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It starts innocuously, on a Monday morning.
Barou is checking up overnight orders on his laptop screen while he’s snipping some peonies for Mother’s Day bouquets ; he’s having a decent influx of orders because it’s The Season, and he sifts through them swiftly as he multitasks.
He recognizes some recurring clients - Mr. Tanaka is picking up a bouquet of aster flowers and daisies for his twenty-third wedding anniversary today, and he has to prepare an arrangement of blue hydrangeas for the Adachi family’s baby shower tomorrow.
He squints as he reads the rabid email of a frantic bridezilla requesting two hundred color coordinated flower centerpieces of wine orchids and golden chrysanthemum, to be delivered this Friday, at 10 AM sharp. He doesn’t even entertain the idea of replying and just trashes the email ; he even blocks the IP address for good measure.
Then he’s left with his final request ; it’s a name he’s never seen before - Isagi Yoichi. This client is requesting a bouquet of pink lilies and orange ranunculus, to be addressed to “ My dear Atsuko “ and ready to pick up by 4 PM. Barou is impressed ; it’s a surprisingly delicate floral combination. This man is knowledgeable about flowers.
The doorbell chimes at exactly four, and Barou’s head lifts from the card he’s just finished marking with his precise calligraphy. He’s met with the most average man he’s ever seen in his life ; he’s kind of short (Barou is tall), sports a mop of short dark hair and bangs, perfectly coiffed if not for the two little strands of hair sprouting from the top of his head (Barou has long hair that falls to his shoulder, and he takes good care of it). He dresses nicely, though - a tailored dark blue suit and shiny brown Oxford shoes (Barou wears a green linen apron with his name embroidered in white by his own mother).
“ Hi, I’m here to pick up some flowers, “ the man speaks as he walks to the counter, eyes lifting up from his cellphone.
They’re big, and bright - intriguing, if Barou cared to admit it. They shine with life pooling in the deep blue of his irises, and they pierce right through Barou’s thoughts, in tandem with the light smile dancing on his lips.
It makes him a little flustered.
“ I need your name, “ he replies unceremoniously.
He’s usually a little more polite than that, since Barou cares deeply about professionalism ; but something about this guy unnerves him. Call it a hunch.
” Isagi Yoichi, “ he simply says, and picks up his cellphone when it starts ringing from his pocket.
“ Oh, yes - I need to fix the card to the bouquet, “ Barou gestures at the piece of paper on the counter in front of him.
“ Can you just - hurry up a little bit, “ Isagi replies back, a little curt ; someone is screaming in the speaker of his phone, and the short man frowns, starts replying in an irritated fashion.
Barou lets out a ‘tsk’, annoyed ; stellar first impression. He didn’t appreciate getting bossed around in his own shop - the energy was bad for the flowers.
He goes to the bouquet and starts tying up the little card with a white ribbon ; he half-listens to Isagi talk in a hushed tone at the counter, something about steaks and a bad wine pairing.
When he’s back to deliver the final order, Barou doesn’t even have time to usher a meaningless “ Thank you for coming - “ that Isagi is already gone, still stuck on his cellphone call, not a single care in the world for Barou and the pristine flower arrangement he just provided.
One of his eye twitches.
I hope you choke on your stupid steak.
_____
Two days later, there’s a new order from Isagi Yoichi - Barou is speechless.
It’s red roses and white tulips this time ; a much more traditional, and boring flower arrangement. Barou wishes he could ban people from ordering bouquets of roses and tulips, but then his business would probably go under. What intrigues him, though, beside the nature of the flowers, is the card - It’s addressed to “ Himari “ this time.
That’s certainly odd.
He’s ready by 3:30 PM, and spends half an hour waiting for the short man to cross the door so he can glare at him with the aura of a mad bull at a corrida.
(He’s certainly not going to be nice to people who don’t even display bare minimum manners to hardworking individuals such as himself).
“ Hello, I’m here to pick up - “ Isagi stops dead in his tracks when he meets Barou’s ugly scowl looking at him with contempt.
Barou doesn’t say anything, makes the bouquet slide over the counter in a slow, resonating scratch against the counter ; anger is permeating around him, almost palpable in the air.
Isagi has the decency to appear a little bit shameful - Barou preens himself.
