You're Going Down (SNAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAKE, Tori)

[Fox McCloud]

Took me down to the river, so I could drown, drown, drown.
Looking up through the water, I kept sinking down, down, down
I feel like I'm dying; I got one foot in the ground.

Never knew what love was, until you came around.

Fox's left ear twitched.

He still wasn't as trusting of the shadows he crouched in as he had been, though he was beginning to recover as quickly as an animal could. They weren't known for their memories, after all; but chances were he'd never quite have the same ease as he had before.

He was hunched over behind a dumpster, peering out towards the entrance of the alley with glowing eyes and waiting for Tori to arrive. She apparently needed more information, and he had been quick to agree to get it for her. Even if they were living together, he was still thinking about money. He needed to get a new house, and get out of her's-- not because he disliked her, no, but... he couldn't be owing her anything.

He was the type to repay every debt he owed. And he didn't want to impose on her.

The anthro's tail swished as he continued to wait.

[Solid Snake]

Snake was a little cautious patrolling around Bob-omb Avenue, so he made sure to hide his badge and what not. He didn't exactly like patrolling around this area. Police officers were not exactly popular, especially in this part of the slums, and he didn't exactly want to run into trouble. Still, he had been assigned to this street for the next little while, so patrol it he would.

As he strolled down the alleyway, he couldn't help but realize that this was probably on the edge of Tori's territory. Snake's thoughts began to wander to her. Since they had first affirmed their feelings for each other, he'd had a sense of happiness, warmth... Leaving the gang two years ago with those unconfirmed feelings was something that had kept him awake for nights again, and to finally know that they were on the same page... It was something he had dreamt about.

Snake walked by Fox, only faintly registering he was there. He was lost in these thoughts now, and his brain didn't think twice. Even if he had, he probably would have acknowledged him briefly. Fox was a friend of Tori's, so he was alright. But their previous encounter had been... tense. Still, Snake walked past him, oblivious

[Fox McCloud]

As soon as he saw Snake, Fox let out a low growl.

He and the police officer had had a bad run in on their first meeting. Fox had been selling information that time, the one thing he actually sold honestly and semi-legally, but Snake had busted him, thinking he was scamming someone. Of course, they probably had a records of Fox in the police department, but... Fox's children had gone hungry that night.

And he had never forgiven Snake for that.

That wasn't to say that he wasn't at fault, as well. He certainly hadn't gone in quiet and easy, and he had let his temper get the better of him. He had been sure to attack Snake with all he had before being dragged in. Of course, one like Fox just couldn't look at both sides of the story. It simply wasn't in his animal nature.

The anthro stood, continuing to snarl, and his glowing eyes shined with the same malice they held for every police officer-- plus some. He took a step forwards.

"Swine..."

[Solid Snake]

The venom in the word snapped Snake right out of his daze.

He spun around, hand already on his gun. Now fully acknowledging Fox, Snake was beginning to realize that this wasn't going to be a brush off encounter. Tori or no Tori, it wasn't looking like Fox was ready to listen to diplomacy and play nice.

Then again, Snake didn't really want to anyways. Not after the information bust. He knew Fox was dirty, and he didn't exactly like the fact that Tori spent a lot of time around him. He... he was a bad influence in Snake's eyes. Fox was an immigrant from the slums, getting by on the illegal selling of items and information. And Snake worried that he would corrupt Tori's ideals and in the process compromise the gang.

"You listen here Fox," Snake commanded. "I'm not looking for trouble. I know Tori cares about you, and I don't want her being upset on my conscience. But if you're going to get out of hand, I assure you I will defend myself."

[Fox McCloud]

Fox snorted. The piglet was even more annoying then he remembered.

The anthro shifted into a bestial half-crouch, moving forwards ever so slightly, somehow managing to make it so his boots made no noise. A grin spread across his face, showing off ever glittering, needle-like tooth as was possible.

This was stupid... probably. But he couldn't help himself. His wife was dead, and he had been on edge for the longest time. Seeing Snake out here in the open when no one else was around, acting as if he didn't even exist... well, it was the last straw for Fox. He didn't care about what was smart at that moment; all he cared about was justice, or at least how he saw it in his eyes.

"Who is saying anything about trouble?" he asked in mock innocence, both brows raising as he somewhat raised from the crouch. "Is no trouble... for me."

Fox licked his lips.

"You are in wrong side of city at wrong time, piglet."

[Solid Snake]

Snake narrowed his eyes, looking Fox up and down. Apparently, he wasn't afraid to do some real damage. Even when considering Snake's relation to Tori. <Fine, if this asshole is willing to go for it, then I am damn well too,> Snake seethed.

"Oh really? And here I was worrying that this might be trouble for you," Snake spat sarcastically. "Wrong side of city? Last time I checked, my job was to keep people like you from creating chaos. And it seems like that's exactly what you want to do. Even when you know Tori would very well be hurt by what you are thinking of doing."

"And here I was, thinking you were a good friend of hers. I'm sure you are so concerned about her well being and what she'll think. I mean, all she's done for you means nothing compared to your dislike for me. Hah, some friend you want to be," Snake mocked.

Snake pulled out his gun, but held it at his side. "You want trouble? Bring it, furry," Snake spat.

[Fox McCloud]

All throughout his little speech, Fox couldn't help but stare at Snake, confused. As far as he knew, Tori and Snake hadn't really seen each other in two years, and his mind just couldn't grasp at what Snake was telling him. After all, Tori hadn't informed him yet, and... if she hadn't, then...

