Twin Flowers

Cast: (Flora & Hana)
Prompt: Two retainers with similar names interact with each other

"May I help you?" Flora was minding her own business, sweeping one of the bedchambers, when Hana had come in from nowhere, staring.

Hana looked as though she was trying to solve a riddle. "You're… What was your name?"

"…Flora…"

"Oh! Yeah, I guess I see what he meant…"

"Huh?" The maid was at a loss, but did not allow this to distract from her cleaning.

"Lord Corrin and Lady Sakura were talking about us. Corrin said we had the same name, but I didn't understand what he meant at the time." She squinted, as if trying to visualize something. "He also said we were similar to each other, but I don't see it."

"Are you saying your name is also Flora," asked the maid, "or that your name and mine share the same meaning?"

"Kazahana means 'windflower'. And my nickname just means 'flower'," the samurai explained.

"Oh. Hmm…" The blue-haired woman stopped her work to ponder this. "Flora doesn't translate literally into 'flower', but the words are usually associated. It's a mildly amusing coincidence." With that, the sweeping continued. "I have seen you around the camp. From what I've observed, your duties are different than the ones Jakob, my sister and I carry out."

"Yep!" Hana smiled. "If Lady Sakura wanted me to, sure, but my duties are usually about protecting her from danger."

Flora wryly smiled, looking away. "I suppose I'm… decent at combat. I've never held Jakob nor Felicia back."

The samurai nodded. "Oh yeah, Felicia! She's surprisingly tough. And a good sparring partner!" Hana beamed, remembering a recent sparring match.

Flora winced. "Yes, she always was quite skilled…" A sigh followed, catching Hana by surprise.

"What's wrong?"

The maid sighed. "Oh, it's nothing."

"Don't give me that." Hana folded her arms. "I've served Lady Sakura for years, I can tell when someone's trying to be polite to get out of asking for help."

Flora set aside the broom. "Fine, you've caught me. I was thinking of how Felicia's always been the better fighter. How I've always had to work hard to catch up. But I've never been great at fighting, so I put everything into my domestic skills."

Hana sputtered. "Wh-what?! So in other words, you've given up on fighting? What kind of attitude is that for a retainer?!"

The maid shut her eyes, irritation setting in. "Well we are dissimilar, if you recall."

"That does it!" The samurai hammered her fist into her other hand. "I'm going to train you! It won't do to have a retainer who refuses to get stronger, so I'm giving you the push you need!"

"You are?" Flora bit her lip. "I'm not sure about that. I think you'd be better off helping someone else, or even furthering your own training."

Hana shook her head, a cocky grin on her face. "Nuh-uh, you're not getting out of it! We might be different, but us retainers have to stick together! So come find me tomorrow morning, we're getting up bright and early! … Unless you're cleaning something. Then come after!"

"I don't have a choice, do I?"

The training did not go as well as Hana had hoped. Flora was not proficient with a sword. In the time it took her to cut one log, Hana could have sliced ten. Maybe eleven. And that was just the beginning. Flora spent all morning stumbling through Hana's most basic regimen.

"Hmm," the samurai began, "this went smoother in my head."

"I had a feeling it would be this way," Flora confessed. "I'm more adept at throwing daggers."

"Ooh, like Kaze? We should probably set up some targets for you, then!"

Flora frowned. "Well, 'adept' might be a strong word. I am a decent shot. But Felicia was a prodigy."

"Geez, you're always comparing yourself to Felicia, aren't you?" Hana glared, but it soon became a frown. "Maybe we are more alike than I thought…"

"We are?"

"Everyone always talks about how perfect Subaki is at everything, how Lady Sakura couldn't ask for a better retainer. But he's not perfect! Did you know he- … Ah, I shouldn't tell you…"

Flora tapped her chin, thinking back. "My 'perfect' colleague isn't so perfect either. While Felicia excels in combat, she isn't very good at housework. That's why I take it so seriously. It's the one thing I have over her." A blush formed on Flora's face. "N-not that I don't want her to succeed, it's just…" She sighed. "I'm not a good sister."

"That's not an attitude for any retainer!" Hana scolded. "Listen. I remember how I always tried to beat Subaki at things. But then I remembered that we both want what's best for Lady Sakura. Suddenly, competing wasn't as important."

"I… suppose that makes sense. Lord Corrin doesn't play favorites either." Flora clenched her hands into fists. "But I must still be the best that I can be for Lord Corrin. I swore loyalty to him after he showed me mercy, it's the least I can do."

"Yeah, that's the spirit! Just stop trying to outshine your sister, and focus on what Corrin wants!" Hana smiled. "Now, let's go get those targets! And after that, we're sparring!"

"Ah, really?" asked Flora.

"Yep! Can't go easy on this kind of thing! If you want to get tougher, you gotta push yourself!"

"Yes, that makes sense." Flora sighed. "Be strong, Flora. Strong for your liege."

Hana was sprawled out in the grass, as Flora knelt beside her. The maid held a Heal staff over the samurai's right leg.

"I wish I could heal people. Then I'd be an even better retainer for milady…" Hana sighed. "She's usually the one healing me. I know we're best friends, but I shouldn't need her help."

Flora smiled. "Lord Corrin's the same way. Always trying to assure us that we're doing well and should take breaks when we reach our limits." Then the maid's smile went away. "Back to the matter at hand, I apologize for all the scratches. I may have gotten carried away."

"Ha! That was nothing!"

"Well at least these cuts should disappear without leaving any trace. But perhaps you shouldn't leave your leg bare?"

The samurai winced. "Yeah… That's what happened to my other leg. You can't see it, but my other leg has a few scars. I'm proud, though, since they show that I've protected milady. But Lady Sakura was so upset when they wouldn't go away, so I keep them out of sight."

"I see." Flora stopped healing. "Okay, the rest of it will heal on its own."

"Thanks, Flora." Hana stood up. "You know, I think you really sell yourself short. That was a good fight. We should train more often, we'll both get better!"

Flora nodded. "As long as you take it easy for a while. And if it doesn't interfere with my responsibilities."

"Huh. Maybe we're still not that similar…"

Flora could not help but giggle, and soon enough Hana was laughing as well.

A/N:

At the same time I came up with Visiting Hours, the last drabble, I also came up with this one. I like to pair Corrin and Flora in the game, but I was going to pair him with Hana in my next Birthright run, and then I noticed their names both relate to flowers. And it just went from there.

This one went through a few versions before I decided on what they would actually do together. It's divided into three scenes like a support conversation. Also threw in headcanons about Hana while I was at it.

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