#slippox

[echoeternally]

I've been in the star fox Fandom for a long while and I wanna say thank you for making basically the only slippy/fox fic I've been waiting for something of them for so long dhdjxjf

Oh, you're welcome! Sorry that I've been the only one so far, and I do hope that someone else gives it a whirl sooner or later.

I've got another small idea for Slippy/Fox at some point, just to give them one more fanfic, but I'm not sure when I'm going to write that one out. Maybe next year, but we'll see if I can force it out.

It's strange how underrated the ship is tbh! Childhood friends to lovers is such a popular shipping trope, so, odd seeing that very heavily ignored in Star Fox fan content.

(Then again, Star Fox isn't very popular overall, so, I suppose that makes some degree of sense. It remains disappointing nonetheless.)

[echoeternally]

Birthday Gift! (Slippy/Fox)

Hello matsutzu & readers! By following this story, from the index here, you’re agreeing that you ship Fox with Slippy, which is a more adorable than it’s given credit for. Plus, it’s got a best friends to lovers angle, so, yeah, the good stuff. 

Anyway, continue on ahead if you want some Slippox romance! And enjoy! 

[LAB/SLIPPY]

 Making his way through the dimly lit corridors, Fox knocked on a door with a keypad labeled “LAB” next to it. He listened and heard a scuffle from within.

 “Whoa, yikes!” A clatter rang out from behind the door. “Uhh…wh-who is it?”

 “Slippy, are you ok?” Fox rubbed behind his head. “It’s Fox.”

 “Oh, Fox! Just a second!”

 More clanging sounded from behind the door, and Fox’s ears fell as he scratched behind his head. They perked up again as the door opened, and he glanced down at his toad friend, who nervously smiled up and tapped a wrench against his hand.

 “Um. Hi.”

 “Hey.”

 “Is…did I forget laundry duty again?”

 “Huh?”

 “Peppy usually reminds me of when I forget…” Slippy blinked and blushed at Fox. “Uh, anyway, what’s up?”

 “Well, I just wanted to check in on you,” informed Fox. “You’re busy in the lab, and I had some time, so…I wanted to see if you needed help.”

 “Really? That’s so nice, Fox!” Slippy beamed, but then quickly frowned. “We still don’t have any missions or anything?”

 “Nope.”

 “That’s not good…we could use the funds,” murmured Slippy. He perked up again. “Though, at least we’re not in terrible shape!”

 “Yeah, right.” Fox peeked over Slippy, gazing at the lab’s disarray. “Although—”

 “Don’t even think it.”

 “Ha. Sorry.”

 “Well, come on in,” insisted Slippy. “I don’t want to keep you out in the hall all night.”

 “Thanks.”

 Shuffling in after Slippy, Fox glanced around the room. One desk was cluttered with different kinds of metal objects and tools, though Fox couldn’t place everything past a screwdriver at a glance. Another desk had a blaster lying on it, with different and unfamiliar vials for its ammunition. Crates were scattered around the room, some neatly opened, others cracked open, and the remainder still sealed.

 “So, ah…what are you working on, Slip?”

 “Better question is what am I not working on, right?”

 “That too.”

 “Well, I’m testing the different laser types that our blasters can hold over there,” pointed Slippy, back at the vials. “The normal ammo works, but I’m working on developing different kinds based on situations. The red one can burn things, the blue one freezes, types that that.”

 “Huh. Interesting.”

 “Yeah. And then there are the reflectors and barriers over there.” Slippy pointed to the back corner, where a hexagonal device rested next to a smaller, round pin. “I feel like they should be more versatile as well, given that different kinds of attacks can expose weaknesses that we’re not prepared for.”

 “Such as…?”

 “Well, the barrier is meant more to take hits rather than send them back,” disclosed Slippy. “Meanwhile, the reflector is good at sending attacks back, but it’s not as well covered. One lasts longer than the other, one takes more types of blows, and I feel like there should be a way to combine the two.” Slippy adjusted his cap. “If I could just figure out what functionality could intermingle with the other, it would work out. But for now, they’re stuck as separate devices.”

 “Um…that’s good,” decided Fox. “And these two projects are on top of how many more in here?”

