Chapter Text
"Sora, if you sigh like a pining damsel one more time, i’m going to shove Void Gear down your throat.” Vanitas said in a monotone voice as he flipped through a magazine. Void Gear being the name of his tattoo machine, the needles included.
The two of them were manning the front desk of their tattoo parlor, waiting for the inevitable walk-in customer. Unversed Ink was family owned and run. Ventus and Xion were their piercers and Vanitas and Sora, along with Roxas were the tattoo artists. The other three were all currently with clients leaving Vanitas and Sora to run things. The lull of a Thursday morning meant they had little to do, but Sora had found a new hobby in staring at the guy across the street that worked in the flower shop.
“Don’t be over dramatic.” Sora muttered.
“Me?” Vanitas snorted. “Bitch you’ve been staring at that dude and sighing all fucking morning. All fucking week.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Sora grumbled. “Ms. Hana must be on vacation or something. Hired extra help, don’t you think?”
Vanitas grunted and flipped the page in his magazine. “I don’t remember thinking about it at all. You’re the one disgustingly smitten.”
Sora sat up straighter, tearing his eyes away from the window. “I’m not smitten!”
“Yeah you are, doofus. Just go over there.”
“I can’t.” Sora said instantly. “I’d look like an idiot. What would i need flowers for?”
Vanitas looked unimpressed. “It could be someone’s birthday. Someone could have gotten engaged. Someone could be sick. There’s literally dozens of reasons you could need flowers and he doesn’t give a shit what they are. He’s just selling them. Probably doesn’t know the difference between a petunia and a daffodil.”
“What? Like you do?”
“Nope.”
Sora made an unhappy noise and tilted his head to look out the window again and into the flowers shop across the street. He could see the silver hair weaving through the shop even at that distance. It must have been time to water the flowers or something.
“I swear to god, i’ll kick your ass.” Vanitas said when Sora sighed again.
“Hold that thought.” Roxas said, walking out with a guy carefully holding his arm as if highly aware of it and not wanting to bump it into anything. He shoved behind the counter next to the other two, passing over the tattoo care pamphlet and making small talk as the guy paid. It was always easy to spot someone getting a tattoo for the first time. “Have a good day, man!” He called to the guy as he walked out and then turned to his brothers. “So why are you kicking Sora’s ass?”
“He’s turning into a gawking bimbo over the new guy at the flower shop.” Vanitas gestured flippantly across the street.
“I am not!” Sora's face went hot.
“Oh?” Roxas’ brows rose. “What guy?” He turned to look out the window. “Dang this view sucks, you should just go over there.”
“No!”
“He’s totally crushing.” Vanitas commented. “So stupid.”
“It’s not.” Sora was borderline whining.”I’m not!”
“Kinda looks like you are.” Roxas chuckled, never missing an opportunity to poke fun at his brother. “I guess pretty flower boys would be your type."
The bell to the door rang when Naminé wandered in with a sketchbook under her arm. “You talking about Riku? Whose type is Riku?”
“Hey girl.” Vanitas greeted fondly, tossing his magazine to the side when she rounded the counter to pull her into a more than friendly kiss.
Naminé smiled warmly, her whole persona putting the darker haired man at ease.
“So…” Sora coughed. “His name is Riku?”
“Smitten,” Roxas teased.
She laughed and nodded, easily catching onto the conversation. “Right, he’s Hana’s son. She’s been a bit under the weather so he volunteered to look after the flower shop. He’s quite nice really. A little snarky maybe.”
“Not like you’ve ever had a problem with snarky.” Roxas taunted, gesturing towards their older brother.
“Hey,” Vanitas scowled. “Shut it.”
“Anyway,” Naminé laughed at their teasing. “He’s nice. I’m sure you could go over there and talk to him Sora.”
“I.. No.” Sora shook his head.
“Chicken.” Roxas teased.
Sora shrugged, not taking the bait. “What would i even say? Hey, i don’t know a damn thing about flowers unless i’m inking one on someone’s skin? Been watching you from across the street for hours. Cool right?”
Both of his brothers snorted back their laughter but it was Naminé who seemed to have a solution.
“Well that’s it isn’t it? You’re working on a floral piece and you’re looking for some inspiration. Gives you a reason to roam the flower shop without actually buying anything.”
