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If Wile E Coyote were to plunge into the yawning depths of the vast New Mexican canyons at any hour, then he supposed the golden eve of twilight was his favorite time of day. The setting sun was a sight to behold no matter how many times he witnessed it. All encompassing in its glory as his shadow stretched long into the gorge beneath its gaze. Another failure today. The coyote folded his arms. His thick brows furrowed in thoughtful contemplation.
He hardly paid any mind to the flat rock that waited for him below. Welcoming the familiarity of his tired and true routine after several weeks cooped up in civilized Albuquerque. Wile E would just try again tomorrow, when the desert was hot and bright. Allowing both of the mesas' greatest rivals a fair nights' rest to reach their full potential. It would hardly be an accomplishment to catch that damn bird otherwise, and after all these years Wile E refused to settle for anything less than his adversary's absolute best. With that stipulation of course came times like these.
When his failure allowed Wile E a moment or two of self reflection. Or at least that's how things were supposed to go, and they very well would have. If it weren't for a particularly pesky avian. Whose beak had suddenly caught Wile E by the tail mid-fall. Confusingly saving his would-be predator just in the nick of time– again. The coyotes' back hit the dusty ground with a gentle thud.
That is, in comparison to the bottom of the canyon he'd been expecting, and after the third instance of finding himself spared from the usual consequences of his actions all Wile E could do was lay back. Spreading his arms large and wide up over his head as he sighed. What was this devious bird plotting, he wondered. Changing the terms of their chase like this. Sparing a suspicious glance towards his lingering adversary, Wile E knew the Road Runner was far from a fool. Despite that vacant stare he so loved to coyly tip to the side, tongue poking from the corner of his beak with feigned innocence.
The bird was clever, and for now, that quick wit of his had won Runner the day. Wile E was admittedly tired. Hours of non-stop running had rendered him exhausted. So when his prey plopped down into the grainy dirt beside him, Wile E let him be. Make no mistake, this battle of wills was far from over. However, a moment to catch his breath and rest his bones was… greatly appreciated.
Wile E figured these were the terms of their recently declared friendship. Still such an odd way to phrase it, this– understanding of theirs. The Runner ran, he pursued. How anyone could make a friendship of that was ludicrous but it worked for the two of them. Wile E supposed that was enough. The sun had finally set, just enough for the first twinkle of starlight to dust across the skies, and the genius found his annoyance diverted towards the vast expanse above.
Ears twitching and eyes wide with wonder, his mind searched for familiar patterns between the distant heavenly bodies. He was an old dog, sure, but the moment his tired eyes wandered up to those millions of millions of stars it was like he was a pup all over again. With all the time in the world to laze about and watch the midnight sky for hours. It was still relatively early in the night, but once Wile E registered the first constellation memory would guide him towards the rest. A curious coo caught the coyotes' right ear and, curious himself, Wile E turned towards Runner. The bird looked between him and the sky, seeming to ask what he was looking at all the way up there.
Of course the obvious thing to do was shrug and say stars but, never one to pass up an opportunity to share what he knew, Wile E almost couldn't help himself from giving a more intricate reply.
["Orions' Belt"] Wile E's hastily written sign read before he flipped it over to explain more, ["Start from those three stars over there"]
Runner did just that. Gaze lifting towards the point of Wile Es' finger as he traced the ancient Greek figure. Although, he had a fair bit of trouble trying to explain to the bird that the shape was meant to be something of a human on the hunt. The creatures were a bit of a rarity around these parts, outside of their painful highway semis, and in the end Wile E eventually found himself just describing Kevin. The most familiar human to him aside from the mans' enthusiastic niece, though that seemed to do the trick.
"Beep beep!"
Flapping his wings Runner looked rather pleased with himself. Chirping with delight as he drew the constellation with his beak, and an easy smile settled across Wile Es' muzzle as he watched. Soft, proud, and hardly surprised. There's his clever bird. Just then the coyotes' smile fell somewhat as Runner rummaged for something behind his back. Brows raised with a dazed blink or two while he registered that odd blurb of a thought.
