Malec One Shots

55. Blooming (AU)

~
Song ~ EXO CBX - Blooming Day
~

"Sorry for the delay, our weekly batch of the hyacinths bloomed late. Are you sure it's alright?" Alec asked, his customer shaking their head. "It's no problem at all, your arrangements are so beautiful it's worth the wait." They thanked and paid, taking their wrapped flowers from the counter and leaving the small establishment.

The Lightwood family were florists. Maryse Trueblood had started a small shop up when she was young, as a way of growing out of bad juvenile habits. She'd dated a man called Robert Lightwood, who she'd married and had children with. Alec, Isabelle, and Max were the legacies. Alec was only 18, Isabelle 17, and Max 9. They cultivated and sold the finest flowers in New York, and were known for Alec's famous arrangements. The complements and reviews for the shop were usually applauding the life and vibrancy of the flowers, as well as how kind customer service was and how pretty the teenage boy behind the counter was.

Isabelle stood on her tiptoes, Max balanced on her shoulders to reach a high hanging shelf of creeper vines to water. The boy hooked a hand onto the shelf, watering the plants, before clambering down from Isabelle's shoulders. Alec pulled his gloves off, moving ceramic pots from one side of the greenhouse to another where the sun was the brightest at that time of year. He wiped his forehead with the back of his hand, hearing the jingle of the door. "I'll go." Isabelle said, pulling a giddy Max along with her. Alec carried on working, and he was halfway from moving the last pot away from the shade when Izzy came to the greenhouse doors to beckon Alec over. "Cute guy. New here. Wants to give gift." She huffed and puffed, out of breath. Alec ignored his gloved hands and aproned torso, making his way to the main shop area where, as Isabelle had said, was a very cute guy. He reached his hand to shake, and Alec had to remember to take his glove off before making simple greetings. "I'm Magnus." The cute guy said, pushing a strand of his hair back. "Alec." Alec said, smiling like a fool. Isabelle knew he had a weakness for beautiful guys. "I recently bought the place next door, I run a tattoo parlour, so stop by whenever!" The man, Magnus, smiled sweetly, making Alec weak in the knees. Alec's family had nothing against tattoos, despite their flowery and soft aesthetic. Maryse had a small lotus tattoo on her inner wrist, Robert had a simple Jasmine flower tattooed on his ankle, Max wanted a harebell on the back of his hand when he got older, Isabelle had a winding purple columbine on her upper arm, and Alec had a daphne on the left side of his neck that splashed up onto his jawline a little. They all had their own favourite flowers, and it was their signature of sorts. And Magnus had sleeves. Full, richly coloured sleeves of tattoos with designs ranging from blue fire to intertwined constellations.

Although Alec wanted to see Magnus again, winter was a very busy season, almost as bad as summer, and he seemed to be stuck in the shop all the time. He hadn't seen Magnus for a week since their introduction, until one slightly boring afternoon. Alec was tending to the ready-arranged flower sets, hydrating them and making sure they looked their best. He tipped his watering can, one of the old tin ones, and watered a bundle of pink roses by the till. He was tapped on the shoulder, and turned, flicking at least half of the water in the can at who decided to scare him. He hadn't even heard the door jingle. His mouth gaped open at the sight of a very wet, very confused Magnus. "Oh, my god. I'm so sorry!" Alec apologised, putting the watering can aside to run his hands down the sides of Magnus' wet jacket. For a tattoo artist he liked his fashion, and that now drenched jacket probably cost more than Alec's weight in gold. "Nothing better than a refreshing shower am I right?" Magnus lightened the mood, making Alec laugh but still cringe. "By the angel I feel so bad." He sighed, ordering Magnus to come with him behind the till and through an empty hallway. Isabelle sat at a desk in what Magnus assumed was a kitchen, eating a powdered doughnut. "Mind covering for me? I spilled water all over him, so I'm going to find him something to wear while we dry his clothes. No negotiations." Alec explained to both his sister and the tattooist. Isabelle flashed a devilish smile. "Anything for you, big brother." She pushed his shoulder as she left. Alec led Magnus through a path of hallways and rooms, all filled with warmth and an array of plants brighter than he'd ever seen. Alec took him to a room that was mostly black, black and blue, and started rooting through what Magnus saw as a closet.