Work Text:
2:00 AM
Wolf winced as he looked over at the alarm clock. The only light in the room was the green of its electric face. He stared at it for a moment, contemplating to himself why in the devil he had awoken at such a late hour. As he was getting ready to shut his eyes again, he felt something tug at his side. He suddenly realized he wasn’t alone and turned to his side, seeing the love of his life sleeping peacefully. He smiled lightly and watched Diane for a moment, caught in her beauty as she lay there in her slumber.
“Please…”
Wolf’s ears perked up, hearing the words leave her mouth. ‘How adorable.’ He mused to himself, ‘she talks in her sleep.’
“I’m sorry…”
Wolf’s smile faded suddenly, confused at the apology. He couldn’t think of anything recently that would need apologizing to. The only thing he could think of was the time when she put the wrong soap in the dishwasher, but that had been sorted out months ago.
‘She’s probably just dreaming.’ Wolf thought to himself as he lay back down, closing his eyes and letting sleep start to take him away.
“No, not here…”
Wolf awoke again at the words and, looking over, spotted his lover turning around in the bed. He suddenly realized this wasn’t cute anymore. He leaned over and started to gently nudge her, trying to coax her out of her state.
“Diane, love? Are you okay? You’re kinda worrying me.” Wolf continued to gently shake her to no avail. Diane grew more restless, tossing and turning about in the bed. Wolf got up and ran over to her side. Diane was practically punching at the air, and wolf had to dodge a couple more jabs before trying again.
“Diane, you need to wake up now! Somethings not right!” She was practically thrashing in the bed now and begging for forgiveness in her sleep about something she did. At this point wolf leans over and flicks on the lamp, bathing the room in a soft glow. By now wolf has become desperate, and he grabs her by the shoulders to try and stop her from hurting herself.
“DIANE, WAKE UP!!” He yells out a little loud, and in an instant, Diane’s eyes bolt open and she lands a sucker punch right on Wolf’s snout, knocking him backwards in a daze. Diane, meanwhile, sits bolt upright in the bed, breathing heavily and fear in her eyes. She looks around for a moment, trying to get her bearings when she looks over at wolf. When she lays eyes on him, sitting on the bedside and nursing his poor nose, she gasps and crawls over to him.
“Oh Wolfie, I’m so sorry.” She says meekly, trying to get the right words out.
“Don’t worry, it’s alright. I’m more worried about you.” Wolf replies. “You were practically throwing yourself across the bed. What happened?”
Diane went silent, reliving what she had just been through, and tears started to well up in her eyes. Soon, Diane couldn’t hold it in and began to cry. Wolf quickly reached over to caress her cheek.
“Hey, hey, it’s alright. You’re safe now, here with me.” Wolf says, brushing away the tears as he takes her hand into his. “You want me to go get you some water?” Diane hiccupped and nodded yes slowly, and wolf got up to get her a glass of water. A short while later, he returned with the glass and handed it to her. She took small sips, savoring the cool water at such a late time.
“Better?”
“Better.” Diane said as she put the glass down on the nightstand, tears still streaming down her eyes. Wolf gently wrapped his arms around her, trying to comfort her after her ordeal.
“You want to talk about it?” Wolf asked. Dianne sniffled a little before returning his embrace.
“It was just a nightmare.” Diane said, though not really believing it. “Nothing serious.”
“You were thrashing about in the bed. Like someone was trying to hurt you.” Wolf said as he looked at her with concern in his eyes. “That’s not nothing serious.”
Diane sighed, she knew he was right. Despite being together for a few years now, she had never told him about her past. It seemed like tonight was going to have to be the night. She silently cursed at herself for having this happen now.
“It was about my parents.” Diane started, looking away from Wolf. “They weren’t the nicest people in the world.”
Wolf was slightly startled; he had wondered about Diane’s past for a while but always figured she would tell him when she was ready. He sat up in bed now, listening intently.
“They were scammers and thieves, and they roped me right into their way of life. My dad liked to scam tourists and my mom, well…” Diane trailed off, struggling to find the words.
“Are you okay with this? You don’t have to tell me if its too much.” Wolf spoke, trying to comfort her. He reached out a paw and she graciously took it.
“No, it’s okay.” Diane reassured him. “My mother was just. A character…” Diane laughed pitifully. “She used to pretend to work the corner. She would lure people in and incapacitate them before taking all they had on them. Sometimes even their clothes.” Wolf sat there slightly stunned at these revelations. It hurt him to hear about what kind of life Diane had grown up in as a kid. He could see it was hurting Diane too, her face wavering between quiet contemplation and outright despair. Nevertheless, she carried on.
