You should tell her before it's too late. What if something were to happen and you never got that chance? It's better to risk rejection now than to never risk it at all, correct?

That's what Dimentio told Luigi a few months ago. He wasn't sure why the thoughts had re-arisen now, but they did.

"I like you."

He wasn't sure what provoked him into saying that, but what was done was done. He couldn't take the words back now. It was too late. He didn't even know what he was saying until after it was said.

He didn't even realize those words were true until they were spoken.

Luigi frowned in confusion, then turned and looked back at Dimentio.

"Huh?" Was all he could manage as a response, acting as if he misheard or didn't hear at all.

But he did hear, and he knew exactly what the words meant.

"I like you," Dimentio repeated, slightly louder this time.

Luigi didn't smile his usual smile, which essentially gave Dimentio his response before the words did.

Not that he didn't expect rejection, but it still stung. He honestly wasn't sure what he was expecting.

He very well knew that Luigi had feelings for Daisy.

"You don't have to reply," Dimentio said, looking down to his side. "I don't need you to like me back. I don't expect you to. I suppose I just... I wanted to tell you before I left."

Luigi remained silent, almost looking as if he saw a ghost. Dimentio didn't like the fact that he made this pleasant, tranquil scene so uncomfortable and cold, but he tried ignoring the rejected feeling by lying back and looking at the stars. It was quite easy to get lost in them, even through the trees.

Luigi continued looking at Dimentio almost as if he was hit by a ball of ice and frozen in that spot. He wasn't sure if he was even blinking. There was quite a bit to process from what he just heard. He decided to try to get the easiest topic out of the way.

I just wanted to tell you before I left, a reminder that Dimentio was leaving. Luigi had to admit that he almost forgot. Dimentio did say he'd be staying for three months, and summer was almost over, meaning those three months were nearly up. But still, for some reason, the mention of leaving was like being shocked away by cold water. The reminder that soon Dimentio would be gone, and life would return to the old normal.

If he was being honest, he knew he was going to miss Dimentio. Mario would probably miss him too, though he'd never admit it. The fact that Dimentio pointed out that he was leaving almost saddened Luigi.

Luigi wasn't sure how to process the other piece of information. The phrase, I like you. It could be taken in many different ways, but he knew what Dimentio meant immediately. He wasn't quite sure what to do with that new information. He wasn't sure how to react, what to say, or how to even look. Should he have looked happy, should he have looked sorrowful, how does one react to a statement like that?

"I..." Luigi said, swallowing and looking forward at the waterfall. "I don't know what to say."

"That's alright," Dimentio breathed, still looking up at the sky. "You don't have to. I wouldn't either."

Dimentio waited in the awkward silence for a while, trying to count the stars he could see, only to lose track and have to start over. How did the people who wrote those astronomy books Luigi has accurately count, name, and map all of these?? There were so many!

"Do you know where you're heading? After you leave, I mean. Do you have a place to stay?" Luigi asked. Dimentio noted that he was trying to change the subject to a less awkward one, but somehow talking about this made him feel even worse. Not that Luigi would know that.

"Yes," Dimentio replied. "I have a place."

"Oh..." Luigi muttered, almost sounding disappointed. "Well... forgive me for asking, but why didn't you go there in the first place? If you had a place to stay, then why were you here?"

"For the exact reasons I told you before," Dimentio said. "You were always good at finding ways to be happy, even in the direst of situations. I wished to learn how to do that."

Luigi hummed in response, deeming that a fair answer. They then waited in silence.

"Have you told Daisy yet?" Dimentio asked causally.

"No," Luigi replied quickly, saying the same exact thing he always said. "I'm still... figuring some stuff out."

Dimentio nodded. He honestly wished that Luigi had asked Daisy out long ago. It would have made moments like this so much easier because then he never would have said anything so bold and idiotic. He wasn't sure if he felt more brave or stupid for saying what he said.

