Chapter Text
It all began on a Thursday. It was just another Thursday...
“-and don’t forget, 2 times a day for the next 3 weeks, and if something happens in the meantime, just give a call and I’ll try to plan an appointment for you, alright?”
The person gave him a nod and a sympathetic smile while he opened the door for them.
“Noted, thank you very much, Dr. Grace, goodbye!”
“G’bye!” Grace echoed with a warm yet tired smile.
As soon as he closed the door behind them, he let out a deep sigh and crumbled in his chair. This day has been one of his top 3 busiest days of the year and he doubted he would be able to just stand up again. He quickly glanced at his watch -it was almost 8 pm.
He had fallen behind on his appointments, but hopefully, this patient was the last for the day.
Deciding he'd spend enough time at the hospital for today, he managed to push through the fatigue and messily put all his stuff in his briefcase, not bothering with sorting it beforehand. He closed his office and left the hospital.
Arriving on the worker's reserved parking lot, he was putting his helmet on and unlocking his bike when a sound scared him to death. In the empty barely lit place, his phone resting in his pocket was buzzing like crazy.
Oh darn…! I'm never gonna get home, am I?
He quickly answered as soon as he saw the familiar digits and was met with a loud joyful voice.
"Heyyy!! Ryryyy! How's my wonderful, amazing twin doingggg?" the speakers nearly turned him deaf as he winced at the high volume.
"Sighhhh Coltttt. What do you want from meeee? Just go ahead. I'm tired and I wanna go home..." This wasn't even a lie. He was truly exhausted and all he wanted was to crash on his bed, wrap himself from his favourite quilt and let his eyelids rest on his eyes for at least the next three days.
"Can't a man just check on his lovely twin? Is your impression of me really that poor? I'm hurt. You're being mean right now little brother... Not sure I still want you to be my wedding witness tomorrow after all..."
"Hey! Calm your ego! You're only older by a few minutes. Come on Colt, you should update your jokes. Stop with this."
Colt let out a laugh, shushing him. "Whatever you say, kiddo. But. Anyway. Would you just please listen to me? I need your help."
Now Grace was fully attentive and serious. Colt wasn't exactly the type to reach out for help. He barely needed any help actually, and he was resourceful, even back then as kids. He's always been the one looking after Ryland and helping him. So if he did ask for his twin's help, this meant there was no other choice for him, and that the situation was probably bad...
"Well...", Grace trailed, rubbing his temple with his free hand "now I'm scared… Last time you asked for my help you were being chased and framed for murder…"
"Ha! Yeah, I remember that. But no. Don't worry. Nothing like that. So, Ryland, could you please oh please buy something for me for tomorrow? Jody and I will be busy all day handling and finalizing the preparations, Claire’s gotta focus on highschool, and Court is, well, doing Court things... -he didn't elaborate. So please, Ryland, will you do it for your lovely, favourite twin ever...?"
Grace could only imagine his brother's puppy eyes behind the screen, which made him smile, but it was still followed by a deep sigh. Don't get him wrong, he loved his twin with his whole heart. He could even almost give his life for him. Almost. ‘Cause still... sometimes, Colt could be... really annoying.
"Colt! God! I'm working tomorrow, did you forget? I do have a job you know…-"
"What's that mean?"
Now Grace felt bad. He always talks before thinking.
"I- N-No, I- I didn't mean it like this! You do have a real job too, and I seriously admire it so much- Not saying that mine is better or more important or whatev-"
He got cut off by Colt's silly laugh, which left Grace frozen.
"Was just messing with you Ry! How come you aren't still now, getting used to my oh-perfect humor?"
"Wow. I'm obviously finding it really funny Colt…"
"Ha! See."
"So... Anyway, what do you want me to buy...?"
"Insecticide."
"Whu-What? Why on earth do you need insecticide for your wedding Colt?"
"See, the few bouquets we've already arranged are getting eaten over by insects... Would be lame to have them all dead by tomorrow..."
"Wait so you need it tonight?!" The gods must have ganged up on him to keep him from resting at all today... There was no other way. Unless it was his twin's devious plan. Just kidding. Almost.
"How do you seriously want me to find the time to buy your thing when every shop is almost- or already closed?!"
"You're the smart one between us, Ry, I'm sure you'll find a way, doc'"
Despite his tiredness, who was Grace to refuse to help him? He took another deep breath and answered:
"Finee... You know I hate you, right?"
"Love you too lil' guyy! And you better bring your smart ass tomorrow or I'll pull you myself out of your stupid office!"
Grace could only chuckle and smile at his twin's words.
"I'm scared. Really. Ah."
"I know, I know. But now you have important shopping to do. Number one priority! So go and just bring it to me before going to work tomorrow. The flowers will hopefully survive the night."
"Alright. Bye Colt, love you!"
"Bye Ry, I do not!"
"Hey-" He didn't have the time to answer that Colt had already hung up the conversation. That demon.
Anyway, his demonic twin was right. He needed to hurry up or every mall would be closed by the time he got to them.
Putting his helmet on for real this time, he thought about where he could find a damned plants shop or whatever, still open that late, to go buy the damned insecticide for his damned brother.
