FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

[Hunter]

Jack Russo - AKA Atlas/Bryyo

Starfox and all characters related to the Nintendo universe are copyright their respected owners.

CHAPTER TWO

Fox walked out into the hallway like a silent specter, taking slow steps through the sunlit corridor. A clock down the hall clicked a few times then opened out into a brief song; the bells inside the contraption playing off a familiar tune before bellowing out eleven long chords. Large portraits of various landscapes hung on the walls, ranging from tropical island locales to even the arid wastes of Titania. Fox let his paw linger on the window curtains as he passed, the fabric brushing up against his fingertips like liquid before falling away.

He stopped in front of the door with the decal reading 225 - B, the letter hanging upside down on the last nail that held it in place. The card key for the room was in his pocket and he grasped it after a moment's hesitation.

"Just what the hell am I doing here?" he muttered.

The events from the day before still played through his mind vividly. He grit his teeth, feeling the frustration swell up and spread through his body as he recalled how Wolf played him for a fool. Out of nowhere, he swooped on in and took from him what was rightfully his; something he had worked hard for. If anything, he was at least going to make sure Wolf didn't interfere again. He had to set things straight with the lupine and establish clear boundaries between them.

As for this working together shit? Fox snorted. There was no way they'd ever be able to work together. They had too much bad history between them and he was convinced that anything they did try would have them killing each other.

"That's right. Tell him no. Tell him to back off. Then get on with your life," he thought.

Before inserting the card into the handle-slot he gripped his gun with a spare paw. A part of him wanted to pull it out of the holster, but he decided against it, squeezing the handle instead for reassurance. He waited like this a few minutes before he took a deep breath, believing he was ready, and used the card to step inside.

His eyes darted around the hotel room. Filtered sunlight came in through the sheer curtains opposite of Fox. There was an un-made queen bed that was littered with clothes and a few weapons that glint in the light. Empty bottles sat atop both nightstands, the alcohol smell mixing with the scent of mildew and mold. Across from the bed was an old television atop a dresser that filled the room with white noise. Fox spied Wolf's armor, sprawled out on the table and chairs to his left.

Despite all of these things belonging to Wolf, the man was nowhere inside. He sniffed the air a moment and frowned again. The room did smell like the lupine so he hadn't mistaken. However, there was another scent too. Feline. It was unfamiliar but if he had to guess: perhaps Panther? Fox's ears twitched, allowing them to listen in to the other sounds around him. There was nothing he could make out nearby. Could this be a trap?

He realized that he was still standing at the entrance with the door wide open. Silently, he shut it before making his way to the table. He glanced at the scattered pieces of armor and gave them a quick sniff. It certainly smelled like him. That mix of... Actually he couldn't describe it that well. A woodsy smell that blended with his lupine musk. For a moment, Fox pondered if Wolf wore cologne but shook it out of his mind since it wasn't really relevant to his current goal.

There was a loud crack behind him and Fox whirled around, drawing out his blaster. The sound had startled him, but what he saw doubled that.

Fox had disregarded the second door at the end of the room; his ears picking up the sound of running water - which he realized now was disguised by the white noise. The smell of damp fur crept up to his nose, mixed in with shampoo. And in front of him was Wolf. A very naked Wolf. Holding his gun at him.

"You're early," growled Wolf.

"What the hell," he stammered. "Your naked!"

He hadn't intended to, but Fox couldn't help but examine Wolf in his purest form. His gray fur was still sopping wet, but it clung to his skin and only made all aspects of him more noticeable. From the scar that ran across his damaged eye. His solid chest. Those strong biceps... Strong legs... Even the only white on his entire body around his groin. And even though Fox stood there agape... he couldn't point out why he couldn't pull his eyes away.

The older male lowered his gun and shook his head. "I said noon, pup. But I suppose it ain't bad you're punctual."

Fox holstered his gun, looking away. "I'm sorry. I didn't think you were-"

"Showering? Even us ole' outlaws like to be clean."

"I didn't mean to-."

"Whatever," he huffed and turned back into the bathroom.

Fox tilted his head enough to glimpse at Wolf's gray tail vanish behind the door. Was his rival embarrassed? That would almost make him endearing, he smiled.

And then he quickly wiped the smile off his face, shaking his head. "Did I really just think that?"

"Just push my armor to the floor and take a seat," Wolf barked out from the other room as the sound of running water diminished.

