One-shots! Hetalia x Reader!

Gardening (Netherlands x Reader)

You sat behind the old oak counter in the flower shop you worked in. The silence and the smell of different kinds of flowers made you drowsy. Sometimes you sneeze from the confusing scents. There were just too many. The job had a fine salary, but it was just boring sitting behind the counter waiting for a customer to come.

Many don't come to small flower shops that much anymore since they all find perfection in those big and high end flower shops somewhere deep in the city. It was close to their working places too. You wanted to work there, but you didn't like the noise and the stressed out people who would just demand for a rushed arrangement or just touch the flowers in an indelicate manner.

You even wonder if people even own gardens anymore. It seemed like only the wealthy had time for gardens because they have their own gardeners or even personal stylist to cut their hedges. It kind of bothers you thinking about that. Getting up stylist to style the hedge as their faced or something else.

You rested your chin on your palm and wondered if anyone was coming today. It was just midday and no one came in this morning.

Then you heard the ring of the bell on top of the door. Someone was coming in. You looked up to see a familiar face. A friend of yours you haven't seen since your graduation day.

"Emma?" You looked at her in surprise.

"Oh my god, (Y/n)!" It was her alright.

The fashionable dress, her short fluffy blonde hair, a sweet smile, alert green eyes that glinted with her quirkiness, and her signature cat smile. It was her.

"It's been years." You smiled back. "How've you been?"

"I took up culinary and I'm loving it!" She smiled even wider. "The chefs who are teaching us are great! What about you? I haven't heard from you in ages."

"Eh, I'm working here to provide money for my own needs and some portions if the tuition." You chuckled. "I've been doing commissions for flower arrangements too. It's pretty cheap since I don't provide the flowers, I just do the labor. I even do garden work for my boss for extra cash."

"At least your hands are still fine." She started to recall some high school memories. "Oh how the boys back in high school want to hold your hands."

You snickered at the memories. "Yeah... Hands that are always covered in dirt, paint, or whatever were on my hands."

You both laughed.

"Anyways, what can I do for you?" You asked for her business here in the flower shop. "How did you even find this shop?"

"A gardener back at home told me about this place." She said. "My brother was looking for a flower shop that can sponsor his business."

"What kind of business?"

"A tulip farm." She began to explain. "He wanted to come here himself, but I suggested that I should do the talking."

"Why? Is he physically or mentally challenged?" You asked her.

"Oh no! He's just really intimidating and he likes to make hard bargains for everyone." You gaped your mouth a bit for understanding what she meant by those words.

"I'll talk to my boss, don't worry." You assured her. "Just send me like a document or whatever because my boss is strict about partnerships and all."

After saying her thanks and goodbyes, Emma left. Another person just came in just in time for flower arrangements to keep yourself busy with until Emma sent the partnership deal.

A few weeks later you found yourself taking a bike towards the tulip fields of Emma's brother. You were now working at the newly built branch of the flower shop you worked at. Your boss decided to give you credit and gave the branch to you as a thank you gift. It was too much, but it felt like you have your own business.

Zachte Bloemblaadjes

The name of the shop was in Dutch and you don't really understand it. Also it sounds very fun to say.

You slowed your bike down into a stop as you finally arrived at the new shop. It was a small little green bungalow with the wooden sign board on top with the name carved in a cursive manner. You smiled at how simple and beautiful it looked.

You propped your bike up against the white wooden railings of the shop and grabbed your lunch from the basket. You stepped upstairs to the open sliding doors of the shop. A glass wind chime hung above you with the soothing sound of the wind making a small melody. The area was a bit messy. Emma had told you yesterday that this used to be the old house of the previous owners of this farm and they just repaired it. It seemed like the workers didn't clean up after though. The dust around made you cringe, especially when the flowers are around too.

You pulled up your sleeves, and tied your hair into a ponytail and a bandana to pull your hair back before you started to clean. You first moved the plants outside with the indoor plants under the roof of the porch and other things that were left inside. You opened the windows to give light and started to sweep the floors, mop them, dust the counters and shelves, picked up trash, and fixed some other things that needed repairing. You had experience with this, you lived alone in your dorm after all.

You started to move the plants back into the shop carefully and displayed them to your liking. You tried carrying the large fern plant, but it was too heavy. You had no idea how you've managed to get it out. You fell on your butt trying to carry it again for the fifth time. You glared at the heavy pot.

"Do you need some help?" A shadow covered you from the sunlight.

You looked up at the figure. A tall man wearing a dirty orange shirt, dirty blue denim jeans, and brown gardening gloves covered you from the sunlight. He had his hand down for you. You accepted his help and got up.

"Thanks." You thanked him.

You looked at him closely. He had intimidating green eyes, spiked up light blonde hair, a small scar right above his right eyebrow, and a serious expression. You could tell from his shirt that he was muscular since it was kind of soaked from his sweat.

"(Y/n)." You introduced yourself.

"Abel." He answered back gladly as he picked up the potted fern for you.

It was all out of a sudden. You were surprised by this mystery man who just helps you out of nowhere. Maybe he's just helping out a stranger.

"So what brings you here?" Abel asked you as you picked up a lighter plant and walked with him inside.

"I'm the worker from Nonno di Fiori, the flower shop that's sponsoring the tulip farm." You replied. "I'm here working for the new branch."

"I heard that it was given to you so this branch is technically yours." You nodded in an unsure agreement, but it made sense.

"I mean, it's not really mine and everything." You explained. "I'm like the co-boss, or something, of this branch."

"I see."

You talked together as you both placed the plants in and displayed them. You even used some other recycled materials to decorate the area. Once you were both done working you shared your lunch with him.

"Brother!" You heard a familiar yell from a far and saw Emma exciting her Cadillac.

You almost choked.

Brother?!

PART 2 is not that far... Hahahaha!
Auf Wiedershen for now!

-Pumpkin