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Governor Diane Foxington sat in her home office, meeting with various staff and advisors via a video call on her computer.
“Is the manager convinced his plan will work towards rejuvenating the fish population in the surrounding sea?” Ms.Foxington asked, prompting a response from a human staff member.
“Yes, he is convinced it will boost fish populations by 17%, which should help the local fishing industry.”
Another advisor spoke up.
“Ma’am, I recently got a call from the research company, Sunnyside Laboratories. They are wondering about the status of their permit approval.”
“Oh yeah, I got the email about that.”
Diane’s smartphone rang with an incoming video call from none other than Ms.Tarantula.
“Ugh, hang on….” the Governor said, muting her microphone and turning off her camera.
“Hello? What is it?” The fox said, answering the call, listening closely to the arachnid as she spoke. Suddenly her eyes shot open, and her ears perked up.
“Wolf is what?!” The vixen asked, standing up from her chair and looking at Ms.Tarantula’s image on her phone screen.
“He’s sick.”
“Sick with what? Like the flu or….”
“I don’t know. I’m not a doctor.”
“He’s contaminated!” Mr.piranha yelled in the background, the fox easily able to see that the former bad guys were in their hidden lair.
“Just stay out of his room!” Tarantula yelled before returning her attention to Diane. “Yeah, so as you can tell, it’s kinda chaos around here. Wolf just sitting in his room, trying to recuperate.”
Diane’s initial shock wore off, replaced by business-focused determination.
“Ok, I’ll be over shortly.”
“Be over? Wait, should I-“
The fox hung up before returning her attention to the video call with her advisors.
“My apologies, but I have to cut this short. Something’s come up. Tell the fish and wildlife manager to go ahead with his plan. And tell Sunnyside that I sign off on their permit request for their new facility.”
“But Governor Foxington, what about-“
The fox ended the meeting and quickly stood up, leaving her office and going to her bedroom. Diane removed her formal power suit instead, swapping to her ninja outfit.
Although her main hideout was in another part of the city, she still had a few criminal-related elements around her house. Stuff that could easily be explained, like her ninja outfit, which was essentially just a tight leather suit akin to a motorcycle outfit.
There was also the silver briefcase in the closet, which looked unsuspecting at first, but in reality, folded open into a motorcycle.
She placed on a motorcycle helmet and grabbed a black duffle bag which she tucked on her back. All before picking up the briefcase and exiting the house.
The fox quickly unfolded the case into a motorcycle, hopping on before speeding off. Going out of her driveway and down the street.
Maneuvering through cars and other vehicles, she swerved through the city streets, heading for a local grocery store.
“Oh, come on! Seriously?!” Diane said to herself as she stopped at a red light. The fox sighed and revved her bike as traffic passed by in the opposite direction.
The second the light turned green, she sped forward, soon after arriving at her destination.
The motorcycle hadn’t even come to a complete stop when Diane took off her helmet and leaped off the bike.
Heading into the store, she grabbed a shopping basket and began thinking of what items she needed.
It didn’t matter if anyone saw her. She just looked like she was running errands and driving a motorcycle.
Eyes scanning the aisles, she spotted the produce section and made haste towards it. Diane grabbed fresh carrots and celery before picking up a cooked chicken, broth, and a box of noodles.
Progressing to the beverage section, she grabbed three types of beverages. Ginger Ale for its nausea alleviating properties, Gatorade for its electrolytes, and water for obvious reasons.
Moving on to the health aisle, she retrieved various anti-flu and cold fighting medications. Even picking up a thermometer, just in case the guys didn’t have one.
After getting a few more things, Diane checked her basket.
“Let’s see… drinks… medicine… tea… thermometer… hand sanitizer… towels… I think I’m good. Better get going.”
As she briskly moved to the register, her eyes caught some items hanging from one of the shelves. Small multicolored bells with wooden handles.
On a whim, she grabbed one of the objects and threw it into her basket.
Reaching the checkout, the vixen emptied her items onto the conveyer belt. The cashier scanned the items at a plodding pace, which really got under Diane’s skin.
“Ugh, hurry up! I have a sick wolf to get to!” The fox thought to herself but didn’t vocalize.
Instead of waiting for the cashier to bag her items, the fox put her purchases directly in her duffle bag. Moving much faster than the store employees could likely complete the task.
