You know, this idea about Bowuigi in the context of Luigi's Mansion ?
It's the spooky season so let's make it more angsty !
Luigi and Bowser have been dating in secret for a while, hiding and both happy with each other and sad they couldn't be more open about their relationship. Bowser wants to take the risk and reveal it all for the world to see, Luigi is too anxious to take the leap.
Most of all, there's how Bowser is still officially an enemy of the Mushroom Kingdom and occasionally commiting trouble, because that's what's expected from him, that's all he knows.
At some point Luigi finally builds up the courage of deciding to tell Mario...but he doesn't dare to hell it himself. And Bowser claims there's no way Mario would ever listen to him, since they only meet in battle.
"I mean, how I am supposed to prove I'm turning over a new leaf when we're fighting??"
"...Don't."
"What?"
"Don't fight. Next time you fight, stand down. Don't strike back. Mario wouldn't fight someone who doesn't defend themselves, and that's the last thing he'd expect from you, this is sure to get his attention !"
Bowser laughs and ruffles Luigi's hair, claiming this is a crazy idea, but you know what, worth a try.
The last time they see each other, Bowser is somber. He warns Luigi of his plans to draw Mario out to his castle so they can... (Bowser swallows and chews as if the word isn't used to the word) talk.
He'll break down the news to Mario. At least the "changing his way" part. Maybe he'll confess the romance as well, if it goes well, he jokes while Luigi is hugging him, thanking him for doing it.
The plan takes places, Mario chases after Bowser and Luigi stays at home, wrecked with nerves, torn between sticking to the plan and rushing to his brother's side. He should be here, this concerns him too, but the idea of Mario taking the news badly twists his guts and freezes him in place. For hours he paces, watching every ten seconds the road Mario has taken when leaving.
Hours pass. Shadows lengthen. The sun starts setting. The air grows colder.
And finally, Mario appears on the horizon.
Luigi rushes to meet him...and slows down as he comes closer.
Something has gone wrong.
He can see it in Mario's slow, heavy gait. In his darkened, scorched clothes. In the way he desperately rubs his deeply scarred hand, as if trying to remove his own skin.
When Luigi finally reaches him, Mario looks at him. Never had Luigi seen such haunted eyes on his brother's face.
"I didn't...I didn't mean to...to..."
Despite the anguish crushing Luigi's heart, despite knowing deep down already what has happened, Luigi asks, and forces himself to hear as Mario recount the events.
How out of nowhere, Bowser had suddenly stood down instead of fighting.
How Mario had already been in the middle of this attack, caught off guard by the unexpected.
How his attack had hit its target : not Bowser, but a batch of explosives, setting off a huge blast.
How Bowser, thrown off balance, had fallen.
How Mario had tried -he has tried, Luigi, he swears he has tried!- to catch him, how the claws had sunk into his flesh for a moment, before the Koopa had fallen into the lava below.
How he had tried, hoping desperately for a twist, a revelation, Kamek showing up out of nowhere, anything...
How instead, the throne room's door had been opened by Junior, confused by his dad's absence and asking what Mario was doing here alone....
That's when Mario's voice breaks, and he buries his head in his hands, sobbing, held by Luigi, who clings to his brother to not collapse as his heart feels ripped out off his chest.
And yet he doesn't tell anything.
Not this day, nor the day after, nor ever.
A part of Luigi wants to hate his brother; to throw in his face the true weight of what he has done; he wants to scream his pain and rage, the sheer injustice of the situation choking him until he can't breathe anymore.
But he knows Mario never meant for this to happen. Even if he had known the truth. Mario feels horrible enough for actually causing Bowser's death and Luigi can't bring himself to pile more on his guilt.
Mario is still his brother. He can't hate him, he doesn't think he ever would (he now knows he never can, if he still can't hate Mario after causing so much pain).
But he's grieving, alone, miserable, and for a while he can't even look at Mario without feeling like he'll cry all the tears in his body. Mario worries, he has noticed the distance Luigi seems to put between the two of them, but since Luigi keeps his secret, Mario doesn't know how to fix things.
For several months, they remain distant, and it hurts every single day.
Mario goes on a couple of adventures alone. Whenever he tries to invite Luigi to come along, Luigi uses excuses and stays at home. A home that feels too small and oppressive nowadays, with all the memories and complex feelings and secrets swirling inside.
Luigi needs a new start. Or at least some time on his own.
So when he's told he has won a mansion, he doesn't question how he's never participated in the context. On the other hand, Mario is suspicious but doesn't want to give Luigi the impression that he doesn't trust him, or that he won't respect his need for space.
But he just wants to make sure nothing is afoul. A quick little check before Luigi arrives...
As the mansion exploration goes on, when Luigi is told about "Bowser" returning, he doesn't care about any warnings: Bowser might be alive ! Maybe Mario didn't understand the situation and jumped to conclusions too soon, maybe Kamek found a way to bring his king back! And if he's here, it's probably because he's looking for Luigi !
Hope buoys him as he looks for his brother with a newfound determination. He will find them both! He knows it !
*
It's a long, long night. Dark and full of terrors, fleeting hopes crushed by horrors, relief and anguish mixed all together at the end.
Luigi wins, and Luigi fails, and despite the sheer, unaltered joy he feels once Mario is finally free from the painting...
It feels like losing Bowser again.
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