The bird was his, yes. That much was true. However when phrased like that the claim felt… rather strange. Wrenching a tightness in Wile Es' chest, even in the privacy of his own thoughts.
["Looks like you"] Runner replied with a sign of his own, dragging the genius out of his head as he shot his rival a puzzled look.
Wile E could only shake his head. Apparently not piecing together whatever Runner was seeing up there.
["Sure it does!"] The bird insisted with a flip of the post before tossing it away to pull out another, ["Remember that giant bow?"]
Runner tapped his talon next to the question mark for emphasis and the memory of that day hit Wile E like the paw he'd smacked and dragged across his face as he recalled it. He pulled out another sign to scribble a belated reply, leaving him two more before he'd have to restock at home.
["... I hoped you hadn't seen that"]
His adversaries' snicker proved Wile E wrong, much to his annoyance. Although the coyote wasn't left long to pout before another sign was thrust his way.
["It makes a great view"]
Wile E rolled his eyes. Turning his sign with a scrawled retort.
["Watching me fall?"]
Shaking his head, Runner flipped his own sign.
["Seeing you fly"]
Huh. What an optimistic perspective. Of course he'd see it that way. Clever claws tapped along the spent board as Wile E racked his brain for a remark, fingers rolling rhythmically for something snarky to say, only to come up short in regards to motivation. So he laid back down. Shifting just enough to dangle his legs over the edge of the canyon.
The danger of such a thing had long since dissipated after years of whistling falls into craters forged far below. Instead, Wile E had grown to appreciate the drop. For allowing him to take in the view of merciful creaks spread thin, encouraging life through beautiful cacti and yucca blooms scattered far and wide across the dry cracked plane. Each failure had earned Wile E these small marvels every now and again. Minuscule moments of serenity, forged from his own perspectives making, and maybe that explained the increasingly convoluted schemes and risks he'd been willing to take to meet his goals. The thought was something to consider, oh most definitely, but that could wait for another time.
Instead Wile E simply let himself enjoy the breeze. Feeling it brush against his fur as his heels tapped the rocky cliff underneath them. The chill was a welcome reprieve from the sun as his racing mind finally joined his body at rest. Until a faint clatter just beside him caught Wile Es' attention. The coyote cracked a single eye open only to find Runner shivering. The birds' plumage did well to keep him cool during the day, unlike Wile Es' mangy coat, however it seemed the coyotes' nightly advantage was not shared with his rival.
Runner shifted where he sat, drawing up his long slender legs as if he was about to move. Likely making his exit before the desert cooled any further. Well, Wile E had to say, this was nice while it lasted. The two sharing a rare truceful moment together. Shifting up on his elbows he figured he'd offer Runner a friendly wave in parting, all things considered. That's what friends did, right?
Wile E wasn't sure. His experience with friendships so few and far between until recently, but as long as he wasn't outright hostile when it was clear that they were done for the day should count for something. Progress and whatnot. So, at the very least, Wile E expected a wing to wave him off in return. What he hadn't expected was for Runner to tuck his legs in before sliding even closer. Close enough to curl up against Wile Es' chest and steal the coyotes' body heat for himself, as if he were nothing more than a convenient feather pillow!
Wile E froze. His body going rigid in an instant as he gawked at the sheer audacity of this bird. Friendship or not, the sanctity of predator and prey decorum was on the line… and yet, here he was. With his face burning straight to the tips of his ears, feeling embarrassed of all things. Not because it was happening, no, but rather because he almost. Sort of– maaaybe… liked it?
The warmth was certainly nice. A stark contrast to the wrath of the desert sun, and Wile E could still feel the breeze rustling his fur. Carrying with it the strongest trace he's ever gotten of Runners' unforgettable scent. Scorched asphalt from hours spent racing across the black top. Mellow sunflower seeds courtesy of his latest "free" meal, and something Wile E couldn't name. A fresh aroma, almost smokey, left for hours to simmer under blazing heat that Wile E had longed to breathe in again after so many weeks away from home.
