One of my favorite chapters of this story ever. :) Specifically to write. Enjoy!

—

Understudied Understudies

"I'm all in." Waluigi declared, tossing his cards down.

"You'll live to regret this! Once they find you, you'll live in pain, torture and-"

"Ugh. Best I've got is a pair of Jacks." Daisy grumbled, ignoring the cryptic prisoners while tossing down her cards. Both looked to Luigi, who looked very pleased.

"Two aces." He declared proudly, placing his cards down smugly.

"Oh, man! Nooo!" Waluigi squalled, and Daisy groaned.

"You win AGAIN!"

"Hey now, I've had to play my share of card games in my day. Me & Mario used to get pretty bored on the road sometimes!"

"Well, reap your winnings. Again" Waluigi smirked, shoving the pile of food and coins his way. Luigi nodded, looking pretty proud of himself as he collected. Then he divvied it into three piles, pushing two towards the losers.

"Hey!"

"Come on now Luigi, you won fair & square." Daisy laughed, starting to push her pile back at him.

"Ah ah ah! Keep it. You guys need stuff just as much as I do right now-"

"But you won it!"

"AH!" Luigi silenced a baffled Waluigi, then stood, scanning the area. The troops hadn't made it here yet.

"Goody two shoes." Waluigi grumbled, pushing some of the food into his mouth.

"Want some apples, Wally?" Daisy offered.

"Don't call me- sure!" He exclaimed, biting into one happily.

"Guys- I can see them. In the distance. We should probably pack up now, hm?"

Waluigi paused his chewing, looking up at Luigi.

"You know- why don't we stop running? We can take them, Luigi."

"It's too risky, guys..." Luigi warned, looking to Daisy. She cocked an eyebrow.

"This better not be about me. I'm a black belt." She grinned, grabbing an apple for herself. In a way, yes, it was about her, Luigi realized. He didn't know Waluigi's fighting abilities, and truth be told... he was doubting himself. Dammit. He felt so disappointed in himself. All this trouble to get out on his own, and he felt he couldn't pull it off. Sure, he'd dealt with many missions- many terrors, and troubles. But those were all motivated by his need to protect his brother, to keep him safe and out of harms way. It seemed everything he did lead back to Mario in some way, didn't it. God- He did need Mario. He needed him there. Now more than ever before throughout his whole journey, he yearned to see his brother. What mess had he left Mario in? How was he doing? Was Luigi doing the right thing? Could he manage battles of this size without Mario? Surely he couldn't... surely he really was a background character, just as everyone said- right? He was player two. Son two. He resisted the feeling, the stinging sensation behind his eyes signaling an oncoming onslaught of tears. He was the eternal understudy. He was so nervous... so scared of letting them down...

"Luigi?" Daisy said cautiously, and when he came out of it, both her and Waluigi were looking up at him, concerned. His expression read startled. He really didn't want to talk about this issue. He was embarrassed enough as it was. "What's wrong?" Daisy pouted, a finger gliding under his chin, in hopes of getting him to look at her. He met her eyes, and she read something there. Something that somehow, made her feel like she understood his disposition, without being able to pinpoint exactly what was bothering him. But something intense was happening beneath his mellow exterior. And she knew better than to force it out of him. He would only tell her if he felt like it. Maybe this would be something she'd never see of Luigi. Either way, she felt the need to support him. She smiled sadly upon his tense face, and intimately stroked a finger down along his nose. She turned away from the now blushing man.

"Anyway, you heard what he said Wally-"

"I said DON'T call me-"

"Pack em up!" She declared, motioning at the very grumpy looking captives.

"Aw man!" the hammer bro snarled. "We're never getting away from these..." He trailed off at some very intimidating stares from the three. "...devious captors." He swallowed thickly. He was promptly dragged off by Waluigi, who enjoyed swinging them in the air for a moment before offering them some food.

"Psycho..." the Koopa muttered.

Luigi was thinking on things other than food, and Waluigi's mental declinations. He was very grateful for Daisy's rescue, but now...now did she expect what was on his mind? He turned his head to gaze upon her, perhaps read her, and discovered she was attempting the same thing. Both turned away, crimson cheeked, puzzled and wondering.

Does she want to know? Is she going to ask me?

How can I talk to Luigi alone? Or would he talk to both Waluigi & myself?

