Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

"There, that should do it…"

Gale takes the chopped onions and throws them into the simmering pot before placing the lid on it. The Viera looks around the kitchen while tapping a finger on his cheek. "Now then, the curry will be ready by lunchtime… no meat, so I don't need to worry about a separate vegetarian version."

The chef's eyes eventually fall on the chicken thighs. "Granted, I don't want him to throw a fit. I'll make chicken katsu…" Gale scans the kitchen again, brow furrowed. "But what should I do for a side?"

Gale had only recently moved to the area, but within just a few months of opening his small, unassuming diner, he'd already gained a small gaggle of local regulars. He was happy with that alone—Gale didn't open a restaurant to become well-known; the diner and the fresh start were simply what he wanted to do.

That said, he never expected more than a handful of customers to visit a hole-in-the-wall curry diner, let alone get regulars who enjoyed his food. Gale was confident enough with his cooking skills at home, but a setting where he served others was a different story, and he had a few blunders along the way.

"…On second thought, I don't need a side today. The curry is spicy, so a small dessert will serve better—"

Gale jumps slightly when he hears a knock on the front door. After checking the clock on the wall and ensuring that it was still a few hours before opening, he sighed. "Who on earth could it be at this hour?"

After wiping his hands on a washcloth, Gale makes the short journey from the kitchen in the back to the front door, opening it without hesitation. "Hello! What can I do for y—"

The chef's words caught in his throat once he saw who was outside. Another Viera stood a few feet away from the door with a basket brimming with white flowers on each arm. The man simultaneously cut an intimidating figure while seeming so skittish that he'd flee if Gale moved too suddenly. The whole scene was so absurd that, for once, Gale was stunned to silence.

"…Oh. Hi. Am I too early?"

Gale regains his composure after the man talks, and he offers him a warm smile. "Well, you're too early if you want a meal, but I would never turn away an admirer."

The other Viera freezes when Gale winks at him, his eyes darting between him and the basket with a look of realization. "No, it's not—I mean—Figured I would—"

Well, this isn't how I expected to spend my morning… "It was just a joke, honey. Come in."

The man breathes a sigh of relief and steps inside while Gale quickly pulls up two stools to the counter and gestures at one of them. "So, to what do I owe the pleasure, and what should I call you? I'm Gale."

"Oh, right. My name's Laurent." Laurent gingerly places the baskets on the counter before sitting down. "I… wanted to welcome you to the neighborhood."

A bit late for that, seeing as I've been here three months… but it seems like it took him that long to muster up the courage. Is my RBF really that strong? "That's very kind of you, Laurent, thank you." Gale beams at him, then turns his attention to the flowers. "These are quite beautiful… are you the florist a few doors down?"

"Yes!" Laurent suddenly perks up at the mention of his flowers. "I grow them all myself."

Gale chuckles. "Really, now? I can see how much love you put into them…" He gently strokes one of the petals. "I don't think I've ever seen such healthy blooms before! And so many of them, too!"

"R-really? I…" The florist trails off, blushing slightly before quickly turning his attention to the flowers. "These are carnations… the white ones are meant to bring good luck! For the diner, that is. And I thought it'd brighten the place up—" Gale raises an eyebrow at the comment, and Laurent quickly backtracks. "—I mean, not that it's not already nice in here, just… um…"

"I knew what you meant, Laurent." Gale chuckles again and smiles warmly at his guest. "I do think it'll brighten things up… and if nothing else, I'll certainly enjoy looking at them throughout the day."

Gale suddenly frowns, tapping his cheek. "I'll need to repay you, though…"

"O-oh that isn't—"

"Ah, I'll bring you some of the leftovers when I close for the day! There always are some, after all. Flowers for a meal. How does that sound?"

Laurent doesn't seem to know how to respond to the gesture, eventually nodding lightly as he stands up from the stool. "Sure… I should get going. I know you must be busy with preparations."

A shame, I wouldn't mind talking to him a bit longer… Gale smiles again. "Thank you again for the flowers, dear. I'll see you later, then?"

"…Right, yes, later. Goodbye!" Laurent quickly retreats out the front door, nearly slamming it shut in his rush to leave.

Gale stares at the door with a perplexed expression before looking back down at the flowers. "Well… he's certainly an interesting sort…" He smiles as he takes one of the baskets and tries to find something to place them in, eventually settling on a cup. "Both he and these flowers are easy on the eyes, though… it'll be nice to talk to him later."

