Chapter Text
There was a lot to take in, really.
Okay, there had TOTALLY been a lot to take in since getting pulled into the warp-pipe in Brooklyn, but this time around...
Sucking in a deep breath as he tugged the fuzzy jacket that had been conjured for him closer and shifted the pack on his back; the taller, greener Mario brother nodded to Fox, who saluted back and got in the cockpit of the Arwing to hang out.
If the Green guy was gonna pay for him to loiter while he... did whatever *this* was, then so be it, he could always use the scratch for ship upgrades.
Luigi looked up at the gargantuan prison, shielding his eyes from the onslaught of snow and took another deep breath, which he let out in a low but audible sigh before rapping on the giant doors and being allowed entry.
He said nothing but nodded as he handed over his pack, letting it get searched-- there really wasn't much, some papers, a book, some markers and a thermos.. and when his bag was offered back, THAT was when the reality of this situation set in.
What was he DOING?
Why... more importantly, was he doing?
It felt like all he could do was sigh, following the blue Luma to an elevator that brought them to the 8th floor of this cold, poorly lit prison and then down another poorly lit, brisk-feeling hallway, where he could already heard the low murmuring of the father and son.
Something about knowing that Bowser was... even if he was bones, currently, okay, was a relief but he was unsure of how he was going to be received by the king with his son in observance.
The Blue Luma rapped it's police baton against the bars of the cell and both Bowser and Junior whipped their head's up in trained attention, the smaller Koopa cowering behind his father's skull once again.
From just outside of view, Luigi stood, bag held in both hands and the hood from his heavy jacket lowered to show his be-hatted head, but he was apprehensive still..
*Why* do this?
Because it was the right thing to do.
Because... because even if Bowser had attacked Mario and Peach (which, he could probably understand given circumstances of wanting to be a good, performative dad) he still had an obligation.
They still had Book Club and he'd be damned if he was going to let it die.
Being who he was afforded him this credibility, this luxury, as it was presented, when he'd told his brother that he was going to visit the Bowsers for their weekly Book Club and was met with genuine surprise.
--
“Really Lu?”
“Yeah, really! I'm not giving up on Book Club that easily..”
“Sounds like you're not ready to give up on *him*..”
Oh, how cyclical was the sibling ribbing that this could come back to him so quickly, but it wasn't the same, he wasn't in *love* with Bowser... definitely not.
Definitely didn't see him as being a giant, fussy cat who definitely didn't like to get scritched, who didn't like to get praised and wasn't a surprisingly good cook and even more surprisingly, a father.
Luigi had bristled at the accusation, not wanting to dwell on it, to think on what the implication could be and waved his twin off, not wanting to even touch on it.
“No... no I'm not. I saw a side of him that... maybe like, TWO other people have seen!” He held up his fingers in a victory sign, shaking his hand at Mario. “And that's his kid and Kamek... I'm not gonna let that go.”
“You might hafta, he's in prison, *along* with his mini-me, there's not a lot of chance of salvaging that pile of bones.”
The younger of the twins shot a scalded look to his sibling and let out a huffed breath.
“Well, that's not gonna stop me from tryin'!”
--
--and so, here he was, wondering if this was a bad idea, if he was going to humiliate himself in front of Bowser's son... then he'd do it with a thermos of hot, Sidestepper Bisque and the book they were in the middle of reading together.
'The Odyssey' had been an easy one to go with (especially since he owned a copy) and lifting it from the shelf above Mario's bed as he had for the last few weeks when it was added to the rotation had the book feeling a lot heavier than it had before.
“You maggots have a visitor, which is *crazy*, especially by my expert standards..”
Junior hunched closer to his father, despite his interest being piqued at a visitor... surely if it were Kamek he'd be shackled and sent in here with them so, scratch that.
“Who would even *bother*...?”
“That's what I am saying!!” The Luma retorted far too cheerfully for being in this cold, drab penitentiary.
“I would.”
It felt like the right moment to step into the scene, Luigi unable to keep from looking as sad as he felt, despite wanting to be strong; to square his shoulders and be the tough guy that this world was beginning to recognize.
But he *was* sad, maybe a little heartbroken (no, don't call it that, it would imply too much..) and how could his heart feel broken when the skull of Bowser bristled, his bones rattling in surprise at just who had come.
“Lu-Luigi? Really?!”
