#holding mario and luigi in my grip

[the-brucest-fan]

That's when he realized. King Boo only wanted him, and he wouldn't stop until he got the green-clad plumber. Luigi was afraid, he didn't know what would happen once he went through the portal, what he could find there, but if that was the only chance to keep Mario and everyone else safe, he was willing to take it.

“Mario! You have to let me go!”

“WHAT?!”, Mario said in astonishment.

“I know what to do, you gotta trust me”, Luigi said, determination filling his eyes.

“I do trust you! But I don't trust him”, Mario replied, his eyes briefly pointing to the vortex where the royal Boo had entered.

“It is me who he wants. If I don't do this, he'll destroy everything!”, replied the green-clad plumber.

Mario stared at his little brother, hesitant. Luigi's eyes said it all: he was willing to jump into the portal and there was no way he would change his mind.

Well, neither do Mario.

“I know, but I... I don't wanna lose you again”, Mario's eyes were filled with fear. The fear he didn't feel during his time being trapped in a painting, he was feeling it now. He had been separated from Luigi again for what he felt was an eternity, and now he was about to play a stunt that could possibly cost him his life, and Mario just couldn't bear losing his brother. Luigi's life was literally on his hand. “I'm sorry”, he said firmly, “but I'm not gonna let you go.”

Luigi felt Mario's grip tighten around his wrist. If there was something Mario was really good at, was being stubborn. The younger plumber knew words would never convince Mario to let him go, so without him noticing, Luigi slowly detached the flashlight from the Poltergust...

“I know.”

He pressed the button and the Strobulb did his job: the sudden flash stunned Mario right away, instinctively using his left hand to cover his eyes.

“NO!”, he screamed when he realized what he had done. Horrorized, with tears in his eyes and with DK holding him into place so he wouldn't go after him, Mario saw his brother being sucked by the portal.

“I'm sorryyyyyy!”, cried Luigi.

“LUIGIIIIIIIIII!!”

And with that, the green-clad plumber disappeared along with the portal.

This is the first Luigi I draw in months and I just had to draw him in an angsty scenario, haha 😅

It's actually from and idea that popped in my head about a potential Luigi's Mansion movie, and of course our beloved green bean had to sacrifice himself to save everyone (but don't worry, we all know he wins at the end 😉)

[inkprovised]

So well... anyone remember my blind!luigi au?😅

I have some more for you🙃

Little Turtle

Bowser stays with the brothers quite a while, and Mario is getting nervous about the giant turtle in their home. Even though Luigi cares good for it, Mario starts feeling uneasy. Plus, they can't keep it forever, can they? Shouldn't they report it? Maybe it is missing somewhere, or is he a new species? Either way, it can not go on like this.

But Lu seems not to think much about it. He is so happy to have found his old friend, sending him away never crosses his mind.

Nor does he question that this giant turtle seems carnivorous... once or twice, it despises the fresh greens Luigi bought for him and finds the fridge emptied of all meet when coming home from work.

Yes, they leave him home alone.

As weird as all of this seems. Mario has no time nor energy to ask around if someone misses this creature. At the same time, he does not talk about it. Call it gutt feeling, but he worried something could go wrong if calling someone. This huge thing was kinda scary, and people make a lot of mistakes when they are scared. Luigi would never forgive him if something happened to it.

Luigi has more time at home than Mario. Sometimes, he is alone for more than 2 days, depending on Mario's schedule and his crush and Co student Peach.

And on one of these days....

Luigi is cleaning the table as Mario closes the front door. The younger twin was getting ready for some studying with audio recorded parts of his books. Their friends are the best! Not all books Luigi needs are online to find and even less can be autoread by a computer, so his and Mario's friends help him out in their free time and record passages of the material he needs. It was nice hearing the voices of his friends while learning.

But before he could even start, Lu heard another voice. A foreign one.

Luigi spills his coffee in shock when hearing the deep voice behind him.

Was there a burglar in his home?? He did not hear someone come in. What should he do??!!

In panic, he grips his cane, whirls around, trying to threaten the one who invaded his home, but all that comes out is unintelligible stammering...

Amused laughter and a short introduction later, Luigi has to sit down.

So there is this turtle... guy... who calls himself Bowser.

All the sweet-talking, the kisses, the belly rubs, cuddling, using him as a pillow .... he did not say a single word.

After trying to process what Luigi did, they just talked for hours, and the plans for studying were forgotten.

When Mario comes home two days later, the brothers sit together, drinking coffee, and the older one talks about Peach and how much he does not know how to ask her out. In that moment, he hears heavy steps coming to them.

There stands that turtle holding something in its hands.

Mario holds a little more distance to Bowser after that and watches him intently. All to Lu's safety.

[pinkcreamypeach]

Do I make you nervous?

(Mario x peach short story)

“Mario… do I make you nervous?”

The question was so soft, yet it made Mario's heart leap like he had just misstepped over a pit. Princess Peach looked up at him, her delicate brows slightly furrowed, lips parted in uncertainty. She looked almost guilty, as if she had done something wrong. The sight nearly made Mario frown himself, but instead, he forced a nervous smile, adjusting his cap with jittery fingers.

“O-of course not! What makes you think that?”

he asked, tilting his head in an attempt at casualness.

Peach’s fingers fidgeted, her gloved hands twisting together as her gaze lowered beneath the golden curtain of her eyelashes.

“Well… whenever I talk to you, your face turns red… and you start to sweat. And when we hold hands, it’s like touching a furnace beneath my gloves.” Her voice softened, hesitant.

“Are you nervous because I’m taller than you and Luigi? Or is it because I’m a princess? Am I too intense when I care about something? Too… bossy?”

She rambled on, her emotions spilling into each word. Her silky gloves bunched between her fingers as she tugged at them absentmindedly. Mario, meanwhile, barely registered her words. He was too focused on herthe way she worried her lower lip, the way her lashes hid the tenderness in her eyes, the way she tried so hard to understand his thoughts.

He wanted to say something, anything, but his voice betrayed him. His hands clenched the brim of his cap, his fingers twisting into the fabric. When he finally looked at her again, she was already gazing at him. her lips parted slightly, as if she had stopped speaking minutes ago.

Their eyes locked.

A heartbeat passed.

And then, as if their minds had the same flustered thought, they both looked away at the exact same moment, heat flooding their faces.

Peach took a small step back before settling onto a wooden bench beside the garden. Her pink ballgown fanned out, settling gracefully around her, but her hands remained restless in her lap. She bit her lip, lost in thought. Mario, still gripping his cap, leaned against the garden wall, his curly dark hair bouncing slightly with the movement. He fidgeted too, his fingers tracing the rim of his hat.

Peach glanced up at him, at the way his unruly curls framed his face. She had always admired his hair, the way it softened his rugged features, the way it suited him perfectly. Without thinking, she reached up, fingers slipping through the thick, dark locks.

Mario flinched at first but quickly melted under her touch.Her touch was so delicate, reverent even.She cared for her own hair so much, tending to every curl and wave like it was a treasured gift. And Mario had always noticed he had noticed the way it smelled like strawberries when he held her close after saving her, the way it bounced when she walked with effortless grace. She was light itself, a woman who brought warmth and joy wherever she went.

“You have such soft hair…” She murmured, her fingers moving from his curls to his sideburns, then tracing the edges of his mustache with featherlight touches.

Mario stiffened, heat blooming in his cheeks. Did she even realize what she was doing to him?

“...You used Desert Essence Island Mango conditioner?” She mused, her voice distant, as if she wasn’t even thinking about what she was saying.

“I missed that… The mint one doesn’t suit you. It’s more of a Luigi scent, really…”

Mario blinked.

“Y-you kept track w-wait, how do you know that?” His voice cracked into a whisper, barely managing to escape his throat.

Peach didn’t answer. Her half-lidded gaze, framed by golden lashes, was locked onto him, her fingers still in his hair. His heart pounded, loud enough that he swore she could hear it. His throat was dry, his breaths uneven. He stared at her, the whole world fading into the background.

She was so beautiful. It was unbearable.

“Sei così bella… Così bello…” The words slipped out before he could stop them, whispering like a secret prayer.

Peach’s hands cupped his cheeks. Her warmth seeped into his skin, pulling him back to reality.

“Mario… Oh my! You’re burning up!” She gasped, her eyes widening in concern.

Mario, still dazed, weakly lifted a hand. “No, no! I’m perfectly fi—”

Before he could protest, he was swept off his feet literally. Peach lifted him with ease, cradling him in her arms as she rushed toward the castle.

He was weightless in her grasp, held effortlessly as if he were no heavier than a sack of flour. He knew fighting back was pointless, so he let himself relax, watching her in awe as she called out for help.

Her strength was just another part of her he adored.

He gazed up at her as she carried him, a small, helpless smile curling at his lips.

Ti amo…~

---------------------------------------------------------

(Writer note- I haven't written these two in months. I really missed them. My mereach brainrot returned, and before I knew it, I had whipped up this story in just an hour. It might not be perfect, and I'm sorry if it falls short of expectations. Unfortunately, there’s no drawing to accompany it this time… even though I made Mario Brown Eyes, lol.)

@bberetd @keylovesstuff @peaches2217

(Finally something Mario related for you guys)

@silenzahra <--- Hope you like this too! Sorry for the tagging if you're uncomfortable with it. :3

[eleventhhourfactor]

🙏 - Possession with Mario

Ahahahahahaha...

Oh, have I been waiting for this one. As a bonus/apology, I'm gonna roll your previous prompt ask in with this as well...

..and sneak in a little reference here and there, both to other artists' takes on King Boo Mario and uh, another Kristen Schaal show. Shoutout to @akiiame-blog, @pianokantzart, @tinydragontoonz, and countless others for taking such wonderfully artistic stabs at a Mario possessed. If there's anyone who's slipped my mind, please tell me. There was a lot of art a while back, so I'm a bit fuzzy on who did what.

Here's the ask game for reference. I'll be doing this all weekend, with a big-ass break on Saturday because of comic con.

Without further ado, let's do this.

Mario - Possession🙏

"You just don't give up, do you?"

In any other context, such words would be encouraging, especially with Mario saying them. As things stood right now, with Luigi facing a twin possessed, he knew fully well what his opponent was trying to do.

Like thrice before, King Boo was trying to disarm him.

"You've dispelled our fused form when you slammed us around," the Boo snarled, moving Mario's mouth down into a frown unbecoming of his brother. "You've parted me from my crown. What else were you hoping to accomplish here?"

Luigi said nothing as he tightened his grip. This wasn't Mario, but it was still him—durable and dependable, at least from the outside, but overridden by the most malevolent of spirits within.

"I want you," Luigi demanded, "to let go of my bro."

"Hmm, let me think about it." King Boo moved a hand as though to tap out an idea, his borrowed finger tapping against darkened eyes and purple irises. "I haven't exactly been taking good care of this one, have I? Of course, he wouldn't be so roughed up if it weren't for you…"

Luigi narrowed his eyes.

"I don't think I will." King Boo crossed his vessel's arms. "You're gonna have to tear Mario apart to get rid of me."

"Is that what you think?"

Luigi took a step forward, his finger on the switch as King Boo raised a brow.

"Little note about the human body," Luigi said. "We're not made of pure energy. You might be the king of ghosts, but Mario's been awake for over twenty-four hours."

"S-So what?" King Boo sneered, though Luigi could see the facade begin to crack. "It's not like you've slept, either!"

"True," Luigi noted, "but E. Gadd makes a mean cup of coffee. What do you think's been in my thermos all this time?"

If King Boo had a retort, Luigi didn't care to hear it. With a pop and a flash, the ghost gave up his puppet, ascending up in a daze as Mario crumpled to the floor. Without a moment to lose, Luigi switched the Poltergust over to capture, seizing King Boo by his tail as he gave it all he had.

"NO!" King Boo screeched. "I will NOT be captured again! You can't do this!"

Luigi dug his feet in.

"You can't! I won't let you! This isn't the ennnnnnnd!"

Like thrice before, King Boo vanished into the tube with a squelch and not much more than a shake in protest. Luigi stood still as the Poltergust shuddered on his back, settling down as the room returned to normal, before shouldering it off onto the floor.

"Mario!" He practically slid onto his knees, taking up his brother's weary head in his lap. "Please be okay, oh, please be okay!"

"…Lu?"

Tired blue eyes stared up at him, wavering with wonder and another emotion Luigi couldn't quite place.

"It's okay," Luigi said, pulling him up into a hug. "You're okay."

"You got him?"

"Of course."

"I could've done more…"

"Don't say that," Luigi said with a shush. "You were possessed. I'm just glad you were able to come back."

They sat like that for what seemed like ages, with Mario holding onto him like a lifeline and Luigi reassuring him.

"You're safe now," Luigi kept saying. "I promise you that much. No more ghosts are gonna hurt you."

Mario could only shiver as Luigi kicked open the Pixelator.

"I've got you," Luigi said, collecting his brother in his arms after strapping the Poltergust back on. "Let's go home."

[madebycloud]

Melting

wednesday addams x fem!reader — 𝐦𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐭

summary: you went trick or treating with your girlfriend. warnings/themes: fluff, soft!wednesday (ooc eheh), halloween, trick-or-treating, making out words: 1.8k

'Tis the witching season! 

The whole neighborhood is in a festive mood, with ghouls and ghosts lurking around, kids dressed up as their favorite or the scariest characters. 

Now, there's someone who couldn't care less about all the hoopla. 

You know Wednesday doesn't like to be all sunshine and rainbows, but secretly, you've always wished she would let her guard down and have some fun. 

“It's overrated,” she scoffs. But if there's one thing that can sway her, it's you. 

The nostalgia. You missed those carefree days when your only worry was scoring as much candy as possible in one night. And now you have the perfect opportunity to go back to your child self and relive those memories. 

“Pleeeeeeaaaaase Wednesday,” you whine, dropping to your knees and clasping your hands in front of her. 

She doesn't bat an eye. She just continues to write, her fingers moving across the typewriter. 

“Please baby, please love, please,” you try again, pulling out all the stops—cute silly nicknames, puppy dog eyes that you know she secretly adores. “It'll be super fun.” 

Finally, she stops writing. She lifts her head and turns to face you. She pauses for a long moment, considering your plea. “Fine. But only on one condition,” she starts. “I know it's important to you—so I'll indulge your request. This is just a one-time thing. We won't be making this a habit.” 

“Just... once?” 

“Just once,” she repeats. 

You think for a moment. “...okay.” You nod. “But I'll choose the costume.” 

She raises an eyebrow. “Fine, no funny business. Let's make this quick and clean, understood?” 

“Understood.” You grin.

—

“Hey there, Mario!” you exclaim with an exaggerated Italian accent while waving your hands around, trying to mimic how he does it. “It's-a-me, Luigi, your lovable sidekick!” 

“It's-a-me, Luigi? I don't know which I hate more—my ridiculous costume or your ridiculous sense of humor.”

Her eyes narrow as she looks down at the garish plumber's costume she's forced to wear. She even has to wear a fake mustache. “I can't believe I let you convince me to wear this ridiculous costume.”

You shrug nonchalantly, ignoring the daggers she's sending your way. “Don't worry, no one will recognize you as Wednesday with this get-up.” You wink, but she's having none of it. “Besides, this is just a 'one-time' thing, right?”

She groans. “Just make sure you carry this, you have a stronger arm.” With a huff, she hands you the pumpkin. “After all, you're the one who suggested this fiasco, so the least you could do is carry the stupid thing.”

Her hand snakes around your wrist. Her grip is so tight you can feel it even through your gloves. 

You both made your way to Jericho, the streets were alive with kids in crazy costumes running around, laughing and shouting as they made their way to different houses. The streets are lined with jack-o'-lanterns and spider webs. 

Suddenly, you spot a house that looks amazing. There are a few children waiting outside, excitedly chattering as they anticipate a chance to fill their buckets with candy.

“Let's try that one,” you say, pointing to the house. “They look like they're giving out some good treats.”

Wednesday just nods and crosses her arms, not seeming interested in going with you to get candies. “I'll just stay here,” she insists.

“Are you sure?” you ask, pausing to look at her for a moment.

