Archive of Our Own ^beta

The bell above the shop door chimed, soft and delicate against the rustling leaves and muted hum of midday traffic. Changbin barely looked up from the bouquet he was arranging—pale pink peonies nestled against sprigs of eucalyptus, their soft petals a stark contrast to the rough calluses of his hands. His black apron was dusted with pollen, and a faint smudge of dirt traced along his forearm where his rolled-up sleeve didn’t quite reach.

Across the shop, Bang Chan was stacking small pots of succulents near the window display, humming under his breath, while Jisung played with a stem cutter, clearly avoiding actual work. The quiet rhythm of the shop—the snip of scissors, the rustle of petals—was familiar, comforting.

Until the door slammed open like it had personally offended someone.

Changbin’s gaze snapped up.

And there he was.

Long limbs, sharp edges, like someone had drawn him in bold strokes, then filled him in with a palette of contradictions. His wavy black hair spilled past his shoulders, glossy and effortless, framing a face that was unfairly pretty, high cheekbones, full lips, dark eyes carrying a quiet, amused defiance. His sleeves were pushed up, revealing tattoos that crawled up his arms in intricate designs—delicate florals tangled with bold geometric lines, each inked story etched into his skin like a challenge.

Chan’s humming stopped. Jisung dropped the stem cutter.

The man barely spared them a glance before stalking toward the counter with the confidence of someone who knew exactly how magnetic they were.

“You own this place?” His voice was smooth, low, with the faintest edge of a drawl.

Changbin wiped his hands on his apron, leveling the stranger with a wary look. “Yeah. Why?”

The man jerked his thumb over his shoulder. “I just opened the tattoo shop next door. Thought I’d say hi. I’m Hyunjin.”

Changbin’s gaze flicked toward the wall separating them. Right. He’d heard the construction noise for weeks but hadn’t bothered to check it out.

“Changbin,” he replied flatly, moving to tie off the bouquet’s ribbon.

Hyunjin raised an eyebrow, clearly expecting more. When Changbin didn’t elaborate, he let out a quiet huff, lips curling like he found this mildly entertaining.

“Nice flowers,” Hyunjin mused, bracing an elbow on the counter, his inked forearm stark against the pale wood. “Didn’t peg you as the florist type.”

Something in Changbin bristled.

Not this again.

Not the assumptions. The raised eyebrows. The quiet ‘really?’ from people who couldn’t reconcile the broad-shouldered, gym-built guy with the delicate arrangements he spent his time perfecting.

His jaw tightened, but his voice stayed even. “Didn’t peg you as the neighborly type.”

Hyunjin laughed, sharp and bright, like he hadn’t just needled something raw. “Touché.”

For a moment, they just stared at each other. The tension between them hung thick, sweet, cloying, like the scent of roses in summer heat.

Hyunjin tilted his head, letting the silence drag just long enough to make it feel intentional. Then, with a slow, lazy stretch, one that made his shirt ride up just enough to reveal more ink along his ribs, he smirked.

“If you ever want something permanent instead of petals,” he said, “you know where to find me.”

The door slammed shut behind him, leaving behind a faint trace of dark, spicy cologne—nothing like the soft florals Changbin was used to.

Jisung broke first.

“So,” he drawled, dragging out the word, eyes gleaming with barely concealed amusement. “That was… something.”

Changbin didn’t look up. “It was neighborly.”

“Oh yeah,” Chan chimed in, grinning as he plucked a stray eucalyptus leaf off the counter. “Super neighborly. The part where you nearly snapped your scissors in half? Or the part where he complimented your flowers like it was an insult?”

Jisung mimicked Hyunjin’s lazy smirk, tossing his hair dramatically over his shoulder. “Didn’t peg you as the florist type,” he said in an exaggerated deep voice, cracking himself up.

Chan chuckled. “You were definitely pegged.”

Changbin groaned, setting his scissors down with a sharp clack. “Can we not use that word?”

Jisung grinned wider. “Why? Hit a little too close to home?”

Chan burst into laughter.

Changbin muttered under his breath, running a hand through his hair. “I hate both of you.”

But he couldn’t ignore the way his heart was still hammering against his ribs—or the fact that Hyunjin’s face was still vivid in his mind, inked in like one of those goddamn tattoos.

———

The buzz of the tattoo gun was a low, comforting hum, blending with lo-fi beats playing softly from Felix’s playlist. Hyunjin threw himself onto the leather couch in the corner of the shop with the grace of a dramatic faint, one arm flung over his face.

Across the room, Minho, crouched by his workstation, didn’t even glance up as he lined up ink bottles with his usual meticulous precision. Felix, perched on a stool, arched an eyebrow.

“You good?” Felix asked, barely containing a smirk.

Hyunjin groaned. “No. I met the world’s grumpiest florist.”

That got Minho’s attention. He set his bottle down. “A florist?”

“Across the street.” Hyunjin dropped his arm, staring at the ceiling. “I thought I’d be nice. Say hi. Be neighborly.” He sat up abruptly, voice dipping into an exaggerated frown. “‘Yeah. I’m Changbin.’”

Minho rolled his eyes. “You are a lot before lunch.”

Felix grinned. “Was he hot, though?”

Hyunjin opened his mouth. Closed it. Opened it again. “That’s not the point.”

“So yes,” Minho deadpanned.

Before Hyunjin could argue, the shop door swung open. Jeongin strode in, tossing his phone onto the counter.

“Seungmin’s dropping,” he announced. “Wants to know if you guys want anything.”

“Yeah,” Minho said. “Tell him to bring Hyunjin a chill pill.”

Hyunjin flipped him off.

Jeongin just smirked. “Oh, by the way, Seungmin knows the florist guys. The grumpy one? Apparently, he and Chan are already tight.”

Hyunjin sat up straighter. “What?”

“Yep. Looks like you just declared war on a friend of a friend.”

Felix cackled. Minho smirked.

Hyunjin groaned, flopping back dramatically. “I hate this.”

But even as he complained, his mind drifted to broad shoulders, rough hands arranging delicate petals, contradictions wrapped in muscle and sharp words.

And, god help him, he already wanted to piss Changbin off again.

———

The morning sun spilled over the quiet street, stretching golden light across the pavement. The scent of fresh bread from the café down the block mingled with the lingering sweetness from the flower shop, a contrast to the sharper tang of antiseptic and ink from the tattoo studio.

Minho arrived at the tattoo shop with his usual quiet intensity. His short purple hair caught the sunlight, casting faint violet hues across his sharp features. Tattoos snaked along his arms, intricate designs woven between bursts of color and black ink, his muscular build making them look even more striking. He didn’t bother with greetings, just a curt nod to Felix, who was locking up his bike at the curb.

Felix was a stark contrast, freckled, blonde, and practically glowing with that natural, sun-kissed warmth. His smile was effortless, the kind that made strangers feel like old friends. His arms were inked with a mix of delicate black lines and soft pastels, artfully scattered across his skin like constellations. On the inside of his wrist, a small flower bloomed, a simple, elegant tattoo that caught the morning light.

Behind them, Jeongin, stretched with a sleepy groan, rubbing a hand through his wavy, auburn-brown hair. It was naturally fluffy, strands curling just enough to frame his sharp fox-like eyes, which were still heavy with sleep. His dimples deepened as he yawned, pulling his hoodie sleeves down over his inked hands.

“Remind me why we’re awake again?” Jeongin grumbled, his voice raspy from sleep.

“Because we’re completely booked,” Minho reminded him dryly, adjusting the strap of his bag as he went to unlock the door. “For once.”

“People finally realizing our genius,” Felix added, slinging an arm over Jeongin’s shoulders. “Which means no sleeping in.”

Jeongin sighed dramatically. “I miss when we were unpopular.”

Felix chuckled, steering him toward the entrance. “C’mon, Innie. Think of the tips.”

Across the street, Bang Chan and Jisung were unlocking the flower shop. Chan, always effortlessly put together, sipped at a takeaway coffee while Jisung leaned lazily against the shop’s brick exterior, scrolling through his phone.

Before the trio walked in to the tattoo studio, the duo caught their attention and they wanted to say hi. Wanted to figure them out.

As the tattoo crew approached, Chan’s gaze flicked to Felix’s wrist, narrowing slightly before recognition sparked.

“Oi,” he called out, stepping away from the door. “Is that a golden wattle?”

Felix blinked, glancing down at his tattoo before looking up, face lighting up with realization. “Yeah! You recognize it?”

Chan grinned, his accent slipping out a little stronger. “Hard not to when you’re from Australia.”

Felix’s eyes widened, his voice bright with surprise. “No way, you’re Aussie too?”

“Born here, raised there, live here,” Chan replied, stepping closer. “Haven’t met many Aussies around these parts.”

“That makes two of us,” Felix said, beaming.

Jisung, who had finally looked up from his phone, snorted. “Great. More of you.”

Minho arched an unimpressed brow. “More of what, exactly?”

Jisung’s lips twitched. “People who talk funny.”

Felix gasped theatrically, placing a hand over his heart. “How dare you.”

Chan chuckled, shaking his head. “Ignore him. He just likes hearing himself talk.”

“Hey,” Jisung protested, pointing at Minho. “He’s worse than me! Look at him, all quiet and broody.”

Minho met his gaze, unreadable. “You talk too much.”

Jisung grinned, like that was exactly the response he wanted. “And yet, I feel like you like it.”

Minho sighed deeply, rubbing his temple. “I don’t.”

Felix leaned closer to Jeongin. “Do you think Minho flirting is just bullying with extra steps?”

Jeongin smirked. “Absolutely.”

Before Minho or Jisung could come up with a retort, the door to the bookshop two doors down swung open, and Seungmin emerged, a brown paper-wrapped book tucked under his arm. His sharp eyes scanned the group before landing on Chan.

“It finally showed up,” Seungmin said, handing him the book.

Chan accepted it with a grin. “Preorders take forever these days.”

Seungmin shrugged. “Not my fault you pick books that everyone wants.”

Jisung pointed at him. “You, I like.”

Minho, deadpan, looked between them. “Tragic.”

Seungmin’s lips twitched, but he ignored him, turning back toward Jeongin. “You forget your coffee again?”

Jeongin gasped. “Wait. You were supposed to remind me.”

Seungmin just raised an eyebrow. “I did. Last night.”

Jeongin groaned dramatically. “That doesn’t count.”

Seungmin sighed, already fishing his wallet from his pocket. “I’ll grab you one before I open.”

Jeongin perked up instantly, dimples showing. “Best boyfriend ever.”

Seungmin rolled his eyes but didn’t argue as he turned back toward the café.

Felix elbowed Chan playfully. “So, you and Seungmin are book buddies, huh?”

Chan nodded, flipping the book over in his hands. “Yeah. I’m in there all the time.”

Jisung leaned toward Minho, stage-whispering, “He reads.”

Minho shot him a sideways glance. “Terrifying.”

Jisung just grinned.

Felix stretched, glancing toward the tattoo shop. “Well, much as I’d love to stand here and entertain you guys all day, we’ve got clients coming in.”

Chan smirked. “Big day, huh?”

Felix waggled his eyebrows. “Booked solid.”

Minho turned to go, his gaze lingering on Jisung for half a second longer than necessary. “Try not to kill any plants.”

Jisung, clearly delighted, called after him, “Try not to stab anyone.”

The tattoo crew disappeared inside, and Jisung watched them go with an amused hum. “So,” he mused, turning to Chan. “Minho definitely hates me.”

Chan flipped through his book, not looking up. “Yep.”

Jisung hummed thoughtfully. “Interesting.”

Chan sighed, already regretting whatever chaos was about to unfold.

A few hours later, the steady buzz of tattoo machines filled the shop, blending with the bass-heavy playlist Felix had thrown on for ambiance. The smell of antiseptic and ink lingered in the air, a stark contrast to the sweetness of the flower shop next door.

Felix, perched on his stool, was halfway through a delicate floral piece on a client’s forearm, the soft pastels blending seamlessly with fine black lines. Across the shop, Minho worked in quiet concentration, shading in a larger, intricate back piece, his expression unreadable as he moved with precision.

At the counter, Jeongin was juggling phone calls, scheduling consultations, and attempting to explain (for the third time that morning) why they didn’t do walk-ins.

“No, ma’am,” Jeongin said into the phone, voice painfully patient. “We don’t do infinity symbols.” A pause. “Because we have standards.”

Hyunjin, hunched over his sketchbook, snorted. “You’re going to get us canceled.”
Jeongin shrugged. “Rather that than another ‘Live, Laugh, Love’ request.” He covered the receiver. “Oh, by the way, our supply delivery should be here soon.”

Felix hummed. “Finally. I’m running low on needle cartridges.”

Minho barely reacted, too focused on his shading. Hyunjin, however, lifted his head, brows furrowing slightly.

“That reminds me,” he muttered, standing and stretching, his oversized black shirt riding up slightly to reveal more ink along his hip. “We never got a confirmation text from the supplier.”

Jeongin waved him off. “It’s fine. They always drop it off around this time.”

Famous last words.

———

Across the street, the flower shop was a completely different kind of chaos.

Changbin moved through the space with practiced efficiency, hands deftly tying off a bouquet of deep red roses and crisp white lilies. The morning orders were piling up, but he worked fast, forearms flexing as he wrapped the arrangement in brown paper, securing it with twine.

Jisung, however, was contributing absolutely nothing.

“I feel like we need more vibes in here,”
Jisung mused, plucking a random sprig of baby’s breath from the counter and tucking it behind his ear.

Changbin didn’t look up. “The flowers are the vibes.”

Jisung leaned dramatically against the counter. “Okay, but have you considered,”

The bell above the door jingled, and Chan walked in, looking far too amused for this early in the day.

“Looks like they really are popular,” Chan said, setting a fresh cup of coffee next to Changbin’s workstation.

Changbin’s jaw ticked. “Good for them.”

Jisung perked up. “Yeah, they’re apparently booked solid.” He nudged Changbin with his elbow. “Maybe you should go get some ink, show them florists are badass too.”

Changbin rolled his eyes. “I don’t need a tattoo to prove I’m badass.”

