A/N: I had this idea a while ago, but only just got around to making it happen. So, this is going to be a collection of Mario oneshots - either too short or (in my opinion) too low-quality to be published on their own. There won't be any fixed update schedule for these; it'll be updated whenever I have something to post. I recommend following this 'collection' to see any future stories I add to it.

This first story is from my series in which Luigi is blind. The other stories (published separately) are called Sounds Like Textures and Dance in the Dark, so feel free to check those out as well. None of them have to be read in any order.

Title: Wildflowers

Characters: Luigi, Daisy

Genre: Romance/Friendship

Rating: K+

Warnings: None

Armchairs were the best. Big, warm, squishy things that were comfortable to sit on and could even be slept on if you so desired. Really, there was never a time when armchairs weren't a viable option. This was likely the reason why Mario and Luigi's house had three of the things. Luigi's was always shifted a bit closer to the fireplace than the others, as if he thought no-one would notice him moving it.

It was almost nine in the evening when he suddenly woke up in his chair, surprised to find the house so quiet before he remembered that Mario had taken Peach out for dinner that evening. They must not be home yet.

With a tiny sigh, he groped around for his cane. At the same moment, there came a clicking noise - very faint, but audible - followed by a whisper of cool air moving through the house. It was coming from the direction of the front hallway. The front door opening.

Luigi liked to consider himself not paranoid. He'd been working on getting his stupid fears under control for years now, and was quite proud of his efforts. Despite that, he couldn't deny that his mind immediately went to burglers and serial killers.

Why did Mario leave the door unlocked?! he thought, fighting off rising panic as his gloved fingers curled around the handle of his cane. He stood up and turned to face the front hall, with vague notions of using the stick as a defensive weapon. Unfortunately, it was made of lightweight wood and was much more likely to snap in half than break bones if he hit someone with it.

He heard footsteps coming up the front hall, and sensed the air pressure shifting as somebody entered the living-room where he was. At the same time, a familiar odour of grass and wildflowers assaulted his nostrils.

'Hey, Luigi!' He had no time to respond before a soft and surprisingly warm body slammed into him with a force sufficient to make him rock back on his heels, and a pair of strong arms lifted to wrap around his waist.

'...Daisy?' Just as fast as it had come, the panic was trickling away. He'd recognise that beautiful voice, full of enthusiasm and positive spirit, anywhere, just as surely as he remembered that sweet smell. He felt like he was sitting in a grassy meadow under the glowing sunshine with daisies and buttercups growing in abundunce all around him.

Almost without a conscious thought, he felt his arms go around her. He was still holding his cane, which clattered lightly against the floor as he moved.

'Thought I'd stop by and visit,' said Daisy. 'I knew you were on your own tonight, and, well, that suits me just fine. I get to have you all to myself.' He could hear the laughter in her voice and it made him smile as well.

Ever since he'd lost use of his vision, Luigi had found himself having to work harder, search longer, for the good moments in life. There seemed to be so many things he'd once enjoyed that he couldn't do anymore. But when he found them, the good moments were so good - things felt so much more intense than they used to feel. Just being so close to Daisy and breathing in the wildflower scent of her was making his mind go haywire.

'Thanks for coming,' he said, now hearing the grin in his own voice. 'You'd never believe how quiet it is whenever Mario's not around... It's peaceful, but... it's kind of lonely too.'

Daisy drew back a little, and he knew she was looking at his face, studying his expression, with amusement and maybe a hint of sadness. He always knew when people were staring at him; it had become a game of Daisy's to see how long she could do so before he broke the silence or got uncomfortable. He thought the record was about half a minute - but that had been the first time they saw each other after his accident.

'So,' she said at last, breaking the silence. 'I've got nothing much to do all evening... Want to go out somewhere and eat?'

He nodded, a little shyly. It was ridiculous, he thought, that after more than a year of being together he was STILL nervous around Daisy at odd moments. 'Of course. I'd love to.'

Their hands found each other, and together they headed out the door and into the cold and windy night.