“ I suppose I was a little bit rude the other day, “ the brunette says rather sheepishly. “ I apologize. “
He’s rubbing at his neck, head hanging a little low, visibly embarrassed. When he looks back up his eyes are sparkling, and the man is pouting ; he looks like a puppy about to be kicked.
(Barou’s life is governed by a set of strict and meaningful rules, and one of them is that you should never kick a puppy, no matter the circumstances).
” Apology accepted, “ he grunts back - he tries not to think too hard about his heart doing somersaults when Isagi’s face lights up, all squished and smiling. “ Here’s the flowers. “
Isagi picks them up ; their fingers brush when the flowers exchange hands, and Barou has to refrain himself from commenting on how soft and moisturized they feel.
“ Your last bouquet was beautiful, by the way - so is this one. “ Isagi comments ; Barou accepts the praises because he’s good at his job and he knows it. “ I thought you should know. “
“ Yeah, thanks. “ He’s not paid to be charming.
Isagi chuckles ; when he looks at Barou again, it’s like he knows it’s all a facade. Barou is an intimidating guy - when he decides he doesn’t like someone, it’s written all over his face. It’s blunt honesty, if you want - Barou simply doesn’t have time to spend on people who don’t deserve it.
Isagi is not scared, somehow ; perhaps it’s a challenge to him. Or a way to make it up to Barou.
“ Well, I‘ll see you around, then. “
He’s waving as he opens the door to the outside, big bouquet in hands ; Barou realizes how weird of a statement it is when he stops fighting his brain about how stupidly happy he feels at the prospect of seeing Isagi again.
_____
Barou always says that two is a coincidence, and three's a pattern.
The very next day, Isagi’s order is there again, and this time it’s two bouquets - one is peace lilies, and the other a coordination or yellow, orange and white carnations. They’re addressed to Kaito and Yuriko respectively.
Barou is confused while he prepares the flower arrangements, still confused when he ties them all together in beautiful patterned wax paper, and remains confused when he writes down the names in elegant strokes on the name cards.
“ Hey, long time no see ! “ Isagi jokingly chirps when he gets in at four - it’s always four on the dot, sharp. (Punctuality is sexy, Barou thinks, but it’s neither here nor there.)
He’s dressed in another well-tailored suit, a three piece this time ; the overcoat is black with a subtle baroque pattern, and the undershirt a bright lime green. It’s kind of an horrid color combination, but it works for him somehow. He even gelled his hair a little bit, letting his forehead be exposed, and Barou thinks he should do that a lot more.
(Isagi has nice features, and a well proportioned face when you take the time to look at it properly.)
“ Busy night? “ Barou simply greets him, gesturing at the two bouquets.
“ You have no idea, “ Isagi sighs - he looks a bit tired, lying down casually against the counter.
Barou spots the dark circles under his eyes, and fights the urge to grunt at Isagi to get proper sleep. It’s not like it’s his business anyway (but maybe it should be).
” But hey - what else can a guy do ? “ he smirks at Barou, fingers strumming on the countertop right next to the bigger man’s hand.
“ I dunno, make sure to get eight hours of sleep every night ? “
Barou is bad at minding his own business - he scowls back at Isagi when the man rolls his eyes at him.
“ Ok, mother, “ his tone might be slightly mocking, however his face is nothing but gentle. “ Life’s too short to spend most of it asleep. “
Isagi winks, and with that, he’s on his leave.
Barou is left blushing, with so many questions burning on his tongue.
_____
“ I don’t get it, it’s been like that all month ! “
Barou is busy explaining the most recent development of his tranquil life with the guys at the bar.
Isagi has been picking up flowers almost every day for a month now. He definitely has bouquet patterns, and every time, the names are different. The most he’s picked in one go was four.
Barou is at his wits end - he’s nursing his beer while stretched out on his seat, passing a hand through the strands of his long hair. He’s been having a go at this mind puzzle for a couple weeks, and only one logical conclusion remained on his brain.
Isagi was a serial dater, and he dated both men and women.
Who else in their right mind would buy so many individual bouquets ?
“ On one hand, we all have to admit it’s impressive, “ Oliver Aiku slurs while downing his third pint of the night - arm wrapped around Sendou’s shoulders in a loving embrace.
