Fox wanted to love. He did, truly. It wasn't a matter of determining whether or not he wanted to love, but whether or not he could love. Life hadn't been kind to Fox; this much was known to him. This showed in everything he did; the cold, systematic way he handled problems, the anger that visibly showed in him when he heard the name 'Andross'. There just wasn't the passion anymore….only the anger. Fox didn't like living. How, then, could he like someone else? How could he like anything at all?

What had made him this way? When did he begin hating the universe? Why did he hate? Why couldn't he love? Who made him this way?

Where did this all begin?

Perhaps with his mother…it was then that he got his first sense of how real life could be. Then his father, when the thing he cared most for- protected with all his being- died. Maybe he felt betrayed. Who had betrayed him? Not his father, not anybody. He'd messed it up, and him alone. Nobody could have saved James but him.

Maybe his relationships made it impossible for him to fully accept another person. Those were absolute catastrophes; Fox hardly even wanted to talk to women for months after them. Whenever he did, he came off as a cold, hard, sexist asshole. People didn't really like Fox too much.

But why did she seem to like him? And secondly, why did he seem to feel differently about her than everyone else? Fox wouldn't say he liked her, not yet at least. But he didn't hate her, and that was a start.

….

Classes started today. Fox wasn't nervous, not in the least. He was annoyed. He knew that the second he walked through those old iron gates that all the freshmen would be swarming around him, asking him for autographs and advice. And, time and time again, he'd have to respond with, "I'm not signing anything right now. Have a good one," with a false smile slapped across his face. It was like he was wearing a mask. There was nothing Fox hated more than publicity.

He walked to the Academy alone, despite Krystal's requests to go with him. He didn't want her exposed to all the attention so soon; she actually had to focus in her classes. He did, however, want Falco to come with him. Falco was always an attention whore, soaking in the peoples' lust for the famous. He was like a shield against paparazzi.

Fox's fears came true when he and the blue avian trudged into the plaza, now swarming with other students of the Academy, grasping at the chance to see the famous Star Fox team. A crowd came over them, throwing itself on top of them, smothering them. Falco was loving it, pushing people playfully off him, smiling and waving at people. Fox just pushed forward through what seemed like an endless throng.

Then came the reporters. Reporters!

The cameras surrounded Fox, who was now completely separated from Falco.

"Fox, what was the civil war on Sauria like?'

"Mr. McCloud, what are your thoughts on the the laws being negotiated right now?"

"Fox, are you officially dating the mysterious blue vixen?"

I'M SORRY?!

Fox's head turned on a swivel, sending his body with it. He pushed his way towards the reporter asking the absurd question. It was really the only thing he wanted to clear up.

"We're only teammates, we're not dating, and we probably never will." He yelled into the microphone before shoving his way towards his first class.

….

All of Fox's classes were, as he suspected, not necessary. He spent all day thinking not about G-Diffusers and wilderness survival, but of the reporter's question. Did people really think they were dating? And who even knew about Krystal? They hadn't run into a single person when they had hung out a few days ago.

Fox was home watching the news, looking for other clues concerning the new rumor.

"Hey, what're you watching?" Krystal said, walking into the living room.

"Nothing important," Fox responded, "why?"

"So…you're free?"

"I think so."

"You want to do something?"

Oh no….I can't put myself through that again. I'm not ready for this….

"Sure, what did you have in mind?" Fox asked, mentally punching himself in the nose.

"I don't know, what do you want to do?"

"I'm kind of tired, so…"

"Oh…poor thing," Krystal said, sitting down on the couch, " that's fine, we can just stay here if you want."

Do I want to? Yes? No? Both?!

"Uhm…sure, I guess."

Fox didn't like where she'd placed herself on the couch. Well, his subconscious liked it, but the forefront of his mind didn't. She was a bit too close for mentally distressed Fox. For some reason though, he didn't question it or complain.

"So…." Krystal began awkwardly.

"So…." Fox said.

"Rumor has it we're Corneria's newest couple." She said, not looking at him, but blushing.

Fox didn't avert his gaze from the TV and said, "Yeah."

"How do you feel about that?"

"What do you mean?"

"I mean…..do you care? Like…are we?" Krystal asked.

Oh please yes yes yes! A thousand times yes!

"Again, we're just teammates….it's not that I don't think you're a great girl, just….I can't have favorites on the team. I know you understand." Fox said.

Dammit!

"Yeah…I get it." She seemed upset.

The next few moments were the most awkward of Fox's life; the two of them were clutching at straws to put the conversation back on course.

"How-"

"So-" Both of them began saying something at the same time.

"I'm sorry, go on." Fox said.

"No… it's stupid."

"No, really, go ahead."

"It's fine." Krystal responded.

Both of their feet shifted nervously on the floor. Fox adjusted himself on the couch. Krystal bit her lower lip.

"How was your day?" Fox asked, breaking the tension.

"Fine, and yours?"

"Alright, I guess."

More silence.

…..