Krystal's First Christmas.
Disclaimer: The author of this story does not own the Star Fox franchise, or Nintendo, in any way, shape or form. Star Fox, and all related characters, are copyright of Nintendo.
A lone vulpine stared out into space, staring at Solar, the heat source of the Lylat System. Fox McCloud sighed to himself, it was that time of year again. The time where people spent time with loved ones, family. Something he hadn't had for more than a decade.
"Later Fox!" Slippy Toad's voice called from the hangar. Fox waved back at him through the doorway only to hear the loud sound of his Arwing afterwards. Slippy was the third and final team member to leave him for the holidays.
Another Christmas alone. It was the time where Falco left them to spend time "alone" which Fox had thought meant time with his older friends back home and while he couldn't admit it the bird would also see some of his remaining family. Slippy left to be with his family and Peppy went to Fichina to be with his daughter. It was boring for him, he even missed Falco's smart ass remarks at this point.
Nothing else to do for him, Fox flopped down on the couch and changed the TV, a Christmas movie was the last of Fox's wishes to see right now.
"Hey!" A voice yelled at him. "What do you think you're doing?" A blue vixen yelled at him. He had somehow not been thinking of Krystal this holiday season. He had planned on her to have gone somewhere as well.
It was only ten months ago that Fox had saved the vixen atop Krazoa Palace. In possibly the most enduring mission of his young yet legendary career. Since then Krystal joined the Star Fox team and moved in across the hall. Fox thought she was well worth the month of combat he faced to save her life and also was trying to show his feelings for her. He had been in love with her since he first laid eyes on her.
"Sorry Krystal, used to having this time of year alone." Fox chuckled slightly, nervous and foolishly before changing the channel back. He had fought for some alone time with the vixen he secretly had feelings for time and time again but missions were always in the way. This could finally be his chance.
"Me too." She replied depressingly. She had been alone for the same amount of time Fox had although she had it much worse. She had to live on her own for years, fighting to survive. "It's a lot better here with you though." She smirked.
An hour passed, not much was said. Both of them were equally nervous towards each other. Both of them hiding feelings for one another.
Fox wouldn't have believed it but Krystal secretly had a crush for him too, the first touch of his paw when he helped her from death's grasp to helping her learn to fly an Arwing or shoot a blaster. They had already formed quite a bond. In most ways Krystal was more nervous than Fox, he just never looked into it.
"I never thought I could enjoy watching this device for so long.." She muttered turning her stare to Fox, somehow he felt it burning into his fur.
"Yeah.." Fox muttered to her showing her a slight smile in return and hoping he didn't seem like a creep to the vixen he had known for some time. This was his one chance and he didn't need to blow it.
Minutes later Fox decided he would break the silence by asking her something more personal. Hoping he would seem nice about his question.
"Krystal, what was Christmas like on Cerinia?" He asked, hoping she wouldn't cry from memories, praying she wouldn't cry..
"We'd just get together and enjoy our lives. It wasn't that special in towns like it is in Lylat." It was obvious she was fighting tears back. Her home planet always hit a sensitive spot in the vixen making it hard for the fox to learn anything of her culture. "We just spent time with our families." She shook her head. She was losing her voice slowly. "I miss my family and my homeland so much..." She muttered
Fox couldn't even imagine her pain. He knew how it felt to lose parents and it was terrible but Corneria never had the same fate that Cerinia faced.
"Krystal, I'll do everything I can to help you get adjusted to life here and if you ever want to quit flying an Arwing I'll make sure you get whatever you want." Fox said to her. He had doubts of Krystal ever being a pilot in all honesty when he met her,but, ever since she started her training her times and scores were very close to his own.
Krystal smiled at his words but she never wanted to leave Star Fox, ever. This team was like her family. She cherished every day she spent with the fox, whether it was training or tagging along on a mission.
It wasn't an hour of silence later that Fox had noticed the vixen curled up, sleeping on the couch. He couldn't help but smile to himself, he had to find out a way to impress her this holiday season. The vulpine got up to get his laptop, hoping to find a present for her. Draping a blanket over her body on his way.
"Jewelry? Too bland.. I don't want to seem like every other guy right now. I have to amaze her.." Fox muttered to himself quietly. Searching more sights now than he had in his life. "Ah..Maybe that would work." Fox smiled staring at the computer screen.
"Fox, what are you doing?" Krystal mumbled almost making Fox practically jump out of his fur.
"Oh Krystal! I was just looking up something real quick." Fox smiled, she could sense his nervousness and gave him a slight grin.
"I'm going to head to bed, I'll stay up and watch movies with you tomorrow night." She yawned to him. "Night, Fox." She waved at him.
"Night Krys." Fox smiled at her. Unable to keep his eyes off of her when she walked away. "Shit!" Fox said to himself. Krystal probably knew all about that gift now. That smile, he recognized it. Normally he saw it when he had done something foolish around her or when she was playing games with his mind.
He couldn't believe he had once more forgotten that she was a telepath. She could read his mind. Pop thoughts into his head and even cause slight injury to him if she wanted. It was a curse she believed but Fox knew it was an advantage for him and for the Star Fox team.
Fox reluctantly shut his laptop. Sleep was calling for him as well and with the luck he was having now, it was probably best to follow that call and search more tomorrow.