Before Jisung could argue, the door opened again, this time, a delivery guy struggling under the weight of a large box.

“Delivery for… uh… ‘suite 143’?” the guy read off the label.

Changbin frowned. “This is 3racha Florals.”

The guy blinked. “Uh. Okay, well. It says this address.”

Changbin sighed, setting down his bouquet. He took the clipboard, signed for the box, and asked, “Did either of you order anything?”

Both shook their heads.

He pulled out his box cutter, slicing the tape open, only to be greeted by rows of individually wrapped needle cartridges, ink bottles, and disposable gloves.

Jisung peered over his shoulder. “Ohhh. This is gonna be good.”

Changbin exhaled sharply, closing the box with a little more force than necessary. “Are you kidding me?”

Back at the tattoo shop, Hyunjin was mid-sketch when the door slammed open hard enough to make Jeongin flinch.

Changbin stormed in, the box tucked under one arm, his jaw tight.

“Let me guess,” Hyunjin drawled, looking far too entertained by this development. “Delivery mix-up?”

Changbin dropped the box onto the counter with a loud thud sending a glare towards Jeongin. “You need to get your people in order.”

Hyunjin smirked, leaning against the counter, his inked arms on full display.

“You’re right. I personally ensured that Innie had our order be delivered our supplies to you because I thought you might want to expand your business. Maybe offer some ‘permanent petals’.”

Felix, from his station, snorted. “You’ve been waiting to use that line again, haven’t you?”

Hyunjin ignored him, keeping his gaze locked on Changbin.

Changbin’s eyes flicked over him, from the messy waves of his black hair to the teasing quirk of his lips. And god, it was annoying how good he looked this early in the morning.

“I don’t have time for this,” Changbin muttered, turning on his heel.

“Oh, come on,” Hyunjin called after him.
“Stay a while. Maybe let me give you your first tattoo.”

Changbin stopped just short of the door, shoulders tensing.

Jeongin, ever the instigator, propped his chin on his hands. “Ooooh, he struck a nerve.”

Hyunjin, seeing the reaction, grinned. “What’s wrong? Is the big muscle man afraid of a little ink?”

Changbin turned, slow and deliberate. “I’m not afraid of anything.”

Hyunjin’s smirk widened. “Then prove it.”
Silence hung between them, thick as the scent of antiseptic and fresh ink.

Changbin’s fingers twitched at his sides. “I don’t have time for this,” he repeated, pushing the door open with a little more force than necessary.

Hyunjin watched him go, something thrumming in his chest, something that felt like victory but tasted like challenge.

The door swung shut behind Changbin, leaving behind a thick silence.

For exactly three seconds.

“So, uh,” Felix mused, leaning back in his chair. “Do you flirt by antagonizing, or is that just a special Changbin thing?”

Hyunjin scoffed. “That wasn’t flirting.”

Jeongin grinned. “Sure it wasn’t.”

Hyunjin muttered something under his breath, turning back to his sketchbook, but he couldn’t ignore the way his pulse was still racing.

Then Felix exhaled loudly, tossing his tattoo machine onto the tray beside him with an exaggerated flourish. "So. We’re going to talk about this, right?”

Jeongin, lounging at the reception desk with his feet kicked up, grinned like the Cheshire Cat. "So much."

Minho, hunched over his client’s arm, didn’t even look up from his tattooing as he spoke.

"You know," he said, voice almost too casual, "for someone who hates him, you sure looked very into that conversation."

Hyunjin scoffed. "I was not into it."

Felix hummed as he wiped down his own client’s arm. "Mmm. Yeah. Totally normal amount of staring for two people who aren’t flirting."

"I wasn’t staring."

Minho tilted his head, unimpressed. "You held eye contact for, like, fifteen seconds."

"That means nothing!" Hyunjin snapped.

Jeongin smirked, typing something on the computer. "Oh yeah? Then why did your entire posture change the moment he walked in? You went from bored artist mode to hunter stalking his prey."

Hyunjin gaped at him. "What the fuck does that even mean?"

Jeongin simply shrugged. "I'm just saying, I’ve never seen you sit up so straight. It was like your body knew you had to be ready for battle."

Felix nodded solemnly. "I mean, you did challenge him. Right here. In front of all of us. And you definitely let him get under your skin."

Minho switched to shading, still maddeningly unbothered. "So… when are you giving him that tattoo?"

Hyunjin groaned. "I am not giving a tattoo to him."

Felix grinned. "Not yet."

Hyunjin shot him a glare. "Not ever."

Jeongin fake-gasped. "That’s crazy. Because if I didn’t know better, I’d swear you were enjoying the back-and-forth."

Hyunjin snapped his sketchbook shut. "I hate all of you."

Minho shrugged, wiping down his machine. "You say that a lot."

———

All was well and quiet a few days later at the tattoo studio.

Too quiet.

Felix, grinning, spun his stool toward Jeongin. "So, when do we send him back?", gesturing towards Hyunjin.

Hyunjin’s head snapped up. "Excuse me?"

Jeongin, as if he had just remembered something important, sat up straighter. "Oh, that’s right! I was just thinking… you know what we don’t have?"

Felix gasped. "Oh my god, you're so right."
Jeongin nodded solemnly. "A nice plant for the front desk."

Felix turned to Hyunjin, all innocence. "And who better to go pick one out?"

Hyunjin’s eye twitched. "You cannot be serious."

Minho smirked, finally glancing up from his work. "You should go. You know. To prove you don’t like him."

Jeongin clasped his hands together. "It’s perfect! Hyunjin, our bravest warrior, venturing back into enemy territory. All for the sake of interior decorating."

Felix dramatically wiped a fake tear. "Beautiful."

Hyunjin pointed at them. "You are all evil."

Jeongin beamed. "And yet, here you are, still standing in the shop instead of leaving."

Hyunjin groaned, dragging a hand down his face. "Unbelievable."

Minho, grinning now, gave a lazy shrug. "Don’t think about it too hard. Just get a plant and definitely don’t stay to have another long, lingering stare-off with Changbin."

Felix patted Hyunjin’s shoulder. "You’re doing amazing, sweetie."

Hyunjin stormed out of the shop, cursing under his breath.

———

The sweet, earthy scent of flowers wrapped around Hyunjin as soon as he stepped inside. It was nearly overpowering, a heady mix of jasmine, roses, and fresh greenery that felt like walking into a different world. The contrast between the sterile, clinical air of the tattoo shop and the rich, natural aroma was jarring.

He immediately spotted Changbin near the back of the store, bent over a vase of orchids, adjusting the flowers with careful precision. His black apron was dusted with pollen, sleeves rolled up to reveal muscular forearms that flexed as he moved, every motion deliberate. It was like watching a sculptor at work, except his medium was petals instead of marble.

Changbin had yet to notice him, giving Hyunjin a moment to reconsider all of his life choices. The door jingled softly as it closed behind him, and he sighed, realizing there was no going back now.

“Well, look who decided to show up,” Jisung called from behind the counter, not bothering to mask his amusement.

Changbin glanced up, eyes immediately narrowing. "What do you want?"

Hyunjin couldn’t help but roll his eyes. "Apparently, I’m here to buy plants." He waved a hand vaguely toward the shop around him. "Felix and Jeongin thought it’d be a good idea."

Changbin snorted, unimpressed. "And they sent you?" He sounded almost disbelieving.

Hyunjin crossed his arms. "Against my will."

Changbin exhaled sharply, rubbing the back of his neck before setting down the vase a little too forcefully. "Great. Just what I needed today."

Jisung grinned. "Oh, this is already my favorite part of the morning."

Hyunjin ignored him. “So, just give me something easy to take care of and I’ll be out of your way.”

Changbin leveled him with a look, arms crossing over his chest. "You don’t even know what you want?"

Hyunjin shrugged. "Nope. Just… something for the front desk."

Changbin let out a deep sigh, muttering something under his breath that sounded suspiciously like I do not get paid enough for this shit. Then, with a sharp nod toward the rows of greenery near the window, he turned on his heel.

"Fine," he said gruffly. "Follow me."
Hyunjin followed, resisting the urge to make a snarky comment.

Changbin gestured toward a shelf lined with plants. "Snake plants. Low-maintenance. You’d have to actively try to kill them."

Hyunjin hummed, scanning the options. His gaze drifted to a smaller pot, its deep green leaves speckled with tiny white flowers. He reached out, brushing his fingers against the smooth petals.

"What about this one?"

Changbin barely glanced over before shaking his head. "No."

Hyunjin frowned. "Why not?"

Changbin exhaled, clearly trying to summon patience. "Because that’s a gladiolus," he said, crossing his arms. "It symbolizes death and funerals."

Hyunjin raised an eyebrow. "Flowers have meanings?"

Changbin gave him a look like he had just asked if water was wet. "Obviously."

Hyunjin tilted his head, intrigued despite himself. "Like what?"

Changbin sighed, but there was something in his expression, something softer, as he turned to gesture toward another display.

"Roses are easy," he said. "Red means love. White is purity. Yellow is friendship." His fingers trailed over a bundle of daisies.

"These? They mean new beginnings. Happiness."

Hyunjin found himself watching Changbin instead of the flowers, watching the way his hands moved, the way his voice shifted when he spoke. There was something deliberate about the way he handled each plant, like it was second nature.

Like he cared.

“People don’t just buy flowers because they’re pretty,” Changbin continued, his voice quieter now. “Sometimes they’re trying to say something they can’t put into words.”

Hyunjin swallowed, suddenly aware of the thickness in the air between them, of how close they were standing.

And then—

“Excuse me, boys.”

Hyunjin blinked, the moment shattering as an older woman appeared beside them, smiling warmly.

“I couldn’t help but notice, you two make such a lovely couple.”

Silence.

Hyunjin felt his brain short-circuit.

Changbin, who had just started to look less irritated, tensed immediately. “What?”

Hyunjin, however, choked. “We’re not—”

“Oh, no need to be shy,” she continued, beaming. “I saw the way you were looking at each other! So sweet.”

Jisung wheezed.

Changbin turned to Hyunjin, glaring. “I blame you for this.”

Hyunjin’s eyes widened. “Me?!”

She sighed dreamily. “Young love is so precious.”

Hyunjin took a step back. Then another. Then another. His brain was not built for this.

Jisung, practically vibrating with laughter, finally lost it. “Oh my god.”

Hyunjin panicked.

“Okay, nope,” he said quickly, grabbing the nearest plant (which was absolutely not the one he intended to buy). He stormed toward the counter, pulling out his wallet. “How much?”

Changbin, still looking vaguely offended by the situation, muttered the price.

Hyunjin shoved the cash at him. “Keep the change.”

And then he fled.

Back at the tattoo shop, Jeongin barely looked up when Hyunjin burst through the door, looking vaguely traumatized.

Felix glanced up from his station. “You were gone a while. Did you actually browse?”

Hyunjin slammed the plant onto the counter. “We’re never speaking of this again.”

Jeongin squinted at it. “That’s an orchid.”

Hyunjin froze. “What?”

Felix smirked. “You panic-bought an orchid?”

Jeongin, biting back a laugh, leaned on the counter. “You know what orchids symbolize, right?”

Felix grinned. “Love.”

Silence.

Minho, not looking up from his work, finally turned. “I thought you didn’t need flowers.”

Hyunjin buried his face in his hands. “I hate everything.”

Felix patted his back. “We love this journey for you.”

———

It was a slow afternoon at 3racha Floral, the lull between the lunch rush and the inevitable last-minute customers who’d suddenly remember their anniversary at closing time.

Changbin was restocking the floral foam when the bell above the shop door chimed.

Chan walked in, balancing a paper bag of takeout in one hand and a tray of iced coffees in the other. “Alright, I come bearing food.”

Jisung immediately perked up from where he was supposed to be organizing the ribbon display but was instead scrolling through his phone. “Oh, finally.”

Changbin, not looking up from his task, muttered, “Took you long enough.”

“I had to wait in line,” Chan said, setting the drinks on the counter. “The café was packed.”

Jisung grabbed one of the iced coffees and took a sip before dramatically placing a hand over his heart. “You’re a hero, really.”

Chan rolled his eyes. “Uh-huh. Anyway, what’s new?”

Jisung’s entire face lit up.

“Oh. Oh. You missed it.” He set his drink down, rubbing his hands together like a cartoon villain. “Hyunjin came in earlier.”

Chan blinked. “Hyunjin? The tattoo guy?”

Changbin, at the mention of his name, tensed. He didn’t look up, but Chan immediately noticed the way his grip on the floral foam tightened just slightly.

Jisung, relishing this, continued.

“Oh, yeah. He came in. Looking all dramatic and put out—because apparently, Felix and Jeongin forced him to buy a plant for their front desk.”

Chan, intrigued, pulled up a stool. “And let me guess. He had no idea what he was doing?”

“Not a single clue,” Jisung confirmed. “He was so out of his element. Just standing there, trying to act like he wasn’t uncomfortable as hell.”

Chan smirked, shaking his head. “That’s kind of hilarious.”

“Oh, it gets better.” Jisung grinned. “Some woman thought they were together. Guess what plant he panic-bought?”

Changbin, finally breaking his silence, exhaled sharply. “Jisung—”

Jisung ignored him, dramatically slamming his hands on the counter.

“An orchid.”

Chan, mid-sip of his coffee, choked.

“No way.” He wiped his mouth, eyes gleaming with amusement. “Are you serious?”

Jisung beamed. “Oh, dead serious.”

Chan chuckled. “That’s wild. You think he even know what orchids mean?”

Jisung’s grin turned feral. “Oh, he does now.”

Chan raised an eyebrow. “Oh?”

Jisung leaned in like he was about to deliver the punchline of the century. “Minho texted me that they told him Orchids symbolize love.”

Chan wheezed.

Changbin, jaw clenched, threw down the roll of floral tape he’d been holding. “For fuck’s sake.”

Jisung, thrilled, turned to him. “Oh, sorry, is this bothering you?”

Changbin glared. “It’s not funny.”

Chan, still laughing, took another sip of his coffee. “Oh, it’s hilarious.”

