The weather was rather calm for a fall night on Cornaira. The pre-winter gusts carrying along multi-colored leaves were nowhere to be found tonight. Panther was rather happy about this seeing as tonight's blind date was going to taking place in an outdoor café. The moonless sky' stars twinkled brightly tonight, the small classic wax candle standing in the center of the small metal frame work table added some form of romance to the situation. Of course if this one was going to turn out like the rest all this romance and anything Panther had planned if it went somewhere would just sum up to a simple one night stand. Panther sighed as he scanned the incoming café goers for a single white rose pinned up on them; he had been at this for about an hour.

"Late late late," Panther rolled his eyes and held of the waiter to come back in ten minutes for the sixth time tonight, "Perhaps I've been stood up?" Panther asked himself as he lightly stirred his third cup of coffee which was now ice cold.

Panther took off the white rose he pinned to the lapel of his blazer and held it in his hand as he rested his head on the table.

"At least the night is beautiful," Panther said to himself, "At least I have that."

"Uh excuse me are you the blind date from Lylat single hearts?" A familiar male voice spoke out catching Panther's attention. He slowly looked up and saw a rather well dressed man with blue feathers. When he reached the mystery avian head he was greeted to shocked and angry eyes that were surrounded by bright red feathers that stood out among the blue of the rest of the head. His yellow beak was large and looked like a scream wanted to bellow out of it. This less then graceful man was Falco Lombardi, member of Star Fox and right hand man of Fox McCloud, "Oh dammit." Falco said as he stared at Panther's ecstatic smile.

"Well if it isn't Star Fox's greaser," Panther sat upright and was no fully invested, "Couldn't find a jut box that you have to hit to get working tonight?"

"Well if it isn't Panther! Out of money to spend on your second street hookers?"

The two began sharing quick jabs at each other causing somewhat of a scene as some on lookers began watching them.

When Falco noticed this he diced to save the argument for later, "I'm outta here shitstick."

Falco turned away and started walking away but Panther quickly got up and tried to stop him, "Wait!" He said as he put his hand on Falco's shoulder which quickly earned him a death glare that even Panther had to admit shook his foundation.

"Why are you touching me?"

"Look Lombardi, I know we have a past but you have to believe me! I'm trying to put all of that behind me."

"Why the hell should I believe that? You're from Star Wolf," A smirk came over Falco's mouth, "Oh wait that's right Star Wolf is no more!" He began laughing.

"And I don't want to fall back into that." Panther said rather coldly with an intense stare that was almost as powerful as Falco's, "I want to apologize for what I did and you may not believe this but I would actually like this date to go well," Falco stood there silently, "But seeing as it's you this doesn't have to be a date but I would like you to give me a shot at redemption at least," Falco just stared at him with his intense glare, "But I understand if you don't want to."

Panther walked back to his table and tossed the white rose he had onto the sidewalk. Falco sighed and for reasons he didn't even know took the seat opposite of Panther, "Geez you look so pathetic when you beg man," Falco said as he too tossed his rose, "You really shouldn't do that. It makes you look more like a loser then you already are!" Falco laughed.

"So…," Panther held his hand up and rested his chin on it, "I didn't know you swing for guys."

"Oh shut up!" Falco said as he looked away from Falco and blushed a bit.

"Oh come now Falco, we're both mature men, it's nothing to be ashamed of. I just never knew I'd be your type."

"There is no way in hell you are!"

"Really? Because didn't the dating sight use that perfect compatibility test?" Panther said with a large shitfaced grin.

For once Falco was silent and couldn't think of a seething retort, "Oh fuck you. Why are we even talking about this? This isn't even a date remember?"

"Right right," Panther relaxed into the back of the chair, "Just starting up casual conversation."

Falco scoffed, "Why are you even on a date anyways? Don't you have Krystal?"

A sullen look over came Panther's face, "I did," Falco fell silent again, "She left me just like she left your friend. I don't think that woman knows what she actually wants."

