Finally, another FloraxHelia story. I didn't realize that I've only written one for them. This is in the same AU as last time because I just like it. So if there are any references or confusion, just check back to the other Flora and Helia story (references to certain aspects of both alternative endings). Not all of their stories will be in this AU so if you don't like it, check back for another story.
Flora and Helia- Clay
Flora held her head down as she walked through the hallways of the large science building. The fluorescents had given her a headache and she was trying to do her best after receiving a poor grade on her Advanced Organic Chemistry test. She had studied so hard and she still just couldn't get it. Helia had offered to help her but he had forgotten a lot of what he had studied years ago and he barely used Organic Chemistry anymore.
The straps of the backpack dug into her shoulders and she felt weak. She felt like the weight of the world was crashing down on her. It was her last semester of her undergraduate studies and she had already been accepted into one of the best graduate schools in the country. Which she hadn't told Helia yet. She would be closer to home but further away from Helia.
She wanted to tell him. She just couldn't find the right time to tell him that she would be going to school down south. At least she wouldn't have to deal with the snow and could be warm all of the time. But without the snow, she would have never spent the holidays with Helia and they might have never gotten together.
Flora found a glimmer of happiness as she thought back on that winter. He had told her that she was his and he was hers. Helia had taken her in his arms and they had made love for the first time that night. His arms were strong and his...nevermind. Flora's face flushed with red whenever she thought of that night.
Pulling out her phone, Flora turned on the screen to find two missed emails, a message from Musa asking her if she could eat the last of the bagel chips, and another message from Helia, letting her know that he had to stay late in the art room tonight to work on his ceramics installation.
It was his first time working with ceramics and Flora knew that he was becoming overwhelmed. Any time that he wasn't in class or in research meetings, he was in the art room. Maybe that was the reason that Flora had not told Helia about the whole graduate school dilemma, she never saw him other than when they brought each other food. She hadn't even been to his apartment in ages and she missed the warmth and the art work around the walls.
Putting her phone back in her pocket, Flora zipped up her coat and prepared herself to brave the chill late February air. How was there still snow on the ground? The only bright side is that Spring Break was around the corner and she would be home to celebrate her birthday with her family.
The door opened and Flora's face was hit with the frigid air as she made her way outside to walk to the student center. She had told Helia that he would get dinner and right now, all she wanted to do was eat and be with Helia.
The smell of clay and water filled the air creating an earthy smell as Flora walked down the hall. Carrying a pizza box, Flora made her way to the classroom down the hall where Helia would be. The music from the classroom became louder as she came closer and closer. Helia always listened to music as he worked.
Opening the door, Flora walked in to see Helia sitting at the potter's wheel throwing and shaping the clay. She had no idea what he was making and by the look on Helia's face, he had no idea either.
The room was warm with the kiln fired up for when he was ready to glaze and set his creation. The sound of another wheel running caught Flora's attention and she looked over to see Krystal sitting at a pottery wheel on the other side of the room.
"Good evening." Flora announced with a smile as she walked over to the teacher's desk and set down her bag and the pizza. Flora took off her coat and hung it on the coat rack near the door.
Helia took his foot off the pedal of the potter's wheel and looked up at Flora, a smile on his face and strands of his hair falling in his face. He wiped his brow with the back of his clay covered hands.
"Flora, dear," Flora turned to see Krystal was talking to her, "could you hand me that carving tool on the desk? I would grab it but...my hands."
Flora giggled before grabbing the small metal tool and handing it to Krystal.
Returning her attention to Helia, Flora gave him a smile as he walked towards her. He was wiping his hands off on his tan apron, his sleeves rolled up and the pants that he wore for when he would be working on his art was covered in clay to match the paint stains.
He leaned in to place a kiss on Flora's cheek, bringing a blush to Flora's face. They had been dating for a short time but she thought that at this point that she would have stopped blushing when he did something as simple as kiss her cheek. Her mother said that she still blushes when her father kisses her. Flora wished that she could see how long it would take for the effect to wear off with Helia but she didn't want it to and she feared that she would never get to find out. She had to tell him. But not here, not now.
"Have a good day?" Helia asked as he walked over to the sink and began to wash his hands.
Flora sighed as she leaned against the desk and opened up the pizza box.
"No." Flora grabbed a slice of pizza and quickly took a bite.
