Author's Note: Originally written for a prompt on tumblr, in which I was requested to use two characters who I wish had interacted more. Let Bernadetta and Dedue bond over plants, IntSys! Supports between these two could've been so cute.

Greenhouse Friends

"Um, I… I'm sorry for bothering you."

"You aren't bothering me."

Bernadetta fidgeted awkwardly as she moved over to the next row of plants. It was always so hard to tell what Dedue was thinking—then again, she had a hard time figuring out what most people were thinking. Still, it seemed extra hard with him, for some reason.

So, naturally, when she'd come to check on the plants in the greenhouse and noticed he was already there, she'd instantly assumed she was getting in the way. Was he… annoyed at the suggestion? The neutral tone of voice made it hard to tell. And now he was completely silent—was he ignoring her, or was he just like that?

Shaking her head, she watered a couple of flowers and idly glanced over at Dedue. Bernadetta had seen him come and go from the greenhouse several times before; she assumed he liked it there. Then again, he could just see it as any old chore to do, and he just wanted to make sure it got done properly. Maybe she was imagining things again. But, if not—

"You know, uh… the pitcher plants over here are looking really nice," she blurted out. "Did you see these?"

"I did; they are." Dedue nodded in her direction. "I wondered who planted them there."

Fair enough; Bernadetta supposed she was one of the only people who would be interested in them in the first place. Most people (normal people, she thought) only used the greenhouse for vegetables or regular flowers. But she'd actually gotten Dedue interested (maybe? Possibly?), so she may as well continue, right?

"I did, actually. They're kind of cute, don't you think? And it's neat how they just attract insects like that."

"You like carnivorous plants?" Dedue blinked. "I did not expect that."

"Oh. Well, I guess it is kind of weird. Sorry—"

He shook his head. "It's not weird, only curious. They are quite useful for keeping insects away from the other plants, besides."

Dedue straightened up, glanced over the plants he'd been watering, and nodded. Then, he looked back at Bernadetta, and… well, he wasn't smiling, exactly, but his face did seem ever-so-slightly less stern than usual.

"If you won't be back tomorrow, I can check on them if you want."

"Oh, um, thanks?" Bernadetta blinked as well. "But I come here a lot, so you don't have to, or anything. I wouldn't want to bother you…"

"I told you, it's not a bother. But perhaps I'll see you again tomorrow, yes?"

Bernadetta paused and watched him leave. That conversation had gone… far better than she'd expected, even if it was still a bit awkward. Maybe Dedue wasn't that scary after all?

Her eyes fell back on the plants he'd been tending to. The flowers were pretty, but they were a kind she was unfamiliar with. Maybe they were ones that he'd specifically planted himself as well. Maybe she could ask him about them tomorrow?

And, for once, Bernadetta actually found herself looking forward to some kind of social interaction.