She simply nods, waiting for you to get your candies. You give her a smile and head towards the house. You ring the doorbell and wait for someone to answer. A woman with a warm smile opens the door.

“Trick or treat!” you say, holding your pumpkin out.

However, the woman looks at you with disdain. “Aren't you a little too old for this?”

The smile slips from your face as you realize what she means. But before you can say anything else, she closes the door in your face. You stand there, stunned, staring at the closed door. 

That was rude.

You return to Wednesday, shoulders slumping as you hold up your empty pumpkin.

She looks at you, raising an eyebrow, as if to ask what happened.

You scratch the back of your neck and frown. She can almost see the smoke coming out of your ears. “She... she said I was too old for this.”

You can tell she's angry at the way you were treated, and you secretly hope she doesn't plan on getting back at the woman for her rudeness. She can't believe the audacity of that woman, as if there's an age limit for having fun.

Still, you don't let the incident put a damper on the rest of your night.

“It's fine, there's still a lot of houses we can try again,” you say, grabbing her arms and looking around for another house to approach.

But people keep telling you that you're too old for Halloween and refuse to give you candy.

Wednesday senses your disappointment and starts coming up with elaborate plans to avenge the people who have denied you treats. She seems determined to make them pay for their deeds, yet you keep trying to convince her to just move on and keep searching for sweets.

Just as you were about to give up, you came across a house with the porch light off, but you could hear giggling coming from inside. 

This time, Wednesday joins you in trick-or-treating.

Together, you knock on the door and a person in a ghost costume stands in the doorway, holding a bowl of candy. 

“Trick or treat,” you say, holding out your pumpkin for a sweet.

Wednesday's stare serves as a warning to the person not to disappoint you or suffer the consequences.

The man hesitates before finally grabbing a handful of candy from the bowl and thrusting it into your pumpkin, his hands shaking with fear.

You thank them, and Wednesday gives you a smile as you walk away. “See? Things aren't so bad after all.”

Wednesday rolls her eyes. “Let's just keep going,” she says, before pushing you forward towards the next house.

—

You were walking back from trick-or-treating, your pumpkin filled to the brim with sweets and goodies. 

“Let's go back,” Wednesday mumbles. Her hand slips into your biceps, yet she hardly even notices.

You nod, prepared to return home. However, before you can leave, you hear a voice from behind you. 

“Wednesday Addams?!” the boy says in shock, recognizing her beneath the Mario costume. 

“Oh, for Christ's sake,” Wednesday mutters. She can't believe someone recognized her in this stupid, ridiculous Mario costume. She can swear in her life that she's never felt so stupid.

You turn to see a boy dressed in a brightly colored insect costume, his antennae bobbing as he waves at both of you. “Hey Eugene!” 

Wednesday narrows her eyes. “What are you doing here, Eugene?”

“I came to get some candy!” He replies eagerly, his eyes sparkling, but then his eyes widen. “Wait... is that really you... Wednesday?” he asks, taking a step forward. 

Wednesday clenches her jaw and you stifle a laugh, amused by her reaction. You offer Eugene some candy from your pumpkin, and he excitedly accepts it, thanking you.

“Eugene, can you take a picture of us?” you request, handing him your phone. 

Wednesday snaps her head in your direction, her eyebrows furrowing as she glares at you. She's just about lost it. She swore in her mind that she will never take a picture wearing this ridiculous costume.

You flung your arm around her and gave a peace sign as Eugene held up your phone. You chuckle and give Wednesday's waist a reassuring squeeze.

“Three, two...”

Wednesday knows she will be miserable. But she looks at your smile and realizes that, despite her aversion to the costume, she doesn't want to ruin your fun. So she reluctantly struck a peace sign, hoping that no one would recognize her under that ridiculous mustache.

“One!” the flash flickers, and the photo is captured. 

She can't deny the warmth in her chest as she watches the picture saved to your phone.

—

Your feet are starting to feel tired after walking so much. Eager to rest your legs, the two of you make your way over to a nearby bench, tucked away amidst the shadows of the trees. 

Wednesday is now holding the pumpkin-shaped basket full of sweets while you gaze up at the stars in the sky. She pulls out one of the candies and pops it into her mouth.

“Taste good?” You turn to look at her. 

“Tastes like poison,” she teases before popping it into her mouth.

You can't help but stare at her lips. Why did her lips look like they were begging to be kissed?

“Do you want one?” Wednesday asks, seemingly reading your thoughts. 

You're too stunned to speak, but a soft “yes” managed to escape your lips. 

Smile curves on her lips, as if she knew exactly what she's doing. She offers the candy before you swallow it whole, savoring the sweetness on your tongue. 

A glance at her lips and then back at her eyes tells her everything she needs to know.

Before you knew it, Wednesday leans in to share the sweet with you, her lips soft and supple on yours, the taste of candy still lingering on your tongue.

When you finally pull away, you're left weak in the knees and breathless.

Wednesday's lips parted slightly, her breath brushing against your cheek. You lean in again, but she stops you with a hand on your chest.

“One condition,” she whispers.

Your eyebrows knit together in confusion. 

“I get to choose the costume next year.”

“We're going to trick or treat again next year?” you ask, grinning. “Fine,” you concede, “your choice of costume next year then.”

With Wednesday's permission granted, you lean in for another kiss, this time lingering even longer than before.

But you pull away, teasing her. “Wait.”

“What now?”

“Well, I was thinking we could dress up as Remy and his human companion, Alfredo from Ratatouille.”

Her eyes narrow, annoyed at your ridiculous choice.

“Okay, I admit, that was a terrible idea, but what about SpongeBob and Patrick? or I can go as Squidward, and we can be rivals instead,” you suggest, desperate to find a costume she'll actually like.

You can see the corner of her lips twitching up into a smile. “You did not just suggest that.”

“Oh yes I did.”

“I'm not dressing up as a rat with a chef's hat next year, that's for sure. And you're not going to make me dress up as a sponge either.”

You smirk. “Maybe not, but I'll still find a way to make you dress up as something ridi—”

Before you finish your sentence, Wednesday's lips are on yours once more, drowning out your words. Her fingers glide down your jaw as she draws you in closer.

“That's it,” she whispers between kisses. “You're stuck with me now.”

And you wouldn't want it any other way.

note: me

[james-is-here]

𝘱𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘦 𝘥𝘰𝘯'𝘵 𝘺𝘦𝘭𝘭...

Waah!: The boys reaction to realizing they yelled at you when you have past trauma with yelling.

Ya-hoo!: Mn in this had a "Military" childhood, Dad treated him like a soldier and was always yelling at him whether it be commands or verbal abuse.

Yay!: Is it obvious what I'm using to label the start of my fics? lol. Anyway, Waah! is the summary. Ya-hoo! is a brief explanation or backstory, and Yay! is authors note. I need a fourth character noise for Warnings...Oh yeah! will by warnings. (Also, if you haven't got it yet, Waluigi, Mario, Peach, Luigi)

Oh Yeah!: Dead Dove: Do Not Eat, Trauma Triggers, The boys are unintentional dicks, Hurt/Comfort, Injuries, mentions of Blood, British Cigarette slur in Changbin's,

𝓑𝓪𝓷𝓰 𝓒𝓱𝓪𝓷 (598 Words)

The door of your apartment slammed shut, making you jump. He knows to not slam doors but you put aside your slight annoyance for him forgetting when you hear him muttering. You shuffle out of your room and head to the living room where you can hear the mutters more clearly. Something about a missing track and being behind a day since they had to re-record some lines.

"Hey, Channie..." You said softly as you gently crossed your arms. You may be a strong tall boy (tm) now but Chan was starting to scare you a bit. "I-I got us food...Wasn't sure what your wanted but I got your fav-" "Mn, Just shut the fuck up!" He yelled, turning towards you. "I saw the damn food but if you payed attention to your damn phone, you would've known that I ate with the boys." "Ch-Chan...Stop. Now." Your voice wavered as your eyes began to water. "Who are you to tell me to stop?!"

The phrase made you flinch, the flash of your father about to hit you after you told him to stop yelling at your siblings made you stumble back into the wall, bumping into the side table, knocking over a vase that shatters as you slid down the wall, your hands coming up to cover your head as you beg your father to not hurt you.

The moment "Appa, No, please!" left your mouth, Chan's anger and stress from the day immediately went out the window when he realized what just happened. "Shit, Shit, Mn, I'm sorry." He swore he'd never raise his voice and seeing you like this, curled against the wall shaking, crushed his heart. "Mn, hey, jagi, can you hear me?" A sob is all he gets in reply and he sighs as tears build up in his eyes. His eyes catch the glass around your leg and he notices that you landed on some of the pieces, a few small blood patches on your sweats. He knows he needs to be gentle but he can't let them get worse as he kneels in front of you to try and move you off and away from the glass. You fight against him, your hands trying to help you crawl away but your right ends up in the glass and you cry in pain this time. "Ah, shit." Your eyes snap open to first see your hand, then the glass around you. "I-I'm sorry, I-I'll clean this up." You go to stand but Chan stops you. "No, No, N/n, let's patch you up first." "B-But I-I have to clean with the wounds...t-to be tougher." "Mn, babe, look at me." You do so slowly and finally meet his teary gaze. "Ch-Channie..." A new set of tears fall and Chan scoops you up the best he can to get you away from the mess.

"I'm so sorry, N/n. I didn't mean to yell at you, I know better, I shouldn't have taken my stress of the day out on you, I am unbelievably sorry." His hug was tight as he cried into your shoulder. "I promise I won't do that again, I promise to be more aware of how I'm feeling. I'll make it up to you, I'm sorry." You shake in his hold but slowly you melt into him, his faint cologne and tight grip calming you down as you wrap your arms around him as well. Although your leg and palm stung, you were grounded enough to know that both of you were comforting one another in that moment.

𝓛𝓮𝓮 𝓚𝓷𝓸𝔀 (950 Words)

Minho asked you a few days ago if you could meet him at his place so the two of you could finally spend time together after what felt like an eternity since the last time you saw each other.

You arrived a few minutes before him and hastily set out the food you brought, homemade from your sibling you visited a day prior. His cats surrounded you, watching you curiously as you get the food out. When you were done, you smiled at the cats before making your way into the living room and sat on the floor, Soonie crawled into your lap as Dori sat in front of you and Doongi was happily purring next to Dori as you pat his head and scratch his chin. Pausing your pets on the cat in your lap, you pull your phone out of your pocket to see if there's any updates from Minho. Five minutes ago is a message saying he's almost there and Fifteen minutes ago is a message asking if you could feed the babies for him. You're quick to remove Soonie from your lap and stand up, gathering their dishes and food when the door opens but you jump when it slams shut.

"Mn?" His tone was firm and you felt a little scared but kept in mind that he just came from either the studio or the dorms, he must've not had a good day. "In here!" You call out. "I brought my siblings home made Kimbap and Pajeon for dinner. I also picked up-" "Where's their food?" "O-Oh, it's right here." You smile gently when he reaches your line of sight. "I'm just filling Dori's-" "I sent that twenty minutes ago." "I-I know, and I have the bowls right here, just give me-" "Why didn't you do it when I texted you?" "M-Min, it's not a big deal. Look, I have their bowls." "Not a big deal? You're starving them." "Oh come on, Minnie, you're being overdramatic."

You kneel down and set the bowls near the cats before standing up and turning towards your boyfriend. "See? Now they're fed." You sassed, going to walk past him to go to your food when he blocked your path. "Minho, what is wrong with you?" You snapped. He suddenly grabbed your wrists and you whimpered at the tightness. The backbone you gained over time from your childhood was suddenly out the window as fear crept up your spine. "O-Ow, Min, you're hurting me." "I don't care. I asked you to do one simple task and you blew it off."

Tears gathered in your eyes as your thrown back to the one night you didn't do the dishes, too busy trying to finish an important, grade-on-the-line school project, and your dad came home to see the half filled sink. He had grabbed you, dragging you into the kitchen. You complained that he was hurting you and that phrase was uttered before he threw you in front of the sink, you had a bruise on your side for a week.

The tears finally fell as you squeezed your eyes shut. "M-Minho, please stop, I'm sorry I didn't feed them earlier." "Why are you crying? There's no need to be crying, you don't have a reason to cry." He shoved you backwards and you stumble into Soonie's food bowl, spilling his food as he jumps away as another memory flashes, your father said the same thing when you cried after seeing him shove your mother to the ground. You whimper quietly, stuttering as you shrink in on yourself. "I'm sorry, Appa, I'll do better, I'm sorry." Your eyes open to see the food at your feet and you silently kneel down onto both of your knees to clean your mess.

Minho was frozen, mulling over his thoughts before he sighs. He realized what happened, the night prior he slept at the dorms and was so happy he'll get to see you the next day but he had woken up with a nasty headache, fighting through the slight throb in his temples at practice and at the studio. This was his fault, twenty minutes really wasn't a big deal to get mad over but he was tired, annoyed, and in pain, he just wanted you and his babies and when he saw them without food, he just broke. He sighs as he gets on the floor with you, picking up the food with you. When all of it was back in the bowl, you suddenly picked it up and hastily walked back to the kitchen.

Minho's eyes followed you, watching you dump the bowl before pouring new food back into it. "Mn-ie..." He stood when you came back in. A gentle hand on your bicep, he takes the bowl, setting it down for the mewling cat at his feet before placing his other hand on your other arm to turn you towards him. "Jagiya, I'm sorry." He bends his knees to try and look at your eyes, tears gathering but not falling. He sighs again, standing up straight and wrapping his arms around you. He didn't say anything, he just cradled you, rubbing your back as you let the tears fall and soak his hoodie. You could tell he felt bad, gentle kisses placed on the top of your head and a couple on your cheek or hoodie-clad shoulder while he swayed the both of you gently. You take a step to try and push yourself further into his hold, wrapping your arms around his middle and his arms tighten around you. "I love you, Mn...I'm sorry." You sob into his shoulder, burying your face further into his shoulder. "L-Love you, M-Min..."

𝓒𝓱𝓪𝓷𝓰𝓫𝓲𝓷 (635 Words)

You knew Changbin had a bad gym day and you did everything to cheer him up and make him feel better. You made him your noodle recipe from your mom that he absolutely loves, you drew him a warm bath when he texted a small ‘Almost home’. You sent him a quick message saying you love him and can't wait to see him but he didn't reply. Today must've been really bad, hopefully your little set up in your dining room will make him happy.

When Changbin came home, you smiled, finishing up dinner before walking out of the kitchen to greet your boyfriend, but as soon as you reached the entryway of your home, the air shifted and you realized that your Binnie was in a really bad mood as you made your way to the front door. “Hey, Bin.” “Hey.” “I, um, I drew you a bath…a-and I made your favorite recipe from my mom for dinner. It's ready when you finish your bath.” “Thanks.”

You wring your hands together before taking a stuttery inhale. “Y-You okay, Bin? I-Is there anything I can do…for you?” “No, you can't do anything.” “Excuse me?” “You can't do anything.” “Binnie, you don't mean that.” You give a weary smile and hesitant chuckle. “You just might be stressed and tired-” “Now you're suddenly aware of how I’m feeling? How would you know how I’m feeling?” “Bin-” “Stop, just stop.”

He shoves past you, his built shoulder shoving you into the wall and your left hand lands on the wall to stop yourself from colliding with the wall as you turn and watch Changbin walk away. “Bin, hey-” “I just told you to stop! Like I said, you can't do anything, you can't even listen properly.” His voice was rising the more he spoke and he turned back to you, taking slow steps towards you.

“Changbin, stop taking to me like that.” Your eyes grew glossy as you tried to hold in your tears. “Why are you crying? You're so pathetic.” “Changbin!” “Don't yell at me, you don't have a reason to yell at me!” Suddenly he's grabbing your arm and pulling you from the front door entryway to push you into the livingroom. Unfortunately, you managed to trip over the corner of your rug and you landed on your side at the same time your head connected to the side of the coffee table. You yelp in pain, feeling as if you were fifteen again when your dad found out you had a boyfriend, furious that his son was a ‘Weak Fag’ and ‘pathetic’ as you collided with the wall next to the television.

