Crashing Down (Linkage)

[Tori Ashwood]

Where are all the things you fought for?
All the dreams you shed your blood for?
Are they shabby now and fraying at the seems?
Was this your boyhood vision;
To endure the world's derision?
While the culprit sits and laughs behind the scenes?

"Remind me again why Fox couldn't come pick me up tonight?"

"Fox is being out, looking for more work. Tori is knowing this." Falco's dark eyes cut to the side, looking her over, "Fox is finding new home, needing more money."[/color]

Tori's lips pressed together, forming a tight, fine line. She knew that Fox had no intention of staying in her home any longer than was necessary, but... She didn't like the idea of him being out by himself so soon after the Cannibal had showed himself. God knows she still wasn't able to; that was why she had Falco escorting her home. Well, normally it was Fox, but apparently he had better things to do than to look after her.

Now stop that; you know better, Tori scolded herself, He's trying to support his children. It's not all about you, Victoria Rose.

A quiet sigh escaped the young woman. Falco's eyebrow perked upwards, and his arm extended. On it, Tori saw her jacket hanging near his elbow; her eyes softened. So Fox had reminded him to bring her jacket when he picked her up... How sweet. And useful, considering she was in nothing more than short-shorts and a mid-drift; her DJ'ing outfit.

"Thank you, Falco."

"Welcoming."[/color] Falco grunted, shoving his hands into the pockets of his coat. Without another word, he started through the alleyways, walking slow enough the human could keep up, but quick enough they could, hopefully, make it home before Fox.

[Link]

Link was patrolling. Again. He hated it almost as much as he hated the Mushroom Kingdom chief being able to push him around like some rookie. Zelda better know what she's doing, he thought to himself.

He was rummaging through alleys tonight, so Epona was out of the question. He saw two figures approaching him, and continued, stepping closer. "Hey, you two. State your business," he called. He hoped at least one of the figures was an immigrant. Then again, he didn't. Sure, they were fun to take his frustration out on, but GOD they got on his nerves.

[Tori Ashwood]

Tori tensed as soon as a voice called out from the alleyway. Her entire body froze up; her eyes widened in fright. Her breathing picked up slightly, and just a second later Falco was standing directly in front of her. He extended an arm, the feathers on the wing-like appendage expanding to his her as best as was possible.

"Falco and Tori simply being heading home now, piglet."[/color] The anthro bird said, sniffing disdainfully. His beak clicked together twice; he glanced back at Tori. She gave a subtle nod.

They both knew who this particular piglet was.

"Surely it's not illegal to be walking anymore, officer," Tori put as much malice into that last word as she could, despite the fear that had her voice trembling. It wasn't of Link that she was so terrified; it was of this whole situation, "Especially not when we're heading home."

[Link]

"First things first, call me piglet again, and you'll have to learn to talk without a beak. Second, it is at this hour. And there are no houses in this alley, Pigeon."

He glared. Immigrant. His hand twitched on his sword. "Give me one good reason why I shouldn't clip your wings for disrespecting an officer. My only duty is to keep these streets free of scum. The way you're prowling around, you're lower than scum until you prove me wrong..."

[Tori Ashwood]

Falco's wings flared, and the anthro bird let out a chattering noise. He snapped his beak together several times, only calming when Tori placed a hand on his arm. Still, his eyes were wild and dark, waiting for the chance to lunge and attack.

"Calming down now, piglet," Tori said, her voice slipping easily into a Russian accent before slipping just as easily back into its natural, normal accent; the native accent, "I just got off of work, and my friend here is showing me the way home. DJs have to work late." She sniffed.

"Falco is not being scum. Falco is being his bro's bro, and taking care of bro's friend. Scum are not doing such a thing."[/color] His head tilted to the side, a very avian move.

[Link]

"Disrespecting an officer," he repeated. "Any civilized being would have said you were taking your DJ friend home. No need to get upset for trying to keep things clean, here, birdy."

He smirked. "But I forget for a second that respect isn't what your kind is known for." His hand twitched, wanting so badly to go for his sword and shut this filth up once and for all. But there was a lady present. Even if she did call him 'piglet.'

"One more piglet crack and I'm carvin' up a couple of chicken wings..."

[Tori Ashwood]

Tori couldn't help but chuckle softly at Link's frustration, though his crack at Falco made her narrow her eyes. She felt the bird-man tense in front of her, his feathers bristling. She knew he wanted to leap into the action, to attack the man who dared to besmirch his honor. But they both knew that to attack him would cause them both to end up in jail.

"Falco isn't a chicken, fairy," Tori put in, moving so she was standing beside Falco. She zipped her jacket up, shoving her hands into her pockets, "I know your kind doesn't know much about respect, but it is polite to give it before you receive it." She glanced over at Falco.

