Chapter Text
When the toads heralded Mario’s return, she was glad. When she looked out from her balcony and saw Luigi by her red-shirted champion’s side, she was even happier. Phew. Thank goodness he was unharmed. She’d only meant for Luigi to serve as her decoy for a day. One day. There was a ceremonial tea party and ribbon cutting ceremony for a new business in the Toad Town mall and frankly, she’d had other more important things to tend to. She’d been lamenting as much to the sweet, kind-hearted plumber and he’d quite kindly offered to take care of it for her. At first she’d declined, pointing out that the business owner—a rather insufferable and obsequious little toad—would probably be offended if she didn’t show up to do it herself. Luigi had been the one to counter that the business owner needn’t know the difference. Curious to see if that was even a possibility, she’d taken Luigi back to her room, given him one of her dresses, and chased down a suitable wig styled like her own hair. A surgical mask to cover the nose and mustache…and Luigi was unrecognizable. This just might work, she’d thought. Unfortunately, there was a very big problem she’d neglected to factor in:
Bowser.
The giant koopa showed up out of nowhere at the ribbon-cutting ceremony, scooped up Luigi and flew off. Peach had wasted no time telling a very confused Mario what had happened. Her poor plumber was a nervous wreck every minute she made him wait while she had her people gather extra supplies for his journey. It took a day. She wished him luck and saw him off. Every single day that went by without word or sign of the brothers, she fretted and wrung her hands and lay awake at night tossing and turning. She really hoped they were okay. Luigi was already so nervous and jumpy…poor guy would probably be a bit of a wreck in Bowser’s claws. And what if—what if Bowser hurt him? Bowser had never hurt her, but she’d no idea what he might do to the green plumber. The koopa king would be furious at the deception and, knowing the koopa king, would definitely take it personally, even though she’d never meant Luigi to get caught up in the middle. She really hoped Mario would get there before Bowser noticed that Luigi was—well, Luigi. But there was no longer need for those worries, she thought as she rushed through the castle halls to meet them. They were back!
“Mario!” She exclaimed, happily springing into his arms. He laughed and swung her around with a smile on his face. She hugged him tight, then turned and pounced on Luigi. The poor green bean was startled, and it took a second for his arms to return her hug. He was still wearing her dress and the surgical mask. She could see that several of guard toads were staring, very confused, so he took him by the hand and led the way to her office where they wouldn’t be quite so exposed. Mario followed wordlessly. Inside, once she’d closed the door her hands were on Luigi again, peeling off the mask and gently stroking the side of his face with concern.
“Oh, Luigi! I was so worried! Are you alright? Bowser didn’t hurt you, did he?”
“N-n-no p-principessa, sto bene. I-I am fine.”
“Oh, thank goodness! I’m so sorry! I didn’t mean for any of that to happen. Please, please forgive me—”
“It’s not—you didn’t do anything wrong. I-I volunteered to help you, you weren’t to know that B-b—he would…you know.” Luigi stammered, cheeks reddening.
Mario apparently couldn’t hold back any longer and giggled wildly.
“That dumb tartaruga! Couldn’t even tell the difference between you and my fratello!” Mario went on to describe the way that Bowser soliloquized and refused to give up ‘the princess’ when he showed up to rescue his brother, but Peach wasn’t really listening. Her eyes were drawn to Luigi. The green plumber had gone very still. During the entirety of Mario’s animated recollection, he didn’t say a word. Luigi’s face had fallen. Blue eyes weren’t looking anywhere in particular, just staring blankly into the middle distance. Peach felt as though a stone had settled in her gut. Mario chuckled and described the final moments of the fight with the Koopa king by gesticulating. Luigi’s lips tightened and he swallowed. She considered reaching out to wrap an arm around his shoulder, but wasn’t sure it would be welcome, so ultimately, she kept her hands to herself. Mario’s re-enactment was highly energetic. When Luigi took a step back to be out of Mario’s way, the golden hair of the wig fell away from his neck. Peach’s chest tightened. Her lips parted. Had—had Mario seen this? The younger twin’s eyes caught hers. They were so cold she shivered. Luigi’s fingers brushed the hair of the wig forward again. The hard press of his lips into a thin line and the stern flicker in his eyes gave her her answer. Mario didn’t know and Luigi wanted to keep it that way. She took his hand in hers, then she forced a smile and turned to her red knight in overalls.
