A/N: Gee, how long has it been? (looks at last update) O.O UH OH! Sorry, my computer's monitor broke down on Monday, so we had to wait 'til Friday when my Dad got paid to get a new one. It's so fricken big! XD Anyways, I should get right to the chappie, since it's so huge. Here it begins!

"I was standing,

All alone against the world outside.

You were searching

For a place to hide,

Lost and lonely.

Now you've given me the will to survive.

When we're hungry... love will keep us alive..."

Brother Squadron: Chapter 7: Reunion

Luigi's damp, swollen eyes looked over his big brother, who laid unconscious on the same bed he had occupied a few days earlier. Mario's face was deathly pale, as if the blood had been drained out from under his skin. His limbs were limp as Luigi clutched his still warm, dry hand, silently begging for him to wake up. His sinewy chest rose and fell at an extremely slow pace, and Luigi brought his fingers under his nose, feeling warm breath come out his nostrils. Luigi was relieved that he was still alive, but how long would he last before...?

"Could you move aside, Luigi?" Zelda asked from beside him, and he morbidly nodded and stood, letting his fingers slip from between Mario's, his arm flopping back down on the mattress. Zelda took a seat and began to look him over as Link stepped inside, followed by Fox.

"How is he, sis?" Link asked, his voice strangely softer and a little shaky.

"It looks like the bullet tore completely through his shoulder," Zelda explained, reaching for her supplies. "But though his wound wasn't bandaged properly, it's already beginning to heal. He hasn't eaten or slept for two days, either."

Fox looked over Mario with thoughtful jade eyes, a hand rubbing his furry chin. "Huh. Where do you suppose he came from?" he asked Link.

The elf looked as if he already knew, but he asked anyway. "What's his prison code?"

Zelda leaned over and let one of Mario's dog tags rest in her palm, glancing over it. Luigi looked as well, reading the number: 214678542.

"214," Zelda responded.

Fox's flint eyes enlarged. "That's the Warsaw Camp! He came from your old camp, Link!"

Luigi's attention switched to Link, whose face went visibly pale at that remark as he glanced over Mario's still figure as if staring into the coffin holding his best friend. Luigi was shocked to discover his brother was sent to the same prison camp as Link, but it was just coincidence, right? They couldn't have known each other... could they?

The drape leading outside flapped again as Roy stepped inside, drawn in not by duty, but by honest curiosity and his belief that he had the right of going wherever he wished. "How's the new guy?"

Link paused, mysterious thoughts running through his mind, then spoke commandingly towards Roy. "Tell Yoshi to cook up some meat. I want food on his lap inside of five minutes."

Roy blinked, confused. "...Huh?"

"Did I stutter? Move!" he snapped, and Roy instantly disappeared into the outside. The rest looked up at Link oddly as he sighed, calming himself down.

"You should all leave Mario and I be," Zelda spoke softly, unwrapping a pack of bandages. Link and Fox understood her need for privacy and began to leave. Luigi was more reluctant in leaving his brother's side, frowning down at him as Fox took him gently by the wrist.

"Let's go, kid," he ordered quietly. "Your brother's in good hands."

Luigi nodded obediently, but the concerned look on his face remained as he stepped out into the harsh desert winds, leaving his brother at fate's mercy.

The rest of the afternoon was awfully quiet, at least inside the lead caravan. Fox and Falcon were assisting in loading the food, leaving Link and Luigi alone inside the cool interiors of the truck with the exhaustion from their trip as an excuse. Link sat by the tan drape and Luigi laid in the hammock, both left silent with their own thoughts. Luigi rocked his foot softly up and down to a quick tempo as he was becoming anxious, awaiting news of his brother's condition. His chest heaved in a heavy sigh, his head slumping to the side to stare at his leader. With a need to break the silence, he asked, "You think Mario'll make it?"

Link glanced up hollowly at Luigi, then responded in a hushed voice. "I've never known my sis to fail on a patient. He'll be okay... I hope..." he muttered aside.