 “Just the works in here?” Slippy shrugged. “In this room, I’ve got at least seven. Some of it is just small, tinkering stuff. Like the communicators, I’m trying to upgrade them as wristbands, so that we can access databases and networks of nearby locations.”

 “Wait, I’m still back on you having just seven projects in here,” murmured Fox. “How many do you have total?”

 “…Uh…is that including just what’s on the Great Fox, or also Space Dynamics with my dad, or—?”

 “Slippy!” Fox folded his arms as Slippy jolted up. “It’s a wonder you can ever keep up with our missions! You run yourself ragged over the amount of work you take on.”

 “Nah, it’s not…” Slippy counted out his works briefly again. “Ok, maybe it is that much, but I can handle it!”

“You could at least ask for some help,” scolded Fox. “Why didn’t you come to anyone else to work with?”

 “Because I can do it myself, honest!”

 “Working alone is less effective than working with others,” debated Fox. “Even if we can’t keep up with this stuff as well as you can, we can at least contribute a little.”

 “Hey, you can keep up just fine, and so can Peppy,” defended Slippy. “…Maybe less so for Falco’s case, but that’s besides the point.” Slippy sighed. “It’s just something that I want to do alone. I want to…it’s just easier for me to work like that.”

 “Well, tough luck, then.” Fox leaned against a desk. “I’m here to help, whether you like it or not.”

 “Fox, it’s late.”

 “So? What, were you going to stay up through the night while everyone else rested?”

 “N-no!” Slippy massaged his temples. “I was planning on resting…just a little…later.”

 “Then we’ll both be waiting until then.”

 “Ah, Fox, no.” Slippy frowned. “Now you’re making me feel guilty for—”

 “For what?” Fox smiled. “I’m offering to help you, Slippy. Just accept it.”

 “…Sorry.” Slippy tugged his cap down. “I just…I just want to…”

 “Want to what?”

 “…Nothing. We should get busy.”

 Slippy turned and tripped over a small metal crate. He stumbled, but Fox was quick to catch him. He helped Slippy up, as the toad blushed and pulled away from Fox.

 “Thanks, sorry, I didn’t mean to—”

 “It’s ok, Slip.” Fox patted his back. “I’m just happy I can catch you.”

 “You always have to save me.”

 “Of course. You’re my friend.” Fox shrugged. “Friends help each other.”

 “Yeah, but…sorry, we’re wasting time.” Slippy took Fox’s hand and tugged him along. “Over to this desk, come on.”

 In the far left corner of the laboratory, Slippy brought Fox to the last desk, crammed between shelves. A model of a tiny Gyrowing rested before them, with schematics on screens around them.

 “See, I’m trying to improve the functionality of these too,” revealed Slippy. “I’m testing on making the Gyrowing a little faster and defensively capable. Research could be furthered if it was more capable to be used in hazardous environments.” He smirked, looking up and down at Fox. “Of course, it’s a little more compact in development, but I’m sure there’ll be room for at least two.”

 “…So, more like the Arwing, but smaller?”

 “Well, no, that’s…that’s exactly what it would turn into, wouldn’t it?”

 “Kind of sounds that way, Slip.” Fox shrugged. “I’m sure that it comes with more methods of exploration and less of…uh, fighting, right? Arwings are designed for more combative situations. That’s different.”

 “Sure.” Slippy dropped his head on the table on groaned. “I’ll come back to it later.”

 “Um…”

 “Don’t worry about it, Fox,” insisted Slippy, picking his head back up. “Come on, we can still work on pump-action blaster.” He started to walk across the room to another desk. “It basically holds a stronger blast that can be released—”

 “Like a charged blaster shot?”

 “…Yeah.” Slippy stopped and blinked. “That…makes it useless, doesn’t it?”

 “Well, no,” debated Fox. “It can be useful to have a weapon with its power as strong as another. And if its initial shot is a powerful burst that you don’t have to wait for, that’s a good idea.”

 “Maybe, though a full charge on a blaster would still be more effective.” Slippy scratched behind his head. “Um, maybe we can start with the upgrades on the Booster Packs instead.”

 “Those packs that let us jump higher and hover briefly?”