He was glad to have something to distract him. He turned promptly, picking up the pieces of armor. They were heavier than he expected and much different from his own. His eyes looked around, trying to find a good place to move them but opted to toss them onto the bed instead. Wolf was coming back out by the time he pulled out a chair to sit down.

And whatever that quick work pushed out of his mind was all for naught when he and Wolf made eye contact. The lupine had rushed to dry his fur but was still damp, and he opted to wrap a towel around his waist rather than get fully dressed, leaving very little to the imagination.

"Why don't you get dressed?" Fox coughed, eyes lingering as Wolf pulled the seat across from him.

"Because if I put on clothes now they'll just get wet."

"Uh-huh..."

"Is it a problem?"

"Yes. I mean no!" He cursed at himself for being clumsy. "It's just a bit out of the ordinary."

"You're the one who came early. Don't blame me for trying to get myself decent. Besides, this is my room."

Fox sighed, composing himself. Get back to the point and state to Wolf why he did come here. Tell him no. But then he'd inhale and the strong smell of the lupine's musk would wrap around his senses and send him spiraling into confusion again.

"So tell me about this idea," Fox said after a moment's silence. The whole time he hadn't taken his eyes off of Wolf's chest, avoiding his lower half hidden by both the table and his towel. Fox especially hadn't dared look him directly in his eyes.

"Not so fast," said Wolf. "I have a few questions I'd like cleared up before we start talking business."

Fox now chanced looking at his face. The man had put on a black eye-patch to cover his bad eye, probably while he was in the bathroom turning off the shower.

"What do you want to know?" he asked, leaning on the table to rest his head on a paw.

"Why are you here?"

He rolled his eyes. "You asked me to come here."

"Not here, fool. Here. In Katina."

Fox huffed and thought a bit about the words he should say. It was too early to spill the real reason he was out alone. Wolf had already figured out that what he was doing had put him out of his element, and he didn't want to seem so insecure here in front of him as well.

"I'm bored," he weaseled out.

Wolf tilted his head. "Bored?"

"Yes. Bored. How you feel when there's nothing to do." He looked at his rival, eyeing how he leaned forward on the table much like him to rest his head on both paws. "Why do you want to know anyway? If that's the case, why the hell are you here too?"

"I'm the one asking questions," he growled. "But the easiest answer you can understand is that this is my turf. And you're intruding." His eye stared straight at Fox, like a dagger trying to dig into his mind. "Go on. Why are you here?"

Fox leaned back on his chair. "It's like I said. I'm bored. After the aparoids were destroyed the only thing left to do was rebuild as much of the Cornerian infrastructure as possible. We had helped with that, for a while, but things were changing for everyone. Peppy's injury during that final battle did a good one on him and will never walk again. He's stuck at some desk job from now til he decides to retire."

"Falco is off jumping from club to club doing what he does best. Last I heard, he's also some test pilot for Arspace Dynamics. He's invited me to do a few flight sims with him and they're fun, for a while. But it isn't the same."

"And Slippy... He's going to get married soon."

"Wait, the toad?" choked Wolf. "Out of all you men, he's the one who is getting married?" He laughed, curling forward. It was a hearty laugh and even Fox found himself grinning.

"Yes. He's getting married. It surprised all of us."

"And the blue one? What happened to her?"

Fox frowned and looked away toward the television. It wasn't any of Wolf's business to know what happened to her. He had only met her those few times in the air during the aparoid war and having remembered about her surprised Fox. His frown deepened as he thought up the best thing to say.

"She's with Panther," Wolf said softly.

That sudden realization hit him harder than he let on; his stomach sinking and reeling. He was aware of the bit of flirting Panther and she had done but had dismissed it as nothing at the time. What he didn't know about where the secret messages. The texting behind his back. And even the few late night meetings at one of the Meteo Orbital Stations. And then the sudden break up.

The vulpine looked his rival in the face, expecting some sort of distorted grin but saw nothing of that on his mug. Oddly, it was more sympathetic and that in itself felt reassuring to him. But it also made him feel something else. Something that sent adrenaline through him. He had to look away, unable to guess why Wolf was having this effect on him.

"Yes," he said after a moment. "She's with Panther."

He sighed and stared up at the ceiling, his eyes tracing random images on the faux wood. "She wanted more. A stronger connection than the one we had. Something that went beyond the mental link we shared. And for the longest time I thought and felt like I was doing enough to satisfy that need she had."

"But?" asked Wolf. It was more of a command than a question but he still leaned back forward, curious.