As Runner settled down, beak gently nestled into the tufts of his fur, Wile Es' claws burrowed anxiously into the ground. A voice in the back of his head whispered not to move. Don't startle him, it urged, and somehow that felt important to heed. Even in the midst of his confusion. So Wile E did his best just to focus on the stars. Heart pounding in spite of the clear lack of danger he was in.
Wile E's never fret like this before. Not when gadgets backfired, when rockets blew up in his face, or even when shadows threatened to swallow him whole. The tell-tell sign of wayward boulders and anvils going out of their way to defy the laws of physics, just to flatten him into the dirt like a wispy tumbleweed pancake. So why now?
"Beep?"
The tone sounded like a question, and as Wile E steadied his nerves with a gulp he looked down to find a new sign waiting for him. That is, after he caught the hesitant, albeit, content gaze of his Road Runner. Staring up at him with that ever present smile. Runner flicked his eyes towards the sign. Once, then twice, before Wile E finally caught the hint. Right.
He wanted to say something, didn't he? Shaking his head Wile E quickly read the words. Goodness, what was wrong with him tonight? He hardly knew. His behavior was quite unbecoming of a genius, one who was supposed to know these things, and Runners' question only served to puzzle the coyote even further.
["Is this okay?"]
The birds' gaze had a sprinkle of guilt, well aware it was a little late to be asking such a thing, but his eyes were overshadowed almost entirely by hope. As if Wile E wasn't already backed into a corner, somehow Runner found a way to fluster his predator even worse. Oh no. His predator? Somehow that sounded worse than claiming the bird as his own. Runner tapped the question mark on his sign with his talon, seeming to ask the question again, and without a second thought Wile E nodded.
Runner cooed, rather pleased with that answer, and the sensation left a soft rumble against Wile Es' chest. One the coyote found himself relaxing into, in spite of his growing bewilderment over this whole situation. Was this really okay? Was this… allowed? Wile E found himself raising a paw, his hesitant hand hovering inches from the Road Runners' back, but not dare crossing that delicate threshold. No– this was stupid.
Moving to lower his hand Wile E apparently hadn't been fast enough. Runner cocked his head, noticing the shift in motion, and finding the coyotes' hand held above him he looked up at him. Staring straight back at Wile E with wide curious eyes. Not knowing how to explain himself Wile E offered Runner a sheepish smile. Feeling more foolish than he's ever felt before, only for his wrist to be snatched up in the birds' beak. Not to bite those dangerous claws away, but rather to drag his hand down.
Guiding it to rest on soft azure feathers. Brighter than any day he's ever known under the endless southwestern skies. Wile E hesitantly ran his fingers across the downy quills. Claws oh so tenderly, more than he ever thought himself capable of, carding along each dusty plume. He's spent countless nights imagining what it'd be like to have his elusive prize caught in his clutches. The way he'd sink his claws into the tender flesh, right before the final snap of drooling jaws.
Strangely enough however, Wile E found he wasn't hungry. It's been some time since he truly was. Ever since that first dead lizard found its way to his doorstep, practically gift-wrapped in its presentation. The culprit was obvious, and at first Wile E was offended. Did Runner think him incapable of feeding himself? Was he mocking him?!
Though that proved to be a hasty judgement on the coyotes' part. There was no mistaking that look the first time Wile E caught poorly hidden eyes peeking their way through a large patch of dry bramble. Intently watching him with a rare drop in smile, and to test his theory Wile E dug into his breakfast right then and there. Tearing the lizard clean in half with all the effort of one of Kevins' dry beef sticks. Runner had been downright delighted. One could even say proud, and the coyote trusted his intuition enough to know he would be right.
So maybe that was why he found his focus shifting. Thoughts of hunger buried under another ache Wile E struggled to comprehend. He didn't have to pull Runner any closer. He was already close enough, quite literally laying on top of the coyote, but he held him that little bit tighter anyways. Shaky arms wrapping around that soft feathered body like he needed this. The bird was warm, softer than Wile E could have ever imagined, and despite his creeping embarrassment the coyote didn't want to let go.
