Chapter Text
Ignis' POV
Ignis never saw himself enjoying working in his uncle's flower shop. When he accepted the job it was more out of duty to a family member needing help and his own necessity of income that would be flexible around his demanding college schedule. But as he became familiar with the business and grew accustomed to the creativity aspect, he discovered that he found floral designing, therapeutic and he dare say even fun.
Although he was only 19, Ignis was presently taking master's classes at Insomnia University. The course load was stressful, made worse by Ignis’ own perfectionism, but instead of the family shop being a burden he felt it was more like a reprieve. Not because the job wasn't hard work or demanding (it had its moments), but it was so different from what he studied, that it was a welcome change of pace. And so that is how straight laced, no nonsense Ignis Scientia found himself wondering if there truly was such a thing as love at first site.
“Hey Ignis, I'm gonna run this delivery now. You ok running the shop by yourself until I get back?”
“Thank you for your concern Prompto, but I'm sure I can manage. You be safe out there.”
“Okie dokie! See ya!”
The perky blonde donned his helmet and carefully took the vasing Ignis had just finished and loaded it onto the wire basket attached to the company moped. The older male watched him pull slowly away to make the last delivery before closing. Prompto had never had any accidents out on deliveries but Ignis couldn't help but worry every time the 16 year old went out, the kid got distracted rather easily- hello there handsome.
Ignis’ eyes zeroed in on an odd couple walking down the street. It was a rather gloomy looking teen staring at his phone accompanied by the most gorgeous person he had ever seen. The man was chiseled by the gods themselves; tall, broad shouldered, kissed by the sun, an impressive figure even from this distance. The man and the boy seemed to quarrel over something, both looking at the phone and then said Adonis looked up and pointed at the flower shop. Ignis’ heart skipped a beat. They were definitely heading towards his store. He schooled his practiced retail face into place and straightened out his already perfect apron as they walked in the door.
“Welcome to Scientia's florist! How may I help you?” Oh astrals look at that jawline.
“Uh… I need some flowers.”
Ignis stared into beautiful amber eyes and forced himself to be professional.
“I had assumed as much.” He flashed a smile and hoped his eyes conveyed his intended humor. “May I ask what is the occasion?”
“Occasion… yeah it's ah… it's for a dance recital.”
The man looked a little embarrassed and ran a hand through his long silky hair.
“Oh, for a girlfriend then?” Damn the six he has a girlfriend. Ignis tried to not pay attention to the way his heart dropped.
“No! Ah, no. It's for my little sister.” He fumbled a bit and Ignis caught his companion murmuring
“real smooth…” under his breath.
“Oh!” Ignis wasn't sure he masked the interest in his voice very well. “Well then you probably want a presentation bouquet.”
Big, strong and sexy stared blankly back at Ignis so he decided to elaborate.
“That's a loose wrapped assortment of flowers, tired with a ribbon. It's very common for giving at dance recitals, plays, and special occasions.”
“Uh, yeah that sounds good.” Muscles seemed to keep shifting his posture as if he couldn't get comfortable. Then he cleared his throat, “What do you recommend?”
“We have beautiful fresh flowers,” he gestured around the room “everything we have in stock is in the buckets you can see. If you want my recommendation, my absolute favorite flowers are these here. I just love gladiolus.”
The hulking man choked on his own spit and his younger companion snickered into his fist before speaking up. “Somehow I don't think Iris would appreciate those.”
“Her name is Iris? I have her namesake in stock, it's pronounced differently but do you think she'd like a bouquet of those? Of course I'd add filler flowers and wrap them up nicely. Is around 40 gil within your budget? ” Ignis never took his eyes off the taller man who had recovered but who's face looked flush.
“Yeah, that'd be great. Give me some of those.”
“Certainly! Give me just a moment to put it together for you.”
The florist whisked the flowers to the back room and proceeded to make the bouquet as stunning as possible. He could hear the two men talking in hushed tones and they seemed to have a close relationship based on their body language.
“Well, here we are. Is it to your liking?”
Ignis melts a little bit inside when he sees the smile on the man's lips.
“Wow, those are just perfect. I'm sure she's gonna love ‘em. How much do I owe you?” he's pulling out his wallet when his shorter friend chimes in, “My dad said we have an account here, you know he wouldn't mind you putting it on our tab.”
“Nah. I got the cash on me. Thanks for the offer tho. What's my damage?”
Ignis rings him up, their fingers touch when they exchange money and he swears he feels sparks shoot through his finger tips. He doesn't want this interaction to end but he's not experienced enough with people or crushes to know how to prolong it any more.
“I hope she enjoys the flowers. Have a good day.”
“You bet she will. I may have to come back here more often, you have a great little shop.”
“It would be my pleasure!”
They leave and Ignis gets to admire that perfect backside. That butt in those tight pants should be illegal!
On the sidewalk Prompto pulls up just as they are walking out and he has to swerve to miss them. Ignis resists the urge to face palm but calms when Prompto starts chatting with the younger companion. They seem to be on friendly terms, Ignis thinks idly before turning his attention to sweeping up. It's almost closing time and he has a paper to work on for school.
