Never Took You For A Flower Guy
Polnareff x Reader
Fluff || 2500+ Word Count
Ao3 link if you prefer to read there
Summary: Despite wanting to stay in and continue your work, Polnareff decides to drag you to a market during your rare spare time. And of course, he wanders off, forcing you to go find him. Is that a… flower stall he's at?
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The market was loud, people weaving in and out, vendors shouting their deals, customers haggling for better prices. The sun was high in the sky, beating down onto the square, the cloth covers offering little reprieve. Despite the heat, the market was lively, people chatting and laughing freely. You slipped through an opening of people passing, moving further into the crowd. Your eyes scanned the bobbing heads, looking for a particular silver flat top.
You and the others were in India for the time being. Avdol and Joseph are currently hunkered down at the hotel, brainstorming methods to getting to Egypt, leaving the rest of you to your own devices. Kakyoin mentioned wanting to visit a tea shop and left with Jotaro silently trailing behind. You had planned on filling your very rare free time with more research regarding Dio and his goons, but Polnareff practically dragged you out of the hotel, exclaiming that you spend way too much time buried in books. Your answer of ‘that’s literally my job’ fell on deaf ears.
Polnareff wanted to explore the market, which you didn’t necessarily mind doing, except for the fact that you very much disliked crowds. Unfortunately for you, it was very hard to say no to him. And he promised he wouldn’t leave you stranded. So you let him grab your hand, pushing down the weird knot in your stomach, and gleefully lead the way. The two of you had gotten to the market fairly early, so the crowd wasn’t as bad it is now. You had fun watching him jump between stalls, showing you various trinkets, jewelry, and knick-knacks with a huge grin on his face.
While looking at one stall, you turned to say something to Polnareff, only to come to the realization that he was nowhere to be seen. An ice bucket of dread and panic washed over you in an instant. Your friend and guide is now gone, in a huge crowd, when there could be an enemy stand user anywhere.
Okay, don’t panic. He’s freakishly tall and has silver hair so hopefully he won’t be hard to find! Right!? You think to yourself as you frantically scan the crowded space, squeezing through people on your search.
As you walk, your panic slowly transitions into annoyance. Seriously, how the hell could he disappear so fast? I wasn’t looking for a second and he’s GONE! God, what’s his issue? Your brow furrows in frustration. Polnareff is a lovely person, you have to remind yourself of this, especially when he does stupid things. Your eyes finally lock onto Polnareff’s head in the distance, and you release a breath you didn’t realize you were holding in.
You make your way to him as quickly as you can, throwing out an absentminded apology to those you accidentally bump or cut off in your pursuit. You finally break through the crowd, breathing in a breath of fresh air. Eyeing the stall that Polnareff is visiting, you blink in surprise. It's a flower stall, a large one at that. Blooms of various sizes and types burst out of baskets, vases, and planters. Even standing a few feet away, you can smell the sweet floral aroma in the air. With a scowl fixed on your face, you march over to Polnareff and pinch him lightly on the arm.
“Ow! Hey what’s your-Oh! Y/N! There you are! I was wondering where you were!” Polnareff’s face immediately brightens once he realizes it’s you who pinched him. You cross your arms and fix him with a pointed glare. He deflates slightly.
“Really? Wondering where I was? As if I was the one who ran off without saying anything?” You try to remain upset, but you’re really just relieved to be near him again. You’re mostly just pulling his leg at this point, hoping it will make him more mindful.
Polnareff chuckles awkwardly. “Right! Right… I’m sorry. I saw this stand in the distance and got so excited that I… forgot to tell you….” He fiddles with his earring, a habit you notice he does when he’s nervous.
You can’t help but let a smile slip through at his apology. Yeah, that sounds about right, you think. You gently touch one of the flowers delicate petals.
“I never took you for much of a flower guy.” You turn and give him a teasing grin. His eyes met yours for a moment before quickly flitting away. A soft expression of reminiscence enveloped his face.
“My mother had a flower garden when I was young. She loved it dearly and spent most of her spare time tending to it. Although I didn’t inherit her green thumb, I did get her appreciation of flowers.” He leaned towards a blossom and inhaled deeply.
“Really? What kind of flowers did she keep?” You asked. Polnareff hummed in thought.
