"So are there limits you want to set?" Bowie asked.

"What are you talking about?" Luigi took a bite of his hamburger.

After spending a good time in the bar, they both ended up annoyed by the noise and difficulty in conversing, so they decided to move to a McDonald's a few streets up.

"You know, I like you, so is there anything you wish I didn't do about it?"

"Emm, I don't know," he looked at him, "I mean, I guess just not flirt too much when we go out. I don't like to blush".

"But you look adorable when you blush," he smiled.

"You see? Things like that" he tried to hide by sticking his face to the table "It's embarrassing".

"Okay, I guess I can control myself from telling you how cute you look."

"STOP!" He yelled, his face redder than ever.

He stifled a laugh "It was the last one, I promise. Anything else?"

"The gifts are nice, but they make me feel uncomfortable".

"Does that mean I can't buy you that hamburger?"

"I have money, I can pay for it on my own".

"Okay," he made a face.

"Four happy meals and five big macs?" a waitress approached.

"For me," the redhead spoke.

"For your brothers?" Luigi looked at him.

"They would kill me if they found out that I came and I didn't buy them anything".

"You come from a family with money, or how is it that whenever we go out you spend like it's nothing?"

"Let's say I have a good income".

"For a game that hasn't even come out yet?" He arched an eyebrow.

"You ask a lot" he gave him a potato to eat.

"Isn't it valid that I want to know more about my friend?" He spoke while chewing.

"Okay, then let's make a deal. I will answer your questions and you will answer mine; without exception".

"Perfect, I want my answer first, if you don't mind".

"I come from royalty," he pointed to his crown, "My turn. Favorite color?"

"Are you kidding? Obviously green."

"How am I going to know that it's not just your wardrobe?"

He laughed "My turn. Why don't you let me touch your crown? I don't think taking it off will kill you".

"You have no idea" he looked away "It was my father's, I guess it makes me feel like he's still around" he lied "Now, favorite animal?"

"Penguins, I spent a little time with them while we were recording the movie and I adored them. Favorite song?"

"Line Without a Hook, same question."

"Don, from Miranda, how many partners have you had?"

"None. How many men have you confused with your sexuality?"

"Counting you, two."

Bowie coughed in surprise, "I wasn't really expecting an answer, so I'm not the first one you break his heart?", he teased.

"Unfortunately, no," he chuckled. "There was this boy, Peasley; we made a game together. Game where I have no idea why Miyamoto made me look like I had a crush on him. Off camera we got along very well and I was happy to make a new friend; however, on the last day he declared himself to me in front of Mario. That was the problem."

"That he declared himself to you or that your brother saw?" He took a sip of his soda.

"The declaration was the least of it. I mean, it was an embarrassing moment that we made up for by setting the record straight; but my brother...

"What's the worst he can do? Make fun of you?"

"Peasley was fired."

Bowie's smile faded.

"What?"

"Mario's a good person, okay? He's just got some retrograde ideas. He and Peasley got along great, but I think he didn't like that part of him. Too bad, to be honest; Miyamoto was eyeing him for more projects".

Bowser knew about that rumor. After all, he too had participated in that game; he never liked Peasley, he had the same airs of superiority as the protagonist of the franchise, but he knew that they were looking to extend his contract.

When he found out that didn't happen, part of him was relieved, but he never would have suspected that his sexuality was the reason for his dismissal.

"I...

"Don't worry about him, he's fine," Luigi interrupted him. "We're friends and sometimes he comes to visit me during the semester. Although on vacation he told me that this was difficult for him because of problems in his kingdom; royal things," he laughed "I'm going for a milkshake. Do you want one?"

"It's not necessary thanks"

When the brunette left, Bowie slumped against the back of his seat. It seemed that his relationship with Luigi was seriously doomed by whatever side one looked at. If it wasn't for Miyamoto, it was for Mario. And if it wasn't for Mario, it was because he was lying to him with his identity.

He was at a point where he knew if he continued with the lie he could get fired; and that would also get him in trouble with his brother and his cousins, but he didn't want to get away from him. Luigi had become the biggest ray of light for him in recent weeks and, although he wasn't entirely sure of this, he knew that he was doing the blue-eyed one good too.

"Here," Luigi said as he put a glass of snow in front of him.

"I told you it wasn't necessary."

"I saw you very serious and I thought you needed something sweet," he shrugged as he took a sip of his milkshake "It's a bit late, shall we go back?" He smiled at Bowie.

Something sweet... he had to admit that the presence of his partner was all he needed for his life to be more than cloying.