“ Come on, even a manwhore like you didn’t manage to do hook ups on this absurd level, “ Sendou replies back, cheeks blushing ever so slightly, glaring at his ragged boyfriend.
“ Reformed manwhore, “ Oliver points into the air with his index finger.
“ He’s a bit of a romantic, if you think about it, “ Niko chirps in, sipping on a twisted straw from the strawberry daiquiri in front of him. “ Buying flowers for all of your hookups? Noble, and a tad unhinged. “
“ Very glam of him, “ Aryu agrees ; he’s drinking the pinkest cocktail Barou has ever seen, it’s almost radioactive. (He doesn’t even want to know what’s in it.)
Barou slouches a bit in his seat. This conversation is annoying to him, for some reason ; he might be the one to have brought the subject to the table, but it’s irritating to hear his friends talk about Isagi in that fashion.
” It’s worrying, “ Barou lets out.
Surely it was normal to care about a near stranger pulling tail up to four times in the same night, several times a week ?
His dick must be permanently chaffed, what the fuck.
Barou tries not to think about dicks too much, because it’s been a while since he has seen one that’s not his own - and Isagi is a really cute guy, as much as this thought is a torment to him.
“ Maybe he’s like a sex addict though, “ Aiku lets out pensively, cheek resting against his hand while he stares at the wall with fuzzy eyes.
Barou chokes on his beer ; he spends thirty seconds clawing at his throat while Niko pats him gently on the back, being of no help whatsoever.
“ ‘Would explain the compulsive need. I should know, I’m a former one myself, “ he’s looking for sympathy with puppy dog eyes, and finding none of it.
“ You’re not a former sex addict, you compulsive liar, “ Sendou shoves him up playfully with an elbow to the ribs. “ I don’t think this guy is either. This situation is just too strange. “
Sendou is frowning at his own drink, synapses working overtime. Everyone stays quiet for a second.
“ What if he is though? “ Niko chimes in, his daiquiri now empty. “ Maybe he does need help. “
“ You should help him, yes, “ Aryu agrees, staring at Barou with his sharp eyeliner.
” And what do you expect me to do about it, “ Barou hisses, busying himself with leaving wet circles of condensed water all over the table with his glass of beer. “ I don’t know him, I just prepare flowers for his wicked needs. “
That’s a half-truth ; Barou is starting to know Isagi. They chat for a bit whenever the man drops in, and it’s almost daily. He works nearby the flower shop, and it looks like it’s very demanding work. He has a dog named Müller, and he likes to watch soccer matches to unwind. They support opposite teams ; Barou gets to nag him about goals a couple times.
“ Maybe just slip him a pamphlet, or something, “ Niko says wisely, staring at Barou from under his bangs.
“ Or drag him to the back store of your shop and fuck his brains ou- “
The waitress has to intervene when Barou almost chokes Aiku to death at their table, and Barou gives her a nice tip.
_____
When Barou sees Isagi next, he is ready.
“ Hey, Barou ! “ Isagi’s voice is light, almost saccharine - it drives him nuts every time.
He’s stupidly stunning today, of all days, wearing Barou’s personal favourite suit : a royal blue three piece with a mustard coloured shirt, and matching Oxford shoes. His hair is gelled, and he smells like Armani and jasmine ; Barou would know the smell of flowers on anyone.
“ Here you are, you dunce, “ it was Isagi’s personal nickname from Barou’s vast vault of intellect, and it made the man chuckle every time.
Precisely why Barou called him that.
“ Don’t tell me you missed me already ? I was here, like, yesterday, ” Isagi looks smug about it - if the circumstances were different, Barou would almost entertain the thought that Isagi was flirting with him.
The sentence troubles him instead. Because that was the crux of his problem, was it not ? Isagi was here yesterday, picking up the most stunning orchid bouquet Barou had ever crafted - all tones matching one of a sunset.
” You must be missing me, you idiot - you’re here literally everyday. Almost. “ The man grunts, fighting with the blush on his cheeks really hard. Trying to goad Isagi into revealing his secret.
“ Yes, I’m here on business, “ Isagi retorts, and it’s like it always is - japes and jokes, all in good intent. “ Not to see you ugly mug, but we don’t always get what we want, do we? “
Barou snorts ; no, he sure didn’t get what he wanted, either. Who called hookups business anyway?
