Epilogue: Karaoke Night
Jesse sighed, sitting on the edge of the bed and rubbing his eyes. Ever since he had let the Entity go, he had felt empty and lonely, having to struggle to be interested in many things anymore. He had let himself go in too deep, and he knew it, but he wasn't sure if he had had a choice in the matter. Either way, the problem with the Beast was diffused, as was the blocks between he and Wolf.
He stood again, looking at himself in the mirror. The entire team had decided to go to the Hub's bar together, as General Pepper had laughingly agreed to baby-sit Hope, but he hadn't exactly had any appropriate clothes. He had finally asked Bill about it, who had cheerfully loaned him an outfit. He sighed, staring at his image moodily, breaking his reverie to answer the door.
Wolf slipped in and hugged him, nuzzling his ears. "You look good."
"I look like a Backstreet Boy." Jesse replied, leaning in with a sigh, arms looping around Wolf's waist. "I didn't know Bill dressed like this."
"He's got clothes for all occasions. I think he picked well for you."
Jesse stepped back to assess Wolf. "Where are you getting the leather?"
"Katt cleaned out Falco's closet." Wolf grinned. "You approve?"
"I'll be beating girls off with a stick."
"You do that." He stepped behind Jesse and ran his comb through the mongoose's hair, smiling when Jesse leaned back into it. "Are you feeling any better?"
"Not really. Empty. Incomplete." Jesse sighed softly. "I went in too deep, Wolf. I'm sorry."
"No, you did the right thing, kid. You saved us all in the end. I'm just glad you were willing to give it up." He hesitated. "I'm sorry I said those things. I was cruel. But…"
"You couldn't love the Entity. I know."
"I can't love a community."
"That's a lie. You love Lylat."
"I'm talking romantic love, tiger." Wolf sighed. "I have a hard enough time letting myself share my heart with one person, let alone god-knows how many."
"I know. I wish you'd open up."
"All in due time." He pecked Jesse on the ear as he finished combing Jesse's hair, tying it back in a loose ponytail. "Are you ready to go?"
"As ready as I'll ever be, I guess." Jesse sighed, looking away.
Wolf looked down at him, then in a swift movement took off his dog tags and put them around Jesse's neck, tucking the tags under the shirt. Jesse gaped.
"I thought you couldn't take those off…?"
"I'm out of action. Look, no matter how down you feel, just remember I'm always going to be there for you. All right?" He lightly brushed his fingers down Jesse's cheek. "All right?" When he got a nod, he smiled a bit. "Now, let's go, the others are probably waiting."
"Thanks a lot, General." Fox smiled, passing over his daughter. "We need this break."
"It's no problem." Pepper automatically passed the kid over to his wife, who laughed and cradled the little girl close, making mothering noises. "I know you need the break. Hell, I'm forcing all of you on leave for at least two months." He smiled when Jesse and Wolf joined the others outside the docked cruiser, both dressed casually. "And the stragglers arrive."
"Give us a break." Jesse complained.
"Oy, kids have no sense of humor these days." He looked to Jirest and Wrin, standing nearby, lifting an eyebrow. "You two going as well?"
"We wouldn't miss it for the world." Wrin smiled. "We are both a bit curious about this 'bar.' If what we read is true, it's going to be an interesting night."
"Well, you guys have interesting timing, it's Karaoke night there." Said Nancy.
Falco moaned. "Can we cancel and go tomorrow?"
"No! Karaoke night is fun!" Said Katt, grabbing his arm so he couldn't go hide on the Great Fox.
"Damn right." Said another voice, and Bill came into the bay as Fara passed over a diaper bag to Nancy. "Shall we?" He grinned after clapping hands with Fox. "I heard you had an interesting time."
"I'll fill you in over a drink." Fox guaranteed.
"Which will be virgin, since you aren't old enough to drink." Peppy said, and Fox pouted, making everyone else burst into laughter.
"Well, we'll let you go. Don't stay up to late." Nancy watched the huge pack leave, smiling. "Thanks for volunteering to baby-sit, Charles. I think I need some time with a kid."
"Believe me, it's my pleasure. That kid needs to act like one sometimes." Pepper wrapped an arm around her, taking the diaper bag as they left for another part of the hub. "Just don't get any ideas about starting a family, ok? We're a bit too old for that."
"Whatever you say…"
"Dammit, Nancy, I'm serious…!"
She laughed. "Alright, alright. Those two ETs are really nice… did their race really plant the bombs?" She glanced at him, frowning.
"We don't know. The data's inconclusive, but we've been led to believe that a very long time ago, yes they did." He shrugged. "But none of the High Command can really think of a reason to talk to them about it. A few million years is a long time to hold a grudge."
"Boy, you look bored, dude." Bill said to the guard who was leaning next to the double doors, apparently being a bouncer.