“Alright, that’s quite enough! I’m going to help Luigi out of this dress and back into his overalls! They’re still in my closet.”
Mario’s mustache twitched as he frowned. “But—”
“He won’t be able to get the clasps off himself! He’s not used to them!”
“Si, but—”
“We’ll be back before you can even miss us!” She reassured, then without waiting for further argument, dragged Luigi off.
Safe in her bedroom, the smile shattered. She made to remove the wig. Luigi let her. She had to pull the hair pins out one at a time. She did it carefully, not wanting to catch his curly brown locks in the process. Once she pulled it off and there was no more long blond hair to hide it, her delicate, gloved fingers felt the edge of the raw-looking mark. It only just peeked out from under the collar of her dress. She might not have even noticed had her gaze not been drawn there by the wig.
“Let’s get this off,” she said, trying to inject sweetness in her voice, but it fell flat. She unzipped the dress and motioned over to the changing screen next to her wardrobe. Luigi obediently went behind it. She heard the luxurious layers of fabric rustling as she went to get his overalls and hung them over the top of the screen. A few seconds later he took them. When he re-emerged, he was fiddling with the buckles. His hands were shaking so bad he couldn’t seem to latch them properly. Not only that, but the straps were twisted. She went to help. At first, he tried to fight them himself but soon gave up and allowed her to take over. She untwisted them, then offered each, in turn, over Luigi’s tense shoulders. He held onto them ‘til she was able to come around and buckle them herself. Luigi’s long-sleeved green shirt was a standard crew neck. No collar. She felt like there was ice in her veins. It was no mystery whose mark that was. The size alone was enough to eliminate doubt.
“Luigi,” her throat was suddenly too tight to get the words out. “Are you—oh, stars, of course you’re not. Luigi, I—I’m so sorry he hurt you. This,” it was getting harder and harder to hold back tears, “T-this is all my fault. I can’t believe he—”
“He knew.” Luigi’s blue eyes were somehow bluer than she ever remembered them being before. Had she just never noticed they were the color of the sea around the Isle of Delfino? They were willing her to understand, but she didn’t. Seeing that, they glittered with moisture. The delicately shaped mustache wiggled and Luigi’s teeth worked his bottom lip as he tried to compose an explanation. She waited. A few moments later, his voice rose, shaking. “B—b-He knew that I wasn’t—” Luigi’s adam’s apple bobbed as he swallowed.
She stared.
“But…if he knew you weren’t me, then, why?” she asked softly, her fingers tracing the air over the exposed portion of the mark. She reached down, about to pull the green collar to one side to see the rest of it. Luigi’s hand snapped up, caught her wrist and flung her hand away. She returned it carefully to her side. She’d no desire to test him, but “Lu, please let me see. I just want to be sure that it’s—”
“It’s clean.”
She’d believe that when she’d seen for herself. Luigi sighed when he saw it was no use arguing. He pulled the collar aside so she could look. He wasn’t sure if he was more annoyed or validated that she couldn’t seem to find anything wrong with it.
“When exactly did he—”
“Earlier today. A-a few hours before Mario showed up.”
“I have a healing mushroom.” She exclaimed, brightly, lunging to fetch it from her bedside drawer. “If you take it right now, it’ll heal over, good as new!”
Her mouth fell open in shock when he pushed it away.
“N-no.”
“But—” Peach had to take a few deep breaths to get her voice back, “Luigi, did Bowser tell you what it means for Koopas to—”
“Si,” Luigi whispered, nodding, solemnly, “I’m—I’m his.”
“Please,” she begged, tears in her eyes and pushing the healing mushroom toward him, “Take it! You can still escape him. You don’t have to—”
“We made a pact, principessa. I gave my word.”