"Let's go," returned the smile.

They got on the bus.

Bowie would never understand how, but since Luigi had become a part of his life, now everything seemed to be brighter. No matter how much he thought the right thing to do was to walk away, seeing that smile always clouded his senses again.

The way back could only be summed up by both of them talking about everything that came to mind. There was even a moment when both hearts synchronized at an accelerated rate when the youngest accidentally placed his head on the redhead's shoulder.

When they arrived at Fungwarry, they had to take it in turns, as it seemed that the princesses had sneaked into the academy's kitchen and were now returning to their common room.

"LU!" Daisy yelled when she saw him, "Want to join?"

"Maybe another day" he scratched the back of his neck.

"What were you doing out so late?" Peach looked at him.

"Don't tell me that in the end you turned out to be a rebel" Zelda pinched his cheeks.

"Oh, leave him alone, he probably just went out to get some air," Kairi said as she played with the boy's hair.

"You must come with us, Elsa is going to freeze Samus," Daisy insisted.

"Why?" He arched an eyebrow.

"Just as a joke," she tugged at him.

"I'll pass," he tried to get away with a nervous smile.

"At least join us for a while. We can do your makeup," Peach teased.

"Very funny" he tried to run away.

Bowie watched the entire scene through a crack. He couldn't help but stifle a laugh, although it was accompanied by a slight feeling of jealousy.

"Wait," he listened to Daisy, "If you're arriving this late, does that mean you went out with him?"

"Who is he?" Peach chimed in.

"A super handsome friend of Lu's," she answered, "I want to meet him!"

In a few seconds, the boy was surrounded by all the women with the same emotion as his friend.

"Don't be crazy," he scolded her in a whisper. "Besides, I have to tell you something."

"How important is it?"

"He declared to me," he said in her ear.

The girl froze for a few seconds.

"Okay, girls, I'm retiring with my prince," she announced to her companions.

"What?" Kairi pouted.

"We have an important conversation" she clung to his arm "I'll see you later" she took him away "And did you say yes?"

"Obviously not!"

"Did he get upset?"

"Are you kidding? He acted like the sweetest, most mature guy in the world.

"You're blushing!" she yelled.

"It isn't true!"

When the voices were far away, and the princesses withdrew from the entrance, the second was able to enter.

He stayed for a few seconds looking at the hall. Barely a little moonlight entered through the mosaic window on the main wall. His gaze was directed towards the figure that it formed; it was a knight in shining armor with a sword in his hands, the logo of the school.

Standing in front of him, his shadow fit perfectly with the silhouette, so he took off his crown. With his original form, it even seemed like a joke to want to look like the image in front of his eyes.

He remembered part of the conversation they had on the bus back.

"I have another question," Bowie said.

"Are you so curious about me?" he laughed.

"It's the last one for today, I promise," he looked at him. "What do you hate the most?"

"Being deceived, without a doubt."

"Uh? But what if there's a good reason?"

"There's never a good reason to betray someone's trust. To be honest, that's why I've always had difficulties meeting new people; you never know who you can really trust," he admitted. "That's why I feel safe with you, ever since I met you. I feel so comfortable that I'm sure you would never lie to me" he leaned on his partner. They both tensed "I'm sorry" he broke away suddenly.

"It's okay," he replied with a blush.

He felt a guilt squeeze his chest.

"How long are you going to continue with this?" He looked at his reflection in the crown.

And he could swear that he replied "Whatever has to last."

He stifled a bitter laugh and went to his bedroom.

The next day, Luigi was meeting his brother at lunchtime. He was feeling a little tired after staying up late last night talking to Daisy.

He was sure that if the girl wasn't dedicated to being in the games she would be one of the best reporters the world has ever seen.

There was nothing that escaped her.

"How much did his voice change when you told him no?"

"Did you see a twinkle in his eye?"

"What did you feel?"

"Weren't you excited?"

"You really don't feel the same?"

Remembering that last question always made his cheeks burn.

The class bell snapped him out of his thoughts. Before going to his classroom, he went to pick up a book from his locker; however, his surprise was great at not being the only thing he found.

He picked up a piece of paper that had just fallen at his feet.

"What is that?" his brother leaned out, thus causing a shiver in the youngest.

"You can't just appear out of nowhere!" he scolded.

She snatched the paper from him "Sometimes I feel sorry to think of you as my light, but I can't help it. After all, those star eyes aren't found anywhere," he began to read aloud "Is it a love letter!?"

"GIVE ME THAT!" He took it with a blush.

