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The bell above the door chimed softly, a sound so ordinary that most people never noticed it. But Riki did.
He heard everything. The gentle hum of bees visiting the lavender in the window, the whisper of petals brushing against one another when the wind passed through, even the faint heartbeat of the flowers he tended every day. To a fairy, the world was always alive, always whispering secrets in tones only he could hear.
The flower shop was his favorite kind of secret, tucked between a bakery that always smelled like butter and sugar, and a bookstore that sold more dust than books. The shop’s windows were streaked with golden sunlight, and every surface was covered with plants that seemed to lean toward him when he passed.
He loved it. He loved the quiet. He loved the colors. And, though he’d never say it out loud, he loved the human who visited nearly every day.
Sunghoon.
Riki was pruning a pot of lilacs when the bell rang again. He didn’t even need to look up to know who it was. He recognized the steady rhythm of footsteps and the soft hum Sunghoon always made under his breath, like a song only he knew.
“Hey, Riki,” Sunghoon said, voice warm and rich as sunlight through honey.
Riki nearly snipped the wrong stem. “Oh! Sunghoon hyung, hi.” He set the scissors down quickly, smoothing his apron as if that would calm the fluttering in his chest. “You’re early today.”
“Yeah,” Sunghoon said, leaning casually against the counter. “The weather’s nice. I thought I’d walk instead of driving, but it just means I left home a little too early.”
Riki smiled. “Good for the planet.”
“Good for seeing you sooner,” Sunghoon replied without hesitation.
The words made Riki’s wings twitch instinctively from where they were hidden, a tiny shiver that almost broke the illusion spell he always wore. He forced himself to laugh, hoping the sound covered up the faint shimmer that rippled over his shoulders.
Sunghoon always said things like that, effortlessly charming, casually kind. Riki could never tell if he meant them or if humans just flirted that way. Either way, it made his heart beat too fast for someone who supposedly didn’t get nervous.
“So, what are you looking for today?” Riki asked, reaching for his notebook. “More roses? Daisies? You seem like a daisy person today.”
Sunghoon grinned. “You remember my favorite?”
“I remember everything,” Riki said, then immediately regretted how that sounded. “I mean-- everything about plants! Flowers. Not-- um-- not everything about you.”
Sunghoon chuckled softly, and Riki’s cheeks warmed.
As Riki wrapped the daisies, he tried to focus on the sound of the paper crinkling and on the faint dusting of pollen he could see floating in the air. But his gaze kept darting up to the curve of Sunghoon’s smile, to the tiny scar just above his lip, and to the way his eyes caught the light like polished glass.
Riki shouldn’t feel like this. Fairies weren’t supposed to get attached to humans.
It was forbidden exactly, but it was… unwise. Humans were unpredictable. They aged quickly. They didn’t always react well to magic. And if Sunghoon ever found out that the soft glow of the shop wasn’t just good lighting, that it came from Riki’s magic, what then?
The thought made his stomach twist.
He handed over the bouquet carefully. “Here you go.”
“Perfect, as always.” Sunghoon took it, his fingers brushing against Riki’s. Just for a second, just enough to make Riki forget how to breathe.
“Thanks, Riki. See you tomorrow?”
Riki blinked. “T-Tomorrow?”
Sunghoon smiled. “Yeah. Can’t have an apartment without flowers, right?”
And just like that, he was gone, the bell chiming after him, leaving Riki surrounded by sunlight, daisies, and the faint scent of something he couldn’t quite name.
It wasn’t until he looked down that he realized the air around him sparkled faintly, a dusting of gold that shimmered and fell like glitter.
Fairy dust. He’d let his magic slip again.
Riki sighed, brushing it away before any of the flowers could start reaching for it. He didn’t need any of them to start singing again. “Get it together, Riki,” he murmured, tying his apron tighter. “You can’t fall for a human.”
But deep down, even the flowers knew it was too late.
<><><><>
The morning sunlight spilled through the flower shop windows, turning the petals into pools of gold and pink. Riki hummed softly as he arranged a bouquet of tulips, careful to get each stem at just the right height.
“Riki, you’re humming again,” Sunoo said from behind the counter, leaning lazily on his elbows. “Who’s making you so happy this early?”
Riki froze, tulips trembling in his hands. “I-I’m not humming!” he stammered, though the soft tune still floated in the air.