“What?! Why?!” Her tears escaped. She was so bewildered, her heart ached. Why would he do this? To her? To Mario? What could Bowser possibly offer that would be worth that kind of—
“No,” it was more a plea than anything else. She couldn’t see through the tears, “You didn’t…Luigi, please, I’m begging you. Just take the mushroom. We’ll find another way.”
His hands pulled her into a warm and gentle hug, rubbing soft circles on her back.
“No. T-this is the best way.” He smiled, blinking back tears of his own. She bent down to cry on his shoulder. “There-there. Everything’s gonna be okay. Now you and Mario can live happily ever after.”
“Luigi,” she sobbed. “B-but what about you? You deserve to be loved.”
“I,” he wiped his eyes with the back of his sleeve, fighting to keep the smile on his face from falling, “I’ll get by. H-he—b-b,” Luigi fought his lips and tongue until they formed the name of his keeper, “Bowser s-said he’d take me back eventually and—he—he wants me to s-stay. In—in the darklands.”
She wasn’t surprised to hear it. Truthfully, she was more shocked that Bowser had let Luigi go at all. Koopas were normally freakishly protective of their mates, particularly in the early days of a claim. She could only hope that Luigi was here because Bowser really did intend to do this the right way.
Perhaps he had finally tired of the chase, weary of the never-ending fight for her hand…and then instead of her he’d grabbed Luigi. Her opinion of Bowser wasn’t as low as most people would think. Behind the rudeness and that massive ego was a decent ruler and a father who was at least trying to give his offspring a better life. She could picture the look on his face. The one where you could see the wheels turning, formulating a plan, calculating just how hard to strike, how loud to shout, how hard to lean to yield the result he wanted. Bowser had realized she’d never give him the marriage he wanted, but he wasn’t prepared to give up on a partnership that would create an alliance and improve the dark lands’ alliances with other kingdoms. And thanks to their little game of dress-up, Luigi had landed in his lap. Sweet, self-sacrificing, Luigi, who loved his brother more than anything. A man who cared so much for others that he’d do anything—The koopa king was shrewd. Bowser would know all the right buttons to press. Peach had a bitter taste in her mouth. Bowser had seen an opportunity in the green plumber…and he sank in his teeth. It wasn’t fair! It was too cruel! Even Bowser had to realize that! She knew what she needed to do. But first—
“Luigi…how are you going to tell Mario?”
“I’m not.”
“Sorry?”
“I don’t want him to know. Not yet. If he finds out now, he’ll force me to—” he eyed the mushroom in her hand, nervously, as though he was worried he’d give her ideas.
She frowned. “I can’t force you to eat it against your will. Neither can Mario. To do so would be a crime of the highest order. Punishable by death in Bowser’s kingdom.”
Luigi blanched, now even more determined not to tell Mario. Because death penalty or no, if his brother got wind of what had happened, Mario wouldn’t give up until that mushroom had been pushed between his lips and down his throat. His brother would not let him go through with it but Luigi’s mind was made up.
“I mean to honor my word, principessa. Mario wouldn’t accept that.”
Peach didn’t want to tell him, but she needed to be sure he fully understood what he was in for.
“It should take about three days to heal, barring any complications. Like you said, it looks clean, so you shouldn’t have to worry much about infection, but if the skin around it gets inflamed or starts to swell, visit Doctor Toad.” She waited until Luigi nodded, then continued, “Once it’s all healed up, there’s no longer a chance of it being removed by standard healing magic, items or power-ups. In koopa culture, completely hiding or obscuring a mark is a sign of disrespect to one’s partner. Keep that in mind.” Perceptively seeing the immenent follow up on his lips, she hurried on, “It’s normal and widely accepted for it to be partly obscured by shell or clothing, just—if Bowser is around, make sure you leave at least a corner of it visible. Most will not bother looking, but it’s meant for the smaller percentage of parties who would.”
“Like?” Luigi asked, softly.
“Other koopas, most certainly, and common dark lands allies. As well as any potentially interested parties.” When he canted his head, confused, she smiled grimly, “Would-be competitors for your affection.”
