A/N: Time for chapter one. Alright... yes, those who have read some of King's work, namely "'salem's Lot," will what I'm doing with my chapter structure, a stylistic imitation, if you will. The chapters will be named after the character(s) they focus on, yadda yadda yadda... Oh, you'll see once you start reading:) Oh, yeah, and before I forget, this is a Link/Roy fic which includes yaoi and slashy goodness. Don't say I didn't warn you. With all that in mind, let's get the ball rolling.
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The Fiend Within
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Mario
Life had settled in the SSBM Mansion as spring ended and the battles lessened, easing into a lazy summer as the days grew longer and hotter. The air outside had grown considerably humid, triggering the desire for vacations in most Smashers. The head of SSBM himself, Master Hand, had already left for a relaxing week at the renowned Isle Delfino, as recommended by many for the stressed manager, while his brother, Crazy Hand, took over his duties. Many others planned their own escapes, and an air of anticipation cycled its way through the estate.
Even so, all the excitement could not fully cover all uneasiness.
Mario leaned in his cafeteria chair lethargically, his unusually bare, soft fingers drumming on the table without his mind actually acknowledging it. His eyes of aquamarine stared into space aimlessly, only blinking when his stringy, sepia bangs blew in front of them for the rush of air provided by one of the rotating fans, trying to chase away the summer heat. They were currently trained on one of the high windows, the one that the sun's rays would hit the most out of the day, but as of now it was too high in the sky to do so. The blazing afternoon forced him to only wear a simple red t-shirt and jeans, his hat missing to expose sweat-coated, chestnut hair, mussed from constant wear. This physical appearance made him look like a teenager, but the deep though reflected in his face, not to mention the bushy mustache, contradicted it all in an instant.
Finally, his attention was snapped away from the window at the lurching of chairs at his own table. He glanced across to watch the couple of the week, Link and Roy, each take a seat. Like him, they were dressed accordingly to the weather, each with a cold drink. Link had on a green tee with a logo even he couldn't recognize and blue jeans, his long-tailed hat cast away and his long, golden halo of hair pulled back in a neat ponytail behind the elf's tapered ears. Roy had on a black tee with the words "A Pyro is as a Pyro does" in red letters, one of those wild shirts from Hot Topic or something like that. He had matching jeans, his crown removed as not to be ruined by sweat, allowing his untamable mop of auburn locks to settle to its own whim, however wild that may be.
Once they had settled, their eyes, near identical shades of blue, landed on him, noticing the gloom reflected in his gaze. "Hey, you alright, Mario?" the Hylian questioned.
"Mmm? Oh yeah, I'm fine." He sighed, turning slightly in his seat to somewhat face them. "Sure is hot today, ain't it?" he started with small talk.
"Yeah, this week's supposed to be a record-breaker in heat," Link elaborated, taking a swig of his ice water. "If there's ever a time to get away, now's it."
"Got any plans yet?" Roy asked, his hand subtly sliding under the table and resting on his partner's. Link took it tenderly.
"Nothing official, you could say," Mario replied. "Luigi wants to go to Isle Delfino, but we're gonna wait and see when it's not so busy. Right now it's impossible to book passage with the phone lines all tied up. I was barely able to get M.H. in."
"Mmm." The redhead slurped his Icee through the fat straw and swallowed. "'S a shame. You look like you really need a vacation."
The plumber gazed at him hollowly, then looked away, not responding to that comment. It didn't take long for the two to guess what was wrong.
"...the Bowser incident still bothering you?" Link ventured in a reserved voice.
Mario tried to glance back at the window, but at last the sun was in the right position, and the altered rays of light were blinding enough to drive him away. He instead stared down at his shoes. "...There's still no word of his whereabouts... I shouldn't be worried, but..."
"Don't sweat it," the elf interrupted, sparing him the pressure.
"He disappeared before the Giga Bowser attack, right?" Roy asked no one in particular. "How long ago was that? Half a year?"
"Almost," Link nodded, chuckling. "I saw Peach's latest journal entry on her Myspace. She's literally offering herself up for a kidnapping of any reptiles available."
"Heh." Mario gave out one mirthless chortle, his face falling instantly. "...But even he would respond to that by now... Something must've... I don't know..."
Link nor Roy made no comment, glancing at each other. They both tightened their grips on each other's hands in response to the thick tension.
Mario blinked, realizing he had spaced out again. Seeing the unease he had brought upon the two, he forced out a smile and sought to change the subject. "So, you two have any plans yet?"
Roy beamed, cheeks flushed pink. Link answered for him with a sly smirk. "Who says we're planning anything together?"
Mario grinned inwardly. "Oh, come on, I ain't that naïve. Gimme some credit here."
Link laughed, leaning a bit closer to Roy. "Aw, I'm just messing. It's not like anybody doesn't know, anyways."
"Well, duh, that kiss at the Winter Dance last year kinda tipped us off." The trio got a good laugh out of that.
"But no, we have no plans as of yet," Link answered at last once he had recovered.
"Hmm. I heard Fox and Zelda already left for a trip to Corneria."
"I know..." Link's cheery face fell. "It's weird, though... She never told me anything about any trip to Corneria..."
Mario's brow narrowed. "She's still not mad at you, is she?"
