At Least Your Brother's Not Gonna Die Because of You!

Thank You So Much for Playing My Game!

"Okay, I love you too." Mario says into his phone as he walks into Luigi's hospital room. "Yes, I will tell him. Alright, I'll be sure to keep an eye out for it."

Luigi grabs Mario's free hand, who smiles and squeezes it back.

"Okay, safe travels." Mario says, then hangs up.

"I take it the family's about to go back through the pipe?" Luigi asks.

"Yep. They told me to tell you they expect us to come back for a full month next time we visit." Mario rolls his eyes affectionately.

"I love how that's never changed." Luigi says thoughtfully. "But at this moment, I'm glad they left, cause all I wanna do right now is sleep in my own bed, in our room, in our house."

"Me too." Mario agrees. "But the doctors aren't ready to release you yet, so how about I bring our room..." he pulls out a plastic baggie. "To this one?"

Luigi gets a good look, then squeals, "Glow in the dark stars and moons? Now I know the Sprout is gone, cause I would not be as excited as I am now."

As he watches Mario stick them on the walls, Luigi asks, "This isn't the end, is it? We got more stuff coming?"

"You bet." Mario says. "I'm thinking we should take up the family's offer for a month-long visit, knock out that bucket list you were talking about. But not till you're fully recovered, got it?"

"I never expected anything else." Luigi replies. "Know the best thing about getting to go home?"

"Huh?" Mario asks.

"That we live there." Luigi says, making Mario chuckle, right as a nurse comes in with a wheelchair.

"Aw, is this necessary?" Luigi whines. "I'm not dying anymore, I wanna run!"

"Sorry, hospital policy." The nurse says.

"No exceptions for the Mario Brothers?" Luigi tries hopefully. "I'm ready to be up and out of here." and tries to get up anyway.

"Oh no you don't." Mario grabs his shoulders. "For one last time, you're just gonna have to be patient.", then looks at the nurse. "Actually, you mind if I take him off your hands?"

"Go ahead." The nurse says. "But he does not leave this wheelchair if he's still so much as one inch still on the premises, got it?"

"That's a Mario Brother promise." Mario holds up a peace sign with a smile. "Trust me, this one's not going anywhere."

"Remind me again why we didn't go home?" Mario asks as they sit at a café table. "Did you not say you wanted to sleep in your own bed? You passed up the chance to have me at your beck and call while you recovered!"

"Oh I'm well aware." Luigi sips his coffee from a mug. "But as amazing as living in the hospital is, their coffee sucks. And getting some solid food after liquids and Jell-O was a must."

"Okay, fair enough." Mario chuckles. "But I still could've brewed some up at home. Or cooked something myself."

"No you couldn't." Luigi replies, making Mario look confused. "You've done so much already, grande fratello. If I was at the hospital, so were you. You wouldn't let me accept I was gonna die, not for a second."

"Oh well when you put it like that..." Mario jokes.

"I'm serious!" Luigi insists. "You were so sure I wasn't gonna die, and every time I saw you, I knew you meant it. And I knew I couldn't let you down, so I believed it too. So I fought back as hard as I could."

"Aw, Lu..." Mario whines, reaching over to squeeze his shoulder. "I think you need to be careful about putting me on such a high pedestal. Everyone was making wishes for you to live, not just me."

"Maybe." Luigi concedes. "But it wasn't their love that got Mr. L to back down."

They pull together for a hug, then toast their mugs, and drink.

"Whoa whoa whoa!" Mario stops Luigi right as they make it home, takeout bags in hand. "Not so fast, doctor's orders. Take these." He hands Luigi the bags, then leans down like he's gonna pick Luigi up, which makes Luigi burst out laughing.

"Mario, are you serious?" Luigi says between laughs. "You really think I'm gonna faint just by walking up the stairs?"

"Why wouldn't you?" Mario argues with a grin, then tries again, only for Luigi to stop him again.

"Okay, okay!" Luigi says. "If that's the case, since you almost fainted, and you clearly need some assurance I'm not gonna...", then his grin turns mischievous as he hands the bags back. "I'll carry you inside."

"Nonono!" Mario protests as Luigi tries to grab him, trying to push the bags again.

And then the bags are promptly forgotten as the Mario Brothers both fall to the ground, only now it's devolved straight up wrestling. Or maybe a tickle fight, since they're both laughing like crazy.

When they finally stop, they just lay there side by side to catch their breath, before Mario wraps an arm around Luigi, Luigi hugs back, then they both stand up grab the bags one last time, then walk up the stairs together.

They look at each other, before Mario leans close to squeeze Luigi's neck, then says, "Good to have you back, Weegee."

Luigi doesn't reply, just nods as his eyes water, before jabbing Mario's stomach and running inside.

Smile still intact, Mario blushes like crazy as he follows inside, screaming,

"LUIGI!!!!!!!!"