Luigi, My Brother - Chap. 4

     There was a long, and somewhat awkward stare between them. Luigi's eyes were already watering, and Mario's eyes were widened; he was surprised and slightly guilty. Peach knew she had to stay clear and out of the way. Anything could disrupt their moment, a moment of brother rivalry, and brotherly love.

     "I can't believe you!" Luigi yelled under his breath. He turned his head and started to walk. The first thing he thought was that he shouldn't have spoken in that tone of voice to Mario. He knew it was wrong, but he felt a strange feeling of righteousness. He felt as if he was breaking free. He didn't want to be owned. He wanted to be his own judge, his own ruler, and not be ruled by his own big brother.

     "Luigi, look, I'm sorry," Mario tried to apologize, "But--"

     "But what? I'm apparently," Luigi held up fake quotes with his fingers, "'Unreliable' or 'not good enough' the be a hero? Is THAT what you think of your own brother?"

     Mario was very confused. He didn't know where any of this was coming from. "I never said you were unreliable. I just want you to be fully trained and know what you're doing, and capable of doing,"

     "Oh please, you just want me to be a perfect person like you," By this point, Luigi was letting all his emotions out for the past years. He wasn't going to be ignored this time. Somebody would hear him.

     "I don't want you to be perfect!" Mario was somewhat yelling now, as if he were trying to knock some sense into Luigi, "I want you to be--"

     "Stop acting like you control me, Mario!" Mario looked in disbelief at what Luigi just screamed. Luigi looked down at his hands, at himself, and tears began flowing, although he didn't whimper. His head kept saying 'no', yet his heart beated 'yes'. Adrenaline flowed. There was no turning back.

    There was a pause. Then Luigi continued, "I don't care what YOU want me to be. I care about what I want me to be,"

     Mario's voice softened a bit, "I'm just worried about you. I don't want you getting hurt or anything,"

     "Well I don't want YOU looking after ME!" Luigi was using hand gestures proudly, pointing to himself and confident in what he was saying.

     "I'm your brother, Luigi, I'm supposed to look after you," Mario spoke, in a more caring tone. He was trying to calm him down, although it didn't seem to be working.

     "Listen, Mario," Luigi said, walking towards his brother, as close as he could get, "I'm a grown person, and I can look after myself! I'm not two years old anymore! I'm not stupid!" He then turned and walked towards the big castle doors. He opened one, and the rain splashed inside. A lightning bolt struck the ground, and the thunder shook the Mushroom Kingdom.

     "I'm worried about you, bro..." Mario warned Luigi.

     "I can take care of myself," Luigi said to himself. He then said a little louder, "I'll show you, Mario! I'll be the hero! And you'll be proud of me!" He walked out the door, but before he left, he peeked in one last time, and murmured, "...For once...," and nothing else could be heard but the sounds of the closing doors' echo. Those were the last words Mario had heard from his brother.

     Mario looked down, realizing his brother was gone, on his own, and he was so heartbroken he fell to the floor and sat there. He head and shoulders sunk as far as they could go. Peach quickly rushed over, and knelt down beside him. She hugged him, and she could feel his pain. The guilt he felt for his brother wanting to go on his own. She knew that although Mario was strong, and even if no tears were shed, he still wanted to cry as loud as he could so the whole world could feel his pain.

     Luigi, outside of the castle doors, now stood alone. The rain had softened to a slight shower, even a drizzle. He walked over to the streetlight, wet and cold, shivering all over. Loneliness was his only friend now. He looked down at his watch which read 7:06 in the evening. He had no where to go but forward, so he began. As he walked down the dimly lit street, he thought of himself, how he's overcome over the years, and hoped that the road he journeyed down leaded somewhere. Anywhere.

    Anywhere other than here.

     He's only walked for about five minutes or so, but he was too frigid, and dropped to his knees in the middle of the street. The rain on his face was nothing compared to the  coldness of his tears. He sat down and wept, knowing he shouldn't have left and could not go back. He knew he should've listened to his brother. He wanted to say sorry, yet he couldn't. He sat and cried, like a lost puppy.

    When he finally looked up he noticed a figure, maybe a person. It walked in front of him, but because of the darkness he couldn't make out who it was. Whatever it was, it was holding an umbrella, and it was wearing a familiar pair of orange shoes.