Under my Shell { a bowserxluigi fanfic }

Chapter 34: The soulless

"Okay anything else ?" He asks looking down at me. I look back at the counter mentally going through all the steps and making sure we aren't missing anything. Let's see, berries that we picked earlier, lemon juice and some sugar. Okay that's for step one, I look behind myself on the oven to see the saucepan sitting idle on the stove. Then there is the butter and corn starch for the next step. While he was getting everything else I managed to make the egg wash and get the Shell set up in the pie pan already. I smile before looking over to him.

"I think that's everything !! You preheated the oven already right ?"

"Mhm ! 400 degrees !" He smiles proud fully for a couple of seconds doing a cute little pose. Gods he so cute..... I wish I can make him my boyfriend. Honestly if he asked me in a serious manner I don't know what id say. Does he even wanna ask me ? Or is he also going through the same thought process as I.

"Hey..... have you ever been in a relationship before ?" His face changed from prideful to confused and intrigued.

"No.... I've never done anything like it. What about you ?" The second part he seemed hesitant to ask. Like he was afraid of my answer. Maybe he's been struggling about this ? Maybe he would feel like he couldn't be good enough for me ?

"No." I said it quickly and with purpose. I don't know why I said it like that. I think maybe it was a panic response.... Or maybe I didn't want him to overthink too much. "I'd probably be a bad boyfriend...." Shit, I didn't mean to say that it just came out.

"Listen..... I already told you. You have no idea of how much you've done for me already. I don't really feel like getting into it. It'll just make us both confused."

"Confused...?"

"Yeah Luigi. This entire time it's been the same, we know we both want each other. I'm willing to take the risk but you aren't. So let's just make the pie and pretend we're both happy with just being 'friends'" he uses his fingers in the air to make quotes. I felt my heart churning, it was burning I was mad... sad... upset ? I don't know it was like all the bad feelings at once. How can I even make a pie with him when he just said all that.

"Make the pie yourself." I throw the paper that had the list of ingredients at him. I saw his face change from irritation to regret immediately. His gaze softened and his body relaxed. Tears formed in my eyes, I turned and ran away before any of them could fall. I didn't know where to go. Everywhere I could think of was somewhere he'd be able to find me or too dangerous. I just need to be alone. I can't process all of this without being far away from him.

"Luigi wait!!!" I heard his cry out in the distance as I continued to run. Get away get away. My eyes began to get blurry as the tears began to crawl out quicker and quicker. I saw red.... I kept running towards it but as my mind began to decipher what was in front of my eyes my legs slowed on their own. It was Mario..... but he, he didn't look right.

"M-Mario.... ?"

"Lilly..... I need you to listen okay." I didn't even see breath next to him. I looked over to face him, his face covered with concern. And an expression like he didn't know how to say something.

"Breath... what's wrong with him...?"  Tears continue to fall, I kept my eyes open as wide as possible. I needed to see this I couldn't let my tears get in the way.

"It's him.... It's the same man who I saw when I was a child I saw him. T-those people we saw in the cave. The guards in Peaches castle are all like that. It's like something has taken most of their soul and...." He looks to Mario before his tongue gets caught on something.

"No..... that's not what's wrong with him." My voice was so shaky. I fell to my knees crawling my way to my brother. "Mario.... P-please answer me." I began to shake even more, I was trying to hold it in. I knew what happened as soon as breath said something. His soul was gone, I didn't want to admit it. I wanted us to both be wrong. I grabbed onto his hand, It felt cold but I can tell their was still life there. My heart found a foundation in that. I had hope, he's not gone. There has to be someway to make him normal again. I take a deep breath grounding myself in my new found hope. Slowly, I make my way to my feet again. Standing up looking to breath who looked like he'd also been crying. "Let's just...." I pause closing my eyes for a moment. Thinking about this was so hard. I find it hard to hold onto this hope in the moment. The wound was still fresh. I take another deep shaky breath before opening my eyes again. "Let's get him to bed. Then we'll have Kamek take a look at him."

"Oh my gods what happened...?!!!!" Bowsers pace slows as he approaches us. His eyes wide as he stares down at Mario then to me.

"My brothers soul is gone." I whimper out before instantly falling into tears again. I don't know why but as soon as I saw Bowser the tears came rushing back. Is it because I find comfort in him, or does it have to do with what he said.... I don't even care about him right now. All I care about is Mario.

"What....?"

"Bowser, help me take him to his room. Then we'll have dad look at him. Hurry." The hurry really make Bowser jump. I watched as he ran over to my brother quickly picking him up then start off towards the room he assigned him. Breath came towards me picking me up and hugging me. "I've got you Lilly, I'll figure it out. I'll make everything okay again I promise."

"I wanna hear what Kamek has to say..." I whimpered out trying my best to calm down.

"Come on then, let's get you there.

"Thank you for getting him back.... I can't imagine what would have happened if you weren't there. He would probably be...."

"It's okay, don't think about that okay ? Let's just try and figure out a way to bring him back." I take another deep breath before nodding in agreement. I started to walk, every step I took felt heavier and heavier.