 “Yes!” Slippy clasped his hands together, gazing over the backpack-like tech on the nearby table. “Now that’s a tool we can use more often! I mean sure, we’re usually in the Arwings, but when we have any infantry missions, this can help with scouting, and…and we’d completely give away our positions.”

 “Well, that’s possible,” agreed Fox, “but we can also reach higher grounds.”

 “So a sniper or fighter pilot could pick us off.”

 “Slippy, the Booster Packs are a good idea,” maintained Fox. “We can use them.”

 “Yeah, yeah, maybe we can…”

 Hesitating a moment, Slippy pressed a button on the pack, to which it short-circuited. Fox grabbed Slippy’s hand and pulled him away as the pack sparked. Moaning, Slippy buried his faces in his hands, before dragging them over his head and shaking it. Fox patted his back.

 “Just a minor setback, that’s all.”

 “Thanks Fox, but…” Slippy sighed. “I don’t know. You were complaining before about me overworking myself, but…these projects need a lot of effort in them. If they’re of no use to us, then…I am just wasting my time, and energy.”

 “Not everything needs to be perfect, Slippy,” soothed Fox. “I just don’t want you working yourself into the ground.”

 “But…I have to,” complained Slippy. “If these things have no use or if I can’t get them to work, then…what good am I?”

 “Whoa, Slippy, calm down.” Fox turned Slippy to him, but the toad kept his attention from Fox. “This isn’t a be-all, end-all. You’re not useless if a few projects don’t work.”

 “No, I really am.” Slippy sulked. “If these experiments can’t work, I’m not pulling my weight and contributing to the team. I’m not as capable piloting as the rest of you, and I’m not that strong in combative situations altogether.” He lowered his head, staring at the ground. “This is my best way to help, to be an integral part of the team.”

 “You already are, Slippy.”

 “That’s a lie, and we both know it.” Slippy dropped his shoulders. “I haven’t done enough lately, I’m not doing as well with practice, and I need to prove that I’m worth something.”

 “Who on Corneria would you have to prove that to, Slip?”

 “Everyone!” Slippy jerked his head back up at Fox, tears in his eyes. “I have to prove to the whole galaxy that I’m just as smart and capable as my father! Falco constantly looks down on me, even if he apologizes. Peppy’s definitely got expectations for me, whether he’s blunt or coy about it. General Pepper wants all of us to be of use, and is just as expectant of me as he would be of my father. And you…” Slippy dropped his head. “I want to make you proud of me, Fox.”

 “Slippy, you’re my best friend,” reminded Fox. “We’ve been together since we were kids, and you’ve stuck by my side even at my lowest moments.”

 “You were there for mine.”

 “Right, but that’s my point.” Fox rested his hands on Slippy’s shoulders. “We’ll always be there for one another. That’s what friends do. You don’t need to impress me, I already have every confidence in your abilities.”

 “But…even that…it’s not enough,” determined Slippy. “Because, even still, you’re not…”

 “Not what, Slippy?”

 “…Fox, I…” Slippy gazed up at Fox. “…I want to…do more for you.”

 “Didn’t I just—?”

 “Yeah, you explained that I didn’t have to, but you don’t understand!” Slippy grasped his head. “I don’t want to just be someone that you believe in because we’re friends, or that we have been for years. I don’t want to just be someone that you can rely on, but don’t need to entirely hold out for. I don’t want to just be your friend. I want—”

 “Wait, what?”

 Fox blinked and stared at Slippy, as the toad muttered over his words. His eyes widened and he buried his face in his hands again.

 “I can’t believe myself…”

 “Slippy, wait, what do you mean?” Fox tilted his head. “You don’t want to ‘just be friends’ with me?”

 “…No.” Slippy sighed, and picked up his face, with a heavy blush settled over it. “Fox, I…I want…I w-want to be someone that can really support you. I want to be someone…someone that you care about, beyond just friendship. It’s not enough for me, because…I…I’ve…” Slippy shook his head. “I care a lot for you and about you, Fox. I want to be everything important to you.”

 “…Oh.” Fox dropped his hands. “I…I had no idea.”

 “And now you do.” Slippy weakly chuckled and laced his hands together. “And I can’t believe I admitted to that out loud. In front of you, no less. Um…uh…sorry, but can we, ah, just pretend that I…I never…you know, any of that?”

