Chapter Text
It was another early morning at the flower shop. Natasha was rearranging some of the roses as she felt boredom slowly overtake her— what was, until a tall brunette stepped in. From the sidelines, Natasha watched as the brunette searched the small shop, and when those eyes landed on hers, she nearly stops breathing when she sees the most icy blue eyes that still held firm but a certain softness underlying beneath it.
Natasha clears her throat, brushing her dress to make herself look presentable. “Hello, how may I be of assist?” She asked with her sickeningly sweet tone.
The woman's eyes search onve more, “I'm looking for pink carnations and lilies.” She explained, looking directly into the redhead's green eyes once more.
“Well, follow me!” She said, almost too enthusiastically. Moving over to the pink carnations, “How many?”
“Just one of each.”
“Alright,” Natasha hummed, grabbing one carnation, and a lily, “Would you like them wrapped?”
The brunette shakes her head, “It's fine, whatever's most convenient.” Natasha wraps it anyway out of pure courtesy.
After paying, the customer thanks her flashes a polite smile. The redhead knew that it was out of manners, but even a smile that was just for show made her nearly melt.
Natasha was a lovely young woman, every man in their small town had at least once dreamed of making her their wife. Yet, none of them had ever made her heart beat this way. If Natasha ever felt romantic attraction, she imagined that it would be this way. The redhead clocks off her work, with a light skip in her step, as she hummed a tune that played too much on the radio.
Of course, her mother would notice the glee in her daughter. “You're particularly happy today, маленький.” Melina said as she cuts up the carrots.
Swiftly moving around the counter, Natasha embraces her mother, weary of the hands that has gone around the kitchen as to not mess up her dress, “Oh, you wouldn't know, Mama.”
“Whats gotten you so smiley? Has someone finally made my daughter's heart beat?” Melina teased, and when she notices the light pink that coated her daughter's cheek, she smiles and cheers, “Oh, who is it, Natasha? Care to tell me all about him? Who is he?”
Him. Right, a boy. Natasha laughed nervously, but at the same time, she wanted to talk about the way the stranger made her thoughts run wild or how just an eye contact gave her whiplash.
“Well, Mama,” She began, grabbing herself a knife to help Melina. “He must've been the most handsome man I've laid my eyes on. He had brunette hair, a sharp jawline, and possibly the most beautiful blue eyes I've seen.”
Just the mere action of being able to talk about her, even if she had to disguise her as a him. Melina noticed the way she dreamily spoke of the mystery lover, “Care to put a name to this man?”
“Well, I don't know he-” She clears her throat, nearly slippiny up. “His name yet, mama. He was just a customer that dropped by the flower shop, I'm hoping we'd meet again.”
“Oh, маленький, it is dangerous to fall for a stranger, you know that.” She reminded her daughter, stopping her cutting as she focuses on her daughter.
Natasha nods, “I am well aware, mama. But you also told me that when I meet my future lover, I would know. And I know, mama. I know.”
“If you say so, my dear.” Even though Melina was still worried, Natasha has one of the purest hearts that she didn't hand out easy. If this person made her daughter as soft as mush just by one interaction, she trusts her daughter's judgement for it.
___
Ever since April 4th, the day she met the stranger, she never once stopped holding out hope that she'd drop by once more. It was a good motivation to have as well, it got Natasha up every morning, and suddenly working in that old flower shop didn't seem too bad.
However, when it began to role around May, Natasha began to lose hope. It wasn't until the fourth rolled around again that the stranger drops by once more, looking for the same flowers. A pink carnation, and a lily. Natasha didn't want to ask why it was always one each for those two flowers specifically, but she realzies that it must've held a symbolizationg or special meaning.
So, she didn't ask. Instead, she starts up a conversation as wraps the two flowers. “Has anyone ever told you how blue your eyes are? They're like ice in the winter.” Natasha said with a charming smile.
The stranger politely returns it, “Thank you. I quite like your eyes as well.” She pays, taking the flowers in her hands.
As the stranger was about to leave, Natasha realizes she should probably ask for a name, “My name is Natasha, by the way. What's yours?”
“Maria,” Maria smiles, and Natasha didn't know it was possible to melt like ice cream, but she did.
“Maria,” She spoke, testing the name on her tongue. “I think it suits you well.” She flashed a toothy grin.
And she didn't know it, but Maria found it endearing, “Well, Natasha, I have to leave now as I have much more to do. See you next time.”
Even though the stranger— now named Maria— had left, she was left with a promise that they would soon meet next time. And Natasha couldn't have been happier.
Though, she knew of the dangers of loving a woman, she couldn't help but feel deeply for her. Because, when their eyes meet, she's never felt something more perfect and tangible. It surprised her how much people loathed the simple feeling of love just because it was not between a man and a woman.
To Natasha, she's always seen it as fair. Because, why should the love of two men or two women be frowned upon? Their love is just as true as anyone else's. And for her, if it meant hiding, she was fine with it.