Chapter Text
Willow always knew that once they returned from the Human Realm that things would move quickly, and that they wouldn’t be able to stay at Hexside forever. And in a lot of ways, she was right.
They were able to accomplish so much in those few short months, and now those months were years ago. At twenty-two, Willow never regretted her choices as a teenager but often, she found herself wondering why things were they way they were. Or maybe, it was more likely that she was starting to wonder because of Luz and Amity’s impending wedding. And maybe also the fact that Gus and Matty were moving in together. Or even the fact that Eda and Raine were about to leave on a romantic couples get away…
She leaned her head into her hand as her elbow perched on the propagation desk of her greenhouse. She was perfectly happy with her life, she’d moved out from her dad’s place and started her own specialty store and was well renowned for her plant magic. She got to do what she loved everyday! Her thoughts drifted once more, she knew where the source of this unfulfilled feeling came from but ignoring it might just be easier.
The door chimed and she made quick work to remove herself from the back desk to the front of the atrium to greet her visitor. She knew it wouldn’t be a customer, Hunter always came in first thing before she had actually opened for the day.
“G’morning Hunter, where are you headed off to today?” She called out, a smile already on her face as the young man appeared, she noted how his expression did the same.
“Over to Hexside believe it or not! Another guest lecture today on the old regime with the history students and then back to the lab!” Hunter explained. Willow knew that he meant his shop when he said lab, and really it was a private apartment, but due to the nature of Hunter… People knew if they needed something strangely specific, he would have it and he would likely sell it to you if you provided information after.
“They’ve had you lecture on so many topics at this point, it's amazing that they haven’t hired you to teach!” She laughed but her words carried sincerity, and he knew it. They’d discussed each other's future at length and she knew she could always lean on him. Getting him to lean back was always the issue that stood between them.
“Sure, but then who would watch over my projects?” He inquired, a brow lifted and a good nature to his tone, clearly implying that his resolve was in jest. No surprise that the kid that was the biggest book-worm became the jack of all trades in their friend group, if you had a question he had an answer. If there was research to be done, he was going to try and do it.
“I mean, you’ve started to sell off some of your orchids.” She reasoned back, and he looked like he had been caught.
“You saw that?” He asked, guilty as charged.
“You think I don’t get every single one of your customers stopping in a few weeks after purchasing them asking why they weren’t able to keep the human realm plant alive?”
“I suppose that makes sense. Although I will say, shame on them, the books I provide on the care of those plants are quite thorough.” She laughed at his explanation, of course he would offer entire books instead of short tips or guides for care.
“I believe it, you were able to grow and multiply so many of them! I was starting to wonder which of us was actually the plant witch!” She hummed and he rolled his eyes.
“Sure. Because there is so little distinction between my single tropical human plant and your many talents for every plant in the two realms.”
“Hm, well maybe I’m just trying to butter you up to ask if you want to work here with me?”
“Pfft. Last time I offered to help you had a meltdown over my ‘research before watering’ technique-”
“Because the plants were going to die of thirst by the time you-”
“And that is why we don’t work together.” He concluded with her outburst, still smiling though his hands clasped together as he extended his fingers forward.
“Hmph. Well, can I make you a cup of tea before you go?” Willow decided to offer instead of continuing to argue.
“Oh! That would be really nice actually!” He perked up and she loved the way his pointed ears reflected his excitement. She loved how well she could read him… and she tried to squash that thought.
“Of course, my batch of dried Knee’s mint should be ready for brewing.”
“My favorite!” He exclaimed, though he didn’t have to say it, she already knew. She walked into her back office, up the stairs were her personal living quarters but she always kept a human electric kettle and a mug present for Hunter in case he took her up on the offer. It made it easier for him to accept her acts of kindness if he saw it took little effort.
“Backing up a little bit though, why are you selling the Orchids? I know how much you love them.” She asked over her shoulder as she prepared the leaves and the water.
“No reason really.” He spoke without absolutes.
“Really?”
“Yes? Does there need to be a reason?”
