Chapter Text
The sound of heavy footsteps, the heavy breathing and the shout in the distance.
A man was running as fast as he possibly could, cursing at himself for being so unfit as he looked behind him, seeing if the cost was clear so he could rest for a bit before figuring out where in the world he could go. But that wasn't the option as a hooded figure came running at him, shouting one singular name.
"Derek!"
Shit
Derek kept running, weaving in between people as he clutched his bag close to him. God he just wanted to go home! That's all he wanted! To go home, eat some food and sleep as long as possible. But of course Hastur needed him for their robot. Like that couldn't wait until tomorrow! But no, he was running down the street, people shouting at him for bumping into them when all he could give was a half assed apology.
Come on Derek! Think! Where is a place you can hide!
The shouting grew louder as Derek tripped over his feet a couple of times before regaining his balance. Was it really worth running this far?
Come on come on come on!
Derek turned his head, looking back. Seeing Hastur was a far enough distance, he could rest-
BAM!
"Augh shit" Derek grumbled, falling to the ground as he held his head as the person he bumped into was letting out a sigh as he clutched his head.
"Watch were your going" The man grumbled, getting up from the ground and wiping the dirt off his shorts as he looked down at Derek before helping the man up, sweeping off leftover dirt from the man. But Derek didn't really pay attention to the man in front of him as he heard a shout once more.
"Derek stop running and get back here!"
He felt his body tense up, turning to the man in front of him, "A-Ah I'm sorry. I have to go" he said. He was feeling exhausted from all the running, couldn't Hastur get the hint he didn't want to work today? He was tired from all the classes today. He didn't want to work. Derek started to walk before he was pulled back by the man and taken into a shop.
"What the-!"
"Shush or he might here you" The man whispered, hiding behind the counter, crouching down and bringing Derek down as they waited to hear the running, the shouting of the single name as it leaves just as quick as it arrives. The two sat down on the ground, the man's hand covering Derek's mouth.
One second
Two
Three
Derek looked at the man, his eyes narrowed as he pushed off. "What the fuck are you doing man?" He shouted with a whisper, "I thought you were going to kidnap me! Actually I think you are!" He accused, pointing a finger at the man as he raised his hands, his eyes wide.
"Oh god no I would never! I just- I just saw you looking scared. I thought you were in trouble. Like, there was somebody chasing you. Am I right..." The man asked, rubbing the back of his neck as Derek stared at him, crossing his arms.
"Well yeah- but that had no reason for you to like, drag me to who knows where. Where are we!" He exclaimed, getting up from the ground and looking around.
The place was dark, but not to dark with the bit of sunlight shining through the curtains. Walking away from the counter he could clearly tell it was a store, a store with many plants of different kinds, some in shelfs, some in pots, and some in the water.
"Your in my flower shop" The man said, letting out a sigh as he walked away from the counter, raising his hands as he saw the alarm in Derek once more. "Again, I want to apologize. I shouldn't have done that but you looked really scared from that guy. Shouting your name and all" He muttered, looking down, "Um, my name's Avery. Please don't call the cops on me" He said, extending his hand out.
He wants to shake my hand?
Derek let out a sigh as he took the hand, "Don't ever do that again Avery or I might as well" He said as Avery nodded, apologizing again and again.
"Is there something I can get for you? Food? Or a drink? Anything?" Avery asked, looking worried towards Derek. He still felt terrible after the incident and wanted to make it up somehow.
Derek looked at him before looking towards the window. Thinking to himself,
Hastur is probably at my apartment, already inside with the key he somehow has. He's most likely going to be there for at least a night. And if I arrive there, he will drag my ass to the lab to work on some new lines of code, even though they aren't due until next week. I could get a hotel honestly. But that's expensive.
Avery just stared, it has been a total of 5 minutes with Derek zoning out, thinking to himself that it was starting to get really awkward. "Um.. Hello-"
"Do you know a place where I can stay that wouldn't cost much?" Derek asked, suddenly out of his mind and looking at Avery, "Because that guy that was chasing me has a key to my apartment and if I go there, he's dragging me to the lab to work on something that I don't want to do"
Okay......
"Um, hotels are an option but they are really expensive" He said, thinking to himself. "Do you have any friends you can crash at?"
"I don't really have friends to do that with"
"Ah...."
Avery looked at Derek as he sighed, "Um, sorry man. I don't know you well enough to let you stay at my apartment. Um, the back of my shop has a couch if that's alright?" Avery said, pointing towards the back as Derek looked far off. "And there's like a bathroom attached to it? So if you want to see it you can"
Derek nodded, following the man towards the back. He was shown around before he looked at the man, "And your willing to let me use it. Why should you trust me?"
Avery looked at the man and chuckled, "Ah. Well to me this is like an apology. And you seem like a nice guy"
Derek looked stunned as he nodded, "Well. Thank you." He muttered as he walked into the room, placing his bag on the couch as Avery nodded and waved goodbye, closing the door behind him.
