AN: Thank you for your patience, as always feel free to review and comment on what you'd like to see and any criticism you may have.
Afternoon Chill
0800 Hours, Early Fall 6th, 1994 (Local Time) Corneria City, CDSS
Logan yawned as the first period bell rang, letting the majority of his classmates get up first before rising from his desk and packing away his tablet and books. Miss Cunningham was at the head of the classroom deleting the previous lesson plan from the holo-board, swishing her wolfish tail idly.
A stack of papers batted him lightly on the back of his head, and he blearily looked over at the fennec responsible.
"Why?"
Fara gave him a sardonic grin and walked on by, "C'mon, it's only first period and you're already tired?"
The human sighed and got up, slipping his backpack and jacket over his shoulder as he fell into step alongside the vulpine.
"You get any of your assignments done yet?" He asked.
"Only a bit, I heard Miyu had a study session with you and Fay last night."
"Seemed like a good idea to get it done ahead of time."
The pair sidestepped an oddly zebra-patterned female skunk as they made their way to the next classroom, though Logan had to pointedly refrain from glancing at her sizable bust.
"You coming to that thing tonight?" He asked Fara offhandedly.
"Thing?" She replied dryly.
"Thing with the guy at the place…seriously though, Miyu said McCloud was inviting everyone to his joint."
The fennec's jaw tightened, "No."
Logan was put off by her sudden swing in mood, before it dawned on him, "Oh…"
"Yeah…oh."
"For the love of f…look, hold on."
The teenager stopped walking and held up his palms placating, as the irate fennec stared at him flatly with narrowed eyes.
"I forgot, okay? Things being weird between you two. Don't eat my head over it."
She sighed, and flipped a stray bang out of her eyes.
"Yeah…don't worry about it Jones. It's just gonna be a while before I'm not mad at him. Honestly I'd rather not show up if it's going to make things weird."
"Yeah, well, they'd probably rather have you there than me. I'm just some friggin' alien."
She cocked a brow, "And how many of those do we have kicking around Corneria?"
He shrugged, "The novelty's gonna wear off fast."
Fara rolled her eyes and smacked his arm as they resumed walking, "You're such a dope."
Room 203 wasn't that packed yet, and the pair took a seat by the windows, enjoying the warm morning sun filtering through the polyglass. Logan had just started to lean back and yawn again when Fay bounded into the room and startled him by crashing her effects into the seat ahead of him.
"Morning guys!" The collie chirped brightly.
The human groaned, rubbing his eyes, "Seriously Fay, you're going to have to share some of that energy you have in spades."
"Caffeine and sugar," the white canine leaned back to mock-whisper, "that's my secret."
Logan and Fara exchanged a dry look at that statement.
Hearing another student walk in, Jones absently looked to the front of the classroom, where a wolf slouched through the doorway wearing a beaten leather jacket, kicking up his feet as he sat towards the back of the classroom. Curiously enough, he was given a wide berth by the others that had come in early, and Logan couldn't remember seeing him the day before.
"Hey Fay," He asked quietly, "Who's the guy in grey?"
She looked up for who he'd meant, and seeing the newcomer, frowned slightly.
"Umm…"
"What?"
"That's O'Donnell. He's from a pretty rough part of the city. Nobody messes with him."
Logan looked away from the scowling lupine and took out his tablet and notebook.
"Sure looks that way."
The collie was fidgeting slightly, and picking up on the nervous gesture the human boy asked her what was the matter.
"Well," Fay hesitated, "It might be just rumors, but I heard his parents were in the Macbeth civil war, and a lot of people look down on their kind for being the instigators."
Logan stared at her a moment longer, "What do you think?"
The collie averted her eyes and busied herself with her tablet.
"...I think he looks lonely, but won't admit it."
There was nothing more said between the two. The teacher came in shortly and they began the class with the conversation turning over in the back of their minds.
"Like, as in wheels? Actual wheels?"
Logan spooned another helping of whatever the pasta and fish gumbo was on special today into his mouth, "Yeah, our anti-grav tech's still in its infancy. Nothing on vehicles yet."
Falco scowled like someone had told him feathers were going out of style, "That's wacked, man. You haven't lived till you've cruised freeways on a hoverbike."
Jones pointed his spoon at the avian as he chewed, "I actually get what you mean there, Miyu took me along for a ride back on day one."
"Nothing like the wind in your face, huh?"
"Yeah I wouldn't say no to nabbing one myself."
"Hey there boys."
The pair looked up as Katt Monroe slid into the seat next to Falco, earning a roll of the eyes from the bird.
"Comin' to Foxie's place tonight?" The pink cat snatched up a grape from her plate and popped it into her mouth.
"Yeah, got nothing better to do anyway." Falco replied.
"Sure ya do little man," The feline stuck her tongue out at him, "What about you, sugar?"
Jones shrugged.
"Yeah, I'm coming."
"Great, looking forward to getting to know my first human."
"You'll be disappointed, I'm boring."
