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"Mario, what is wrong with you?! You got in another fight?!"
"He started it!"
"That's no excuse! You ain't gettin' no good job if you get expelled! Now go to your room!"
Luigi listened to his brother stomping to their bedroom, flinching when Mario slammed the door shut with a BANG after entering.
The older twin seemed like he was always angry these days. Luigi didn't get it. Sure, high school wasn't easy. The classes were more challenging, the tests more brutal, and the social climate terrifying. It sometimes felt like it was all even more so for Luigi. But it always seemed like Mario was the one cracking.
The worst part was that something in it all was driving a wall between them. Mario and Luigi, the dynamic duo, the inseparable. Growing up, nothing could get between them. Thick and thin, they'd never let each other down.
Luigi looked at the other bed as Mario sat on it with his back to him. Even though he couldn't see it now, Luigi remembered how shocked and worried he'd been when Mario caught up with him after the principal finally let him go. Luigi had waited because, of course, he did. They'd always walked home together. They wouldn't stop now. But he'd been shocked and worried to see the black eye and welting bruise on Mario's bottom lip. There'd been a dried, scabbing cut on it that looked painful. Still, Mario hadn't told him what happened. He didn't tell anyone, not even the principal. Neither he nor the guy he'd been fighting was talking, as no one in high school liked a snitch.
Still…
Luigi took a breath and put his geometry book down. All the numbers and letters he was supposed to turn into numbers were hurting his head, anyway. He pushed himself to the edge of the bed and stood up, walking over to Mario's and sliding onto it. He worried his bottom lip before reaching out and touching Mario's shoulder, squeezing it lightly. "Mario…?" he inquired softly.
"I'm fine," Mario just insisted, not turning around. It was forceful, the sign he didn't want to talk.
He never wanted to talk anymore.
"Why were you fighting again?" Luigi just wanted to know. Mario never used to get in so many fights.
"Because he deserved it," Mario grumbled. "Stop bothering me. Go finish your homework and go to bed or whatever."
Luigi pursed his lips, determined not to show how much that hurt. He was probably failing. The younger twin was never good at hiding his emotions. Still, he didn't like confrontation. Especially not with the people he loved. So he slid back off of the bed, letting his hand drop. He shuffled back to his bed, picking up his textbook again. But he couldn't concentrate now. All he could wonder was, what went wrong? What changed? Did he do something to upset his brother? He wracked his brain for an answer, but he couldn't think of the moment where this started.
Luigi stared at the equations, watching them blur together as his eyes filled with tears. He felt so pathetic, being seventeen and crying like this. But Mario was his best friend. Or at least… he was.
Without him, Luigi had no one.
"Oh for… what now?" Mario's voice cut through his thoughts, sounding annoyed.
"I'm sorry," Luigi choked, dropping the book again and drawing his knees up. He hid his face in them, not wanting him to see. As if it could hide what was already obvious.
A long silence followed, and for a moment, Luigi thought Mario would let it drop. He heard Mario get up, walking across the floor. But he didn't leave. The bed sank as he sat on it, as Luigi did on his earlier. "Lu. Crying isn't getting you what you want. Grow up."
Luigi flinched, hugging his knees tighter to himself. After a moment, he took a chance by asking, "Why are you so mad at me?" It wasn't forceful. At best, it was trembling with emotion. But just the fact that he braved asking was almost a miracle.
"I'm not mad at you," Mario insisted. The irritation in his voice said otherwise, though.
"Then why do you keep pushing me away?" Luigi asked, his voice lighter as his courage drained fast.
"I'm not."
"You don't talk to me like you used to. You won't even tell me why you're fighting… everyone. I'm afraid, Mario." It was the hardest thing to admit.
"You're afraid of everything," the elder twin scoffed. "What is it now?"
"I'm afraid you hate me. That I've lost my big brother. That I'm all alone…" Luigi's voice choked at the end, and he squeezed his legs again as his eyes burned with fresh tears.
There was silence after that, which stretched. It didn't end until Mario sighed, standing back up. The bed springs creaked sadly, and Luigi responded with a sob.
The only thing louder was the creak and slam of the door as Mario left without another word.
--
Luigi's sobs were audible through the door. Mario released another shaky breath as he leaned against it, looking at the ceiling.
This was for the best. He had to do this. It was for Luigi's own good.
They were words he repeated in his head, but he was never sure he really believed. If Luigi kept relying on Mario for everything, he'd never be strong enough to care for himself. To fight his own battles.
God, the sound of him crying tore through Mario, though.
He had to leave the room, or he would've undone everything he was trying to do.
Luigi had it too easy. He never got in trouble, no matter how poorly he did. Not that he ever caused it. Luigi was the most gentle, sweetest person Mario knew. All heart. But the problem was how their parents praised him for the most… underwhelming achievements.
Low grades? Hey, he's not failing, good job!
A botched project? He tried, and that was all that matters!
Dropping things while helping? Accidents happen, no need to worry!
Meanwhile, Mario couldn't do anything right. He tried hard, tried to pass all his classes with good grades, carefully worked on every project and paper, and followed every instruction they gave him.
