Authors note:

This story was done, but it kind of felt unresolved to me. I'll probably add one more chapter to this later, based on whether I feel these actually add to the story rather than take away from it. This chapter might also end up getting removed later, I dunno. Opinions appreciated.

How long has it been like this? Wolf lay, staring up at the bland ceiling. How long will it be like this? Hand held high, seemingly reaching for an intangible solution. The realisation of reality hit him far sooner than he expected.

And what could he do about it now?

Calming himself had become a routine, and often he never even thought about it; after recent events this had changed. He'd found a potential solution to it all, and yet it scared him.

The looming planet could still be seen through the window. The Great Fox had never landed on Corneria; Fox went down on his own in his own rose from his position, and walked out into the corridors. The mechanical whirs of the ship alongside the clanking of his boots was all that could be heard in the eerie corridors. He doesn't trust me.

Heart constricting, he continued his journey. He never liked the silence, despite being subjected to it most of his life. What did they sound like again? A bitter smile marked his face, knowing all too well that wasn't the case. Leon couldn't keep his god damn mouth shut.

Eventually reaching his destination, he walked towards the closest Arwing; something he noticed from earlier. Crossing his fingers he climbed up, placing his hands against the glass. Luckily, his hopes were fulfilled when the cockpit opened, admitting entrance.

With all of the obviously labelled buttons and switches, it was evident who's ship this was; a sidelong frown found a way onto his face.

"I think it might be love..."

Turning the power on, glad to find it wasn't drained, he closed the roof and readied himself.

"So, you and Krystal still a thing?"

Clenching against the control stick, he clicked more buttons to his side.

"Yeah..."

A mechanical voice filling his ears. "Access Granted." Bay opening, he was greeted with the tauntingly close planet. Launching out, he was free, doors closing behind him.

Finally, he let out a drawn out groan. What was I thinking?! He'd acted awfully. The feeling of arms wrapped around him faintly reminded him of his mistakes. The slight remnants of their kiss also remained, tormenting him further.

Love, huh?

A hint of raspberry filled his lungs, reminded once again of the sour situation he was in. What could he believe? He felt out of place; A wolf in a fox's den. Letting his emotions get the better of him was a fatal mistake — one he doesn't plan on making again.

It hurt.

It hurt knowing. It hurt not knowing. Heart thrashing in an internal attack; revolting, wishing to be free. Moving his free hand to his head, he tried to steady himself. The sweet words which made his pulse race turned bitter with age. His usual routine had little effect, spurring him further into panic. Panting, filling his lungs with the toxic air around him.

He needed to land.

Diving down in a desperate motion, he fought against the voices. He was used to this. He should be used to this. Always second place; so why was this so troublesome?

Love... Dangerous words, Fox...

Entering the atmosphere, he found himself at a remote location not too far from the city. Sweat dripping from his forehead; hands shaking, lungs begging, mind screaming, vision blurring. I should have stayed...

But I need to go.

Realising with a start, he hadn't slowed since arriving, not helping his inner turmoil. Yanking back, the ship began to slow.

...

Eye shooting open, he found himself grounded. Huh? Opening the hatch, he leapt down from the cockpit, legs giving in upon landing securely planting his face against the ground. Weakly getting up, he looked back to see the state of the craft.

Not bad, all things considered. A few scratches, lopsided angle but other than that, better than expected. I guess I blacked out... He shook his head, nausea still prevalent, and proceeded to scan around him.

Trees. Lake. A rather bland landscape around him. The lush of the green leaves contrasting against the grimy surface of the water. What now? He'd ran to the surface of the planet which despised him, in an attempt to escape from someone who cared for him. I won't let his lies get to me.

He moved to sit beside the lake, staring at his deformed reflection. Words flittered in and out of his mind, having trouble with deciding which were true. "You're free to go." His heart twisted, reminding him of the incessant pain. Peppy, huh? Lying on his back, he stared up to the sky, the obnoxious sphere above reminding him that it's still rather early. Maybe 1 or 2 o'clock?

Moving to his side to hide from the star, he shut his eye, deciding he was too tired to walk at the moment. Stomach grumbling in annoyance, he cursed himself even further. Great...

Swiftly exiting the Arwing, Fox ran to the elevator eagerly, bag in tow. He'd have to return back down later, but he didn't care at the moment, thoughts placed elsewhere. Zipping through the corridors, he peered through every room to no avail.