"No, she got past it a long time ago," Roy spoke up. "Even I can talk to her without her usual bitchiness now."
"Huh. Maybe she just forgot in the heat of the moment or something." He shrugged. "Them I wouldn't worry about."
"Yo, Mario." A nasal voice behind him got him to turn and face his brother. Luigi wore a similar outfit, as expected, his chestnut hair even more messy than his older brother, who obviously cared more about his outward appearance. The younger sibling was looking more like a rebellious teenager every day, and that was his intention.
He jacked a thumb over his shoulder. "Time to go."
"What, now?"
"Yep. C.H. said two 'o clock's his best time to talk."
"Mmm. Alright." Mario heaved himself out of his chair tiredly. Seeing the couple's questioning glances, he explained, "We're gonna go talk to Crazy Hand about Bowser, see if there's anything we can do."
"Ah, right."
"Good luck."
They watched the brothers leave quietly, the dreaded feeling left hovering through the thick, hot air. Roy shifted and leaned against Link, who in turn wrapped an arm across his shoulder, nonchalantly playing with his ruby locks as both stared down the hallway they had disappeared down. When the environment got too stifling, Roy rolled his head across Link's shoulder and his sapphire orbs dragged up to meet the other pair, a small pout slacking his jaw. His gaze was both loving and wanting.
Link smiled warmly and approvingly as they both stood. Tonight was going to be interesting.
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Mario was never really comfortable when sitting in Master Hand's office, and Luigi's presence did little to ease his anxiousness. Behind the seemingly casual conversations, there always seemed to be another power at work, like a hypnotic voice that told him to push the concerns back to the rear of his mind. But then again, maybe that's the impression the enigmatic glove gave everyone.
It was always the same whenever he asked. "We're doing everything we can" and "We're following a few promising leads right now" and that horrible one, "At least he's not terrorizing Mushroom Kingdom, right?" That one made him sick. Utterly heartless. But he was too polite to point that out, only laughing unhappily with him. Regardless, there was never any news, no updates, no steps forward. The case had been at a standstill since it started.
Nevertheless, Master Hand was ever patient with the urgent plumber, and his words always managed to bring him temporary solace until the guilt hit him again. But he was unsure how long the Hand's brother's patience would last. He did not know the meaning behind his name, and he preferred not knowing.
As of now, he sat in a cushioned chair before the desk, waiting for Crazy Hand to emerge. Luigi sat in a twin chair beside him, looking equally creeped out. Good. That meant it wasn't just him.
After what seemed forever, Crazy Hand entered trough a private door, his slightly twitchy form settling behind the desk as calmly as an insane being could.
Mario shifted in his seat, suddenly uncomfortable. Luigi eyed him, puzzled.
"...Right, then. My brother told me to expect you at least once during his absence." He took on the same intelligent tone as his counterpart, which only worked further on Mario's already battered nerves.
"...So?" he muttered. "Any news?"
"..." There was some time before he answered, as if exploring that two-worded question with careful contemplation. This struck Mario as odd, but he didn't press any further, looking him over futilly. He was a floating glove, for Christ's sake. You can't read the emotions of something without a face. The only clue he had was his voice, and with all that thinking, that was out. It was damned frustrating.
Finally came Crazy Hand's response, which only proved to frustrate him more. "...You're awfully nosy over a missing archrival, aren't you?"
Mario's blue eyes narrowed, his left fist clenched. "And what's that supposed to mean?"
"Think of your reputation, Mario. What would others think if Mushroom Kingdom's hero was concerned for the well-being of his greatest enemy?"
"Shut up!" Mario bellowed. "You think I give a crap about that?"
"We're all worried, C.H.," Luigi spoke up for the first time, trying to be as casual as a frightened kid could be. "Even Peach herself."
"We just want an answer! How hard is that for you?"
The response was an eerily cool and composed chuckle, one you wouldn't expect to come out of an insane being. It sent a flurry of shivers down their spines. "Oh, it's no problem for me. You've been asking the wrong person for the answer you want."
Mario rolled this statement in his mind, then sat up quickly in realization.
"My brother... cares too much about your oh-so-delicate emotions." His voice was dripping with sarcasm. "He feared the truth would drive you all away."
His confidence vaporized. "...w-what truth?"
"That you will never see him again."
It fell on them like a ton of bricks.
Eyes wide, Luigi slowly pushed himself out of his chair. "...Le... Let's get outta here, Mario..."
Mario made no movement, rooted in his seat with that horrified look frozen on his face.
Crazy Hand chuckled again, this time more befitting his sanity level. "Oh, no, you can't leave now. We cannot allow that truth to spread." If he was able to smirk, he would be grinning ear to ear. "But I care not about that. The more of you I corral, the better."
There came a snarl behind the back door, and it shook from constant , rabid impact from the other side. Short of breath, Luigi scrambled for the other door, terrified. He tried to twist the door handle, but it didn't budge.
Mario seemed welded to his chair, face unmoving as if time had abruptly stopped for him.
"Don't worry. This is your liberation. Embrace it."
The door slammed open, and a flurry blur descended upon them. Luigi screamed.
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A/N: So? How is it so far? I put sweat and tears into this, please review!