It's Coming

  After leaving the HQ, Fox went directly to the mega hotel he once lived in. Where he started his life in the District, and where many things occurred. He knocked twice before a smiling Teon welcomed him, already back and enjoying her suite, with her hair still a little messy from some talks with Nauer, who peeked from the living room.

  Fox could smell the skin partitions she had used. Looking down and then up at his adopted sister, Fox asked her before receiving a long hug from Teon, who had free hugs reserved as his kin. “How many scars did you get from the south this time?”

  “Too many to count. Especially around my belly. Good thing we weren’t trying for crazy things in the middle of it, hmmm?” Teon said, pointing at her belly before teasing Fox. Fox lifted his right eyebrow, to which Teon giggled and broke off the hug.

  “Did you have… fun?” Fox asked, cupping Teon’s face, who let him do that for a few more seconds before ‘breaking’ free with some gentle struggling, flinging her arms a bit. “It was… my vocation. I really don’t have a better way to call it.”

  “Come in. Nauer was just resting. He has less energy than your sister.” Teon walked inside, leaving the door open… and bragged. Fox rolled his eyes a bit before going in. Nauer was indeed resting, a little tired and cleaning his sweat with the air temperature of the suite.

  “Fox.” Nauer greeted Fox with a slight nod, returned by Fox, “Nauer.”

  Walking to the living room, while Teon sat on Nauer’s left leg, Fox sat on a single-seater couch before looking at them. Nauer was mellow whenever his eyes landed on Teon, who smiled and craftily showed her canines when looking back at her man.

  “Come to my wedding next week.” Fox blurted out. Teon blinked, still looking at her man, before turning to him with wider eyes. Nauer directly widespread the corners of his lips, turning his head to Fox like a robot and agape. Fox blinked innocently before continuing. “It’s on the second day.”

  “No need to bring anything unless you have thought of something before.” Fox said, giving clear emphasis on Teon, whose slight grin in her big black eyes couldn’t be concealed from him. Fox carried on, “It will be on my rural mansion, and you must attend. At least Teon, heh. I won’t bother you too much today, but you can bring your teams with you, just close circles.”

  Teon and Nauer were still taken aback. Only PSD knew that Esmeralda wasn’t just another special agent in training, or a close-by cooperation between the District and the President’s gem daughter. They looked at each other to lover-channel a decision.

  “We will attend. Of course we will, Fox.” Nauer spoke, with Teon nodding like a silly girl. Fox clapped his hands and nodded a few times. “Then, we’ll see you there. You can check that mansion, too. Teon, bring your apologetic bum to the urban mansion any morning. Okay?”

  Fox could tell Teon died to know where he now lived. If things went right, he might as well gift her his mansion, or at least gift her one. Teon smiled, nodding like a chick pecking on rice before hugging Nauer’s neck with all the might of love in her body.

  “Well then, I’m going.” Fox motioned to stand up, but a moment later, Teon lunged to him with no need for preparation. She headbutted Fox’s chest, hurting him a little, superficially, and sitting him right back on the couch. Teon remained standing with a smooth landing on her feet.

  Fox feigned an exasperated expression as he looked up at Teon. Teon looked down at her brother and declared, “You can’t leave just yet. Who do you think you are to just leave after almost a year not seeing each other?”

  Teon sat on the armchair and continued looking down at her evil brother, “I wasn’t allowed into Torka at first because bla bla bla. Then, and only after you left, I went there to have a look… It was more fun and time-consuming than Cerka! How could you do that to me, ey?”

  “Were I to invite you,” Fox grabbed her sides and effortlessly lifted her up. Nauer’s eyes widened, but not because of shocked jealousy. Teon was similarly taken aback, as Fox lifted her like she was made of paper, and wind didn’t exist. He definitely overly improved.

  Fox continued to hold the little thing, bringing the toy back to the toy store it ran off from. Now on his lap, Teon looked up at her brother, looking like a damsel, at least from her face. The rest of her body was just to die for, and so powerful.

