Work Text:
“Shit!”
It was a sunny Saturday morning In mid June. The sun beating down only adding to the wave of anxiety washing over Hugo at the moment.
He had been on his way into town to pick up groceries for his shared apartment when some asshole on their phone, swerved their car just enough to make him veer off the side of the road and crash his bike.
The motor vehicle certainly wasn’t totaled which was a relief. Olivia, as Hugo so affectionately called her, was not only his main mode of transport, but was also his beloved daughter. If anything happened to her, he’d die of grief like an elephant.
As he half kneeled on the ground he could see that the front wheel had been crunched and would definitely need replacing and the fuel tank in the front had a gash in it that was now LEAKING!
Hugo frantically propped Olivia up and leaned her to the other side in an attempt to save as much fuel as possible. That stuff was not cheap!
He was just about into town when he’d crashed. Luckily, he’d seen a repair shop less than a mile back. Sure it was a car repair shop, but how different could they be?
…
Varian was mind numbingly bored. His dad was working on the only car that had come into the shop all day. So he was stuck manning the front desk in case anyone rolled in. (No pun intended)
There were probably more exciting ways to spend his Saturday but in his defense he’d been hoping to actually do some work or help his dad. But no. Instead he was judging pamphlets and trying to will the bell over the door to ring because “reception boy” was simply too important a duty to be left unoccupied.
“Ding”
His prayers were answered!
“Hi! Welcome to Quirin’s Auto Repair, how can I help you…?” He recited as he laid eyes on who he was sure was the prettiest boy he’d ever seen.
He felt his cheeks flush as the guy took a long moment looking him up and down.
“Uhh, hey. I tore up my motor bike a bit down the road. The fuel tank is leaking out one side and the tire needs replacing. I wheeled it up over by the garage.” The guy stated, holding up his phone to showcase a few photos of the damage.
“Perfect! I mean, obviously not good but, Y’know we got it!” Varian rambled, while trying to look more at the pictures of the damage than the pretty boy not two feet away from him.
The guy was giving him a slight smile and was now leaning on the table. “Perfect” He mirrored.
“I’ll be right back!” Varian yelled before racing off to the back to consult his father.
If he wasn’t in such a rush he would’ve sworn he heard the guy say “I’ll be waitin’ cutie.”
As Varian opened the door to the back garage of the shop, his dad looked up.
“Hey, dad. There’s a guy up front with some minor fixes on a bike. Just a wheel change and maybe a small epoxy or weld job. I could totally take it cause Y’know you’re super busy and all…?” Varian rushed out in hopes of getting something to do.
Quirin briefly pulled his head up from where he was hunched into the car and muttered a quick “right, sure. You know how to ring those up.” Before delving back into his work.
Absolutely elated to finally have a real job, Varian gave his confirmation, thanked his father, and fled the scene (not before doing a silent fist pump and a mouthed “yeeees!”).
…
As soon as the desk guy ran off, clearly flushed, Hugo pulled out his phone to text his roommate.
Hugo: sparkles! Guess what? Liv got all battered bc some dick rammed into me!
Nuru: It’s always something with you.
Nuru: You seem intact enough to be texting me. Complaining. so I'm assuming you’re not dead but to be sure; are you alright and or do you need any help?
Hugo: oh, you love hearing me complain. I’m alright but Olivia need some fixing. Also, aw! You’re worried about me!
Nuru: I hope you’re stranded on the highway.
Hugo: actually I’m at some repair place, thank you very much. I’m gonna stay, I couldn’t leave liv here. but it’s fine. The reception guy was cute anyway so I won’t be too bored.
Nuru: alright, text if you need anything.
Hugo clicked his phone shut and took a long look around. The place was completely desolate of activity save for the flickering of the June sun through the windows due to the flapping of the curtains in the breeze. Nice day.
Such peace was broken by reception guy barreling towards the desk with a grin. “I will be taking care of you today!” he announced while punching buttons on the digital cash register.