"What happened?" Helia chuckled at how fast Flora stuck the piece of pizza in her mouth.
"Got my Orgo test back today. I didn't do as well as I wanted." Flora replied with her mouth full.
Helia dried his hand and made his way back to Flora. He placed an arm around Flora, the smell of clay, sweat, and his usual scent of cinnamon wafted from his body. Pulling her close to him, Helia took the slice of pizza from Flora's hand and took a bite.
"Hey!" Flora exclaimed as she snatched the slice of pizza from Helia's hand, "There is a whole pizza there."
"But I wanted this slice."
Flora rolled her eyes and pushed Helia off of her. If one thing, Flora had to say that her comfort level with Helia had gone up but that usually happens after spending the holidays with someone. And the sex.
The sound of the second potter's wheel died down and Flora turned to look at Krystal take her new pot off of the wheel and place it on a shelf to dry.
"Are you finished?" Flora asked.
"Yeah," Krystal smiled, "well for tonight. I have some grading to do and I am going to meet John tonight."
"Have fun!" Flora exclaimed before she ate the rest of her pizza slice.
Krystal washed her hands and Flora turned back to Helia who was sitting at the desk, eating a slice of pizza.
"So, how long are you going to be here tonight?" Flora asked.
Helia sighed as he set down his slice of pizza on the lid of the box.
"Until the art building closes, I told Krystal I would close up the building."
"Oh."
The art building didn't close until nine and Flora wanted to spend more time with Helia. She hadn't seen him in weeks and she was really starting to miss spending non-school or work related time with him. Though she couldn't complain because she was busy with her own work. And she was sitting on a huge secret that could change their relationship.
Every second that she withheld the fact that she would be on the other side of the country from him, she wanted to throw up. She just needed to say it but she knew this had to be handled delicately and probably in the comfort of his apartment. That way he could kick her out when she upset him because if they did it in her dorm room, she wouldn't find the strength to let him go.
"You can come over later if you want. Timmy dropped off some of his birthday care package treats that he said I could have." Helia did his best to make it up to her.
"It's fine, Helia."
"I know you well enough to know when something isn't fine." Helia chuckled, "You know you can let me know when you are upset. I know I haven't been the best boyfriend."
"Could I stay in here?" Flora asked. She knew that Helia liked to be without distractions when he worked. Flora found that out the hard way when he was writing part of his research paper and she had walked into his small office with only a towel on. She hadn't meant to cause a distraction, she was just looking for the fingernail clippers. But within thirty seconds, Helia had thrown her over his shoulder and carried her to his bedroom.
But she wasn't in a towel. Instead she was wearing a pair of dark blue jeans, black boots and a long sleeved college shirt. Everything was covered and her hair was pulled back into a ponytail.
"Of course." Helia leaned over and pressed a kiss to Flora's temple. Flora smiled as she ate her pizza and watched Helia wash his hands again before returning to his place at the potter's wheel.
The whiring began and Flora watched on as Helia slapped some clay onto the spinning potter's wheel. His large hand worked the clay and his slender fingers began to make a few preliminary shapes as he thought about what he would make. His bottom lip caught between his teeth and his eyes staring intensely at the large mound of clay. Flora couldn't help but to stare at his strong hands work the clay, the muscles in his forearms flexing with every move. She thought that she would be the one who was distracting, but it was the exact opposite.
Flora stood up from her chair and walked over to the small silver speaker and pulled out her phone. She flipped through her large music library, all thanks to Helia. She connected her phone and pressed play and the room filled with her favorite song. One of Helia's from his undergrad years. She found that listening to his music was soothing. However, when the music began playing, Helia's head lifted and his indigo eyes met Flora's bright green eyes.
"I can turn it off." Flora blushed.
"No," Helia smiled, "I just didn't...I wasn't expecting..."
The soft guitar filled the air and Flora closed her eyes, taking in the music and waiting in silence as Helia's voice came in and sent shivers down her spine. It never got old listening to her music.
"It's my favorite song." Flora replied.
"Yeah, we liked the song on the album too." Helia smiled as he brought his attention back to the clay.
"No," Flora stepped closer to Helia, "it's my favorite song."
Helia's head rose slowly once again and he noticed that Flora was closer to him, but not enough to be...distracting.
