Chapter Text
“We’re so honored that you’ve chosen our little private community, Captain McCloud.”
“Just Fox, please, it’s fine,” Fox replies to the property manager. He can’t recall her name. He’s too embarrassed to ask, with all three times he’s spoken to her prior to this meeting. “I haven’t been a captain in a long time.”
“Of course, Fox,” She replies with a sterile, but sweet, smile. She’s a pale green and red gecko with large dark brown eyes. She adjusts the skirt of her suit and grabs a key from the inside of her jacket. It’s a plain silver key, one Fox hasn’t seen in years. He’s too used to number codes and all different kinds of scanners.
She unlocks the door to his new home and steps back, “Go on! Have a look inside!”
Fox gingerly steps into the empty house. Its plain white walls and light brown vinyl floors are domestic, if a bit too basic. He supposes he can decorate at his leisure. After all, he is owning a house and not renting an apartment for once in his life.
“You’re free to furnish and decorate as you like. Repaint, nails for decorating the walls are allowed as well. We have our own small market in the community for groceries, I’m sure you saw that when you drove into the village earlier, but it’s only an hour out from Corneria City, so not completely cut off from all the hustle and bustle,” She trills as she steps into the house and shuts the door.
“There is a small basement you can access through a door in the kitchen,” She continues, “Some folks have turned it into work out spaces, others have put a bar down there for when they have guests over. Everything is customizable, even the kitchen cabinets and layout. We simply provide the basic necessities, but we know people want their own style to be reflected in their home.”
“Thank you,” Fox says as he opens the door to the left side of the small entryway. It’s a plain, basic bathroom. He shuts the door and follows her into the open space, the living room. Attached behind a small wall is the kitchen with an opening acting as a “window” to the living room. “I’ll probably be fully moved in by the end of the week.”
“Take your time, Fox,” The gecko says, her small heels clicking on the vinyl. “There’s no rush for these things. This community is meant for you to do things at your own pace. It’s quiet and people do their best here. You’re not the only veteran, you’re among like minded folks.”
Fox doesn’t know how he feels about being called a veteran. He has never been in the military, except when contracted, because he was a mercenary. He supposes being the “good guy” in most people’s eyes has skewed their perception of what he does. Did. Did… not does.
“I do just want some peace and quiet,” Fox says as he goes into the kitchen and opens the plain, glossy white cabinets. There isn’t an ample amount of room for dishes and glasses, but there is only one of Fox. It will do.
“You will find it here, I promise,” The gecko says cheerfully.
Why is she still trying to sell me something when I’ve already bought the place? Fox thinks.
“I’m sure,” he replies.
The gecko gives the rest of the brief tour by showing the carpeted, bare bedroom with a bathroom attached to it, off the living room and then the basement. Afterwards, they head to the small, but cozy backyard with lots of space for gardening. She ceremoniously gives Fox the key.
“All yours! I hope you enjoy living here!”
Fox looks at the silver key in his palm and tightens his grip around it. He takes a deep breath, inhaling the fresh mountain air. “Me too.”
Fox huffs as he tosses the last, now empty, box to the side onto the pile of other empty boxes. He collapses onto his couch and groans, his body sore. His stomach rumbles unhelpfully as his reminder to go grocery shopping. Perhaps he could try that market the property manager mentioned…
After he showers the sweat from his body and changes into a pair of jeans and a plain t-shirt. It’s strange, even after the last few years, to not wear a flight suit almost every day. Fox tugs at his shirt. It’s not uncomfortable but still, strange.
Fox grabs his key from the console table next to the front door and slips it into his back pocket. He pauses and looks at himself in the mirror hanging above it. It had been his grandmother’s mirror and it was nice to see it finally out of storage and being used. The middle aged vulpine being reflected from it, on the other hand…
He sighs and leans closer, seeing where the cream fur at the tip of his snout and the tufts of fluff in his ears are turning pure white. The white sprinkling through his eyebrows and the small, overgrown cream fur on his head. The hints of gray throughout his orange fur, especially towards the center of his face. The exhaustion under his eyes…
Fox turns away from the mirror and shakes his head. He always wondered if he’d make it past 20, let alone make it to 42. He should be grateful.
He leaves his house, turning the lock of the door knob inside as he shuts the door behind him. Such an old fashioned door. Fox doesn’t know what to make of it, but he supposes it’s better than having to worry about whether the door will open if the power goes out.
