[let me rizz you up in the kitakami festival]

As far back as you can remember, you knew you had a love for caring. No matter the person, friend, family, perhaps even foe, you knew deep in your heart that everybody deserved to be cared for. Throughout your years, you had cared for many individuals, injured Floradinns and Shinobeetles after a strange fight between the two. Often rather than not, the other flowers would flock to you whenever they had pricked their delicate fingers on a thorn, or when Green had accidentally cut their finger in the kitchen.

You’re a medic of sorts, a protector of those vulnerable. Mainly, when you weren’t required by the general citizen, you spent your time caring for Flowery, and frankly his big ego too. Sometimes it was more difficult to amend his bruised psyche than to sort out any lesion on his perfect skin.

Which was what happened after the battle at Flower Castle. Throughout the whole ordeal, you were elsewhere, busy with aiding a whining Kawkaw who had taken a hit to its precious wing. Only the call of one of the flowers, accompanied by a small, fluffy boy in green clothing, brought you to the scene.

With your perfected talent, many stitches and hours of formulating correct medicines, Flowery was going to be alright, only at the expense of his magic. Safe to say he was devastated.

Since that moment, you were strictly in charge of taking care of the once magical man, Flowery. He wasn’t easy to take care of; he would moan and whine about lots of things, often reminiscing about his previous days. It was hard to listen to, especially as you recalled his old personality and how much he loved his freedom. Though, it never deterred you from giving him more than adequate care.

✩✩✩✩✩✩✩✩✩✩✩✩✩★✩✩✩✩✩✩✩✩✩✩✩✩✩

“Precious! Precious, where are you?!”

Flowery nicknamed you this upon seeing your glassy iridescent skin months ago. Did you like it? So-so.

You heard Flowery’s soft cries for you from the other room, where you were preparing his clothing for the following day. At this moment in time, Flowery had little control over his body, the deep laceration the Knight gave him leaving him with damage to his internal roots. In divine timing, they will amend, yet for now, you’re in charge.

“Yes, Flowery?” you respond softly, swiftly entering his room with delicate steps. You have always been so soft and tender in your movements.

The man’s face softens when he sees you enter the room. “Ah, there you are. I was just thinking… whether we could just chat? I’m realising we only really have small talk going on, and I want to get to know who’s taking care of me.” He speaks timidly. You’ve never seen a usually confident guy speak with such a tremor in his voice.

The sweetest of smiles emerges from the corners of your lips, your body moving to settle on the edge of his perfectly made bed despite his presence.

It was obvious he was infatuated with you, but you would doubt yourself, as Flowery’s flirty with everybody, isn’t he? Though, did his cheeks turn orange in everybody’s presence, or just yours?

“What do you want to talk about?” you question. Your body melts into the softness of his mattress, like marshmallows on an open fire. One arm by your waist, the other holding your weight as you look down at the butter-yellow boy before you. Across his forearms, a scatter of baby flowers, the way that flowers scar. It was tedious fixing him up this way, but you’re infinitely glad you succeeded.

“He’s so pretty,” you can’t help but think. He’s wonderful, with sparkling eyes and flawless skin. If he weren’t a plant, he would be the sun.

He remains silent for a moment, obviously not thinking through what he actually wanted to talk about. He just wanted a pathetic excuse to talk to his stunning carer.

“Are you going to say anything or just stare at me?” you giggle, watching with joy as his face burns a deeper shade of sunset orange. You’ve never seen him in such a state.

“I was just… just noticing how pretty your hair looks today.” Flowery utters under his breath. Timidness looks sweet on him. An appreciative giggle escapes your lips after hearing his kind words, trying not to get flustered yourself. With an exchanged “thank you”, a conversation blooms. It twists and turns between playful banter and a dip into his past, and eventually it spreads into his more detailed thoughts and feelings prior to his wounds.

It feels like hours since you started talking. Not that you could complain; knowing Flowery had so much trust in you made you all fuzzy. He proceeds to tell you everything.

“Before the Knight… left me with this…” Flowery lifts his shirt to show off his blooming scar once more. “I used to be capable of so much. I was confident, flattering… although Raly didn’t appreciate it in the slightest. They were good kids… they didn’t want to hurt anybody. I was the one at fault… I said a spiteful thing about closing their dark foundation so we could keep our own… it was… selfish of me.” Flowery sputters; this level of vulnerability obviously alien to him.

As much as it is heartbreaking to see him lose his confidence, a part of you glows with a new type of happiness, a proud blossoming feeling that he’s able to be open and vulnerable with you.

“I grew up so lucky, people flocked to me like birds, the ladies too.” A smirk crosses his face. “But… I feel like my charm is gone now… I’m stuck in my room, healing and unable to see how everyone is doing after the Knight showed up. Oh, I hope Raly is doing okay… he’s a great kid, you know? Although he didn’t like me, he still tried to help even when I was on the verge of death. I wish I could’ve properly thanked him for it…”

“It’s not your fault, Flowery.” You slip your soft hand under his chin to get him to meet your gaze. The glow of his skin reflects off your fingertips, like holding a buttercup under your chin in the prime of spring. Upon hearing those words, Flowery finds it hard to look away from you. He holds your gaze to his, listening so intently to what you have to say.

