In a world with supernatural abilities, you liked to consider yourself super normal. You weren't born with any power that made you genetically set apart. You were just: you. Now, you didn't see any issue with this, since you didn't feel particularly inclined to put your life on the line every day to save others by being a superhero, nor did you want to pursue supervillain-y to any degree.

No, you were perfectly content doing what you were doing, which just so happened to be owning and running a flower shop by the name of Francesca's. The shop, named after your dearly departed grandmother, fell into your care nearly three years ago when she died. Thankfully you had been working as a standard slightly above minimum-wage employee at the store since you were a young teen and additionally had just graduated trade school for business when she somewhat unexpectedly passed away- so you were fairly prepared to take on the job. And although you missed your grandmother (who also legally acted as your legal guardian since early childhood) immensely every day, you actually loved your job.

One of its many perks was the apartment upstairs that your grandma also passed on to you. It was a bit small, but it was cozy and it was home- and it felt nice to live in your childhood home again even if that had to be without sweet old Gran Gran.

It was in that apartment that you were currently peacefully slumbering when you were awoken by the incessant vibrating of your phone beneath your pillow. You cursed whoever had woken you up at what your bedside clock informed you was 6:37 AM on a Sunday, but still picked up the phone when you saw who it was on the caller ID. You couldn't find it in yourself to ignore the man.

"James fucking Bartell- there better be a good reason for waking me up this early on a day I don't have to open shop," you rasped, voice groggy and thick with annoyance. You rolled your eyes when you were met with silence and then subsequent laughter. "What's so funny?"

"I just- I'm pretty sure you open every Monday morning at seven sharp?" a low, alert voice questioned after his chuckles died down. "Well actually, you work practically every day... but maybe you took today off? I'm sorry, but you can't get mad at me for assuming you were already up when you work almost every day! And I'm only laughing because your morning voice is so... manly!"

Although his voice was gravelly and muffled through the phone, his laughter picked back up again loud and clear. Rude.

"I'm taking the day off you rude fucker- Jesus Christ it's Monday? No no no," you mumbled to yourself, launching out of your bed as you realized that yesterday was the rare day in which you took off work to grab groceries and pick the apartment, and today you were in fact opening shop in less than half an hour. You weren't sure how it was that your 6:00 AM alarm didn't wake you, but you didn't have time to check. "Whatever it was you had to call about- text it. I gotta go, I'm already behind schedule."

You hung up before he had a chance to say anything else and began a condensed version of your morning routine.

You ran to your tiny bathroom, not even considering attempting the usual shower due to the small amount of time you had, and began brushing your teeth while doing skincare simultaneously. A good business professional can multitask! you repeated mentally to yourself, one of your old lessons from your school days. You were determined to be bright-eyed and bushy-tailed right at 7:00 AM when you unlocked the door downstairs. You returned to your bedroom and hastily threw on a comfortable enough outfit that suited the warm summer weather before trekking across the small number of steps to your kitchen, grabbing a simple breakfast, and scarfing it down in record time. You checked the time on the clock on your kitchen counter: 6:54. Not too bad, but not enough time to fix yourself a coffee before heading down. It was just gonna have to be a struggle day, it seemed.

You made your way down after accepting your caffeine-free fate and promptly turned on all the lights. You quickly perused your shop- tossing a few wilted blooms and properly watering a few larger plants. Just as you finished your rounds it was time to unlock the doors.

It wasn't like you usually had a long line of customers every morning at opening, but it was more so the principle of routine that had you dead set on opening when your schedule stated you would. You wanted your Gran Gran to be proud of how you were taking care of her 'baby,' so you didn't really mind missing out on your beauty sleep. Sure, it was harder on days like these that you couldn't count on caffeine to pick up your slack, but you always powered through nonetheless.

Since it was slow as expected, you checked your phone to see if James had texted you as you'd suggested, and sure enough, he had.

6:40 - the greatest!!!

