A/N: I do not own any of the characters from the Mario series.

When a Koopa Crosses the Road

They see my face and think I'm a thug. That I drag poor unsuspecting suckers into the alleys, to beat them up. Some rumors even claim I devoured tiny kids! So, when people see me, they stayed clear.

"He is bad news." They whispered among themselves.

But they don't get me! I'm not a thug. Sure, I beat up Midbus on Blossom Avenue, and had to get bailed out of jail by Mario and Luigi. But that overgrown hog started it! Yeah, I have a scary face, huge horns, and sharp teeth. I'm the toughest guy in New Donk City yet people don't know the real me! Working for the Wrecking Crew, I do overtime to cover my rent. I got to live like everyone else. And if people really knew me, they would know I volunteered at the animal shelter on weekends. Well, the Sweetie Co. owner's spoiled daughter, Peach, know I work there. She volunteered there too, no doubt to make her crooked family look good. Cute lady but she had the nerve to laugh at me when she saw me holding a kitten.

"I didn't expect that out of you." She quipped. What a jerk. I know I don't look like I would love cute things. But how can I say no to adorable animals!?

So, there you have it, I'm not all that bad. At least the plumber nerds, don't run from me. We've been in the same job for years. They were standoffish at first, but we bonded over our mutual dislike of our manager, Spike.

Today we were doing contract work for a construction company along Cheep-Cheep Avenue. After work, the brothers invited me to eat at Fawful's Burgers. The day was rainy with a nice fresh smell in the air. As I bit into a double-layered burger with bacon, I caught Mario staring at me. Puzzled, I put down my burger.

"Peach walked by today. She was staring at you, Bowser." He teased.

"She's always staring at him." Luigi added while dipping his fries in ketchup.

I grumbled and kept chewing. Luigi took a sip of his soda and spoke again. "I think she's interested in you. Why don't you try talking to her?"

"I bet she was belittling me. Reminding herself she lives in a fancy apartment, twenty stories up! There is no way she would want to be with someone like me." I ended the discussion with a loud chomp. Mario and Luigi shrugged and went back to eating.

Satisfied with a hard day's work and dinner, I followed the brothers to the crosswalk. When the light flashed to allow pedestrians to cross, we moved quickly. In the middle of the street, I spotted the local grocery to the right and remembered I needed milk. There aren't many cars so I leave the crosswalk to go there. At that moment, a pink convertible sports car (with the hood pulled back) approached the crosswalk. The owner of Sweetie Co. is in the passenger seat, speaking adamantly to Peach who is driving. Distracted by her father, she ran through the red light!

I overheard Mario cry out "Mama Mia!" and told me to run. But I was distracted by Peach's flowing hair, I didn't realize her car was careening into me! Everything started spinning as a woman screamed. My view was whirls of grey, beige, red and blue. I finally landed on my shell. Though my vision was blurry I can make out the tops of the buildings.

Within seconds, the scene around me becomes chaotic. Mario is yelling in Italian while his brother is calling for an ambulance. I'm dizzy but I can hear Peach's father arguing with Mario about the car. I obviously wrecked the front end. Hopefully, Peach was alright. As my vision cleared up - Daisy the cashier, Rosalina the street performer, and even Mayor Pauline was standing over me. Their mouths gaped in horror and pity. I know I looked a mess! All these beautiful humans looking at me while I'm at my worst. And I'm certain Midbus just walked by laughing at me. Never have I wanted to crawl into a hole and die so badly.

"Mr. Bowser! I'm so sorry!" Peach sobbed. She's alive! That's good. Now I can be mad at her!

"Peach! Don't apologize!" Her father yelled. Shut up! Just come over here Mr. Toadstool so I can slap you!

Soon, the sound of sirens filled the air. "Miss Peach, you need to get treatment." Mario insisted as he helped her out of the car. My rage increased. This is all her fault. I wouldn't be in this situation if she hadn't run me over! I pointed in her direction, warning Peach to stay away from me. But I struggled to get my words out as my tongue was hanging out.

