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It was Friday, which meant the weekly dinner with Mario and Peach. Usually, a new restaurant to try and take Luigi out of his comfort zone for a moment, without completely overwhelming him.
Luigi looked forward to it every week, despite the nerves he suffered through leading up to the event.
“You know…” Peach started that afternoon, as Mario winced beside her.
“Peach, we talked about this.”
“Talked about what?” Luigi frowned, before quickly getting what they were referring to, “Peach, thank you, but I really don’t think Peasley is the best person for me.”
“What about- “
“- And Daisy is a friend.”
Peach pouted a little, “Is there anyone that you like?” She asked softly, “It’s just… we only meet up once a week, and I don’t like the idea of you wandering around the house on your own for all that time and- “
“- Peach.” Luigi reached out, taking her hand and giving it a gentle squeeze, “I-I’m fine. Besides, I have you two, right? And Polterpup!”
The white service dog by his side looked up at the sound of his name, before huffing and lying back down.
The dog had been a gift from Luigi’s employer, after the absent-minded man grew concerned over Luigi’s anxieties and decided that he needed help. Luigi couldn’t imagine his life without him now.
“Alright.” Peach frowned, “Alright, if you say so.”
………………………….
The truth was, that if Polterpup could talk, he probably would’ve pestered Luigi more than Peach about his lack of a love life.
Because his watchful eyes didn’t stop when they were away from the public and at home; he saw Luigi when there was no one else was around, listened when he talked at him, sensing the loneliness in him that he hid from his brother.
Luigi wasn’t going to sort it out, so it would be up to him.
So, whenever they went on their walks around the park, Polterpup would keep an eye out for any viable options…. Not that he was sure what counted as a viable option, but it didn’t stop him from keeping his eyes out.
There was always something missing though.
It was a summer day when they were making their way out of their apartment for their walk, and a small, red-headed child came rushing over to them.
“Puppy!”
“JUNIOR!”
The bellow came from a taller, red-headed man who was clearly the father of the child, one gesture bringing the boy back to his side, even as Luigi froze at the sight of him.
“Sorry.” The man grunted, “He likes dogs.”
“T-that’s okay.” Luigi pulled at Polterpup’s leash as they headed to the stairs.
He looked flustered.
Interesting.
……………………………….
Luigi walked quickly, mind a constant stream of thoughts and nerves and emotions, old and new. When he walked, that all fell away and left nothing but the present, the breeze in the trees, the sound of the gravel underneath his feet and the sounds of the city all around him.
It was peaceful.
So lost in the peaceful nature of the walk, he didn’t notice when Polterpup started to pull on the leash. It was only when his arm was suddenly yanked backwards, his dog slipping free from his red collar, that he finally snapped back into reality.
“Polterpup!” He shouted, only to be ignored, prompting him to run after him. He watched as Polterpup ran straight for a park bench near the children’s play area, where a familiar red-headed man was sitting, watching his son race around the playhouse.
Polterpup stopped at the man’s feet, resting his head on his lap.
“Polterpup!” Luigi groaned, “I-I’m so sorry, he’s not usually like this.”
The man chuckled, rubbing the dog’s head, “He’s being well-behaved, I don’t mind.” He looked up, meeting Luigi’s eyes, “Ah... you’re our neighbour, right?”
“R-right.” Luigi could practically feel his cheeks turning bright red, laughing nervously as he put Polterpup’s collar back on.
“…I’m Bowser. Junior’s the one who ran up to your dog earlier.”
“L-Luigi.”
“Luigi… Mario’s brother?”
“I…yes?”
Bowser chuckled, “Peach mentioned you a few times. Apparently, she thinks that you and I will get on well with each other.”
“S-she does?”
Polterpup barked, as though speaking in agreement, making Luigi jump a little, looking down at the dog as the silence grew between them.
“W-well…” Luigi cleared his throat, “… in that case, maybe w-we can go for a cup of coffee? I know a shop that sells ice cream for your son as well?”
There.
He took the leap.
Bowser’s smile wavered a little, glancing at his watch. “I have a Zoom meeting that I can’t miss. Maybe tomorrow?”
He sounded hopeful.
Luigi tried not to overthink everything.
There was no way that this was a joke of some kind.
“I can do tomorrow.” He smiled shyly, “A-about lunchtime?”
“Tomorrow at lunchtime it is.”
They smiled at each other, and Luigi felt his heart flutter in his chest.
Alright, maybe he should listen to Peach more often.