Luigi looked at Link carefully, sitting up on his elbows as he analyzed the elf's figure. He sat hunched over, cheekbone resting on his white knuckles. His mask-like face sulked in concern thought, peacock eyes full of question as if asking "how?" or "why?" Luigi thought of his next question thoroughly before asking.

"... You look a lot like you know him, Link," he stated, bringing the Hylian's gaze up suddenly. "Do you?"

Link seemed hesitant in answering, and before he could, there was soft pattering in the sand outside, a creature on all fours cantering towards the caravan, then the scratching of tiny claws on the steel as it climbed up into the back bumper with difficulty from its size. From under the drape poked the perky, furry face of Pikachu, amber, button-shaped eyes gazing up at Link as it sauntered inside as if unsure.

"Something up, Pikachu?" Link asked, and when Pikachu knew it was welcome, it scampered forward and flew into his arms, licking the side of his cheek with a soft, tiny, pink tongue. The elf couldn't help but smile, and his mouth opened in a soft chuckle as the rodent clamored about in his arms. Luigi smiled himself as Pikachu's presence succeeded in lightening the mood.

It finally settled in a comfortable position in his lap, and Link asked, "So what's the news?"

It began chirping its name in strange sequences as a sort of its own language, but Link seemed to understand as he listened. "Uh-huh... Already? How much?... Well, that's good. What about his shoulder?... Yeah... Good... Alright, then. Thanks, Pikachu." He reached into his pocket and brought out a round, tiny piece of rare red fruit, popping it into Pikachu's mouth. It chewed and swallowed, then bleated happily and nuzzled against Link's chest, his dog tags tangling around its long ears.

"What'd it say?" Luigi asked, drawing both of their attentions.

"Your bro's fine," Link answered with a smile. "His shoulder's healing and he's started eating already, so he'll be okay in a few days. We can go see him in a little bit." He patted Pikachu on the head, and it softly cooed. "Pikachu is Zelda's messenger when she's caught up in her business."

Luigi nodded, then Link persuaded Pikachu to get up and meet the youth up close and personal. Playing along, Luigi sat up and outstretched his arms in a welcoming manner, and that encouraged Pikachu to no end. It bounded up and dove into his arms, and he laughed as the rodent's weight caused him to flop back into the hammock, allowing it to sniff him. He chuckled as Pikachu chewed on his bronze bangs friendly-like, and he began to rub it under its chin, to which it sighed in content.

Link smiled at the sweet scene, suddenly reflective as he gazed at Luigi carefully. The youth was clearly older than him, but was not quite the man he was expected to be. Outward appearances of his life-long struggle- scars, dirt, and wounds- were apparent, but it never really touched his spirit. At times, Link felt like he was looking at a child stuck inside an adult's body, mostly hidden from the world. He thought about the first day he met Luigi, his shyness, naivety, and youthful curiosity. Even now, as Pikachu climbed around his ticklish areas, Luigi laughed, loud and carefree, distracted from his previous thoughts. He looked and sounded awfully younger.

And no matter how many times he looked at Luigi, Link just couldn't figure him out. It wasn't like this behavior was a bad thing, just... out of place. He spent time in a prison camp, just like the rest of them, and the Wanted Poster was proof of that. But perhaps he wasn't held long enough to change. Perhaps his free spirit decided early on that he was sick of the place and that it was time to get out. This supported Link's earlier idea of how long he must've spent out in the desert. But he guessed living as a fugitive for however long didn't matter, as the poison that swept through the Badlands never infected Luigi.

In fact, Luigi reminded Link of his sister, Zelda, who shared the same innocent condition. Before he was caught, Link had succeeded in smuggling his sister off the Continental Europe and into Britain, a country that was, at first, not affected by the famine. She lived happily as a merchant in Birmingham, according to the letters she sent him through a secret postal service. About the same time he broke out, the Wire Frames invaded Britain, and for the fear of being found out, Zelda fled back into Continental Europe. She was the first Nintendian Link had found.

