Just a Touch
A lone crimson eye locked with ones as lime green as the Granby's lights in space. Darting away as soon as a half smile dimpled Fox's cheek, Wolf flicked his upper lip.
Even like this I can't look you in the eyes.
Bars of light bled into the restaurants' dusty windows, illuminating the dim lit room and shining down on Fox.
His fur radiated like the fire of a wreckage. A faint, chilling breeze made the strands dance while the motes of dust in the air acted like soots of ash.
Every part of you is a reminder.
Wolf held his clenched, quivering, gloved hands below his chin, digging his claws into them and pricking his skin.
The soldier's voice sent a shiver down Wolf's spine, and caused his ears to pin back "So...?" Fox placed his hands on the table, lacing his fingers together. A faint hue of rose flushed his cheeks.
"Yeah?"
"Did you ever think we'd be here?"
Wolf shrugged, facing away towards the window and refusing to acknowledge him.
I hope one day it would.
A half smile crept up Wolf's muzzle. He sank his fangs into his lip to make it falter. He covered his burning cheeks with his palm, leaning into it as he rested his elbow on the table.
"I did."
Of course, you did.
Wolf halfway turned his head towards Fox. His nose picked up the fragrant smell of cologne. His eyes traced along Fox; fresh ironed flight jacket, its sleeves curled up; well-maintained posture, typical from someone like him; combed back fur, looking soft to touch.
" Tchah, went all out?"
"Had to for someone like you." Fox reached for his cup of coffee. "Was it overboard?" He took a sip.
"I'm not some kind of common whore."
"You're no-" Fox's eyes widen, his ears shot up.
"You see me as one." Wolf faced the window once more. He thinks he's such a hotshot. Probably can get anyone he wants...
Wolf's eye narrowed.
...Then why would it be me...?
The sound of the restaurants' kitchen, waiters, and customers prevented silence between them.
"Trust me I don't."
"Sure."
"Could you make it a little easier?" A sliver of Fox's fang crept from beneath his muzzle. " I'm trying my best. and — — — — — — "
Wolf ignored Fox, he focused on the labyrinth city landscape; he became enwrapped by its beauty as he tuned out Fox's dull conversation.
The skyscrapers reached for the heavens above, grasping to seize the world beyond; canine citizens cluttered the avenue, presenting the superior race; the world around remained unchanged as if the war had never started.
"Something wrong?" Fox held the cup of coffee below his muzzle, steam danced above the black liquid.
"No." Wolf shrugged, facing himself towards Fox. He leaned back against the leathery booth, causing it to crinkle and shrill out its obnoxious sound.
He extended a sweaty hand by his glass of water and cupped his hand around it, sliding his fingers against the chilled, dewed glass.
Who am I kidding? This wou-
Paws as soft as puppies rested atop of Wolf's. Fox's fingers cupped around Wolf's hand. "It's okay if you're uncomfortable we can stop."
"N-no." Wolf's pupil shrunk, freezing in place as his heart murmur. He slipped his hand past Fox's, clenching his own together, and setting them in the center of the table. "It's.." He moved his mouth as if to speak, but stumbled over his words and said no more.
His shoulders slumped as his head dipped towards his chest.
His eye locked with Fox's as his breaths hasten.
His claws dug into his uneasy skin, drawing bits of blood below his fur.
This isn't loving...it's...
Hate.
Rage.
Ire.
For every second of pain you cause-
Wolf's fur shot up while he jolted back.
Fox's warm paws settled on top of Wolf's. His fingers slipped into the clawed trap once Wolf eased up. A serenade of angels carried in his voice.
"Hey, you're okay, you'll be fine. Just breathe."
Is this how you really are?
"I — — you." Fox's grasp tightens around Wolf's wavering, sweaty hands. "I really do — — you." His toothy smile dimpled his rosy cheeks. His puppy dog eyes lax, refusing to budge, a faint chuckle escapes his muzzle. "You saved me, and I know why."
Because you're a reminder.
Wolf stared Fox dead in the eyes, keeping stoic. "Even after what I did."
A demon that torments me and laughs.
"You can change." His smile refused to falter as Wolf inched his claws closer to Fox's fingers.
You're a beacon of my failures, lighting up my vices.
Wolf snarled while sweat blotched his forehead. His mouth moved, hesitating to speak from the searing words stifling his throat. His voice became breathy, and he shut his eye to dam off the welled tears.
"...W-what...about...James?"
His claws readied by Fox's fingers.
His opened his eye, settling it on Fox's neck.
His body eased forward, and his steel boots pressed into the floor.
Fox shut his eyes and tilted his head to the side.
"I forgive you."
Wolf huffed, he dropped his throbbing head towards his clenched up chest. The Searing stream of tears flooded down his tense cheek, blurring his vision. The sound of droplets crashing into his pants made his ears flick and muzzle twitch.
