Star Fox Command 10th Ending: Fox & Wolf

Chapter 2: Rivals Reunited

4 Days later on a Sunday Noon Fox was walking his way to the Corneria City Mall and brought a couple shopping bags, he went to get new kitchen utensils, compressed air to clean off some electronics, and a new phone charger

Slippy then gave Fox call and he answered

🦊Fox: Whaddup, Slip?
🐸Slippy: Hey Fox, how ya doing?
🦊Fox: Kinda bummed out, but other than that I feel great. I'm currently at the mall to get a few things
🐸Slippy: Okay, good to know, I was calling to see If I can ask you a favor
🦊Fox: Sure, whaddaya need?
🐸Slippy: I need a New Tool Box and Tool Set, I would get them myself but I wanted to surprise Amanda by giving her her own tool set, cuz I wanna teach her how to be mechanic
🦊Fox: Okay, I'd be happy to do that. I see you're taking the relationship to the next level
🐸Slippy: You bet I am. Call me back when your on your way to my house and I'll pay you back from there
🦊Fox: Consider it done, buddy
🐸Slippy: Thanks, Fox, you're a great friend
🦊Fox: I know, see ya later
🐸Slippy: Bye, Fox

Fox hung up and started shopping, first he went to a store called "Home Chef Supplies" to get some new kitchen utensils, next he went to an electronic shop called "Cornerian Computers" to get compressed air and a new phone charger, and lastly went to a store called "Tough Job Shed" to get Tools for Slippy, Fox grabbed a Tool Box with Tools included, but on his way to the checkout he saw a familiar face browsing the oversized section, it was Wolf. Fox didn't want to get involved in anything that had Wolf included, so he made his way to the checkout. Shortly Wolf picked the tools he needed and walked to the checkout, Wolf then soon noticed Fox, Wolf wanted to say something but he didn't know how he wanted to start a conversation. So he said the first thing that came to mind

🐺Wolf: Hey, Pup

Fox heard Wolf speak to him as he placed the tools he was checking out while hesitating to reply

🦊Fox: Hey, Wolf
🦝Raccoon Cashier: You know that guy?
🦊Fox: Yes, for a while now
🐺Wolf: So whatcha doing here?
🦊Fox: Getting some tools for my buddy, Slippy. He has a surprise for his girlfriend Amanda
🐺Wolf: Let me guess, he wants to teach her how to be a mechanic?
🦊Fox: Exactly, she's so lucky she has someone who loves him for who he is, unlike me
🐺Wolf: Why's that?
🦊Fox: I'll tell you once we're done checking out

Fox & Wolf paid for their respective items and walked out of the shop and found a mall sofa to sit and chat

