Iyasu explained with a light giggle when she saw his taken back face, "just any type of decoration."
"None," Bakugou said, "that little shit doesn't deserve extras."
Iyasu blinked. "Would you like it in a vase, a box, or maybe simply wrapped in paper?"
"Whatever's the least flattering."
"Wrapped it is," Iyasu giggled, "are there any other special options you'll like?"
Bakugou paused and then shook his head. "Can I watch you do it?"
"Eh?"
"I... I want to see how it's done," Bakugou said, his face matching his calla-lily red eyes, looking to the side almost bashfully.
"O-oh, of course!" Iyasu's smile felt wobbly. "Of course you can."
Iyasu started preparing the flowers under Bakugou's amazed stare, and she can't really blame him. When she first applied for her part-time job, she was fascinated with the way the owner wrapped flowers. It was like preparing a present- delicate and quick and very experienced. Blink and you'll miss how the yellow carnations delicately surrounded the striking orange lilies in an explosion of pretty flowers whose meaning is anything but pretty.
Iyasu skillfully arranged the flowers, her tongue sticking out in concentration, and she would once in a while pluck a flower out and replace it with another. Bakugou has no idea how she thinks, but it always ended up looking quite good so he doesn't try to stop her.
In the end, Iyasu triumphantly held up a wrapped bouquet with clashing colors that somehow fit well. She handed it to Bakugou with a smile and headed to the register to ring him up. Bakugou followed, looking hilarious with his scary scowl and spiky hair holding a bouquet like it's a baby.
"That'll be fifty-five dollars and seventy cents, please," Iyasu smiled brightly, just glad that she's done.
Bakugou nodded and handed her four twenty-dollar bills. "Keep the change, like a tip or whatever."
Iyasu blinked and then grinned widely. "Thank you so much, Kacchan!"
The nickname slipped out before she could stop it. "I-I mean!" Iyasu stuttered out, her face rapidly turning as red as gerbera daisies. "Oh my- I didn't mean to-"
"It's fine," Bakugou interrupted before Iyasu could embarrass herself more, "you can call me that, lily-pad."
Iyasu stood very still, her heart being the complete opposite, as she tried to understand what that meant. "M-my name's Midoriya Iyasu." She meekly said instead.
"If you get to call me Kacchan, then can I call you Iyasu?" Bakugou asked, his lips drawn in a teasing smirk. "I mean, it's only fair."
Can I also call you mine? He wondered wistfully and then shook away the random feeling.
"Y-yeah, of course," Iyasu nodded furiously, "it's completely f-fair!"
"Alright," Bakugou said. Suddenly, he felt very awkward, not knowing how to end their conversation.
"B-bye, Kacchan!" Iyasu came to the rescue. "Thanks for shopping here, feel free to come back again!"
Bakugou smiled softly, a really tiny smile, one that anyone can miss if they didn't look hard enough. "Yeah. Bye, lily-pad, thanks for everything."
Iyasu waved him goodbye, watching him leave the store with the bouquet clutched tightly but delicately until his figure disappeared from her view.
With a jolt, she realized that he hadn't called her Iyasu as he asked. Instead, the lily-pad nickname struck. She smiled to herself, feeling the constant blushing coming up again. She doesn't actually mind being compared to a plant. After all, she's been calling him various types of flowers the entire time.
Iyasu sighed, sorting out everything and putting back the unused flowers, as well as throwing away fallen petals and dirt. She picked up her sketchbook, bored because there are currently no customers, and flipped to her current page.
With a blink, Iyasu noticed something that wasn't there before. She took a closer look and almost dropped the sketchbook when she realized what it was. With trembling fingers and a red face and her heart pounding thunderously, Iyasu read the message written by Bakugou:
You know, you're really cute and I like being with you. You should text me sometime. I would like to get to know you more.
XXX-XXX-XXXX is my number, feel free to contact me whenever. Or don't, if you don't like me.
-Bakugou Katsuki
Behind the scenes:
Katsuki wants to explode his phone and throttle his so-called friends. Not a first, and definitely not the last.
He is currently in a dilemma, with a really cute florist who happened to be his age, and he really wanted to... know her more and maybe date-- shut up, he may be explosive but he's still a hormonal teenager with good tastes! All he wanted was to have some advice on how not to be an asshole- his signature trait- and shoot his shot with this girl who happens to be his exact type.
And who's better to ask than his romance-fanatic associate (he refuses to call her a friend), Ashido?
So Katsuki quickly sent her a text (hey dumbass I need some advice) and waited anxiously for her reply, while the cute florist girl is in the back. Always on her phone, Ashido replied quickly and enthusiastically (wait wut?? explodo needs my help?? lol wut omg).
Katsuki scowled in embarrassment. The only other option was Shitty Hair, except he'd ask questions and then Katsuki would have to come clean about the flowers. Dumb Pikachu and Tape-face were out of the question as they're both absolute idiots, and Shitty Headphones was a major lesbian who never replies anyway.
Me:
Shut up, shitty alien!
Shitty Alien:
If u need my help then u shoud be nicer bakubitch
Fuck you.
