"Now here's something interesting," added the standing entertainment reporter as a holographic image of Fox and Wolf appeared next to him. The news anchors at the desk nodded, looking over as though they hadn't rehearsed the segment five times already. "Remember these guys? Yes the ones that saved our planet." He curled his eyebrows and vaulted his voice like a typical reporter. "Apparently these two heroes, both male, have been in an alleged romantic relationship with each other for quite some time. Now we here at CCN have to say alleged for the evidence is purely circumstantial, but the buzz on the street is undeniable."
"Can this affect the political situation on Corneria?" asked the female reporter with shallow sweet interest. The goose sat at the desk beside her colleague tilting her head.
"Well, it does radically change their public image, and the two are constantly visible with Corneria's bold chancellor, Olivia Cardus. As supporters of her, it does change the entire image of Corneria itself as well. They did save the planet and stabilize the entire system, but at the same time, just the idea of what's being alleged is...to put it mildly...shocking."
"Agreed," the two added. "With the meeting of Lylatian delegates coming up in just three weeks, in what is being dubbed as the second Lylat Unity meeting, can you say whether or not this will affect plans for that?"
The male rabbit smirked. "No, I surely can't. But what I can say is that if everything goes according to plan, this meeting could be one hell of a good one or one big mess. You'll have Cardus, McCloud, O'Donnell, Macbeth, Katina, and Zonessian leaders there, Xavier Zan a self-admitted terrorist, as well; extremely controversial mix there. However many say Cardus has the opportunity to make groundbreaking changes for this system, especially in a time when we need it most."
"Thank you, that'll be all for entertainment news." Hard beat music started playing as the camera panned away from the news desk. The female reporter straightened her papers, "After the break we'll show-"
Olivia switched the TV off.
"Fox and Wolf...alleged?" questioned Max as he walked up behind her while she took a sip from her coffee mug.
"They don't really need to use that word since it's all true."
Max turned. "Really?"
She nodded, "I also think I pissed off Wolf earlier today. I don't know, I just have so much on my mind. I didn't quite give him the attention it deserved."
"Well, if I was in his position I don't think I'd want that much attention drawn to it in the first place wouldn't you think?"
Olivia scratched her beak, "I suppose. It just amazes me how this caught the media by storm."
"Things like this do, you and I both know that." He took her hand and met her eyes with deep concern as she took another sip. "We need to keep our tracks covered."
Wolf peaked through the curtains to find a sea of reporters in the front yard of Fox's place. There were news cameras, live feed towers, and of course reporters everywhere, however no Daniel Karona surprisingly. If he did see him out there, Wolf surmised he would go out bearing teeth and claws just for him. Earlier, he and Fox had entered the house through the back drive to avoid the ocean of media outside.
"This is a nightmare..." Wolf said to himself.
Fox was sitting on the couch in a darkened living room. "It doesn't matter anymore. There isn't much we can do," came the sullen voice from the darkness.
"Oh but there is Fox. We could solidify the claims, talk directly to the top of the media to keep the story civil. If we give them the facts then they have no ammunition to use against us."
"The facts are the ammunition..." Fox mumbled. "I don't see how the story could be made into something civil..."
"We just speak as though we're like anyone else. I was able to speak to Olivia briefly about it and she had a positive reaction. Have you talked to anyone about this? Falco? Slippy...?"
"Pepper."
Wolf raised both eyebrows and made his way to the couch, switching on a light on the way. Fox stayed silent staring ahead, not even budging. He carefully sat down next to him and leaned closer. "I have a feeling you want to talk about that."
"It was pretty bad." Fox made a tired grimace while rubbing his temple.
"What happened?"
Fox wiped the look off and sighed wearily. "I can't recall the exact words but you can guess how it made me feel."
"Not too pleasant...?"
"Worthless and wrong is more like it. I might not agree with that, but it's hard to shake the feelings."
