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1st Flower
The first time Cale gave Eric a flower, it was because Amiru made them all gather flowers for flower crowns. They were in one of the Henituse Gardens, their mothers having tea in the gazebo. The redhead had decided that yellow suited him well and crowned him in yellow roses and daffodils.
"Mom told me yellow roses means friendship! Hope you are my friend forever!"
"Okay…I will"
Their mothers laughed at their behaviour.
2nd Flower
The second time Cale gave him a flower was during the funeral. The happiness that once covered the other like a bright cape vanished, leaving a grieving boy behind. A white lily to be left on the casket, as customs required of them.
Things changed after that, Cale lost his mother, Eric lost his friend to the rude stranger wearing his face. He tried to bring joy back to Cale, he really did. Nothing worked.
3rd Flower
The third time Cale gave him flowers, a few years had already passed since the funeral. Their coming of age was a mess with Cale's behaviour. But his dongsaeng was there in a dark hood, holding a bundle of hydrangeas. The other's hidden red hair was a striking clash against the cool tones of the flowers.
"Thank you," Cale had whispered then, "For being there for me. And…I'm sorry."
Then he rode off back to Henituse Manor and disappeared from his room. Count Deruth called for a search. He was never found and the Northeast alliance fractured.
4th Flower
The fourth time Cale gave him flowers was after the war, after the ceremony that decorated him as a hero. He stood in place with his family, but Eric could see the fractures never healed. Deruth tried, but Cale turned away, comfortable with the isolation he had gotten from the war.
Cale had given Eric, Gilbert and Amiru each a single stalk of Sunflower, telling them he was returning and staying.
Favourite flower
Eric looked at the red roses Cale had given him years ago. 99 red roses preserved with layers upon layers of magic. He had received many flowers before and after the red roses but the preserved 99 would always be his favourite. The only other floral gift that would win against the roses was a crumpled flower crown made from little hands.
"UNCA ERIC!!!"
Eric turned to his laughing niece being chased by his smiling husband, Cale. A green hair girl born of Ubarr's seabreeze, with tiny hands that can polish a shell to a brilliant shell but struggle to twine two stalks together.