Ryland looked down at his clipboard, where he had written a reasonable script, supplied earlier that day by Adrian. Unfortunately, the moment his eyes landed on the words, his brain supplied only terrible ways to say them.
He chose the worst one.
“I need flowers with prominent reproductive structures.”
The man went completely still.
Ryland could feel his soul attempting to leave his body.
“For a plant anatomy lab,” he added quickly. “For my students. Middle school students. Not–” He cut himself off, because there was simply no end to that sentence that would improve his situation. Instead, he just weakly smiled, and added “Science.”
-:-:-
Ryland Grace is brilliant with biology, awkward with adults, and far too invested in giving his students the lessons they deserve. Simon Fleischer is a guarded florist who trusts plants more than people and has no interest in being needed by anyone again. But when a forgotten school lab brings Ryland into Root & Thorn, their lives begin to tangle in quiet, unexpected ways – through flowers, roots, and the terrifying possibility of being cared for properly.
Rating: Not Rated
Archive Warning: No Archive Warnings Apply
Categories: M/M
Fandoms: Project Hail Mary (2026), Iron Lung (2026)
Relationships: Simon (Iron Lung)/Ryland Grace, Adrian/Rocky (Project Hail Mary), Ryland Grace & Rocky, Adrian & Ryland Grace, Adrian (Project Hail Mary) & Simon (Iron Lung)
Characters: Ryland Grace, Simon (Iron Lung), Rocky (Project Hail Mary), Adrian (Project Hail Mary), Eva Stratt
Additional Tags: Florist Simon, Alternate Universe - Flower Shop, Alternate Universe - Modern Setting, School Librarian Adrian, Engineer Rocky (Project Hail Mary), Slow Burn, Mutual Pining, Grumpy/Sunshine Relationships, Mild Hurt/Comfort, Light Angst, Fluff and Angst, Trust Issues, Established Adrian/Rocky, Gardens & Gardening, Botany, Idiots in Love, Getting Together, They are stupid, Good Teacher Ryland Grace, Principal Eva Stratt
Language: English
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