"So this is what's been bothering you all day?" Wolf asked putting a paw on his friend's leg. Fox nodded, "Yeah that and all the ridiculous nonsense outside." He looked at Wolf's paw and smiled, gently squeezing it. The smile slowly faded and he retracted his paw from Wolf's. "What would my dad think if he were alive...," he softly asked himself.
Wolf took in a deep breath trying to think of how to respond. "I really don't know Fox."
"He would...hate me." Fox nodded affirmatively, completely sure of that suggestion, as though it were some sort of truism.
Wolf quickly shook his head, "For some reason I highly doubt that." He put his arm around Fox. "You've done too much for this planet, his home, your home. You're a hero, a name, a legacy..."
"A joke."
Fox looked over with ashamed eyes, the exhausted pupils compelling Wolf to let go of him and return his paws to his own personal territory but he held on tight to comfort the distraught fox. "Loving me doesn't make you any less of a hero."
The doorbell rang followed by several bangs at the door making them both stir from the couch. There was shouting and curses being thrown outside. Fox could definitely make out Falco's voice. He even heard Bill and Slippy. He knew there were a lot of people, adding to his nervousness. They were interacting with the crowds of reporters and news crews outside, obviously in a negative fashion which couldn't be good. Fox gestured for Wolf to stay back while trotting through the foyer toward the front door. He looked over at the security image on the wall and saw Falco, Bill, and Slippy holding back the news crews amid a flurry of camera flashes and shouts.
"Fox open up!" Falco shouted. Fox cracked open the door and the flashes reached a climax, snapping out like an intense lightning storm as the three guests quickly crammed in, rushing into the foyer. Once all in, Fox quickly shut the door lowering the noise of shouting crowds down to just a dull roar.
Falco brushed himself off catching his breath. "Fox?! What the hell is going on?!" the bird asked as he stomped over. Wolf entered from the opposite side behind everyone. They all turned around to look at him, then back at Fox who still had his back pressed against the door.
"Fox?" Bill asked as well.
There was a powerful silence, the dull commotion of the crowds outside being the only noise to enter the room. "I can explain everything," he begged. Wolf raised an eyebrow from behind his eye patch. Fox took a deep breath, still pressing himself against the door, trying to keep his demons shut out, the reporters outside. "It's all true," he finally said sounding as though he was about to break down from exhaustion. Wolf looked at the floor, somewhat pleased that Fox admitted it but coy from the truth being known.
Falco held the same distressed face that he had when he entered. He stayed staring at Fox, a good five feet still between them. Fox couldn't meet the falcon's eyes narrow green eyes.
"Fox, we've been friends for who knows how long...I need to know if this is some big joke that I'm just not getting?"
Slippy and Bill quickly looked between Fox and Falco, then Wolf, then Fox again. He finally looked up with tired eyes. "No, it's no joke..." The silence of the foyer was overwhelming, adding to the vastness of space. The room suddenly felt like it was a million square feet, each person unsure of what to add.
Bill's eyes shifted from person to person. "Well hey!" came the casual voice, quickly filling the silence. "That's all cool with me!"
Slippy grinned somewhat unsure of why he was happy. "Yeah...everything's cool."
Wolf made a timid smile but didn't move an inch from where he was, keeping the crowd of three firmly in place between he and Fox. Fox made a weak smile at the floor but still couldn't look at Falco who had stayed silent. He finally met his eyes.
Falco looked completely stressed. "So uh..." He scratched the back of his head and looked everywhere except at Fox. "Yeah...this is a bit..."
"Weird." Slippy said quietly to himself. That was exactly what Fox didn't want, but he couldn't avoid it. It was going to be weird for quite a while he fathomed. He could imagine Falco's perspective, thinking of his best friend Fox, his buddy, his pal, suddenly being equated with something he never thought could be possible.
"I know..." Fox mumbled, hugging himself, his eyes hiding from him again.
"There's nothing wrong," Wolf added, the voice from behind everyone sounding somewhat defensive. "It's a difference. A difference, and that is all there is to it."