“Thank you! Keep the change!” Diane said, handing the cashier a few large bills, then sprinting out of the store.
“Wait, would you like a receipt!?”
The fox hopped back on her motorcycle and put her helmet on. Revving up the bike, she sped off once more.
Approaching the LA river, Diane didn’t even bother to find a safe way down. Instead, she crashed through a chain link fence, gained some serious airtime on her bike, and then landed on the concrete below.
She continued down the river till she came to the hidden entrance to the former bad guy’s lair. The fox jumped off her bike, transforming it back into a briefcase, taking it in her paw, and hurrying on the elevator up to the hideout.
“Come on, come on, come on!” Diane said, tapping her foot as the elevator ascended.
The elevator stopped and began to open, with Diane ducking under the door even though it was only open halfway.
She passed by piles of loot and artifacts, which she’d initially taken from the former criminals at Wolf's behest. However she had later returned most of the items to the gang, not wanting to leave them with utterly nothing after they got out.
Reaching the living room, she encountered the four non-mammal members of the gang. Shark and Piranha had masks on and were arguing with Tarantula and snake.
“You guys really don’t need those,” Ms.Tarantula said.
“Yeah, just stay out of his room.” Mr.Snake said, prompting a response from Mr.Piranha.
“He has to come out here for food! Or to use the bathroom!”
Diane advanced into the living room and cleared her throat.
“Ahem.”
“Diane? What are you doing here?” Snake asked.
“I called to tell her what was going on with Wolf,” Tarantula responded.
“You invited her here?”
“I didn’t invite her. She just decided to show up!”
“Where is he?” Diane asked.
“His room.” Snake said, using his tail to point down a hallway.
“Thank you,” Diane said, turning down the hallway.
“Wow, she’s acting very purposeful today,” Tarantula noted.
“Don’t go in there!” Shark said, “it’s a contaminated zone!”
Diane scoffed and rolled her eyes upon seeing the doorway to the wolf’s room. Someone had put caution tape over the door and pictures of the biohazard symbol. The vixen tore down the warning symbols, opened the door, and headed inside.
Mr.Wolf’s room contained a desk in one corner, covered with various items, such as a laptop and pens. A large whiteboard was hanging on one wall, formerly used to plan heists and operations. A wardrobe sat in another corner of the room, holding the canine’s suits and other clothes.
Against one wall was a bed with a purple blanket. And laying on his back in the bed, wearing a white tank top, was Mr.Wolf himself. Diane noticed a few beads of sweat on the wolf’s forehead as he turned to look at the visitor.
“Oh hey… cough … look who it is….”
Diane put her duffle bag down and moved to the wolf’s side.
“Hey, sweetie…” She said, kneeling down by the bed. “Are you ok?”
“I’ve been better… but… it’s nice to see that you came to visit me.”
She placed her paw on Wolf’s forehead, the gentle touch making him feel at least a bit better.
“You’re burning up!” Diane said, reaching into her bag and pulling out the thermometer she had bought.
“Put this under your tongue.” She said, removing the item’s packaging and holding it to the wolf’s mouth.
“No, I really don’t need-“
“I’m not asking.”
Begrudgingly, Mr.Wolf complied, opening his mouth and letting the fox put the thermometer in.
Diane then retrieved a towel from her bag and stood up.
“I’ll be right back. Keep that in your mouth.”
The wolf nodded as she left the room, heading to the lair’s kitchen.
Shark and Piranha yelled out in terror as Diane exited the contaminated zone. They hid behind the couch, trying to stay away from the fox.
“So, what’s happening?” Ms.Tarantula asked as Ms.Foxington moved to the sink and drenched a towel with cold water.
“Well, he’s burning up. I’m taking his temperature right now. Oh, are these glasses in the dishwasher clean?”
“Yep.”
Ms.Foxington retrieved a glass and filled it with water. Additionally, grabbing a second empty glass before going back to Mr.Wolf’s side. Diane returned just as the thermometer beeped, and the fox removed it from the wolf’s mouth.
“Yep, you definitely have a fever.” She said, looking at the temperature reading.
Diane then put the cold towel on the wolf’s forehead before grabbing a medication tablet out of her bag.
“Here…” she said, getting the wolf to open his mouth so she could administer the medicine. All before giving the canine a sip of water.
