Work Text:
It’s a Monday morning like any other Monday morning for Max. hectic. First he needs to go to the farm to pick up fresh picked flowers, harvested that morning. He has to make sure he’s back in time for the weekly delivery from another local farmer who specialises in small indoor pot plants and brings Max all natural compost.
Max prides himself in his ‘biologically farmed’ and ‘ecological and ethically responsible’ labels that are stuck to the window of the creaky shop door.
Max lives above his shop, for convenience sake. He likes it this way. After the deliveries have found their proper place, he starts to prepare the orders. At 1pm sharp, Mr. Alonso will be here to pick up flowers for his husband Lewis. Max had seen said husband only once or twice.
He was always intrigued with the way Mr. Alonso - Max refused to call him Fernando, despite his insistence - flirted with him, even in front of him. Max was a simple man. It flattered him but he wouldn’t let it go further than that.
He continues with the delivery orders. Liam and Yuki would be here in about an hour to pick them up. Max smiles at the thought of his two young assistants. Liam had brought the shy Japanese kid with him to work one day.
Max really didn’t need another delivery boy at the time, but Liam insisted that he’d like to bring Yuki along to learn English better. Now, Yuki’s English had improved and he was coming out of his shell a lot. The two young students divided Max’s long list of deliveries between them now and always made it back in time for closing usually with dinner.
As expected, Mr. Alonso knocks on the shop window at 1pm sharp and Max opens the door for him, flipping the sign to ‘open’ in the process. “Good morning Mr. Alonso”, Max smiles brightly. “How many times do I need to tell you, it’s Fernando, please?”, Mr. Alonso winks.
Max can’t stop the slight blush that creeps up his cheeks. Mr. Alonso is objectively attractive. Anyone can see that . Max hurries to the back and comes back with a large bouquet.
Mr. Alonso grins, “perfect as always, Max. The flowers look great too”. Max laughs, “you flatter me. Now how would you like to pay? So you can take these home”, he pauses, “to your husband”.
Mr. Alonso laughs, “card please, Max”. Mr. Alonso pays and winks at Max at the door. Max just grins and shakes his head laughing as the door closes behind him.
It’s quiet, Max sips his coffee. It’s quiet until Liam and Yuki come in. Their boundless energy makes Max laugh. Just as fast as they came in they were off again on their delivery bikes, the large ones, with the big storage at the front. It’s quiet again.
Max makes himself another coffee. He should probably make tea instead. He wonders if Daniel will come in today. Daniel never comes in on the same day or at the same time, unlike most of Max’s customers.
Sometimes Daniel comes in all happy and he’s out before Max can have a proper conversation. More often than not, Daniel comes in and leans on the counter like it’s a bar, “something to cheer me up, Maxy”. Max never likes it when Daniel is upset, but he likes it less when he comes in with a new boyfriend.
Max doesn’t understand how the guy can just find douchebag after douchebag. Max sure wouldn’t treat him like that. He might have a crush, but Daniel’s fast paced chaos doesn’t match with Max’s need for a routine. Max knows that too.
Daniel comes in just as Max finishes his coffee. Max meets Daniel’s excited grin with a big smile. “Come on Scot! This guy has the best flowers!”, Daniel is pulling a lanky blonde guy behind him.
Max puts on his best smile and helps Daniel and new boyfriend , like he always does. “Told you he’s the best!”, Daniel grins at the guy apparently named Scot as he is paying. Max smiles softly, “thank you. Have a great day!”.
They leave and Max sighs. He fusses a little over some of his small plants in the nursery in the back.
Liam and Yuki come back and Liam is chatting about something, but Max interrupts him as he hears the bell above the shop door ting.
Max takes in the petite guy. He is drowning a bit in his red hoodie. He looks sad. “Hello, good afternoon”, Max chimes, walking in his direction. “Hi”, the guy looks up at Max, big eyes at the verge of tears, “Can you please help? I went to two other shops and they just laughed at me, but it’s my brother’s plant and he’ll kill me. If I replace it he’ll know”.
Max looks at the dry plant, “I can try? follow me to the back. I have a plant nursery. This isn’t my first rescue. I am Max by the way”. He’s met with a weak smile, “Charles”. Max nods, “follow me Charles”.
Charles’ eyes dart nervously to Liam and Yuki, “you can help them first?”. Max shakes his head, “those two? They are wasting their time while they should be out on delivery runs, but it works in our favour, Liam can watch the shop, while we’re in the back”.
Liam grins, “yes boss!”. Max rolls his eyes and carefully takes the plant from Charles, “follow me”.
Max sets the plant down on his work bench, “can you tell me what happened?”. Max reaches out and squeezes Charles’ shoulder gently when actual tears roll down his cheeks. Charles takes it as an open invite to crash into Max’s chest, letting out a long sob, “I forgot!”. Max rubs a hand soothingly over Charles’ back.
Max had seen and heard a lot over the years as a shop owner, but this was definitely new territory. Charles calmed down after a while. He wipes his cheeks with his sleeves tucked over his hands, “fuck sorry”, he sighs, “I just hate disappointing my little brother. It’s silly but he loves that plant”. Max composes himself and examines it, “I get it. When do you need it back?”.
