Chapter Text
Facty walked into the store ridged holding a bouquet. Their hands squeezing tightly around the flowers slightly tremoring.
As they got closer to the pharmacy they started to lose what little nerve they had. Maybe this was a bad idea, they should turn around before you see them…
..No
They don't understand, they've never been this anxious before. Not while they were exploring caves or rock climbing or exploring the ocean. It doesn't make any sense.
Admist their ruminating, they looked up to see you and quickly hid the bouquet behind them before you could notice them.
Flattening their shirt, they walked up to the counter "Hey y/n! What are you doing here?"
"This, is my job..?" You smiled, unsure if they were joking.
They flushed slightly and cleared their throat, "R-right. Oh! I got you these." They pulled their hand to the front, holding a bouquet of Mountain Laurel in different hues.
"No way!!" You beamed, taking it as Facty held them out for you, "when did you get these?"
"We were on an adventure," they started, fidgeting with their hands. "Martian almost ate some before I recognized what it was," chuckling as though they were replaying the memory.
"They're wonderful," they were monochromatic, varying in whites, pale pinks, salmon, and dark pinks. While you enjoyed the visuals of the bouquet, Facty was looking at you lighten and relax..before handing it back to Facty, who took it tentatively after glancing between it and you.
"Did, did you not like them?" They looked discouraged, eyebrows raised in concern, smile becoming smaller. "I thought they were your favorite," attempting to obscure their feelings.
"Oh no, they are! And I love them, thank you! I just can't hold onto them here. Y'know, contamination and all." You reassured
"Haha- right!" Becoming relieved, laughing to play it off "I'll keep them for now." Bringing it close to their chest.
"Actually if you're able to, can you drop them off at my door? I get off in about two hours or so, so I'll get them then!"
"Oh, yeah! Sure." They smiled and drummed their fingers on the counter "Hey, did you, like.. can you-"
"Y/n?" Your new coworker called for you, "if they're the same medicine but by different manufacturers it's ok to mix them right? Because I just did that."
You froze before giving Facty a polite smile, "I'll talk to you later Facty." Turning to your coworker and walking away, "that's misbranding an.."
..
They can ask you next time.
᠃ ⚘᠂ ⚘ ⊱──⊰ ⚘ ᠂⚘ ᠃
Facty stood in front of your door ready to place the flowers down when they noticed an envelope stuck in the slit of the door. It wouldn't have mattered (really, why should they care) but there were small hearts drawn on the sides of it, all connected by a line.
The only give of their emotions was their clenched jaw and the twitching of fingers. Gently placing the flowers down, they glanced around to see if anyone was near and swiped the envelope, "briskly walking" back home.
Once they made it to their room they sat down at their desk, turning on a desk lamp to closely inspect the envelope. Turning it over to the front, it had those same hearts on the sides, but there were two roses drawn twisting around eachother by the stems and above were your initials along with someone else's in that x + y format.
Brooding over the possible reasons why this was on your door, they didn't hear the knock on their's.
Was someone trying to date you? Or…were you already dating someone?
"What's that?" Facty yelped in surprise, bringing the envelope up to their chest. Turning around they saw Martian peeking over their shoulder trying to get a look.
"Sorry, I thought you heard me knock." Worry etched on her face.
"No it's fine. I was just looking at this." They raised the envelope up so he could get a look at the paper.
Gently, Martian took it with one of their hands looking at the drawings, confused they questioned "an envelope?"
"I found it on y/n's door, I was leaving something for them and ended up finding that." Facty says looking to the side at nothing peculiar.
"Ohh! This is just like those shows Lightbulb likes to watch," she pointed at her head with the it, "you know, it's a love letter! Maybe someone has a crush on them." Facty tensed, they knew it was a possibility but didn't want think about that.
Yeah someone can like you and.. date you, but they wanted it to be-
"Let's open it." Martian said mischievously, getting ready to rip the cover off.
"Wait! Maybe we can look at it without opening it." Facty objects, holding their hands out to stop Martian.
᠃ ⚘᠂ ⚘ ⊱──⊰ ⚘ ᠂⚘ ᠃
"What is this for again?" Lightbulb asks sitting on the couch in their living room, with the envelope pressed against his head
"We need to see what this letter says without opening it." Martian explains, squinting her eyes to trying to see the words more clearly.
"Yeah but.. why can't we open it?"
"It's y/n's." Facty informed, adjusting their glasses.
"So shouldn't we leave it for them to open?" Lightbulb grunted as Martian pressed the letter in a particularly rough way.
"But how do we know this person is going to treat them well? What if they're going to be some jerk who belittles them," Facty hit their palm with a fist, starting to pace around the living room.
"I mean, we're their friends so we have to make sure this person is a good fit for them. They didn't even get the flowers right, they don't like roses like that. They deserve prettier ones, like those Mountain Laurels that they love. And this design? Come on, they merit something noteworthier." Facty grimaced, only faulting when they saw both Martian and Lightbulb stare at them.
They blushed "I mean," clearing their throat, "shouldn't we still be a little concerned?" Their voice diminishing.
