Summary: After missing the funeral and all things falling into place Barry struggles with how to approach Chris's family and deals with guilt.
Barry Berkman x Reader (not romantic)
Roses and sunflowers were in their baskets ready for today's work, you turned on the old neon sign that read Y/L/N Flowers, with a couple letters off but still working, like if was that complicate to repair it, but that costs money, thanks Dad!, but for real you loved taking care of the store as a part time job.
As corny as it could sound there were things that people could say better with flowers, and you simply love to help people to move on their stories, especially when they look as lost as the man who had spend the last 15 minutes deciding coming in or not, and looked at the flowers almost scared.
"How can I help you?" You said when he finally decided to come in.
"I'm looking for some flowers" he said again not entirely confident about his decision.
"Oh sorry we don't sell those anymore, this are rentals" You couldn't help it, but since he didn't react you add "That was a joke, a bad one apparently, what kind of flowers do you need sir?"
"I... I actually don't know" he sounded sincere so you walked out from behind the desk, to try to help him
"Well what do you want them for? Are you celebrating or are you apologizing?" You asked, he didn't look that old, late thirties probably, he was really tall and have nice but sad blue eyes. "Troubles with the wife?" He didn't say anything "Husband??" He give you an odd look, not sure if you were teasing him or not.
"There are for a friend, amm for his... funeral" He said and you immediately felt like an idiot.
"Oh I'm so sorry sir" You started and trying to look professional took a binder from the desk "Well in that case we have a catalogue fill with dozens of floral arrangements, and we have an excellent delivery system, you just have to give us the address" You point to a little siting area were he could review the pictures comfortably.
"No, the thing is his funeral was like a week ago, I just couldn't go there, and now I want to bring flowers to his wife but I'm not really sure, why don't you pick them?" He said and you went to sit next to him.
"Well I would love to help you out, but since it was your friend maybe you would like it to be more personal, how close you were?" You said taking the catalogue from his hands and looking for a couple specific pictures.
"Not that close really" He said, "I mean I knew him for a long time but we haven't actually talk much recently" you could tell he needed someone to talk so you gave him a minute and went to the back of the store to get him a cup of coffee and gave him to him. He look confused at you but took it.
"Well my father always say, and this is such a cliche, that when you can't say something with words flowers are the best option" He took a sip of coffee and nodded "my grandma on the other hand said that she wanted flowers when she was alive, because dead were just trash" You add with a grin and he finally let go a small smile. "What I'm trying to say is whatever you pick will be fine."
"It's just unfair you know?" His voice sounded broken but honest "His wife and his child need him, and I feel like this attempt to be nice to them is just plain useless and ridiculous, I mean why do people even send flowers? Is so stupid, in a couple years when his child needs a father to teach him how to drive, the flowers won't help him, and when his wife feels alone and when they don't have any money or something like that who would be there for them?" He wasn't trying to be rude but there was a profound guilt in the way he talked and you only feel compassion for him and let him continue "And I'm here after a wonderful day with my girlfriend and my life couldn't be any better, and I feel like a hypocrite because I get to have that when his family is probably living a literal hell, so tell me, please tell me, what kind of flowers would make that go away?" For a moment you thought he may throw the cup to the ground but he only put it down on the table with his fists clenched, and breath heavily.
"Look I don't know anything about your life, nor your friend's, but what I do know is that in the end the best way we have to honor those we miss is taking care of those they left behind" You felt tempted to put your hand in his shoulder but you didn't and instead you pick up the coffee mug "And you are right, flowers are something simple and ridiculous when you put things in perspective, but they are also a start, why don't you choose something for the family? And then when you give it to them you can figure how to start making things more fair?"
"This are nice" he said pointing at one of the pictures, hiding his face from you. "I think she might like them"
"Fine, and also carnations mean good luck, that's a nice message" You tell him "I'll have them in a minute" You went back to the back for a few minutes and you got an idea.
"Thanks" He said once he had paid for the arrangement and was about to leave.
"Wait, take this, on the house" You said and gave him a small bouquet of yellow roses. "This are for your friend, in case you need to say sorry to him, for whatever it is that you feel sorry for"
He only nodded and took them before walking away, you were sure you'll never see him again, but you were hopeful that he could find the peace he needed.