From Wolf's perspective, Falco didn't come across as though he honored that idea. The avian added, "Yeah well...I'm still not so sure about any of this. I mean...you know this is all they're talking about on TV and magazines?"
"I know," Fox stated. He took a step toward Falco who quickly took a step back. The gesture surprised Fox and he could only glare back at his friend who seemed surprised at the maneuver himself.
"I'm sorry," Falco carefully stated. "I just have to...get used to this you know?"
Fox slowly nodded with a faint tint of disappointment. Wolf was soon at his side and linked an arm with his, leaning his weight against him. Bill and Slippy seemed humored by the show of affection, but Falco was a little troubled. Even still he managed one of his trademark smirks. "I definitely have to get used to it."
Wolf gave Falco a pleasant wink. "We all do."
The next morning after much deliberation on how to carry themselves, Wolf and Fox opened the front door, completely ignoring the makeshift camp of photographers and reporters in the front lawn. They all scrambled to attention, quickly hollering the questions they had thought up all night to ask. There were dozens of shouts overlapping, neither Fox nor Wolf able to make out any. They simply kept walking down the sidewalk toward their car. However, one question did capture their attention.
"Fox! Do you have anything to say to the Cornerian people about your relationship with Wolf!"
Wolf pushed aside a reporter to grab the man's microphone and look right in the news camera. "Yes, it's completely private." The sea or reporters went wild at that, now shouting even more questions. Fox glanced over at Wolf. He was uneasy but he felt a spark of vitality and confidence from Wolf's infectious grin. The two finally made it to the car and soon they drove off leaving the camp of reporters to converse to themselves over what they had just seen and heard.
"Business time!" Wolf stated as he entered his office.
Cecilia quickly rushed in with coffee. "Oh I've heard everything!" she squealed with a grin. "The media is going nuts but I support you a hundred and one percent Wolf! As your secretary I will be completely at your service no matter what is going on in your personal life!"
Wolf smirked at his desk and opened some folders. "That's good to hear."
She continued over him not even listening as she blabbed on. "I mean wow, I'm your secretary! I work for you! I work for Wolf! And Wolf is with Fox! And you two are a thing!" She took a sip of the coffee and beamed at him.
He paused from his shuffling of papers and stared at her blankly. "Cecilia are you going to give me my coffee or am I just going to watch you drink it?"
"Oh my gosh, I'm so sorry!" She ran a paw through her hair suddenly embarrassed. "Here! I put in two packets of sugar like you asked, not the fake stuff either!"
"Thank you Cecilia..." Wolf took the coffee mug and wiped the lipstick mark off with his thumb somewhat revolted. "Nice color," he mumbled.
"Oh! It's peachy pink! Oh my gosh that's right, you people are like really good with that stuff!"
Wolf looked up again slightly disgusted at the comment. "...What people?"
The tabby's eyes went real wide and she lowered her voice as though saying something top secret. "Well you know...you're...a..."
"A what?"
"A...you know..."
"No, Cecilia." He paused. "I don't know." She stared at him, totally clueless. He scratched his forehead and sighed. "You know, don't even answer. It's okay. But to let you know, 'My people' and I couldn't give a shit whether your lipstick is peachy pink or vomit brown." She blinked and touched her lip. Wolf continued, "If you want to know, I was just saying the first sarcastic comment that came to mind to humor myself, and now I'm completely exhausted from your presence so if you could do me a favor the door is right behind you and I have a lot of work to do. Thank you." He sat down and opened the computer panel on his desk.
She stood there with a stunned blank look but soon a large smile slowly etched across her face til she was grinning like a fool. With a hand on her hip she declared, "Oh Wolf you're so funny!" She shook her head and exited the office. Wolf watched the tabby's tail disappear behind the closing door, staring in disbelief.