  “Then, I wouldn’t have enough time to ‘try for crazy things’ as much as I wanted.” Fox concluded, softly pinching Teon’s cheek after speaking. Teon smiled embarrassingly before Fox sat down beside them. Then, giving in to Teon’s desires, he stayed to chat for about 40 minutes.

  Being more of his age, and nothing like his professional, elder-junior intrafamilial relationship with Morena, from therapist to an aunt-like figure, Teon and Nauer were much shorter in their exchanges with Fox. Furthermore, understanding Fox, they asked the important things and returned some words with the same briefness, giving Fox an easier time talking.

  … After leaving them, Fox directly went to his Myertha and took the tunnels spanning across Lymoca. He went to Sargonde and invited everyone. From the farm’s Paloma and ?o?o, and their babies, and the Ruva Family.

  Victor Ruva, Marisela Noches, Lorena Ruva Noches, Mermelada and her wife, were all invited.

  The Myertha’s ‘evolved’ form was… tremendously monstrous. Even as Fox went in the VIP, super speed line, the sound of Myertha’s engines were like a mosquito, but when it passed other people, walking or even in armored vehicles, it was like being transmitted a deadly illness.

  It was powerful enough to make anyone, even inside tightly closed vehicles, shut their eyes not knowing why. And this was with special agents. Myertha’s top speed might even not appear as a vehicle to ordinary people who witnessed it, even from afar without specialized cameras.

  Thus, Fox returned to Proteros swiftly after. The first thing he did was to meet Fabiola, who hugged him as strongly as her fragile, thin arms could before jumping around the boutique to tell the other clerks. Not many would be accepted by Fox, but Fabiola knew which to invite.

  Then, Fox went to meet someone who has been waiting news from him lately, Selena.

  … Walking into her luxurious residence near the center of Proteros, watched by some special agents, and a few hidden guards, Fox rang the bell before the door opened soon after. Fox contacted an agent to notice her beforehand, in case something silly happened with the guards.

  “Heeey! Come in, ‘boss’.” Selena greeted him, wearing a halter dress, with an additional, small top below it. She smiled at Fox before turning around, leaving the door open for him. Fox blinked before going inside and closing the door, looking around her new house, which he never visited until now.

  “Welcome to my little place. I know it looks like I got this from the government, but I actually got it thanks to its connections. I bought it myself. It was pretty costly, but I earned enough these years, thanks to someone. Oh, but I’m getting short of money, ‘boss’, so…?”

  Fox listened to Selena while looking around the house. Just the entryway was interesting and good enough to give a clearer, ample view of the residence. When Fox returned his polycoria eyes down to Selena, she was focused on watching him.

  “You’re invited to my wedding, eh.” Fox casually blurted. Selena’s eyes became as wide as saucers before she smiled, walking to him and threatening to hug him. “Oh my heavens! That is so incredible, Fox. I didn’t imagine you’d marry before someone like me. How dare you~.”

  Fox grinned, holding her shoulders and saying, before letting her hug him for a few moments, “Next week’s second day. No cameras or anything, but you can bring some… hm. No gifts, if you disobey and bring something ceremonial, I’ll let Nala deal with you.”

  “Hehe, okay. Got it.” Selena smiled and let go, looking up at him and wanting to speak about many things, when Fox grabbed something from his back and presented it right in front of her face. It was a pile of documents, quite thick, yet appearing thin. Quite the top quality material.

  “This is…?” Selena was still joyous from hearing about Fox’s wedding’s news, but she rapidly got an idea of what those piles of papers might be. Just as her eyes widened in realization, or the possibility, Fox spoke as she absent-mindedly received them unto her palms.

  “Scripts that were built by the people I have preparing your future works. Give them a look,” Fox went directly to the point. Selena felt a bit overwhelmed, she kept getting surprise after surprise, each positive, and further beneficial to her!