 “I’m afraid that we can’t, Slip.”

 “…Oh.” Slippy dropped his head. “That…makes sense. Sorry, I didn’t—”

 “Slippy, I wouldn’t want to forget that for my life.”

 “…Huh?”

 “My best friend just told his feelings for me.” Fox grinned. “That’s not something that I want to forget, I want to cherish that.”

 “…Um…is this going in a good direction, or is this something that Falco will tease me about later?”

 “The first…hmm.” Fox scratched his cheek. “I guess both, but it’s unavoidable.”

 “Great.” Slippy puffed out his cheek.

 “Don’t worry about him, though,” persisted Fox. “Because he’s not someone that you need to impress.”

 “Why not?”

 “Because your leader, best friend, and boyfriend told you not to, so if that’s not reason enough, I don’t know what is.”

 “Fox, you can’t just use everything against me at once…” Slippy froze for a moment. “…Did you just—did I hear—?!”

 “You did.”

 “Wait, really? Fox, do you mean it?!” Slippy wildly shook his head. “Wait, no. I didn’t earn that, no. I don’t want you to date me out of sheer pity, Fox.”

 “It’s not. I want to be with you because you and I care about one another so much.” He smiled. “There’s no one else that makes me as happy as you can, Slippy. You put so much love and effort into everything. I’d hope you could do the same for me.”

 “Yes! Fox, yes, absolutely!”

 “Good. You just have to stop being so hard and down on yourself.” Fox nodded. “You don’t need to exert yourself so much for me, or anyone else besides yourself. Do what makes you feel happy and accomplished.”

 “I…I don’t know if that will happen right away,” admitted Slippy. “But, if you can help me, I’ll make it there for sure.”

 “Of course. I’ll be with you every step of the way.”

 “That’s all I need!”

 “Then I think we’d make a great pair.” Fox smiled and lifted his hands back on Slippy. “Plus, I’ve always thought you were pretty cute, so that certainly helps.”

 “Aw, geez, Fox!” Slippy sank down. “Did it have to be ‘cute’? Why not ‘handsome,’ or ‘dashing,’ something with more…I don’t know, interest?”

 “Cute and adorable things interest me,” confessed Fox. “I just don’t show that as much. But with you, that might be easier.” Fox grinned. “So, how about a big hug, huh?”

 “Um…can we, uh, d-do…something a l-little more, ah, romantic?”

 “…Ah, you mean this.”

 Bending down, Fox brought his lips against Slippy’s, as the toad inhaled sharply. They kissed a bit, until Slippy had to pull himself back for a cough. He clutched his head, as Fox patted him.

 “I-I can’t believe that I—”

 “Slippy, nothing has to be perfect.” Fox sighed. “I’m going to remind you of that every day until you relax.”

 “Sorry. I…I’ll try.”

 “And I’ll help.”

 “So…can, um—”

 “Sure.”

 Again, Fox bent down to kiss Slippy, scooping his face into his lips. Pressing back, Slippy rested his hands against Fox’s chest, and the two held together for a few minutes before slowly parting. Blushing a bit, Fox chuckled at Slippy’s beaming face.

 “That was real?”

 “Yes, Slippy.”

 “There’s no way. My dreams don’t even end this well!”

 “Really?” Fox shrugged. “Well, consider this a new and better beginning, then.”

 “Yeah!” Slippy pumped his fists up together. “Ah, this great! I feel like I can do anything now! Fox, whatever you want to do, it’ll get done, let’s get to it!”

 “Uh, that’s great, Slip.” Fox brushed behind his head. “But how about we just…take it easy, consider how late it is?”

 “Is it really?” Slippy checked the time. “Oh gosh, I’m sorry Fox! I’ve kept you up so late, I didn’t mean—”

 “Slippy, calm down, please.” Fox rested his hands against Slippy’s sides. “We both chose this.”

 “Right…right, yeah.” Slippy exhaled. “We did.”

 They smiled to one another, and Slippy buzzed around his lab, excitedly chattering to Fox as he fumbled cleaning up projects. Fox laughed and helped put different tools away, making sure there was a clear path to the door. Once they finished enough cleaning, the two held hands as they left the lab together, retiring for the night.

