000

"I'm standing outside the Cornerian International Airport in front of what officials are calling the freak accident of the year after a commercial jet carrying 158 passengers caught a rogue weather balloon in one of its turbines. Now while officials are still unclear as to how the weather balloon made its way over protected airspace they are sure of one thing and that is that it could have definitely been much worse."

The screen cut away from the eagle, now showing a video that someone on the street had recorded as the massive jet awkwardly landed on the runway before bursting into a scene of sparks and flames as it slowed.

"Now as you can see the landing was bad enough as the pilot was unable to use the landing gear correctly, but this actually isn't the worst part. As you continue to watch you'll notice another jet coming into view on the left side of your screen. This was another flight scheduled to take off at the same time this jet had to make its unexpected landing."

The screen showed the two jets colliding at an awkward angle, the already crippled plane tearing a slice down its waiting counterparts side before finally ripping the wing off and jerking to a stop.

"It is unfortunate that the warning could not be relayed quick enough to the pilot of the waiting flight, and it is because of this that I regret to inform you that there were fatalities. It has been two hours since this incident occurred and in that time there have been three confirmed deaths, six more in critical condition currently in St. York hospital, and over 80 others injured as emergency workers continue clearing out the wreckage. And I've just been told that all flights, coming or going, have been canceled for the next 48 hours."

"Just awful," came a different voice as the screen flashed back to the newsroom, resting on a clean cut and well groomed duck, "Our prayers go out to all those involved and their families, thank you for the update Ron, we'll rejoin you at the end of the hour,"

"Thanks Dan,"

"Well...in other news...

The vixen muted the television and fell back on the bed, not sure what to make out of all this. She was stuck with him for another 48 hours, a situation she would have killed to have been in only just that morning. But so much had changed since then, so much had seemed to have went wrong. Not at first, but that was how it ended. Everything had been going great up until they finished their meal, even Fox finding out about all the credits she had been giving him.

That turned out to be a blessing in disguise...or so I thought.

But now, now it was just this never ending feeling of tension between them and she knew all too well what was causing it. She had saw it the moment he looked away from her, preventing the kiss that they both had been waiting on all this time. The image of Fara that stopped him from going through with it. What he didn't know was how much it had hurt her. Everything had somehow seemed to work in her favor, despite all the odds. And just when she thought they were finally going to end their relationship as 'friends' and move onto something far greater, he had looked away.

What hurt her the most was that Fara wasn't even there to cause it. It was his decision to hold back and that had told the vixen enough. It told her what she hadn't wanted to admit to.

He chose Fara.

How she managed to hold it together was a mystery. Being able to stay by his side after something like that for the next few hours, knowing that the fox she loved more than live itself apparently had feelings for another vixen, it was like torture. Yet as they continued getting supplies, in that awkward silence that stayed between them, the vixen found her thoughts shifting more and more. Sure she was devastated, she was hurt and felt worse than she could've ever imagined, but at the same time she began to feel more and more angry towards him, towards Fara, and towards herself.

What did I do wrong? Where did I screw up? What in the hell is it about Fara that he loves so much? I'd do whatever it takes, I'd be whatever he wanted me to be, just to have him.

Then, while waiting to take off, she finally let her anger slip out.

"Do you really think it bothers me?"

She knew it had hurt him, but her anger kept her from reason, telling her that the vulpine had no excuse to feel sick over what she had said since he apparently had no feelings for her.

Thoughts like these continued to play over and over in her mind as she looked up at the tiled ceiling in their hotel room, wanting to get lost in the white void it presented so she could escape all this confusion and drama and just live in her own perfect world. A world without Fara Phoenix. A world that only had two inhabitants, one of which was a perfect, well-toned, loving, brave, heroic vulpine, accompanied by his sapphire mate who would never have to leave his arms again.

She narrowed her gaze at the ceiling, bringing her thoughts back down to earth as she felt an all too familiar presence draw closer and closer from down the hall. After helping the officials for a good hour or so, before being told to leave unless they were hurt, the two had resumed their tension filled evening once again. She followed him back to their Arwings where he messaged Peppy and told him they'd be back in two days, explaining what had happened and urging him to turn the television to the news.