Charles sighs, “tomorrow evening”. Max nods, “okay, let me see what I can do. I have a similar one that you can take in the meantime. Just in case it’s unsaveable, but I am going to try”.
Charles looks at him with a weak smile, “really?”. Max nods, “yeah, of course”. Charles nods, “you just trust me?”. Max shrugs, “I guess. You don’t seem like the type of guy to scam me for one plant. Unless you’re like a really great actor”.
That makes Charles chuckle softly and Max saves the sound of it somewhere in his memory. “I am not an actor”.
Max nods, “then it’s settled. Let me just get the replacement for you and then I will see what we can do for this little guy”. Charles pouts a little as he pats the side of the pot, “sorry little guy”. Max laughs softly.
Charles follows Max to the front, and takes the plant from him, “what do I owe you?”. Max shakes his head, “Your phone number? So I can keep you updated. And just come here next time you need flowers”. Charles grins, “I will bring my roommate tomorrow! We’ll both get flowers for our mums. They are visiting and bringing my brother back”. Max smiles as he holds out the customer card and a pen for Charles, “that’s lovely. Do they have any favourites? I’ll make sure to keep some in the back for you”.
Charles thinks for a moment, “Mum is really into meaning, something that says I love you and I missed you”. Max nods, “of course”, he has no clue about meanings of flowers, but for Charles he is willing to find out. The customer is king after all.
“That was smooth, Max”, Liam laughs. Max blushes, “just watch the shop while I attempt to save his disaster of a plant? And Yuki can you please make the deliveries?”.
Yuki smiles, “of course Max”. Yuki pecks Liam’s lips and darts out. Liam grins, “you think that Charles guy is hot, admit it”. Max shakes his head laughing, “just do your job?”.
Max hears Liam laugh as walks to the back. He stares at the plant for a while. Firstly, it needs water, a lot of it. He gets a large low bowl and fills it up. He takes the plant out of the pot it’s in and in the plastic one it was probably bought in he places it in the water. He’ll let it sit overnight in hopes that it helps. He rejoins Liam and on the computer at the counter looks up flowers that mean ‘I love you and I missed you’.
Liam looks over his shoulder and laughs. Max raises an eyebrow at him. Liam holds up his hands, “I didn’t say anything”. Max rolls his eyes and turns back to the computer.
Max finds the flowers and he’s delighted to find he has just picked them up as well. He wakes up Tuesday with a good feeling and a big smile. He goes about his day, greeting customers with a happy smile. He arranges a colourful bouquet of roses, lilies and orchids for Charles’ mother.
Charles is smiling this time when he comes in. “Hi Max! How is the patient?”. Max smiles, “actually, doing better. I had to perform surgery this morning, but new pot, fresh soil and some nutrients and enough water and he’s on the way up!”.
Charles surprises him a bit when he hugs Max, “thank you”, he mumbles against Max’ shoulder. “Yeah, you’re welcome. Want to see what I picked out for your mum?”.
Charles picks up his head and smiles up at him, “Please!”. Max goes in the back trying to swallow back his blush somehow. “I hope you like it”, he smiles softly. Charles smiles big, “wow! Yes! And what do they mean?”. Max hands him the flowers, “Orchids and lilies are for missing someone and roses are for love. Since it’s for your mother, I figured pinks and oranges and yellows were the best options. White is too funeral and red is more for a lover”.
Charles grins, “thank you, Max!”. Max smiles, “you’re welcome”, he looks over to the other guy, “and you must be the roommate”. The guy smirks at Max, “yes I am, but most people call me Pierre”. It makes Max laugh.
“Pierre, what kind of flowers does your mother like?”, he asks, going over the current stock. Pierre looks around, “she likes those… uhm.. Wild bouquets?”. Max grins and picks a few arranging them neatly, “something like this?”. Pierre smiles, “great”.
Charles pays and then Pierre does. Max has given up worrying about his blush. Max can’t believe his ears when he hears Charles say softly “told you he’s cute” on his way out. Pierre shoves him a little, “you read too many romance novels”.
Max is glad Liam isn’t here to hear it. He is intrigued though that Charles actually reads those novels.
He calls Charles to tell him ‘the patient’ is ready for pick up on Friday. Charles comes over immediately. “Hi Max”, he smiles as he comes in. “My mum loved the flowers, but my brother found out. Did you really save it?”. Max grins, proudly holding up the plant, “I really did”.
Charles walks closer admiring it for a minute. “Okay what do I owe you really?”. Max shakes his head. He swallows hard for a moment, “dinner?” he asks quietly. Charles grins at him, “put that down for a minute?”. Max raises his eyebrow and cocks his head but does set the plant on the counter. “Ask me that again, properly?”, Charles blushes, stepping close.
Max smiles at him brightly, “Charles, I promise I don’t have the habit of asking out my customers, but you are not just anyone. So if you want to, take me out to dinner?”.
Charles smiles up at him, blushing, “I’d love that, Max”.