[echoeternally]

Nexus Support: Slippy/Fox (3)

“Don’t play dumb, Slippy,” murmured Fox. “I’ve…taken a lot from you.”

 “…What?” Slippy shook his head. “No, Fox, you’ve given a lot to me.”

 “That’s not true,” quietly contended Fox. “I pressured you into dropping out of the Academy with me.”

 “Pressure nothing,” countered Slippy. “I chose to go with you.”

 “After I went on about how I’d have a difficult time working on everything by myself, talking about how I could use someone with your talents, right, I made that a completely fair choice for you,” deadpanned Fox.

 “But you did. Fox, you told me that you would find someone else and that I could have stayed to finish my work in school. Sure, I went with you, partially because we both knew it would take you a while to find someone on my level of engineering, but I made that decision to leave and stick with you.”

 “Why though?” Fox threw his arms up and let them drop back down. “Slippy, we’ve been over this before, yet you never give me an honest answer. Why follow me through a path of vengeance?”

 “Vengeance and justice,” corrected Slippy.

 “You’re missing the point,” argued Fox. “You could have had any kind of future you wanted, Slippy. With Space Dynamics, you could have become a big, full-time member, and proudly followed in your father’s footsteps, or even surpassed that. Beyond that, you could have done anything with your mechanical expertise.”

 “And do you mind telling me where I’d be without my best friend?” Slippy folded his arms. “Fox, we both knew that you would have gone to whatever lengths it took to stop Andross. But if you didn’t have me at your side, if you didn’t have someone that really cared about you on the team, who would build the proper technology to help you and the others save Lylat and do his best to keep you alive?”

 “See? That’s my point, I really didn’t give you a choice.”

 “My joining you didn’t guarantee your safety, Fox!”

 Harshly, Slippy pounded a fist against his desk and left it there for a moment. He then winced and waved it around, gently rubbing it with his other hand.

 “True, it gave me a peace of mind, but I didn’t go just to help keep you alive. Your dad was my friend too, and even closer friends with my dad. Losing him, watching your heart and world break before my eyes, that made me angry.” Slippy sighed. “I knew how that was, feeling like you were totally alone in the world. But you actually lost both of your parents, Fox; what you felt was justified. What wasn’t, however, was what Andross had done to you. What wasn’t at all acceptable was that he would stop at nothing to make all of Lylat bow beneath his rule, his tyranny. I’m not a fighter, but I knew that with you, we just might be this galaxy’s best chance.” He shook his head and stared lower to the ground. “And for once, I wanted to help my friend with someone that was bothering him, because I owed you so much more than that.” He looked back up to Fox. “You gave me some pressure, Fox, that’s true. But don’t think you made my decision for yourself, and don’t think you stole an incredible future from me. Because, really, you didn’t.” He shrugged. “And…my role in the Lylat Wars did actually get me some additional attention and offers, so…it worked out for me, anyway.”

 “Slippy…I…I don’t know what to…how do I answer that?”

 “You don’t need to.” Slippy beamed. “You saved Falco by giving him a chance to turn his life around. You saved Peppy by giving him hope for the future. And you literally saved Krystal from the threats on the Dinosaur Planet, as well as offering her a chance to start anew. With me, you’ve helped out more times than I can count, and way more than I can ever repay.” He picked up one of Fox’s hands and squeezed it tight with his own. “So, don’t ever think that your choices ruined anything for any of us, Fox. You helped all of us. We just try our best to return the favor and do what we can to help you too.”

 “I…Slippy…”

 The frog patted his friend’s hand and released it. “I can give the rousing friendship speeches too, Fox, and I’ve known you long enough to do it right.”

 “That you do, Slip,” relented Fox. “Thank you.”

 “Not a problem! Anyway, it’s late, and I’m past sick of looking at these Reflectors, so I might work on a few more, but then I’m getting some rest.”

 “Do you want any help?”

 “No way. You need to get some sleep too, Fox, and probably more than I do.” He pointed at the door. “So, get.”

 “Fine, I’ll go,” relented Fox. “But don’t stay up late either, ok?”

 “Sure. Oh, and Fox?”

 “Yeah?”

