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“Jinx?” Vi looks confused, dare she say utterly perplexed by her mailbox. To be fair, she had probably looked the exact same way when it had first happened. “Why does your mailbox look like some weird cornucopia?"
“I think there's a garden gnome who thinks I eat like shit." Jinx replies as she lugs a bucket of water outside.
“A garden gnome?” Her sister's eyebrow raises. Jinx knows Vi wants more of an explanation, but that's the thing. She doesn't have one. Wringing out a cloth she holds it out to Vi who is too preoccupied to see it.
“I don't know, it just started one day. This is like, the third time.” Jinx shrugs. “I'm not complaining, It's pretty tasty and one less dent in my wallet."
“You just ate it?! Did you think to check it?!” Ugh, big sister worry. Jinx rolls her eyes at Vi.
“For what? Bees? I was hungry, it looked good, so I ate it. And good morning to you too, sis. I'm still kicking, now help me wash the windows." That was after all why her sister was here, to help with her with the first monthly front clean of her tattoo and piercing parlour.
Her shop, her own parlour, it’s still a little strange in its newness but she's damn proud of herself. Finally able to do her own things, finally able to be creative for a living. And that pride also translates to having a nice entrance. The early nineteenth century shop front has been painted a deep night blue, and above the entrance, she’s painted the name ‘Crows Rookery” in gold with neon pink highlights, just because she can. Jinx loves it, and in a weird sort of way, her ‘cornucopia’ mailbox adds to the look.
The box, too, is quite pretty to look at, a narrow little crate just a bit longer than her black painted, covered neon stars large vintage mailbox. It’s filled with what she can see are strawberries, cucumbers, raspberries, and a wedge of watermelon. All of it looks mouth-wateringly delicious. It's a hot day, and the watermelon looks tempting, or she could be patient and freeze it and have it for lunch. choices, choices. Taking out the box and contemplating just how to eat it all, Jinx quirks her head in curiosity. There's a new addition. A card tucked in the corner with an illustration of two flowers on it, one pink, and one orangey yellow and “Gardenia” and “Ranunculus” in neat, to the point script written beneath the flowers.
From behind her, Jinx hears Vi snort, “Gnome, huh? More like my baby sisters got a secret admirer.” The last word is drawn out in a teasing tone, and Jinx resists the urge to hit her sister, even as something warm bubbles inside of her. There is a nudge to her side. Vi’s not done teasing her it seems.
“The gnome’s right about one thing, though. You do eat like shit.”
This time, Jinx gave into the impulse of retaliation and flings the wet rag she was holding with a satisfying splat into Vi’s face. Her sister's sputtering hads her grinning wickedly, until she splat the rag right back at her and a full on water fight broke out.
...Three weeks ago...
His palms are sweaty, and he can't find a good way to sit even though the couch he’s on is possibly one of the most plush he’s ever sat on. The hot pink velvet is warm under his fingers and Ekko takes a steading breath, trying to banish his nerves. To distract himself he takes in his surroundings. Dark green walls, with shelves cluttered with curiosa and dried flowers. Framed illustrations are scattered between the shelves, some elegant, others more stylized and cartoon like. The ceiling's painted dark blue with a riot of stars. It's a charming cacophony, and Ekko is so distracted that he almost jumps from his seat as from the back room a cheery “Heeelllooo there!” chimes.
Time must have stopped for a moment. Gods, she's pretty. A wisp of a woman with long blue hair, that he instantly wants to see it free of the two tight braids she has it in. He looks down, suddenly feeling very bashful under her gaze. It's a mistake, as the blue clouds floating up her arm over her shoulder and down her side have his attention now. He tears his eyes back to her face, and that's another mistake as he takes in her features and striking blue eyes accentuated by different piercings. One in her right eyebrow, a ring left on her nose, both ears all around the shell and on the right a tragus too.
“Like what you see?” Her laugh draws his attention. Shit! Had his staring been evident? She winkes and sticks out her tongue at him, and another flash of silver catches his eye. Ekko tries to cover his awkwardness with a cough. He is probably failing if by how she keeps laughing is anything to go by. Luckily, it seemed she had some mercy in her, getting to business.
“So, getting your ears pierced today?"
That's something to focus on. “Yeah, lost a bet.” he says with a rueful grin and rubs his shoulder. A frown crosses her face at that.