His cheeks went scarlet. He stared at his shoes.
“T-that won’t be a problem.”
“Luigi,” she took both his hands in hers and waited for him to look her in the eyes, “Are you sure?”
“Peach…”
She passed the mushroom to him and used her hands to wrap his around it.
“You don’t have to use it. Just…take it with you. Youd have three days to think it over.”
She didn’t understand why he stared at her like that, but her tension eased when he did what she asked and tucked it away in the front pocket of his overalls. With a quick squeeze of her hand and a bow of his head, he bid her farewell. She was still staring long after the door had closed behind him. Maybe…Maybe everything would be okay…she hoped with all her heart that Luigi would do the selfish thing for once, but even as she thought it, she shuddered. Luigi was always too selfless for his own good.
Late morning, three days later. Luigi was in the little bathroom at the Mario Bros’ house in Toad Town. He’d slept in again. He’d been doing a lot more sleeping since they got back. Thankfully, that wasn’t a problem, because things were quiet. They’d only had one job. The fountain in Toad Plaza needed some work, but it was easy enough. Few replacement parts and the thing was good as new.
Lu sighed as he yanked his shirt off over his head and tossed it aside. He looked himself over in the mirror. The mark wasn’t red or tender anymore. He traced it with his fingers, half expecting it to hurt. It didn’t. It was sensitive, but not painful. He gently pressed over a few of the deeper spots where Bowser’s fangs had sunk down. Cheeks flushed and breath quickened at the memory. The inescapable closeness, the super-heated air leaving Bowser’s maw that threatened to singe his skin, the koopa king’s grip wrapping almost completely around his waist. Luigi’s stomach turned and his heart flip-flopped. Even when that giant jaw closed and his vision had blinked out from the stabbing, burning pain, Bowser’s hands had firmly kept him from struggling. As the teeth pulled away Luigi had a hazy memory of a warm tongue carefully laving away the blood from the tender wound. Strong hands easing him down onto a soft surface, that hot breath so close to his face…Bowser had stayed with him. His blush intensified. The king of the koopas had to have better things to do, but had lay by his side until he woke up. He was overthinking things. Of course, Bowser stayed. Probably just making sure I didn’t bleed to death. He turned a little to check the matching impression on the back. Hmph. At least it wasn’t too bad to look at. No worse than any of the other scars he’d gained from their little ‘adventures.’ Ugh. Time for a shower.
Luigi spent a long time letting the hot water cascade across his muscles and down his back. He washed his hair and sighed as the wetness rushed along his neck. The heat felt so good he hummed in pleasure. Almost as nice as Bowser’s breath… He reeled back so hard he almost slipped and struggled to catch himself, hitting the shower door and knocking over the shampoo bottle with an echoing THUD! Less than ten seconds later came a tap at the door accompanied by Mario’s raised voice, brimming with anxiety.
“Lu? You okay in there? Sounded like something fell.”
“I just—” he heaved in breaths of steamy air, steadying himself using the shower door. “I knocked the shampoo over. I’m—I’m fine. I think—I’ll be out in a minute.”
“Okie dokie.”
He turned off the water, stepped out on the bathmat and took his towel from the rack. He dried himself off, then wrapped it around his waist. He made a quick dash across the hall into his room grateful that his fratellone wasn’t camping the door. He threw on a white tank top and gray sweatpants. It was a warm day and he wasn’t planning to leave the house, so he could languish in some casual comfort. He was toweling off his hair when there was a knock at the door.
“Entrare!” he called softly, drying behind his ears.
“Weegee, I’m makin’ calzone, but I can’t read mama’s handwriting. Does this say a tablespoon of olive oil or a teaspoon?” Mario asked, walking over with their three-ring binder with photocopies of all Nonna’s and Mama’s recipes. He tapped the spot on the ingredients list, dark brows low and furrowed.
Luigi smiled, lowering the towel from his head, not even having to look to know the answer. He knew this one by heart.
“Tablespoons.”