"Wolf?" No response. Not in the kitchen. Not in any of the crew quarters. Peering into his own room, he noticed a few distinct differences.

Closet doors wide open, a towel thrown haphazardly on the floor. Noticing his hamper full of Wolf's clothes, he made a mental note to buy him some more later. Maybe they could go together? Kind of like a—

The sudden realisation hit him, filling with dread. A quick look around, just to make sure he wasn't in the room, just in case he could have been. Nothing, the only occupants were droplets of water on his tiled floor. Throwing the bag onto his bed, he rushed back towards the docking bay, only to notice what he had failed to moments ago; a wave of sadness hitting him.

"Don't leave me." And he had. A few hours was all it took. The betrayal stung; he said he would stay. He promised he would... He... Never said he would stay... Fox was the one who made all the promises.

A metallic twang below him, deciding to pay it no attention; he already knew what the source was. Lost in thought. Wolf didn't even let Fox carry out his promises. There had to be something he could do...

It didn't take him long to realise there was something he could do. Hurrying to the control room, he yelled "R.O.B. Give me the co-ordinates for Krystal's Arwing." The central panel lit up in response, informing him of the scan. The map zoomed in, showing a satellite scan of the area. "Krystal landed here. Minor damage to Arwing. No pulse detected."

Of course it wouldn't know Krystal left long ago. The 'new and improved' AI system was good, integrated into the entire ship rather than a robot more susceptible to damage, but all it did to Fox was make him feel more alone.

Heading off, he followed the co-ordinates given to find the ship, while more worrisome thoughts rushed into his head. The once comforting silence of space sparking anxiety. Blinking the moisture from his eyes, he steeled himself.

He's fine.

Swiftly landing, the first thing he noticed was the open canopy of the ship, yet no soul to be found. "Wolf?" Searching the area, there was no sign of the lupine. "WOLF!" He called louder, still to no avail. "This isn't funny, Wolf. Come out." Voice cracking, struggling to keep his voice loud.

Nothing. He was gone. "Please?" Calling out to no one in particular, hoping by chance it was just a joke. Would Wolf be the type of person to do that?

Maybe I'm the joke...

"I see... Heh..." Muttering to himself, he moved to sit against the warm metal of the Arwing. Clenching his fists, he securely planted them against the coarse dirt. He always knew this would happen sooner or later, but somehow he'd tricked himself into believing it wouldn't. A shaky, crooked smile formed on his face as he stared at the clouds.

Sure, he could go look for Wolf, but what good would that do him? He'd just run again, and he couldn't force him to stay... When did I become such a cry baby? The thought infuriated him; the perfect Fox McCloud of Star Fox, interplanetary hero, crying over something so little. But it wasn't little to him...

It's cold...

Bringing his legs inward, he wrapped his arms around in a mockery of affection. His heart trembled, crumbling his weak smile. Falling into low, continuous sobs, he dug his face deeper into the cloth of his pants. It didn't help; it wasn't the same...

He hadn't cried this much for Falco leaving, nor his death, which at the time made him feel disgusted in himself; nor when Krystal told him she wanted to 'take a break', and then never came back.

Given how she was acting, it was safe to say whatever they had was over, especially with the rumours of her and Panther, of all people, going around recently.

Maybe that would happen with me and Wolf, too.

The bittersweet optimism crushed him, knowing it wouldn't. He didn't even know what this feeling was, whether he actually liked him or not. It could all be misplaced, for all it was worth. He should hate Wolf. Despise him; and yet every time he saw him his heart fluctuated in ways he never knew were possible. It was over, never able to see it through.

I wish someone was here. I wish you were here...

The lonely clearing down here seemed far more appealing than the suffocating void above him, unconsciously deciding to stay and wallow in self-pity. Don't cry. Why am I crying? Stop crying. Fox thanked whatever forces there were that he was alone; he'd be mortified if anyone ever saw him in this state. Though, he wouldn't mind if...

The torrent continued.

"This the place, huh?" The imposing building towered over Wolf, a testament to the power Corneria held, a beacon of protection. No one recognised him on the way over, luckily, but now he stood conflicted as to what to do next.

Peppy should be in there. Though, he doubt that they just let anyone waltz on in. Unfortunately for Wolf, there was no other option available.

