Falcos Flight
Damn Finances
Falco sighed in exasperation, he couldn't believe it had come to this, he sat there looking over his life long possessions, his prized ship the sky claw, a bag of assorted clothes, his music and alcohol collection and...that was it.
He looked to the alcohol, the usual solution that went one of two ways, get drunk enough to come up with a solution or go to far and forget the problem in the first place, no need to burden anyone else. Bit hard to drink when you can barley move your jaw though, still wincing from the damage. He thought back as to how he ended up in this mess.
Falco had left Star Fox to pursue his own agenda for a few months during a particularly quiet patch for Star Fox , when he returned he'd missed a whole adventure, he'd arrived at the last minute and helped fox take down Andross...again, Fox had pretty much fought a war and rescued a blue vixen called Krystal, who also joined star fox at the same time as Falco did stepping back aboard the great fox. Looking back he should've read the signs, Falco laughed at his own self assurance and ego.
He greeted Fox as he always did with a smug look and a cocky line "looks like I arrived just in time to bail you out foxy" he got a "Glad you decided to join us" in reply and that was the last time he spoke to Fox for three days, not though lack of trying for once, but he resigned himself to his room and talking with slip.
That shoud've been the moment he definatley realised something was going on, talking to slip over fox.
"Dammit Falco wake up already!" yelled fox.
Falcos eyes opened slowly blinking away the lethargy, he'd fallen asleep with his music blasting into his ears, amazing feat considering the heavy metal blaring out. If it was an emergency the lights would've woke him so it couldn't be serious.
"Alright keep your tail on sheesh" yelled back Falco
"Just get your ass to the bridge an hurry up about it"
"alright, alright" brushed off Falco throwing a vest on and strolling out of his room expecting fox to give him a lecture. Only to find the corridor empty, Falco shrugged and made his way to the bridge.
"Glad you decided to join us" mumbled fox not even looking at Falco.
"You know that's the third thing you've said to me since we sent Andross back to hell, and the second time you've said that, you feeling okay foxy"
Fox didn't grant a reply, bored of the stale atmosphere he changed target.
"Falco Lombardi at your service, if you ever need a guided "personal" tour of this ship i'm your man, i'd have said hello earlier but fox seems to hiding you away somewhere" Hoping to get a rise from either Krystal or preferably fox who tensed up at the last part he said, Krystal smiled warmly either naively or because she could read minds and knew Falco was just messing around but of course Falco wasn't to know that little part about Krystal.
Just as Krystal was about to reply fox begun his speech, Falco would often zone out for these but his one grabbed his full attention.
"Look its been over eight years since we defeated Andross- the first time before you say anything Falco, no one knew anything about Andross still been out there, we took are of him which is fantastic, really thank you everyone... 'sigh' look we've picked up missions and we've been successful with them in the years since, but ever since the first time we beat Andross we've slowly been eating into our funds we received from the Cornerian government, fuel, food, parts, repairs and other expenses 'he looked to Falco briefly on this one' we cant carry on the way we are-"
"no more hot showers then...bad luck slip" quipped Falco to no responses at all
"-the maths is quite simple based on our income and expenses where one member too many 'everyone perked up at this' I didn't want to do this and I didn't think i'd have to once peppy retired to take over old peppers spot and removed the fourth spot anyway, but now there are four of us again and that's my fault I know, there isn't a quick fix for this we don't have any missions everything is quiet and we've got arwings to repair and damage to the- long story short we have to spend more money, which means someone has to go"
Falco looked over at Krystal feeling sorry for her, Krystals ears dropped as if she knew Falco's train of thought
"I obviously can't fire myself...and our expenses would be four times as much if we didn't have Slippy bail us out so often and due to recent events 'Falco shifted uncomfortably he wouldn't right as Fox looked over to him' the person I have to let go is you Falco
Slippys eyes bulged a little clearly also expecting Krystal, Krystal herself just looked stunned both relieved she still had somewhere to call home and throwing extremely apologetic looks to Falco.
Falco just sat there not sure he believed what he had just heard.
"What?" asked Falco disbelievingly "your joking right?" he added rising from his chair
Fox hesitated sure Falco annoyed him but he was damn important to the team, but himself and slippy were no goes and Krystal he couldn't cast out Krystal not after everything that had happened...no, Falco was...Falco, he did his own things, he kept himself to himself he'd dissapear without saying anything he constantly put slippy down, he undermined me all the time, he might even like the idea...right?
"Im sorry Fal-"
"No No no, your actually joking...hahaha right, Falco dissapeared on us lets play a funny joke where we kick him off the team that'll teach him hahaha good one foxy I knew you were avoiding me, you went all out on this little joke"
Everyone just stared at Falco
"Guys?"