"... sorry…"
It still felt wrong to speak of or especially in front of Runner. Even just a whisper the bird likely wasn't going to hear. His father would hardly consider this pathetic display as him having "caught" a road runner. Wile E's tried reasoning with himself that he has in fact caught Runner at least once or twice. On technicality. However, that disapproving sneer Trick E wore so well would always rear its ugly way into view from the back of his mind, and he'd shut right up.
That's how it's always been.
"Beep-beep. Beep. Beep-beep-beep."
This pattern… was Runner speaking through morse code again? Well now, what an excellent opportunity to see if his hours of study had paid off. Wile E lifted his ear, honing in on the ratio of beeps to spaces, and like the genius he was he quickly deciphered the message.
"You have nothing to be sorry for."
The coyotes' eager grin steadily fell. Oh. So he'd heard him after all. How humiliating. Although… not humiliating enough for him to let go, apparently. He was actually comfortable for once, long term suffering of his ego be damned.
Wile E felt Runners' beak nudge the fur along his neck. Almost combing through the matted tangle, and before he could ask what he was doing the coyote felt a tug against his skin. Followed by an instant relief. Wile E face flushed hot red in an instant. Runner was grooming him?! A bit of an intimate gesture to be so casually shared among lifelong rivals, was it not?
Then again, the standard rules of engagement hardly applied to the likes of a predator whose closest friend was his prey. Runner continued to dig his beak through the tufts of the coyotes' fur, gently combing for unwanted ticks and fleas that had made a home in his mangy pelt before chomping them down. The pests were relentless, so Wile E never bothered to fend them off. Or, to put it bluntly, he's never had a pack who could help with such things. Never been part of a community who helped one another. It wasn't how he was raised.
Neither was Runner, now that he thought about it. If he had such a pack Wile Es' never caught a whiff of their scent. Who was tending to the Road Runners' needs then, he suddenly couldn't help but wonder. Curious hands carded through bright blue plumage, earning a startled jump from the bird in his arms. Wile E made no sudden moves. Claw tips carefully tugging at a wayward tick the coyote had found.
Asking for permission as he refrained. A soft coo fell from Runners' beak.
"Careful," Wile E was sure he could infer.
So he nodded– a promise. Before plucking the nasty little blood sucker from his friend and flicking it into his mouth. As a treat. It was one of the only ways he could motivate himself to do these sorts of things in the past when the itch became too much. Taking care of himself was a chore of the highest order most days, but over time he's gotten better about it. Thanks to some encouragement from his new found friends.
From there Wile E continued. Carding his fingers between Runners' fluffy feathers as he inspected them for hitchhikers. Occasionally popping what he found between his teeth. Serving to take care of the pests for good while he enjoyed a nice little snack for his efforts. Runner did the same, and with each pluck and peck he combed over the fur with his beak to lay it down all neat and tidy. Distinguishing what was clean from what wasn't.
A ridiculous effort, honestly. Wile E would clearly have an easier time grooming this tiny bird in comparison to what the avian could do for himself. Because if Runner was seriously considering inspecting the coyote wholesale he'd certainly have his work cut out for him.
"Don't–" Wile coughed as he tried to speak, partially from disuse and partially because he still felt a barrage of guilt creeping up on him for doing so, "Y-you don't… have to do this."
Runner paused in his efforts, and as Wile E shot him a nervous glance the birds' smile somehow grew even softer. Sympathy coating his big doughy eyes as he tilted his head.
"You're not getting out of this bath Wile, so you'd do well to just shut up and let me clean you."
Rude. Has he always been a cheeky little so and so? Well– his actions say yes. Yes he has. It was a different thing entirely to experience it in words. Wile E chuckled.
"Are we… on a first name basis now?"
Runner paused again and Wile E didn't need to look to feel the way he rolled his eyes, but he had. Such exasperation from this usually chipper bird. Has he ever seen that sort of look on his face before? Wile E was sure he hasn't. What a fascinating thing to witness.
"Do you really need to ask?"
This whole time the coyote let his claws trace down Runners' back. Feathers long since cleaned, but as long as the bird didn't mind Wile E found no reason to stop. With plumes this soft he could do this for hours and never get tired. Not that he'd ever let his rival know that.
