Along the center road of town there were shops on either side. The malls and convenience stores were elsewhere in town, the locally owned, small businesses residing in the old brick and wood buildings on Main Street. In one of these buildings, one who was fortunate enough to have a lot behind it resided the only flower store for an hour in any direction, 'The Graceful Rose'. It had only one employee, and they stared out the two large bay front windows at the rain pelting the glass. The store was quiet, the modest front room empty of anyone but him, the back silent as the owner was upstairs in his apartment. The clock that hung on the wall behind the employee ticked by the final minutes until he was allowed to close and head home.

The phone that rested on a low shelf behind his half-moon counter rang shrilly, bringing the employee to attention. "The Graceful Rose flower shop, how can I help you?" he pulled a pen and pad near in case of an order.

"What time do you close?" the male voice on the other end sounded as if they were out in the storm.

Zexion looked behind him to the clock as he brushed some hair from his eyes. "In five minutes."

"I don't suppose you could wait an extra three?"

Zexion narrowed his eyes at the front door as if the caller stood just outside. "I'm sorry, sir, but I'm the only one left for the night and I have to close on my own."

Footsteps came from the stairs hidden behind the wall Zexion stood in front of, a tall man with pale pink hair rounding the corner. He glanced at the clock as well before sending a pointed look Zexion's way. The slate haired teen rolled his eyes before clearing his throat, cutting the man on the other side off. "I just got permission from the owner. We can wait the three minutes you need."

Whoever was on the other side thanked three times in rapid succession.

"Is there something you are looking for? Maybe I can get it for you before you arrive?" Zexion asked, hand ready with the pen.

"Striped roses if you have any, two dozen?"

Zexion made the note before thanking the customer and hanging up, sending his own look to the man beside him. "Marluxia, we haven't had any customers because of this damn storm and you want me to wait for one guy before I can go home?"

The taller man nodded, turning for the stairs again. "Yes, because he will be our only customer for the day, and you get paid by how much we make." He paused while still in earshot. "Three minutes will not kill you."

"Maybe, but you aren't supposed to wiretap, even if it is your store." Zexion slipped out from behind the counter and began searching the ridiculous amount of roses they had for the two dozen striped the customer requested. The store's main staple was roses, leaving very little room for anything else, and making it harder for Zexion to find the kind he needed. Eventually he found them, one dozen with dark maroon coloring, the other a light purple. He had just priced them out when the door opened and he turned to find not an older man, but someone close to his age, and sopping wet in a business suit.

The customer pulled the newspaper from his head, shaking the water from his dark blonde hair as he looked around, green eyes finally landing on Zexion, who looked less than impressed. He smiled and crossed the room to the counter. "Thank you so much for waiting."

Zexion nodded before handing the bill, placing plastic covers over the flowers to protect them. "Cash or charge?"

"Store credit?"

Zexion looked up to the blonde about to argue that they didn't do store credit when his annoying boss returned, taking the I.D. the blonde offered and looking it over. "Zexion, write down the details and I'll file them away later."

He almost made to argue, but wht would be the point? It would keep him here longer than if he just went along with it, so he did. He scribbled down the information, leaving just one thing left. "Name?" he looked up expectantly.

The blonde took his card back from Marluxia, still smiling. "Demyx Tasker."

Zexion scribbled the name before handing the flowers over. "Have a nice night."

Marluxia made a sound in his throat before ushering the blonde to the door, thanking him for coming and buying from them. As he uttered his last good night he closed the door, sliding the lock home before turning on his employee. "There is only one person allowed to have store credit, and that boy's father is it. Taskers, any of them, give them whatever they want, just make sure to write it down." He headed for the stairs again. "Night."

Zexion shut the lights off after that, picking up what little needed it and gathering his things to leave. He headed through the back room, a small greenhouse, and to the back door. He gave one last look before leaving himself, the storm just picking up.

The next morning Zexion arrived at eight per usual to find the store's mail had been delivered. Picking up the package and three envelopes he opened the store, getting things ready before he had to open at eight thirty. He looked through the mail, tossing the bills on the morning paper, Marluxia to return for it, no doubt. When he came to the last envelope he found the store's address written in hand; a letter then. He opened it, pulling out two checks with gold text. Tasker was set in gold lettering in the upper left corner, each check with a different name and amount. "Marluxia."

At hearing his name the pink haired man came to the front with a watering can in hand. He looked over to the papers being held to him an picked out the one addressed to the store. "Thanks."

Zexion turned to face him as he retreated back to the green house. "Wait, what about this?"

