Burdock & Pistoles

Florist AU/ Mafia Au

Inside the always humid room flowers littered the floor, the walls and every stool and table that she managed to fit inside. Roses, from pristine white to deep, lustful red to lilies and yellow tulips. The occasional daffodil and lilac breaking in. The air was heavy with moisture and the breath of the flowers.

Being surrounded by beautiful flowers sounded like a delightful job until you realized that they needed care, water and rearranging. Every client wanted their bouquet differently, some didn't even know how to match two colors properly. Mixing graveyard flowers with spring bringers.

With Valentine's day approaching Mae felt her back aching already. She'd have to work extra on those day and where they payed amazingly, she was sore for days after. There'd be an increase in males buying roses and what she enjoyed every year was the rise of females buying roses for their loved ones. The reversal of roles was refreshing to see.

She heard the bell of the entrance door chime and turned around. ˝Welcome, how may I help you?˝- She asked with a smile. A mall came in or rather wheeled in. He grunted as soon as he heard her and moved in his wheelchair examining the flowers. He looked young, in his early 20s. Girlfriend shopping? Or boyfriend? She giggled.

˝No, you may not˝- He said. His voice was heavily accented. Mae shrugged it off, it wasn't the first time a male would come in and get defensive about „flowers and that female shit". She'd wait for him to call her.

She busied herself with new arrivals, carefully taking them out of the saran wrap and placing into vases where the flowers could breathe. New sponges for ikebana arrangements were put into boxes under the counter, various bows and ribbons above the counter. A few cans of wax protectant and shine spray. She had stocked up on the regular stuff along with Valentine's day cards and everything that came in heart shape.

There were even heart shaped dicks and boobs. She laughed at the tiny plastic ornaments. A grunt reminded her of her customer.

˝Have you made your choice?˝- The young man was in front of the rose section, scowling at the flowers. ˝Would you like me to make you a bouquet of those? They're are lovely for this time˝- She added with a softer voice. With males like this you needed to be subtle not to bruise their gentle ego's.

˝No I don't want these˝- He said slowly.

˝Okay, maybe tulips? Or lilies?˝

˝No˝

Mae licked her lips in thought. Then the Hell did you want? Her eyes darted across the small florist shop, mentally listing everything she had.

˝Burdocks?˝

˝What!?˝

˝Burdocks, those lovely prickly flowers, they bloom in beautiful purples and pinks. If you want something different and special˝- Will he bite to it?

˝That's a weed˝

˝Every weed has a flower, some are not so noticeable as a rose˝

˝I don't want a weed˝

˝Okay Sir, would you explain the occasion you want the flowers? It would help choosing the right flowers˝

˝A funeral or rather a graveyard visit˝- Oh shit oh shit. Think fast Mae. Graveyard flowers. She was painfully aware of his gaze and turned around to stare at her working table. Behind it a mirror reflected the still scowling man. He stared at her with a judging stare of a pair of azure blue eyes. Even with her back turned to him she could feel the intensity in his gaze.

˝Okay I can make an arrangement of Ferns, Ivys, Lilys maybe Marigold and Violets?˝- A bead of sweat traveled across her back, riding her spine.

˝Add moss to it, make it look...mountainy˝- He said narrowing his eyes. She saw him shift in his wheel chair and wait.

˝Sure, give me a few moments˝- Shuffling she gathered the flowers on her working table and some sponge for the flowers to place on. She took some gold and red ribbons, moving them towards him and receiving a nod. Carefully she arranged them adding moss into the free spaces between the flowers and weaving ribbons in between. ˝To whom is it addressed?˝- Working with her hands calmed her voice back to its professional tone.

˝Beloved Mother˝- He said slowly. It took some will power not to stare at him in surprise. It.. it suited his demeanor. Mae wasn't trained to read people but her job allowed her to see just why people bought the flowers and how they thought. Every flower meant something special and she loved guiding them through them. The happiness when a lover would see their favorite bloom was gratitude itself. ˝She was murdered˝- He hands trembled.

˝I'm sorry to heard that, my condolences˝

˝Mhmm.. by my Father's first wife˝- He added with a light voice.

˝Oh...˝- Not knowing why he suddenly started talking to her, Mae started working faster. Finishing with the shine spray and some wax to keep the flowers longer pristine she presented the arrangement. The young man eyed it from every corner and smiled. He took a wallet from his inner jacket pocket and threw two hundred bills.

˝Uhm Sir, it's not that much, let me give you the change˝

˝No, you've pleased me, keep it˝

˝Thank you˝- The arrangement was placed in a brown paper bag, wide enough not to damage them flowers and to protect it till it comes to the graveyard.

˝What do you buy for Valentine's day?˝- He asked suddenly. She saw his wheelchair going towards the exit.

˝Roses I guess?˝

˝Buy one for me˝

˝Excuse me?˝

˝Its the official invitation, isn't it?˝

˝I don't know what you mean sir˝- Another bead of sweat rolled down her spine. The young man smiled.

˝In the Familia, isn't it?˝- He grinned showing teeth. It looked like a predator ready to pounce even if he was in a wheel chair.

˝I'm afrai-˝

˝The Ragnarssons are joining in, tell that your family˝- With that he left her small shop. The only place she had to run from her own family.

Let me bury myself in an AU I don't know anyone will be willing to read. Cause why not, eh?

Should I continue?