“ Careful with your tone, I might ban you from this flower shop one day - especially if Germany pulls a foul on Italy next week, “ and he scowls for good measure.
Isagi laughs again, picks up the bouquet of the day, a huge one that made his entire person almost disappear behind it.
This person must be extra special, Barou thinks - and ignore the pang of heartstrings playing against this chest.
He slips the bill on the counter, and clears his throat very loudly ; when Isagi looks up to him, confused, Barou glares at the number written in bold yet elegant calligraphy at the bottom of the bill. Next to the number, the words ‘Please call’ are written.
When Isagi looks back at Barou, there’s a dangerous smirk written all over his face, and his eyes shine with filthy thoughts barely hidden behind.
This guy is definitely deranged.
It doesn’t prevent Barou from closing the shop after Isagi leaves, so he can take a long break and wash his face with cold water so it stops burning with the intensity of the sun.
_____
Barou is an equal mix of happy and surprised when Isagi is there the next day, but it quickly sours when he notices that 1) Isagi is there at 11 AM, and 2) the man seems on the brink of setting fire to his flower shop with how murderous he looks.
“ What the fuck is your problem, “ Isagi hisses as he slaps both his hands hard on Barou’s counter.
Barou almost screams back to watch the furniture, but he’s more worried about Isagi coming here to pick up a fight.
“ You tell me ? “ He huffs back, preserving his bruising ego by frowning deeply at the shorter man.
Isagi sneers ; it’s ugly, and a little titillating.
” I called your number, “ his voice was full of contempt, a jet black fuel spreading everywhere around Barou like burning tar. “ Is that your idea of a prank ? “
Now, Barou is just plain confused - what was this guy’s hangup ? Barou was nothing but nice to him.
“ Why would I prank you ? I’m an adult, I have a job. I even pay taxes. “ Barou is getting a slight headache ; he’s glaring back at Isagi, trying to contain himself a little bit before things get physical.
” Because you’re insane ? I don’t know ? “ Isagi throws back his hands in the air, and he looks like he’s a second away from pulling apart at strands of his soft hair. “ You don’t know me, why did you ask me to call this place out of all places? “
Barou gets up from behind the counter, walks slowly to Isagi ; glares at him some more, and it’s almost intimidating because they’ve never stood this close to each other, and jasmine mixes with iron in his nostrils.
“ I’m just trying to help you, “ Barou insists, and he looks worried. “ Please calm down. “
Isagi is still extremely angry, and his fists clench against his sides, but he seems to wind down a little bit.
“ Whatever, “ he spits, and somehow he looks a little bit sad ; lets it slip away on his face before regaining a mask of nothingness. “ We’re done here. “
Barou watches him walk up to the door, figures this is the last time they’ll ever talk ; before he pushes against the metal handle, Isagi looks back one last time.
“ I thought you were giving me your number. It’s been a while since I got someone interested in me, but I guess I was mistaken ; my apologies. “
And Barou needs to process the words as Isagi leaves his shop.
What ?!
He rushes out of the door ; silence reigns in the empty flower shop as the chiming bell of the door stops ringing.
_____
“ ISAGI, WAIT - “
Barou is running after the man, but Isagi walks in surprisingly wide strides for someone with such short legs. He doesn’t seem like he’s about to stop, so Barou doubles his efforts and channels his past track scholarship from college as he hunts the brunette down.
“ I said to WAIT - “ he grabs at Isagi’s shoulder, forces him to turn - face his ineptitude at social skills.
Isagi refuses to look up ; his cheeks are crimson, his face furrowed, and he might even be on the verge of crying. Barou would think it’s quite the pathetic sight, if he wasn’t responsible for the torment himself.
“ Leave me alone, Barou, “ Isagi spits at him, and he tries to wiggle himself out of Barou’s grasp - he fails miserably.
Barou holds him hostage, his shoulders held in a firm grip with strong hands ; tries to get Isagi to look at him, to look at the silent plea on his face.
“ I really need you to listen to me - “ but then, Isagi shoves into him violently, facial traits distorted in an ugly sneer.