“You had no way of knowing what the Knight was going to do. You wanted to protect Asgore, didn’t you?”

He nods.

“Exactly, you did it for a good cause. This is your home, our home; of course, you’re going to be defensive about it. It doesn’t make you any less likeable. I promise.”

Orange blooms deeper in his cheeks.

“I guess… Gosh, I hope Asgore’s okay— I don’t know where the Knight could’ve taken him…” his voice wavers and wobbles as he speaks.

He doesn’t want to admit it. He won’t. But Flowery, despite his levels of high self-respect and admiration, feels like a failure. His attempt to rescue his dearest friend had fallen flat, and left him in a state where he’s unable to even try and find him. Under the surface of perfect looks and charming personality, Flowery is breaking into little pieces. Nights of tossing and turning amidst a stinging stomach interrupted his beauty sleep, his dreams plagued with that unfortunate day and fixations of where his best friend could be.

“I’m sure he’s okay, Flowery… try not to beat yourself up about it, okay?” you cup his cheek. It’s warm and tender under your palms. His golden eyes speak more than words ever could.

Gratitude. Friendship. Love? Whatever it may be, you’re all he needs right now.

“Let me get you some water.”

✩✩✩✩✩✩✩✩✩✩✩✩✩★✩✩✩✩✩✩✩✩✩✩✩✩✩

Saying goodnight to Flowery when the sun had set across the horizon was always a special part of your day. Seeing him tucked in and drowsy at such an early hour was admirable. In spite of his frequently restless dreams, he would never be short of his eight-hour kip. Anything for the health of his hair and skin, right?

Over the next few days, you and Flowery talked more and more, instead of your interactions being strictly medical. One of these days, Flowery sits at his vanity, looking across his shirtless torso. His graceful fingers trace a tender line across where he had been split. Baby buttercups and daisies dance across the area, warping between his fingers and tickling his palms. It’s how they scar, in elegance and grace.

In the pristine reflection of his mirror, he spots your physique stood, watching him play with the new blooms inside his skin.

“Oh, hey.” Flowery sighs, turning himself over to face you directly.

“Looking good.” you mention.

Flowery could almost feel his knees going weak, if it’s even possible for him to be weaker right now. His nonchalance also happens to fail him this time?

His words come out jumbled and tied up like a slip knot. “Ah! Good looking?? Or… looking good…? What did you say? I can barely… remember… thanks!”

“Your scars are healing well, hon. Fresh flowers are a good sign.”

“Oh, right… of course.”

Sweaty palms slip through his blonde locs as he tries to lower his heart rate, though it comes to no avail.

“…but you are good-looking though.”

He could’ve had a heart attack. Flowery’s body stiffens into place, his eyes falling on you pretty much instantly. He’s suddenly aware of how bare his top half is.

“You… you think?” he stammers, his cheeks going the deepest shade of orange you’ve ever seen on him. You nod, slowly approaching him closer until he finds himself backed up against his desk, knocking over a bottle of cherry blossom-scented hairspray in the process. “A-ah… you’re… awfully close…” he rambles, his growing smile letting you know he won’t protest against your approach.

“Do you want me to move?”

“No! No, please stay… right where you are…” he gulps. He thinks he might burst any second, like a birthday card that explodes with confetti upon opening. He wouldn’t be surprised if you could hear his swollen heart pounding or feel it against your palms.

“You’re real pretty, aren’t you, Flowery?”

“I- I don’t-“

“You are… I mean your hair is perfect every day, your skin glows so gorgeously both in and out of the sun… your perfect smile, toned body…”

“You’re gonna drive me crazy, love-“

“And?”

Pop!!

A deep giggle escapes your chest as you watch a golden flower pop out the end of his nose. It’s something he’s talked about before, but you’ve never seen it happen before. Whenever Flowery’s heavily flustered or overjoyed, flowers begin to bloom either on his body or in any surrounding areas. Instantly, Flowery brings up his hand to cover the bud, but you catch his arms before he can get there.

“Let me see.”

Flowery could explode at the sight of your gorgeous face analysing his, and it’s dangerous territory.

Pop!! Pop!!

Two more buds by his hairline, and there’s no stopping them now. By where his hands rest on his vanity, many precious golden flowers begin to emerge on top of the mahogany.

“I— this… happens sometimes!” he manages to push out, half humiliated and half living his dream. Your lack of verbal response gags him for a moment, watching as you move your fingers up to brush the newfound plants on his face. “Not that you seem to care…”

“You’re really cute, Flowery. This is all for me?”

He lets out a shaky “mhm”. Poor guy, he has no idea what to do with himself. Usually, he has the upper hand, able to sway ladies and gentlemen with so much ease. Not today. Today, he was the victim of such teasing.

“Not used to this, are you?”

“Nuh uh… it’s… not awful being on the receiving end…” Flowery chuckles and a beat passes. Over the following minutes, all you do is sprinkle little compliments and touches all over him, sparkling him up really pretty, also advancing to touch his sensitive scars. He’s like putty in your hands. He gasps and shudders as you touch his chest and stomach, a silent plea for you not to stop.

