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(I.) The break down
Bowser can’t believe it really. How he let himself get caught out in the rocky desert that spanned from Wario’s Stadium to Whistletop summit. He knew better than to drive his kart when it was being finicky, but he thought he fixed that problem last month when the dang thing was acting up.
Bowser growled low in his throat as he heavily debated just kicking the stupid kart.
Taking a deep breath to cool down instead of making the situation worse by kicking his only mode of transportation, he dug around in his shell to find the paper used for correspondence.
He was about to go searching for a pen when the realization struck him that it would take over half a day for his mechanic koops to get to him.
This time he let out a yell of frustration and lifted his kart above his head.
“Eep!”
Bowser whipped his head towards the source of the small noise. The blue spotted toad and him made eye contact.
“Don’t kill me!”
Bowser growled. “Buzz off, you overgrown fungi.”
The toad tripped over his own two feet and nearly fell to the floor with the heavy bag on his back. Bowser watched as the white and blue top became nothing but a spec on the horizon.
With a sigh, Bowser set the kart down and started pushing his kart back the way he came.
“Stupid kart. Stupid day. Stupid terrain. Gotta go through all these annoying rocks and then all that stupid lava.” Bowser stopped pushing as the realization hit him.
He was going to have to push his broken kart uphill, avoiding lava, pedestrians, other karts, and manage not to bite anyone’s head off in the process.
He growled again.
“What the hell am I supposed to do with you!” He yelled at the kart. “It ain’t like there’s anyone else around who can fix you! I gotta do all this shit on my own. I don’t get two annoying plumbers who can fix all my problems!”
Bowser could feel his chest burn with fire as he thought about Mario’s smug face laughing at his predicament. He could practically imagine what the short man would say.
“No way am I letting Mario fix this. That bastard will never let me live this down.”
Bowser looked to where his own land was in the distance. The bright light of the day making its darkness seem even more so. He turned his head and glanced at the many plateaus and mountains of warm orange brown that lead to Mario Bros. circuit.
“There are two of em’.” He grumbled to himself and then groaned.
With a heave, Bowser turned his kart around and started pushing it towards the Mario Bros. circuit.
-
Bowser is a koopa. A drakoopa no less. Heat doesn’t bother him. But the humidity of the desert coupled with the bright sun beating on him is making even him sweat. To top it off, when he finally makes it to the damn track/repair station, he is met with the grating noise of screaming toads.
He can feel his annoyance reaching a breaking point, half about to breathe fire on all the toads running around in circles just to get them to stop.
“Fermatevi, fermatevi! Stop! What’s happening?!”
Bowser swallows his fire with a cough of smoke at the sound of the plumber’s voice.
Getting help from one of the annoying “heroes” is always actively harder when he looks like he’s terrorizing the populace.
“It’s Bowser!” A green spotted toad stage whispers and points in his direction.
No shit. Who else would get this violent of a reaction?
Blue eyes lock onto him and Luigi blinks.
“Big Bowser?”
Another blue spotted toad pushes Luigi towards him. “Do something or he’ll eat us!” This one doesn’t even bother trying to whisper.
Luigi gives the toad a skeptical look and walks up to Bowser hesitantly.
“Ciao, big Bowser.” Luigi looks around him. “What are you doing here. . . alone?”
Bowser crosses his arms and steps out the way. “My kart is--”
“Mamma mia! Povero te! What happened?!” Luigi rushes past Bowser to look at his kart.
“I was trying to tell you before you interrupted, green.”
Luigi looks back at him, but gets on his knees all the same. “Okie dokie. I’m listening.”
“The stupid thing has been acting up for the past few months. Every time I think I’ve fixed the problem, another one pops up! I thought for sure this time I had it, but clearly,” Bowser breaks into another growl as he glares at his kart, “I was mistaken.”
Luigi hums and lifts up the kart to look at it from where he already is on the floor.
Bower can feel his eyebrows raise at the casual display of strength.
“You uh, need help?”
“No, I’m okay, er. I mean, thank you, but no.” Luigi sets the kart back down and then stands up. “I can fix her.”
Bowser watches as the white mechanic pants become slightly gray as Luigi wipes his hands on them.
The plumber then lifts up his hat to wipe at his brow before rounding the back of the kart and for a split second Bowser gets to see the unruly fluffy brown curls on full display.
What’s with me? Oogoling greenie.
Bowser shakes his head and helps Luigi push the kart towards one of the fixing stations.
“Where’s red?” Bowser mutters under his breath.
At least if he knows when the constant thorn in his side is going to jump out and taunt him, it won’t be as annoying.
“Mario?” Luigi asks and Bowser nods. “Mmm, he’s with the principessa today. So, it’s just plain ol’ Weegee here.”
Bowser frowns.
Luigi turns in time to see Bowser’s displeased face and Luigi smirks. “Between you and me though, I’m better at fixing the bigger karts.” Luigi glances around to see if they’re alone and then smiles wider. “Given Mario’s unfortunate stature.”
Bowser snorts. “You calling your brother short, bean pole?”
Luigi shrugs. “You said it,” he turns to his tool box with a glint in his eyes, “not me.”
Bowser feels his heart flutter at the teasing tone in the other’s voice.
He shakes his head and then leans on a wall to the side to watch Luigi work.
The wet heat of the desert must be getting to him. That’s why he’s got butterflies in his stomach. It has to be.
(II.) The flowers
Bowser’s tapping his foot in a new attempt to be patient when things don’t happen like they’re supposed to or, for that matter, when they’re supposed to.
“Come on, Lu.”
Bowser glances at Daisy as she keeps tapping her foot too.
It’s a brief solace that he’s not the only one irritated that the race hasn’t started yet.
But that’s the other thing. Luigi may be many things, but one thing he’s not is tardy. So on top of wanting the race to start sooner rather than later, he’s also curious about why the plumber is late.
Though, Bowser’s eye glance to Peach as she waves to Mario in the stands, he can admit there’s another reason he wants this race over and done with.
“Scusi! Sorry! I’m here, I’m here!” Luigi comes bumbling and rushing down the track, holding his farm hat on top of his head. “Sorry I’m late!”
Luigi waves down a toad and things start getting into gear.
“Didn’t peg you as the tardy type, green.”
Luigi whips around to face him and then rubs at the back of his neck. “Ah, no. I try not to be. I got distracted.”
Bowser lets his eyes roam over Luigi’s clothes as he takes in the vast amount of dirt that’s on the outfit. Even the gloves are brown instead of their usual white, but that might have been hindsight that made the plumber change them, instead of the gloves being incredibly dirty.
“We’re you playin’ in the dirt or something.”
Luigi’s eyebrows bunch together as he looks down at his clothes. He flushes and then shakes his head. “No, I was--” Luigi pauses as he considers something.
“Racers!” The shrill voice of a toad rings out through the crowd, “To your karts!”
Bowser shrugs and begins to round his kart to get in when a small hand grabs his arm.
“Maybe I could show you sometime, si?”
Bowser stares into Luigi’s eyes.
Blue, blue eyes. Maybe even bluer than the princesses.
“Sure.”
Not like he’s being serious. Bowser hums to himself.
He looks to the side where Luigi is getting situated in his kart just a little ways ahead and to the right of him.
Is he? The distracting thought makes him nearly miss the start of the race.
Instead of the speed boost he was hoping for, he spins out and has to hear Mario laughing at him in the stands.
“Get it together.” Bowser growls and slams his foot on the accelerator to get back into the race.
-
A few days later and Bowser completely forgets about the conversation that practically made him lose the race. Other than the terrible items he seemed to keep pulling, but mostly he blames greenie for distracting him.
It wouldn’t be so bad if that wasn’t his last race for a minute, but being a king doesn’t stop just because he’s on a racing world.
He’s so laser focused that he almost misses the knock on the door, but he hears it and looks up from his desk where the papers he’s working on seem to be swarming him.
“Enter.” He calls boredly.
A small koopa enters on shaky feet and bows deeply. “Apologies for the interruption, er um, interrupting, your busyness, but a letter arrived for you.”
Bowser sets the pen down to regard the message koop with mild interest. “From who?”
If it’s from one of his kids back home, it’ll be a nice break from all the work he still has to do on this racing world.
“It’s from, well you see its, we double checked but we don’t have the magic of the esteemed Kamek so--”
“Out with it.” Bowser growls, patience slipping.
“It’s from Luigi!”
Bowser blinks.
The poor koopa starts to shake violently.
Bowser pushes himself up from his desk and walks slowly over to the messenger. His larger frame looming over the small koopa in a menacing way.
“I’m not fond of jokes.”
A lie, but not when it comes to something like this.
“I am not joking, your ferociousness! It’s true!” The koopa gets down on both knees and then presents the letter as if they were a table instead of a living breathing being.
With an exhale of more smoke than air, Bowser plucks the letter from the koopa’s hand and tears it open with a claw. Bowser pretends not to notice as the messenger flees the second he looks occupied.
He walks back over to his desk to grab his reading glasses and sits down with a huff.
As he examines the letter he sees his name written in black in on the very notably green envelope.
“Huh.”
Settling into the comfortable chair beneath him, Bowser pulls out the letter -- also written on green paper, though lighter than the envelope-- and begins to read.