Max’s world stops when Charles kisses him softly. Max’s hands rest on the small of Charles’ back. “Cute”, Charles grins when he pulls away. Max laughs softly, “I heard it, when you and Pierre were talking”.
Charles blushes deep, “you did? That’s so embarrassing”. Max cups Charles’ chin, “was it like in your novels?”. Charles bites his lip, “better”. Max pecks his lips, but their moment is broken by Liam and Yuki barging in. “I knew it! Babe! You owe me dinner!”, Liam grins. Yuki laughs softly, “I am happy for you, Max”.
Max blushes and Charles buries his face against Max’s chest. Max holds him close. “So dinner?”, he asks Charles softly. “Tonight?” Charles blushes as red as the hoodie he was wearing on Monday. “I close at 6, pick me up?”, Max answers. “Yes, sounds great. I will go bring the patient back to my brother now”.
Max feels giggly and he knows his blush matches Charles’. He doesn’t even mind Liam’s teasing the rest of the day, especially because Liam holds down the fort for the last hour so Max can shower and change. He is ready and back in the shop at 5 minutes to 6. Charles comes in around closing time, “hi”, Max breathes happily. “Hi”, Charles grins, lingering nervously near the door.
“I’ll lock up boss”, Liam grins. Max flashes him a grateful smile, “thank you. See you tomorrow”. He grabs Charles’ hand and pulls him outside. “Where to?”, he asks. Charles smiles at him, squeezing his hand, “with you anywhere is good, but I do know this cute italian place close by?”. Max smiles, he can’t help the kiss he presses to Charles’ cheek, “sounds lovely”.
It’s a few weeks later, needless to say the date was a success. Max smiles as he hears Charles’ footsteps coming into the shop. Charles brings Max his coffee. Charles had spent most of his time in the shop since their date. Being a lifestyle blogger that primarily worked from home - or lately primarily worked from behind the counter in Max’s flowershop - had its perks, like being able to bring Max coffee. “Thank you, love”, he grins. Charles kisses his cheek, “yeah, so much better than my novels”, he leans against Max, head on his shoulder, sipping his tea. “Maybe you should write your own, about us?”, Max half jokes, half serious.
Charles grins at him, “Maybe I should”. Max kisses his forehead, because he can and it’s a quiet Wednesday afternoon, about 30 minutes to closing. It’s probably why the ting of the bell above the door startles him a little and he nearly spills his coffee. Charles laughs softly, “carefull, chèrie, I did my very best to make that for you”. Max laughs softly and sets his cup down.
He looks over to the customer, it’s Daniel, shoulders slumped. Max smiles softly, “hi Daniel”. Daniel sighs, “hi, I am sad”. Max frowns, “so something to cheer you up?”. Daniel shakes his head, “don’t think even your flowers could cheer me up”. Max frowns more, “Charles can make you a cup of tea? Right love?”. Max plays it off as if Daniel had just conveniently never met his boyfriend.
Charles kisses his cheek, “I’ll go do that”. Daniel smiles weakly, “hi, so you’re the reason behind that blinding smile”, he sticks his hand out to Charles, “I like to think I am”. Max blushes softly, “What happened, mate?”. Daniel sighs as he watches Charles walk away.
“The guy I came in with a while back? Turns out he just got married. I was just… I don’t even know what I was…”, Daniel sighs, “you know the worst part? He gave your flowers”, Daniel pauses, “ your flowers! He gave them to her”. Max pats Daniel on his shoulder, “that’s rough, mate. I’ve always thought you deserve better than the assholes you’ve brought in here over the years”.
Daniel laughs wryly at that, “You’re a good friend Maxy”. Charles comes back with tea and before Max can say more, Pierre walks in, “Hi!” he takes Daniel in, “oh, uhm… everything okay?”.
Charles grins at his friend, “yes, Pierre. He is a friend of Max, having a bad day. What are you doing here?”. Pierre holds up two plants that look dry and dying, “I’ve messed up. Art asked me to water his plants and I forgot”.
Max can’t help but laugh, “are those? Is that… the same one? If it survives this time, it’s a true soldier. I’ll see what I can do”. He takes the plants to the back and sets them up to soak up loads of water immediately, leaving Daniel in Charles’ much more capable hands. Max had never been good with feelings anyway.
When Max comes back Charles is sitting on the counter alone swinging his legs. “Where did they go?”, he steps in between Charles’ legs, resting his hands on Charles’ thighs. “Turns out my desperately single roommate is your friend’s type. But Pierre knows I will kill him if he goes back to his fuckboy ways”, Charles grins.
Max kisses him softly, “Daniel is a good guy, just chaotic”.
Charles nods, “I could tell”.
“You’re better at that”.
“At what?”
“People”
“You’re better with plants”
Max blushes and presses his face up against Charles’ chest. “I didn’t know about the meanings of flowers before you asked me about it”.
Charles laughs softly, a mischievous grin forming on his lips, “now that you do what flower would you give me?”. Max pecks his lips and goes into the shop.
He picks up one of the satin red roses ,the ones that come at 5 quid a flower, the ones he hand picks.
“Red roses, because I love you”, he smiles holding the rose between them. “I love you too”, Charles smiles at him brightly.