A nod, as he took in the sight of his friend (yeah, he could admit that) reduced to a pile of bones, of his over-protective son and then back to the Luma who had done a mid-air tumble out of boredom.
“Can I go nowww?”
“Yeah, you can go.”
“Ya got 30 minutes!” The Bluma barked back, then giggled as it zoomed off down the hallway and disappeared out of sight.
Another sigh left the Italian as he looked down at the two, then shrugged out of his jacket, shook it out to lay it down on the floor of the hallway and sat down, cross-legged on the other side of the cell.
“Luigi, what are you doing here?” Dry Bowser asked as he maneuvered closer to the bars, pale, scarred maw radiating the relentless heat that burned inside of him.
It was Junior, who was apprehensively approaching the bars as well, his big (for him) bushy eyebrows quirked curiously.
“Who's the mustache?”
“'Mustache' is my brother, I'm Luigi.”
“Oh yeah, he's the one that kneed me in the face!!”
“He WHAT?!”
“No, no, I totally deserved it-- I remember you! What are *you* doin' here?” Junior asked, echoing his father's prior question.
“Ehh.. it's, y'know, it's Book Club, me an' yer pop do it every week and I'm not gonna let a little jail time get in my way.”
The human looked up into the smoldering ember eyes, to the wildly flickering flame hair ponytail and back to the head that Junior had settled down next to.
“So... you came for story time? Pop, you had story time while in prison? Is this a Mushroom Kingdom thing..?” The young Koopaling looked genuinely confused, reeling to look at the skull he had been lounging against.
“Err.. no, no, son, it was just as Luigi said, 'Book Club'--”
“Yeah!” The one in green interjected, scooting a little closer to the bars as the heat coming from Bowser was still palpable. “Yeah, it's no big deal, I mean it is to *me* which is part of the reason I'm here, also, soup.”
Somehow, the skull attached to nothing gasped in, those flecks of fire flicking from the Italian's face, to the pack he was digging into.
“You brought soup? You know I can't eat soup, right?” The Koopa said somewhat mournfully, his bony brow furrowing in disappointment that came with the reality of that-- and a matching look of disappointment flashed across Luigi's face as he nodded once.
“I didn't really think about it, I just went ahead and made that Sidestepper soup you made the other week--”
“The bisque?”
“Yeah! The bisque, it was so good! I.. thought maybe if I could get a power-up mushroom in here it might help but...” Luigi passed the thermos through the cell bars, grateful when Bowser Junior took it after only a moment's hesitation.
Ah jeez, another sigh.
“When I asked Kamek if that would help at all, he said it might add some 'earthiness' but not much else...M'sorry, I thought I could... y'know, I, heh, is it weird to say that I kinda missed your hair? Okay, ya know what, saying that out loud is totally weird but.. I wanted to see if I could, y'know, help..?”
What he didn't say, was that he also missed the prospect of being able to look into those expressive eyes, to fist bump those massive hands, to behold the big, bracer-busting arms... to watch his tail flick with happiness.. Yeah, all of *that* sounded weird too (and that was in his head!)
“See! See!?” The skull of the Lord of Bones bounce a little bit as he inclined towards his son at the 'hair' comment, damn RIGHT he was well known for having notably awesome hair!!
“Wait, you reached out to Pop-Pop? Why?”
“I thought that maybe... if the--” Luigi made a hand gesture in the shape of a mushroom, or a goomba, or a toadstool (who knew, really?) “--was concentrated, it could help, y'know, put the skin back on those bones?” The human ended his statement rather weakly, blinking at the befuddled look on Junior's face.
“So.. you're.. helping us?”
“And reading!”
“...Why are you helping us?”
Junior turned to look at his father once more.
“Dad, does he like you?”
Bowser stayed silent, eyes flicking between his son and his... well... his Mustache, (If the Princess could have one, then SO COULD HE!) still a little bewildered that Greenbean would risk his hide coming out to this frozen tundra to smuggle in soup and read to them.
Gosh... maybe he DID matter to someone out there after all..
“Ehh, well y-yeah, of course I do, b-but it's mostly because your dad is my friend and I'd hate to see him just stay a pile of bones forever and-- “
“Oh, he *definitely* won't be a pile of bones forever.”
“Yeah, Greenie, this isn't my first boneyard rodeo..”
An assembled Bowser hand, carpals and all pointed to the glowing scar across his maw.
“Koopas don't die we just.. y'know, Dry Bones out for a while and then we get restored with Magic or other means.”