Dear King Koopa,
I humbly invite you to come to Peach’s royal garden tomorrow morning if you are available. I have something I would like to show you pertaining to our conversation a few days ago.
I look forward to seeing you.
Sincerely,
Luigi
Bowser reads over the letter several more times, but the words don’t change, nor do they magically fly away revealing themselves as some kind of prank. So, despite his gut instinct to trash the letter and ignore its invitation to Peach’s castle, he goes.
“It’s Bowser!” A guard toad yells.
His partner slaps him on the head. “No, duh!”
Bowser huffs out smoke and pushes past the fighting toads without acknowledging them.
Still, he can feel their eyes, as well as several more toads, watch him as he makes his way to the gardens.
Red eyes catch on the hidden staircase that lead up to the rooms of the castle and he briefly debates on going up.
Bowser clenches his fists and keeps moving forwards to the gardens.
The scent of flowers fill his nostrils quickly and he almost wants to hold his breath. All the scents remind him of perfume, he can hardly believe they’re coming from the flowers at all.
Where’d Peach get such fragrant flowers?
“What’s he doing?” One toad loudly whispers to another behind him.
“I don’t know. Should we call Mario?” A second one answers.
“Linguini's down there though.” A third points out. “Maybe he’ll intimidate him?”
All the toads break out into obnoxious laughter and Bowser trudges through the flowers as quickly as possible to get away from the noise.
He scans the rows of flowers in hopes of finding the plumber’s form.
“Where could he be? There can’t be that many flowers at this dumb castle. Can there?”
Bowser walks some more, trying to be mindful of the flowers with his large feet, as he looks for Luigi.
“If that mustache and hat don’t show up in the next 5 seconds. I’m leaving.”
“5 seconds?” Bowser jumps and turns around.
Luigi gives a warm smile as he folds his arms behind his back. “Is one okay?”
Bowser shoves him but, surprisingly, he hardly moves from the force.
Luigi giggles at the playful shove and then moves to stand directly next to him.
“I’m glad you came, Bowser. I was, um, worried you wouldn’t.”
“Yeah, well.” Bowser glances at the myriad of flowers laid out before them. “Color me curious I guess.”
“Curiosity trapped the toad.”
Bowser smirks. “But cleverness freed the koopa.”
Luigi laughs and Bowser catches him staring at the other as he does.
He’s got a nice laugh.
He mentally slaps himself in the face and clears his throat. “What’d you wanna show me, greenie?”
Luigi gestures his arms wide. “This!”
Bowser stares deadpan. “What.”
“I fiori, mio re. Aren’t they beautiful?”
Bowser uses context clues to figure out Luigi is talking about the flowers and nods. “Yeah, they’re nice. Fragrant as hell. My nose is burning."
“Grazie, big Bowser!” Luigi kneels gently to hold one of the flowers blooming petals in between gloved fingers. “It was much harder than managing my little garden back home.”
The words take a moment to sink in, but then Bowser finds himself moving before he can think.
He turns on Luigi and grabs him by the shoulders. “Back a shell up. What are you talking about?”
Luigi blinks owlishly at him. “What do you mean?”
“Are you saying you do all of,” Bowser gestures wildly to all the flowers around them, “this!”
Luigi smiles proudly. “With a little help. But, yes, mostly on my own.”
Bowser feels his shoulders sag as he takes his hands off Luigi’s shoulders.
The vibrant colors of the rows and rows of flowers seem all the more impressive than when Bowser had been looking at them only seconds ago.
Unbidden, his mind imagines Wendy and Junior running through the flowers and appreciating their beauty.
“Wendy would love these.” He murmurs.
“Wendy?” Luigi echoes, “Ah, one of your bambini, er, your children.”
Bowser nods. “She likes anything pretty. She’d kill to have even one of these in her room. Somethin’ different from piranha plants and poison shrooms, you know?”
Luigi is quiet for a long moment and Bowser begins to regret his vulnerability.
“Ignore me. Doesn’t matter.” His face warms with embarrassment and then annoyance.
He shouldn’t be ashamed that he misses his kids, damnit! He loves them.
“Here.” The gloved hand grabbing him without hesitation pulls him back to the moment in front of him. “For your giovane principessa. You’ll have to tell me if she likes it.”
Bowser looks down at the delicate pink flower in his hands incredulously.
He can’t blame the heat this time for the way his heart feels warm in his chest, nor would he want to. Anyone who shows kindness to his kids instantly wins his appreciation and respect.
Luigi only smiles as Bowser all but gapes at him.
He’s beginning to get the feeling something is happening that he’s not sure how to handle.
(III.) The party
Bowser doesn’t come to these things. Mind you, not because he doesn’t like a good party where he can get drunk, but because most of the time, Red is usually the host or at it. Or,
Peach laughs at something Donkey Kong says and Bowser worms his way back farther into his hiding place.
Or Peach is at them or throwing them. The only reason he’s even at this one is because 1, Daisy is throwing it and her parties are known to be legendary and 2, it’s being held at the Shy Guy Bazar. Which is, practically in his domain. It’s less than half a day’s drive at least, so when he inevitably wants to leave early, at least it won’t feel like he has to then drive hours to get home. So. He’s drinking some colorful drink and hiding in the shadows where he won’t be bothered by toads or Shy Guys.
A few of the other top ten racers have greeted him and made decent conversation, but he knows that they’re not going to be coming back around and mingling with him for the rest of the party. They’ve done their social politeness and can go back to ignoring him.
“I should just go.” He grumbles into his drink.
“Luigi, if you don’t get your butt out here right this second, I’ll dye all your clothes red!”
Bowser hears a very offended gasp and he watches green stumble out from one of the many hallways to hide behind a pillar.
“Daisy, no one wants to see me in my Oasis outfit, especially not this one!” Luigi whines back.
“Um, I disagree big time Lu. Plus, hello! That outfit looks incredible. I want you to make alterations to my own asap!”
Luigi seems to fight with himself until Daisy literally pulls him out into the open.
Bowser nearly chokes on his drink.
He still has to cough away a few flames into his arms as Luigi comes into full view.
Indeed, it’s his oasis outfit, but it is also most definitely not the usual one.
The satin green vest and pants have been swapped and upgraded.
The original vest was a light green with yellow embellishing and yellow frayed fabric on the edge. This vest is a much darker green with gold practically sewn into it with how it shimmers in the light. The embellishments have also been improved upon with gem stones at key parts in vibrant and alluring colors. The satin sash around Luigi’s waist now matches perfectly with the vest and the even darker green of the pants make the gold stand out more. The real show stopper though is the open panels on the side of the pants outlined once again in gold trim. Long strong legs can be seen through the opening and Bowser nearly finds himself drooling.
He downs his drink in one go and then grabs another from a passing Shy Guy as he tries to calm down.
His face is still on fire, but at least now he can pretend it’s from the alcohol.
Bowser takes in several deep breaths as he forces his eyes away from Luigi’s. . . everything, to focus on who he’s talking to.
Once again his eyes find Peach.
She’s in her touring outfit showing the most skin Bowser is sure he’s ever seen on her. It’s only her thighs, hardly anything scandalous, but he can envision his younger self sauntering over to her with all the confidence in the world as he tries to woo her.
He can also see himself getting shot down mercilessly in public and making a fool of himself.
The depressing thought has him drifting back to Luigi. His exposed chest and arms, his toned legs, those brown curls that just have to be soft and his blue eyes crinkling as laughs at something Peach says.
The apathy in his chest is replaced with a strong desire to see how Luigi would react if he tried flirting with him. Maybe he’d even get to see that wonderful blush appear on his face again.
“He’s handsome, isn’t he?”
Bowser can practically feel himself hunker down into his shell at the surprise of the voice next to him. It’s only due to years of stomping down the instinct that allows him to stay mostly out of his shell.
Daisy smirks devilishly at him. “Oops. Sorry, did I scare you big guy?”
Bowser glowers at her and the insincerity in her tone. “Don’t you have other people to harass.” He hisses.
“Probably, but as host it’s my job to check in with everyone. Hence, why I’m here.”
“Trying to scare me out of my shell? Gee, thanks.”
Daisy nudges him and Bowser rolls his eyes.
“You can be pouty all you want, but I heard someone coughing over here when Luigi came out and I came to investigate. Imagine my surprise when I see you practically undressing Lu with your eyes hidden away back here.”
“I was not!”
Daisy’s self satisfied smirk makes him want to burn the place down without a care about the consequences.
“Then, I am.”
“Great, you find your boyfriend hot. Good for you. Why don’t you go over there and tell him instead of annoying me half to death.”
Daisy snorts and Bowser looks at her. “I’m gonna tell you a secret as one royal to another, Bowser.” He raises an eyebrow as Daisy urges him down. “Shy Guys and toads are a lethal combination when it comes to trying to rule a kingdom. I’m sure the tales of crazy Daisy have even managed to make it back to the darklands.”
“Nobles are pompous asses.”
“Absolutely. And you know their favorite thing?”
“Telling the person in charge what to do?”
“See, this is why we should be friends. You get me.”
Bowser finishes his drink, setting the empty glass on a passing Shy Guy’s tray and crosses his arms. “They try and get greenie to tell you what to do then?”