"I suppose not,"
Wile E hesitated before adding, just to hear it out loud.
"Runner."
In between his insistent pecking and preening the bird found the space to let out a snicker of his own.
"Is that what you call me?"
"What else would I call you?" Wile E asked, genuinely curious.
It was getting easier to talk. At least physically. Mentally still proved to be quite the barrier. Perhaps he'd work on that. Then again, perhaps not. He didn't need to speak, and to all those that mattered they never asked him for such a thing.
On his own terms then.
"I've always called myself Rhode."
Of course. Ever the contrarian. At least he had the tact to spell it differently. The coyote huffed. Indignant for a moment or two before a dastardly smile curled along his muzzle. His own cheeky mind at work as a new thought formed in his head.
Well, if Rhode was going to be so casual with him, Wile E saw no reason why he couldn't throw that same nonchalance right back in the birds' face.
"Alright, Rhodey. If you insist."
The genius expected that to wound Rhodes' pride. Just a smidge. It would if Wile E were in his shoes, but of course that's not what happened. As much as he considered the avian to be his intellectual equal, their levels of wit to intelligence were vastly out of sync. Instead the dumb bird cooed like a love-struck pigeon at the jest. Flustering Wile E yet again as he rubbed his head affectionately against the coyotes' neck.
"Oh I do. I do, I do, I doooo!"
Wile E tried to muster up the barest hint of annoyance, but he just couldn't find it in him. What was it about this damn bird that vexed him so? All his life he was sure it was hunger, but this deep seeded need to have Rhode was beyond what a mere meal could satiate. Wile E wanted him, and if he won he'd be well nourished. At least, for a little while. However, one couldn't have what was well and truly gone and he wanted nothing more than to have his prey forever. Did that mean for dinner every night– or something else?
Something Wile E knew he shouldn't want, but considered regardless. Late at night when the desert was freezing cold, and the object of his obsession was miles and miles away. Waiting for the next day when they could chase again. Wouldn't it be nice to wake up just like this? With Rhodey curled up nice and soft in his arms as opposed to the single feather Wile E kept locked in a small chest beside his bed? A risky thought crossed his mind as he took in the sight of his prey, still hard at work preening his left shoulder, and for a moment the coyote considered dropping it.
Wile E didn't have to act on every impulse that crossed his mind, after all. He was a rational creature, and a damn good one at that! It was the coyotes' better judgement that tended to be his undoing. His lack thereof more precisely, and that judgement deemed it a good idea for Wile E to pluck Rhodes' head away from his shoulder. To cradle it in his unsure hands. Like he was doing right now, in spite of how hard he'd told himself not to!
There was a curious look from the bird, and the closer the coyote leaned down the more that expression began to morph into something almost tender. Wile E didn't have to bridge the gap between them as Rhode eagerly did it for him. Snout met beak in a gentle touch that seemed to last a lifetime despite taking place for less than a minute. Wile Es' heart raced against his ribs as his eyes fluttered open. Not even realizing that he'd closed them. He could see his life flash before his eyes.
Failure, after failure, after failure, and somehow through all that pain and humiliation this was the end result. A kiss. It only lasted for a moment, less than a fraction of a second, and as the stupidest of smiles spread across his face Wile E knew it had all been worth it.
"Took you long enough." Rhodey teased with a playful smirk.
The bird hopped up, flapping his wings with a chipper "beep beep!" before perching himself on his predators' shoulders like he belonged there. Goodness knows, despite the coyotes' played up frown at the gesture, Wile E wasn't about to protest.
"Take us home Wile! There's this gorgeous oasis I found that I can't wait to show you! So I want to get up good and early for tomorrow!"
With the most halfhearted of scoffs, Wile E shook his head. Smiling in spite of it all. Leave it to a road runner to take things this fast. Still, that warmth blooming in the coyotes' chest only grew stronger as he wrapped his hands nice and steady around Rhodeys' ankles. Home huh? Wile E liked the sound of that.