“Are you sure you want to get your ears pierced?” There's a shift from her jovial tone to a more serious one as she moves behind the counter. “You know you don't have to, right? It’s your body. No one else gets a say in what you do to it.” She is giving him an out, and he's grateful, but he very much does want this done.
“No, I mean yes. The bet was more of an excuse. It's just…” He trails off and awkwardly, wondering if he'd come across as pathetic if he told the reason he was nervous. No, he'd come this far he was getting it done and she has probably heard it all before.
“It's still a needle."
Her expression soften at that. “That all?" He nods.
“Yeah, I wanted to get them a few years ago and have been saying it since. Think my friends were fed up with me chickening out, so they bet me I couldn’t make the pier jump without a running start.” The pier jump was exactly as the name suggested; a jump over the missing gap in the local pier. Easy enough if you had a run up and momentum (and were athletically inclined), but wide enough that without it was a proper challenge.
“Lemme guess, fell face first in the water?” She’s snickering at him. Strangely, he doesn’t mind.
“Jup. Accepted my fate and dived straight in.” Her laugh has him grinning at the memory. She’s been moving about as they’ve been talking, a choice of sealed studs, antiseptic wipes, and a box of gloves have appeared before him, and she gestures to the chair a little further in the shop.
“Now, no worries! You won't feel a thing. I'm good at what I do, I'm Jinx, by the way, but you probably figured that after booking.” And to emphasise, she snaps on one of her gloves. He browses his starter options. “Made your choice?” He hands her a simple round pair as he sits down and she tells him to relax. With that, she leans over and something like vanilla and strawberry fill his nose, and it distracts him from her taking his earlobe and then it's over and done in seconds. The same goes for the other ear.
“There, how was that?"
“Bit like a bee sting.” He sits up and she hands him a mirror. It looks pretty cool he has to say and wonders why he took so long to get it done. He looks up at Jinx and has a flicker of a thought that he matches her a bit better now. “Bit plain, maybe.” He mumbles under his breath. He hears a huffed laugh at that.
“It looks good, we all start somewhere” she winks “and I'd hardly say you're plain to look at." He swallows. There is no way she’s flirting with him. It is just business for her. He leaves the shop dazed, though.
…
“Looks good. Did it hurt?” Scar asks him as Ekko has his arms elbow deep in dirt in a large pot for a pear sapling. His ears had stopped stinging a few days after having it done, but the memory of her leaning over him of her every little detail from clouds to piercings to bright blue eyes... is still at the forefront of his mind.
“Earth to Ekko! You still on the planet?"
“Um, it was fine.” He manages to stammer out. Not looking at his friend as he digs a little deeper.
Scar's flat “Fine huh?” tells Ekko he’d better share the rest, or Scar or his wife would be pestering him until his ears fell off.
“Yeah, it was fine. It didn't hurt.” Scar raises an expectant eyebrow, and Ekko could never lie well to his friend and resigns himself. “The owner, fuck, she was pretty and so nice.” Heat rises to his face.
“Well, did you ask her number?"
“No?"
“Ekko.” The tone is utterly exasperated as Scar picks up the sapling and puts it the freshly dug hole.
“Scar, we wouldn’t mesh.” What would someone as colourful and free as Jinx want with some plain gardener?
“How would you know that? Don’t tell me you're just going to be doing nothing again even though you want to.” Ekko just shrugs at that and starts adding soil to stabalise the little sapling.
“I did do something! I left her a box of fresh berries.” They were colourful like her, and he knew no better way to show his admiration and thankfulness other than to share the fruits of his labour, literally in this case.
“You left her a box of fruit?
“Two.” Ekko thinks that if Scar were to roll his eyes any further, they might pop out. With a sigh, his friend turns to him and asks a question.
“Did you at least include a note? Your name? How you feel?” Ekko almost chokes on his own spit. Tell her who he is? No way. Scars hand moves to his face to pinch his brow.
“Really, Ekko? Do we need to make another bet for you to do something for yourself again?” Ekko shrugs ruefully. He’s too drab for her the self-deprecating thought told him. But maybe he could say something without saying anything? She’s an artist, so maybe a picture would be appreciated? An image that said ‘you’re lovely’. And he thinks it would be good to take out his paints again. It’s exactly what he does.
