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Mario felt a little disappointed and wounded.
After all he’d been through, after all he’d done. She had treated him so poorly, like he hadn’t risked life and limb to save her.
Producing a flower to offer to her was not a marriage proposal – he thought that much had been clear.
Did he get caught up in the moment when Bowser offered his own bouquet?
Yes, a little and he did feel a bit embarrassed about it.
Peach had scolded them both, strutted away as Bowser sat on the ground in defeat – Mario patting his shell awkwardly as he nursed his own wounded pride at being told off.
Then, the Odyssey was flying away without him – he’d had to run and jump, pray he was quick enough to board his own ship to go home.
Even then, once back in the Mushroom Kingdom, he was dumped on the grass unceremoniously and left alone.
Peach, Cappy, and his sister all sailing off to travel the world.
He knew Cappy and his ship would return once the girls were safe, that he’d be welcome to travel too and see the sights he’d missed while chasing after Bowser.
But still, there was no thank you – no token of her affection.
Just an annoyed shout, an attempt to abandon him and then… left behind.
He felt unwanted and ashamed, yet he also felt frustrated.
Of course, the Toads were excited to see him – this was quickly diminished when they watched their Princess leave again.
Mario was forced to reassure them that she wasn’t running away, just out exploring as was her right. Toadette was still standing in and looking after the Kingdom and the castle, there was nothing for Mario to do.
He left the dispersing crowd and headed down a familiar dirt path towards the edge of town – back home.
His walk home was a bitter one – full of thoughts and theories.
The finale of his adventure on the moon replayed over and over in his head.
She had looked so fed up with him – he couldn’t recall the last time that tone had been directed at him.
She had tried to leave him, true to called to come on but, there was a solid chance he wasn’t going to make it.
She wouldn’t have really left without him…
Would she?
He loved her – that much was true.
He felt a real fondness and adoration for her, a love so sweet and pure he would never expect to have it returned.
But he wasn’t proposing to her, wasn’t even making a move – he was just trying to sweeten her up, make her laugh.
Hopefully get some sort of appreciation.
In retrospect, he could’ve done anything else – pushed Bowser away from her, stood between them. He could have taken her dainty hand and ran off to the ship with her in tow, sweeping her away.
Hindsight was always 20-20.
His head was so clouded and irritable, he barely noticed himself arriving at the gate.
He looked up and gazed at his front door in relief, he suddenly felt like he could sleep for a month.
“Mario!” A familiar and excited voice called.
“Luigi?” Mario grinned, looking around for any sign of his twin.
“Up here bro!”
Mario looked up and gaped – his younger brother had a cloud of helium balloons tied to his work belt and was clinging to the chimney in an attempt to not float away.
“What are you doing!?” He yelped as he charged into their home, he sprinted up the stairs and up the ladder that led to Luigi’s study – hopping out the window to stand on the roof.
“I invented a new game!” Luigi’s grin stayed bright and strong as if he had no idea of the heart attack Mario was having.
“What, going to space!?” Mario fussed as he reached up and pulled his twin down, ripping the balloons free and letting them float away.
“Hey! I paid for those!” The youngest pouted, “It was surprisingly hard to source normal balloons, Toads only want shaped ones or celebratory ones – I had to get those shipped in!”
“How long have you been up here?” Mario wondered as he realised Luigi wasn’t wearing his gloves or his cap, his hands felt like ice.
“Uh… Since yesterday?” Luigi recalled thoughtfully before shaking his head. “But that doesn’t matter! My new game is on its way to becoming a success!”
Mario took a breath, forcing himself to calm down.
He dragged his twin across the roof and into the study.
“I heard all about your adventure bro! You travelled across to so many kingdoms!” Luigi enthused happily. “Is it true you went to the moon?”
“Yeah, it is.” Mario smiled softly, dragging his brother downstairs as he continued to ramble about all the tales he’d heard.
Honestly, a lot of them were rather exaggerated but he didn’t correct his twin – he wanted him to have his fun.
Instead, his eye was caught by the interior of their home – it all looked so pristine and unlived in. He now wished he had paid more attention in the study – had Luigi been living up there this whole time? Were there dirty plates? Empty mugs? Washing strewn around and forgotten?
“Hey, you okay?” Luigi’s worried question interrupted his thoughts.
Mario smiled gently.
“Yeah just… the house is so clean…”
“Oh! Yeah, I cleaned it whenever I got stuck on an idea – the kitchen and my office aren’t as nice.” Luigi blushed sheepishly. “My balloon idea is the newest one and it actually works! I had a few others but… uh… yeah.”
Mario could tell his twin wasn’t about to divulge any further information about his failed experiments.
“Balloon game?” He finally asked, he could tell his twin was dying to tell him all about it.
“Yeah! It was inspired by what I’d heard you were doing – I thought, it would be cool if you and I could play a game that involved our skills so, what you do is one of you covers your eyes and waits – the other takes a balloon and runs off into a designated area and hides said balloon.” Luigi explained quickly. “The other then has to go find it!”
“So… it’s hide and seek but… with a balloon?” The eldest clarified.
“What? No, that’s lame!” Luigi huffed impatiently. “The point is that the person hiding the ballon has to use their skills to place the ballon somewhere not only hard to find but hard to get to! So, climbing a tree and then using your highest jump to hide it in the sky or whatever!”
Mario smiled and nodded slowly.
“Ah I see. So extreme hide and seek with a balloon.”
“Mario…” Luigi groaned, making his brother laugh.
Mario finally got a good look at his brother and guilt struck him so suddenly it took his breath away – Luigi was pale with dark bags under tired eyes, he just looked so run down.
“Oh! I didn’t just experiment! I got super busy cooking too!” Luigi hurried into the kitchen, Mario not far behind.
The eldest cringed at the pile of washing up just stewing in the sink, every counter was either sticky or covered in crumbs.
“Look!” Luigi beamed as he opened the freezer.
Mario gaped at the collection of Tupperware filled with goodies.
“I started thinking, you never eat proper meals when you’re out on your adventures! You always just pick up snack and stuff so, I cooked a few of your favourite foods and meals and stored them for when you got home!” Luigi bounced on his toes excitedly as he shut the freezer.
Mario couldn’t help the watery fond smile at his little brother.
He realised that these adventures don’t really matter – he saves whoever needs saved and heads home.
He doesn’t really need acts of gratitude or gifts of affection; he doesn’t need the Toads cheering his name and he doesn’t need the Princess to swoon at his heroism.
His brother was always there, waiting in their home and ensuring everything was perfect for when his hero returned.
He was always left behind, sometimes without a single word of goodbye – he didn’t sulk or grow bitter. He occupied himself and made an effort to welcome Mario home.
Now, Mario wasn’t sure if it was the exhaustion of his journey, the bitter sting of rejection or the warm feeling of love that filled his being in that moment, for the first time in who knows how long; tears dripped down his face.
Luigi startled, eyes widening.
“Mario!” He gasped worriedly. Any follow up questions were squeezed out of him along with his breath as Mario pulled him into a tight hug.
He simply returned it with a smile of his own.
“Thank you.” Mario murmured, releasing the hug slightly to turn it into a warm embrace.
“Welcome home, Mario.” Luigi smiled into the soft shoulder. “I’m glad you’re back.”
“Me too.”