Brother's Loyalty: Endgame

Accentuate the Positive

Summer 2018

Golden sunlight slat in through the windows of the bedroom and onto the bed, where the sleeping occupant slowly turned over, his chocolate-brown hair lightly mussed from slumber. He opened his radiant blue eyes, pushed aside the covers and slid out of bed, a smile tweaking at his face at the promise of a new day. The young man headed over to the bathroom, where he washed his face and expertly glided a razor over the stubble that had accumulated overnight, taking care not to touch his mustache. After that, he jumped into a cool shower and pulled on a pair of briefs, navy blue gym pants and peppermint-striped socks. The shirt would come later. An anticipated look crossed his features as he connected his phone to two Bluetooth wireless speakers, opened up one of his music apps, selected a random playlist and pressed "play".

And then he began to dance.

Luigi Mario always started his day like this. Roll out of bed, shave, use a cool shower to wash away the drowsiness and then get his blood pumping with his favorite dance hits from yesterday and today. He danced with the windows and curtains wide open, the daylight casting his body in a wonderful glow as it swished, swiveled and swayed in time to the beat. Within minutes, he was working up a sweat, a beautiful sheen settling itself onto him. His eyes were closed, a big smile on his lips, as he danced frenetically, shooing away the stress and whatever else he was feeling at the moment. It always felt good.

He danced until he ran out of breath, at which point he turned off his music, downed a bottle of Gatorade and jumped into another cool shower. After drying himself off, he brushed his hair, styled it in the usual way and pulled on his regular clothes. Green shirt, navy overalls, white gloves, brown boots and a green cap with a "L" on it. The "L", by the way, did not stand for "loser".

Thus dressed, Luigi fixed himself some breakfast and ate it while watching the morning news. Then, he went to his computer and browsed through his emails before he received an incoming Skype call notification. Without hesitation, he answered it.

"Morning," greeted the chipper falsetto voice of his big bro, Mario. The man he'd sworn to look after. The man he'd almost died for two times over.

"Bro!" Luigi replied. "How are you?"

"Can't complain," said Mario, brushing his hair from his face. "I'm just—getting ready for another day of defending this lovely kingdom from enemies without and within."

"Me, too," said Luigi.

"Last night, I slept so well..." Mario closed his eyes and then re-opened them. "I never thought I'd have such a peaceful sleep again, especially after..."

"Mario, please—don't go there," entreated Luigi. "We've made such good progress over the last 17 years. Don't undo it."

"You're right—we have made good progress. We're seeing our therapists on a bi-monthly basis, enjoying better sleep, socializing more." Mario smiled. "How are you holding up?"

"Same. Barely any nightmares," Luigi proudly stated. "Besides, I have so much to look forward to now that looking behind would be a waste of time."

"Indeed. A new Smash tournament on the horizon—I can't believe it myself," laughed Mario. "There are rumors floating around, you know—that everyone's coming back."