In the meantime, Waluigi also had something pressing on his mind.

...If I try to fix this wedgie, is anyone going to notice?

—

Bowser felt as if the air smelled sweeter. It was tastier and wholesome in his lungs for the first time. Finally, after so many years of humiliation and torture, he was going to get back at Mario. He was going to make him pay for all the horrible interruptions and embarrassments, from High School right up until now. This would be his glory day. He was stronger than ever- had prepared long and hard for this show down, this immense battle to take place. Kamek had now flown back to the castle with the Princess. So if Mario was reluctant to fight, he sure as hell wouldn't be upon hearing that. He stepped up to the door, clawed hand on the knob, and turned it slowly- savoring each moment like some plated delicacy. This is it! He giggled in his mind, This is it!

Hen pounced into the room with great force, slamming the door behind him, releasing a snarl that would chill the spine of anyone near. But Bowser felt a bit foolish. There was nobody in here. Not a peep, not an anything. Not even a family pet to react to his grand entrance. Where was that lousy Mario brother, anyway? Grumbling in dissatisfaction, he began to roam the house. Bypassing the kitchen he went straight to the room- the first one he found. And with his face exploding in a malicious grin, he found Mario's bedroom. I'm this bad, he thought, contemplating waking the man before pummeling him at an unfair disadvantage. How glorious would that be, waking up Mario to something like that? He pushed open the door, eyes adjusting to the dark. It was dark everywhere in this house. Claws extended, he crept to the bed, and promptly dug in. Nothing. His paws traveled over every inch of bed sheet, but the hero was nowhere to be found. Annoyed, he made his way to the living room, and pounced on the couch. Nothing! No! It had to work, it was such a flawless plan!

Don't panic, Bowser. He'll be home...

He wasn't about to give up. If Mario wasn't home, he'd wait for him to get here. And, being the evil bastard that he was, he'd clean out Mario's fridge in the meantime. He cackled deviously at this, heading for the fridge. Ripping it open, he found a very barren offering in the form of two measly plastic containers.

"Jeez, sad haul." Bowser grumbled, taking out a container of spaghetti. Turning to sit at the table, he gasped, sending the spaghetti crashing to the floor. In the light from the fridge, as it was closing, he saw a silhouette. A cap, a moustache, a hunched form... it was Mario. How long had he been sitting there? What was wrong with him? Bowser shuddered at how creepy this was. He'd been there the whole time, watching him, listening to him, soundlessly.

"Oh, uh- hi, Mario." Bowser stammered, actually nervous. Mere seconds ago had he seen Mario, he might've engaged him in battle. But the way Mario hadn't even looked at him yet, the fact that he seemed to be ignoring him, engrossed in a coffee mug, was scaring him.

"Mario?"

—

With Waluigi gone a short distance to an orchard patch, night cloaking his existence, Daisy felt a window of opportunity. Luigi was sitting alone, Indian style in a patch of flowers, staring at the ground like it was a good sitcom. She sighed listlessly, smiling inwardly. He could be so reserved when he wanted to be. Sometimes it seemed he was so used to being in the background, he'd attempt to climate towards staying in it. She took a seat next to him, and he acknowledged her presence with a charming but shy smile.

"Hey..."

"Hey greenie. How ya doin'?" She giggled, curling up to place her head on her chin, tilting it toward him.

"Alright...yourself?" He said wearily, suspicious. She was definitely up to something...

"Um... I'm worried." She frowned, staring down at her feet. He seemed inquisitive at this.

"Worried? About what?" She smiled at this, still staring downward.

"About you."

"Oh." Luigi blushed, staring at the ground again. Bingo. Knew it... "You shouldn't be."

"I am. And I should."

"Because?"

"Because I know something's wrong, Luigi. What is it?"

"Um... I don't think now is a good time..."

"Luigi... you know you can tell me. You know you can trust me, right?" She soothed, and that's when Luigi had to ponder. Did he trust Daisy? Did he put faith in her again, even after all she did back then...

"I-I hope I can." He stammered, and her eyebrows shot up at that. He hadn't meant for it to come out sounding so rude. It sounded a mite bit better in his head. Dammit...