“Take your sketchbook to be even more convincing.” Roxas agreed, oddly supportive of his brother making a bold step in terms of his little crush.
It wasn’t a bad idea, but Sora still felt the heat in his face as reluctance grew. He wasn’t a shy person, not really, but he screwed up first impressions pretty regularly. “I dunno.”
“Don’t be a little bitch Sora. Worst thing that can happen is he ends up being a jerk and i’ll beat his ass.” Vanitas said, supportive in his own way. “You sigh one more time and i’ll punch you, so go.”
“I’m...at work.” Sora crossed his arms, embarrassed.
Roxas snorted. “We aren’t going to have a sudden wave of customers for a few more hours, Sora. Go.”
“Get out!” Vanitas snapped, making Naminé giggle as Sora jumped out of his seat. He grabbed his sketchbook and fled the tattoo parlor before looking back inside with a withering stare at the other three who would no doubt have their faces pressed to the window to see if he actually went inside.
He flipped them off and looked across the street at the inviting flower shop that suddenly felt ominous. He’d been in there a few times before but never for more than a minute or two. Just to grab what he wanted and leave again. He’d never been in to flirt with someone.
A magazine slammed against the parlor window behind him and he already knew Vanitas was throwing things at him. “Stupid brothers. Thinking they know shit.” Sora grumbled, finally making his way across the street. He weaved around people and smiled politely at anyone he happened to make eye contact with. Being polite didn’t cost a thing.
With a deep breath he wandered into the flower shop and was hit in the face by all the smells. Floral, obviously. It was such a difference from the tattoo parlor. They kept it clean, completely spotless and that often left it a little clinical smelling. It was a small price to pay for a safe environment to tattoo in.
There were flowers everywhere, again, obviously. The colors, the smells, the general feel of them was welcoming. It was nice. He could see the silver haired guy that he assumed was named Riku, helping a woman with an arm full of flowers and decided he’d have to be patient. No way was he going to make a fool of himself in front of multiple people if he could help it.
Besides, Riku was working and it would be obnoxious to shove his way over and demand his attention.
In a split second decision Sora decided to add a little credibility to his excuse for being there and opened his sketchbook to a clean page. Maybe he could design a bouquet despite not knowing anything about flowers or what might look nice together.
He started with this purple thing he found with dozens of little blossoms poking out down the length of its stem. It was pretty and smelled nice and had this interesting shape to it. Sora stood with his sketchbook propped up against one of his arms while he sketched it out with the other. Two of the purple things, maybe he’d add a third.
He looked around the shop until he found this giant white blossom. It was pretty and smelled strong and the inside of it was nuts. So much detail to try to add, but he would. The sketch was quick but he fit the flowers together well enough. Sora wandered around the shop, almost forgetting the reason he was actually there when he spotted a yellow thing and added it into his sketch to fill up a little space. With his hip resting against a table filled with potted plants he got a little too absorbed in his work. It was turning out nice enough he could add it to his portfolio and maybe convince someone to get it. He’d love to put this on someone’s skin.
“That’s really very good.”
The hair on Sora’s neck stood on end as the deep voice hit him. His gazed jerked up and aquamarine eyes and silver hair towered over him.
“Tall…”
A silver brow quirked. “Excuse me?”
Sora’s face went hot as he dropped his attention back down to his sketchbook. “You’re tall.” He swallowed. Stupid. Stupid Sora.
Riku laughed softly and had apparently chosen not to comment on Sora’s silly hello. “You’re really talented.” He gestured to the sketch. “Did you come in here just to draw flowers?”
No. He came to stare.
“I, um,” Sora cleared his throat and looked up at Riku with a shy smile. “I work across the street. At Unversed Ink.”
“Oh?” Riku blinked.
“Yeah, so i’m working on a few flora ideas for a client.” Sora swallowed thickly. He was a terrible liar. “Seemed like a waste to not go to the source.”
Riku cracked a smile, “I see, well you’ve created something beautiful there. “I’m Riku. This is my moms shop.”
Sora’s own smile brightened. “Sora! Unversed Ink as a family shop too.”
“Yeah?” Riku actually looked mildly interested.
“Mhm. My two older brothers opened it, and we work there with my younger brother and sister.”
“Ah, nice to be so close.”
“Yeah, it is.” Sora fidgeted. “Um, i really don’t know a damn thing about flowers, are you sure this looks okay?”
