DISCLAIMER: I don't own Starfox. Nintendo does. I own Azulia Lombardi, Draco Lombardi, and Jad Tayel. If you wish to use them, email me (neptunerising@poetic.com)

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Falco and Katt headed back to the elevator, Falco leading. Katt sighed. He was trying to be macho again. He always did that when he was afraid. Not that he was afraid often. Sometimes, Katt knew, he just did it for the hell of it. He couldn't force his swagger, though. Of course, he probably didn't even realize he had a swagger. That was what Katt was using to tell that he was afraid. He wasn't swaggering at all.

"Are you sure you want to do this?" Katt asked quietly; she already knew the answer.

"Yes," Falco said. "Why wouldn't I?"

Katt sighed. Falco was always trying to be brave. That was one of the things she loved about him. Of course, she loved just about everything about him. She just loved that more than most of his qualities.

"Where would you like to go?" the elevator asked.

"Sub-basement fifteen," Falco said.

The elevator doors closed, and Katt felt the elevator begin to pick up speed as it went down. Katt heard Falco swallow hard.

"Falco, I know you're afraid of being underground," Katt said finally.

"Afraid? I'm not afraid," Falco said, but his voice lacked the confidence it usually had.

"Yes you are," Katt said, moving so she was mere inches away from Falco. "I know it and Jad probably does, too. It's obvious. You don't have to pretend."

Falco blinked down at her, obviously uncomfortable about their closeness. Katt hadn't even realized she had gotten so close to Falco, but she made no move to distance herself, and Falco was standing against the wall.

"I'm not!" Falco insisted. "Not at all."

Katt stepped a little closer to him. Falco tried to step back, but his foot hit the back of the elevator.

"Maybe a little," Falco admitted.

"Maybe a lot," Katt said.

Falco said nothing, and Katt still didn't move. Falco looked about ready to push her away. The elevator slowed.

"Sub-basement fifteen," it said.

Katt walked out, but Falco lingered for a moment, seeming stunned, before exiting. They walked to the door, and a red laser shot out from the door. Katt, whom had only had laser blasters shot at her, flinched. It was only a light, though, and it scanned them. This level was obviously high-security. It beeped after a moment, and the door dilated open.

The large room was completely empty, and there were no doors in the walls like the other level. Falco looked to Katt. She just shrugged.

"I've never been below sub-basement seven. That's restaurants, by the way," Katt said with a sly grin.

"We'll go hang out there when we're done down here," Falco said, and Katt wondered if he was joking.

Falco walked into the room, and Katt hurried after him, silently scolding Falco. For all he knew, this room could be booby trapped. They could get attacked with robots right now.

"It's not booby trapped," Falco said. "I've seen those doors before. You don't have the right chip, you get fried."

"Well, that's nice to know," Katt said.

"Only after the fact," Falco said, smiling.

Katt stared at Falco for a minute. Just a few minutes ago he was completely nervous, and now he was making jokes. She just didn't understand men. Or maybe it was just Falco. He turned suddenly, surveying the room. He walked towards the far end of the room. Katt stayed where she was.

"I don't see anything in here," Falco said. "So how are we supposed to..."

As Falco put his wing against the wall, it dilated. Falco took a step back, and it closed. Katt came over.

"Talk about security," Katt said as she put her paw against where the door had once been.

Nothing happened. Katt withdrew her paw, confused. Falco's eyes darkened, and he put his wing up to the wall. The wall dilated.

"I don't like this," Falco said. "It's an Avian door. And only Dragon L's gang uses those. And Dragon L..."

"Isn't he dead?" Katt asked. "Dragon L, I mean."

"Yeah. I saw him die," Falco said neutrally.

The emotionless way Falco said it frightened her. Falco obviously hated him. It made sense to her, when she thought about it. Dragon L and Jad, as well as their gangs had been vicious rivals. Of course, Dragon L wasn't exactly a gang leader. He was on Corneria's Most Wanted until he was confirmed dead ten years ago, for he was the head of the Cornerian Mafia. Falco might just have been expressing hatred for the creature his former gang hated.

"Are you coming, Katt?" Falco called, standing inside the room that had opened up.

"Yeah," Katt said slowly, walking in.

Katt smiled to herself. It seemed that they were always following after the other. They rarely walked together, and Katt knew why. To Falco, if he wasn't asking Katt something, walking next to her would mean he might actually care about her. He couldn't have that. Katt giggled.

"What's so funny?" Falco asked, looking at Katt oddly.

"Nothing," Katt said, shaking her head as she hurried ahead of Falco. "Now come on!"

"Katt, what are you doing?" Falco asked, speeding up to walk in front of her.

"Nothing," Katt said, giggling again as she overtook Falco. "Nothing, nothing nothing."

Falco ran to get ahead of Katt, and Katt ran to get ahead of Falco. This game continued for awhile, and Katt wondered why they were even playing it. They were both nervous, she supposed. This helped to relieve the tension.

"Excuse me for interrupting your little game," a deep voice said. "But I believe you have some business with me?"