"What do you mean I'm not coming?!"
Luigi sighed as he carefully packed his things up into a duffel. He knew this discussion would not be pleasant. However, he was going to stand firm. "Exactly what I'a said, Maki-chan," he offered, his tone perfectly balanced between firm and apologetic. "You can't come with'a me to deal with this. I need ta go do this myself."
A brief glance towards his girlfriend showed that she was barely containing her temper and her abilities, and if she lost control this time her building likely would not survive unlike every other time. "You better have a damn good reason for saying that!" she hissed out, barely keeping herself under control. "Just because we're dating doesn't mean you have any right to tell me what to do! If you think-"
"I have several, and I never thought that," Luigi interrupted calmly. He suppressed a smile as he saw - as he'd thought - someone actually interrupting her while in the grip of her temper threw her off. While she was still shocked, he started speaking. "First off, Mushroom Kingdom ain't part of the 26 cities. It's outta yer jurisdiction."
"Yours too," Tatsumaki insisted, though her tone was much more controlled. "But it's not stopping you." She took a calming breath. "Not that that would stop me if Fubuki were captured..."
"It's not just Mario," Luigi explained softly. "My bro and I...we're the Mushroom Kingdom's protectors. That obligation takes priority over my commitment to the Hero Association."
"And you think I'm going to just wait back here while you charge off into unknown danger?" Tatsumaki demanded coldly. "I could easily help!"
"How do you do against magic?" Luigi inquired softly.
Tatsumaki blinked in surprise. "Okay...even with all your stories...what? Really?"
"Bowser is King of the Koopas, and he has incredibly powerful magic at his disposal," Luigi explained as he zipped up his duffel. "Everything he can throw at me I know I can handle now with ease, especially if I don't have to worry about friendly targets and collateral damage..." He shrugged the bag onto his shoulder. "Except Bowser himself and this new weapon, both certain to be steeped in that magic." He turned to Tatsumaki. "And he can use that magic to steal magic from other magic users. What would that do to your Esper abilities?"
Tatsumaki tried to reply, but she didn't have an answer to that. She'd never actually dealt with 'magic', especially the way Luigi talked about it. If Bowser was able to steal her powers... "I'd still take that chance," she grumbled, her temper starting to withdraw as she was forced to accept the logic. "I doubt he's got a stronger will than me..."
"And then there's your obligations here," Luigi continued. "The disasters and beasts that threaten here aren't gonna vanish just'a cause Bowser's kicking up a fuss. The people need your protection."
She snorted derisively. "You think I actually care about them?" she asked dismissively.
"Fubuki does," Luigi countered. He knew she didn't think much of people in general...but he also knew she cared more than she admitted about letting people get hurt. However, it was a lot easier to get her to accept it as keeping an eye out for her sister who did go a lot harder on protecting people.
"Are you really asking me to pick between you and my sister in this?" Tatsumaki demanded angrily.
"I'da never ask you that!" Luigi cried out defensively.
"And I don't want to ask you that either!" Tatsumaki cried out, her voice now shifting from anger to despair, silencing Luigi's objections. As he stared at her, she let herself float down to the floor before looking up at him, desperately trying to keep tears out of her eyes or voice. "You came here for self-improvement, so you could handle your fears more easily...so you could be a better help to your brother. Now...now you're going back. But...but once you're back, and you've saved the day, and you can handle your fears..." She swallowed, struggling to get control of her voice. "Will you ever come back?" she finally managed to ask.
Dropping his bag, Luigi took one step forward and pulled her into a tight embrace, holding her close. "I'm not leaving you," he promised fervently. "As soon as things are settled there and I have time to do what I want, I'll be back to be with you."
Tatsumaki buried her face against where a bit of his chest peeked out from his shirt. "And with how crazy things are like back there from what you said, you'll get that about as often as I will," she offered sadly.
"But it will happen," Luigi promised fervently. "This is not goodbye. Just...until we meet again."
Tatsumaki managed a smile, just barely. "I'll hold you to that," she stated firmly before pulling him into a deep, fervent kiss.
Luigi gladly returned it, holding her close against him...only to pull back in surprise as he felt her tugging at his shirt. "M-Maki-chan?"
"If I'm going to have to wait that long before seeing you again, I'm making this a proper goodbye."
After that, neither of them used their lips for words.
Luigi took a few calming breaths as he stepped out of the apartment, closing the door behind him as he smoothed his hair with a hand before donning his cap, smoothing out his rumpled clothes as he put his bag over his shoulder. "Here ah go," he stated firmly.
"Need a lift?" a familiar, comforting voice spoke up.
Luigi let out a startled yelp as he jumped, but managed to calm by the time his feet touched down as he turned to face the speaker. "Rosalina!" he insisted defensively. "Don'ta do that! I might'a lashed out!"
Rosalina let out a soft chuckle. "Quite a change from when I brought you here," she offered warmly. "I'd say more...but you're in a hurry, aren't you?"
Luigi nodded with a smile. "Right!" he declared firmly.
Rosalina smiled mysteriously, an odd twinkle in her eye. However, Luigi had no chance to think about it as they both vanished in starlight...
...and a map with the message "If you need to find him" in Rosalina's handwriting swept it's own way through the air before slipping under Tatsumaki's door.