A/N: I worked really hard to make this chapter feel right; it took awhile. Also, the next update might not come as soon as I'd like; I've got a wedding to attend out of town. Anyway, enjoy this part!
-o0o-
Saturday
Fox awoke, feeling an empty presence. Wolf wasn't wrapped around him anymore. Yawning, Fox got up, and looked at a digital clock on a nightstand next to the bed. It read ten minutes to ten. He needed to be headed somewhere, and pretty soon.
The vulpine walked out of Wolf's bedroom, looking around the rest of the apartment for the lupine. Fox found him at the sofa, drinking some coffee, and flipping through the TV channels. He smiled warmly, seeing the orange vulpine.
"Morning, sunshine," Wolf said. Fox sat next to the lupine, grabbing the mug and taking a sip, before handing it back.
"Morning, Wolf. You sleep okay last night?"
"I slept great! That's probably the most sleep I've gotten in a long time. Still woke up early, though," Wolf replied.
"Hey, I've gotta be heading over to the Cornerian Military base today, to see Pepper and pardon your bounty pretty soon. I need some clothes," Fox said.
"You can borrow some of mine. I've got plenty."
"Thanks."
Fox got back up and walked to Wolf's closet, pulling out a few sets of clothes to try and decide what to wear. He settled on some jeans, a grey tank top, and a leather jacket, as well as some tennis shoes. He quickly put them on, inhaling Wolf's scent. It was all over the apartment, and it comforted Fox. Made him feel safe.
The vulpine walked back towards the door, but Wolf stopped him before he could reach it. Fox looked at him questioningly.
"Look, if things don't work out over there, I'll just leave. Alright? Save you the trouble of dating a criminal," Wolf said, laying a hand on Fox's shoulder.
"Wolf, you're overreacting. If Pepper doesn't agree to drop the bounty and charges -which he will, he owes me- then I'll just leave with you. I'm not giving this up, you dork," Fox replied, smiling and hugging Wolf. The lupine held him close.
"Thank you. Fox. You don't know how much I needed to hear that," the lupine replied, his voice cracking.
"Anytime, Wolf. I've got to get going if I want to catch Pepper. I'll make sure to call you when I'm done, so don't go anywhere," the vulpine said, letting go of Wolf and kissing him for a moment. He then left the apartment, waving.
The vulpine walked down the stairs, really wishing he'd brought his sunglasses last night. It was a stupid mistake on his part. He arrived in the lobby, and walked out of the doors, looking for a taxi. He couldn't walk to the military base; it was much too far away. Fox spotted a taxi, and hailed it. The vehicle pulled over, and Fox climbed in the back seat.
"Where ya headed?" The driver asked impatiently.
"Cornerian military base, General Pepper's headquarters," Fox replied. The driver started the meter, and they headed off.
The drive through Corneria City was pleasant; the traffic was not very high, which wasn't odd. It was the weekend, and people wanted a break from life's stress. Fox, though, had to quit avoiding the outside. He needed to find something to do besides hang out at his apartment all day. Being with Wolf was a great distraction, though. They could go places, and have carefree fun. When the bounty was pardoned, anyway.
Slowly, the skyscrapers of the city began to disappear, and soon enough, they had arrived at the military base. The taxi driver through a checkpoint, and Fox showed the officer his military I.D, given to him by Pepper. He said it was the only way to get into the base from ground. The officer allowed them through, and the driver brought them to a stop on front of Pepper's command center.
"Alright, we're here."
Fox paid the driver, and climbed out of the taxi, looking up at the tower. He had saved Pepper's life here, during the Wars. He was up in the sky back then, though. This time, well, he was grounded. Everything looked impossibly huge to the vulpine now. That was extremely humbling.
Fox stepped into the lobby of the center, and looked around for an elevator. Normally, you'd have to make an appointment to see General Pepper, but Fox had known the old bloodhound all his life, and was always allowed right in. The vulpine pressed the button for the top floor offices, where Pepper would be.