🐺Wolf: So what makes you say "Unlike Me"?
🦊Fox: Remember before the anglars invasion when Krystal joined your team?
🐺Wolf: Yeah. Didn't she forgive you during the celebration?
🦊Fox: She did, and I'm glad she's willing to join Star Fox again, but I'm not romantically attracted to her anymore
🐺Wolf: Why's that?
🦊Fox: Well since she joined Star Wolf, it devistated me. And it was until the remainder of Star Fox, plus Katt, Bill, Fara, Fay, Miyu and Your team came and helped. When we put our forces together to destroy the Anglars for good it got me and her on good terms again, but even then, it wouldn't reignite the affection I once had with her
🐺Wolf: She was pretty angry while sobbing when she wanted to join my team. She didn't even tell me why she wanted to join and at first I thought it was cuz she was desperate and needed extra money. Then I thought she wanted to be a hot shot girl, and when she blabbed out during a message transmission that's I realized she was trying to get back at you
🦊Fox: I guess so, I even told her I didn't know what I was thinking back then, a few days ago she wanted to go on a date to make up for what she did
🐺Wolf: She took you on a date in attempt to patch up that sorry excuse?
🦊Fox: I wouldn't even go as far as to call it a "date", it was more like an apologetic dinner
🐺Wolf: Even I'd say so. Where'd you two eat?
🦊Fox: At a place called "Quality Banquet"
🐺Wolf: Sounds kinda generic
🦊Fox: Thank you! Someone gets it! So anyways, I told her that I got a weird feeling that wasn't like relief, if anything far from it, like "See if I care"
🐺Wolf: That sounds complicated
🦊Fox: That's exactly what she told me, I don't hate her, i'm just not attracted to her anymore, I paid for both our dinners cuz it was the least I could do after telling her all that
🐺Wolf: I see
🦊Fox: And if that's not crazy enough, I saw some news articles rumoring out Star Fox being disbanded while waiting for a bus
🐺Wolf: That's the best fake topic they can come up with? what's next? Star Fox & Star Wolf Merge into one team?
🦊Fox: Glad to see you also think the news cast is crazy for attention
🐺Wolf: Yeah, I don't get what's with people when it comes to broadcasting, they might as well make a destructive diversion and make stories out of it just to put people on edge
🦊Fox: You said it. Speaking of on edge, I was wondering why you haven't tried to attack me, like at all? Don't you still have a grudge against me?
🐺Wolf: I'm not attacking you because I helped you defeat the Anglars. Me, Leon, & Panther finally got praised as heroes and we got decent lives now that the bounties are off our heads. I don't wanna put our heroic honors and good image in jeopardy and ruin our newfound reputation. So now that we all have a good image, there's no reason to attack you
🦊Fox: I guess that's a fair point
🐺Wolf: So anyways, I know this would sound weird, but I also feel like this would be out of instinct, but...
🦊Fox: Go on
🐺Wolf: Would you be interested in hanging out with me for a while?
🦊Fox: Well I don't have a lot of plans today anyway and I can get Slippy his tools later, so yeah, I can hang
🐺Wolf: Great, what should we do first?
🦊Fox: I have gotten a little hungry during our conversation, so lets get lunch

Fox & Wolf head to the food court part of the mall

🐺Wolf: I'll let you pick, where do you wanna eat?
🦊Fox: I was thinking that restaurant

Fox points at a restaurant called "Omnivore Origins"

🐺Wolf: There of all places?
🦊Fox: It does have some things I like, plus you said I could pick
🐺Wolf: Very well then, I won't complain. I just heard that the restaurant got some mixed reviews, that's all

Fox & Wolf get the food they both wanted and sat at a 2 seat table in the sitting area, the two start a conversation to get to know each other

🦊Fox: So Wolf, if you don't mind me asking, what made you want to work for Andross, I know he's been dead for a while, but I'm just curious

🐺Wolf: Very well, but if it sounds too harsh, let me know, My father was pretty abusive to me when I was a child, even to the point where every time he had a bad day he'd take his anger out on me, regardless if i'm not involved in anything he is, thanks to that he made me grow up with offensive and defensive habits, Sometimes I had the reflex to fight back
🦊Fox: That harsh, huh?
🐺Wolf: Yes and it didn't stop there, one day when I was at the age of 17, he scratched me something fierce. It scared me and I ran away from home, not wanting to deal with my abusive dad and his cruel and hardly reasonable punishments, I was homeless for at least a few months and I was barley living by a thread, I saw some applications for opportunities on planet venom that could help me financially, so I took it the first chance I got, I was then taken to a secret base where they had me transported from Corneria to Venom, soon that's when I first encountered Andross, he had his cruelest and most insulting trainers teach me how to fight, build muscules, pilot fighting skills, and show a remorseless personality
🦊Fox: So that's why you worked for Andross? Because you couldn't stand another day around your abusive dad?
🐺Wolf: Yes

🦊Fox: Well you know what they say "beggars can't be choosers"
🐺Wolf: Yeah, I was desperate for money and I had to make a living somehow, and being a merciless mercenary was what I got. Then the whole Lylat Wars happened when we first met, I helped you with the Aparoid invasion, and same for the Anglar disaster, and here we are now

Fox soon started to get the feeling of missing someone in his life again and began to think Wolf is probably the reason why he feels that way