Daisy smiles. “Try being the important word there. Luigi would never try to control me and only encourages me to be even crazier. It exasperates those annoying assholes to no end.”
I can imagine. Same thing when someone tries to tell the kids off for being kids.
“But we haven’t actually been dating for 3 years.”
“Pardon?”
“You’ve got nothing for me to pardon.”
Bowser growls. “Hilarious. What do you mean you’re not dating?”
Daisy shrugs. “It’s just as I said. We aren’t and haven’t been for a while. The only people that don’t really know are in this kingdom. Crazy to believe he’s still single, isn’t it?”
“He wants to date?”
“Oh yeah. Luigi is a real romantic and, between you and me,” Daisy looks both ways before whispering in his ear, “an animal in the sheets.”
Bowser wants to cough up more flames.
Daisy laughs as she leaves. “I hear he likes them tall and strong too. If you know anyone like that, you can send them his way~!” She sings-songs as she leaves earshot.
He grabs all the drinks on the next passing Shy Guy’s platter and downs them as fast as he can.
Luigi catches his eye and gives a small wave.
He needs another drink to get rid of the lewd thought that enters his mind without his consent.
(IV.) Biker boy
Daisy’s words are still ringing in his ears, even though he tried desperately to forget about them.
So, the bean pole is handsome. Not a big deal. He can acknowledge that.
He’s handsome, Peach is beautiful and Daisy is pretty. Even Donkey Kong’s got some charm.
Plenty of people are attractive. It doesn’t mean anything. It just means that he’s able to use his eyes to acknowledge beauty in the world. He’s a king. He can tell when things are pretty. He has to! And, and, he has a preteen daughter. If something isn’t pretty, she doesn’t go near it. So, he knows beauty.
“Congratulations once again to all the participants of this grand prix, but of course, even more to our winners!” Peach’s confident voice forces him to pay attention. “In third place, Wario.”
The rotund man screams and cheers as if he was on the first place pedestal. Everyone groaned and tried to listen over his showboating.
“In second place, Toadette!”
All the toads in the vicinity let out shrill cries of joy. Everyone else covered one ear.
Peach took a deep breath and shook off all the interruptions. “And finally, for the third time, Mario is in first place!” Finally the stadium as a whole cheers.
Bowser groans as Mario makes eye contact with him and smirks.
He pulls his leather jacket around him tighter and starts walking to where everyone is being ushered.
“Nice sunglasses, Bowser.”
Bowser sneers at the false compliment. “Thanks. Custom made.”
“You say that as if everything doesn’t have to be custom made for you.”
Bowser growls and dips down to get in Mario’s face. The gold medal around his neck only upsetting him more.
“Fuck you. I’m surprised anything even fits you with how short you are. Practically invisible all the way down there. How nobody manages to step on you in a day is a miracle.”
Mario grabs at his jacket, fists starting to burn red with flame. “Oh I promise you, Bowser. I’m not invisible in the slightest. Sei una fottuta stronza.”
“Least I’m not in swim shorts and think I’m hot shit.”
The punch he’s expecting doesn’t land as Mario is tackled to the ground, huffing and screaming in that other language.
Peach glares at him and then at Mario.
“Stop it Mario. Calm down.”
Luigi holds Mario down even as he tries to buck him off. “Calmati, fratello. Calmati.”
“No! Perché dovrei? Huh? He started it.”
“Oh I most certainly did not.”
“Bowser. You’re not helping.” Peach hisses.
Bowser rolls his eyes.
“Let me go, Luigi! I’ll show him!”
“Stop it, Mario. Vuoi davvero fare una scenata? Huh? Do you?”
Mario stops in his seething to look around him.
Many eyes are on them or glancing their direction.
“I’m already making a scene.” He mumbles.
Luigi glares. “A bigger scene then?”
Mario deflates and Luigi lets him stand while also serving as a wall between him and Bowser.
Peach settles gentle hands on his shoulder and leans down to whisper to him. Mario grumbles but allows himself to be guided away by Peach.
Bowser huffs and starts walking again.
“Hey!”
Bowser ignores the call for attention, thoughts of earlier coming back to him as the object of his avoidance catches up to him.
“What was all that about, hm? I thought you and Mario were” Luigi mulls over his words and then, “. . . . decent.”
Bowser clenches his fist as tight as he can and when he releases his hand, he lets all of his remaining anger fall away too.
“He was sayin’ my outfit was dumb.”
Luigi’s eyes widen in shock.
“S’not a big deal, I know I look stupid. Koopas usually don’t wear clothes for a reason. Certainly not ones as big as me, that’s for damn sure.”
Luigi stands in front of him and Bowser turns his head away.
“The only reason I’m wearing these is because Peaches wanted everyone to wear clothes. Well, everyone that can wear clothes anyway. The whole big thing with these stupid races is changin’ in the middle of them. So, I had to participate.”
Bowser scoffs as he makes out Mario and Peach in the winner’s circle a ways ahead.
“Look what it got me.” He finishes darkly.
“Well um,” Bowser uses his sunglasses as a way to hide the fact he’s looking at Luigi as he stammers and fiddles with his hands, “I think you look quite roguish.”
No way in hell I heard him right.
“It’s alright, green. My ego can take the hit from Mario thinking I don’t look cool. He’s an idiot.”
“I’m being serious! I think you look very handsome!”
He’s pretty sure steam is coming out of his ears as the word handsome bounces around in his brain like it’s the only word he knows.
What the heck is he supposed to say in response to that?! No one outside his family has called him handsome before and meant it!
Luigi begins to blush as the words he just said seem to settle in his own mind too.
Bowser feels the panic rising in him and blurts, “You’re not too bad yourself.”
Someone throw him into the nearest river of lava. It won’t kill him, but at least he can pretend it will.
Big blue eyes look up at him. “Scusi?”
Double down!
“You heard me.” He smirks and runs his claws through soft-- stars above he was right about how soft they were-- curls before letting his hand fall to Luigi’s chin. “You look cute in this touring outfit.”
The red on Luigi’s cheeks must become a permanent fixture with how dark they turn.
It makes his eyes pop even more and Bowser can hear the sharp inhale.
He swallows and pulls away quickly, his heart hammering in his chest.
Luigi looking at him like that was going to give him heart failure.
“I um, wowie zowie, I, you, I mean, I’m that’s haaaaaaaaaa, um--”
Bowser clenches his hands and starts running away.
Forget the winner’s circle and being a good sport. Everyone already hates him anyway, what’s one more spike on his shell?
(V.) Sickness
The races help keep him distracted. Even more so when him and Luigi aren’t randomly assigned to be in the same race set again.
A part of him does miss seeing the plumber’s face, but another part of him knows that this is for the best.
Luigi won’t want the love Bowser will want to give. Nobody does. It’s why he gave up on Peach. It’s why he gave up on love altogether.
He’s had enough heartbreak for his stupidly long lifetime. He doesn’t want to deal with it again.
Even though Luigi’s smile seems as warm as the sun, and his laugh fills his heart with butterflies, and his strength makes him weak in the knees, and his kindness has him purring, and his body has him--
It doesn’t matter. Luigi will never be as interested in him as much as he is. And Bowser can accept that.
He can love Luigi from afar and thus, keep him around.
Maybe one day the human will even consider the two of them friends.
He can settle for friends and ignore the way his chest aches. It’s been aching for 8 years. It can ache for another 8 more.
“Your majesty?”
Bowser glances at the koopa who quietly gets his attention. It’s the starting koopa.
“The hell are you doing down here? Start the damn race already. Can’t believe it’s taking so long!”
His melancholy nearly made him forget he was supposed to be getting his head in the game. He was on home turf today, practically guaranteed to win. And if not win, he was definitely going to place.
“Go papa!”
He smirked at his son’s cheers from the crowd and flexed.
Junior cheered louder, as did several other koopa’s around him.
“King Bowser.”
Bowser frowned and looked back down at the koopa talking to him. “Why are you still here?”
The koopa pointed to where a paratroopa was hovering near the back of the race. He was pointing down at something below him.
“Someone who isn’t a racer is on the track fighting with a racer for this cup.”
Bowser let out a loud groan of frustration. “Who the hell is crazy enough to be on a race track when they’re not even a--” He cut himself off with a growl, “Mario.”
The koopa nodded quickly and Bowser huffed.
“Yo, Bow bow, what’s the deal man? Let’s get this race started!”
“Keep your tie on, DK. I’m handling it.”
He didn’t let the giant ape respond as he kept walking.
“Papa, what’s happening?”
Bowser furrowed his brows and then looked down towards his feet.
Junior was marching right along with him with his serious face.
“Junior, what are you doing? You’re supposed to be in the stands cheering me on.”
“Yeah, but, the race was taking for-ev-er. Why can’t we just go?”
“Because there’s an obstacle on the track.”
“Why?”
“Because nothing can ever be easy.”
“Why not?”
“Because Mario is annoying.”
Junior grumbled. “Why’s he here? Mario isn’t racing!”
“That’s what we’re going to investigate.”
“Luigi, you’re being ridiculous!”
“I’m fine, Mario! You’re worrying for nothing.”
“Looks like we’re about to find out sooner versus later with how loud those two are being.”
“Is that Weegee?” Junior’s tail started to wag.