"But," Fox went on, "in reality it felt like our relationship had fizzed out. We were great together when it came to being on missions and what not. But outside of the cockpit we were just... platonic." Jeez, was he really spilling out all this information to Wolf?

"Platonic," Wolf echoed. "So you never fucked the bitch."

Fox's eyes snapped back to Wolf. "That's none of your business," he growled. "And don't call her a bitch."

Wolf grinned. "Poor, pup. Lost without his girlfriend and unable to get her wet and happy."

He growled. "Don't you dare."

"Oh come on," Wolf sneered. "I've heard about how you and bird boy used to run through the clubs and women like toilet paper. Use them up and then toss them like trash."

Fox's frown grew fiercer and he bared his teeth while Wolf continued on with a throaty laugh.

"I'm done talking here," he huffed, but Wolf slammed both of his paws on the table when he tried to rise. Fox shuddered a bit when he saw Wolf's snarl and extended claws on the table.

"This is a fun story, pup. But you still haven't answered my question. What are you doing here?"

"I've already told you. I'm bored," he spat.

"Not good enough."

"There's nothing else to say."

"Get to the point, Fox!"

Fox howled and stood up abruptly with enough force he nearly knocked Wolf off of his chair. "Because I can't stand it!" he screamed out, Wolf's ears flattening.

The lupine eyed him curiously while Fox took a few deep breaths to collect himself. "I can't stand that life. It's not for me. Living like everyone else. Going on day after day doing some nine to five job." He looked squarely at Wolf with a piercing stare. "It's not for me," he repeated.

They stayed like that for a bit longer. Their eyes were locked together, the vulpine unsure if this was another game with the older man but he refused to lose in this staring contest. However, Wolf's expression slowly changed the longer they stared. In fact, it seemed more inquisitive, as if he was using what Fox had said to piece together information into some sort of plan.

"Sit," he finally said, breaking through the silence, his head cocking forward a bit to point at the chair Fox had used earlier.

Just for effect, Fox waited a bit before taking his seat. "Was that sufficient enough for you?"

Wolf nodded. "And that brought you here to Katina. To try out hunting?"

"Yes."

"I'm glad you ditched your armor to come and see me. Your green jumper isn't as obnoxious."

"I didn't think I'd need it."

"Good. It's much better to see that pretty mug of yours outside of that helmet." Fox nearly grinned, but Wolf went on to add, "So are you working alone? No one else knows what you're up to?"

"You mean my team?"

"No, I mean the great keepers of the universe. Of course, dipshit."

"They don't know," Fox flattened his ears. "StarFox has disbanded."

He didn't know what reaction he really was expecting from Wolf, but the one he got was not it. The lupine's eyes furrowed and he scowled, backing further into his seat as if repelled by something abhorrent. "Disbanded?"

"Yes. Disbanded."

Wolf stood up and took a few steps toward the dresser. His fur had dried a bit and was starting to fluff up messily. It would've been comical if it weren't for the dangerous glare the older man gave him when he looked over his shoulder, teeth bared.

Fox smiled weakly. "I thought you'd be happy to hear about that?"

Wolf turned fully and leaned on the dresser. "Why would that make me happy?"

"Well, you've been gunning after us for so long. Now we're gone and done, it just leaves Star Wolf out there to -"

"How trite, pup. Why?"

"Why what?"

"Why did you disband?" his eye squinted tighter.

"I had already told you. Slippy's getting married. Falco's off doing his own thing. Peppy's now in a wheelchair and behind a desk. And Krystal... she's opening up her own clinic." He sighed. "No one has time for being a merc anymore. They've all outgrown it. The only good thing that came from it was that the Great Fox sold and that debt is gone."

Wolf pondered that a moment, eye searching the carpet as if looking for some answer there. He looked back up at Fox, the vulpine noticing his expression had relaxed a bit. "Everyone has outgrown it. Except you."

Fox hesitated. "Yes."

It was silent after that, minus the soft buzzing of the white noise. He kept his eyes on Wolf, expecting some other remark, but didn't get one. The lupine seemed even more lost in thought, now staring off at the window, his eye glazed over trying to peer into something that wasn't there. Filtered light gave him a sort of glow and, again, Fox found himself admiring the older man's half-naked physique.

There was something else there. Something that Fox had never noticed about him before. In all their past encounters, it had always been a rough and abrasive Wolf that shouted curses and insults at him. But now... He couldn't put his paw on it, but there was something different about this Wolf he was talking with. Or rather, there was more depth to Wolf than Fox had given him credit for. It made Fox ever more curious.