"Don't move too much, sir!" A paramedic chided as he held me down. I'm fine, you idiot! I'm just a little dizzy. In fact, I'm sure I can walk. But with the women pitying me, I'm too embarrassed to get up! So, I'm gonna lay here and fake being injured. Luigi rounds up a mob of people to help lift me into an ambulance. Man do I owe those two facet freaks.

Now safe I took a nap during the ride; it can't get any worst. But it does. At the hospital, the cops told me I had no business not using the crosswalk! Are you kidding me!? But Peach ran a red light! That measly black-capped fiend pulled some strings to get his darling out of trouble. Such an injustice! Now I have a medical bill to pay on top of my usual rent. I said nothing and listened to the cops' lecture. After they left, I realized Luigi was sitting by my bedside.

"Mario went to get the nurse to move you to a new room."

I grumbled a thanks and grabbed the remote to turn on the television.

"Wait, Bowser!"

The local news was reporting about the accident. That was quick.

"The scene on Cheep-Cheep Avenue became chaotic when a pink convertible smashed into a pedestrian." Waluigi the news anchor reported. "I'll now turn over to that loser Wario."

Wario walked along Cheep-Cheep Avenue. "What was supposed to be another peaceful day in New Donk City turned deadly."

"I'm still alive!" I complained.

The reporter approached and interviewed Rosalina. "Can you tell us want happened?"

"I was playing the guitar when I heard a loud crash. The front of the car turned to confetti when it hit that koopa. It was terrifying. I hope both parties are alright."

The scene changed to an earlier interview with Peach's father. "My sweet daughter was minding her own business when that savage walked in front of her! She is absolutely shaken!"

"But she ran a red light!" I yelled.

Luigi raised his hands towards me. "B-bowser!"

The scene cut back to Wario. "Hopefully our fair city, shaken by this tragedy, can move forward. Back to you, Beanpole, I'm going on my break."

"Whatever, Wario. And now we'll show drone footage of the scene."

My mouth dropped at the sight. The video showed me laid out on the concrete; my limbs sprawled out like I'm a crooked star. My tongue dangled as I feebly pointed at a sobbing Peach. Even my eyeballs were spinning.

"Oh, my stars! I looked like that!" I cried out. I'm never going on a date now! And worst of all, the owner of Fawful Burgers dashed out and placed a board advertisement next to me! The greedy bean used my corpse for advertising! Steam escaped my mouth.

"B-bowser! Now calm …"

"That woman humiliated me! The next time I see that brat I'll tell her …"

"Bowser! She's right next to you!" Luigi cried out.

I froze. The curtain next to me pulled back and Peach peeked at me. Her beautiful eyes were red from crying, her arm in a sling. I'm sure my face looked like a tomato by now. Unable to handle the awkwardness, Luigi abandoned me as Mario and the nurse entered. Don't blame him to be honest.

"I want a different room!" I yelled.

Mario shook his head. "Bowser, we're working on it!"

The nurse bowed to Peach in apology. How dare she! I'm the victim here! "I'm so sorry Miss Peach. The medical staff thought you two were lovers and didn't want you to be apart!"

My blood pressure skyrocketed. W-we're not that at all! "She ran me over! How could we be lovers!?"

"The paramedics said you were declaring your love, and that is way you got in the way of the vehicle!" She replied honestly.

"My tongue was hanging out! I couldn't form proper words!"

The nurse bowed again. "All rooms are filled up today anyway! Sorry!"

"I don't mind sharing a room. You have a lot to do." Peach whispered while blushing. I mimicked her words under my breath. She is like her father, trying to portray me as the bad guy. The nurse apologized again and left to find an extra room. Mario offered to buy food for us and left for the cafeteria. Silence filled the air. And the silence was killing me! Folding my arms, I fumed as I changed the channel. I stopped on a food network channel. It's another episode of Donkey Kong Eats.