"I listen to it every night." Flora exhaled as she took another step closer. Helia's breath hitched in his chest. This had to be innocent, right? Everything that Flora did was innocent. He was usually the one to initiate. Flora was right, they definitely needed to spend more time together. But that wouldn't matter, he was always mesmerized by Flora. One would have thought that being together for a few months would have diminished the effect. His father told him that it never went away when he looked at his wife. And Helia's cousins told him something along those lines but not as romantically.
Flora took a sharp turn to stand next to the same potter's wheel that Kystal had been using only a few minutes ago.
"Do you think that I could make something? I have always wanted to try." Flora turned her head towards Helia and smiled. Helia let out a breath that he didn't know that he was holding, glad that Flora didn't have any other thoughts on her mind. He thought of himself as a mature man but that woman did things to him that made him feel like a horny teenager again.
"Uh, sure." Helia looked over to Flora.
Flora giggled as she took a seat on the small stool. She clapped her hands together and put them under her chin, thinking about what she would make. Maybe she could make her mom something for when she visited them in the coming weeks. A mug? A serving plate? Maybe a bowl or a vase? Would a vase be too advanced?
The whirring of the potter's wheel stopped and Flora head the squeak of the stool as Helia stood up. He walked over to the rack of aprons and pulled one down.
"You might want to cover up." Helia handed Flora the apron. "I will get you some clay and some tools."
Flora stood up and tied the apron around her waist. She sat back down on the stool and waited for Helia to place a hunk of clay on her wheel. She had never done anything like this but this would be a great way to relieve some of the stress that she has been carrying with her.
Helia placed a glob of clay on her potter's wheel and stood beside her.
"So just push on the pedal and it will make it spin. Don't press too hard or clay will go flying. Build up the speed when you begin molding. Right now you are just working the clay and this is your first time." Flora gave a sharp nod of her head. "Remember, just a light touch of your foot is all you need."
Flora placed her foot on the small black pedal and hesitantly pressed down. The wheel began moving slowly and Flora smiled as she watched the clay spin. She rolled up her sleeves and placed her hands on the cool clay. It was wet and she felt like she was back at her garden or working at the greenhouse, arm deep in soil.
"Now use your hands to start working the clay."
"Working the clay?"
"Kind of like massaging it." Helia chuckled. His arms were folded as he watched on as Flora's hands began to move within the clay. Her tan hands became coated with the beige colored clay.
"Am I doing it right?" Flora asked. Her eyes hadn't left the clay.
"You are doing fine for your first time. It's a tricky skill."
"I feel like I am playing in the mud," Flora lifted her head to look at Helia, "and we both know how much I like doing that."
"What are you going to make?" Helia asked.
"I don't know." Flora replied as she looked back down at the clay forming between her hands.
"Well just keep playing with the clay and something will come to you." Helia returned to his seat and tried to take his own advice.
So far nothing was making him feel inspired. He already made a bowl, some pots, even a large plate. Maybe he could make another bowl. Helia lifted his arm to wipe his brow, careful not to get too much clay on his face.
Flora sat at the wheel and moved her hands gracefully along the spinning clay. The cool clay felt nice against her skin and she felt herself relax. While Flora wasn't the most artistic person in the world, she could definitely appreciate it for its relaxation. And because Helia enjoyed it so much. Her mind felt at ease as she worked the clay between her fingers but her news weighed heavily on her mind. If Helia was also as relaxed as she was, maybe it was a good time to tell him.
Taking her foot off the pedal, Flora looked at Helia as he shaped his clay into what looked like a tall cup. She sighed as she stood up and walked over to where Helia was seated at his wheel. She looked down at him and she just couldn't do it. She knew that he was going to leave her if she told him and she just wanted one more moment with him.
Helia's hands worked on the clay but his concentration was shifted to the woman who gracefully wedged herself between him and the potter's wheel. She sat on his lap, her back facing him and she leaned her head on his shoulder.
"Flora, what are you doing?" Helia asked.
"I just want to be close to you."
"I can't really work when you are doing this. You know I don't like distractions."
Flora's eyes began to fill with tears as she could feel the vibration of his voice through his neck.
"I'm sorry," Flora choked out, "I just need..."
Helia took his foot off the pedal and bent his head down to look at Flora. When he saw the tear in her eyes, he knew that something was wrong.