- Hey, hon! Sorry for waking you up and laughing at you!

- I swear you're very womanly most of the time...

- Just wanted to know if you wanted me to bring you a coffee when I passed by your shop on patrol?

You couldn't stop the explosive heat from rising to your cheeks and neck at his thoughtfulness in bringing you a coffee, especially since you had just been lamenting the fact you couldn't make your own. Your prior annoyance with him immediately reverted to your usual feelings of adoration for the man.

That was the power that James Bartell, who was perhaps the only 'super' thing in your life, held over you. He was known to the world as the superhero 'Megistos' (hence his name in your phone, a name he selected jokingly but you decided to keep), and was one of the most if not the strongest heroes in the world at the considerably young age of twenty seven.

To you though, he was your childhood best friend's older brother as well as your current best friend. Also, your longtime, most likely unrequited crush of many years who you were very much in love with.

You regained your composure before constructing a reply.

7:03 - you

- you're only forgiven if it's your treat.

- also thank you.

- also you know my order.

The reply was almost instant, a bit surprising since he was a stickler for rules and wasn't really meant to use his phone during patrol. You supposed phone usage was a perk of being one of the greats.

7:04- the greatest!!!

- Wouldn't dream of making you pay, not with my big boy paychecks.

- I'll be at Francesca's around nine like usual!

- Stay safe!

You rolled your eyes at the last text, choosing to just like the message before beginning to work on a few bouquet orders. While you appreciated the sentiment, one of the hardest parts about your relationship with the hero was his overbearing insistence on your safety. While it was certainly endearing that he was so hell-bent on your wellbeing- just as he had been since you met him at four years old- it only made things harder for you.

Anyone would be excited at the prospect of a handsome top hero wanting to personally keep them safe- even more so if they had feelings for them- but you had a few issues with such special treatment. For one, it made it nearly impossible to get over your not-so-little crush on the man when he was constantly telling you he wanted to protect you and keep you safe. But what was worse than that, was the fact that you never wanted to feel like you relied on superheroes to take care of yourself. Sure, you probably weren't gonna be a great match against someone with superhuman abilities, but you could still hold your own pretty well in your opinion, and you didn't like being told otherwise. Besides, your shop/home was in a safe enough part of town, so while supervillain attacks couldn't be ruled out entirely, they were pretty unlikely.

With a firm shake of your head, you resolved not to dwell on your slight irritation at your best friend's literal hero complex, and you continued on with a few general tasks while you awaited his arrival. You helped a out few regular customers as well as a couple of first-timers, and before you knew it the bell chimed as in walked the secret object of your affections.

It annoyed you how even after all these years he still managed to take your breath away every time you saw him, but he was just that handsome. Exceptionally tall, with silky brown hair that somehow genuinely looked perfectly styled no matter the perilous battles he returned from or the more aggressive naps he'd wake up from on your couch after said battles. Below his white mask were striking green eyes accentuated by long lashes that you felt he failed to appreciate. He had a strong jaw and lips almost always stretched into a devilishly attractive, pearly white grin. His body was perfect too- boasting big, taut muscles that were currently accentuated by his skin-tight white suit that displayed a (f/c) letter 'M' on his chest- a personal touch he'd let you decide on in the early stages of his career.

You realized a bit too late that you were practically drooling at the sight of him before his voice awoke you from your trance, and you could only hope you weren't too obvious in checking him out this time.

"Here's your coffee, just like you like it! Seriously sorry for laughing at you- it won't happen again! To your face..." he teased as he sent you an exaggerated wink. He passed the cup over the counter and you greedily snatched it from his hand, recognizing the label on the cup's sleeve immediately.

"I forgive you only because you went to my favorite coffee shop. But also thanks, I guess."

"Right," he agreed sarcastically before his eyes quickly roamed your form. "Damn. You pulled yourself together pretty nicely considering your late awakening. I'm impressed."

