Resentment

Of all the places in the Federation why did he choose this one? Probably to make my life difficult. Ahh! I'll kill him when I see him! I'll teach him a lesson for this. He's always been Peppy's favourite. Everything's always my fault. It's not fair. Peppy wouldn't worry about me if I was in his place. This really is a foul world. Soaking wet, cold, empty, probably smells too. That'll be why Falco likes it. Oh there he is. Standing at the edge of a cliff, maybe I can push him over it. Strange… he didn't even look up at me as I flew over. He's ignoring me. How typical, we're better off without him. I wouldn't be here if Peppy hadn't sent me… Although I do owe him one for saving my ass, but really this is going too far!

What is he wearing? He looks like he's been dragged through a black hole backwards. He'd probably enjoy doing something like that. He only flies with us because he gets a kick out of it, and he had the nerve to talk to me about not believing in the cause! Ugh! He must be able to hear me coming, but he isn't looking round, we were always taught to watch our backs, I don't suppose he stands by the old rules anymore. He's always been better than the rules anyway. I suppose I'd better try and say something, at least then I won't be the one lying to Peppy… what's he doing, shouting at the thunderstorm? How stupid is that?
"Hey Lombardi, What are you doing? You can't change the weather, or have you lost your mind as well as any other redeeming factor that made you any more than a waste of skin?"
Like for like he couldn't call me Fox before so why should I call him by name? I walk up next to him, he's still refusing to look at me. There seems to be something very interesting to him on the horizon… he's pretending, he thinks I don't notice him looking at me out of the corner of his eye… Why did he leave? Did he really think I was serious when I told him to get out? He's probably just using it as an excuse to get me in trouble.
"Peppy told me to come. He said I should apologise, personally I think you owe me the apology"
That's right. Peppy worked real hard to make me feel guilty… at least to begin with. I suppose everyone can jump to conclusions… he said sorry later and that he didn't mean it, but I can't forget the things he said. I'm not angry with him, I'm angry with you. Angry for the hurt you caused.
"Frankly I'm here for him, not you"
I don't care what you decide; I just don't want to see him so upset anymore.
"If you care about him you'll come back. Mind you if you cared about us you would never have left"
Something flickered in your eyes then, and I wonder if maybe I touched a bone. I find myself feeling… I don't know… maybe regret… sympathy… I'm not really sure… it hurts… kind of… I just know I don't want to be angry anymore. It's been a long time…
"I'll say sorry, if it will make you come back"
Peppy wants you home… maybe… I do too
"I'm… sorry Falco… I was angry… I didn't mean what I said. I do miss you, I want you home almost as much as Peppy does, but that would be hard."
I find I mean that, with more of my heart and sincerity than I ever thought possible. There's something wrong with you, I can see it, now that I take the time to look. You seem… different… and I am left wondering what you've been doing since you left us. By the look of you it wasn't anything nice…
"Falco… you ok?"
I really am troubled now. You're swaying on you feet. How long has it been since someone showed any concern for you, showed you kindness. I think… Falco Lombardi… are you crying? Not since I was twelve have I seen you cry… I'm not sure if you are, you're so wet from this damn storm.
"Falco are you crying?"
You are. Now I really do feel for you. Is it my fault you're so upset, I hope not… I swear I don't mean to make you cry! I want to make this right, just tell me, show me how; you seem to have lost your voice. I want to comfort you… but I don't know how. I've never been able to find the words… at least not for you. You've always been able to put our differences aside when I needed a helping hand-maybe that makes you a better person than me… Eight years we've been friends and I still don't know what to do to comfort you, or maybe I just can't bring myself to do and say the things that need to be. And they used to call you the proud one…
"Falco…"
I still can't find the right words for you, but maybe words aren't what's needed now, I don't know you'd hear me over the thunder anyway… What the?
I suppose you made the decision for me. Or did I make it? I won't let you fall, even if I have to carry you. I find myself not just holding you up, but actually hugging you… have I ever done that before? I wonder how many of my friends would laugh at me if they could see… Actually I don't care. That's their problem. You're so cold… and wet. It frightens me… I've seen people die of hyperthermia… and so have you… probably more than I have…
"Falco you're soaking"
I'm good at stating the obvious aren't I? I'm taking my coat off and I find myself wrapping it around you, hell you need it more than I do, then rubbing your arms, trying to get some warmth back into you. It must have been a long time for you to grow this cold. You're shivering, that's a good sign! And… wincing too against some pain I can't see or feel.
"You're like a giant blue ice cube"
I laugh, I want you to laugh with me, we used to do that a lot, when we weren't trying to kill one another. I want you to laugh, or at least talk to me. You're so still, and quiet, just shaking in my arms. My words earn a smile, which I return, it's a start… of what I see will be a long and… hard road; somehow I know I don't appreciate how hard it will be… I don't want to know what happened while you were… away… what made you like this. I think it's the stuff of nightmares.
"I've missed you"
There's surprise in your eyes. That hurts me more than any cruel words you could ever say… that maybe you don't know I care about you, or… that in eight years I've never been able to tell you. I'd better call us a ride, you're in no fit state to fly.
"Peppy, can you bring the two-seat, I think Falco needs a lift"
A pause then a response
"Sure thing Foxy… thanks"
Your eyes are closing, you're going limp in my arms now, and the shivering has stopped again… No… Don't you dare!
"Hey, you still with me buddy?"
You open your eyes again, but they are distant, I know you don't see me properly. We have to get out of this storm, to where it's warmer and dryer. My Arwing, under the wing… come on, I'll carry you if I have to.
It's dryer here. The rain can't hit us. I could put you in the cockpit, but there's not room for both of us, and I'm not wiling to leave you, in case you stop breathing.
"Falco, come on! Stay awake!"
I get even less response this time. Come on Lombardi don't you dare die on me! I'll never forgive you!
"Talk to me buddy, come on you like to shout at me!"
Do anything! Kick me, shout at me, say something, anything, please!
"I told you stay awake! Don't you dare go to sleep!"
Why am I bothering, you never listened to me.
"Come on Falco… Please hold on! If you go to sleep now… you won't wake up again!"
Please don't die! I don't want you to! Come on stay with me, please… you can't! Come on Peppy!
"Peppy make it quick ok?"
"Yeah, it's alright Fox. we're coming"
Please be quick! I think you're dying. When I shake you I don't get any response now, I can see you breathing… slowly… too slowly… come on Falco… just hold on a little longer, then Peppy'll be here and he'll take care of you… and we'll go home… together…

Sitting here… cowering under my Arwing's wing I begin to appreciate what you see in this place. On a better day this shore would have been beautiful… Today the elements seem to be fighting one another, maybe that's like us… always fighting. Here the sunshine is definitely loosing, most storms would have been dying down by now but this one keeps rumbling on, never seeming to get any closer or any further away. I understand why you wanted the rain to stop, maybe you could see the beauty there could have been without it. Not that rain is never beautiful… but too much of anything's painful.

I see light in the sky! Thank the stars, Peppy's nearly here and your still with me. Not long now buddy… not long…