“Not mushrooms though?” Luigi asked, hopeful despite knowing the truth.
“No dice on the mushrooms, my man... but I bet the soup tastes great. Junior, why don't you-- Oh.”
To both of their surprise, the Koopaling had already ripped into the soup and was licking what was left of it from his chops, a happy little wiggle caused from his tail swishing wildly as the hot soup coursed down to his belly.
“Oh WOW, Papa, this tastes so good!! I can't wait for you to have your belly back so you can try this too! Wowee, that was yummy!”
Luigi was preening at the praise, unable to look at the little Koopa or his pile of father, a wide grin on his face as he buffed his nails on the front of his green polo.
“Yeah, it's your Dad's recipe, I just Luigi'd it a little bit for ya. Do you like it?” Came the gentle ask to the smaller Bowser, to this rounder, less sharp around the edges mini-me of the Koopa he had grown fond of.
“Oh YEAH, I like it!!” Junior crowed as he leapt up and punched the air before moving closer to the bars and holding onto them. “Will you make more?”
“Well... of course. I gotta come back next week for book club.”
“Heh.”
Luigi tipped his head to the side at Junior's response but nodded regardless.
“Yeah, so about that book--” His eyes flicked from the younger koopa, who was now hanging from the bars, leaning back on his heels while he swayed out of what looked like immediate boredom, then to the pile of bones that was Bowser; finding himself momentarily distracted by the burning flame of his ponytail.
“Y'know, I do miss your hair but I think this is pretty cool in the mean time..”
“You mean HOT, right?”
“Heh--- y-yeah, I guess that makes more since since you're kinda on fire.”
“I'm super on fire, but it's that undying flame that keeps me goin', Weeg!”
A sigh, an unexpected one (this time of relief) left the Italian as he shook his head and looked down at the Koopa that shouldn't be here, cracking jokes, as if he weren't practically disassembled... but it was still very much Bowser and for that, Luigi could admit he was thankful.
“Does your hair ever catch fire when you're back to... uh..”
Hand gestures that tried to signify the shape of a body and Lu was certain he'd failed with the charades.
“--When you're back to normal, I mean?”
“Oh, only when I'm really ticked off... but that hasn't happened in a minute.. I like to keep my real hair less on fire, if ya know what I mean.”
“I do, I do.” Luigi answered with a smile, glad to feel the glimmer of Bowser's charisma bubbling to it's bony surface.
Dry Bones Bowser's skull shifted a little closer, his bones rattling softly as he moved closer to the bars as well, or attempted to.
He said nothing, only looked over the human who had been a part of his life for the last few months, who had listened to him griping, who had spent time with him because he'd WANTED to, who made the effort to make being in prison feel a little less like Hell in the Mushroom Kingdom – and here he was *again*, back to make life... better.
There was a resolve growing in him, that he would get out of this cell with his boy, that he would get magic'd back to his righteous self and HE would be the one to bring Luigi some comfort next.
A weird thought, YES! But one he suddenly felt determined to bring into fruition!!
HE'D be the one making soup for next Book Club!
...All he had to do was get outta here with his boy!
The flames of his hair flared hotter, burned brighter and looked momentarily fuller for a moment before Bowser chattered his teeth together and grinned up at his Mustache.
“Ya darn right ya do!” A laugh followed, the first bellowed cackle since he and Junior had been imprisoned and it caused his progeny to instantly start cackling along with him, in sync.
The laughter had Luigi smiling wider than before and hearing it matched up with Bowser Junior was... a little more wholesome than he was expecting... When things were a little more back to normal (what was..'normal' here, anyway?) he'd have to ask the King of the Koopas the 1000+ questions he had about his kid, about being a dad and all of the other questions that tagged along with it.
But for now, he picked the book back up once more, flipping open to the bookmark that was snug between the pages and took a deep breath--
Only to have the proud, manic guard Luma tumble head-over-end back down the hallway with a sinister little titter as it paused right next to Luigi and pressed against his cheek with a cheerful cuddle.
“Time's up, Luigi!”
*This* time, the sigh that left him was of annoyance, (not that he could help it) and the human abruptly shut his book, shooting an apologetic look to the now disappointed appearing Junior and the surprised Dry Bowser.
“Already?! C'mon!! He was barely here five minutes!!!” He roared, all of his bones rattling loudly as he clanked his skull against the iron bars.