…
Ekko loves his job. He’s the head gardener of the city's communal garden and overseer of the allotments. It's only about half an hour from the town and has several different fields from vegatable patches and berry fields to flower and herb patches and a large orchard, with sevral dozen of trees with stone-fruits cherries, apples and pears.
It’s peaceful work, with plenty of perks. And plenty of time. Time where he can do his own thing, and just as much time to be with people and help them, along with watching everything grow, it’s satisfying. It is also an infinite source of gifts for his family and friends, like the little bouquet peeking out of his backpack for his parents when he visits them tomorrow. And now it also supplies him with the best gift for his crush. He might as well admit it. To know she enjoys something that he cared for makes him happy.
How does he know she likes his gift deliveries of fruit and veg? Her shop is conveniently located between the gardens and his home, so he leaves his box of produce early in the morning before she opens. And when he passes by on his way home and she’s closing shop, he’s seen her happily munching. More than once, he’s wanted to stop and personaly ask her how she likes his gifts. Maybe Scar is right, and they should come up with some stupid bet again.
He’s headed home kicking his skateboard along at a leisurely pace, and he slows down more every time he passes her shop, hoping to catch a glimpse of her. He does, only unlike her usual dance, ‘lock shop with one hand, hold a piece of fruit with the other and happily chew’, she’s outside talking, no, shouting at a much taller man looming over her, with more piercings that he’d care to count and a bright yellow jacket.
From across the street, he can see she's tense and then her loud “Go away Finn I won’t work for you!” Has him worried. Should he intervene? As the clearly unwelcome guest leans further over her, he crosses the street.
“Did daddy give you the money? The poor girl can't do anything on her own.” Is the first thing Ekko hears, and he can see Jinx bristling, her whole posture like an angry and cornered cat. Defusing is probably the best course of action.
“Piss off!” And quickly if her snarl is anything to go by.
“Hey, Jinx.” He tries to approach casually. She looks startled, and then she takes a deep breath, seemingly relieved for the diversion. Mr tacky on the orther hand has a different idea though. “Who the fuck are you?"
“A customer with a question, you wouldn’t send me away after I went out of my way to come by, now, would you?” Yeah, he can see why Jinx is upset, everything about this guy is rubbing Ekko the wrong way. He turns to Jinx, trying to think of a way to remove them from the situation. When he gets a hard shove from behind and hears a stem snap.
“Hey, careful, those are for my mom!"
“What you gonna do? Play the hero flower boy?” Giving another shove, this time it's hard enough that Ekko falls to the ground. That manages to tick him off in a way that is rare, his vision narrows, and he’s up, thrown, and landed a punch with a satisfying crack before he can process what he did.
...
He gets a split lip and a cut on his brow for his trouble. Bastard had way too many rings on his hand. Ekko sincerely hopes that the punch he landed broke the fucker's nose. Luckily, mr tacky as he'd taken to calling him had a bark worse than his bite as after Ekko had landed that punch, the twat had fled.
Currently he was once again sat on the plush waiting couch as Jinx fussed about getting a wet cloth and disinfectant. A moment later, she's sitting beside him, her knee bumping his, and it has his heart fluttering just a bit, or was that lingering adrenalin?
“Well, would you look at that? It seems the flower boy’s got a bit of bite to him. Serves the sucker right.” She's laughing and looking appreciative as she gently turns his face towards her and wipes the blood away. His cheeks feel hot, and despite the slight stinging of his cuts, he is quite pleased with his current predicament. It's quiet for a bit as she cleans his face. When she's done and removes her hands he feels bereft.
“I can hold my own, but thank you.” He has no doubt she can, and he would have let her take the lead but then the fucker had pushed him and with everything...
“Sorry, I meant to distract him. It's just, I don't like people demeaning others or not appreciating nature... bit of a sore spot."
“Heh, no worries, I wasn't looking forward to that confrontation anyway.” Her hand is back, her thumb softly running over the nick on his eyebrow.
“You should come back when that's healed. It'll look good pierced. It could be a commemoration of your heroics.” She grins and then leans back into the couch.
“Maybe I should, if you’ll be the one to do it.” Janna, it must be the punch that's making him feel this dizzy and blurting out the first thing that comes to mind.
“Oh, it will be me, this is my shop, I'm the only employee.” Her voice starts light, and then she looks down. He barely catches something muttered under her breath about “freedom” and “just be me.” Turning her head back to him, she elaborates.