  “These names… I know none of them.” Selena checked the documents, reading through them, which were quite a lot, and heavy. If it wasn’t for her training, her thin wrists wouldn’t be able to carry them so far. “And… you didn’t have any device to store them?”

  She looked up at Fox with some worry, as if fearing Fox lost some cognitive capabilities. Fox looked at Selena with relaxed eyes, which looked bothered to any ordinary eye. Selena blinked innocently before Fox finally addressed her questions.

  “Look here,” Fox pointed at the first pile of document’s front page, where a small icon-like image showed some… scannable code. While Selena smiled embarrassingly, Fox added, “These scripts are mostly from newbies, so do give it a look. But I had some ‘interesting’ people help me with them. I also have some old good names, but you might not know about them.”

  Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

  “Oh, I see!” Selena opened her eyes further with a jolt. She looked down at the pile with more enthusiasm. It was no longer that she had to understand and memorize her part, and that of others for better synergy and so on… She was also analyzing them for Fox.

  “Sorry for not recognizing them, I’m not crazy into film… yet?” Selena tilted her head as she looked at some documents and wondered how good those ‘old’ people were. Then, she lifted her face and focused her gaze on Fox again.

  “Why do you keep looking at me like that?” Fox asked after getting stared at for the second time. Selena immediately smiled, almost like she was waiting for him to ask.

  “Have you ever considered writing an autobiography?” Selena looked at Fox with intense, shining, pure black eyes. Fox retracted his neck and lightly scratched his forehead with his pinky. “And why would I do that, Sel?”

  “Just think about it!” Selena wasn’t going to concede. She’d fight to make Fox see this through. “You’re already gaining new names left and right, yes? You don’t have to do anything. As long as you say you’re making something, a series of movies, new food chains, more business, and even projects of any kind, you’ll be heard. Be it the people and the conglomerates.”

  “It’s not just Lymoca, or Moonblue. You’re scary wherever you’re talked about, but also a great opportunity. Who doesn’t know Lymoca’s new mainstream fast food restaurant with a niche touch for tea? Even Blackflower Boutique is discussed abroad.”

  “Before you ask, yes, I have quite a lot of mouths speaking to me about the ‘wonders’ you’ve made in Lymoca with such little resources and no direct advertising. Mostly from some fashion designers, but there will be more and more variety every year, Fox.” Selena took a few moments to breathe. She went to the kitchen, followed by Fox, and gulped a glass of water.

  “It’s nothing too personal… more or less. And it isn’t going to invade your privacy, that’s for sure. You speak, whatever you want, word by word, and others listen. It’ll… give you a point of history that varies from the rest of the worldly figures known throughout history.” Selena continued, looking up at Fox, who crossed his arms and patiently let her continue.

  “Just give me the green light, and I can present you exactly what will work with you. What say you, boss?” Selena leaned her fair back on a counter, decisively proposing.

  “Why would you want me to do this now?” Fox calmly blinked before asking. Selena parted her lips and breathed in before going, “I feel it’s stupid if you don’t take such a fat chance. Won’t it also be good for me if my boss is known worldwide and on everyone’s expectations.”

  Selena laid her foundation, her basis. Fox moved his head left and right once, considering, before asking with his hand covering his forehead, rubbing it to feel slightly at ease. “What would those things you spoke about be?”

  “Interviews, a few of them. Select— but intricate and profound. Not about you, but of how you think. Write… right, writing a book should be enough. More than 1 in one go at the beginning would be too pretentious. Lastly, some appearances in the future, where Lymoca stands out the most, with the President and… one of your new wives will be just right!”

  “… Alright, you can program that. But you don’t expect me to go through any of these so soon, do you?” Fox mentally sighed, long and heavy, before speaking. Selena shook her head and hands, now extended forth. “About 2 years. That should be enough to prepare all this.”

  “And you want me to do more later on?” Fox nodded a bit before questioning again. Selena went silent for some moments, halting an immediate answer she didn’t have. She lifted her palms facing the ceiling and shrugged afterwards.