In the course of time, after lots of self-encouragement, Flowery brings himself to cup the back of your neck as you caress him. His touch distracts you from your trance of tracing shapes across his frame. His eyes meet yours with a desperate question in mind. His lips part, his tongue slithering across his perfect lips as he awaits your next move. No words need to be uttered. With a bow of your head, letting him know your stance, Flowery tilts his head.

With precise slowness, he closes the gap between you two, giving you a soft kiss on your lips. His feel is warm and welcoming against your own, like you’re right where you’re meant to be. Neither of you escalates, just bathing in the romantic light of the kiss. You couldn’t ask for anything more right now.

After several seconds, you both pull away, cheeks burning like hot coals.

“So, um… lunch?” Flowery suggests.

“Was I not enough?” you tease.

Flowery leans in to you again, making sure you know he’s dead serious. He looks so bewildered with love right now you can hardly believe the way he’s looking at you.

“More than enough, but I want to treat you to something really special, especially made for you.”

That evening, the two of you find yourselves having dinner together, curled up in his bedsheets. There’s nothing you would change. In your peripheral, you can still see the golden bouquets on his vanity that he had accidentally bloomed not two hours ago. A sign of the effect you have on him. A sign that he truly feels safe with you.

A clear signpost of how much he loves you.

✩✩✩✩✩✩✩✩✩✩✩✩✩★✩✩✩✩✩✩✩✩✩✩✩✩✩

If you enjoy my writing, please consider reblogging it! It makes me smile knowing people enjoy what I put out, plus it keeps my work alive! Writers rely on reblogs for their fics to thrive. Thank you 💛.

Which meant Yuu had already survived being chased through the forest, nearly eaten by a monster, accidentally enrolled in a magic school despite having no magic, and been adopted by a talking cat.

Surely nothing else could surprise them. They were wrong.

---

"Grim, slow down!"

"I'm hungry! Ramshackle doesn't even have snacks!" The two rounded a corner near the Hall of Mirrors—a loud voice echoed through the corridor. "MAKE WAY!"

Yuu barely had time to look up when a very tall, light mint green-haired student came marching toward them with military precision, carrying an armful of books.

Students scattered out of his path instinctively, some whispering about how loud he was, how his posture was and mostly about Yuu who was definitely going to get bumped into.

"...Who's that?" Yuu whispered. "I DON'T KNOW!" Grim whispered-yelled back and before either of them could move—THUD. Yuu and Grim were run into by the other first year. The books flew everywhere. Yuu stumbled backward onto their backside.

The other student remained perfectly upright. Silence. Until the other—"YOU!" The green-haired boy pointed dramatically at Yuu.

"WHAT MATTER OF OBSTACLE STANDS MOTIONLESS IN A HALLWAY?!" Yuu blinked. "Uh...Me?"

"YES, YOU!" He crossd his arms and straightened his posture to look down on you. "I...kind of got run into." You looked up at him sheepishly and rubbed the back of your neck whilst Grim was absolutely fuming "hey! Dont yell at us! You were the one who was marching out of nowhere!"

"AND YET YOU FAILED TO VACATE MY PATH WHEN I SPECIFICALLY INFORMED THAT I WAS WALKING. SO IT IS YOUR FAULT!" He boomed, his look getting frustrated by the second.

"WE DIDN'T KNOW YOU WERE COMING!" Grim put his paws to his side and yelled back. "You SHOULD have." The boy retaliated, his logics sense seemingly existing only inside his head.

"How!?" Yuu finally spoke up. "I was walking." He answered.

Grim leaned toward Yuu.

"I don't like him."

"I gathered."

---

The books were scattered across the floor.

Yuu sighed.

"...I'll help pick them up."

"I REQUIRE NO ASSISTANCE."

"You literally dropped everything."

"I CAN MANAGE."

He immediately bent down.

A book slipped from under his foot.

Another fell.

Three more slid away.

"..."

Without saying anything, Yuu quietly picked up the nearest stack.

Sebek looked offended.

"I SAID I REQUIRED NO—"

"You looked like you were struggling."

"I WAS NOT STRUGGLING."

"You dropped the same book twice."

"..."

"Three times."

"..."

"It kept escaping."

Sebek looked personally betrayed by the textbook.

---

When all the books had been gathered again, Yuu handed them over.

"There."

"..."

Sebek accepted them.

"...You did not have to assist."

"I know."

"...Then why?"

Yuu shrugged.

"Because it would've taken longer if I didn't."

"..."

That...wasn't the answer Sebek expected.

Most people either argued with him or hurried away. This human had simply...helped. Without asking for anything in return.

"...Hmph."

"What?"

"...Your efficiency is...acceptable."

Yuu stared.

"...Is that your version of 'thank you?'"

"...Perhaps."

Yuu couldn't help laughing.

It wasn't even a mean laugh.

Just surprised.

"You know, you're kind of weird."

Sebek's eyes widened.

"I AM NOT WEIRD."

"You yell a lot."

"I PROJECT MY VOICE."

"You pointed at me like I committed a crime."

"You impeded traffic."

"I was standing there."