"What's wrong?" Helia asked, his voice edging with panic.
"I just had a bad day."
"You know I don't like to see you cry." Helia leaned his head on top of Flora's.
Flora placed a kiss on Helia's jaw and inhaled, hoping to commit his scent to memory. Her hands lifted up and cupped the other side of his jaw, leaving a handprint on his pale skin. Helia turned his head and his lips met Flora's.
Something about this kiss felt different than all of the others that he shared with Flora. Helia had read enough poetry to know that this kiss was one of longing and sorrow, or so he thought. Something was wrong and he needed to know.
"Flora..." Helia pulled away from the kiss.
"Please, Helia." Flora brought her lips to Helia's. She pulled him closer to her, leaving streaks of clay on his skin.
Helia's mind became clouded by the kiss and his clay covered hands began to leave marks on Flora's shirt as he felt up and down her body. Breaking the kiss, Helia turned Flora to face him, her body straddling his legs.
Flora's hands untied the apron around Helia's body and lifted the top over his head. Her kiss became more wild, scared that this might be the last time that she kissed him. She could feel the cool clay on her skin as Helia's hands reached under her apron and shirt.
"Helia," Flora exhaled between kisses, "I love you."
Hearing her voice, Helia remembered that something was wrong. This had been the first time that she had told him that she loved him. They knew that they loved each other but neither had said it yet. Something was wrong and he wanted to make everything okay but he couldn't if she didn't tell him.
"Flora," Helia pulled away once again and placed a dirty hand on her cheek, "please tell me what is wrong. It isn't just the test is it?"
Flora looked down and shook her head, more tears escaping her eyes.
"Please, Flora..."
"I got into grad school." Flora sighed.
Helia's face lit up, "Flora, that's amazing! Why are you sad about that?"
Flora looked up at Helia and she wanted to throw up, "Because it is on the other side of the country."
Helia's smile dropped.
"Oh."
"I just wanted to be with you one last time before..."
"Before what?" Helia asked.
Flora's response came out as a whisper, "Before we broke up."
Helia's heart dropped like his smile. Break up? Didn't she just say that she loved him or was that just a hallucination.
"Break up? What are you talking about? I love you, Flora and I thought that you said that you loved me. Or did I just imagine that. I know that we haven't been going out for a while but I know that I couldn't imagine my life without you in it. Is it because I haven't been as attentive or present?"
"I thought that with me going to graduate school across the country that you wouldn't...that you wouldn't want to be with me anymore." Flora rubbed the tears away from her cheeks, leaving faint beige streaks.
"It's going to be difficult but we will always have the holidays, birthdays, and we have the power of modern technology to communicate. Or I can always send you letters and artwork to declare my love to you." Helia chuckled.
Flora giggled as Helia pulled her close, her head resting on his chest.
"I am so proud of you, Flora." Helia placed a kiss on the top of her head, "And I am not letting you go until you tell me to. Do you want to break up with me?"
"No no no no!" Flora exclaimed.
"So don't ever think that I would want to break up with you for something as silly as distance." Helia chuckled.
"Helia." Flora looked up into Helia's dark blue eyes.
"Yes?" Helia smiled.
"It wasn't your imagination. I do love you."
Flora placed a soft kiss onto Helia's lips. Her arms snaked around his neck, clay getting in his hair. Helia's hands lowered down to the curve of Flora's back and held her closer to him, deepening the kiss.
Being so far from him was going to be difficult but her worst fears were all in her head. He still wanted to be with her and he told her that he loved her. Flora didn't want to be anywhere else other than his arms. She would miss that the most when she was so far away, but she would live knowing that Helia loved her and that she would see him again soon.
Flora's hips began to move instinctually against Helia's lap and she could feel the growing erection against the fabric of their denim. Helia groaned as Flora moved, wanting her so bad.
"Flora," Helia moaned, "we are in a classroom. There are cameras in here."
"Oh..."
The door to Helia's apartment flung open and Flora quickly discarded her clay covered shirt and jeans. Helia ran up behind her after slamming the door, his clothes discarded as well as he wrapped his arms around Flora and carried her into the bathroom.
He made quick work of her bra and panties before he turned on the water of the shower. His mouth began to move along her tan skin, taking in all that he could of her. She began to moan as his fingers began to swirl circles around her swollen clitoris.