The cook's ears twitched at a noise behind him, and he turned to find the curry pot nearly boiling over. "Hell, I lost track of time…"

Chapter Text

"Have a good day." The last customer of the day smiles slightly before leaving the flower shop, and Laurent slowly breathes out.

Why did I ever think visiting the diner was a good idea…? While he always made sure to welcome anyone who moved into the neighborhood (regardless of how nerve-wracking it was), something stopped him from visiting Gale for three months.

He wasn't sure why the blue-haired Viera put him on edge—well, more on edge than usual. He's obviously very nice, just as Y'shtola said… The Mi'qote was a frequent customer of his and one of the few who tolerated the florist's rather… brisque personality.

I don't know why she felt the need to tell me that, though. I didn't ask. Laurent looked up at the clock, and seeing that it was closing time, stood up to close the shop's front door. If I lock up quickly enough, I can avoid the—

As if summoned by his thoughts, Gale rushes through the door, balancing a few containers in his arms with a smile. "I made it! I was worried you'd lock up and never answer the door. You've always been closed whenever I walked by, at least."

Laurent looks at Gale with a mix of shock and trepidation. How'd he guess so easily…? The diner owner furrows his brow, an expression of annoyance flashing quickly on his face before smiling again. "You can't shake me that easily, I'm afraid. I made a promise, and I intend to keep it!"

Gale gestures to the food in his arms with his chin. "I bought enough for both of us! Would you like to eat together? Food always tastes better when shared, after all."

He's… pushy. Laurent slowly nods his head before he realizes it. "…Sure."

"Perfect!" Gale commandeers one of the tables on the far end of the flower shop, wasting no time in opening the containers and setting them up. "You were going to close up, right? Don't let me stop you!" Laurent didn't miss the slight bite in his tone.

…Goddammit.

** **

"So, what do you think?"

Laurent looks up from the plate of curry to see Gale smiling at him expectantly. "I don't think I've ever had curry as good as this…" The cook's smile widens at the compliment. "Where did you learn to cook?"

"Oh, here and there." Gale laughs at Laurent's confused expression. "The recipes are a trade secret, you see—can't just let anyone know where they come from!"

He's being avoidant… I can't blame him, though. This is only the second time we've spoken. Laurent smiles slightly in response. "I've never been able to cook all that well… so this is nice."

"The food or the company?"

"…Both?"

"You don't sound so sure of that." Gale laughs again when Laurent's head shoots up, ready to correct himself. "I'm merely teasing, honey. Besides, you have a pretty smile—it'd be a shame if one of my jokes were to ruin seeing it."

"O-oh, I… thank you…"

Laurent feels his cheeks heat up, and he turns away before Gale can see it. But instead of teasing him again, the chef picks up one of the small food containers and passes it over. "Now then, we can't forget about dessert!"

"Dessert? You bake as well?"

"I can cook pretty much anything! Today's curry was a bit spicier, so I made some cheesecake to offset it with something sweet." Gale shakes the container slightly, and Laurent finally takes it from his hands. "I packed you an extra serving! Someone told me you had a sweet tooth."

Shtola, why are you telling him that? Then again, now I get more cheesecake… Laurent pops open the container. The cheesecake is unadorned, with no fruit or chocolate topping the large slices—a sign that Gale believes the taste can stand on its own.

As it turns out, Gale's confidence was well-founded, and after taking a bite, Laurent couldn't help but smile. "It's so good! It…" He frowns a bit as he tries to find the words to describe the flavor.

"No need to stop eating it. Knowing that you enjoy it is all I need to be happy." Gale smiles at Laurent yet again, then stands up and begins gathering the containers. "But I've taken up enough of your time, haven't I? I should get back to the diner and clean up."

"…Oh, I see…" I was hoping he'd stay a little longer…

"No need to sound so dejected! I'll always be at the diner." Gale stopped long enough to cross his arms and look deep in thought, though it was obvious to Laurent that whatever he was going to say was planned out. "How about we make a deal? You bring a few flowers over in the mornings—no need for the overflowing baskets, of course—and I'll bring you a meal in the evenings. All you need to do is suffer my presence a bit."

Strange. Does he really like my flowers that much? It's not like they're expensive… this meal would cost more than a bouquet…

Gale quickly packs up the container, not waiting for Laurent's response. "Think about it a bit, okay?" He turns around as he's just about to head out the front door. "And if nothing else… Well, now you have one of my containers. You'd best bring that back!" With a mischievous grin, the Viera quickly exits the flower shop.

"…Hell. He certainly did plan this…" Laurent frowns at the dessert container, but quickly gets over his frustration as he takes another bite of the cheesecake.