"You impeded it magnificently."

---

From farther down the hall, Lilia Vanrouge had been watching the entire exchange.

"My, my..."

He chuckled into his sleeve.

"Sebek spoke to someone for nearly five whole minutes without threatening to drag them before Malleus."

Beside him, Silver nodded sleepily.

"...That's new."

---

A week later—

Sebek spotted Yuu carrying several heavy boxes toward Ramshackle.

Without a word, he walked over.

Took the heaviest box.

And started walking.

Yuu blinked.

"...Thanks?"

"I merely concluded your current pace was inefficient."

"Suuure..."

"...That was nice of you."

Yuu looked up at the boy with a soft smile.

"I AM PERFORMING A PRACTICAL TASK."

"Mhm."

"..."

"...You are welcome."

Yuu smiled.

"See? That wasn't so hard."

Sebek frowned all the way to Ramshackle, wondering why hearing a magicless human praise him made his chest feel strangely warm.

"Because it's still true!"

As if summoned by the conversation—

"GOOD MORNING, HUMAN!"

The birds exploded out of the nearby trees.

Yuu winced.

"Morning, Sebek."

Grim flattened his ears.

"See?! WHY'S HE ALWAYS YELLING?!"

"I AM MERELY GREETING MY COMPANION."

"I'M TEN FEET AWAY AND I CAN HEAR YOU!"

---

Grim had many reasons for disliking Sebek.

Reason number one:

"He keeps calling me 'the feline creature!'"

"I HAVE YET TO DETERMINE YOUR SPECIES."

"I'M GRIM!"

"I am aware!"

"THEN USE MY NAME!"

"I shall consider it!"

"JUST CONSIDER IT NOW!"

---

Reason number two:

Sebek had opinions.

Very strong opinions.

"That canned tuna is unsuitable nutrition."

"It's delicious!"

"It contains excessive sodium."

"I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT THAT IS!"

"You should."

"I'M A MONSTER!"

"Then you should know better."

Grim gasped dramatically.

"Yuu! He insulted my entire bloodline!"

"I did no such thing!" Sebek looked up at Yuu, offended.

The sight they were seeing was two siblings arguing for equal orange juice in their eyes.

---

Reason number three:

Sebek kept accidentally stealing Yuu's attention.

Grim would be in the middle of telling a dramatic story.

"...And then I was gonna blast that ghost with my amazing magic—"

"Yuu."

"Hm?"

"You had forgot your umbrella." Sebek had held it out to Yuu for the other to take. A blush on his cheeks that he hoped Yuu couldn't notice.

"Oh! Thanks, Sebek."

"..."

Grim pouted.

"...You interrupted my story."

"It will be raining."

"I WAS BUILDING SUSPENSE!"

---

Reason number four.

The head pats.

Sebek did not understand boundaries.

He had watched Yuu scratch Grim behind the ears exactly once.

The next day—

"The feline creature appears...agitated."

"I am not."

"...Perhaps this gesture is calming."

A large hand descended.

Pat.

Grim froze.

"..."

"...Did you just pet me?"

"I did."

"..."

"YUU HE TOUCHED ME!"

Yuu burst into laughter.

Sebek frowned.

"...Was that incorrect?"

"I'M NOT A CAT!"

"You behave similarly."

"I HAVE DIGNITY!"

"You attempted to fit inside a teapot yesterday."

"...THAT'S NOT THE POINT."

---

The rivalry escalated.

Whenever Sebek visited Ramshackle

Grim would sit directly on Yuu's side

"This seat's occupied."

"..."

Sebek stared.

"...Very well."

He simply stood beside them.

For an hour.

Motionless.

Watching.

Grim slowly looked up.

"...You're creepy."

"I am waiting." Sebek stared ahead.

"For what?"

"For you to become uncomfortable." He looked down at the monster with an unamused look.

"I'M ALREADY UNCOMFORTABLE!" Grim yelled.

---

One afternoon, Grim decided enough was enough.

He marched right up to Sebek.

"You."

"Yes?"

"You like Yuu."

Sebek froze.

"..."

"..."

"...Ridiculous."

Sebek was red in the face instantly. He looked away trying to spare himself some dignity.

"You DO!"

"I merely ensure their continued well-being."

"You carry their groceries."

"They overexert themselves."

"You bring them snacks."

"They forget meals."

"You fixed their broken chair."

"It was unstable."

"You walked across campus because they said they liked flowers."

"...The flowers happened to be nearby."

"They were on the OTHER SIDE OF THE SCHOOL!"

"..."

"..."

Grim crossed his arms triumphantly.

"HA! GOTCHA!"

Sebek's face turned impossibly bright red.

"I DO NOT REQUIRE THE OPINION OF A TALKING FELINE."

"I KNEW IT!"

---

Later that evening

Grim found a small bag sitting outside Ramshackle's door.

Inside...

Premium tuna.

The expensive kind.

"..."

There was no note.

Just the food.

Yuu smiled knowingly.

"I wonder who left this."

Grim looked toward Diasomnia.

"..."

"...That loud weirdo."

---

The next morning—

Grim reluctantly approached Sebek.

"...Hey."

