09/23/15

Workforce Wednesday

Went through a couple of ideas before I finally settled on this one, inspired by the list of job AUs by cup-of-hot-coffee on tumblr.

A Flower A Day

The first time Clark came into the flower shop it was with his mother. They were looking for something for a family friend's wedding and Clark's mother Martha was in no rush to pick something so while Martha spoke to the store owner, Imra, Brainy made conversation with Clark so he's stop miming banging his head into the wall whenever Brainy was looking but Martha was not.

As it turned out Clark attended university at the same school Brainy was tutoring at though they had never ran into each other due to Clark being on the track to be a reporter and Brainy tutoring exclusively in the science departments. It was one of the few times someone didn't comment on Brainy being too young to be in college, let alone graduated and a tutor, and it was oddly nice.

Brainy told Clark how he work at Imra's flower shop for a bit of extra money while he waited for the university to have a opening for a full time position for him but thought he might continue to afterward at a lesser extent because he and Imra had become friends and it was interesting to see how elaborate some of the flower arrangements turned out. He definitely wished he could avoid some of the brides that came in when the arrangements didn't meet their even more elaborate expectations.

"Which flower is your favorite?" Clark asked randomly when Imra was brining Martha over to check out.

"It's a bit embarrassing," Brainy admitted, "I rather not say."

After looking around a moment, Clark picked out a rose, a pinkish one with red at the tips of its petals.

"Is it this one?"

"A rose is typical, not embarrassing," Brainy openly rolled his eyes at him.

"Worth a shot," Clark shrugged but then bought the rose afterward and held it out to Brainy, smiling warmly, "It was nice talking to you today."

It took Imra nudging him for Brainy to reach out and take the flower, murmuring that it was nice talking to him too.

The next day Clark returned, bought a yellow carnation, and asked if it was Brainy's favorite flower before giving it to him anyway when the answer was no. The next day it was a white lily, then a dahlia, then a tiger lily, a magnolia, a pansy and so one and so forth until it had almost been a month of Clark returning each day to buy Brainy a flower to see if it was his favorite.

"I could tell you, if you really want to know that badly," Brainy wondered when he would stop blushing when Clark presented him these flowers at he gazed upon his star gazer lily.

"No, I'm an investigating reporter, you can't make it easy on me," Clark grinned and Brainy didn't have the heart to tell him that Clark was still in school, nowhere near being an actual reporter just yet.

The flower buying continued, Brainy coming to expect to see Clark and enjoying seeing him wander around the flower shop to figure out what to try next. Unless they were busy Brainy would spend the whole time watching Clark look around, talking to him about things other than flowers until Clark made his selection. Once Clark snuck up on him and nearly bopped Brainy in the nose with a sun flower but Clark's horrified face just made Brainy laugh rather than be angry.

"Is your favorite flower even in the shop?" Garth asked after Clark left as he came in to provide lunch for Imra's break, offering Brainy a muffin to tide him over as well until his shift was over.

"It is," Brainy made sure not to look in the flower's direction. "Though it's mostly a filler flower then the center pieces Clark has been trying so far."

"It's not baby's breath, is it," Garth actually looked worried.

"No," Brainy figured it was better not to ask why.

Spring finally came in full bloom; the sun shining in the big window by the door and making Brainy want to imitate a cat and bath in it while he napped.

Pulling Brainy away from his daydreaming was the sound of the door chiming, announcing a customer, and forcing Brainy to sit up. He almost slouched again when he saw who it was, but smiled instead.

"Good afternoon," Brainy greeted as Clark approached the counter. "Not going to look around today?"

"Not today," Clark admitted, pulling out a flower from behind his back. "I hope this isn't cheating but I saw you gazing out the window at them and figured it was worth a shot."

Brainy took the daisy and noted that Clark has pulled it up by its roots, dirt still clinging to them, which would make transplant into a pot possible. Still Brainy had to force himself not to frown as he looked back up at Clark.

"Congratulations Mr. Reporter, you've figured it out."

Clark looked so happy; Brainy wanted to be happy for him but found himself already mourning Clark's visits to the shop and almost wished that he had lied.

"Great," Clark almost looked like he could float up he looked so happy, "Now I know what kind of flowers to get."

"Flowers to get," Brainy didn't understand, why would Clark get more flowers now that he had figured it out, "Flowers for what?"

"Flowers for our first date," Clark's voice went soft but peered up at Brainy over the rim of his glasses, cheeks a little redder than normal, "This Friday, if you aren't busy?"

Brainy stared, he blinked and stared some more before finally saying, "I have classes all day after work on Friday," but quickly smiled and added, "But I'm free all day Saturday."

Clark beamed so happily, Brainy sworn he did float up a few inches off the ground.