I returned. This is almost over now.

Chapter 12 - Punch Up at a Fancy Restaurant

Falco burst into his apartment and slammed the door causing the pictures and plaques on the wall to rattle and an old trophy from the academy to tip off its shelf and crash into the floor. Katt jerked straight up on the couch fumbling with her laptop.

"What the hell is the matter with you!" she shouted. Her ears folded down when Falco ignored her and stomped into the kitchen, throwing his bag on the counter smashing into dishes and glasses. He huffed and puffed, fuming with every breath.

"Falco!" she yelled, shutting her laptop.

He growled and yanked open the fridge. After a quick scan he slammed it shut, bottles inside clattering. Katt snuck into the archway looking into the kitchen. "Falco." she said softer. "What is it?" It was a state she hadn't seen him in since the war. She glanced at the blue feathers that trailed to where he was standing.

He stood for a moment not saying anything. "It's nothing. It's stupid."

"No it's not. You're a mess. Tell me."

"It's just stupid. Peppy's a bigot. That's all," he said flatly, grabbing his bag off the counter. He slipped around her into the living room.

"I don't understand? A bigot?" She followed him. "About what?"

Falco grew madder. "What do you think about what?! C'mon! Fox and Wolf!"

"Fox and Wolf?"

"Yeah!" He pointed at the TV and fumed through the living room, steaming toward their bedroom. A news bite was showing Fox and Wolf sitting next to each other at a recent government meeting with commentary going over it, commentary that had nothing to do with the government. Fox leaned over and whispered something into Wolf's ear and he laughed. The shot cut away to the two anchors behind their news desk.

"Oh." Katt realized. "Fox and Wolf."

"Yeah, Fox and Wolf," Falco said as he entered their room.

Katt followed and pled with her hands. "The media'll get used to it. Or get bored."

Falco ignored her and plodded around the bed in the cluttered room. He glanced at Olivia's egg in the incubator in the corner, it's warm heat washing over the carpet toward his feet. He dropped his bag aimlessly on the floor and opened the sliding door for the balcony, pulling out a cigarette.

Katt grumbled and followed him through, shutting it behind her. "Your feathers are going to stink."

Falco let up from his temper and smirked at her. After lighting the cigarette he tried to blow smoke at her, but the breeze of the 42nd floor balcony caught it and blew it away.

Their balcony provided a nice view of the riverwalk down below among a smattering of identical tall condominiums that lined the river. She looked down and watched a few people in hoverboats, small as figurines, before looking back at Falco. "You wanna tell me what's really bothering you?"

Falco tapped his cigarette on the ledge, and thought for a moment, watching the same people down below. "Peppy quit the team."

Katt for a moment couldn't process that thought. She half laughed, dumbfounded, looking at the cityscape trying to find a response. "Quit as in?" She was ambivalent. "He did?"

"Yeah." He puffed.

"Because of Fox and Wolf?"

He exhaled a narrow stream past his beak. "He said he couldn't work with 'this' kind of attention."

"But that's ridiculous. I thought…I thought Peppy was incredibly close to Fox. How could he just quit? He's the oldest member, the patriarch, the-"

"Not as close as we thought or at least not anymore. And Peppy hates Wolf. Doesn't trust him. He thinks Wolf's corrupted Fox or something. I don't know anymore. Don't care."

"Well you obviously care."

"I care about how I'm going to tell Fox."

Fox and Wolf stepped off the elevator for the elite restaurant Lar Kontan, a refined joint that was famous for having the best Katinian cuisine not on Katina. It was a hop-skip away from the Government Plaza and was a popular locale for politicians and other socialites. Fox made the dinner date with Wolf, escorting him from work. As they approached the host's podium, Wolf leered at Fox because he felt a paw travel lightly down his back.

"Here?" Wolf muttered.

The maitre d' was a short brown mouse behind a podium. He recognized the two immediately.

"Gentlemen!" He grinned and tugged at a whisker. He quickly grabbed two menus from inside the podium.