"...Hm?"

"..."

"...Thanks...for the tuna."

Sebek nodded once.

"You are welcome."

"..."

"..."

"...I still don't like you."

"I did not expect otherwise."

"But..."

Grim looked away.

"...You take good care of Yuu."

"..."

Sebek's expression softened, just a little.

"I intend to."

"..."

"...If you ever make 'em cry..."

Sebek didn't even let Grim finish.

"I would sooner challenge fate itself than willingly bring Yuu sorrow."

Grim blinked.

"..."

"...That was...actually kinda cool."

Sebek cleared his throat.

"...Do not repeat that."

"Heh."

Grim smirked.

"Still a loud weirdo."

"..."

"...A tolerable gremlin."

"I HEARD THAT!"

"I intended for you to."

From that day on, they never really became friends.

They bickered constantly, argued over whose turn it was to help Yuu carry groceries, and competed for Yuu's attention whenever the three of them were together.

But if anyone else dared to insult Yuu?

Grim and Sebek would be standing shoulder to shoulder before the insult had even finished.

Neither of them would admit they made a pretty good team.

"...And then Grim stole the entire pie!" A familiar light red haired boy cackled at his narration.

"I DID NOT STEAL IT!" Grim retaliated, crossing his tiny paws.

"From what Ace just described it seems you did" Deuce teased further.

"You're gonna need to pay for that, y'know?" Yuu chuckled, patting Grims head.

"I PREPAID THE THEFT!" The feline almost bit Yuu's hand if not his faithful-henchman

Yuu dissolved into laughter. Epel shook his head as he kept drinking his apple cider—Jack didn't even try to pretend he wasn't amused, letting out a huff that sounded like laughter.

Across the courtyard, Sebek stopped mid-step.

Who...was making Yuu laugh?

He looked over.

Ace.

Deuce.

Epel.

Grim.

Yuu was doubled over, holding their stomach, tears in the corners of their eyes from laughing so hard.

Sebek frowned. His chest tightened strangely. "This again...?" He placed his hand over his chest as if trying to stop the ache and slow down how fast his heart was going.

---

Later

Silver noticed that Sebek had unusually been stirring his tea for likely 6 minutes now, without talking to anybody in the table. "You've been quiet."

"Hm..." Sebek simply muttered and sighed, laying his chin on his knuckles.

"What are you moping about now?" Silver added, raising an eyebrow

"I am simply...contemplating." Sebek responded before a quiet second of silence fell.

"About?" Silver tilted his head sleepily, placing his cheek onto the warmth of his palm.

"...Ace Trappola." Sebek sat up straighter at the name that left his mouth as he closed his eyes in dissatisfaction.

Silver blinked, taken aback. He, too sat up straighter. Now awfully alert at what Sebek was going to say next.

"He is..." Sebek searched for the right word. He opened his mouth—then closed it. Before whispering—"...excessively amusing. And Yuu appears to appreciate this."

"Yes?" Silver responded, not quite getting the point of what Sebek had just told him.

"I fail to see why." Sebek huffed, furrowing his eyebrows in contempt. Silver looked at him for a long moment. "Ah, You're jealous."

Sebek whipped his head to look at Silver. A blush now spreading on his face as his eyes widened at what his upperclassman said. "I most certainly am not!"

"You sound jealous." Silver looked away, resting his cheek back against his palm as he took the handle of his coffee.

"I simply fail to understand why his jokes produce such dramatic results." Sebek leaned towards Silver, crossing his arms. Shaking his head as he slumped in his seat.

---

The next day. Sebek arrived at Ramshackle with rose tea, Yuus favourite.

Yuu smiled immediately upon opening the door and was met with Sebek, poised and holding a bag of rose tea and a cup of it already set in his other hand.

"Oh! Thank you, Sebek." Yuu opened the door wider, taking the bag and the cup from Sebeks hands.

That warm feeling again.

Good.

Then Ace appeared beside Sebek and squeezed past him, showing something to Yuu. "Yuu! Look what I found!"

"A frog?" They tilyed their head at the tiny green amphibian.

"It wears a tiny leaf like a hat!

Yuu gasped. "It does! Oh my gosh, that's adorable!"

Sebek looked at the frog.

Looked at Ace.

Looked back at the frog.

And immediately thought :

"...I could locate a larger frog."

---

That afternoon—

Sebek caught himself doing something horrifying.

Competing.

Ace handed Yuu an apple.

Sebek brought an entire basket.

Deuce helped carry one box.

Sebek carried six.

Epel complimented Yuu's outfit.

Sebek spent twenty minutes trying to think of one.

"...Your...buttons are...securely attached." He nodded.

Yuu smiled anyway. "Thanks, Sebek."

Ace wheezed.

---

Lilia found this incredibly entertaining.

"My, my."

Sebek frowned.

"What."

"You've entered the 'trying far too hard' stage." Lilia crossed his arms, sly and smiling at green-haired boy.

"I have no idea what you're referring to." Zebek furrowed his eyebrows.

"You tried to outdo a frog."

"..."

"...It was a very small frog." Zebek closed his eyes, shaking his head.

---

The breaking point came a week later.