"Retina scan required for access to top five floors," the elevator console bleated emotionlessly. Fox looked into a little camera with his right eye, and after a moment, the elevator started to move.
"Welcome to the Cornerian Military command center, Officer James Fox McCloud," it said. Fox grimaced; he hated being called James. He wasn't his dad, or ever would be.
The elevator had a window on the side opposite to the door, showing the base and the city beyond. It was quite a nice view; Fox could see all of the Cornerian fighters flying around, and vehicles moving along the well-worn roads. He couldn't believe that's where he wanted to end up before his father passed.
The elevator dinged loudly, announcing Fox's arrival to the top floor. He left the elevator, and opened a door on the other side of a small room to be greeted by the bustling sounds of an office. There were people hunched over computers inside of cubicles, some waiting around a copy machine, and others moving about with large stacks of paper in their arms. The vulpine wondered why anyone would want that kind of job. It seemed pointless, monotonous, and boring as hell.
Fox moved through the busy office, making for a set of double doors at the other end of the room. Nobody paid him any mind, however. They were too preoccupied in their own work to pay attention to anyone else. One person even managed to bump into Fox, and just kept moving along without apologizing.
Finally, he reached the doors. Next to them was a little desk where Pepper's assistant was working. She was a short little spaniel, and looked to be very excitable.
"Hi there. I'm here to see Pepper," Fox said to the assistant. She looked up, and her eyes widened.
"Oh my gosh! You're Fox McCloud! Hi there, I'm Fay, General Pepper's assistant. Of course, you can go right in," Fay rambled. Fox smiled a little at her.
"Thanks, Fay. Just keep my presence quiet, please."
"Oh, of course! No problem, Fox!"
Fox pushed the doors open, and entered Pepper's office. It was nice and spacy, with a huge window on one side of the room, and bookshelves on another. A large desk tool up the center of the room. Pepper was hunched over some paperwork, scribbling something down. The vulpine coughed to get his attention.
"General Pepper," he said plainly. The bloodhound looked up in surprise.
"Ah, Fox! I wasn't expecting to see you today! Please, come and sit down!" Pepper exclaimed heartily. Fox took a seat across from the General.
"So, what did you want to speak about, Fox?" Pepper asked when the vulpine had gotten comfortable.
"Well, you know Star Wolf?" Fox asked.
"Yes, of course. They caused quite a bit of trouble for me back during the Wars, but I've heard that they had scattered. We'd caught Leon a while ago, though. Why bring this up?"
Fox took a deep breath. "Because I'd like to request for you to abolish Wolf O'Donnel's bounty."
Pepper looked at Fox strangely for a moment, before chuckling. "You can't possibly be serious, can you? He's a wanted criminal who tried to kill you numerous times!"
"Oh, I'm completely serious, sir. I want him pardoned," Fox replied, narrowing his eyes.
"What has gotten into you, Fox?" Pepper questioned angrily.
"Look, General. I've met and talked with him, and it didn't go terribly wrong. He really has changed, and would like to prove it, I don't know, if he wasn't forced to hide from you!" Fox exclaimed in anger. Pepper scowled.
"Maybe I could consider it, if you could give me a better reason than that. Why today, anyway? Right before the banquet? Why are you so intent to see your mortal enemy pardoned?" Pepper further questioned. The bloodhound was pushing his luck at this point. Fox didn't want to say it, but he might not have had a better choice.
"Because he's my fucking boyfriend, Pepper!" Fox shouted.
That statement didn't invoke any rage from the bloodhound, actually. He just stared at Fox with a shocked expression.
"You're sleeping with….. Wolf? Wolf O'Donnell?" Pepper asked quietly.
"Correct, sir."
"Well. This explains quite a bit. Um…" The bloodhound trailed off.
"He's changed, and I want him pardoned," Fox replied calmly.