“Wanted to do my own thing, in my own style and in my own time.” The grin is back, and he cannot help but be captivated.
‘Your previous boss sucked?"
“No, it was just stifling.” She shifts uncomfortably.
Ah shit, he’s gone and made it awkward. He's touched something that still hurts, when all he wanted was to make her feel better. The punch must have really done a number on him as his next words leave him queasy with anticipation.
“There's a fair in town. Maybe you could take out some of your frustrations with some of the games?” Jinx barely gets a chance to say anything as he babbles on. "I could take you tomorrow? After work?" Fuck why does he sound so hesitant, she’ll never say yes, he swallows down his disappointment.
“There’s a fair?” Her funk evaporates before his eyes as she practically squees with joy. "I close at six." No backing out now. One more check to his brow, and he heads home again half dazed, did he just ask her out?
...
When Ekko gets home, he can't get to his paints fast enough, he'll head out early and fill a new box for her, there should be plenty of time to go to the garden and back before she gets in. In the meantime, he paints two striking blooms, a bird of paradise and a blue star.
It's a rush, but he makes it, sliding a custom mini crate filled with cherry tomatoes, nectarines, and radishes into her mailbox. He slips around the corner just in time, and Ekko peaks around to see her take the box with eager hands. Her joy at finding his gift has him almost wanting to confess it's him. The day is calling, though, and he doesn't feel quite brave enough to go to her, so he'll keep how he admires her to himself a little bit longer.
…
That day the evening rolls around terrifyingly quick. He's back at her door. He wipes his sweaty palms on his pants and swallows down his nerves.“Hi.” She’s nose to nose with him quick as lightning and raising her hand to his brow. “Nice bruise.” He can't help but lean into it. “Hope you weren't bothered by it too much."
“Nah, I told everyone I got to play hero yesterday.” Ekko puffs his chest out and gets a flick on it from Jinx.
“Enjoyed playing the knight, huh?” He shrugs, “I like helping people, especially Rapunzel like girls, tugging one of her braids.” Her cheeks tinge pink, almost as pink as the radishes she is holding. She looks away from him and bites down on one with a particular amount of viciousness before giving him another tap.
“Let's go, Boy Saviour.” With that, she takes his hand in her free one and starts dragging him along in the wrong direction.
“Do you know where we're headed?” Ekko tries to hold his snicker in. She stops in her tracks, and he bumps into her. He keeps her hand in his and leads the rest of the way.
Time flies when you're having fun, they say. The evening is balmy and as the sun fully sets the warmth lingers. The fair is full of noise and she looks right at home in the neon lights. With a box of popcorn in his hands, he's watching and enjoying her beeing a terror at the shooting games, he makes a mental note to never play paintball against her. Three shots, three bulls’ eyes, and one giant shark plushie later she's eating her weight in cotton candy, and has more than one vendor side-eying her as she cackles.
Her joy is infectious, and he can't help but be enchanted by her. Jinx's cloud tattoos seem to move in the brightly coloured lights and her jewellery glints with multicoloured reflections. She's a neon will-o-wisp glowing on a summers night, and he'd gladly follow her until he was well and truly lost. Three rides later, the clock is ticking close to midnight, and they both have work tomorrow. With a heavy feeling, he gets ready to go.
“But you haven't played a game yet, you can't go before that." She puts at him, clearly not ready to end the evening. Her eyes scan around and finds a boxing game, she drags him to it.
“Let's see if you have another punch in you.” He does, a good one too, as the bells ring with a high enough score for a prize. A little brown owl with white tufts peaks out of the pile of cuddly toys and random nick knacks.
At her “Aww, he's cute, kinda reminds me of you.” He picks it and hands it to her. The lights are just bright enough to see her cheeks dust pink. He really can't think of a better close to the night as he walks her home.
He learns she lives above her shop so the walk back is familiar. She's tied her giant shark to her back in a loop of her braids, and he swears her grin is just as toothy as the monstrosity of a plushie. In one hand, she has the little owl tucked to her chest and her free one, well, he's holding it to his delight. At her door, he feels a tug on that hand, and is she moving closer? He must be imagining things. A tug would mean to let go, right? Reluctantly, he does and feels the chill of the night air hit his hand.
