#peppox

Taking the sheets from the bag, Fox pulled it over the mattress, tugging it around the near corners first. He reached across to pull it over the far corners, but pulled it out of place from the other side. Gritting his teeth, Fox tried again, tucking the sheets tighter. He lifted the mattress and slid the blankets and quilt underneath, pulling the rest over the top.

 Turning back around, Fox picked up the pillow, but blinked as Peppy stared at him. Rubbing his chin, Peppy chuckled.

 “You look like you were struggling a bit, there.”

 “It wasn’t that bad.” Fox shrugged, shoving the pillow in its case. “It’s just…a bit of a pain.”

 “Galactic hero and top pilot, bested by some bed sheets.”

 “Very funny.”

 “Hey, that sounds like a good time to me.”

 “Huh?”

 “Ah, nothing. Here, let me help.”

 Taking the pillow from Fox’s hands, Peppy turned it and shifted it back into its case. He fluffed it a bit, placed it onto the bed, and then smoothed out the crooked sheets.

 “See, there we go.”

 “You make it look easy.”

 “Ha, I had to figure it out when this team first formed,” reminisced Peppy. “James was a nightmare at sorting out anything delicate, that’s for sure!”

 “And here I was hoping I only inherited his piloting skills and good looks,” joked Fox.

 “No worries, I’ll keep this one a secret between us,” teased Peppy. “Your father would’ve gotten a kick out of this. Your mother, not so much.”

 “Yeah…” Fox’s smile fell as leaned against the bed.

 “Ah, Fox, I’m sorry.” Peppy frowned. “I wasn’t looking to—”

 “No, I love it when you tell me stories about them,” Fox insisted. “I just wish I had more time with Dad and even got to know Mom.”

 “They were great people, Fox,” assured Peppy. “I wish I could bring them back for you, just give you three a day…”

 “It would be nice,” agreed Fox. “But, you’re enough. I’m glad I have even you.”

 “Aw, Fox, I’m not…thank you.” Peppy rested his hand on Fox’s shoulder. “And I’ll always be around when you need me, I promise.”

 “Right back at you.”

 “Come on, let me just enter in the logs on the computer here, and we’ll get a pick-me-up after,” decided Peppy. “I’m sure we’ve got some tasty treats in the fridge.”

 “Carrot cake?”

 “You all get a kick out of me liking that so much, don’t you?”

 “Almost as much as doing barrel rolls,” mocked Fox.

 “And I’m never going to live that down either,” murmured Peppy. He sighed as Fox laughed. “Alright, let me just enter the records in from the tablet.”

 Peppy walked to the desk in the corner of the room, picking up the tablet and typing in on it. Fox followed, and peeked over Peppy’s shoulder at the results on the tablet. Swiping up from the tablet, the results were transmitted digitally and added to the logs on the computer.

 “Looking pretty well-stocked overall,” decided Peppy. “Let’s just save, close this, and…ah.”

 Fox blinked as Peppy hurriedly tried to close the next window. He was too late, with Fox having spotted court documents, specifically words on “filing for divorce.” Leaning back, Fox raised an eyebrow as Peppy turned back, ears drooping.

 “Uh, I, ah…I forgot that was up.” He weakly chuckled. “That can be a secret too.”

 “Wait, Peppy,” Fox shook his head, “what’s going on with you and your wife?”

 “That would be ‘ex-wife,’ as of this morning,” disclosed Peppy. “Vivian and I, uh…well, we’ve had our differences over the years. And…now we won’t.”

 “But…but Peppy—”

 “I didn’t really want any of you boys to worry about me,” interrupted Peppy. “She didn’t like me on the team, even now, and it’s gotten to a point that…” Peppy sighed and shrugged. “A point where I didn’t choose her.”

 Silently, Fox stared into Peppy’s dark red eyes, as the hare drummed the desk beside him. He stood up from his seat, but Fox barely moved away.

 “Let’s just forget about that, and—”

 “No, Peppy, I-I can’t.” Fox shook his head again. “I can’t believe you didn’t even tell me, I could’ve given you time off—”

 “Sure you could’ve. I didn’t want it.” Peppy placed his hand back on Fox’s shoulder. “She doesn’t make me happy, Fox. It’s been years, and we’ve both known that for a long time about each other. But, that’s true.” He chuckled. “Vixy thought we rushed our marriage, and I never wanted to admit it, but she was right. Your mother was sharp like that.”