You tried fruitlessly to halt the heat blooming on your cheeks at the sort-of-compliment. You wouldn't delude yourself into thinking it meant he returned your feelings, but it was still always enjoyable to be praised by him.

"Thanks, I'm a professional at getting my shit together I guess," you mused. "How are things at the office today?"

You were referring to the sector of the Superhero Commission that he was the head of, the Commission being the superhero branch of law enforcement. James's office was actually the biggest in the country, so his job entailed a lot more than just catching and detaining petty villains like many other heroes.

"Good, good... I actually just received a new sidekick transfer. Word is he's some prodigy and asked to specifically work under me, which is cool. I'm on my way to meet him once I finish this morning's round."

"Nice. Sounds sorta like you. I'm sure he's-" you were cut off by the sound of his pager alerting him to a mission nearby, but you didn't pay attention to the details. Strong as he was, you didn't exactly love hearing about his potentially life-threatening jobs in great detail before he had actually apprehended the threat.

"Sorry, hon, I think I'm gonna need to back this team up. I'll text you when I'm off- maybe we can have dinner at my place tonight? I'll make you something!"

"Sure. Be safe," you quipped with a smile, proud of yourself for beating him to his unofficial catchphrase.

"Pretty sure that's my line, but I appreciate the sentiment."

He shot you one last heart-melting grin, and with that, he was out the door.

You smiled softly at his retreating form and watched through the front window as he took off through the sky. You would quickly check the news in a couple of hours to confirm that 'Megistos' had safely completed whatever mission it was this time, but for now, you would focus on work. It should've been around time for one of your few employees to be coming in anyways, and any given pick from your eccentric bunch of amateur florists was usually a good distraction.

As if on cue, a few minutes later a lanky teenage boy entered the shop with an intimidating cross expression. Tony. He was your most recent hire, having been brought on at the beginning of the summer holidays, but his quick wit had helped him worm into your heart already.

He was also notoriously into everything about superhumans, so you could anticipate the words that were about to leave his mouth.

"Miss (Y/n)," he began flatly. "Did Megistos stop by today? The forums said he was patrolling this morning."

"Hate to burst your bubble, bud. You just missed him."

"Oh my God. Why do you literally hate me?" You chuckled at his dramatics, earning you a glare. "Oh, glad to see my misfortune is funny to you... interesting."

"Hey, I forgot you were gonna come in soon, and he had a mission anyways. Not much I can do, so I don't see why I'm responsible."

"You're actually basically a supervillain for not keeping him here until I came in. Insane to me that that man is somehow your friend, but I'll figure out why he sticks around you one day."

He narrowed his eyes at you in mock suspicion before making his way to the backroom to deposit his belongings.

You chuckled again, always amused by the teen's constant intrigue in the mystery that shrouded your relationship with James, or rather Megistos. No one at the shop- no one at all, actually, excluding James's family- were aware of the true nature of your friendship with the man. They knew you were somehow acquainted with the hero, but not that you also were friends with the person behind the mask.

The concealing of one's identity wasn't required of heroes, in some cases it was even impossible, but it was relatively common as it helped provide a layer of protection for the heroes' loved ones. While it was sometimes stressful to evade questions about your hero friend's personal life, you found it fun to keep the secret. It made you feel closer to him in a way, and even a bit territorial in knowing that you had a part of the man that the rest of the world did not.

"Why is everything a mess back here, woman?" Tony's dry voice sounded from the backroom.

You made your way over, groaning when your eyes confirmed his words. The back was in utter disarray. Last night's botanical shipments were strewn about a few tables messily, pointedly not put away as they should've been, and other materials were shoved where they didn't belong too. Peachy.

"Shit. I woke up late and did front-of-house stuff this morning. Didn't even look back here until now. This is why I don't take days off. Whoever closed last night clearly forgot to do their job."

"Eloise, I bet."

"Tony," you sighed. "She wasn't even scheduled yesterday. It's just... it's wild to me that you would throw the person who got you this job under the bus, but then again you haven't made a lick of sense to me since day one."

