Unwanted Allure, Impending Danger Chpt1
Falco sighed. Flying through the Lylat system, on his way to the Great Fox of all places. He truly didn't think that he would be going back, after he left this time. Hell, maybe he wouldn't be going back. Maybe they were tired of him leaving whenever he pleased, and then coming back like it was nothing. Falco scoffed at the thought, as soon as it came to him. Fox would never turn him away. Maybe Peppy would, but never Fox. Right?
Fox was his closest friend, almost like a brother, and though he would get angry at Falco, he would never turn him away, or kick him off the team. They'd been through so much, saved each others lives, had each others backs. Fox would probably be pissed off at him for a while, but he'd understand. Maybe. Falco had seen a chance at something special, and he couldn't pass it up. Not again. He wouldn't pass up a chance with her again.
Katt Monroe. One of his oldest friends, next to Fox McCloud, and the rest of the StarFox team. The only girl he'd ever even entertained the thought of being with. Sure, he'd had plenty of girls, but it was never serious. Just fooling around, while the team was on break at Corneria City, the old 'wham, bam, thank you ma'am' routine. Katt Monroe was different. Special to him. Seeing her again during the Titania Incident, had brought up some old feelings. He'd left the team then, only to return later on, just in time to save Fox from ANOTHER attack by Andross, on Sauria. Fox had accepted him back on the team, along with that blue vixen Krystal, who he had helped during his mission. She hadn't lasted very long, leaving the team after a short while.
Some time after that, the team had run into Katt again. Just a small mission, but seeing her brought Falco's feelings back again, and he left to pursue a relationship with her. He supposed he could have done it better than he did. He'd left the ship while they slept, not wanting to have to explain the reason for his departure. He'd left a small note for the team, saying that he was sorry for not saying goodbye in person, but there was something important to him that he couldn't pass up, and he didn't know if he would be coming back again.
Katt had happily accepted him, and Falco was happier than he'd been in a long while. The relationship was strong, at least at first. They had history together, GREAT chemistry, and Katt was one of the most beautiful girls Falco knew. It was all so perfect at first. But then the cracks in the armor began to show. Katt was subtly different than he remembered. Small things, like a bit of a shorter temper. Nothing too big. After all, Falco could be a hothead himself. Katt and Falco would take small missions from various clients, simple shit, like escorting shipments of various domestic goods, as they traveled to Corneria City, nothing like the missions he used to get on the Great Fox. It didn't pay much, but Falco was happy just being with Katt, and it was enough to keep them going.
However, there were times when clients were few and far between. Money was tight during those times, and it was then that Katt would get more distant from him. Falco still loved her deeply, but it was almost like Katt was getting...tired of him. She wouldn't laugh at his wisecracks, and banter with her either ended quickly, or became awkward. They still slept together, but it seemed like Katt wasn't even into it anymore. Falco wished he could do something nice for her, but with the scant amount of clients, he didn't have the cash to even buy her something nice.
They'd been together for about two years. But while things had been rather mundane lately, Falco had never expected what had happened just a week ago. Katt had been strangely quiet all day, and when Falco finally asked her what was wrong-
“Falco...I don't think this is working any more.” Falco closed his eyes, letting out another sigh. He hadn't taken that very well. An argument had started, Falco incredulous and hurt over the fact that Katt wanted to break up, because they were going through a bad financial patch, and Katt arguing that it wasn't just about money, that she felt no spark anymore. Falco had pleaded with her to think this over, but Katt had just walked out. He'd stayed at the apartment for a few days, waiting to see if she would come back. She didn't. But she did have the courtesy to send him a message, TELLING him that she wasn't coming back to him.
And now, here he was. Flying back to his friends, who he'd practically abandoned, to be with a girl he thought loved him, as much as he loved her. He let out a bitter laugh. That had been a great choice hadn't it? The radar on his Arwing let out a series of beeps, letting him know he was approaching the coordinates of the Great Fox, that he had managed to obtain, as a favor, from General Pepper. He figured that actually showing up in person, would be better than an email or a phone call. He could see the Great Fox looming up ahead of him, and he swallowed nervously, hesitating a moment before he began attempting to contact their communications.
