"Just come in, Snake!" Falcon called back, as he did every time. After all, other than his room service, Snake was the only other person who visited him, and he had a rather destinctive knock.
Snake rolled his eyes at how predictable their routine had become. He had to admit, he was going to miss the Captain's little quirks when he was gone.
"Ah, gotta love the traditions huh?" He laughed, entering the room and looking around, seeing a single suitcase left out on the bed.
"Be with you in a second..." Falcon was looking in the mirror by the dresser, seeming to be looking at his eye.
"Hey..." Snake smiled, walking up behind him. "Contacts?" He enquired. "Didn't take you for the vain type."
"It's not that." Falcon blinked a few times, examining his left eye which now matched the right in colour. "In my normal, everyday life, I want to look just that. Normal, everyday. I don't need a dead eye making certain people suspicious."
"Gotcha" Snake turned his attention to Falcon's room. Mostly empty to begin with, he wondered exactly what it was Falcon would be packing.
"So this is it huh? Tournament's over."
"Yeah." Falcon rose from his seat, his subdued reaction didn't surprise Snake at all.
"What exactly are you packing though? Other than outfits?" Snake enquired.
"What do you mean?" Falcon rose from his seat, crossing over to the wardrobe.
"Well, I guess I never said anything before. It's just. Look at your room." He raised his hands, sweeping them across the room. "There's nothing here. No mementos or trinkets or, what have you."
"I dunno..." Falcon shrugged. "I guess I just don't have too much I hold as sentimental. Although..." He folded one of his coloured outfits into his suitcase. "If I could, I'd totally have the Blue Falcon over in the corner there. That thing is the world to me."
"Ya know..." Snake mused, watching Falcon unload his wardrobe into his case. "It's kinda funny how you seem to show more affection for a machine than you do other people."
"What was that?" Falcon suddenly stopped, glaring at Snake.
"Nothing..." Snake stifled a laugh, quickly looking for a way to change the subject. "Umm... What were you thinking with this?" He pulled out Falcon's now famous white and pink outfit.
"Hey..." Falcon faked offense. "I'm comfortable with my sexuality." He balled up the outfit, throwing it into the suitcase.
"Yeah..." Snake grinned, taking a moment to, as he had done many times before, appraise Falcon's form. "Real comfortable."
"Look, if you want something to look at..." Falcon began digging around in his case, pulling out a small, leather-bound book. "Here." He handed it over to Snake, who regarded the book with a look of confusion.
"What's this?" He asked, flipping open the popper clasp that held the covers together.
"I wouldn't normally show this to anyone. It's my photo album." He shrugged. "You asked about mementos, well... Here they are."
"You actually have one of these?" Snake laughed as he flipped the pages, sitting down upon the bed as he flicked though.
"I found it, after I was released from the hospital. I decided to keep it with me, wherever I go. Just so that I could keep some record of my life. Of things that happened. So that, if I were ever to forget, I'd always have some proof that it was all real."
Snake simply nodded. He hadn't expected Falcon so say something so heartfelt.
It surprised him.
"Heh... You used to be as skinny as me, huh?" Snake laughed, flipping through the book.
"Apparantly, yeah." Falcon searched a draw at the bottom of the wardrobe where he stashed a large sling bag. "It would have been before the accident though. I don't ever remember being so slim."
"Ah... That would explain this, I guess." Snake smiled softly, turning the book so Falcon could see. A photograph of a man nearly identical to Falcon, but much, much heavier. Falcon smiled weakly, starting to pack his boots into the bag.
"It took me a long time to recover. Especially as I turned to a few outside sources to help me get by."
"Well, whatever gets you through the day, right?"
"I didn't handle the depression well. So you know how it is, you numb yourself." He fastened together another pair of boots, placing them in the bag. "So I took, more painkillers that I really should have. I drank, I ate... A lot." He chuckled softly. "As you can tell..."
Snake nodded, flipping another page. "You seemed to recover quite well though."
"Yeah well... You can get past it but... You never really get over it." Falcon nodded. "It's on a hair trigger really. Once you're addicted to something, the hooks are always waiting to drag you back in at your first moment of weakness."
"Don't I know it?" Snake grumbled, knowing all too well exactly what Falcon was talking about. "Who's the girl?" Changing the subject, he presented the book again, showing a picture of an even heavier looking Falcon, beside a slim, young woman, a warm smile upon her face.
"From what she tells me... She was my girlfriend." Falcon reaches out to take the book.
"Oh... That must be hard." Snake hands the book over, watching Falcon's face carefully.
"I'm surprised she stuck with me as long as she did. I was so horrible to her." He smiled fondly, it was probably the closest thing to a loving expression that had crossed his face. "I'm sure she still loves me... But I don't feel anything for her."
"I wouldn't say that." Snake smiled. He had to admit, it was somewhat heartwarming that Falcon did indeed have a loving side. Even if he himself didn't notice it.
"What do you mean?" Falcon handed the book back.
"Just, give it time. People as loyal as that are hard to come by."
"You're smiling." Snake grinned as he watched Falcon zip up his bag.
"What do you mean?"
"In all these photos, since the crash, you've barely given a real smile." Snake leaned back onto Falcon's bed as he gazed at the other man. "Right now, you actually look happy."
"Well... I guess it's been a while since I've had something to be happy about."
"That couldn't be any more cheesy if it was read off a greetings card." Snake laughed, and for the first time Falcon joined him.
"I haven't gotten so close to someone for a long time." Falcon dragged his bags towards the door before turning to face Snake. "I will miss you, you know?"
"So... I actually made and impression on the unshakeable Captain Falcon?" Snake grinned, handing back Falcon's book. He rose up from the bed, making his way towards the door. The time was coming that they would have to part ways. "I gotta say, it'll be sad to say goodbye."
"Hey..." Falcon grabbed Snake's hand as he reached for the door handle. "We don't have to say it yet." He turned Snake around, pinning him against the door.
Snake smirked, knowing exactly what Falcon meant, and wasting no time he once again grabbed Falcon's scarf, pulling him into a kiss.
He moaned softly as Falcon's body pressed against him, his back flat against the wall. He knew this would be the last time the two of them would be able to share these moments, and so he dropped all resistance, allowing Falcon to take charge how he wanted.
Falcon gripped Snake's hair with one hand, as the other ran down his body resting naturally, almost instinctively upon his backside, kneading his flesh with the rhythm of his circling tongue. He kissed deeply, drawing all he could from Snake's lips, like trying to sate some kind of hunger. It pained him to do so, but their time was so short, he reluctantly pulled away with a deep sigh.
Snake smiled as Falcon pulled away, answering with a sigh of his own. "It was an honour to meet you, Captain." He grinned.
"Please... Just call me Doug." Falcon laughed at Snake's expression. "Yeah, I know. Uninspiring name, huh?"
"That makes two of us. The name 'Dave' doesn't really strike fear into people's hearts."
"I guess that's something else we have in common." Falcon smiled, a slight sadness in his eyes as he reached past Snake, opening the door.
Snake walked through the doorway, waiting on the other side as Falcon dragged his bags through. After the door was closed and looked, the two men stood looking at each other in a moment of silence.
"Goodbye, Doug." Snake finally spoke, offering his hand to shake. Falcon shook his head with a smile, pushing past Snake's hand and embracing him in a hug.
"Goodbye, Dave." He rested his head on Snake's shoulder, holding him in one final, tight hug, breathing in deeply before finally releasing.
Falcon picked up his bags and walked down the hallway, Snake following close behind. No more words were spoken.
Neither one believed anything more needed to be said.