Work Text:
Sharp claws tapped anxiously at the smooth surface of an upholstered steering wheel, the uncharacteristic gesture only serving to add to his nerves, rather than sate them to even the slightest degree. A stern, furrowed brow was facing forward, looking through the glare of the Lylat Star on a scorching summer day, gaze trained on the automatic sliding door entrance to the Defense Academy.
Wolf O’Donnell was doing his best to wait. He would not describe himself as the most patient man, but he certainly knew plenty of people who had a great deal less patience than he did. In fact, the most impetuous someone he knew was on his mind right this very moment.
‘Just treat today like you would any other’
The advice rolled over in his head on repeat. He could practically hear that soft voice of hers, even though the words were via text message.
‘That’s what he would prefer.’
She was right, of course. When it came to matters of the heart, Krystal was seldom wrong. Though he couldn’t help but dwell on the little caveat that he was doing just fine carrying on with the day as normal before she gave him a reason not to.
The mere thought made Wolf grumble to himself. He remembered Fox told him something, once.
‘They say ignorance is bliss. I’m telling you this now because when Krystal enters your social circle, you’ll never experience either of those feelings again.’
With a scowl, his eye glanced down to the clock on the center console.
1:45.
His lover was a lot of things. Unpunctual was not one of them.
After as much waiting as he could stand, Wolf fished his phone out of his pocket, willed the vixen’s voice out of his thoughts, and dialed a phone number. Thankfully, it was barely a full ring before the other line was answered.
“Shit.”
“Hi.” He snarked, completely betraying the relief on grizzled features.
“I’m sorry,” Fox’s voice was tense, his words fast. “I canceled my office hours, and then I guess I just-“
“Where are you?” Wolf cut him off, unable to stop himself.
“Are you in the parking lot…?”
His eyes narrowed. That was a dodged question if he ever heard one. Regardless, he affirmed.
“Yes.”
“Ah…” He could practically see him, running a hand through his hair on the other line. “Just gimme like…20 minutes?”
“20?!” Wolf demanded, incredulously.
“Maybe 15…?”
“Fox, where are you?” His tone was firm. Unyielding. The call was silent for an unbearably long pause before he received his concession.
“I’m at Mount Greenwood….”
And then all at once, the tension left his body, and he fell back into the driver's seat with a barely concealed sigh as his worries were confirmed. His aggravation was replaced with icy concern as he curtly replied-
“I’m on my way.”
Both hands at the wheel, he scowled to himself. “Just act like it’s a normal daaay~ It’ll be eeeaasssyyy~” he squeaked out a terrible impression of a feminine voice before he pulled out of his parking spot.
The drive was blessedly brief. Lunch traffic had long passed, as he had noted roughly an hour ago by this point. Though it took him longer to arrive at his destination than he would have liked due to lack of familiarity, he certainly made better time than 20 minutes.
The difference in temperature hitting his fur nearly made Wolf shudder, as he stepped out of his car. The shining sun had him covering a hand over his forehead as he struggled to make out the decorative writing on an imposing archway.
‘Mount Greenwood,
Cemetery’
With a frown, he lowered his head, shoved his hands in his pockets, and prepared to make his way in. Already, he could see a sprawling path flanked by abundant foliage—well-tended to shrubs and flowers of all kinds. In fact, the plant life seemed to greet his way a considerable distance into his trek.
His brow furrowed. The paved way was already splitting before he even saw a headstone. Was this place meant for dead people, or trees?
‘Guess they weren’t kiddin about the ‘green.’ Wolf thought to himself.
He was beginning to contemplate digging his phone out again, sparing himself a possibly arduous search, when he caught a spot of orange approaching from his peripheral vision. He wasted no time heading in the same direction, and it wasn’t long before he could make out a weary smile.
“Hi…”
Fox sounded tired, looking the slightest bit winded as he came to a stop. He was still dressed for work, sharp attire better suited to a climate-controlled lecture hall than a long walk on a hot afternoon.
“Hey,” Wolf greeted him back, the context of the situation still lingering over him like a purely hypothetical cloud offering no shade.
“Sorry….” He repeated his earlier apology, scratching at the back of his neck. “I started walking as soon as you called.”
“Christ…” Wolf remarked, “how damn big is this place?!”
He felt his heart flutter a little when he was met with a small, but amused laugh.
“It goes on a while….”
Though he felt himself relaxing somewhat, he found himself unsure of what to say next. The tried and true advice of ‘act natural’ was doing nothing for him in the middle of a cemetery.
