Bleeding Out
Wolf ran as fast as he could through the dark alleyway . He was being chased by Kovak's thugs again . One was the bulldog the other a gray hound . Somewhere in his mind,he wondered how someone could do this to a sixteen year old ,but he didn't have time to dwell .
He was running out of breath and out of options . Being new to Vetrino City,he had no idea how to navigate the alleys and streets and ultimately he was cornered .
"That's right punk,no where to run . You already know what it is ",one of them said,sliding on a set of brass knuckle . Wolf showed no fear,he stared them down . Suddenly,a hooded figure ,from the look of his tail ,a reptile,rushed one of the dogs,stabbing him in the abdomen repeatedly . The gray dog went for his gun,but never got a chance to use it . The reptile pushed his arm and stabbed him up just as bad as the other . Both of them were down and he went to finish the job .
Wolf was too scared to run,while he was swinging his blade,only a foot away . He waited until the man was stabbing the second dog to make a run for it,but was grabbed by his shoulder and thrown on the ground . He went for the knife that he had hidden and attempted to stab the reptile,only for him to grab his wrist and wrestle him into the brick wall .
"Damnit Wolfus,it's me! ", said,yanking down his mask .
It was Leon .
"Son of a bitch,Powalski!* You scared the shit out of me!",Wolf said . He pulled away from Leon and looked at the scene before him .
"Don't look at it,you idiot!We have to get out of here!",Leon said,grabbing Wolf and dragging him down the alleyways he knew all too well .
Back at Leon's place,Wolf's nerves were completely shot . How could that psycho murderer back there be Leon?
Granted,Leon did kill his girlfriend,but that was an accident . . . wasn't it?He loved Anastasia . . .
Or was there something he missed?
"What the fuck was that back there?",Wolf said breathless once Leon locked the doors .
"I was saving your life",he simply said as if it were nothing .
"You brutally murdered those guys",he hissed .
"I thought they were going to kill you!So I stepped in,is that so wrong?!",Leon said,cleaning the knife at the kitchen sink and slammed it down startling Wolf .
"I-I'm leaving,I'm out of here",Wolf said . But before he could go Leon was grabbing his shoulder . Wolf spun around and shoved him,a look of horror in his eyes .
"Stay away from me!",Wolf said .
It was then that Leon realized that Wolf was afraid,no terrified of him . The poor kid was backed against the wall,his ears down,looking feral . Leon stepped back .
"I-I just wanted to help . I'm not a murderer",he said .
"I'm not afraid that you're a murderer . It's just that you enjoyed it",he said quietly . Wolf used this moment to take his leave,leaving Leon to bury his face in his hands ,retreating to his room .
It had been months since Wolf moved back in with Leon . He had no where else to go,no one to turn too,and Leon was willing to protect him and didn't mock him or solicit him for sex because of his profession . Wolf and Leon dragged through an alleyway,their hands in their pockets . Wolf's body was pained and he was hiding a bruised eye behind his long white bangs .
"This is the place",Wolf said . Leon's hands grazed his concealed knife .
"One of Kovak's?",Leon asked . Wolf sighed .
"Yeah",Wolf said,dejectedly .
"How long has this fucker been bothering you,kid?",Leon asked .
"Don't call me that",Wolf said annoyed .
"I have how many years on you again?I call you whatever I please",Leon said . Wolf was only sixteen at then .
"Whatever . A month,but I'm okay,I fight him back,so . . . "
"Can't even send you to a corner store safely,Wolf . This needs to end",Leon said .
"I can take care of myself . Its not like I can't fight and I never . . "
"That was self defense . And I'm sure you ran and cried somewhere . This is way different,its better for you . Remember,don't hesitate,don't stop ,don't think . Just do it and get out of there",Leon said . He paused for a minute,Wolf did the same,listening out for a moment .
"Alright,let's do it",Leon said . Wolf nodded . They lingered behind a car,awaiting a pit bull to leave and go to his car . He looked around cautiously for a moment and Leon and Wolf pressed themselves against the wall,careful not to make a sound .
As soon as his back was to them,Wolf and Leon rushed the pitbull,slamming him against the car as they stabbed him repeatedly anywhere they could get to . There was no way for him to defend himself as they came with stab after stab after stab and painted the white car behind him red .