Jisung nodded enthusiastically. “Like, so funny.”

Changbin rubbed a hand over his face. “You both suck.”

Chan smirked. “So… did he seem flustered?”

Jisung cackled. “Flustered? He fled the scene.”

Chan grinned. “Amazing.”

Jisung wagged his eyebrows. “And you should’ve seen Changbin’s face when Hyunjin left.”

Changbin immediately turned. “Don’t.”

Jisung ignored him completely. “You were thinking about it.”

Chan hummed thoughtfully. “So, let me get this straight.” He set his coffee down, counting on his fingers. “Hyunjin, the guy you claim to dislike, walked in here, bought a plant against his will, picked an orchid—which symbolizes love—panicked, and ran out.”

Jisung nodded eagerly. “Yep.”

Chan smirked, leaning on the counter. “And now you can’t stop thinking about it?”

Changbin groaned. “Oh my god.”

Jisung wiped a fake tear. “It’s so beautiful.”
Chan grinned, sipping his drink. “You’re in trouble.”

Changbin grabbed a handful of flower stems and pointed them at both of them. “I swear to god—”

Jisung dodged out of the way, laughing.
Chan just leaned back on his stool, smug as hell. “This is so much better than I expected.”

Changbin muttered something under his breath, turning back to aggressively cutting stems.

Chan and Jisung exchanged a look.

They knew.

———

The next morning, Hyunjin walked into the tattoo shop, groggy and already over everything. He’d barely gotten three steps inside before he froze.

Because there it was.

The orchid.

It was sitting right on his station, like some kind of cursed offering.

For a moment, he just stared at it, as if maybe, just maybe, it would disappear if he glared hard enough.

It did not.

Felix, perched on a nearby stool, glanced up from his sketchbook and barely held back a shit-eating grin. “Oh, good morning, Hyunjin.”

Hyunjin slowly turned toward him, eyes narrowing. “Did you put this here?”

Felix blinked, all false innocence. “What? Me?”

Jeongin, from the reception desk, barely held back a cackle. “I dunno, Hyunjin. It looks like it belongs to you.”

Hyunjin pinched the bridge of his nose. “It does not belong to me.”

Felix hummed, tapping his pencil against his sketchbook. “Weird, because you bought it.”

Hyunjin exhaled sharply, already regretting everything. “I panicked.”

Minho, who had been setting up his station in the back, finally turned to glance over. “So you’re keeping it, then?”

Hyunjin gawked at him. “Why the fuck would I keep it?”

Minho shrugged, setting up his ink bottles with his usual indifference. “It suits you.”

Jeongin, no longer able to hold it in, burst out laughing.

Hyunjin groaned, running a hand through his hair. “I hate all of you.”

Felix leaned on his hand, grinning. “Oh, you love us.” He glanced at the orchid, then back at Hyunjin. “And it loves you.”

Hyunjin glared. “I’m getting rid of it.”

Jeongin, still grinning, leaned forward. “You say that, but you still haven’t moved it.”

Hyunjin snatched the pot off the desk, marching toward the trash bin.

“Oh no,” Felix deadpanned. “Think of the symbolism.”

Hyunjin froze.

Felix gasped dramatically, pressing a hand to his chest. “You’re throwing love away?”

Jeongin sighed. “Tragic.”

Hyunjin gritted his teeth. “I hate you.”

Felix smirked. “You said that already.”

Hyunjin whipped around, gripping the plant in both hands. “I swear,”

But then.

“Hyunjin?”

He turned, and there, standing in the doorway, was a client.

A regular client.

A very good client.

Hyunjin went rigid, still clutching the orchid like it was an explosive device.

Felix and Jeongin were silently losing their minds in the background.

Minho, completely unbothered, turned back to his work. “Maybe wait until after business hours to murder your plants.”

The client blinked at him. “Uh… am I interrupting something?”

Hyunjin, voice tight, carefully set the orchid back on his station. “No.”

Felix wheezed.

———

Hyunjin should have known better.

Really, he should have known better.

Because when he walked into the tattoo shop the next morning, fully expecting another regular day of work, the first thing he saw was,

The orchid.

Still sitting at the front desk.

But now, it was wearing a tiny, hand-crafted paper crown.

And next to the pot, written in bold, dramatic lettering on a sticky note, was a single word:

Binnie.

Hyunjin stared.

Felix, across the room, beamed. “Oh, good morning. Don’t forget to bow to Your Majesty.”

Hyunjin turned, slowly, to face him. “What the fuck is this.”

Felix gestured dramatically toward the orchid. “This? This is Binnie. Your new best friend.”

Jeongin, propped up at the reception desk, grinning like the little shit he was, added, “Long live the king.”

Hyunjin dragged a hand down his face. “You named it?”

Felix shrugged. “It felt wrong not to.”

“And Binnie? Seriously?”

Jeongin smirked. “Short for Orchibin or the name of your favorite florist.”

Hyunjin gasped. “You did not.”

Felix nodded solemnly. “Oh, we absolutely did.”

Hyunjin exhaled sharply, already so fucking done. “I hate you both.”

Jeongin held up a finger. “Maybe, but you love Binnie.”

Felix nodded. “And Binnie loves you.”

Hyunjin stared at the tiny paper crown, the little sticky note, and the absolute audacity of these menaces he called coworkers.

“Minho!” he shouted, hoping to find someone that would think this whole this is ridiculous.

Minho, who had just stepped out of the back room, glanced over, barely sparing the scene more than a passing glance. “Nice.”

Hyunjin gawked at him. “That’s it?”

Minho shrugged, already heading to his station. “It suits him. and you.”

Jeongin collapsed into laughter. Felix wiped a fake tear.

Hyunjin?

He considered murder.

———

At this point, Hyunjin was convinced Felix and Jeongin were actively trying to ruin his life.

Because not only had they named his orchid after his least favorite florist, but now they were making it worse.

Much, much worse.

Felix, ever the agent of chaos, naturally decided that the world needed to meet Binnie.

So, when Hyunjin wasn’t looking, he snapped a photo of the orchid, complete with its tiny paper crown, sunglasses, and a hand-drawn name tag taped to the pot.

Then he posted it to the shop’s Instagram story.

Caption: Meet our newest receptionist, Binnie! He’s working hard at the front desk today. Stop by and say hi!

When Hyunjin finally noticed, it was too late.

“Felix!”

Felix, casually sipping his coffee, glanced up. “Hmm?”

Hyunjin stormed over, waving his phone. “What. The fuck. Is this.”

Felix blinked innocently. “Oh, you mean Binnie? He’s doing so well on his first day.”

Hyunjin gaped. “First day? He is a fucking plant.”

Jeongin, from the reception desk, hummed. “And yet, he’s already more professional than you.”

Felix nodded, sighing dramatically.

“Honestly, he shows up on time, doesn’t talk back, and has an excellent sense of style. We might have to start paying him.”

Hyunjin looked ready to combust. “You put him at the front desk?”

Jeongin gestured toward the counter.

And there it was.

Binnie the Orchid, sitting proudly on full display, little sunglasses slightly askew, sticky note name tag now embellished with glittery gold gel pen.

“Oh my god.”

Felix grinned. “He’s famous now.”

By lunchtime, Jeongin had taken things a step further.

Hyunjin had made the mistake of stepping out for five minutes.

When he returned, Felix was hunched over the fucking orchid with a tattoo stencil pressed against the pot.

Jeongin, standing nearby, was narrating the entire thing.

"And here we have Binnie, our bravest client yet. No stencil wipe-down, no numbing cream. Just raw courage."

Felix nodded solemnly. "A real inspiration."

Hyunjin stared. “What. The fuck. Are you doing.”

Felix gestured to the pot. "Giving Binnie some sick ink, obviously."

Jeongin grinned. "A little dagger with roses, right on the side. Very meaningful."

Hyunjin dragged a hand down his face. “You are not actually tattooing a plant pot.”

Felix scoffed. “Of course not. We’re using a pen.”

Jeongin nodded. “Binnie’s aesthetic is important, you know?”

Hyunjin inhaled deeply, counting to ten in his head. “I hate this shop.”

Felix patted his shoulder. “You love us.”

By mid-afternoon, Hyunjin had finally accepted that he would never win this battle.

So, when he absentmindedly reached for something on the counter and mumbled, “Move over, Binnie,” only to realize what he had just said.

It was too late.

Felix gasped.

Jeongin gasped louder.

Minho, who had just walked by, paused and turned slowly.

Hyunjin froze.

Jeongin, eyes gleaming, put a hand over his heart. “Oh my god. You said his name.”

Hyunjin’s soul left his body. “I—I did not—”

“You did.” Felix nodded gravely. “And now you have to keep him.”

Hyunjin whipped around. “Minho, help me.”

Minho, deadpan as always, just hummed.
“He’s made for you.”

Felix cackled. “See? Even Minho thinks so.”

Hyunjin physically had to walk away.

But as he stormed off, he heard Jeongin whispering behind him.

"He’s bonding."

Felix sighed. "Beautiful."

———

By the next week, the tattoo shop had fully embraced Binnie as one of their own.

Hyunjin had not.

And unfortunately for him, things were about to spiral even more.

It started with one.

A regular client, mid-consultation, glanced toward the reception desk and frowned slightly. “Hey… is that a plant wearing sunglasses?”

Jeongin, without missing a beat, beamed. “Oh! You’ve noticed our beloved receptionist, Binnie.”

The client blinked. “Your… receptionist?”

Felix, leaning back in his chair, sighed dramatically. “He’s the hardest worker here, honestly. Shows up on time, doesn’t complain. Keeps the place looking great.”

Jeongin nodded, completely serious. “We’d be lost without him.”

The client stared for a long moment before slowly nodding. “Right… uh. So, anyway, about my tattoo—”

That should have been the end of it.
But it wasn’t.

Because the next day, another client pointed it out.

And then another.

And then another.

And suddenly, every single person walking into the shop was noticing Binnie.

By the end of the week, it had escalated.

People started taking pictures of the orchid.

One client tagged the shop on Instagram, saying, “Came for a tattoo, stayed for the iconic Binnie the Orchid.”

Another one commented, “Honestly, I trust a tattoo shop with a well-dressed plant.”

Jeongin, seeing potential, immediately updated the shop’s bio:
Cover Me Studios: Tattoos & Chaos
Home of Binnie the Orchid

Hyunjin, when he saw this, nearly flipped the reception desk.

“WHY IS IT IN THE BIO?!”

Jeongin grinned. “Because Binnie is a star, Hyunjin.”

Felix snickered. “It’s what he deserves.”

Minho, completely unfazed, just hummed. “Good branding.”

Hyunjin groaned into his hands.

But it was too late.

Binnie was now unstoppable.

The final straw came a few days later.
Hyunjin had just finished setting up his station when the bell above the door jingled, signaling a new client.

He glanced up, fully expecting to see another appointment arriving early, only to find a completely random woman holding a tiny watering can.

Hyunjin frowned. “Uh… can I help you?”

The woman beamed. “Oh, I’m not here for a tattoo! I just saw on Instagram that you guys have a shop plant, and I thought, he must be so loved, but is he hydrated?”

Felix, already wheezing behind the counter, hunched over in silent laughter.

Jeongin lit up. “Oh my god. You brought him a gift?”

She nodded enthusiastically. “Of course! Plants need accessories too.”

Hyunjin was seconds away from exiting the building.

Jeongin accepted the tiny watering can like it was an award. “Binnie is going to love this.”

Felix wiped a fake tear. “He’s so spoiled.”

Hyunjin, done with everything, turned away.
Only to freeze when he saw Minho casually pulling out his phone to take a picture.

Hyunjin lunged. “DON’T YOU DARE”
Click.

Minho had already taken the photo.

Felix immediately grabbed his phone.
“Caption: A generous donation has been made to our beloved receptionist. Thank you for your support.”

Jeongin gasped. “Oh my god, we should start a Binnie fan club.”

Felix snapped his fingers. “MERCH.”

Hyunjin screamed into his hands.

———

Hyunjin had lost all control.

Because not only was Binnie a local celebrity, but Felix and Jeongin were actively expanding his empire.

And today?

Today was the worst day yet.

Hyunjin should have known something was up when Jeongin was suspiciously quiet that morning.

Too quiet.

Which meant danger.

So when he walked into the shop and saw a tiny red knitted scarf wrapped around the orchid’s pot, he froze.

Felix, sipping his coffee like this was completely normal, nodded approvingly. “Oh, nice. Binnie looks cozy.”

Jeongin, grinning, adjusted the tiny scarf. “We have to keep him warm.”

Hyunjin stared. “Where the fuck did you even get that?”

“Oh, a client dropped it off earlier,” Jeongin said casually, like this wasn’t the most unhinged thing in the world.

Hyunjin gawked. “A CLIENT?!”

Felix nodded. “Yeah, she knitted it for him. Said he looked a little cold.”

Hyunjin turned to Minho, begging for logic.

“Do you hear this? Do you see what’s happening?”

Minho, unbothered as ever, barely glanced up. “Yeah. He looks good.”

Felix smirked. “The best dressed in the shop, honestly.”

Jeongin sighed dramatically. “A true fashion icon.”

Hyunjin?

He was so fucking done.

If Hyunjin thought the scarf was the worst of it, he was tragically mistaken.

Because by noon, Jeongin revealed his next masterpiece.

A tiny stack of business cards, sitting proudly at the reception desk.

With Binnie’s name on them.

Hyunjin stormed over, picking up one with wide eyes and pure disbelief.

Binnie the Orchid
Cover Me Studio’s Official Receptionist
Thriving since 02.02.2025

Hyunjin squeezed the card in his fist.

“You did not.”

Jeongin beamed. “I absolutely did.”

Felix, fully losing it, gasped. “Wait. WAIT. Does Binnie have a business email?”

Jeongin nodded solemnly. “He does now.”

Hyunjin physically had to sit down.

It was only a matter of time before the flower shop heard about this absolute nonsense.

And that moment arrived swiftly.

———

Jisung, ever the agent of chaos, stormed into 3racha’s Florals, back from his break, practically vibrating with excitement.

