Chapter Text
Luigi lounged around the mushroom forest. His brother had gone off on an impromptu mission to try and obtain a magical power-busting item or other. Luigi hadn’t planned on going he had just wanted, well this. His face pressed against his bicep, covered by his favorite forest green long-sleeve shirt. His body was one with the soft grass beneath him. It felt so cool compared to the humid day they were having. He was grateful to see the sun dissipating on the horizon, while a few clouds danced lazily beneath the purples, pinks, and reds that waited patiently. His lids fell on heavy eyes tired of always being on the move. He didn’t bother trying to look at anything, not even the magical mushroom kingdom that would impress anyone in his world.
“It's funny how used to things we can get.” He said to the sky above, as a sliver of the moon taunted the sun.
A soft gust of wind tousled his brown curls as if it were a relay, and he smiled gently beneath his mustache.
“I really need a vacation,” he said reaching for his hat that lay beside it. A single finger followed the stitching of the green L embroidered into his hat. It was his logo, a signal of his partnership with his brother Mario. He remembered when they both had started their business in plumbing, where they had one common dream: going into business for themselves. But after all this time it seemed like that dream was fading into the background, after they found this place their whole lives had been changed. Now Mario had become more preoccupied with being the hero of this world and of course his girlfriend Princess Peach.
Luigi didn’t mind helping where he could but that was his brother’s dream, not his. He felt like a leaf letting the wind blow him wherever he needed to be. But not today, today was just for him to chill, and unwind from the last mission of defeating Waluigi. His skin immediately began to crawl in disgust, especially with the eyes he was making at poor Princess Daisy. The way his hands tried to wrap around her waist and her blue eyes had become as big as saucers, from the surprise.
“Why can’t that guy take no, as an answer?” He could admit she was lovely. Her skin was beautifully dark, she gleamed with a reddish complexion as if she were kissed by the sun. But beauty wasn’t the thing he appreciated, it was her wit, and sharp tongue that was never a second away from handing out a verbal lashing that would leave anyone trying to tend to a broken heart.
Luigi chuckled, turning on his back and letting the last rays of light kiss his tanned skin. It wasn’t long before he had dosed off.
Something wet and slimy oozed at his ankle, and he shifted in his sleep. His eyes vehemently closed as he kicked at what he supposed was a snail. But that did not deter it as it continued to slither its way to his knee. Luigi shifted uncomfortably, now beginning to get curious.
It had transformed from that of a slug to the length of a snake and he was trying to control his breathing as he searched for it. When his eyes fell onto a translucent form its tongue not only wrapped around his ankle and headed upwards, but it also dragged his body headed towards the caves.
“Uh fuck me.” He screamed as his nails dug into the ground trying to stop himself from being dragged any further. That slowed its speed but didn’t stop the giant boo from pulling vigorously. Looking back, he noticed a bush not far from where he was headed to no doubt eat him in peace. At the last minute, he let go, making them fly backward toward the cave. His feet above his head, he sucked in a deep breath, his hair obscuring his goal, but the bushes approached quickly. Using his body weight, he twisted his body to the right his arm reached out grabbing hold of the branches. His hands bleed from the gripping thorns, shooting pain into his sense but he didn’t get go. He held on until he could feel the pull of the boos tongue when he promptly used his other leg to stomp at it.
It tore away from him, taking his right timberland boots, its gelatinous round form impacting with the rocks next to the cave. Not letting himself rest he began to run back in the direction of the forest hoping it would give him some coverage. But he couldn’t manage to get more than a centimeter before something pulled him back from his core, taking the breath from his lungs.
“AHhhhh,” he screamed trying to think as fast as he could, the tongue now wrapped tightly making the feeling of bile rise in his throat. Tears of pain and frustration drifted off his face as he gasped for breath. The sound of a roar and rustling sounded but he couldn’t think of it as the darkness of the cave swallowed him. He fell onto the ground with a thud. His back was hit by the rock, and the debris that fell on hit his face making every breath sting his lungs. Using one eye, he saw true horror a slim tongue fell from its wide-open mouth displaying long jagged teeth.
Luigi couldn’t help it; he closed his eyes, placing his arms in front of himself as a last-stitch effort to preserve himself. Then he waited for the inevitable.
Bang.
A wind rushed by him and all he saw was a haze of green before his trembling body shut down.
…
“But why did you bring him here?” Kamek said, the panic evident in his eyes. Bowser rolled his eyes; he was acting like this was the guy’s first time here. How many times had he taken this man hostage? Maybe twice if not more, he wasn’t one to keep account of things like this.
“What was I supposed to do just leave him there?”
“Literally yes, exactly that. Leave him there! Whatever happens to him is none of our business.” The vein on his head pulsing in that all too-annoyed look. His gray hair fell behind his sharp ears, that matched the little fags that lay flat against his lips. His glittery eyes were the colors of the universe, a side effect of his magic almost glowed.
“I never said it was our business but what’s done is done,” Bowser said with a shrug that made Luigi’s limp body bounce a bit on his shoulder. He awkwardly fumbled his hands around his limp body to make sure he didn’t accidentally fall off his shoulder.
“Ugh, you might bring unnecessary trouble. I thought we were focusing on supplies.”
“I was- I am, it’s just I got distracted, okay?”
“A-huh. Okay, do as you wish you are the king of Koopas.” He looked accusingly under round glasses.
“I know, I know,” he said dismissively as he walked away.
Bowser considered where to take him, the dungeon, infirmary, or a regular room to rest. He could easily be a dick and throw him into the dungeon and just have a physician check him. But he didn’t hate him that much, yeah, he didn’t like him much either but only because he really hated his annoying-ass brother who kept getting in the way of world dominance and a hot babe to go with it.
But what was the point of saving him just to capture him when he was down and weak? That made his lip curl in annoyance, he didn’t want weak prey. The weak were removed quickly and efficiently, and if others thought he could only fight the weak it would give him a bad reputation.
“Fine,” he murmured walking towards the spare bedrooms.
He moved the leaf-designed blanket, softly laying him down. Luigi’s head fell back and quickly Bowser used his claw to stop it, holding his bodyweight in his hands.
“Aren’t you surprisingly light,” he chuckled to himself. “Who would have guessed it since you are much taller than most?” Softly he let him fall into the bed. With a soft groan, Luigi curled his body. “Sorry,” he whispered while placing the blanket over his body. But something didn’t feel right and he side the blanket down. It was the shoes, he thought, well the one shoe. Where the fuck is the other? How the fuck do you lose one shoe?
He took off the remaining shoe, but that wasn’t it. What the fuck is it? His eyes glazed over his slim form, the one dirty sock, and also took them off. With the torn overalls, he considered getting him a pair of regular pants. Then peace and tranquility of his resting face. Black lashes shadowed his cheeks, a round nose and high cheeks covered in dirt and stained with tears. A single curl fell between his forehead. That’s it! Where the fuck is his hat, now that’s gonna bug me.
He covered him up again and left him to get some rest. Bowser ordered a couple of kupas to find the missing items, while he considered what to do. As much as he hated to admit Kamek had a point, he also felt some guilt just leaving him behind like that. The best thing he could do was let him rest and recover, then hunt him down for sport and possibly use him as a pawn for the Spin drill he knew Mario and Princess Peach were on an expedition for.