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"What do you mean you won't give me the paper? I need a job to provide for me and my team!" exclaimed Wolf.
Wolf walked towards the reception desk in the lobby to ask the receptionist for a job application so he could provide for him and his team while they're planet arrested and are being forced to redeem themselves for their crimes. But apparently, this guy apparently� doesn't think that giving the leader of a space pirate team a second chance is a very good idea.
He was utterly convinced that Wolf would try to steal something from the hotel, like back when he was still a wanted man, but this just made Wolf really upset.
"This hotel only hires noblemen," said the receptionist rudely. "NOT for filthy cheapscape thieves like yourself! You'd probably just think of using this job as an excuse to steal from the residents that are vacant here, so there's no way I'd ever trust you!"
Ok. Now that made Wolf really mad. He was just being honest about wanting to start over and this glamor chump just goes off and criticizes him even though he hasn't done anything wrong! Well, not recently he hasn't, nor his team. Unknown to both of them, the dining hall doors quietly opened and Fox and Falco slowly came out without catching the attention of the other two men.
"I'm not going to steal anything from anyone anymore! I just want to protect me and my team from starving in the streets! I may not like this whole idea of redemption like you do, and you and the entire city don't like the idea at all, but if General Pepper believes that my team and I deserve a second chance then who are we to judge?"
"Tch. The general may be an honorable leader, but he doesn't seem to know up from down if he thinks you deserve a second chance!" the receptionist said with a cruel tone in his voice.
Upon watching this, Fox could only feel sorry for Wolf again. Seeing this is making him feel a painful, angry feeling in his chest that just...it's really unfair for Wolf to be going through this. He just started to become friends with his ex-nemesis and now someone that has some 'nobility' is belittling and insulting him for his past when he wants to move on from it.
Even though he understands why he's upset, Falco was in shock that what the guy had said to Wolf was something so cruel. Although, he was right that the general can have a few screws loose sometimes.
"If you got some beef with me MIster, I get it," said Wolf, holding on to his backbone and trying to keep calm. "But to tell you the truth, I met a man once that didn't see me as the criminal I was before. This man saw me for the real me, a person that went through some traumatic experiences growing up and got off on the wrong path because he was all alone with no friends or family to care for him, but had to do what I thought would help me to survive in this cruel world!" A tear was on the verge of escaping from his good eye when he took a breath break. "I may not be perfect, and I may have made a lot of mistakes that nobody could tolerate, but I don't want to be that way forever. I want to change, and I want to make my life better. And I need another chance�"
Upon hearing his words, and seeing the look on his face, Falco and Fox were stunned that Wolf would break down to this state of attitude. Fox was more heartbroken about it though, and just felt the urge to give the pirate a hug. As for Falco, he felt something familiar about how Wolf was feeling at the moment.
The pheasant suddenly has a memory showing up in his mind, back when he was a kid. He was an orphan, and he grew up in an orphanage for many years before he moved out to join the Cornerian flight academy. He was abandoned by his parents when he was a baby, so he never knew them. But they did promise the caretaker that they'll return for Falco one day, so they could be a happy family. However, news broke out that his parents were kidnapped by a thug gang, then they were forced into the gang's hideout where they tortured and raped them for six years before the gang eventually decided that they were bored with them and killed them. The police caught the gang red-handed, but the parents weren't so lucky.
Years had passed since then and Falco couldn't get over the death of his parents, and this resulted in him growing jealous over other kids for having better luck of having parents or being adopted and would always try to impress the couples that visited to adopt. The few families that adopted him didn't work out so well. They would either care about what insurance they would have instead of clothing or feeding Falco or just didn't like his cocky behavior. So, long story short, no one wanted to adopt him and he was all alone.
This kept on for years until he was between ages 11 and 12, when he met Fox. They went to class together, along with Slippy Toad and Bill Grey. At first, Falco couldn't get along with them or any of the other kids in his class, he was always trying to be the best out of everyone else, even by trying to outmatch them. He would always try to compete with Fox over everything, but Fox always turned down his challenges as he just wanted to be friends. Falco used to have a chance to make friends before he lost his parents for good and he wasted it, he was never given a second chance by anyone else who he hurt before.
