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It was a quite hidden fact about him that he liked gardening. Just like his restaurant, flowers needed time, nutrients, and a good caregiver for them to grow. Jade thought it was a good distraction from all his hard work, Floyd liked the colors and the aromas, he was proud he had a green thumb good enough to take care of most of them.
But this was something new. A new type of flower that required more time, a different solid, and even worse, it was from the desert, his usual routine wouldn't help in this situation. He had to research, and learn new techniques that could help him keep this distinguished plant alive, in the end the flowers blooming from it would be worth it. Especially since he hoped that just like his flowers, Jamil could love him as well.
Don't get him wrong. He fell for him the first day they met, and every day after that. Azul made it his goal to know as much as he could about him and to stay behind, just existing around him, not letting anyone know about his crush on him.
And the reason was obvious: Jamil loved Kalim more than he could ever love him, and that was a weight he had always carried with him. Even after the fight they had, Jamil would always go back to him. And he couldn't blame them, they were made for each other.
Kalim was everything he could never be, he was rich and came from a wealthy family, had a good life and a good reputation, he was good at sports, had a cute face and a magnetic personality, damn, he was the sun, shining and bright.
And he... Well, he was insecure, he had to work his way up, his body image was dragged by the mud since he was a kid, and let's not even try to talk about his dad.
He was the moon. His polar opposite. And couldn't help but feel that Jamil was like the Earth, always looking for the sun and ignoring the moon that was always orbiting him.
When he woke up that day, he wasn't aware his life was about to change all the way around.
The first odd thing was the petals of his new flower, a Leontochir Ovallei, also called "Lion's claw", on his pillow. That had never happened before, and even the times he woke up with flowers, it was usually all the leaves, thanks to his neighbor's cat that got into his yard and ripped his plants off. After he got up and got breakfast he started feeling something in his throat. Floyd and Jade would arrive soon so maybe he could take care of that problem during his time at the Restaurant he ran.
And still, the rest of the extra was normal, meetings, contracts, everything was going according to his plans, but he was still feeling like something was wrong.
During his ride home with both of his friends the nightmare started. He started coughing. It hurt, his throat was sore and he couldn't breathe, not until a whole flower came out of his mouth covered in his own blood.
Jade was by his side shouting something but he couldn't hear a thing, Floyd was shouting back, he had a whole Lions Claw on his hand, that couldn't be possible and he wouldn't believe it if he wasn't staring at it. It was such a beautiful specimen, but it was ruining his gloves that were now full of blood.
No.
This can't be happening.
Not to him.
He had a life full of everything he wanted and even more.
But not him.
He didn't want this.
It wasn't fair.
The reality of the situation hit him hard, he looked at Jade, who was making a call, talking to someone calmly, but he could see it in his eyes, he was just as scared. Floyd was exceeding the speed limit, was he taking him to the hospital? Azul couldn't even talk, the metallic taste in his mouth was too overwhelming to try and say anything.
He was afraid.
It wasn't fair.
Floyd parked the car on the emergency exit where all the staff was waiting for him. After that everything was a rush he couldn't remember. He blacked out.
The next morning he woke up with the twins next to the bed, but it wasn't his bed, nor his room, not even his house. He started coughing again, waking the twins up. There was another round of screaming before Jade ran off to get the doctors while Floyd got him some water, not before another flower was on his sheets, another bloom of Lion's Paw was there, bloody and fresh.
He knew what it meant; he wasn't an idiot.
The doctors arrived before he could even shed a tear. Azul was dragged through all the hospital facilities running every test they could think of. They needed to know how much progress the Hanahaki had made into his system.
Wasn't he pathetic?
It was almost everywhere.
The roots and stems were from his toes to his fingertips, in a way it explained his muscle pain and how clumsy he had become lately.
He knew he loved him, but didn't know that his love was so deep that it started growing into this plant. It was stupid, wasn't it?
They didn't give him any good news from there. It was way too late for surgery. It was a death sentence.
Only a miracle could save him, and his miracle was impossible.
The doctors wanted him to stay at the hospital for a few more days to monitor it and try to find a medicine to ease the pain.
The Leechs switched everyday to stay with him at the hospital. He was never alone, but they refused to give him his cell phone each time. After three days of them taking care of his business, he threatened them, saying that they wouldn't be allowed to visit anymore if they didn't give his phone back.
When he turned it on he received a lot of messages from each of his friends, including Jamil and Kalim, and even Leona threatening to send all of his subordinates to find him if he wasn't answering before a week had passed.
Each one of them sent a special message, and that warmed his heart. He appreciated every message and answered as soon as he could, but each time he did he would receive a call, which ended with him vaguely explaining why and how he ended up in the hospital.