And if he didn’t know any better, (god, he wished he didn’t), Fox made it look effortless. As if the brief stop was enough for him to catch his breath, he stood up straight and at ease, seemingly the picture of contentment.
Just looking at that smile, so dissonant with what was on his mind, was starting to make him restless again. Just like where they were. This was supposed to be a graveyard, and it was practically smothered in trees and flowers, complete with park benches and gazebos. Like they were supposed to be having a picnic, instead of-
“Walk with me…?”
Wolf hoped his discomfort wasn’t written all over his face, and it was just the awkward silence that prompted the request. Although he wasn’t faring well with the heat, was positive the other had to be dying in that outfit, he obliged with a hum and stepped forward.
“There’s a nice place to sit up ahead,” Fox explained.
He held the rebuttal of an air-conditioned car on his tongue and persevered.
“What kinda cemetery is this..?” He mused instead, unable to get the thought out of his mind.
“It’s a Rural Cemetery.”
Wolf raised an eyebrow, surprised he actually got an answer. Not one he understood, but an answer nonetheless.
Fox chuckled to himself at the reaction he garnered.
“It’s a remnant from older days. It makes sense when you think about it.”
“Uh huh…”
“People used to be afraid of corpses,” he continued, uttering the morbid statement with total nonchalance. “So places like this were made.”
“To do what?” Wolf asked, eyes wandering back and forth as they walked. The further in they got, the more the foliage started to thin, giving way to more of what he expected to see. Small headstones intermixed with surprisingly grand monuments.
“It’s like a park, isn’t it?” Fox offered, turning towards him.
“Yeah, if you can get over the dead people.”
Again, the rather brazen remark solicited another laugh from the fox.
“You’re supposed to spend time here. Reflect on things.”
Wolf merely gave a non-committal hum. He couldn’t say the idea resonated with him. He could only wonder beneath the visage of a history lesson, how the orator actually felt about it.
“Fair enough,” Fox shrugged. “Come on,” he pointed to an unoccupied gazebo overlooking a pond. “We can sit over there.”
Wolf nearly groaned with relief from the shade when they finally arrived, leaning back and stretching his legs. He was so glad to escape the sun, he was entirely unfazed by the teasing laugh at his expense.
“Damn, at this rate I’m gonna have to bury you here.”
Wow. Krystal wasn’t kidding about the ‘normal day’ thing.
And so, he did his best to force a natural-sounding scoff at the rather alarming joke, making room on the bench for his boyfriend as he sat down next to him.
They sat quietly, for a moment. The faint chirping of birds, inaudible chatter from people passing by on the path a ways behind them—somehow, the change in scenery made the silence seem a little more bearable. Or maybe it was the temperature.
Hard to say.
“I chickened out…”
With those words, he froze. Muscles that were just starting to relax from their brief respite went rigid, and he dared to glance out of the corner of his eye as he was spoken to.
Fox sighed, scooting to lean his weight on the back of the bench, his head looking up at the roof of the shelter.
“There were just so many people around and I…couldn’t do it.”
His voice sounded tired, but tense. Like he was making some kind of confession. And Wolf found himself transfixed. Like he was getting a glimpse of something he shouldn’t see.
“I don’t even know why I showed up, I just…”
He trailed off and bit his lip. His gaze slowly lowered, before he crossed his arms.
“It’s been years. But then I realized, I was actually…here. I was in the city. And I thought… maybe I should…”
Wolf’s jaw tightened as he listened, finally willing himself to turn and fully face Fox. Those eyes, deep and vivid and full of life, were unchanged. They were the same as before, as they always were--when he was dropped off for work earlier that day, when he gave his little history lesson moments ago. As if they were having a completely normal conversation. Like they were showing him everything, and hiding it all at the same time.
All he could do was loop an arm around Fox’s side and place a steadying hand on his shoulder.
Fox exhaled, deep and slow. Still, that smile didn’t slip an inch.
“I don’t think he’d mind,” Wolf offered, feeling compelled to say something. He felt a pang of relief when he was answered with a huff, and a slight weight leaned against him.
“Yeah,” he murmured “and you’re right. This place kinda sucks.”
Wolf’s eye widened a little, and he looked down at Fox in surprise.
“It’s hot,” he continued, patting a hand on Wolf’s lap. “Let’s get out of here. I want ice cream.”
Though he was briefly taken aback, when he met a gaze both exhausted and affectionate, he couldn’t stop himself from smiling warmly in return and agreeing.
“Sounds like a plan, Puppy."