The Abyss Who Stared At Flowers

Dan wiped the fresh coat of yellow from his bike seat, the pollen was thick this spring, made all the more obvious by the deep and bassy sneeze that followed. From behind him, he could hear a creaking noise, turning around to spot Az peaking out from behind the door.

“Where are you going?” She asked, her vibrant red eyes scanned over him, spotting his travel bag and a camera around his neck.

“I wanted to head to the park,” he scratched his freshly shaven face, giving a calm smile, “I wanted to take some photos to show you, since I didn’t know if you were ready to go yet…” he paused and thoughtfully put his hand to his chin, “Well, if you wanted to at all, at least.”

She remained quiet for a moment, clearly thinking it over, then she scoffed and stepped out the door, the bright March sky making her overly pale skin almost blinding. Az crossed her arms and scoffed, “At least tell me where you’re going. You know I’m not used to this whole… being this thing,” she gestures to herself, her voice ripe with annoyance.

“Ah, sorry,” Dan apologized reflexively, giving her a gentle smile, “Well then, did you want to come with?”

She glared at him, “What? To look at some plants?” frowning she spoke with a venomous tone, “What do you think I am? Some kind of insect?”

He waved off her anger, simply saying, “I simply like looking at nature and thought maybe sharing what I’m interested in might get you to understand my perspective.”

“Why should I even care?” She stepped down the stairs and started walking towards him, her shoes clacking against the sidewalk.

“I can’t answer that for you,” He slung a leg over his bike and patted the back, “But if you’re even slightly curious, why not try seeing for yourself?”

Reluctantly, Az sat herself on the back of the bike, “I hate this infernal contraption of yours, and I’m only coming with you because I have nowhere else to go and nothing else to do. Not to look a bunch green-things or cause you asked me to,” She crossed her arms and huffed, sighing deeply.

Rather than responding, he opted to shrug and begin pedalling, making sure not to go too fast. They past by many people on their way to the park, a few he recognized and waved to them as he went by, though he understood many people looked their way because of Az. She had an unusual appearance to what the people were used to, her gold hair, pale skin, red eyes, if it weren’t for her wearing my old clothes, she’d be a gothic beauty straight out of a vampiric romance novel. Of course, her demeanor was suitably stand-offish. Dan didn’t just put up with it because he owed her his life, he just… wanted to. One could just say it was due to his kind-heartedness, well, they could, and they’d at least be half-correct.

They arrived at the park without issue, Az jumping off the bike silently and stepping over to lean against a lamppost, waiting for Dan to lock up his bike, though not very patiently, “You done yet?”

After securing his bike, he stood and responded, “Yes, indeed, let’s go.”

She walked about a meter behind him, though when he glanced back, she greeted him with a scowl as if to tell him to, “Screw off.”

He sighed, taking a deep breath, he decided then and there to just enjoy the scenery despite all of her silent grumbling. They past by many little flowers blooming in the grass, dandelions and the like, and almost at every opportunity Dan took out his camera to snap photos. However, he had a particular goal on this trip, “Hey, Az, there’s one place I want you to see.”

“Hahh?” She ‘asked’, looking at him with suspicion.

“Have you ever gotten the chance to look at a flower garden before?” He stopped walking and turned around to hear her reply.

She glanced away from his stare, avoiding eye contact, frowning, “You already know the answer to that,” she pointed at him aggressively.

“Fine fine,” He put his hands in the air, “Well, the flowers are what I wanted to show you most of all,” Looking at her, his mind began to wander to those flowers. Then taking this opportunity, and with a wide smile, he smoothly grabbed her hand and practically dragged her with him.

“Hey! What do you think your- Ugh!” she partially gave in, over the past month she’s known him, she figured out there was no fighting it once someone is dragged into his pace. But, she didn’t appreciate being pulled like a doll, she tried yanking herself free, “Can you at least let me walk on my own!?” She yelled.

He immediately let go, “Oh, my bad, got a little over excited,” He rubbed the back of his head awkwardly, there was one expansive row of flowers he wanted to show her in particular.

“Whatever, just show me this stupid flower garden so we can leave, I’m tired of walking,” She stormed past him.

Taking a second to catch up, he walked side-by-side with her, even as she tried to fall back, he kept pace with her. She realized after about a minute of walking at different speeds, “Tch, annoying bastard,” She picked up her speed and sped-walked at a steady pace, which he, of course, matched.

It didn’t take long at this pace for them to arrive before a wrought iron fence, just past it were a collage of colors. She paused looking out at the sight, he jaw hung slight open as she stared. Hundreds, if not thousands, of flowers, in beautiful bloom. And as a gentle breeze passed over them, the wave of colorful petals captured her vermillion eyes. Az stood there, almost breathless, admiring the view.

Dan spoke, letting a little chuckle at her awestruck face, “Would you describe these simply as just green-things?”

She realized how hard she was staring and scoffed, “They’re alright,” barely managing to make herself look away.

“Well, there was one row of flowers I wanted to show you in particular, if you don’t mind?”

Sighing, giving in a little, “…sure,” she waited for him to begin walking before she followed slightly behind, if anything so he couldn’t see her face as easily, but she was staring out at the array of blooms. She saw their many shapes, some folded up in neat spirals, while others splayed outwards with many petals. Somewhere in her ‘heart’ she felt a twinge of regret, “After so long, why only now? What was I even supposed to be?” She thought. However, these distinctly human emotions, she tried to bury them deep.

Soon enough they reached what Dan was looking to show her, “Here they are, Red Anemones, I wanted to show them to you,” He gestured as to both get her attention and present them to her, “Your eyes reminded me of them, a beautiful vermillion.”

“Beau-?” she was caught off guard, “Beautiful? Of course, this body is supposed to look beautiful to you,” unfamiliar emotions bubbled to the surface, but she tried to maintain her ‘pride.’

He laughed, “But truly, I felt these flowers suited you, so I wanted you to see them.”

“Tch, whatever…” She stepped over to look at them better, looking them over, their vermillion petals like a vibrant iris around a pupil. They were beautiful. However, as these feelings of admiration surfaced, so too did a feeling of nausea. That ick in her stomach, like sludge swirling, viscous and suffocating. Az was unsure of how to handle these emotions, it was- well, it was profoundly alien to her still. Even her arrogant attitude felt like it was panging in her ‘heart.’

She felt a tap on her shoulder, Dan was getting her attention, “Az, are you alright?”

Her voice came out growling, “Hands off,” she stumbled and instinctively reached out to him to stabilize, the feeling of doing so caused her to wretch. She quietly repeated to herself, “I am- I am… guh, I am Azphyleym, I am not so weak… as to need help from a- eugh-” she couldn’t quite steady herself in time as she hurls. The only thought in her mind in response was, “Disgusting.”

Dan swept her off her feet and rushed out the flower garden, choosing to carry her back as she couldn’t herself. To her protest.

“Still not used to them, I see.”