“Yeah. Do you like, greenie?”
Junior nodded quickly, his whole body shaking with excitement. “Yeah! He’s really nice and always gives me high fours when I win! And he always smells like flowers from mama--” Junior frowns and Bowser offers him a hand.
Junior squeezes it and then shakes off his feelings with a physical motion. “And he always smells like flour.”
“Flowers, kid.”
“Yeah!”
Once the brothers are finally in view, Junior rushes over to them.
“Luigi!”
At the sound of his name, Luigi forces his brother to the side and gets down on his knees.
“Junior! Ciao, mio piccolo principe!”
“Chow!”
Luigi chuckles on what has to be a mispronunciation and holds up his hands.
Bowser’s frown deepens as he catches an odd scent in the air. His eyes land on Mario and the frown on his face is even deeper.
Bowser’s about to ask when Junior raises his hand to give Luigi a high four like the plumber was waiting for.
“Oof!”
“Luigi!” Mario rushes over to him and kneels where his brother is now on his butt. “You have to be more careful!”
Junior stumbles back. “I’m sorry! I didn’t mean to.”
Bowser doesn’t have to look at his son to know there’s tears forming in his eyes.
“Don’t yell at my son.”
Mario turns his glare to him instead. “He knocked Luigi over!”
“I said I’m--”
“Junior is 7 and a half. He’s a third of your brother’s size and they’ve done that a hundred times according to Junior. And, I don’t know if you noticed, but your brother was the one that knelt down to greet him.”
Mario’s fists were clenched, but he didn’t leave his brother’s side.
“This isn’t Junior’s fault. It’s greenie’s.”
“His name is Luigi, stupida tartaruga gigante.”
“Really? Didn’t know from the L on his hat. He’s sweating and it isn’t from the heat here. Plus he smells awful.”
“You’re insulting my brother. You’re kidding me.”
“He’s sick.”
Mario looks stunned.
“Junior.”
“Yes?”
“You wanna do me a huge favor?”
“I said I was sorry!”
Bowser chuckles and kneels next to his son. “And that was awesome. I’m super proud of you, especially since this wasn’t your fault.”
“But--”
“Nope. It’s boring adult stuff. Okay?”
Junior’s shoulders slumped, but he nodded. “What’s the flavor?”
“I need you to win this race for me.”
Junior lit up like an exploding bomb-omb. “Really?!” His overflowing excitement did a 360 in the blink of an eye. “But what about Luigi? Is he gonna be okay?”
“He’s not racing.”
That seemed to knock the mustachioed man out of his daze. “What?! I’m fine. I can race.”
“As host to this race set, I ban you from entering this cup.”
“Mario!” Luigi whined, trying to stand.
Mario swallowed heavily. “Bowser’s right, Luigi. You shouldn’t race in this condition.”
“Don’t worry green, Mario will take your place.”
“Like shell I will!”
Bowser stood up and picked Mario up by his overall straps. “This is a 24 kart race that was supposed to start 10 minutes ago. I can’t and won’t call this off because you don’t want to get your overprotective butt into a kart.”
“My brother is more important than some stupid race!”
“And so is the safety of my kid.”
Mario’s face flashed with confusion, frustration and then back to confusion.
“You think I let him do this without safeguards in place?”
Mario searched his face and Bowser dropped him to the floor.
“Junior.”
“Yeah?”
“You need to kick Mario’s butt.”
Junior let out a squeal of delight. “I’m gonna kick your ass, Mario!”
“Language.”
Junior ran up to Mario and started pulling on his arm.
“Come on! Get in your kart.”
Mario refused to yield to Junior’s tugging, eyes torn between glaring at him and staring at his brother.
Bowser walked over to Luigi and took the decision out of his hands.
“Va bene, va bene, piccolo principe.” Mario murmured. “I’m coming.”
Luigi tried to force himself to stand as Bowser got closer. “Bowser? What are you doing?”
“I’m going to lift you up and take you somewhere better than some race track floor.”
Luigi nodded, his head falling forward farther each time. “Okie dokie.”
Gently, Bowser picked Luigi up and leaned him against his plastron.
Luigi fell into his guiding easy and was asleep within seconds.
Bowser hurried off the track and signaled the paratroopa still watching him to tell the others to start the race.
He’d leave it in their capable hands. Right now, he had a human that was definitely too warm to look after.
-
Bowser was beginning to regret this decision as he set Luigi down into the guest bed. Despite how warm to the touch he felt, the human was somehow shivering.
Bowser shifted back towards the bed to slip Luigi’s shoes off and then tucked the smaller man underneath the comforting sheets.
Luigi sighed and nuzzled deeper into them.
Being out of his depth was something he was used to, if not from being king than certainly from being a father of 8, but this just felt like he was drowning.
Luigi was sick, obviously, but he didn’t know with what or how to properly help. Bowser wasn’t human, wasn’t even close, to make matters worse, there weren't even a lot of humans he could ask on the matter.
Mario would technically be the best choice, given the two were brothers, but Mario was occupied, probably losing the race he was forced into. Wario and Waluigi came to mind next, but he wasn’t sure they were actually human. Daisy came third, but her worry and general smugness would be more of a hindrance, not a help. Pauline also came to mind, but he hardly knew the woman. He only recently met her through these races.
That left one option.
“Guards!” He barked and then winced when he realized Luigi would probably need peace and quiet.
Standing, Bowser walked to the door and pushed the guards that tried to rush in back out of it.
“King Bowser, sir!” The two guards saluted in unison.
“Get me a pen and a correspondent page for Peach. Now.”
The guards glanced at each other but didn’t move.
“I didn’t fucking stutter, did I?”
The thinly veiled threat of harm was enough to get both guards rushing away. It also ensured he got the materials quickly.
He stuck the paper on the wall and drafted the short letter. The second his pen left the page, the paper sparkled and popped with magic before disappearing.
“Your lordship?” Guard A questioned. “Can we do something else for you?”
“Go get me a pitcher of water and a glass.”
She nodded and then rushed away.
“And you,” guard B straightened and began to shake, “go get a cool cloth.”
“Sir yes sir!” Guard B ran off in the opposite direction and Bowser let himself back inside the guest room.
“Hold on, Luigi. She’ll be here soon.”
-
It was maybe an hour later when the princess of the mushroom kingdom was being escorted, not dragged, to a guest room in Bowser’s castle.
The guard remained quiet and diligent as Peach made her way through the much smaller castle than she was used to.
When the two koopa that were guiding her suddenly stopped in front of a plain iron door, Peach nearly tripped over them.
“My apologies.” The guards only briefly looked at her before knocking on the iron door.
Peach expected to hear Bowser’s booming voice commanding her to enter, but was met with the king himself quietly opening the door.
The two made eye contact and Peach prepared for some flirtatious comment or unwanted eye roaming, but all the koopa king did was move out of the way for her to enter the room.
“Bowser, if this is some trick I’d like you to get it over with faster.”
Bowser didn’t acknowledge her as he sat back down next to the bed where a sleeping Luigi was.
Peach gasped as she rushed over to the bed.
“Did you do this? Did you poison him?” Peach whisper yelled, glaring at Bowser with all the anger she could muster.
“Do you really think I’d be sitting by his bedside, wiping his brow and giving him water if I was the one to do this? Use your head, Peach.” Bowser grumbled, not even bothering to look her way.
Peach’s brows twitched and she looked back to Luigi.
“Then he’s real? This isn’t some trick?”
“I don’t really care how little you think of me, but every second you don’t help Luigi is another second that makes me want to kick you out of here and call someone else. Either help him or get out and find me someone that will.”
Peach is stunned into silence. She could hardly believe her ears.
“Well?” Bowser growls, making eye contact with her for the first time since she entered the room.
Peach nods and takes off her glove to check Luigi’s temperature. Luigi wriggles in his sleep and Peach gently shakes him.
“What the hell are you doing?!” Bowser hisses at the shaking.
“The only one that can tell us about Luigi’s state is Luigi.” Peach answers calmly. “I’ll let him sleep again in a moment.”
Bowser yields to the answer, but clearly doesn’t like it.
Luigi groans and snuggles deeper into the sheets.
“5 more minutes, Mario.”
“Luigi, it’s me, Peach. I need to ask you a question or two.”
Luigi grumbles but seems to stay conscious.
“What have you had to eat today?”
“Niente. Non mi sentivo bene.” Luigi mumbles.
Bowser catches Peach’s attention and she waves him off.
“Have you had any water?”
Luigi gestures to his left and Bowser moves so Peach can see where the nearly empty pitcher of water sits.
“Okay, last question, do you know where you are?”
Luigi shakes his head slowly. “Non a casa. Mario’s not here.” Luigi sinks even lower into the blankets. “È sicuro, però. E accogliente.” The last of Luigi’s words are all but lost to the blankets as he slips back into sleep.
Peach gestures for her and Bowser to go outside, but Bowser falters. He adjusts Luigi’s blankets to not be covering so much of his face and then applies a new cold cloth.
Bowser stares at a seemingly more content Luigi before following Peach out of the room.
“Since when’d you learn that other language?”
Peach crosses her arms and shrugs. “They talk in it all the time. I thought it would be nice to learn a thing or two.”