Both his sister and Luigi shared something in common: the lack of discipline from cruel prison-keepers, thus solidifying their youthful souls. Link had always admired Zelda for that innocent nature, and now he realized that this was the reason why he also admired Luigi. The elf wished he had some of that innocence still left in spite of his responsibilities. But that fire had gone out a long time ago, and the harsh and uncertain realities are what he knew now.

Softly sighing, he dropped his gaze back to the floor, all these thought melded together, then were pushed away. Link's desires would have to wait.

Luigi waited a few hours, then anxiousness ruled over his judgment as he decided to go visit his brother. Cautiously, he peeked inside the caravan, making sure he wasn't disturbing anything. Sure enough, there was Zelda, sitting beside Mario's sleeping form. Hearing him, the Hylian turned to Luigi, smiling warmly.

"Hello, Luigi," she greeted sweetly. "Come in. Your brother is much better."

Comforted by the warm welcome, Luigi stepped inside and approached the end of the bed. Mario was sleeping peacefully, eyes faintly sealed and breathing in normal patterns. Cleaner bandages were wrapped firmly around his shoulder, under the stained strap of his tank top. His face had regained color, much to Luigi's relief. Now he didn't look so much like a living corpse.

"He's been resting a bit now, so I'll wake him up," Zelda stood, flashing Luigi a smile. "I'm sure he'll be very happy to see you. He couldn't stop talking about you earlier!"

Luigi grinned happily, glad that Mario still remembered and loved his little brother.

Zelda leaned over and gently caressed the side of his face, to which came an involuntary groan. "Wake up, Mario. Someone is here to see you."

There was another feeble groan as his eyelids scrunched up groggily, head straightening up from the slumped side. His mouth stretched in a wide yawn, and then his eyes slowly cracked open as he awakened. He looked up at Zelda questioningly, with eyes of crystal blue to match Luigi's, halfway closed from fatigue. Zelda backed off, allowing Luigi to approach the bedside and came into his brother's view. His mouth hung in a small gape and their eyes locked for the first time in years. Mario's eyes glittered with oncoming tears as he lifted a hand and caressed the back of Luigi's neck, slowly drawing him in as if his eyes were deceiving him somehow.

"...L... Luigi?" he asked hopefully, voice shaking from both physical and mental weakness. Luigi's lip quivered as he feebly smiled and nodded. A happy smile then stretched across Mario's scarred face, engulfing his once cold features, and to Luigi, it was the most beautiful thing in the world.

"Luigi!" he cried happily as both brothers thrust themselves into each other's arms, embracing in a fierce, warm hug. Luigi buried his face in Mario's uninjured shoulder, smothering his tears of happiness. Too long had he been searching the continent for that warm smile, that sweet voice, that presence of warmth and security, to the point where he almost gave up hope. But here he was, he couldn't be, shouldn't be, but against his body he felt so blessedly real. A circle of warmth shielded them from the outside senses, and all they felt was happiness in the deepest realms of their hearts.

Zelda watched this with a happy smile, almost in tears herself. Then a voice from outside drew her attention, and she stepped outside to speak, as not to disturb the two.

After a long time, the two slowly drew away, locking dreary, damp eyes once more. As a brotherly sign of affection, Mario reached up and brushed the tears away from Luigi's eyes with his thumb. He smiled warmly at his precious, grown up little brother, chest heaving from a sigh of content.

"I'm, so glad I found you early on," he began. "I was afraid you would've already been shot down by the Frames."

"And disappoint you?" Luigi grinned, getting a small laugh.

"No, but seriously, Luigi, I'm glad I found you. I knew you wouldn't stay in your camp for long."

"And you finally decided to get out too, looks like," another voice spoke smugly. Luigi immediately recognized it to belong to Link, but Mario straightened up in confusion, seemingly knowing the voice as well. Link approached the other side of the bed, a friendly grin on his face as Mario's eyes enlarged upon seeing the elf.

