Chapter Text
A few days after everything finally healed from the fight with King Boo ~ Luigi's POV
It was a nice day for moving, Luigi had to admit. He paused for a second, adjusting the box he was holding so it stayed at his hip, and lifted his face up to the sun to let the warmth sink in.
And I'm finally fully healed from that horrible fight with King Boo.
He shuddered as he remembered that lung-grasping feeling of being possessed, how the giant ghost had controlled his body and forced him to attack his friends. The Italian grew nauseous at the memories of tasting blood and broken bones.
Stop thinking about it, it only makes things worse!
The next memories which bubbled to the surface were from all those days in the toad hospital, eating mushroom soup and watching doctors with too-young faces attend to him and Bowser. Then there had been all those nights he shared with—
No Luigi told himself, shaking his head. I'm not going to think about that right now, that's for later worrying.
He forced a smile.
If you need to think about something, think about this instead. You're moving into a castle!
And the castle might be a bit run down, but how many people—other than Princess Peach—could say they lived in a freaking castle? Sure, it might not stand proudly tall with white walls, red roofs, or pink pendants flying in the wind.
In fact, it might need a lot more than cleaning to bring it back to its glory days. He smirked. But it's still a castle, and I won't be cleaning it alone.
His mind slid from dark bricks, skeleton trees, and the strong lava heat to something, someone, else.
The fire in his eyes is much hotter than the lava he surrounds himself with.
Luigi started to cough, and his fingers were slipping from the box in his grasp before there was the sound of footsteps and a pair of helping hands took it from him.
"You okay, Luigi?" Mario's voice was full of concern, like it had been practically every day since Luigi had woken up in the hospital. "Do you need to sit down for a few minutes? I don't mind carrying things when we've got these super mushrooms! Hey, wanna see how many boxes my giant form can hold at one time?!"
He managed to stop coughing and raise his high enough to see Mario put down the box he'd rescued so he could flex his arms.
"Seriously though, bro." His elder brother stopped and put a gentle hand on Luigi's back. "You alright?"
"Breathed wrong."
I'm certainly not telling him who I was thinking of. Even so, Luigi could feel a flush creeping up his neck. Thankfully, the pressure to cough died down and he could stand straight without re-triggering it. "See?"
Please don't ask why I'm blushing!
Mario frowned, pulling at the corner of his mustache.
Like how Bowser—NOT THINKING ABOUT THAT! The blush grew stronger.
"I've been worried about you."
Luigi sighed. "Mario..."
"I... I thought you'd left me."
I still don't know what to say to that. "I'm sorry" doesn't sound right, and it's not as if I wanted all of that to happen.
"I..." Luigi's voice trailed off as nothing else came to mind. "I'm sorry."
Like always. Every time I cause trouble or mess something up.
"Hey, just maybe don't go to strange castles in the Dark Lands by yourself anymore, okay?" Mario took a step forward and gave Luigi a big, crushing hug. "You've got me, Peach, Toad, Donkey... even Bowser and Kamek."
Annnnd there's that blushing again, right back at full volume. At least he can't see it this time since he's still hugging me.
"So, between you and me, what's going on with you and Bowser, huh?" Mario pulled back, his blue eyes focused on Luigi. "You're okay with this move, right? Because we can get another mushroom house if you’re wanting some space."
"It's not about the space," Luigi said firmly, smiling. "Mario, we've been rooming together all our lives, it'll be stranger with you missing than you there."
The taller brother rubbed the back of his neck. How do I mention that Bowser and I are thinking about dating? Are my cheeks burning hotter at that thought? I mean, I know he wanted to talk to me about what we both want in a relationship, but I honestly have no idea—I can't remember the last time I went on a date that Mario didn't help set up for me.
"Luigi? Lu? You still here?"
Luigi returned from his thoughts in time to see Mario snapping his fingers.
"Wow, you weren't here at all. What were you thinking about?"
Nothing important.
"Um, how to explain why I'm moving in with Bowser."
Mario made dismissive sounds and shook his head. "Don't worry about trying to explain anything. I mean, I've already figured out the reason long ago, I was just waiting to see if you'd admit to it."
