lets-rock-n-roll:

“…?”

“What? So you know where Starwolf is or something? Because I have no clue where we would even start looking.” Arms crossed, Fox just looks at Falco. Maybe the bird felt just a little bit too restless—the whole ‘No time to think’ thing explained that away.

“No, we need to think. It’s just a hunch, we have no proof; Starwolf could have not been involved. I spent the night trying to find as much as I could about the bombing, but no one knew anything. No warnings, no suspicion. It was definitely and inside job, and an inside job isn’t something Starwolf could do. They’d never be able to disguise themselves well enough.”

“…But they could have known it would happen. A third party was probably involved.”

Falco reluctantly surrendered his restlessness at Fox’s point and plopped down into a chair. “Yeah, whatever. You call the shots after all. Just lemme know when I can help.” He was beginning to annoy himself with his own compliance.

“You’re the one always tellin’ me not ta underestimate the enemy.” He sighed. “We shouldn’t assume it’s not in them ta do something cause, let’s face it, Starwolf’s job list is just short ‘a including interplanetary prostitution, but if they only knew about it, that just opens up too many questions.”

lets-rock-n-roll:

“I do; I just know it.” Trust your instincts and all that. “According to the news reports he’d been there a few minutes before anyone else, pulled a few kids out of the building and ran off.” Arms crossed now, frowning deeply, Fox thinks back on the footage he’d seen. That stupid little pathetic expression on the Wolf’s face.

“…I don’t know how or why, but I just know he was involved. Maybe—maybe he…wanted to look better to the public?” But blowing up a building to save a few kids isn’t exactly heroic… In just a few moments, Fox becomes lost in thought.

“If we’re gonna do this, we might as well start with him. He’s the only lead we’ve got.” He really hoped it was Star Wolf this time. It was a better prospect than a new unknown organization bent on some destruction of their own.

“It’ll get messy; even if he wasn’t involved, he’d sooner point his blaster at us than let us question him.” Falco left for his room and returned completely prepared to leave. He tried to snap Fox out of his daze with a knock on his shoulder. “We’d better act now before they get too far away. No time ta think.”

lets-rock-n-roll:

“Well—…” No matter what he did, he’d been completely unsuccessful in getting in contact with the General. Maybe the assistant that took all his calls was new? Or maybe he was more busy than that, with repairs still taking place in the city. They say it’s even worse in other places, so he’d probably have to travel a lot, too…

However, he does have some news for the bird, “Yesterday that big fancy school downtown got blown up. Terrorist attack, they think. Weird thing is there was footage of O’Donnell…rescuing children.”

“That school?!” Just cause he didn’t like the damn places didn’t mean he enjoyed hearing one was just blown to bits. Maybe this is what happens when you sit idle for too long. It’s not like he could have done anything to stop it, but at least he could have been there getting survivors out. Speaking of rescues, “That’s not like him… O’Donnell… but then again, neither is guilt. Still, he was nearby; do ya think Star Wolf was involved?” If only he had someone to blame. He needed a target.

“Ya know, my favorite thing about the guy is that he always expects stuff to be free… or at least less expensive.”

lets-rock-n-roll:

Finally laughing, Fox punches Falco on the arm. It felt good to talk to the bird again. Minus the heavy painkillers, that is. “What? You sound like you’re softening up; piloting skills getting bad in your old age?”

“Hah, well I’d have ta slow down for you anyways, so why not?” Clearheaded banter that he could actually back up this time? Clearly he lived for this.

“So what’s the plan? More stuff about that intel… or has something new landed on our plates?”

lets-rock-n-roll:

“Pfft—there’s a reason I never ask you to clean anything, birdbrain.”

“Maybe we can go for a joy ride? Slippy’s just not challenging enough, y’know?”

“After all this time I’m probably a bit rusty, so you might actually be an even match for me.”

lets-rock-n-roll:

At that he cracked a grin, refrained from laughing.

“I’m glad to hear that. I was kinda worried for a while.”

“And I won’t have to change your bandages. Or worry about you splitting open your stitches, and you can help around now…” Whatever element of seriousness there had been a moment ago, it was gone now. Oh well.

“I hope that means flyin’ and not cleanin’ up after ya.”