Fox retracted his paw from Wolf and couldn't help but notice the mouse's beady black eyes scan them up and down.

"How are things today?" the mouse asked, still holding onto the menus and scribbling something on the computer screen attached to the podium.

"Wonderful," Wolf said dryly with a smile. "Smoking, if you got it."

"Right this way." The host swung briskly around and led the way through the ritzy restaurant. It was dimly lit and decorated with Katinian relics, statues of ancient kings, papyrus scrolls of indecipherable writings and art. Vines and massive green leafed plants adorned the golden pillars. The maitre d' couldn't help but glance behind himself ever so often to watch the two follow him. He loved high profiled guests, especially these two. They made him feel like he was apart of something special. Heads turned as they made their way among the sea of tables.

"Fox!" someone shouted. A calico in a military uniform sitting in a corner booth next to tall tinted glass windows waved at them.

They waved back. Wolf turned to Fox, "Max Deveron. Should we sit with him?"

Max waved for them to come over.

"Well I guess we have to now," Fox said.

"Guys what a surprise!" Max said as they approached. Sitting across from him was a young lady squirrel also in a military uniform. "Guys, you already know Elena of course."

Elena got up smiling warmly. "Fox, Wolf. How are you guys doing?"

"Fine fine," Wolf said. "I hope we're not interrupting anything."

Max and Elena glanced at each other for a second. "No!" Max said. "Not at all! Please sit."

Wolf took his seat next to Elena. Fox sat next to Max.

The mouse maitre d' placed the menus on the table and took Fox and Wolf's drink order.

"I'll tell ya…," Max said after the mouse was out of earshot. I would have never guessed you guys. Six years in the military and I thought I had all that stuff figured out." He chuckled.

"Oh?" Wolf uttered half amused half annoyed.

"Yeah! But it's all gravy with me. I think you two are great together."

Fox relaxed a little and chewed his lip while studying the menu. He glanced at Elena who was quiet and seemed a little uncomfortable. It was rather curious to him that Bill wasn't around. He could've sworn he and Elena were joined at the hip. Same with Max and Olivia.

"Well thanks Max," Fox said. "I gotta get used to some things first. Things are different once all your cards are on the table."

"Easy for you to say," Wolf said. "You're not the one in government."

Max sighed and laughed. "It's good not to have secrets. We're your friends and we support you, but thank god I don't have to deal with the government much."

Wolf smirked. "No, just the military." He glanced at Elena who was still quiet.

Fox toyed with his menu and also glanced at her. "So where's Bill?"

She looked up. "Huh? Oh! Bill." She laughed quickly. Fox blinked. She smoothed out her uniform. "Well we were on Zoness for a while, sort of a vacation, but we just got back to Corneria the other night. He's off somewhere doing some training exercise with the fleet. Probably a thousand miles above us right now."

"Isn't Husky Unit going to start a war game soon?" Max asked Elena who was head commander of the Husky Unit.

"Yeah, something like that I think."

"I'll tell ya," Max put his paws on the table and fiddled with his claws studying Fox and Wolf. "One thing I envy with you two is at least your secret's out. I got this thing with Olivia hanging over my head day and night."

Wolf's hand bolted for Fox's arm and he glared at something in the distance, catching everyone by surprise. Something caught his eye, a green haired squirrel sitting at a booth on the far side of the restaurant. It was the famous Cornerian reporter Daniel Karona. It was also the guy that Fox and Wolf figured was their media leak since not even two days ago he saw Fox accidentally put his arms around Wolf at their house. He knew Daniel Karona had to have been the one who leaked the story of their relationship to the tabloids.

"Bastard," Wolf whispered.

Fox's ears picked it up. "What?"

"Three o'clock." Wolf said letting go of Fox, still staring with his gray brows furrowed.

Fox saw him too and suddenly he filled with more rage than Wolf. "…Daniel Karona."

"Who?" Max asked, terribly confused.

"That reporter from CCN?" Elena tried to look.