“Grazie, fratellino. Feeling better after your—” Mario had finally looked up. His face clouded and he snapped the binder shut, setting it to one side on the bed as he sat down beside his younger sibling. “What’s this?”
Lu didn’t answer, just let his brother examine it. He held his breath and hoped it wouldn’t mean anything to his twin—that he wouldn’t have to watch Mario’s heart break right in front of him. Thankfully, his wish was granted as there was nothing but the usual displeasure and concern in Mario’s eyes.
“Something bit you?” Mario asked, looking at him. He chuckled nervously and rubbed the back of his neck, nodding. “When’d this happen?”
He waved it off with a casual air so as not to rouse Mario’s suspicions.
“Oh, uh, a while ago.”
“Does it hurt?”
“What? Nah!” he said, smiling bravely. Mario smiled back, but softer, eyebrows dipping a little bit sadly.
“My little brother, the tough guy, eh?”
“Aw, stahp!” Lu bumped his brother’s shoulder with his own, relishing Mario’s laugh. “Want some help in the kitchen?”
Mario shoved him playfully. “Nuh-uh! No thanks! How am I ever supposed to learn with you always takin’ charge?!”
“Hehe, alright. I’ll just do some reading instead.”
An hour or so later his attention was pulled from his book by his brother skidding to a stop next to his chair, covered in flour, panting and looking panicked.
“FORGOT TO BUY FILLINGS! NEED CHEESE!”
Luigi giggled, dog-earing his page so he could come back later, and reached out to dust some flour off Mario’s nose. A bit of it sprinkled down into the loose mustache, making his brother look prematurely gray. He stood and stretched his arms. Mario seized him by the shoulders and shook him.
“WEEGEE! NEED INGREDIENTS!”
“Mario, calmati, calmati. The dough is still rising, si?”
“Yeah, but—”
“So we can walk down to the market.”
Mario nervously eyed the bowl on the counter covered by a clean gingham kitchen cloth. Luigi chuckled.
“Nothing’s going to happen. C’mon. I’ll go with you.”
“But your book—”
“Can wait, fratello.” He grabbed his shopping bag that hung by the door and motioned Mario to hurry and join him, “Andiamo!”
And so they left. The sun was warm. Luigi savored the feeling on his skin. He and Mario discussed what kinds of things to buy for the calzones as they walked. He teased his sibling by floating ‘mushrooms’ as a serious suggestion, before Mario overruled him declaring:
“I’m the chef, they’re my calzones! And I say no mushrooms!”
“Alright, alright!” Luigi laughed, “You da boss, eh?”
“Damn straight!”
When they got to the market, Mario realized there was yet another problem and started to panic.
“I forgot my wallet!”
Luigi rolled his eyes and reached down in his shopping bag, pulling out a bag with a coin symbol on it and shaking it, weightily. “No problem, fratellone.”
“I’ll pay you back!”
“Don’t be ridiculous,” Luigi grumbled, wandering over to a farm stall eyeing some nice-looking cantaloupes. Mario’s voice over his shoulder called his attention away the very same second the salestoad’s face drained of color.
“Fratellino! Cheese!” Mario exclaimed, running straight to the next booth over. Luigi rolled his eyes and smiled, traipsing slowly after his twin, cantaloupes forgotten, preparing himself to talk Mario down from buying the cheese vendor’s entire supply.
The toad from the fruit stand stumbled down from the high stool they’d been sitting on and ran clumsily over to whisper something to one of the toads working the cheese stand. Their eyes widened. They looked at Luigi, their eyes lingering on his neck, starting to water. They left the fruit stand toad behind and said something to the salestoad who was mid-conversation with Mario.
“Very good. The parmesan, the mozzarella, and are you sure you bros won’t be needing anything—” the words being whispered in his ear were sinking in. Mario didn’t catch the fleeting pained look toward Luigi, but the younger twin certainly did and tensed up. “—I’m…I am so sorry.” The toad said, for once not shouting, their voice sounding hollow.
Mario took it as the toad apologizing for the interruption and just smiled.
“No problem!” but when their faces didn’t brighten in return, the red plumber’s smile dipped downward, “Is something wrong?”