"... Oh my god," Mario stated in a shocked voice. "... Oh my god. It's you, isn't it?"

Link's grin grew as he nodded. A huge smile spread across Mario's face and opened in a cheerful laugh that Luigi remembered oh so well.

"Oh my god! Link, you crazy motherfucker! I thought you were dead!"

"Same to you!" Link laughed as well, and the two embraced with one arm in a friendly matter. Luigi looked between the two, confused.

"Wait... You two know each other?"

Link nodded. "Our cells were opposite of each other back at the Warsaw Camp. We kept each other company and basically made each other's lives a little easier at the camp." He sighed as he turned back to Mario. "... Then you and Peach were sent down to the execution chambers... I thought you'd be dead for sure... And that kinda fueled me to get out of that hell hole."

Mario sat there, baffled, then rose an index finger in confirmation. "So that was you! You were the riot!" Link's brows knotted in confusion, and Mario continued. "We were moved back into our cell before they could gas us. Said there was a riot in our block. We didn't see you in your cell, so we assumed you got killed in the riot."

"Oh, please," Link chuckled coolly. "You think I'd let those cocksuckers shoot me down?"

Mario looked at Link carefully, then smiled warmly. "You haven't changed a bit, you crazy son of a bitch."

Both of then chuckled once more, while Luigi analyzed Link again silently. It seemed that the shock of seeing an old friend he thought had died passed, replaced by the happiness of reunion between friends from long ago. Luigi somehow felt glad to see the Squadron Leader back to his old, cool and composed self again.

"By the way," Link continued. "What happened to Peach?"

Mario flinched upon hearing that name, lowering his gaze down to his twiddling thumbs. He sighed heavily, then replied, "She... didn't make it... Shot down during our escape..."

Both Link and Luigi stood there, aghast. Both knew her, one way or another, to be a strong-willed individual, greatly resenting oppression and hatred. To hear she was shot down during escape... unbelievable.

Link shut his eyes, mouthing a silent prayer, then looked back at the depressed Mario and placed a comforting hand on his good shoulder. "... I'm sorry, Mario. Peach was a good person. At least she died in flight."

Mario gazed up at him briefly, then nodded weakly as he dropped his gaze once more, the pain of the loss softened a bit after two days.

Link slowly drew away, looking between both brothers. "I'll... leave you two alone for now to... catch up on things..." His voice trailed off, and he gave up and slowly turned away, brushing back the covers and stepping back outside.

A silence was exchanged as Luigi glanced at his sulking brother. His round tuff of bangs drooped over his icy blue orbs that tinted with nostalgia and grief. Luigi was afraid to speak, not wanting to upset Mario. But he had to say it, or he wouldn't seem all that much like a good brother.

"Mario... I'm so sorry..." he said softly, knowing very well that Peach was Mario's closest companion, perhaps even a lover, but Luigi never did and never will know. "I'm really, truly sorry... I-I was looking for you, and didn't find you 'til it was too late..."

And then, to his surprise, a smile broke over Mario's face like a wave. "Don't blame yourself, Luigi. It's alright." Luigi opened his mouth to speak, but Mario raised a finger to his lips. "And it's okay. Peach is home now. They say that Nintendian spirits are drawn to the Portal, and they return home for the afterlife. Peach... just got there earlier than we will..."

Understanding, Luigi nodded gloomily, still a little depressed. Mario saw this, and not wanting to see his brother upset over such a thing, he sat up with his back leaning on the steel walls. "Hey, Luigi, get my jacket from over there..." Luigi did so, retrieving the black, leather army jacket off a crate on the opposite side of the caravan, handing it to Mario. He took it, nodding in gratitude, then wordlessly, he unfolded the crinkling leather and reached into the inside pocket, bringing out a familiar object.

In his hands rested a kelly green hat, large and poofy, with the monogrammed "L" above the slightly heavy brim. Luigi glanced at the object unbelievably.