“Um, I guess, I just expected you to have one. You’re so methodological…” She poured the hot water over the leaves, watching them dance back to life for just a moment before handing it to Hunter.
“You know me well.” He said, still offering no explanation, but now Willow felt herself grow even more curious.
“Hm.” But before she could inquire further he asked after her own day.
“I have a couple of shipments coming in from the Toes and then sending out a few specialty orders. I know Darius requested more Human Roses, so I’ll have to dig through my seed vaults to find the red ones he liked. He was very particular about the color pallet last time.”
“Sounds like Darius.” Hunter rolled his eyes and sipped on the still incredibly hot tea. If she didn’t know about his ability to be unfazed by boiling water she would’ve had a fit about self preservation- maybe she should have that fight anyway.
“Yeah well, I guess it’s just another day of doing the magic I love to do.” He smiled widely at that, his sincerity for her happiness was always front and center in their conversations.
“Great. Well, thank you again for the tea. I’ll see you at the owl house for game night later?” Hunter asked, setting down his empty mug, tea leaves remaining. He stood up and they made their way back to the front of her glass building, always within a few inches of bumping into one another or accidentally touching hands.
“Yep! I’ll see you there!” She answered and unlocked her front door once more, customers surely to come in after he left as it was near the top of the hour.
“Cool. Have a great day Captain.” She echoed the sentiment and off he went in the direction of her old school. She didn’t know exactly why she felt like sighing, but she did and it didn’t relieve her any once it was out.
Walking back quickly, she picked up his mug and began to read the leaves, hoping for any additional hint about his day. It was a hobby she had picked up following the beginning of their morning routine. It felt more like a ritual these days, to covet any information he gave her and if she used the mug right after him for her own cup of tea… what he didn’t know wouldn’t hurt him.
Inspecting the inside of the cup, rotating it clockwise so that she could read the more immediate future at the top of the mug… Plain as day, was the symbol of a heart.
Willow felt her heart rate jump, and she took off her glasses, rubbed her eyes and looked again. But nothing had changed, and a heart remained in the top quadrant.
Hunter was going to fall in love? Some one was about to admit their feelings to him? He would spark an old flame?
And suddenly Willow found her asking a third time that morning, why was he selling his prized orchids?
She had to call someone.
Gus was sitting in his office tinkering with different illusions for the children’s broadcasting program that Eda’s government was trying to create. Different colors and shapes, he felt himself often inspired by human cartoons from the time spent in the early mornings at Luz’s mom’s house.
Noticing his scroll start to buzz, Gus wondered first if he was late to a meeting and was relieved to see Willow’s face appear on screen.
“Hey Willow! How’s it goin’?” he cheerily asked.
“Hey Gus, its good! I um, I was just wondering. Well, I was just wondering if you knew why Hunter was selling his orchids?”
“Who knows why Hunter does so many things!” Gus laughed, sometimes the battle to understand their deeply traumatized friend wasn’t necessary to respect the decisions he made. He also happened to know exactly why Hunter was selling the human flowers, but Gus had been asked to stay quiet about it.
“I mean, I get that, I just didn’t know if he said anything about it to you…”
“He might’ve mentioned something, but what’s up? Something going through your mind?” Gus now felt guilty, holding onto what was a very small and very harmless secret. But he couldn’t spill the beans or the surprise would be ruined.
“Did he?!” She asked quickly before catching herself and coughing. “I mean, well, it just seemed odd and he said he didn’t have a reason for doing it which seemed way weirder… I just couldn’t believe that he wouldn’t have a reason.”
“All he said is that he’s trying to build up a savings. I know Darius was giving him financial lectures after he bought that run down airship a few months ago.”
“Oh. Right. I should’ve guessed that.” After seeing the heart in his cup she just assumed it was related, she slapped her hand to her forehead.
“You okay Willow?”
“I um. I have a customer coming in! Bye Gus! See you tonight!” And she hung up on him.
Gus hummed. What Willow didn’t know about this wouldn’t kill her, but he ultimately decided against warning Hunter that she might be onto him. Those two just needed to finally get together and all his problems would disappear.