Well, he could just leave this for good, never see Fox again, but it felt unfair to him. The niggling at his heart wouldn't let that happen. He wasn't lying when he said he would try. Clenching a fist, he walked through the automatic doors ahead. A grand lobby designed in delicate marble, a strange choice for such a pivotal building. Light shone through the giant glass roof above, illuminating the room.

Wolf couldn't help but notice splashes of red over the walls, but on second glances they were no longer there. I don't like this place... Shaking his head of the visions, he walked to the elevator.

"Excuse me, sir." A voice called out beside him, observing him scrupulously. The lack of suit was a dead give away that he didn't work here; the rough grey fur with white highlights alongside the eye-patch and she realised who he was. "Mr. O'Donnell, am I correct?" Her face took a more strict look, less enthused to deal with him.

A short 'hmph' confirmed her suspicions, as she continued. "I take it you're wanting to see General Hare?"

"Is he available?"

"Not particularly, but he has no meetings today." The questioning look Wolf gave her prompted more. "Just because he has no meetings doesn't mean he isn't busy."

A click of his tongue in response. Surely this was more important than what he was doing right now. "Is there no possibility of being able to see him today?"

"Haven't you already been today to sort your business?" Shaking his head in response, she sceptically stared back. "I'll see." Reluctance oozed from her as she walked over to her desk — the one Wolf somehow hadn't seen and thought to go beforehand — and picked up a phone. Following her, he arrived to hear the tail end of their conversation.

"-ll send him up now, then." Raising her head to confirm that Wolf had heard, he turned back around.

"The general may have forgiven you," Voice calling out behind him. "but it's going to take a lot of work for others to. I hope you haven't forgotten your place." Her harsh demeanour stung. Raising a hand in response, he moved to the elevator; only to realise he didn't actually know which floor Peppy would be on. Guessing the top, the box began to rise.

"...your place." He clasped at the head fur between his ears, letting out a gentle huff. Of course I didn't forget. How could I?

After a ding, he stepped off the elevator, greeted with a long corridor. Walking down, he scanned the signs on every door as he went past until he was met with the right one. That could've taken a lot longer. Wolf rapped against the door, an aged voice calling out in response. "Come in."

The office was rather small, considering his rank. Very modest, no extravagant rugs or pointless bookcases full of nothing useful. "To what do I owe the pleasure of you visiting me here?"

He somehow looked even older in person, fur losing lustre and eyes dulling with his age. The bucktooth smile was inviting, detecting no malice behind it. So he really had been forgiven. "We have some things to discuss."

"We do? I'm pretty sure everything should be clear by now."

"Is everything Fox said true?"

"That depends on what was said. If it were that you have been pardoned, that is correct." Pushing his glasses up his nose, inspecting the screen. "I can give you the paperwork to confirm it, too, if you so wish." Wolf shuddered.

"N-no, that's fine."

"And your thoughts on Fox's proposal?" Peppy inquired, looking pointedly at him.

"Well..." What exactly do I say to that? Swallowing the lump in his throat, tensing for a moment before relaxing again. I can't say too much...

Blinking his eyes of the residual moisture, and wiping them for good measure, Fox awoke from his position. I guess I fell asleep. He curled in further, hiding his face into the damp cloth of his pants. I don't want to go back...

Not without Wolf...

Settling on staying for now, his mind slowly whirred to life again, the tormenting spiral of events pulling him in again. Another one left...

What was he going to do now? How would he bring the Arwing back? Does he even need to take it back with him? Could he continue Star Fox all on his own? Contradicting thoughts fought against each other; he loved the sky and all the freedom it provided, but he hated the pain and isolation it brought along.

And here he thought he could survive the loneliness with Wolf.

What time is it? He pulled out his phone, the display glaring back at him.

16:21

6 missed calls:

4- Peppy: 16:01, 16:02

2- Unknown Caller: 15:59

Huh? Oh, it's on silent, right... He'd muted it upon meeting with Peppy earlier, and decided there was little point in changing it back so soon, forgetting about it.. Clicking on Peppy's name on screen, it began to dial. He picked it up almost immediately, or rather someone else did.

Fox's eyes shot open, greeted with a blue hologram of Wolf instead, who's ears wilted as his brows parted upon seeing Fox. Concern written all over his face; Fox dreaded how he must have looked, but his heart leapt a little despite it. Wolf was concerned — about him!

"W-Wolf?" He tentatively spoke, rubbing his eyes gently.

"You finally answered! What were you doing?" Despite only being able to see his face vaguely, Wolf could make out the blood-shot puffy eyes.

