I've Got the Strangest Feeling This Isn't Our First Time Around

25

"Move it!" the Magikoopa orders, ushering them into a dilapidated building they all know for a fact wasn't there a moment ago.

Both Mario and Luigi lift their hands, as the Magikoopa orders, "Take it off."

Luigi balks, "Excuse me?"

"Your costumes. All of it. Off. Now!" the Magikoopa barks.

They both comply, but the Magikoopa isn't satisfied, turning to Mario, "The pyrotechnics too."

"Aw come on!" Mario protests, but when the Magikoopa points his wand in his face again, Mario pulls them right off. "Don't burn yourself."

The Magikoopa points it back to Luigi, "Now you."

"Is that why you petrified Linda?" Luigi demands. "Too slow taking her costume off?"

"Excuse me?" the Magikoopa demand.

"You grabbed her from behind and smashed a nightmare chunk against the back of her head." Luigi informs him.

"Shut up, both of you, or I'll do more than that right here, right now!" The Magikoopa screams.

Luigi: "The front desk guy draws up the map with the secret path on it, calls you to tell you where on the path they are, and then you steal their costumes."

"Shut. UP!" The Magikoopa snaps.

"Might wanna save the monologuing for your villain origin story, Weeg." Mario jokes.

"It's pure luck if people find someone, really understand someone, and you decided people don't deserve to have that."

"Lu, shut up, right now." Mario says urgently.

"Your boyfriend has the right idea." The Magikoopa says.

"First of all, no. And second, I'm right here!" Mario protests.

"Costume. Now." The Magikoopa's want starts to glow, so Luigi complies.

As he does, Luigi notes, "So who is Michael to you? A friend? Partner in crime? Surrender now, and maybe Michael can walk away scot free."

"You're out of your mind." The Magikoopa cackles. "I surrender, a fate worse than prison awaits me if I show myself back home. I'd rather die."

A noise of a twig snapping breaks their concentration, and Mario and Luigi take advantage of this by sharing a look, then landing a double uppercut, knocking the Magikoopa back.

Which is also right when the authorities, including Clark arrive, so Luigi turns to Mario.

"Nice punch."

Mario takes a breath, waving his hand to relieve the stinging, "Thanks.", then when he starts swaying, Luigi grabs him.

"Okay, I think that's enough excitement for you today, Rambo."

As they watch Michael get hauled away, Clark tells them,

"Apparently their scam coincides with the duration of the dance competition. Michael draws up the path for competitors, the victims walk down the path, establishing Michael's alibi, and then the Magikoopa partner robs them."

Then she turns to Luigi. "You were right about Whirl. I had a hunch, and you followed it."

Luigi waves it off, "I cheated."

"Residual emotions are no cheating matter." Clark insists, "I'm trying to thank you."

Luigi goes over to talk to Whirl, leaving Clark with Mario.

"You knocked back a fully powered Magikoopa with one uppercut?" she asks. "Color me impressed."

"Thanks." Mario smiles. "Would you wanna grab a dri--"

"Don't even think about it." Clark stops him right there, and Mario takes that as his cue to leave as well.

"So which comes first, the thank you or the apology?" Whirl asks as Luigi approaches.

"Neither." Luigi says. "There's nothing to forgive you or thank me for."

"You knew I didn't do it, and for the life of me, I have no idea how." Whirl insists.

Instead of answering, Luigi gets an idea, "You know what drives Linda up the wall about you after all these years?"

Whirl freezes at the no doubt familiar words, so Luigi takes it a step further and kneels down, tying his shoes for him, then stands back up.

"How you're still as in love as the day you met." Luigi finishes, then adds, "Have your ring ready. Tonight. Trust me."

Then he walks away, leaving a very emotional and confused Whirl behind him.

As Mario and Luigi walk into Luigi's apartment, Spike says to Luigi immediately,

"Oh man, I'm sorry. I swear I didn't mean to not see your text."

"Oh don't worry about that." Mario says sarcastically. "We were just being held up by a fully powered Magikoopa that could've killed us at any given moment!"

"If you're gonna blame someone, blame me." Pauline pipes up from her spot next to Spike on the couch. "We were hooking up the record player."

"Right, the record player." Spike repeats awkwardly, which Luigi picks up on, "What's going on here?"

"Here?" Spike repeats. "Absolutely nothing."

"Don't be ridiculous. We're coworkers hanging out outside the lab with some witty work banter." Pauline babbles, then stands up. "I need more bubbly."

"I'll join you." Spike stands up as well.

Mario and Luigi share another look, right as the other two come back, Champagne bottle in hand.

"So...thanks for setting up our record player?" Spike asks, trying not to grin.

"Yes it was very...stimulating." Pauline says, prompting a look from Mario, so she just lifts up the bottle in a mock toast, then walks out.

"And on that note, I'm going to bed." Spike says, leaving Luigi and Mario alone.

"Hey." Mario reaches out a hand to Luigi's shoulder. "Are you okay?"

"Lemmy and Wendy." Luigi says. "And now Whirl and Linda. Is that what love is supposed to be? Everything that reminds you of the good in the world, and once gone, only a miracle if you get it back?"

Mario shrugs, "Could be."

"Doesn't seem worth the pain." Luigi speculates.

But Mario can't let him, stepping back, "Help each other, draw upon one another and always remember the power that binds you.", then at Luigi's surprised look, adds, "TMNT."

"Think there's any truth to it?" Luigi asks.

Mario shakes his head, "I wouldn't know. Tell me if you do though, kay? And just so you know." Mario adds. "That was amazing, what you did today. I'm proud of you."

Luigi rolls his eyes, but it's not malicious, "Thanks, Dad ."

Mario takes that as his cue to leave, with Luigi closing the door behind him.