"Oh, you mean like all the other boys around here, hmm?" She elbowed Falco in his side and sauntered off, "I'm coming over with the girls later on, see you boys!"
The pair watched her walk away, Logan turning to Falco who was rubbing his sore ribs absently.
"You two have a history?"
"Let me give you some advice man," Lombardi grumbled, "Never stick it in crazy."
"Amen."
After school that day, Logan found himself ambling alongside Miyu again. He watched the crowds disperse from the CDSS grounds, still feeling a sort of disorientation looking at all the different species and colors that were all still very new to the human out of his depth.
"Dude you really need to learn how to relax," Miyu quipped next to him, "you look like we're dropping into a war zone."
Logan ran his fingers through his hair.
"Yeah yeah, still getting used to all you exotic types."
"Look who's talking furless."
Miyu led the way as they headed to the McCloud neighborhood. Not too far away from the Lynx family house. The sky was a brilliant sapphire, with wispy clouds buffeted overhead interrupted occasionally by hover cars and aircraft higher up. Logan took a moment to scan the horizon of skyscrapers, once more wishing that the human reconstruction efforts could yield cities
They came to a more quiet neighborhood, not as packed as the cozy suburb Miyu lived in, but rather only a few houses spaced along increments of green grass lawns and trees that gave the impression of an almost-park. Logan abstractly thought it would make great cover from incoming fire.
"Here we are, Foxie's dad hasn't done too badly for himself in the merc business." Miyu elbowed Jones, prompting him to take in the sight of the house in question.
It was a nice house, two floors and a spacious garage. While the Lynx household was very nice, this was evidently the pricier neighborhood, which made Logan wonder just how much looting the senior McCloud must have done in his career to afford it. Surely mercenary contracts weren't that profitable, were they?
Following Miyu's lead, he watched her knock on the front door, which was shortly opened by Fox himself.
"Hey guys, c'mon in. Glad you came, Logan." the young vulpine smiled.
The human shed his boots at the entry way, eyeing the swishing tail of the Lynx in front of him as they followed Fox to the basement. As the two stepped down the stairs chatting about a race that happened earlier, Logan paused when he heard two people in the livingroom. Thinking it would be polite, he stepped over and knocked on the door frame.
"Hello there."
A pair of older foxes were sitting together on the couch, looking up as he entered. The female, sitting with the male's arm around her shoulders was a beautiful vixen with a pale auburn complexion, long hair gathered up in a ponytail between her large ears. The male was a sturdily built vulpine with the observant look in his eyes that belied a military occupation, and had a well-worn pair of shades resting in the collar of his shirt. He seemed the very picture of domestic comfort next to his wife, but something about the easy posture in the fit Cornerian reminded Jones of the older Marines he saw in the company of his brother; kept sharp by fire.
"You must be Logan, Fox was just telling us about you."
The human nodded and stepped forward as the vulpine rose to shake his hand.
"Glad I could make an impression. Logan Jones," He said, "Thank you for inviting Miyu and I over."
"Don't mention it kiddo, you guys are welcome. My name's James, and this is my lovely wife Vixy."
The vixen with the original name gave a gentle smile and shook Logan's hand in turn, "Very nice to meet you dear."
"Likewise."
"So how are you liking Corneria so far?" James asked, leaning back on the couch, "Not too rough getting used to us is it?"
Logan shook his head, "Everyone's been too nice, your son was awfully kind welcoming me along with his old friends."
The older vulpine grinned with a devil-may-care smirk, "He's a good kit, and it isn't in our nature to leave folks hanging."
The human teen felt some of the tension inside him ease up, flattered at the hospitality.
"So you come from a military family?" Vixy asked.
Expecting the question, Logan suppressed any facial tic and nodded.
"Yes, my older brother serves in a special forces unit. I'm considering my future somewhere along the same lines, flying was never my strong suit."
That brought a chuckle out of James, "Heck, you couldn't drag me into a ground-pounder outfit if you tried, sky's always been my home."
Even Logan had to grin at that, "Your son said the same thing."
They shared a good natured chuckle, before Vixy shooed him off, "I'm sure we're keeping you dear, you go on and see the others downstairs. It was very nice meeting you."
James gave a two fingered salute, "Later kiddo."
Logan disappeared down the basement stairs, and Vixy snuggled back into her husband, "He's very nice, I wasn't expecting an alien to be so ordinary."
James had kept looking at where the teen had walked down to meet the others, the grin slipping off his face slightly.
"He's seen war."
The vixen looked up concerned, "What do you mean?"
James frowned slightly, "Just a feeling, you can recognize it in the eyes, the way a person aches. That kit's seen things."
Vixy rose up as she stared at her husband, lowering her voice, "Has Pepper told you something?"
"No, nothing like that. Things are pretty quiet on the human's side of things, but its the little things that give it away. Something really bad happened over there."
The couple sat quietly, thinking it over, before moving on to more pleasant topics, and the easygoing grin found its way back onto James's muzzle as he hugged his wife closer.