” You’re a moron if you think I will listen to anything you have to say. “
Barou panics when he sees Isagi walk away, again ; his brain fizzles out, thoughts a blazing short-circuit of contradicting information.
“ I LIKE YOU, YOU IDIOT, “ Barou spurts out in the most desperate way he can.
Isagi barely has any time to react when the worst thing Barou could think of happen ; he feels something cold and slimy drops on his forehead, and starts slipping down slowly.
Barou lifts a finger, collects the strange substance in a pale dot - it’s bird shit.
Both of them slowly look up ; surely, a bunch of pigeons are perched on top of a giant neon sign, just above them.
Isagi looks down in an equally slow manner, and Barou follows his gaze. Everywhere around his feet are dried feces dotting the sidewalk like a demented oeuvre d’art.
Barou is about to turn his back on Isagi and walk directly into Sumida river to join the fishes when he hears a hopeful sound - Isagi chuckling.
He chuckles, and it turns to laughter, to full blown belly laugh. The bird shit dries on his forehead as he watches Isagi wheezing, losing his breath to the hilarity of it all, and he can’t blame him - he starts laughing himself.
” Ok, I’ll hear what you have to say, “ Isagi finally says, out of breath, whipping away the tears from his beautiful blue eyes. “ I think you deserve it after that. “
They sit on a sidewalk nearby, putting some distance from another potential bird poop incident ; it smells like fresh cut grass around them, and the sun feels warm against their skin. It’s quiet, nice.
“ I’m bad at apologies, so I’m only gonna say this once, “ Barou starts, not daring to look back at Isagi quite yet. “ I’m deeply sorry. “
Crimson taints his cheeks while Isagi gently listens to him ; Barou thinks it’s a miracle the brunette still has the leniency to deal with his ass, and remembers to visit a shrine soon to pay his dues.
“ I misunderstood your, uh, situation completely. “ he blurts out pathetically, scratching his nails against his nape to try and ground himself a little bit.
“ I think it’s a gross understatement, but yes, “ Isagi curtly replies, squinting at Barou - he was clearly still upset at him. “ What were you thinking was happening ? “
Barou gulps ; now that he thinks about the whole situation, it’s so fucking idiotic - and ok, he was definitely a part of the problem but his bunch of useless friends made it even worse, somehow.
(He takes a mental note to set a turd on fire on Aiku’s doorstep and leave it there to burn.)
” I thought all those flowers were for your, hum, dates, “ he lets out pitifully. “ And that you were a sex addict. “
When he dares look back at Isagi, the man is mortified - he looks at Barou like he is deranged, and Barou thinks he deserves it.
” I need a moment to process this. “ Isagi replies with a blank voice.
They stay silent for a minute, and it’s awkward as fuck. Barou imagines that Isagi is probably debating if Barou needs to get a scan for brain damage, and frankly, he can’t blame him.
When Isagi talks again, Barou listens in shame.
“ I manage a newly opened luxury restaurant in the neighborhood, and we offer all sorts of fancy options for reservation - it includes customized flower bouquets for guests. “ Isagi quirks an eyebrow at Barou, half-smiling, half-mad still. “ It’s part of my job to pick them up before the opening. “
It all makes sense now - Barou is a profound idiot.
“ I see, “ is all he can manage, but it reassures him to see Isagi lightly chuckles at him.
“ So no, I am not a sex addict, “ and it’s a little bit like twisting a knife in an open wound, but Barou takes it. “ In fact, I haven't been railed in a while myself. “
Barou almost chokes on his saliva, because it’s remarkably crude coming from such a prim and proper guy, especially in his luxury suits like he’s wearing right now.
He laughs wholeheartedly at the absurdity of this situation, and Isagi laughs with him, their giggling merging together as one.
“ I could be persuaded to help, “ Barou smirks ; it’s a bold move after the disaster he just caused, but he figures it’s worth shooting his shot.
“ Oh, no, my good sir, no, “ Isagi interjects, shoving his finger against Barou’s chest in a playful manner. “ The one who needs to be persuaded is me - over the course of several dates, ideally. “
“ I can work with that, “ Barou smiles, and he’s at peace.
A lot of romances bloom with flowers - Barou should know. The one he would share with Isagi starts with the brunette gently whipping bird shit from his forehead, and Barou is ok with it.