Changbin, arranging an order of deep red roses, barely looked up. “What.”

Jisung slapped a tiny business card onto the counter.

“Read this.”

Chan, sipping his drink, leaned over to take a look.

Then he snorted.

Changbin, not in the mood for games, grabbed the card and read it.

And immediately regretted it.

Because there, printed in crisp black ink, was his fucking name.

Binnie the Orchid.

Binnie.

Changbin stared.

Then again.

Then one more time.

Before slowly looking up.

“EXCUSE ME?”

Jisung cackled, nearly doubling over. “OH, YOU DIDN’T KNOW?”

Chan, grinning, grabbed the card. “Oh my god.”

Changbin slammed the bouquet onto the counter. “They named a plant after me?!”

Jisung gasped for air, nodding. “AND—AND HE HAS A SCARF.”

Chan, fully wheezing, held up a hand. “Wait, wait. Who did this? Felix and Jeongin?”

“Oh, absolutely,” Jisung confirmed, eyes gleaming. “Hyunjin hates it.”

Changbin clenched his fists. “So let me get this straight. The tattoo shop named a plant after me, dressed it up, gave it a fucking job, and now it has business cards?”

Jisung nodded enthusiastically. “Yeah. And clients love him.”

Changbin stared at the business card one more time.

Then, slowly, he turned to Chan.
“I’m going over there.”

Chan, sipping his drink, grinned. “Oh, this will be fun.”

Jisung nearly screamed with joy.

The bell above Cover Me Studio’s door slammed against the frame as Changbin stormed in.

Hyunjin, already in a bad mood, barely looked up before groaning out loud.

“Oh, great.”

Changbin marched toward the counter, holding up the tiny business card like it was evidence in a crime scene.
“EXPLAIN THIS.”

Felix, lounging at the reception desk, smirked. “Ah. So you found out.”

Jeongin, clearly enjoying this way too much, took a slow sip of his iced coffee. “Took you long enough.”

Changbin slammed the card onto the desk.
“WHY THE FUCK DOES THIS PLANT HAVE MY NAME?”

Felix tilted his head. “Well, technically—”

“I swear to god.”

“—it’s short for Orchibin.”

Changbin gritted his teeth so hard he saw stars.

Then, finally, he turned to the one person who should have shut this down.
“AND YOU LET THIS HAPPEN?”

Hyunjin, who had been leaning against the counter, arms crossed, scowled. “Like I have any fucking control over these two.”
Felix and Jeongin, completely unfazed, nodded at the same time.

Changbin glared at him. “So you just let them make fun of me?”

The teasing atmosphere immediately shifted.

Felix and Jeongin’s smiles faltered. Even Minho—who had been quietly setting up his station—paused.

Hyunjin, taken completely off guard, straightened. “What?”

Changbin clenched his jaw, looking at the plant, the stupid tiny scarf, the even stupider nameplate. “You all think it’s funny, huh? Naming a little flower after me? Dressing it up? Acting like it’s some kind of joke?”

Felix blinked, sitting up. “Wait, hold on—”

But Changbin wasn’t done.

“You think I don’t hear it?” His voice was tight, frustration bleeding through. “That I don’t notice every time someone looks at me and thinks I don’t fit? Too big, too strong, not delicate enough to be a florist?
That it’s somehow hilarious that I work with flowers?”

Hyunjin’s breath caught.

Because for the first time since he met him, Changbin didn’t look angry.

He looked hurt.

The realization hit like a gut punch.
Before anyone could say anything,

Changbin exhaled sharply, shaking his head. “You know what? Forget it.” He turned on his heel. “You got your laugh. Hope it was worth it.”

And then he walked out.

Hyunjin stood there, stunned, watching Changbin disappear through the door.
For the first time all week, the shop was dead silent.

Felix shifted uncomfortably. “We weren’t… making fun of him.”

Jeongin, suddenly looking guilty, nodded. “It wasn’t—We didn’t mean it like that.”

Minho, who had been watching the whole thing quietly, finally spoke.

“Well,” he said, deadpan as ever, “that backfired.”

Hyunjin, jaw tight, grabbed his jacket.

Felix blinked. “Wait. Where are you—”

“I’ll handle it.”

And then he was out the door.

It didn’t take long.

Changbin hadn’t gone far—just across the street, standing near the alleyway between the shops, hands braced against his hips, shoulders tense as hell.

Hyunjin slowed as he approached, unsure how to start.

“Hey.”

Changbin didn’t turn. “Go away.”

Hyunjin, not listening, walked closer. “Look, man,”

“What?” Changbin finally spun, scowling. “You gonna come finish the joke?”

Hyunjin hated the look on his face.

Because there was so much more beneath the irritation.

He crossed his arms, voice quieter now. “That’s not what it was.”

Changbin let out a humorless laugh. “Yeah? Sure as hell felt like it.”

Hyunjin hesitated, then sighed. “You’re not a joke, Changbin.”

Changbin scoffed. “Funny. Because for a second, it kinda felt like I was.”

Hyunjin exhaled sharply, running a hand through his hair. “You think I’d waste my time on someone I don’t respect?”

Changbin looked at him then, really looked at him, like he was searching for any sign of bullshit.

And he must not have found it, because his shoulders loosened slightly.

“…Then what the fuck was it about?”

Hyunjin hesitated, then rubbed the back of his neck. “I dunno, man. It just—” He exhaled, shaking his head. “They thought it was funny, okay? Not you. The situation.”

Changbin didn’t reply.

Hyunjin sighed. “I’m serious. It was never about making fun of you.”

Changbin’s jaw tightened, but the fight was draining out of him. “Just… don’t do that shit again.”

Hyunjin nodded. “Got it.”

Silence settled between them, thick but no longer suffocating.

“…You really hate the name Orchibin?”
Changbin turned to glare at him so fast his neck almost snapped.

Hyunjin grinned, taking a step back. “Okay, okay, I’m leaving.”

And for the first time all day, Changbin almost smiled.

Just a little.

Hyunjin stormed back into Cover Me Studio, still rubbing a hand down his face like the sheer exhaustion of the last fifteen minutes had physically drained him.

Felix and Jeongin, who had been quietly discussing potential new accessories for Binnie, immediately looked up when the door slammed shut behind him.

Felix blinked. “Oh. You’re back.”

Jeongin, ever the menace, grinned. “How’s Binnie’s namesake?”

Hyunjin glared.

Jeongin held up his hands, grinning wider. “Hey, just asking.”

Hyunjin exhaled sharply, throwing himself onto the couch. “Okay. Enough.”

Felix and Jeongin exchanged a look.

Hyunjin gestured vaguely toward the crime scene that was Binnie the Orchid, still sitting on the reception desk in its stupid scarf, sunglasses slightly askew.

“Look,” he said, “I hate to admit this, but… maybe we took it a little too far.”

Felix arched an eyebrow. “We?”

Hyunjin shot him a look. “Do not start with me.”

Felix snickered.

Jeongin sighed dramatically. “So, what? You want us to just… abandon our child?”

Hyunjin pinched the bridge of his nose.

“You can keep Binnie. But please chill the fuck out.”

Felix pretended to consider this. “So… no more wardrobe updates?”

“No.”

Jeongin hummed. “What about social media engagement?”

“NO.”

Felix sighed, dramatically pushing his chair away from the counter. “Damn. A true loss for the brand.”

Hyunjin, exasperated, just groaned. “I hate you both.”

Felix smirked. “And yet, you came back.”

Jeongin nodded. “Like a true member of the Binnie fan club.”

Hyunjin threw a pillow at them.

———

As the sun dipped behind the buildings, casting long shadows across the street, 3racha Florals was closing up for the night.
Changbin, wiping his hands on his apron, was just about to lock up when the door creaked open again.

Felix and Jeongin stood in the doorway, looking slightly less chaotic than usual.

Felix rubbed the back of his neck. “Hey.”

Changbin raised an eyebrow. “If you’re here to get Binnie a new hat or some shit, no.”

Jeongin snorted. “Tempting, but no.”

They stepped inside, Felix leaning against the counter while Jeongin rocked back on his heels.

Jeongin sighed. “Look, we just… wanted to say we’re sorry.”

Felix nodded. “We were just teasing Hyunjin, and we really didn’t mean to make you feel like we were making fun of you.”

Jeongin crossed his arms. “You’re not a joke, man. You’re actually… kind of badass.”

Felix smirked. “Like, aggressively built and a florist? That’s kind of iconic.”

Changbin let out a breath, shaking his head. “Yeah, yeah. I get it.”

Felix grinned. “So… we good?”

Changbin eyed them for a long moment.

Then, finally, he sighed and smirked just a little. “Binnie’s here to stay, huh?”

Jeongin nodded solemnly. “Binnie is eternal.”

Felix wiped a fake tear. “We’re so proud of how far he’s come.”

Changbin rolled his eyes but didn’t bother to fight it. “Fine. Whatever.”

Felix beamed. “See? I knew you’d come around.”

Changbin muttered something under his breath but didn’t deny it.

———

When Hyunjin walked into Cover Me Studio the next morning, he was fully prepared to ignore Binnie’s existence.

That plan failed immediately.

Because right there, sitting next to Binnie on the reception desk, was a small paper bag.

Jeongin, noticing it first, perked up. “Uh… what’s this?”

Felix reached for it, pulling out a simple but elegant ceramic vase and a small bag of decorative stones.

But it was the note that made Hyunjin freeze.

‘To Binnie.
From the real Binnie.’

Silence.

Hyunjin stared.

Jeongin blinked. “Oh my god.”

Felix, eyes wide, slowly turned to Hyunjin.

“Oh, you really won him over.”

Hyunjin groaned loudly, grabbing a chair and dragging it away from the counter so he could collapse into it.

Jeongin, still clutching the note, whispered, “This is the greatest day of my life.”

Felix snickered. “This is so much worse for you now.”

Hyunjin, face buried in his hands, just muttered, “I fucking hate this place.”

But the corners of his mouth twitched upward, just slightly.

———

Seungmin had perfect aim.

Not just with snark, not just with side-eyes so devastatingly precise that even Felix had to respect them, but with chaos management.

And today?

Today, he was weaponizing it.

It started with a casual group chat message.
[Seungmin - 10:32 AM]
Attention all business owners on this lovely street:
We’re hosting a Small Business Mixer this weekend. Great opportunity to network, attract new customers, and, most importantly, look better than your competition.

Sign up here: [Attached Form]
-Location: Community Hall
-Entry Fee: Free (because capitalism is already painful enough)
- What You Get: A table, promotion, and a captive audience

Don’t be lame. Sign up.

[Jeongin - 10:35 AM]
omg a networking event? hot

[Felix - 10:36 AM]
if i don’t get a fancy name tag, i’m leaving

[Hyunjin - 10:38 AM]
do i have to?

[Seungmin - 10:40 AM]
Yes. Unless you want me to tell every new client that your shop only does infinity symbols.

[Hyunjin - 10:41 AM]
FINE

[Jisung - 10:42 AM]
lmao. hey changbin, you doing it?

[Changbin - 10:43 AM]
Yeah. Good for business.

[Jeongin - 10:44 AM]
oh this is going to be good

———

The second Seungmin saw both Hyunjin and Changbin’s names on the sign-up sheet, he immediately turned to Jeongin.

“Table neighbors,” he said.

Jeongin lit up. “Oh, you evil genius.”

“Thank you,” Seungmin said. “I do try.”

Jeongin smirked. “You know they’re gonna kill each other, right?”

Seungmin shrugged. “Or they won’t.”

Jeongin raised an eyebrow. “Oh? You’re saying they might..”

Seungmin turned back to his laptop. “I’m saying Hyunjin might end up leaving with flowers.”

Jeongin cackled.

———

The next morning, the Community Hall was already buzzing with activity when Hyunjin and Changbin arrived separately, both clearly unaware that fate (also named Seungmin) had tied them together.

The moment Hyunjin walked in, spotted his table, and saw exactly who was next to him.

He immediately turned to leave.

Seungmin blocked the exit.

“Try it,” he said flatly.

Hyunjin scowled. “This feels like a personal attack.”

Seungmin shrugged. “No, this is business.”

Changbin, setting up his flowers, glanced up and groaned. “Oh, great.”

Hyunjin pointed at him. “I don’t want to be here either.”

Seungmin clapped him on the back. “Then you both better make the most of it.”

And then he walked away, sipping his coffee like he hadn’t just sentenced them to an afternoon of proximity and tension.

Chan and Jisung were half-listening to the chaos unfolding, when Jisung, being Jisung, decided to poke the bear.

“You know,” he mused loudly, “for two people who claim to hate each other, they sure do love standing close.”

Changbin rolled his eyes. “Jisung. Shut up.”

Jisung grinned. “Oh? Struck a nerve?”

Before he could escape, Chan smacked his chest.

Not that hard.

Jisung yelped, doubling over dramatically. “OH MY GOD, CHAN.”

Chan blinked. “Dude, that wasn’t even..”

Then he paused.

Because Jisung was clutching the left side of his chest.

And on his exposed skin, where his loose shirt had slipped, was a fresh tattoo.

Minho, from where he had been casually
scrolling on his phone, glanced up.

Jisung froze.

Changbin, eyes widening, immediately pointed. “Wait. You got a tattoo?”

Jisung, clearly panicking, tried to shove his shirt back into place. “NO.”

Felix, absolutely grinning, grabbed Jisung’s collar and pulled it down slightly.
“Oh my god.”

Hyunjin leaned closer. “Hold on, hold on, let me see—”

The inked design was small but intricate, a fine-line tiger lily blooming near his collarbone, shaded just enough to stand out against his skin.

Hyunjin’s eyes narrowed.

Then, slowly, his gaze flickered up to Minho.
Minho, who was so obviously unfazed it was suspicious.

“Oh,” Hyunjin said, grinning. “You did this.”

Jisung gasped. “I—I mean—”

Minho stretched lazily, voice bored as ever. “You move too much.”

Jisung, staring, slowly turned pink.
Chan, Felix, and Jeongin all exchanged looks.