Wolf finally broke the silence, giving his head a shake as if waking from a daze before looking into Fox's eyes. "Then this is more reason why we should work together."

Fox tilted his head and frowned. His original purpose for seeing Wolf rushing back to his mind. But instead of outright refusing, he asked, "And what makes you think that?"

Moving back to his seat across from Fox, he started, "Many reasons. The most obvious being what you just told me. You're without a team now. I take it your experience finding Havoc taught you some things?"

"If you mean that I spent most of my time on my computer digging for intel, then yes. I learned there was a lot more to hunting than just crashing into some hideout and pulling out a target."

Wolf smiled and leaned over a bit on his chair. "Research is key to finding your mark. But it's not the only thing. How you present yourself is also important."

Fox rolled his eyes. "You're referring to when we met at the cantina."

"Precisely."

"What did I do wrong there?"

"You made it too easy to read you."

Fox furrowed his brows. "I was completely disguised. Even you admitted you didn't know it was me in the beginning. So how is it you could read me?"

"That's true," shrugged Wolf. "But it's not just what you look like, but what you do that gave you away. You were not subtle when you asked about Havoc. In fact, you were too direct. And ole' Frank there easily ratted you out."

Fox rubbed his chin, thinking a moment. "I have no control what the bartender does or says, so that was out of my hands."

"On the contrary, it is in your hands."

The lupine and he met eyes again. He still had that smug grin on his face but it wasn't out of malicious amusement, Fox gathered. He was being sincere.

"How should I have handled it?"

Wolf leaned back on his chair resting both paws behind his head. "There are a number of things you can do. The easiest is to threaten him outright. Scare the shit out of him."

"That seems too basic."

"It only seems that way, but it requires you to have background info about Frank, which I'm guessing you don't."

"None at all."

"Then that gives you the next option: get him drunk."

Fox shook his head. "I'd have used up more money on that."

"No, you wouldn't have," corrected Wolf. "You probably would've saved money, actually. I didn't see how you started your exchange with him, but you forked up 500 credits on the spot. Would've been cheaper to just buy him drinks, flatter him a bit, then pull out the information."

He thought about that for a moment and started to see the genius to it. But now it felt like he was being criticized and it reminded him how it was back in the academy before the war. How every move he did in the air was subject to scrutiny by his peers and professors. He folded his arms and bit his lip.

"The last thing," Wolf went on, "is to pull the information from him directly."

"Like he would've parted with that intel so easily," scoffed Fox.

"He would," said Wolf. "It's how you get it that matters this time. This is the hardest way to get information."

His ears perked up. "Go on."

"I don't prefer this way. Requires you to be very charismatic while also knowing who you are talking with. Helps also if you can read people well. But you sort of weave in questions here and there when talking. Not direct questions, mind you. Asking bluntly, 'where the hell is havoc,' won't work. In this sense... you could've said something like, 'Aw shit, my weapons have been giving me hell. How do you keep yours so well,' or some other bullshit like that. And that in turn could lead up to the bartender giving up information on Havoc."

"I see," nodded Fox. "So going that route, he would've mentioned all his weapons came from the man. Then, I can inquire who is Havoc, and he would tell me all about him and his troubles here."

"Now you're getting it," smiled Wolf. He was leaning forward again, elbows on his knees and his head resting on his paws. There was a glint in his eye, Fox noticed. Like a teacher upon seeing their pupil succeed. It made Fox's stomach do flips again.

"Okay," he blushed. "So you've proven that I'm inexperienced in that sense. But why does teaming up benefit me. Or hell, how does it benefit you? You already have your team."

Wolf shrugged. "We both have combat experience, pup. Against each other, we've torn our ships apart time and time again. And after your work with the gangs, I know just how well you do outside of your ship also. Just imagine what we'd accomplish together?"

He did have a point. With their combined prowess they'd more than likely be unstoppable. And having two heads looking for someone would be easier than working alone. Not to mention that Wolf had experience that Fox didn't. But while Fox didn't have his team anymore, why hadn't Wolf mentioned the others?

"Why not include Panther and Leon in on this?" he asked.

"They're all pretty occupied now," replied Wolf. "Leon is off on some secret mission of his and Panther has a new girl." He added in a grunt at the end of that sentence when Fox gave him a disapproving look.

"Besides," he went on, "the two of us shouldn't even need them. But, if you insist, they're all a phone call away if we have to use them."