“What… are you a doctor now? Heh…” Mr.Wolf asked.
“I know some things. I’ve had to patch myself up a few times.”
Diane filled the empty glass partway with ginger ale before bringing it to her patient’s mouth.
“Drink this.”
Mr.Wolf drained the cup, and the fox set it down on the nightstand.
“Wow… never once did I think cough that I’d have the Governor tending to me in my time of need.”
“What about the crimson paw? She said, placing her paw on the wolf’s cheek,
“Having the Governor care for me? Extremely unlikely. Having the crimson paw care for me? Also, extremely unlikely. But having the Governor AND the crimson paw care for me? Totally absurd. Yet… here we are. Thank you…” Mr.Wolf said, squeezing the fox’s paw. “…you certainly came prepared….”
It was then that Diane noticed something on the nightstand. A picture frame containing a printed copy of the photo of the pair at the golden dolphin award ceremony. Mr.Wolf had used the same image to access the golden dolphin’s vault.
“Isn’t this from when we first met?” Diane asked, taking the photo in her paw and looking it over.
“Yeah, back when you still knew me as Mr.Poodletin. I know it’s not the best picture of me, but… I want to remember the first time we met. Even though it wasn’t under the best circumstances….”
Diane smiled and held the picture to her chest. She really wanted to kiss the wolf full on the lips but decided against it due to his sickness.
“Could I use your phone?” The vixen asked, placing the framed photo back down.
Mr.Wolf gestured to the nightstand, prompting Diane to pick his smartphone up off the small table.
The fox noticed that the Lock Screen image was a picture of the pair dancing at the charity gala. Likely taken by a reporter or hired photographer.
It warmed her heart to know that Mr.Wolf chose this lovely memory as the first thing to greet him when he opened his phone.
She held the device over the wolf’s face, unlocking it via facial recognition.
“Heh, now it looks like you’re the one using my face to open something.” Mr.Wolf said, getting a smirk from Diane.
The fox navigated to the music app and put on the canine’s playlist before setting the phone back on the nightstand.
“I’m going to go make you some soup. You just rest and relax. But…” Diane reached into her bag and pulled out the bell from the grocery store.
“I impulse bought this.” She said, placing the item down on the nightstand. “If you need anything, water, help to the bathroom, just ring the bell.”
Mr.Wolf nodded, and Diane gave him an affectionate smile before leaving the room and heading into the kitchen.
“Wow,” Tarantula told Diane from her resting place on the kitchen countertop. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen you so… determined. At least not since everything that happened with marmalade.”
Ms.Foxington retrieved two pots from a cabinet. She filled one with water, the other filled with broth, and put both on the stove to boil.
“Well, normally I work alone. I’ve been on my own for a long time. But I do know a thing or two about caring for others.”
“Well, being the Governor, that’s probably a requirement.”
The water was boiling, prompting Diane to pour in the noodles. The fox got out a cutting board and began chopping up carrots and celery before tossing them into the pot with the broth.
Tarantula looked around, not spotting the other former bad guys within earshot.
“It’s evident that you care for Wolf. Like… as more than a friend.”
Diane blushed, which Ms.Tarantula noticed.
“Look, I’m not trying to embarrass you. But it’s obvious by now. He goes to see you, or you come here almost every day. The two of you are always together and laughing. And now you’re making him soup to help him get better.”
“How do you know I’m making him soup? Maybe I’m just hungry.”
“Your making chicken soup. That’s THE dish for someone who is sick. And who’s sick?”
Diane blushed again before speaking.
“I hope you guys don’t mind. I mean… I know it must seem like the crimson paw just showed up and stole away a member of your found family….”
“Don’t worry about it. Wolf would say that you’re family now. Snake probably isn’t very happy that he’s spending so much time with you. Remember what happened after you got us out of jail? But don’t worry, as long as Wolf is happy, he’ll be happy.”
“Thank you.”
“Just some advice, one former criminal girl to another former criminal girl.”
The pair continued chatting while Diane kept cooking, adding the cooked noodles to the broth. Eventually, the soup was done, and the vixen found a Tarantula-sized spoon to dip in the pot.
“Here, how does this taste?” The fox said, offering the spoon to Ms.Tarantula.
The arachnid took a sip and nodded.
“Very good. I think Wolf will like it.”
