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Mario swung his legs slightly back and forth. He was thoroughly enjoying his chat with Princess Peach. They were settled on a bench near a small city fountain watching the late-night bustle of the city.
“It was so nice to meet your Ma today,” Peach gushed.
“Well, she basically adopted you. Clearly she feels the same. Did you realize she was calling you her beautiful daughter the entire night?” Mario put his hands up in mock exasperation.
“That’s the biggest compliment I could ever get!” Peach hugged herself and grinned.
“She had some excellent advice on relationships though.” Peach tapped her bottom lip thoughtfully. “I haven’t gotten to know much about humans and the culture here. But she laid out a lot of things that boiled down to pretty universal concepts. She really helped me to bridge the gap, I think.”
“Yeah?” Mario turned towards her, “I guess she’s always been good at getting to the point. Luigi and I aren’t ones to sit through a lot of lead up conversation. Get to the important stuff and move along, ya know?”
Peach smiled behind her hand, “That’s SO true. You never have patience for meetings of any kind.”
Mario shook his head and made a face, “Too much sitting still and too much talking in circles. My time is better spent doing other things.”
Peach put a hand on his arm, “I prefer your company to council meetings any day. But I still have to go to them.”
“I know, I know. I just miss spending time with you when you’re busy sometimes.”
Mario laced their fingers together and held her hand. He rested their hands gently on top of the styrofoam to-go box that was sitting on the bench between them.
“Then I’ll have to remember to make it up to you next time I have to abandon you for a council meeting.” Peach winked at him. She let go of his hand and tapped the box.
“I still haven't ever tried cannolis. May I?” She gave him a teasing pout with her best pleading eyes.
“Never? Well, go for it! They’re the best!” Mario turned towards her, opening the box in her direction.
Peach glanced down at the contents of the box and remembered the conversation that she had been having with his Ma.
Mario really did care a lot about her. She appreciated that he always remembered which flavors of treats she liked. And he always remembered details of things that they had talked about.
But she had felt very much like a student today. Today had been full of learning new things and taking advice. But it left her with an itch in the back of her mind that she wanted to reassert herself. She was the princess. She was not some sheltered, naïve child. Perhaps, it was time to get back on even footing.
The cannolis really were quite suggestively shaped.
She picked up a strawberry white chocolate cannoli between her two fingers, glancing at Mario through her eyelashes.
He didn’t suspect a thing.
She put the end of the cannoli in her mouth and dropped her jaw, keeping her lips in a perfect O. She sucked the filling out gently, feeling her cheeks hollow slightly. She knew it was noticeable, but she didn’t dare look at him yet.
She pulled the cannoli out of her mouth and let her lips make a soft pop. She caught him flinch in her peripheral vision. Good. He was paying attention.
She turned the cannoli upright, and nibbled the white chocolate from the outside rim of the cookie shell. Then flicking her tongue inward, finding tastes of strawberry and ricotta to complement.
Mario released a breath that shuddered once, almost imperceptibly. That’s a good start, but not quite enough of a reaction yet.
She shifted her eyes finally to watch his face. His mouth was open slightly as he stared.
Peach tilted her head and used her teeth to gently scrape the outside edge of the cookie. Licking up shards of chocolate and taking tiny, delicate bites. She let the tip of her tongue flick quickly in and out of visibility.
Mario’s eyes never wavered from watching her mouth. He crossed his ankle over his knee protectively and sat on his hands.
She noted his silence with satisfaction. The corners of her mouth rose and she paused.
His eyes flicked up to hers then. She watched his genuine shock at the realization that she was being intentional. He flushed bright red.
She raised her eyebrows, feigning innocence and licked a line to the other end of the cannoli. Her tongue left a straight wet trail as it cleared away the powdered sugar on the side. Well, it's about time he saw a new side of me.
She caught his eye again. With the thrill and satisfaction of having his reactions exactly where she wanted them, she decided to up the stakes just a smidge.
She flicked her eyes to his crotch and back up to his eyes, making sure he had followed her look. He gulped visibly, but did not move his arms or legs.
She opened her mouth and formed an O for a split second before putting the filled end of the cannoli in her mouth once again. She sucked gently, genuinely appreciating the mixing flavors and texture. Her eyes drifted shut for a moment in appreciation. It was so hard to resist just taking a proper bite. It was delicious! But that wasn’t the game right now.
She opened her eyes just in time to catch Mario shiver visibly. She needed to wrap up, she was running out of filling to tease him with.
Peach ran her thumb up the side of the cannoli shell. She watched the white chocolate and powdered sugar gather on the side of her finger. She licked it off, sucking the last of it clean with closed lips.
Slowly, she repeated the motions, cleaning the powdered sugar and melted white chocolate off of the rest of her fingers as well.
She set the empty cannoli shell back in the box, off to the side from the remaining desserts.
Peach hummed and sat back on the bench. That was truly satisfying and she felt much better about where she stood. Looking back at Mario once again, she couldn’t quite keep the smug smile from the corners of her mouth.
“Well, that was delicious!” She grinned, setting the box down on the bench and folding her arms delicately in her lap.
Mario opened his mouth to speak but closed it again.
Mario waved his hands in small circles, gathering his words.
Peach recognized the gesture from when his Ma had been translating her thoughts from Italian to English earlier that night. What a cute quirk to pick up from her. I love that I made him flustered enough that translation is difficult.
Mentally, Peach set a new benchmark for herself. This was going to be the new minimum for when she wanted to fluster him. Make him forget how to speak English.
“You…” He stopped again, he took a breath and released it in a puff of voiceless frustration.
“...Cara mia, I will buy you cannolis literally anytime you want. Rain or shine. It could be after midnight or right after breakfast. Doesn’t matter. All you need to do is ask.”
Mario laid his head back on the bench, head facing the sky. He covered his eyes and forehead with one hand.
“But…you are never allowed to eat them in front of anyone else.” He exhaled heavily, muttering in Italian under his breath.
Peach couldn’t stop the grin from splitting her face.
“Deal.”
Translation:
cara mia- my heart (affectionate pet name)