Luz, free in the afternoons from most forms of work as the Human realm ambassador, often found herself running over to Hexside to see if she could talk to the kids in the Human fan club or chat with Principal Bump who could never admit how much he appreciated her insight to the mentoring of students. She loved giving him a good razzing ever since she graduated, it was no doubt from being raised by Eda who also loved to stop by now that she was part of the new government and couldn’t be haunted by old graffiti.
It was also fun when she ran into Hunter sitting outside the door of one of his many Ted talks, a reference that he would understand because it was the majority of the TV content he watched in the Human Realm. No doubt he was giving them a 15 minute break. Luz knew how sad he could get if he noticed students falling asleep and this had been a happy middle ground he had recently started affording the students and himself.
“Hey Hunter! You coming over tonight?” Luz affectionately and enthusiastically asked her favorite blondie.
“Yep. How was the morning advocacy meeting?”
“Pft, went easy peasy. You know I have a way with people.” She finger gunned and winked.
“Good. I know Lilith was worried about this one-”
“Oh she was sweating bullets! It would’ve been so funny if it wasn’t concerning! But no worries, we got everything sorted!”
“Right… Did you have free time this afternoon?” He inquired, trying to put out the thought of his childhood hero sweating in a meeting.
“Sure do, was about to go talk shit with Principal Bump.”
“I’m not surprised. But if you’re free, would you mind heading over to Willow’s and keeping her company for a little bit? I saw her this morning and, well, I suppose I am concerned because she sighed after I left. She might be in need of a friend to talk with.” He asked.
Hunter was a very easy book to read once you got to know him, and Luz always thought it was cute how he clearly couldn’t read Willow who he spent all his free time with. Luz knew the girl had it bad, just like she knew Hunter did, and offered him an easy smile.
“Sure. It’s been a hot minute since we’ve hung out just the two of us! And I'll be sure to drag her over to game night after, if that's what you’re concerned about.” He flushed red for a brief second.
“No, I know she plans on coming to game night. I just thought it would be nice if you surprised her.” He huffed.
“Riiight. Well, good luck with your projects today, let me know how it goes with the drone magic!” She waved and ran off knowing how much he would argue with her for saying ‘right’ the way she did. Luz decided that she would save herself one of his rants and make her way over to Willow’s, excited for the way she was going to look when Luz explained why she was there.
Hunter waved her off and went back to his lecture, the 15 minute intermission concluding. He did his best to put Luz out of his mind (trying not to wonder about Willow was impossible) so he could try and manage at least this much. He needed to go back in and explain the complexities of architectural oppression under an unjust government after all, and no one was better educated on the topic than him.
The afternoon sun could be so brutal on the Boiling Isles.
Willow had just sent off another dead-orchid owner and she was starting to find herself flustered at the prospect of just so many of his collection being sold just to be slaughtered. The witches coming in were all female somehow, and that only heightened her anxiety, maybe he already met the love he was destined to? She didn’t realize how many people actually visited his workbench turned shop until suddenly half the city seemed to own these stupid human plants! Stupid human plants that Hunter loved and that all seemed to be poorly cared for!
She went back to watering her own plants, the majority of her customers gone and the business rush over for the day. She couldn’t help herself from wondering about this morning, his lack of answers when the conclusion was so simple …why wouldn’t he just say he was saving up after making stupid expensive purchases?
And then a thought appeared and she felt like should have slapped herself for thinking it: Why didn’t he sell her an Orchid?
Spiraling, she knew that he would never accept her cash but still, they had been studying that plant together all those years ago in the human realm and she didn’t have a single one. Not that she didn’t have other plants from Hunter, because Titan knows she had entire rooms filled with specimens and seeds he brought her from his travels and research. But she didn’t have any flowers from him.
She was so in her own mind at that point, that if not for the chime on the door she would’ve missed Luz practically skipping into the greenhouse. Her favorite human was smiling from ear to ear and it was a relaxing sight for Willow.
“Hi Luz! What brings you in?”
“Just stopping by! Doing a favor for Hunter~”
“Oh? What’s the favor? What did he need?” Willow jumped at the opportunity to ask.
