"The two shades of green."
Chapter 11
"'You're not real.' 'I am now.'."
Mario watched the impostor in his baby brother's body, shake his head with a bemused smile.
"You really think I'm him, don't you?" He asked, silver eyes opening once again and landing on his own sapphire ones.
"I don't think." The red hero answered determinated. "I know you're, him."
"How can you be so sure?" Mr.L asked raising an eyebrow. "I could be an impostor posing as this…Luigi, for all you know."
"I know because this already happened before." The red clad hero stepped closer. "You're not even real. You're just a fragment of his imagination. An illusion. Something that was never meant to exist."
"I don't think you're in the right mind state, to say that." Despite his calm voice, Mr.L took a small step back. "You're drunk and under the influence of drugs. Your brain if far too into it, to see the difference between your supposed brother and a good costume."
"Okay then." Mario stopped. "Can you prove to me, that you're not my brother? Can you tell me what your real name is? The date of your birth? The names of your parents and siblings? Can you describe your first classmates in elementary school? Your favorite toys? The names of your pets?" His blue eyes glowing accusingly, his questions stabbing like knives.
Silver eyes didn't waiver, didn't flinch and didn't react.
Mr.L was silent.
The hero's lips stretched into a smirk. "You can't, can you?" It wasn't a question.
"I don't have to answer to you." The antagonist growled through gritted teeth.
"No." Mario agreed, making another step towards the cornered evildoer. "But that's not the real reason you won't answer me, isn't it?"
The green mercenary knew the hero was right, and it both angered and horrified him.
He couldn't answer the most basic questions about his past. Any of them. Everything that happened before his mission for Count Bleck, was nonexistent.
He didn't remember his parents, his childhood, his education...hell, he didn't even know his own name!
In panic, his brain began asking questions, desperately searching for answers deep inside his subconscious.
Did his family love him? Was it full, in divorce or was he an orphan? Did he have siblings? Where did he live? When was he born? What's his level of education? Did he have a job? What made him turn to the bad side? Was he raised to be evil or did he just break? Was he in love? Does he have a girlfriend, a wife or is he single? Does he have children? What does his 'L' stand for? How old is he?
The questions were sporadic and were swirling around his head, like a hoard of out of control bees.
In the end, all he learned was that he didn't know himself at all.
It was as if he just…'popped' out of nowhere one day and began existing. Like…like a-
That's when everything clicked.
The uncanny resemblance he had with Luigi…the unfamiliar feeling of concern he felt for Mario…the fact that he can't remember anything that happened before his meeting with Nastasia…
The fact that he and the green plumber were never seen together in one place...
A cold feeling erupted in his, already aching, chest. With wide eyes, he looked down at his hands.
They suddenly felt so alien to him, as did everything else.
He really wasn't real…
He…he was Luigi. Or, if he wanted to be precise, Luigi was Him.
Mr.L looked up at Mario fear in his eyes, begging him to deny what he just realized.
But the red clad hero did no such thing, he knew he was right there was no reason for him to vocalize it. He stepped closer, making the confused and frightened anti-hero back away even more.
"No…no, stay back!" He yelled backing away, the magic from his heart surrounding him in a protective shield in response to his distress. "Don't come any closer!" Mr.L held up his left hand, as if it could keep the hero at bay, without a warning a magic energy ball appeared around it. Ready to be used if needed. "I'm warning you, Mario." The villain tried to make his voice sound threatening but knew he was failing, miserably. "Take one step closer and I'll-"
"You'll, what?" Mario asked, not stopping at all. "Blast me to bits with that sphere of magic in your hand?" In a few steps Mr.L will run out of room to, back away to. "Squish me like a bug with BroBot?" The cornered villain almost cursed when his back hit the hard wall behind him. "Beat me till I can't move with your fighting skills?" Mario was so close that, one more step, and Mr.L's outstretched hand would touch his chest. Releasing the back energy swirling around it. "Go ahead then." He was inches away…the light from the sphere reflecting on his clothes. "I won't stop you."
Mr.L began to shake.
That wasn't fair!
Something was stopping him, he wasn't in control. He couldn't hurt him, no matter how much he wanted to.
And he had this strange feeling, that Mario knew he wouldn't hurt him.
Just then, as if to confirm that thought, Mario spoke:
"You and I both know, you can't do shit to me." He let a cocky smile grace his mouth. "You couldn't ever since you heard me apologize a few minutes back." Mario chuckled humorlessly. "I saw it in your eyes, demon. You can't deny it."
Mr.L almost growled. That bastard!
Hissing a curse, he let his arm drop limp to his side.
For a minute both of them stood in total silence, none of them willing to move.
"So…" Mr.L asked. "What now?"
"I'm taking you back to the castle." Mario said grabbing his arm. Mr.L didn't protest. " is bound to find a way, to bring my brother back." He gave his captive a long warning stare. "And dispose of you, demon."
"Your attempts are doomed to fail, Mario." Mr.L stated flatly, letting the smaller man lead him to the exit. "His mind is dead and Death is not a disease, you can just cure with a few pills and a blanket." His voice hardened for the next words. "No amount of science and magic, will bring your brother back."
Mario growled under his breath and squeezed the green man's arm, harder. "I don't care what it takes, but I will bring him back." He continued tightening his grip until he heard the taller man, hiss. "Even if I have to kill you, in the process."
Mr.L was about to respond when…
A giant mechanical T-rex, destroyed the wall behind them with a loud 'BANG!'.
JA107: Sorry if this chapter feels crappy. My 'plot bunny' got lost in my other stories, couldn't find him all day. *pouts*. Oh well, better luck next time I guess. Wish me luck and MARRY CHRISTMAS! :-D