“We didn’t live in the nicest part of town, and it wasn’t uncommon for me to come home from school to find them arguing over what to pawn and what to keep.” Diane continued, breath hitching slightly. “Pained memories” Wolf thought and squeezed her hand a little to comfort her.
“They taught me all sorts of things, from pickpocketing to sly talking, even a little bit of gymnastics. Guess I owe them something” Diane laughed weakly before continuing. “Not really, they were horrible to me. Every time I did something wrong, or something they didn’t like, they would lash out. Sometimes it was being yelled at, sometimes it was being locked in my room with no supper, sometimes…” Diane stopped, visibly shaking.
“Sometimes, they hurt you?” Wolf said, and Diane nodded, tears starting to form in her eyes again. Wolf’s heart broke at this, imagining someone who could hurt Diane in such a way made him feel all sorts of things. Anger, hurt, despair.
“I managed to put up with it, always believing one day I would be able to leave and make my own path in the world, but then, the day I graduated high school, they cornered me in my room.” Diane shuddered, tears starting to streak down her face.
“They told me that I was going to follow in my mother’s footsteps. That I was going to stand out there, letting strangers leer at me, hoping one of them would be foolish enough to try and come home with me. I tried to argue, saying that I had ambitions and dreams beyond a life in thievery, but they wouldn’t listen. So, that night, I…snuck out and never looked back.” Diane could barely finish that sentence, the tears were now pouring out of her. Wolf quickly embraced her in a hug, trying to calm her down.
“Hey, hey, it’s alright. You’re safe here, you’re safe.” Wolf consoled her, feeling her bury her face into the crook of his neck. The tears were still falling, and he gently caressed her hair as she wept. “It must have been hard to tell me these things; I am proud of you for it. I still love you; nothing is going to change that you know. It’s going to be ok.”
“I…was in and out of…so many shelters. I tried to save up to go to college…But I just ended up the person my parents wanted me to be.” Diane sobbed into Wolf, unable to calm herself.
“No no, that’s not true. You were so much better than them. They took advantage of people and hurt them, but you were honorable as the Crimson Paw.” Wolf said, trying to calm down his girlfriend. “You may have been a thief, but you were also an icon to the rest of us. Me, the crew, all of us looked up to you, wanting to be the kind of thief who could be that good. And in the end, you did carve your own path." Diane hiccupped, trying to calm herself after all the emotions she had felt.
“You were the greatest governor this state has had. You gave so much back to the community, helped so many people who were in need. The orphanages, soup kitchens, shelters, they are all grateful for your charity. Don’t forget they were the ones to stand by you when the world didn’t.” Wolf said, and Diane couldn’t help but smile. After her identity had been revealed, everyone shunned her as a liar and a traitor. Everyone that is, save for the places she helped raise funds for through her numerous charities. They stepped up to defend her and, when the world thought she was gone, even helped to start a charity in her name. Thanks to her new alias, as well as her now very heft paycheck, she had been able to help them open multiple new hospitals and shelters for people in need. Diane started to calm down at the happy memory, though still a little sniffly.
“Here, you might need these.” Wolf handed her a box of tissues, which Diane accepted as she wiped her nose.
“Heh, sorry. I must look like a mess right now.” Diane said. Her eyes were red and puffy, and her nose still runny, but to wolf, she was still as beautiful as an angel.
“Diane, my love, you’re beautiful just the way you are.” Diane couldn’t help but laugh a little at this. Somehow, despite all the emotions laid bare, he still managed to have that suave charm that made her fall for him in the first place.
“Oh hush, you.” Diane smiled, leaning in. give him a quick peck on the cheek. Wolf however, had other plans. He gently took her by the muzzle and closed the gap, which Diane melted into. They shared that moment, letting nothing but their love for each other fill them. Eventually their lips parted, and Diane felt much better.
“Sorry for all that, I know its…very late and I just dumped a bunch of trauma on you, but thank you for being there for me.” Diane yawned as she said this, feeling sleep starting to get closer to her. Wolf yawned as well, but seeing how she had calmed down now from where she was, he felt at peace.
“It’s alright Diane, I’m glad you’re feeling better now.” Wolf said as he got back under the covers. Diane quickly followed suit, cuddling up to wolf and feeling him next to her. She loved being here, so close to the wolf she loved, feeling his chest, hearing his heartbeat. It relaxed her, almost like a soft lullaby would.
“Hey Diane?” Wolf asked as he turned the lamp off, covering the room in a gentle darkness.