Marluxia shrugged before walking away, leaving Zexion to look down at the second check, everything filled out for fifty dollars, only the name missing. Was this for him? Would he get in trouble for filling it out to him? The slate haired teen tucked it away on his person, setting it aside for the time being. He focused on the day ahead and the lack of customers he expected.

And he was right.

The day passed without a single person showing up, most likely recovering from the storm last night. The winds had been powerful enough to take out the power. It was an hour before closing and Zexion found himself in much the same position he was in the night before when again the phone rang. He eyed it a moment before picking up. "The Graceful Rose flower shop, how can I help?"

"Hi again."

Zexion hesitated at hearing the voice from last night. What was his name? It began with a D… "Hi."

"I'm bringing a few people to the store, and was wondering if you had any colored roses."

"You mean other than red?" Zexion looked around, finding himself surrounded in a sea of the color.

"Yeah, like pink or yellow."

"Let me check." Zexion set the phone down before poking his head around the wall to the stairs. "Hey, Marluxia!"

His boss came to the landing at the top, looking less than impressed at being bothered. Zexion ignored this fact. "What's-his-name wants colored roses."

At the mention of their customer from last night Marluxia ran into his apartment and came back with a bathrobe over his boxers, descending the stairs and leading the way back to the phone. "Hello?"

Zexion listened to the one way conversation, only mildly interested.

"Yes, Mr. Tasker, I remember."

"Yes, of course we do. Anything specific? Uh-huh, we have that."

"Yes, of course. Thank you and see you soon."

Marluxia hung the phone up and whirled into the back, dragging Zexion along by the nook of his arm. Before the teen could protest a bucket of pink roses was shoved into his hands with orders to set them on the counter. He mumbled a few choice words but did as he was told. When he returned he found another bucket waiting for him, white roses this time.

Zexion made five more trips before he stood back to look at the counter as Marluxia arranged the buckets. Pink, white, yellow, orange and white dyed blue. He wasn't even aware they had these, only ever seeing the typical red. "What now?"

"You fix your hair, and I get dressed." Marluxia headed for the stairs. "These are important people coming, Zexion, don't blow it."

Blow it? How? He looked down at his white shirt black pants casual uniform, running his fingers through his hair as he went behind the counter to grab his paper.

Ten minutes later and the door opened, Zexion looking between the buckets to see the blonde come in with three girls in tow. He stepped out from behind the counter Zexion cleared his throat and motioned to the flowers. "All of our non-traditional colors."

The three girls stepped forward to examine them, talking among themselves. As Zexion gave them room he found himself beside the blonde who quietly stood to the side. "Friends?"

The blonde seemed bothered by the question, quickly hiding it behind a smile. "Something like that."

Marluxia came down in clothes similar to Zexion's, greeting the girls before walking to the blonde and taking his hand in a firm shake. "Demyx, right?"

The blonde nodded.

"Glad to see you liked your flowers last night." Marluxia glanced to the girls. "Pleased enough to come back it would seem."

Demyx nodded, his smile seeming a little less forced now as he looked around the room. "Your flowers were a hit at the party, and the girls wanted their own."

"Demyx, buy these ones for me." A short girl with short black hair held up six of the blue roses, the color almost matching her eyes.

"No, Demyx is getting these for me." Another, taller girl with blonde hair held up nearly all the pink roses.

Demyx stepped away from the two men to attend the girls, explaining that he would pay for both. The girls seemed content and began to explore the rest of the store. Zexion watched silently, realizing that the four in front of him came from money, and thus a completely different world. He began to lose interest when he noticed Demyx paying genuine attention to the third girl, her brown hair tossed over either shoulder. She had gathered a small clump of yellow and orange, holding them up for Demyx to smell. They both were talking quietly between just the two of them before the others begged for his attention.

"I think this will be enough for one visit." Demyx pulled out a check book and wrote down the figures Marluxia pulled off a calculator. He handed the check to the owner, turning to Zexion next. "Thank you for all your help. I was probably a pain last night, but I was running late for something."

Zexion shrugged, staying out of the way as the three girls headed back for the street. "It's my job."

Demyx took that as the end of the conversation and began to leave himself. "Well, good night."

Two months had passed since the first time Zexion had met the blonde, and he seemed to make a habit of stopping by close to closing and mulling about the last hour Zexion had. Apparently he worked nearby, and found he rather liked stopping by the flower store before going home. Business had picked up, finding Zexion with actual things to do before leaving, and Demyx always offered to help.

"You must stick out back where you're from." Zexion said off handedly as he sorted through the last of the orders while Demyx swept the floor. Marluxia was in the back organizing the flowers for the next day. He shouted for Zexion to play nice.

"You have no idea." Demyx finished up before setting the broom to the side. "Have I ever told you what my family does?"