“Ooohh nothing in particular! He just heard you ‘sigh’ this morning when he left and wanted me to check on you~!” Willow swallowed her own spit at Luz’s tone describing the events.
“He thought I was sad?” She decidedly wasn’t surprised that he heard her, underestimating him was always a fatal flaw. Hunter was known to send in his empathetic friends when he suspected something, not that he wouldn’t step in if there was immediate cause, just that he considered them all better experienced at comfort.
“He thought you might need friend time, and here I am!” She smiled brightly, forever shining like a star. Willow returned the smile, grateful to have friends looking out for her but troubled by her Hunter-occupied thoughts nonetheless.
“I’m glad you’re here! Let me just finish up and we can chill for some snacks! Head on up to my place, I'll be there in a second!” Luz nodded and started to wander off, and Willow was sent back into her thoughts despite her now trying to focus on finishing her plant care routine as quickly as possible to get over to her friend. Few spells called forward in addition to her manual labor, things were looking perfect when she heard Luz call out.
“Going to make a cup of tea!” and Willow prayed that she wouldn’t inspect the mug by the sink too closely, Hunter’s tea leaves reading just sitting there for interpretation.Luz was ever fascinated in magic that had crossed over to the Human Realm ages ago, tarot cards and tea leaves included. But Willow’s silent prayer to the Titan went unanswered and as soon as she walked to the back of her shop after locking the store front doors, she saw Luz holding it with a big grin on her face.
“Willow! I don’t know if you saw, but you-”
“That’s Hunter’s mug.” She fessed up quickly and Luz made a ‘surprise-pikachu’ face as she liked to call it.
“Oh?” She pondered looking down at the mug, and then looking back up to her friend who was clearly tightly drawing her mouth into a straight line.
“Oh! Well, that’s exciting! What did he say when you told him?”
“I, uh, didn’t.”
“You read his leaves and didn’t tell him!?” She practically squealed, always excited when her friends had rebellious streaks, and always especially surprised by Willow’s. And Luz didn’t think Willow could look guiltier if she had killed a man.
“Well he has tea here like every other morning and um, I kind of read them, uh, a lot. He tends to rush out after finishing the mug.” She fessed up, a pink hue to her cheeks and a dejected look to the floor.
“Interesting! I don’t blame you at all, and I doubt he would mind. Only thing is, you’ve kinda definitely gotta tell him this one! This is huge! You know he hates surprises and he really should be looking out for whoever is in love with him!” She tried to sympathize but excite her friend at the same time, trying her best to dismiss Willow’s feelings of guilt.
“Yeah I guess I should…” Her shoes were suddenly very interesting to inspect.
“What’s on your mind Wills?” Luz asked softly, trying not to push her friend into confessing something she didn’t want to.
“Well, it's just... He’s been selling his Orchids and he wouldn’t tell me why. And then ‘cause it was bothering me, I called Gus and then Gus said that he was just trying to build up a savings, but if that was right then why wouldn’t Hunter just say that?”
“...So you’re upset he’s selling flowers?”
“Ha, I wish! I’m just… preoccupied with the fact that he’s keeping stuff from me all of a sudden. And with the tea leaves this morning, my mind has just gone all over, reaching for conclusions.”
“Well, then take the future into your own hands and become the one the tea leaves are talking about!” She very helpfully suggested, or at least, in her mind it was helpful. Willow however, looked like she’d been struck by lightning.
“Don’t look at me like that! It makes perfect sense! You guys are obvious besties and like, there’s no way he wouldn’t be down to at least try!” Willow still didn’t respond.
“I mean… You do feel that way about him, don’t you?” Luz was losing steam.
Willow began to pace around the back room, bright red and clearly mulling over Luz’s encouragement. She wasn’t responding but was clearly trying to come to a conclusion.
“Willow?”
“Okay fine! Sure! I do! I totally adore him and I might be super jealous that other people have flowers from his prized collection!”
Luz opened her mouth to reply but Willow got started up.