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Strange way on how fate works
One moment you could hate each other
To slowly tolerating them
To a new awakened feeling
Remember dear, the flowers will always bloom
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Derek woke up from his slumber. His back was killing him, but he would take it than going back to his apartment where Hastur would be waiting for him. Looking around the room, he practically forgotten he was in a flower shop. A flower shop that belonged to a man named Avery, who helped him escape from the man's wrath. Was it crazy how Avery trusted Derek to not do anything, to not take things or break this place apart? Yes, it was in fact crazy and to Derek. A little stupid, however he was indeed grateful for the amount of generosity that Avery provided.
Getting up from the couch, he walked to the bathroom that was attached.
"A bit small" He muttered, looking at himself in the mirror. The dark bags underneath his eyes, the hair that was growing on his chin. His left eye looking every yellow from that incident. "Nothing new" he muttered as he washed his face, drying it with paper towels he found before walking back, grabbing his backpack and exiting the small room.
And there he was shoved in to the life in the shop. People were walking around, talking to themselves or a friend as they pointed at flowers, looking at the meanings on a sheet on the wall. It was a lively place, clearly different from last night when it had felt abandoned.
Derek stood there, stunned. He wasn't usually around this many people, this amount of loud noises.
"Hello!" Avery called out, excusing himself from a customer as Derek looked towards the man walking towards him "I take your sleep was well?" He asked
Derek looked at Avery before nodding.
"Again, I'm so sorry about last night about taking you into my shop when you didn't know me" Avery said as he started to ramble off as Derek held his hand up.
"I said it was fine, you don't have to apologize again and again"
Avery let out a chuckle, "Ah sorry sorry."
The two stood there, surrounded by the many people in Avery's shop, the awkwardness between them was unbearable. "Um, do you want me to walk you home?"
"Hmm?" Derek muttered, a look of confusion on his face.
"Well, you said that this one guy was probably at your apartment. You might feel safe if you had another person to escort you home. I mean, people do that a lot" Avery explained with a shrug. To be honest, it was something Avery could give to Derek. He saw the look of fear on his face, the way that Derek was ready to run again, even though he was out of breath. And a little part of him, didn't want to see that in this person that he clashed heads with.
"Are you sure? I already have stayed in your, closet? I don't want to intrude anymore" Derek said, messing around with the strings of his hoodie as Avery waved his hand like it was nothing.
"I insist!" Avery exclaimed, grabbing Derek's hand in the heat of the moment, "You aren't intruding. I simply just want to make sure you arrive home safe!"
Why does this man care so much for me? We barely know each other, is this normal?
"Ah- alright" Derek said, letting out a sigh as Avery smiled as he brought Derek behind the counter.
"My shop closes around 4pm. Maybe in this time if you want, you can help out. But that's totally up to you! We could also talk.. or not talk!"
Ah there he goes, rambling off once more. Derek looked at the man, a small smile appeared on his face.
"Sure I can help you out"
Avery paused, calming down as he nodded, "Great!"
"You'll get to see the beauty of flowers and you won't be able to escape from them for long. When I'm done with you, you will name every flower and their meaning" He teased as Derek let out a small chuckle.
"Looking forward to it Avery"
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"So what are blue orchids. And you can give me like something super basic" Avery asked, walking down the sidewalk alongside Derek. It was after hours, the shop had closed and Avery always kept his promises.
"Uh, I remember you saying they are unnatural flowers, wait no not the flower, the color" Derek said, racking his brain for the information as Avery clapped his hands.
"Ding! Ding! Ding!" Avery exclaimed "Correct!"
Derek let out a small laugh as he guided Avery to turn left. The more that they walked, the more that Derek was thinking to himself. They oddly lived really close to each other.
As Derek walked up the stairs, Avery was always close by, looking around for whatever looked threating. He was told the man was tall, long black hear and liked wearing something that had yellow in it.
He wouldn't be in here, right? It's been a day, he must have noticed? Derek thought to himself, unlocking the door as Avery followed close by. And as they scoped the area, Avery let out a relieved sigh. "Looks like that Hastur guy isn't anywhere to be found!" He exclaimed, placing his hands on his hips as Derek nodded.
"I guess this is goodbye, I'm going to go to my apartment. Oh and Derek, if you need anything. You can find me at my shop, or wait better yet" He started, pulling out his phone, "Give me your phone number!"
....
"My.. phone number?"
"Yes?"
Derek quickly grabbed his phone, unlocking it as he saw his contacts. Only his mom was there and Hastur, two people. And now, Avery was going to be three. "Here" he said, giving Avery his phone so that he could implant the number. After a couple of minutes it was done.
"Alright! I'll see you soon?"
Soon?
"Y-Yeah" He said with a wave as Avery waved goodbye, walking away from the apartment. From Derek.
I'll see him soon, surely.