"My hat!" He took the hat into his hands, running his fingers in glee across the cotton, worn from age. Embracing the hat to his chest, he smiled softly, glancing back up at Mario. "I thought I lost it forever..."

"Nope." Mario shook his head, returning the grin. "I saved mine too." He dug into the same pocket and brought out another hat, scarlet this time, flatter to fit his own head, with an "M" above the brim. Clutching it tightly in his hands, he continued. "I promised myself that I'd never, ever wear mine until you got to wear yours again. You know... can't have one without the other..."

The grins on both their faces only grew, and in a moment only fellow flesh-and-blood brothers could fully understand and cherish, Mario and Luigi firmly placed their hats upon their heads for the first time since they could remember. Luigi tucked most of his mop of long hair underneath, except for his bangs and the back part. He took pleasure in the old feeling of the brim weighing down on his bangs, the rest of his hair pushing up the front high to further the illusion of his height. It was a good hat, and Luigi never realized before how much he missed it. He focused his gaze once more on Mario, whose untamable hair peeked out from under the smaller hat, especially his bangs. He chuckled as he reached up and ruffled his kid brother's hat a bit, to which Luigi giggled. Then they were met with silence once more, and Mario sighed deeply, his smile beginning to disappear.

"Luigi... I missed you so much..." he began, and Luigi noticed his hesitant eyes becoming glassy with moisture. "And all that time at Warsaw, I was kicking myself every day knowing that I fucked up and got us separated..."

Luigi inclined his head questioningly, then slowly lost the innocent look until it melted down to a look of remorse. He remembered very clearly that day, an image buried in his mind. He remembered the Wire Frames attacking the settlement they were briefly staying in, and the plan of escape... He had to meet Peach and Mario at the end of the town while Mario helped escort an injured Peach. But when he got to the meeting place, they weren't there. Two seconds later, he turned to see a sight that burned into his mind. A mob of Frames marching out of town, half carrying an unconscious Peach, half struggling with a protesting Mario, thrashing and cursing wickedly in rage. And as they passed by, time slowed down as brothers locked eyes for the last time, and Luigi remembered Mario shouting at him desperately as they dragged him away.

"Spiacente!... Spiacente!... Spiacente!"

He was saying sorry. Apologizing in their native language. Luigi was in such shock, he didn't even notice at first when the Frames had seized him as well...

And to this day, Luigi never knew why Mario ever held all the blame on his shoulders. Luigi never blamed him for anything, except for being the best brother ever. Yeah, he knew that sounded corny, but it was the honest-to-god truth. And then his look became that of pity, to think that his brother was in anguish for so long because of blame he didn't deserve to hold.

And as Luigi looked up to see Mario about to break down, dry sobs escaping his throat, he opened his arms welcomingly, and once more they were in a brotherly embrace with little brother comforting the other.

"Spiacente..." Mario sobbed, his Italian words barely distinguishable behind his tears. "Per lasciarli dietro... Per abbandonarli... Spiacente..."

"E giusto..." Luigi comforted softly, not at all feeling awkward or ashamed. "Li perdono... Non si incolpi di... Ti amo..."

Mario sniffed, holding his precious little brother tightly and not wanting to ever let go. Never again. "Gratsr..."

"Don't you worry.

Sometimes you've just gotta let it ride.

The world is changing,

Right before your eyes.

Now I've found you.

There's no more emptiness inside.

When we're hungry...

Love will keep us alive..." -love will keep us alive, Eagles (Mario Bros' Theme)

A/N: See? Told ya. Again. Here's all the Italian translations. Spiacente should be obvious, though.

Per lasciarli dietro: for leaving you behind

Per abbandonarli: for abandoning you

E giusto: It's okay

Li perdono: I forgive you

Non si incolpi di: Don't blame yourself

Ti amo: I love you

Gratsr: Thank you

And that's about it. That cleared a lot of questions, didn't it? Next chappie coming soon. Review, please.