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The Language of Flowers - Japanese Rose

The Language of Flowers Masterlist Complete Masterlist

Summary: Ms. Usison is an up-and-coming publisher who owns her own publishing company. Today is her first day in her new office at Stark Tower. What happens when she catches the eye of, not one, but two Avengers? Word Count: Over 2.1k Warnings: Fluff and Angst Dividers by: @firefly-graphics

You were sitting in the mezzanine of a beautiful opera house. The plush velvet chairs were smooth against your skin. Raoul and Christine were singing “All I Ask of You,” and the Phantom was hiding behind the statue of The Angel of Music.

You could barely see the Phantom’s face. You looked through your binoculars to get a better view. On stage, foxes were running around in a field of red carnations, and Raoul had a remarkable resemblance to Steve Rogers. But that’s not who you were looking for. You wanted to see the Phantom.

You glanced over to the statue with your binoculars, and you spotted him. His face was covered with his mask. Bright blue-green eyes looked up at you. Even from this distance, amidst all the other audience members, he found you. “Love me. That’s all I ask of you,” he whispered to you, along with Raoul and Christine’s song.

You woke up startled, sitting up in your bed. You took a couple of shallow breaths before you reached for your phone. It was 5:10 in the morning. He was invading your dreams now too. This isn’t healthy. You couldn’t go back to sleep.

You were so keyed up from your dream. You decided to do some research. You typed in ‘Avengers’ onto Google to see what you would find. Your search got you some articles, foreign newsreels, and some spicy fan-fiction, which you saved for later. There were also YouTube videos of them in action. Maybe if you play some of them you would recognize his voice.

After three videos, you were no closer to finding out who your Phantom was. The closest guess you had was The Vision. He had a deep accented voice. But all the other reports you read were that he was in a very committed relationship with one of the other Avengers. Plus, he sounded so pragmatic, not as playful as your mystery man.

You gave up close to a quarter to seven. You struggled to get out of your bed and prepare for your day. The excitement you felt the last three days had finally left you. You wondered what kind of day you would have considering your mystery man would not meet you tonight. How were you ever going to find out who he is?

When you got to your office, Tony was already there, instructing two other men. Two other Avengers, Loki Laufeyson and Bucky Barnes.

“What in the Magic Mike is going on here?” Bailey said behind you, wide-eyed.

“Yes! I’d like to know the same thing, Tony!” you yelled out.

“Ah! The boss is here, finally. We needed to start work on the laboratory floor today and we needed access to it through your office. So we’re just rearranging things a bit. Loki there said you wouldn’t appreciate it, but we had to.” Tony said pointing to Mr. Laufeyson. Loki sighed as he turned around rolling his eyes. “So I gathered some volunteers to help move some of your stuff around until construction is finished.” Tony continued.

“And how long will that be exactly?” you asked.

“3 days…a week tops.”

“A WEEK?! Tony when I signed the lease to this office, I did not agree to be subjected to your whims.”

“It’s in the fine print,” he winked. You narrowed your eyes, gripping the handle of your briefcase. Staring daggers at Tony.

“This is why your rent was cheaper than I expected. And why the floor was vacant, wasn’t it? It all makes sense now. Why would anyone want to be under the Avengers floor?! I thought I got lucky! I thought ‘Who wouldn’t want to be under the Avengers floor?’ But Yup. I get it now.” You started ranting. Bailey tried calming you down, promising you cups of coffee or a neck massage, or “Maybe some painkillers before you get your migraine?” Bailey asked.

“So, I gave her desk to one of the other editors. Is there anything else, Tony?” Steve asked coming up from behind you. “Oh hi.” He said flashing you that all-American smile. Your dreams did not do him justice.

“Hi,” you said startled. “You’re back.” You meant to ask it as a question.

“I got back late last night. I didn’t want to bother you. I figured if I volunteered with Tony, I might get a chance to see you again. And…here you are.”

“Here I am...” you said to Steve. “…without a desk!” you said to Tony.

“I promise. A week tops!” Tony tried to placate you, but nothing was going to stop you from feeling aggravated.

“Hey…uh…this just arrived at the front reception desk.” An attractive man walked in carrying a basket underneath his arm. It was the same basket your mystery man used to deliver your flowers those first two nights. “Hi! I’m Sam.” He said, introducing himself to Bailey.

“Bailey.” She said as they shook hands. Bailey took the basket from him, shyly.

All you could do was stare at the basket. As if it were a secret that people were on the verge of finding out about you. You were nervous and anxious at the same time. “It’s for you, hon.” She said as she stuck the note back inside. She handed you the basket. It was heavier than you had expected. In it were pink and red rose petals.

All at once, you were transported back to last night. The smell of the perfumed petals. The magic of it cascading down your office. You looked around your office confused. Did he collect every single petal? You smiled at the thought of him coming back up here to clean your office.

“That’s kind of odd. Why send you the petals but not the whole rose?” Steve asked nosily.

“It’s not the petals, but the book.” You said. Hidden underneath the petals, laid a beaten, leather-bound book. The pages were yellowed and somewhat frayed. It was Shakespeare’s Romeo & Juliet. Another tragedy. You skimmed through the pages, thumbing them till you got to a bookmark made of a pressed yellow flower.

“Awe. Cute! That’s a Japanese Rose.” Bailey said. “They grow wild in the mountains back home. Tough little suckers, growing on rocky plains. But they’re beautiful when they bloom. Yellow is supposed to signify longing.”