The tears fell and you let out a sob as your head pounded. You reach up to your temple and pull your hand back to find some blood, looking back up to see Changbin still standing there, staring, still angry as if he didn't realize what he just did.

You got up with shaky legs and ran to the bathroom, aiming to patch your wound but the first thing you do is slide down the door with a sob and pull your phone out, calling the first contact that you manage to navigate to. Meanwhile, Changbin tossed his hands up when you ran to the bathroom, amused that you ran away from him, still not aware of what just happened.

A few minutes later, the still unlocked front door was pushed open and he got a small glimpse of Felix rushing to the bathroom before Chan was slamming the door closed and pushing Changbin against the wall. “What the fuck-” “What is wrong with you?!” “What?” “You know he has abuse trauma, why the fuck did you do it?” “What do you mean?” Suddenly, Chan slaps him, and gestures to the room. “Look around, Changbin.” There's a few blood droplets next to the coffee table, staining your messed up rug from when you tripped, Felix trying to get you to open the bathroom door, and on the dining table were dishes ready for dinner. What really brought Changbin to reality was the number two balloon and what looked like a custom banner saying “I love you, Binnie, Happy Two Years.”

Fuck

Your guy's anniversary…

(I'm ending his here but if a pt.2/continuation is wanted, I'll get it to you :)...)

𝓗𝔂𝓾𝓷𝓳𝓲𝓷 (1083 words)

With the couple years you guys have been together, you had finally gained courage to suggest that Hyunjin moved in with you. Not like move in physically, he still lives with the boys at the dorm, I mean you let him claim your guest room to be another art studio for him. It was already your own little work space but you donated the bed, cleaned it up, reorganized, and got new furniture to surprise him with it for your one year anniversary.

Now, most of your home is covered in paintings that he's made. Either permanently or just to get it out of the room. He was with the boys when you were cleaning around, your last room of the day being the studio. You didn't do much, knowing how Hyunjin likes his things where he puts them, the most you did was put blank canvases together in the corner and put things back where you knew they belonged and knew your boy wasn't using the item anymore.

You were moving to your side of the studio when your foot slips slightly and you notice a brush of his. It was still usable but the handle was messy and slight warn and the bristles were beginning to fray. Looking at his desk, you see the other brushes which seem to be in the same state. You didn't think about it to much before smiling, biting your lip to keep the grin from spreading too wide before making your way to a set of drawers next to your desk, a collective catch all and your lucky that he's never opened the bottom drawer which contains new brushes. Black handles with a gold metal holding clean brown bristles, custom made with a little engravings on them. "Forever my prince" and "Hwang No.1". You've had them for a while, waiting for the right moment to give them since whenever you brought up the topic, he'd say the ones he has are still useful but it wasn't about just replacing his brushes, one of the brushes engravings was "Ln Hyunjin." You finally were going to propose.

You collected the old brushes and moved them to the long drawer on your desk to hide them, throw them away later. You then got an unoccupied small white vase and placed the brushes in like a bouquet before writing and small note, a simple 'Just because gift ~Mn <3' that you place next to the vase. You would've given them physically but you had some errands to run with your sibling, that's why you were cleaning, killing time.

After running errands, you came back and heard small muttering in the studio, smiling when you see his shoes before it falls when you see the slight disarray your living room was in. "Damn it, Mn, what did you do with them?" You heard him huff. What did you do? Walking down the hall, you see a few of your new brushes for him and your chest grows tight. "Jinnie?" "Mn! Where are my brushes?" "D-Didn't you see I got you new ones?" "I didn't need new ones, Mn! The ones I had are ones I'm use to." "So because you didn't want to try out the ones I bought you, you throw them on the floor?" "Mn, I didn't need new ones to begin with! If you listened to me, I wouldn't be yelling at you!"

"If you listened to me, I wouldn't have to punish you!" Your dad yelled a day after he said "Listen closely, you don't say a word about what I did to mom, I won't punish you for not cleaning the truck like I told you to do." The same day you gave in and begged your teacher that day at school to help save your family. You just wanted away from that man, you didn't want to be near him anymore but when the cops showed up, he lied, and when they left, let's just say you missed a week of school due to some bruises and your father didn't want to get caught. That's when you realized he only cared about himself and how people see him.

"I-I'm sorry...Y-You always get m-me gifts, I-I was just returning th-the favor..." "Well, you didn't have to. Now where are they?" "I-In m-my desk..." You suddenly felt like a little boy again, you felt small, confined, trapped. You wipe at your eyes with the bottom of your palm, sniffing as you watch him kick the other brushes away. "J-Jin?" "What?" He snapped. "I-I'm sorry, J-Jin-nim, I'm sorry." Chocking back a sob, you step back and run out of the room. "Jin-nim?" Hyunjin mutters to himself confused before his eyes widen, looking at the brushes before the ones in his hands clatter to the floor and he's chasing after you. You were forced to call your father Mister Jin.

Your shoes were missing and your front door was open. "Shit." He quickly slid his shoes on before running out the door. He could see you not that far away as he was quick to catch up to you, wrapping his arms around you to stop you from walking farther. "Mn, Muse, hold on." He turned you around to face him, a hand on the side of your face to gently guide your gaze up to him. "Mn, I'm sorry." "What?" You blinked a couple times before you realized it was Jin. Your Jin. "Hyunjin?" "Yeah, it's okay. I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to yell, I didn't mean to get rational, I-I don't know what came over me, I should've just asked." "Y-You didn't even see the brushes...Did you?" "N-Not really...I-I really am sorry."

You reach a hand up to his, leaning into his touch before you remove his hand and walk back home. When you return, to pull him to the studio, picking up the fan brush with his name. "This is your last name." "I know." You pull him further into the studio but he stops to look at the other brushes as you move to your desk drawer, reaching to the back to pull out a ring.

You turn around, admiring Hyunjin for a moment before walking over to him, placing a gentle hand on his elbow to get him to look at you before smiling when his eye catches the ring instead. "Mn..." "I know you...just yelled at me and I have so many problems but...be mine?"

Got carried away with Hyunjin's but I'm a writer who loves details but sorry this took so long. Ended up making this two parts cause I didn't know what to do for the maknae's cause my brain thinks they're too precious to hurt someone but I will think of something. For now, I hope you...enjoyed? It's kinda weird to say I hope you enjoyed this since it's a trauma fic 😬 N E WAYS, I just hope it's okay.

Tagging @lakee-jakee and @belladonna6-6-6 who commented on the original post of me asking if anyone wanted this. It do finally be done :)

[roscolate]

Hello again, my dear Riley 🥰 As I mentioned I've been cooking a little something for you 🤭 It turns out that I had an idea for a little follow-up scene for your amazing fic Safe and Sound, so... here it is!! 😁😁 My official birthday present for you!! 🎁🥳 I'm sincerely hoping that you'll enjoy it, my friend, and happy birthday once again 🥰🎂💖

❤️ Sleep well 💚

When Mario wakes up, his whole body hurts.

Not as much as the night before, when his wounds were fresh, but they still sting, especially the one on his left leg. Having to sleep on a hard stone floor didn't help either.

Still, considering how bad he was feeling while he tried to fall asleep, Mario is well aware that he can't complain.

Soft snoring reaches his ears. His eyes open wide, taking in the extinguished fire and the gray wall behind it, briefly illuminated by the sunlight coming from his back. He then notices the hand on his head, laying limp on his hair, and the snoring quickly makes him understand why. Smiling amusedly, Mario raises his hand and gently holds the fingers resting on his locks.

He winces in pain as his hand closes around them.

In a reflex action, he pulls his arm away and, confused, raises his hand to his eyes and turns it slowly. He feels the bandage wrapped around it and sees the blood on the back that stains his glove. He grits his teeth slightly to try to contain the pain. Carefully, he tries again, this time using only his fingers to gently hold those that still lay on his head.

As he moves this hand to one side, he leans on his other arm, trying his best to ignore the stinging sensation in his right forearm, and takes his time to sit up. His first impulse is to do it swiftly, but he’s well aware of all the injuries covering his body that are still in the process of healing. The battle against Kamella has taken its toll on him, and even though he can't remember much about the last moments before he fell asleep, he does remember the fever. The delirium. The cold, despite how much his skin burned.

Now, fortunately, all of that seems to have disappeared completely.

Despite the physical pain afflicting his body, Mario manages to sit up without any problem. He takes a few seconds to make sure that he is, in fact, no longer cold, and also that he’s not dizzy despite his lesions, which is a relief. So, satisfied, still holding those fingers, he begins to turn his head to his right.

His heart immediately softens.

There, leaning against the hard rock wall, his chin resting on his shoulder and his mouth slightly open, is Luigi. His twin brother, so strong and brave and smart, so skilled in combat, who didn't hesitate to take care of him and distract him as best he could while tending to his wounds. Mario doesn't even know when, but the sweetest smile has bloomed on his face, and something pleasant has blossomed on his chest that warms him from within, even more than if the fire were still burning.

The urge to hug Luigi tightly is overwhelming, but he settles for a gentle squeeze of his fingers, as his big-brother instinct takes over: his twin also needs to sleep, perhaps even more than he does, since, in addition to taking care of his numerous injuries, he also suffered blows and scratches in the battle. Mario can't forget the panic that gripped his soul when, before his terrified eyes, his younger sibling was hit squarely in the stomach by the frozen shell. His heart sank in his chest as he saw Luigi crash into the magic barrier and remain motionless for a few seconds, which seemed like an eternity until the fury burning in his veins took control.

How he wished he could’ve prevented Luigi from taking that tremendous blow, though he obviously made Kamella pay. No one dares to hurt his beloved little brother and gets away with it. Mario has made sure of it his whole life, and the Magikoopa wasn’t going to be any different.

At least he can do something for his twin now. Luigi is asleep, yes, but he doesn't look very comfortable. In fact, the way his head is slumped over his shoulder could end up giving him a sore neck. His poor sibling has been through enough already. He truly doesn’t need to deal with that too.

So Mario starts moving.

Unfortunately, his injured leg aches too much to try to get up on his own. He’s well aware that if he tried, he’d only end up hurting himself more, and all of Luigi's efforts to treat his wound would have been for nothing. He knows he's going to need assistance getting to his feet, at least for a while, or until they manage to find some healing items on their way back home.

But of course, he's not going to wake Luigi either. His intention is to help him rest better, so that would be counterproductive. Not to mention very stupid.

The only option left to him, therefore, is to push himself up with his arms and crawl across the cave floor. He feels useless as soon as he starts, with his leg out of action and both arms stinging so badly under the bandages that his teeth grind together.

But he's not going to let his own pain stop him from taking care of his little brother.

By the time he manages to get next to Luigi, Mario feels as exhausted as if he had just run three marathons in a row.

He doesn't like getting sick. Or being injured. And it's even worse when both happen at the same time.

Again, he won’t let that stop him.

He positions himself as best he can with his back against the stone wall, his damaged leg stretched out in front of him. He leans forward slightly and grabs the two hats, his and Luigi's, which his twin had placed like a pillow on his crossed legs to soothe his discomfort a little. After softening them, Mario places both caps on his right shoulder, the one closest to Luigi, and lifts it slightly to prevent them from slipping.

He leans forward again, this time toward Luigi, and his hand carefully searches for the cheek resting on his sibling’s shoulder. Trying not to wake him, Mario lifts his head and stays still for a second when Luigi, in the middle of his sleep, gasps loudly, only for it to turn into a new snore. Restraining himself from wheezing, Mario resumes his mission: he slowly pulls Luigi toward his shoulder and, making sure the hats are still in place, rests his brother’s head on them.

Luigi takes a deep breath and rubs his ear and cheek lightly against his twin’s shoulder. Mario quickly removes his hand from his skin and stands very still, afraid he may have woken him up, but then Luigi adjusts himself and raises an arm to wrap it around Mario's body.

“So soft...” he mumbles in his sleep, snuggling up against him.

After the initial surprise, Mario's expression lights up with the sweetest smile. His heart glows in his chest, melting at the way Luigi is hugging him, as if he never wanted to let go, and how relaxed and comfortable he looks now that he's using him as his personal pillow. Mario then brings his hand back to Luigi's face and caresses it affectionately as he lowers his head so that his own cheek rests on his brother's crown. Luigi’s locks, tousled and messy after the battle, the rain, and the time he’s spent sleeping against the rocky wall of the cavern, tickle him, but he doesn't complain at all.

When his eyes close, images from the previous night flood his memory. Even though he can't remember much of what happened while he was trapped in his feverish delirium, he does remember how his younger sibling tried to distract him by making him talk about his ideal world, made up of food and delicious desserts, while he cautiously removed the pieces of shell that had sunk deep into his flesh and then bandaged his wounds. He does remember how quickly Luigi moved, carrying him in his arms, in order to shelter him from the rain that he almost couldn’t feel due to his febrile state. He does remember the infinite love with which Luigi laid him on the ground, placing both their caps under his head to try to make him comfortable. He does remember that when he woke up shortly afterwards, he was enveloped in the warmth of a fire, and the rumbling of thunder in the distance was little more than muffled background noise.

And above all, he remembers how delicately Luigi positioned him on his crossed legs, the affection with which he began to stroke his hair... the sweetness of his voice as he began to sing in an attempt to help him rest.

Luigi must have been so scared because of the thunderstorm, and Mario couldn’t even be there to comfort him and offer his arms as shelter as he always does. He didn’t measure up as the older brother, and still his twin put him and his wellbeing, as well as his need to rest, first.

His voice, soft and tender, melodious like their mother's, warmed him inside and completely soothed the pain that prevented him from sleeping.

Only Luigi, with his gentleness and love, with his harmonious and delightful singing, could restore some lucidity to him in the midst of the fever that afflicted him.

Mario raises his head slightly to glance at his sibling. Love fills his heart and brings the warmest, most tender grin to his lips. Even though he knows he’s not as good a singer as his talented brother, he wants to repay Luigi in some way for everything he did for him the night before, which was no small thing.

So, in a whisper, Mario begins to sing the same lullaby his twin sang to him until he fell asleep. He does so in a very low voice, not removing his hand from Luigi's cheek, and carefully moves his arm to place it around his back and rest his hand on his shoulder. Still intoning, Mario pulls him closer and begins to gently caress his skin and hair.

Clinging to him, Luigi inhales slowly and lets out a slow, deep sigh. As the lullaby continues, a smile begins to bloom on his sleeping face, and Mario can't help but replicate it, happy to see that his singing is having a positive effect on his sleeping sibling. Right now, with Luigi peacefully dozing on his shoulder, Mario experiences the same intense wave of love and warmth that washed over him when Luigi, leaning over him and stroking his locks, lulled him to sleep.

When, a few seconds later, Mario finishes the lullaby, he leans over Luigi. He lovingly brushes his bangs from his smooth brow and places his lips on his warm skin. Luigi sighs again, his grin widening even more, and Mario lets out a touched chuckle. His little brother has always loved his kisses on the forehead, and Mario is more than willing to shower him with them. Luigi deserves everything and more.

Cradling his face gently, Mario presses his lips back onto Luigi's skin and holds them there for a few more seconds. He hopes that the gesture conveys to his sleeping younger twin all the love and adoration he feels for him, as well as the reassurance that it could never fade, but only grow stronger and stronger.

The plumber is well aware that they still have a long way to go until they get back home, and that he needs to make sure Peach is okay, as well as the Toads and the entire Mushroom Kingdom.

But right now, what matters most, the only thing that matters, is Luigi.

“Sleep well, little brother.”

Real image of me reading this at 1 in the morning ⬆️

My dear Zahra, I am overwhelmed with joy over this beautiful follow-up you wrote for my fic! Both vulpixfairy and you have joined forces to bless me with your unique and wonderful writing, and I can’t thank her or you enough for these gifts 🥹🥹❤️❤️

Mario’s POV in this is SO good! I felt his aches and pains as though they were my own, and I also felt the sheer warmth and love he holds so dearly for his brother. His awareness of Luigi’s uncomfortable position and determination to help him sleep more comfortably is so big brother of him 🥺🥺 Him powering through the pain and crawling across the floor to help Luigi got me ngl 🥺🥲 And I’m the one who put him through the wringer! 😅You capture his thought process, feelings, reflections, and big bro instincts so well! ❤️

I really love the drastic change in the atmosphere to a calm sunny morning. It signifies the passing of the literal and figurative storm the bros went through. Although Mario still wrestles with his injuries, there’s still a strong sense of tranquility and sense that everything is ok now.