Yuu was sitting beneath a tree.

A second-year from another dorm sat beside them.

They were talking.

Laughing.

The student gently brushed a leaf out of Yuu's hair.

Sebek stopped walking.

"..."

"..."

His stomach dropped.

Something unpleasant settled in his chest.

He didn't like it.

Not one bit.

Before he even realized it—

"YUU."

Both of them looked over.

"Oh, hey Sebek!"

The second-year smiled politely.

"Oh, Zigvolt."

Sebek stared.

The student smiled again.

"..."

"Good afternoon."

"Good afternoon?"

Silence.

Very awkward silence.

Yuu looked between them.

"Everything okay?"

Sebek answered immediately.

"Yes."

The second-year nodded.

"Yes..."

Neither moved.

---

After what felt like an eternity, the other student stood.

"I should get going." The second-year rubbed the back of then head awkwardly. "See you later, Yuu."

"Bye!"

They waved.

Yuu waved back.

Sebek watched them leave.

His shoulders finally relaxed.

Yuu noticed.

"Sebek?"

"Yes?"

"Were you...Jealous?"

His eyes widened.

"What?"

"You looked...kind of upset."

"I was not upset."

"Mhm."

"I was merely..."

He paused.

"...concerned."

"About what?"

"...Their proximity."

Yuu blinked.

"Their...proximity?"

"Yes..."

"...Why?"

Sebek looked away.

“Because they had touched your hair.”

“Because they made you smile.”

“Because you looked comfortable beside someone else.”

Because—

"..."

He couldn't say it.

---

Yuu stood.

Walked over.

Until they were right in front of him.

"...Sebek."

"..."

"You know..."

They smiled softly.

"you can just ask to spend time with me? I like hanging out with you."

"...You do?"

"Mhm."

"You don't have to compete with Ace."

".I was not competing."

"You brought me fourteen oranges."

"You said you liked fruit."

"I said I wanted one orange."

"The others were...precautionary."

Yuu laughed.

Not because of Ace.

Not because of anyone else.

Because of him.

That warm, familiar laugh.

Sebek felt his shoulders finally loosen.

Yuu reached out.

Very gently.

They straightened the slightly crooked collar of his uniform.

"There."

Sebek forgot how to breathe.

"Your collar was crooked."

"I..." Sebek stuttered, red starting in their face.

"You look nice."

Sebek's face immediately turned fully scarlet.

"I...!"

He opened his mouth.

Closed it.

Opened it again.

Nothing came out.

Yuu smiled.

"Cute."

Sebek made a noise somewhere between a gasp and a system error.

Then, with every ounce of dignity he could salvage, he turned on his heel and marched away as fast as he could without technically running.

Yuu watched him go, laughing quietly.

From a nearby window, Lilia grinned.

"I give him...three more months before he accidentally proposes."

Silver glanced toward the rapidly retreating Sebek.

"...You're being generous."

In the distance, Ace could be heard shouting, "DID HE BLUE SCREEN AGAIN?!"

also felt compelled to keep drawing the baby… the jababy…. her name’s jarona of course….

shes asgore and flowery’s, but i kept thinking about how that bumass treated my float (flower goat) and how he’d most likely be a deadbeat bc she’s not “real” and not strictly relevant to The Incident, so i got mad and decided she didn’t get any of asgore’s genes lmao

they mostly just hang out with the rest of the flowers (hi green)

Meeting Flowery had felt l. By then, strange worlds and even stranger people had become almost ordinary parts of life. Every new adventure introduced another colorful individual with their own peculiar quirks. Yet, Flowery managed to catch you completely off guard. His voice carried tiny, echoing flourishes that accompanied every sentence he spoke. The little sounds distracted you enough that you nearly flubbed your own introduction, forcing yourself to bite your lip to keep from gaping too broadly. He took your hand so naturally that your thoughts completely derailed. You found yourself staring at your joined hands for far longer than was reasonable while he continued talking with effortless enthusiasm. Before you could gather yourself enough to decide whether these unfamiliar feelings should concern you, he gave your hand one last affectionate squeeze before announcing he had other matters to attend to, and then he disappeared almost immediately.

You remained rooted exactly where you stood, your cheeks burning and your hand still feeling warm. One thought refused to leave your mind. You wanted to see him again. You wanted to hold him as you did every day in the life before. You wanted him to hold you. That was your dream.

You were simply the Glass Knight. Back in the Light World, your entire existence revolved around protecting Flowery. Nothing about becoming a Darkner changed that. If anything, it only strengthened the instinct until it felt stitched directly into your soul. Unfortunately, Flowery rarely made your job easy. He had an irritating habit of wandering off whenever Asgore appeared. You would turn around for just a moment, only to realize your ward had vanished again, forcing you to sprint across the Flower Kingdom while asking others if they had seen him fluttering about. Nearly every search ended the same way with Flowery happily chatting beside Asgore while you stood several feet away, trying to catch your breath. He always looked faintly surprised that you had followed him again, while you silently straightened your stance and resumed hovering over him as though nothing unusual had happened.

