I do not own Star Fox or any of the characters.
Mistakes
Fox stared at the building, Falco standing beside him and a sense of deja vu being pounded into his head with each beat of the base. His right hand gripped his left arm and Falco looked over at him.
"Oh relax, would you?" Falco scoffed. "You'll be fine. You're going to walk in there, find your girlfriend, and start making out with her. You just have to apologize to her face first."
Fox sighed, lowering his hand staring at the ground. "I don't know if I should go in."
"Fox," Falco said. "Listen to me carefully. Nothing you ever do will matter if you can't find the balls to win her back. If you don't you will regret it for the rest of your life. Even I...After I woke up, Katt tried so hard. She apologized so many times it was annoying, she cried, she begged. But still I...I couldn't get over what had happened. She had just hurt me so much. And it had nearly been the death of me. I lost her again, Fox. She won't have me now. But you can still win Krystal back. Krystal loves you more than anything. All you have to do is be there and be yourself. And apologize. Hell beg if you have to. Whatever pride you may bruise will hurt less than not having her."
Fox stared at the ground before nodding. Together, the two walked to the door. Fox braced himself for the let down of them not being there, but as soon as he stepped into the building, he found Katt and Krystal standing there, both wearing the same dresses as last time. He resisted the urge to let his eyes wander Krystal's body. Katt hugged both of them briefly before grabbing Falco's hand and dragging him away. Fox opened his mouth to speak but his words died on his tongue and he closed it again.
"You look beautiful," Fox finally managed.
"Thanks," Krystal said, turning and walking to a pair of chairs along the wall, Fox just behind her.
Fox took a breath and forced what he needed to say out. "I'm sorry for hurting you, Krystal. And I'm sorry for leaving. I just...I was in so much pain, and I was drunk. I wanted...I wanted to finally tell you that I love you, but then...I just...I felt...I don't know. Betrayed. Scared. I was afraid I was losing you. And because of that, I pushed you away even more."
Krystal remained silent, face set into the beginnings of a scowl and refusing to look at him. He stared at the ground in silence for a few minutes.
"Do you...Can we...may I...dance...with you?" Fox forced out.
"No!" Krystal snapped. "Go get me a drink."
"What do-"
"Anything!" Krystal snapped before sighing. "Get me a rum punch."
"Okay," Fox said, turning and walking through the crowd to the bar, just as a slow song began to play and he grimaced. "One rum punch and a bottle of water, please."
The bartender, an alligator, nodded, making the drink then setting it on the bar beside a water. Fox took both and made his way back to the chairs only to find them empty. He stopped, already knowing what he would probably find if he looked around, but looking around anyway.
Please. No. Please don't be...
He found her, on the dance floor with an arctic fox. The pair turned so that she was facing him and he saw the overjoyed smile on her face before they turned away again. He turned away, tears already running down his face and set her rum punch down before pulling out a pocket notebook and a pencil, quickly writing a short message for her then leaning it against the drink, setting his water in his own chair just as he felt the briefest flick of her mind against his, more like she was seeing where he was, rather than what he was doing. He smiled ruefully. She didn't even really care if he knew she had ditched him again. His heart throbbed painfully and he held a hand to it, standing and walking away from the chairs, making his way upstairs, beginning to break down into sobs as he reached the balcony on the fourth floor. His words to Katt replayed in his head as his chest throbbed painfully again and he stood up on the railing. He smiled sadly as tears rolled down his face.
"Goodbye Krystal."
Then, he began to tilt forward, welcoming the rush of air as he began to fall.
Krystal walked Fox walk away before raising her hands to her face, beginning to sob. He was hurting and it was her fault. She could feel it even without reaching out to his mind. But after what had happened, she didn't know if she could let him in again. Months of holding back all that pain, all that fear, and anger, and sadness. She was afraid to let it back in.
"What's a pretty girl like you doing crying all alone?" a cocky voice said off to the side.
"Beat it asshole," Krystal snarled, turning to him. "I'm waiting for my...no. No way! Connor!"
The arctic fox grinned, spreading his arms and Krystal hurled himself into them, squeezing him tightly.
"Easy sis," Connor laughed. "Don't re-kill your big brother quite yet."
Krystal pulled back, eyes wide in awe. "How are you..."
A slow song began to play and Connor grinned, pulling her toward the dance floor, Krystal following. As they began to sway, Connor began his story.
"When the planet went to shit, I tried to find you but you were already gone. So I stole a ship and took off. Unfortunately, when the explosion hit, it fried my ship's systems and I was left drifting. Almost froze to death, almost suffocated, almost ran out of food, usual stuff. I ended up being found by a Cornerian ship and taken to a medical station, but by then I was comatose from lack of oxygen. When I woke up, I found out my baby sister was a member of a legendary mercenary group. How'd that happen?"
"I got captured on Sauria by-" she stopped, a wave of despair washing over her as a hollow feeling formed in her chest. She stopped, eyes wide as she looked toward the chairs. "Fox!"
Connor gave her a confused look as she began to shove her way through the crowd toward the chairs, Connor following.
"Fox!" Krystal called out, despite knowing he wasn't there. "Please, no! Not again! Please, not again!" She stopped as she reached the chairs, finding her rum punch with a note against it and a bottle of water. A hollow feeling formed in her, draining the fear and hurt. "He got himself a water this time. That's good." She picked up the note.
"Krystal, I'm sorry for having wasted so much of your time. I'll leave you alone. I will always love you. Fox."
Just like that, the blocks she had put up, the dam and the walls vanished. The emotions she had suppressed for so long came flooding back.
"No," Krystal moaned miserably, sinking to her knees. "Fox, no! It's not what you think!"
