One Shots » muke

Cinderblock Garden ~A

So this is my first one shot on here, I hope you like it :)

@BandTypeGirl made the adorable fan art above <3

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Michael Clifford found hope in delicate petals that were attached to long stems. He found beauty in the array of colors and the soft beautiful shapes the plants formed. He found love in the scent and comfort he felt when being in his grandmothers shop, surrounded by flowers.

After losing his hearing years ago due to a disease, the only place he felt truly safe was at the small shop with the sweet smell of flowers invading his nostrils. When he was in the hospital, his grandmother brought him an iris which meant inspiration, as well as an yarrow to represent good health. Ever since then his infatuation grew bigger and bigger.

Michael was watering some of the roses, his grandmother in the back room taking a break, when a small light flashed in the corner indicating a costumer walked in.

The raven haired boy glanced up from the bright flowers to see a small, feminine boy. He was wearing an oversized sweatshirt with what appeared to be black leggings underneath, and he had a rose flower crown adorning his blonde head. His eyes were an electric blue but soft, shy almost, and nose pointy and curved in the most adorable way.

He said something to Michael, but his head was tilted down slightly so Michael couldn't see what he was saying. When the blonde didn't receive a response, he glanced up nervously at the dark haired boy.

Michael raised an eyebrow before signing he couldn't hear. The hand motions were foreign to the blonde but he quickly caught on to what he was trying to say and blushed in embarrassment, cheeks turning as red as the fake flowers in his blonde hair.

"O-oh! I'm so sorry!" He squeaked out, and Michael let out a quiet laugh before gesturing he could read lips. The small boy understood that part, but was still very embarrassed guilty so he just nodded and wrung his hands together.

Michael smiled at the shy boy and held up a finger, as if to say 'one moment' and walked over to the display of tulips. He grabbed the nicest white tulip he could find and walked back over to the small boy, offering it to him.

The blonde took it shyly, bringing it up to his nose to inhale the vague but sweet scent.

"It means forgiveness," Michael said quietly while signing his words, voice raspy due to lack of use. He didn't speak much, because he usually didn't feel the need to, but this boy was different. He was... unique.

*

A week later, the same blonde boy walked into the shop with a daisy crown perched on his head and a flower clutched in his small hands. Michael waved to him, having missed him even though the boy was still practically a stranger.

The blonde stepped up to the counter, nervously biting his bottom lip as he held out the pink carnation that was in his hand.

"I heard they symbolize gratitude," he spoke softly, and despite Michael not being able to hear him, he knew he must of sounded beautiful.

"Thank you," the older boy responded, his accent thick that was a giveaway of his disability. "My name is Michael," as he spoke, he signed his words, a force of habit which the blonde simply smiled at.

"I'm Luke."

*

The next week Luke came again, and this time Michael was expecting him so he decided to take a risk. He plucked a yellow rose from the display and wrapped it up in the clear plastic, before he waited for the shy boy.

Luke arrived soon after, an adorable blue flower crown on top of his head that made his eyes stand out even more. The two hung out, Luke doing most of the talking but it was nice anyways. Right before the feminine boy left, Michael handed him the pretty flower and told him it symbolized friendship.

The smile that formed on Luke's face was enough to make Michael jump up and down and sign frantically to his grandmother only minutes after the blonde left, talking nonstop of the beautiful boy who wore flowers in his hair.

*

Michael wanted to yell when Luke came into the shop one day with blotchy pink skin, bloodshot and teary blue eyes, no flower crown and a purple bruise forming on his beautifully pale cheek.

Instead of the usual baggy sweater and dark pants that he always wore to the shop, he had on a pale pink skirt that was stained with dirt and black top that had a rip in it. Michael knew the way he was dressed was most likely the cause of what happened, and that just upset him even more.

Michael lifted him onto the counter where the register was, not caring about anything besides the crying boy. He ran into the back room and grabbed the first aid kit to tend to Luke's needs.

After caring for his injuries and drying his tears, Michael motioned that he'll be right back before going over to pick out two flowers.

He approached Luke with the flowers behind his back, not revealing the first one until he was standing only inches away.

"Gladiolus," Michael spoke roughly, "represents strength of character." He then pulled the second one out from behind him and said with a small smile, "Star of Bethlehem, represents hope."

When Luke comes back later with a geranium, which means comfort, and is able to sign 'thank you' along with 'you are special to me', Michael nearly fucking cried.

*

It continued on from there.

The day Luke wore a light pink sweater that hangs past his finger tips and to his mid thigh, with a matching pink rose flower crown, Michael gave him an Orchid to represent delicate beauty.

When Luke came in yelling about winning his schools talent show, he hands Michael a bronze chrysanthemum to symbolize his excitement. Michael gave him a ginger in return to show him he was proud, which earned a kiss on the cheek.

It's two months later when Michael can proudly call Luke his best friend. And it's then that Luke gave him an aster which represented contentment, and Michael smiled so wide it hurt.

The following week, when Luke was back again to hang out with his favorite person, Michael gave him a sunflower. That time he didn't tell what it symbolized, he simply grinned and motioned with his hands to zip his lips closed.

When Luke looked it up later and found out sunflowers represented adoration, his heart began to beat so loud he swore his whole family heard it.

*

Michael knew it was time. He had seen Luke nearly every week for the last six months and his feelings only grew stronger each time their eyes met.

He knew what he had to do, so he carefully plucked a red tulip, the most beautiful one they had, and placed it in some clear wrapping that had hearts on the edges.

It was special, the most special of all. Everyone knew red tulips represent declaration of love, hopefully Luke would too.

When the blonde finally did arrive, looking cute as ever in an oversized sweater that definitely belonged to Michael and skinny jeans, the older boy began to have second thoughts. But when his grandmother gave him a knowing look from where she stood watering plants, he knew he had to do it before it was too late.

So as Luke gazed around the little shop, Michael nervously grabbed the flower from behind the counter before tugging on the blondes hand. Luke looked at him curiously, and Michael bit his lip as he anxiously revealed the flower.

Luke laughed, and for a moment Michael thought he was laughing at him before the blonde pulled out a beautiful flower from behind his back as well.

A red tulip.

Michael Clifford found hope in a sweet, feminine boy who's mere presence made everything seem okay. He found beauty in his bright blue eyes and blonde hair that always had gorgeous flowers woven through the strands. Michael Clifford found love in a boy named Luke Hemmings, who happened to be the most precious flower of all.