That answer would have to do. Fox didn't know what he was gunning for there. Perhaps find some similarity between both teams; maybe StarWolf had also disbanded due to lack of jobs during peacetime. It wasn't the case, but part of him had wished it was so.

His resolve, however, had already waned. He no longer could blatantly refuse Wolf. He was intrigued. In fact, now he wanted it. There was no way he could back out of the thrill of the hunt and return to some simple job back home in Corneria. And... he had to admit to himself that there was something about Wolf now that had caught his attention. The more he thought about it the more he realized that he wanted to figure out what it was and what to do about it.

"Say I agree to working with you," said Fox. "How would we manage it? Ships, guns, supplies in general?"

Wolf grinned roguishly. "I have the weaponry part settled already."

"You do? How?" He saw Wolf's grin grow larger before he realized his answer. He narrowed his eyes and said, "You took Havoc's offer, didn't you?"

"Guilty," Wolf sneered.

"You took a deal from an _illegal_arms dealer? Do you know how fucked up that is?" He started to rant on further but Wolf held up a paw to stop him.

"When someone gives you a deal like that, bounty or not, you take it."

"It's against the law, Wolf."

"That's your military training and Cornerian bravado talking, pup," snapped Wolf. "If you really want to be a hunter, you have to find and live within that gray boundary. There are no simple right and wrongs with hunting."

Fox hesitated. "Five percent off is still a shit discount."

"I agree. So I added fixing his leg into the picture and demanded he cut us fifty percent instead. And to fork up half of his own bounty to get you here."

Even Fox had to admit that was a better deal, amazed the cheetah had that much spare cash on him.

"After that, I accepted his full offer."

"And that was?"

"Everything he offered you and more."

Fox didn't know why Wolf's smile kept getting larger. He tried his best to recall everything Havoc tried to offer him before... something about being a discount... being a slave... and if he was into it...

His eyes widened. "You took _that_offer too? You fucked him?"

Wolf shrugged. "I have no comment. But it doesn't concern you anyway, doesn't it?"

It didn't. But for some reason it really bothered him. His mind flashed between the cheetah-man, Wolf's half naked body...

"Are you telling me you're gay?"

"Don't get carried away, pup," interrupted Wolf. "Were there any other questions?"

Fox did his best to get the thoughts out of his head. He hesitated before asking, "What about ships? You mentioned ships."

"Ah yes," said Wolf, yawning. He also patted at the fur on his chest, realizing he had now dried. He got up and back toward the dresser while talking. "I know you still have an arwing. Saw it yesterday."

"That's correct. I-" before he finished, Wolf dropped his towel, exposing his rear while he opened up a drawer. "What the hell?"

"I'm changing. You make it out like you've never seen a naked man change or something. I know you military types do this shit all the time."

Fox just gaped, unsure how to answer.

"Ok, so you have your arwing," he said while casually grabbing a pair of boxers and stepped into them.

"_He wears boxers..."_thought Fox, unable to look away from the lupine. But he cleared his throat and continued. "I don't have any other ships. I told you the Great Fox is gone, so there's no real place to dock the ships outside of ports."

"I can manage that," said Wolf, fumbling in the drawer again before pulling out a pair of blue jeans and a black wife-beater. "We'll use our frig. Can hold up to four fighters and house ten people comfortably."

"I didn't know you had your own frig," mused Fox.

"And that's for the best," countered Wolf, pulling up the jeans and then slipping the shirt over his head. "If you had, you and your shitshow probably would've blown it up by now."

Fox rolled his eyes, but knew it was more than likely true. They had pretty much destroyed Sargasso during the aparoid attack. He didn't know what Wolf had to do to repair it but it must've been a hassle for him. Which brought up more concerns and doubts as soon as he remembered that. "How do I know this isn't some trick?"

"You don't," Wolf scowled and reclaimed his seat. "I'm aware of our bad history, pup. But this is different now. This is just you and me."

"Working together," Fox added.

"Yes, working together."

Fox bit his lip, keeping eye contact with Wolf to try and see if he could read the man. Find out if he had any tricks up his sleeve. But he didn't see anything obvious and that made him feel uncomfortable. There were many doubts in his mind and those alone urged him to say no.

"Just do it, dammit! You came here to tell him no in the first place!"

Instead, he sighed and muttered out, "I don't know. I'll need to think it over. Give me the night to consider it."

Wolf's eyes narrowed. "Fine. I'll give you the night. But think fast. The next marks won't stay put while you mull shit over."