The birdman couldn't help but smile, though the only way one could tell was looking into his eyes. His beak couldn't move enough to show the tightening of his cheek muscles, but his eyes sparkled just enough to let Tori know she had done well.

"Falco is being bird of prey, not flightless horror."[/color]

[Link]

That did it. Link drew his sword. "Fairy, huh? Well, all I did was ask you to state your fucking business. I have had it with you. You want me to give you something? I will give you what you deserve. How 'bout that, you worthless piece of bird shit?"

His left hand gripped the hilt of the sword. He wasn't going to kill the bird...that'd be wrong. But...was there anything so wrong about teaching respect?

[Tori Ashwood]

Falco's entire body tensed, and Tori knew immediatley he was ready to lunge. She moved in front of him, pressing her hands to his chest. He clicked his beak together several times, a falcon's hunting cry screeching from it.

"I swear to God, bird-boy, you get yourself killed, and Fox will be having my hide!" She hissed, giving his body a shove. He didn't budge much, if at all, and instead reached down to grab her wrists. Her body froze against the unwanted touch. "Falco..."

His grip loosened slightly, but the bird did not release her, "You are moving now, Rose."[/color] Falco told her, using her codename. His dark eyes flickered to the other man, "Falco is thinking the piglet needs to be taught that not everyone is being afraid of him. He is not running the streets."[/color]

"I run these streets," Tori hissed, keeping her voice quiet, "You know that; he doesn't have to."

[Link]

"I don't want fear. I want respect. Stop hidin' behind your bitch and I'll show you exactly who runs these streets..."

His eyes were cold, angry, full of hate. No one, in his all his life, ever spoke to him like that. He'd dealt with assholes, sure, but these words cut deep. Why didn't anyone seem to understand that all he wanted to do was keep justice?

"My only desire is to keep what's left of Justice in this rat-hole. If that means cutting through some arrogant bird, then so be it..."

[Tori Ashwood]

Falco narrowed his eyes, and then echoed Tori's words, "Respect is not being taken; respect is being earned. Piglets not earning the respect of my comrades."[/color] He glanced down at Tori, at the fear in her eyes, and realized how true those words were. "Piglets only earning fear."

He twirled his arms, so Tori's back was pressed against his stomach, and her arms crossed over her chest. "Rose is not being bitch. That is being you, swine."[/color] He gave another click of his beak, then released Tori's wrists. She fell to her knees, skittering to be behind him.

"Fox is going to have my head, Falco." She complained, her eyes moving to Link, "Let the fool believe what he wishes. Just avoid getting in trouble."

[Link]

"The law is both feared and respected. But, it is only feared by those who disobey them," he spoke, almost proverbially. "The problem child is the one who fears the spanking. Like you're fearing yours now, Birdy."

His grip on the sword tightened. "You best listen to her. It's better to walk out of this alley than to limp. Or, have someone dragging you."

[Tori Ashwood]

Tori gripped his arm. "You know as well as I do that the boy has no idea what's really going on in this world. None of the piglets do. Please, Falco, just... just let it go. No swine could ever harm your honor anymore than you allow them to." Her eyes dulled for a moment, and she whispered, "You know he's still out there."

Falco froze at the mention of the Cannibal. He had seen what that monster had done to his bro, to the woman standing behind him. Two people he respected - though Tori could never know that last bit - had been reduced to... to meager shadows of themselves by a monster that the world couldn't stop. It made him sick.

"The Cannibal is not being nearby, Rose. There is being plenty of time to teach swine his true place. With the others who cling to foolish hope."

Tori closed her eyes, nodding.

[Link]

"I know full well what's going on. I've seen it happen to one kingdom already. And my own is in the middle of it. I'll be damned if this one goes down too." He held his sword ready.

"Obviously this is going nowhere...So, let's settle this, Bird--"

"Chief Link, this is dispatch. There's a brawl in progress near Delfino Plaza. Some Piantas and a large bear are causing a lot of damage. That's all the info we have at this time."

"Sonofa...shit...."

"Come again, Chief?"

"I said I'm on it..."

[Tori Ashwood]

Falco already had his jacket off and in Tori's arms when the young, male voice broke through his concentration. He let out another hunting call, wild eyes dark with anger and disappointment. Tori flinched back, wrapping her arms around the coat and hugging it closer to her chest. She could tell how angry the falcon was; she could tell how badly he wanted to fight this fairy...

"The piglets always being informed on when one is being in trouble, Rose."[/color] He snarled, snatching the coat from her. "Is good tip, bro."[/color] His eyes sparkled once, but then went dark again.

"Too bad I can't afford to pay for it."

"Bah!" He snorted, shrugging on his coat. Then he turned to Link. In a motion very similar to Fox's, he motioned for Link to shoo, saying, "Your master is calling you. Running aloung, piglet."