Help
A/N: There was a weird direction I wanted to take this, but if it turned out too weird I didn't want to tarnish the main story with it. I decided I'd wrap this up with a somewhat happier/more normal ending, and then maybe write my weird idea as a sort of alternate ending in a sequel story. We'll see how that goes, but for now here's this.
Waluigi's shoulders hurt. Even his peculiar flexibility couldn't help when his wrists were tied together and wrenched up behind his head. He stood on tiptoe and bent over as far as he could, trying to alleviate the strain. He heard Wario laugh.
“You keep that little bitch-ass in the air for me. I'll be back when the cup is over.”
Waluigi squeezed his eyes shut. The cum was already starting to drip down his thigh. He needed out. Just for a minute. Just to get it out of him. But Wario wouldn't untie him. Wario barely let him do anything these days. The falling out with Mona had really fucked him up and his unfortunate punching bag had become the sole outlet for all of his subsequent anger. Waluigi wasn't even competing in the race this year. Wario had smuggled him along just to tie him up him in a closet. What was his life now? Was any of this even worth it anymore?
The door shut. Waluigi groaned and looked around. The chair Wario had used to... had stood on... was still behind him. The bound man weighed the pros and cons of defying Wario's wishes. He also weighed the pros and cons of remaining bent over like this for the rest of the day. There weren't a lot of pros to that one.
One bare ankle hooked around the leg of the chair and dragged it closer. He fumbled one calf and then the other onto the seat until he was kneeling on it. He stood up and tested his balance. If he jumped at exactly the right angle, he thought he could flip through his arms and get them back in front of him. After a couple test hops he jumped and flipped. There was a moment where he dangled from his wrists halfway through the rotation. He flinched as the rope dug into his skin. Then he got his feet through and stood up. He rolled his shoulders and sighed at the sweet relief.
Then he inspected his bindings. He thought he could chew through the knot with enough time and determination. To what end? Dare he try to escape? Wario wouldn't simply let him leave now. He'd look for him. And if he found him...
But if he stayed...
Waluigi started chewing. He didn't think he'd get a chance like this again.
000
“Well?” Daisy asked her guards as they came out of the hotel security office.
“He won't tell us where it is,” one said. “We contacted the Mushroom Kingdom authorities. They're coming to pick him up in a couple hours.”
“So he's just going to sit in there until they arrive?” Daisy asked.
“There's not much else we can do,” the guard said.
The princess frowned. “Then I guess I'll have to talk to him.” She started past her guards.
“I advise against that,” the second guard said.
“I'm not scared of him,” Daisy said. “Besides, I think he likes me. Just give me until the other guys get here. It'll be fine.”
The guards reluctantly stood aside. Daisy entered the drab room. There was a folding table with two chairs. Opposite the princess slumped a very tall, very spindly figure in navy blue overalls and a lavender shirt. He sat with one leg tucked awkwardly underneath him. He had his face pressed against the table and his arms wrapped around his head. He didn't react until Daisy pulled out the other chair.
“If you're not here to book me, I don't wanna hear it.” The muffled voice sounded so defeated.
“The people that are going to book you won't be here for a couple of hours. Are you sure you don't want some company?” Daisy asked.
His head snapped up and his mouth opened and closed like a fish. “D- Daisy? What... why...”
“It doesn't have to be like this,” Daisy said. “If you return the crown, we can bargain down the charges. You might not need to see the inside of a jail cell.”
He frowned and crossed his arms. “I'm not telling you where it is.”
“Why not?” Daisy pressed. “If you go to jail, what use is it to you?”
“Do I need a reason? Maybe I just wanna fuck with you. I'm a jerk, right? It's what I do?”
The princess cocked her head. “Wario has it, doesn't he. He convinced you to pretend you weren't participating in the cup so you could get it while he was on the track or something.”
“No,” Waluigi insisted. “I took it and hid it.”
“Where then?” Daisy asked. She could tell he was lying. The only question was what exactly he was lying about. When he didn't respond, she pressed on with, “What would Wario say if we asked him?”
His pupils dilated and he sat up straighter. “Don't you dare get him involved in this!” He slammed a fist on the table. “It was me! I did it! Lock me up in some dark corner of Sarassaland and throw away the key, because I'm a rotten thief and I deserve to... to rot!”
“They're sending you back to Mushroom Kingdom,” Daisy said.
The righteous fury evaporated. “They- Why? It was your crown. Shouldn't I be, like, extradited or something?”
“You're a Mushroom Kingdom citizen. You're being tried in the Mushroom Kingdom.”
His head flopped back onto the table. “Ugh, couldn't catch a break if you threw it at my head...”