The others thought your unwavering loyalty was admirable. Nobody realized your feelings had long since drifted beyond duty. Whenever Flowery was nearby, you managed to maintain your composure. You stood tall over him, kept an eye out for any inconvenience, and watched his every move with complete professionalism. However, the instant he left, your facade shattered. One innocent question from Ralsei asking whether you liked spending time with Flowery was enough to leave your face glowing brighter than a heat lamp! Your hands became hopelessly fidgety as you insisted your admiration was purely professional, only to immediately contradict yourself by absentmindedly listing every tiny habit of his that you adored. the way he laughed, the way flowers literally bloomed around him and how he constantly bounced from one idea to another without slowing down. By the time you realized how much you had confessed, everyone around you wore knowing smiles. You promptly took off, realizing you had left him unprotected again!

As your relationship deepened, affection developed its own quiet rhythm. You hovered close to him almost constantly, always within reach if he needed anything, but you rarely touched him without reason. Old habits stubbornly lingered within you. Your instincts preferred watching over him rather than touching him. Flowery noticed this. At first, he wondered if he had somehow done something wrong, but the realization that your hesitation had nothing to do with him brought him visible relief.

You loved him enough to keep trying. One afternoon, you suddenly scooped him into your arms without warning. Flowery froze, his eyes widening. For a wonderfully awkward moment, he looked completely bewildered. Then laughter bubbled out of him as he wrapped an arm around your shoulders, settling comfortably against you as if he had always belonged there. From that moment on, carrying him became a common occurrence. Sometimes he would dramatically lift both arms toward you after feigning exhaustion, silently requesting transportation like royalty expecting their carriage. Other times, he would simply lean into your space until you gave him exactly what he wanted. You never refused. Holding him felt natural. He often rested his head against your shoulder while absentmindedly tracing little circles against your armor, perfectly content to let you carry him wherever you wished, as if nothing in the world could bother him while he remained in your embrace. You treasured every second.

Then, everything changed. You stood beside him as the real human reached toward the fountain. Your fingers intertwined, and your head rested on top of his while both of you silently watched as the familiar magic began to close the fountain. It saddened you to think that within minutes, he would once again become an ordinary flower in the Light World, and you would become nothing more than the glass case surrounding him. But you accepted it because, for a while, Flowery had experienced his dreamland, and you were satisfied with that.

Suddenly, the Roaring Knight appeared, and everything unraveled in seconds. Asgore vanished before anyone fully understood what had happened. Flowery reacted instantly without hesitation, without fear, chasing the Roaring Knight. You watched in horrified disbelief as he somehow stood his ground, refusing to retreat. He smiled with the same reckless determination that had both terrified and enchanted you as you struggled to catch up to him, as usual.

Then the sword moved. Your body reacted before your thoughts did. What were you if not his shield? Crystal flashed between steel and flower. The blade struck you instead. Agony exploded across your body as glittering shards scattered through the air like broken stars. Your frame splintered apart where your chest had once been whole. You vaguely heard one of the children scream. Ralsei rushed toward you, desperate magic already gathering around his hands. The Knight fled, taking Asgore with him. Flowery caught you before you hit the ground. He carefully lowered you to stable ground and then knelt beside you, supporting your body with astonishing gentleness despite the panic flooding his expression. His hand found yours, and you squeezed it weakly. Ralsei's healing washed over your body again and again, yet the damage refused to mend completely. Glass is so fragile and so hard to mend.

Flowery leaned forward until his forehead rested against yours, carefully brushing loose shards from your face with reverence. His shoulders trembled as you smiled up at him. You rested your head against his shoulder while his thumb continued to trace slow circles across your palm, unwilling to let go even for an instant. Kris, Susie, and Ralsei eventually returned. Ralsei quietly explained what needed to happen. The fountain had to be sealed. You barely listened. You were too busy memorizing the feeling of Flowery's hands, the warmth surrounding you, and the gentle way he continued to stroke you as if convincing himself you still held strong.

When the fountain finally closed, you felt your body falling apart. Crystal became transparent once more. Armor transformed back into glass, and your limbs stilled into familiar rigidness. When the light returned, only a cracked glass case remained and inside rested a single flower, its petals brushing gently against the fractured glass.

The urge to ask him if anything at all is wrong is strong, but for now, you prioritize finding a nice spot you can sit down at - and luckily it's not long before you two settle for a particularly bulky looking cherry tree, equipped to shelter you from the remaining sunlight.

Letting yourselves sly down against its trunk, a wave of lethargy strikes you and you naturally lean against your boyfriend, allowing your head to rest against his shoulder. You're one moment away from sighing contently and making yourself even more comfortable when he oh so rudely shifts so that he's the one leaning against you, head against your shoulder and hair tickling your neck.

Riiiight…something suspicious is definitely up, you think.

"What- hey man, that was my spot!" you tease, already knowing that he's going to play along.

Flowery tilts his head up so he can look at you, tentatively snaking his arms around your form. You have to lean back a little to see his expression, but you do so in a way that doesn't require for him to move. His whole body is resting against yours now, and he has the faintest blush adorning his cheeks despite the relaxed expression gracing his pretty features.