Leon only had a few seconds to admire their work before they ran off into the night . Now that the job was done,Wolf felt a weight lift from his shoulders . Running through the alleyways to avoid being seen gave him a familiar rush that reminded him of pulling a prank and getting away with it . As soon as they were home,Leon dragged Wolf straight to the bathroom and cleaned up .
"Put your clothes in the bag",he said and shut the bathroom door behind him . After stripping down,Wolf looked at his reflection in the mirror and was happy that he would never be bruised and beaten like he was again .
No matter what he did,his pulse wouldn't slow,his hands wouldn't stop trembling . He thought it was excitement or possibly tiredness from running ,but he became unsure . He was begging to believe that maybe,what he did that night was started to bother him . Leon had continued to act normal as if nothing happened and this bothered Wolf . Even if Leon took him in,Wolf was now unsure about the man . He wondered if maybe,he was staying with a psychopath .
Wolf said nothing and sat as far away from Leon as possible .
Wolf kept seeing the blood on his hands,hours after the incident . He was sick to his stomach,and he was feeling light headed . Leon's apparent calmness made it even worse . Suddenly,Wolf rose from the seat and fled to the bedroom,where he lay down,his hands still shaking
"You're safe now",Leon's voice said,Wolf snapped up to see him in the doorway . Leon sat on the bed an Wolf moved away . At this point,Wolf was sure he was on the brink of losing it . What bothered Wolf was that the actual stabbing felt good,felt like a kinda therapy that actually worked . Why was he feeling bad now?
"My hands are shaking and they won't stop . . . they won't",he mumbled . Leon finally sat down next to Wolf and hugged him close . After staying like that several minutes,the shaking stopped,his pulse slowed . They fell asleep inches away from each other and there were no nightmares .
Wolf
"I'm going to Titania with Bill and Miyu . It was General Pepper's last mission request",Fox said . He was sitting with his legs folded on the couch,playing with his blaster . And he was avoiding eye contact again .
He's hiding something .
"So that's why you're in such a hurry . You don't think you're comin' back",I said .
"It's not that,it's just . . . . this guy we're dealin' with is dangerous",he said .
"And Andross wasn't?",I answered .
"No,no,Andross was dangerous,arrogant and stupid . This guy seems smarter",he said .
"You're right . Because that mess we got into two days ago didn't match his MO at all . Leon said that there were opposing views and that clearly ,this whole string of psycho paths aren't after the same goal",I said .
"Yeah,I started thinking of that too",he said .
"So why don't you put off Titania then?We got problems here",I said .
"No,it's cool,I need the money",he said .
A lie of course .
"I could loan you money if you need it",I said .
"Then you'd be broke",he said .
'But you'd still be here',is what I wanted to say,but I caught myself .
"Wolf,I know I did some shit,but I wanna put this behind us . I want you back in my life",he said,looking right at me .
'I want you too',but again,I stopped myself .
"Why?",I said . I say this because now that I look at myself,the secrets I hold ,what I've done in the past,I can't help but wonder why he'd even want me?
I felt the same way when James wanted me . But there was something different about James,he was 'dirty' . Fox is too,but not to that extent . Or maybe he is ,I just don't know it .
"I can't explain it really,but when you're with me,I feel like I'm walking on air . . . does that make any sense?",he said .
"Hm",was all I said .
"Wolf",he was started to get frustrated .
"Let me tell you somethin' pup . I don't know how many relationships you've been in,but I learned a long time ago that something that's a small problem early on,becomes worse later",I said . I could feel his glare on me now .
"So The puppies are getting cuddly with each other? ",Panther said,leaning over the couch . Fox smiled nervously and just gave him my 'What the fuck?' look that I'm sure he's use to . He made a show of leaping over the couch and lounging back taking up all the space between me and Fox . He slammed his feet down on the coffee table and Falco yelled at him .
"The hell?! Why is everybody abusing my house?",he shouted .
"You still pay rent,man",Fox said . He growled and Fox tried not to laugh .
"Pay attention,Mr,Lombardi . You'll lose again ",Leon said . I looked over and noticed that Katt and Falco were playing cards with Leon . Katt had a smug look on her face that told me who the real winner was . I turned back to Panther who was sitting way to damn close .