Jungwon chuckled from where he was organizing a display of potted peonies. “Uh-huh, sure. It’s not like the humming always happens when Sunghoon hyung comes by or anything, right?”
Riki’s cheeks turned the color of a rose. “Hyung!” he whispered sharply, dropping a tulip into the vase a little too forcefully.
Sunoo snickered. “Relax. He’s cute, we get it.”
Riki groaned, adjusting the petals. “You guys are impossible.”
Before Jungwon could respond, the shop bell chimed. Riki’s heart jumped. Sunghoon was here.
“Morning, Riki,” Sunghoon said, voice soft, eyes crinkling in his usual warm smile. “Hi, Jungwon. Hi, Sunoo,” he murmured to Riki’s coworkers.
“Hi, Sunghoon hyung. More flowers today?” Jungwon asked with a knowing look in his eyes. Riki wanted to hit him with a flower pot.
Sunghoon smiled softly. “Yeah. More flowers.”
Riki’s wings twitched faintly beneath his apron, shimmering under the morning light. He quickly adjusted his posture, hoping the glow wouldn’t be noticeable. “H-hey, Sunghoon hyung! Good morning. What brings you in today?”
“I thought I’d pick up something cheerful,” Sunghoon said, scanning the shop. “I’m gonna look around for a second.”
Sunoo leaned over after Sunghoon disappeared into the shelves and whispered conspiratorially, “See? He comes for you, not the flowers. You’re the most cheerful thing in this shop.”
Riki groaned quietly. “Sunoo…”
Jungwon laughed. “Honestly, just enjoy it. You look like a tomato right now.”
Sunghoon came back with a handful of tulips and frowned, noticing the faint flush on Riki’s cheeks. “Everything okay?” he asked gently.
“Yes! Totally! Flowers are… lovely. That’s all,” Riki said too quickly, fumbling with the bouquet.
He handed Sunghoon the bouquet and watched the human walk out of the shop. He didn’t take his eyes off the door until he couldn’t see Sunghoon anymore. Once Sunghoon was out of sight, he slumped, practically slamming his head against the counter.
“Hey, it wasn’t that bad. At least you didn’t trip over your own feet like last time,” Jungwon said.
Riki really wanted to hit him with a flower pot.
The door chimed again and from the bakery next door came the smell of fresh bread and coffee, and with it two of the most annoying people Riki had ever met and unfortunately called friends, Jake and Heeseung.
“Hey, flower fairy!” Jake called, grinning. “Selling smiles with the flowers today?”
Riki’s ears twitched at the nickname, and his blush deepened. “Hello, Jake hyung.”
Heeseung laughed. “Don’t mind him. He’s just jealous he doesn’t get to hang out in a magical flower shop all day.”
Jay appeared in the doorway of the flower shop, a stack of books for Jungwon in his arms. “Morning, everyone. Riki, did you water the ferns today? They looked thirsty when I walked by.”
“I did!” Riki said, relieved to switch focus. “And they’re thriving, thanks for your concern.”
“Sunghoon hyung was here,” Jungwon said, unhelpfully.
Three pairs of eyes all turned to Riki, all accompanied by annoying smirks. He now wanted to hit all of them with a flower pot.
“I just… I like it when hyung comes by, okay? He’s… he’s cozy.”
The flowers seemed to lean a little closer, as if they understood. Riki’s wings twitched faintly again, sparkling in the sunlight, but this time he didn’t bother trying to hide them. Everyone in there already knew what he was.
“Cozy, huh?” Sunoo teased, waggling his eyebrows. “Sounds like someone has a crush.”
“Sunoo!” Riki groaned, face hot enough to burn through petals.
Jake laughed from where he’d perched himself on the counter. “Ah, young love in the morning! I love it.”
Heeseung nodded solemnly, flour still on his cheek. “It’s cute. I support it.”
Jay raised an eyebrow. “You’re all terrible for teasing him.” Okay, so maybe Riki wanted to hit Jay with a flower pot a little less than the others.
“He is cute when he blushes, though.” On second thought, Jay was gonna get hit with multiple flower pots.
Riki buried his face in his hands, tulips still trembling in the vase. But even as his friends laughed and teased, he couldn’t stop the small, fluttering warmth in his chest every time he thought of Sunghoon.
It was terrifying. It was thrilling. And somehow, it was perfect.
