Work Text:
"Evaline's Flower Crown"
By: Miracle Shining (co-created with LadybirdCarina)
RATING: G
AUTHOR'S NOTE: Thank you to Ladybird who also helped set up this mini "moment in time" with her AU. I am an AVID Gardener and using flowers as expression is one of my favorite things. (Oh yeah, and Evaline "tormenting" Shouta. XD)
*****
There was one thing that Shouta just couldn't quite adjust to since he had begun guarding Hizashi.
It was the Vampire's exceedingly peculiar sleep schedule.
Shouta was well aware that most pure blood Vampires didn't even have to sleep if they didn't feel like it. But Hizashi was on a different level. He slept mostly in the huge library that Shouta hadn't even been in aside from calling out to his employer. Other than that, he seemed like he was always moving around the manor in one form or another.
For someone like a Were, it was problematic.
And it also made Shouta extremely tired.
Today was one of those strange days. The sky was a dismal gray indicating that rain would be arriving by the late afternoon. The cloudiness gave Hizashi the opportunity to head out into his expansive flower garden that resided at the base of the mansion. Though sunlight had no real effect on the Vampire, he still found the direct rays to be uncomfortable.
Shouta half heartedly followed the blonde down to the wide carved door that led outside. He blinked the moment he saw the huge fluffy black tail swishing about in a beautiful wicker basket.
Evaline was already seated on a plush ruby cushion. She was patiently waiting for her master when she saw the scruffy Werewolf. Her fur raised only slightly as a kind of warning to Shouta before she was all purrs as Hizashi lifted her up and pushed open the heavy doors.
Apparently Evaline took flower viewing walks with Hizashi.
Shouta trailed behind watching the golden haired other seem to drift through one well trimmed hedge to a particular rose bush and then float over to some bluebells that were beginning to open. The whole time he was chatting softly to the ebony cat resting lazily in the basket.
Shouta hadn't been paying much attention. He was distracted instead by the sweet fragrances that surrounded him. His sensitive Were nose instantly picked up at least fifteen varieties of flowers alone. He could feel his lips quirk almost into a smile.
He loved flowers.
But he'd never admit it out loud.
His sharp hearing perked his interest when he saw Hizashi looking at him and then turning his emerald eyes down to equally vibrant green eyes.
"Ah, you think so, Evaline? Well, let's go and see."
"Is the cat a Familiar?" Shouta wondered to himself. He had heard mention of Vampires that were exceedingly powerful often had a shape shifting Familiar. But Evaline didn't smell like a shifter. She just smelled like a spoiled fluffy black cat that Shouta only got to pet on rare occassions.
"Shouta?"
"Yes?"
"Do you like Daisies?" Hizashi inquired.
"Um, I guess?" the raven haired Were replied.
"May I show you something? It's Evaline's favorite spot in the whole garden."
Shouta gave a short nod. Hizashi was still very odd in so many ways but Shouta was getting accustomed to him. The Vampire was often quite bold and had a very loud voice with others, especially when he needed to get his point across. But when he spoke to Shouta, his tone was always soft and...
"Kind." Shouta finished mentally in his head.
He sniffed the air and immediately recognized the scent. His golden eyes scanned over petaled shades of white, pink and the light lavender. He couldn't help but breathe in the sweet perfume. This part of the garden wasn't particularly elaborate nor well maintained. But the unkept nature of it had welcomed in a large amount of honey bees, butterflies and the occassional humming bird.
"Bellis Perennis." Hizashi said very softly.
"Wild Ox-Eye Daisies." Shouta replied.
Hizashi set down Evaline's basket and the cat jumped out. Immediately she jumped through the undergrowth, occassionally popping her head out to smell one of the flowers before disappearing. Hizashi sat down. He patted the soft grass next to him and Shouta somewhat awkwardly sat too.
"This is Evaline's favorite part of the garden." Hizashi began. "She likes to pretend I don't see her black fur. She some times catches a butterfly but she always lets them go."
Shouta nodded a little.
"Do you study flora, Shouta? You knew what the scientific name was for the Daisies."
"I, uh, I just know that's what they're called. I've always liked them. They seem to grow so freely."
The blonde Vampire gave a little nod as Evaline came bounding out of the patch of flowers. She positioned herself to purposely sit right between Shouta and Hizashi.
"Do you want a little crown, Evaline?"
The kitty chirped out a happy meow.
The black haired Were watched as Hizashi pulled four long stemmed flowers and began to carefully weave them. The blonde's long, elegant fingers made short work of the green bottoms. After only a few minutes, a little circle of four tiny daisies were worked together. Evaline purred happily as Hizashi placed it on the top of her head.
She turned to look up at Shouta. The Were wondered if this cat was the only one who could actually look continually smug. She got up and pranced in a little circle before jumping into her basket and settling down for a little nap.