“So, let’s just go to game night, have a normal night and then at the end, I’ll ask that he walk me home. Which! He normally does anyway! And then I’ll tell him about the leaves and ask if he wants to get coffee! He loves any excuse to get that stupid human potion so he shouldn’t say no, and then, in the human realm, I’ll confess! It’s not foolproof but it might work!” She plotted out as Luz continued to absorb her friend's anxiety.
“Huh, yeah that sounds good.”
“Okay.” Willow looked determined, an unstoppable force.
“Okay?”
“Yes. So long as you don’t bring up the leaves early, and Gus doesn’t mention that I called him, everything should be smooth sailing.” She looked pointedly at her human friend, but then casually laughed and tried to ask about her own day. Luz began to mull over how to pull Amity and Gus into a plan to finally set them up.
Amity was there early, which was how it normally worked. She would come over from the library, her and Luz would have a little bit of comfort time together and then their friends would arrive. So when Amity walked through the door, said her hello’s to Eda, she was surprised to see Gus hanging out on the couch.
“Hey Gus, You haven’t happened to see-”
“I think Luz might still be at Hexside? Eda didn’t know either but I'm sure she’ll be over in a little bit.” Gus shrugged and set down his scroll (no doubt having been texting with Matty who was currently traveling).
“Well alright then, it’s not like her to be late but I'm sure she’ll have a good reason. How was your day?”
“It was good! Well, Willow called me today about Hunter and I’m still thinking it over.”
“About the surprise? What did she say?”
“I didn’t give it away! I said that he was saving up some money and I kind of insinuated that those were his only goals.”
“Oof, I can’t imagine she bought that.”
“No but what was I supposed to do! I thought we had more time before she realized that he was selling them!”
“You did your best, and ultimately if the surprise is ruined it was still a valiant effort and-”
“What surprise?” Luz and Willow stood in the door frame looking at their friends conspiring with one another, both unsure about the topic of conversation as they walked in. Amity didn’t like to keep anything from her fiancé but Luz was horrible at secrets related to her close friends, she couldn’t plan a surprise if her life depended on it.
“Uh, just a way later birthday plan for you dearest! Willow, I’ll tell you about it later!” Amity made the snap judgement to try and make the situation not about the plant witch. Plus, Luz loved surprises and wouldn’t mind being left out if it meant for a kick-ass birthday (in a few months).
“Okie doke! Are we just waiting on Hunter?” Luz agreed happily enough, sitting down and grabbing her fiancé's hand to intertwine their fingers. They exchanged a short peck and Amity was glad that they were still smooth sailing. Now the problem child just needed to not ruin his own surprise. Then the problem child arrived.
“Nevermind! Welcome in Hunter!” Luz called out and the blond was happy for the greeting. Willow smiled at him as he sat his things down and took his spot at her side, and Hunter readily met it.
“Okay, so the name of this game is…” Gus began, pulling out a new-to-them human card game for them to crack into for the night.
“See you all later!” Amity called as Hunter, Gus and Willow made their exit. Gus shot back a short raspberry noise and she called him a sore loser before closing the door back.
“Man, can you believe her? Wins a few rounds of Exploding Kittens and thinks she can just say-”
“I mean, you are kind of being a sore loser.” Willow laughed at Gus as he stomped around.
“Ugh I guess that’s possible….” Gus said sourly.
“Alright here’s my fork in the road! Hunter, make sure Willow gets back safely!” He called out and suddenly ran off to his normal route.
“I suppose I’m walking you home then?” He chuckled.
“Don’t you always?” Willow countered, suddenly nervous about putting her early plan into motion. It had been so nice to hang out in the group and ignore her feelings, it’s why she had never done anything up until this point.
“I do try… Would you mind making a stop at my lab really quickly though? After our chat this morning I was thinking about the Orchid situation.”
“Oh, uh, sure. I don’t have anything else and Wednesday mornings are always slow. What’re you thinking about?”
“Um, just, after you told me that they aren’t coming back in great condition, well. I was thinking I’ve only got a few left, so you should probably have them. If you want them! I mean, if you want them they’re yours!”