"Oh, Helia." Flora gasped as his hands moved along her body. She moved her hips and could feel his hard cock against her ass. She became more and more wet with the feeling of Helia's hands on her and knowing that he wanted it too. Her hand reached behind her and grabbed him by the shaft.
"Damn..." Helia exhaled as his head lowered to Flora's shoulder. His breath became labored as Flora's hand began to move up and down on his shaft, his member hardening in her grasp.
Helia reached down and took Flora's hand before he led her into the shower, the water warm and inviting. The clay began to fall off of their skin as the water hit their bodies. Flora brought her lips towards Helia and ran her hands through his now wet hair.
Her lips moved to his jaw, his neck, his chest, and Helia's eyes widened as he saw her drop down into a squat.
"Flora, what are you..." Helia gulped. She had never done anything like this before. Helia always made it a point to let Flora know that she never had to do anything that she didn't want to. He hoped that she wasn't doing it because he had told her that he wanted to make long distance work.
"I want to."
It was like Flora read his mind. Helia nearly came right there as Flora looked up at him, cock in her hand and her green eyes shining against her tan skin. His heart skipped a beat when he saw Flora's pink lips part and kiss the tip of his cock.
"Oh..." Helia moaned as Flora began peppering kisses along his hard member. He threw his head back, his face splashing with water, when he felt the heat of Flora's mouth wrap around him.
He held onto the wall but the walls were slick and he was finding it hard to hold his body up.
Flora's head moved slowly up and down his cock, taking him in bit by bit. The strokes of her mouth were shallow and Helia wanted to reach down and grab her head, but he didn't want to do anything that she didn't want. But God, he wanted to go deeper.
Helia gasped as he felt her tongue swirl along the head of his cock. She pulled him out with a pop and ran her tongue along the underside of his shaft. A shiver went down his spine and his hand developed a mind of its own as it reached down and grabbed Flora's damp hair.
Flora moaned as Helia guided her to take him into her mouth again.
"I'm sorry," Helia groaned, "you feel...oh...Flora..."
The vibration of Flora's throaty chuckle caused him to clench down on her hair, pulling it tight against her scalp.
"Fucking..." Helia exhaled as Flora's mouth moved deeper and deeper down his hard shaft. He felt the heat pool in his groin and he was going to lose it right there if she kept going. Flora pushed her head back against his hand and released him yet again.
Helia pulled her to her feet and spun her around. Flora giggled as Helia slammed her against the wall of the shower, her breasts pressed on the cold wall.
"I was going to wait until I got you to the bed," Helia leaned forward and growled in Flora's ear, "but I think that I am going to fuck you right now."
Helia slapped Flora's ass and she moaned as she turned her head. Helia brought his lips down to Flora's and brought her in for a hungry kiss. Flora lifted her leg in response to Helia's hand on her thigh. She let out a moan into his mouth as his hand returned to her sensitive clit.
"Helia," Flora moaned, "please...please fuck me now."
Flora's request was met when she felt the now familiar stretching between her legs as Helia pushed in and filled her with his cock. It was one of her favorite feelings but being wrapped in his arms matched with the feeling of his lips on her skin.
Helia moved his hips back and forth as he rammed into Flora. She braced herself against the wall of the shower and Helia's hands held onto her hips.
The water hit their skin as the sounds of moans and grunts mixed with the sounds of running water. His grip on her hips became tighter and tighter as he moved in and out and Flora's moans began to grow louder and louder. Helia tried to keep her quiet out of respect for the other tenants in the building but right now, her moans were music to his ear.
"Helia...you feel so...ah, fuck...fuck...Helia..." Flora praised through moans.
He brought a palm back down to her ass causing the sound of snapping skin to join the noises in the bathroom. Flora moaned louder, liking this rougher side of Helia. He was always so tender but intense with her, they had never done anything so carnal.
"Fuck," Helia growled, "you are so fucking tight, Flora. I am going to miss having this pussy close to me."
"You'll...fuck...ah...ah...you'll just have to make it up to me when we visit each other." Flora panted, "And we have seven months before I head down...fucking hell...there."
Helia brought his head down and began sucking on Flora's neck, the taste of her wet skin driving him wild.
"Careful," Flora giggled, "I'm going home to see my parents soon."
