Chapter Text
Orisa let out a sigh of relief exiting the police station. She loved her job, there wasn’t anything else she’d rather do than serve and protect Numbani’s citizens. However even the best cop could only take so much paperwork without any action before it got on their nerves. She stood on the side walk, breathing in the evening air for a moment before her phone rang. Efi’s picture smiles up at her from the screen and Orisa smiles back before taking the call. “Hello Efi, how was your day?”
“It was great Orisa!” The young girl’s happy energy practically pours out of the speakers. “My teacher was so impressed with my project she called some people and they’re talking about mass producing it!” Efi’s science project, a seeing eye robot that would provide a cheaper, more available alternative to a trained dog. The prodigy always had some vision on how to improve the world and the joy she got from helping others always warmed Orisa’s heart.
“That’s wonderful Efi, you’ll have to tell me more when I come home.” The girl agrees happily and then she hears Mrs. Oladele’s voice in the background. Efi must have turned away from the phone to talk to her as her voice is muffled. The girl then gives her a cheerful farewell. “Goodbye Efi.” Orisa says with a fond smile on her face before hanging up.
She should get something to congratulate her, she thinks to herself. She considers the bakery across the street, but Efi’s father is likely in the process of making his daughter’s favourite dessert already. It was getting late too, and if she brought the girl another sugary thing she would eat that too and be up till dawn.
Orisa glances up and down the street, hoping for inspiration. “Hmm...” She begins her walk home, paying more attention to the shops along her usual route to the bus stop. A few minutes into her walk something catches her eye. Around the corner on a street she’s never needed to go down before is a small shop. The short building is in a cramped space between two of Numbani’s signature skyscrapers and is made of cobblestone, standing out against the sleek white of the rest of the city. The front of the shop is splashed with colour. Orisa decides to wander off her beaten path and as she gets closer she realizes the colour belongs to several bright flowers.
“Overgrowth...” Orisa reads the name on the glass window aloud. Inside the shop are several more flowers and the sign in the window says “Flower Arrangements For Sale; Walk-ins Welcome!” The store is apparently open even though it’s beginning to get dark. A beautiful bouquet sounded like a lovely congratulations gift. Orisa smiles at her good luck and enters the shop.
A bell chimes as she pushes the door open but she doesn’t see the clerk. She glances around, taking a few hesitant steps around the aisles of flowers. “Hello?” She calls out and winced at the sound of a person yelping in surprise. Someone comes into view from one of the aisles, she assumes they must be the clerk. They’re kind of cute. Their skin is noticeably lighter than the average Numbani citizen at a tanned, almost caramel like colour. Dark hair falls down to their waist in a waterfall of curls, streaked with green highlights and a crown of pink flowers on their head. Of Pacific Islander descent if she had to guess. The nametag on their shirt reads “Bastion” and underneath it in smaller font “They/Them pronouns please”.
Bastion smiles at her and waves. Orisa realizes their right arm from the elbow down is prosthetic, an old one if the dull, scratched up metal is anything to go by. It’s not unlike her own tan and green prosthetic, it’s even in the same spot. They launch into a series of hand motions that Orisa recognizes as sign language. “Thank you for visiting my shop, is there anything I can help you with?” Orisa signs a question back to them. “No I’m not deaf, just non-verbal. You don’t have to sign to talk with me.” She nods her understanding. “Can I help you Ms...” Their signing tapers off.
“My name is Orisa. A friend of mine called me earlier to tell me her invention may be getting developed commercially. This is a big achievement and I’d like to buy a bouquet for her. Something that will say ‘congratulations’ and ‘I am proud of you’, do you have anything like that available?” She asks and Bastion nods, moving to the counter to lay out shiny gold paper. They then start hurrying around the store, plucking flowers from different areas with clear purpose. Bastion deposits the blooms on the counter and puts the arrangement together with impressive efficiency. The bouquet is a warm mix of reds, oranges and yellows resembling a sunset. They tie the bundle together with a red satin ribbon.
Bastion hands her the flowers and Orisa easily cradles it in one arm despite the huge size of it. “Carnations, roses, holly hock, amaryllis and cardinal flowers. That should be just about what you asked for and it will be 25 credits please.” Bastion signs, then punches numbers into the cash register. Orisa sets the bouquet back down on the counter to dig her wallet out and to hand the other the money. “Here take this,” They tell her before offering a single pink flower, a sweet pea. Orisa takes it and smiles at the other in thanks. “Goodbye, have a nice night!” They sign to her and she says her own farewell as she gathers the flowers back up.