"Um, well. This is, um, hard to take in. You're… uh, still not serious, right?"
"General, I'm getting impatient. I told the truth. I'd really like to be with him, in public, you know, without having to avoid the fricking police. You owe me one, anyway. I've saved this damn system with my own two hands. So please, just do it for me. Alright?"
The general cleared his throat. "I do owe you one, Fox. But are you sure this is what you want to use the favor for?"
Fox stayed silent for a moment, contemplating the question. He could use that favor for virtually anything he wanted. Did he want to use it for Wolf? Well, the lupine really had changed. He wasn't a ruthless tyrant, but more like a reformed convict. Trying to gain a foothold in life, get a second chance. Plus, Fox was in love with the man. Of course.
"Of course," Fox echoed his thought.
"Well, I suppose it's in order to abolish the bounty, then. This doesn't have anything to do with tomorrow, does it?" Pepper asked, chuckling.
Fox smiled slightly. "I was planning on taking him to the banquet tomorrow, yes."
"I am very pleased that you have finally found a, ahem, date. But aren't you concerned about how the public will react? You, going out with him?"
"Oh, I really couldn't care less. I found somebody I like. If they hate me for it, oh well, screw them," Fox said.
"Alright then. I'll notify the authorities. You'll be able to take him tomorrow. Stay out of trouble, please," Pepper pleaded, smiling.
"I'll make sure to. Remember, not a word of this to anyone, alright?"
"My lips are sealed. Now go on, I know he's waiting on you."
Fox smiled, nodding and getting up. He didn't have a ride, did he? The taxi had left, and he didn't particularly feel like walking around ten miles. Who would he call? Bill, actually. He could pick the vulpine up. The canine did need a news update, anyway.
Fox left Pepper's office, and nodded to Fay as he went through the door. The vulpine walked back through the office, and ambled into the elevator, making for the bottomed floor. He pressed the button, and smiled.
"Well, that was much easier than I'd though it would be," the vulpine muttered to himself when the door closed. He opened up his PDA, intending to call Bill. The device rang for a moment, and then the canine picked up as Fox stepped out of the elevator at ground floor.
"Yo, Fox! What's up, dude?" The dog asked, cheery as ever.
"Hey, man. I'm over at Pepper's command center. I need a ride. Can you come pick me up?" Fox asked, stepping out of the building.
"Sure, bro. I'm in the base right now, so I won't be long. See you in a sec!" Bill exclaimed, hanging up.
Fox sat at a nearby bench, pressing the leather jacket around him, and enjoying Wolf's scent. He wondered if it was okay to be taking everything with Wolf so fast. It felt right, though. Fox was just following his gut instincts, as his father once told him to do, long, long ago. He really did love the lupine, that was for sure. But did Wolf love him back? That was a question he needed answered.
The sound of a car horn made Fox jump, and he looked up to see a convertible parked at the curb, top down. He could see Bill waving from it. Fox smiled, and jumped into the passenger seat, buckling up. The canine was wearing a shirt with palm trees on it, khaki shorts, sunglasses, and a plain red ball cap. Classic surfer dude.
"Sup, Fox?" Bill asked, pulling out of the parking spot.
"Nothing much. I just got done talking to Pepper. Wolf's bounty is abolished; he's a free man now," Fox replied trying and failing to keep his excitement in.
"Bro! That's awesome, dude!" Bill exclaimed, putting out a fist in Fox's direction. The vulpine fist bumped Bill, smiling happily.
"Yeah! I can take him to that banquet now," Fox replied, leaning back in the seat.
"I am not missing it, then. I cannot wait to see the people's looks!" Bill exclaimed, laughing.
"Oh, I bet you will get a kick out of that," the vulpine said, rolling his eyes.
"Where we headed to, anyway, Fox?"
"Wolf's place. I need you to pick him up, so we can go over to my apartment."
"Oh boy, you two gonna get down to it tonight?" Bill asked teasingly.