"Wear a scarf." Helia replied darkly into her neck. Flora rolled her eyes as she thought about how it was always warm where she was from and that she never wore anything more covering than a t-shirt and maybe a thin jacket.
"Flora.." Helia groaned, "I am going to..."
With one last thrust, Helia spilled into Flora and fell onto her, her skin was hot and he could bet that his was as well. The water fell down onto their bodies and Flora's legs shook as she came down from her high. The feeling of Helia's cum inside of her brought her mind into a frenzy. It felt so good and she couldn't help to feel proud that she was the one to make him cum.
"Oh fuck," Helia exclaimed as he pulled out of Flora, "I am so sorry."
They had always used condoms and he had just spilled inside of her. How would she feel? He wouldn't have if...she just felt so good...he was being selfish.
"Helia," Flora turned around and smiled, "it's okay. I can run out and get some Plan B. Unless you don't want me to."
"It's your choice."
"I love you but I'm not ready, especially with the both of us still in school." Flora placed a kiss on Helia's lips. "But I really loved the feeling so while I'm home, I'll go see my gynecologist and see what I can do about birth control."
"Please don't feel like you have to take on birth control all alone."
"Helia," Flora giggled as she grabbed her bottle of shampoo, "I want to. I don't mind it and I liked the feeling of you...you know."
Helia smirked as he watched Flora wash her hair, her arms up and her back arched. She liked the way that it felt when he came inside of her, huh?
He walked over to her and replaced her hands with his, rubbing the shampoo through her long, brown hair. She sighed as his fingers massaged her scalp.
"Come with me." Flora sighed.
"To grad school with you? I still have a year le-"
"No," Flora cut off with a soft laugh, "come with me. To meet my family. Miele has been dying to meet you. She thinks you're cute."
Helia's hands stopped in her hair. Meet her family? He supposed that it wasn't as odd since she had met most of his family but that was before they were dating.
"You don't have to. You probably have plans with your family for the Spring Break."
Helia was snapped back into reality when he heard Flora's voice.
"Yes," Helia quickly replied as he resumed his hair washing duty, "I would love to come. I don't have to worry about your father trying to kill me or anything?"
Flora laughed, "No, but my tio might be there and every year for my birthday he sings Como la Flor because he insists that I was named Flora because of the song. My mom is a huge Selena fan. But that's not the worst part because shortly after he gets drunk and starts to serenade my tia with Vincente Fernandez and there is nothing that we can do to stop it."
"Noted." Helia laughed.
"And don't be surprised when the whole neighborhood comes over and wants to meet the gringo that I am dating."
"Well if you can survive being the shiksa at the Kauffman's, I think I can handle being the gringo."
Flora turned around and wrapped her arms around Helia's waist, pulling him in close for a hug.
"I really am going to miss you. All of the time." Flora sighed.
Helia ran his hand down Flora's back, the smell of her shampoo filling his nose.
"I am going to miss you too." Helia laughed, "I just worry that you are going to find someone-"
"Stop it right there." Flora scolded, "I will never find anyone better than you. Oma Kauffman made sure I knew that. I don't need or want anyone else, I love you and only you. You better not find another girl on this campus."
Helia smiled before he brought his lips down to Flora's.
"I couldn't dream of being with anyone else but you." Helia replied.
Flora and Helia finished taking their shower in contented silence. Stepping out of the shower, Helia carefully wrapped Flora in a soft towel before wrapping his waist with another. They got dressed silently, stealing glances at each other. Flora's legs were still weak and her heart had never beat harder. She loved Helia and she never wanted to let him go. She was glad that he had felt the same.
Crawling into Helia's bed, Flora snuggled up into his arms, smelling the cinnamon and soap that lingered on his body. He smelled much better than he had in the ceramics room, he smelled more like himself.
"Helia?" Flora called out in the darkness, receiving a tired "hm?" in reply. "I love you."
"I know." Helia inhaled, squeezing his arms tighter around Flora.
"I love you too."
So what did we think? In my head Flora is definitely a Latina and there is NOTHING anyone can say that will convince me otherwise (even if it is different in canon). I have had friends go through the same predicament and all of them who went into graduate school with boyfriends or girlfriends (all in different states) graduated with said boyfriend/girlfriend as their fiance so I think that Helia and Flora will be able to make it work.