  “Come on~. I know you can drink, and you know I was taught to resist alcohol. Let’s celebrate your little wedding, alright?” Since business was ‘scheduled’ for both, Selena went right on to celebrations, bringing Fox to the lavish section of the kitchen.

  … 15 minutes later, bid farewell by a smiley and contented Selena, Fox went to his Myertha and rushed to the Forzt family. There, he met some other Forzts, who were much more at ease than ever, now daring to step out and speak to him for some minutes.

  Fox stayed there for 3 hours before deciding to almost finish his list to invite to the wedding. He chatted with quite a bit of the female cousins and even less male cousins of Pheli, most while Neoph, Pheli’s father, was absent for thing one or two.

  … Next after, Fox went to a new section of the presidential precinct’s main building that was used as a large storage for old things before. Such objects and useless pieces of information, which changed with the upcoming reforms in these new terms, had been safely moved. It has now become Armando Pe?a’s new ‘law firm’.

  Fox knocked at the open door, leading to Armando’s thousands of books on shelves by the walls. Armando looked up to see Fox, immediately growing surprised. He stood up and smiled, just as a pretty delicate wife came into view with a baby little thing in her arms.

  “Armando, your baby boy cries so much… I think he wants to see daddy now- ooh?” Yue looked at Fox for a good while, dumbfounded, before smiling in greeting. “Fox! Come on in. Stop standing there like you haven’t saved our lives a couple of times, you silly goober.”

  Fox smiled a bit and walked further in, meeting the baby with southeastern aesthetics look back at him with wide eyes and silent. Yue smiled big time, patting Fox’s shoulder, and knowing enough not to offer Fox to hold a baby human, even though she wanted.

  “Welcome, Fox, what do you need?” Armando stood up and shook hands with Fox’s gloved one. Fox nodded and sat before Armando’s desk. Yue sat bedside him. It was a relaxed atmosphere, which Fox very much enjoyed and preferred. It was a little close and shut around, too.

  “Hello, Yue, and mini Armando. Today, I am here to formally invite you to my wedding in the 9th of this month. Bring only yourselves, unless you have exactly something we’d cherish as a gift.” Fox said before grabbing one of Armando’s fresh ink pens to trace with his thumbs’ yolks.

  “No worries, we understand what you mean,” Yue said, rubbing his shoulder a little and trying to contain her joy. Right after, her attempts to contain it utterly failed. “But, oh heavens! How come you’re getting marr- you know what? Nevermind. You more than anyone deserve such love and life. I can’t wait to see little yous. Will they have your eyes? If not, can they grow to match them?”

  While Yue commenced their little reunion with countless rambling, all joyed, and Fox receiving everything, not wanting to let down such a woman, all Armando did was smile. From beginning to end, to even after he spoke a few times, he just smiled big time for Fox.

  Before Fox went away, and after securing Armando to strike deals and defend the future projects and works of Snowfall Enterprise as his client, Yue brought their son’s twin. It was a cute little thing, a bit chubby and lovely, which loved spending time sleeping, and barely kicked a fuss.

  This time, against all baby boys in the world, not only did Fox grab the little thing, he even asked to hold her himself. Yue agreed, almost tearing up with a reddened face and the most beautiful of smiles. Then and there, Fox wished his first little spawn would be a girl… for the umpteenth time.

  … After leaving them, Fox briefly met with the President, who knew Fox was around, but didn’t know why he didn’t come to see him in his office. At last, Fox met Luis, who looked at him, revising some documents, but easily noticing him.

  “Hey, I’m inviting you to your daughter and… semi-daughter’s wedding? Anyhow,” Fox shook his head and leaned over Luis’s desk, placing a hand on it, “It’s on the 9th. Bring Lesly and Sona, at the very least. Don’t forget to get us all excellent gifts we deserve and should have. ‘Kay?”