Fox walks towards the market. It’s almost too quiet, people in their yards outside their homes tending to their gardens or lounging in the sun dappling through the trees that shade their hidden community on the forested mountainside. Fox passes a blue house with a couple of children running around in the yard with bubble wands. He mindlessly pops a stray bubble as it passes in front of him.
The market is, indeed, small. Mainly farm fresh produce grown by people in the community and canned goods on the shelves, likely delivered from Corneria City. There’s a small section for herbs and spices, too. Fox notes the small pharmacy in the back of the store as well.
He selects a pint of raspberries, a loaf of bread, peanut butter, strawberry jam, spinach, as well as a carton of a dozen eggs. Fox has never been one to cook beyond some basics. The market being so close he might as well use it day by day, if he so chooses.
When he walks up to the counter to pay, the goat sitting in the stool holds up a hand and stops him. “Oh no, don’t worry about it, Mr. McCloud, it’s already been paid for, the second you bought your house,” he explains. “We all pitch in how we can here, and that includes using the food provided by others.”
Fox, embarrassed despite having no way of knowing this information (and from being recognized instantly), nods his thanks and asks for a bag. He’s given a cloth tote. Once everything is inside and the tote is slung over his shoulder, Fox slips outside and makes the short trek back to his house.
As he walks back, Fox notes he has neighbors on either side of his house, directly next door. He supposes it would be impolite to not introduce himself.
But he isn’t in the mood, frankly.
Fox sighs and enters his house to put his groceries away.
Three weeks in and Fox has already found a mundane but steady routine. Mondays and Thursdays he’ll run to the market for food. Wednesdays and Fridays he’ll go for walks up and down the nearby mountain trail. Tuesdays and Saturdays he’ll go to the center of the community where they do group yoga. For some reason he gets surrounded by a bunch of very nice ladies during yoga days. He appreciates the ego boost, but can’t find it in himself to agree with how they view him as even worth talking to, let alone flirting with. Besides, he knows half of them are married.
On Sundays, he stays at home and cleans the house and tries to set things up. He’s even tried to start a garden in his backyard like his neighbors but… it’s not his strong suit.
It’s during the fourth week that the communicator on the wall beeps. Fox jumps at the sound of it. Civilian forms of communication like built in “homepads” that remain stuck to the wall aren’t too different from what Fox is used to, but something about it throws him for a loop. He can get around using it fine. It just feels weird.
Fox groans and gets off of the couch, haphazardly setting the book he’s reading down. He squints at the screen. He doesn’t recognize the number. It’s probably another scam trying to sell him something. That is certainly a major difference he’s had to deal with since retiring planetside.
He wants to leave it, but his stomach flips and turns, telling him he needs to answer it. Fox hesitantly taps the answer button.
“... Hello?” Fox says, finger hovering over the button to hang up.
“Fox.”
Fox blinks. His hand drops to his side as he processes the voice he heard.
“Is this a joke?” Fox asks as he crosses his arms.
“No, pup, it isn’t,” Wolf replies. “Only joke here is the fact I even called you at all.”
“Uh,” Fox says eloquently, “Why are you calling me? And how did you get my number?!” That is certainly the more important question. Fox has finally started to get comfortable in his new home. He glances around, wondering how quickly he could pack and sell it before hightailing it out of there.
“Civilian numbers are public record,” Wolf explains, “That’s how I got your number.”
Fox wrinkles his nose. He hates that. “So you still had to search for me?” He hovers his finger above the hang up button again.
“Yeah,” Wolf says, plain and simple.
“Why?” Fox asks. “What could you possibly want from me? I’m retired in case you hadn’t heard, I don’t have time for your-”
“I need a place to stay!” Wolf blurts out.
Fox freezes. “What?!”
“I…” Wolf sighs loudly, Fox feels the exhaustion in it despite not seeing Wolf’s face. “I need a place to crash for a while. I’ve… got nowhere else to go.”
“Why me? Isn’t there literally anyone else you can ask?” Fox says, trying so hard to avoid having to come face to face with his long term rival for what would be the first time in years.
“I wouldn’t be calling if there was anyone else,” Wolf says.
“Where’s Leon?” Fox asks.
“I don’t know. Doesn’t let me know until he suddenly drops by to visit.”
“Panther?”
“Off planet.”
“...Krystal?”
“With Panther.”
Fox grimaces. He’s moved on since their divorce, he really has. He and Krystal are on friendly terms now. The issue is the short list of people who could tolerate Wolf O’Donnell to get him off of Fox’s back is a lot smaller than he expected.
“Awfully quiet, Fox. Did I hit a nerve?” There’s a strange lack of bite to Wolf’s nerves.