You perfectly balance and mash together angst and fluff/comfort, the angst of Mario’s struggles and remembrance of the previous night’s awful events and the comfort he receives from Luigi and so lovingly gives back.

And the way he uses both the hats and himself as Luigi’s pillow mirrors how Luigi did the same for him, and I love that so much 🥺🥺 And Luigi’s lil’ mumble is so freakin’ adorable 🥺🥹

God, all the affection had me tearing up. It’s so soft, tender and loving, and your depictions of it melt me every time.

OMG MARIO SINGING THE SAME SONG TO HIM AND LUIGI’S REACTION I CAN’T EVEN 🥺🥺😭😭 AND MARIO KISSING HIS FOREHEAD AFTER HE FINISHES SINGING LEGIT MADE ME CRY 😭😭❤️💚 Mario truly repays him for everything he did to take care of him in every way 🥹🥹❤️💚

Zahra, thank you SO MUCH for this amazing gift. I’m constantly in awe by everything you write, and you being inspired to write something based on my fic leaves me impossibly more so. I love you, dear friend. I love you, I love you 🫂🫂❤️❤️

[pianokantzart]

By The Numbers (Pt. 3/END)

Luigi hoped to use one of his own special talents to give the Super Mario Bros. Plumbing company the leg-up it needed to succeed. But as usual, for all his good intentions, the younger of The Mario Brothers finds himself in over his head. Final part of a three part story!

Part one: X Part two: X

Also available on Ao3: https://archiveofourown.org/works/52624285/chapters/134094502

______________

“Luigi, what’s going on?” Mario’s tone was stern, his eyes flicking between the men surrounding his brother as he stood with hands clenched into ready fists. He was hatless, a pair of overalls thrown over his pajamas, one of his shoes left untied in his apparent rush to get dressed. Luigi was slow to answer. He knew that even if he didn’t look so ragged, caught in the middle of four strangers, his brother had already guessed he was in danger. Luigi’s poker face only lasted as long as the card game, in all other instances he couldn’t lie to save his life… or anyone else’s. Before he could say anything, he felt a burly arm envelop his shoulders and draw him close, holding him firm while the other three men formed a barrier between him and his brother.

“Oh… Luigi is just out for a little night on the town,” Warren said, carefully enunciating the name as he spoke it for the first time, “What’s it to you?”

Through the dark Luigi could see how his brother’s chest rose and fell– a tell-tale sign that his emotions were getting to him, but before a fist could be thrown he gathered his breath, released it with an audible exhale, and buried his hands into his pockets in a noble effort to hold himself back. “Look, I don’t know who you are, but I’ve already called the cops.” Mario pulled a familiar touchscreen phone from his overalls and waved it threateningly. “Let my brother go, and we won’t press any charges.”

This seemed to cause a bit of a stir amongst Luigi’s captors. The nameless three exchanged glances, and once they had all silently indicated to each other they did not know what to do, they turned to Warren for direction.

Warren, much to Luigi’s distress, tightened his hold on him, his arm sliding subtly from Luigi's shoulders to around his neck.

“I think you’re bluffing,” was the firm reply. “What do you say to that?” Mario said nothing. He returned the phone to his pocket, squared his shoulders, and started walking closer at an even, determined pace.

Warren’s three underlings moved in to intercept, but as Luigi had witnessed so many times before, they were blindsided by the amount of fight that was contained in someone who looked so small and innocuous. Mario knew exactly how to leverage both his weight and size, what angle to jump at to connect skull to jaw, and how high to jump in order to lay a sturdy kick into someone's throat. He was experienced in dodging blows from opponents twice his size, and was fast as he was strong.

But it was still three against one. Going up against those odds was difficult, getting out of them unscathed was impossible. For every blow Mario delivered and dodged, something connected and sent him reeling. Blows compounded, and despite the damage he dealt Mario was clearly having a harder and harder time getting back up.

“Don’t!” Luigi yelled, tears pooling in his eyes and trickling down his cheeks. He struggled to wrench free from Warren’s grip, and for his efforts he heard a light “click,” and finally got a decent look at the knife… a folding knife with a needle-point blade. 

“That’s enough, all of you!” Warren commanded, keeping the weapon firmly pressed against Luigi’s jaw. It took a few seconds for the thugs to untangle themselves from the fight and back down, during which Warren leaned close to Luigi’s ear, and whispered instructions in a tone that made the plumber’s blood run cold.

“I suggest you talk your brother down, before we do something you might regret.”

Struggling to regather his breath, Luigi looked over the scene and calculated the odds. Through the dim light he compared the scattered wounds of his attackers to the ones on his brother. Mario was still standing, but was leaning slightly under a bruised rib, his breaths audible through a face that was already beginning to swell. Three against one. The cards were not in his favor. But the odds never mattered to Mario. His hands remained clenched as he crouched back into a fighting stance and stared Warren down, the blade the larger man held against Luigi’s throat the one thing holding him back.

“Mario! Just go!” Luigi pleaded.

“Lu.” Mario’s gaze softened as it shifted to his brother. “It’s gonna be okay, I’m–” “You’re gonna get us both killed!” Luigi interrupted frantically. “Don’t you get it? I don’t want you here! I don’t want you trying to save me!”

His older brother looked startled at this. A look of hurt and confusion creased his face, black and blue and speckled with blood. Luigi felt his stomach twist with regret, but he far preferred that over watching Mario continue to test how much punishment his body could take. Luigi knew that tonight was a culmination of his own weakness. He was not going to let him keep paying the price for that.

“Everything was fine until you showed up.” Luigi spoke quietly as he doubled down with a cracking voice and tears flowing freely. “I don’t need you. The sooner you’re gone, the safer I’ll be. What part of that don’t you understand?”

Mario’s surprised look turned thoughtful as his fists unclenched, and he crossed his arms irresolutely in front of his chest. He carefully looked around, gaze shifting from the three goons, to Warren, to the knife, to Luigi, where his gaze lingered for a long while. As Luigi met his eyes, an unspoken exchange brought him to the unsettling conclusion that no matter what he said, Mario wouldn’t leave– or more, couldn’t leave. He couldn’t turn his back on him. He was too frightened about what might happen. Mario further softened his body language, raising his palms and lowering his head. “Okay, okay… just tell me what you guys want.”

“Whatever happened to having called the cops?” one of the goons mumbled, rubbing at his bruised jaw and wiping away the blood in the corner of his mouth.

“Yeah, you called my bluff on that one.” Mario said, forcing a strained chuckle. “Look, I don’t know what you’re trying to get out of my brother, but we can figure something out.”

“One moment you’re trying to crack open skulls, the next you think you’re some sort of master negotiator,” Warren muttered. He pressed the blade a little harder against Luigi’s jaw, eliciting a pained squeak and a small trickle of crimson. Mario stiffened, his bruised eyes widening.

“Please! I-... What do I need to do to fix this?”

Warren chewed his lip thoughtfully. After giving each of his men a quick glance, he made an offer while clicking his knife closed to his sincerity. “I’ll tell you one thing you can do: hold still. Things are about to get very unpleasant for you, but if you prove you can control yourself, we’ll give your brother here another chance to make things right.”

Mario didn’t know what that meant, he was afraid to ask, but knowing what was at stake he simply nodded. Luigi didn’t understand either, but felt a horrible dread weighing down on him as Warren’s underlings approached Mario one by one. The first reared back, taking his time in aiming his fist at Mario’s temple. It connected without resistance with a gut-churning crack. Mario let out a grunt of pain and swayed under the impact, but otherwise didn’t move. “Mario!” Luigi shouted. Through vision blurred with tears, he saw his sibling smiling up at him. “See?” Mario muttered, blinking away the darkness that danced at the corner of his vision, “I can control myself.” No sooner had he said this, the second thug delivered a blow of his own. In a roundhouse kick that looked straight out of a corny action movie, he knocked Mario’s legs out from under him. Mario slowly and carefully stood back up, but made no further signs of resistance.

The third thug, who had received the worst injuries of his companions, hung back as the other two tested whether or not their opponent would stay true to his word. Seeing Mario remain still despite the attacks, he held a hand out toward Warren who– to Luigi’s horror– handed him the switchblade, which the thug calmly flicked open while approaching his brother. Luigi wanted to scream, call out a warning, do something other than just stand there, but found himself frozen in place save for his quivering limbs and knotted stomach, until a flicker of coherent thought in the back of his mind pointed out that Warren’s grip on him had loosened. He wasn’t completely free, the arm was still wrapped around his neck, but he had a little bit of wriggle room…

___ “Push off with your back leg and twist your hips like you’re swinging a home run.” His father explained, adjusting Luigi’s posture. The ten year old shifted his footing as directed, taking care to keep his thumb outside his fist, between his first and second knuckles on his index and middle finger. “Keep your elbow in. Don’t aim at the head, but behind it.” His father continued as he extended a large calloused hand, nearly as big as Luigi’s head, “Pretend my hand is the face of someone that… um… someone trying to hurt your brother!” Luigi crafted the scenario in his mind, tightening his fist, working himself up. “That’s it. Now swing! Hard as you can!” ___

Luigi’s whole body twisted and his arm shot out in one short, controlled action. He felt his knuckles crack across Warren’s face and the cartilage of the large man’s nose snap. There was a tiny yelp of shock, Warren releasing Luigi to clutch his bleeding face with both hands. Everyone’s attention was captured, the whole scene paused in astonishment. Luigi didn’t waste a single second as he dashed down the alley, snatching up his sibling, practically throwing him ahead in his desperation.

“Mario! Run!”

The command was unnecessary. They fell into sync as they sped away. They could hear manic footsteps and shouts behind them as their pursuers regrouped and gave chase, but if there was anything Mario was better at than fighting, it was running, and if there was any skill in which Luigi surpassed his brother, it was the art of escape.

Together they bounded over chain link fences, across brick walls and fire escapes, rounding sharp corners and leapfrogging over garbage cans, keeping side-by-side until any sign of their pursuers was left far behind, lost completely in the loud bustle of the New York streets as dawn finally broke over the city.

Mario and Luigi took refuge in a corner store across the street from their home. Harry, a friend of theirs, ran the place from six in the morning until two p.m, and played tennis with them on weekends. He was just then turning the sign from “closed” to “open” when he saw Mario and Luigi approach, Mario holding on to Luigi's shoulders for stability.

They claimed they were mugged. The full story didn’t feel worth delving into. Harry considered calling the police, but Mario and Luigi turned down the idea. Given that their attackers hadn’t successfully stolen anything, and Mario had dealt out a fair amount of damage himself, they doubted anything useful could come of it.

They took Harry’s suggestion to call an ambulance into a bit more consideration. Mario looked himself over carefully, and after determining that no bones were broken or organs ruptured, turned down that idea as well. They did, however, happily accept the offer of ice, bandages, and access to the storage room, where they could get themselves cleaned up before heading home.

Soon, Luigi was sitting by his brother on a pallet of paper towels with a first aid kit open on his lap. He decided to start with Mario’s raw knuckles, having decided to wait until after the ice brought down the swelling in his face before he tended to the worst of the damage.

“So, what are we going to tell the family?” Luigi asked after he and his brother had finally settled. “Same thing we told Harry.” Mario said, wincing a little as his brother brushed gravel out of his injured knuckles and dabbed them with antiseptic, “We’ll tell them we got a sugar craving around midnight, decided to take a walk to the nearby 24/7 pancake house, and got mugged along the way.”

“Why would I go to a pancake house in my Sunday best?” “Oh, I don’t know!” Mario snapped, pulling the ice away from his face in exasperation. “What, you want me to tell them that you decided to sneak out and pretend to be Stu Ungar for a night?”

Luigi shrugged, barely even blinking when his brother raised his voice at him, finding it rather comforting that he still had that fire in him regardless of his injuries. Even so, Mario looked regretful, letting out a heavy sigh and pressing the ice back against his face. “No way. They’d never let you hear the end of it.”

Luigi gave a small nod, less of agreement and more of numb acceptance. He rifled through the package of adhesive bandages, trying to find the little H-shaped one designed for knuckles. Finding none, he decided to settle with simple gauze and bandage tape. “Mario, I’m so sorry,” he whispered as he finished tying off his brother’s hands. “Heh, not as sorry as you’re gonna be when Nonno gets wind of this. For a guy who needs a walker he sure can swing that thing, and he doesn't miss!” “Not about that. I mean…” Luigi swallowed back the tears building in his throat. “...I-I mean about what I said back there. The whole ‘I don’t need you’ thing.” “Oh that!” Mario let out a good natured laugh and shook his head. “Don’t even mention it Lu, you were just trying to keep me safe.”

“But I didn’t… I mean I should’ve…” Luigi stuttered and trailed off as he felt the tears continue to choke him, creating a painful lump and cutting off his words. That wasn’t all he was sorry for. It wasn’t even the beginning. He didn’t mean to put his brother in that position, make him feel like he had to turn himself into a punching bag. He didn’t mean to nearly get him stabbed... maybe even killed. He didn’t mean to keep getting lost, keep getting cornered, keep attracting trouble, keep forcing his Mario into these sorts of situations. He couldn’t help but wonder what was wrong with him. “Hey.” Mario’s voice pulled Luigi from his thoughts. He felt his brother gently take hold of his wrist, and lift his trembling hand into the air. “That was a pretty good left hook back there.”

Luigi looked at his own hand as Mario brought it up to the light. It was still marked with Warren’s nose blood, smeared across his knuckles in an ugly brown stain. He felt a glimmer of pride then, seeing the evidence of his little moment of heroism, though he wasn’t so proud that he wasn’t unnerved by the literal blood on his hands.

Using an antiseptic wipe to wash his hand clean, Luigi decided to switch subjects and ask a question that had been on the tip of his tongue ever since Mario first swooped in to rescue him. “How’d you know where to find me?”

“Well, you weren’t too far from the casino you kept researching in your internet search history.” Mario smugly pulled the phone from his overall pocket– miraculously undamaged. “I just followed the address, and then followed my gut, until eventually I found you. Not a moment too soon, from the looks of things.”

Luigi smiled and rubbed the back of his neck. “Heh, I just wish you’d found me sooner. The night would've gone a lot better if you picked me up right after I won all that mon-” he froze mid sentence, his eyes widening in sudden recollection. The money! He couldn’t believe he almost forgot about the money! “Hold on! I want to show you something.” Mario was confused, but didn’t protest as Luigi took the phone from his hands. Eagerly he exited the internet page, switched to his bank app, and was relieved to see that despite losing his debit card and nearly getting robbed at knifepoint, the total in his checking account was still the same as it had been when he’d first left the poker table and deposited his earnings. “What’s that big grin about?” Mario asked, noticing his brother's change of demeanor. Luigi handed the phone back to Mario, and took no small amount of delight in watching his expressions disbelief and elation.

“Luigi! Is this for real!? I swear if you’re pulling my leg-”

“The average cost of starting a plumbing business is around twenty grand, right?” Luigi interrupted, chuckling proudly. “Twenty five thousand should cover it.”

Saying the number out loud, a part Luigi couldn’t help but feel perplexed. It had seemed an exorbitant amount at the poker table– no doubt it was an incredible sum to win in one night– but it didn’t seem like a number worth being threatened the way he had, not by a guy who appeared as well off as Warren. Luigi suspected either Warren’s issues were based more in pride than money, or he had been pigeonholed as a far more prolific and wealthy gambler than he actually was. Someone worth robbing. In any case, they were 25k richer, and Mario was over the moon.

“We- we can get a van! With a logo and a custom paint job!” he declared, struggling to keep from shouting as he wrapped an arm around his brother, “We can restock our tools, get the name trademarked! Get the permits and a website and- ah, ow!” Too much excitement. Mario’s aching skull began to throb and his split lip that had just started to heal was bleeding again. Luigi tenderly unwound himself from his brother’s hug, settled him back down, and began dabbing at the bloody lip with a cotton ball.