Daisy reached across the table, cupped his jaw in her hands, and lifted his head. “I don't know what you're trying to do, but if you want to be tried in Sarassaland I can arrange it. Just talk to me. Where's the crown?”
“I... I can't tell you,” he said. His cheeks had gone pinkish.
“Because you don't know, do you,” Daisy smiled. “Why are you confessing to a crime you didn't commit?”
Waluigi hugged himself and rocked a little. “I really need to go, Daisy,” he pleaded without looking at her. Then, quietly, “I'm scared...” And then barely audible, something that Daisy couldn't have heard right.
Her eyebrows shot up. “What?”
He went pale and cringed. “I said Wario hates me.”
“That's not what you said.” Daisy frowned and was about to say more when she heard a commotion outside the door.
“Sir,” the guard said loudly. “I'm going to have to ask you to-”
“I'm gonna have to ask you to shut up and get outta my way,” Wario growled.
Waluigi turned to stone. All expression drained from his face.
“Sir!” The guard insisted. “You can't do that!”
“He's my brother! I have a right to be present for his interrogation!” The door slammed open. “Where the hell is he?” Wario growled just before his glare fell on the other doppelganger. Then it shifted to Daisy. “What's this about him stealing a crown?”
“My crown is missing,” Daisy said calmly. “He said he took it.”
“Did you see him take it?” Wario pressed. “You have witnesses? Evidence?”
“Wario-” Waluigi started.
Wario pointed a thick finger at the other man. “Hush. You don't have to tell them anything.”
“It's ok-”
Wario eyed him sternly. Waluigi hugged one leg to his chest and looked away. The fat man put his fists on his hips and returned his attention to Daisy. “Well, do you? 'Cause if not, I'm taking my brother home.”
The princess glanced back and forth between them. Waluigi looked like he was trying his hardest to affect apathy and disinterest, but after his confession she thought his spaced-out expression just looked terrified. “He says he did it. We have to hold him until someone proves he didn't.” She didn't know the veracity of that claim, but she needed more time to talk to him.
“Fine.” Wario crossed his arms and leaned against the wall. “How long is this gonna take?”
Daisy pursed her lips. “It could take a while. I may have to miss the award ceremony,” she added pointedly.
Wario narrowed his eyes. She held his gaze, unflinching. Silence blanketed the room. After many long moments, the sound of the door opening finally broke it.
“Your majesty?” The guard said carefully.
The princess maintained eye contact with the fat little troll. “Yes?”
“The cleaning staff found your crown tangled up in the laundry.” He eyed Waluigi. Waluigi still hadn't moved. “I don't know what he's sneaking around for, but he didn't steal it.”
“Are we done, then?” Wario sneered.
She looked at Waluigi. “Are we done?”
He glanced sideways at his cohort, and then gave Daisy a couple short, sharp nods.
Daisy sighed. “Okay, then. You're free to go.”
Wario grunted, took Waluigi by the arm, and led him out of the room. Daisy's brow wrinkled as she watched them go. She bade a distracted farewell to her guards and headed off down the hall. Instead of continuing on to the auditorium, she diverted her course toward the guest rooms. She remembered Wario's room number. Now that she thought about it, she also remembered he'd had an especially heavy suitcase in tow when he'd checked into that room. She quickened her pace.
As she approached the door, she hesitated. She realized she hadn't formed a plan of action beyond getting here. She didn't even know if they were inside. Listening at the door, she heard Wario going on angrily in a rather loud voice. Waluigi cried out with a suddenness and a volume that caused Daisy to jump.
“Shut up!” Wario snapped.
The princess retreated from the door and glanced side to side. They'd never let her inside if she knocked. Being royalty had advantages, though. She hurried to the front desk and rambled off some excuse about her friend being locked out of his room. Surprised by her success, she promised to return the spare key as soon as she could and made her way back upstairs.
The shouting had ceased by the time she reached the room. However, when she pressed her ear to the door and held her breath, she thought she heard a faint whimpering noise. She braced herself and flung open the door. The scrawny man on the bed jumped and recoiled. For the briefest moment he wore an expression of pure terror. It dissolved into an expression of calm wariness when he realized who was at the door, but it was too late to conceal his initial reaction.
“What are you doing?” He asked.
In one sweep of the room, Daisy saw the frayed rope hanging in the closet by the door. She saw the overturned chair. She saw his split lip and the wrist bent at an awkward angle in his lap. “I'm taking you to my room until we figure out what to do with you.”
“He took the key.”
“What key?” Daisy asked.
Waluigi rattled his good wrist and Daisy realized Wario had left him handcuffed to the bed post.