"Do you know who sent it to you?"

"No," he lied.

"It must be signed," he tried to see.

"I'm sure it's just Daisy's joke."

"What me what?" the girl appeared.

Luigi jumped in fright "Stop doing that!" he yelled "I was talking about this letter you left me" he looked at her hoping she would play along.

"Oh, did you find out it was mine?" the brunette understood.

"It was pretty obvious."

"Well what 's up? Maybe next time I can fool you better" she looked at him by the arm "Let's go to the classroom, handsome" she took him away.

Mario looked at them out of the corner of his eye as they walked away; he couldn't lie to himself, things hadn't smelled good for a while now.

For her part, Daisy waited until she was far enough away from the older one to be able to approach her friend.

"Did he send it to you?"

"He said star eyes, I'm more than sure."

"I must read it."

"No, it's mine," he frowned.

"Don't be envious, or are you going to tell me that you like him and that's why you don't want to show it to me?" She looked at him coquettishly.

"Even if it were, you don't care" he crossed his arms.

She let out a little scream and hugged him.

When they entered the classroom, only Bowser had arrived (which they had gotten used to). They both sat down and the first thing Luigi did was take out the letter.

"Sometimes I feel guilty thinking of you as my light, but I can't help it. After all, those star eyes are not found anywhere.

I would like to tell you through this message everything I have been thinking since the day I met you, because it seems quite selfish to keep it to myself and you have the disadvantage of being my only friend.

The first time I saw you I thought "But what a cute boy, I want to talk to him", however I saw another boy approach you and steal my chance. That happened about three times; It made me think that you might be picky, but I was relieved to find out that you're only straight.

Trust me, sometimes that's better than a demanding gay."

Luigi couldn't help but giggle.

"Finally being able to talk to you was something that strangely made me feel calmer, I guess our meeting was somehow predestined. I'm sure if we hadn't talked, I wouldn't have slept well that night and I would go back to that bar hoping to see you again. So I thank the world for sparing me that anxiety.

Until now, every moment I've spent by your side seems so precious to me that everything you're awakening in me scares me. Your smile makes me clumsy, something that is not very normal for me. Your eyes make me feel safe, just touching your hands gives me all the warmth I need and your laughter... Thanks to her I can no longer enjoy music, because I doubt that there is a melody as beautiful as that.

It's strange how you woke up so much in me in a very short time; It's also funny, they always told me that unrequited love hurt, but I feel so happy just feeling this that I'm sure if you reciprocated me I would explode from how fast my heart would go.

I hope this doesn't break our agreement, after all, I'm not flirting with you in person.

You are amazing and I can't wait to see you again

Signature, B"

"On the blush scale, you look like a tomato," Daisy sneered.

But her friend couldn't react, he just reread the letter over and over again with the sweetest smile the girl had ever seen.

"Lu?" She arched an eyebrow.

"Sorry," he shook his head, "what were you saying?" He looked at her.

The chestnut snatched the letter.

"What are you doing!?" He yelled at her as he tried to get it back.

"Give me a minute, I read fast" she laughed as she kept him aside "Holy God, Luigi, take care of that man, that if you don't care, I'll keep him".

"Give it to me." He took it, but it slipped from his fingers and flew towards the koopa's feet.

Up to this point, Bowser's heart had not stopped beating. Seeing Luigi read and smile at the most sincere words he had ever written was something that made his tail wag frantically; like a dog that has just seen its owner arrive.

He picked up the letter and brought it closer to the minor.

As usual, Luigi froze at the slightest interaction with the koopa. But that was something that made him remember what Bowie told him the night before.

"There is this boy who trembles as soon as he sees me"

"It hurts me"

He didn't know if Bowser felt the same as his friend, but if he did, he wanted to try to change it.

He took the paper –T... T .. Tha– he kept muttering those words while he stuttered. He couldn't even meet her eyes.

"You should say thanks," Daisy whispered.

"I know, I'm trying," he squealed.

Bowser stifled a laugh, "You're welcome," he replied.

Both humans started and looked at him.

Luigi could swear that it was the first time they had crossed glances. However, he was sure that those eyes had been seen before.

They lasted like this for a few seconds; and it could have been more, except that the protagonist of the franchise burst in and tripped over Bowser's wagging tail.

"You should control that thing!" he yelled, "Luigi, you came too fast, you would have joined us for a coffee.

"You know I like being here from the first bell" he answered, thus disconnecting himself from the koopa.

Even so, nothing that happened the rest of the day could stop the synchronicity in their hearts.