Mario and Luigi slumped into the corner booth of a crowded Starbucks, their overalls dusted with soot and their hats slightly askew. It had been a long morning — Bowser’s pipes had clogged again, and somehow it was their problem.
“Mamma mia, I’m-a tired,” Mario groaned, raising a tiny ceramic cup. “Here’s to-a plumbing and peril.”
Luigi lifted his own espresso shot with a sigh. “You think Princess Peach ever worries about her drainpipes?” he muttered before tossing back the drink in one gulp. His eyes went wide instantly. “Woo! That’s-a strong!”
Mario smirked. “That’s the good stuff. One more of these, and I’ll be fast enough to outrun a Blue Shell.”
As they sat there, the hiss of the espresso machine reminded them of the steam from the castle’s boiler room. A group of college students nearby whispered, clearly recognizing them. One shyly approached.
“Uh… are you guys the Mario Brothers?”
Mario wiped the foam from his mustache. “Depends,” he said, grinning. “You got-a any pipes need fixing?”
Luigi chuckled. “Or maybe a Goomba problem?”
They all laughed, and before long, the brothers were showing off stories from their adventures — how Mario once double-jumped to save a café full of Toads, how Luigi accidentally unclogged a warp pipe that led straight into Bowser’s sauna.
When they finally stood to leave, the barista waved. “Hey, you two — same time tomorrow?”
Mario winked. “Of course! Heroes need their espresso, too.”
And as they walked out into the bright afternoon, still buzzing from caffeine and camaraderie, Luigi muttered, “Next time, I’m getting a decaf.”
Mario just laughed. “You say that every time.”
☕️
Melissa’s Fandango Flash Fiction Challenge #344 – Collaborature With Melissa
Therapy Bits 
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