Chapter 29 Just Having Fun

The hearts of both soul swapped Koopalings hummed with excitement. Their moods made sunrises look dull as they entered the kitchen. The smile Lemmy wore hurt beyond all comprehension. He reasoned that it was just because Ludwig wasn't used to smiling this wide as the oldest reached into the fridge.

"Alrighty." Ludwig pressed his lips together. "Now, what here can I…" his hand browsed over the selection before he smiled. "Oh my gosh; I'm so stupid!" He closed the door and walked over to the counter. "I know what I can have you try." His face fell when he spotted the cabinet. He stood on his tiptoes, but even then, he was nowhere close. "Oh come on!" he sharply exhaled.

"Don't worry," Lemmy giggled. "I've got this." He held out his hand and bit his lip. The cabinet door burst open, allowing him to get two mugs out. "This what you wanted?"

"Yep!" Ludwig grinned as he held his cup. "Okay, now…"

The eldest got right to work. Lemmy assisted him in the parts where it was necessary, but for the most part, the process went smoothly. By the end of it, both Koopalings had mugs full of coffee in their possession.

"I probably should have guessed you would make coffee." Lemmy grinned wickedly at his brother. "You are an addict after all."

Ludwig rolled his eyes. "No. I'm not an 'addict.' I just have a strong taste for the stuff."

Lemmy snickered. "More like a need for the effect."

"Lemmy!"

"Oh come on; you can't deny it now! I've been feeling lethargic for the last few days! I need the coffee Ludwig! You need the coffee!"

Ludwig glared at Lemmy before sighing. "Okay okay, you've got me." He chuckled. "Are you going to give me an intervention or something?"

"Nah." Lemmy beamed. "You're more fun when you're full of caffeine anyway." He looked down at his cup. Or, rather, Ludwig's cup. "So, this is how you usually drink it, right?"

"Yep. Medium roast, cream but no sugar."

"No sugar?" Lemmy made a face. "Damn Ludwig, how can you drink that?"

Ludwig's eyes sparkled. "Why don't you try it and find out?"

With a nod, Lemmy reluctantly raised the cup to his lips and took a sip. While the drink was bitter as sin, it was nowhere near as bad as he had expected. In fact…he could actually taste some other components to the drink. The cream balanced out the stark warmth, accentuating the subtle hints of orange peel and chocolate.

"Mmm!" Lemmy took a gulp of the stuff. "This is really good!" He tilted his head back, guzzling it down.

"Okay, okay, don't go crazy Lemmy," Ludwig said with a warning tone. "You don't want to…"

Before he finished that sentence, Lemmy gasped. Putting the cup back down, his eyes grew wide when he held his hand to his throat. "Good gravy! I feel like I have lava in my throat!"

Ludwig laughed. "That, my dear brother, is acid reflux." His eyes shimmered. "Isn't it wonderful?"

"Wonderfully awful!" Lemmy remained quiet for about five minutes, his breathing mixing with the pain to create an excruciating experience. He swallowed a lump before turning to Ludwig. "Does that happen often?"

"Ehh, it's kind of a weekly thing," Ludwig said with a grin.

"Mama Mia." Lemmy shook his head. "I take it back; we definitely need an intervention for you."

"Great. I look forward to it." He leaned in closer. "So, aside from that, what'd you think?"

It took a minute before Lemmy was able to tame the beast enough to speak. "I…liked it." He smiled. "It was bitter, but…tasty. Comforting."

"Yeah. I was born with the gift of a developed palette and a taste for the acquired. Bitter, salty, and savory are the holy trinity in terms of taste for me." He raised his own cup, looking at the creamy, frothy latte with a crinkled lip. "I've always been sensitive to sweet. Just one grain of unneeded sugar can easily tip the balance from sweet to too sweet."

Lemmy chortled. "Well, there's no such thing as too sweet with me!" He put his hand on the bottom of the mug, pushing it closer to his brother's mouth. "Drink! Drink! Drink!"

Ludwig sighed. "If you insist." The second the drink touched his tongue, his eyes grew wide. "Woah!" He lowered the cup, staring at it with wide eyed awe. "That's…."

"Delicious?"

Ludwig nodded. "Yeah, pretty much!" He drank about a quarter of the mug. "It's like….it's like…" he laughed. "I don't even know how to describe it!"

"Well then, perhaps I can be of assistance." Lemmy cleared his throat before speaking in a wispy, smug tone. "If a rainbow were to collide with a coffee bean, and if the ambrosia of the Gods were given to us mortals wandering aimlessly around this forsaken land, then THIS…" Lemmy giggled. "This would be what their holy union produces."

A moment of silence, peaceful and humorous, hung in the air. Ludwig broke it with a snicker. "That was…"

"Poetic?" Lemmy smiled. "Philosophical? Deep?"

Ludwig smirked. "Pretentious."

"PRETENTIOUS!" Lemmy glared at him. "You know I have your brain, right Mr. Judgemental?"

"I am perfectly aware of that." Ludwig laughed. "And I'm not judging; I'm just exhibiting some self awareness."

Lemmy sniffed. "If by self awareness, you mean douchebaggery, then yeah."

Ludwig rolled his eyes. "Come on Lemmy, I'm just having fun. I mean, I am you, aren't I?"

Lemmy directed his gaze toward the floor. "I…guess…"

The eldest bit his lip. "Hmm. I see I'm still not forgiven yet." He placed his finger to his chin. "What would you do to cheer me up?" He thought for a minute before grinning wickedly. "Hey Lems?"

"What?"

Ludwig giggled. "Why are you being so bitter all of a sudden? I want to see the SWEET SWEET sight of your smile back on my mug!"

Lemmy blinked before bursting into laughter. "Oh my God!" He laughed so hard his stomach hurt.

"Ehh?" Ludwig shook his head. "See? I can be funny when I want to be!"

Lemmy's laughter grew stronger. "Oh come on! That couldn't be YOU! That HAD to be me!"

"Hey! That was totally me…actually, what am I even saying? I wouldn't be caught dead telling a joke like that." He smirked. "You're starting to rub off on me it seems."

Lemmy rolled his eyes. "Yeah. I'm rubbing off on you as smoothly as sandpaper." He blinked. "Huh." He put his hand to his throat. "I guess I got your sarcastic streak."

"It would appear that way." There was a pause as Ludwig took another sip of his beverage. "Man, I can see why the others were so tripped up over this." He turned back to Lemmy. "Do you want to try something else now?"

"Sure!" Lemmy put his hand to his chin. "Hmm. Since we have each other's brains, I want to practice that whole mind reading thing. I think that could be cool."

"I agree!" Ludwig put his mug to the side. "Let's get started right way."