"Cmon"
Fox stood up too, "Falco im sorry but-" began Fox trying to placate his friend.
"No! Fuck this, this is bullshit and you know it"
"I'm not messing around Falco!" yelled back Fox beginning to lose his own cool.
Falco looked to Krystal throwing a slight apologetic look before continuing "I've been with you from the beginning Fox, way back before her, we've been through pretty much everything together , can she even fly Fox?"
Fox chose not to answer that hoping not to antagonise Falco and his famous temper too much, his change of tack wasn't any better though.
"Dammit Falco, I need people I can rely on, it's dangerous enough with four of us, but if I keep you and you decide to go on one of your selfish adventures for lylat knows who long at a time that leaves us with just two of us, then there's the lack of respect, the constant belittling of slippy, you always question my orders, the alcohol, the-"
"Lack of respect, what cause I crack jokes to lighten the mood, belittling slippy, why because he's a crap pilot, but you know what, not as crap as when he joined, you know why, every time I took the piss out of him he tried harder, went on sims, my belittling may have saved his life by now and I always thank him for the work he does on this ship and our arwings, sometimes your orders have been downright dumb I didn't realise this was the military and I'm meant to follow every order blindly till death, when has my alcohol ever stopped me from doing anything, so I like a drink...
Fox looked at Falco in a light he never had for Falco..momentarily
…..No the reason your getting rid of me is because it came to a choice of best buddy or fuck buddy ain't that right foxy"
Fox's respect dissipated in an instant, Krystals mouth hung agape in shock "that's outta line Falco! Apologise to krystal, thats fucking disgusting"
Falco was seething now, he was expected to apologise to the person stealing his life, but Falco was always clever...with words at least "yeah...your right foxy...im sorry Krys can I call you that?...sorry your gonna have this spineless sack of crap lusting after your- Crack
suddenly Falco was looking at the ceiling Fox had walloped him in the jaw and Falco had gone back over his own chair landing flat on his back "guys maybe you should-" begun slip attempting to mediate but it was past that and slip an Krystal could only watch on and get out the way.
Fox didn't expect his own punch, Falco had always been a hothead but Fox wasn't exactly blessed with patience either his hand hurt, punching an avian in the beak isnt exactly smart, he definatley wasn't expecting Falco to rise so fast, who planted a massive lunging right square into Fox's eye, his vision blacked momentarily before adrenaline pumped in staving off unconsciousness, before he blocked Falcos follow up before long kicks and punches were been thrown everywhere rolling around the bridge floor, Fox would normally have the upper hand, both extremely capable fighters but Fox could always out last Falcos inevitable burst of anger a much more emotional fighter to foxes calculating. But fox himself was enraged too and that was Falcos territory...Fox found himslef on the floor Falco on top hands wrapped round foxes throat, he could see slippy and krystal trying to pull Falco off, Fox could see Falcos eyes, they screamed bloody murder and time slowed, fox saw Krystals staff still on the seat from when everyone had entered the room, he reached and grabbed it, feeling the familiar weight he swung it into Falcos face, too enraged to see it coming.
In an instant it was over Falco was launched sideways off fox and into the wall landing in a heap unmoving, but breathing steadily, Fox closed his eyes gaining his breath, Slippy looked close to tears unable to stand the sight of his two best friends coming to blows, and Krystal was still in complete shock resting a hand on Slippy shoulder whether to reassure herself or slippy even she didn't know.
"Slippy?"
"Fox?" he replied shakily
"can you change protocols so Falco's room can only be opened externally" he asked regret laced in his voice.
"Slippy?"
"Uh sure Fox...I'll er get right on it"
Fox looked over at his best...former best friend? He didn't want this but he had no choice, he was still sure that Falco would be fine...eventually, he sighed feeling exhaustion kicking in.
"I'm sorry you had to see that Krystal, could you help me...take him to his room" mumbled Fox head hung low as he pulled up Falcos arm over his shoulder.
"Of course, I'll help" added Krystal grabbing his other arm as they begun dragging Falco back to his room in awkward silence could really use one of his jokes right now, probably never speak to each other again.
"He doesn't hate you Fox, he's in pain, I don't want to delve into it, its not my place, but he is in pain Fox" spoke Krystal picking up Foxs thoughts "I'm sorry I caused this"
"No its no ones fault, these things have to happen, he'll be fine, he has old friends, plus wherever he runs of too, he must have other options, I can't exactly throw you into a world you don't know, he's always been a loose cannon, I'm sure...I hope even this turns out for the best" replied Fox still downtrodden as they left Falco on his bed.