“You’re not going to keep any?” Willow frowned.
“I’ll keep my favorite one, and the others I will see when I visit you everyday. If you don’t want one that’s absolut-”
“Of course I want one!” She squeaked and he kind of turned to her as they walked, not looking ahead like he normally would.
“I wasn’t sure if, well. I just thought it might be pretty lame for me to give an all-powerful plant Witch a plant as a gift.”
“Not lame at all.” She reassured him, happy to bury one of the hatchets that had been chopping on her mental health all day.
“Good. Ah, here we are, mind your step.” He pulled open the familiar door, and in true human sci-fi fashion, it appeared to be a much smaller building until you stepped into it. Luz said it gave ‘TARDIS energy’ whatever that meant, and Hunter was ever the organizer, the space had been used to its capacity. Different shelves and filing cabinets, storage units and safes, the whole space could’ve been mistaken as a highly efficient museum collection. Her eyes skimmed over the many clear bottles and the eclectic things he had strewn about with his books.
“New Dinosaur bones?” She inquired looking over his desk as Hunter took off into one of the many side rooms. She knew exactly where he kept his plants in a small room with a window, and she gave him a moment before joining him in the cozier space. It was more of a closet than a room, and two people standing in it was pretty much full occupancy given the amount of storage and foliage it contained.
“Yes! Luz brought them back, I am inspecting them for any prehistoric magic. The goal is trying to help determine where our species overlap between realms.” She heard him call out, and found herself more willing to talk about her other hatchet while he was a room away. The whole place was pretty circular aside from his bedroom, and it made walking through the entire lab via short hallways exceptionally easy.
“Hey uh, can I tell you something kind of weird? It’s unrelated to dinosaurs unfortunately.” She called out, stepping into his small library, still within a distance where he would hear her clearly. She was just less likely to be seen by him this way.
“Sure?” He called out.
“Well, crazy thing is. I kind of read your tea leaves after you left this morning.” She practically yelled, going further away into another room. He began walking from the botanical closet and back to the main room that she had vacated.
“Oh? Do I die in the Human realm or this one?” He called out, trying to joke about the leaves while wondering what all they could possibly say. Did it give away his surprise for her?
“Well, I don’t look at that kind of stuff, but uh. There was something in the more immediate timeline that it showed.” She called out, continuing to speed walk through the maze of interconnected rooms, she knew it looped back to the entry way after all.
“Uh, and what was it?” He felt flustered, feeling more and more determined that the fates had ruined everything like they always did. He began to try and catch up a little faster, speed walking and closing the gap between them. She was only a few rooms away it sounded, and he was determined that she wouldn’t beat him in this race. What he didn’t realize, is that as Willow contemplated speaking the truth she couldn’t get her feet to work any more.
“A heart.” she said, kind of weakly and not at the volume she had been using as she walked circles around him.
“A heart?” Hunter repeated, now behind her. Willow gasped and turned around, seeing him but two feet away and awkwardly taking in the information. He looked pink, and given his extreme workout ‘patrol’ regimen, she knew it wasn’t from chasing her.
“Yeah. Clear as day too.” She tried really hard to hold eye contact, but it felt like his magenta eyes were peering through her. She didn’t expect him to laugh.
“That’s a good one. Oh, and perfect, we looped back around. Here, there are only three left, pick a favorite.” He deflected and then moved to the small green room once more. She followed him, fully flushed, and began to observe the odd human blooms. He knew right away which one she liked better, Willow lacked a poker face when it came to plant judgment.
“I know you’re really self deprecating still but I’m serious! Your leaves clearly made a-” Hunter frowned at her, and she stopped herself, waiting instead for his response. She stood facing the wall of human plants and tried to keep herself calm.
“I don’t doubt what you saw. I just doubt the fates would be that kind.” She turned to face him as he said it, his otherwise rough features completely soft and without distress. He looked tired, but his bags weren’t as deep as when they first became friends. He wasn’t far from her, and feeling bold, she reached forward to grab his gloved hand taking it into both of her own. Her eyes shone with a fire he was used to seeing in battle or in their recreational derby team.