"Sorry, you should've held onto it harder, ahah…" he's probably about to say something else, but you don't allow him to; he's not leaning onto you completely, so you decide to change that by essentially hugging him back firmly enough to make him shifts positions again, so now he's half-laying on top of you.

This must take him by surprise, because his eyebrows arch upwards and a couple blossoms bloom right behind his ears. He wholly accepts what you've done though, and buries his head in the crook of your neck. And his hair is tickling you. Again!

You don't comment on it though and suck it up instead, it's not that serious anyway. With your arms around him now, you mindlessly begin playing with the fabric of his vest, letting a few moments of silence pass.

You eventually need to ask the question, though;

"…Has something been on your mind today?"

"Mh?" he doesn't move an inch, but you can feel his eyebrows twitch for a brief moment, "Oh, no, don't worry at all darling! I just wanted to do…this."

He reassures you, sounding oddly timid towards the end of his sentence. You just blink initially, wondering if he's just straight up lying to you, but then it hits you that you're always the one using him as what could be considered a pillow. Maybe he's not shy about the contact itself, because you're very well used to it by now - maybe he's just unsure if you like the roles being reversed…?

Your suspicions are proven correct once he interrupts your train of thought;

"We can go back to our original positions no problem if you need a shoulder to lean on, eh?"

Flowery moves like he's about to get up, but you once again gently encourage him back to how he's been laying, and this time he actually lets out a little noise of surprise. His voice clips go off too, the "Wow!" making you hold back a laugh.

"Nah, you should get even more comfortable. I assure you this is fine!" You try your best to sound reassuring, and he seems to trust what you're saying by the way he settles back down completely.

Getting comfortable yourself by burying your face in his soft hair, you finally let a content sigh escape you, and absentmindedly place a lazy kiss on the top of your boyfriend's head. A bunch of flustered flowers join the 'tickling your face and neck' crowd, but you don't mention it once again, too endeared to ruin the moment.

You're not sure how much time passes between the moment where you let your eyes close and then you reopen them, but once you do, the sun seems to be already setting. You're mindful of your movements however, feeling Flowery's whole body weight against you and the slow rise and fall of his chest. His breaths are heavy, and looking down grants you the answer why: he must've fallen asleep alongside you at some point…his arms don't have that strong of a grip around you anymore, and his face is practically smushed against your chest, for lack of a better word to describe what you're witnessing.

His legs are half intertwined with yours and half curled towards himself, and the flowers from before lie scattered around your forms.

Flowery really has no issue adapting a bit to his partner's personality, quirks and preferences: it's true that he's very affectionate even just through words, and he has absolutely no problem with showing that affection around others, but if it makes you uncomfortable he won't make a fuss over it - with that said, it is a bit jarring to him at first that, after getting used to your tenderness towards him in private, you seem to be treating him differently in public.

He notices that you're not so keen on holding hands or touching at all, and kisses are completely out of the question if you're even just in the vicinity of another person. He puts on his confident face despite that, and decides to limit his own affections for the time being, however he can't help but wonder if he's done something wrong to warrant this behaviour from his beloved.

A couple times of this happening, and he's sure to come to you to ask about what's wrong; he picks the timing of his question carefully, waiting for both of you to be in a nice mood and in privacy, and he tries to approach you calmly despite his nerves. The last thing he'd want is to annoy you further, though he doesn't think that's the issue? He can't recall doing anything particularly grating, just that you started acting distant.

His question gets answered with a bit of struggle from you, since you can tell he must be a little hurt for him to come to you like this in the first place. Despite maybe expecting a negative reaction from him - the man loves affection, after all - he doesn't really seem upset after the conversation, he actually looks a little…relieved?

He's very relieved that it's not anyone's fault! These things can be solved by negotiating a little while respecting each other's boundaries.

If you just struggle with things like these in public, the obvious solution is to limit them so nobody gets uncomfortable. You specify that it's still okay to do certain things sometimes, like hold hands in a crowd or a quick kiss here and there, but you have this mental block in certain occasions - it seems to be okay with him though, as he reassures you that you don't need to push yourself to do things that don't come naturally to you.

He also takes the opportunity to remind you that he loves you no matter what; now that you're alone, he supposes that he can kiss you without issues, so he pulls you in fondly once the conversation seems to have settled and both of your nerves seem to be doing fine. Maybe his overly detailed clarification that he loves you no matter the amount or the kind of affection you give him is a bit over the top, so you just have to giggle at his rant (not in a mean way!), but he's a bit of a dramatic one, and he knows you find it endearing so he just lets his heart guide his words. To his surprise, you end up reassuring him too, for good measure - he flusters a bit and says there's no need, though he really does appreciate it.

The next times you're out in public together, Flowery makes sure that you're okay with things instead of presenting situations to you unprompted: when he wants to hold hands, he holds his out for you to check if you're fine with it; instead of pushing you closer to him without warning, he starts with placing a hand on the small of your back in a sort of subtle side hug, and if you lean into it he's more than happy to indulge you; he's careful to kiss you suddenly, and instead chooses to let you do it when and if you're comfortable, with the exception here and there of a quick temple or cheek kiss from him after he's made sure no one is around or is otherwise looking at you two.