“You should go...” Waluigi said. “He'll be mad at me again...”
For once in her life, Daisy wished she was the sort of girl who wore hair pins. Not that she'd know how to pick a lock if she had one. Daisy ignored the man's pathetic pleas and marched across the room to examine the handcuffs. They fit rather loosely on his slender wrist and narrow hand. If he was slippery enough, he could probably slide right out. Soap? Lotion? The lotion that came with the room already sat open on the night stand. He followed her gaze, realized what it had landed on, flinched, and averted his eyes. Daisy recalled what she'd thought she'd heard him say.
In theory, Wario had gone to the award ceremony. That didn't mean he wouldn't return to check on Waluigi, though. Questions would have to wait. “I think we could use the lotion to slip your wrist out.”
His eyes flicked up to Daisy, and darted away when she tried to catch his gaze. His hand trembled in hers, but he didn't stop her from slathering the rest of the lotion around the heel of his palm. He folded his thumb in tight as she wiggled and tugged at the metal band. At first she was afraid of hurting him if she pulled too hard, but he seemed too distracted by the pain in his other wrist. A few hard yanks and his hand popped free.
“There,” she smiled. “Is there anything you want to take?”
“Nothing here's mine,” he mumbled without looking at her.
Daisy leaned into the hallway and looked left, then right. She hurried back and helped him to his feet. “It's clear. Let's go.” She ushered him to the elevator around the corner. After swiping her room key, she pressed the button for the VIP floor.
He hugged himself and stared at his feet. “I'm going to be in so much trouble...” he muttered.
The princess frowned. “It's going to be okay. I'll help you.”
“Help me?” His face contorted into a knot of relief, incredulity, and confusion. “It's not going to be okay. What am I... You're just gonna scoop me up and carry me off like some lost kitten or something? I'm not a kitten!”
“I never said you were a kitten,” Daisy said. “You wanted an excuse for me to send you to Sarassaland, right? This is your chance.” The elevator dinged and opened. The princess stepped into the hallway and looked over her shoulder. “Up or down?”
He pressed his lips together and stepped through after her.
Daisy nodded, satisfied. They were silent as they walked to her room. He seemed to be working through a lot of complicated reactions and she wanted to give him the space to do it. After she closed her door, she grimaced at the arm he was still cradling. “I should call someone about that wrist.”
“No!” Waluigi finally looked at her with wide eyes. “I don't want anyone else to know.”
“If it's broken-”
“It's not! It's... I know what a break feels like. It's only sprained a little. I just need some ice.”
“There's nothing to be embarrassed about,” Daisy said. “He's the one who should be ashamed.”
“Everyone thinks he's my brother. I can't deal with explaining everything to everyone over and over. I can't deal with them looking at me all shocked and disgusted and pitying...”
“They won't-”
“You did,” he said quietly.
“I was surprised.” Daisy searched for words. She didn't know where to start. “You never acted like anything was wrong. It's a lot to hear all at once.”
“Things have been worse lately...” he mumbled. “They've always been getting worse, but they finally got really bad.” He took a deep, shaky breath. “I want some ice, and a shower, and to leave Mushroom Kingdom. No doctors, no police, no fanfare. Just 'poof.'”
She cocked her head. “What about Wario?”
“What about him?” Waluigi picked at a loose thread on his sleeve.
“Shouldn't he be locked up or something?”
“Maybe. But I'm not gonna do it.” He scowled. “I'm not going to stand here and explain something you can't understand. Are you going to give me what I want or not?”
The princess sighed. “Very well. If that's how you want it. If you stay in this room until I leave tomorrow night, I'll smuggle you into Sarassaland.” Waluigi started to protest and Daisy held up a hand. “Once you're across the border and settled, you can do what you want, but until then I won't have you wandering off alone.”
“I can't wait that long,” Waluigi protested. “When Wario finds out I'm gone, it won't take him long to figure out you were involved. He acts stupid because he's lazy, but he's a clever bastard.”
“Wario doesn't have access to this floor, and if he tries to approach me in public my guards will be all over him. It'll be okay,” Daisy assured. “I'll tell them he's still mad about me detaining you. They won't ask questions.”
Waluigi crossed his arms and hunched his shoulders. “If you say so.”
She patted him gently on the back. “Go get comfortable. I'll get you some ice.”
He trudged to the sitting area and curled up on the couch. She heard him mumble something like 'thank you.' As she turned to get ice from her room's kitchenette, she finally allowed herself a frown of pity. The poor thing. She wished he'd let her help more, but respecting his boundaries was important, too. She'd just do the best she could.