You insult me with your pity. Looking down on me, and seeing me as nothing more than a dying animal.
"You mock me." Wolf raised his head, freezing in place when his lips compressed against Fox's. For a brief moment, the pain stopped.
"You're too hard on yourself."
Fox caressed the side of Wolf's cheek, raking his claws through Wolf's coarse fur as he sat back down.
"Why?" Wolf wiped away his tears with his palm.
"You weren't involved."
"How do you know?"
"You wouldn't have bothered to save me."
Should have just left you.
Wolf glared at him, he set his elbow against the table and leaned his cheek into his palm. "You didn't see anything."
"It's cute." Fox took a sip of his coffee. He leaned back into the booth, setting his legs apart, his pleasant smile made Wolf hide his with his hand. "Maybe deep down you're good."
"Tchah, I'm a terrorist."
Fox shut his eyes and shook his head. "Says who?"
"Umm, ugh...?" Wolf stared at him perplexed by his remark. His eye rolled as he let out a sigh. "C-corneria?" Beads of sweat formed on Wolf's forehead. He raised his brows as he mused. "Defense..." His face scrunched up."For-"
"CIA would be what you're looking for."
"That's what I meant." His eye narrowed. "It's why there's a bounty on my head."
"You do raid supply lines, but so far no one has been killed." Fox rubbed the back of his neck. "And the real reason you have that bounty is because... you supported Venom."
"You mean Andross."
"Yeah..." For a brief moment, Fox's brows furrowed. " But that's in the past."
"Doesn't mean shit." Wolf halfway faced Fox, their eyes locked. "Can't throw it away."
"Can't let it drag you down either." Fox took a sip of his coffee.
We're not made for each other, stop this.
"End-"
"Tell me the truth."
Fox placed the cup down, he crossed his arms. The light illuminated the glistening moisture, building in his eyes.
"Drop it."
Wolf's hands trembled from the nerve-racking sting, coursing through his veins. His tail curled close to his leg as he gulped down his regret.
"I just want to know."
Do it, and it all ends. Isn't that what you want?
Wolf moved his mouth as if to speak, nothing but silence escaped his wavering bottom lip: each long inhale seared his lungs. Wolf sighed. He deserves to know.
"Drop it."
"Wolf, please tell me."
Fox kept on, he'd ask but received silence from Wolf, letting it settle for a moment before bringing it up again. He did so until Wolf caved in.
"I-I..."
His dry tongue pressed against his fangs.
"I...was..."
Dew sheened as it slid down the glass, crashing into a puddle.
"Involved."
Biting silence clutched the moment.
"Face it, Fox. You've got a better choice."
You have her.
Fox set both his hands on the table. He leaned forward, keeping a blank expression. "Did you murder him?"
Wolf shut his eye and lowered his head. "No..." His breaths became shallow. "...I fought him..." His ears slanted back as his chest tighten: Fox's eyes refused to budge off of Wolf. "Then I did nothing but watch him die."
"Would you've done the same to me?"
Wolf crept his eye open, staring at the hurt pup. "Did you ever think...why I let your teammates escape?"
Fox leaned back, he cupped his hand on his chin.
"There's only one person's blood on my hand."
And I'll hold onto it to my dying breath.
"Would you've done things diff-"
"I don't live in ifs."
More silence ensued.
Fox pulled on his jacket's collar. His eyelids sagged. "I loved him, and it did hurt to lose him, but..." Fox flicked his nose. "I was consumed by anger, and even then when I got revenge..." He paused. "I felt empty." His smile returned. "I've had time to heal."
"Why would you forgive a murderer?" Wolf stared at him perplexed.
"Do you believe you can be good?"
Fox set his hand on Wolf's scarred arm, running his fingers up along the hill-like muscles. He stopped on Wolf's shoulder.
"Not when you screwed up like me." Wolf faced away and stared at his reflection on the window. "Fox, give up."
Wolf's eye locked on an outside figure: Panther stared at him from across the road. Passing pedestrians sheltered his pained expression for a moment. Panther shut his eyes and lowered his head as he walked away, fading into the crowd.
"Is that what you want?" Fox leaned back into his seat, setting his palms on the table.
I don't know what I want anymore.
Wolf wiped the sweat from his forehead. He clenched his teeth and balled his hand below the table into a fist. Wolf's brows twitched as they furrowed.
"Are you that afraid to forgive yourself and change...?"
"To better yourself...?"
"To be — — ?"
Wolf's head throbbed, a sharp twinge compressed against the temples of his forehead. His eye narrowed as he faced Fox, snarling.
"When I look at you I see him."
Fox's head jolted from the startling remark. His eyes widened while he blinked.
"A reminder of everything I fucked up."
Wolf's stomach contorted and churned from the simmering bile.