Not that he really cared, but Zexion shrugged, allowing the blonde to continue talking.

"Insurance. My family is part of an insurance firm and has been the past five generations. Not the CEO, but pretty damn close." Demyx straightened a bucket near the floor. "I don't stick my nose in the air like the others."

Zexion finished the paperwork, setting it down under the counter. "Well at least you don't drown when it rains."

A sharp bark of laughter was his response and Zexion found himself smiling a little despite himself. "Do you enjoy the work?"

"Not really. I'm not heartless enough for ripping people's hearts out. You?" the blonde leaned on the counter looking over what Zexion was doing.

"Us poor folk can't afford to be picky when it comes to jobs." Zexion put the last thing away and headed to lock the front door, holding it out for Demyx. "I suppose I'll see you again tomorrow?"

Demyx shook his head as he pulled his car keys out. "Can't. Wish me luck though, tomorrow is my big break, if I don't goof it up." The blonde waved as he headed down the sidewalk.

Zexion shook his head at the blonde, wondering for a moment why he never bothered to tell Demyx to go away every night. He closed the store, shouting up the stairs his good byes to Marluxia before heading for the back door. The night was cool and quiet, small clouds drifting in and out from the moon. Everything seemed in place, so why did Zexion get the sudden feeling someone was watching him? He turned around, finding only the backs of other buildings and tuffs of weeds. "Demyx?" he called out, in case it was the blonde forgetting to tell him something. The silence became eerie as Zexion turned for the corner of the building that would take him to the street. A can being kicked to him had the slate haired teen spinning around to find two figures looming out of the shadows.

"What's up, freak?"

Zexion held the small book he had brought with him that day close as he backed away from the blonde who was stepping closer than he could retreat. "Seifer, what are you doing here? It's almost nine, you should be home."

The blonde laughed under his breath as the other with him, a tall and beefy brunette came forward faster than Zexion expected, grabbing the front of his shirt. "We wanted to check on ya."

"Bull." Zexion pulled, the fabric not giving as he was pulled closer to the blonde. "Go bother someone else."

Zexion's shirt was let go as the fist came arching toward his face, connecting with his chin and snapping his head to the side, legs giving out as he landed hard on his side in the dirt. He bit his tongue to keep from crying out in surprise or pain. He turned to the laughing coming from above him and had enough time to curl up before a kick to the back left him breathless. He shut his eyes, ready for the next blow.

"Who the hell are you?"

Zexion's eyes snapped open when two strong hands lifted him to his feet and set him behind a taller body. One in a suit. "D-Demyx?" he looked on as surprised as the others as the blonde stood between the three.

"Are you all right?" Demyx glanced over his shoulder before returning to Seifer.

"Who the hell are you?" Seifer narrowed his eyes on the taller man. "Mind your own business, we were I the middle of something."

Zexion could only watch as Demyx blocked the hit from the brunette he hadn't even seen coming. A quick jab to the side left the goon Reno gasping for air as Seifer himself came forward, only to have his own attack blocked as well, a straight forward punch from Demyx landing squarely on his nose, a satisfying crunch echoing off the walls. Demyx pulled his hand back, flicking the blood off it before turning on his heel, grabbing Zexion by the hand and running from the ally to the street and to a black car waiting. Zexion climbed in without question, waiting until they were safely driving away before turning to the driver.

"What the hell was that?!"

Demyx's lip twitched a moment before it fell back into the set line he had, his eyes focusing on the road. "I thought I heard you call me, but wasn't sure. I went to check after hearing something going on."

Zexion leant back onto the expensive interior, turning to the window and watching the lights whiz by. "Do you normally punch people out?"

"When they attack my friends, yeah." Demyx shot him a look from the corner of his eye before shifting into second. "Where you live?"

Zexion was torn between the title of friend and not wanting the blonde to know where he lived. "Just leave me at the post office near the high school, I can walk the rest of the way there."

Demyx looked as if he wanted to argue but did as he was told, taking them to the southern side of town and to a small post office a block from the local high school. He turned the engine off before turning to the other before he could climb out. "Are you all right?"

Zexion knew from looking through the window he had a busted lip and a bruise would be forming on his chin, but he just shrugged it off. Honestly, he had had worse before. "Nothing I can't deal with."

Demyx seemed unconvinced but did nothing to stop Zexion from climbing out and shutting the door. Zexion watched as he hesitated before starting the car again, pulling away and leaving him alone. He turned away and began the walk down two streets to his house, opening the door only to get tackled by three small ones. He greeted each of them before getting to his feet and letting them walk him through the crowded house to an older woman who stood over the stove. When she saw the damage she dropped what she was doing to cup his face. "Honestly, it's not that bad."