“Yes love?” Diane replied, starting to feel sleep tugging at her.
“You know there’s nothing on this planet I wouldn’t do for you right? You mean so much to me, and I love you so much.” Wolf said, gently kissing the top of her head.
“Yes Wolfie, and there’s nothing I wouldn’t do for you either. I love you so much too.” Diane said, kissing him on the cheek. Wolf smiled, before feeling his eyes start to close.
“Goodnight Diane.”
“Goodnight Wolfie.”
The two fell back asleep, holding each other tightly as the moon cast a faint glow into their bedroom.
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10:00 AM
Diane blinked her eyes opening, listening to the chirping of birds and feeling the warmth of the sunlight on her face. She yawned slightly and turned to see her Wolfie still sleeping peacefully. She leaned over and gave him a gentle kiss on the cheek, feeling him stirring and opening his eyes.
“Morning Diane, how are you feeling?” Wolf said, still shaking off the sleep.
“Much better, how about you?” Diane asked.
“Great, it helps to have my beautiful girlfriend cuddled up next to me.” Wolf said, sitting up in bed and stretching. “Figure we should probably get ready for the day though. You wanna shower first while I start breakfast?”
“Yeah, that would be great love.” Diane said, stretching and getting out of bed. She grabbed a change of clothes before making her way to the bathroom. Turning on the shower, she stepped in and felt the warmth of the water on her face wash away the pain of last night. She lathered herself in her favorite shampoo and continued to wash. After a few minutes, Diane shut the water off and stepped out, drying her fur before putting on a change of clothes. She stepped out of the bathroom and walked down towards the kitchen, the smell of bacon and waffles wafting into the air.
“Smells fantastic Wolfie.” Diane smiled as she walked behind Wolf and embraced him. He had been watching the bacon intently, waiting for the perfect time to flip it over.
“Thanks, waffles and bacon with the prettiest fox in the world, perfect way to start a morning.” Wolf quipped, and Diane giggled a little.
“You flatter me.” Diane said as wolf picked up the strips of bacon and turned them over. He let them cook for a couple more minutes before taking them off the griddle and setting them on a small tray lined with paper.
“We have milk and orange juice in the fridge, take your pick.” Wolf said, setting the tray down next to the plate of waffles. Diane went over to the fridge and opened it, taking out the carton of orange juice and pouring herself a glass. She picked up a plate and put a waffle on it with a couple slices of bacon.
“Do we have any whipped cream in the fridge?” Diane asked.
“There should be some on the door to the left.” Wolf said as Diane opened the door, quickly locating the bottle of whipped cream. She closed the door and worked over to the small table where Wolf was sitting. She popped the cap off and began to top her waffles with some. Wolf laughed, finding it adorable how the great Crimson Paw loved something as simple as whipped cream on waffles.
“You know, today is the first day of our weekend.” Wolf said in between bites of bacon. “I was wondering if you wanted to go out for a drive. Maybe go to the art museum, get some lunch somewhere?” Diane, taking a sip of her orange juice smiled at this.
“Only if you’re the one driving.” She replied. Wolf had a way of making any vehicle they drove feel like an adventure. Between his incredible knack for maneuvering tight streets and his love for simply cruising on the open road, there was never a dull moment with Wolf behind the wheel. They soon finished their breakfast, and wolf went to put his plate away. “I’ll clean up the dishes while you get ready.”
“I like the way you think. See you in a few minutes love.” Wolf said as he gave her a quick peck on the lips before heading off to change. Diane hummed to herself as she put the dishes in the washer and started it up. A couple minutes later wolf appeared in the entrance.
“Ready when you are love.” Wolf said, and Diane giddily followed him to the garage. Since joining I.S.G.L.O.P. Wolf and his crew had access to a wide variety of vehicles, either for completing missions or as a personal drive. It was quite the work benefit, and this week’s set of wheels certainly showed. Wolf looked over the brilliant red Barchetta and smiled, opening the door and getting into the driver’s seat. Diane opened the garage door and sat down next to wolf, putting her sunglasses on. Wolf did the same and started up the engine, letting it purr as he put the car in drive.
“You ready?” Wolf asked, looking over to his girlfriend.
“Always.” Diane responded.
Wolf let loose a sly grin, pulling out of the garage and heading out towards the open road. Diane smiled, letting that warmth of the sun and the rush of the wind blow over her. In this moment, Diane felt at peace. She truly had made her own way in the world, through all the trials and tribulations, she had ended up here. She saved the world with a group she considered her real family, and with the wolf she loved most in the world.
The road was truly wide open for her.