Riku took the sketch from his hands to look over it with an oddly critical eye before nodding. “Yes. The delphiniums in particular look really nice. The details are incredible.” He looked at Sora and smiled when Sora just stared at him. “The purple ones.”
“Ah.” Sora cleared his throat. “So, what are the others?”
Riku pointed at the sketch rather than the flowers that surrounded them. “This is a peony. These are a forsythia. It’s a pretty combination. Did you just look around and pick these out at random?”
“Pretty much. There must be like an art to flowers though right?” Sora took his sketchbook back and took a second to write all the names of the flowers down. He'd probably need to remember them later.
Riku laughed, “Actually yes. The colors can change the meaning. The flowers have symbols, sometimes multiple symbols. It can change depending on the country or culture.”
That made sense, most things did have a meaning. “What are these?” He paused, “I’m sorry i’m just asking questions like you're a flower wizard.”
His laughter continued but he nodded anyway. “Well i do happen to know. Kinda grew up with it and all. Loosely, delphiniums mean an open heart. More mirth and happiness then a literal translation.” he added when Sora’s eyes widened a fraction. “Peonies are for romance and forsythia for anticipation.”
Sora looked down at his sketch and fought the urge to fidget. He’d just picked out ones he’d liked but they all seemed to fit together symbolically. At least that's what the knots in his stomach said. Maybe if he actually knew the meanings beforehand the sketch would have turned out differently. He’d have to do some internet searches and maybe his second attempt would turn out differently.
“Pretty combination.” Riku added.
“Yeah” Sora said, afraid there was a faint squeak to his voice. He felt the vibration in his pocket and was sure his brothers were texting just to tease him. “Thank you.”
“Anytime.” Riku looked up, checking to see if anyone needed help while he was distracted but everyone seemed more or less occupied and the red haired girl working the register seemed to have everything under control there. “So you’re a tattoo artist?”
“Mhm,” Sora smiled and was fairly relieved to see Riku’s curiosity. “Interested in a little ink?”
Riku smiled and shook his head. “Never really thought about it to be honest. Maybe some day. I am interested to see how the piece you have there turns out.”
Sora perked up. “Let me know if you decide to go for it, i’ll do it.” He gasped as the idea hit him. “I could design something for you!”
“Oh, that…” Riku looked genuinely surprised. “You don’t have to go through all that trouble for me. I don’t know if i’d ever go through with it.”
“Whatever,” Sora shrugged good-naturedly. “It’ll go in my portfolio either way. People like seeing examples of our work whether it’s tattoos or sketches. It could be fun.”
“Well i certainly won’t stop you.” Riku said, watching Sora practically bounce on the balls of his feet. “Never really thought much about the shop across the street. Maybe i should pop in for a look around.”
“Go ahead, people do all the time. We have examples of our work hung up all over and books of past work too.” Sora said, knowing it was good for business but please god, do.not.come. when only his brothers were around. Maybe he should give him a time… Ugh…
Riku nodded, offering a non committal sort of shrug. That was fine too. It had the potential to be mortifying should Riku show up and Sora not be there.
“So um,” Sora inhaled slowly, trying to think of something, anything to say that would let him talk to Riku just a minute longer. “While i’m here, what’s a nice gift?”
“A gift? What's the occasion?” Riku asked, arms crossing as he leaned against a nearby table.
“A thank you gift.” Sora said. “See, my brothers girlfriend is super nice and she brings in clients for us all the time. I guess it seems like a nice idea to bring her back something when she’s always helping us out. Plus my brother never gets her flowers and it would tick him off.”
Riku snorted, the last bit obviously striking him as funny. “Well, why don’t we make you a bouquet. Would you like to take a look?”
Sora smiled faintly, closing his sketchbook and holding it under his arm. “Yeah, okay.”
Riku picked up the yellow stemmed flower Sora had been sketching and bonked Sora on the nose with it before handing it to him. “Why don’t we go look at the white lilies. Those are nice and she sounds like she’d appreciate something so beautiful. We’ll add a couple white roses and some baby's breath and your brother will get all kinds of pissed.”
A laugh was startled out of Sora, so Riku could be funny… “I’m liking this idea more and more.”
He followed Riku to the other side of the shop, fiddling with the yellow flowers he was given.
Forsythia...anticipation… right.