Diane got a spoon and bowl out before filling the latter with soup and going back to Mr.Wolf’s room.
The canine was still lying down, eyes closed as he listened to his playlist.
“Mister Wolf?” Diane whispered, checking if he was awake.
The former gangster slowly opened his yellow eyes, turning them towards the vixen.
“…I was wondering when you’d be back… it was getting lonely….”
“Still trying to be suave,” Diane said, grabbing the chair from the desk and setting it up next to the bed.
She took a spoonful of soup and raised it to her boyfriend’s lips.
“How does it taste? Is it too hot?”
“Mmm… Nah, it’s good. Wow, cunning thief, steadfast Governor, and a great cook? Among other things? I’m a lucky wolf.”
A smug smile crossed Diane’s face as she gave him another sip of soup.
“Here, I got it…” the canine said, sitting up and taking the bowl from the vixen.
“Eat slowly. You don’t want to upset your stomach.”
“You shouldn’t have made it taste so good then.”
Diane was glad to see that her canine companion enjoyed her cooking. Not only would it help him get better, but it would also hopefully make him feel loved and cared for.
After finishing the meal, Mr.Wolf put the empty bowl on the nightstand and pulled the blanket off himself.
Diane could see that he only had on his tank top, plus his pink with white heart boxers.
“What is it?” The fox asked as the wolf stood up out of bed.
“…Ugh… need… bathroom….”
“Oh here, let me...”
“No, I’m fine….”
The canine slowly moved out of his room into the hallway. His caring vixen was next to him every step of the way, lovingly holding the wolf’s paw.
Crossing the hallway, Mr.Wolf entered a small bathroom and shut the door, with Diane waiting outside.
The door opened a few moments later, and Mr.Wolf came walking out. Diane almost immediately took his paw and led him back to bed.
As the sick puppy laid back down in bed, Ms.Foxington used some sanitizer and noticed it was starting to get late. Peering through the blinds on the room’s window, she could see the sun was setting.
“Do you guys have any spare linens around here?” The fox asked, “And a spare pillow?”
“Yeah… hallway closet. Make sure you….ah-choo!”
“Bless you.”
“Thanks. Make sure you get a pillow that snake hasn’t stuffed with money.”
Diane once more left Mr.Wolf’s room, finding the hallway closet and retrieving some blankets and a pillow.
Returning to the sick wolf, she laid the blankets on the floor against one of the room’s walls. With a makeshift mattress complete, she placed the pillow down on the bed of blankets.
“I’m gonna be right here, ok?” Diane said, sitting down on her newly made sleeping arrangements, “Ring the bell if you need something.”
Mr.Wolf nodded, putting his head back on the pillows and closing his eyes.
Had the wolf not been sick, the vixen would have gladly climbed into bed with him. Even though it was only a twin-sized mattress, that meant the pair would have to snuggle up close. Unfortunately, the fox would just have to settle for being in the same room as her boyfriend this time.
Diane took out her phone to pass the time. But eventually, her eyelids grew heavy, and the fox nodded off to dreamland.
Later That Night
Diane was fast asleep on her makeshift bed, still dressed in her ninja outfit. Mr.Wolf was still lying in bed, deep in a peaceful slumber. The room was dark till the door slowly opened, and a beam of light shined in.
The four other former bad guys, Shark, Piranha, Snake, and Tarantula, stood at the doorway, looking into the room. All four of them with masks on and Shark holding the gang’s camera.
“Turn the flash off!” Mr.Piranha whispered.
“There’s not enough light!” Mr.Shark Responded.
“Just take a picture without the flash, then a picture with the flash. In case they wake up.” Ms.Tarantula said from her resting place on Shark’s shoulder.
“He has a towel over his head, and she’s not facing this way.” Mr.Snake said, pointing at the sleeping canines with his tail.
Shark raised the camera and took a picture of the room with the flash off. He grabbed the photograph as it exited the device and looked it over.
“That’s not bad.” The Carcharodon said. “Awww, they’re so adorable together!”
“Now do one with the flash,” Piranha told his friend.
Shark handed the picture to Ms.Tarantula and turned on the flash. He raised the camera once again and snapped a second picture.
There was a moment of tension as the bright light shined through the room momentarily.
But the only response from the sleeping canines was a slight vocalization from Mr.Wolf.