"I love this show." Peach declared. I grunted in agreement. We sat in silence until Donkey Kong stopped at Toadette's Bar and Grill restaurant.

"They have great barbecue! Do you eat there?"

I was surprised. I thought she would be more interested in fancy eating. "I like their ribs." I shrugged.

Peach clasped her hands together. "I love a huge plate of steak tips and potatoes!"

"Hey, that's my second favorite dish. You dip the steak in their secret sauce?"

She hummed. "Yep. And I finish my meal with a piece of chocolate cheesecake."

"Usually, I skip desserts. Mario, however, tears up their cake."

"You have good friends. They wouldn't let father mistreat you."

She is observant.

"Yeah." My eyes involuntarily looked in her direction. "Does your arm hurt?"

Peach looked away from the screen and down at her arm. "They gave me pain medicine. I'll be fine." She gazed at me and I felt my stomach flipped. "Mister Bowser, I'm terribly sorry for my actions. I would never hurt you intentionally. You're a good person. People say bad things about you, but you try to mine your own business…"

She paused. I wait for her to continue. "My dad can be pushy but Mario and Luigi inspired me. I'm going to stand up to him and not sue you, I played a role in the accident. So, I'm going over to the police station tomorrow. I want to clear up what happened."

I don't know what to say toward that. "Where is your dad?"

Her eyes were downcast. "He went back to work."

Peach turned back to watching the tv as I observed her. She doesn't believe the rumors people said about me. She doesn't think I'm a thug. I wanted to focus on the tv screen but my eyes kept trailing back to Peach. Noticing my stare, she fiddled with her silky hair. I loved the way it fell around her elegant neck. And her eyes are the shiniest of blues. I always wanted to get to know her, even though I felt I had no chance.

As the episode continued, I asked Peach about what she does for a living. She revealed she helps with her father's business as his secretary. On her days off she goes shopping with her friends or volunteers at the shelter. Time goes by as we go back and forth. We even shared stories about job mishaps. And I loved the way she laughed. It's gentle and make my heart pound rabidly. She seemed to laugh even harder when she heard me do so. When Mario dropped off food, we continued to talk. But to my displeasure, the doctor gave me a clean bill of health and kicked me out of the hospital. I hoped I could see her again. I missed her already.

Mario and Luigi drove me home in their trashy van. It was cramped but I wasn't up for walking home. But man do I owe these guys.

"You owe us nothing, Bowser." Luigi said.

"I wasn't thinking that!" I complained.

"It was on your face."

As Mario turned into my driveway he spoke. "She paid for your medical bills, Bowser."

I turned to him, my jaw dropping. "How did you know that!?"

"I overheard her talking to the staff."

"I can't pay that back!"

"Again, I overheard. She didn't want you to know. But don't tell her we told you. She'll cry."

One thought entered my mind. She's the one. I don't care if I must deal with her father! I'm not letting Peach get away! Immediately, I jumped out of the van and ran down the street. Mario drove next to me bewildered.

"If you get ran over again, we're not helping!" The plumber complained. Luigi insisted I get in the van and they drove me back to the hospital. Ignoring the staff, I located Peach's room.

Peach jumped at the sudden presence of a visitor. "Bowser!? W-what are you doing here...?"

Blushing I handed her a piece of paper. "Please, take my phone number!" I spluttered. She looked at it and a pink bloom formed on her cheeks. Peach does an adorable dance in bed and scribbles down her number for me.

"I'm so…h-here's mine!"

Locking eyes, we promised to stay in contact. I will take her to that Bar and Grill - when my next paycheck comes in that is. But I'm not finished yet, I called Mario and told them to go home.

"I'll wait until they discharge you." I declared as I took a seat next to her. Smiling, Peach reached for my hand. I gently took it and made eye contact with her again. Laughing we continued our discussion.