WHAT? How? When? What did I do?!
His elder brother had a smug expression on his face. "You're moving in to keep working with Bowser and help him be a better turtle."
"Mario!" At this point Luigi felt as if his entire body was burning from embarrassment.
"What? It's this thing that you do, always bringing out the good in people. And I know I'm right because—ha!—your entire face has gone red!"
As his elder brother laughed, Luigi's mind came up with a horrible plan.
He's completely wrong, but if I pretend that he'd guessed the reason, he'll stop asking and I won't have to answer until I'm ready.
While he was mulling over that elegant solution to his current dilemma, a smaller part of him pointed out that if he and Bowser did start dating, then it might look like a horrible conflict of interest to Mario; the therapist entangled romantically with his client.
Then again, Mario's not the type to look that deeply at things... but it's unfair to Bowser, isn't it?
Memories popped up from when he'd woken after the battle with King Boo, when everyone else had been chased out of the room and it was only him and Bowser.
"I find you smart, intelligent, and kind hearted," he repeated to himself, muttering under his breath. And even if he was the one saying those words, not Bowser, Luigi’s heart suddenly ached for more.
Mario stopped laughing and wiped tears away from his eyes. "What was that?"
"Nothing!" Luigi giggled nervously and looked away, back to the front of the small house they'd shared ever since the Battle of Brooklyn. Its red and white spotted top, the greenish door. He almost jumped when a hand dropped onto his shoulders.
"Yeah, I'm going to miss you too, little brother." Mario lightly punched him in the shoulder. "Then again, without you here maybe I can convince the princes to visit me over here now."
"As long as you keep it clean. And tidied." The side of his mouth flickered into a smile. "She might."
"Hey!" This time the shoulder punch packed a little more oomph. "I clean, thank you very much!"
"Riiiiight,"drawled Luigi, glad that the topic was changing. He rolled his eyes. "I won't be there anymore to do the dishes, sweep the floor, or hang the laundry outside."
He paused, then put a hand on his brother's shoulder. "Could you not mention anything about why I'm moving in? I don't—"
"Don't want to embarrass the turtle I figure, since you're always the nice guy." Mario was already nodding. "Yeah, I can do that. Anything else you want or need in your new home?"
Luigi almost blurted out his brother's name as a joke, but he managed to stifle himself at the last minute, knowing that Mario would see it as a Freudian slip.
Even if he wouldn't call it that. Come on, Luigi. It's common for people to grow up and leave the family nest. And it's not like Mario's living a couple of states away, it's just a few pipe jumps.
"I'll be fine."
"You've already got the basics, and I managed to smuggle a new coffee pot back from Brooklyn."
"Thanks."
"You're welcome."
There were more words between them, of course. Always had been and would always be, but not all of them needed to be spoken. The brothers looked at the apartment in silence, each lost in their own memories.
It'll be strange, waking up by myself. Making coffee for one instead of two. Not begging brother dearest to split the chores and the cooking. What is life but new paths and new friends?
"Visit often."
"I will."
Again, they ran out of words to say, going back to the now-familiar awkwardness.
"So... how's all this stuff getting there?"
Luigi shrugged. "Bowser said he'd take care of it, but I didn't ask about the details."
"All you needed was to get everything to the pipes, right?"
A nod. "Yeah. Of course, Bowser had mentioned that he could get it himself, but most of the toads don't like it when Bowser comes in here, so the princess asked if he could keep the chaos contained."
"Yeah, that makes sense."
And that had been an interesting meeting to sit in on. Mario hadn't been there since it didn't concern him, which meant I'd had a front seat to see how the two rules ex-enemies worked together. Bowser had at first scoffed at the idea, saying that he should be able to go anywhere, but before I or Peach could say anything, he'd stopped himself, huffed, and quietly admitted that it was a good request from a ruler looking out for her subjects.
Luigi had sent a proud smile to Bowser and the Koopa had returned it with slightly darkened cheeks, before asking Princess Peach how Luigi was going to move all his things if he wasn't allowed in the Kingdom. At that point he'd had to slip out for a quick bathroom break, and by the time he'd returned they'd been shaking hands to seal the deal.