“First let’s see how much the doctor bills are going to cost.” Luigi remarked with no small amount of concern, “you may feel well enough to avoid an ambulance, but I’m not convinced you didn’t crack a cheek bone or something, and we’re no longer insured...”

“We’ll be fine. We’ve got our life savings on top of your winnings!” Mario let out another hearty laugh, still high on excitement despite the surge of pain, “In fact, bet if we… well… nah. It’s stupid.” “Stupid? No way.” Luigi pulled out another antiseptic wipe, waiting for Mario to hold still enough for him to tend to a particularly ruddy scrape on his cheek. “Couldn’t be any stupider than sneaking out to play poker. What’s the plan?” “It’s not a plan so much as it is an idea.” “...And? What’s the idea?”

Mario winced as his younger brother finally succeeded in laying the stinging cloth against his injured face, but quickly bounced back into a smile.

“Say Lu…” he said, eyes shining with excitement, “how do you feel about making a TV commercial?”

[pepperycar]

🥰

Saying I love you without saying it. 🥰

Sorry it took so long!

Luigi was walking through Toad Town running errands, he was just finished with groceries and was on his way back home. On the path leading up to the house, some Toads were talking amongst themselves.

“Mario is so handsome.” Said a Toadette “he’s my hero!” Said a Toad “I wish I could go on an adventure with him!” Said a third. Luigi smiled as he heard the Toads praising his brother, he loved that Mario was finally getting the recognition he deserved. “I would love to be his sidekick, but he’s already got one.” The third Toad continued. “You mean his brother? linguini, Or something like that?”

Luigi sighed, but he was used to this. Even in Brooklyn, people always acknowledged Mario more than him all the time, sometimes he swore only his family and the Princess knew or even cared enough to know him by name. Still, it made him feel sad inside. He was a hero too. Sure he helped save Brooklyn not the Mushroom kingdom so the Toads didn’t really see him do anything but it still hurt that they acted like they didn’t believe him.

He was about to ignore them and continue up to the house, until..

“Still I wouldn’t really call him a ‘sidekick’ more of a clumsy klutz, like a clown! A really stupid, dorky, clumsy, loser-like clown!” Said the Toadette.

Luigi stopped walking and thought about what they said. He felt tears stinging his eyes and he tried to ignore it. He then realised that the group of Toads had gone quiet, he looked back only to be surprised as he saw them looking guilty in front of- Mario!

Mario looked cross, a big frown on his face as he pushed past them and walked up to Luigi, he put a hand on Luigi’s back and led him inside the house. Luigi put the groceries on the kitchen counter as Mario closed the door behind him, giving one last death glare to the Toads.

“It’s okay..” Luigi reassured “they didn’t say anything that wasn’t true-“ he tried to joke, only to be cut off by Mario hugging him. Mario buried his face into Luigi’s shoulder and was- crying? “M-Mario? What-what’s wrong?”

Mario nuzzled closer then whispered in his ear “I don’t care what anyone says, you’re not stupid, not a loser and you’re not that clumsy.. and you are especially not a clown.” “I kinda am though” Luigi joked, but Mario was having none of it. He pushed Luigi onto the couch and continued to cuddle him.

He kissed him on the cheek before nuzzling closer and tightening his grip. “I hope you know.. that no matter what anyone says, you’re my hero and that’s the best thing you can be.” Mario said before going limp against him, some tears in his eyes.

Luigi couldn’t help but smile as a warmth blossomed in his chest and he led his head on Mario’s. It didn’t matter what other people thought, he had Mario and Mario loved him just the way he is.

He didn’t need anything else.



[gracegootee]

NIGHTMARES AND SECRETS

- - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Trigger warning: Panic attack

- - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Mario and Luigi have finally settled into their new home in the Mushroom Kingdom and Mario wanted to give Lu a tour of the entire kingdom.

As they were strolling through the city shop, two Toad children with notepads came running up to them.

“Are you the Super Mario Bros?” They asked excitedly.

Mario and Luigi smiled and Mario gave the kids a thumbs up. “That’s us!”

The kids jumped up and down full of laughter and excitement. “We want to be news reporters when we grow up so we wanted to interview the heroes of the kingdom!” One of them said, getting her pen and paper out and ready, her friend taking out his toad-phone for a recording of the interview.

“Mario and Luigi,” the boy toad started. “What was it like fighting off the evil king Bowser?”

“Oh he sure was a big fight.” Mario stated. “But he was nothing against my little brother and I working together with the power of the Super Star.”

Luigi smiled at his big brother and nodded.

“Yep! That mean old Koopa is locked away eating mini-mushrooms for good!” said Luigi, leaning his elbow on his big brother’s shoulder.

The boy held his phone out to Luigi next. “Luigi, we do have one more question: during Mario’s adventure, you were in the clutches of the fire-breathing Koopa: King Bowser and were surrounded by nothing but his fortress of fire! We heard you were almost burned alive with others too! What was it like?”

Luigi shook at the child’s question. The flashback of Bowser’s fierce red eyes staring down into his scared soul, remembering the pain he felt when he gripped tight, his stache pulled and the Koopas sharp claws digging in his sides, trying hard not to yell in pain.

Luigi’s heart raced and he fell on his knees, shaking and panting fast.

“Mr. Mario!” The girl toad screamed. “What’s wrong with him?!”

Mario knelt down to his brother. “Luigi! Luigi!”

The voice was nothing but a blur in his ears as more flashbacks flashed his mind of the tragic memory of almost being burned alive, the memories or running away from a herd of dry bones and the heat hitting his back and face as he hung over lava in a cage with other prisoners which felt like forever. The final memory was him lying in the hard ground, struggling to stand as Bowser’s voice rang: “Let’s see how tough this Mario is when he watches me kill his brother!”

“Stop!” Luigi yelled out. Tears rolled down his face as he found himself on the ground, shaking. His vision was blurred as was breathing fast, trying to catch breath.

He yelped when he felt something touch his shoulder.

“Woah! Woah! Lu! It’s me!”

The sound of his brother’s voice calmed him down. He was still lying on the ground, struggling to stand as he noticed most of the toads and Mario were staring at him.

Mario helped Luigi get up on his knees.

“Are you okay?” Mario asked worryingly.

Luigi looked away from the toads and Mario, embarrassed about what just happened. “I-I’m…”

Nice going! He thought to himself, upset and embarrassed. Way to show how much of brave hero you are.

Luigi tried not to let the tears show. His head hung low as Mario let Luigi help him get back up. “Can we go home…please…”

Mario smiled.

“Sure thing. Come on Lu.”

“Is Mr. Luigi gonna be okay?” One of the toad children called out.

“He’ll be fine. Don’t you worry.” Mario reassured the toads, having Luigi rest his arm on his shoulder and he walked him home.

Later that night, Luigi sat at table with a cup of chamomile tea that was almost gone to help him relax and he rested his head on his arms. He didn’t speak a word since what happened that afternoon.

Mario walked up to Lu. “Hey, little bro. Are you hungry for dinner?” He was holding a bowl of soup in his hands, hot and ready for his brother to eat.

Luigi, still silent and shook his head. There was a knock on the door.

“I’ll be right back.” Said Mario. He set the bowl of soup by Lu’s cup of tea and walked up to the front door to look out the window and see who it was. It was Princess Peach! Toad was with her. Mario quickly opened the door.

“Princess!” Mario exclaimed, gesturing her to the living room. “Please come in!”

“I heard something happened to Luigi.” Peach said worryingly. “Is he okay?”

Mario sighed. Word spreads fast. “Some toad children were interviewing Lu and I,” he whispered, not wanting his little brother to hear. “And I think he had a panic attack.”

“From kids asking him questions?” Toad questioned sarcastically.

“It wasn’t the kids.” Mario explained. “It was the question they asked him.”

“What did they ask him?” Asked Peach.

“Something about being trapped in Bowser’s prison or something.” Mario said sadly. “I think something happened to him that he doesn’t want to tell me.”

The three turned and noticed that Luigi wasn’t at the table anymore.

“Luigi?” Mario called out. He gestured Peach and Toad to follow him to the bedroom door. Mario peeked through the crack of the door and saw his brother sitting in front of his bed rubbing his hands. Mario knocked on the door.

“Can we come in? The princess and Toad are here.”

Luigi gave his older brother a curious look and nodded.

The three walked and sat on Mario’s bed.

“Luigi.” Mario started. “I know you don’t want to talk about it but I know something is bothering you.” Mario let out a heavy sigh. “As your older brother, it’s my job to look out for you and be there for you and right now…I need to know what’s bothering you.” His voice started to break but still spoke softly. “Not just because of what happened earlier but also how you’ve been acting like you’re alright but I know you’re not because I know what my little brother looks like when something is scaring him.”

Toad rested his hand on Mario’s shoulder.

Luigi shook and stared at his broken brother with sad blue eyes, trying not to cry. He sighed.

“I-I…I’ve been having a hard time sleeping most nights because of my nightmares and sometimes…” he sniffled, trying to hold the tears back. “I would wake up screaming and telling Mario I’m fine when I’m NOT!”

The three gave Luigi a shocked look.

“Luigi,” Peach said with a gentle voice. “How long have you been having these nightmares?”

Luigi’s voice cracked. “Since our battle with Bowser in Brooklyn.”

“2 months?!” Toad exclaimed.

Peach walked up to the shaky plumber and placed her hands in his, helping him calm down the shaking. “Want to tell us what the nightmares were about?” Asked Peach.

Luigi dared not to look at anyone in the eyes. “My nightmares were mostly flashbacks of what happened when I was in the Dark Lands.” He started.

“My nightmares start off with me in the middle of the forest alone and being chased by these dead-like Koopas. I’m then surrounded and dragged to Bowser’s castle by now Shy Guys with rope tied to my wrists so tight I couldn’t stop to even look back because I would be pulled hard by them.” He tried to calm himself with slow breaths as he rubbed his hands, revealing the rope burn on his wrists.

Mario covered his mouth in shock at the intense burns on his little brother’s wrist.

Tears started to run down Luigi’s eyes. “And Bowser! He…he interrogated me and tortured me: pulling my stache, gripping my whole body with his claws that my sides were scarred and he threw me to the ground.

And then I’m in a cage over fire. I can hear the voices of screaming citizens around me. I-I keep my eyes covered before I fall into the fire and then…I wake up screaming and sweating! Feeling like the pain I went through in the Dark Forest is still there and…” he took a deep breath and rested his head on his arms, looking away.

“When Bowser threw me, I felt a ring in my ears…but his voice was so loud he made sure I was able to hear what he said before being thrown in that cage.”

The three were silent for a moment as Luigi hung his head low.

“What did he say?” Peach asked.

“He…He said that they’ll have to see how tough Mario was when he watches him kill me!”

Tears ran down Luigi’s eyes and he started to cry. Not saying another word. “I just want these nightmare to go away and they just won’t go!”

Mario stood up and walked up to his little brother. He knelt in front of him and leaned in to give him the biggest hug. Luigi wrapped his arms around Mario and buried his face in his brothers shoulder, crying.

“I’m s-sorry, Mario!”

Mario shushed him gently, crying softly. “You don’t have to be sorry, little brother. You’re going to be okay. I promise.”

Peach and Toad joined in the hug that lasted for 5 minutes until they heard soft snoring from Luigi.

Toad laughed. “Looks like he fell asleep pretty quick.”

“He needed to rest.” Said Mario, tears dried from both of the brothers.

Mario and Peach smiled at each other gently. His brother was fast asleep on his lap, snoring.

“Thank you, princess.”

Peach smiled back. “Of course, mustache.”

Mario laid Luigi in bed and turned on his nightlight.

“Well,” said Peach. “Toad and I must be heading back to the castle.”

“Alright,” smiled Mario. “Goodnight, Princess.”

They both left and Mario walked back to the bedroom. He smiled as Luigi was sleeping soundly and this time, there was no tears, no panics or screams, just three words.

“Goodnight big brother.” He said in his sleep. Mario laughed and headed off for bed.

“Goodnight Lu.”

[eleventhhourfactor]

Following up on something @jayyydez tagged me in, in regards to a "writing wrapped" of sort. Call it vain, or reading more into things than I ought to, but given my current burnout situation, I figured I ought as well take stock of all my works from 2024, and perhaps rope in the other writers and see how we're faring.

So, if you wish, here's my Writing Wrapped, originally by @jayyydez and extended forth by yours truly because what else am I supposed to do for my lunch break besides sit at my computer and ignore food, chores, cross stitch, and a whole load of other things for the latest attention-grabbing post.

Should I tag some of you nerds? Yeah. Get tagged @peaches2217 @itsavee4117 @megamagimugi @vulpixfairy1985 @silenzahra

Writing Wrapped

How many words have you written this year?

90,985. Considering I kicked things off in May, I'd say that's pretty decent.

How many works did you publish this year?

14. All but one of these were for Mario, Luigi's Mansion, and Sonic.

What work are you most proud of (regardless of kudos/hits)?

How dare you make me pick a favorite child? Why I oughta—

Enjoy Your Stay at the Last Resort. Let me manifest my Luigi's Mansion movie, alright? I liked the chance to blend the games together, to introduce some stakes for everyone, to weave Daisy into the story and make her truly distinct. Also, writing E. Gadd was a blast. I love that little dude, and I love his interactions with everyone.

What work of yours has the most hits?

Enjoy Your Stay at the Last Resort. You're more than welcome to be in that number.

What work of yours got more feedback than you expected?

In terms of volume? Both Enjoy Your Stay and The Fourth and Final Time got their fair share of comments.

In terms of the responses themselves surprising me? Worth a Shot. Touched some nerves in a bittersweet way.

Favorite title you used?

Again with picking favorites! Can I at least break down my top three by why I named them? Yeah? Then I'll do that.

The Fourth and Final Time has its roots in tetraphobia, especially the Japanese superstition of four being unlucky (due to its pronunciation being very close to the word for "death"). We've had three successful ventures out against ghosts, so why not seal Luigi's fate when he tries his luck for, well...it's in the title. Luigi's Mansion 4 when, Nintendo?

Sparks and Butterflies is all about being anxious, of feeling something funny in your very core when you're going through some major changes. In English, there's the idiom of "butterflies in your stomach"; for Mario, it's literal fire in his belly. The title later turns from feelings of dread to feelings of joy upon the arrival of twins, turning that dread into love as he holds his fiery little butterflies close.

S(t)ealing the Show on Christmas, of All Days! let me work a pun in like I'm Mr. Peabody. What better opportunity to reveal to your extended family that you've become a selkie than with an elaborate Christmas Day prank? Have to convince them you're the real deal of a seal somehow.

If you use song lyrics, which artist’s songs did you pull from the most?

I didn't really pull from many songs this year, except to name some chapters in Enjoy Your Stay. Those chapters? "Standing on Ghosts" (a banger from Two Door Cinema Club) and "Give Me Your Answer" (a line from "Bicycle Built for Two", which I chose for Daisy and the fact that it was the first song sang by a computer. I swear it makes sense in context).

Pairing you wrote the most for this year?

Bowuigi. I'm sorry, I'll change it up this year. The autism gripped me hard with this one. I didn't see it coming, either.

Favorite pairing you wrote for this year?

Yakko Warner/Max Goof was nice to revisit for A Zany, Goofy Christmas. A breath of fresh air from all the green man and turtle stuff.

What work was the quickest to write?

Out in the Rain. About 1100 words, originally written for @lu1g199 in an ask, so it took me a few hours at most.

What work took you the longest to write?

Both of the Luigi's Mansion-centric fics, Enjoy Your Stay and The Fourth and Final Time, took me four months apiece from start to finish. I have to admit, with the long break I took between the third and fourth chapters of the latter, that one felt like it took me longer to complete. I was also running everything by the original creator of that AU, @giddlygoat, and I didn't want to tread wrong!

How many WIP’s do you have in your docs for next year?

Crud, I was dreading this one. In terms of what I've actually begun work on, I've got these:

So You Were Bitten by Dracula Himself - already started this one, still need to write three chapters of varying lengths that are effectively one-shots all shoved into a single work. Luigi once again suffers under my hand, but things get better. Mostly.

