Day 6: Spine
By the time Luigi was able to leave the castle again, the town square seemed to have changed entirely.
The square was its usual mix of people, of course: Koopas, Shy Guys, Goombas, Spinies, and other miscellaneous species that -before- he only saw as soldiers. He now knew better, but their presence wasn't the problem.
Mostly, it was in the way he is almost always stared at, regardless of whether or not they were friendly. To him, there seemed to be a sea of eyes that pinned him against the cobblestone. In reality, he's sure they are simply glancing at him, but...
His guards have also become fussy now, especially as two more were added to the group (Ashton and Flambo, a Lakitu and a Hammer Bro) to make his visit hard to ignore.
It made his skin itch.
He wanted to sit by the water fountain, but -looking at the crowd of people enjoying the area and knowing how twitchy the guards would be- he settled for the next best thing:
A stone bench set under a roof overhang.
Even though Luigi had been able to settle down, he couldn't quite let himself relax...
He doesn't need to look at the notebook tightly clutched against his chest to figure out why. Not when he knew that the information inside was something that might make or break the Koopa Kingdom’s economy -maybe even their faith in Bowser, after….
After.
Still, the staring was minimal as the gawkers seemed to be just as quick to look away.
It was enough to let himself relax against the smooth bench, the guards forming a loose perimeter around where he sat.
It felt… peaceful despite the crowd. The bubble of protection and the surprisingly comfy stone made it easy to let the white noise immerse him, let him close his eyes and bask a bit in the noon time sun.
It felt like a nice day for a nap…
Hacktor was an old Koopa, old enough to have watched his children have children, and then for his grandchildren to finally leave the nest of their own parents.
It also meant that he knew his grandchildren well, especially in a family of miners.
Hackson, who has carried the Hack-name with pride, was a Koopa of action -driven by emotions, mostly, but a good lad. He was the Koopa who listened to people’s problems, maybe lend a hand or even direct them to someone who can.
And then he nearly murdered someone.
An IMPORTANT someone.
It was bad enough of a scene to drive an angry mob to track him, and it was only a blessing that none of Hackson's immediate family members were there to witness it (or, stars forbid, intervene).
He wouldn’t say it was as much of a blessing to come home to an inconsolable daughter and second son-in-law who have heard the news of his painful death.
No parent should be outliving their children. None.
Privately, he thinks they are still in disbelief over the fact he tried to kill someone twice.
They were still in mourning when Hackson felt the need to visit the town square, hoping to get ingredients for a soup that would hopefully keep them fed (since they weren’t in any condition to cook).
It was high noon when he saw him: the green human.
Well, maybe not so green at the moment. Instead, the man was wearing a black assemble that seemed out of place among the colorful array of people that happily wandered the square.
It wouldn’t be out of place from a funeral….
It’s what made him stop in his tracks, basket clenched in one paw as he looked closer at the human.
He was asleep, thankfully unaware of his presence, but his outfit wasn’t the only unusual thing about him.
There was a black notebook loosely held in his lap, stamped with the Royal Seal and holding a blue shimmer around the cover. Enchanted, probably, and likely important for political reasons.
There wasn’t a sign of bandages around his torso, so either they were under his clothes, or there was magic involved. Considering how the human nearly bled to death… well, Hacktor can see the necessity.
There was a group of four guards around him this time, visibly casting worried looks at their charge, looking around all steely at anyone close to their perimeter, and back again whenever the man shifted.
He would say that, out of everything, the guards' behavior was the most unsettling- not because of their worry, but how they seem to expect trouble. Almost like paranoia, except they clearly valued their charge more than their own safety...
He wonders if the king had something to do with it.
Hacktor couldn't say what exactly had driven him to approach, but the way three of the guards instantly grouped in front of the human almost made him second-guess that urge.
"Halt!" The Hammer Bro seems to be the leader, or at least the most aggressive of the four Koopas. "State your business!"
"I wish to talk with the human."
The soldiers clearly didn't like the request, but the Troopa that lingered behind reached over and -gently- shook the sleeping human's shoulder.
"W-wha--? Dagby, is it time to-" He catches sight of Hacktor, stiffening in his seat as the notebook was pushed into his chest.
"He wants to talk to you, Luigi."
The human -Luigi- looked nervous, and Hacktor almost expected him to decline-
"Okay."
Before throwing his and the soldier's expectations out the window.
"A-are you sure?" Hacktor didn't see which one asked him, but a nod from the human had them part for the elderly Koopa anyway.
Now that he's here, standing in front of the human... Hacktor wasn't quite sure what to do.
"Um," Luigi scoots to the side of the bench, patting the other side awkwardly. "You can sit -only if you want, of course!"
He seems to be just as clueless.
Still, you don't look a gift horse in the mouth, and Hacktor's knees aren't what they used to be, so he takes the seat with a "Thank you".
However- "Aren't you afraid of having a stranger walk up to you?"
"Not really?" The human's blue eyes shone trust brighter than a mining lamp, and it takes every fiber of Hacktor's being to not have his jaw drop at the answer.
It's even harder to speak, but now that he's here-
"I want to know how he died. My grandson, that is."
Hacktor stiffened in his seat as the soldiers seem to whip around, suddenly fingering their given weapons, and Luigi-
"H-hold on!" He's gesturing at the soldiers, stopping them from getting closer. "Just- hold on! I-" He mostly seems to hold eye-contact with the soldiers, leaving himself open to the elderly Koopa as if-
"I don't think he's here to- to-" His hands tremble though, enough for the 'Dagby' fellow to step forward in concern.
Still, Luigi audibly takes a calming breath, letting his hands fall back into his lap. "Just- let me hear him out?"
Again, the Koopas present (him included) are sent into a stunned standstill that lasts for just over a minute. It's only when the Hammer Bro steps back that the rest follow suit.
"Th-thank you..."
Looking back at him, Hacktor could help but see the way emotions flashed across the human's face -sadness, horror, guilt- but not see a trace of fear even as the soldiers give them space.
...He’s got a spine, this human.
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