"What the hell do you want this time?",I said,clearly annoyed .
"To let you canines know that I am throwing a party here and there's nothing you can do about it . Stay if you like",he said before he looked right at me,pointing .
"You can be the entertainment . I need a good laughe",he said . I punched him in the side and he seethed ,but hid it in a grin .
"I told you,I'm not dancing",I growled .
"Suit yourself . That means I'll just be the center of attention",he said .
"What's the occasion anyway? I need to get wasted",Fix said .
"So ,surviving three assassination attempts in one day and cruising through the street like an action movie isn't reason to celebrate?",he said .
"Sure,whatever,just get off of me",I said .
"Then it's settled!",he said ,standing .
"I have an announcement!",Panther said loudly .
No one looked at him . He looked around waiting for a response but we pretty much ignored him . He sighed and dropped his dramatic posture,his tail slumping .
"Party at Mr . Lombardi's place tonight,who's in?",he said like a normal person for once .
"I am!",Katt called .
"No you are not! We are not having a party! You trashed my car,now the house too?!",he said .
"I'll get you a cleaning droid",Panther offered .
"Just don't steal it",Falco warned .
"No promises",Panther said .
"So,we gonna do somethin' small or invite half of the west side of Corneria City?",Fox asked .
"You're gonna do it whether I give you permission or not,aren't you?",Falco said .
"Yes,your words mean nothing",Leon said and Falco glared at him .
"Well,too bad Falco . Besides,great distraction . If we raise enough hell,no one's gonna be too worried about what happened the other day",Fox said,his tail wagging .
"Excellent! I shall begin preparations",Panther said and he was gone . Unfortunately,that just left me with Fox,who was looking at me again with those hopeful eyes . I sighed and got up from the sofa and he did too . But before he could follow,Leon stood up from his seat . He cut his eyes at him,effectively stopping him from moving . Fox stayed still and just glared at Leon .
I'm in the kitchen now,looking for some alcohol,but all I see is cheap beer so far . It was when I was digging through the cabinets and became frustrated that Leon spoke .
"Come on,I'll take you out for a drink",he said . I released a cabinet,leaving it open . I followed him without a word,ignoring Fox's eyes one my back .
I stepped out into the cold ,winter air . The snow hadn't started to fall yet,but the chill was deep enough for me to know it would soon . Even with his trench coat,Leon shivered a bit . He's cold blooded so I already knew what would happen if he came out and so did he,yet he still decided to do it .
"Leon",I called him and he looked up . I undid my long coat and invited him under . He smiled,it was a small one,but it was there . I waited for him to catch up and took off my coat,slinging over both of us,ignoring the looks and stares of people in the street .
We'd done this so many times that it felt like a natural thing for us . Cruising through different planets with different seasons mean that winter often came at strange times . The first time we were caught in the cold,Leon gave me his coat and curled into a ball in the corner .
He was willing to do so that I wouldn't freeze to death .
When he wouldn't wake up,I remembered something about body heat and I lay with him beneath the coats and we pulled through the night tucked so close together,we may as well be one person .
"You and Fox . What happened?",he asked . I knew it would come sooner or later,but why sooner?
If I tell him the truth ,I'm more than positive he will assassinate Fox without hesitation .
"Argument",I said .
"Did he put his hands on you?",he asked .
How did he know?
"No",I said and I'm not sure he believed me .
"Just give me the sign . Give me the signal and I can make him leave you alone . For good",he said . There are times when I really want this ,but I know I'd regret it .
"Not now,Leon . We need him",he said .
"Yes,I suppose you do need him don't you?",he said and if I didn't know any better ,I would swear there was envy somewhere in his voice . Before I could answer,he cut to the left and dragged me into the nearby bar . I never really noticed it because the lights aren't gaudy and it kinda looks like shit . But that was just the outside . The inside was a different story . The place was pretty classy,modern and retro looking at the same time .
When we came in together,our cool breath visible in the air just before the door shut,only few eyes were on us . When Leon looked back,they turned away . Most people had enough sense to know with a reptile friend ,something like that is necessary .