He kept refusing Fox's hand in friendship while Fox kept offering him a chance, as he stated that he doesn't need anyone to help him. Eventually, Fox decided to give up on trying to be friends with Falco and give him the rivalry he wanted, but he won't stop being nice and friendly to him. As a while passed, Falco wanted to challenge Fox to a race to the city park but overheard him talking to his own friends. They were talking about how they don't like Falco and would just want him to get lost, which felt really painful to him, but also felt normal to him. But he heard something that Fox said that he never heard from anyone else in his life;�"He doesn't deserve to be alone. I like him, even though he doesn't like me."
At that moment, Falco started to feel a little confused of why someone would like him after treating him so poorly, but then he felt a different kind of feeling too. He started to feel happy after hearing such a comment. For a second, he began to realize that Fox really wanted to care for him and be his friend...only to be rejected a bunch of times all because he'd rather be his rival. He ran out of the school and back to the orphanage where he locked himself away in his only room where he threw himself atop his bed pillow, letting stress and guilt begin to overcome him.
Fox came by later because Falco forgot his backpack at school, he saw the pheasant with his face down in his pillow looking like he had a rough day. Fox sat beside him and placed his hand on his shoulder to try and calm him down, then Falco started to break down in tears, feeling sorry for how badly he treated him and everyone else over his loneliness. He was always thinking that nobody would ever give him a chance to make friends again, but Fox was willing to do that for him. Even when nobody else would.
Months later, Falco was feeling happy. He stopped being self-centered, he still acts cocky, but he's not as mean as he used to be. He's started to make a lot of friends recently thanks to the second chance that Fox gave him before, and his life began to turn around in his favor.
Snapping out of his childhood memories, Falco began to see someone in Wolf that reminded him of himself when he was younger. Without thinking, Falco marched over to the counter getting everyone's attention.
"Oh! Uh, Mr. Lombardi," the receptionist startled nervously. "Sir. I...I didn't see you there. Hahaha. I'm just having a little bit of trouble with-"
"You're gonna be in even bigger trouble if ya don't back off, dumbass!" the bird spat in a defending tone. He turned to Fox for a moment. "Fox! Hold onto those cinnamon rolls tightly. We're gonna go out to eat."
The pheasant then grabbed the lupine by the wrist and gestured the vulpine to follow him out of the building. Fox did so while giving the man a death stair and showing his middle finger and extending his hand over in his direction, leaving the guy in a state of shock. They men left the lobby, glad to be away from that jackass.
Once outside, the three of them finally sat on a bench that was near the hotel. Wolf took his place in the middle of the bench while Falco took to his right and Fox to his left. Right now, he was having mixed emotions of what just happened a little bit ago: Anger with the receptionist due to the argument they had; happy to see Fox again, since he wasn't able to see or contact him on the day before; and he also felt really confused. He didn't imagine that the entire Star Fox team was staying at the hotel, nor did he expect that Falco Lombardi would defend him in a time of need. He knew that the bird hated him (not as much as he hates Leon though) and was the one member who gave the least confidence to others, so he expected that Fox would stand up for him. He was in surprise and shock that he took his side in this situation.
"This may sound strange, and more coming from me to you, but thanks for what you did a moment ago guys" Wolf said, not believing that he was going to say those words to someone, and less if they were directed at Falco.
"You're welcome," said Fox, feeling happy to be near Wolf. "At any time, you'll have my support."
"I only did it because I can't stand people who judge others for their past mistakes," said Falco, simply crossing his arms and closing his eyes while blushing a little. "No matter...who...it is�"
"Seriously?" asked Wolf. "Didn't expect that from you either�"
"Falco went through several things in our past growing up," Fox told him. "Although, he didn't go through the same things that you went through, they were partially similar to how shitty your life was."
"I just hate it when these types of people think they're better than others and don't give people the opportunity to others who want to change," said the pheasant. "Nothing major."
"Did you really hear what I said earlier?" Wolf asked in surprise.
"Yes," replied Falco. "If I'm being honest, I can give you the chance to show that you really want to change, although I will reserve the fact that we're friends now. Still have a bit of baggage from our dogfights."