 “I…I miss my mom a lot too. It’s not the same as you, I’d imagine, but…”

 “I get it, Slippy. Thank you.” Fox smiled. “We’ll talk more about that next time, ok? Be open to it, because I will bring it up.”

 “R-Right.”

 “Ok. Good night.”

 Slippy nodded and watched as Fox stepped out the door to head to bed. He waited for a bit before turning back to work on the Reflectors, puzzling over the last of his thoughts.

Click here to continue

[echoeternally]

AO3 Star Fox shippers are weak.

It took until 2021 for someone (ME) to add any kind of Fox/Slippy fanfic. Like, childhood best friends to lovers squad, where you at?

Meanwhile, Fox shipped with Wolf rocketed over 100 works recently. (I helped with 2, but still.) Understandable, but like, nobody beat me to Fox/Slippy in all of that time?

AND the oldest story posted/updated on AO3's Star Fox archive is from 2006. (Non-crossover is 2008, but eh, whatever.)

So, AO3 has gone 15 years without any of the Star Fox writers going, "Huh, maybe Fox/Slippy would be cute?"

Shame on all of you. Disappointing results.

...

(P.S.: This is mostly not-serious, I just thought it was hilarious, in a sad way, that it took 15 YEARS for Fox/Slippy.)

...

(P.P.S.: Also, Fox/Peppy, though that one is more understandable. Fox/ROB coming out this year, however, that is definitely one that should've been left out.)

(P.P.P.S.: Mine isn't even any good, but that's what makes it even more disheartening. I gotta feed these poor shippers myself, like, what?)

(P.P.P.P.S.: Even PANTHER is shipped off more frequently with Fox. The guy who isn't even into Fox in canon is paired off with him more than his best friend. Let that sink in.)

(P.P.P.P.P.S.: In case the Falco/Fox shippers were sad about being left out once again, you guys have almost 40, like, this one isn't about you being neglected for once. But yeah, Wolf is shipped off more with Fox than Falco, in a twist of results.)

[echoeternally]

Nexus Support: Slippy/Fox (2)

“Right, well, I guess I can start with Falco’s comments,” decided Slippy. “I know he’s just being his usual self, and I don’t usually take it so hard, but I guess I’ve been a little self-conscious lately.”

 “Want me to have a word with him?”

 “No, Fox, it’s fine,” insisted Slippy. “Falco’s always mocking my flying, but he’s like that with Krystal sometimes too. Even Peppy and you, right?”

 “Yep. Falco can be a bit bigheaded,” agreed Fox, “but he does mean well.”

 “He does, and I know he only picks on me because he really wants me to improve,” rationalized Slippy. “He’s not like the bullies back at school.”

 “Slip…”

 “Yeah, that’s been on my mind a bit too, lately,” admitted Slippy. “I don’t know why I’m thinking about the past so much, but I guess I can never really get it out of my head. Just really lousy incidents from when I was younger, getting picked on for being the ‘mechanical whiz kid,’ and whatever else they could make fun of me for.” He glanced down and patted his stomach. “Like this, for example. I wish this gut went away ages ago.”

 “They were idiots for picking on your skills and your weight,” grumbled Fox. “Probably just jealous. Besides, you’re really not that heavy.”

 “I’ve looked at a mirror Fox.”

 “Ok, and you’re still not obese,” argued Fox. “Just round around the middle. And you’ve got some muscle too.” Fox poked at Slippy’s arm, and then traced his biceps down to the stronger muscles in his forearms. “You’re tough, too.”

 “That’s just from lifting junk around.”

 “And working out; I’ve seen you, and you’ve gotten into it, lately.”

 “A little,” giggled Slippy. “Thanks for noticing. But yeah, I guess I shouldn’t get hung up over what they made of me over. It just doesn’t completely go away, though, not easily.”

 “True, and I’ve had a fair share of insults that bothered me for more than a day,” recalled Fox. “It’s harder when it comes from jerks that you can’t blast out of the sky.”

 At that, Slippy laughed. “You got that right!” Fox grinned at Slippy, but it dropped as Slippy slowed back to his somber state. “Sorry, Fox. I know you didn’t come here to hear my sob stories or watch me pout.”

 “I came to help my friend,” clarified Fox. “…I just figured it would be with tools, but this works fine as well.”