“Mmm… smack… smack…. ”
Shark grabbed the second photograph from the camera.
“Oh yeah, that looks good.”
“Put it on the fridge!” Tarantula said.
The group slowly shut the door, leaving their friends in peace, and going to hang up their new memory.
The Next Day
Mr.Wolf was sitting on the couch in the hideout’s living room, eyes focused on the TV, a cold towel still on his head. Diane came over with two mugs of tea, handing one to the wolf.
Both canines spoke at the same time.
“Here you go, sweetie.”
“Thank you, sweetie.”
There was a split second of brief surprise before the two giggled.
“Ok, that was real cute, what we did just now. I love what we have going.” Mr.Wolf said, pointing between himself and Diane as the fox sat down.
“Looks like someone was watching us last night.” The vixen said, holding up the photograph of the pair asleep in Mr.Wolf’s room last night.
Wolf examined the picture before the two canines turned around and shot a glare at the rest of the gang.
The other bad guys were hiding behind a pile of loot in the back of the room. All wearing masks and keeping away from the couple, who they believed to be contagious. Shark and Piranha seemingly have convinced Tarantula and Snake to be as freaked out by the sickness as the two aquatic animals were.
“Not exactly the best memory….” Mr.Wolf said, looking at himself lying sick in bed.
“But it’s so cute!” Shark yelled from his hiding spot. “Her taking care of you and helping you get better!”
“Speaking of which, I really am feeling better today.” Mr.Wolf said, taking a sip from his mug of tea.
“Is it because I’m taking care of you?” Diane asked.
“I think that is a contributing factor.”
The male canine flipped to the news channel, where local reporter Tiffany Fluffit was standing with a microphone. In the background was what appeared to be a museum display, with workers removing artifacts from secure cases used for transport.
“The Zumpango diamond is returning to LA after its world tour. The diamond is famous for being stolen twice by the thief, known as the crimson paw. AKA, disgraced professor Rupert Marmalade the 4th!”
“Oh, if only they knew the truth….” Mr.Wolf said, turning to Diane. “Were you really going to reveal that you were the crimson paw? Right after the whole thing with marmalade? Were you really going to do that?”
The vixen nodded and spoke.
“I couldn’t let you and the guys just take the fall. Not when you had done the right thing and were framed by that little ball of fuzz. Not when you were trying to return the meteorite and rescue your friend. I was willing to put my new life on the line for the guys… and you.”
The wolf looked at her lovingly and spoke.
“I wouldn’t let that happen. You really did change for the good. I couldn’t let you throw it all away.”
“Thank you. Luckily I managed to pull some strings and get your guy’s sentence reduced to a year for good behavior.”
“And I appreciate that… because….”
Mr.Wolf quickly turned around, looking for his friends, but luckily didn’t see them nearby. He squirted some sanitizer in his palm before reaching over and squeezing Diane’s paw.
“… because it means I get more time with you.”
The couple lovingly stared into each other’s eyes for a few moments. The endearing silence was only broken when the vixen spoke up.
“I do wish I still had that diamond, though. It made a lovely ring stone.”
“Well, If you ever want to get a little bad, we could always plan a heist at the museum. I mean, that security doesn’t look so tough.”
“It was a nice gem, but come on, Wolf. We don’t do that kinda stuff anymore.”
“Don’t do that anymore? What about breaking 5 hardcore gangsters out of jail? Or hacking into the government’s satellite system? Or stealing back an already stolen meteorite? Or walking around with a stolen diamond in your ring.”
“Ok, you’ve got a point there. But that was doing bad stuff for good reasons. Well, besides the diamond. Though I think we could pull something off if we put our heads together.”
“Another heist with the crimson paw, that would be an adventure. Say do we have any more of that soup?”
“Yep, I’ll go get us some.”
The fox got up and headed into the kitchen while Mr.Wolf watched the news. He sat still for a few moments before turning to you, the reader, and speaking.
“Hey, you! Yeah, YOU! Bit of advice, get yourself someone who really cares for you.” The wolf said, gesturing to Diane. “Someone who loves you and is willing to be right by your side, helping you in your time of need.”
The fox was just returning with 2 steaming bowls of soup. A curious look on her face as she heard Mr.Wolf speak.
“Who are you talking to?”