It's both a blessing and a curse to be able to rent the small apartment over the store. It makes it easy to be available for as many hours as possible without a commute, but he's somewhat at his uncle's beck and call when it comes to working the shop and covering when other people call off.
Prompto comes in from parking the bike in the back alley behind the store and asks Ignis what he can help with before they close. He tells the youth to cash out the drawer while he puts the flowers in the cooler for the night.
Prompto finishes his chores and punches out, waving happily, “See ya later Ignis!”
“May I have a quick word if you don't mind Prompto?”
“Yeah sure Igs. What's up?”
“The last customers of the day…”
“You're not gonna yell at me for almost hitting them are you? I'm so sorry Ignis, I wasn't expecting anyone to walk out of the door right then! I promise I'll never pull that closer to the store front again!”
“That is a good thing, but I was wondering if you know them?”
“Wha- huh? Oh yeah. I go to school with Noct.”
“And the other?”
“Oh, um, I think he works at Noct’s dad's company, but they are family friends too. They didn't go cheap on the flowers did they cuz-”
“Sorry prompto, I didn't mean to pry. You'd better go home now and get your homework done.”
“Yes mom…”
“Good night prompto”
“Goodnight iggy”
Ignis locks the door behind the high schooler and heads up to his apartment. He's only 2 and a half years older than Prompto but sometimes he feels decades older. Ignis prides himself on diplomacy and gets along with all the employees there, but he can't help a certain soft spot he feels for the blonde youth.
So he knows the teen… I wonder if he can ask the young man to bring the muscle man - tsk I should have asked his name! I wonder if I'll ever run Into him again?
And so Ignis fell asleep for the first time in his near 2 decades of life thinking of someone romantically.
Those thoughts chased him through his dreams and clung on to his waking moments. Ignis took the coldest shower he could withstand and internally chastised himself. It's not that he didn't know that people could and would fantasize about… things. It's just that Ignis had always been able to rein in his errant thoughts, but not when it came to the Adonis, who now visited his dreams every night since their meeting.
****
Gladio's POV
Earlier that week...
Gladio doesn't believe in true love. Sure he's been interested in people, had a fling or two, but nothing serious. He believes in duty. He believes in family. He believes he just saw the most gorgeous creature to ever walk Eos, in front of that shop.
He doesn't even hide the way his entire head moves to track the ethereal beauty who is... sweeping. It's just sweeping but the man is so mindful, so absorbed in his work. Gladio is in a hurry. He's got his hands full of bagels and coffee for the office he's interning at (It's more of a formality, a rite of passage, he knows he'll get a job there). He really should hurry… but he stops to stare. Waves of busy pedestrians stream around him, some seem put off but most just adjust their stride and continue to their destinations.
It's a risky move for some to stop in the middle of the lunch rush in downtown Insomnia, but the hulking man knows people will either bounce off of him or go around. It's a move that he didn't regret when the object of his attention nearly swept up a stray flower that sprouted in the cracks of the sidewalk.
The expressions of shock turned into joy and care as the man squatted down to the flower, melted Gladio's "I don't need anyone in my life" chip right off his shoulder. He may have stood there all day enchanted by the fae-like beauty if it wasn't for the honk of an angry taxi cab. Apparently he had inched his way into the crosswalk in his daze.
Back at Lucis Inc. Gladio went to the security office and deposited the goods. The staff swarmed the baked goods and caffeinated beverages like flies on honey.
"Hey big guy, your dad wants to see you."
"Thanks Nyx. He in his office? "
"Mmmhmm." The man replied through a muffled mouth full of bagel goodness.
"Got some Galahd roast for ya to wash that down with."
"I don't care what anyone else says, you're a keeper Gladio!"
Gladio flashed up a foul finger as he made for his dad's office.
"Love you too sweetheart!"
Another co-worker smacked Nyx on the back of the head with a stack of papers before rummaging through the bag of goodies.
"Enough banter, get back to work."
"Aww c'mon Crowe…"
Gladio stood before the door marked 'head of security Clarus Amicitia'. Even though it was his father's office, when at work he was mindful to treat the man with the due respect of being his boss. And the boss preferred that you knock before entering.
Tap tap.
"Enter. "
"You wanted to see me sir?"
"Ah Gladio. Come in and close the door."
He did as he was told. The closed door either meant it was personal or it was bad. Or both. His heart hammered in his chest. It didn't matter that he was an adult. It didn't matter that he had several inches and at least 50 lbs of muscle on the aging man. His father commanded authority and still had the power to make Gladio feel 8 years old.
"I need you to run a personal errand this week."
Gladio tried not to make it too obvious as he released the breath he was holding.
His father still hadn't looked up from his computer screen as he continued.
"This Friday is Iris' dance recital. I won't have time to pick up flowers for her after I get out of work. After you pick Noctis up from school Friday would you get something appropriate for her?"