 “Still…”

 “Fox, I promise you, it’s fine.” He gently massaged Fox’s shoulder. “These things happen to us. We can fall in love, we can think that we did, and we can fall out of it too. I happen to be on the latter end of it.”

 “Peppy…I can’t…I feel like this is on me.”

 “Listen, Fox, I’m not going to repeat myself all night.” Peppy rested both of his hands on Fox’s shoulders, gazing directly at him as Fox’s pulse quickened. “It’s. Not. On. You. None of it is any fault of yours, ok? I chose this life, Viv and I both chose the divorce, and that’s the end of it all.”

 “You deserve to be happy, though,” managed Fox. Peppy opened his mouth, but Fox placed his hand over it. “I know, I know. But if she didn’t make you happy, what does? This team can’t be everything.”

 “It does the trick,” persisted Peppy as he moved Fox’s hand. “Taking to the skies, keeping the peace, working with you boys…that’s plenty for me.”

 “But…it’s just…” Fox’s shoulders dropped, and Peppy’s hands slid down along them. “I don’t like picturing any of you alone. What if there’s a day that Star Fox doesn’t need to be? Then what’s next for you?”

 “If I make it that long, I’ll build the bridge when I get there,” decided Peppy. “I don’t think that’s a day coming for me anytime soon.”

 “That only makes it sound harder and lonelier on you.”

 “You’re here, aren’t you?” Peppy chuckled, patting Fox again, as the leader’s cheeks lit up a bit. “So long as I’ve got at least you, Fox, that’s good enough. If I can help you build a better future, so much the better.”

 “Thank you, but you deserve to enjoy the future too,” Fox insisted. “Someone should spend it with you.”

 “There isn’t anyone looking for an old hare like me to enjoy the years with,” joked Peppy. He paused and rubbed his chin. “…Well, maybe, but I’ll have to look into that.”

 “Definitely, there are definitely others that would be interested in you, Pep.”

 “Oh yeah? Know any secret admirers of me, then?”

 Chuckling again, Peppy hands slowly slipped from Fox, who quickly grabbed them. He stopped and blinked, as Fox’s hands trembled.

 “Are you feeling ok, Fox?” Peppy pulled his hands from Fox’s, clasping his hands on Fox’s arms and watching him carefully. “You’re shaking, your face looks pretty red, and you sure feel warm.”

 “Um…Peppy.”

 “Yeah?”

 “…Uh…” Fox swallowed hard. “What if…what if I did know of an, um, admirer?”

 “No fooling?”

 “Nope, I’m…completely serious.”

 “Huh.” Peppy chuckled. “Guess I can’t be too old yet, eh? Ok, Fox, you tell me—”

 “It’s a guy.” Fox blinked and studied Peppy’s face. “Is that…a problem?”

 “Ah…w-well—”

 “Yes, then.”

 “No! No, that’s…Fox, I happen to, uh, like…” Peppy shifted around and rolled his head. Quickly, he finished, “Guys interest me too, like girls, in that way, there.” He sighed, his cheeks slightly flushed. “I think I’ve blabbed too many secrets to you tonight.”

 “How about I share mine, then?” Fox shuddered as Peppy blinked at him.

 “…Wait a minute.” Peppy shook his head. “I’m old, not daft. Fox…” Peppy frowned, adjusting his spectacles. “Look, I don’t want to assume anything, but—”

 “It’s me.” Fox clenched his fists and shrugged. “Peppy, I…I, uh, I like…I’d like to be with you.”

 Both stood in silence, as Fox lowered his head and stared at the floor, his face becoming bright red. Peppy shifted his weight around, first a little away, and then back toward Fox.

 “…This isn’t a joke, right?”

 “No.”

 “Fox, I’m…I’m a lot older,” protested Peppy. “You, ah, you should…you know, be with someone closer to your age.”

 “Maybe,” relented Fox. He shook his head. “But I…I know what I feel.” He looked back up at Peppy, who lifted a hand toward him, but hesitated. “Peppy, I…look, I knew you had a wife, but lately, I’ve…I don’t know, carried a crush?” Fox dug his hands in his jacket pockets. “I just figured that I’d never…I didn’t think you’d ever be remotely interested in the idea, let alone available.”