"I'm not sure why they insist on a bouncer." He shrugged and wove an arm. "Go on in, like I can deny the heroes of the system."
Fox rolled his eyes, pushing one of the doors open and going in, tail wagging as music and chatter hit him, the clatter of glasses and soft laughter. When they walked in, several nearby tables cheered and clapped for them, and space was made so their large entourage could have a spot to sit. Falco waved at the bartender, the group settling down into chairs, studying their settings.
It was, for all purposes, a huge bar and dance club, probably able to hold a thousand people. It wasn't full, but there were quite a few people attending, the dance floor was about half-packed, and the band was actually live, swapping through styles and taking a break when dance or techno came on. As they watched, some girls coaxed their friend to go up on stage, and after some discussion with the band she went into a decent account of a Shakira song, blushing madly the entire time.
"You're going to sing, right, Wolf?" Drax asked, leaning back in his chair and accepting a daiquiri from the bartender. "Uh, who bought me this?"
"It's called a mudslide. It's a fudge daiquiri. Alcohol and sugar. It's good." Said Bill with a grin, accepting his own drink. "And since when do you sing, Wolf?"
"I, um, er…" Wolf shank into his chair and blushed. "I don't really."
"Liar." Falco said blandly. "What do you sing?"
"He does a good Elvis." Drax grinned.
"Oh really?" Fox grinned, looking at Wolf, who sank lower, ears pressed back. "It might be the leather jacket, but somehow I can see that. So are you going to?"
"Absolutely not! I'm not that good."
"Aw, come on!" Fara joined in, grinning. "Pleeeze?"
"NO!"
"I will." Bill offered, setting an empty glass on the table and licking his lips. "I like singing." With that he stood and bounced away from the table.
Wolf belted half his mug in one gulp, scowling when he saw everyone looking at him. "I am not singing."
"Sure you aren't." Said Falco.
"I'm not!"
Their argument was cut off by Bill, who had tossed his windbreaker aside, speaking shortly to the band members, who laughed and agreed as Bill picked up a mic. The guitars started up first, Bill coming in later, having picked an easygoing, upbeat rock tune for his choice.
"One man came in the name of love, one man come and go. One man come, he justify, one man to overthrow…" By then most of the people had caught on, and voices burst out around the club, many singing along. "In the name of love, what more in the name of love?! In the name of love? What more in the name of love…"
"Boy, when he drops hints, he drops hints." Falco laughed and shook his head. "He ain't bad though."
"Naturally not. He was in a band the last year or so of High School, never did anything with it though." Said Fox, nodding along with the song. "Man of many talents, our Bill Grey."
"No kidding." Drax observed, smiling to himself. "Were you in the band, Fox?"
"What? No! I helped haul amplifiers though."
"It's going to be strange returning to a normal life, you know that?" Katt remarked, leaning into Falco absently. "I don't think any of us has had a normal life since before the war."
"Normal is boring." Jesse said with a smile. "And I've never had a normal life."
"You know what I mean! I love the Great Fox, but I need to see trees and grass, even if they are oddball colors."
"Agreed." Peppy said with a sour smile. "We all need a break."
"Which is probably why you guys have two months of leave time." Said Jirest. "I don't know what to do, personally."
"Pepper has some plans for you two, if you accept. Diplomatic officers I think. Nothing final mind you." Fox looked at them, and both lit up. "Hey, you'll always be welcome with Lylat society, as near as I can tell."
"Which is typical for us." Wolf smiled. "Stomp with us, and become family."
"I will gladly do so then." Wrin smiled. "Should we call Pepper up tomorrow morning?"
"That'd be my guess. And don't worry about your antenna, Jirest, I think Pepper even mentioned disability for you if you want it."
"That's good. Much as I hate it, it is a disability." Jirest sighed. Falco reached over and slapped him on the back in support, almost making him spill his wine cooler.
Up on stage, Bill wound the song up, and got some decent applause. He smiled and wove it off, then said into the mic, "You guys feel like some oldies dance tunes?" When he got a general affirmative, he looked over at the table, where Wolf shrank some more. "Fox? Falco? Drag Wolf's silver ass over here please." This drew a bout of laughter.
"No. No, no." Wolf protested, holding up his hands when the two mentioned grinned at him. "Touch me and I'll break your goddamn arms."
"Aw, Wolf. Come on…" Jesse begged. "For me…?"
Wolf gave Jesse a look that generally translated to 'you suck' and stood, slouching over to the stage and stepping up without much effort. "You're going to die for this later Bill. You know this." He turned up the collar of the jacket, letting the various buckles hang loose.
"Promises, promises." Bill passed him the mic, grinning evilly. "Let's see what you got, Elvis."
Wolf tossed Bill off the stage one-handed, where the crowd caught him luckily, and looked at the band, who looked back. "Right. You guys know any Elvis tunes?"