For a brief moment Gladio internally rolled his eyes at the trivial request. How was he supposed to know what kind of flowers to- wait a minute… a vision of the gorgeous florist he had seen earlier floated to the front of his mind…
"... because they are the best."
Gladio stared blankly at his father. Shit. He had just zoned out while his dad was giving him directions.
"Uh… yeah sure. Can you send the info to my phone. "
Apparently that was a good enough answer because Clarus stopped what he was doing on the computer, picked up his phone, and after a few swipes Gladio's cell pinged with the incoming message.
"Great. Thanks dad. I'll take care of it. Did you promise Iris you would be there this time?"
His father paused midway back to his computer. "I wouldn't make a promise I can't keep. I'll try my best, but you know-"
"It's ok dad. We understand. You don't have to explain. If that's all I'll get back to work, sir."
Friday afternoon as Gladio waits in the company car for his charge to get out of school, he scrolls through his texts to find the information on the florist his dad sent him.
Scientia's Florist.
He lets his thoughts wander back to the stunning man who caught his eye earlier in the week. What would be the odds that he would work at this flower shop. There had to be at least 3 or 4 flower shops in the city. Even if he did work there, would he be working today? Right now?
"Dude, are you getting heat stroke sitting here? Your face is all red. "
The teen snapped Gladio out of his thoughts with the toss of his backpack.
"Huh? I don't know. What took you so long?"
"Tsk. Stupid geometry teacher. Apparently he thinks I should be doing better than a C in his class. Held me after school to talk about getting a tutor or something."
"Well you should be getting good grades. I don't mean to put any more pressure on you but there's a lot riding on your shoulders."
"I know! I get told that everyday! But nobody ever asks me if I even want to take over the family business!"
"Chill, Noct. You're preaching to the choir. You think I wanna be stuck babysitting your scrawny ass the rest of my life?" Gladio ruffles Noctis messy lop off hair.
"You're the ass!"
"I try. Hey where's your little chocobo friend? I haven't seen him lately."
"Prompto got a job. He even gets a special early release to go to it. Lucky."
"Doesn't sound very lucky to me, having to give up the last few years of being a carefree teen, just to make ends meet."
"Mm… He seems ok with it. At least he likes his job, and his co-workers."
"Let me guess… his age… he's either doing fast food or he's a delivery boy."
"Bingo. Works at some flower shop running deliveries on a moped."
"Huh. Small world. I have to stop by some place to get flowers for Iris. I checked the gps, not really any place to park and this time of day the streets spots will be taken. Guess we're doing public parking and hoofing it."
It turns out that parking was indeed a mess. By the time they found a spot Gladio feared it would be too close to closing time to get anything. They fought over the best directions and got lost once, but eventually they arrived at their destination.
Gladio pulled the door open with a little jingle from a bell. Holy Shiva! It was him. The beauty he saw earlier in the week. He worked really hard to keep his mouth from hanging open but before he could be too proud of himself he realized he had been zoning and focusing on that incredible accent instead of the content of what was being said.
He tried to pull his head out of his ass and act like a normal human being instead of a drooling Neanderthal. Was Gladio just having wishful thinking or was this guy flirting with him? Things were going fairly smooth, at least he was adding words to his grunts, until the man told them how much he loved gladiolus.
And he choked.
Literal inhaled his own spit like an idiot when he heard that velvety voice with that delicious accent say "love gladiolus".
It echoed around and around his head, squeezing his heart. There was no way to control the flush creeping to his cheeks.
If it wasn't for Noct, Gladio isn't sure he could have continued on after that. There's no way this guy, this stranger, knew how uttered infatuated Gladio was becoming after each passing minute.
When the florist took the agreed upon flowers in the back to do whatever it is florists did, it was Noct again who pulled him back to his senses. Because he was totally not starting at the man's derriere.
"Dude!? What is up with you? "
"Huh? "
"That guy is totally into you and you're just standing there like a brainless meat bag. Where's the egotistical, suave guy we all know? Is he not your type?"
"Oh he's my type. Didn't know I had a type, usually I like all types, but... gods be damned, everything about him is... breathtaking."
"Wow. You're turning into a sap over this guy. Why don't you just ask him out?"
"Because he's a total stranger and I don't want to be a creep. Because he deserves to be wooed."
"Wooed? Did you seriously just say -"
"Stuff it shorty, here he comes. "
The florist carries out the bouquet and Gladio is honestly awe struck. What went back as simple flowers had come out a stunning beauty fit for its maker. The wrap of violet flowers had greens cascading over the top and delicate tiny blooms he couldn't identify all held together in a shimmery gauze wrap and tied with a bow.
Gladio couldn't help but smile. These had Iris' name written all over it. How the man had perfectly captured the essence of a person he had never met floored him, but he guessed that's what made the man a professional. He knows he's smitten already, but he swears to Shiva when their hands touch electricity arcs through his body. All of a sudden Gladio's negative outlook on love is suddenly wondering if soulmates are a real thing.
They leave, but the whole way to the recital Gladio is wishing he did ask him out, or even get a name. Oh well, guess he'll just have to find another reason to get flowers soon.