But it was never enough.
His grades could always be better; he could have spent more time on his projects and tried harder to do everything exactly right.
Mario was tired of being the one they threw under the bus while Luigi got a free pass. Their golden child. He couldn't do wrong.
What did Mario owe him? Luigi got everything handed to him. He could learn some hardships.
He winced and repeated that in his head as he heard another sob.
Dammit, he had to go talk to their mom. She at least tried to get her husband to lay off a little. Maybe she could help him get out from his thumb for a while.
Mario made his way down the hall towards the kitchen. His mom would be finishing cleaning up after dinner. Mario would usually help, but he was too busy deflecting questions from his dad.
When he got close, Mario stopped. He could hear his mom and dad speaking there.
"...be more like his brother? I swear, something is wrong with him!"
"Don't say that! He's trying his best!"
Mario sighed. Fantastic, came for advice and instead caught his dad complaining about him.
"I don't care how good he's tryin'. Look at this! It's pathetic! He won't do anything with his life if he doesn't get these grades up! And would it kill him to at least try to make friends? It's no wonder everyone thinks he's a joke!"
Mario felt his blood boil. A joke? Oh, he'd show his dad a joke. Even if he had to get kicked out of this-
"Luigi isn't a joke!"
Mario froze.
Wait… what? He leaned on the wall beside the door to listen as his mother continued. She sounded furious. He didn't blame her.
"You know he's different. He can't help it!"
"I don't care how different he is! I'm getting tired of bein' soft on him! What's gonna happen when he grows up, huh? He's almost an adult! He's lucky he's passin' enough to graduate, and unlike Mario, he ain't got a chance! The world's gonna eat him alive!"
"Marco, quiet down! They're going to hear you!"
Mario heard enough. If his blood was boiling before, it'd gone nuclear now. It was one thing to be the one who could never be enough. It was one thing to ape on him for whatever flaws they wanted to see.
Mario would be damned if they dragged his little brother into that. His father had no right to treat him-
Oh.
Mario swore under his breath, taking off back to their room.
Stupid, stupid, stupid.
When he opened the door, he found Luigi still sitting in the same position he'd left him. Knees to his chest, trying to make himself small. As he always did when he was afraid and didn't know what else to do.
Mario hesitated a moment. He didn't deserve what was about to happen. He knew as soon as he apologized, Luigi wouldn't question it. He'd accept it and let Mario be the protective big brother again. But… he had to.
God, he had to make this right.
"Lu?" Mario said gently, walking back to the bed and sitting down.
"I'm sorry…" was the only response he received. And that was the last thread of his clinging bitterness being let go.
"No, I'm sorry," the older twin corrected, touching Luigi's shoulder. "I've been angry, and I took it out on you. It wasn't fair."
There was a second where nothing happened. Then Luigi lifted his head ever so slightly, looking uncertain. But once he looked at Mario's face, he all but unraveled, throwing himself at his big brother. He wasn't crying anymore, at least. Mario could feel him relax as relief took over, and he smiled.
He really didn't deserve this after what he did.
"I'm sorry. You were right, I was pushing you away," Mario said softly, hugging his younger brother. "I was being… a complete idiot. I've been so tired of nothing being enough for pops that I didn't know what else to do. So I took it out on you, which wasn't okay."
"It's okay," Luigi muttered back, despite the words. "I'm just glad to have you back. I'm only half of me without you."
Mario hugged him tighter. How did he luck out to have someone who loved him so unconditionally in his life? "Me, too, Lu." After a moment, he pulled Luigi back so he was looking at him. Amazingly, the younger twin could go so quickly from being devastated to all smiles. "You wanna know why I got in a fight?"
Luigi opened his mouth, then hesitated. Despite how happy he was, it was apparent he still felt stung. "You… you don't have to if you don't want to. It's okay. I'm just glad you're fine," he finally said. He reached up and touched next to Mario's black eye. Careful enough not to hurt it again.
It didn't hurt more than he wished he could have done to Spike.
"No, it's okay," Mario assured him. "I got in a fight with Spike. Because he said some… really mean things about you." Which was an understatement. Some slurs had been thrown.
Mario threw his fist back.
"You got hurt because of me?" Luigi yelped in alarm.
"No, Lu," Mario smiled, chuckling. "I got hurt because Spike is an asshole. Spike got hurt because I didn't like him saying things about you."
Luigi looked at the bed, looking equally flattered but worried. Finally, though, he narrowed his eyes. "Hey, you're not supposed to swear! Mama would scold you!"
"Well, mama's not here," Mario playfully flicked his forehead. "Now get your book. I'll give you some help with your geometry."
"Really?" Luigi asked hopefully, reaching over the side of the bed and pulling the textbook back up. "What about your homework?"
"I've got all morning before class to do it," Mario waved a hand, scooting to sit beside him. "Let's do this one at a time."
Because their parents might not have believed Luigi could do better, but Mario knew he could. He still wanted to help him rise above himself, but hurting him had been the worst way to do it.
But this?
This he could do.