Mario and Peach waved goodbye to Luigi and Daisy before they disappeared inside the castle leaving Luigi and Daisy standing on the outside of the castle. There was an awkward silence between the two for a moment, the two exchanged a bashful glance and Luigi cracked a nervous smile as Daisy smiled bubbly back making Luigi appreciate every aspect of her beautiful smile.
"Well uh let's be on our way shall we my lady?" Said Luigi trying to crack a joke offering his arm to Daisy.
"Yes I believe we shall, Sir Weegee" Said Daisy taking Luigi up on his offer making Luigi blush.
For most of their walk it was mostly in silence, occasionally glancing at each other before the other's eyes would immediately darting away. Daisy loved how shy and nervous Luigi acted around her, the complete opposite of Mario, a shrewd and mischevious smile crept along her face. When she made an effort to tease Luigi she went all the way, batting her eyelashes once Luigi's eyes met her sapphire like eyes giving off a seductive yet charming look making a blush engulf Luigi's face as his eyes tried to dart away after sneaking a quick look at Daisy. From the shaking in his arm Daisy knew Luigi's heart must have been beating at a fast rate; it was then that she decided to make her move.
"It really is nice out, don't you think Luigi?" Said Daisy.
"Yeah" Said Luigi, lost in Daisy's blue eyes.
"Hey Luigi can I ask you a question? Why do you always get so nervous and tongue tied when you're around me?" Said Daisy frankly, knowing the answer but still wanting to hear it.
The question caught Luigi completely off guard, stopping him dead in his tracks just as the two had turned down an alleyway, the gothic atmosphere of the night delivering a fog into the alleyway. Daisy broke away from Luigi and playfully pressed her back against the alleyway wall, still smirking, as Luigi stammered and stuttered, babbling not making any sense as he tried to find the right words to answer Daisy's question.
"You're nervous right now Luigi I can tell, you don't have to be embarrassed around me" Said Daisy getting close to Luigi backing him up against the alleyway wall and lifting his chin up with her hand.
Luigi was at a loss for words, sure Daisy teased him but never had she ever been so upfront with him.
"I'm not nervous...ok maybe a little...oh who am I kidding, I'm always nervous around you, but that's just because I really...l...l...Like you" Said Luigi turning his eyes away in misguided shame.
"I like you too, Luigi" Said Daisy, her eyes lighting up.
"You do?" Said Luigi ecstatic that Daisy reciprocated his feelings.
"Of course what's not too like" Said Daisy.
"Well I just thought maybe you wouldn't like me cause I'm not brave like Mario" Confessed Luigi.
"I think you're braver than Mario, because real courage is being scared to death but facing the problem head on anyway, that's what real courage is" Said Daisy smiling genuinely at Luigi.
"Thank you...Sweet Daisy" Said Luigi feeling genuine happiness, the voice inside his head being speechless.
"Ok um this may sound weird and random but can you say something in italian?" Asked Daisy.
"Sure dì qualcosa in italiano" Said Luigi with a newfound confidence.
"That sounded so nice and romantic, what did you say anyway?" Asked Daisy.
"He said you picked the wrong alley to cut through" Came a voice behind Luigi and Daisy.
Through the fog of the alleyway two sets of eyeballs could be seen and seemed to grow closer to the two. Their footsteps seemed to echo through the alleyway when the two intruders revealed themselves to be Wario and Waluigi smirking evilly.
"Oh great what do you jerks want?" Said Daisy in a harsh tone.
Waluigi just laughed sadistically while revealing a knife.
"It seems the news about paying the toll through our turf hasn't reached everyone, what do you say we should do about that Wario?" Waluigi asked his Boss.
"We simply can't make exemptions even for royalty, I'm afraid you're gonna have to have to pay the toll" Said Wario producing his own knife.
Luigi stepped forward putting himself between the two thugs and his love, Luigi was visibly shaking, an intense rush of fear and adrenaline washed over Luigi. Trying not to seem cowardly in a false sense of courage put up his fists. He wasn't fooling anyone Wario and Waluigi shared an optimistic look, grinning like sharks the two thugs pressed their way forward as if Luigi was absolutely no threat to them. The green clad plumber was losing face and space quickly, he couldn't handle the amount of adrenaline, fear, and the increasing rate of his heartbeat, sweat from anxiety started to form on his brow. Wario and Walugi shared another look before Waluigi held his knife below Luigi's chin, recklessly Luigi forced himself to move and try to knock Waluigi's knife from his hands. This move took Waluigi by surprise and left him open enough as Luigi attempted to punch Waluigi in the face, with a smirk Waluigi grabbed Luigi's fist and was about to plunge his fist into Luigi's stomach when Waluigi's face was met by Daisy's hard right hook knocking him back and forcing Waluigi to release Luigi from his grasp. Groaning in pain, Waluigi grabbed at his nose as if it was broken, looking at his comrades' situation Wario Lunged for Daisy with his knife only for Daisy to simply dodge the attack as if it was nothing, causing Wario to trip and fall on his face. A sharp yank to the back of Wario's shirt made an expression of fear come over his face.
"Are you sure you didn't pick the wrong alleyway tonight?" Said Daisy as she held Wario by his collar.
"Uh oh!" Said Wario, preparing for his comrades' fate.
However surprisingly Daisy just let Wario go, letting go of his collar causing him to hit the ground with a thud.
"Get out of here before I break both your faces" Said Daisy fiercely with her fist raised, she meant business.
"I guess we know who wears the pants in this relationship" Said Waluigi as he helped Wario up looking straight into Luigi's eyes before disappearing into the night.
"Oooh that must sting, I think your manliness just went down about ten points" Said the voice taunting Luigi.
Luigi looked down in disappointment at himself, he worried what Daisy would think of him, him not being man enough to defend her, the feeling was crushing for Luigi, he had wished he had been as brave as his older brother, the feeling only intensified Luigi's insecurities making it almost was enough to bring Luigi to his knees it was so crushing.
"You ok, Luigi?" Said Daisy, her voice gentle and tender.
"No, I feel bad cause I couldn't protect you from those two, instead you had to protect me from them, I always seem to screw things up" Confessed Luigi with his head hung low.
Daisy put her hand on Luigi's shoulder with a genuine smile, trying to reassure Luigi with her optimism.
"You remember what I said about courage...real courage is being scared to death but facing the problem head on anyway, that's what real courage is. You still worked up the courage to stand up to them, even when they were armed and you weren't, I couldn't ask for more" Said Daisy smiling at Luigi.
Luigi could feel small tears starting to form in his eyes.
"Daisy, you always know the right thing to say to me, thank you" Said Luigi smiling back.