Bowser rolls his eyes, but he can feel his envious emotions trying to make themselves known. “So, what’d he say?”
“He hasn’t eaten anything and the only water he’s had today is what you’ve given him.”
Bowser gives a displeased glare at the door.
Peach chuckles.
“What’s funny? Green is being an idiot and you’re laughing?”
Peach shakes her head. “Nothing, it’s just, I imagine that’s the face my dad would give if he knew how badly I let myself fall apart sometimes. Had I known him.”
Bowser stares at her and then leans against a wall. In an impressive display, his spikes don’t scratch the dark brick.
“What about that last thing he mumbled?”
“I . . . I don’t know. I don’t think it was relevant.”
“You don’t think?” Bowser growls.
“He has a fever, Bowser. It’s a high one, but what you’re doing is working. At this point he just needs some rest and some food with good nutrients when he wakes up. It’s nothing life threatening.”
Bowser lets his shoulders relax and then moves to re-enter the room.
“What are you doing?”
“What do you think?”
Peach searches his face for a long moment. “You really care about him.”
Bowser doesn’t answer her.
“If you think that taking care of him will be enough to get him to like you—“
“I know it won’t.” Bowser interrupts darkly. “I get it.” Bowser sighs. “I’m the bad guy.”
Red eyes meet blue and for the first time in decades, Peach feels sympathy for the koopa in front of her.
“I’m sorry.”
Peach feels her face into a very undignified and unprincess-like expression of sheer shock and surprise.
“I’m sorry.” Bowser says again, just as earnest, and then enters the guest room with a soft click of the door.
Bowser, king of koopas, ferocious leader of the darklands, has officially given up. . . on Peach.
(Uno.) Overactive Brain
Luigi notices a change after his brief stay at Bowser’s castle. He supposes that being in one of your most vulnerable states in front of (your brother’s) biggest enemy will do that. But even outside of that, Luigi has noticed a change in his and Bowser’s dynamic. A change that he doesn’t fully know how to process, because if he reads into it, it’s almost as if the koopa king is flirting with him! Luigi Mario! The loser cowardly brother to Mario!
Now Luigi doesn’t believe he’s beyond love. It’s just, Bowser is a king, surely the drakoopa has many suitors vying for his affections. How couldn't he?
So Luigi has to be mistaken.
Of course this would all be much easier to digest and think about if he was getting any sleep, but that’s much easier said than done.
So many of the races take place at night that it’s started to make it difficult to find a normal sleeping schedule. Some days Luigi can have breakfast just a few hours after sunrise and on others he can’t even manage to roll out of bed until Noon. He’s started falling asleep when he’s supposed to be awake and he’s awake when he’s supposed to be asleep. Nothing seems to help or let his mind drift enough to rest.
Which leads him to Bowser, which leads him to tossing and turning, which wakes him up even more, which just makes him frustrated.
Luigi sighs and contemplates making another cup of tea before catching one of the trophies on his shelf.
If he’s not going to sleep, he may as well make use of his time.
So, Luigi puts on pants and makes sure there’s nothing on his night shirt as he heads to the door.
Mario is in one of the cups tonight, so Luigi knows he won’t be seeing his brother for a while.
Hopping into his kart, Luigi starts to drive. He starts out at Peach’s castle, after Peach insists he should make more use of the room she had built for him, but soon finds the terrain under his wheels changing from grassy green to volcanic rock.
He can hear a few aimless racers making their way around the track as he heads into the heart of the race track. Dry Bones Burn out probably shouldn’t be quite so comforting to Luigi because of all the lava and skeletons, but he finds the atmosphere calming.
Or at the very least, aimlessly driving as his mind finally starts to rest is enough to make him find the area calming.
“Shouldn’t drive sleepy, green. It’s asking for trouble.”
Luigi startles at the sound of Bowser’s voice and looks at the koopa with wide eyes.
“Oh! Ciao, big Bowser.” Luigi blushes as he realizes his eyes had started drooping. “You’re right.”
Bowser chuckles. “Course I am. Don’t sound so surprised.”
Luigi finds himself wanting to laugh along with the giant koopa but stamps the urge down. “Um, what are you doing here?”
Bowser leans forward on his kart and holds his head up with a closed fist. “On my land, greenie? Gee, I don’t know.”
Luigi looks away embarrassed.
Idiota!
“Aw, hey, I’m just kiddin’. I’m not surprised you didn’t know.”
Luigi looks back at Bowser with curious eyes. “What do you mean? Dry bones are under your employ, aren’t they?”
Bowser shrugs. “Sure, but that don’t mean everything they do is automatically mine. They’re still my citizens.”
Luigi stares at Bowser as fiery eyes glance over to the landscape.
“Most of my people are talented as hell. It’s nice havin’ them acknowledged for their work, but I don’t wanna take credit where it isn’t due. I’m awesome and everyone will know when I do something awesome.” Bowser smirks and sharp teeth catch the lava light making Luigi’s heart flutter. “Dontch’a agree, green bean?”
Luigi has trouble remembering how to breathe. “Sì, certamente.”
Bowser squints his eyes. “I’m going to take that as a yes.”
Luigi leans over the side of his kart and waves his hands frantically. “Sorry, yes. I said yes. I forget sometimes when I’m startled or, um, distracted to use English.”
Bowser practically purrs. “You sayin’ I’m a distraction, Luigi?”
Luigi was wrong, so very very wrong. Dry Bones Burn Out is not relaxing or calming at all.
Luigi feels his whole face go red to the point where it nearly makes him light headed. He has to force himself to breathe just so he doesn’t pass out.
“Greenie?” Bowser’s smirk falters.
“Scusi! I um, you,” Luigi panics as he tries to think of something to say that doesn’t reveal how horribly flustered Bowser just made him, “you used my name.” He pivots. “You surprised me, er, I didn’t think you knew it.”
Bowser snorts and rolls his eyes. “I’ve been fightin’ you and your brother for ages, greenie. You really thought I didn’t know your name?”
Luigi looks down at the steering wheel of his kart with a small frown. “Most people don’t. They just call me the ‘green Mario’ or ‘Mario’s brother’.” And those are just the nice ones. “So I wouldn’t have been surprised.”
Bowser growls and Luigi snaps his head up. “Yeah, well. Toads are idiots and everyone else ain’t much better. You’re way better than that dumbass Mario and everyone should know it.”
Luigi feels his heart do a loop-de-loop in his chest. “Grazie, big Bowser.”
Bowser waves his hand. “Don’t go thankin’ me for doing the things everyone should be doing. Knowing your name is the bare fucking minimum.”
Luigi doesn’t stop the smile that forms on his face this time. “Thank you anyway.”
Bowser grunts and Luigi finds himself wanting to start up another conversation but pauses.
“Wait, if you knew my name, why do you always call me everything but Luigi?”
Bowser looks back at him and that devilishly handsome smirk is back on his face. “I’m not allowed to give you nicknames, bean pole?”
Luigi finds his eyes widening. “Most people just call me Lu or weegee.”
“Yeah, well, I ain’t most people.” Bowser moves to sit up straight and Luigi can sense the change in atmosphere. “But I can stop if you don’t like it.”
“No! No, no, I do. I, it’s nice. I like it.”
“Good. I do too.”
Yep, that was Luigi’s cue to leave. His heart was doing summersaults and he couldn’t take much more of the flirting. Stars above he hoped it was flirting.
“I um, I should go. It’s late.”
“So I am a distraction.” Bowser purrs. A real one this time.
“Mamma mia.” Luigi wishes that he wore his hat to cover his face.
“I’m not hearin’ a no, green.”
“All you’re hearing is my kart driving away!” Luigi does a donut and slams his foot on the accelerator.
“I’ll take you driving away as a yes then!” Bowser calls, loud enough to be heard over Luigi’s roaring engine.
Luigi whimpers and has to force himself not to close his eyes as he drives back to Peach’s castle.
So much for driving helping me calm down.
Bowser’s smirk appears in Luigi’s head.
Oh mio Dio, sono spacciato!
(Due.) Celestial Guidance
Luigi feels terrible. That on its own isn’t entirely remarkable, he feels terrible for numerous reasons on a regular basis, but the reason he feels terrible is troubling.
No matter how much he tries to spin it or lie to himself, Luigi knows that without a shadow of a doubt, he’s falling in love with Bowser.
King Koopa. The very same Bowser that has regularly kidnapped Peach and beaten him and Mario up. He’s the terror of the darklands and someone not to be trifled with.
Yet here Luigi is. Falling in love with him.
Luigi almost feels like it’s some form of divine punishment, but that doesn’t necessarily track for this world he finds himself living in now. Most creatures across the worlds don’t fully believe in the concept of divine punishment, likely because all punishment can be easily explained away.
Luigi isn’t sure he’s thankful not to have to worry about some higher being toying with him, or be upset he can’t blame his problems on anyone but himself.
Luigi sighs and runs his hands through his hair. “Stars above, what have I gotten myself into?”
Luigi gasps and snaps his fingers as the though hits him like a green shell.
So cosa fare!
He tugs on his hat and gloves and races out the door.
“Weegee? Where are you going?”
Luigi jogs in place as his brother walks up to him. “I have to see Rosalina, I have to ask her something.”