Falco stared solemnly at the floor's wine colored rug, sitting in the soft cushioned chair that was made to match. He twiddled his fingers before straightening his brown leather jacked for the third time in three minutes in an attempt to keep his hands busy. Olivia's egg sat in a makeshift throne of pillows and blankets across from him, made to keep it warm. The heated lamp hanging above it illuminated the white shell making it the center piece of their apartment bedroom. The avian looked up to speak again, "I don't know what to make of this," he firmly stated. "It's like in the past two days I've learned so much so fast and I don't know how to handle it. I mean, Fox and I have always been pals, but I thought I knew him and for the first time in years I feel like I don't know him. Like, I think about...you know, stuff that's happened in the past, and I think to myself, should I have known this, were there things I shouldn't have said? Things I shouldn't have done?" Falco stayed staring at it as though waiting for a response. After a moment of silence he looked around the empty room. "I need to find someone to talk to."
Katt took a step in front of the large round table Olivia, Max and Wolf were sitting around, her itinerary and research projected up on holographs behind her. "So let's list what we need exactly for this big party we're throwing 600 miles above Zoness," she started.
Olivia took a deep breath. "Well, there are many policy points I'll have to make in my speech..."
"We'll need security," Wolf folded his arms.
"And let's not forget entertainment," Max added.
Katt scribbled things down on her digital pad. "Alright, what else?"
"A layout," Olivia continued. "We need to decide who sits where, to avoid conflicts."
"Yeah, we wouldn't want Xavier Zan, terrorist aficionado sitting next to Chancellor Leto, whiny victim aficionado. It could cause chaos," Wolf joked.
A high pitched giggle erupted from an orange tabby sitting across from him. "Oh that's funny!" Cecilia beamed at him. He blinked trying hard not to sneer, frustrated that Katt let the ditzy secretary know about the private executive meeting. She had probably done it on purpose just to spite him.
Katt smirked and continued writing, "Okay, seating chart definitely needs to be worked on."
"What about food?" Max asked. "I mean, I know I think with my stomach, but come on. What's an event without food?"
"We'll need a caterer," Wolf amended. He rubbed his chin pondering candidates.
"Okay I'm looking at our list here..." Katt mumbled while poking through her tablet. "Who would be free...?" Wolf stayed thinking as well.
"I love doing food!" Cecilia suddenly declared. "I mean I could do it!" Wolf's face fell.
Katt smiled and poked into her tablet. "Cecilia Riratot? Well looking here, your credentials definitely check out."
"No no no!" complained Wolf. "Anything but HER!" Cecilia blinked innocently at the wolf across the table,
"Aw what's wrong!" Katt pleaded. "It says here in her bio description 'excellent food management credentials.' Come on the girl has experience."
"I can do this!" Cecilia said with powerful implication. "I've done weddings, and all sorts of things before. It's such a piece of cake." She quickly started scribbling in her little pink tablet. "Oh cake! We could have cake!"
Wolf's uncovered eye narrowed at Katt. "Flirting with disaster Ambassador..." He tapped the desk with one of his claw.
Olivia rubbed her temples. "The state this meeting is going, this event is destined to be a disaster."
"Alright calm down everyone," Max cooed. "If Katt says Cecilia is right for the job then I say we trust that."
"You can definitely trust me!" Cecilia smiled and looked straight at Wolf. Her assured look seemed to mock him as he scratched the table glaring at her.
"See, Wolf, nothing to worry about." Max looked over and smiled, amused by his low opinion of her. Olivia poked the calico playfully to make him stop teasing.
Wolf crossed his arms again, leaning back in his chair. "Fine, I'll let you three suffer with her. I'll have no part in the catering services of this event."
"Of course you won't!" Olivia squawked with a grin. "You'll be too busy wooing the Katinian president and Macbethian viceroy to our platform on Lylatian peace!"
"I take that as my agenda for the evening's event?"
"Better start your homework bud." Olivia winked.
Peppy sat in his fuzzy wool chair, a classic rock song quietly rumbling from the surround sound speakers in his den. He looked out the window at the cars rushing by taking another sip of his coffee. The hare had been pondering what to make of these things he had been hearing all week, things he never thought he could hear of. There was a ring of the doorbell making him stand to attention.