"C'mon Slippy, ease up on the throttle or they'll..."
"Ah dang, they got the flag."
"Hey, any more cherry soda?"
"Nope, Falco downed the last of it."
"Falco!" "Falco..." "FALCO!"
"Whaaat?"
"Nevermind that, any 7's?"
"Sorry furball."
flick
"Man, not again..."
As Miyu cackled and gathered up the chips she'd won with her hand of cards, Logan looked over to Bill and Slippy playing a splitscreen shooter match online. Capture the Flag was apparently not going so well now that their team lost the initiative on some gulch map, and he lost interest as Slippy flipped his vehicle by mistake again and Bill on the gunner position got killed by the crash. Falco was arguing with Fay over a can of orange soda, and Fox finished dealing another round of cards as he reached down to pick up his new hand. The atmosphere in the basement was cozy, a beaten up old couch and a number of blankets and pillows laid out made for a great time to break out the videogames and snacks. The girls had drawn the longer straw, so apparently they had first pick for the movie later(much to the boys annoyance) and a Cornerian rock band played in the background over a small radio punctuated by the sounds of the videogame and easy chatter.
"So your family's originally from Papetoon?" Logan asked Fox.
"Yeah, we came over when I was a kit. Dad saved up the money he earned flying and now he's got a pretty nice contract with the CDF, living in Corneria City makes things easier when he's between jobs."
"You thinking about taking on the family business then?"
Fox grinned, trading in a pair of cards.
"You know it. Couple more years and most of us will be flying as the new Star Fox team." The statement brought a cheer from the animals present, and Logan had to smile at the camaraderie the close-knit group had together.
"What about you, man?" Falco chimed in, having thrown his hand and given up the soda can to a victorious Fay, "What's your gig?"
"Thinking about following my brother's footsteps, becoming an ODST," Jones replied, laying out his hand, and winning the round for the first time that night.
"Infantry right?" The blue falcon took his turn to deal new cards, "What's the unit supposed to be exactly?"
The human palmed his cards and began to explain as the others listened in to the resident alien.
"The Orbital Drop Shock Troopers are part of the human navy's special forces, a branch of soldiers named for the way they get fired into enemy territory, namely a one-man drop pod that's launched out of a starship fast enough to bypass most enemy anti-air fire."
"Wait, what."
"Drop pods. Really fast, really dangerous. Couple fatalities regularly, even in training."
"What the heck's wrong with you guys? You jump into a missile pointed at a planet and come out shooting?" Falco's beak was agape.
"There's a parachute and retro thrusters, but it's a hell of a landing. Kind of a necessary measure for taking tough positions."
"And you want to do this? Jump out of perfectly good spacecraft and hurl through atmo on fire?" Fox asked taken aback, an eyebrow raised.
Logan grinned and downed the rest of his soda, "Its one way to make a living..."
"Wow," Fay shook her head, snowy ears flopping slightly, "Your brother must be a tough guy, to be in that kind of unit."
Jones nodded, "He's been through a lot."
Miyu picked up a card, eyeing her hand, "Well it's gonna be an interesting few years with what Venom's getting up to. We'll all have our work cut out."
"Yeah, Andross has been rumored to be consolidating power out in the rim territories," Bill leaned over the couch arm to chime in, reaching down as Logan passed a bag of chips to him.
"Miyu and I were talking about that yesterday, actually."
"What do you think it means for you humans then?"
Logan got quiet and noticed everyone was looking at him then, and averted his eyes.
"I'm not supposed to talk about that."
Fox barked out a quick laugh, prompting curious looks.
"Figured, of course that means you guys are probably already involved, right?"
The human teen sighed at the perceptive vulpine, though the unspoken implication had an encouraging effect on the animals. Jones supposed they were worried too, on some level, that the UNSC might have planned to stay out of things, or even support Venom.
"Tell you what," Fox set his cards down as he fixed Logan with a serious look, "If you show us a bit of that fancy shooting you pulled back in class, then I'll show you a thing or two about flying our aircraft. We could use a gunslinger like you. Sound good?"
Logan stared back, considering McCloud's words. He felt like the decision was important, a possible future that might branch out very different from what he had resigned himself to in the shadow of his elder brother. He looked across the faces of the animals there, seeing their earnest friendship with one another, and feeling the offer extended to him to join them. He didn't know what it was about him that Fox approved of, but as the unspoken leader of the group, it seemed like he was the lynchpin for the decision to bring Logan in. Even Miyu deferred to him in her own way, and the human felt the weight of an unknown future bearing down on him starting with this one small offer.
He set his cards down, and reached forward to shake McCloud's paw.
"You can count on me," Logan said, and he meant it.
The evening wore on as the group enjoyed their time together, and in an almost indiscernible way, Logan felt them relax around him just the slightest tad. He topped up Miyu's drink for her, and laughed as she finished a joke about the Chemistry teacher.
Home is where we make it.