Steady Steps in a Tangled Tango - started outlining this and I need to finish, dammit. Basically, post-Enjoy Your Stay stories about Luigi and Daisy, developing relationship and all that jazz. Title might change.

Light Reading for a Dark Evening - need to work on the concluding second chapter of that where OH NO IT ALL WENT WRONG!!

As for things I haven't even started? There's one I want to do with Luigi gaining weird ghost powers, and then there's the Pinky and the Brain works that I've sworn to rework and repost for a couple of years now. I need to get my priorities in order.

What’s your longest work of the year?

Enjoy Your Stay at the Last Resort, with 32,330 words.

What’s your shortest work of the year?

Out in the Rain, with 1,161 words.

What WIP are you taking into next year with you?

Everything in the list above, plus a follow-up chapter for Love's Capacity if I get the time.

What’s your most common “Additional Tags” tag?

Hurt/Comfort.

Your favorite character to write this year?

oough that's hard. Movie-verse Luigi is fun because I get to infuse him with the mannerisms of Charlie Day. The Count Bleck crew was fun to bring together, too.

Gonna have to go with Sonic, though. That technically falls under 2025, but like man, sometimes you need a Sonic to pull you out of your own head.

The character that gave you the most trouble writing this year?

Goofy. Yes, that Goofy. On the surface, he shouldn't be that difficult. Once you dive in and break down how he speaks, and how he enunciates his sentences, it becomes a balancing act between writing something that's coherent and true to the character and completely butchering him into a yokel. He's no yokel. He's just fucking Goofy, with facets and flaws and hidden depths.

I do love him, though. Best dad. Like PJ, I'd take him over the Pete I was dealt.

What’s one pairing you want to explore next year?

Luigi and Daisy. I really started something with them and then dropped the ball for gay shit. Not that gay shit was the worst way to go! Just that my brain really, really needs to switch gears for my sanity.

Also, I want to put Brinky back in the rotation. So much for switching gears, I know.

Which work of yours have you reread the most?

I've given everything a fair share of rereads, both to keep the story in line and for my own entertainment.

How many kudos in total did you get this year?

802. Not too shabby, methinks.

Which work has the most comments?

Enjoy Your Stay at the Last Resort.

Did you do any collaborative works this year?

Collaboration is what got me started writing again, so three cheers for that.

Off-Hours was the start of it all, a one-shot paired with an excellent work of art by @snakeeyesdraws for a SPM collection. There was also The Fourth and Final Time with Gidds and the entire tarot reading from Light Reading for a Dark Evening by @jayyydez.

Did you write any gifts this year?

Quite a few! Most of these were because I saw something neat and latched on and made tributes to it, like:

Aftereffects for [where the heck did you go wahooitsamee]'s half-Koopa Mario AU,

S(t)ealing the Show for @loud-kid2's Folklore AU,

Out in the Rain for @lu1g199's Plant Luigi AU, and

A Zany, Goofy Christmas for @wheres_waddle19 (Animaniacs Secret Santa).

Did you receive any gifts this year?

I received a really nice fic from @magical-octopus for the Animaniacs Secret Santa: A Wintery Zoo Night.

Other than that, nah. I mostly give.

What’s your most common category?

Gen.

What do you listen to while writing?

Most of the time, background YouTube video essays. Most of the music I listen to for inspiration happens before and after I sit down to write.

That being said, that really depends on what story I'm writing, though some bands stay in my rotation no matter what (like TDCC and Saint Motel).

Favorite work you wrote this year?

Could've sworn I answered this one already. You want something out of left field? Something truly written for the guilty pleasure of doing it?

Literally Lovestruck and Love's Capacity. Shameless smut promotions. There.

Favorite line/passage you wrote this year?

You are once again asking me to pick my favorite child. Some of these stories were multi-chapter, people. How the heck am I supposed to pick just one?

You get a collection of passages from the Mario fics, and that's final.

From Off-Hours:

“Get out.” Mr. L was fuming—a hilarious expression for such a silly-looking sap, Dimentio thought. “Out of where? Town? Dodge? Your field of vision?” “Get out of MY WORKSHOP!” Predictably, Mr. L chucked his wrench at Dimentio’s head. Unpredictably, this throw had impeccable aim.

From Enjoy Your Stay:

“Assimilation was inevitable, and all I did was hasten it.” E. Gadd stood up, kicking at some microscopic mote on the concrete. “The fact that Luigi would tap into the goo’s innate knowledge to save Daisy’s life was also a factor I hadn’t accounted for.” “Really?” Kamek cocked his head, trying not to roll his eyes. “You didn’t count on one of the Mario Brothers saving a Princess?”

From Tarragon, Tails, and Koopa Scales:

It was the sort of attack that required another level of ruthlessness, bordering on the feral urge to destroy. How ironic, then, for this to have been done by a hero’s hand.

From Literally Lovestruck:

“Mm?” He had to admit that this was a first, especially in the position they now found himself in. There was so much she could do with him held down the way he was, and yet she took the opportunity to close in with kisses. What else was there for him to do except reciprocate, perhaps even try a move of his own?

From Another Point of View:

“Insufferable little cretin,” he muttered the moment they were out of earshot. “If he weren't already dead, I'd kill him.” “I know you would,” Luigi said softly, running a single scaly finger over the tousle of dark curls that were normally his. “But we need to stay calm and get through this, okay?”

From The Fourth and Final Time:

Peach put her hands together. “As much as I would love to go on about him, I feel now would be a good time to let another speak.” Bowser raised his hand.  “You don’t have to raise your hand, Bowser,” Peach said. “Just say what comes to mind.” “Um, okay.” The great dragon turtle shifted from foot to foot. “When I first met Luigi, I was trying to kick his ass.”

From Worth a Shot:

He shouldn’t have tried to punch a ghost. Luigi had told him time and time again that physical prowess meant squat against the dead, but when push came to shove, well… Bowser shoved back as hard as he could.

From Light Reading for a Dark Evening:

Without a word, Amy drew another card.  “Trust me, you’ll want more context for this,” Amy said, flipping the card between her fingers. “Mostly to see why this didn’t work out.” “I kinda already know—” “Five of Lightning,” Amy interjected.  Bowser drew in a breath. “What’s that mean?” “It means you have a habit of getting into situations you really shouldn’t be in.” Amy twirled the card between her fingers. “A selfish, one-sided pursuit of a certain Princess, perhaps? Or the pain and defeat that your thwarted schemes brought you? I’m thinking all of the above.”

And finally, from S(t)ealing the Show:

Any number of things could happen at midnight. Marilyn Moretti hadn't counted on seals.

Biggest surprise while writing this year?

How many friends my efforts have gotten me, as well as how much more open I became as a writer. I really wasn't expecting much, and look where I am now: with way too many stories under my belt in areas I hadn't expected to write in. Thanks, y'all.

[peppymintdreams]

Mario Party Madness

Elias x Barista

The safe house was unusually quiet that evening, save for the occasional clicks of controller buttons and the overly cheery theme music from Mario Party. Elias and Barista sat cross-legged on the couch, their faces illuminated by the glow of the TV screen.

“Alright,” Elias said, rolling his neck like he was preparing for a prizefight. “This game is all about strategy and skill. You don’t stand a chance against me.”

Barista raised an eyebrow, already holding their controller with a determined grip. “Says the guy who loses half his coins in every mini-game.”

Elias narrowed his eyes at them. “That was one time. And the game was rigged.”

“Uh-huh. Sure.”

The match started, with Elias choosing Luigi and Barista picking Yoshi. They both settled in as the game’s narrator cheerfully announced the rules of the board. But as the turns progressed, things quickly descended into chaos.

“WHY would you use a warp pipe there?!” Elias yelled as his character was swapped to a space right in front of a Bowser spot.

Barista, barely containing their laughter, smirked. “It’s called strategy, babe.”

“You’re sabotaging me!” Elias cried out, glaring at Barista like they had personally insulted his honor.

“I call it justice for that time you stole my star!”

“That was two games ago! Let it go!”

Mini-games brought out even more hilarity. In one, they had to jump over spinning fire bars.

“Why are you pushing me into the fire?!” Barista shrieked.

“It’s called survival!” Elias snapped, laughing maniacally as Luigi barely hopped over the flames.

When the final turn arrived, it was neck and neck. Barista had one star, but Elias had enough coins to buy one if he reached the star space.

“You’re going down,” Elias said, grinning with smug confidence as he rolled the dice.

He needed an eight.

The dice stopped on a three.

Barista howled with laughter as Elias groaned, throwing his head back dramatically. “This game is rigged! Absolutely rigged!”

The victory was sealed when Barista snagged a hidden star during the bonus round.

“No way. NO WAY,” Elias muttered as the game declared Yoshi the winner. He slumped back on the couch in defeat while Barista sat up tall, smug as ever.

“Good game, champ,” Barista teased, patting his shoulder.

“You’re insufferable,” Elias muttered, though his lips twitched with a faint smile.

Barista leaned closer, eyes gleaming. “Want a rematch?”

Elias grinned, grabbing his controller. “Oh, you’re on. This time, I’m going for blood

[gachawolfiebloom]

Your Pursuit of Perfection

Story and Artwork By: @GachaWolfieBloom

Alternate Ending: What have I Done?

Summary: A few months after the events of WOTFI 2023, SMG4 starts having really bad dreams about the "Its gotta be perfect" incident. One night however, his fear allows the nightmares to break through and he gets taken to a horrific dimension. He finally meets the tv adware, who manipulates him into returning to his insane ways, intent on claiming much more than the perfect video. Now it's up to his friends to stop this madness and save SMG4. Can they do it in time or will they lose SMG4 forever? (In case you are unaware this is a sequel to the its gotta be perfect movie)

Tags: angst, its gotta be perfect, love confession, luigi, mario, meggy, melony, nightmares, scary, smg3, smg4, smg34, smg3 x smg4, tari, tv adware

Author's Note: Okay okay I hear you. I have gotten comments on my Tumblr and Wattpad for the bad ending to your pursuit of perfection for quite some time, so here it is! This chapter leaves off right after the rap battle and answers the question lots of fans have been wondering: What would have happened if Smg4 gave in to Mr Puzzles? Warning that there is blood and gruesome descriptions in this.

The TV Adware shields his eyes, but opens them to find that rays of meme powers have hit Smg4. One speaks in a commanding voice to the corrupted man. "Your darkness cannot survive in our energy! Loosen your grip on Smg4's heart and let him speak!" The pink cracks on his face etched in deeper as the man they belonged to struggled to fight it. "NO!" Mr Puzzles had enough of this foolishness as he disappeared into the dark shadows behind him, determined to put a stop to this once and for all.

"This isn't working!" Meggy called out until a familar voice spoke "You...guys came back? You didn't forget about me?" They all tuned to see Four with his soft blue eyes, grieving in pain and speaking in a low croak. Tears formed in his eyes as he asked "You didn't replace or reject me?"

Tari smiled and said "Of course not! Why would you think that?" Four felt a dark cloud surrounding him while he was curled up on his knees. Why wasn't his corrupted form disappearing? "I thought that you would never forgive me for what I did. I wanted to forget it!" Suddenly that voice following him around was echoing through his ears once again. "Smg4...don't let these 'friends' fool you."

"Y-You...It was you that gave me those nightmares." The connection was running out and Four was distraught. "We can't hold it for that much longer!" One called out. When Three heard that, his heroic stupidity took hold as he let go of his fellow meme guardians and rushed towards Four. "THREE NO!" Meggy tried to stop him, but it was too late. Three grabbed his hand and tried to use their connection.

What happened next was quite unfortunate as Three awoke to find himself in Four's mind. He then saw his lover from another life and the tall TV man next to him. Mr Puzzles was whispering conflicting persuasions into his ear that made Three understand why Four was so broken.

"What have they done for you?"

"You could have had the perfect video if you didn't save him."

"You should be ruling this world with me."

"I'm your only friend."

Three's anger started to boil as he yelled "LET HIM GO!" Mr Puzzles chuckled and said "Why should I do that?" Three pulled out a bomb and said "Easy. Because I will KILL YOU!!!" He rushed towards him and threw the bomb, but the entertainer disappeared upon impact. Three looked all around and yelled "SHOW YOURSELF YOU FRICKING TV CRAP!!!"

Mr Puzzles reappeared behind him and said "Over here." Three turned and threw another explosive at him, but once again Mr Puzzles's great vanishing act had happened again. He kept reappearing in several spots for each explosion to happen a few seconds too late.

"Nope."

"Hello."

"Just missed me."

"I could do this for all eternity."

All according to plan.

Mr Puzzles played around with Three's emotions for a few more minutes until he appeared by Four and waved. Three was breathing tirelessly as his body ached with exhaustion. "What's wrong Smg3? Tired already? Aw that's a shame. I was having such a good time." Three could have never foretold what happened next. It would soon become the biggest regret of his life...or even his last moments.

"I HATE YOU! YOU'RE A MONSTER! THAT'S ALL YOU ARE!!!"

Mr Puzzles face didn't change into shock, but instead to a pleasing expression. "Oh my. Did you hear that Smg4?" Three's eyes widened as he noticed that Four was listening and his face was horrified like nothing Three had ever seen before. "You...hate me?" In a mad panic, Three tried to take back what he said. "NO! I WAS TALKING TO MR PUZZLES! I SWEAR I WOULD NEVER SAY THAT ABOUT YOU FOUR!"

Mr Puzzles placed a hand on his shoulder and said "I'm sorry Smg4, but this was what I was warning you about. Your friends never loved you and they never will." It was all made clear. Everything that Three had done was just what Mr Puzzles had wanted. Four's transformation was never permanent...but now it would be.

"You're right. You both were right. I'm a monster. I have no friends. I'm trapped with my wrongful actions. I'll never be anything more." Three covered his mouth with his hands. If anyone was feeling more immense guilt between the two, it was him. Out of everything he did to Four, this had crossed the line. The smirking Adware clapped his hands and said "Thank you Smg3. You finally admitted your true feelings for Smg4...didn't you."

"NO! THAT'S NOT TRUE!" He couldn't take it anymore as he grabbed Four and admitted "I LOVE YOU SMG4!" He hoped that admitting his real feelings would be enough to repair the damage he had caused, but no matter how much he tried Four was convinced that the opposite of Three's honest feelings was what everyone really thought of him.

Four's hands grew cold and his body shook. Three had hit his breaking point as he grabbed Four and pulled him into an embrace. He shut his eyes tightly, reopening them to find that the bond had broken and One and Two looked like they were about to collapse from exhaustion. Four was grimacing with anger back in his corrupted form. Mr Puzzles saw his opportunity and seized it when he yelled out "YOU ALL HAVE INTERFERED FOR THE LAST TIME! NIGHTMARE FOUR DESTROY THEM!" In a flash, the permanent transformation controlled the movement of a mad dash and Four gripped Three's wrist, growing tighter and tighter.

"Four! You're hurting me! Stop!" Four didn't listen as he could clearly sense what this being had said. "SHUT IT! YOU ALL HAVE TREATED ME LIKE A JOKE! I'LL SHOW YOU THAT I'M MORE POWERFUL THAN ALL OF YOU COMBINED!!!"

"THREE! NOOO!" Meggy cried as a sharp pain filled his wrist. His vision blurred as he looked down and saw that Four had broken his wrist so badly that it was bleeding. The others watched in complete shock. They never had known what Four was capable of until right now.

Three tried to pull himself up, but a strong force pulled him up to their face. "Isn't it ironic that you have threatened to kill me so many times and I was actually the one who did it to you..." His past. He could have used his last bit strength to pull away and end the man's life for good just like his old self had promised. Instead he flashed a weak smile and said with tears "I'm sorry Four...for everything." He deserved to be put out of his misery. No matter how much he tried, his selfishness just made the one he loved suffer more. "If this will make you feel better...I'm ready."

That was the last thing he said before an arm pounded through his chest. A metallic taste filled his mouth and his eyes flickered out. It was his final moments. Four dropped the corpse and looked at the others with a flashing pink eye. "Don't worry, you're next!"

...