Mario crosses his arms and gives him a confused look. “Is it anything I need to be concerned about? You’re not in trouble, right?”
Luigi shakes his head. “No, fratello. Te lo prometto. I would tell you if something was wrong. But I do want to get there quickly, so. . .” Luigi trails off as he waits for his brother to get the subtle hint.
Mario puts up his hands in a disarming gesture. “Okie dokie. I trust you, fratellino. Be careful!”
Luigi waves him off as he runs out of the castle’s resident halls and down to where the karts are kept. He nearly plows down a few toads in his haste and throws apologies over his shoulder as he finally makes it to his kart.
He’ll have time to feel guilty about his less than stellar behavior after he asks Rosalina what he should do about his troubling feelings.
She may not be a god, but at the very least she’s the closest thing to a wise sage that Luigi has. Or maybe a fortune teller might be more accurate.
-
Getting to Starview Peak is uneventful, even taking all the shortcuts that Luigi does. Luigi had been hoping a more eventful ride would help him get his thoughts in order, but he supposes he should just be grateful he didn’t run into the object of his current thoughts.
Luigi shudders at the thought as he gets out of his kart to enter the library/observatory.
He grabs some food in the small space available and then heads up the stairs to find the secret entrance to Rosalina’s more private quarters. Luigi is about to knock when he thinks better of it.
Rosalina always seems to know when someone is about to enter her room or general space and all knocking does is make him feel silly.
Shaking his head Luigi opens the door and calls out to the ethereal woman calmly. “Rosa? Are you here? I had a question that was bothering me and I thought you might be able to he-- Eep!”
Daisy and Rosalina part quickly upon Luigi’s entrance further into the small office space/room.
“Luigi!” Daisy gets up quickly and pulls on her hair. “What are you doing here?”
Daisy looks shellshocked and a little scared as she looks around Luigi to see if anyone else is with him. Seeing that he’s alone, she seems even more worried.
“And um,” she bites her lip, “how much did you see?”
Luigi can’t help but look between the two women with wide eyes.
Rosalina stands with all the grace she goes about with on a regular basis and floats over to them. “It’s alright my love,” she leans down just barely to kiss Daisy’s cheek, “I told you we would be interrupted.”
Daisy’s cheeks turn a dark shade of red against honey brown skin. “Luigi I--, it’s. I mean--”
Luigi lets his eyes fall to the floor and then hugs Daisy.
He feels her suck in a breath and then holds it as she waits to see his response.
“Oh Daisy, I’m sorry.” Daisy stiffens. “I’m sorry you felt like you couldn’t tell me.”
Daisy pushes him away and searches his eyes frantically. “What? You’re not mad?”
Luigi shakes his head. “No, not really. When I broke up with you, I was, admittedly, heartbroken, but I knew it was better to break things off while we were still guaranteed to come out the other side as friends.” Luigi chuckles. “Rather than the alternative of staying in a relationship and ending up hating each other.”
Daisy clutches at the pants of her pro-racing outfit and looks away from him. “You knew I wasn’t. . .”
“Romantically interested anymore?” Luigi shrugs. “You’re my best friend Daisy. Or at least, I hope we’re still best friends.”
Daisy picks him up and squeezes him. “Of course we are! I just, everything happened and it felt wrong to be so excited about being in love when I had just broken your heart.” She sets him back down and smiles sheepishly. “But, you were the first person I thought of when me and Rosa made it official.”
“I’m glad I finally get to know then!”
Daisy lets out a sigh and shakes her body out. “Me too, it’s like a weight is lifted off my shoulders.”
“I told you to tell him, my love.”
Daisy blushes at Rosalina’s words and crosses her arms. “I just did.”
Rosalina laughs and it sounds like the twinkling of stars. “Can you go get me something to drink, starlight? The toads know my order.”
Daisy smiles and then looks back at Luigi. “Can I get you anything, Lu?”
Luigi shakes his head and smiles brightly at the casual display of intimacy as Daisy kisses Rosalina’s cheek before leaving.
“I’ll be back in a jiffy!”
Luigi feels a part of his heart finally sit right in his chest again at the knowledge that he and Daisy truly are okay and that it’s okay for him to finally move on as well.
“Closure is wonderful, isn’t it? We can hold onto something without even knowing it until we’re finally released.”
Luigi looks up at the star princess and nods.
“Si, principessa. I feel lighter now.”
Rosalina gives him a small smile and gestures him over to her floor to ceiling windows.
“I believe Daisy feels the same.”
I hope so.
“Though, past love isn’t what’s on your mind, is it?” She gives him a knowing glance out of the corner of her eye and Luigi can feel himself blush harder than Daisy.
“Y-yes. That’s right.”
Luigi takes off his hat and wrings it between his hands.
“You’re worried.”
Luigi nods.
“You feel as though you are betraying those you care about by desiring to be with this being, yes?”
Am I really that easy to read?
Rosalina laughs again and the sound had Luigi looking up at her.
The snowy blue lighting catches in her one eye and makes her hair shimmer like it’s made of star dust. Luigi can easily see how Daisy fell head over heels for the woman.
“Don’t worry, I have a seventh sense about this sort of thing.” She gives a pat to his shoulder and gestures for him to follow again.
“So what should I do? I don’t want to disappoint anyone.” Luigi tightens his grip on his hat to a dangerous degree. “Not that it matters,” he whispers, “he probably doesn’t feel the same way.”
Rosalina hums as they climb a staircase. “That’s certainly a possibility.”
The words gut Luigi. Getting bitten by a piranha plant feels nicer.
“Oh.” He mumbles weakly.
Stupido. You should have known.
“However, it’s just one possibility out of many.”
“It is?”
Rosalina nods as they come upon a balcony that looks over the inside of the little library. Luigi is half surprised he’s never noticed it from the ground before.
“There’s something that I think you could learn from the stars Luigi.”
“What is it?”
Rosalina shows him a little gate along the railing that opens. It would let Rosalina free fall and land near the masses easier than taking the stairs.
“Trust in the fall.”
Luigi feels the sensation of his stomach dropping and his heart lurching as he falls towards the floor below.
He twists on his heel as he tries to grab onto the railing or Rosalina to stop his untimely demise, but he misses both.
Rosalina watches with a serene smile as he falls.
Luigi tries not to panic, tries to believe a friend of his wouldn’t try to kill him for no reason, tries to trust in Rosalina’s words. But the floor gets closer and he’s a few inches too far away to grab onto a chandelier.
“Mamma mia!” Luigi closes his eyes as he braces for impact.
“Woah!”
He feels himself settle against strong arms and a familiar warmth.
“Luigi, are you okay? What are you doing falling from so high up? You should have seriously injured yourself, ya know?”
Luigi spreads his fingers and opens his eyes to look at his savior. “Daisy?”
“Who else, dummy?”
Luigi feels his shoulders slump as he’s set back on the ground. He pats all over himself to see if he’s injured, only to find he’s perfectly fine.
“I’m. . . okay?”
“Rosa, I was coming back up. The toads were just taking a while.”
Daisy leans into Rosalina as she floats down from the same area she just pushed Luigi from.
“Forgive me for the scare, Luigi. Sometimes showing is better than telling.”
Luigi looks at her and then looks at where they’re standing.
His mouth falls open as he realizes that they’re standing on a chandelier.
“Daisy, what were you doing up here?”
Daisy stops cuddling into her girlfriend to look back at him. “What do you mean? I always come up here when I’m waiting for my food or drink. I like people watching.”
“So it wasn’t planned?”
Daisy frowns. “What wasn’t planned.”
Rosalina smirks and the motion catches Luigi’s eye. “Trust in the fall and see where you land, Luigi. You may be surprised to find more often than not that you’ll end up landing on your own two feet, but you won’t know until you let yourself fall.”
Luigi puts his hands in his pockets as he looks at the toads, koopas and shy guys milling around below them.
“I don’t know what’s going on, but,” Luigi grunts as his hat is put back on his head the wrong way, “if Rosalina says something, it’s usually true. Whatever fall she’s saying you should do, just go for it. She wouldn’t steer you the wrong way, Lu.”
Luigi hums.
“If you don’t want to trust Rosa, trust me, okay? I believe in you 1000%” Daisy bumps him with her hip and he elbows her with his arm subconsciously.
“I think I need to sit on this.” Luigi turns to give Daisy another hug and then bows to Rosalina. “Grazie, principessa. Ciao, Daisy!”
“Bye Luigi, good luck with whatever it is you’re worrying about! I’m sure you’ll be fine!”
Luigi swings down from the chandelier and then flips into a roll as he runs back towards his kart. He’s got a lot to think about.
Trust the fall. . . is it really that easy?
(+1.) This is what love is, right?
It’s been a few weeks since Luigi had gone to see Rosalina to ask for guidance on the situation he’s found himself in. He wanted to be sure about his feelings before he confronted Bowser in any capacity, something that was far easier said than done.
The roster for all the races is done randomly every other day, unless Peach feels as though one racer has been in too many races consecutively. If that happens, Peach takes the racer out of the race for a week to allow other racers the chance to participate. It also gives said racers time to recuperate and relax.