  “You could have visited me earlier. Couldn’t you, Fox?” Luis didn’t agree with words, nor did he nod. Of course, he would never miss his gem’s wedding, which he hid well on what he felt about it. Fox looked at Luis for several seconds before shaking his head with calm, closed eyes.

  Opening them soon after, Fox straightened his back and stepped back a few times. “You’re not the last, alright? That specialty is reserved for someone special. Hm, don’t miss it, or your daughter might really go against you and only keep her mother’s last name.”

  “Tsk,” Luis had nothing to say to the fleeing Fox who didn’t want to spat a letter of truth. But thinking of some things, Luis narrowed his eyes and looked back down. He seemed quite victorious, when nothing has happened. Then, he smiled, obviously gladdened to hear those news before reclining his back and sighing, facing the ceiling.

  “It’s good, isn’t it, Roro?” Luis put such sweetness in his intention when speaking that shorter, beloved name. A few seconds later, he narrowed his eyes to a near slit before resuming work. He also had a few dates in the following nights with Lesly. Luis had to take advantage before PSD intervened in the eastern Radical Wars.

  … Fox went to a location rather close to Piya Sanctum District’s HQ. It was to nowhere else but the workshop where he got his Myertha all tuned up. All thanks to Miros. Otherwise, it would have only been repaired.

  Naturally, it was to meet Mauricio, who has been getting more and more jobs from PSD after Fox got his evolved Myertha back into the streets.

  Mauricio was flabbergasted to see Fox, whom he thought would never appear again before him. He was further flabbergasted when he realized it was to be invited to Fox and none other but Fox’s wedding. He had to sign some papers, which included safeguarding his person, family, job, and IWS information overall.

  … After shocking the living hell out of the poor mechanic, Fox went to meet with Melissa, who very much hugged him warmly and almost smooched his cheek out of caring. Her children were also invited, who were at the clinic watching their mother order around the ‘new workers’ who weren’t new since more than a year ago. The clinics looked fantastic now.

  Then, Fox went directly home. He wanted to go to a different mansion, but as it turns out, his last target was at his home again. It was like grandma only wanting to visit her grandchildren, but there were none there, so maybe she was just practicing.

  Arriving at home, Fox saw Vanessa Valyer immediately after opening the door. He went in and took his shoes off, enjoying the cooling floor, as the coldness from months ago was far gone and only the year’s warmth at the start had begun to increase.

  Vanessa gave him a glance before focusing on Esme, who drank with her. Fox approached them and sat in the 3-seater sofa with Vanessa, when Esmeralda used a dainty lady’s excuse to leave them alone, indicating ‘the target’ didn’t know yet.

  “I assume you know I wasn’t on any task all day?” Fox looked at Vanessa and commenced. She faced him, reclining the nook of her knees on the edge of the sofa. “What do you mean by that?”

  Hearing her soft voice, and more so after this long but figuratively enjoyable day, Fox immediately felt weighs of calmness pounce down on him.

  “I’m marrying Nala and Esmeralda.” Fox directly yet slowly said. Vanessa blinked, before her eyes slowly expanded. Her lips quivered, not knowing what to follow this with. She opened and closed her mouth before, helpless, Fox sat upright and further stated.

  “I want to know if we would have your blessings if we were to ask y-” Fox felt a little trembling in his throat and collarbone as he asked this, when Vanessa interrupted him with a tearing face and a more trembling, shaky voice. “Don’t ask. You know you shouldn’t. Because of course I would!”

  “…” - “…” Fox and Vanessa stared at each other. Fox blinked at last and puffed air out his nostrils, forming a smile from the left corner of his mouth, with Vanessa replying in kind to cry without restraint, lifting her arms and extending them towards him. Fox wasted no time in bringing them to his shoulders, helping her as her blurry sight didn’t let her see well.

  Immediately after, Fox felt two tight locks starting from his shoulders to the middle of his back and near his nape. Vanessa held him so tight he didn’t want to move an iota. Her body held him, pampering him with a warmth he always longed; so tender.

  …