Hugo mentally whooped at the retribution he was getting for his pain. Cute guy was the one fixing his bike!
He eventually handed Hugo a sheet with his two repairs rung up. While the lofty number was a brief punch to the gut it was probably a good deal to have Olivia professionally patched up. Trying not to think of the money that idiot driver was costing him, he took the sheet and prepared for the agony that would come with swiping his card after the repairs.
“I’m gonna go grab my stuff. This will probably only take an hour or so if you wanted to wait out here you can or you could leave me your number and I can call you when it’s finished?” Cute guy prompted.
“That’s one way to ask a guy for his number-” Hugo jested at which the boy blushed profusely and opened his mouth to retort, “-but I don’t have anywhere to be or any way to leave, so do ya mind if I watch you?” Hugo asked, trying to feign innocence.
Despite still recovering from the blonde’s former remark, Varian managed to sputter out an “Oh! Uh, yeah sure, I mean, it probably won’t be all that exciting but I’d love the company!”
“Let me go grab my stuff and I can do it near the front of the garage.” Varian gestured, moving to collect anything he might need.
“Great.” Hugo replied, walking over to wait by Olivia.
…
The bike really wasn’t all that beat up. The fuel tank had a hole that was bad enough to need a bit of welding but other than the tire, nothing really needed replacing.
Varian pulled over a stand to prop the bike on while he worked as the blonde took a seat on the nearest bench which happened to be right next to the cleaning supplies including a mop bucket Varian was pretty sure was the final resting place of more than a few insects. Great.
To be honest, the thought that this super attractive guy was watching him was making him a bit anxious.
“So, you work here full time? You seem kinda young.” The other boy initiated.
“Hm? Oh yeah, no. This is my dad’s shop so I work here during the summer.” Varian explained, snapping out of his daze and getting to work replacing the tire.
“Ah, you go to college?”
“Mhm!”
“Local?”
“Yeah, I’m a chem major just uptown.”
“I thought you looked familiar! You’re in my physics class! I’m blanking on the name- somthin’ with a V…”
“Varian” varian supplied, surprised and a little flattered that this guy remembered him. “It’s really nice to officially meet you, …”
“Hugo. Engineering Major.”
“Engineering? You could’ve fixed this up yourself!” Varian joked, smiling at him while removing his short sleeved flannel, leaving only a tighter tank top, so he could get working without completely overheating in the June sun.
Hugo didn’t respond as quickly this time. Varian looked over to see him staring at his arms, mouth slightly hung open. Varian was no body builder but there was something to be said for the muscle that developed, moving heavy car parts on the daily.
Despite the great enjoyment he was taking in watching Hugo ogle him, he cleared his throat, bringing Hugo back to the conversation at hand.
“Sorry! You were saying?” Hugo questioned, his cheeks slightly pink.
Varian chuckled a bit at that, gaining back a little confidence knowing he wasn’t the only one flustered.
“How’d you beat up your bike?” Varian responded, moving on to the next subject.
“Oh! Some freak swerved into me. I drove off the road and Liv slammed into a rock.” Hugo recounted trying his best not to drool over Varian’s exposed biceps.
“Liv?”
“Oh, yeah, Olivia. That’s what I call,” Hugo gestured to the motor bike in front of Varian “her.”
Varian couldn’t help but snort a bit at that, covering his mouth with the back of his hand that was previously holding down the tire he was working on to the floor.
Hugo let out a mock offended scoff while smiling down at the other boy. “Rude! What, you don’t like the name I picked for her?”
“No, no! It’s lovely, really!” Varian said still smiling yet his eyes had grown discernibly softer while looking at Hugo.
…
After around a half hour to 45 minutes of the two talking, Varian had replaced Olivia’s front wheel and had gone back into the shop to grab the welding gear.
And there Hugo was. Eagerly awaiting the return of a boy he had met not an hour prior like a lovesick puppy.