"Sleeping."

Wolf sucked his lower lip in, biting gently. His plan of calling Fox was much harder in practice, not knowing what to say. What could he say?

"So... What did you want, Wolf?" The way he said it so nonchalant, as if this was a normal call, under normal circumstances, caused Wolf's heart to wrench. He closed his eye for a moment, clenching his empty fist, and after a short shaky breath he spoke.

"I'll be back later..." Surprise was written all over Fox's face.

"What time?!" A quick response. "I'll come pick you up, if you want?" Knowing the other ship wasn't in the best shape, it seemed like a good opportunity.

"Whenever. Where are you?"

"Corneria."

"Good, come get me at Peppy's... Office... Building... Whatever it is, whenever you're done." Fox couldn't stop his tail from twitching. That explains why he had Peppy's phone, but what did he go there for?

"I'll come by now, then." Saying a few brief farewells, the call ended. Fox leapt into his Arwing and blasted off, making sure to avoid any trees on start-up. The journey was short, but it must have taken a while for Wolf to walk there, Fox mused.

He landed on a small landing pad on the roof. Opening the canopy of the ship, he moved to sit on the wing awaiting Wolf, fierce winds blowing through his fur. He took his phone out and texted Peppy curtly. 'here'. Kicking his legs idly, he stared at the stairwell. Hurry up...

The door opened, admitting a guilty looking wolf alongside the usually stern hare. Fox stifled a grin at the scene, as if Wolf had just been lectured by the other. A short nod to Peppy, and nothing else was needed to be said. "Off you go." Peppy slapped him gently on the back, pushing Wolf towards Fox, before turning and going back down where he came from.

"You ready to go back?" Fox asked, knowing the answer already. He just wanted to say something to avoid it getting awkward. Wolf hummed in response. "Say, could you pilot? I'm feeling a bit... Tired."

"Okay?"

Settling in, Wolf in front and Fox in the seat behind him, the ship left as quickly as it came. Soon, they were enveloped in the darkness of space.

Wolf felt arms wrap around him, inhaling deeply in response. Hackles rising, scared out of his wits, ensnared by the other, he felt as if he was being choked. Maybe that was Fox's plan? Petrified, he sat waiting for the next move.

...

Nothing. No choking, no clawing, nothing. He began to shake gently, realising with a start that it was due to Fox. He was... Trembling?

"I-" Fox's voice broke the silence between them. "I thought you'd left for good."

Wolf suppressed the urge to say 'I almost did', listening to the other speak instead. "You know, I really hate myself right now. For everything. I'm acting like a baby, crying all the time when you're not here; I'm supposed to be a mercenary damnit!" Fox continued, pouring his heart out to the other. "I hate myself for pushing everyone away. I almost did the same for you. I hate that I don't understand why I feel like this." His voice began to strain. "I hate how I'm dwelling on every single little thing. I hate not knowing what's going to happen next. How long will you be here? Are you going to leave again? I don't get why, despite everyone else leaving me, the thought of you going hurts more than they ever did."

He was panting now, clutching onto the fabric of Wolf's shirt. The ship slowed to a halt, drifting listlessly. Letting go of the controls, Wolf crossed his arms, placing each hands on the other's opposite. Fox flinched from the contact, leading Wolf to clasp them in his own.

A wordless message.

"I'm not leaving." Wolf blurt out in an attempt to soothe his nerves. "I'm sorry."

"You don't have to be sorry; I know it's my fault anyway."

"I really am sorry." Wolf head cocked to the side, resting against Fox's arm. Neither said any more, content in their state, until...

"Wolf?"

"Mmhm?"

"Can I- uh... Move up to the front, with you?"

"Huh? Are you sure you can even fit through?" To prove this point, Fox released the belt over his body and manoeuvred over the seat, Wolf ducking to the side to give more space. He smoothly moved over, knocking one button in the process; a smart bomb released from the ship. Wolf stared at the other, receiving a childish smile in response. "Fine."

Fox moved to sit sideways on his lap, wrapping his arms around the others torso and nuzzling his head into his chest. Wolf complied, one arm wrapped around his back and the other resting against his leg, nestling his head above Fox's, gently stroking his neck with a thumb idly.

A blissful silence devoured the two. Fox couldn't care less for anything else around him; the sea of shining stars resonating beautifully meant nothing to him.

His beauty was right here.