Hyunjin, delighted, turned back to Jisung.
“Ohhhh,” he mused, smirking. “So you and Minho are—”

Jisung literally threw himself onto the table. “GOODBYE.”

Felix laughed, nudging Jisung’s arm. “Oh, this is exactly like when Jeongin and Seungmin first started talking.”

Seungmin, mid-sip of coffee, choked. “Felix.”

Jisung, grasping for any distraction, immediately sat up. “WAIT. WHAT?”

Felix grinned, all evil. “Oh yeah. You think you’re slick? At least you only got one tattoo.”

He turned toward Seungmin, eyes gleaming.

“This man?” Felix gestured grandly. “This man got tattoo after tattoo from Jeongin because he was too scared to ask him out.”

Seungmin rolled his eyes but didn’t deny it.
Jeongin, grinning proudly, wrapped his arms around Seungmin’s waist from behind.

Felix smirked. “Not scared of needles, but scared of feelings.”

Changbin blinked. “Wait. You have tattoos?”

Seungmin, expression unreadable, rolled up the sleeve of his sweater.

Two of the florists, who had never seen Seungmin without long sleeves, immediately gawked.

Because damn.

A full sleeve of tattoos, intricate book-inspired designs, delicate ivy weaving between quotes, an open book with flowers blooming from the pages, covered his entire arm.

“Yeah,” Seungmin said dryly, casually adjusting his sleeve. “Ended up with a whole sleeve.”

Jeongin, smug as hell, wrapped his arms tighter around Seungmin’s waist and rested his chin on his shoulder.

“And his man,” Jeongin added happily.
The florists stared.

Jisung, mouth open, pointed at Jeongin.

“Hold the fuck on. You did all that?”

Changbin, equally lost, frowned. “I thought you were just the receptionist.”

Jeongin huffed, insulted. “I apprentice under Hyunjin and answer phone calls. You think I’d give my job to Binnie the Orchid if I didn’t have other skills?”

Felix beamed with pride. “And he’s damn good at it.”

Hyunjin, smirking, nudged Changbin. “Bet you weren’t expecting that one.”

Changbin shook his head. “Not even a little.”

Jeongin grinned, satisfied. “Good.”

The event continued on, and Changbin was actually having a decent time, until he noticed the attention.

A group of girls had stopped at his table, whispering excitedly as they watched him tie off a bouquet, his strong hands moving with careful precision.

“Wow,” one of them whispered, eyes wide.

“He’s so—”

“Soft but strong,” another sighed dreamily.

“He has florist forearms.”

“And he’s so gentle with the flowers—”

Hyunjin, who had been half-listening, grinned as he leaned against his table.

“You get that a lot?”

Changbin glanced up. “What?”

“The whole big strong man but delicate hands thing.”

Changbin snorted. “Yeah. Girls always love that.”

Hyunjin tilted his head. “Oh? Always?”

Changbin paused.

Then, without thinking, he muttered, “I mean… yeah. But girls never do it for me.”
Hyunjin blinked.

Changbin froze.

The weight of the sentence hung between them so heavily that it took a full three seconds for Hyunjin’s brain to catch up.

“…Oh.”

Changbin, realizing exactly what he just admitted, cleared his throat and focused very hard on fixing a bouquet.

Hyunjin, watching him closely now, smirked.

“Huh,” he mused, leaning in slightly. “Interesting.”

Changbin, not looking up, muttered, “I don’t like that tone.”

Hyunjin grinned. “I do.”

Jisung, overhearing, grinned wildly. “This is getting fun.”

Chan nudged him. “You want to get hit again, don’t you?”

Jisung smirked. “Minho, save me.”

Minho, completely unfazed, flipped a page in the event program. “Don’t bring me into this.”

Jisung grinned harder.

Felix just leaned against the table, watching Changbin’s very red ears and Hyunjin’s very smug face with absolute amusement.

“Oh yeah,” Felix murmured. “This is so much worse for them now.”

Hyunjin had been leaning on the table, half-listening to Jeongin and Felix recap Binnie the Orchid’s latest upgrades when he noticed.

Changbin was rolling up his sleeves.

And Hyunjin’s brain completely blanked for a second.

Because fuck, his arms.

Strong, broad, veins running along his forearms, flexing slightly as he tied off a bouquet with practiced ease. The movement was effortless, like second nature.

Hyunjin, for the first time in his life, forgot how to act.

Changbin, completely unaware of Hyunjin’s internal breakdown, glanced up at him and smirked.

“You’ve been staring at my hands for a full minute,” he said, casual as hell.

Hyunjin blinked fast.

Felix, choking on his drink, turned away.
Jeongin’s entire soul left his body.

Hyunjin, desperately trying to recover, huffed. “I was not staring.”

Changbin’s smirk widened. “Sure.”

Hyunjin narrowed his eyes. “Don’t flatter yourself.”

Changbin, busy arranging flowers, shrugged. “Can’t help it. You make it too easy.”

Silence.

Felix’s entire body shook as he tried not to burst out laughing.

Jeongin was no longer breathing.

Minho, across the room, slowly looked up from where he was packing up tattoo supplies, brows raised.

Hyunjin, still stuck on that sentence, gaped.

“…Excuse me?”

Changbin, finally registering what he just said, froze.

And then.

“Oh my god,” Felix whispered, horrified. “He’s accidentally smooth.”

Hyunjin, processing this new information, immediately turned to Changbin.
“You flirt by accident?”

Changbin groaned, covering his face. “I—ignore that.”

Jeongin, absolutely delighted, grinned. “Oh no, no. We are absolutely not ignoring this.”

Felix snorted. “Wow, Binnie. That was so natural. You do that often?”

“No,” Changbin muttered, ears bright red.
Hyunjin tilted his head. “Then why are you so good at it?”

Changbin nearly knocked over an entire vase.

Jisung, walking by at the worst possible moment, paused. “Oh. Ohhhhhh.”

Changbin pointed at him immediately. “Leave.”

Jisung grinned. “No, no, I like this.”

Chan, watching from a safe distance, just sipped his drink and shook his head.

It was the end of the mixer, and Hyunjin was more than ready to leave before he got dragged into another accidental flirty situation with Changbin.

“Wait.”

Hyunjin turned, blinking as Changbin held out a small, neatly wrapped potted plant.
Hyunjin frowned. “What’s this?”

Changbin shifted slightly, not meeting his eyes. “A plant.”

Hyunjin rolled his eyes. “Yeah, no shit.”

Changbin huffed, finally looking at him. “It’s a snake plant. Low maintenance, resilient, good in any environment.”

Hyunjin paused.

Changbin hesitated for a second, then added, “Reminded me of you.”

Silence.

Chan, mid-sip of his drink, nearly choked to death.

Jisung’s entire life flashed before his eyes.

Hyunjin’s brain, meanwhile, stopped functioning altogether.

“…What?”

Changbin, clearing his throat, obviously regretting speaking, crossed his arms. “Nothing. Just take it.”

Hyunjin, still short-circuiting, slowly took the plant from his hands.

It was small but sturdy, deep green with yellow edges, planted in a simple ceramic pot with a twine bow wrapped around it.
Hyunjin swallowed.

“Oh,” he said quietly.

Changbin, rubbing the back of his neck, muttered, “It’s just a plant. Don’t make it weird.”

Hyunjin immediately made it weird by looking at him like he just gifted him the moon.

———

The moment Hyunjin stepped into Cover Me Studio with the snake plant, Felix and Jeongin pounced.

Felix gasped. “OH MY GOD”

Jeongin clutched his chest. “A NEW BABY?”

Hyunjin, still very much Not Okay, glared at them. “Do not start.”

Felix completely ignored him, grabbing the pot and holding it up like Simba in The Lion King.

“Jinnie the Snake Plant has entered the chat!”

Hyunjin groaned.

Jeongin was already clearing a spot on the reception desk next to Binnie the Orchid.

“They’re married,” Jeongin declared.

Felix nodded solemnly. “A love story for the ages.”

Hyunjin covered his face with his hands. “I hate both of you.”

Felix patted his shoulder. “You love us.”

Hyunjin muttered, “Not right now.”

Jeongin, already decorating Jinnie’s pot with stickers, grinned. “Sooo… Changbin just gave this to you?”

Hyunjin, still absolutely short-circuiting, nodded slowly. “Yeah.”

Felix smirked. “Because it reminded him of you?”

Hyunjin groaned aggressively. “STOP.”
Felix and Jeongin lost their minds.

Jeongin clutched Felix’s arm. “HYUNG. THIS IS HUGE.”

Felix gasped dramatically. “THIS IS ROMANCE.”

Hyunjin, threatening to pass out, grabbed a pillow from the couch and threw it at both of them.

“IT’S A PLANT!”

Felix caught it effortlessly. “A meaningful plant.”

Jeongin nodded. “A personalized plant.”
Felix nudged him. “A Changbin-thought-of-you-and-picked-this-specifically plant.”
Hyunjin flopped onto the couch and screamed into his hands.

Within minutes, the snake plant and orchid were officially placed side by side.
Jeongin had added a tiny handwritten sign between them that said “Happily Married”.

Felix had tied a tiny matching twine bow around Binnie so they were coordinated.
Hyunjin was absolutely not looking at them.

Because if he did, he might have to fully accept the fact that Changbin thought of him when picking a plant.

Felix leaned on the counter, grinning. “Sooo… have you thanked him yet?”

Hyunjin, still face-down in the couch, groaned. “I hate you.”

Jeongin patted his back. “That’s not a no.”

Felix gasped. “He is going to thank him.”

Jeongin smirked. “Do we think it’ll be a verbal thank you or maybe a kiss?”

Hyunjin, muffled, muttered, “I will destroy you both.”

Felix and Jeongin high-fived.

This was going to ruin Hyunjin.

And they loved it.

———

Hyunjin did not get nervous.

At least, that’s what he told himself as he stood outside 3racha Florals the next afternoon, hovering like an absolute idiot instead of just walking inside.

He wasn’t even sure why he was here.

Okay, no. That was a lie.

He knew exactly why he was here.

To thank Changbin for the plant.

Like a normal person.

Except Hyunjin was not a normal person, so obviously, this was about to go horribly wrong.

With a deep breath, Hyunjin finally pushed the door open, the bell chiming softly.

The familiar scent of flowers hit him immediately—fresh, sweet, grounding.
And there, behind the counter, was Changbin.

He had his sleeves rolled up again (which was just rude at this point), his apron slightly dusted with pollen, biceps flexing slightly as he arranged a bouquet.

Hyunjin’s brain short-circuited for a second, but he recovered.

Totally.

He casually walked up to the counter, pretending he wasn’t nervous.

Changbin glanced up, looking mildly surprised. “Oh. It’s you.”

Hyunjin huffed. “Try not to sound too excited.”

Changbin smirked. “I’m thrilled.”

Hyunjin rolled his eyes but ignored the way his stomach flipped a little.

Hyunjin, realizing he needed to get to the point, cleared his throat.

“So,” he started. “Uh. About yesterday.”
Changbin raised an eyebrow, tying off the bouquet. “What about it?”

Hyunjin shifted slightly. “The plant.”

Changbin blinked.

Hyunjin cleared his throat again, suddenly very aware of how awkward this was.

“I just—” He exhaled sharply. “I mean—”

Changbin tilted his head, watching him struggle. “Are you trying to say thank you?”

Hyunjin immediately scowled. “No.”

Changbin smirked. “You totally are.”

Hyunjin hated this. “Forget it.”

He turned to leave but Changbin, still smirking, grabbed his wrist lightly. “Wait.”
Hyunjin froze.

Changbin chuckled, shaking his head.

“You’re bad at this.”

Hyunjin scowled harder. “You’re making it worse.”

Changbin let go of his wrist and crossed his arms. “Okay. Let’s make it easier for you.”

He leaned on the counter, eyes amused but curious.

“Did you like the plant?”

Hyunjin fidgeted slightly. “Yeah.”

Changbin nodded. “And you appreciated that I picked it out for you?”

Hyunjin grumbled. “Maybe.”

Changbin grinned. “And you wanted to tell me that in a way that wasn’t painfully awkward but failed spectacularly?”

Hyunjin glared. “I can’t stand you.”

Changbin’s smirk widened. “Someone, i’m starting to not believe that.”

Hyunjin groaned, dragging a hand down his face. “Forget it. I tried.”

Changbin chuckled, clearly having way too much fun with this before his expression softened slightly.

“Hey,” he said, voice a little lower now. “I’m glad you liked it.”

Hyunjin, still flustered, blinked up at him.
Changbin shrugged, going back to his bouquet. “It suited you.”

Hyunjin, heart doing something ridiculous, decided it was absolutely time to leave.

The second Hyunjin stepped back into Cover Me Studio, Felix and Jeongin were waiting.

Felix perked up. “Well?”

Hyunjin stormed past them and flopped onto the couch, face-down.

Felix and Jeongin exchanged a look.
Jeongin leaned over him. “Sooo… how’d it go?”

Hyunjin’s voice was muffled. “I tried to say thank you.”

Felix grinned. “And?”

Hyunjin groaned loudly. “He bullied me the entire time.”

Felix gasped dramatically. “Oh no, not flirting with you in return!”

Jeongin nodded solemnly. “That must’ve been so hard for you.”

Hyunjin was not okay.

Which meant Felix and Jeongin were thriving.

———

Later that night, after entirely too much Hyunjin-related discussion, Jisung found himself getting a tattoo. Again.

From Minho.

Because he made a bad decision.

But, in his defense, he was not going to let Minho be the one who was all cool and unaffected while Jisung had feelings.

Which was how he ended up half-shirtless in the tattoo chair, heart hammering in his chest, while Minho tattooed deliberate, careful lines onto his skin.

Minho, completely unbothered, tilted his head. “You’re quiet.”

Jisung cleared his throat. “Just… concentrating.”

Minho smirked slightly. “That’s a first.”
Jisung glared. “Shut up.”

Minho, totally unfazed, kept working. “You know,” he said casually, “if you wanted an excuse to have my hands on you, you could’ve just said so.”

