Beyond the Shadow of a Doubt: Hunter x OC

Dancing

Realizing that the scents and sounds of the Farmer's Market had become a familiar, welcome experience, Hunter wove his way through the crowds as his eyes flitted from stand to stand. He was looking for something specific, but was beginning to panic that this was the one week a certain vendor might not have attended. Lyra usually visited the Market each week, but he'd asked her to avoid this one, insisting that she trust him and not ask questions when she started to poke at his mischievous secrecy. She'd relented, however, on the condition that he explain himself over dinner that night, and he'd agreed with a smug grin. It was all coming together perfectly.

Ah, there it was. Displaced from the typical stall near a fountain, he found the florist, where exotic plants and blooms of every color wafted their delicate fragrance through the air. It was mercifully empty, giving him ample space to inspect every single flower to try to find the perfect bunch. After a few minutes, the owner approached from behind the table, a knowing smile on her elderly face.

"Trouble choosing, dear?" Her voice was laced with such warmth that he immediately felt his tumult begin to quiet, a mildly bemused expression betraying the accuracy of her assessment.

"Yeah," he admitted, gesturing to the numerous choices. "Nice spread you've got."

"Tell me about her," the woman invited, shuffling around to stand by his side, gazing at the wall of blooms before them.

"She's..." he faltered, mind racing with so many things that he didn't even know where to begin. A tiny touch on his forearm pulled his attention from the swirling cloud of possible descriptions in his mind, and he looked down at the florist.

"I know that look," she giggled, a twinkle in her eye. She tapped the side of her nose and gave him an affectionate wink, then turned to her bouquets. "How big are we thinking?"

"Eh..." He was baffled, wanting to convey so much with a simple gift and yet aware of the fact that Lyra was not really a "big" sort of person... something he loved about her. "Not big, but..."

"Beautiful in its simplicity?"

"Exactly." An unsuccessful attempt to hide his surprise at the woman's uncanny knack for precision brought another delighted chuckle to her lips, and she turned to the table behind them, crooked fingers wiggling over the tops of the assortment as she searched. They landed on a textured brown pot that held a plant with long leaves that arched gracefully around some thick stems. Hanging from each stalk were some brightly-colored buds shaped like hearts, each one having a delicate design that made them look as though they were painted. They were small yet mesmerizing with their elegant curves, and the way they were tucked in among the foliage gave them an endearing sense of playfulness.

"They might seem cheesy at first," the woman explained, holding up the pot and turning it slowly. "But they open up more when they bloom and are adorably unique. Trust me... They bring a smile every time."

Hunter wasn't sure, but as he scanned the rest of the table, he didn't see any other options that stood out, and the woman's guess was probably far more reliable than his own, so he gave her a nod and was on his way. He'd made it a few steps toward the road when an intimidating figure stepped into his way, and his grip tightened around the plant as he recognized the parasite from Lyra's office.

"Hey, skullface," Mullet Hanker began, running a hand through his neatly-styled hair. "Couple things for you..."

No reply came from the clone, who was already calculating a series of blows, some of which included the flowerpot and others without.

"Alright," Hanker continued, unfazed. "First of all, cute." He nodded at the flowerpot with a condescending smirk. "Second of all, I was a little too drunk at the Festival this year, so tell Vetana she doesn't have to be all scared anymore. I'm still gonna need those admissions reports though."