What a Wonderful World

Chapter 6

Luigi ran back to his house once the storm died down enough for him to be able to get home without being buried in twelve feet of snow. Once he arrived he rushed inside and shut the door behind himself, shivering from the cool draft and frantically brushing some of the snow out of his head. Then, he let out a relieved sigh and relaxed, finally being safe at home. It was so much warmer in this house.

"Ah, so you finally came back," Mario observed, causing the man in green to whirl around and look at his brother, who was standing across the room with his arms crossed, a concerned look on his face.

"B-bro! Sorry! I got kinda snowed in!" Luigi explained, not wanting to worry his brother.

Turns out Mario was worried anyway, so Luigi's efforts were all in vain.

"Yeah, I figured. I was worried sick, Luigi! I was worried the storm got to you! It's been hours! Where were you?!" Mario demanded, fear sneaking into his tone.

Luigi paused, trying to quickly come up with something to say so he wouldn't worry his brother. If he just told him the flat-out truth it would definitely cause some major problems. But outright lying was very hard for him to do. Partially because it would make him feel guilty, but also because lies were easy to catch. 

But he couldn't exactly tell him the full truth. Mario most definitely wouldn't take it very well. 

So, he'd tell a half-truth.

"Um, w-well, when you said the temperature would be dropping, so I decided to deliver some firewood to people who might not have any, you know, so they wouldn't freeze. J-just in case the wind knocked their heating systems out. Once the worst of the storm hit I had to stay in someone's hour and wait for it to pass." Luigi nervously replied.

"Who's house?" Mario demanded, clearly suspicious, which made Luigi only more nervous.

"U-uh... some guy. You probably wouldn't recognize him. I'm alright, I promise. We just sat and talked for a while until the storm cleared up enough for me to go home. I'm so sorry for worrying you. Where are Peach and Daisy?"

"They left an hour ago. Luigi, you were gone all day!!" Mario pointed out. "We had no idea if you were buried alive or if.... someone got you. I almost went out to look for you!"

"Oh. I-I'm sorry..." Luigi mumbled. "Well, I guess it is late. I can help clean the house up-"

"No. No more distractions. I need to tell you something very important." Mario interrupted, with a more serious tone than Luigi was used to. It made him nervous. Mario never sounded this serious. Especially during Christmas time. "And please, don't leave this time."

"Okay..." Luigi mumbled as Mario gestured to a seat at the dining room table.

The man in green timidly walked over and sat down while Mario sat across from him, a concerned, almost scared expression on his face.

"What is it? Y-you seem worried? Are you okay?" Luigi asked, when Mario help up a hand, silencing him.

Luigi got the hint and shut his mouth, allowing his brother to talk.

"Bro..." Mario started with a shaky voice. "Before I tell you this, I want you to know that everything will be okay. I promise I won't let anything happen to you."

Okay, this couldn't be anything good. No good conversation starts like that.

"Mario... what's going on?" Luigi asked with a slightly smaller voice. "You're... you're scaring me."

"J-just don't freak out..." Mario whispered with a soothing voice. "It's gonna be okay. I promise. I just need to tell you."

"Tell me...?" Luigi asked, worried by his brother's tone. It was not often that Mario showed any signs of fear, so this was definitely unsettling, to say the least, and it worried Luigi. If Mario was afraid, then something really bad must be going on.