Jisung fucking DIED.

———

The next morning, the tattoo shop was in chaos.

Because Felix and Jeongin had gone full gremlin mode.

Jeongin had placed tiny wedding rings (key rings they may or not have bought specifically for this) in front of Binnie the Orchid and Jinnie the Snake Plant.

Felix had printed a tiny marriage certificate.

When Hyunjin walked in and saw the plants literally married, he immediately turned around to leave.

Felix caught his arm. “NO. YOU STAY.”

Jeongin grinned. “They’re happily and officially married now, Hyung.”

Hyunjin, emotionally exhausted, muttered, “Why are you like this.”

Felix nodded solemnly. “Because you pay us to essentially hang out all day.”

Jeongin beamed. “And this is our masterpiece.”

Hyunjin groaned, dragging a hand down his face, “I’ve got to find new artists.”

———

Hyunjin hadn’t intended to walk into 3racha Florals that afternoon, but here he was.

Standing in the middle of the flower shop, fidgeting with the hem of his sleeve, while Changbin stared at him like he was waiting for him to start trouble.

Except today, Hyunjin didn’t have the energy for their usual back-and-forth.
He was here for help.

And, unfortunately, Changbin was the only person he trusted with this.

“Okay,” Changbin said, crossing his arms. “What do you want?”

Hyunjin huffed, shifting his weight. “Can you, like… not sound so suspicious?”

Changbin arched an eyebrow. “Can you not walk in here like you’re about to do something insane?”

Hyunjin groaned. “I’m not here to piss you off.”

Changbin smirked. “That’d be a first.”

Hyunjin ignored that.

Instead, he took a deep breath and finally got to the point.

“I need your help designing a flower bouquet,” he said.

Changbin blinked. “Come again?”

“For a tattoo.”

Changbin frowned, arms dropping slightly. “For you?”

Hyunjin shook his head. “For a client.”

That seemed to surprise him.

Hyunjin exhaled, running a hand through his hair. “They don’t know what flowers they want. Just that they each need to have a meaning—something personal to them.”

Changbin was quiet for a moment.

Then, finally, his gaze softened. “You want me to help with that?”

Hyunjin hesitated—then nodded.

Changbin exhaled slowly. “Okay.”

They worked side by side, selecting flowers one by one.

Hyunjin watched as Changbin’s hands moved with practiced ease, carefully plucking stems and setting them aside.
He explained each one as he went.

“Forget-me-nots,” Changbin said, picking up a delicate bundle. “For remembrance.”
Hyunjin nodded.

“These,” Changbin continued, touching a sprig of lavender, “are for calmness and protection.”

Hyunjin hummed. “I like that.”

A small smile tugged at Changbin’s lips.
They continued in silence, the space between them smaller than it had ever been.

It was quiet.

But not uncomfortable.

Not tense.

Just… real.

At some point, Hyunjin reached for a flower at the same time as Changbin.
Their hands brushed.

They both froze.

Hyunjin sucked in a sharp breath. His fingers were barely touching Changbin’s, but it felt like his skin was on fire.

He looked up.

Changbin was already staring at him.
The air between them shifted.

Changbin’s gaze flickered to Hyunjin’s lips for half a second—so fast, Hyunjin almost thought he imagined it.

Hyunjin swallowed hard.

He could feel the warmth of Changbin’s breath, could see the way his throat moved when he swallowed.

Neither of them spoke.

Neither of them moved away.

For a split second, Hyunjin thought it might happen.

His heart slammed against his ribs, Changbin exhaled sharply, stepping back.
The moment broke.

Hyunjin blinked, suddenly feeling like an idiot.

“Right,” Changbin muttered, rubbing the back of his neck. “Uh. I think we have enough for the bouquet.”

Hyunjin nodded a little too quickly. “Yeah. Okay. Cool.”

The shop felt too warm now.

Changbin turned away, clearing his throat as he started wrapping up the flowers.

Hyunjin stared at the floor, heart still racing.

What the hell just happened?

———

Hyunjin paced the tattoo shop, running a hand through his hair for the seventh time that hour.

Felix, sprawled on the couch, watched with barely concealed amusement. Jeongin, filing paperwork at the counter, leaned on his elbows and smirked.

“So,” Jeongin drawled. “When are you confessing?”

Hyunjin froze. “Excuse me?”

Felix, without looking up, muttered, “Oh my god, just admit you’re in love with him.”

Hyunjin gawked. “I AM NOT—”

Felix sat up. “Hyunjin.”

Jeongin tilted his head. “Hyunjin.”

Hyunjin scowled. “Why are you saying my name like that?”

Felix rolled his eyes. “Because we’ve known since day one that you’ve had a crush.”

Hyunjin choked. “DAY ONE?!”

Jeongin nodded. “Yeah, man. And then,a few days later you panic-bought an orchid.”

Felix sighed dreamily. “And now you have a thoughtful plant gift and an almost-kiss in a flower shop.”

Hyunjin groaned aggressively. “Oh. So this actually sucks.”

Jeongin smirked. “Yeah, for you.”

Felix clapped his hands. “Okay, so now that you’ve realized, let’s talk next steps.”

Hyunjin glared. “I need at least 48 hours to process.”

Felix and Jeongin exchanged a look.

“No, you don’t,” they said in unison.

Hyunjin whipped around. “I am going to fire both of you.”

———

Meanwhile, across the street, Changbin was suffering.

Chan was organizing stock, and Jisung was watching Changbin struggle to tie a bouquet because his hands kept shaking.

“So,” Jisung grinned. “When are you telling him you love him and want to climb him like a tree?”

Changbin snapped a stem in half.

Chan snorted.

Jisung smirked. “I’ll take that as a soon.”

Changbin groaned. “You guys are the worst.”

Chan grinned. “Okay, but are we wrong?”

Changbin glared at them both. “I don’t—”

Jisung waved him off. “Nope. We’re skipping Denial and moving straight to Acceptance.”

Changbin exhaled sharply. “I don’t even know if he likes me back.”

Chan and Jisung stared.

Then, Jisung burst out laughing.

“Oh my god,” Jisung wheezed. “HE PANIC-BOUGHT AN ORCHID AND LET THEN NAME IT AFTER YOU. THEY NAMED THE SNAKE PLANT JINNIE AND MARRIED THEM.”

Chan clapped a hand on Changbin’s shoulder. “He definitely likes you back.”

Changbin covered his face. “This is my personal hell.”

Jisung grinned. “No, this is so much fun.”

————

Two days later, it happened.

Felix and Jeongin rented out a bar for the sole purpose of celebrating the union of Binnie the Orchid and Jinnie the Snake Plant.

They invited everyone.

Chan, Jisung, Minho, Seungmin, and obviously, Changbin.

By the time Hyunjin and Changbin walked in, the tiny bar was fully decorated.

There was an actual Just Married banner.

There were tiny plastic champagne glasses filled with sparkling cider for the plants.

Felix had somehow gotten a tiny tuxedo bow on the orchid.

Jeongin gave a speech.

“This is not just a celebration of our dear Binnie and Jinnie,” Jeongin said dramatically, standing on a chair. “This is a celebration of love itself.”

Felix wiped a fake tear. “Beautiful.”

Hyunjin turned to Changbin, expression deadpan. “We let this happen.”

Changbin sighed deeply. “Yeah. We did.”
And then, as if this night wasn’t already insane, everything devolved into absolute chaos.

At, a booth, Seungmin, tipsy and absolutely thriving, grabbed Jeongin by the collar and kissed him senseless.

Jeongin, flustered but delighted, grinned. “You could’ve just waited until we got home.”

Seungmin huffed. “Nope.”

While waiting for their drinks from the bartender, Jisung, drunk, clutched his chest dramatically. “You know, Minho, I have three tattoos now.”

Minho, smirking, leaned in slightly. “And?”
Jisung poked his chest, where the fresh ink was still healing. “It’s on the chest, Minho. A little closer, and you’ll feel the heat.”

Minho, unfazed, lowered his voice. “You sure you want to play this game?”

Jisung, now very aware of how close Minho had moved, gave a grin that could only be described as dangerous. “I thought you didn’t like to make the first move.”

Minho’s eyes darkened slightly. “Seems I’m changing my mind.”

He lunged forward and smashed his lips against Jisung’s, both of them forgetting the drinks they ordered.

Jisung gasped in surprise, the unexpected kiss soft but undeniably there. He pulled away, wide-eyed. “Wait, are we doing this now?”

Minho smiled, his voice low. “I think it’s about time.”

Meanwhile, Hyunjin and Changbin were stuck in their own silent tension from across the bar. Every time Changbin caught Hyunjin’s eye, he couldn't help but feel this stupid, soft smile tugging at his lips. And Hyunjin, doing his best to act unaffected, was absolutely failing at it.

The music, the crowd, the chaos, it was all a blur compared to how sharply he was aware of Changbin’s presence.

Changbin, reached to help Hyunjin with his jacket, the briefest touch of their hands sending a small jolt through Hyunjin. He looked up, only to find Changbin’s smile softer than usual, almost vulnerable.

“I don’t know why we’re pretending anymore,” Changbin said, voice low enough only for Hyunjin to hear.

He wasn’t sure if it was the plant wedding reception or the alcohol that made him say that out loud.

Probably the alcohol.

Most definitely the alcohol.

Hyunjin’s heart fluttered, and for the first time in a long while, he let himself believe it.

And just when it seemed like this could be the start of something, Felix and Jeongin barged in with even more chaos, shouting about where the after party should be.

But for once, Hyunjin and Changbin just smiled at each other, smitten in the most real way.

Hyunjin and Changbin were doomed.

Fully, entirely doomed.

Because the second they left that ridiculous plant wedding reception, they both knew.

This wasn’t just tension anymore.

This was real.

And worse?

It was mutual.

———

The morning after the reception, Hyunjin walked into the tattoo shop, fully prepared to pretend nothing had changed.

That plan lasted five seconds.

Felix and Jeongin immediately turned to him with identical grins.

“So,” Felix said.

Hyunjin exhaled sharply. “No.”

Jeongin hummed, unfazed. “You don’t even know what we’re going to say.”

Hyunjin glared. “Yes, I do. And the answer is still no.”

Felix tapped his chin. “What if the question was, ‘How long are you going to pretend you’re not in love with Changbin?’”

Hyunjin pointed at the door. “Both of you. Get out.”

Jeongin grinned. “This is my job.”

Hyunjin groaned, dragging a hand down his face. “I don’t even know what we are.”

Felix, ever the problem-solver, shrugged. “Maybe you should go find out.”

———

Meanwhile, at 3racha Florals, Changbin was aggressively arranging tulips, pointedly ignoring the way Chan and Jisung were watching him.

“Binnie,” Jisung started.

Changbin sighed. “Don’t.”

Chan smirked. “He hasn’t said anything else yet.”

Changbin looked up, deadpan. “If it’s anything about Hyunjin..”

“Oh, so you’re thinking about Hyunjin?” Jisung interrupted, grinning.

Changbin glared. “You’re fired.”

Chan chuckled. “You’re really not going to talk to him?”

Changbin hesitated.

Because, honestly?

Yeah.

He wanted to.

But he wasn’t sure how.

Before he could say anything, the shop bell jingled.

And in walked Hyunjin.

Hyunjin looked oddly serious, which was terrible for Changbin’s heart.

Jisung immediately sensed the shift and dragged Chan toward the back room, not before whispering, “Good luck, loverboy.”

Then they were alone.

Hyunjin exhaled. “So.”

Changbin folded his arms. “So.”

A beat of silence.

Hyunjin braced himself.

“I don’t want to keep pretending this is nothing.”

Changbin’s stomach flipped.

Hyunjin continued, voice quieter now. “But I don’t know how to,”

“You don’t have to,” Changbin interrupted.
Hyunjin blinked.

Changbin took a step closer. “You don’t have to figure it all out right now.”

Hyunjin’s breath caught.

Because, somehow, Changbin always knew what he needed to hear.

Another pause.

Then Hyunjin, because he was a menace—smirked slightly.

“So… you don’t hate me.”

Changbin rolled his eyes but didn’t deny it.

Hyunjin tilted his head. “If you admit it first, I’ll buy you dinner.”

Changbin huffed a laugh. “Fine.”

Then, with a slow grin, he finally said it.
“I like you, Hyunjin.”

Hyunjin felt his heartbeat in his throat.
Then he sighed dramatically. “Damn. Guess I have to buy you dinner now.”

Changbin chuckled. “That was never in question.”

They didn’t kiss.

Not yet.

But as they left the shop together, the space between them felt lighter.

Because, for the first time,

They weren’t avoiding it anymore.

They were finally moving forward.

———

Hyunjin wasn’t nervous.

At least, that’s what he told himself.

It wasn’t technically a date, after all. Just dinner. Just food. Just two people who had finally admitted they liked each other, sitting across from each other in a cozy little restaurant, trying not to act like this was a big deal.

But it was a big deal.

Because for the first time in a long time,
Hyunjin wanted this to work.

Changbin, sitting across from him, looked ridiculously good in a simple sweater and dark jeans. No apron, no flowers, no distractions. Just him.

They had been talking about nothing for the past twenty minutes, work, mutual friends, Felix and Jeongin’s never-ending chaos, when the conversation took a turn.

At some point, between bites of food and lingering glances, Changbin asked, “So, how’d you get into tattooing?”

Hyunjin hesitated, fingers toying with his glass.

Then, slowly, he exhaled.
“I used to dance.”

Changbin blinked. “Dance?”

Hyunjin nodded, not quite meeting his eyes. “I went to school for it. Was training to go pro.” A soft laugh. “I liked the attention, honestly. Everyone always called me ‘prince-like,’ and I ate it up.”

Changbin smiled slightly, but he didn’t interrupt.

Hyunjin’s expression dimmed.
“I got my big break… and then I got injured.”

Silence settled between them.

Hyunjin swallowed. “It wasn’t even dramatic. I didn’t fall off a stage or anything. Just a bad landing, a torn ligament, and suddenly, everything I’d worked for was… gone.”

Changbin’s hands curled into fists. He knew that feeling.

