#(mutant verse)

For @kingdonmicrofic I Word Count: 497 I Prompt 4: Garden I Description: Mutant Verse, Mel controls and talks to plants.

Ao3 Link

“Look, I need to give Heather something. Something that shows I’m serious,” Robby says as he, Jack, and Frank make their way to a downtown shop called King’s Garden.

“And you think flowers will do that?” Jack asks.

“Not just any flowers,” Robby grins. “King’s flowers.”

If you’re a mutant, you know King’s Garden. It’s run by twin sisters, both mutants. One’s an empath who can read people just by being in the same room as them. The other can control and talk to plants. 

“Did you hear that, Langdon?” Jack teases. “Robby’s pulling out the big stop.”

Frank chuckles as they step inside and stops short. The shop is alive with color.  Vines climb the walls. Flowers bloom from every direction. It should feel chaotic, but instead, It feels warm, familiar, inviting.

“Two healers. One telekinetic. All male. One with a message of false love and promise.” The voice comes before anyone can respond.

“Becca,” another voice calls, softer. “What did we say about blurting people’s business?”

“To not do it,” the first replies, unfazed, with a teasing smirk.

The sisters appear from behind the counter. Twin blondes, similar in looks, but each with her own spark. One grounded and soft, the other chaotic in a charming way.

“What did she mean by false love?” Robby frowns.

“She means you’re thinking about proposing, but your heart hasn’t caught up yet,” the older one says. “Don’t worry. Becca can keep a secret.”

“I’m Mel.” She gently places a bouquet into Robby’s arms: roses, lilies, and hydrangeas in soft yellows, pinks, and whites. “She needs appreciation first. The future will come later.”

Mel offers a warm smile, then suddenly her eyes narrow.  She shoots out a hand, and a vine rises from a pot and coils lightly around Jack’s wrist as he reaches for a tall plant.

“I wouldn’t touch that,” she warns lightly. “Unless you like counting to nine.”

She turns to Frank and smiles brightly. “You’re here.”

Before he can respond, she ducks behind the counter and returns with a small tube, placing it in his hand.

“For your back pain.”

Frank blinks. “How did you—?”

She taps her temple, giggling. “Precognitive empath.”

Then she’s gone again, helping Robby check out. Before he knows it, Frank is back outside, trailing behind the others. But something lingers.

“I’ll be right back,” he mutters, turning back toward the shop.

Inside, Mel is trying to lift a heavy vase. He quietly opens the door, lifts a hand, and the vase rises off the floor. Mel turns and laughs softly when she sees him. 

“I can’t grow anything,” he says with a shrug, “but I can move a thing or two.”

“You’re a lifesaver,” she replies, smiling.

“I just wanted to say goodbye. And… I hope to see you around, Mel.”

“I’d like that,” she says, voice warm.

“There is. You’re just mad it wasn’t with you.”

After he had almost accidentally frozen his sister, he had ran away from home. Now it had been two months since then, and he had been living on the streets ever since. Honestly it wasn't so hard since there was usually something in the garbage can next to the restaurants, and begging surprisingly helped in getting some money from the people. He had managed to find a pretty big box that he had placed underneath a bridge. He didn't have much inside it besides a worn-out blanket, still it was at least some shelter from the elements outside. He was currently counting the change in his hands before he looked up to see a stranger standing in front of his box. "Hey! Either move it or get pushed." He still wore his blue hoodie though it had a couple of holes in it, same for his jeans, and his face and hair were absolutely dirty and messy. But what could you expect from a kid who was forced to be homeless?

For @kingdonmicrofic II word count: 499 II Rated: G II AO3 Link II Description: Mutant Verse part 2. They are going to get married, Becca says so.

Mel was working in her favorite section of the shop when a sudden flash blinded her.

Hands wrapped around a warm cup of tea. Morning light catching on the leaves. The soft rustle of plants around her.

Frank. Standing in a hallway. Hand out. A paper floats between them, steady under his control.

A picture. Her. Hair down, glasses on, smiling. A ring of colors and flowers curling around the edge.

"Frank?"

His hands on her cheeks. The warmth in his eyes. Steady. Familiar.

"Just wanted you to see what I see every day."

A kiss. Quick, breathless. Then light. Then nothing.

Mel blinks. She is back in the shop, a small Venus flytrap cupped in her palm. She smiles at it, brushing a finger along its soft green stem.

“So his name is Frank,” she murmurs.

The vision still lingers in the back of her mind, soft and scattered like morning mist. Becca always asks what her visions feel like. For her, mutant readings come as sharp profiles. Mel’s are different. Scenes. Flashes. Never a full story, just glimpses that come without warning. She never knows when they will happen or if they ever will. Nothing is set in stone.

Mel exhales slowly, pushes the vision aside like she always does, and returns to her task.

“The telekinetic is back.”

Mel turns. And there he is.

Frank stands in the doorway, eyes wide as he takes in every vine and bloom.

“Hi there,” she says, unable to hide the smile in her voice.

He turns to her, grinning. “Hi. Wow, this place is even better during the day.”

“The sunlight helps,” she replies softly, pride slipping into her tone. “Can I help you with anything?”

“Yeah.” He steps forward, holding out a small silver tube. “Whatever this was, it worked magic.”

“Good. I’m glad.” She slips it into her pocket.

She remembers the flashes. The guilt. The pain in his back. The weight he carries when she first sees him. She just wanted to help. Hopes her mix of white willow bark, turmeric, devil’s claw, ginger, and capsaicin eases something in him.

“As a thank you, I was wondering if you’d like to join me for dinner one night?”

“Just as a thank you?” she teases, brow raised.

Color rises in his cheeks as he laughs. “And maybe more.”

“That sounds lovely, Frank. I’d love to.”

His eyes widen when she says his name. Then, almost bashfully, he taps his temple like she did that night.

“Right. Precognitive empath,” he says.

“I’m free Saturday.”

“Saturday it is.”

She nods and waves as he leaves with a grin.

She does not realize she is still staring until Becca appears beside her, standing close and slightly too direct, her tone matter-of-fact.

“You’re going to marry that man, aren’t you?” she says without looking up from the plant she’s inspecting.

Mel laughs. “Let’s do a date first.”

Matt had just recently moved to a new city, wanting to start fresh after he got out of jail. Besides, there was nothing holding him in his old city. So he left. His best friend had moved here and was letting him crash on his couch until Matt got his life back in order. There weren’t too many places willing to hire a ex con who was also a mutant, but Matt was actually trying to get a job now. That’s why he entered the coffee shop, seeing a sign outside that said they were looking for a new Barista. Letting his eyes roam over the place he noticed a pretty girl with curly hair but what stopped him was the pained look on her face, clearly directed at the guy standing opposite to her. From the looks of it he was hitting on her, either not noticing or ignoring that she didn’t seem to be interested. Matt decided to hand his CV in later, coming up towards the two people. He purposefully ignored the guy and sat down next to the girl, whispering to play along, quiet enough so only she could hear him. Acting as if he was just noticing the guy, he directed his eyes towards him while he was speaking to curls. “Babe, is this guy bothering you?” Hiding his smirk at the guys expression when he heard Matt call her babe, he waited for her to reply.