Forenote: According to something I read a while back, Crimson Polyanthus means "The Heart's Mystery" in the language of the flowers. I felt it was appropriate for Venom and Zato. Speaking of which, where's the Venom/Zato fanfiction, people? It's such an underloved pairing that I decided to write a short, sweet fanfic.

Crimson Polyanthus

As he turned his hair swayed, glowing almost golden in the bright sunlight- a clear, shining yellow. A colour he remembered from a long time a go in the midst of jeering and screaming and persecution. A colour that reminded him of the man who had taken his hand and held him away from the mockery and told him he was safe- the colour of his hair. It had fallen over his shoulders like molten gold and something changed the moment he saw it. As he held his hand.

Adonis Vernalis

Zato was a guilty pleasure. A cruel, collected man with a dark shadow and even darker thoughts that verged on inhuman sometimes. Maybe that was why he loved him. Against his white queen he was a black king- a blazing red against his paling blue and passionate to the end. His bitter airs hid the elegance beneath. A man in love with gardenia and romanticism. Only Venom saw that side and it pained him that it had never been directed towards him.

Tuberose

As he faced him a wave of dizziness spread through him. He couldn't see him and for that he was glad. As an assassin the number one rule was to hide emotion and he was certainly failing at that. He trembled at the sight of his perfect face and the curve of his lips. A modern day Narcissus. Even in blindness Zato knew he was beautiful. Venom kept his voice level- a calm, emotionless tone that betrayed the way his knees went weak whenever they were alone together.

Acacia

He smiled at him, taking the papers and placing them on his desk. But there was nothing in the smile; it was the usual mixture of flirtation and respect. Venom was just his loyal pet- silent, obedient and willing to do anything he commanded. The last was never exploited but it had been tested on numerous occasions. Sometimes Venom wondered how on earth he could fail to miss his adoration and if he was just teasing him. Because he could never have him.

Holly

Venom paused, words burning on his tongue and slowly fading away as his confidence left him. Zato tilted his head to one side, curiosity evoked by his companion's sudden silence and he stepped closer, asking a question he wasn't sure he could answer. What was the matter? He opened his mouth to speak again but gave up trying to explain. It was hopeless trying to make him understand.

White Rose

He bid him goodbye and left the room, hurrying to his own quarters to bury himself in a game of chess. He was still the white queen but Zato wasn't his king. He would never be.

Purple Hyacinth

Venom stopped at the door, a rich fragrence drifted by him- sweet and strong and intoxicating. He paused and pushed on, looking around the room for the source. It was a smell he recognized- it was similar to the cologne Zato often wore and though it was rather feminine it suited him. Something deeply seductive and sensual but achingly lovely. The perfect description of the man himself. And then something stopped him dead in his tracks- the source. A bouquet of crimson roses sat in a vase on his bedside table. They looked so strange against the white of his walls and yet so right. As he picked up the card beside them he plucked one from the vase, running a finger over its soft, velvety petals. His breath caught in his throat as he read the name.

Zato.