There was an after chill on us ,so we stayed close until we reached the warmer area where the booths were and sat across from each others . A waitress walked over to us,a cute puppy with golden fur and green eyes,her ears bouncing with her short,frilly skirt .
"Strongest thing you got ,bring the whole bottle",he said .
Leon simply sat with his eyes closed,elbows on the table and fingers knitted together . After what seemed like an eternity,Leon finally let his hands fall to the table and leaned back leisurely .
"You haven't been sleeping lately,Wolf . I worry about your well being ",he said .
"James",I said . His slit like eyes widened a bit,but not much .
"Nightmares again?",he asked .
"No,he called me",I said .
"He's dead",he said .
"I know",I answered .
"A recording ",he said . I nodded . It had to be a recording,but from where?
"What did it say?",he asked .
I said nothing because I knew if I tried to speak ,the words wouldn't come out .
"It was from the day he died",I finally answered . As soon as the expensive bottle of vodka touched the table,I filled our shot glasses and immediately downed mine . I went for another right after, too use to the burning sensation it made on the way down .
"Really? Than I suppose you needed this more than I thought",he said .
Fourth shot down,undiluted and I was feeling warm and my fuzzy inside . I was definitely buzzed enough to feel it and I sat back in my seat .
"You never told me how he died",he said .
"Bullet to is' head . You saw the body",I mumbled .
"Wolfus, I want to tell you something ",he said . I looked at him and for the first time in a long time ,I saw him nervous,unsure . The last time he looked like this was when he was unsure who to execute,a Cornerian Defense officer or a detective, with his blaster ready to burn out .
But then ,that warm smile that ethereal serenity I've only seen him use with Anastasia .
Could he be . . . ?
Suddenly,Leon sat up eyes attentive . He looked around the bar,and I sat up ,following his eyes . They landed on a bird lurking at the bar . He was looking directly at us,red rimmed eyes,and he looked suspiciously similar to Falco,even gave off the same aura .
But his feathers were black ,his eyes were green .
He looked directly at me and paid his tab before getting up from the bar .
"Let's go",Leon urged .
He left some credits on the table and dragged me up from my seat . The moment we stepped outside,I draped my coat over Leon's shoulders .
"Thanks",he said ,his eyes were somewhere else . Even I felt like I was being watched .
"Listen,I'll catch up with you soon",he said . At this point ,I didn't feel comfortable leaving him alone . I was physically pulled between staying to see what was up and leaving . I looked back at him one more time,before heading back to Falco's place
Leon Powalski waited until Wolf was out of site before he crossed the street ,entering a nearby alleyway . The moment he stepped into the alleyway,he drew his knife . Though there appeared to be no one there,he brought his knife into the darkness ,only for a hand to stop it . The black bird from the bar sprang from the dark and caught his wrist just as the blade touched him . Despite the pain in his wrist,Leon pressed on,but couldn't get to him . Before he could do any thing,the bird was pulling his own knife and he stabbed at Leon . Leon dodged it but it cut his shoulder .
Leon and the bird were both trying to get at each other and the bird was surprised Leon didn't let up . It was only the fact he had feathers that was saving him now . The bird managed to cut up Leon's arms pretty badly but he was determined . He managed to stab the bird's thigh and slammed him into the wall only for the bird to wrestle him down to the ground and stab at his torso . The only thing that saved Leon was him curling his tale .
Wolf was walking toward Falco's somewhat tipsy but stopped dead in his tracks . Normally ,the faintest trace of blood,he ignored it because again,this wasn't the best neighborhood,though it wasn't as bad as his .
It was just that it was Leon's blood and heavy enough to suggest he was injured . Wolf instantly ran back to the area near the bar . He sniffed around to find where it was coming from and ran down an alley . He found Leon,lying against a wall,blood on the ground and walls . By the time he arrived, the bird was fleeing and Wolf just saw his black feathers . He went for his communicator but was stopped by Leon .
"I wanted to protect you",Leon whispered .
"How bad is it?",he said .
"Just a few cuts . Take me home",he said .
Wolf himself checked for stabs and deep cuts and was grateful there were none,besides the shallow stab in his tale,and the cuts on his arms . He lifted Leon up and under the cover of darkness made his way back to Falco's .
*That line was from a funny starfox parody toon I youtube it and get your laugh for those who haven't already seen it .