“I had fun. Let's do this again sometime?” Bright eyes look up at him as she sugests it before she suddenly yawns and leans a bit onto him.
“Yeah, that'd be nice.” He really would like to do it again, if only to see her light up again. Another yawn from her “But you really should go get some sleep.” Before he leaves Ekko can't help himself and gives her a quick hug before stepping away and saying. “Good night."
“See you.” Is her reply as she goes in and closes the door. Was it his imagination, or did he hear a soft bonk from the other side of the door?
When he gets home, he wonders if it's too soon for another delivery. The danger was that she'd start to catch on. The idea is both terrifying, but he has too many feelings that want out after tonight, so he preps a new box that evening and opens his mom's flower encyclopaedia once again. A well-worn and loved thing. Would his mother notice he'd borrowed it? He hoped not. He loves his parents, but his mom could be a hopeless romantic, and his dad would never let him live it down. Now, what flowers mean joy? A blazing star and a hyacinth are what he settles on.
…
It's Two days later and he's still frustrated with himself for not leaning in. The more time passed, the more he started to question himself. He can still feel her hand in his, how she leaned in, practically resting against him. And that gives him pause. “I'm an idiot.” With a groan, he drops his head onto the side of one of the planters he'd been weeding.
“Yes, you are. Whatever it is you did.” A girl with red hair sits beside him and takes his spade.
“Not now, Eve."
“You've been sighing, and sneaking, and grinning and giving up part of your harvest."
“I always do that.” He protests at the last bit.
She looks him strait in the eyes “…in a pretty box, with a pretty card.” He looks at her like deer in headlights.
“We have eyes, Ekko.” She lets out a huff as digs up a stubborn weed.
“Do us, no, do yourself a favour and act on your crush. Your dramatic sighing and talking to yourself is scaring off paying guests.” She gives a friendly shove to his shoulder. “Alright, my bits been said, I’m off."
“Where to?”
“To get my nose pierced.” She calls back as she walks away.
The day passes in a blur of thought as he mulls over what Eve said. He's picking blueberries when he's pulled from his thoughts by a bright greeting.
“Fancy seeing you here!” A pleasant tingle runs down his spine, and he's staring at the person who has taken root in his thoughts (and heart). “Hellooo, hoping to grow some thoughts in that empty head of yours?” She's snickering. He awkwardly rubs the back of his head.
“Sorry, didn't expect to see you here."
“A gardener, huh? That fits.” It’s good to hear and he can’t help but boast.
“Head gardener even.”
‘You’re the boss then?" She suddenly looks like the cat who got the canary.
“You could say that. What brings you here? Don't you still have work?" Ekko asks next.
“Nope! No more appointments today, and there are three things that bring me here. One, it is apparently a must to visit the community garden and orchard. Two, I have a mystery to solve."
And the she pauses for dramatic effect, “And three; I have been informed that the boss is just as lovely as the gardens."
He groans “Who told you that?” He pushes his hair back and grumbles. “Wait, don’t answer. Red hair?” Jinx nods at that. Damn it Eve, that girl would blow his cover if he wasn’t careful. Speaking of blowing covers her second reason could well be his deliveries. Only one way to find out and that was to ask.
"You said something about a mystery?"
“Yes, I have to find a delivery garden gnome." Ekko chokes on a laugh. The mental image he gets is hilarious even as he's a bit insulted and panicked. Maybe if he played along it, he could divert her.
“Well, if you're looking gnome, why don't I give you a tour, then I can help you look.” Her enthusiastic nod is his answer. Ekko is thrilled to show her around the gardens, and he drops little bites of knowledge and know-how as they go along. His hand brushes hers more than once as they walk, and each time, the urge to link their fingers gets worse. Eventually, she has to leave, her search fruitless for today. She looks rather pleased, though.
“Well, no gnome, but you also came to see the gardens, what do you think?” Hope blooms in him. He needs her to like this place, this place that is an extension of him.
“They're gorgeous, I love all the colours!” It’s a relief. Before she leaves, she bites her lip and then asks if she can have some peaches when they're ripe. He's all too eager to have her come by again. He longs for it. One more anonymous delivery he decides. Only this time, the blossoms painted would blatantly be clear in their message.