🦊Fox: Hey Wolf?
🐺Wolf: Yeah?
🦊Fox: You'd probably think I'm crazy for asking this but...
🐺Wolf: Proceed
🦊Fox: Would you be interested in-

Fox got cut off by the sounds of gun shots echoing through the food court, There was a heist going on. A group of 5 armed Cornerian Animals threatened all civilians at gun point, The group was a Pug, a Moose, a Duck, a Possum, and a Hyena
Moose-Robber: Everyone down on the ground, now!

all mallgoers ducked under the tables they were sitting at, Fox & Wolf managed to get behind a brick partition wall without getting noticed

Possom-Robber: Nobody try anything or else you get blasted!
Hyena-Robber: Don't even bother to call the authorities! We'll be gone before they even arrive

🐺Wolf: What should we do?
🦊Fox: Luckily I always bring my Laser Pistols in case I get into a situation like this. Here, take one, you'll need it to defend yourself. I have a plan

Fox starts explaining what they will do to disarm and stop the robbers, the group of robbers start looting a jewelry store, then the electronic store Fox was at earlier, the Pug Robber takes some chocolate from a Candy Shop

Duck-Robber: Really dude?
Pug-Robber: What? gotta problem with craving chocolate?
Duck-Robber: No, I bring that up cause the candy will occupy precious space in our duffle bags
Pug-Robber: I don't really take that much anyways
Hyena-Robber: Guys, knock it off and focus or else you'll screw this up!
Moose-Robber: We're here to rob the place, not judge what we take!
Possum-Robber: Guys, focus on the looting before the authorities get here-

While the robbers were arguing, Fox created a diversion by firing a blast in their direction though he missed on purpose in order to execute his plan

🦊Fox: Alright, robbers. Hands up or get blasted

The robbers point their guns at Fox ready to fire

Moose-Robber: You and what army, sucka?

🦊Fox: My two-man army *whistles signal*

Wolf jumped from around a corner and threw a lasso from behind at the robbers and yanked them using full body force which made them drop their guns, Wolf then proceeded to tighten the lasso and squeeze the robbers together, Fox quickly used a rope he was holding to wrap around the robbers in order to make sure they can't escape the grip. Wolf then shot at some hanging lights that were above the robbers heads, the lights then fell on top of the robbers heads, knocking them unconscious.

22 minutes later Fox & Wolf were at one of the Malls entrences where groups of Corneria City Police arrived. The officers managed to recover thousands worth of merchandise and jewelry. The robbers glared at Fox & Wolf, Wolf looked back showing he was not intimidated in any way, Fox just gave a smuggy smirk

🦁Lion-Officer: We appreciate the deed you two have committed, you really saved a lot of innocent shop-goers, a few thousand for the robbed shops, and made our job of capturing a lot easier
🐒Lemur-Officer: if you hadn't conducted that plan, they most likely would've taken some shop-goers as hostages
🐺Wolf: Pleasure's all ours
🦊Fox: All part of being mercenaries