"What??" She blinked, inwardly hurt. Had she done nothing to earn his trust again over these past few weeks? He decided to quickly give her what she wanted, in hopes that it would counteract the effects of his last unintentionally stinging comment...

"Well... I'm just- I'm not... Daisy, I really don't feel, that I can do this." He revealed, deflating. That, if possible, hurt her even more, seeing him look so ashamed of himself, cap pulled low over his handsome face. She tilted it up, and he found a stern gaze emitting from her.

"What is it you feel that you can't do?"

"I'm...God. I am second best, Daisy. I am- I can't do things the way Mario can. I don't function like him- he's so incredibly full force, so powerful. And I'm just... I am his understudy. I learned it all from him. And I learned it from being behind him, every step of the way. He always saved the girl. Where was I?"

"Exactly, Luigi. Where were you? Exactly where you were meant to be. And that's not second place by a far cry. You were there to pull through when Mario himself couldn't."

"I was the fall back."

"YOU are his backbone!" Daisy cried, glaring at him defensively. "You always have been! You always fill in the spaces that Mario can't! When he gets himself kidnaped you always save his ass! And why would you spend all your time trying to save Peach? She's not your girlfriend, is she?" At this Luigi shook his head no bashfully. "No. She's Mario's. Which is why he's so ruthless during those journeys. And that's the reason you need to be there for him. Because he needs you." She stressed, hands clasping his firmly."Look at him now! He's so helpless without you. Luigi... you are second to no one." Daisy assured, eyes fiery with her belief, a hand stroking along his face. She grinned encouragingly at him, and this time when he ducked back under his cap he was smiling madly, face aflame with rouge.

"Yeah, well..."

"Yeah, well... give it up!" She teased, shoving him playfully. He laughed, and she tugged the hat off his unruly curls, soaking up the gleeful expression on his face. Relaxing onto his nearest shoulder, she closed her eyes blissfully. He stared up at the night sky, releasing a long, sheltered breath.

"It's really nice to see you again, Daisy."

"That's funny, coming from you." He felt her smile weakly against his shoulder. "I figured you'd never say something like that. I was sure we weren't ever going to speak to each other again."

"So did I. Truth be told, before all this, it's what I would have preferred, after everything that went down. Not anymore, mind you- it was just because of- um..." Luigi started rubbing the back of his neck, and Daisy became tense. She knew something heavy was coming. She lifted her head attentively.

"Daisy, can I ask you something? I mean in all seriousness..."

"Well that's silly to ask, you know you can." She stared at the buttons on his overalls, nervous.

"Uh- the letter..."

"Oh, no..."

"No, please- there was something you wrote, I- that is, it's never really left me. I'd really like to..."

"I'm sorry, I'm listening." Daisy's heart began pounding. She hated talking about this, and she was scared of what it might bring on between them...

"You wrote something... you told me- well, Bowser read it out- that... you felt that my brother..." Luigi licked his lips, throat beginning to feel tight. This was something that after all this time, never failed to cut deep. "You said that my brother was better than me. A-a billion times better than me..." the words crippled his composure, and he drooped with the dismal weight of them. "I was just sort of wondering..." he froze when he heard a soft sniffle beside him, and his backbone tensed again as he looked upon her. She was wiping at glittering paths finding their way down her face. The sadness the sight brought him was overwhelming. It created a horrible feeling in his chest, and he anxiously reached out to her, hands coaxing tears gently from the surface of her face, then stroking comfortingly through her hair.

"I... Daisy I'm sorry..." He frowned, unhappy to see her crying. He felt so guilty...

"No Luigi, I'm sorry. I lied to you and it wasn't fair. I-I never felt that way about you! I never so much as got agitated at you before that night. I cared so much for you. I still care so much for you and I wish I'd just said nothing and let you have a nice night... I was just so hurt. When you like somebody so much and- and they say something like that about you it hurts, Luigi. I don't know why you said it. I was always so kind to you..." She sobbed, tears pouring freely now, as he sat in shocked silence beside her. He took her face in his hands softly, thumbing away the cascade with a befuddled aura in every crease on his face. Now he was deeply confused.

"Why I said it? Said what, Daisy? I don't understand..."

"Bowser..." she choked. "He told me what you said about me that evening, at Peach's house..."

"At Peach's house? Daisy, I was never even at Peach's house that day!" He exclaimed, and her watery eyes clouded with turmoil.