When he delivers the box three days later full of blueberries and peaches, and a card, he finds a pair of earrings. A small ring with a bead of amber dangling from it and an amber stud, the asymmetry fitting of her, it makes him smile and hope. Is she saying thank you? Or does she want to identify her gnome? The gift feels strangely intimate. He thinks that Eve and Scar are right, he should act. This week, he'll make the last box, one in which he confesses how he feels and who he is. Maybe Eve could help him make something extra nice of all the fruit? Some jam or maybe a pie? He feels like swarm of bees has taken up residence in his body as he decides that whatever it is, the last flower card will mean love.
...
It's ridiculously early as he sneaks up to her mailbox several days later, or rather her door, with a pie. The plan he'd come up with was as follows: He delives his final gift, goes and hides around the corner, and waits for her to find it and then watch her reaction. Then if it’s good he'll show himself. He's already feeling anticipation and shy as his hand moves to the new jewellery in his ear. He realises she'd only need a glimpse to know. With that, moves quickly.
.......
When Jinx had moved back into town, she'd had high hopes of being free to be herself again, express herself again, and so far, it was exactly what she hoped. What also helped was the gorgeous, pretty-eyed, shock of white-haired man that had shown up in her first month of being open. Ekko. And like an echo, he kept coming back, Jinx was definitely not complaining about that.
However his habit of giving really flirty and inviting vibes and then vanishing? Now that she could give an entire lament about.
Another thing that kept echoing were the boxes of fresh produce, which she was also not complaining about. But it was peculiar, and the mystery was starting to really bug her.
The first two boxes had been a nice surprise, the third the cause of much teasing from her sister. The fourth one was a very welcome distraction from the previous day's shit show. At that point there had seemed to be a time pattern established. The fifth one after that suddenly appeared in a much shorter time frame. Her gnome was escalating, she concluded.
Vi had already given her a lecture about stalkers, but seriously, fruit and vegetables? It was just so… wholesome. One thing that stood out was that the last one had appeared shortly after her evening out with Ekko. There was another pattern emerging, the boxes appeared after she'd been with Ekko. Was her gnome jealous? Maybe she should be careful. Or... Could he be her gnome? (Let him be her gnome.)
Her large and decorative mailbox was disappointingly empty this morning. Was the old time frame back on? Jinx pouts, maybe she should be careful, not of stalkers but of how spoiled she's become. And really, she shouldn't moan. There are still two of four nectarines to be had, but she can’t help but be disappointed. With a grumble she sets about her day. The rest of her morning making sketches for a client and waiting for a piercing appointment. An hour later, the bell jingles, and Jinx has to do a double take. The girl who stepped in looked like her sister. “Hi!” She even sounds as upbeat.
Jinx goes through the motions, papers signed, a septum piercing picked, a good choice for the girl she thinks. Then, she has her settle in the chair and disinfects and starts to unwrap a needle. The girl, Eve, as she introduced herself, is a bit fidgety.
“Alright just breathe, distract yourself with something in view if that helps.” A moving customer does not end in a nice appointment. Eve finds something to focus on, and three, two, one, it's done. Eve is grinning ear to ear when she's handed the mirror, not uncommon, but there's something almost unnerving about it, like she has a secret. Maybe it is, some sort of secret rebellion. As she's completing the payment, Eve drops a question.
“You're also on the delivery list for the Firelight Gardens?” As she gestures to the box on the display counter with the last two pieces of fruit.
“No…?”
“No? That's one of our boxes, though.” Why is the girls grin getting bigger? It's unsettling at this point Jinx thinks.
“They just appear.” A querying look is all Jinx gets. “I think it's a garden gnome.” she spitters out. Eve snorts, and then she sees the card and almost chokes swallowing down a chortle. It takes a moment for her to catch her breath, and then she smiles gently.
“You should visit, see where all your produce comes from.”
“The gardens?”
“Yes, just outside of town, we have allotments and a communal garden and an orchard." She scribbles down the route.
“Maybe you can find your gnome because I'm willing to bet it's one of ours. And not to boast, but the gardens are gorgeous.” Jinx has to admit it’s a tempting lead.
And then Eve leans over the counter beckoning her closer in a conspiratorial whisper she adds. “So is the boss. Gorgeous that is” With that, she gives a wave and saunters out. Well, that was confusing she thinks and drums her fingers on the counter. There are no other appointments today and she is intrigued. Deciding that a day out amongst the plants isn't a bad idea she packs up her sketchbook and heads out. Failing all else, she could at least get some inspiration and enjoy the sunny weather.