Fox started to get up, keeping his eyes locked him. "I'm going to kill him right now," he said calmly.

"No no!" Wolf struggled to get out of the booth to follow. "Fox wait! Fox!"

But it was too late, he was already a machine. Fox paced across the restaurant dodging around a waiter carrying a tray. He walked right up to Daniel's booth, where he was alone.

"Get up."

Daniel put down his computer tablet and looked up at the fiery fox through his thin square glasses. "Fox McCloud." He smiled naughtily. "What can I do for you?"

"Get up," he repeated, breathing angrily, practically snarling.

Wolf caught up with him. "Fox… not here."

Daniel glanced at Wolf, then back at Fox and brushed a strand of green hair out of his eyes. "Yeah, I think you should listen to your husband."

Fox was set off. He lunged forward and grabbed the squirrel by his collar, viciously pulling him out of the booth. Patrons in the restaurant scoffed, everyone turning at the sound of a struggle and glass rattling.

Elena caught up with Max, "What is he doing?!"

"Get off of me!" Daniel growled, fighting Fox, who was much larger and much stronger.

"You." Fox sneered pulling the black-furred squirrel up to his face. "Are going to stay out of my life."

"The people have a right to know." Daniel sputtered satisfied with himself under Fox's hold. "You can't stop it."

"Fox please!" Wolf pleaded. "We're better than this."

The maitre d' mouse rushed up to the commotion. "Excuse me, but I'm going to have to ask all of you to leave."

Max was deeply confused. "I think this is just a misunderstanding. We just ordered…we're going back to our seats right?"

Fox released the squirrel's collar, but firmly grabbed his shoulders to hold him still. "You're right. I can't stop my private life from becoming public now, but I can at least stop you personally."

"It doesn't matter anymore. Your little secret's out," Daniel sneered.

The expression on Fox's eyes turned in many ways, from something angry, to something sad and forlorn as he held the squirrel tightly by his black furry arms.

"So what are you going to do?" Daniel asked still smiling.

Fox's fist swung right across the squirrel's face with a satisfying slam. Daniel collapsed back onto the table, smashing plates and glasses. Patrons gasped from all around. The support for the table gave way under the squirrel and it all collapsed to the floor with an even louder crash. Daniel squealed and struggled in the mess and held his wrist up to his bleeding lip.

"Alright that's it," the maitre d' squeaked. "Out. Now."

"But…" Max's stomach grumbled with disappointment. Elena started putting on her jacket and looked around at the hundreds of eyes that stared back.

"All of you! Out!"

Wolf grabbed Fox's arm and started pulling him away. "Fox, let's just go."

Fox couldn't tear his glare off from Daniel as he slowly got up, holding his face.

Fox pointed a claw. "If you come near my house again…"

Daniel wiped his lip on a napkin. "You just made a big mistake," he stuttered.

"Oh yeah?" Fox huffed. "I don't know, it felt about right."

The maitre d' had enough. "Out NOW! Or I'm calling security!" the mouse cried.

They all finally and shamefully shuffled out of the fancy restaurant. As they made their way out, patrons applauded. Max sighed toward the furious mouse that led them. "We'll uh…we'll get that table all fixed up for ya."

Wolf burst into the foyer of Fox's mansion with his boots clicking fast across the marble tile. He went straight into the living room, lights turning on automatically where he went.

"Wolf wait." Fox called shutting the front door behind him. He dropped his keys on the side table and sighed. "Wolf..."

"What is wrong with you!" Wolf sat on the couch and started pulling off a boot. "That was not the right way to handle that."

"Wolf I'm sorry."

"Just what we need is more attention!"

Fox stood in the archway. "Look, I gave that piece of shit what was coming to him. Okay? I was just showing him that he has no right-"

"In a restaurant!" Wolf cried. "A public restaurant in front of a hundred people! Especially worse, the Lar Kon-"

"Who cares!" Fox yelled. "Who cares what people think!"

"I care!" Wolf found himself yelling.

"Okay look I said I was sorry! What do you want me to do? Say I won't punch anyone again? Take you out to dinner again? Carry you to bed?"