Fox rolls his eyes, “No, you didn’t. Just thinking.”
“About how you two still couldn’t make it work the second go around?”
Fox sighs, “It’s better for everyone, honestly. We still care about each other just-”
“Not fuckin’?”
“I will hang up, Wolf.”
“Alright, fine. Can I come stay with you or what?”
There’s a pregnant pause as Fox sits on it. He looks around his living room and kitchen. It could be suitable for two people. And if it’s only for a little while… Fox takes a deep breath in.
“Okay.”
“Wait, really?” Wolf sounds shocked.
“Yes, I’ll send you my address now,” Fox says, swiping the screen to open the keyboard. “When will you be here?”
“The end of the week. Friday.”
“See you then,” Fox says.
“See you then,” Wolf replies, and the line cuts.
Fox stares at the screen, processing what the hell happened.
Wolf O’Donnell is coming to my house.
Wolf O’Donnell is coming to my house, and he’s going to be staying here for a few weeks.
“What the FUCK did I agree to?” Fox asks aloud. “Stop. Stop… I’m too tired to bother with Wolf. He needs a place to stay. It’s not like he’s gonna walk in and we’re gonna immediately start brawling. Besides, he’s older than me, if he tries it I should be able to kick him down.”
Fox stretches his back, pushing it with his hands. “I mean, if my back hurts, his does, too.”
Fox sighs and looks around. “I guess I should get ready to… have a guest?”
He realizes he doesn’t have much in terms of allowing a guest to stay and huffs. He grabs his keys for his car and heads out the door.
He’s going to have to make a run to Corneria City.
Friday arrives and Fox is pacing anxiously back and forth, from the living room into the kitchen and back again. Wolf should be there at any moment. Fox hasn’t been able to sleep in anticipation of his arrival. He has the couch set up to act as a temporary bed and everything, even going so far as to grab extra toiletries and snacks, just in case. He doesn’t know what to expect, if Wolf would even accept the arrangements, or the snacks.
“It’ll be fine. You’ve known each other for over twenty years at this point,” Fox says to himself in a hushed voice. “He’s retired, too, from what you’ve heard. It will be fine. You’re just helping a guy who was also a mercenary and wanted to kill you your entire life so far. Nothing will come of it.”
Fox jumps as someone knocks (very loudly) on his door.
He sucks in air and takes large, quick steps to the door. He grabs the handle and psyches himself up and then opens the door.
Wolf O’Donnell, true to his word, is waiting on the other side with only a single duffle bag slung over his shoulder. He doesn’t look like he’s doing well, the gray of his fur becoming lighter silver, almost white, at the tips. The usually pristine mohawk on his head is longer and softer, clearly having no energy to try and force it up. The mechanical eyepatch he had been wearing the last time Fox saw him is gone, replaced by his original plain eyepatch. Under his single red-violet eye are visible bags and no eyeliner. He seems worn.
“McCloud,” Wolf greets neutrally.
Fox blinks and stops staring at his former rival. “O’Donnell,” Fox replies in kind. “Uh…” He steps back, “Come in.”
Wolf nods and brushes past Fox, Fox shuts the door behind him, realizing it truly is just the two of them. “The… The couch is all set up for you. It’s not the best but I’ve had some good naps on it, ha… Uhm, I’ve also got a spare toothbrush and shower things for you, as well. I dunno what you do and don’t have and I figured even if you already have-”
“Yeah, great, thanks,” Wolf interrupts, not sounding very grateful.
“Also I ran and got some groceries. I dunno what you like but feel free to take a look and make what you want.”
“Sure.”
“... Okay. Do you need anything right now?”
“No.”
“Are you gonna be a jackass the whole time?” Fox asks, rolling his eyes and heading towards the kitchen.
Wolf shrugs rudely and throws his duffle bag onto the couch. He takes a seat next to it and crosses his arms.
“Fine. Pout all you want. I’m gonna go for a walk on the trail nearby,” Fox says as he pours water into a bottle. He frowns and closes his eyes. Patience, Fox. He’s probably embarrassed he’s even here in the first place. “Do make yourself comfortable, I mean it,” Fox says gently as he passes through the living room to the door. “I’ve also put in an order to get a spare key to the house for you. It’ll be ready by next week, okay?”
Wolf doesn’t respond, only sinking further into the couch.
“... Won’t be long. Take your time, okay?” Fox says softly before heading out the door.
Wolf sits up after Fox leaves and turns, knowing it’s too late to apologize, if his ego would have even allowed it.
He puts his head in his hands and sits in silence until Fox returns.