"ROB I'll get it," he called. The robot had been staying with Peppy while the Great Fox was being built. The hare figured he needed the company and Slippy was more than willing to entertain him with the favor.
Falco was standing in the doorway once it was open, arms folded and ready to talk. Peppy raised an eyebrow and rubbed his chin looking at him. "Now I wonder what this raspy looking fellow standing before me wants?"
Falco grinned. "Just to talk to someone older and wiser."
"Come on in," Peppy gestured and turned toward the den again to make his way back to his wool chair. Once there, Falco took the seat right across from him, not even waiting for the hare to ask.
"It must be important!" Peppy surmised.
Falco leaned forward, resting his forearms on his legs. "You know what this is about."
"Do I?" the stubborn elder asked. Falco cocked an eyebrow and realized right away that Peppy was not taking the news well. The news that the child he had promised to care for after James' death was someone with these kinds of allegations being put on them. Allegations that were ultimately true in the end. Peppy nodded as though knowledgeable of Falco's reasoning. "Yes, I chose to care for him. I played daddy and I suppose everyone thinks I did something wrong?"
Falco immediately shook his head, "No, of course not. No one thinks that."
"Well then what do they think? The fox turned out the way he is by nature?"
Falco rubbed his forehead, totally unsure of what side to play, unsure of how even he himself was even responding to the realizations about his friend. That was going to open the whole argument of nature verses nurture which was well beyond Falco's reasoning. He slowly answered "I don't know" and leaned back eyeing the hare's droopy ears, a sign he was distressed.
Peppy looked over at a picture of James on the mantle piece by the fireplace. "Did I do something wrong old friend? Was I not there for him enough?" He shook his head and closed his eyes. Falco glanced at the small frame then back at the rabbit that was still shaking his head.
"Hey you gotta stop thinking this is your fault. Things are the way they are," Falco said. He widened his eyes, surprised at how he sounded himself. It was as though Peppy was forcing him to defend Fox's way of being because he didn't want to be like Peppy. He didn't want to let things hurt him, when something like this shouldn't even cause hurt in the first place.
"You're right," Peppy fathomed, looking down at the large boots on his feet. "Now I suppose I should tell you I'm leaving the team."
"What?!!" Falco squawked.
Peppy's ears drooped even more. "I can't work like this, with this kind of attention. Attention from the...the...those people...the news." He struggled to find the right words, the modern terms to use.
"The media," Falco said angrily, half at them, half at Peppy.
"Yes, them."
"You're letting them win you know."
"I didn't know this was a war."
"It's always been a war Peppy. Every day it has and you've always known that. We've faced this before from the media, the allegations. Allegations that we're war criminals, inhumane, private secret police running around Lylat violating civil liberties and dodging war crime charges." Falco huffed. "What's the difference now? Why stop fighting now?"
"Because there's nothing left to fight for!" the hare shouted. Falco crumpled back in the chair, shocked at the sudden outburst. He felt like a small child in the older man's commanding presence. "Nothing you hear me boy? Fox will let his personal things drive this team into the ground and that sneaky cat Wolf will only cheer him on! Who'll want us huh? Who?! Dammit there's not even a war left to fight in...No one wants us, no one needs us..." the rabbit continued to mumble and ramble to himself no longer talking to Falco, just himself.
Falco saw the hare crumble under his own emotions and suddenly he felt disheartened at what he had become. "You sad old man," the bird coldly stated. Peppy's ears raised up surprised at what he was hearing. "I can't believe how much you delude yourself. I can't believe after all these years, after all we've done together you'd be like this." Peppy just shook his head and looked over at James' picture. Falco continued, "You know these past few days I've been confused too. But you know what, he's still the same Fox we knew before, we just now know him a little more and I realize now it makes no difference to me. You hear that? No difference! And once you take off the rose colored glasses the media gives you, it still makes no difference what we've done for everyone. We saved Corneria. We're the heroes, so pick yourself up old man and put yourself together because right now it's the wallowing that's your demise, not Fox."