...
It smells green, and the ground crunches pleasantly beneath her feet. Rows and rows of large planters and a few larger fields further out full of fruit trees. How in the world is this place only half an hour out of town? How had she missed it? It doesn't matter, she's here now and is very much contemplating paying for a basket to ‘pick your own berries’ considering her woeful lack of fruit. It's amongst the bushes she finds a familiar head of white hair.
“Fancy seeing you here!” Ekko looks stumped to see her. It's cute even if he is silent for a bit too long.
“Hellooo, hoping to grow some thoughts in that empty head of yours?” She snickers waving her hand infront of his face as he awkwardly rubs the back of his head. “Sorry, didn't expect to see you here.”
“A gardener, huh? That fits.” It really does, with all his earthy colours, he even smells woodsy. She knows because she'd indulged a little when he'd walked her home after the evening at the fair. How he'd not caught on to her deliberately leaning into him several times still irked her. (And her forhead stung in memory of hitting it to the door in frustration.)
“Head gardener even.” He sounds proud.
‘You’re the boss then?” Now that is a surprise.
“You could say that. What brings you here? Don't you still have work?" Ekko asks next.
“Nope! No more appointments today, and there are three things that bring me here. One, it is apparently a must to visit the community garden and orchard. Two I have a mystery to solve."
And the she pauses for dramatic effect, “And three, I have been informed that the boss is just as lovely as the gardens. He groans.
“Who told you that?” He pushes his hair back and grumbles. “Wait, don’t answer. Red hair?” Jinx nods at that. And he moves very quickly to another subject.
“You said something about a mystery?” It’s clear he’s trying to change the conversation, she lets him.
“Yes, I have to find a delivery garden gnome.”
Ekko chokes on a laugh. She supposes the discription is open to rather hilarious interpretations.
“Well, if you're looking for a gnome, why don't I give you a tour, then I can help you look.” Maybe it's in the way he offered. Maybe it's just that she found him here in the gardens. But she secretly, she really hopes that Ekko's her gnome.
There's not much solving of a mystery as the afternoon passes. Ekko is like a little kid showing off all his favourite toys and how they work. It's fucking adorable and she's all too happy to let him lead her past all the shrubs, and the nursery, and then the orchard. They walk side by side and she uses every chance she gets to brush her fingers against his and succeeds once in trapping his pinkie, only for him to be distracted by the ripe tomato plants. He plucks one off and offers it to her, at least it's a somewhat decent reason to pull away.
The day inevitably draws to a close. As they head back to the gate, he asks what she thinks of the gardens. She's disappointed she found no clear clue to her gnome but she sings her praises of the gardens, they really were beautiful and his bashful smile makes her day. As she gets ready to leave, she does have one request, having seen the peaches were just about ready to pick.
“Next time you pass by the shop, could you to bring some peaches?"
“Definitely!” He sounds eager.
...
As she arrives back home, Jinx feels agitated, itchy in her skin, wanting, curious, frustrated, and very definitely falling for Ekko. Leaning on the closed door behind her as she gets in, she lets out a deep sigh through her nose and decides she is going to catch her gnome. It's gone on long enough. Ekko had given no indication of knowing anything about her deliveries, and yet she cannot help but be suspicious.
She needs a trap, something of a marker, something her gnome would take. Earrings. If it is who she thinks it is, earrings would maybe entice him. And even if it’s not, for all she's been given, it seems only fair to give something in return. She picks an asymmetric silver and amber set. Bright, but not too flashy, the colour warm like him, and she's certain they'd compliment him. She wraps them in neon pink tissue paper and a green ribbon. He will have no doubt it's from her.
The morning brings her wish. Her mailbox has another delivery. And it's peaches. And her gift is gone. Either there was an eavesdropper or… She feels all gooey and fuzzy, and a little bit too hopeful to finish the thought.
It has to be him. He was in the gardens, and no one other than her sister has been so considerate towards her. He's given her peaches when she asked, he played her hero but she didn't feel belittled, he took her out to distract her, he gave her an owl, he’s given her, her own personal tour… Still though he's never really acted on her flirtatious behaviour, could it be he only wanted to be friends or was he just worried about her in general and her eating habits? Even she had to admit she was on the scrawny side. It's then that she looks at the card and her mind stumbles. She had thought them just a pretty gesture, like a greeting card. But there in the corner it says ‘red camellia’ and ‘bleeding heart’ it’s on so the nose she has to smack her palm to her forehead, when she remembers: flowers have meanings.
