Title: Eco-Friendly
Characters: Louis/Lorcan
Author's Notes: Muggle!AU. Written for the Valentine Drabble Collection Competition.
Word Count: 303
"What a strange vehicle. I've never seen anything like it," Louis said to himself, stopping in the middle of the sidewalk to look at a strange, rickety-looking vehicle. The oddly circular, yellow and violet car reminded him of a modern-day Cinderella carriage. With some steampunk thrown in or something.
"Like it? I made it myself," said a deep voice from behind him.
"Oh, I didn't see you there." Louis said, turning around and smiling at the stranger. "I'm Louis. Would you mind telling me more about your car? It looks pretty unique."
"I'm Lorcan," the man said, extending his arm for a handshake. "See, I need to drive to work because I live out in the country, but I couldn't live with myself if I contributed to the fossil fuel industry, y'know? This car runs on a type of corn oil mixture; I made it myself."
"That's wonderful! Drilling for oil is completely devastating the habitat of the two-tailed desert gecko," Louis said matter-of-factly.
At those words, Lorcan visibly brightened up, his wide, straight-toothed smile getting even wider. He had a nice smile, Louis noted.
"My parents have been looking for the two-tail for years! We spent a year in Saudi Arabia looking for it, actually. Haven't found a colony yet, but I'm pretty sure I saw one once, but I wasn't able to get it documented. Those critters are fast."
"What was it like? Are they as big as the stories say?" Louis asked, genuinely enthralled.
"Not quite as big! Maybe I could tell you more over some coffee?" Lorcan asked, smiling cheekily and brushing a strand of dark hair out of his eyes.
"If you'll take me for a ride in your car afterwards, I'd love to."
"Of course."
And that was the first day of the rest of their lives.