She couldn't help but feel some sense of satisfaction though, knowing that Fara was somewhere above them throwing a fit because the airport officials wouldn't allow her to land. Of course she could still land at the International Airport in Terria, but that port was across the sea that hugged the side of Cornerian City, even if she did take the detour it would take forever. Hundreds upon hundreds of flights were being rescheduled now and one didn't realize the vital role that the airport in Cornerian City played until it was out of commission.

But while she was somewhat amused with Fara's attempt to join them failing, she still couldn't help but think that it wouldn't matter.If she was here she could run off with Fox, then at least one of us would be happy.

Afterward the two headed back to the strip, still not saying hardly anything to each other as he led them to a decent looking hotel that she assumed he had stayed at before.

"I uh, I've only got enough credits for one room if we stay two nights," he muttered, looking at the ground.

"Fine,"

000

Her stern tone hit him like a punch to the face and he only sighed before turning back to the secretary and purchasing their stay. In his mind he knew he deserved this. He couldn't help but think that maybe he was wrong all along, that maybe she really did love him. If that was the case then earlier back at the restaurant, what he did, it had to have hurt her. So badly he wanted to make everything right, but no matter what he thought of, no matter what idea he managed to scrounge up, all of them ended with Fara...

The door opened and the vulpine stepped in, instantly looking over at the vixen who was lying on her side, facing away from him on the rooms only bed. He sighed and put the room card key back into his wallet, walking over to the bed and sitting on the corner.

For the next few moments he pretended to watch tv, which was more awkward than he could have ever imagined considering it was muted. But even had the news been audible he wouldn't have heard it, his mind, much like hers, continuing to replay everything that had went wrong that day between the two of them.

I should have just done it. I'd rather have kissed her and known, than not and never know. But...but if I did...how would I explain it to Fara?

He clenched his fists, frustrated at all the problems that were laid out before him. At first he thought that Fara's visit was going to be a blessing, that the fennec fox would be the fun, joking vixen that he once knew, and that their relationship from the past would only be a memory. But upon her arrival it had been the exact opposite. As soon as she arrived, the second he met her gaze he recognized that look in her eyes, the same one she used to have before she left him.

It all went down hill from there.

I don't know what to do. I thought that maybe I had a chance with Krystal, but after what she said...maybe Fara is the only choice I have left.

"I'm sorry," he muttered out loud, immediately tensing up as he realized what he had said.

For a moment there was nothing but that still silence that he had grown to hate, and he was worried that she wouldn't respond to him, but finally she lifted herself up into a sitting position, now facing the window behind him.

"For what?" she asked, still harboring that unemotional tone that masked her pain.

For not telling you how I really feel. For looking away when I should have just gave in. For hurting you.

He wanted to say all of those things and more, to keep going and admit everything to the sapphire beauty that he had been keeping locked inside him since day one. But when he opened his mouth none of that came out and he found himself saying the wrong words yet again.

"For Fara."

The sapphire fox scoffed and stood up, turning and facing him, meeting his gaze for the first time in a while and refusing to look away. "That's what your sorry for?" she asked, her eyes expressing such hurt and pain that the vulpine had to grit his teeth to hold their gaze.

"Y-Yeah...I'm sorry that...I'm sorry she's back..." he stuttered, not sure how to put into words all the emotions that his heart was trying to express, "I know you don't like her..."

"Just stop." She turned away from him again, crossing her arms and staring out the window down into the street below.

"Krystal I..." he stood, stepping towards her, wanting to pull her into his arms and hold her until he found the right words.

"No. I don't want to hear it." she interrupted him, stepping away, "Look, in two days we'll head back to GreatFox and reunite with the team. You'll be back with Fara and you two can do whatever you want, its none of my business."

She paused for another few seconds before adding, "And I'll stay out of the way."

She now turned back around to face him, the two catching the others gaze for only a second before she stepped by him and into the bathroom, the sound of water running from the sink instantly filling the empty room. The vulpine remained standing, taking into thought all that she had just told him.

But...I don't want Fara...I want you.

The look that had been in her eyes for that split second took his breath away, and he hated seeing such a beautiful face lined with tears, knowing that he was the reason for them. Slowly he made his way over to the bathroom door, resting his forehead against it and placing a paw on the handle. He pressed down, knowing that it was locked but trying anyways. But even if he had managed to get in there he had no idea what he would've said to her.

I probably would have just made things worse.