The official version was that he started coughing blood and the hospital was looking for pulmonary failure. Not that far from the truth but it wasn't the real truth.
After that day the twins took more breaks, since mostly everyone was stopping by to spend a day there and take care of him. The hospital was trying to keep him there as much as they could since he was still coughing petals and blood, it wasn't always a flower and he was grateful for that.
Each day a new friend came by and found him coughing blood and petals, and each had a different reaction to it.
Riddle and his crew asked if he wanted help with anything, he thanked them and said everything was correct, even if Ace tried to pressure him, Riddle accepted the answer and stayed during that night.
Vil, Rook and Eppel tried to make him talk about the person, but he didn't want to, so they cheered him up and made him a spa night.
Leona came alone, and that day he coughed a whole flower. He was not impressed and didn't pressure him either. That night Leona somehow got him a steak, it was good though, but still impressive.
Idia and Ortho brought his console in and left it there so he wouldn't be bored, they played all night and he was happy with it.
Maellus and his crew also tried to ask him about that person, and again, he didn't answer. That night he started crying, it wasn't fair, and Maellus let him vent. It was the first night he was being sincere about everything.
The next day it all went to hell.
Jamil was the first to come in, he looked really worried, which wasn't something he would usually do for him and it made his heart skip a beat. His hair was up in his usual ponytail, but he still looked so good. He'd surely miss him when he was gone.
And then there was Kalim. He looked worried as well but he couldn't feel anything but jealousy and hate. He got everything he could ever dream for, he was perfect. Azul wished he was him.
Then Jamil sat by his side, Kalim following as always, until he grabbed his hands trying to comfort him. They made some small talk about what was going on until he redirected the situation.
Jamil noticed and looked him straight in the eyes. He couldn't lie, not to him, he was opening his mouth when Kalim made a move. He hugged Jamil's arm and a new shimmer on his hand stole his attention.
He’s wearing a new ring.
They both had matching rings.
Azul felt his throat closing, he signed at the rings. They were planning a wedding. Azul tried, the Gods knew he did, but he couldn't speak… Not his truth, his miracle was gone.
And then everything started all over again.
He began coughing blood right in front of Jamil and Kalim, tears running down his cheeks before a flower fell on his bed. He directed his eyes at them and could see the horror in his eyes. Kalim's gaze ran from the flower to him and then Jamil, the same flowers he proudly was showing everyone, the flowers he proclaimed were a desertic species. The flowers that matched Jamil's robes.
He knew it.
Jamil's eyes tried to meet his, but he couldn't. He didn't want to see him. Then a second flower came out from his mouth. He couldn't breathe. He was losing consciousness before Jamil could react and scream for a nurse.
After the third blossom came out he passed out.
When he woke up he could hear Kalim's voice talking over the Leechs, they were both there. He could hear but not see them. When he tried to incorporate, Jamil's voice startled him. He wanted answers. Answers he was not ready to hear, not without crying.
Jamil needed answers, and he was willing to give him the closure they both needed.
How long? Since I met you.
Then why didn't you tell me? I can't answer that.
When did you find out about the flowers? The day I disappeared.
Why didn't you say anything? I couldn't, you're already happy with someone else.
Would he die? Yes.
Look me in the eyes. I can't.
Jamil took his face in his hands, and forced him to look. A mix between rage, hurt and disbelief was marked on his face. Then he asked him to lie about it, to tell him he would be fine. Azul took his beloved’s hands off his face and told him to enjoy his life with the Sun.
Jamil left without looking back.
He collapsed.
Jade and Floyd went back to his room trying their best to keep a good face, but the rage on them was perceivable. They couldn't keep it together when they saw him having a complete mental breakdown. This time they knew it was not just him throwing a fit like he used to do, the type they would both ignore. This time was different.
They both got on each side of the bed and held him together. They didn't care how broken he was, how strained his view of the world was, how stupid his tantrums were, or if he looked like a kid throwing a fit. They were there for him at his most vulnerable time. He cried, he hid himself in them and let out everything he had been holding back. They let him do so, knowing just how much that visit had worsened everything.
Not even a week after that, the doctors told him it was better to go home and get something to ease his pain.
He was so predictable, wasn't he?
He talked to his lawyer and left everything settled for that time. Making the arrangements for his own funeral was not something he was enjoying one bit, but making sure everything was according to his taste was something that relieved him.
The Leechs stood still by his side on every step of the way, that's why they got the lounge. His clothes and personal stuff was already given to his friends and his money was already in his mother's name. Even some of his flowers had found new homes, all of them, except for one.
The sky was a soft blue the day he was buried. That day he asked the twins to give his last pride and joy to Jamil. His last pot with flowers, a Leontochir Ovallei, also known as "Lion's claw" now rested on Jamil's lap.
The last bit of his love was now his to do as he pleased.