"I can at least walk you to the pipes," said Mario, breaking into Luigi's thoughts.
"Sure." He smiled at his brother. "That would be nice."
Neither of them ran down the road to launch themselves into the nearest warp pipe, which was their usual start to the day. Instead, Luigi took the lead with leaden feet.
I don't think I'll ever forget how to go to the Dark Lands. Those pipes are forever etched in my mind.
It was almost thirty minutes later before he waved goodbye, both brothers tearing up and Luigi a little sad to go.
It's okay though. If I don't want to stay, I can always come back.
Which was another reason not to tell Mario that he was maybe-dating Bowser; it would be beyond embarrassing to come back days later and admit that it was yet another relationship that didn't work out.
Because let's be honest, the longest lasting relationship was only a week; then she found someone "better suited."
Luigi forced a smile onto his face, pulled away from his brother's hug, and darted into the first pipe of the journey.
I don't have to go all the way, if it helps to think of it like that. I can take a few minutes, or even an hour and just... collect my thoughts here.
There were still mushrooms surrounding him, a visual safety symbol even after everything that had happened.
Especially after everything that happened. Luigi let out a sigh. Maybe I don't want a window in Bowser's Castle... I certainly won't be looking down on peaceful mushrooms.
"Come on, Luigi," he scolded himself. "Into the next pipe. You're making people wait on you and that's not a nice thing to do."
Mentioning the warp pipe made him glace at the next one he was supposed to enter.
"You know the way, and you know who's waiting for you at the end."
Bowser.
For a split second he wanted to go back to and explain everything to Mario, all his thoughts, his hopes, his dreams.
Okay, maybe not those dreams. But I should have told him the truth no matter how much it scares me.
And that was the problem. This was something he actually wanted to see work, and knowing that there were so many reasons why it shouldn't left him petrified.
Which is most likely why I'm dragging my feet about this. He sighed. I just... Bowser said that he liked me for who I am, but a part of me worries that he only likes me because I'm not blasting him in the face with an ice flower. Because that's a thing, isn't it? Not knowing if it's love or friendship?
"Ugh, what am I doing?!" So many thoughts were tumbling through Luigi's mind, voices which sounded suspiciously like his father and uncles.
What, you're starting a relationship by lying about it? Ha! Yeah, that's fine, certainly not a comment on how well that's gonna go!
Lying to your family means you're ashamed, Luigi. Question is, what are you ashamed about? I mean, couldn't you have found a nice human to date? That would have made everything easier.
It's easy to see why you're not telling your brother the truth; I mean, who would admit they've fallen in love with a turtle? Let alone the very turtle who tried to take over Brooklyn!
"Am I ashamed of Bowser? Is that why I couldn't say anything to Mario?" Luigi moved to a mushroom big enough to ask as an umbrella and laid down underneath. "Mama mia... What's wrong with me?"
Everything? I'm Luigi after all, not Mario.
"Stop it." Luigi pressed against his temples. "He said that he found me sexy. Not Mario."
That forced a laugh out of him. A nervous, high-pitched laugh, but still...
I am worried about Mario's reaction. I don't know if he's going to... Shrug it off? Make fun of me? Yell that this is dangerous, living with someone who kidnapped me and was going to sacrifice me... But I know he's changed. He's trying. And choosing between something that might be amazing and the family that I already know I love… that’s not a situation I want to be in.
"And... no one else has mentioned that I'm sexy. Or even found me handsome." Tears were welling up now; he recognized that feeling.
I've always been a second-rate Mario, a screw up, a waste of space.
And there went the waterworks, spilling down his cheeks.
He saved me from getting hurt worse. He made sure I couldn't attack my brother. And... He kissed me.
Luigi wiped away the tears. "Come on... There's no reason to cry."
Nothing bad has happened and nothing will. Mario said that he wouldn't bring up the reason I moved out here, or at least the reason he thinks it true, Peach only knows that I'm moving, and Bowser and I are still at the talking stages to see if this is even something we both want.
He eyed the next warp pipe.
"Okay, Luigi... Here we go!"
And if a relationship does develop I'll confess to Mario, but until then, it's best that things remain quiet.