"Shut it, asshole," Fox said, punching Bill lightly in the shoulder.
"Hey, driving here!"
"I'm taking him over to my place because I need to see if he can fit into one of my suits. He's gonna need one if he wants to go, tonight."
"Dude, it's tuxedo formal? Shit, the best thing I've got is khakis and a button up Hawaiian shirt, man," Bill groaned.
"Nah, but the so called esteemed and honored guests have to. You'll be fine, Bill."
"Oh thank God."
The rest of the drive was relatively silent, except for Fox guiding Bill in the direction of Wolf's apartment. Fifteen minutes of traffic later, and they arrived at Wolf's apartment building.
Fox got out of the car, saying, "Wait here. I'll be back out in a minute."
"Alright, man. I enjoy being the private taxi service for you two lover boys, don't worry," Bill shot back sarcastically. The jab had fallen on deaf ears, however, as Fox had already went inside the building.
The vulpine rushed up the stairs, and ran to Wolf's apartment, knocking on the door. A moment later, Wolf opened the door, smiling warmly at Fox. He was dressed in casual wear, his boots already on. Good.
"That was only four hours? Damn. You're fast. So, how'd it go?" Wolf asked.
"You're officially pardoned of all your past crimes, Wolf!" Fox exclaimed happily. Wolf looked at Fox in pure joy, laughing and hugging Fox close.
"Thank you, Fox!" Wolf exclaimed, kissing the vulpine on his head.
"You're welcome, Wolf," Fox mumbled into the lupine's shirt.
"I love you, pup. I mean it," Wolf whispered, rocking the vulpine.
Fox grinned, smiling wildly. He said it! He meant it!
The vulpine pulled back, looking into Wolf's eye and saying, "I love you too, Wolf."
"I really needed that, Fox," Wolf replied, kissing Fox for a moment before letting go of the vulpine.
"I'm keeping my friend Bill waiting outside. He's driving us to my place so I can get you a suit for the banquet. You might fit in one. Come on," Fox said, grabbing Wolf's hand. The lupine barely had time to shut and lock the door before being dragged away. Fox rushed back down the stairs, one amused lupine in tow, and burst out the front doors. He walked to Bill's ride, climbing in shotgun. Wolf took the back seat.
"Ah, I've finally met the boyfriend himself. Name's Bill," the canine said cooly, looking back at Wolf.
"Wolf. Good to meet you, Bill," Wolf replied politely.
"Heard you're going to the banquet with Fox. Can you imagine what the people will think?" Bill asked, laughing and starting up the car and driving off.
"Oh, yeah. Been thinking about it all day. I don't want Fox to be ridiculed for being who he is. I don't care if they bash me, but him? No. I care for Fox too much to see that happen," Wolf replied seriously, not seeming to get the joke.
Bill looked over at Fox, as if to say, he's a keeper.
"Bill just meant the initial shock, Wolf. He wasn't making fun of you," Fox said.
"Oh. I'm sorry, Bill," Wolf said, blushing.
"Dude, it's cool. I'm glad to see you are so protective of old Foxy right here, man," Bill said, flashing a grin.
"T- Thanks, I guess."
The rest of the ride was spent in silence, with Bill driving over to the other side of the city to Fox's apartment. Ten or so minutes later, and they had arrived at the building.
"Thanks for the ride, Bill," Fox said, climbing out of the car.
"Anytime, dude! Just give me call anytime, man!" Bill exclaimed. Wolf climbed out as well, and stood next to Fox.
"See ya later, man!" Fox exclaimed, waving.
"See you, bro!"
Bill drove off, waving. Fox smiled up at the lupine next to him. He grabbed Wolf's hand and took him into the building, walking into the elevator, hitting the button for the twenty-second floor.
"Well, Bill seems really cool," Wolf remarked.
"Yeah, he's a little bit of a surfer dude. He's been like that all his life," Fox replied.