“Ooh. Does someone have a secret admirer?” Tony taunted you. A sudden blush crept up your face. All eyes were on you as you tried to act levelheaded. You did not like to have your life out in the open like this for people to comment on. “Boy Wonder, was it you?” He asked Steve.

You heard a thump come from the direction of your bookshelf. Loki had dropped a box of books on the ground making a loud noise. “Awe come on. Don’t make another hole in her office that I have to pay for.” Tony pleaded with him. A slight smile showed up on Loki’s face.

“In the meantime, we have several offices upstairs for you to choose from,” Tony said to you.

“Upstairs?” Both you and Bailey said at the same time. Her excitedly. You with disdain.

“My employees are down here.” You pointed out.

“You can work remotely,” Tony explained.

“Ya. You can work remotely. Upstairs. You know, with the Captain.” Bailey said salaciously, as her eyes darted back and forth between you and Steve. You heard someone clear their throat as they passed by you, prompting you to move out of the way. You couldn’t help but stare at Mr. Barnes’ metal arm as he passed. All at once, Sam and Tony had picked up boxes, wanting to help move your belongings upstairs.

“This isn’t necessary. I’m sure I can work in the break room.” You called out.

“There’s no room,” Bailey said. “John and Mila are already sharing a desk until that eighth desk you ordered arrives next week. This way one of them gets your desk. And you can have one. Upstairs. Temporarily.” She smiled.

“See. No room.” Tony yelled back, already pushing the button on the elevator.

“I’ll follow you, Sam. She likes her things in a particular order. I can tell you guys where to put it.” You watched as Bailey followed the three men onto the elevator to go upstairs. You were too tired. You hadn’t gotten enough sleep last night to fight this, and it was barely nine in the morning.

“I’m sorry about all this,” Steve said to you. “He means well.”

“It’s alright.” You said reflexively.

“Let me make it up to you. Let me take you out to dinner. Tonight?” Thump. Loki had dropped a book, letting it slam into the box. You looked at him questioningly.

“A lot is going on right now. I don’t think tonight’s a good idea.” You answered.

“How’s tomorrow night? I can pick you up from your office or at your place?” Steve amended. Thump. Another book slammed onto the box. Why is he abusing my books?

“Ok. Tomorrow works. You can pick me up from my office,” you relented. Loki grabbed the box and walked past between the two of you in a hurry.

“Great. Come on. I’ll show you where the best offices are.” Steve said picking up a box of books.

The office on the Avenger’s floor was spacious and a lot more modern. With the extra hands to help with your belongings, the office had felt a little more comfortable.

You were surprised that you had finished all of your work on time even with the rough start to your day. You had enough time that you were able to pick up your gift and think about your Phantom.

You opened it to the pressed flower. It was Act II, Scene II. You knew this scene so well. It was the balcony scene where Romeo and Juliet profess their love for each other. As you read it, Juliet’s stanza stood out to you,

“What’s in a name? That which we call a rose, by any other word would smell as sweet.”

And Romeo’s response?

“Call me but love, and I’ll be newly baptized, By a name. I know not how to tell thee who I am. My name, dear saint, is hateful to myself, Because it is an enemy to thee.”

Does he think I’ll hate him when I find out who he is?! You closed the book forcefully, perfume from the petals wafting up into the air. It was 5:30 in the afternoon. You did not have a good night’s sleep last night. Now would be a good time to just quit for the day and go home.

You weren’t going to be meeting your mystery man tonight anyway. If this gift was any indication to go by, all you were left with was waiting for him to make a move. So you packed up your things and made your way to the elevator. The lift was empty as you pressed the button for the lobby. When the doors closed, you felt a sudden gust of air pass your way and you could hear his breathing come from behind you.

“So you agreed to that date with Rogers after all?” He sounded angry. His voice was soft but powerful right next to your ear.

“How do you know about that?” you asked quietly.

“It’s all he ever prattled about today. It was hard to be anywhere near him. I thought I had changed your mind?”

“Tell me who you are.”

“It doesn’t matter!”

“Yes, it does matter.”

“Why do you want to know what I look like? Afraid I won’t rate next to your Captain?”

“How dare you!" You turned and yelled in the direction of his voice. "If you think so little of me as vain enough to care about your appearance, then you don’t deserve any of my attention!” You weren’t expecting to see him really, but you wanted him to see just how angry that comment made you.

“Darling, I-I’m sorry.” He tried to apologize. You turned and repeatedly pressed the lobby button as if that was going to make the elevator go any faster. “Darling. I’m so sorry. That was uncalled for.”

“I have looked forward to the moments where I would get a chance to talk to you again. Never was it because of how you looked!” The doors opened and you quickly left the elevators. You felt your hand being tugged back. His fingers holding yours gently, but firmly. It must’ve looked odd to anyone passing by.

“Forgive me. I should not have taken my anger out on you.”

“Whatever assumptions you have about yourself, was not because of me. You’re so scared that I would find out who you are and judge you. Maybe you should stop judging yourself first.” You pulled your hand away from his grasp and continued walking to the station.

“Darling…” he called out. A disembodied voice in the middle of a busy sidewalk. Loki watched as you walked down the steps onto the subway. “Look up. Look up.” He whispered as if he could command you to do so. You continued to walk, not once looking back to see if he was there.

⬅️ Chapter 2: Gardenias | Chapter 4: Purple Verbena ➡️

LoF Taglist: @lokiprompts @huntress-artemiss

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