“Of course not!” Luigi cut in, hand shooting out with likely more coins than was necessary. “Just those two cheeses, per favore!” He hurried to distract his brother, “We’ve more than just cheese to buy, fratello, we can’t stand around here all day!”
The rest of the shopping trip was a living nightmare. While Mario picked out some meats and tried to haggle with the sales goomba, Luigi tried very hard to ignore that news of the mark on his neck was spreading through the plaza. He couldn’t manage it for long. Especially when a few came up to look. He muttered to Mario that he’d be over by the cantaloupes and pressed the coin pouch into his brother’s hands. Stupid, stupid, stupid…why hadn’t he thought to change his clothes? He hadn’t even considered—he’d just walked out without a second thought and—
A floating cantaloupe? He looked down. Ah. The salestoad from the fruit stand was holding the melon up over their head, almost like they were…
“Here. I saw you looking earlier.”
His cheeks felt a little warm, “Um, I don’t—Mario has the coins.”
The toad shook their head and shoved the melon toward his hands. He had to shoot out and steady them so they didn’t drop it.
“No, please, it’s on the house.”
Lu blushed even harder, but he didn’t argue. He took the cantaloupe, smiling softly.
“Are you…” the toad twiddled their thumbs, keeping their gaze pointed down, “D-does this mean that B-b-Bowser won’t be attacking us or t-trying to steal the princess anymore?”
“Yes.” Luigi confirmed, but then concern flickered across his face. Ever a quick thinker, he seized the first solution that came to mind. “C-could you do me a favor? It’s really, really important.”
“Sure,” the toad agreed, instantly.
“P-please spread the word not to discuss it around Mario. My fratello, er, my brother, it upsets him, si? Can you make sure that everyone in town knows?”
Their face brightened as they nodded. “Sure I can!”
Luigi didn’t doubt it. If there’s one thing toads could always do well, it was pass messages. The principessa always had the most up-to-date information on practically everything from gossip to news to troop movements. This was the very first time Lu was actually feeling grateful for it. He just hoped that they managed to get the word out before someone blabbed the entire truth to his brother…
“I’ll go right away!”
The toad left him alone with his thoughts…and a cantaloupe. Hmm…
“Luigi!” Mario shouted, rushing over, arms full of sausages, salami, and pepperoni. Luigi briefly set the melon down on the ledge of the fountain, pausing just a moment to be sure it wouldn’t roll in, once he was sure it wouldn’t, he stood up and held out the shopping bag. Mario shoved in the meats. Luigi hung the bag on his brother’s arm. Mario blinked, but took hold of it dutifully. Lu bent back down to pick up the melon.
“Oh. You got one, huh?”
“Mhm.” Luigi nodded. “They looked way too delicious not to!” His smile faded a little as a shiver went down his spine. He felt like he was being watched, which was almost certainly the case, after all—they were in the middle of Toad Plaza, but this felt…different. Someone was watching intensely. He did a quick spin around, nonchalantly checking the area. There were some toads whispering to themselves, probably gossiping about his mark, but no one whose intensity matched the uneasiness he felt. Whoever it was—he couldn’t see them. That only made him more nervous.
“Weegee! Earth to Lu!”
“Huh?” He blinked.
“I said: is there anything else we need?”
“Hmm,” He peeked into the bag, pushing the unease aside for now, “I don’t think so.” Smiling mischievously, he added, “Unless you’ve changed your mind about those mushrooms.”
“Ick. I’ll never understand how you can possibly like eating those things!” Mario fake gagged and did a little hop so he could reach high enough to ruffle Lu’s curly hair, grumbling, “Sometimes I swear you’re still growing.”
“Haha! You mean you’re afraid you’re shrinking.”
“Last one home’s a rotten Yoshi egg!”
Luigi made an affronted grunt, struggling to tuck the melon securely under his arm so he could take off after his older sibling.
“No fair! You got a head start!”
No one noticed the puff of smoke on a nearby rooftop as a figure in purple robes vanished from her vantage point.