"So, you said something about me needing a suit for tomorrow?"
"Yeah. We don't need to go out and get you tailored; at least, I hope not. Besides, I've got plenty from lots of those stupid parties," the vulpine grumbled.
"Why even go to the banquet tomorrow, if you hate them?" Wolf asked, staring at Fox quizzically.
"Well, firstly, because I have to, at least just for this one. Second, I want to proved everyone how wrong they were about me."
"Hmm. Nice plan."
The elevator doors opened, and Fox led Wolf down to his apartment, opening the door and ushering the lupine inside. He shut and locked the door, turning to face Wolf in the doorway.
"Yes, this place is a wreck. No, I don't know how to do anything about it," Fox said before Wolf could get a word out.
"Well, that's one more mystery solved," the lupine replied, chuckling and walking into the bedroom. Fox followed him inside, and started to root through the closets in search of formal wear.
"So, we have to wear tuxedos, but you can wear whatever color bowtie you want. Most couples wear matching bowties, because of that," Fox mumbled, grabbing a suit for himself and one that looked as if it could fit Wolf.
"Ah, I see. So I get to choose the color?" Wolf asked, smiling.
"Well, I've got three colors. Purple, green, and black," Fox said, setting the tuxedos down on the bed next to Wolf.
"Purple," Wolf said almost immediately, grabbing the tux next to him and stripping off his shirt.
"I thought so," Fox replied, grabbing the two strips of the cloth and tossing one to Wolf. The vulpine took off his borrowed jacket and shirt, hanging them up in the closet.
"You don't mind if I keep your clothes, do you?" Fox asked, taking the jeans off. He was aware of Wolf staring at him from behind.
"No, you can have them. I've got plenty," Wolf said distantly.
"Good," Fox replied, putting the dress pants on. He heard a faint whine coming from Wolf when he slid them on, and chuckled. He turned to see Wolf sliding the top on, and blushing.
"Sorry. You just look really good, Fox," Wolf muttered, tying the bowtie around his neck. Fox finished up as well, adjusting the cuffs of his sleeves and smiling in satisfaction.
"They fit fine?" Fox asked, walking up close to Wolf.
"Yeah, although I could've sworn the crotch was a bit roomier a minute ago," Wolf said, his tail wagging.
Fox pushed him, saying, "You're an asshole, O'Donnel."
"Hey! I'm your asshole."
"Yeah, whatever. You look amazing, Wolf," Fox said, flicking Wolf's tie. The lupine groped Fox, causing him to groan out.
"You look really damn hot as well, Fox," Wolf replied, leaning in and kissing Fox hard. The vulpine murred, pressing back and shoving his tongue in Wolf's mouth. The lupine put a hand behind Fox's head, resting the other on his waist.
A moment later, Fox broke off, gasping for air and leaning into Wolf's neck, breathing in the other's scent.
"I love you, Wolf," Fox breathed, clutching the lupine tight.
"I love you too, pup," Wolf said.
Fox let go of the lupine, turning back and undoing his bowtie. He continued to undress, figuring that Wolf was doing the same.
"It's pretty late. We should probably go to bed," Fox said, putting on some sweats.
"Yeah."
Fox turned back around and saw Wolf wearing nothing but some briefs. Fox blushed, looking over Wolf's form. The lupine climbed in the bed, and Fox did the same. The lupine wrapped his arms around the vulpine, pressing Fox close to him. He could feel every line of the other's body. He tucked his head into the corner of Wolf's neck.
"I'm really glad we did this, pup," Wolf whispered.
"Me too. I'm glad you're here. I'd be sleeping cold otherwise. You're so warm," Fox said, closing his eyes and smiling.
"Night, Fox."
"Night, Wolf."
Fox slowly drifted into sleep, held by the lupine. His whole world had been turned upside down by the end of the Lylat Wars, and this didn't help. Not that Fox minded. He was glad that the lupine was with him.