Definitely stupid.

"Well," Luigi eventually said, yawning. "I'm exhausted. Do you need me to carry you back?"

"No," Dimentio replied almost too quickly. He didn't want to go back, partially because he was afraid of things being different because of what he said, but also because he didn't want to waste his time by going back and going to sleep. "I want to stay. You go back. I'll be behind you shortly."

Luigi paused, debating staying for a moment, but eventually deeming it necessary that he get home. He stood himself up and took his jacket off, tossing it down to Dimentio again and smiling his usual smile, which Dimentio had missed, so it was a relief to see. "Okay," Luigi said. "But don't stay too long. And don't trip."

Dimentio looked down at the jacket, then put it on, immediately feeling a sense of relief. He softly smiled back at Luigi, then the man in green left.

Luigi didn't walk in the creek on his way back. He just stayed silent and walked along the side until he got home. Polterpup was waiting for him at the front door and greeted him with a bunch of happy barks and licks. Luigi lightly laughed at the little guy, then pushed past the dog, walking to the kitchen and grabbing a cup of water. He just used the tap from the sink, filling the cup and drinking it. One of the reasons he felt like he needed to come back was because he had been feeling rather dehydrated and desperately needed the water.

After he drank two cups he set the cup down in the sink and headed upstairs, softly knocking on Mario's bedroom door with the back of his fist.

"Mario?" He asked softly.

Mario responded by groaning on the other side of the door. There was the sound of shuffling, then footsteps. A few moments later, the door opened, revealing an exhausted, half-asleep man in red pajamas.

"What is it, bro?" He yawned, almost sounding annoyed. "Whatever it is, can it wait until morning? It's the middle of the night..."

"Dimentio said he liked me," Luigi stated plainly.

As twin brothers, Mario and Luigi were the kind of people to tell each other everything immediately. It helped them maintain a good relationship and trust one another. After all, Luigi's relationship with Mario was the most important thing in the world to him.

Mario's eyes suddenly opened fully as if he had just been splashed with water. He suddenly looked very much awake and alert. He looked up at Luigi and blinked a few times, replaying that phrase in his head over and over, just to make sure he got the words right.

"I'm sorry, what??" Mario asked, his jaw-dropping slightly in shock. "He said... he..."

"Yup!" Luigi replied with a smile, rocking back and forth on his heels as he mentally braced himself for Mario's reaction.

Mario stood frozen there for a second while Luigi waited. He wasn't sure if he should have brought earplugs to prepare for the yelling or not. It was probably best that he told Mario at night since his energy was much lower than it was during the mid-day.

Mario swallowed, then looked down slightly, blinking a few times. "Dimentio... said... he liked you...?"

"Yep," Luigi repeated.

Mario waited another moment, then suddenly charged towards Luigi, nearly knocking him down with a tight hug. "OH MY GRAMBI, I CAN'T BELIEVE IT!!" He exclaimed, laughing happily now.

The man in red then pulled back, brushing his hands through his own messy hair. "See, I knew it!! This is why you should always listen to me. I'm just surprised he actually told you."

"Yeah," Luigi beamed, not even trying to hide his smile. "Me too."

Mario continued chuckling, then grabbed Luigi's shoulder. "So... what are you gonna do about it?" He asked, raising an eyebrow and smiling.

"I don't know," Luigi smiled, shrugging slightly. "I... I'm still figuring that out."

"Ugh, don't use that response. I hate that response. And PLEASE don't tell me you're just gonna do nothing," Mario groaned, rolling his eyes. "What did you say when he told you?? You need to give me more details. Tell me everything!!! Did you tell him first-"

"I said nothing," Luigi replied, blushing more and sheepishly looking to the side. "And before you yell-"

"YOU SAID NOTHING??" Mario yelled, letting go of Luigi's shoulder and holding both his arms out.

Luigi sighed, wishing that he did opt to bring the earplugs. He KNEW Mario would react like this, so why didn't he come better prepared?