The blonde was absolutely infatuated. Varian had the same sense of humor as him, he was into STEM, he was super sweet, they went to the same college, and on top of all of that he was beautiful! The freckles, the adorable blush, the buck teeth, the tanned skin covering a shockingly well built body!
How was Hugo expected not to instantly fall for him like an idiot.
Therefore, Hugo’s current plan was to woo Varian with his charm and intellect and when he was leaving, subtly asked him for his number. If he said no, it wasn’t like he’d ever have to come back here, he could find a different mechanic! And if he said yes…
Hugo, wrapped in daydreams about the latter outcome of his plan, failed to hear the boy he was thinking about barging back into the garage until he placed his gear next to him and started examining the fuel tank carefully.
“Welcome back, Freckles! Hope you didn’t miss me too much!” Hugo remarked.
“Haha” Varian stated, rolling his eyes in amusement before flipping down his welding mask and Turing on the torch.
Hugo took this break in their conversation as a chance to stretch after sitting on a less than comfortable bench for almost an hour for the sole purpose of being near a random mechanic he was pining over.
He stood up, raising his hands above his head, intertwining his fingers and extending his spine in a slight backwards bend, a sliver of his waist now exposed.
He stayed like that for a moment until he heard the hiss and crackling of welding on metal stop and the smelled the scent of burning start!
His eyes shot open to Varian’s masked figure facing him and the torch held next to him, now burning his discarded flannel!
“Uhhh, Freckles!?” Hugo noted pointing next to him.
Varian looked down and jolted away turning the torch off as Hugo maneuvered over with the mop bucket that had been resting next to him, splashing it down on the fabric and extinguishing the flames.
The two simultaneously breathed a sigh of relief as Varian pulled his mask up and Hugo tossed the mop bucket back to the vague area it had previously inhabited.
Varian looked over at Hugo with his blue eyes extremely widened looking mortified.
“Please, don’t tell my dad!” Varian pleaded, absolutely frozen in terror.
Despite feeling a bit guilty, Hugo couldn’t help but laugh at that. I mean c’mon!
Varian relaxed a little and even allowed his face to melt into a small (still slightly tense) smile, showing a bit of his heart melting rabbit teeth.
“Sorry, sorry! My lips are sealed, don’t worry, sweet cheeks.” Hugo assured him leaning down slightly.
“Maybe don’t write us a review.” Varian suggested, half smiling.
“Aw, what?! This place rocks! I mean, ten out of ten customer service, repairs with a pyrotechnics show, and the view isn’t too bad either.” Hugo listed, eying varian as he mentioned that last bit.
That certainly got a blush out of the shorter boy. Hugo (sadly) just barely got to see it before the welding mask was back on and Varian was back to work for the last few touches on Olivia.
…
Back at the front, Varian had calmed down from the adrenaline spike that was Hugo flirting with him.
Said boy was now scanning his card and making note on his phone to contact his insurance. He looked oddly tense as Varian asked “Is there anything else I can help you with?” Admittedly trying to put off Hugo leaving.
“Yeah actually! This might be super weird to ask you at your work but, would you wanna go out sometime?” Hugo asked hands buried into his pant pockets, avoiding eye contact.
Varian couldn’t help but notice the softness in his eyes when he finally looked at him and he felt his pulse quicken as he tilted his head to the side smiling.
“I’d love to.” Varian managed to enunciate before pulling Hugo somewhat over the counter by his shirt and kissing his cheek.
Varian quickly scrawled down his number on the back of one of the brochures while pretending not to notice the elated and slightly drunken grin plaster onto Hugo’s face next to a gentle hand brushing the spot Varian’s lips had just been.
Varian handed over the paper.
Hugo cleared his throat a bit and took it, sliding it into his pocket and clearly trying to remain cool while saying “Great, I’ll uh… I’ll text you!”
“Perfect.”
Varian watched the blonde wave and exit the shop before giving a still very audible “YES!!!” To witch Varian had to chuckle at.
Score 1 for reception boy!