 “Ha, sorry to deviate from expectations.”

 “Not a problem.” Fox lightly tapped Slippy’s foot with his own. “I’m here to help.”

 “Ok. Well…there’s other stuff, too.” Slippy glanced down at his device and shrugged. “Well, besides these things.”

 “You’re working on the Reflectors again?”

 “Just a few clean ups with them,” detailed Slippy. “You and Falco have made use of them for some field missions before, but I wanted to make sure we had a bigger supply to pull from. Krystal, Peppy, and I should carry them around too, and I wanted to make sure that yours was properly functional again.” Slippy sighed. “And that Falco’s could withstand getting kicked around.” He shook the two pieces of the opened Reflector. “His was next in line.”

 “What’s the difference between them?” Fox tilted his head and looked them over. “I can’t exactly tell.”

 “Oh, I just know based on their data of their usage,” elucidated Slippy. “I check in with some statics on my computer over here. You used yours more, but Falco’s kicked his around so many times that it’s taken more of a beating.”

 “Classic Falco.”

 “Aggravatingly so. I have to make sure that everything’s fixed up inside, so that way it still works well for him.” Slippy adjusted his cap and studied the gadget. “Last thing I need keeping me up at night is how Falco tried kicking this to knock back a laser and instead it breaks on him and he gets shot, hurt, or…worse.”

 “He’s a big bird, Slippy,” joked Fox. “He can handle himself.”

 “…Right…but still…” Slippy shook his head. “Sorry, we all worry about that stuff. And you more than everyone else, I’m sure. But I guess that’s why I think about it too; I want to make it easier on you too. And actually, I’m just as responsible, since I work on everyone’s equipment, so I always need to give it my best with this work.”

 “You always do great work, Slippy,” comforted Fox. “Even if I worry a lot, I know I’m in good hands with our tech and equipment.” He picked up his Reflector from the desk. “Though, these are a little extra, aren’t they? We already have barriers.”

 “Hey, it’s one thing to defend, and something else to retaliate.”

 “That’s true. And so is everything else that I mentioned.”

 “Thanks, Fox.” Slippy forced up a smile. “You’re good at this.”

 “You’ve been my best friend since we were kids, Slippy.” Fox smirked. “I should hope I know you a little bit better than most, even now.”

 “Definitely, no one knows me better!” Slippy’s smile relaxed a bit, now more genuine. “Well, ok, no one besides my dad, but he’s family, so that doesn’t count.”

 The pair laughed for a bit again, slowly settling back down. Slippy smiled for a bit while facing Fox, but exhaled and glanced down again.

 “What else is on your mind, Slippy?”

 “I…I’m still worried about you too, Fox.”

 “Me? Why?”

 “Well, you worry about the rest of us and run yourself ragged over it, I’m sure.” Slippy inhaled and exhaled quickly, noticing that Fox was about to butt in. “I know, you have it all mostly under control, and you’re going to tell me that you help make it easier, fine. But I still…it’s hard for you, and there’s nothing that can convince me otherwise.” Fox’s shoulders dropped as Slippy frowned. “I just wish there was a way that I could help you more. And all of that recent information on your mom’s work coming up? That’s only giving you more emotional stress, and as your best friend, I can tell that much.”

 “You’re right,” admitted Fox. “It does get to me when they dig up information about her, because then I’ve got others asking me about her, to which I don’t have many answers to.” Fox shook his head. “In a twisted sense, I’m actually interested in what they’ve been finding, since…well, I’m learning more about her myself. My father never did go over everything in extensive detail.”

 “And…?”

 “And I do worry about everything that I’m doing with you guys, hoping that I’m not screwing up any of your lives more than I already have.”

 Slippy tilted his head and placed the Reflector back on the desk. “What are you talking about?”

Click here to continue

[echoeternally]

Writing Star Fox Supports Like,

Me: Hmm, Fox and Krystal is the typical pairing people like.

Me: Ooh, Fox and Falco is the popular gay alternative.

Me: Tbh, Fox and Slippy is that underrated hurt and comfort emotional stuff that people should enjoy more.

Me: Haha, Fox and Peppy is basically a daddy kink--aw, crap.

Me: Fox and Robins…lol, no one cares about dumb OCs.