Overall, the system works out well, but it is still luck of the draw. Luigi is thankful that luck has been on his side so much because he hasn’t ended up in a single race with Bowser since his talk with Rosalina. Short of actively seeking the drakoopa out himself, there’s no reason for the two of them to interact either.
There’s still the matter of free roaming, but Luigi has been sticking around Peach’s castle as of late, and Bowser doesn’t usually show up there unprompted.
Luigi is so confident he even goes back to Mario Bros. Circuit. He misses working on karts and getting his hand dirty in the engine of a vehicle.
He’s almost at the plateaued area when he hears the telltale sound of his kart needing fuel. Luigi sighs and pulls over to the gas station he knows like the back of his hand.
The gas station comes into view as the sun sets on the horizon.
Luigi sees a toad run up to him right as he pulls in. A shy guy comes out too and starts to check the pressures in his tires as another toad begins to wipe his small windshield.
“Pretty sure they call this serendipity, green. What do you think?”
Luigi startles at the sound of the voice that had been haunting him for the past few weeks and looks over to where Bowser is leaning against the wall of the adjoining convenience store.
“Big Bowser.”
“The one and--, well, the original I guess.”
Luigi finds himself laughing without meaning to and it makes Bowser smile.
The koopa’s tail begins to wag at the sound.
“Why are you in the area?” Luigi asks as he walks over to join Bowser.
Bowser looks away so his cheeks don’t change color.
“I was uh, trying to clear my head. I’ve been all over today, kart was about to give out when I realized it needed gas.”
Luigi leans against the wall next to Bowser and nods. “Si, I know the feeling. Driving helps, right?”
“Usually.” Bowser grumbles.
“Yeah, I get that too.”
Bowser glances at Luigi and the hard set of his brows.
All things considered, the human is dressed down from his usual wear.
Luigi is in a light green t-shirt that shows off his toned arms and worn jeans that have a hole in the left knee. He isn’t even wearing his signature hat, his brown curls catching in the stray breeze.
“Somethin’ bothering you, green bean?”
Luigi looks up at Bowser and has to swallow a gasp.
For as many times as Luigi has seen and fought the koopa next to him, he’s never seen Bowser with a beard. His hair is also longer than Luigi has ever seen it too.
“Um, uh, n-no. Just, uh. . .” Luigi trails off as he rubs his hands against his jeans. He’s thankful for his gloves as he’s sure his hands would be clammy from sweat otherwise. “I guess I’m a little distracted.”
“Oh yeah? Color me intrigued.”
Luigi shakes his head. “You first, you’re the one that drove all around the world trying to clear his head.”
Bowser huffs out steam and watches a koopa wave her arm to get his attention. “Unlucky you, bean pole, my kart is done.”
Luigi feels his heart start to race. “That doesn’t mean the conversation has to be over.”
Bowser stares at him.
“We could, I mean, it’s around that time and I’m not sure if you’ve already, but well there’s some pretty decent food around here and--”
“Green,” Bowser interrupts causally, “ you’re speaking too fast.”
“Ah. Idiota, I um. Do you want to get something to eat?”
Bowser feels his eyebrows sky rocket. “Together?”
“Si. If you want?”
Bowser smirks. “Hell yeah.”
Luigi smiles. “Okie dokie then.”
Bowser waits for Luigi’s kart to be finished and then they drive to the nearest stand to get burgers. It’s the first time Luigi notices that the burgers are big enough to even be decently sized for someone like Bowser.
Luigi orders one burger for himself and Bowser orders two for himself. Once their food is in hand Luigi guides them to a more private plateau around Mario Bro’s. Circuit where they won’t have to worry about being bothered by wayward drivers.
“If we get out of our karts and hike up a little bit, we really won’t be bothered at all.”
“Lead the way, green bean.”
Bowser follows Luigi as they walk up a path that seems to have been made from this exact scenario several times.
Bowser tries not to get jealous at the idea that Luigi might have done this with countless people, so he tries to joke.
“Bet you take everybody to this little hide away of yours.” Bowser smirks as he says it, but he can feel his tail twitch in irritation.
Luigi looks back at him with confusion in his eyes. “No? You’re the first.”
Bowser feels like his heart is on fire and coughs out smoke and passes it off as clearing his throat.
“I see. Must be a really special spot then.”
“Si,” Bowser looks back in time to see a small blush on the plumber’s ears, “it is.”
His flame pipe gets warmer and Bowser is glad when they reach the peak of the little summit because it gives him time to calm down.
Similarly, Luigi takes off one of his gloves just so he can fiddle with his fingers easier.
He doesn’t know what he’s doing, indulging himself like this. He knows all it will lead to is pain and disappointment, but he can’t help it. Bowser has been nothing but kind to him since they made it to this racing world and he’s made a point of remembering his name! Nobody ever does that without prompting.
Even before him and Mario ended up in a world with talking fungi and princesses that needed saving, Luigi was never very memorable.
But Bowser sees him. And maybe all that means is that Luigi’s standards are low, but he still can’t help it. He’ll feed into the delusion until it’s forcibly broken.
“You’ve gone awfully quiet for the guy who dragged me up here.”
Luigi clenches his fist and sighs. “Scusi. I got lost in my head.”
Bowser makes a noise of acknowledgement and Luigi catches red eyes staring at him.
They remind him of rubies and lava.
“I was um, just thinking about. . .” he trails off in an attempt to come up with a convincing lie, but falls short, “love.”
The quiet admittance makes Luigi cringe.
“Thinkin’ about Daisy?”
Luigi snorts at the question without meaning to.
“I’ll take that as a no then.” There’s a smile on Bowser’s face as he says the words.
“No, I’m not.” Luigi feels his shoulders relax and looks at the stars in the sky. “I was just thinking about it in general. How difficult it is.”
Bowser gives a dry laugh. “I can certainly relate.”
“Peach was,” Luigi starts carefully, “she--”
“Was a failed endeavor. She was never going to love me back. Took me way too damn long to realize, but I did. I have.”
Luigi waits for an elaboration as he feels hope swell in his heart.
“I haven’t been in love with her for about 8 years now.” Bowser rubs a hand through his hair and considers stopping there, but he might as well go all in. “I guess I just realized that I would never win her over. She just didn’t like me. Period.”
A small hand, due only to the comparison of his large frame, rests on his knee.
Bowser looks at it with gratitude. “That's why I stopped kidnapping her. Why I stopped flirting with her in public.”
Luigi frowns. “But I’ve seen you flirt with her--”
“In front of Mario,” Bowser interrupts, “that doesn’t count. I just do that to piss Mario off. It’s just too easy.” Bowser smirks just as the image of Mario getting as red as his hat from anger, but remembers who he’s talking to. “Er, sorry.”
Luigi laughs. “It’s okie dokie. He’s fun to rile up. Sometimes when he’s been especially annoying about something I’ll say something along the lines of ‘you’re just upset that Bowser managed to come up with a better compliment than you’.” Luigi bites his lip to not wholeheartedly laugh at the secret he’s admitting. “You should see his face. It’s like he’s secretly a bomb-omb.”
Bowser cackles at the very thought of it and Luigi joins him. “Well serves him right for being a constant thorn in my side.” Bowser rolls his eyes. “The tiny bastard.”
“Hey, that’s my fratello you’re talking about.”
Bowser tenses.
“Piccolo bastardo fits better.”
Bowser stares and Luigi smiles.
“It means little bastard. Tiny just isn’t fair.”
Bowser laughs at the joke and Luigi feels his stomach swoop at the sound. He wants to hear it again and again.
“Here I thought you were the saint.”
Luigi shrugs and throws a small rock into the distance. “That’s only because I’m shy. E io sono un codardo.” Luigi frowns. “Mostly because I’m a coward actually.”
Bowser doesn’t like the melancholy that seems to permeate around Luigi the second he starts talking about himself.
“You know for a hero, you seem to talk shit about yourself an awful lot.”
“I’m not a hero, big Bowser. I’m just Luigi.”
Bowser breathes in deeply to stop a growl. “Look. You and your brother have kicked my scaly butt more times than I can count. You can beat me at almost everything consistently and you’re praised as a hero of the Mushroom Kingdom. If you beat the villain, you’re a hero. That’s how it works.”
Luigi turns to fully face Bowser. “You’re not a villain Bowser.”
Bowser barks out a humorless laugh. “Trust me, you don’t have to lie to me. I know. And we’re talking about you anyway.”
Luigi shakes his head. “My self-esteem issues aren’t something you need to solve. I’m not brave, or very strong. I have trouble sticking up for myself and take the path of least resistance when it comes to confrontation.”
Bowser can feel his anger rising.
“I know all of this. Va bene. It’s fine. But you’re not a villain.”
“You’ve fought me, someone feared throughout the kingdoms, you’ve bested Boo enough times that he complains to me about it, you can lift up karts without breaking a sweat, you can lift me up without breaking a sweat, you’re talking back to me as we speak and avoiding confrontation when possible isn’t a bad trait. Being able to play mediator helps prevent people from getting punched in the face. All this bullshit about you not being good enough is stupid.”
“Well if I’m not a coward, which I am, then you’re not a villain."