🐺Wolf: Now what were you gonna say, Fox?
🦊Fox: Huh?
🐺Wolf: You were gonna ask me something before the commotion
🦊Fox: Oh, right. Would you be interested if we like... hung out together?
🐺Wolf: Surprisingly, I would
🦊Fox: Great, what should we do and what day and time?
🐺Wolf: This may be a cliche, but I think we could have dinner at a restaurant
🦊Fox: That's your idea?
🐺Wolf: I couldn't think of anything else
🦊Fox: Very well then, where shall we eat?
🐺Wolf: Definitely not that generically named "Quality Banquet" place. It maybe a place with great food, but even that is not my style, we should eat at a place that screams brutality and intensity
🦊Fox: And what place would you know that fits those descriptions?
🐺Wolf: You've obviously never been to my favorite restaurant, it's called, Big Bad Boy's Barbecue
🦊Fox: Never even heard of it. I guess I could give it a shot
🐺Wolf: Perfect, what days do you have off?
🦊Fox: I can do Saturday at 8, will that work?
🐺Wolf: I don't have any moving clients to help in the evening. My shift ends early that day
🦊Fox: Then we have a date
🐺Wolf: Date?
🦊Fox: ... Sorry, didn't mean to phrase it like that, I know were not a couple
🐺Wolf: Yeah we're not. Could you imagine if we were a couple?
🦊Fox: I bet even Falco would poke fun at me and never let me live it down. Plus I don't wanna get heartbreak again
🐺Wolf: No lady wanted to be around until I helped you fight those Anglars, now ladies wouldn't leave me alone for a while, but I'm not interested in dating any of them
🦊Fox: Cuz you didn't want heartbreak either?
🐺Wolf: No, cuz the ladies would be all over me and interfere with my normal life
🦊Fox: Fair point
🐺Wolf: So I guess I'll see you there on Saturday then
🦊Fox: See ya, Wolf

As they part their ways, Fox couldn't help but felt like he and Wolf we're starting to build a connection, knowing he never wants to experience heartbreak ever again, Fox got the odd thought that Wolf wouldn't be the kind of person to ever heartbreak anyone if he was in a relationship. About a half hour later after Fox left the Corneria Mall and when to Slippy's house near the suburban part of Corneria City

🐸Slippy: Thanks again, Fox. Did you hear on the news on what happened at the mall?
🦊Fox: Yeah, I was still there when that happened
🐸Slippy: I think I saw you in some videos some witnesses recorded and shared. There was someone else who helped you out, he looked familiar, but I couldn't figure out who it was...
🦊Fox: I would like to tell you, but shouldn't you get Amanda's surprise ready? Won't she be back soon?
🐸Slippy: Oh! Right, see ya later, Fox!
🦊Fox: Bye, Slip

Fox only brought up Amanda so that Slippy wouldn't think too much of him partnering with Wolf in that moment. Meanwhile in Downtown Corneria City, Wolf arrived back to his apartment complex, he went back to his apartment and was met with Leon & Panther upon opening the door

🦎Leon: Where have you been, Wolf? It's almost past evening!
🐺Wolf: Don't be so feisty, I just bumped into a familiar face at the mall and helped catch some criminals
🐈‍⬛Panther: I thought I noticed you in some of the witnesses recordings on the news and some familiar tan-orange canid...

Wolf felt slightly nervous and tried to think of something to get Panther and Leon's minds off of the details

🐺Wolf: Let's not look too much into that, okay. I brought some thieves to justice and made my reputation even better now
🦎Leon: Sure your reputation alone has gotten better, but what about ours?
🐈‍⬛Panther: We'll get our chances someday, Leon, you just need to be more patient
🐺Wolf: Anyways, I got plans Saturday at 8, so don't call and bother me during that time
🦎Leon: What kind of "plans"?
🐺Wolf: Just personal plans and I don't want anyone bothering me while I'm out. That's why I'm telling you now
🐈‍⬛Panther: We won't. If you want to be alone, we'll leave you alone, Right, Leon?
🦎Leon: Maybe, not fully a "yes" nor entirely a "no". I feel like he might me onto something

🐺Wolf (Thinking): The nerve of him saying that in front of my face

🐈‍⬛Panther: Don't be ridiculous! Wolf wouldn't do anything sketchy and put our good reputation at risk. if he did, we'd be wanted criminals again

🦎Leon: I don't think that's why he want's to be left alone...

🐈‍⬛Panther: Leon, if you don't make this easy and let Wolf be, I'll strangle you till you pass out
🦎Leon: Fine, pretend like nothing's off
🐺Wolf: Thanks for that, Panther
🐈‍⬛Panther: Anything for a close friend, outside of work that is
🐺Wolf: Really, dude?
🐈‍⬛Panther: I gotta take my job seriously, thanks to my boss, can you blame me?
🐺Wolf: If I were more as I was cold-blooded, I'd say "Yes, I do blame you"