It’s a bit of a longer walk home that night, but the way Efi’s eyes light up at the sight of the bouquet roughly the size of her torso makes it worth it. Her mother puts them in a big vase on her bedside table and the young girl hugs her friend tightly. Efi keeps them all up for another half hour excitedly chatting about the offers she’s gotten for her invention and the possibilities it could unlock until she’s eventually corralled into bed.
Orisa bids the other two adults goodnight and heads to her rented room upstairs. After a moments consideration she takes a book from her shelf and carefully presses the sweet pea between the pages.
Orisa wakes up a full twenty minutes before her alarm the next morning. She debates going back to sleep but pulls herself out of bed anyway. She sets about her morning routine, one that she’d timed so she could get everything done and still be on time for work. So half an hour later she’s ready to go, but as much as she loves her job she’s not coming in an extra 20 minutes early for her shift.
She debates what to do with her extra time and her mind wanders to the little flower shop from last night. Well if she was going to spend all day doing paperwork at her desk again it wouldn’t hurt to add some colour to it. Ignoring the tiny voice in the back of her mind that suggested she only wanted an excuse to see that cute clerk again she started to walk to the bus stop.
It takes her a moment to get her bearings and to remember the exact location of the little shop. The sign in the window says open so she pushes the door open. Bastion sees her come in this time and waves from where they’re watering a row of potted ferns. Their hair is pulled back by a ponytail today in a vain attempt to keep it off their face. Orisa hadn’t noticed last night but the shop is lit by a large glass skylight, casting sunshine on the plants that aren’t near the windows. Bastion puts their watering can down and walks over to greet her. “Welcome back Ms. Orisa. What brings you here again?” They tilt their head a little to the side questioningly.
Orisa smiles at the puppy-like gesture. “I was wondering if you had anything I could use to brighten up my desk at work. It’s getting quite tiresome just sitting there with my computer all day.” Bastion nods along in agreement and then holds up a hand in a “just a moment” gesture before they disappear behind the foliage. A minute or two of browsing their stock later and they deposit a potted yellow orchid on the counter. “It looks perfect, what do I owe you?”
“12.95, including tax.” Bastion signs to her and she places the money on the counter. “Have a good day Ms. Orisa.” They smile at her and she can feel her face heat up a little. She laughs a little awkwardly in an attempt to brush it off.
“I hope you have a wonderful day as well, Mx. Bastion.” Orisa says before walking out the door. She hasn’t been late to work yet and she isn’t starting now, not even to talk to cute shop clerks. Even if she’s sorely tempted to.
When she puts the orchid beside her computer she thinks her desk space is certainly a little more cheerful with a splash of colour.
Even after another day with no action Orisa is in a good mood when she leaves the station. She walks down the same street to the bus stop, having to stop at the intersection as a delivery truck drives through. Glancing to her left where it had come from she notices the small hill of flowers outside of Overgrowth, Bastion starting on what appears to be the herculean task of moving them inside. Orisa stalls for a moment, glances at the bus stop just across the street before walking over to the flower shop.
“You seem like you could use some assistance.” She says, some amusement in her voice. Bastion laughs and gives her a look of light hearted sarcasm, a “no, really?” expression. They put down the plastic vase they were holding and turn to face her.
“I could do this myself, but help would not be unappreciated.” They sign then brush their curls out of their face with the back of their hand. Orisa smiles at them then bends down to pick up a pot. She doesn’t try to make conversation, it’d be rude while Bastion has their hands full. The two of them make slow progress, Bastion having to stop every few minutes to explain where everything goes. It’s been nearly an hour once they’re finished but Orisa thinks the way the other smiles at her is worth being home late.
Bastion attempts to hand her some money but Orisa shakes her head and gently pushes their hand away. “You don’t have to pay me, I’m always happy to help.” She assures them but they still huff, apparently frustrated with her good deeds. They seem kind of guilty looking, as if they felt they did something wrong.
“At least take this then.” They sign before they offer her a small potted plant. She takes it from them, unsure if she should accept but wanting them to be able to talk to her. “It’s an aloe plant. They’re very easy to take care of and some greenery really brightens up any room.” They’re smiling again and Orisa can’t refuse.
“Thank you Bastion. I would love to stay and chat for longer but I must go home now, it’s getting late.” They nod their head in agreement.
“Goodnight Orisa, have a safe trip home.” They sign then begin closing up the shop for the night. Orisa walks out the door, pot tucked against her side and makes her way towards the bus stop under the streetlamps.
Orisa puts the aloe plant on her dresser, shifting it around until she’s satisfied it will get enough sun where it is. Bastion was right, it did brighten up the room, she thinks to herself with a smile.