"Whatever," he scoffed.

"Okay attitude, better fix your face because whoever did it, looks like we'll be cleaning it up over your shift."

He replied with a loud groan but obediently complied, and you two began to get to work.

The shift was a long one, and by the time the clock finally struck five and you were about to close down shop, you were exhausted. You and Tony had managed to clean things up, but between taking care of that as well as the large number of customers, you were starving and ready to be off your feet.

Remembering James's offer to feed you, you quickly grabbed your car keys from upstairs and made your way to where your car was parked on the street. On the short walk, you trudged past an alleyway where some seemingly illegal behavior was taking place, but you didn't stick around to confirm your suspicions. You swiftly got in your car, locked the doors, and made your way to the affluent and notably crime-free part of the city that James lived in thanks to his salary. You didn't think you would ever get used to the affluence of his neighborhood as you pulled up to his building, a valet waiting to park your car for you.

You texted your friend to alert him of your arrival and waited for him patiently in the equally fancy-looking lobby. You elected to scroll your phone idly when a large hand palmed the top of your head and drew your attention to James's smiling, unmasked face.

"You're here," he beamed. "Sorry to keep you waiting. Let's head up."

You complied with a hum, following him to the elevator. He imputed the top floor number and scanned his ID card that granted access to his penthouse, and up you went. You took note of his attire, appreciating the way his black tank top clung to his skin while his matching sweats loosely hung low on his hips. You loved him in uniform, but wouldn't complain about his casual look either.

At the sound of his voice, your eyes snapped up to his grinning face.

"How was the drive over?"

"Oh, it was fine. Traffic wasn't too bad or anything. Saw some goons in that one alleyway before I got to my car, though. Shady business going on..." you commented flippantly- too exhausted to the give conversation much energy, but the way his face creased with worry caught your attention. "What's the face for?"

"I just... I don't like that you live in such an unsafe neighborhood." You held back a sigh, knowing where this was going. "I know you're adamant about being able to keep yourself safe- and it's not that I think you're absolutely helpless, but I just... have you reconsidered my offer?"

You had not. He had been offering- no, begging you to move into his home pretty much as soon as you had graduated high school. While you appreciated his generosity and would love to pretend you were rich enough to afford such a place without his financial help, you didn't want to move in with him for a myriad of reasons. Some were the reasons earlier stated- protecting your feelings from getting hurt having to live with your crush, as well as being able to be independent from the protection of heroes- but there was another glaring reason that trumped them all.

Your home was the last tangible thing you had connecting you to Gran Gran other than the shop. You weren't going to just give that up, even for your best friend who you loved dearly's peace of mind. You doubted you would move out even if you were seriously dating James, that's how much you didn't want to move. Plus, it was literally the closest you could possibly live to the shop without living in the shop- you couldn't beat that commute time.

"No, Jamie. And honestly, I'm too tired and hungry to fight you on this right now." He moved to speak but you were faster. "Please. I love you, but I don't need your 24/7 protection."

"Okay. I love you too and I want you safe, but I'll drop it. For now." The elevator dinged and he tapped his card again before he grabbed your shoulders and gently guided you to the dining room where your favorite food sat waiting. "For now though, let me take care of you, okay? I worry for my stubborn little best friend."

You were too fixated on the food to brood about the remainder of your place in the friendzone, and you dug in. You stayed over at his place for a few hours before you announced that you should probably head home, feeling understandably exhausted. Ever the gentleman, James insisted on walking you to your car- or rather to the valet to wait for your car. Fucking rich people. He tapped his card to enter the elevator and waited to leave until your car arrived.

With a ruffle of your hair, he waved you goodbye and you were on your way home.

That night you were swift to fall asleep, prepared for tomorrow to be another normal, productive day. Unfortunately for you, life never quite works out how you plan it, and such a fact would soon become super evident to you.