"You weren't? Or you don't remember?"

"I wasn't. What did he tell you I said." Luigi said darkly, eyes fixated on her troubled features.

"Luigi, it's-"

"Daisy, please. What did he tell you I said?" She looked to the ground, struggling against another onslaught, scanning for anything but his strict expression.

"He told me..." she swallowed hard "that you and Peach... that you guys were making out in her room-"

"Oh, God..." Luigi said uncomfortably, fingers tugging at loose curls dangling before his eyes. "Man, she's like my sister..."

"He said- h-he said that when he asked you why you wouldn't go out with me- you said why on earth would you want to go out with me, and that you'd rather date a Lakitu brother!!" She sobbed as her words came out in a flurry before reducing herself to a heap of emotion, damp face embedded in Luigi's shoulder. His eyebrow flew up and his mouth dropped at this.

"What?! WHAT?! That dirty, disgusting, lying scoundrel!!!" He exploded, tugging back, hands grabbing Daisy's shoulders as her forced her to look him in the eye.

"Daisy- I've- I would never say something like that about you! Ever! I never did! None of that happened, I swear! I swear on Mario's life! He was lying, he was always up to no good, why did you believe him?!"

"I'm sorry!" She exclaimed, eyes shut tight. "I feel like an idiot! She was just so gorgeous, and she'd gone over earlier that day to ask you something in private right after I got in a fight with her about how much I liked you so I thought she was getting back at me-" she gasped for air "and I never thought someone as good as you was going to fall for some loser, background, D grade princess like me anyway! Why would you have wanted to date me?! It didn't make sense to me-"

"Well it did to me!" Luigi barked. "I was in love with you, Daisy! And don't talk about yourself like that! You aren't any of those things!" He snarled defensively.

"I am!" She declared stubbornly. "I'm- I was stupid enough to believe Bowser. And look what I did. I made you feel like crap! I made you feel second best to Mario for years and for what? For Bowser and his stupid tricks?! It's a good thing I did screw up my chances with you, Luigi! God knows what you'd be into by now! Stupid, damn note. I'm more trouble than it's worth bothering for!"

"Not quite." Luigi laughed, feeling outrageously uplifted by this confessional talk. A burden that had been with him for so many years of his life was relinquished. The humiliation of that Café event, the depression that followed... Finally, relief from the torture of wondering what the hell went on that night... "And I'm pretty sure of what I'd be into by now, had things gone my way. I'd be a lot better off now, I can assure you."

"Oh, please." Daisy shook her auburn head, rubbing at her tear filled eyes as she stood. "Don't be silly, Luigi. I hurt you so bad. I could never forgive myself..." her voice wavered as she hugged herself, and the young man stood beside her, placing his hands on her shoulders.

"Probably because you have no idea what you've just done for me, do you." He sighed, and she sniffled, shaking her head no as she studied him. This made him smile shyly. "Then you should know that you've just given me another shot at the girl I'm in love with..." He blushed, and a new warmth filled her. Seemingly every pain and bruise that they'd endured had come undone and vanished. Something this phenomenal happening over a simple chat had her wondering what the hell had they waited so long to face each other for? It was like the part of her that had died back then was alive and thriving, and she was a better, happier, fulfilled person because of it.

So, she decided to celebrate.

"Then stop standing around and get over here!" She beamed, and with that yanked the surprised man in for a long overdue, passionate, euphoric kiss... something it seemed the unlucky pair had prayed for since the day they met.

"Uhm..." Waluigi blushed to himself, stopping in his tracks as he was just headed toward the clearing that the currently engaged couple were occupying blissfully.

Wow... awkwarddddd... Waluigi flushed, embarrassedly looking away as he decided to stop where he had been headed. Though slightly uncomfortable by having to walk into the moment as it had occurred, Waluigi was happy to see that the both of them had finally clued in already. Took them a few years longer than many had suspected, but here they were. And he decided he'd bring food back to the group when they weren't sharing oxygen. Which, he hoped, wouldn't take an extremely long while.

...any minute now.

—

(Sniffle) Ah, does it ever feel good to write something happy for once!

Fuzzy feelings all around ;)

Anyway, you know what to do if you enjoyed, R&R folks!

See you next time, and thanks for reading.