Martian and Lightbulb glanced at eachother, almost speaking telepathically, before looking back. "Alright," Lightbulb sighed, "I have an idea." He stood and walked into to kitchen, Martian and Facty followed from behind.
He filled up a pot with water and set it on the stove to boil. "If we use steam, it should be gentle enough to loosen the letter without any tearing."
He turned to Facty, "But, haven't you thought about telling them? Maybe.. write your own letter."
They felt on the spot, "what do you mean?"
"Well haven't always kind of liked them?" Martian added on
"Yeah, ever since you've met them you've always been mentioning them."
"Only because you guys asked that day." They argued, trying to calm their nerves as they felt alight.
"Last week you saw a photo of those upside down flowers and brought y/n up."
"Angel's Trumpet? Yeah, they showed it to me in their notebook. I thought it'd be a new fact to share with you two."
"When you found out they work with medicine you checked out a bunch of medication books at the library," Martian inserted.
"I just wanted to know a little bit of what they know." Facty attempted to downplay the event.
"You read all two hundred pages of the first book overnight, plus that was like the first time you saw them," Lightbulb brought up. "There's nothing wrong with liking them, but don't you think it's better to tell them instead of just suppressing it?"
Facty stayed silent, flustered out of their mind processing what their friends said, fidgeting with their shirt.
"How did you meet them anyway?" Martian asked. "Oh wait, the water's boiling. Let's open it!" Interrupting himself
Facty and Martian watched as Lightbulb held the letter over the steam, gently prying the seal with a butter knife. After some fiddling he managed to lift it completely.
"Alright! Let's read it!" Martian celebrated
As Lightbulb started reading aloud they all expected it to be some heartfelt confession by this stranger. Only for it to be the complete opposite.
From what the group could gather from the letter you and this person used to date before they flirted with someone else, and were now attempting to get back with you.
And worst of all this person was trying to manipulate you, starting off with honeyed phrases like "You were the best thing in my life," transitioning into "You don't want to make me sad right, do you?" progressing to"I thought you were the one." All trying to use your morals against you.
"I'll be waiting for when you change your mind, I'll leave my number below." Lightbulb finished reading.
They all looked at eachother complete dumbstruck, mouths gaping and eyes widened. "Ok maybe you were right."
"What do we do with it now?" Martian asked
Facty had taken off into their room, "I had a feeling it was going to be written by some schmuck," Lightbulb and Martian could hear things being rapidly moved around in their room. "I don't know who this person thinks they're talking to but they definitely don't talk to them like that." Facty walks out with their own envelope in hand.
Giving a fake smile, bringing their hands to their chest raising a leg, "oh, I'll keep you in the corner of my heart." They mocked before stomping their foot on the ground in frustration, "that doesn't even make any sense, hearts don't have corners!"
Walking out the door, their rant muffled as they walked further down the hall.
᠃ ⚘᠂ ⚘ ⊱──⊰ ⚘ ᠂⚘ ᠃
Facty stood in front of your door once more, this time holding the letter they made themselves. The center of it held your name, various poisonous flowers surrounding it, specifically the ones they remembered you smiling bigger at.
The Mountain Laurels were still where they placed them early, this had to be quick, in and out. Facty hastily placed their letter where that horrid one was earlier, turning around-
"Facty?" Why does this happen to them.
"Oh! Hey!" They gave you a nervous smile, arms slightly shaking. "I was just, placing the flowers here."
Your eyes narrowed, but not at them, at the letter that was in the door. You reached over Facty to take it, leaving them flushed before they saw what you grabbed.
Nervously they try to explain, "That was there when I got here!"
You groan, "No it's my ex. They've been leaving me letters after I blocked them on everything." You rolled your eyes before smirking at them, "I love going through these and annotating them like a teacher, this would be my 5th one."
You paused, actually looking at the envelope this time. "Mm, this doesn't look like how they've drawn before." You placed your hand on the fold, getting ready to open it. But Facty stopped you, holding your hand, "Maybe you should wait until you're inside! You don't want nosy neighbors trying to get a peek." They chuckled anxiously. Smile straining as you stared at them in thought.
"Ah, you're right." You looked at the bouquet on the ground, "thank you again for the flowers, I really love them." You wrapped your arms around Facty.
They seized up before slowly bringing their arms around you, slightly burrowing their face into your neck. They could smell that floral scent on you again, ever since the park.
When they thought about it, this was the first time you two hugged, wasn't it? They felt you slowly move away, feeling a tingling sensation where your arms once were.
They felt the warmth of their face all at once, and could only hope they'd be able to play it off as their natural rosiness.
You grabbed the flowers off the floor and unlocked your door, leaving the keys still in, "Well, I'm ready to relax now. That accident at work caused me to stay after."
Facty swiftly yet gently grabbed your free hand, "Wait!" You turned to look back at them, "did you want to hang out tomorrow sometime? We could just walk around and see what's interesting," their hold becoming firmer in a comforting way.
You smiled "Of course, I like hanging out with you."
"Great! I'll come pick you up." They beamed, letting go of you. "I'll see you then!"