"Marks?" Fox asked, unsure if he heard the plural correctly.

"That's right. Marks." The older male examined Fox, trying to think of what best to say next. "I'll let you in on some of the information then. If you agree to work with me, I'll tell you the rest. If not, then I go alone and better not see you trying to take the marks. If you do, then I'll be tearing your ass a new one."

"Oh, I wouldn't dream of it," droned Fox.

"Good. Now listen." He leaned down even closer, Fox matching but also aware just how close they were to each other. "The next two marks are a husband and wife pair. The dude's a bruiser - all brawn and no real brains. The wife is really the difficult one."

"What makes her so special?"

"She's a hacker. Nothing too good, but good enough to make a name of herself. She doesn't like to make appearances. Leaves that to her hubby."

Fox smiled upon hearing Wolf say hubby. "And who wants these guys? Why?"

"You'll love this part," smiled Wolf. "The military does." Wolf grunted in approval when he saw Fox's ears twitch. "Yeah, I knew you'd like that."

"So whatever they did has the military upset. That means they'll run a good price."

"Correct. A whopping 50,000 credits each."

Fox's eyes bugged out. "Shit! That's more than you were worth!"

"I'm flattered," Wolf said flatly. "But yes, a total of 100,000 if we get them both. Now," he stood up and extended out a paw. "Hand me your phone, pup."

Reflexively, he reached for his phone in his pocket and handed it over. The lupine punched in a few numbers while Fox stood up and stretched. Sitting for so long had made him sore.

"Here's my number," said Wolf, handing the device back to him. "I've given you plenty to think about tonight. But like I said-"

"Yeah, yeah. I know. Be quick about it," Fox rolled his eyes.

"Good boy," he smirked back, his tail giving a little wag. "Now go on and get. I have things to do and places to be."

And unceremoniously, he placed both his paws onto Fox's shoulders, spun him around and pushed him out the door, amidst Fox's complaints. The vulpine landed on the floor and glared back at Wolf.

"Wolf! This is the second time you've thrown me on my back, you know!"

"I know, pup. It looks good on you," he grinned and shut the door.

~ ::: ~

Fox had spent the rest of the day lost within his own thoughts. There wasn't anything else left to do at Wolf's hotel after their meeting so he tried to spend the rest of his day as routinely as he could. Most of it involved walking. Walking to get lunch. Walking to explore the random shops that were in the better part of the planet. And of course, walking to get back to his own hotel room.

Wurthurd, itself, wasn't much of a city compared to the hustle and bustle of Corneria. From within his own balcony, Fox was able to see and count a good fifteen to twenty tall buildings that stood in the twilight. Around them were smaller shops mixed in with the dilapidated mess that was a constant reminder of the previous war.

He had half a mind to wander off to the Katina base and meet up with Bill, but decided against it. Now with the team disbanded, the bulldog would do his best to try and have him join him in the military. It wasn't something he hadn't done before and Fox was always quick to remind him he already worked as a merc with StarFox. He didn't have that excuse anymore.

Then there was Wolf. He couldn't just exclaim he was going out with his long-time rival to begin a bounty hunting career. Even thinking it seemed odd, let alone saying it out loud.

"I wonder what they would all say?" he thought. "Probably call me crazy..."

In his paw was his phone; Something he hadn't let go of since returning back to his room. A few times he would swipe down to Wolf's number, stare at it a moment, then quickly cancel out of the screen and stare back out the windows. He had even gotten close to calling Krystal, thinking that she could lend him a supporting ear or even advice, but before she would pick up he hung up and continued frowning at his phone.

"C'mon, Fox... it's just a yes or no. This should be easy shit for you to figure out."

Wolf was his rival. They've been at each other's throats since he could remember him. The man was a criminal. _Was_a criminal. And even with his bounty gone, he still had that history following him.

On the other paw, Wolf had experience. He could learn a few things from him when it came to hunting. If he even managed to make it a lifetime career. And if things did go well, then they'd be partners. So then he wouldn't need to see that cheetah, Havoc and...

His heart skipped a beat, realizing where his thoughts were taking him.

"What is wrong with me? So what if he slept with that man... It shouldn't bother me, right?"

He looked down at his phone one more time, Wolf's number highlighted again. Fox took a deep breath and pressed down on the call button.

A few beeps later and he heard Wolf's gruff voice on the other side.

"Wolf...yeah... It's me. I'll do it."