Peppy stayed silent and tried to think of a response, trying to figure out how to wrap his weathered aged mind around just the idea. He looked up to find Falco gone. Glancing at the clock he realized it had been twenty minutes since he left. So much thought into something so small, but the guilt attached was anything but small. "Young people," he grumbled. And suddenly the statement felt archaic. Suddenly he felt silly for even saying it because it wouldn't accomplish anything. The self issued mantra couldn't help him escape the situation. The phone rang and the tired hare sighed. He glanced over and saw the number calling but he stayed still, letting the phone sit and cry out to be answered. His paw never picked up the receiver. Fox clamped his mobile phone shut and sat back down in the café's chair, watching the cars go by outside the window. He knew there was a reason why there was no answer.
"I'm a caterer!" Cecilia was absolutely elated at the thought. "I mean wow! I love food! I love working with food! You know it's so weird, this is the number one job I wanted. This is just wow!"
Wolf rubbed his eye patch folding his ears down from the squealing voice. "Well, I wasn't the one that made the suggestion."
Cecilia didn't listen, still trapped in thought as usual. "Wow we can have those little sandwiches with the toothpicks in them and then get handsome guys to carry them around on platters with cute uniforms. Oh it'll be great! I promise you'll love it!"
"Oh I just can't wait." Wolf grinned but sneered when she looked away. He was a little peeved at Katt for even picking her. Why her? Why did she have the credentials? Or better yet, how? Why was she even at that damn meeting? Even still, there were more important things to worry about than her, like the crowd of reporters waiting by his car. Wolf glanced out the window and eyed them suspiciously. "Could I get some parking lot security to handle them?" he asked to himself.
"Sure!" Cecilia answered. And with that she was right out the door.
"No wait!" Wolf cried. "Anyone...anyone but you..." he grumbled. A window popped up on his computer screen shifting his attention. He glanced over and saw it was a message from Olivia.
"Wolf:
Great news, everyone's RSVPed for the event except Chancellor Leto of Zoness. We'll get him soon though. Advisors have told me he's warming up to the idea. Hotel's banquet hall is all fixed up and ready. With two weeks to go I think this meeting can work. Sorry for being distracted recently. Did you want to do dinner and talk? Call my mobile.
- Olivia Cardus"
"So now she wants to talk?" Wolf asked himself aloud. Perhaps that's what he needed, just a lady to sit down and talk to. He certainly didn't have one around the office to talk with, speaking of which, he turned around and looked out the window at his car in the distant parking lot. Cecilia was already mingling with the reporters, posing for different camera shots making silly curtsies while blabbing. It was humorous to watch and he envied her charm. Maybe that's what he needed, a little more charm.
"Yes, it's completely private!" he heard his own voice say. Wolf swerved around to see the TV on the wall showing news clips, the current one being of Fox and Wolf's walk to their car earlier in the morning. A reporter was making commentary but he didn't care what was being said. He just watched the image of himself marching close beside Fox in the crowded sea of reporters, being guided through the treacherous ocean of microphones and suits. There was a quick glance between them, hard to see from the camera's jostle, but there was a definite smile there, and now their smirks were all too clear. Smirks that marked the humored expression of how silly it was that these two people could garner so much attention, how just the slightest comment or gesture could invigorate so much commentary and debate that it would eclipse even more pressing current events on Corneria like governmental shakeups, or even terrorism. Soon they were in the car and the camera shot was zooming in on the receding vehicle as it traveled down the black paved trail that was Fox's private drive, camera flashes still flickering. Wolf sat on the desk and crossed his arms knowing that was the only way it could have gone. He couldn't have acted the morning stroll any differently.
Kind of moving into the third act here. Sorry if things seem sort of disjointed. Lots of elements need to come together and I feel like I'm leaving out important things. The end could be some ways away. Thanks for reading though!