Then this guy was lying, right?

And then Snake said the word.

Immediately, the snarl was back, the bristling in his red-orange fur doubling in ferocity. Fox's hands curved into what could be called talons, claws and fingers twitching with the need to rip Snake in half. No one, no one called he or any of his friends that; because that was something he was not.

He had been born this way.

"Having news for you, swine," he said, spitting at Snake's feet. "Fox is already Tori's friend."

The anthro lunged.

[Solid Snake]

Snake knew when he used that term, Fox was going to get mad. And yes, Fox wasn't a furry. But it didn't matter. Snake wanted to get him angry, irrational. He wanted to fight this bastard who was willing to jeopardize his relationship with Tori for a petty squabble.

And Snake was ready.

He easily dodged Fox's lunge, and hit him on the back of his head with the muzzle of his gun. "You're pathetic, you know that?" Snake mocked. "Let's leap at the guy, when he can obviously see that you're coming to jump on him."

"Pathetic"

[Fox McCloud]

Fox let out a yelp as pain exploded in the back of his head, but other then that made no other noises, no other vocalizations. His ears pinned back on his head in rage and defiance, and his tail whipped back and forth. At that moment, he was more animal then he could ever be human.

He swung a kick at Snake's lower leg, hoping to trip his opponent, before jumping to his feet and hopping back. It was an instinctual strategy: lunge, attack, retreat. If he pulled it off correctly, he could damage Snake without taking too much damage, himself.

And once he got Snake on the ground... anything was fair game.

[Solid Snake]

Snake was taken by surprise by the quick recovery of Fox, and therefore wasn't prepared when Fox lunged out at his leg. Losing his balance, he slipped and toppled backwards onto the pavement, hitting his head and making a few stars appear in his vision. "Nice move, anthro," Snake spat. "But it won't keep me down for long."

Snake pushed himself up with his arms, landing fluidly on his feet. He now knew that he had to be careful of Fox's quick recoveries, so he wasn't going to let himself get taken by surprise.

Not a second time.

Snake advanced a few steps, arms ready. <Let's start easy, and work our way up, shall we? I don't want to hurt him too badly... That'll take the fun out of getting back at this furry,> Snake thought. He lunged out with a punch, hoping to catch him off guard.

[Fox McCloud]

Fox yipped angrily, just barely dodging the punch as it was thrown. He jumped to the side on obviously light feet (and incredibly light body, on top of that), green eyes scanning Snake for any hint, any sign of a physical weakness.

He didn't want to make any stupid moves, as much as he was relying on his instincts right then. He wanted to show Snake that he was so much more then a dumb animal: he was a human animal, and that made him all the more deadly.

The anthro finally found his mark; Snake's momentum was still carrying him forwards, and if Fox could use that, then he'd be back on the ground and at Fox's mercy. Laughing with an almost-triumph, the anthro lunged forwards, a punch aimed at the back of Snake's skull.

[Solid Snake]

Snake made a yelp in surprise when Fox managed to dodge his punch and easily return with a counter attack. Fox's punch hit its intended mark, and Snake was propelled by the punch down to the pavement, smacking his head and making him see stars.

<Get up, before he does something drastic!> he urged himself. Snake put a hand to his forehead and felt the blood streaming from a gash. Groaning, Snake struggled to stand up, but slipped and turned over, turning him face up to see Fox.

<Dear Lord, I am fucked.>

[Fox McCloud]

Fox was on him in an instant, pinning him down.

All the bestial, unyielding rage that he had bottled up and repressed and denied his whole life was spilling out, then and there. His wife was dead, slaughtered and devoured by a crazy fucker, leaving his children motherless and himself broken, and now this man dared to walk back into his life and pretend as if he had never done anything to wrong him.

The anthro snarled at the very thought, raising one fist high.

"This is for Jeremy!" he screamed, bringing it down in a heavy punch at Snake's jaw. "And THIS!" PUNCH "IS FOR!" PUNCH "MARISSA!" PUNCH

[Solid Snake]

Snake was knocked senseless.

Each punch from Fox sent him closer and closer to unconsciousness. Snake felt like he was inching closer and closer to a chasm of darkness, and he knew if he let himself slip that far, he was as good as dead. Who knew what this crazy animal would do to him if he passed out.

Snake couldn't let it come to that.

Feebly, Snake reached for his cypher. Managing to grasp it between his fingers, he switched it on and pushed it under Fox. "Enjoy flying," he choked, spitting out blood onto Fox's face. "Send me a calling card."

[Fox McCloud]

It took Fox a moment or two to realize what was happening.

At first, after he figured out he was being carried upwards, his claws scrambled for a better purchase on the device; he was, after all, still going by instinct, and his instinct was screaming for him to NOT FALL. But after a minute of this, his logic returning to him, he realized what a stupid idea this was.

He would have to fall before he got too dangerously high.

Because of the time it took him to figure this out, he was already somewhat dangerously high when he pushed himself off.

The anthro yelped, flailing in the air a bit and doing a complete 360 degree flip-- oddly reminding himself of advice an old friend used to yell at him constantly. When he finally hit the pavement, landing flat on his back, all the air was knocked out of him, and he let out a noise not unlike that a dog would if it got hit by a car. Fox didn't feel like he could move without putting himself in any more pain, and he clenched his eyes shut.