"Okay…wait, okay, now look!"
Krystal opened her eyes to see a brown, oak door slowly materialize in front of her. The number 214 rested on the archway above the entrance. She smirked and called back to the orange-ish fox behind her. "Wow, it sure is a nice door."
Fox laughed, resting his paws on her shoulders. "It's what's behind the door that matters."
Krystal twisted the doorknob and walked into the white hallway, which quickly transformed into a living room. She smiled as began to explore the apartment, occasionally figuring objects on dressers or tables.
"This is nice." She turned and shot Fox a devilish grin. "You sure went through a lot of trouble to find me an apartment down here in Corneria."
Fox laughed sheepishly while his paw stroked the back of his neck. "Nah, it's really no trouble. It was just a matter of scanning through newspapers…" He smiled brightly. "And, hey, look! All this furniture comes with it! So you wouldn't have to buy any!"
Krystal stopped suddenly, although she continued to scan the bedroom she had entered, with Fox on her tail. "Yeah, speaking of buying…I'm currently depleted of funds. I'm broke. And with no job. I could never afford a place like this."
She sighed and, with Fox stepping aside, walked out of the room. Fox pondered for a moment, than smiled his own sweet smile. "Oh, now that you mention it, I was hoping you could consider taking a spot on the StarFox team. I mean, you seem to be a worthy fighter, and it was brave of you to take on Scales at Dinosaur Planet."
Krystal sat on a couch in the living room and looked towards the vulpine. "Really? You mean it?" After a taking a brief pause, she continued, "What about the rest of your team? What would they think?"
Fox laughed. "I don't really care what they think. They can quit if they don't like it. But I don't believe that will occur; they seem to be growing fond of you." He sat down next to her, leaning against the armrest.
Krystal smirked. "Hmmm…you found me an apartment, and now you're offering me a job. Wow Fox, you sure are generous."
She stood to her feet and leaned against a wall. She was accustomed to men offering her numerous things. She found it amusing that men would throw anything at a woman's feet just if she had a shapely curve.
"I'll have to think it over. I don't really know if I'll stay on Corneria. But if I'm being offered a job…" She turned toward Fox. "Do you have an apartment here?"
Fox nodded. "Yeah, the entire crew has a place here in Corneria. This is the place where we repair the Great Fox, so we might spend months down on land."
His eyes drifted towards Krystal and her body. He could feel his cheeks redden, but luckily, his fur covered his blushing.
"A little off subject, but I meant to talk to you about your outfit. I was hoping you would elect to something a bit more normal."
Krystal looked down at herself, her ears flattening. "Of course. It's typical. I don't look like everyone else, so I'm pressured to blend in with the crowd!" She scoffed. "No one else on any other planet cared on how I looked. They just let me do my job and not criticize my outfit! What, am I embarrassing you?"
Fox looked puzzled, but not necessary about her sudden mood change. "Job? What job?"
Krystal bit her bottom lip, frustrated with herself for unknowingly bringing up that topic. She quickly changed it. "I guess I could use some more modern clothes. I mean, if you want me to. She flattened her tribal skirt against her legs. "I could use something new."
Fox smiled and stood to his feet. "Great. I know an awesome place just down the street."
"This looks awful!" Krystal examined herself in a mirror outside a dressing room. She wore a tight little black dress, and she found it hard to maneuver in. "So impractical."
Fox sat on a bench, watching Krystal model the outfits. He shrugged. "Looks fine to me."
Krystal sighed and headed back to the dressing room. "I won't wear this."
After a few minutes, she came out wearing blue jeans and red tube-top. She once again examined herself in the mirror.
"I have no idea how I could fight in this, if the occasion called for it. It restricts all my movements." She headed back into the dressing room, calling out to Fox as she changed into something else. "I would do much better in my original garments."
Fox smiled mischievously. "Well, it didn't seem to help you much on Dinosaur Planet. You still were beaten."
He laughed silently at his own little joke, but realized his mistake when Krystal stormed out of the dressing room, her bottom covered by a pair of loose pants, but her top only concealed by a white t-shirt she had grabbed and held against her breasts.
"Hey! I would have done just fine if I had not lost my staff! If I would have had it with me, General Scales would have been beaten, and YOU would have had no purpose on Dinosaur Planet!"
Fox, a bit taken back by her snappy response, lowered his ears, frustrated. "But that didn't happen, and I had to travel over there to save you!"
Krystal growled and returned to the dressing room, yelling out. "Do not think that I have to be saved! I have been on my own for a couple of years now, and I do not need some one to protect me, or to become sympathetic!" She extended on her toes, becoming tall enough to peek over the stall door and glare at Fox. "I do not need you to take care of me!"
Fox glanced up toward her and growled. "Oh, don't worry. I wouldn't do such a thing!"
A few minutes of silence passed as Krystal changed back into her original clothing, and than emerged carrying the blue jeans and white t-shirt. "These will be fine."
She walked passed Fox as he followed, sighing in frustration.
They emerged from the shop in a better mood, letting the previous argument slip from their minds. Krystal carried the bag holding her new garments, plus a few others they had chosen out, and planned on changing later. She was a bit regretful for being so snappy with Fox, who, in fact, was helping her out, and was also paying for her new clothes. She promised herself to seem more grateful.
Krystal smiled softly. "Thank you Fox."
Fox grinned, snatching the bag from her paws. "No problem. And let me carry these. A girl shouldn't have to."
Krystal sighed while rolling her eyes, wondering if he had heard any word from their previous confrontation. Fox didn't seem to notice, and pointed on down the street.
"Come on, let's head down to the Great Fox base, and tell the guys the good news about you staying."
Krystal eyes widen as she struggled to keep up with the ever-increasing pace of Fox. "Wait, I didn't say I was staying…"