I DO NOT OWN THE MOTHER SERIES

Aloha! So this is just going to be a collection of random oneshots because I have like. Thirty minutes of nothing to do while I take the RTA to my apprenticeship job. They're all gonna be really shitty, and I'm not going to edit them for some minor personal reasons. As always, content warnings will be posted when needed.

This first story relates to a tumblr ask blog I run ask-homebound-claus . Check it out if you've got time!

[Nesscas]
Tulips

Ness was covered in oil and grease. His hair was plastered to his forehead with sweat. Every muscle in his body was screaming to rest.

He initially came down to the Tazmily marketplace to stop for a bite to eat and a place to sit for the short duration of his break, but instead, he was ducking behind a flower stand and staring out at the bakery. Standing outside, a boy with blond hair making small talk with a slightly younger brown-haired boy. The brown haired boy was named Fuel, Ness remembered. Fuel was in the apprenticeship program, and training as part of Tazmily's transportation initiative program.

Ness had spent a long afternoon teaching him about sprockets and drive trains.

But the boy next to him was a fresh face. Ness had seen him once or twice helping out with the agriculture students, but he'd never gotten a good look.

And now that he had gotten a good look, he found it hard to avert his eyes elsewhere.

The boy was tall- he probably had at least a head on Ness, even as he was slouching to conceal his height. He was built like a fridge, with broad shoulders and a square jaw. He fidgeted with his large hands as he talked.

"Why do blonds always gotta be so cute?" Ness murmured to himself with exasperation. "I'm helpless. I really am."

A hand on Ness' shoulder made him jolt. It was unbecoming of a man like him to scream like a girl who startled, but then again it was just as unbecoming to hide and stare at that beautiful boy without approaching him.

Ness whipped around to be met with the soft face of an older woman.

"That boy over there is Lucas," she said warmly. Ness' face flooded with red, and he spluttered. "Oh, sweetheart," the woman laughed knowingly. "I know you've been ogling him for the past ten minutes. I don't blame you- he's awfully handsome. A real hit with the girls. Though I don't think he's very interested in a wife, if you catch my drift."

And Ness, caught off guard and with nothing else to think of saying, said, "I've been here for ten minutes? Shit! I've just killed a third of my break!"

"Now I don't approve of that language, but I do think you ought to talk to him. Poor Lucas is always so skittish. He could use a strong young man like you." The woman clicked her tongue. "And you've broken my loitering policy. I'll have to report you to the local authorities unless you purchase something."

Ness stopped himself from cursing again. He dug around for his wallet. "Okay, okay," he huffed. "What have you got for cheap?"

The woman looked thoughtful for a moment. Then, a wide smile grew over her face. "You know, I've got some old yellow tulips that never sold. I don't think they will, unfortunately. I was going to take them out to the trash, but I'll strike you a deal. If you take my flowers out for me, I'll waive your loitering violation."

Ness smiled as a plan came to him, "Certainly!" he said.

The woman retreated to the back for a moment before returning with a wrapped group of tulips. Strangely, they didn't look at all rotted. In fact, the stems looked fresh.

Ness didn't question it. He took the flowers happily and bid the woman goodbye.

Ness steeled himself before walking up to Lucas and Fuel. He wondered if he looked anything less than a complete grease monkey with his oil stained tank top and backwards hat.

But there was little time to be self conscious. Ness hid the flowers behind his back and stuck a brilliant smile on his face.

"Hey, Ness!" Fuel called as Ness approached.

"Fuel," Ness acknowledged. "Hey, would you be able to go to old man Wess' for me? Apparently he has a set of tools we need to finish one of the engines."

Fuel whined, but as soon as he caught eye of the flowers, agreed eagerly.

And then it was just Ness and Lucas.

"The villagers here tell me your name is Lucas," Ness grinned.

Lucas smiled, his eyes flickering away. "Yes, that's me. And you're one of the student mechanics that came here to help modernize our transportation, right?"

"Yep," Ness smiled. "So I was thinking... you're pretty damn cute, and I've got nothing to do after work." Ness pulled the flowers from his back and presented them to Lucas with a wink. "Do you have dinner plans?"

Ness wished he had a camera on him to cement that image of Lucas turning the color of a cherry. Lucas shifted awkwardly and looked down at his feet. He didn't respond for a long time. Ness began to sweat- he'd really jumped in without looking this time. If Lucas rejected him, he'd surely have a sour last few hours of work.

"I'm sorry," Ness recovered smoothly. "I didn't mean to put you on the spot. I just saw you and thought you looked absolutely stunning, so-,"

"No, it's not that! Honest," Lucas said, and a nervous laugh bubbled up in his throat. "You just caught me off guard. I've never really been, you know, asked out before. I didn't really process what you said."

A smile stretched across Ness' face. "Is that a yes? If so, I'll meet you at this spot at eight tonight! I promise, I'll shower!"

Lucas laughed. "Okay. Your name is Ness, right?"

"Yep!" Ness grinned. "I'll see you tonight, Lucas! Until then, take care of these!"

Ness passed Lucas the tulips cheerfully. And with one more goodbye, raced all the way back to work with a happy heart and evening plans.