The Monster and the Reluctant Groom [Dimentio x Luigi]

(9) - The Meet-Cute

Poor Luigi was a mess, dealing with almost every kind of emotion he could even think of all seemingly at once. He didn't realize it at first, but Adrian had led him all the way back to one of his most fond childhood homes. The man in green was overwhelmed with nostalgia as he walked down the old gravel street, a sense of grief over his now-deceased foster father at the time who left his vacation home in the Mushroom Kingdom to the Mario boys, excited at the idea of being a part of something like this, and a feeling of apprehensiveness over returning here as a reluctant groom...

Thankfully, Adrian was observant enough, though not in the literal sense, to know that Luigi was still on edge about all of this, and he didn't blame the boy much. On the way to Adrian's hometown, the gardener made sure to be extra kind and try to help ease Luigi into the idea of all of this. However, Adrian only ever mentioned Dimentio's "condition" in passing, not wanting to tell Luigi over just showing him. He sensed that Luigi was a good young man, considering that he seemed willing to give up anything and everything for his older brother, and felt that if anyone would give his son a chance, it would be Luigi.

However, Luigi was kind to Adrian as well. He was still thankful that Adrian had come and saved his brother's life by bringing the cure, and he honestly still felt a little indebted to him, but the man in green could also tell by the way Adrian described his children and their lives that the gardener hasn't been living an easy life, and he could sympathize with him a little with that. He and Mario had been two of the few human children in a magician village.

After all, he could tell that it wasn't Adrian's fault that any of this needed to happen in the first place. Yet, Luigi couldn't help but be a little thankful for whatever brought Adrian to the Mushroom Kingdom, because his brother would be able to live the rest of his Game and be the kingdom's hero again, just like he was meant to be.

As for where that left himself in the grand picture of it all... Luigi wasn't too sure.

"You haven't spoken for a while now, Luigi..." Adrian pointed out, snapping Luigi out of his thoughts.

The man in green looked up from his boots, casting a glance from the buildings surrounding them and then back to Adrian.

"Sorry..." Luigi quietly apologized.

"You don't need to apologize, Luigi. I just want to know if I can help," Adrian gently replied.

Adrian then smiled at the boy, putting him a little at ease, somehow, despite how scary this all was for him. Luigi needed all the ease he could get as they entered the thick forest area that would eventually lead to Adrian's cabin. The man in green felt like he could count down the seconds until his freedom was stripped from him, and he desperately wanted a distraction right now.

"So... What makes you think I'm a good choice?" Luigi asked.

"Hm?" Adrian replied.

"Why do you think I'm a good choice to be marrying your son?" Luigi rephrased.

Adrian went quiet as he thought about how to reply.

"Well... For one, your willingness to sacrifice yourself for your sick brother. You could've just waited for anyone else to volunteer, but you chose to give your freedom up to ensure your brother's wellbeing," Adrian stated. "That shows me that you at least have a heart."

The gardener chuckled a little at this, making Luigi smile a bit. The man in green supposed that when looking for a suitor, it is probably good for a husband-to-be to be able to show care to others, regardless.

"I... I'm sorry if you don't want me asking, but...why do you need me in the first place?" Luigi couldn't help but ask. "Why do you need me to marry your son?"