Ugh, if only he had his body, he could rip these walls apart, bust out of here, call for Kamek and... get ready for next week's Book Club.
“Yeeeeup, soweeee!!” The Luma said, utterly unphased by Bowser's theatrics. There wasn't much he could do like that and the little Bowser was waaaaaay too little to do much harm without being armed (Hey, that rhymed!). He should feel lucky that Mama had let him keep his harmless (but kinda scary) bandana.
“Okay, okay, I don't wanna cause any trouble... but.. I will be comin' back next week to actually do some reading and I will bring *you* more soup.” He reached into the cell, without fear, his gloved finger inadvertently booping Junior's noise, who made a noise of surprise, as his eyes crossed to look at the receding digit and he blinked a few times before looking at this father for whatever reaction the Dry-version could express.
Bowser was letting out a low laugh, the flame of his hair reacting with his disembodied chuckle.
“Okay, you better make sure you're here though, don't wanna let down my boy.”
“Or you either, right?” Luigi said, inclining his head towards the King as he began to pack away his empty thermos and the unread book.
“*Especially* not me!” He crowed, another chuckle leaving him at how astute his Mustache was.
“Got it, Big Guy, I'll be back next week and I'll see about getting a little more time.”
“Proooobably not gonna happennnn!” The Luma crooned with a giggle, then spun in the air. “C'mon, time to goooooooo!”
“Okay, okay, I got it, thank you for.. uhh.. I'm glad that... ehh..”
“Thanks for comin', Lu, it means a lot.”
“Yeah! Thanks for comin', I REALLY appreciate it!!” Junior practically sang, his eyes brightening as he drank in the curious look on his dad's friend's face and let out a soft little chuckle of his own.
“Well, Book Club does meet weekly.”
He tapped the side of his nose as he picked up his coat, shaking it off and pulling it on, before nodding at the Luma.
“See ya next week!” Too cheerful, but for the moment, Luigi felt happy, this had been a positive interaction, even if they'd made zero progress in the book.
“See ya, Greenbean!” The scarred skull of Bowser called after the human and he bounced in place for a moment before letting out his own sigh when they'd finally disappeared from sight.
“What's the matter, Papa? Bummed you didn't get to try the soup? It WAS really good but don't worry..” Junior pat his father's scarred maw, his head tipping to look through the bars to visually confirm that the Luma and Luigi were gone.
“It looked really good..” Bowser said rather petulantly and nuzzled into his son's hand, then blinked as his son struck a pose. “Huh?”
“You'll be able to have some by next week, I'll make sure of it!!”
The roar of the Arwing taking off nearly shook the prison, Junior letting out another cackle as a mechanical green claw punched through the wall of their cell and a cacophony of Koopalings began to rip apart the rest of the wall, each in their own clown car.
“I made some friends too, Pop! At boarding school!”
“BORING SCHOOL!!!!!” The Koopaling with the white star across his left eye yelled, the colorful company of the other delinquent Koopalings joining in with their own musical laughter.
“You made friends?”
“A whole POSSE of 'em, Pop!”
“I'd consider us more of a *gang*..” The blue haired one with the finely parted hair corrected, then let out his own laugh.
“Okay, let's split, I wanna get outta here, this snow is totally ruining my make-up!” The pink one ordered-slashed-whined, and waved her wand (which looked curiously like Kamek's) to magically gather all of Bowser's bits in a glowing blue light.
“Time to, ehehehe, take offfff~!!!” Eyes everywhere, the wild-haired Koopaling cackled as he moved to the side while his clown car picked up Junior.
“Sounds great to me!! Back to the airship, to get Papa fixed and to next weeks Book Club!!!!”
The swarm of Koopas took off into the cold, snowy darkness, to the waiting airship not too far off, each of them cackling in their own right-- the one with sunglasses, who had lagged behind just enough whip out a 'liberated' hand cannon, firing three eager Bullet Bills into the hole they'd just made into the building.
That ought'a buy them some time!!!
Luigi, none the wiser at this moment, settled into the passenger's seat next to Fox in the Arwing, letting out the last of his sighs (or so he thought) as he replayed the last few moments he'd spent with Bowser and Bowser Junior.
That went over well.. now the only dilemma was what soup would a little Koopa eat?
(This was, in fact, not even close to the only dilemma but he wriggled back into his seat, thinking about what good might come of next week..)
TBC?