In the Rose Garden // Orc x Reader.
No one could seem to understand it.
They all agreed that you'd always been a strange little creature, even when you were just a wee babe. You were far too dreamy, too curious and much too...strange. For years now, they had whispered about your odd behavior.
The way you walked through the village with your head in the clouds.
That odd little habit of running off to God knows where, only to return with flowers in your hair and a smile on your face.
The stories you babbled about, ones you had read and ones you had written.
It was silly and almost shameful, they said, casting judgemental looks towards you as you wandered past them.
This was something much stranger then anything you'd done before.
It was something downright shocking!
When Talon came to the quaint little village, he too had received those judgmental looks and vicious whispers. The idea of an orc coming to live in Nag's River was shocking enough but he was so...so vicious. The mighty orc towered over all, tall and muscular and terrifying to look at. A glare was permanently fixed upon his scarred face, frightening away everyone.
To the surprise of both the orc and the neighbors, you went over to see him one sunny morning.
Whispers whirled through the village as you walked up to the mighty orc's door, a basket of baked goods in hand and flowers tucked under your arm.
The neighbors hissed on as Talon opened his door, carefully looking down at the little thing on his doorstep.
"Hello, there." You said, cheerfully smiling up at him. "I came on over to welcome you to our little village...and to give you these!"
And then you were gone, leaving with a smile and a wave.
It only seemed to get even stranger.
Every so often, you would go and visit your new neighbor. Talon, though certainly a frightening figure, seemed to only put up with your visits at first.
The villagers whispered amongst themselves as they watched you wander over to the orc's home once more, basket in hand.
"...Good morning, Y/N." He replied, golden eyes flickering towards you for only a moment.
And away you chattered, making small talk with the orc until he finally could take it no more. Standing up quickly, his mighty form towered over you as he glared viciously down.
"Whatever those lot have you coming over for," he snapped, "you won't get it! I don't care about them so you can just-"
"Is that what you think?"
"I'm not a gossip, despite what you may believe, and I didn't come here in some effort to humiliate you. I came here because I thought it would be nice to have a friend."
The whispers had quieted down now, the villagers having found something else to gossip about. Talon was almost angry with himself, knowing full well that he was yet again giving them pathetic entertainment.
If the orc didn't make his wrong right, it would only make him feel even worse. Sighing, Talon steeled himself, picked up the basket and marched over to your cottage. Instantly, looks were shot his way and voices began to whisper.
Orc. That's all he was to those people. Just an orc.
Not the Talon the gardener or Talon the baker or anything like that. Just a dirty orc that didn't belong here in thier quaint town. He knew that. He knew that they hated him. But you had not hated him. In fact, you'd been nothing but nice to him...and he had repaid you with coldness.
Orcs believed that all actions should be repaid in the same. Kindness for kindness, his mother had told him.
She would be furious with him.
If she was still alive, she would have dragged him to your door herself, scolding him the whole way.
Standing in front of your door, Talon sighed again, running a hand through his hair. Twice he tried to knock, only to stop himself. But on the third try, he was finally able to knock on the door. It sounded heavier then he'd meant it to. Too loud and too hard. But you still came, opening the door and looking surprised when you saw him.
Before you could say anything, Talon shoved the basket in your hands.
And then he turned away, storming back down the little path quickly. He only stopped once, looking at you over his huge shoulder as he did.
"You can come back." He said. "If you want."
The neighbors didn't understand it and, honestly neither did Talon, but you did return.
A day later you were at his side once more, chatting away...and this time he listened. He gave you a chance, the same chance you had given him when he first came to the village. Over the garden wall, Talon could see a neighbor "casually" casting glances your way. He could hear them whispering.
But this time, he ignored them.
Rather then wallowing in the anger and embarrassment, he focused on you and his flowers.
Since then, you had returned time and time again, a friendship blossoming among his flowers.
And perhaps something else too.
Side by side, you worked in his garden. Half whispering a song as you cared for the flowers, Talon found himself smiling a little more. A garden and a home to call his own had always been dreams of his...
But there was something else he was dreaming of too.
Plucking a flower, Talon placed it in your hair as you walked by him, grinning when you giggled at the gesture. It was just one flower...
But he would give you more.
All the flowers and all the books and all the love you could ever ask for.
(And then they sell their houses and use to the money to move away, building a cottage and creating a beautiful garden...đđ)