~ One ~
The strange balloon with a face stared silently and intently at the pair from across the room. It was unsettling, to say the least. Falco swallowed, managing to resist fleeing for his life, and instead gave Fox's jacket a series of insistent tugs.
"What's up?" the latter enquired.
"Make it stop starin' at me."
Not quite understanding the command, the vulpine squinted – until he noticed what all the fuss was about. "Oh. That's Kirby."
"Huh. Snake was right. Looks like a marshmallow."
"You tried sticking it over a fire?"
"Very funny. Just make it stop."
Fox gave his chin a thoughtful stroke and decided the grumpier-than-usual bird needed further teasing. "Maybe it wants to eat you?"
Lombardi was horrified. "The Hell's wrong with you? Why'd you say somethin' like that?"
"Are you worried you might get eaten or 'cause it's Kirby?"
"What?"
"Would you prefer Yoshi?"
"An' get crapped out as an egg? No thanks!"
"Well, you are a bird, so it'd be like-"
"SHUT UP!"
That did nothing to curb McCloud's inappropriate humour. "Kirby gains the abilities of things it eats. Wonder what it'd get from you…"
Falco somehow managed to form a pout with his beak and debated how much more he could take before strangling his team-mate. Feathered hands reached out towards that orange-furred neck…
"Maybe your ace piloting skills?" Fox continued.
The avian paused, taken aback. Is he tryin' to be nice?
"Unfortunately might get your grouchy sass, too."
Perhaps not.
"You're dead!" Lombardi shot forward and wrapped feathered fingers around the vulpine's neck. The latter couldn't speak from such a death grip, but refused to go down easily. Both ended up on the floor in a crumpled heap, arms and legs flailing this way and that.
The pink alien took several tentatively curious steps closer to better observe the bizarre battle. Maybe I can eat the winner?