 “You kidding? Fox, you’re handsome and adorable.” Peppy smirked. “I, ah, I didn’t think I’d ever admit this out loud, but, uh, well, it’s a recent development for me too, but…” He inhaled and heavily exhaled. “…Maybe I kind of, you know…thought your father was, um…cute. And, now that you’re an adult, seeing you…reminds me of him, in some ways.”

 “Oh.” Fox’s shoulders dropped. “That’s not—”

 “Hang on, hang on.” Peppy rubbed his hand across his mouth. “I don’t mean that all I see in you is him, when I’m talking like that. It’s just…he looked good one way, and you’re…hmm…” Peppy cleared his throat. “If I were some years younger, I’d definitely be chasing after you, I admit it.”

 “But…why is my age an issue?” Fox scratched his arm. “We’re both adults. By a lot of years.”

 “True, but…come on, Fox, me?” Peppy gestured to his figure. “Look at this. I’m old, I’m fat, and I’m not exactly—”

 “You have some muscular build,” pointed out Fox. “You can keep up with us on foot.”

 “W-well sure, but…” Peppy dragged his hand over his head and ears. “You can do a lot better, Fox.”

 “Peppy, to me, you are better.” Fox softly smiled. “You’re brave and wise, you’re kind, and you’re loyal and supportive. Even if you don’t think it, I definitely find you handsome.” Peppy blushed harder, coughing in an attempt to hide it. “I mean, yeah, you knew me as a kid, but you’ve spent more time with me as an adult, and…I just, I guess I was hoping that maybe…” Fox’s ears lowered back. “Forget it, I don’t want you to be uncomfortable.”

 “Ah, that’s not…that’s not what I’d call it,” admitted Peppy. “You told me yourself, you’re far from a kid, I haven’t looked at you as one for years, so I just…I’d like it if you were absolutely sure about it.”

 “Definitely.” Fox beamed as his ears lifted. “Does that mean—?”

 “This is a bit fast.”

 “Oh. Well, yeah, I-I didn’t—”

 “No, it’s fine.” Peppy smiled and shrugged. “Fast, but I’d be a complete liar if I admit that I didn’t like where it’s going. Fox, I…you’re a fantastic leader and pilot, and I’ll be bold enough to think that you’ll be legendary some day, if you’re not already. You’re sweet, caring, and understand your teammates better than even they realize.” He lifted his hands, flinched back, and paused. “I just…wait, kids.” Fox raised an eyebrow and Peppy shook his head. “What about your future, Fox? You’re thinking all about me, but what about starting a family, or—?”

 “If you’re not opposed to it,” intervened Fox, “I…I mean, we don’t have to, but…you and I could, if you—”

 “You want kids with me?”

 “Yeah.” Fox shrugged as Peppy pinched his upper lip, tugging at a few strands of gray fur. “A family with you sounds fine, when we’re ready. And we’ve got options. Technology advancements are, well, you can make, um…” Fox shrugged again. “Or we could adopt. Or…or we could do anything else.”

 “Anything, huh?” Peppy smirked. “Anything with me?”

 “Yes.” Fox sighed. “Am I missing anything, or…?”

 “Ha, well…you’ve taken down my biggest reservations for you,” confessed Peppy. “And…maybe I steal a few glances at you, more than I should, and…maybe they weren’t all friendly, depending on how you look at it.”

 “Geez, Peppy.”

 “See, see? You told me—”

 “I do the same to you, too.”

 “Oh. …Oh.” Peppy grinned. “You really do like me, huh?”

 “How else can I spell it out for you?”

 “One more way.”

 Peppy raised his hands to Fox’s cheeks, and the two gazed into one another’s eyes. They slowly closed the distance between them, their lips pressing together. Fox lifted an arm under Peppy’s, wrapping around his back, while Peppy scooped him in closer. Kissing for another moment, they separated and breathed heavily.

 “…Wow.” Fox laughed. “I…that was great.”

 “Heh…not too old for that,” joked Peppy. His hands trailed down Fox’s sides and rested on his waist. “You, um, you want to keep that a secret too, or…?”

 “How about we decide on that later,” suggested Fox, rubbing Peppy’s back. “Right now, I just want to enjoy the night with you.”

 “That’s fine by me.” Peppy kissed Fox’s cheek, and stayed close to him. “Whatever you want, Fox, that’s fine with me.”

 “Well, I do want you.” Fox smirked. “So, that works.”