Fox and Wolf were surprised to hear that from Falco. They never believed that the pheasant could give the lupine a chance, and considering how his personality was, that might at least be a start. Just then, the three of them started to hear a small growling and realized it was Wolf's stomach. They realized that Wolf didn't have breakfast yet and was feeling hungry. This made him blush a bit, and he wasn't lucky to hide it from Fox and Falco.
"Oh, I see that the 'Great Lord O'Donnell' is not as tough as he seems," Falco said, letting out a smirk.
Wolf wanted to say something, but his words were stopped when Fox held up a cinnamon roll that he had in his hands.
"I took a few extras for you when I saw that you were approaching the hotel," said Fox. "I hope you don't mind."
Wolf was still blushing, but this time for Fox's kindness towards him. He definitely liked that the man he was in love with thought of him that way. Fortunately, due to the previous blush neither Fox or Falco noticed that it was because of the infatuation with Fox.
"Thank you very much, Fox" said Wolf as he took the roll.
"You're welcome, Wolf" Fox said as he handed one to Falco too, who took it.
Thus, the three began to eat together, as if they had been friends for life. Passing city dwellers were shocked to see Fox and Falco hanging out with Wolf, but the three ignored them as they continued eating.
...
Meanwhile, back in the hotel dining hall�
Peppy and Slippy had been left alone, wondering where Fox and Falco had gone, and why they were late in coming back. By this time, they had already finished their breakfast and were waiting for their friends to return.
"Looks like they won't be back for a little while," Slippy said, quite bored.
"I think the same," replied Peppy. "To be honest, I'm starting to get the feeling that there's something happening between those two."
"Really?" asked the frog. "Like what?"
Peppy looked around quickly to see if anyone was watching before gesturing to Slippy to come closer for a quieter chat. The frog leaned forward as instructed, trying not to blush for getting so close to him.
"I'm not really supposed to tell anyone this, but Fox told me something else that he was hiding for a few years too," said the rabbit.
"What?"
"Well," he said while remembering. "When Fox took charge of the team a while back, he started to develop feelings for Falco."
The frog could only be silent with a bewildered look on his face. He then laughed really hard for at least a couple of minutes while crying too.
"Shhh! Shhh! I'm serious, Slippy!" Peppy hushed. "It's true. Fox had feelings for Falco before. He would tell me how despite that arrogant attitude, he loved his charm and funny remarks and felt some kind of security in that bird. But then�"
"Then?" Slippy asked.
"Then the whole thing with Falco's old crew from the academy happened, Fox's falling out, and him leaving the team. It left a painful scar in his heart when that all happened."
Peppy felt bad for Fox when that happened. The poor leader was crying his heart out for a few nights after his ex-crush left the crew over that incident. He was there for Fox on those nights, helping him at his lowest when needed.
"I couldn't just let him go through that pain alone," Peppy said. "I had to be there for him. And to be honest, I was upset with Falco myself when he just flew back into the team the time Fox fought Andross again to save Sauria. Despite their past though, Fox has forgiven him without even telling him everything. I was thinking then that he still had feelings for Falco, but he thinks they're better off as best friends." Peppy sighed for a second before continuing. "At least, I think that's how he thought�"
"Gosh," said Slippy. "I never thought that Fox was going through all that. I know that he was feeling upset that Falco left, but I never thought it was that major."
"I don't blame you. I promised Fox I wouldn't tell, but something tells me that it's better to let it out to someone I can trust."
Slippy blushed a little, feeling flattered by Peppy's compliment.
"Will you promise not to tell anyone about this until Fox and Falco get things figured out later?" the old rabbit asked.
"Sure, I promise," Slippy replied.
"Thanks."
They smiled at each other for a few seconds.
"Well, while we wait for Fox and Falco to come back, why don't we do something alone together. Fox and Falco could join us later, if they'd like to."
Although he didn't try to show his face to Peppy so he wouldn't notice, hearing that suggestion made Slippy blush, big time. He loved the idea of being able to spend time alone with Peppy, he just hoped it would be a long time.
"S-sure," he giggled. "What d-do ya wanna d-do?"