Hyunjin continued, quieter now. “I fell apart after that. I didn’t know who I was without dance. I didn’t know what else I was good at.”

Changbin’s heart clenched. The frustration. The loss. The grief of it.

“But I started drawing again,” Hyunjin said, voice steadier. “At first, just to pass the time. Then, because I needed to.” He glanced up, a small, almost self-conscious smile on his lips. “And I fell in love with it.”
Changbin felt something warm settle in his chest.

Hyunjin shifted, running a hand through his hair. “Minho and Felix were dancers too. They didn’t make it either, so we just… found each other.” He exhaled. “And then I met Jeongin by accident. Saw his work and knew he had talent. So I took him in.”

Changbin watched him carefully. “You made your own family.”

Hyunjin’s lips parted slightly—like he hadn’t thought of it like that before.

Then, after a moment, he nodded.

“Yeah,” he murmured. “I guess I did.” Hyunjin toyed with his fork. “What about you?”

Changbin exhaled. “I used to be a personal trainer.”

Hyunjin blinked, then huffed a laugh. “Yeah, that checks out.”

Changbin smirked, but it faded quickly.

“I loved it,” he admitted. “Working out has always been my thing. And training people, helping them feel strong, feel safe? That was my favorite part.”

Hyunjin tilted his head. “But you don’t do it anymore.”

Changbin hesitated. Then, for the first time, he told someone the truth.

“There was a creep at the gym,” he said, voice carefully controlled. “He was harassing one of my clients. She was terrified of him. And when I saw him corner her one day, I… lost it.”

Hyunjin’s breath hitched.

Changbin’s fingers clenched around his napkin. “I didn’t even hit him. Just grabbed him, got in his face, told him if he so much as looked at her again, I’d make sure he regretted it.”

Hyunjin felt his pulse quicken.

Changbin sighed. “The guy didn’t press charges, but word got around. Suddenly, I was the ‘big, scary trainer.’ The guy with ‘anger issues.’ Clients stopped booking sessions with me. The gym fired me, just to be safe.” He huffed a humorless laugh. “I was good at my job, Hyunjin. And none of that mattered.”

Hyunjin felt a sharp pang in his chest.

Because he knew.

He knew what it was like to have everything stripped away from you in a moment.

He knew exactly how that felt.

“So I started over,” Changbin continued. “I’d always liked flowers. Started learning more about them, realized how much meaning they had. It felt like… a different way to help people. To make them feel better.”

Hyunjin smiled softly. “And now you run a shop.”

Changbin nodded. “With Jisung and Chan. We grew up together, so when I told them the idea, they just… went with it.”

Hyunjin huffed a laugh. “Yeah, that also checks out.”

Changbin smirked, but then his expression sobered.

“There’s still criticism,” he admitted. “A muscular guy in a flower shop? People don’t get it. They don’t think we fit.”

Hyunjin’s jaw tightened.

“Fuck them,” he said simply.

Changbin blinked.

Hyunjin leaned forward, resting his chin on his hand. “Seriously. Fuck them. Who cares what they think?”

Changbin stared.

Silence.

What felt like an eternity passed.

Then, he laughed.

A deep, genuine, belly laugh.

Hyunjin grinned. “I’m serious, though.”

“I know,” Changbin said, still chuckling. “That’s why it’s funny.”

Hyunjin rolled his eyes but smiled anyway.

They sat in that quiet warmth, their meals forgotten, something deeper settling between them.

Something real.

The restaurant had long since closed, but neither of them wanted the night to end.

So they walked.

Side by side, hands brushing occasionally, shoulders bumping just enough to make their breath hitch.

At some point, Hyunjin glanced up.

Changbin was already watching him.

The air between them shifted again.

This time, neither of them ran from it.

Hyunjin’s voice was softer now. “I had fun tonight.”

Changbin nodded. “Yeah. Me too.”

Silence.

Hyunjin’s heart stuttered.

Neither of them moved.

The world around them blurred, the streetlights, the city noise, the night air, until it was just them.

Changbin licked his lips, gaze dropping for just a moment.

Hyunjin’s breath hitched.

He could kiss him.

Right now.

He could just..

Not yet.

Instead, Changbin reached out, fingertips brushing Hyunjin’s wrist.

“I’ll see you tomorrow?” Hyunjin asked.

Changbin exhaled.

He smiled.

“Yeah,” he murmured. “Tomorrow.”

He turned to walk away, but before he could, Hyunjin’s voice stopped him.

“Changbin.”

He looked over his shoulder.

Hyunjin’s lips curved into a soft smile.
“I meant what I said,” he said simply.

Changbin’s stomach flipped.

And for once, he let himself believe it.

———

The night after their first date, everything felt different.

Not in a bad way.

In a soul-crushing, heart-racing, absolutely terrifying way.

Because Hyunjin and Changbin both knew.

This was real.

And now, they had to deal with it.

Hyunjin had barely stepped into the tattoo shop the next morning before he was ambushed.

Felix and Jeongin were waiting.

Like wolves scenting fresh prey.

Hyunjin stopped in his tracks. “…What.”

Felix grinned. “Sooooo…”

Jeongin wiggled his eyebrows. “How was dinner?”

Hyunjin exhaled through his nose. “It was fine.”

Felix and Jeongin gasped.

Jeongin placed a hand over his heart. “Fine? That’s all you’re giving us?”

Hyunjin scowled. “What do you want me to say?”

Felix huffed. “I don’t know… maybe the truth?”

Jeongin leaned forward. “Did you kiss?”

Hyunjin scoffed. “No.”

Felix frowned. “Cowards.”

Jeongin tilted his head. “Did he at least confess his undying love?”

Hyunjin rolled his eyes. “There is no ‘undying love.’”

Felix smirked. “But there is love?”

Hyunjin groaned, throwing himself onto the couch.

Felix and Jeongin cackled.

“I hate you both,” Hyunjin muttered.

Felix patted his knee. “No, you don’t. You just don’t know how to process emotions like a normal person.”

Hyunjin glared. “And you do?”

Jeongin shrugged. “Nope. But we aren’t the ones pining after a florist.”

Hyunjin grabbed a throw pillow and launched it at them.

———

Across the street, Changbin was also being bullied.

Jisung was grinning too much.

Chan was watching like an amused parent.

“Well,” Jisung started, plucking a stray flower from a vase. “Are you getting married? Having his babies? Are we getting brother-in-laws? That might complicate things for me though.”

Changbin, adjusting a display, did not dignify that with a response.

Chan leaned against the counter. “Jisung, I think that’s a no.”

Jisung sighed dramatically. “Tragic.”

Changbin huffed. “We’re not there yet.”

Jisung smirked. “So you are somewhere.”

Changbin paused.

Jisung and Chan pounced.

“Oh my god,” Jisung whispered. “You’re in love.”

Changbin turned, ready to argue, but Chan just smiled knowingly.

And somehow, that was worse

———

Hyunjin had been avoiding Changbin all day.

Not intentionally.

Okay, maybe a little intentionally.

He didn’t know how to act after last night.
But when the flower shop was closing up, he finally walked over.

Changbin looked up.

And just like that, Hyunjin forgot how to breathe.

Because Changbin smiled.

Soft, warm, expectant.

“You came,” Changbin murmured.

Hyunjin swallowed. “Yeah.”

Changbin stepped closer.

Hyunjin didn’t move away.

There was no teasing now. No tension, no hostility, just them.

Changbin’s voice was gentle. “I like you.”

Hyunjin’s heart stuttered.

He exhaled.

“I like you too.”

Then, before he could overthink it, he kissed him.

Changbin didn’t hesitate.

His hands curled around Hyunjin’s waist, pulling him in, and everything just clicked.

The teasing, the tension, the push-and-pull
All of it led to this.

Hyunjin smiled into the kiss.

Changbin chuckled softly. “Took you long enough.”

Hyunjin rolled his eyes. “Shut up.”
Then he kissed him again.

And this time,
Neither of them pulled away.

———

The thing about spending the night at Changbin’s apartment was that it wasn’t supposed to happen.

Not like this.

Sure, it made sense—it was late, the floral shop was closed, and Hyunjin had already half-dozed off on Changbin’s couch anyway. It was logical to stay.

At least, that’s what he told himself.
But logic flew out the fucking window the second he turned to say goodnight and instead found himself backed up against the wall, Changbin’s hands braced on either side of him, eyes dark and unreadable.
And then they weren’t just standing close.

Then, they were kissing.

Then, Hyunjin was following him to the bedroom.

Then, Hyunjin was coming undone beneath him, gripping his sheets like a lifeline, gasping Changbin’s name like it was the only thing keeping him tethered to earth.

———

Hyunjin was not sneaking out.

He was casually leaving.

Through the back entrance of 3RACHA Florals.

At eight in the morning.

Wearing the same clothes as last night.

Technically, he could’ve just walked out the front door. But that would’ve meant seeing Changbin again before his coffee had even kicked in, and Hyunjin had already pushed his luck by staying the night.

They weren’t official-official, not yet. And waking up in Changbin’s warm bed, tangled in soft sheets that still smelled like fresh flowers and him, was dangerous. Too real. Too much like something Hyunjin would miss if it disappeared.

And now, in the quiet haze of morning, reality was setting in.

So, Hyunjin did what Hyunjin does best.

He ran.

Like a coward.

His plan was simple: slip down the stairs, cut through the flower shop, make a clean getaway, and pretend none of this happened.

But then he stepped inside.

And immediately locked eyes with Chan and Jisung.

Hyunjin froze.

Jisung, mid-sip of his morning coffee, made a strangled noise and immediately started coughing, nearly dropping the cup.

Chan, standing by the register, slowly raised his eyebrows.

Well, Fuck.

Hyunjin, gripping his coat tighter around himself, cleared his throat. “Morning.”

Jisung let out an overlydramatic gasp. “Oh my god.”

Hyunjin fought the urge to flinch.

Chan’s lips twitched like he was barely holding back a laugh. “Hyunjin.”

Jisung pointed dramatically. “You’re sneaking out.”

“I am not.”

Chan glanced at the clock, smirk growing. “Oh, yeah. That’s definitely a walk of shame.”

Hyunjin clenched his jaw. “It’s not”

Jisung wheezed. “OH, IT IS. He’s got the same shirt on. And the," He gestured wildly like a damn cartoon character. "the messed-up hair. Oh my god.”

Hyunjin groaned, scrubbing a hand down his face. “I hate both of you.”

He didn’t.

Chan hummed. “So, how was it?”

Hyunjin scowled. “I’m not answering that.”

Jisung, still cackling, pulled out his phone, snapped a picture, and started typing.

“What are you doing?” Hyunjin snapped.

Jisung beamed, thumbs flying across the screen. “Oh, just telling my lovely boyfriend that I have witnessed a crime.”

Chan smirked. “Who’s the victim?”

Jisung cackled. “Hyunjin’s dignity.”

Hyunjin flipped them both off and stormed out.

But it was already too late.

Because across the street, Minho read the message, smirked, and immediately told Felix and Jeongin.

By the time Hyunjin walked into Cover Me Studios, coffee in hand, pretending that nothing had happened, Felix and Jeongin were already waiting.

And sitting on the reception desk, right next to Binnie the Orchid and Jinnie the Snake Plant,

Were two tiny succulents.

One pot had a chicken doodled on the pot, the other, a fox.

Hyunjin slowed. “What the fuck is that.”

Felix grinned. “Oh, these? These are Lixie and Innie.”

Jeongin nodded solemnly. “Binnie and Jinnie’s children.”

Hyunjin stared. “You bought succulents?”

Minho glanced at him sideways, “You’re sucking the owner of the flower shop. I’m doing his employee. You think they have to buy anything?”

Felix sighed dramatically. “The family is growing, Hyunjin. Doesn’t that just warm your heart?”

Jeongin patted the baby succulents like they were his own flesh and blood. “You should be proud. Look at them. Thriving. Like their parents.”

Hyunjin slammed his coffee onto the counter. “I despise both of you.”

Felix smirked. “And yet, you love Binnie and Jinnie.”

Hyunjin groaned.

Jeongin elbowed Felix. “You think we’ll get another plant to complete the family?”

Felix nodded, rubbing his chin. “Mmm. Maybe a bonsai tree. You know. For wisdom.”

Hyunjin threw a pillow at them.

———

The morning after the kiss, staying the night, and the plant babies, everything should have felt different.

But it didn’t.

At least, that’s what Hyunjin told himself as he walked into the tattoo shop, coffee in hand, pretending his heart wasn’t still racing from the night before.

Felix and Jeongin, as always, were already waiting for him.

Felix narrowed his eyes. "You’re glowing."

Hyunjin scoffed. "I am not."

Jeongin squinted, tilting his head. "You kinda are."

Felix gasped dramatically. "Oh my god, you fucked again."

Hyunjin nearly choked on his coffee. "How the hell—"

Felix pointed accusingly. "I knew it! I could feel it in the universe."

Jeongin nodded solemnly. "The energy has shifted."

Hyunjin groaned. "Can you both shut up for five minutes?"

Felix ignored him entirely. "Sooooo… what happens now?"

Hyunjin hesitated. "I… don’t know."

And that was the truth.

They had hooked up again. It had been good. Really good. But neither of them had defined anything.

Felix hummed. "Well, you should probably figure that out before your big, scary florist boyfriend thinks you’re playing with his feelings."

Hyunjin’s stomach flipped. "Boyfriend is a strong word and don’t call him scary. Please."

Jeongin smirked. "You should tell him that."
Hyunjin sighed deeply, already regretting coming in today.

———

Changbin was aggressively pruning a perfectly fine plant, which meant he was stressed.

Jisung was watching from the counter, chin in his hands, smirking. "Sooo… how’s your morning going?"

Chan walked in from the back, raising an eyebrow. "What’s with the murder face?"

Jisung grinned. "Oh, didn’t you hear? Our dear Changbin had another romantic moment last night."

Chan looked intrigued. "Oh?"

Changbin sighed, setting down the clippers. “Hyunjin stayed over again."

Jisung gasped theatrically. "Wow. Our little florist is all grown up."