Fine, can you help me?
Omg omg omg
yeah ofc whats happn
I met this cute girl and I want to ask her out.
But I don't know what to say or do.
OMG OMG WAT HOLY SHOT OMG OGM
IF YOU DARE SCREENSHOT AND TELL THE OTHER IDIOTS, I'M EXPLODING YOUR ASS.
You're the only reliable one right now.
Bakugou smirked triumphantly. While he hates asking for help, he knows exactly which words to use so his dumbass friends can do whatever he demands. That'll make her feel important and above the rest of the "Bakusquad"- no way she can refuse now. As expected, Ashido replied with several pleading emojis.
Shitty Alien:
omg ofc
dw i'm a expert wth luv
tell her this:
Me:
Hold on, shitty alien, I can't tell her anything.
Wut y not lol
I just can't talk to her
omg is she dead
What the fuck??
deaf** lolll
No fucking dumbass, I just can't talk to her
oooo ur at liabrary??
... Yeah
omg omg thats so fckin cute
lol u call us nerds yet ur at a lirabry
Fucking dumbass get to it
ok ok do u have smt writ with?
Bakugou looked around and spotted the florist's abandoned sketchbook, with the pencil on top. He nodded, before remembering he's texting, and then replied to Ashido, feeling like a dumbass which he is. He picked up the sketchbook and pencil, then briefly wondered if it's considered vandalizing, but shrugged it off.
Shitty Alien:
ight bitch writ this:
"I think ur really cute and wuld like to date u. i'm handsoem an my quirk is hot ;) please date me.
here's my numbr, cutie pi e XXX-XXX-XXXX call me ;)"
Me:
WHAT THE FUCK IS THAT SHIT!?!?!
DO YOU SERIOUSLY EXPECT ME TO WRITE THAT YOU FUCKING DUMBASS
THAT'S THE DUMBEST SHIT EVER YOU FUCK
wtf chill
u dont have to write it world for word
u can fix the spell and stuff
I can't write that, you dumbass.
That sounds like a fucking teenager going through puberty.
If anyone said that to me, I'll punch the shit out of them.
lmaooo
Now be serious or I'll go to earphone bitch
wait omg
omg no dn't gooo
ill be srs i prmose come back
Then come up with good shit, dumbass!
And hurry up, I don't have much time
In the end, Katsuki ended up with a very short and somewhat demanding note:
You know, you're really cute and I like being with you. You should text me sometime. I would like to get to know you more.
XXX-XXX-XXXX is my number, feel free to contact me whenever. Or don't, if you don't like me.
-Bakugou Katsuki
It's not the worst, but Katsuki doesn't have enough time to change anything. He heard the door opening and the florist on the other side struggling to open it with all the flowers in her hands. Katsuki would help her, but there's a counter in the way and he has to put the sketchbook away before she sees it.
His phone buzzed and he looked at it. His veins seemed to pop when he realized it's Shitty Alien who is now spamming him with messages. Is it working? Did she say yes? How did she react? Are they dating now? Did they kiss?
Annoyed, Katsuki text-yelled at her to shut the fuck up, but his face felt hot when he read the last text. Kissing, huh? He wondered how it would feel like to kiss the adorable florist and suddenly his heart pounded. He grew more annoyed when Ashido dared asked for all the details because she "did everything for him".
When the cute girl announced her presence, he looked up at her and immediately felt his anger starting to melt before her sunshine-smile. His phone buzzed and he wants to explode the shit out of his annoying friends.
Epilogue:
Katsuki thrust a bouquet of clashing flowers that struck colors wildly towards Kirishima. He tried to smile as nicely as possible, except it clearly wasn't working because Kirishima looked like he's about to piss himself, pale and shaking.
"B-Bakubro!" Kirishima said nervously. "What's this?"
"Flowers for you, dumbass," Katsuki said and he couldn't help but let the mischievousness seep into his voice.
"I-I'm flattered, but you know I'm dating--"
"I DONT FUCKING LIKE YOU, DUMBASS!" Katsuki screeched. He huffed. "Look up the meaning of these flowers"
Kirishima looked confused and scared as ever, and he accepted the flowers, tilting his head and confused beyond belief. "I have to look up the meaning? I don't even know what kind of flowers these are!" He pouted.
Katsuki stood there, a self-satisfied smirk on his face, as he looked at Kirishima taking pictures of the flowers and uploading them to a flower-identifying app, while Kaminari helped by searching the meaning and symbolism of each flower identified.
In the end, Katsuki had a good laugh as Kirishima stood there, clutching the poor flowers, a defeated expression on his face when he realized that not one flower had a single nice meaning. He quickly figured out the passive-aggressive "fuck you" of the flowers.
"Where did you buy these flowers?" Kirishima demanded, and it's clear he wanted to retaliate with a bouquet of its own.
"Fuck off," Katsuki grinned, looking down on the text that appeared on his phone, sent by an unknown person but the texting style clearly indicating who it was, "she's mine."
Unknown Number:
Hey Kacchan! It's me, Iyasu!
Wanna go get some coffee later? I also like being with you :)