“Hm let’s see… She grew a lot of different flowers over the years, but she always had some lavender, catmint, jasmine, and what else…” He raised a hand to his chin and closed his eyes.
“Oh! She also grew lily of the valley! That’s one of my favorite flowers!” He exclaimed, a grin splitting across his face. “I remember she would grow it in a separate pot for me because I loved them so much! Every Labor Day, her, Cherie and I would pick out the best sprigs to give as gifts to our friends and family.”
You smile. “That sounds lovely. Lily of the valley is a beautiful flower.” Polnareff hums in agreement, then fixes you with an expectant look. A beat of silence forms between the two of you, as if he’s waiting for something. You raise a brow at him, confused.
“...Well? I told you my favorite flower, I think it’s only fair you tell me yours now!” He huffs and lightly elbows you. You can’t help but snort at his strange way of asking.
You hum in thought, looking at the various flowers at the stall. “Hm… I’m not really picky when it comes to flowers, I think all of them are beautiful.” Polnareff scoffs.
“Oh please, that’s a cop out answer. Everyone has at least one that they like above all the others.” You roll your eyes. Mulling over every flower you know of, one finally sticks out to you.
“...I really like tulips.” You finally say. Polnareff’s eyes sparkle as he grins.
“Really? I should’ve guessed! Tulips definitely fit you, mon oiseau.” He says. You raise a brow and smile at him.
“Oh really? How so?” You ask in a teasing tone. He freezes slightly, the tips of his ears flushing slightly.
“Well, um… You’re just… Comment dit-on…” He mumbles, stumbling over his words. You watch him flounder, amused.
“...They just fit you… You know? Tulips are used to express… happiness, affection, stuff like that… You get the point!” Polnareff waves his hand dismissively, turning his head in a pout. You laugh at his display.
“Hey, are you two gonna buy anything, or are you just gonna stand here all day?” The stall keeper finally makes his way over to you, annoyed. Both you and Polnareff startle, forgetting that there were other people around you. You feel your face flush in embarrassment, seeing Polnareff’s do the same out of the corner of your eye. You both start blurting out a mixture of excuses and apologies all mixed into an incoherent mess. The stall keep watches, unimpressed.
“Get outta here if you’re not buying anything.” The stall keep jabs his thumb to the side, motioning the two of you to move on. You both apologize again before slinking away, merging back into the crowd. After moving far enough away, you glance at Polnareff, who meets your gaze. He cracks a sheepish grin, which turns into a nervous giggle, before full on laughter at the absurd interaction. You can’t help but laugh as well, your chest feeling light.
The sun begins to slowly lower in the sky as the two of you leisurely stroll through the market. When the crowd thickens, Polnareff finds your hand and keeps you close, making the strange knot return. Once it thins, he doesn’t let go, making a point not to acknowledge it. You can’t fight the soft smile that makes its home on your lips. The conversation between you two flows and ebbs, going from non-stop chatter to a comfortable lull of quiet then back. In the back of your mind, you wish that this moment could last a lifetime.
Suddenly, Polnareff stops in his tracks, his gaze fixed somewhere in the distance. You’re also jolted to a stop, as your hand was still intertwined with his. He realizes this, and quickly lets go, his face flushing.
“Ah, sorry! I didn’t mean to stop so suddenly!” He says quickly, seeming embarrassed, but you see his eyes dart back to where he was looking when he stopped, appearing lost in thought.
“It’s okay, but what are you looking at?” You ask, leaning around him to see. He moves in front of your view, trying to appear natural.
“Oh, ce n'est rien, don’t worry about it. I just thought I saw something, mon oiseau, that’s all.” He waves his hand, then put both hands on your shoulders, pushing you forward gently. “Now, it’s getting pretty late, we should get back to the hotel! Mr. Joestar and Avdol will be wondering where we are soon, don’t you think?” You look at him, bewildered.
“I mean, I guess? But what were you-”
“GREAT! Let’s go!” Polnareff rushes in front of you, grabbing your hand once more and leading the way at a quicker pace than before. All you can do is follow at this point. Whatever, maybe he saw something weird and just wants to get out of here. Who knows with him. You sigh and let yourself be guided.