Silence. Sweet silence. Mr Puzzles sat upon his bitter throne while watching over his new kingdom. His partner watched along with him, eyes narrow. He should be happy. Finally no more nightmares. No more pain and suffering. Nobody to tell him he was worthless. These thoughts swarmed him until something else made him feel...different? Everything was shriveled up and the sky was blood red. Reminded him of someone's eyes.

A bunch of corpses lied down in the distance beneath them. One caught his eyes and he sighed. "Isn't this better Smg4?" He nodded and said "I'm going for a walk..." He left his once tranquil castle of the Showgrounds and looked down at the bleeding man. His chest had a huge hole in it and his face looked tired.

Four looked down at his hands, covered with blood. Those memories. Those feelings. Those good times. It was filled with so much more happiness than what had come now. Maybe even better if Three and him had become...

Tears started to stream down his face as he collapsed onto his knees. He held his lover in his arms, looking down at his sweet face. Corpses of his friends surrounded them as sadness and loneliness was the only thing to keep him company now. Gone. Gone forever. A lump in his throat had formed and a shaky voice said the only thought he had left.

"Oh god. What have I done?"

You've made things perfect...

[silenzahra]

✨ Anything for him: Chapter 3 ✨

One year ago, I started posting on both Tumblr and AO3 my first Super Mario fanfic, based on Luigi's Mansion. As a way of celebrating, I decided to bring back the story to Tumblr since the original posts from my old blog didn't include the chapters so that they could be read on this site as well as AO3. You can find the complete story here.

Third and last chapter under the cut!

Chapter 1, Chapter 2.

Chapter 3: Luigi

Luigi feels an intense pain in his chest.

It is like a dagger sinking relentlessly into his skin. It is like a claw that grips his heart tightly and squeezes it. It is as if he is slowly drowning, his lungs increasingly flooding, and he can find nothing to hold on to in order to prevent it.

As if that were not enough, darkness surrounds him. Everywhere he looks, Luigi sees only blackness, circling him, enveloping him, threatening to engulf him. With one hand on his chest, right where he feels the ache drilling him from the inside, Luigi wanders from here to there, trying to find a light, a way out, something.

Unfortunately, the only thing he comes across is a ghost wearing a creepy mask, that Luigi knows very well, and wielding a sharp bident, with which it threatens him.

The sight of this Shy Guy instills such dread in him that the blood runs cold in his veins.

With a scream of pure terror, Luigi begins to flee at full speed. As he races, he begins to feel behind his back with his free hand but finds nothing. Why is he not carrying his Poltergust 3000? How is he supposed to defeat this specter then?

Despite the pain in his chest, which has not subsided for an instant, Luigi forces his legs to speed up. There has to be something, he has to find something, he has to find a way to get rid of the spirit and get out of that dark and unfathomable sea that seems to have no end.

Suddenly, before him, another phantom, another Shy Guy, materializes out of nowhere.

Luigi stops dead in his tracks with another shriek. He has started to sweat from the effort and his chest hurts more and more, but he cannot allow any of these ghosts to lay a hand on him. Terrified, he remains still for a few seconds, observing the being floating in front of him, and rotates his head for a moment to watch as the pursuer comes closer and closer.

At the last second, Luigi turns to his left and starts running again, causing the two specters to collide. However, Luigi does not allow himself a second's respite, as he is well aware that they will soon resume the chase, and he still has no way out and no weapon with which to defend himself against the creatures.

To his surprise, he believes to be sensing something on his cheeks. Are those… hands? Whose? Is there someone next to him? Still dashing, Luigi spins his head to both sides, but is unable to see anyone. Then he notices lips on his forehead, lips that press against his skin with delicacy and gentleness, with infinite affection, and Luigi, by instinct, closes his eyes to better feel the contact, inadvertently slowing down a little.

But it is so fleeting, so brief, that, as soon as it disappears, Luigi wonders if he has imagined that sensation, that kiss, due to his irrepressible desire to escape from that blackness.

A sound behind him, as if something was sliding on the ground, barely touching it, causes him to turn his face for a moment.

The sight of the Shy Guys flying towards him, their arms outstretched, bidents clenched in their ghostly fists, takes his breath away.

Because of this, and the weariness that plagues him after so much running, Luigi is unable to shout on this occasion. He only manages to emit faint moans that escape from his throat with a shudder. He tightens his pace, terrified, and gasps as he moves forward at full speed in the midst of an immense darkness that only devours him more and more with each step he takes.

The ache in his chest becomes more pronounced. Wheezing, Luigi twists the denim of his overalls in his fingers. Why does it hurt as if he were being poked incessantly? Why does he feel that there is not enough oxygen around him to fill his fatigued lungs? The choking sensation grows, the darkness looms over him, veiling his senses, and Luigi, in spite of himself, feels his legs failing, slowing, threatening to stop supporting him.

But he cannot stop. If he does, the Shy Guys will get him.

Or maybe they already have? A sudden vision assaults Luigi's exhausted mind, one in which the mask of one of the spirits is just inches from his face, the bident raised above its head. When did that happen? Why is Luigi able to remember that particular image, but not the context of it?

It does not matter. He has to keep running. He has to find a way out. He has to leave the phantoms behind. He has to escape.

But Luigi is tired. He cannot breathe. His chest hurts: it hurts so much. His agony is consuming him so much that he is unable to control his body, so that his knees fall to the ground and he can do nothing to stop them. He gasps and presses his hand hard against his heart but feels no relief.

Again, that feeling of a hand on his forehead. Again, that soft touch against his skin that, to his surprise, feels not only warm, but also... familiar.

Has he gone mad?

The whisper of the spirits at his back makes him jump and want to scream, but, once again, he does not succeed.

Luigi leans his body forward, places his elbows on the ground and his head between them, and grips his hat tightly with both hands, pulling it down over his ears. He feels the Shy Guys hovering over him, senses the chill emanating from their ghostly essence, but, fortunately, they cannot seem to touch him. Therefore, they cannot harm him.

But they can terrify him.

Luigi remains still. He squeezes his eyelids, not letting go of his hat a whit, his body shaken by slight tremors, and wonders how long it will take for the specters to tire of excruciating him. They may never do so, since they are dead and thus time is irrelevant to them.

In fact, it may be irrelevant to him as well. What if this is nothing more than his own particular hell? What if he is doomed to wander eternally in that unfathomable darkness and suffer the torment of the beings he dreads the most?

What if he is dead?

Maybe that is why he feels that pain in his chest. Maybe a wound has taken his life. Maybe his existence has been so miserable that he does not deserve to find anything good after death.

A hand tangles in his hair.

Luigi gasps and jumps to his feet. His eyes widen wildly, but he still cannot make out anything beyond the spirits hovering above his head.

If he is dead... if he has ended up in hell... why does he feel these intermittent caresses?

Again, fingers on his cheek. Unhurriedly, Luigi lifts an arm and brings his hand to that same cheek, but notices nothing but his own smooth skin under his fingertips. Puzzled, he tries to look at them, before remembering that he can see absolutely nothing around him.

He understands nothing. What is going on? With his hand still up to the level of his face, Luigi slowly raises his head towards the two phantoms that pester him. He remembers one of them clearly, as well as the fact that he was carrying the Poltergust 3000 on his back, but, beyond that... Nothing. There is nothing. Luigi remembers nothing of his life, nor how he got there, nor why those two details are all his memory can recall. He cannot even remember who he is.

Frustrated, he tries to recall. The specters bothering him and his chest hurting more and more do not help, but determined to understand, Luigi tries his best to isolate himself as much as possible: he closes his eyes, frowns and forces his mind to remember.

He was hunting ghosts. That much is clear to him. The last thing he saw was a Shy Guy. He must have tried to catch it with the Poltergust he carried on his back, but he did not succeed. The weapon the being carried... the paralyzing ache rising from his chest... they must surely be related.

But why was Luigi hunting ghosts? He may not remember much about himself, but he knows with absolute certainty that he has always been terribly afraid of them. What could push him to set out to try and catch them? What...?

Then, a cry.

It is a piercing shout, filled with anguish and despair, that shakes Luigi to the very core of his being. His skin crawls and a shiver runs through him, and he gasps as, all at once, memories begin to flood his mind.

That voice... He has heard it before. Many, many times. All his life, in fact. It is a voice that, to him, means home, warmth, security, family, love.

It is a voice that, to him, means everything.

Mario.

Mario? Mario!

It is Mario! It is his brother, his brother is there, he is with him, even if he cannot see him. Why cannot he see him? Why cannot he pronounce his name? Why can he hear the voice of his beloved older brother, but is unable to distinguish him? Why has Mario uttered such a disheartening shriek? Luigi turns his head, frantic, ignoring the ghosts and the pain. Where is Mario? Why cannot he join him? What he would give to merge into an embrace with him, one of those warm, intense hugs that heal his soul and warm his heart.

Only his brother has the power to make him feel this way inside. Only his brother has the power to make him feel safe, secure, at home.

He tries again to say his name, but he cannot. He can barely breathe anymore. The ache has been growing despite his attempts to ignore it, spreading like a raging fire, and Luigi closes his eyes and gasps, covering the area with his hand. The specters' giggles dance in his ears, but Luigi is no longer afraid of them. He knows that Mario is near, even if he is unable to see him. He knows that, if his twin is determined to find him, sooner or later he will succeed. There is nothing Mario cannot do. All it takes is for him to set his mind to it and he will thrive.

Luigi suddenly remembers the strokes he has been feeling. They were gentle, delicate, full of infinite love and care. Now that he has heard the scream, now that he has understood that Mario is close, Luigi knows that it was him who was lavishing all those signs of affection on him. He still does not understand how, but he does not need to. He smiles in the midst of his suffering. He no longer cares about the pain; he no longer cares about the weariness. He remembers, as in a dream, that he had ventured into an enchanted mansion to find his missing sibling.

And, in the end, it is his brother who has found him.

Luigi lets out a slight chuckle that makes the ache grow stronger. Even if he cannot see Mario, even if he does not get to hold him again, he does not care if this torment ends with him. Not as long as he knows Mario is safe. Not as long as he knows that Mario, somewhere, cares for him, watches over him, is by his side. It is enough for Luigi to feel his presence in this intermittent way to stop resisting.

His agony is intense. He knows that, if he has not already died, he is about to. He finds it harder and harder to fill his lungs, he feels more and more suffocated and exhausted, his chest burns, but the smile remains on his face.

Mario is safe and that is all Luigi needs to know.

Defeated, he lets himself fall to his side. The ghosts laugh loudly, still hovering around his head, but Luigi pays no heed. He sighs, calmly, and stops fighting the pain. Immediately, it spreads beyond his chest, reaching every corner of his body and making him groan. Tired out, he rests his entire back on the floor and is surprised to find it relatively comfortable... and warm. Through narrowed eyes, he watches the specters float incessantly above his head, laughing at him and celebrating his death.

He feels a new graze on his cheek. Luigi closes his eyes as a smile blooms on his fatigued face. Mario's voice, although it sounds far away, reaches his ears again.

“You'll be all right soon, Lu,” he promises. “Trust me.”

Trust him? Of course he trusts him; Mario is the only person in whom Luigi places all his faith. He would entrust his life to him without hesitation. He believes in him fervently, in a way that many would call blind.

However, on this occasion, Luigi cannot find the strength to try and answer him. He does not have the strength to tell him that it is too late for him, that he is not going to get well, that this is the end for him. He is not strong enough to open his eyes, to attempt to find Mario in the darkness, to see his face one last time. He cannot gather the strength to try to say his name.

But he does not care. His brother has found him. They are together. Luigi does not need to see him to know it. He is going to die with him by his side.

Luigi could ask for nothing more.

The ache is brutal. It is powerful, intense, wrenching. Luigi feels as if his chest is split in two, as if his heart, his guts and even his soul are leaking out of him. And so it must be, judging by the bane he is experiencing.

Then he notices hands resting on the spot where it hurts the most. He wants to protest, but the feebleness that paralyzes him does not allow it. The hands, however, move carefully, gently, as if they do not want to hurt him any further, and Luigi can only imagine that it is Mario.

To his surprise, where he feels his brother's touch, he begins to perceive something... warm. Something, very small and barely perceptible, that has seeped inside him, just at the point where the pain is born. Something tiny, but very pleasant, that makes him feel better almost immediately. Not even realizing, Luigi finds himself taking a deep breath, a new smile blossoming on his face, and as the oxygen completely fills his exhausted lungs, the feeling of warmth and comfort begins to grow and spread to every corner of his body.

Luigi lies very still, marveling at the immense placidity he is experiencing. He breathes in again, very slowly, and his smile widens as he feels a hand stroking his hair with infinite care and love, and an arm carefully placed under his head. He feels good, he feels loved, he feels warm and protected.

He really did not expect his death was going to be so pleasant.

Suddenly, a soft murmur. A voice, the voice of his favorite person in the whole world, begins to rise, timid at first, gaining resolution and firmness little by little, and Luigi holds his breath without hardly noticing.

He recognizes perfectly what he is hearing. How long has it been since that sweet, soft lullaby last flooded his ears? Now, fortunately, he can remember without having to make great efforts, so the image of his grandmother, his nonna, hugging him and Mario while she sang that Italian lullaby to them when they were little completely invades his mind and fills his soul with a mixture of joy and sadness. He misses his nonna so much that he feels his heart ache again, this time due to grief, but, at the same time, the happiness of hearing her lullaby again, this time in the mouth of his adored brother, fills him with emotion.

Mario's voice lulls him to sleep and makes him feel like a child again. His arm, under Luigi's head, wraps around him, and his hand gently rubs Luigi's shoulder. The other has not ceased to run through his tousled hair, and Luigi, by instinct, squeezes a little against Mario, seeking his warmth. His brother, not ceasing to sing, does not hesitate to hold him gently, and Luigi smiles, happy to be able to die in his arms.

It is then, while Mario's voice cradles him and transports him to his childhood, that Luigi notices, not without astonishment, that the pain that was dragging him to his end... is gone. It has vanished. It has completely disappeared. There is no longer any trace of that certainty of dying. No more torment, no more ghosts, no more darkness. His chest, fully healthy, rises and falls, his lungs fill smoothly, and the feeling of tiredness has released his bones at last.

Luigi sighs, still unsure. Is he not… dying? Is he alive? Is he… cured? Slowly, he tries to feel every part of his body, his arms, his legs, his hands. They seem very real, as do Mario's caresses, and his voice sounds very close to his ear. Luigi cannot stop his smile from widening on his face and, unable to contain himself, he joins Mario.

His voice comes out hoarse, so he is forced to clear his throat, and he feels his brother's voice break a little as he hears him sing. Soon, however, the two are singing their grandma's lullaby together, and Luigi feels Mario's grip around his shoulder tighten. He snuggles against his chest, solid, real, real, cozy, and lifts his arm to wrap it around Mario’s waist.

Yes, he is real. He is alive, and he is in Mario's arms, and they are singing together. He hears his brother's heartbeat next to his ear, beating a little fast. He feels the warmth and security of his embrace, that assurance of knowing he is safe and protected that only his twin awakens in him. He notices in every graze the deep love Mario has for him, only comparable to the one Luigi has for him.

Feeling that he could burst out laughing from pure happiness, Luigi slowly opens his eyes, clinging to his brother and still singing his grandma's lullaby. Mario's blue eyes look back at him, full of relief and affection, and Luigi is surprised to find tears welling up in them. Mario's voice, however, though trembling slightly, does not falter: he continues to sing, in unison with Luigi's, and the brothers smile at each other as they slowly conclude their beloved nonna's lullaby.

Mario slowly lowers his head and Luigi raises his arm from around his waist to place it on his twin’s face. Before their foreheads meet, Luigi's palm covers Mario's cheek, and his thumb slowly begins to wipe away his tears. Mario closes his eyes, a wide smile glistening on his lips, and pulls his brother tightly against him, his hand gently pressing against the back of his neck as their foreheads rest against each other. They finish singing, united, their eyes closed, their hands and arms clinging to each other, unwilling to let go, and they share a deep sigh that fills them both with relief and happiness at being together again.

