Past Lives Could Never Come Between Us

65

Luigi walks up to Mario. "I promise to not ask you about your parents or if you're okay."

"I am." Mario replies with a smile.

"Whaddaya say to going over to your place and playing video games to avoid dealing with how 'okay' you are?" Luigi offers.

"Oof, I'd love to, Lu, but I can't." Mario says apologetically. "I wasn't kidding about that empty coin bag. I owe Peach, big time."

"Right, of course." Luigi nods like he understands, but he's lying. "Say hi to her for me, would you?"

Then he walks away, every step a little harder as the Thunderhand zaps him.

"Nice job." Clark praises Spike as the authorities take Randi away.

"Nice to know someone noticed." Spike replies bitterly.

Clark looks confused, "Pardon?"

Spike's already shaking his head. "Don't worry about it, Kent."

"No, tell me." Clark pushes. "What's wrong?"

Spike throws up his hands in a what-can-I-do gesture. "If I find out, I'll let you know."

Then he walks over to Pauline. "Can you please talk to me now?"

"I dunno." Pauline turns to look at him. "Can you—Dad?"

They both turn to see Mr. Verducci walking into the building.

"Um, hi!" Spike steps forward to shake his hand.

"Hey, Spike." Mr. Verducci greets.

"Dad, what are you doing here?" Pauline demands.

"Right back at you." Mr. Verducci replies testily.

"Mr. Verducci." An NSA agent they've never met before walks up. "Right on time. Perfect. I take it this is your daughter? You had me thinking she wouldn't be joining us today."

"Joining you for what?" Pauline's so confused.

"Well, you are the interim mayor." The agent explains.

Pauline only looks more confused, so Mr. Verducci says, "Paulie, there's something I need to tell you."

When Luigi finally comes home, disheveled and hair sticking out from the Thunderhand's static electricity, he finds Spike and Snoozemore waiting for him.

"I don't like being ambushed in my own home." Luigi admonishes.

"Tell him." Spike says to Snoozemore. "Now."

Snoozemore nods and states plainly, "I asked Spike to get involved with Destiny."

"You asked him to sleep with my ex-fiancé in my apartment?" Luigi says sarcastically.

"Nothing happened!" Spike swears.

"I have reason to believe Destiny is working with your uncle." Snoozemore says, which finally gives Luigi pause. "Spike is trying to get her to tell him what she knows."

"Excuse me?" Luigi exclaims. "Are you seriously telling me the whole time we were together...the proposal was a ploy?" He finishes lamely, but his mind is reeling.

"Mm, yes. We think Destiny was setting you up." Snoozemore replies.

"We don't know what." Spike says quickly when Luigi looks to him. "But Luigi, tell me where I go from here. If you don't want me to keep spying on Destiny, it's done."

"We don't need her to find your uncle Arthur." Snoozemore agrees.

Luigi's dead silent for several moments, then says, "You're not spying on Destiny anymore."

Spike sighs in resignation, but Luigi's not done.

"I am."