Bowser stands up, anger finally getting the better of him. “I’ve kidnapped princesses and fairies. I’ve destroyed countless kingdoms. I’ve thrown people in cages and turned the soldiers who’ve pissed me off into an undead army. Every opportunity I’ve had to gain more magic or power, I’ve taken it. Without hesitation and without regard to who I’ve had to hurt to get there! This story has a clear hero and a clear villain Luigi, and it doesn’t take a fucking genius to understand that I’m the bad guy.”
Bowser can feel his fangs bared and the heat in his throat getting to concerning levels.
He turns away to both metaphorically and physically cool off.
His claws are digging into his hands and he’s heavily debating on driving back down the plateau and asking Peach to take him out of the races for the foreseeable future.
“The last kingdom you technically destroyed was a flower people with a magic source that made everything feel like you had mixed poison shrooms with alcohol.”
Bowser turns back to face the human with his mouth agape.
“I’m just saying. I don’t think any of us had a good time handling that magic source.”
“Did you miss the part about kidnapping and the undead army?”
“No. I just don’t think that makes you a villain. You have a tendency to do bad things, but you’ve never killed anyone or forced yourself on the princess.”
“I would never!”
Luigi throws his hands up in the air. “Exactly! That proves my point.”
“Your point being.” Bowser can feel his teeth grinding to the point of generating sparks.
“You act like you’re beyond redemption.” Luigi stands up and puts his hands on his hips. “But that’s not how redemption works.”
Bowser scoffs. “You think I could be the good guy? Be someone people don’t run away from when they see me in the streets?” He rolls his eyes in irritation. “Get real. Don’t piss me off.”
“I’m serious, Bowser.”
“No one likes me. No one cares about me. No one loves me but my own people and half of them still hate me. I don’t get anything I don’t buy or steal.”
Luigi ignores the blush on his cheeks he can feel forming just thinking about the words he wants to say. “I like you.”
Bowser feels it. It’s the same feeling as all those years ago when Peach first rejected him. Shame quickly followed by anger.
He growls for real this time. “I’m so stupid.”
Luigi flinches back.
“You know, you almost had me. Almost made me believe.” He drags his claws down his face to feel something other than the dejection that threatens to swallow him whole. “Your whole nice act. Greeting me with kindness instead of fear.”
Bowser is bearing his fangs again and Luigi can see the fire that’s nearly bursting out of his throat.
“What was it going to be, huh? Play the long game? Toy with the big bad Bowser to see how he ticks? See what it takes to push him too far?!”
Luigi can feel his heart beating out of his chest.
He’s made a fool of himself. The very suggestion that they could be together has enraged Bowser near to the point of violence.
“I’m sorry.” Luigi whimpers.
“Oh he’s sorry.” Bowser lifts his arms up and gestures to no one. “Hear that everyone? He’s sorry. “
Bowser yells and picks up a boulder. Luigi doesn’t move even in the face of the violent display.
Bowser can feel his claws digging into the rock as he lifts it above the human's head. Dust falls onto his shoulders from the way his claws dig into the stone.
Luigi looks up at him with those crystal blue eyes, tears forming in them.
“RAAAAAH!” Bowser throws the rock far into the distance. He’s heaving for air. “Stupid, so fucking stupid.”
Luigi knows. Bowser doesn’t need to keep rubbing it in.
“I know. I know, okay!”
“How could I ever think someone as amazing and talented as you would ever--”
“You’re a king and I’m just the lesser Mario brother. I was so, agh fottutamente stupido. Why would you ever--”
Luigi falls to his knees and curls into a ball. The tears burning tracks down his cheeks only serve to make him feel more pathetic.
“A king as handsome and well liked, so nice and strong, be real Weegee.”
A star falls out of the sky close enough that human and koopa can hear it twinkle as it lands somewhere in the distance.
“Did you just call me handsome?”
Luigi looks up, tears still in his eyes. “D-did you call me talented?”
Yellow scales turn red as Bowser looks away, spikey tail swishing with emotion.
More stars begin to fall. The star shower illuminating them both much better than just the moon alone could provide.
There’s silence between the pair. Noise only coming from the highway close enough to still be heard and the crickets singing their love songs.
Bowser kneels down carefully into Luigi’s space and brings a hand up to his face. Bowser waits for Luigi to lean away or to smack him before trying to touch him. When he receives no negative reaction he wipes away the stray tears still threatening to fall.
Luigi stares at Bowser, waiting for the koopa king to say he’s flattered but not interested. Waiting for disgust. Waiting for his alarm to go off and prove it was all a dream.
But the palm against his cheek is scaly and warm, too real to be fake and Bowser’s eyes seem just as hesitant and scared as he knows his must look.
A distant star catches Luigi’s eye and he remembers Rosalina’s words.
With more confidence than he feels, he nuzzles into the palm holding his cheek so gently and then kisses it softly. Hard enough to be felt, but still with more hesitation than someone else might have done the action with.
Bowser inhales sharply at the small action. He can feel his tail thumping against the ground, but he reminds himself of reality.
“Didja mean to do that?” He mumbles, afraid to hear the answer.
Luigi giggles and nods. “Si, big Bowser. I did.”
Bowser feels like he’s halfway to vibrating out of his skin with joy. His eyes take in Luigi’s soft smile and the way his hand cups his cheek so perfectly and Bowser stands, pulling Luigi up with him.
Luigi squeaks as Bowser spins him around and hugs him. Strong hands grip his shoulders and Bowser starts laughing, it’s not long before Luigi joins him.
Red and blue lock onto each other and Bowser stops spinning. His tail is wagging without concern and Bowser can’t be bothered to care about how unkingly the sight must be.
Bolder than either expected, Luigi kisses the tip of Bowser’s snout.
Bowser feels his breath hitch as Luigi repeats the action and then ventures to his cheeks and the tip of his nose. He can feel himself go lightheaded at the simple affection and gladly returns it without hesitation by nuzzling and scent marking Luigi’s head and neck.
Luigi hums in contentment and feels particularly warm and fuzzy.
Latching onto the adrenaline high, Luigi wriggles around so Bowser sets him down. He doesn’t give the other a moment to doubt as he leans up and kisses him.
Bowser freezes. Never had he let himself picture kissing the plumber. Not even in his wildest dreams had his brain let him get this far, but it’s so much nicer than anything he could have come up with anyway.
Luigi pulls away nervously when Bowser doesn’t react until he sees the dopey smile on the drakoopa’s face.
“Do that again?” Bowser asks quietly and Luigi happily indulges.
This time, Bowser reminds himself to kiss back. He can’t help when he starts nuzzling into the plumber again. He’s too happy to stop himself.
-
Mario had noticed Luigi acting oddly over the past few weeks but assumed his brother would come to him when he was ready. They were two peas in a pod as their mama would say. If Luigi needed help, Mario was always ready to lend a hand. So when Luigi said he was going to see Rosalina of all people, he tried not to be offended, but it was hard. Harder still was that Luigi was even more lost in thought after his visit to the celestial princess but still didn’t tell him what was wrong.
Mario was trying really hard not to take it personally. Peach, Daisy and even DK loved to remind him that Luigi was his own person, but they didn’t get it. Luigi was his twin. His little brother. His fratellino! It was his job as the older brother to take care of him and be the person Luigi felt most comfortable talking to, so when Luigi didn’t talk to him, it was difficult to manage. But Mario still knew his brother. Still knew his habits. So when Luigi wasn’t at the castle at night like he should have been, Mario knew he’d be at Mario Bro’s Circuit.
Him and Luigi would fix some karts, have a heart to heart and Mario would finally know what had been bothering his little bro for so long. The plan was perfect!
Sure it was a surprise when the few toads that were still milling about the circuit informed Mario that Luigi was not in fact at the circuit and had not even made an appearance in weeks, but not so much of a surprise that Mario was worried. In fact, Mario knew the only other place Luigi would be is the plateau that looked over the valley and offered a nice view of the stars at night. A perfect place to sit and contemplate. Especially on nights like tonight.
So Mario hopped in his kart, drove to the right plateau and then followed the path that had been recently walked. He didn’t bother announcing himself as he rounded the natural corner of the plateau, anticipating his brother being alone.
Instead, the sight of his enemy and his little brother kissing greeted him. He gasped and the two pulled away, but didn’t separate.
“Luigi?!”
Mario knew the face Luigi was making. It was the same face he always made when their mama used to catch them with their hands in the cannoli tray.
A mix of embarrassment and shy deviousness since he wouldn’t be apologizing. At least, not for the action. Just for being caught.
“Fratello?! Cosa ci fai qui?!”
Mario shook his head so hard he could feel his hat lift off his head. “No, no. Don’t give me that. What are you doing here with him!”
Bowser rolled his eyes, but only held Luigi tighter.
“Is he always this damn nosy in your personal life, or is this a recent development?”
Luigi only blushed harder and elbowed the koopa king without looking at him.
Mario could feel himself fuming.
“You’ve got a lot of explaining to do, Luigi!”
Luigi sighs and rolls his eyes, blush lessening at the chastisement.
Mario notices however, that despite being caught, neither of them pull away from each other. They’re still holding onto each other like it’s the most normal thing in the world.
“Try not to faint, shortstack. All the blood rushing to that tiny brain of yours can’t be good for you.”
Luigi lets the tiniest laugh slip out which only makes Bowser grin wider.
Mario is going to kill that overgrown turtle.