A moment of silent hung over the two as Oanther just looked up at the stars, "So what have you three idiots been doing? Snatching purses? Stealing candy from small children?" Falco asked trying to change the subject.

"Something in the likes that," Panther snickered and took a sip of his cold coffee. The bitter taste instantly made him regret this decision, "Wolf and I run a little bar in downtown Cornaria."

Falco was somewhat surprised to hear this, "What? Seriously?"

Panther nodded, "After our pardon the Cornarian government thought it was best we keep enough of our money to at least get a head start in making normal lives for ourselves. They said something about not wanting to send us on a path that will lead to crime again."

"Is Leon there too? You said it was just you and Wolf."

"Oh get this,"

Panther leaned in somewhat like he was a school girl trying to gossip in secret with her friend, "He works at a flower shop now!"

"You're fucking lying." Falco said, the disbelief was obviously apparent in his voice.

"I'm not! He's actually the manager now."

The two talked for a bit about Leon's new job then a bit about what else was happening in their lives. The both ordered fresh cups of coffee and small sundaes and passed a good few hours by just talking with each other.

"So why a bar?" Falco asked as they both paid their sides of the bill.

"Well we saw the small abandoned bar on Wolf's block was for sale and him and I just pulled our money together. We figured why the hell not? Everyone goes to a bar sometime in their life."

Falco nodded in agreement, "How has it been going?"

Panther sighed and smiled as he rested his scarred cheek in his right hand, "It's been going ok. We've been just scraping by but profit is profit."

Suddenly a Panther's holophone started ringing out; the ringtone sounded like something that would be played to the tango. Panther took it out and the hologram that shot for was of an angry picture of Wolf with his name underneath it. Panther answered the call with a slid of his finger and within second a floating bust of Wolf appeared.

"Panther where the hell are you? We need to count the register! Get your ass back here!" He yelled before hanging up his phone.

"Well I guess that's it for tonight," panther said with a grin as he looked to Falco, "This was actually somewhat entertaining," Panther took out a pen and a napkin out of the dispenser and began writing something on it. After he was finished he handed the folded paper to Falco, "It's my number in case you get bored and want to do this again."

Falco begrudgingly took it and nodded but said nothing as Panther left the table and started walking away. He was in sheer disbelief he just spent hours talking with that pompous creep and didn't even notice it. A month had soon passed by and Panther had long gave up and Falco actually calling. He was sitting in the offer reading the inventory list as Wolf sat and watched TV. The sunlight shone through the semi-closed blinds over the window behind Panther as he sat behind the metal desk. He looked around the office and at the TV which was playing some comedy special.

"Take a break Panther," Wolf said even though his gaze never left the TV, "You've been working all morning."

Before Panther could respond with a jab at Wolf's laziness his holophone began buzzing on the desk; and unknown number was displayed which peaked Panther's curiosity.

Panther slid his finger over the projected number and soon Falco's face greeted him. He quickly put the phone in quite mode and brought it to the side of his face, "Panther," Falco's voiced greeted Panther's ears, "Do you," he paused, "I don't know want to go out or something? I don't know where Fox is and I'm just sitting here bored as all fucking hell."

"Oh, uh sure," Falco hung up the phone first; Panther looked to Wolf and smiled, "You know what? I think I will take a break."

Note from author: Ok I know this one is a lot shorter then what I usually try and put up but I thought this was a good place to end this one. I really don't want to rush the relationships in this series but just to keep your hopes up, Panther and Falco's relationship will be a ot more progressive the Fox and Wolf's. Also this is a Tie in with "An Unexpected Haven" my other Star Fox fan fic I currently have going. The two are set at the same times and place and will intertwine with each other; think of it like Tsubasa Chronicles and Xxx Holic by Clamp. You don't have to read both to enjoy the stories but they do walk hand and hand with one another.