He has the two of you out of the market in record time. You take in a deep breath, finally able to relax a little. The market was wonderful, but it’s nice not being surrounded by people for once. You reluctantly slip your hand out of his, possibly imagining his grip tightening for a moment.
“Alright, well, let’s head back to the hotel, I’m starving after walking around all day.” You say, starting to make the short walk back. You pause, however. Polnareff is still standing in the market entrance, looking into it.
“Polnareff.” You say, concern lacing your voice. He hums, his eyes snapping to yours, something sparkling in them that you can’t decipher, but makes your chest tight. “Are you okay? You’re acting… odd.” He inhales as if to say something, then closes his mouth, eyes bouncing between you and the market. It seems as though he’s internally debating something. You stand there, your concern growing, and cross your arms, waiting for an explanation.
“...Would you mind staying here for a moment, Y/N?” He asks, finally turning and fully facing you. You raise a brow.
“...Why?” You ask. Polnareff sighs and glances back at the market.
“I just… I saw something at a stall that I was thinking about getting. I didn’t want to keep dragging you through the market, so I thought I’d drop you off here and run and grab it real quick.” His face flushes slightly, and he kicks at a rock on the ground, looking sheepish. “So… would you mind waiting for me before heading back to the hotel? I’ll just be a few minutes.” He looks at you, eyes pleading.
You’re touched at his thoughtfulness, but also wildly curious at what he wants to buy. You consider insisting at going with him, but the way he’s looking at you makes you falter. You sigh, deciding to indulge him.
“Alright, but make it quick, I’m starting to digest myself over here.” Polnareff perks up, face brightening, eyes shining.
“Be right back!” He says, before bolting back into the market, moving faster than you’ve seen before. You chuckle. Goodness, he’s so silly… You think fondly.
True to his word, only a few minutes pass by before you see him emerging from the thinning crowd, a smile so bright it rivals the sun, clutching a small bag. You feel the knot return, your chest tightening as you return his smile as he approaches.
As soon as he gets close, he holds the bag out to you. Your eyes widen, and you look at him, confused.
“For you, oiseau.” He says, eyes soft. His ears are tinged red as you slowly take the bag from him.
Your hands tremble slightly from excitement, confusion, and a third feeling you can’t place. You open the bag and gasp quietly as you pull out the item. It’s pendant, made out of delicate metal work, sculpted in the shape of a tulip. It’s small, no bigger than the first knuckle of your thumb. You look at Polnareff, eyes shining. He maintains your gaze for a moment, before looking away, face flushing. He clears his throat.
“I um… I saw the stall earlier, which I why I stopped. I figured you could either put it on a chain you have already, or use it as a bracelet charm. Maybe even as a keychain. I just thought, y’know… Flowers only last so long, so… I wanted to get you something that would…” He fidgets with his half heart earring. He meets your gaze. “...Do you like it?” He asks, quietly.
He waits for your response, apprehensive. You look at him, then back to the pendant. You don’t know what to say. No ones ever gotten you flowers, especially not something like this. You feel your chest tighten and your heart swell. Your lips begin to curl on their own, forming a tender smile. You seem to do that a lot around Polnareff.
“...It’s beautiful. Thank you, Polnareff. This is really… Really sweet.” You say, looking at him. Polnareff smiles sheepishly at you, his face flushing more, he seems to do that a lot around you. He plays with his earring and swings an arm around your shoulder, making you buckle slightly.
“Alright, enough sentimental stuff, I’m starving! Say, Y/N, what do you think we should have for dinner tonight? I was thinking curry? Or maybe korma? Oh! Or we could…” He walks with you back to the hotel, going on and on about different things the two of you could get, his arm remaining steady on your shoulders.
You listen, a smile on your face as you clutch the bag holding the charm. It was a very thoughtful gift, one of the most thoughtful you’ve ever received. Your body feels light as you walk, chest full of butterflies. You can’t quite put a name to it, or maybe you’re too frightened of what will happen if you do. Despite the fear, you wish you could be like this with him all the time. You see the hotel in the distance. You’ve finally decided.
“How about we do curry?”
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hey guys!! hope you enjoyed this fic! i plan on writing another polnareff one-shot, and maybe even an avdol one sometime soon. let me know what y'all thought! love y'all <3