“Hunter, if you believe what I saw, don’t doubt me then.”
“I won’t, but on one condition.” He cleared his throat and tried to pretend his face wasn’t in a full tomato hue.
“Name your price.” She laughed a little but didn’t release his hand.
“Just, tell me. Did it really bother you to see me sell the Orchids?”
“I am going to kill Gus-”
“Gus?” Hunter was confused to say the least.
“Didn’t he tell you that I-” And Willow watched him shake his head in a state of horror that she basically just admitted to talking to their friend about the flowers.
“So it did bother you then?”
“Maybe. Maybe, I just don’t understand why you didn’t ask me to buy them from you?”
“I would’ve given them all to you, I’m sorry for being confusing.” He gave another non-answer to her inquiry, but she didn’t doubt his sincerity.
“Well, why sell them to people who don’t know basic human plant needs? They’re stunning and you’ve been so proud of them, I don’t understand-” Hunter laughed a little then, trying clearly to keep himself together.
“I guess it’s hard to explain, but to those of us without a dedication to plant magic… They really are just plants. I just wish that I hadn’t upset you. I don’t-”
“It’s not that! Don’t you see the beauty of what they represent? We studied them together for so many hours when we were trapped in the Human realm! I thought you loved them!” Hunter blinked a few times, and Willow slapped a hand over her mouth, knowing that she had said too much and that he would pick up on her true meaning. She had let go of his hand in the process of covering her embarrassment, and with that hand free Hunter made little work of his next task.
Without intervening, Willow watched as he quickly cut off the orchid flowers from its inflorescence and stepped forward to gingerly place them in her hair, just above her ear. She didn’t remember if she had lungs, if breathing was something she ever did naturally in his presence.
He leaned down after affixing the pink blooms in her hair, and quickly kissed her cheek, just to the side of her mouth. Pulling back from whatever shred of ego that had possessed him to act without thinking, he took in the sight of the speechless Willow.
“I think, as they are now, that's the most beautiful the plant has ever looked to me.” He braved eye contact again and he was glad he did, Willow blushing was the most breathtaking sight.
“I-I, uh, I” She began to stammer, before finding her captain’s bravery. Observe, adapt and overcome. She grabbed his hand in one of her own and grabbed his shirt collar, making quick work of pulling him down to her height and kissing him properly.
It felt like hours had passed, but their kiss lasted a few seconds. His lips were chapped and hers were still waxy from a balm she used earlier in the evening. He returned the same delightful pressure that she applied and his hand cupped her face just beneath the flowers in her hair. Hunter felt like his whole body was on fire and numb at the same time, and he hoped the sensation would scar, remaining on his skin until the end of days.
Pulling back, Willow looked more determined than ever.
“I’m one the fates put in your teacup this morning.” She said, full conviction in her tone and steel in her eyes. Hunter grinned, his naturally boyish grin, dimples and all. Willow couldn’t help herself and smiled at the sight of his joy.
“Now that’s something I really don’t think I’m lucky enough to-” And she kissed him again. And then again. And as she reached forward to kiss him for a third time, he beat her to it.
When they finally left (Hunter had promised to get her home after all) they walked with their fingers intertwined. She held her favorite of the three Orchids in one hand, and he held the one he had cut the flowers from. They decided that they would each have one and repair the third together.
Dropping her off at her door, he handed over the plant with another small kiss.
“I’ll see you in the morning?” She asked, hesitant to know how this might change things.
“I’ll be here.” Hunter affirmed, grinning and then slowly making his way back to his lab. She watched him walk for a little bit before finally closing the door and setting the plants into their new home.
She busied herself with removing the blooms from her hair. After admiring them for a few moments and blushing again at his words, Willow decided it would be better if she preserved them in silica dust so that she might admire them until the end of time.
Going to sleep wasn’t easy. When he messaged her that he got home safely, she couldn’t help herself but stay up a few extra hours thinking about the fact that she had actually kissed him.
It was only right before she was about to fall asleep that she realized… She still didn’t know why he had been selling them in the first place.