Then Mario, pulling away just an inch from Luigi, cups his face with both hands. His eyes sparkle, full of mirth and disbelief, and a deep laugh comes from inside him as he looks closely at his little brother, as if to make sure that he is real, that he is really alive, that he is in front of him, safe and sound, looking back at him and laughing as well. Luigi, his hands also on Mario's cheeks, stares at him with the same joy, and his heart swells in his chest when his twin, with extreme delicacy, leans over him and deposits a soft but deep kiss on his cheekbone. Luigi closes his eyes, and his hands slip slowly until his arms encircle his brother's neck, who suddenly pulls him close and clasps him so tightly that Luigi thinks he might run out of breath. He laughs, delighted at Mario's effusiveness, and hugs him back with the same eagerness.

“Oh, Lu," Mario murmurs, his voice cracking with emotion, his hand lost in Luigi's hair. “I can't believe you're okay.”

Luigi lets out a low chuckle.

“You too," he replies, and pulls away from him to cup his face with both hands. “You're okay!” he exclaims, as relieved and happy as Mario. “I've been looking for you nonstop!”

“I know," Mario nods, laughing and crying at the same time.

“And you ended up finding me,” Luigi concludes with another chuckle, shrugging.

He leans down until his forehead meets Mario's again, his hands still holding his face, Mario's fingers on Luigi’s cheek and the back of his neck.

“I had to," Mario says frantically, panting. “And now I'm here, okay?” he adds, looking him straight in the eyes as he strokes his face. “I'm here and I'm not going anywhere, little bro.”

A sudden lump in his throat causes tears to well up in Luigi's eyes, and he smiles and sobs at the same time, his heart warm and glowing in his chest. Mario cannot imagine how much that promise consoles, soothes and comforts him.

“I'm with you, Lu," his brother remarks again, also weeping, and suddenly embraces him once more. “My God, I was so scared...”

Luigi whines against his shoulder while Mario squeezes him with his usual impetus, the desperation and longing palpable in the strength with which he tightens him. Luigi starts to massage his back and the back of his neck in an attempt to soothe him, for, as always, his brother's emotional state matters more to him than his own.

“I'm sorry...”

“No, no, no, no," Mario hurries to say, pulling away to look him in the eyes. Luigi sees him a bit blurry because of his clouded gaze, and he imagines that Mario must be the same, but neither of them mentions anything about it. “It's not your fault, Luigi. You were looking for me,” he adds, wiping away his tears, and smiles with something that seems to be... pride? “I saw you.”

Luigi squints, puzzled.

“What do you mean?”

“I don't quite know how to explain it," Mario replies, and quickly sweeps an arm across his eyes before he begins to gesture. “I was locked up and couldn't get out, but King Boo conjured an image in the air, and suddenly I could see you!” he exclaims, his eyes bright with joy this time. “And there you were, Lu!” he adds, clutching his shoulders as he watches him with illusion glistening in his blue irises, and shakes him slightly. “I couldn't believe it! You were at the mansion, and you were hunting ghosts! With this...”

He stops abruptly and looks around, his brow furrowed. Luigi waits, somewhat overwhelmed at all the information he is receiving all at once, as well as by the latent excitement in Mario's voice. His brother's face suddenly lights up when he spots what he was looking for, and he moves away from Luigi to bend down to pick something up. Luigi then notices his torn sleeve, the piece of cloth lying on the floor, right next to where he himself was lying just a few minutes before.

A piece of cloth stained with blood.

His blood.

A shudder runs through him, and he cannot help but bring his hands to his chest, where he felt the searing ache. His skin is still exposed, as the top of his shirt is torn, but he is still able to reposition his overalls, though he cannot fail to see that it is stained with his blood too. Luigi swallows, painfully aware of how close he has come to dying.

However, his face lights up as soon as he realizes that his twin had bent down to pick up the Poltergust 3000, which he now holds out to him with a smile that exudes fervor.

“You were really awesome, Luigi!” he congratulates him, extending the handles of the machine towards him.

Luigi laughs sheepishly, not quite sure how to react, and turns around to let his brother help him put the machine back on his back. Out of habit, he clutches the handle even though he does not need to use it at the moment, and when he spins again, he finds his twin watching him with his hands on his hips and a smile gleaming with pride.

“It looks great on you,” he nods, raising his thumb in his direction. “And you handle it very well!”

Luigi massages his head as he laughs, a little unsure.

“Th-thank you," he replies, shyly.

“I have no doubt that no ghost stands a chance against you," Mario adds, completely convinced. “Not even King Boo!”

Even though a warm wave overwhelms him at Mario's blind faith in him, Luigi cannot help but cringe when he hears that name again.

“Mario...” he murmurs, not quite sure if he wants to ask the question. "W-who is... King Boo?”

“It's the phantom that has kept me prisoner,” Mario explains, his countenance turning serious. “He's very powerful, and I can't quite understand how his magic works. He locked me inside a painting, you know?”

“Really?” Luigi didn't expect something like that. “And how did you manage to escape?” he asks, intrigued.

Mario sighs while drawing a warm smile on his face.

“Because of you, little brother,” he answers, and the love in his eyes makes Luigi feel like he is melting inside. His twin's gesture then becomes worried: “I saw how that ghost hurt you and... I couldn't just stand by and watch you die just like that. I just— I couldn't,” he adds, shaking his head, though he soon smiles again. “So I jumped out of the painting and slipped into the vision that King Boo had conjured up to watch you.”

“W-wow...”

Luigi smiles bewildered and excited and grips the end of the Poltergust 3000 tightly. He is well aware that what has driven his sibling has been all the love he feels for him, and Luigi does not know how he can show him that the feeling is mutual.

“You’re so brave, my dear Lu,” Mario praises him, placing a hand on his shoulder and squeezing it lovingly.

Luigi blushes violently.

“Th-thank-you,” he stammers again, feeling flattered and not at all deserving of any adulation, and scratches the back of his neck awkwardly.

“You've sucked up a lot of ghosts!” Mario continues, fascinated, his enthusiasm rising, and gestures again to emphasize his words. “They put up a fight, but you kept going and going until you caught them! It was amazing!”

Luigi laughs, moved by the excitement of his twin, who gives him an affectionate punch on the arm, and, as Mario continues, Luigi realizes that his heart is not only healthy again on the outside because there is no longer any trace of the wounds, but also on the inside. He feels it comforted, warm, full, filled with all his love for Mario, the same love his brother feels for him.

So, when Mario finishes speaking and to try to get rid of the embarrassment caused by his older brother's unceasing praise, he tells him, heartfelt:

“Thank you for jumping for me, Mario.”

His twin smiles at him with warmth and affection.

“No, Lulu: thank you,” he replies, giving him a soft and gentle look. “Everything you've done, getting into a mansion full of ghosts, fighting them and capturing them despite how much they frighten you... I know you've done everything for me, and I can never thank you enough.”

Luigi's lower lip begins to tremble violently and his eyes water again. Heedless of the Poltergust 3000, he pounces on Mario and squeezes him tightly. Even though he is on the verge of tears, he tries to restrain himself on this occasion and pour all his emotions into the embrace, which Mario, laughing affectionately, soon returns with the same force. They squeeze each other with eagerness, with energy, and Luigi lets out a choked giggle when Mario caresses his back, very aware of his situation. Luigi has never been able to hide how he feels from his brother, nor has he ever pretended to, and how grateful he is to have him back with him, safe and sound, and strong and loving as always. Relief floods every part of his being to be back together with Mario, and he only hopes and wishes that his twin, in the way he hugs him, can feel how much he loves him too.

He feels so safe, so whole, so at peace, so at home in the arms of his adored brother, that it takes him too long to hear the laughter.

“I think I'm going to throw up.”

Luigi has never heard that voice or that laughter, but as soon as he looks toward the door of the room, he recognizes the phantom that has just entered: it must surely be King Boo, a chubby spirit with two tiny arms, eyes full of darkness and a large crown on his head, with a glittering purple jewel at its center.

Luigi tightens his grip around his brother, who, to his surprise, seems to have shrunk somewhat; he is, after all, facing his captor once again. A sudden feeling wells up in Luigi's heart as he notices his twin's fear. Mario... scared?

Not while Luigi is still breathing.

He is going to protect him. He is going to get him to safety. He is going to take him back home.

He is not going to let that ugly specter get his hands on his big brother again.

He is not going to let him take his beloved Mario away a second time.

Determined, Luigi places Mario behind his body and stands in front of him. He takes hold of the Poltergust 3000 again and points it at King Boo.

“Hold on to my suspenders,” he tells Mario, who obeys without hesitation. “Don't let go!”

King Boo laughs loudly. Luigi knows that they both look horrible: Mario is missing part of his shirt sleeve because he tore it off to try to contain the blood Luigi was losing, and Luigi’s shirt and overalls are torn at chest level, where his wounds were. Not to mention that much of his clothing is stained with his own blood.

Despite all this, Luigi does not hesitate.

It does not matter now.

He only cares about his brother.

This time he will be the one to protect and defend Mario.

[glitchy-across-aus]

Part 2 of the @astro-vision-au Find Mario Game

“If I had known I was going to be left alone in the woods, I wouldn’t have agreed to this.” Tyler mumbled as she continued straight into the woods. There was no indicator of what time it was, and Tyler was getting tired. But that voice. That stupid voice. She sighed, continuing on her path forward, until she heard something coming from the bushes. “Luigi? M?” She called out, hoping it was a familiar face. When she didn’t get a response, she picked up a nearby stick and walked towards it, ready to whack whatever was in there. The bush rustled again, and Tyler immediately brought the stick down, hitting whatever was in there. A low, monstrous groan emerged, which sent Tyler running, the stick thrown over her shoulder. She had no idea where she was running towards or why, but she felt the urge to get away from whatever was making that sound. When she felt far away enough, she stopped to catch her breath, looking around for any sign of danger around. It was quiet once again, and she leaned into a tree for support. “Keep going straight, it said.” Tyler mumbled. “Yeah, keep going straight into danger.” She was tired, and sore, and completely out of her element here, so deep in the woods. She sat there for a while, just resting. The quiet around her wasn’t really doing any good, but she could deal with it. Then, that voice came back, sounding even more urgent. Tyler, come on. You’ve got to find them. Soon. She groaned, but complied, getting up and walking again. As she walked, she noticed a multi-colored scarf stuck in a tree overhead. She didn’t know why, but she had a feeling it was important, and climbed up to get it. As soon as she got up, she looked out and suddenly, like the flip of a switch, she could see everything. The view from the top had opened her eyes to the rest of the woods, including the double Mario duel that seemed to be going on near her. She immediately climbed down, grateful for the view, and ran in the direction of the fight. Hang on, M. I’m coming.

She finally reached the fight, where the two Marios were battling, what seemed, to the death. She looked around, and caught the attention of The Other Luigi. “You’re ok!” He exclaimed as she headed towards him. “Yeah, I’m good. What the hell is going on here?” She asked, gesturing to the fight. “Mario-My Mario- is set on finding this thing and believes your Mario took it. I tried talking to him, but-” He was suddenly cut off when Mario-Tyler’s Mario- was sent flying towards them. “Oh! Hi Tyler!” He said, waving to her. “Hi M. Need some help?” He nodded, and she helped him up. “If your Mario won’t listen to reason,” she said, facing The Other Luigi,  “then we’re gonna have to weaken him until he does.” Mairo jumped back in the fight, this time with Tyler at his side. The three of them battled it out for what seemed like forever, with Mario and Tyler using teamwork and their agility to weaken the other Mario. It didn’t last long though, and they were both tossed aside, The Other Mario looming over them. “Mario! You have to listen to me! They don’t have it! We can just look for it together!” The Other Luigi called out, but Mario didn’t seem to listen. Instead, he grabbed Tyler’s Mario’s ankle and Bowser-swung him into a nearby tree. “Where. Is. MY. SCARF?!?!” The Other Mario screamed as M went flying. Scarf? Tyler thought, then widened her eyes, digging through her pockets. Meanwhile, The Other Mario had somehow gotten the upper hand, and was ready to decapitate M. “Wait! Wait, hold on.” Tyler called out, causing both Mario’s to look at her. She held the scarf in her hand, raised high above her like a victory flag. “Let him go, and you can have this.” Tyler reasoned, and, albeit hesitant, The Other Mario complied, releasing his grip on M and walking towards Tyler.He gently took the scarf from her hand, wrapping it around him. It was silent for a while, but it almost seemed as The Other Mario was slowly relaxing from the panic, frenzied state he was in. “You…thank you. For finding this.” He said, examining the scarf. Tyler just nodded as a random portal opened behind him. The Other Luigi walked towards The Other Mario, nudging him towards the portal. The Other Mario nodded, waving to Tyler before stepping through. Luigi hugged Tyler, whispering a small thank you, to which Tyler just nodded. “Oh, before I forget,” He said, fishing her glasses out of his pocket. “I found this while I was looking for you. Here.” She took the glasses from him and nodded, not having realized they were missing. “Thanks. Be safe, ok?” she smiled, putting her glasses back on. The Other Luigi nodded, and walked through the portal, closing it behind him. Or maybe it just closed on its own. Tyler didn’t really care. Mario got up and patted her shoulder. “I’m-a hungry. Let's get out of here.” Tyler laughed, and together the two of them found their way out of the forest, Tyler all but forgetting the creature she had run from that was hiding in the bushes earlier.

Although, she couldn’t shake the feeling that something, or someone, was watching her as she made her way out…

[skyeknight-oneshots]

Lu, Lu, Lu, Lu, Luigi!

"This one is for my one and only true love... Luigi."

Luigi blushed, eyes going wide at the side lines.

"Lu, you're so cool... And with my cum, you're gonna be so full.

Lu, after this song, Imma love ya all night loooong~"

Now, Luigi's blush intensified and his jaw dropped at the choice of lyrics. He pulled his hat down, embarrassed beyond belief.

Mario was starting to seethe.

Donkey tried to offer him food to help him relax, but he refused it.

Princess Peach raised a brow, pretty certain that wasn't how the lyrics should go... Or how this scene should be going, actually.

"Ooh, Lu, Lu, Lu, my sweetest Lu,

Oo, oo, oh~ Lu, Lu, Lu ooh~

I love you, ooh!

Ooh, Lu, Lu, Lu, my sweetest Lu,

Oo, oo, oh~ Lu, oh~ Luigi!

I love you!"

"That's it!" Mario grumbled as he swallowed a red mushroom before storming into the scene. "Let's-a go!"

At that same time, the director yelled "cut", sounding more tired than angry.

"Hm, I wonder if he's trying to a bunch of cuts for gag reel." Princess Peach as she took a sip of tea, staying behind the scenes as her boyfriend tried smashing Bowser.

DK shrugged, munching on several bananas at once. "Bet he's just doing it on purpose at this point." he mused, as Luigi charged into the scene to pacify things between his brother and boyfriend... for the umpteenth time. "Think we're all going home late tonight."

"STOP SINGING ABOUT HOW YOU'RE DEFILING MY BROTHER!"

"Mario, stop trying to throw Bowsie to the next the galaxy!"

"Not until he stops singing about you that way!"

Bowser didn't stop, even without music accompaniment as he's no longer within reach of the piano.

"Mario, Princess Peach, and Donkey Kong too

Notta single one of 'em could hold a candle to you..."

The aforementioned princess and prince looked indignant at that.

"You'll be my man to the end of the time

Mario can suck it cause you're forever mine, oh~

Ooh, Lu, Lu, Lu, my sweetest Lu,

Oo, oo, oh~ Lu, Lu, Lu ooh~

I love you, ooh!

Ooh, Lu, Lu, Lu, my sweetest Lu,

Oo, oo, oh~ Lu, oh~ Luigi!

I'm gonna fuck you!"

"DAMN IT, I'M-A KILL HIM!"

"Mario, no!"

"Mario, yes!" Mario grumbled, still struggling in his brother's grip. He could power through since he ate the mushroom, but he didn't want to hurt Luigi by accident. "WHERE'S THE SUPER STAR!"

"NO, THOSE ARE EXPENSIVE TO KEEP REPLACING!" The director runs away with the star.

Princess Peach hummed, "Late night it is."