Double Shot, No Sugar


13 ALW - Corneria City


He had stepped off the sky rail at Cinder Street Station in downtown Corneria City. The name was contentious, and many had called for it to be changed, since the whole block around the old building had been laid to ashes during the Aparoid Invasion. But afterwards, brilliant new skyscrapers had sprung up, separated in one direction by wide avenues lined with trees and other greenery, and in the other by narrow laneways full of shops and restaurants. Gracefully untouched in the Anglar Wars, the area had become known both as a bustling business centre and as a vibrant culture hub.

Walking through the streets, he blended in with the crowd. It was peculiar. After colouring his white mohawk a darker shade of his orange fur and donning smart-shades with tinted glass hiding the emerald in his eyes, no one seemed to recognise him. He was just another vulpine gentleman going about his business. No one stopped the former Hero of Lylat, neither to ask for an autograph nor make spiteful remarks about his fall from grace.

His thoughts were preoccupied with two recent phone calls. First, there had been one from General Peppy, urging him to consider a job opportunity as captain for a civilian luxury cruise ship. But his old mentor had also mentioned that she was in town, alone in business matters at that. He didn't know what had possessed him to call her. Maybe if he called and she didn't answer, he could at least pretend that he had tried. However, she had not only answered, but to his surprise accepted.

He arrived at the café early. In his informal but smart clothing — dark jeans, sport jacket and a button-down shirt — he would pass as any other business man in the establishment, casual Friday as it were. He had suggested the location since it was easy to get to by public transport from anywhere in Corneria City, wherever her business meetings might have been.

He didn't have to wait long.

The cobalt vixen was as beautiful as ever. Her hair had grown out a little, and tied up in a ponytail, it was dyed indigo, a hue somewhere between blue and violet. A titanium tiara with a gemstone matching her sea-green eyes adorned her forehead, and she was smartly dressed as well: dark blue-grey slacks with a matching jacket over a white blouse. Apparently the colour was called 'livid' but he sure hoped she still wasn't livid at him for kicking her off the team. He still kicked himself every day over that fateful decision.

Whether he wanted it to or not, his heart pounded in his chest. Impulse took over and when she offered a handshake, he took her fingers and planted a light kiss on her hand instead. She gave him a stupefied look.

"Umm... it's nice to see you." He stammered. "You look great."

"It's good to see you too, Fox." Her tone was neutral, a little cold even.

He spotted a somewhat secluded table at the back of the café, and led the way. They sat down on opposite sides and a waiter promptly arrived, ready to take their orders. Fox was slightly startled and tried hard not to show it; of course it had to be a grey wolf. Then again, there was something about the middle-aged man's blue eyes and slightly curled tail. Perhaps he was one of those wolf-looking dog breeds?

"A caffè latte with oat milk and no sugar, please," said Krystal without missing a beat.

"Coming right up." The waiter turned to Fox. "And for you, Signore?"

"Just coffee, please, tall, black and no sugar."

"Just coffee?" The canine cocked an eyebrow and peered at Fox over his reading glasses. "Would that be a caffè lungo? Double-shot, perhaps?"

Fox frowned, annoyed at being corrected. But there was nothing condescending in the waiter's tone and his tail wagged slowly behind him, as if he was unaware that he came across as a smart-ass.

"Yeah, sure, one of those." Fox scratched his neck. "Double shot, no sugar."

"Splendid. That'll be sixteen credits, please."

Eight credits a coffee? Geez, it must be good, thought Fox, but tapped his communicator - one of those newfangled civilian ones that doubled as a stylish timepiece - and approved the purchase.

"But seriously, you look great," he said as soon as the waiter was out of earshot. "I guess I'm not used to seeing you in something else than a flight suit." Or your old tribal gear, he didn't say.

"I had appointments with several prospective clients." She smiled a little. "Big corporations. Big bosses. I have to look the part."

"A bit different from life in the cockpit, huh?"

"I am more of a business developer than a bounty hunter nowadays." Her smile turned into a smirk. "It seems my... appearance is better at selling our services. Besides, Panther has his ways, but Wolf hates meetings with a passion, and Leon still scares the average Cornerian. Bloody speciest, if I may say so."

It was jarring hearing her talking about Star Wolf as if it was a legitimate enterprise, although he had no doubt she was nudging them in that direction. "Speaking of Panther... how is he?"

"As if you care." She shrugged. Okay, that was awkward. "You look like you're keeping in shape."

"Yeah, I work out a lot," he said, glad for the change of subject. "It keeps me busy."