Shouta unintentionally yawned. Despite the dreary looking weather, the ground was very warm. He couldn't help but be lulled by the wonderful scent of the flowers blowing in the cooling breeze. His golden eyes began to blink sleepily. He saw Hizashi reaching out to pick a few more of the daisies. Then he felt himself drift off, the image of the Vampire smiling at him gently easing him to sleep.
"....shouta?.....time....going to...."
The Werewolf bodyguard opened his eyes and blinked. He felt his throat catch a little when he saw how close Hizashi was to him. The golden haired other had laid down on his side beside him at some point in time. He wasn't sure how to exactly react but Hizashi simply started talking again.
"Shouta, we had better get up and head back into the mansion. The temperature has dropped and I can hear thunder. We don't want to get rained on."
The raven haired Were gave a short nod before he felt something move on his head. His sharp sense of smell picked up the distinct scent of the Wild Daisies. He reached up and touched the top of his hair. His fingertips could feel the softness of petals.
"I should have asked you before you fell asleep. But I made you a crown too. You seemed to like the flowers so much." Hizashi almost whispered.
Shouta realized at that moment that the blonde was blushing just a little. He also realized he was blushing just a bit too.
"Um... Thank you." Shouta murmured.
Hizashi seemed to brighten at that. Their quiet moment was interrupted by a distressed yowl. Hizashi's attention immediately turned to Evaline. The black fluff was staring angrily up at the sky. The Vampire's sharp green eyes saw a single drop of rain had splashed over the cat's fur.
"Oh dear, we had best hurry. Evaline will never forgive me if we don't get inside."
Shouta raised an eyebrow and stood with his employer. Hizashi quickly scooped up the basket. Evaline sank her claws into the cushion indicating she wanted her master to move quicker.
The duo and Evaline quickly navigated to the back doors. Just as Hizashi managed to get his precious cargo through the entryway, the clouds opened up. He pulled Shouta in by his hand just in time before the Were got drenched.
The two stood there looking out at the pouring rain. Hizashi was still unconciously holding Shouta's hand.
Golden eyes glanced down. Shouta could feel a little ball of saliva catch in his throat as he looked at Hizashi who was still gazing outside. The Vampire's attention turned to Shouta. They both stood still, neither seeming to know exactly what to do next.
The decision was made by a protesting Meow.
"Oh Evaline!" Hizashi exclaimed, releasing Shouta's hand. "You didn't get wet but I'm sure you're cold. Let's go to my quarters and get you in a blanket."
The black cat hopped out of her basket and jumped into Hizashi's arms. Shouta followed behind, not even paying attention to the whispers of some of the other help about the flowers that were sitting on his head.
The two reached Hizashi's bedroom door. The blonde was talking to Evaline. He set the cat down and she trotted inside.
"Why don't you go and have a nap?" Hizashi suggested. "I will be in my room for the rest of the afternoon."
Shouta mutely nodded.
Hizashi returned the nod before disappearing into his quarters.
Shouta's room was right next door. The Werewolf stepped inside. The moment between them at the garden door was weighing heavily on his mind as he looked out the window.
His room was beyond fancy compared to most quarters for his kind. He had a nice bed, a desk and chair, a bookcase and even his own small washing room. Shouta lifted the flower crown off his head. He paused before the sweet smell drifted up into his nose again. He looked around his room until he saw a decorative low rimmed bowl.
The golden eyed Were retrieved his washing pitcher and poured some of the lukewarm water into the bowl. He then took the circle of daises and placed them in the middle. The petals of the flowers floated delicately on the top.
Shouta realized it was the first gift he had ever been given.
And it was given to him by a Vampire.
He was so lost in thought that he for a few moments he didn't notice the sound at his door. His attention quickly went to the bottom crack of the door. He could see something being pushed underneath. Shouta left the bowl and then knelt down.
A small little crown of daisies was being pushed through the opening. He could see an ebony paw working hard to make sure it got through. Shouta carefully caught the flowers and drew them inside.
He stood and opened the door. All he saw was a puffy black tail vanish back into her master's quarters. And the bare glimmer of golden hair disappearing with her.
Shouta closed the door and looked at the small group of flowers in the palm of his hand. He walked over to the dish and set the much tinier crown in the center of his.
He had been given a second gift now.
And it was given to him by Evaline.
The rain was coming down outside but Shouta didn't really hear it. Instead, he listened through the wall to Hizashi singing softly to his beloved cat.
Shouta laid on his bed, the bowl right where he could still see it and let his eyes close. Memories of the previous events came flooding to him and despite his best efforts to refrain from doing it, he couldn't stop from smiling to himself.
Today was a good day.
THE END!