Going in and settling herself on the pink couch with her laptop has the mystery message solved. One quick search later has butterflies erupting, and heat riseing to her cheeks. A little giggle escapes her as she clutches the cards a little closer grinning like the cheshire cat. They say:
You're lovely.
I admire you.
You bring joy.
I long for you.
Or something like that, Jinx feels like she could burst into a thousand little sparkly bubbles. She'll catch her cute little gardener next time.
...
She's is on a mission. Unfortunately, as her gnome no longer seems to stick to a time pattern, she’s forced to get up every morning at some unholy early hour for a week. Because that the delivery is early in the morning, she does know. She goes to bed late, and there has never been an offering in the evening. There is one when she opens, though. Thus; delivery happens early in the morning.
On the third day, her watch is over. She's gone down to the shop floor and settled herself in the back: Where she can see through the window, but a passer-by would have trouble seeing that far in. Seven forty-seven, she sees Ekko rolling up, a square box dangling in a net from one hand and she darts to the door and opens it right as he is about to put his gift down.
“Would you look at that? It seems gnomes are much taller than expected, prettier too” He jumps at her appearance. “Caught you." She adds when he looks up at her. “Uh, um, hi?” The greeting is squeaked out. He looks terrified. And then squares his shoulders and stammers out. “For you." Holding out the box.
“Come on in.” There is no way she’s letting him leave without getting to the bottom of why he keeps giving gifts of food, even if she has a pretty certain inkling. But that's all the more reason for him to come in. She takes her gift and sets it on the counter, and turns to him. He's standing just behind her, shifting from foot to foot. Worrying her lip she wonders how to start when a glint from his ears catches her eye.
“Looks good on you.” Her hand moves to the side of his face, flicking the earring and then running her fingers over his jaw. He instantly leans in. With her other hand, she fiddles with the string holding the box closed, turning her attention to it, and has him looking like he wants to run again.
“You're all jittery. Relax, I've liked everything else.” She reassures him. Inside the box is a glorious pie, probably red fruit from the deep red purple colour peeking through the lattice and tucked in the fold is another card. A red tulip and honeysuckle. He licks his lips, and she waits.
“It's how I feel and a wish…I think I fell for you right here that first time, and… I think I love you, would you, do you want…?"
It endearing, and she feels a swarm of butterflies in her stomach. She takes mercy on him as she's also stuck for words.
“Give me your hand.” Her voice is soft, but he holds out his right hand to her with no argument. She tugs it over to her and takes out a marker and starts to free hand an ambrosia stalk around his wrist and up towards his elbow. His hand is warm in her other one holding his still, and he looks entranced at the lines taking shape on him. And then his breathing quickens a little bit. Of course, he would know what it means. He sent her a whole letter in flowers. Love reciprocated is what it means. The marker is capped and put to the side, and Ekko is looking wide-eyed at it as he breaths out.
“Can I maybe get that done?”
“Yeah, if you want.” Her reply just as breathy as she slides the hand still holding his wrist up to his elbow then shoulder, then further up his neck and to the back of his head where her fingers tangle in his hair and pull him towards her and she soundly plants her lips on his. It sends tingles down her spine, and his arms wrap around her waist. She is all too happy to get lost in it, running her tongue over the seam of his lips, and deepening the kiss.
“You taste like peaches.” Is what he says when they pull apart.
“Well now, who do I have to thank for that?” And she really is thankful for him and the peaches, that big little clue that it was probably him.
“Enjoying the fruits of my labour of then?”
“Oh. Yes. But they got me hungry and wanting to sink my teeth into something different altogether too.” With that, she gently bites his lower lip before running her tongue over to soothe. His pupils are blown and he looks dazed for a second before picking her up and setting her on the counter and kissing her again. This time, when they come up for air, she pushes him slightly back.
“Want to come upstairs and have some coffee with your pie? I haven't had breakfast yet, and here you are, delivering ambrosia to my door in more ways than one.” His smile is blinding as he replies “I'd love to."