Changbin glared. "I swear to god—"

Chan chuckled, leaning against the counter. "So what’s the problem?"

Changbin hesitated.

Jisung’s smirk widened. "You don’t know what happens next."

Changbin rubbed the back of his neck. "I mean… I like him. But what if he doesn’t want anything serious?"

Chan tilted his head. "You think Hyunjin, the most dramatic man alive, hooked up with you for fun?"

Jisung snorted. "Yeah, I don’t think he’s that subtle, dude."

Changbin groaned. "I hate you both."

Chan patted his shoulder. "Then go talk to him."

Changbin sighed. "Fine. But if he’s weird about it, I’m blaming you guys."

Jisung grinned. "Deal."

———

Hyunjin had just finished his first appointment of the day when the door to the tattoo shop swung open.

Felix and Jeongin were standing there, grinning.

Hyunjin frowned. "What now?"
Felix wiggled his eyebrows. "We might have… arranged something."

Before Hyunjin could demand an explanation, the bell above the door chimed again.

Changbin stepped inside.

Hyunjin froze.

Felix beamed. "We’ll leave you two lovebirds alone."

Hyunjin glared. "Felix, please."

But Felix and Jeongin were already backing out the door, smug as hell.

Changbin sighed, rubbing his temple. "I can’t stand them."

Hyunjin groaned. "Same."

A beat of silence.

Then Changbin looked at him, really looked at him. "Can we talk?"

Hyunjin exhaled. "Yeah."

They moved to the corner of the shop, where it was quieter.

Changbin scratched the back of his head. "So, uh… about last night."

Hyunjin swallowed. "Right."

Changbin met his gaze, serious now. "I really like you, Hyunjin. And I don’t want to pretend I don’t."

Hyunjin felt his stomach flip.

"But if this is just… casual for you," Changbin continued, "I need to know."

Hyunjin stared at him.

Because shit.

This was real.

He let out a slow breath. "It’s not casual."

Changbin blinked. "No?"

Hyunjin shook his head. "I told you, I like you too. I meant it. I mean it.”

Silence.

Then, Changbin smiled.

Not a smirk. Not a teasing grin.

Just a soft, relieved smile.

Hyunjin’s chest felt warm.

"So," Changbin murmured, stepping closer.

"Does that mean I get to take you on an actual date this time?"

Hyunjin smirked, but it wasn’t mocking. "Yeah. I think it does."

Changbin chuckled. "Good."

Felix and Jeongin, watching through the shop window, high-fived.

Chaos was their greatest creation.

———

Three days later, Hyunjin was on a real date with Changbin.

Not an accidental let’s just grab food situation.

Not a business owners excuse.

A real, intentional date.

Finally.

They were sitting at a quiet, cozy restaurant, candlelight flickering between them, the scent of freshly baked bread filling the air, the soft hum of music making the whole thing feel… intimate.

Too intimate.

Because now?

Now, Hyunjin had run out of ways to avoid the conversation he knew was coming.

Changbin was watching him, arms folded on the table, expression patient.

“So,” Changbin said, voice even. “Are you ever gonna admit we’re dating, or are we gonna keep pretending it’s casual forever? Because, I told you I don’t want casual. I like you.”

Hyunjin sighed. “I knew this was coming.”

Changbin smirked. “Then why do you look surprised?”

Hyunjin huffed, poking at the condensation on his glass. “Because if we name it, if we put a label on it, it feels real. And if it’s real, that means it can end. And I don’t want to lose it.”

Changbin was silent.

Then, slowly, he set his drink down.

“Hyunjin,” he said softly. “Not everything has to end.”

Hyunjin’s stomach flipped.

Changbin leaned forward, voice steady. “I don’t want this to end. And I don’t think you do either.”

Hyunjin swallowed hard.

Changbin tilted his head. “So. Want to stop running and actually call me your boyfriend?”

Hyunjin let out a breathless laugh. “You love putting me on the spot, huh?”

Changbin smirked. “A little bit.”

Hyunjin rolled his eyes.

Then, finally, he nodded.

“Okay,” Hyunjin murmured. “You’re my boyfriend.”

Changbin grinned. “Yeah. I like the sound of that.”

———

Six months later, everything and everyone was thriving.

Their businesses were booming.

Jisung and Minho were disgustingly in love.

Seungmin and Jeongin were engaged.

And Felix? Felix had a crush on a certain Aussie but refused to acknowledge it.

Which naturally meant chaos was about to unfold.

While Hyunjin and Changbin were out on date night, Jisung, Felix, and Jeongin broke into Changbin’s apartment.

(“It’s not breaking in if I have a key,” Jisung had argued.)

The reason?

They were convinced that Hyunjin had secretly moved in.

Felix checked the closet and gasped. “HE HAS A DRAWER.”

Jeongin checked the bathroom. “And his skincare products are here.”

Jisung checked the fridge. “There’s kombucha. Changbin hates kombucha.”

Felix grinned as he clutched his chest. “He lives here.”

When Hyunjin and Changbin walked in and saw everyone (the trio immediately called the other three the seconds they realized Hyun was living there. Obviously) sitting in the living room like a panel of judges, Hyunjin froze.

Jisung stood. “WE KNOW.”

Hyunjin groaned. “What now?”

Jeongin crossed his arms. “Have you or have you not moved in?”

Hyunjin opened his mouth. Closed it. Then muttered, “I mean. Kind of?”

The room exploded.

Jisung high-fived Felix.

Jeongin wiped a fake tear. “We won.”

Hyunjin threw a pillow at them.

Changbin sighed, rubbing his temples.

But when he looked at Hyunjin, he saw him smiling.

And yeah.

This was his life now.

And honestly?

He wouldn’t change a damn thing.

———

A few hours later, the apartment was quiet.

For the first time all evening, there was no screaming, no chaotic plant weddings, no threats of physical violence against Jisung. Just the hum of the city beyond the window and the soft rustling of sheets as Hyunji stretched out in Changbin’s bed, staring up at the ceiling.

Changbin shifted beside him, one arm draped lazily over Hyunjin’s stomach, fingers tracing absentminded patterns against the hem of his shirt. They hadn’t moved much since getting back from the bar, both too drained from the latest incident to do anything except collapse into bed and sigh about their life choices.

Hyunjin huffed out a laugh, rubbing his eyes. “You know, I really thought that was going to be a normal date night.”

Changbin snorted. “That was your first mistake.”

Hyunjin turned his head, just enough to look at him. Changbin was already watching him, his dark eyes warm, fond, like he still couldn’t believe this was real.

Hyunjin swallowed. Even now, months into this, into them, he still had moments where it hit him all over again. That this was real. That Changbin was real. That he was wanted, loved, kept.

Changbin must have noticed the shift in his expression because he squeezed Hyunjin’s waist, thumb brushing lightly over the fabric of his shirt. “What’s that look for?”

Hyunjin hesitated. Then, quietly, “Nothing. Just… thinking.”

Changbin hummed. “Dangerous.”

Hyunjin rolled his eyes but didn’t take the bait. He turned onto his side instead, facing Changbin fully. “You know, they’re insane for thinking I live here now.”

Changbin smirked. “Yeah?”

Hyunjin scoffed. “I mean, obviously, I don’t. I still have my own apartment. I still—”

“You do have a drawer here now,” Changbin pointed out. “And, uh, half the closet.”

Hyunjin blinked. “Wait. I do not—”

Changbin arched an eyebrow.

Hyunjin opened his mouth, closed it, then frowned. “…Okay, maybe a quarter of the closet.”

Changbin just looked at him.

“…Half,” Hyunjin muttered.

Changbin grinned. “I rest my case.”

Hyunjin huffed, pressing his face into the pillow for a second. “Fine. Whatever.” Then, quieter, “I just, I don’t want to assume.”

Changbin’s expression softened. “Assume what?”

Hyunjin hesitated, fingers curling in the sheets. “That I belong here.”

The words were barely above a whisper, but they filled the space between them.

Changbin exhaled, shifting closer. He reached up, brushing a strand of hair from Hyunjin’s face, his touch so gentle it made Hyunjin’s throat tighten. “You do belong here.”

Hyunjin’s breath hitched.

Changbin smiled, small and certain. “You’ve belonged here for a while now, I think.”

Hyunjin stared at him, at the certainty in his eyes, at the quiet truth of it. Because he had been here. Night after night. He’d made himself at home without even realizing it.

Because this was home.

He let out a shaky breath, his lips curling at the edges. “Yeah?”

Changbin’s fingers curled around his wrist, squeezing gently. “Yeah.”

Hyunjin swallowed around the lump in his throat, then, slowly, deliberately, he reached for Changbin’s hand, threading their fingers together.

And that was it.

No grand declaration. No dramatics. Just this. Just them.

Changbin sighed contentedly, his grip firm but easy, like holding Hyunjin was the most natural thing in the world. “I mean, at this point, you might as well just move in officially.”

Hyunjin snorted. “Say that again without the smugness.”

Changbin grinned. “Not possible.”

Hyunjin rolled his eyes but didn’t let go. Didn’t move away.

Because the truth was,

He already had moved in.

In all the ways that mattered.

———

The tattoo shop was quiet in the early morning light, the usual chaos still hours away. The walls hummed with silence, broken only by the occasional clink of metal against glass as Hyunjin prepped his station.

Changbin sat on the tattoo chair, one arm draped lazily over the rest, watching Hyunjin move with practiced ease. It wasn’t the first time he’d been in this chair, but it was the first time he was here for Hyunjin.

The irony wasn’t lost on either of them.

“We’re really doing this, huh?” Changbin mused, glancing down at his wrist. The stencil of a tiny snake plant sat there, neatly placed, waiting.

Hyunjin smirked, adjusting the machine in his hand. “Backing out?”

Changbin scoffed. “Not a chance.”

Hyunjin hummed, pleased. He reached for Changbin’s wrist, steadying it in his grip. Changbin exhaled at the touch, letting himself be guided.

He glanced at Hyunjin’s own wrist, where—just above the swell of ink that covered most of his forearm—sat a tiny orchid. A delicate, permanent nod to the chaos that started everything.

It suited him.

And, if Changbin was being honest, so did this.

He felt the first buzz of the needle, the sharp, familiar sting settling into something almost soothing. Hyunjin worked in quiet concentration, his brow furrowed slightly, mouth set in a determined line.

Changbin smiled. He liked watching him like this. Focused. Sure.

“You’re really good at this,” he murmured.

Hyunjin snorted softly. “I should hope so. It’s literally my job.”

Changbin huffed a laugh but dn’t argue. Instead, he let his gaze drop back to his wrist, watching as the tiny plant took shape, each careful line, each delicate detail coming together under Hyunjin’s touch.

A matching tattoo.

A permanent mark of something that had started as an inside joke, as an absurd series of events that neither of them could have predicted.

But now, it meant something more.

Hyunjin wiped down the inked skin, tilting his head to inspect his work. “There.” He sat back slightly, eyes flicking up to meet Changbin’s. “What do you think?”

Changbin looked at the tiny snake plant on his wrist, then at Hyunjin’s orchid.

He flexed his fingers experimentally, watching the tattoo move with his skin.

It felt…

right.

He huffed out a small laugh, shaking his head. “God, we’re so fucking sentimental.”

Hyunjin grinned. “Don’t act like you’re not obsessed with it.”

Changbin rolled his eyes, but his lips twitched at the edges. “Shut up.”

Hyunjin chuckled, peeling off his gloves. He leaned in slightly, tilting his head. “You know, if I didn’t know any better, I’d say you just let me claim you.”

Changbin arched an eyebrow. “And what, exactly, are you claiming?”

Hyunjin smirked, slow and lazy. “Wouldn’t you like to know.”

Changbin hummed, looking pointedly at Hyunjin’s wrist. “Guess it’s mutual, then.”

Hyunjin blinked, glancing down at his own tattoo, at the orchid, at the space it filled so perfectly.

His smirk softened into something smaller, something real.

“Yeah,” he murmured. “Guess it is.”

Silence stretched between them, heavy with something unspoken but understood.

It was too good to be true.

Because, then the bell above the shop door jingled.

Felix’s voice rang out, far too excited for this early in the morning. “Ohhhh my god.”

Hyunjin groaned, already bracing himself.

Jeongin’s cackle followed. “You absolute losers.”

Changbin sighed, glancing at Hyunjin. “Should’ve locked the door.”

Hyunjin rolled his eyes. “Tell me about it.”

Felix practically skipped into the shop, eyes darting between them before zeroing in on Changbin’s wrist.

“You MATCH?” Felix gasped. “That’s disgusting.”

Minho peered over his shoulder, smirking. “Oh yeah. That’s domestic as hell.”

Hyunjin scowled. “Why are you even here?”

Jeongin grinned. “Because we knew you’d do something dumb and sentimental, and voilà, here we are.”

Felix nodded solemnly. “We’re so proud.”

Changbin sighed dramatically, rubbing his temples. “We need better friends.”

Felix scoffed. “Excuse you. Who else would immortalize your tragic love story in houseplants?”

Jeongin crossed his arms. “Yeah. We’re the reason you even have a love story.”

Hyunjin groaned, shoving the trio toward the door. “Out. Don’t you have an Aussie you want to kiss?” he pointed at Felix before he turned to Minho, “and I think you’re fiancé is stressing about wedding flowers, and shouldn’t you be with you’re husband because you have an appointment with that adoption agency because somehow they are trusting you with a child?” he added looking at Jeongin.

Felix cackled. “See you later, matching fiancés!”

The door finally swung shut behind them, leaving the shop quiet once more.

Hyunjin exhaled, shaking his head. “I hate them.”

Changbin smirked, flexing his wrist again. “You love them.”

Hyunjin sighed, running a hand through his hair. “…Yeah. Unfortunately.”

Changbin just smiled, reaching for his hand.

“C’mon,” he murmured, tugging Hyunjin closer. “Let’s go home.”

Hyunjin’s heart stuttered—just for a second.

Then, quietly, he squeezed Changbin’s hand back.

“Yeah,” he said, smiling softly. “Let’s go home.”