Better That Way - Waluigi x Reader

chapter twenty

What just happened?

She took one slow breath, then another, grounding herself because it felt like her chest was floating somewhere above her body. She forced her legs to walk, automatically, stiffly, toward the exit doors.
Every movement felt heavier than it should be.
The air outside hit her like a cold splash.
Sounds, voices, footsteps on pavement... all way too sharp.

She wrapped her arms around herself and headed down the steps, her shoes clicking lightly, shakily.

He wouldn't get mad over nothing.
He wouldn't just snap at me.
But what did I even do?
Her mind kept reaching for clues that just weren't there.

A message bubble lit up her phone.
For a moment, her chest jolted stupidly, hoping it was him.
It wasn't.
It was Claire.

Claire: hey!! :)
Claire: just wanted to say it was super fun talking w u today
Claire: LMK if u ever wanna hang out!!! im literally friendless here lol

Y/N let out the softest, weakest laugh under her breath.

Another message came immediately:
Claire: did u get home? i bruise sooo easily so im rlly hoping u didn't get tackled by another kid lmaoo

Y/N's grip tightened around the phone.
She typed:
Y/N: just leaving now :) was nice meeting you too!!
She sent it.

Stared at the screen.
She wanted to text more, she wanted to talk to someone, anyone, but the words wouldn't come. Everything in her head was a tangled knot of confusion and hurt and embarrassment she couldn't even name.

So she just lowered her phone and kept walking.

Her apartment wasn't far now. She quickened her pace, not because she was eager to be home, but because she suddenly felt too exposed on the street.

Inside, the apartment felt unfamiliar.
Too quiet.
Too empty.
She set her bag down on the counter mechanically. Took off her jacket. Stared at her own hands, because looking anywhere else felt like it would make her crumble.

Why won't he just tell me?
She leaned on the counter, breathing out slowly, deeply, shakily, trying not to let the confusion swallow her.

"Go congratulate him."

She winced.
Her nails dug into the counter slightly.

"You didn't even watch my match."

That one stung, because she tried. She really did. And he didn't even know why she left.

"Don't like the 'Wa' in my name, huh?"

Hole on a minute.

Wa... luigi...

Her stomach dropped so violently she had to grip the counter to steady herself.
Luigi.
He thought she preferred the Luigi part.

It was like her brain lit a match and threw it into gasoline.

Why didn't he tell me? Why did he just walk away?
But even while those questions formed, another part of her whispered the truth:
Because that's who he is.
He doesn't talk when he's hurt.
He shuts down.
He withdraws.

Understanding didn't make the pain easier.
It just made it clearer.
She let her head drop back, staring up at her ceiling.

Her fingers hovered over her phone.
She wanted to text him.
God, she wanted to.

Her thumb even tapped his name in the messages before she stopped herself.
She replayed his voice, that cold, final tone:
"Leave me alone."
And she remembered...
earlier, how he'd said:
"Ain't in the mood to talk."
He wanted space.
Even if she hated that.
Even if it made her chest feel tight.