"When I saved you...I thought..." Wolf chuckled. "That I'd be forgiven." He sunk his back into the booth, sliding down, his shoulders dropped. "I...wanted to be with you, but..." He paused to take a heavy breath. "I can't be forgiven."
"Not for all the arrogant, stupidity, and pain I've caused..."
"I'm your enemy."
"Was." Fox took another sip of his coffee. "Besides, I did try to kill you...three times."
"You showed mercy on the third."
" 'Did you ever think why I let your teammates escape?' " Fox raised a brow for a moment and smiled.
"I forgive you."
That's a lie.
"If I was hell-bent on killing you. I would." Fox set the cup down on its plate. "But I don't let the past control me." He crossed his arms, a sliver of his fangs shined like a dagger in the night before being sheathed. "If my Dad escaped, I wouldn't have been in the war. And Venom would win."
Wolf's eye trailed away, he crossed his arms as his posture wilted.
"You started it all."
Bitter biting silence ensued.
"Is it okay if I ask?" Fox received a shrug and a grumble. "Are the reports about you true?"
"Half-true." Wolf frowned. "Slandered me a pirate, hah, because I kept Venom's back door sealed."
"But it says you joined him be-"
Wolf leaned forward, slamming his palms on the table. "If I was, why the fuck would I take money from an exiled group?" He bared his fangs. "If I was some kind of scum that wanted a quick cash grab why the fuck would I take his? I'd make a living off of stealing than sacrificing my well-being for them!" The piece of shit hands clenched into a fist, digging his claws into his flesh. "If I was pirate why the fuck would I keep a bunch of incompetent soldiers with me? I'd go back to my old ways, wouldn't I?" Welled up tears poured from his wavering eye. "Do you think I'm that much of a bad guy that'd I'd throw everything away to fight you? I didn't even know who the fuck you were. We never met!" He panted. "How the fuck could I even know you?"
People within the restaurant stared at the two for a moment as they remained silent.
"I only knew of you when we fought there." Wolf collapsed back into the booth, wiping his tears away. "Can't believe everything you're told." A heavy breath escaped his wavering muzzle. He whispered.
"I did it because I thought it was right."
Wolf leaned his head back, staring out the window and watching canines walk by. "Is this what you wanted? Genocide?"
Fox lowered his head, he cupped his hand on his chin.
"Look around you. There isn't a single ape, avian, lizard, frog, or rabbit." He set his sweaty palm over his tense forehead. "You won, Fox. Congrat -you-fucking-lations! You got what Pepper wanted." He slid his hand over his eye. "While I'm the bad guy."
"I didn't see it like that." Fox's eyes settled away from him and onto the floor. "I just did what felt right."
"You and me both." Wolf faced him, he let out an uncomfortable laugh before he sighed. "We're both dumb."
"Yeah, we sure are." Fox leaned forward, setting his elbow on the table, and resting his flushed cheek on his palm. "So?" His soothing eyes lax.
Wolf narrowed his eye, he'd gaze into Fox's for a brief moment before he faced away. "S-so...?"
"Can you forgive me?"
"For?" Wolf blinked.
"All the pain I've caused you."
"What?" Why would he?
"We've hurt each other haven't we?" Fox's tail brushed against the booth.
"I've done things tha-" Wolf faced him, his ears and eye shooting up as he jerked back.
"Stop being hard on yourself." Fox's smile eased Wolf's nerves. "You've shown you want to change, and I want you to, with me." He extended his palm out towards him.
"I love you, Wolf."
"I..." He faced out towards the crowd for a moment before he stared into Fox's eyes. Wolf's ears pinned back, his trail curled close to his legs, and he scrunched up as he crossed his arms.
"I..."
His heart ached as his mouth kept his words sealed within his lumped throat, Wolf's chin quivered.
"I.."
Don't deserve forgiveness, you piece of shit!
Reaching his hand out as if he's drowning, Wolf pulled back while his mind becomes consumed by the sea of doubt.
Warm finger's laced with Wolf's, his palm pressed into Fox's, smothering together. Wolf's shaking hand became enwrapped in Fox's grasp, causing him to ease up.
"D-do you think it'll work?"
Fox tilted his head to the side, shut his eyes while he smiled, and nodded.
Wolf tighten his grip, a faint smile dimpled his redden cheeks while his body relaxed. His eye met with Fox's before he faced away, staring at the glass of water.
"Hey, Wolf."
"Wha—Ah!"
His fur, ears, and eye shot up when Fox's soft lips pressed into his trembling ones: Wolf whiffed in his lover's flowery scent as he relaxed.
Fluttering and fervent joy surged through his veins.
For a moment his world became content as his inner anguish and agony subsided.
Fox parted from him, his warm sultry breaths like a humid spring breeze dampen Wolf's fur. Fox's words brought harmony to his ears.
"I love you."
Wolf smiled as his ears and eye raised.
"I love you too."