Besides, it's not exactly 'suffering' to talk to him. It's more surprising he wants to talk to me, considering I insulted his diner this morning… Laurent taps the fork against his lips for a moment before smiling. But this… this was nice. I think I'll take him up on his offer…

Chapter Text

"Hmm, what to make today to go with the curry… maybe—"

Gale's thoughts are interrupted by a knock at the door, and he smiles despite himself. I hadn't expected him to show up again… The chef quickly makes his way to the front door and opens it to find Laurent balancing a small vase of flowers on top of Gale's container.

"O-oh!" Laurent takes a step back in surprise, nearly dropping both in the process.

"Goodness, didn't you knock on my door? Why are you so shocked?" Gale quietly chuckles as he takes the vase off the top of the container, ending Laurent's balancing act.

Laurent frowns. "I, um, didn't expect you to open the door so quickly…"

Gale shoots Laurent a teasing smile. "My apologies, then." He sets the flower pot down on the counter. "I must thank you for not bringing so many this time—it feels like a waste taking so many from you to just..." Gale gestures at the white flowers placed on the tables.

Laurent runs a hand through his hair, looking away. "I-if… If they make you happy, then they're not a waste—or if they make the customers happy too, of course!"

Gale turns to tease Laurent about his phrasing, but while the florist's face was covered by his long bangs, his fidgeting hands were clear to see. Still so nervous… Well, can't expect us to suddenly be best friends because I fed him once. I suppose I shouldn't work him up too much…

He turns his attention to the flowers instead, gently running a finger along one of their stems. "Well, I appreciate them. What type of flowers are these? They're beautiful…"

Laurent perks up after Gale compliments the flowers, quickly moving next to him to touch them. "These are bluebells! They have a few meanings, but I brought them today because they represent gratitude. To thank you for the meal yesterday."

The florist beams at Gale, only to realize how close they were to each other, and he backs up with a blush darkening his cheeks. "Oh! I… didn't mean to…"

"You don't need to worry." God, he is so adorable. Gale smiles to calm the other Viera down before returning his attention to the blooms. "It's clear how much you enjoy flowers. What are some of the other meanings behind the bluebells, since you mentioned it?"

"Right! Well, they also represent everlasting love, though in fairytales and folklore, they're often considered a sign of evil magic. A shame, really, for how beautiful they are. But—" Laurent carefully plucks a bloom and offers it to Gale. "—it's also said that if you can turn one inside out without tearing any of the petals, you'll win over the one you love most!"

"Is that so…" Gale looks down at the bluebell bloom and carefully tries to turn it inside out. However, the petals quickly tear, and he sighs dramatically. "No luck. I guess I'll just have to win over my love with my charming personality instead."

"Maybe with practice, you'll get the hang of it."

Gale huffs. "Are you saying I can't get the person of my dreams without doing this? I'll have you know I've wooed all sorts of—"

Laurent puts his hands up, a nervous expression on his face. "N-no, I didn't mean that, I'm… I'm sure you're quite… popular, romantically…?"

"You could try to sound a little more sure of yourself…" Gale smiles. "I'm only teasing you, though. And look at that, our second day and you're already chatting more."

"O-oh, yes…" Laurent doesn't seem to know how to respond to the statement, and quickly retreats to the door. "I'll leave you be for the rest of your preparations. Bye—"

"I'll see you later, dear."

"Huh? O-oh, right! Of course." Laurent manages a small smile before quickly leaving the diner.

Gale chuckles, and he picks another bluebell and tries (but fails) to turn it inside out. He's truly such a fascinating man, anxious as he is… I think we'll become good friends.

Chapter Text

Gale is late today…

Laurent looks out the window, where the sun is already beginning to set. The diner did look busy. I hope he's alright… maybe I should go and see if he needs help with anything.

It's no sooner than Laurent finishes the thought that he hears a knock on his door, and a muffled voice on the other side. "Laurent? It's me! Can you open the door? I can't reach the handle…"

Huh? That's… strange. The florist frowns as he opens the door to his shop, and he finds Gale holding far more food than usual. The containers obscured most of the chef's face, and Laurent had to wonder how he managed to find his way here in the first place.

Gale breathes a sigh of relief as he hears the door open. "Thank you, honey. Now, can you grab some of these?"

"Sure…" Laurent takes most of the containers and sets them down on a nearby counter, once again eyeing how many there are. Why did he bring so much…? Does he think I need meals for the whole week?

"Sorry that I'm late!" With his vision restored, Gale wastes no time entering the shop and organizing the food. "It was busier than usual, which means it took a little longer to make…" The chef trails off dramatically as he picks up a large square box and opens it. "…This! Happy anniversary!"

