Chapter Text
It wasn't strange for Wario to make an appearance, after all. If such an attack as potent as this, one where his trusted partner Waluigi was captured, why wouldn't he show his face to a prime suspect? Toadsworth knew he was always under the scope, it was a miracle they let him be here at all. If nothing else, Wario was predictable. His mustache had been the same length for decades, styled in the same, zig-zag manner that had become a part of his brand. His weight unchanged, his muscle mass remaining identical since he became a grown adult. The power he had was all that had really changed about him, and his struggle to wield that power was what kept Toadsworth calm, even at the shocking sight of the large man in a nice yellow suit, the only part of him that had changed was his wardrobe. The tacky yellow hat with the "W" plastered in its center was the only article of clothing familiar to Toadsworth from any moment before now, as they stand face to face once more.
"Nice place, here," Wario smirked, instructing the piantas at his flanks to stand guard by the door. He walked over to the overturned table, picking it up and setting it down properly int he middle of the room, absent of the map that once held the plans shown to Mr. L and the toad brigade. Wario chuckled; "Looks like you've garnered quite the temper lately." Toadsworth banked on Wario's history of stifled intelligence to do the heavy lifting when it came to the matter of stealth. Wario picked up a book with a red cover, a simple power star plastered in the middle.
"To what do I owe the pleasure, Wario?" Toadsworth asked quickly, trying to draw Wario's attention solely on him. Wario did not turn as he replied.
"Word travels fast, Toadsworth. I'm sure you already know what I'm doing here," He said gruffly, throwing the book across the room. He glared at Toadsworth. "If you tell me what you know, I won't turn this place into the fellen Battlerock."
"If you're referring to the assault on the Grand Star district, all I know about it is that it happened. I've been here for the last few days, and no one has come to see me."
"Ahh, so that's how it's gonna be," He laughs, advancing on the old toad. Toadsworth readied his cane conspicuously.
"I'm not here for a fight, Wario. If I knew something, I would tell you. What value would hiding something from YOU of all people be?" Toadsworth baited.
"That's the problem, Toadsworth," He growled, "you understand too well. You can't play the part of an old man with a slipping mind, you've always been so aggravatingly sharp."
"If such a thing were my undoing, it would be a good way to go out," Toadsworth snapped. "I value my life, and therefore I have told you everything I know." Wario hesitated, slowing his advance to a stop. He then began pacing around as if he were looking for something, stopping directly in front of the center table. He studied it cautiously, tracing his glove-laden finger across groves on its top left behind by sharp blades holding down fabric.
" You know, Toadsworth, you really shouldn't underestimate me," Wario said suddenly, pulling out a chair and sitting down in it. "You haven't laid eyes on me in years, and yet you think I'm the same Wario you knew?"
"I don't know what you mean." Toadsworth knew exactly what he meant.
"You won't find me in the lab of Professor E. Gadd, but the blockheaded Wario of times past is gone, gone as the last 1-Up mushroom. Waluigi and I have made excellent progress, you know, in various fields since all of this started, since Bowser took over. He may not care about Wario City, but I do. He wouldn't entrust something, ANYTHING to me that he didn't think I could handle. Do you think that the Bowser that upturned the lives of the entire world would be so dense as to put the Wario you remember in charge? Do you truly still think I'm that man?"
"I think the world has changed all of us, Wario," Toadsworth conceded. "I suppose that question is best directed back at you, however. Do you believe I'm the same Toadsworth you knew? My princess has been gone for years, Master Mario has been gone for years. What could an old toad do?" Wario laid his muscled arm on the table, his glare unfaltering.
"Word on the street is that green stache is in town," Wario finally said. "What do you make of that?" Toadsworth did not hesitate.
"That I haven't heard. I assume you mean Master Luigi?"
"I mean 'The Green Thunder, Mr. L.' Some of my guys came back with a report the other day that this guy who is OBVIOUSLY Luigi came in and screwed up a deal with Koopart," Wario grumbled. "Those deals keep this roof over your head, and your ass out of a prison cell."
"And you think I have something to do with Master Luigi's actions?" Toadsworth balked. "I have absolutely no reason or benefit to meddle in such affairs, and if what you say is true, Master Luigi would be an idiot for meddling so." He was definitely telling the truth.
"That's kind of the point of all of this, isn't it?" Wario sighed, getting up from the chair, looking around the room once again. He walked around, still scanning for anything unusual. "I'm being lenient with you because you're old and feeble. I really want you to consider something, Toadsworth. Given your status before the war, and given everything that's happened, I'm offering you an obscene amount of grace when it comes to matters such as this. I implore you to keep in touch with me about anything you hear, and I WILL be following up with you. With Waluigi captured, I'm sure you understand that the extra security I must employ is paramount. Use whatever resources you have to find Waluigi."
Just as Toadsworth suspected, this was still the same Wario. Ego driven, unable to change, and still the blockhead he's been running away from ever since he could remember. The overturned table, the clear connection between Luigi and Toadsworth in the same place: it was all too simple. He considered whether Wario was playing him, too, but there wasn't enough evidence to back it up. Proceeding with caution would be the only way to survive.
"I will certainly tell you if there's anything I find," Toadworth lied.
"I'm holding you to that, Toadsworth. Mushroom stew is supposedly delicious, and I'm willing to be that traitorous seasoning would make it even better," The burly man threatened, standing up from the chair. He walked toward the door, taking one more scan of the room. "I'm being nice, don't you ever forget that. You won't get another chance like this, old head."
"I am gracious, Master Wario."
"Master Wario has a nice ring to it. Never stop calling me that," He smiled. Too easy.
"Please, have a safe journey back to the Wario District, Master Wario."
"I'm watching you, Toadsworth, don't forget that." Wario reminded. Toadworth nodded as Wario made his way for the door, quickly opening and closing it behind him. Toadsworth felt every muscle in his body loosen, and he stumbled to the chair the big man himself was sitting in and took the seat. He knew how to handle him, but it didn't make it any less nerve wracking. Wario could arrest him or order his execution at any time if he felt like it, and Wario didn't threaten him nearly to the degree he expected. While it was difficult to trust the graciousness of a pathological liar, it bought him some time at the very least. He realized it did mean that his movements would be far more heavily monitored, and that the way the GMA was structured may have to change if it was to survive. Words like "obscene" or "implore" weren't too uncommon, but coming from the garlic-breathed mouth of the Mayor was deeply unsettling. Even though he was still the same man, perhaps there were some differences that Toadsworth hadn't given proper credit for. He awaited for further contact with Dr. Toadley, hoping to give a report on the interaction. The contact did not come, however. After a few hours, he opted to head to bed: no reason to tire himself out over all of this.