It was a crisp autumn morning and moving day was fast approaching, and Juniper could feel the anticipation buzzing in his chest. His small apartment was now filled with neatly packed boxes, though it hadn't taken much—Juniper didn't own many belongings. Still, packing felt like an event in itself, with Flora and Fauna, his two Verdona plant beasts, eagerly assisting him.
He bent down to tape shut another box, glancing at Flora and Fauna, his ever-helpful Verdona plant beasts. Flora's vine wrapped around a stack of Juniper's tea blends, delicately lifting it toward the pile by the door.
"Careful with that!" Juniper called out, his voice laced with gentle concern. Flora swayed proudly as if to say, Don't worry, I've got this, before placing the box down with surprising precision.
"Good job, Flora!" Juniper said with a bright smile, reaching out to pat one of her shimmering leaves. She rustled happily, her leaves glowing faintly in response.
Not to be outdone, Fauna grabbed one of Juniper's scarves with her vine, holding it up high like a trophy. She waved it in the air, almost demanding his attention.
Juniper chuckled, crouching down to meet her eye level. "Oh, you want some praise too, huh? Alright, alright—great work, Fauna. You're amazing."
Fauna's leaves quivered in delight as she dropped the scarf neatly on top of a box. Juniper shook his head fondly. "You two really are the best moving buddies. Maybe I should start paying you in snacks."
The thought of their next home filled Juniper with a sense of hopefulness. The house had plenty of room, not just for him and his partners but for Flora and Fauna to stretch out and thrive. Still, it was still a big change for Juniper.
Before his thoughts could spiral too far, his communicator buzzed loudly, snapping him back to the present. The screen lit up with Gio's name, and Juniper quickly swiping to answer.
"Hey, Juni," Gio's familiar voice greeted him, warm and full of affection. There was a slight rasp to it today, as though he'd just woken up. "How's the packing going?"
Juniper sighed dramatically, his lips curling into a smile. "It's… getting there. Flora and Fauna are doing most of the heavy lifting."
Gio laughed softly, the sound sending a soothing warmth through Juniper. "Good thing you've got them. I'm heading over to help, so don't wear them out too much."
"Really? You don't have to," Juniper said, though the relief in his voice was clear.
"I want to," Gio replied firmly. "See you soon."
Juniper ended the call with a small, grateful smile.
It wasn't long before a familiar knock sounded at the door. Juniper hurried to open it, his heart skipping when he saw Gio standing there. His brown leather jacket hung loosely over his shoulders, and his easy grin was enough to melt away any lingering stress.
"Hey, Juni," Gio greeted, stepping inside and looking around at the boxes with an amused raise of his eyebrow. "Looks like someone's been busy."
"Mostly," Juniper admitted, gesturing to the growing pile of boxes. "The plant beasts have been a huge help."
Gio crouched down to greet Flora and Fauna, giving each a friendly pat. "You two keeping Juni out of trouble?"
The plants responded with a synchronized rustle, and Juniper laughed. "I think they like you."
Gio straightened up and clapped his hands. "Alright, let's get this show on the road. Where's Demetrius?"
"He'll be here soon," Juniper said. "Yong-Jin's off-planet, and Daiju's still busy filming, so it's just us three for now."
As if on cue, there was a knock at the door. Juniper opened the door to reveal Demetrius, who was already carrying a stack of storage bins like it was no big deal. His calm, serious demeanor was softened by a small smile as he said, "Thought I'd get a head start."
Juniper blinked in surprise, then beamed. "Come on in!"
With Demetrius's methodical precision and Gio's strength, the three of them made quick work of loading up the courier's vehicle. Juniper couldn't help but feel grateful as he watched them work—his partners each brought something unique to the table.
As Flora and Fauna helped nudge the last of the boxes out the door, Gio turned to Juniper with a teasing smirk. "Looks like you're running a little plant-powered moving service here."
Juniper laughed, wiping a bead of sweat from his forehead. "Hey, don't underestimate them. They've been lifesavers."
Once the last box was loaded, Juniper took a final look around his apartment. It was strange saying goodbye to the place he had barely lived in for the last few months, but the thought of their new home filled him with excitement. "Alright, let's go," he said, his voice tinged with both nostalgia and anticipation.
The drive to the new house was filled with lighthearted chatter. Gio teased Demetrius about his ridiculously organized packing methods, while Juniper shared his vision of how he wanted to decorate the new space. Flora and Fauna peeked out the windows, their vines waving gently in the breeze.
When they arrived, Juniper's heart swelled at the sight of the house. plenty of room for all five of them and the plant beasts.
Inside, the movers had already placed the larger furniture, leaving the rest for them to arrange. As they carried in the boxes, Gio suddenly turned to Juniper, his expression a little shy scratched the back of his head.
"Hey, Juni," he began, his voice softer than usual. "I've been meaning to ask… my birthday's in a couple of weeks. Do you think we could spend it together? Just the two of us?"
Juniper paused mid-step, warmth blooming in his chest. "Of course, Gio. I'd love that."
Gio's shoulders relaxed, and he gave Juniper one of his rare, genuine smiles. "Thanks. I don't want anything fancy—just some time with you."
Juniper's lips curved into a grin. "Consider it a date."
They spent the rest of the evening unpacking, laughter and light teasing filling the air. Flora and Fauna explored every corner, occasionally "helping" by moving small items with their vines.