"I… wh—" Laurent's gaze falls on the cake in the box with its smooth chocolate frosting and a smattering of fondant flowers. I would think he runs a bakery if I didn't know otherwise… "…It… the cake—all of this—looks fantastic, but… what anniversary?"

"…Huh?" Gale's joy fades into an expression of confusion. "What do you mean 'what anniversary'? Y'shtola told me you opened your flower shop five years ago today!"

Laurent looks down in thought, silent while he taps on his lip. Was it really…? Hm. I suppose it is. I didn't even remember… Leave it to Shtola to think of something like this—

Gale tsks, looking down at the cake. "Did she trick me? I'll have to get her back for—"

"No, no…" Laurent shakes his head slightly with a smile. "She was right, it has been five years since I opened the shop. I just… never celebrated it. I never thought about it."

"Ah, I see. We get to have your first anniversary party together then. Perfect!" Gale grins at Laurent, looking as though he had never been frustrated in the first place. "Now then, I made this cake especially for you. It's a chocolate cake—with chocolate frosting of course—but on the inside, there's a strawberry filling that I made myself! I believe I've outdone myself with this one."

Gale hums as he brings the cake to the table, cutting two large slices before busying himself with setting up the remainder of the food. "There. Come on, sit down! This isn't going to eat itself, after all."

Laurent stares at the overcrowded table in shocked silence, then eventually laughs and shakes his head.

"What's so funny?" Gale looks up from the curry he's serving with a furrowed brow. "If you think it's too absurd to do this, then you need to learn to have more fun—"

Laurent shakes his head again to cut the other Viera off. "No, quite the opposite… I never thought of celebrating things like this. It's… it's really nice." He smiles warmly at Gale. "Thank you."

Instead of his typical teasing, Gale's expression softens, and he offers an almost sheepish smile in return. "Of course…" He hands Laurent the plate of curry and gestures to a chair with his ladle.

"I need to ask, though…" Laurent sits down, still holding the plate in his hands. "Why so much food? I can't even set the plate down."

"Hmm?" Gale looks over the table, surprise slowly dawning on his face. "Oh… I didn't notice, actually." He moves the cake to another counter and shuffles things around so Laurent can set his plate down. "This is a lot for two people, isn't it? I suppose you have food for a few days, then!"

Does that mean he won't visit for those days? That'd be a shame—

"Don't worry, though, I'll come over and help you eat it all. It'll take more than that to chase me off!" Gale laughs, and he finally sits down. "Let's eat then, shall we?"

Chapter Text

Gale watches as Laurent walks around the diner, placing small baskets of lilies on the tables. He smiles at the colorful bouquet—white, yellow, and red blooms all carefully chosen and arranged to catch your eye and make you feel at peace. "So, what meaningful flowers have you brought me today, dear?"

Laurent looks up, vaguely perplexed. "Meaningful…? I suppose lilies have a lot of meanings, but…" The florist shrugs. "I just thought they looked pretty."

"Well!" Gale laughs at the straightforward answer. "Sometimes the beauty is the most important part. Though I must say, the most beautiful flower of all is standing in front of me."

"That's not even a good line…" Laurent huffs as he crosses his arms, giving Gale an unamused look.

"What? It's true! Besides, that blush is telling a different story."

Laurent tsks, quickly looking away—but not before Gale notices the blush on his cheeks deepening. God, he's too fun to tease. "Don't you need to cook or something…?"

Gale's smile widens. "Nope! I finished all of my prep early just so I could spend more time enjoying your company."

"I see…" The florist gives Gale an unreadable expression before returning to his task. Huh. That's not the response I expected… He leans against the counter and props his head up with a hand. Still, I'm glad Laurent seems more comfortable with me… Or at least not everything I say makes him panic anymore.

"So, Laurent, why did you decide on a flower shop, anyway?"

Laurent looks up from the lilies to regard Gale for a moment before turning his gaze back to them. "I…" His brow knits while he gathers his thoughts before continuing. "Well, I always liked plants and flowers when I was young."

He runs his fingers gently against one of the lilies' petals, a soft smile on his face. "I didn't think I could grow my own, though… but when I went to college, there happened to be some extracurriculars on botany. That's where I learned how to grow flowers…"

Laurent looks at Gale again, a joyful look in his eyes. "They've always made me happy, and I wanted to share that happiness… so I opened the shop."

Gale can't help but match Laurent's expression. "Well… that's wonderful. Genuinely. You have a kind soul, Laurent."