Falcos eyes hazily opened everything was a bit numb and slow, then his senses switched back on, damn his jaw hurt, he'd punched Fox, the Fox McCloud, hero of lylat, his best Friend and boss, he wanted to rage throw something, smash something, but it was all his, all he had, there was no fighting it now, they'd have locked his door by now, he knew what he had to do.
He grabbed a bag and started throwing clothes in it, his old revolver he'd had for too long, check, rifle, check,knife in boot, check reflector, check, rocket launcher...a little overkill, that'd have to stay, music collection and some hard spirits, revolver at the hip he was finishing up the mediocre task distracting him from the situation emptying another draw of crap.
At the bottom, an old photo, himself, Fox, Peppy and slippy, not long after Andross was downed and lylat was saved, everyone was pretty happy...and a little drunk, Falco just stared at it...good ol times, a drop of water landed on the photo, he looked up for the source baffled, then he realised it, he wiped his eyes...he'd teared up, Falco doesn't cry, certainly not over some stupid picture.
"Falco...i'm sorry, Fox wants you in the hangar, I think its time"
Falco just stared at slippy a moment, had he seen him crying was that why he said sorry, or was it just because he's leaving.
"Yeah I'm as ready as ill be I guess come on" grumbled Falco throwing the old photo on the floor and walking over it for good measure.
Slippy could barley reply, hearing his friend usually so loud and brash...so...defeated
slippy and Falco made their way towards the hangar in silence.
"I don't want you to go Falco, I'm gonna miss you" quickly admitted slippy in that annoying voice.
Falco was floored, this was getting difficult, emotions not a strong point "Yeah I'll miss ya too slip,who am I gonna bully now, right?" joked Falco trying to brush it off, the cracks in his voice betraying otherwise as they stepped into the hangar.
Falco's jaw started to ache again as he notice Fox's swollen eye as came near each other.
A silence ensued, again.
"Falco I-" began Fox
Fearing the inevitable part on good terms speech and apologies Falco interrupted "No Fox...lets just get this done with, I think that'd be best, right?"
"...right...you can keep your ship Falco, we should probably scrap it or something, use the money...but it's yours Falco, the sky claw is yours, I can't...-"
"-where are we go- where are are you dropping me off"
"Zoness"
Falco merely nodded noting at least it was a familiar world some good memories...some awful ones "well no time like now is there" muttered Falco striding past Fox
Fox wanted to say something they couldn't leave on terms like this not after all these years but words stopped in his throat, he just watched as Falco jumped up into his cockpit, ignoring the ladder threw his bag in and took his seat, he seemed to pause silently willing something to change the situation, a mission, a war anything, he took one last look back, slippy and Krystal watching on, Fox already heading back from the hangar, walking away, anger rose in Falco once more, so he punched his system and gunned it for Zoness, he wasn't to know Fox couldn't watch, walking away with tears in his eyes angry at no one but the situation itself.
Falco blitzed through the atmosphere and landed on the first island he saw a small unpopulated island surrounded by clear blue waters, paradise to some, right now though, prison to one.
Falco just laid on the sand listening to the waves going over his options
option one his old gang...if they were still around...Katt he doubted that would go over well.
Option two a new team entirely but he discarded that immediately, Falco was star fox famous and had made a lot of enemies out of other mercenary groups, especially those running out of Sargasso.
Option three, Peppy, the closest thing to a father figure who basically raised himself and fox, he always had an idea, or reassurance at least...no at this point what, join the CDF, good pilot yes, insubordinate...no.
Too early too retire that's for sure.
So option five it would be...yes a bar, drink enough and the jaw ache stops, and you never know who you'll meet at a random bar.
Mind made up Falco jumped back in the sky claw and blasted into the distance for larger islands.
A/N: Hey had this drifting around a while, but finished uni for the year and now I'm free, im not familiar with the star fox series, I played star fox 64 years back but otherwise no, I've read the timelines and a lot of fictions on here, always a bit disappointed with the lack of Falco ones, but I never seem to like the main characters so...my own fault I guess, anyway the options at the end are the potential routes for what happens next should I continue but for now its just an intro.
In the fics I've read Falco either fades into the background of a Krystal/Fox fic or just turns into an asshole and gets booted altogether, with this I reversed it a little, I hope I didn't make fox the bad guy instead so I hope it came across as a best of a bad situation.
From what I've read Falco has next to no back story before joining Star Fox, no mention of parents and even the wiki doesn't seem to know if he is from Corneria or Zoness gives plenty to "make up for" anyway I enjoyed writing this chapter so update soon...perhaps.
random-jack