flowers; au

Over the course of their relationship, Hope had proven himself to be romantic in his own way - he'd start the coffee if he woke up first, tuck the covers around her at night, and make sure to pick up her favorite foods if they happened to be on sale at the store that week. They were subtle ways, but Lightning didn't mind that. She loved it, really, that neither of them needed such grand or traditional gestures.

Or so she thought.

When Lightning opened her eyes in the morning, she was immediately greeted with the sight of a single, long-stemmed rose. Knowing that there was no way she or Hope would have sleepwalked to a flower shop, she assumed it was from him. A strange gesture for him to do, but a sweet one, nonetheless. She smiled, bringing the bloom to her nose and inhaling its sweet fragrance.

Hope was already out of the house, since she didn't hear anything downstairs and he'd never been all that stealthy. Lazily, she slid out of bed and headed to the bathroom to brush her teeth.

…Only to find another red rose laced in the toothbrush holder.

Lightning stared at it in confusion. Perhaps Hope had meant to leave it with the other one? Or bought one too many? No matter, she figured - she twisted the stem between her fingertips, bringing both roses downstairs after she'd brushed her teeth. Maybe she could put these in a vase.

Except there already was one on the counter, with yet another single rose.

Lightning wasn't dense - she knew that Hope was up to something. She just had no idea what. Maybe he'd explain himself when they were both home tonight.

And oh, he had a lot of explaining to do. Over the course of the day, she found eight more roses - some in the house, two in her car, and a few among her work things. She remained in a state of confusion about it for most of the day, half because she had no idea what was up Hope's sleeve and half because she was sure there was a rose missing - bouquets typically came in a dozen, and she only had eleven here.

She was rearranging them in the vase later that evening when she heard the front door open. Of course, it was Hope, and Lightning went to greet him with a kiss.

"How was your day?" he murmured against her lips.

She indulged in the kiss for another moment, her eyebrow quirked when she pulled away. "Confusing."

"Is that so?"

"Yes." She gestured to the vase she'd set on the mantle in the living room. "A certain someone has been sneaking these to me all day."

"Really, now." Hope grinned and went to the vase. "Looks like you need one more."

Lightning smirked and shook her head in amusement. "Looks like."

"In that case…" He reached into his back pocket and produced what she assumed was the final rose, and wondered how she missed it if it'd been sticking out this whole time. "For you."

With a breathy little chuckle, she took the rose. "What compelled you to - "

She barely realized she'd cut herself off, because upon closer examination, Lightning realized that she wasn't holding a rose. Or, well, an actual one. This one was made of soft, fabric petals and a plastic stem - a fake rose.

"What's this?"

There was a little smile on his face when she glanced up. Quietly, he took the fake rose and slipped it into the vase with the other ones, taking Lightning's hand in his own and twining their fingers together. Her breath caught in her throat at his gaze, like he was staring at the most amazing thing in the world.

"I just want you to know…" Hope rested the fingertips of his free hand on the vase, "I'll love you until the last flower dies."

At first, Lightning's brow furrowed slightly in confusion, because she was sure flowers only lasted a week or two, but in the next instant, she caught sight of the fake one.

One that would last forever, no doubt.

She met his gaze as well, a smile forming at the corners of her lips as she leaned up to kiss him sweetly.

"Forever it is."