'Here goes nothing...I hope they aren't too furious with me...'
“Fox! You'll never guess who's on their way towards us!”
“If I'll never guess, then why don't you tell me?”
“It's our long lost, blue feathered friend! He's asking for permission to dock onboard! What do I say?”
Fox was shocked into silence for a moment, his mind comprehending the information, before answering.
“Let him in...” The vulpine sighed, and began to make his way to the hangar, already thinking of how to greet his friend, who'd left them without a proper goodbye, and no contact for two years. Perhaps a punch to the face would suffice? Yeah, that sounded about right. Either way, Falco was about to get his ears shouted off.
As Fox got into the elevator, pushing the button for the hangar, he ground his teeth. No doubt, Falco was here to rejoin the team. It was how he operated, leaving them behind while he flew off to parts unknown, and then coming back, and joining them again. Like it was nothing. Fox narrowed his eyes. He SHOULD just tell Falco to fuck off at this point. This last stunt crossed a line. He'd slipped away while everyone slept, leaving some half assed note behind for them. He hadn't even tried to call them or anything. He'd just vanished for two years, no contact whatsoever, he could have been dead for all they knew.
Fox closed his eyes, letting out a sigh. He was relieved that Falco was okay. He'd been quite worried for his friend, all the other times that Falco had left, he'd had the decency to tell them all. He'd certainly never been gone for two years before. The note had even said that he didn't know if he even was coming back this time! That was probably what hurt the worst. There was a chance he wasn't coming back, and he hadn't even stayed to say goodbye to Fox! His best friend since they were teenagers! The one who got him into the Cornerian Flight Academy in the first place! The elevator pinged, and the doors opened, startling Fox out of his thoughts. He clenched his jaw and started down the hallway to the hangar.
Falco took a deep breath as he stared around the hangar. Same as it always was, but at this moment instead of feelings of happy nostalgia, he felt a fearful anticipation of Fox's wrath. He mentally braced himself for the possible reactions of his best friend.
'Hey, Fox long time no see!' PUNCH!
'Fox, buddy, sorry about leaving without a goodbye, but I have a REALLY good expla-' PUNCH!
'Fox, I know you probably want to hit me, but-' PUNCH!
He closed his eyes and sighed, running his hand down his face. Well, if Fox DID punch him, he would just stand there and take it. He certainly deserved it after what he did. The sound of footsteps made him open his eyes, and he finally laid his gaze on his best friend Fox McCloud.
They stared at each other, Fox with many different emotions flashing through his eyes, and Falco with nervous anxiety. Then Fox stepped forward, his arm raising. Falco flinched, closing his eyes and waiting for the inevitable punch, but instead, he was roughly embraced, being squeezed so hard he thought he heard his ribs cracking.
“Welcome back, you stupid bastard...” Fox released Falco, and stepped back. “But if you EVER just take off like that again, I WILL hunt you down, and beat the living hell out of you! Got it?” Falco nodded, grimacing as he rubbed his sore ribs.
“Yeah, I got it Fox...I honestly thought you were about to do that anyway, heh heh heh.” the avian gave an embarrassed laugh. Fox sneered back at him.
“I still might, if you don't fill me in on what the hell was so important, that you just abandoned us! Peppy and Slippy are up on the bridge waiting for us. You better have a good excuse, because I'm not gonna stop them if THEY want to punch you.” Fox turned and started for the hallway to the elevator. Falco let out a breath of relief. That had gone better than he thought.
He followed Fox down the hall, trying to think of how to explain why he left, beyond saying something like 'I did it for a chance at love, with my old flame!'. He felt a heavy ache in his chest at that, but he quickly forced any thoughts of Katt, and their breakup, back down. He hoped that the others would accept him back like Fox had, but he didn't hold his breath. Slippy was kind of a sensitive guy, and though Peppy was almost a mother hen to the team, he could hold a wicked grudge.
He got into the elevator with Fox, and endured a chilly silence as they ascended the floors, up towards the bridge, where he would have to face the fatherly hare, and the timid toad. He gulped, as the elevator doors opened, and followed Fox down the hall, towards the bridge. 'Here goes nothing...'