"O-oh, I…" Laurent looks away, lightly biting his lip. "…And… I-I, what about you? Why the diner?"

"My reason isn't as noble as yours, unfortunately." Gale shrugs, walking back to the kitchen to stir a pot of curry. "I like cooking, and I'm good enough that people want to eat it. That's about it, really."

"Have you always been a chef, then?"

"Hm? No… I didn't go to school to be a chef or anything. I worked an average office job before now—it was boring, but it paid the bills and allowed me to save up for this." Gale chuckles as he wipes his hands on a rag. "I know it's hard to believe it's the first time I've run a diner after all!"

Laurent hums, not responding for a moment before giving Gale the faintest of smirks. "No, that's very believable."

"That is not what you're supposed to say!" Gale crosses his arms and pouts at Laurent. "You're supposed to tell me I'm a natural at it!"

"Didn't you mess up Urianger's order again yesterday…?"

Gale throws his hands up in frustration. "The man talks in circles! How am I supposed to know what he wants without someone around to translate?"

Laurent chuckles in lieu of an answer and heads to the diner's door. "I need to open the shop… Will you be by this evening?"

"We'll see. I don't know if I want to bring you food after you just insulted my skills—"

"I'll see you later, then." Laurent gives Gale a teasing smile and slides out the door before he can hear the chef's frustrated, dramatic sigh.

Maybe Laurent's becoming a bit too comfortable with me… I can't let him get the upper hand on me like this! I'll need to think of a way to get back at him…

Chapter Text

"Ah, there you are!"

Laurent looks up from pruning some roses to see Gale poking his head through the back door. "You're early today…"

Gale replies with a chuckle. "It seems you lost track of time out here—I'm a little late, actually." He steps outside, eyes lighting up at the rows of flowers and plants. "I can see why, though… what a beautiful garden!"

He really does seem to enjoy the flowers, huh? Laurent was never quite sure if his morning flower deliveries were actually welcome or if Gale merely tolerated them. Seeing him look around the garden with so much excitement, however, assuaged his fears.

"Are these all the flowers you've been growing for the shop? There's so many…"

Laurent shakes his head. "Most of them, but the ones that need more sun are on the roof."

"Really?" Gale cranes his neck to look at the roof, shielding his eyes from the low-hanging sun. "Incredible… That's so clever!"

"I have to make do with the space I have…" Laurent couldn't help but smile at the compliments. Since he likes the garden so much, maybe… "Would you like to eat out here today? The weather's nice enough."

Gale gives the florist a bright smile. "That'd be wonderful! But, I wouldn't be disrupting—" He gestures at the flowers around them. "—them, right?"

"The flowers will surely survive you looking at them, Gale." Laurent chuckles when the other Viera huffs. "I'll wash up and bring the food out."

"Mmn." Gale gives a distracted hum, his attention already elsewhere as he looks at a rose bush, and Laurent smiles to himself. I don't even think he heard me, but… seeing him engrossed with the flowers is adorable, so it's alright.

The florist heads back into the shop and turns on the faucet, letting the water run over his hands before scrubbing the dirt off. Gale's always smiling, but I've noticed it doesn't always mean he's happy. But seeing him out in the garden just now… it's almost as if he's a different person. So full of excitement and joy… I wish I could see him like that every day—

He frowns at his wandering thoughts, then turns his attention to the food to distract himself. "Why does he always bring so much…" Laurent tsks as he dries his hands, then carefully lifts the stack of food containers and heads outside.

"Hm?" Just before stepping outside, Laurent notices something out of the corner of his eye, and he awkwardly shifts the food to take a look.

Laurent sees Gale kneeling at a row of carnations, gently caressing the petals on a red bloom. A small, soft smile brightens his expression as he regards the flower, oblivious to Laurent looking at him. He seems so… at peace. I don't want to walk out and interrupt…

As if he heard Laurent's thoughts, Gale looks up from the carnation with a hint of surprise and promptly stands up. "Oh! Do you need help? Sorry, I might have brought too much this time. It's a bit heavy…"

Gale hurriedly walks over to take some of the containers off the top of the stack, and Laurent notices that his cheeks are flushed. Their eyes lock for just a second, but Gale quickly turns and walks away from him, making a beeline for the nearby table. …Is he really so embarrassed that I saw him enjoying the flowers? If anything, it's a compliment…

"Are you going to stand there all day? Surely your arms are getting tired." Gale turns back to Laurent with a smile, his composure regained. "The sun won't be out forever, after all!"

Laurent stifles a laugh and instead matches Gale's smile as he makes his way to the table.