He turned back around, facing the bed. His eyes rested on the nightstand where he had left his wallet which was home to 50 credits at the most. He grabbed it and slipped it in his back pocket, pausing and taking a deep shaky breath before making his way back to the entrance of the room.

I've fucked everything up now.

He wasn't sure what was going to happen within the next two days, but for now he could only focus on the memories from earlier, and those were memories that he wanted so badly to forget. But unless some freak case of amnesia overtook him and only made him forget the last 24 hours he knew he was stuck with only one other option, an option that Falco had turned to far more often than him.

A bellhop was passing by with a cart full of suitcases as he closed the door behind him and Fox only just managed to grab his shoulder before he got by him.

"Can I help you sir?" he asked.

"Where's the nearest bar?" the vulpine asked coldly, his heart and mind now only focused on easing the pain that he had so stupidly brought upon himself.

The bellhop gave him directions and continued on his way, leaving him alone in the long hallway. He placed his ear against the door to their room, listening for any sound of the vixen but still getting nothing but the sound of running water from the bathroom sink in return.

She'll never know I left...I guess I deserve that too.

000

She reached forward and turned the handle down, the water slowing to a trickle, then drops, before finally ceasing altogether as it ran down the drain of the bathroom sink. Why she had turned it on in the first place the vixen wasn't sure. She hadn't wanted him to hear her cry, but she knew he had seen the tears. But it was a silent pain that overtook her and the entire time she was in there, sitting on the side of the tub, the tears were accompanied by no sobs, only quietly running down her blue furred face and landing in the porcelain oval.

She had sensed him leaving but she didn't bother probing his thoughts anymore. If she had to give it her best guess she would've said he was going to contact Fara somehow and tell her they were all right and that he'd be back as soon as possible to pamper her like the princess that he thought she was. She wanted to tell herself she didn't care, that it made no difference to her what he did, but that was impossible. She knew all too well how much it hurt being away from him, especially now.

She opened the door to the bathroom and stepped out into the very short little hallway that led to the door. She could still smell his scent all over the place and couldn't help but take a deep whiff of it, knowing it was the most delectable smell she'd ever had the pleasure of breathing in. Reaching up and wiping a tear from her cheek the vixen made her way back over to the window that overlooked the massive city, wondering if there might be someone just like Fox out there for her to find...but knowing it wouldn't ever be the same.

For a few minutes more she waited there, not sure what to do other than search her heart and mind for some way to fix all of this and somehow still end up in the vulpine's arms. But try as she might, no matter how far she stretched her imagination while keeping reality in focus, she couldn't ever see an ending that resulted in the two of them together. Not after all of this. Besides, Fara would sooner kill her than lose Fox so she'd be dead anyways.

She almost smiled at the thought, not sure if it was true or not. The vixen knew she'd be willing to do anything for Fox, and figured Fara was the same way, only a bit crazier and obsessed. Maybe that's why he likes her...maybe that's how I need to be.

No, I refuse to stoop to her level any further. We tried it your way Katt, and I got my answer. If he doesn't like me the way I am then that's no ones fault but his own.

She sighed and looked over to her left at the bag in the floor that contained the clothes she had bought earlier, before everything went to hell. Without thinking she slid off her flight suit and pulled on the shorts, tight t-shirt, and flip flops. She didn't know what she was going to do but she certainly wasn't going to stay cooped up in that room for the rest of the night. She was on Corneria, the most advanced planet in the Lylat System. Regardless of whether or not she was with Fox she wanted to at least look around and see the city for what it was worth.

Who knows, maybe I'll find something to take my mind off all of this.

She knew she wasn't nowhere near over the trauma the day had dealt her, but she continued to play along with the optimistic feeling that her mind presented. She knew Fox was torn up and distressed, and her heart ached for him because of it, but she also knew who he had chosen and who he'd have his arms around once they got back to GreatFox. With that thought fresh in her mind she let the jealous anger rekindle her tougher side as she headed for the door, glancing once in the mirror to make sure she looked as amazing as she had before.

You got Fara. That was the best you could do? Someone as perfect as you could've gotten Ms. Galaxy as his date. But instead its Fara. I can do better than that...anyone can do better than that...

And with one last flick of her tail the vixen left the room, not knowing where she was going, only looking for an outlet that could take her aches and pains from the day and make them all disappear.

000