"I wasn't done talking!" Luigi breathed. "I-"

"HE'S GONNA THINK YOU HATE HIM! LUIGI, YOU CAN'T JUST SAY NOTHING WHEN SOMEONE TELLS YOU THEY LIKE YOU!" Mario cried, crossing his arms and shaking his head in disapproval. "I'm disappointed in you..."

"Okay, I know, I know, I know but-"

"Where is he now??" Mario asked almost frantically.

"In the woods-"

"IN THE WOODS?!?!" Mario yelled as if this was the most repulsive, unbelievable statement ever spoken. "SO YOU'RE TELLING ME THAT YOU LEFT HIM ALONE IN THE WOODS AT NIGHT AFTER HE TOLD YOU THAT HE LIKED YOU?!"

Luigi paused, drawing back slightly, then lightly chuckling with a nervous tone. "Well, when you say it like that it sounds bad."

Mario groaned and covered his face. "You're hopeless," Mario muttered into his hands. He then looked up at Luigi and sighed. "How long have you liked him now?"

"About two months," Luigi beamed.

"Uh-huh," Mario said. "So, here's just a little tip for the future, when someone you like tells you that they like you and presents you with the perfect opportunity to tell them how you feel... DON'T SAY NOTHING AND LEAVE THEM ALONE IN THE WOODS!!!" Mario cried. "WHY IS THAT EVEN SOMETHING I HAVE TO SAY??"

Luigi lightly laughed and shook his head. He was honestly still just so glad that his big brother was so supportive, not that he suspected any less from Mario, but still. Truth to be told, when Luigi first realized his feelings towards Dimentio about two months ago, the first thing he did was tell Mario. He expected Mario to yell and call him crazy, then explain every reason why he shouldn't feel that way, but instead, Mario had simply shrugged and said, "Yeah, I figured. so when are you gonna tell him?"

He could have pointed out how Dimentio had hurt them all in the past, he could have pointed out the fact that he still would occasionally get nightmares, but he didn't. Instead, he just started treating the situation the same way he would have treated it if it were Daisy Luigi was admitting to having feelings for.

Luigi had still yet to tell Dimentio. He supposed that was a problem he had. He didn't want things to change. He liked the way things were now and didn't want anything to get messed up.

The truth was that he was scared. But hey, perhaps one day he'd be brave enough to speak up. Hearing that Dimentio returned the feelings was a major confidence boost.

"Can you at least throw him a bone and tell him that you don't like Daisy that way anymore??" Mario asked. "I mean, come on. He probably thinks that you rejected him!"

"I didn't reject him, why would he think that?" Luigi asked. "I NEVER said I didn't like him back."

"No, no. You're right. You just IGNORED HIM AND LEFT HIM ALONE IN THE WOODS!" Mario shouted, taking a few breaths afterward to calm himself down.

"I think you need to go to sleep," Luigi breathed, patting the man in red on the shoulder. "I just wanted to tell you since I kinda tell you everything."

"Yes, and I'm glad you did," Mario replied, raising his eyebrows slightly. "But you have GOT to tell Dimentio eventually. I'm not gonna let you just hide your feelings until they die away again, okay?"

"Telling people things like that is easier said than done," Luigi pointed out.

"How hard can it be?? Dimentio did it!" Mario cried.

Luigi snorted as Mario rolled his eyes, holding his arms out. "This isn't funny! I'm serious! You literally know that he likes you back! I don't see how it's hard! You literally just have to say, 'Hey Dim Dims' or whatever you call him, 'I like you.' It's not hard!"

"Dim Dims??" Luigi laughed, turning and heading to his room. "Goodnight Mario."

"Wh- HEY! This conversation isn't over!!" Mario cried, leaning forward and bringing a hand to his mouth as if he was trying to amplify his voice. "Seriously! You better ask him out before it's too late!"