<><><><>
The afternoon sunlight filtered through the flower shop’s windows, casting golden stripes across the floor. Riki hummed quietly as he watered a row of pansies, lost in the rhythm of his work. Jungwon and Sunoo were nearby, casually sorting bouquets.
“Riki,” Sunoo called softly from the counter, “don’t forget you left the window display open. Your wings might… you know…”
Riki froze mid-spray, his wings twitching reflexively. He had completely forgotten to adjust the illusion today. Usually, he made sure they were invisible whenever anyone walked into the shop, but in the calm of the quiet afternoon, he’d let himself relax.
“Sunoo!” he hissed, ducking slightly behind a shelf of pots. “I-- just don’t say anything!”
Jungwon chuckled from his spot behind the counter. “Relax, we’re not going to tell anyone. Sunghoon hyung probably isn’t coming today.”
Riki swallowed hard, trying to convince himself, too. Sunghoon probably wouldn’t be coming today. He always came in the morning or around closing. Today was quiet. Peaceful. Safe.
And then, as if Riki had spoken it into existence, the bell above the door chimed.
Riki’s heart leapt into his throat. Sunghoon’s familiar figure appeared, smiling as he stepped inside. “Hey, Riki! Thought I’d stop by--”
Riki’s blood ran cold. His wings weren’t hidden. The illusion spell that normally hid the delicate, shimmering appendages hadn’t been activated today, and now the soft, iridescent wings stretched gracefully from his shoulders, catching the light like liquid cold.
“Oh no, oh no, oh no--” Riki whispered under his breath, ducking instinctively behind the counter.
Sunghoon froze mid-step, eyes widening. “Riki…”
Riki’s wings trembled slightly. He opened his mouth to explain, to apologize, to do anything to make Sunghoon not hate him. “I-- I can explain--”
But Sunghoon just tilted his head, a small, calm smile playing on his lips. “You’re a fairy.”
Riki’s heart sank. “You… you know? You’re not mad?”
Sunghoon stepped closer. “Of course not. I’ve known for a long time.
“For a long time?” Riki repeated, stunned.
“Yes,” Sunghoon said softly, eyes serious but kind. “I’ve always known you were a fairy. Was I not supposed to?”
Riki’s brows furrowed. “How? How’d you know?”
“I smelled the fairy dust on you the moment I first stepped in here. It’s very strong,” Sunghoon said.
Riki’s eyes widened. Humans couldn’t smell fairy dust. Very few supernatural creatures could either. That meant…
Sunghoon laughed quietly. “I’m a vampire, Riki. Did you really think I was human?”
Riki flushed bright red. “You don’t look like a vampire. It was an easy mistake.”
Sunghoon opened his mouth and Riki watched in disbelief as his canines grew into fangs. His eyes flashed red for a moment as well. He really was a vampire. And now Riki could smell the tinge of blood that surrounded most vampires. It would have been a little off-putting to other people, but nothing about Sunghoon could bother Riki.
“I smelled fairy dust the first time I saw you, but I just… didn’t say anything,” Sunghoon said.
Riki’s wings twitched nervously. “I thought… I thought you wouldn’t like me if you knew.”
Sunghoon shook his head slowly. “I like you because you’re you, Riki. Fairy wings and all.”
Riki stared, a mixture of relief, disbelief, and warmth flooding his chest. “Really?” he whispered.
“Really,” Sunghoon said, reaching out to touch one of the glowing wings lightly, reverently. “I’ve liked you from the start. Nothing about this changes that.”
Riki let out a breath he hadn’t realized he’d been holding. For the first time in days, he felt safe, seen, and… happy. Truly happy.
“So you knew about my friends, too?” he asked nervously, thinking of Jungwon and Sunoo and his annoying neighbors.
Sunghoon laughed softly. “Yeah, them too. They teased you plenty, didn’t they?”
Riki groaned. “A lot. You have no idea.”
Sunghoon stepped closer again, smiling warmly. “Riki… how about we go get coffee? I want to hear more about you. And your wings.”
Riki’s heart lifted, and his wings shimmered brighter, not from magic this time, but from pure joy. “I’d like that,” he whispered, a shy smile spreading across his face.
And for the first time, Riki didn’t feel the need to hide. Not from Sunghoon, and not from himself.
Although he did throw a flower pot when Jungwon and Sunoo started jeering at them as they left.