Wolf growled and unbuckled his blue uniform coat. "Don't. I just need a minute to cool off."

Fox studied him as he pulled his coat off and unbuttoned the collar on the next layer of clothing. His fancy uniform was complex and taut, seemingly suffocating. "Here." Fox said quietly as he came around from behind, resting his paws on Wolf's shoulders.

Wolf shot up from the couch "No." Still tugging on his uniform, he walked over to the fireplace grabbing hold of the mantel breathing angrily. "Why can't you let me be mad?"

Fox pursued and grabbed Wolf's shoulders again with a much more determined clutch. Wolf resisted and tightened up. Fox gripped and kneaded gently and loosened him up, moving down to his shoulder blades. Wolf couldn't help but melt into it. He sighed. "Fox, can we at least be more careful? CCN and LNN are both doing profile features on Olivia's entire cabinet this week and I'm going to be front and center. I'm going to be on the cover of the Cornerian Gazelle as well."

"Yeah," Fox uttered and worked. "I get ya, you're famous now. I'll be careful."

Wolf pushed back into Fox's paws encouraging him to knead harder. "I think my past will forever keep me infamous."

"The past can be replaced."

Wolf sighed as Fox's hands traveled down his spine. "I think we're on the verge of something big."

"With us?'

"With Olivia. She has a lot of ambitious plans. She wants to change the entire political and economic structure of Lylat, and I'm not so sure anymore I agree with how she wants to do it."

"Why?"

"To get Chancellor Leto of Zoness to show at the upcoming conference she's going to enact free trade between Zoness and Corneria through an executive order, something he's always wanted, but Corneria has always opposed."

Fox huffed, uninterested. "Funny."

"And she wants to give that Xavier Zan terrorist his own country on Zoness."

"Definitely sounds controversial." But Fox wasn't really hearing his words. He didn't care about politics. Right now he was focused on Wolf's back, moving his paws lower and lower.

Wolf moaned. "Which would break the AD accords… one nation… one planet…" He rubbed his face, pulling off his eyepatch and dropping his forehead against the mantel letting Fox work his muscles. "The radical-ness of her ideas made the Senate and cabinet meeting today a nightmare."

"Lots of old men yelling at each other?"

"Yeah, lot of it at me."

"Hah, what'd they say?"

"The usual. Called me inexperienced. Out of touch."

"Hmm… sounds about right."

Wolf twisted around smacking Fox on the arm. He faced him and leaned back against the mantel glaring at him. Fox held his shoulders. "You're a jerk," Wolf said smirking.

"Hey that's my job."

"I thought it was Falco's?"

"We share."

"Oh right, you two share a lot don't you?"

"Yeah… oh… well… except one thing."

"What's that?"

Fox leaned in slowly grinning. They kissed and it was slow and warm. Fox pulled away and studied Wolf's enamored eyes, one bright blue and charmed, the other tired and foggy.

"What was it you said earlier about carrying me to bed?"

Fox scooped him up in his arms easily and Wolf laughed letting his other boot hanging off his foot drop to the floor.

Exactly thirty-one kilometers away in another district of the twinkling metropolis, Max Deveron tapped at Olivia Cardus's window.

She leaped off her bed and dashed to the window pulling her nightly robe together. She pulled up the window and kissed Max before he could climb in all the way. "I missed you today!" She breathed when he had both feet in the room and they pulled apart.

"Our baby is so close Max, so close to being here."

"Our baby," Max echoed, smiling before kissing her again.

That night, Olivia fell asleep with him wrapped around her and she dreamed about what was going to hatch soon, not just from her egg that rested in Falco's messy apartment, but from the impending Lylatian Conference, the meeting where everything was to happen, the policy points that would define her legacy and the new system that would be born of it. As she saw herself in her black presidential suit, standing before hundreds on that space station hundreds of miles above Zoness, amidst speeches and music and mingling, her dream slowly turned to a terrible loud screaming nightmare.