The End of Things

Fandom: Mario and Luigi Superstar Saga

Rating: PG

Warnings: Peasley/Luigi slash. Don't like, hit 'back' please.

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Sometimes, there wasn▓t anything left to say.

The snow was falling gently on the hills of the Mushroom Kingdom, covering the grass with a thin layer of white, and making the Prince▓s horse fidget in the cold. The sky had gone the grey of clean steel, a clean, perfect covering of clouds that hid the sun, leaving the sky a blank slate. Leaving the whole world a blank slate.

The Prince seemed to fade into the landscape, only his face visible under heavy furred cloak and boots, perfectly white to match the snow, perfectly planned and chosen. Probably by someone else. And that was the problem, when you got right down to it. It was all planned and chosen by someone else.

Luigi was remarkably out of place, in the clean white landscape. The Prince was perfectly matched, like a fairy tale picture, but Luigi stood in the snow in black boots and a rumpled, flannel shirt, overalls green and patched and work worn, a dark blotch on someone▓s perfect scene. Luigi watched the Prince, aching and wishing and missing him too soon. The Prince watched the treeline, face perfectly schooled, containing a tremble that started in his chest and threatened to reach his hands.

It was amazing, how fast the thing could be over. Disturbing how quick they were cut. Just one sentence from the prince, a handful of words≈▒They▓ve found out about us.▓ √ and it was done. Months of diplomatic relations as an excuse to cross the boarders, months of sneaking out and hiding out and knocks on the window in the small hours of the morning. Months of quiet stars and laughing dawns and the Prince in the moonlight like no one else had ever seen him, like no one else would dare.

All of it was over.

They▓d said their piece. And now there was just the silence. And the snow.

Luigi, remarkably contained, extended his hand awkwardly. There would be no kiss goodbye. Luigi knew instinctively that it would ruin things, that it wouldn▓t be over then. The Prince stared at his hand, and dropped his eyes, lacing his fingers in front of his stomach and holding them there. Not so much as a handshake, then. Luigi pulled his hand back awkwardly, rubbing it on the thigh of his overalls, swallowing and looking away.

⌠I▓m sorry.■ The Prince whispered quietly, one more time. He didn▓t meet Luigi▓s eyes. ⌠I am so, so sorry.■

Luigi nodded. His breath was short, shallow, and cold. The Prince turned quietly and walked back to his horse. The beast snorted and shook its mane, scattering snow as he mounted.

The Prince didn▓t look at him. He pulled the reigns to turn the animal, and in silence he left the clearing.

Luigi looked after him for a long, long time.