Since he wasn't working, still living off the money from selling the Great Fox II, he kept a strict routine most days to keep himself out of trouble. Weekday mornings he would exercise a lot - run, lift weights, keep the martial arts up - then spend the afternoons preparing healthy meals, clean and wash, and generally keep his apartment spotless and ordered. Weekday nights he'd binge old movies, so he wouldn't have to think. Some Saturdays he'd catch up with Peppy for lunch - never anyone else - and every Saturday night he'd get drunk as a skunk trying to forget his mistakes. Sunday mornings he'd nurse his hangover and wallow in self-pity. Sunday afternoons he'd stare for hours at a tub of pills, the razor sharp chef knives in his kitchen, or at the streets below from his forty-second floor balcony. But he hadn't done anything stupid... yet.

"Is everything alright?"

He realised he'd been silent for a moment, staring at nothing over her shoulder. "Oh, it's nothing... just..."

The waiter returned with their beverages, carefully placing them on the table. Krystal's latte was served in a glass and had a coffee-coloured heart skilfully poured into the white froth. She scowled at it.

Fox took a sip from his brew — it was good, very strong yet with a well-rounded flavour — fretting about how to get the conversation into what was burning in his heart. "I'm sorry."

"You've said so before." She stirred her coffee with a spoon and messed up the latte artwork. "Still want me back, huh?"

He couldn't help himself and grimaced, recalling the unpleasant memory from Katina when he had poured his heart out, pleading for her to come back to Star Fox, and to him, only for her to turn him down in front of her accomplices in Star Wolf.

"No, I really mean it this time. I've had a lot of time to think. I honestly regret how I treated you after you got engaged, the things I said-"

"Implying that Panther bought the ring with blood money." She took a sip of her coffee, not meeting Fox's gaze.

It probably was, thought Fox, considering the size of that diamond, but he bit his lip. "I still love you, always will, and that means I just want you to be happy, whomever that is with."

She put her glass down and looked up. Her facial expression had softened a little. "Thank you, I really appreciate that."

"But I guess neither of us want me at your wedding." Fox tried to make a joke of it, but felt himself how forced it came off.

"That won't be happening." Her mood darkens momentarily, and it wasn't lost on Fox. She twirled the glass in her hands for a moment. "I have noticed that you've gone underground: no address, no socials... nothing."

"Eh, I just don't want people to bother me." That was at least part of the truth. "Roam the streets like a free man, you know."

"Don't beat yourself up Fox." She reached across the table and grasped his hands. "I do care about you. Don't throw the rest of your life away. Get out and go after what you want."

He relished the touch of her hands in his, looking at her bare fingers. They were as soft as ever, the fur slightly thinner and lighter on the underside, and her white claws perfectly groomed.

"I must go now." She let go. "I have a ship to catch."

"You know, if you're ever in town and want to chat over coffee..."

She stood up and put her bag over her shoulder. "I'll think about it."

She walked off, while looking back over her shoulder once and giving him a smile, before disappearing out the door. He sat back, feeling all alone in the busy café. He pondered what he'd thrown away and what was missing in his life. But he had noticed something that she'd said, and something he hadn't seen. He relaxed and smiled to himself for the first time in a long while.

"The meeting went well it seems." The waiter returned with a knowing smile.

Fox realised that he probably had a goofy grin on his muzzle. He looked at the name tag on the man's shirt. "Yeah, it did. Thanks, Antonio."

"Everyone calls me Tony." The waiter waived dismissively. "Would you like something else?"

"Yeah, I could have another one. But perhaps with a little milk. It was quite strong."

Tony wagged his tail a little faster. "May I suggest a caffè macchiato in that case?"

"Sounds good." Fox was sure to be buzzing and then crash and burn after that much caffeine, but to heck with it. "Double shot, no sugar."

"Of course, Mr McCloud."

Fox was startled. Was his disguise actually that thin? The waiter said no more, just winked and turned to get the order. Fox shook his head, fished a sharp-fang earpiece out of a jacket pocket and inserted it into his right ear, before tapping his communicator to dial the top number on his contact list.

"Hey Peppy! It's me. ... Yeah, we caught up. ... About that job opportunity..."


Author's note: My character Antonio 'Tony' Lupo, a husky-elkhound cross, has nothing whatsoever to do with Star Fox, but this story is not on my head-canon anyway, so here's a little of his appearance and demeanour. I saw in my files that I started writing this little story exactly four years ago, so I thought it was time to finish it. I contemplated whether to keep Fox's ideations in the middle, which are representative of my own mental state back then. I've received help since and am coping better. If you struggle, reach out! Else, this is a little study in subtlety. What was that something she'd said and that something he hadn't seen?