Work Text:
What are superheroes? When Luigi thought of it...he thought they were people who put everyone else before themselves. People who have exceptional abilities, like magic and powers...and they use it all for good. No matter what stands in their path, they never give up. They willingly put themselves in danger to save the people they love, to save the whole entire world. How amazing is it? To do all that so selflessly, just because they care that much...? To even risk losing their own life? And when they do all of those things...they aren't scared at all.
Luigi didn't know how anybody could not be scared, but heroes feared nothing. People like that are amazing, Luigi thought. Growing up, he always read stories of characters like that in comics. He saw them in movies and cartoons. That kind of fearlessness, boldness, selflessness... Whenever he thought of those kinds of heroes, somebody always appeared in his mind.
Mario would always stand his ground. He'd charge straight at their greatest enemies with a look of passionate anger and determination in his eyes... But that anger wasn't from ruthlessness or the will to hurt someone. That anger came from all the love he held in his heart. So whenever Mario held magical fire within his palm, whenever he was jumping into danger to save their princess or even the world, whenever he was walking straight into fire... Luigi would always think to himself how cool his brother looked. Mario was always so cool. He was so cool... so cool!!
If Luigi knew anyone who was a real life superhero, it would always be his brother. No matter how many times he failed, he simply got back up with a smile on his face and tried again. He always put himself in danger to save those he cared about, and not just them, but even total strangers. He so selflessly risked his life countless times for people he didn't even know. He had saved the whole entire world before. And whenever he did any of that, he was never scared. He always had fun, even in the most terrifying situations. He was bold and unafraid, just like Luigi had always known him to be.
He'd always be Luigi's hero. He'd always be the person he admired the most, and aspired to be like. He wanted to be a hero just like him. He wished he was brave just like he was, so Mario would be proud of him.
But sometimes, even though Mario seemed undefeatable...
"M-M-Mario...?" Luigi cautiously called out. Even though deep down he felt like it was fruitless, each time he entered a new room he'd call out to his big brother. He hoped that in one of these rooms, he would finally hear Mario respond to him and then everything would be fine.
But nothing came...In this terrifying mansion, there was nothing but darkness and ghosts...! They'd jump out at him when he least expected it. It seemed like they thrived on all his anxiety and sadness. He just wanted to find his brother, and there was no way he couldn't feel afraid knowing he was missing and in danger. E. Gadd had always told him Mario wouldn't stand a chance against them without help... Thinking of that, he wanted to cover his eyes and cry, and just wake up from this nightmare. But...
Big bro needs me!
He would force the urge to run away back down, and rush straight into his worst fears no matter how much he didn't want to. All because he loved his brother. He didn't know how he was going to do it, but he did it anyway. Taking his poltergust, he fought and hunted all kinds of ghosts. Every time he won and his surprise would wear off, he'd feel so happy and relieved that he had done it...
He somehow made so much progress...he didn't know how, but he did. He even somehow ended up at the final battle. And then he somehow...won...? He really defeated King Boo? Did he really? Luigi could hardly believe it, but all of that was gone from his mind in an instant.
"Mario!" He needed to find Mario...! He needed to save him!
Once he got to his painting, he didn't waste a moment more. He quickly took out his Dark-Light device and shone it right on Mario's painting, watching him phase out. Mario had fallen on the ground with a pained grunt, making Luigi flinch in surprise. "Mario?!"
"Ouughh..." Mario groaned. But he lifted his head, and in his dizzy eyes, there was a sudden light of joy. "Luigi!" He cried out. Mario threw himself at him. Bracing himself, Luigi caught his brother and hardly even stumbled. As he hugged him and realized that his brother was now safe in his arms, he was so happy and relieved that he couldn't hold back anymore. Tears began dripping from his eyes and he let out a sob. "Mario!!"
He felt Mario's hand patting his back, comfortingly. "You did it! You did it! You saved me! Oh, I knew you would do it!" Mario excitedly spilled out.
"Y-Y-You did...?" Luigi said hoarsely. He didn't want to bask in this praise, because he wasn't even sure if it was deserved. Did Mario really believe in him?
"Of course! You're the best!" Mario leaned back and looked up at Luigi with pride shining on his mustached face. He was holding onto Luigi's shoulders.
"B-B-But I was...I was really scared...!" Luigi shyly exclaimed, laughing.
"Aww..." Mario patted his shoulders. "Of course you were. But it's okay! That's why you're a real hero!"
"Hero?" Luigi echoed, feeling his blood turn hot with embarrassment. He wanted to deny all of this.
"You heard me! Even though you were scared, you kept going anyway and you saved me!" Mario's voice had a warm pride in it. "You're really brave!"
Even though he was scared, he would go in anyway. Whenever Mario was charging into danger with that look in his eyes, Luigi was always right behind him. He'd grab him and push him out of the way of something that could have been lethal. He'd be right there with a shroom if Mario was hurt. He'd call out and warn him if something was a bad idea, if Mario had jumped in without thinking like he always did. Luigi did it all even though he was terrified the entire time. His legs would shake and his feet would feel like they were glued to the ground. How...how could he do this? He couldn't! He couldn't!
But my bro! He'd say to himself. How could he leave his brother behind to get hurt like this? He needed to be there for him. He needed to be at his side, always... No matter how much he wanted to close his eyes and give up, or straight up turn around and run away, Luigi defied every single instinct in his body and forced himself to keep fighting on. Don't go anywhere near there! Something bad's going to happen. Something bad's going to happen, his body would yell at him. But Luigi didn't listen to it. His brother was counting on him, the world was counting on him...he put all that before himself and his anxiety.
"Y-You think I'm...brave?" Luigi eventually said, almost breathless from shock. He didn't know that was what bravery was.
"You sure are. You're my hero!" Mario beamed.
Luigi was so overwhelmed with a euphoria that he couldn't even speak. As Mario gave him one last little hug, he felt tears welling up in his eyes and an excited smile spreading across his face. He always wanted his brother to be proud of him, yet...had he really been proud of him this whole time? He really looked up to him, just like he looked up to Mario...? He was his hero...?
Well, he didn't care anymore whether or not anyone else believed he was brave, or even if he himself believed it. If his hero believed it, that was all that mattered to him.