He didn’t have a car, so he couldn’t just ride all across the city to the local garden center, since the hospital was rather located on the city border. It’d take him hours on his bike. And he clearly didn’t have the time nor the will for it.
He started looking on his phone for the nearest shops around and he was almost giving up -seeing they were all either already closed or too far away- when he spotted one only one street from his apartment. Eureka!
He chuckled at the name of the shop. Eden’s Garden. Now that was some creative name for a plant shop. He searched for its opening hours information but couldn’t find any. But it’s not like he had any other option anyway. It had to be open or he would be killed by Colt tomorrow if he wasn’t bringing that insecticide… Thank God, the hospital was only a ten minutes ride away from his apartment and, therefore, from the shop as well.
Finally, he hopped on his bike and sped away from there as fast as he possibly could -considering he wasn't getting any younger and had already had a long day.
His yellow raincoat was fluttering in the breeze, his shoulder bag hanging down, hitting his sides as he raced against the clock. If there was one little chance he could get there before the shop would close -if it wasn’t already- he had to take it. He was pedaling like crazy as he weaved through the dark streets, lit only by a few streetlights and the starry sky.
After a couple of minutes which seemed like an eternity to him, he reached the long-awaited street. There, he noticed the plant shop, which was giving a contrasting bright coziness compared to the monotone buildings all around. It seemed to be still open, since light was piercing through the windows displaying multiple plants and decorations. Everything looked truly beautiful. Even if Grace wasn’t really a plant-person, he couldn’t deny those were nicely cared for. And the few strings of lights strung between the displays gave the whole place a magical atmosphere. Eden’s Garden, was it? The store's name certainly didn't lie.
He didn’t bother to lock his bike as he leaned it against the outer wall. As he pushed the entrance door, there was nobody. He thought he’d made a mistaken assumption and that the store was already closed. He was about to turn his steps and leave when he overheard voices coming from the back of the store.
“Just go home, Ady, I can do it on my own. You’ve done enough for today, and you worked well. Just take some well-deserved rest. I’d rather need you to be at the top of your game tomorrow, right?”
“You sure? I can hel-“
“I know, I know. And thank you for your volunteering, but it’s fine, really.”
“Anytime, Si, and thank you! See ya tomorrow then! And please sleep tonight, will you?”
The other only responded with a low chuckle and said their goodbyes. Grace heard footsteps and the back door opened energetically behind the store’s counter.
As a turquoise-haired head made his appearance, coming from the back room, they jolted a bit as they saw him -surely not expecting someone showing up this late at their store and standing awkwardly in the middle of it-, but eventually gave him a warm smile and a nod, saluting him, which Grace returned politely. The worker turned their head back quickly, speaking to their still-out-of-sight-still-in-the-back-room coworker: “Looks like there’s a last customer for you, Si!” The other responded with a deep grunt, and Grace immediately felt bad for bothering them both while they most likely would like to enjoy their evening without any boring customer looking for a damned insecticide.
The tall blue head must have noticed Grace’s concern, because they stepped from the counter and looked warmly at him.
“Don't worry about him, he’s always a little grumpy, but I promise he’ll gladly help you. You've got my word.” They were doing their way to Grace and when they arrived at his side, they continued, more in a low voice: “And if he ever acts up, don't worry- I'll fire him.”
“Heard that, Adrian! And I am the manager! And I can fire you if you continue…” The other continued to answer grumpily without going out of the back room.
“You would never. And you know it. Unless you don't need my help tomorrow?” The so-called Adrian said teasingly, raising an eyebrow, while the other was still unseen and behind the door. They walked away from Grace, who couldn’t think of something smart to say, and toward the exit.
The other only sighed. “...Fair point…”
“Right? Imma head home now, have fun Si!”
The door closed behind Adrian. Just at the same time, the other co-worker dared to show himself and came out from the back room.
Grace’s world had stopped spinning. He must have been looking like a fool. Between his hair tousled by the helmet -he was at least glad he’d left it on the handlebars of his bike, outside, or he would’ve looked even dumber-, his deep bags under his eyes, his stupid yellow raincoat over his shoulders, and the fact he was currently frozen like a zombie while his brain was processing the gorgeous man standing behind the counter. How on earth could a human be that… -there wasn’t even an appropriate word to describe such beauty as accurately as possible. While the store's name perfectly reflected the impression it gave, that guy must have come straight out of that paradise. He had to be from another planet. Or another space-time. Whatever. Grace didn’t care. He couldn’t stop staring at him. The way his eyebrows were furrowed in a slight surprised and questioning expression, the way his arms were wrapped around a bunch of various flowers and plants about to be put in the soil, the way his shirt was soaked in a mixture of dirt and sweat, the way his hair, half tied in a bun, was beautifully framing his angular face, and most importantly, the way his fascinating tired brown eyes reflecting the cozy string of lights hanging from the ceiling, were locking straight with Grace’s blue ones. Grace would have thought he was dreaming until the deep voice brought him back to reality.
“Hey? Hello? Can I… help you?”