"Krystal, are you okay?" Connor asked from beside her.
"I-"
"Goodbye Krystal."
Her eyes flew open as she felt the agony and resignation flooding through him. Her eyes flew further open as she realized where he was.
"Fox!" Krystal shouted, sprinting for the door.
The balcony was directly over it. If she could just make it in time...
Crack!
Fox hit the concrete hard, cracking it. Connor shouted in surprise, Krystal dropping to her knees beside him, sobbing instantly and gently picking him up, cradling him.
"Call an ambulance!" She sobbed, no one but Connor hearing her, or even registering what had happened. "Fox! Fox please! You can't leave me again! I can't lose you! I'm sorry! I'm sorry! Please! I love you! Please don't leave me!"
Connor suddenly shoved her aside, kneeling and setting his hands on Fox's chest. "Sorry about this bro. This is going to suck."
Then, a bright blue light shone from Connor's hands as Fox's body arched off the ground. For a moment, Krystal though he was somehow electrocuting Fox, until the part of his skull that had dented inward during the fall suddenly snapped back outward like a compressed bottle when you blow into it. Suddenly, Fox was screaming. Krystal could feel his agony and also screamed.
"You're hurting him!" Krystal screamed.
"I know!" Connor said. "Just hang in there Fox! It's almost over!"
Then, all at once, Fox dropped. His eyes were closed and he wasn't moving. Krystal stared at him in silence, not really knowing what to expect. Then, his eyes fluttered open and he slowly turned, staring up at Krystal and Connor, who Krystal hugged instantly. Fox swallowed, a hollow feeling filling him and Krystal instantly pulled back, throwing her arms around Fox instead, clutching him to her chest, sobbing. He couldn't understand anything she was trying to say, but he could sense her guilt and fear. Then her joy at him being alive. Fox stared at Connor before reaching out to his mind.
"Please be good to Krystal. Even though she chose you, I'll always love her. Please be better to her than I was."
"Chose me?" Fox could sense the white vulpine mentally scoff then laugh. "I'm her brother you dolt. She's in love with you. Hence her sobbing over you in joy that you're still alive."
Fox stared at him before down at Krystal. He tried to lift his arm but his entire body felt weak. He grit his teeth, forcing his arms to respond and wrapped them around her, barely able to do even that. Finally, Krystal pulled back, wiping her eyes.
"I'm so sorry," Krystal said, struggling not to begin sobbing again. "I never meant to hurt you! I love you Fox! I never meant to make you feel like I didn't."
Fox tried to speak but found he didn't have the strength.
"I love you too Krystal. I always have and I always will. But, since I can't move right now, can we head back to the hotel? I'd rather not simply lay here. Plus, everyone's staring."
Krystal's eyes widened and she looked around, blushing before nodding. Connor helped her lift Fox and they hurried away from the building, finding a cab arriving to pick up a couple and Connor shoved them out of the way, helping Kat and Fox in, then climbing in as well, telling the cab they were Star Fox and needed to get back to the hotel for a mission. The cab took off instantly. A few minutes later, Connor carried Fox into the elevator with Krystal just behind him. They took the elevator up to the rooms and Connor used Fox's key to open his room, since Krystal's room was shared with Katt. Connor gently set Fox on the bed and Krystal lay beside him instantly, wrapping her arms around him and burying her face in his shoulder, sobbing again.
"Sorry about your paralysis, Fox," Connor said. "I almost died a while ago, then when I woke up from my coma, a friend of mine was shot. I was trying to stop the bleeding when my powers suddenly activated. Turns out, I somehow gained the ability to heal, but with the side effect of them being paralyzed for roughly a full day."
Fox managed a weak nod and Connor yawned, stretching.
"I'm going to go rent a room," Connor said. "I'll let you guys know what room I'm in in case you need anything."
He left the room, closing it behind him and hanging a "Do not disturb" sign on the door. Once the door was closed, Krystal sat up, wiping her eyes and staring miserably at her lap.
"I'm sorry for hurting you again," Krystal said. "He's my-"
"Brother, I know," Fox said telepathically. "He already explained."
Krystal's eyes widened a little before she managed a weak smile. "When did you become a telepath?"
"Not long after I got my staff, apparently. According to my staff, it's the same way you became one, your just never talked to you about it."
"Your staff talks to you?" Krystal asked.
"Yeah. It taught me to use my telepathy, and how to properly use my staff's magic."
"Lucky. Mine's mute."
Fox smiled, struggling to move any part of his body, his head and fingers being about all that was working.
"I'm sorry for what happened back then," Fox said. "I shouldn't have reacted that way. I should have at least let you explain."
"No, you had every right to be hurt," Krystal said. "I should never have kissed that guy. I should have known better, drunk or not. I never should have done that. And...I'm sorry for going to dance with Connor without waiting to explain to you first. I just got so excited that he was alive."
"It's fine. I understand. Sorry for trying to kill myself."
"Oh, trust me, you and I are going to have a very long discussion about that once you can move," Krystal said. "But, for now, I just want to be able to hold you."
"I won't stop you."
"Very funny," Krystal smiled. "I really am sorry. I promise you I'll make it up to you."
"You don't have to," Fox said, managing a smile. "But if you're really set on it, I suppose there is something you could do."
Krystal smiled, then leaned down kissing him slowly. Fox kissed back, barely able to manage even that much. After a moment, she pulled back, smiling. She lay beside him, wrapping her arms around him and tucking her head under his chin. Fox felt her drifting off to sleep, but he couldn't. Every time he closed his eyes, he saw Venom. He saw the bioweapons. And he saw his father. He closed his eyes, allowing the images to play on look while he forced himself to sleep.
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