Chief Secretary of Security
Their lips separated, linked by the thin, few trails of saliva between their mouths and chins. Only they knew how long they went before deicing to look at each other's faces up front. Fox looked at her, his 8 impenetrable black pools looking strangely cute. Fox was looking at those eyes once looking at him like another piece of quality meat sent to the slaughterhouse to become ham or sausages. Now, they were his.
“Nala, I lov-” Fox spoke straight out, but Nala put a finger on his lips. “Shh. I love you. I said it first, and I’m older. So listen to me more. Don’t just run away, and stop hiding your sickness, alright?”
“…” Fox didn’t know what to say. Nala blinked, “Your doc told me. When I went to check for that new medicine. I was so… struck, that I forgot to give some to Nauer, too.”
“I hope he suffered,” Fox tilted his head. Nala tilted hers in the opposite direction. “You have nothing to be jealous of.”
“Shush, I am not. I just hope for that. Can’t a man hope for something?” Fox placed his finger on her lips. Nala narrowed her eyes a bit more, almost as if sleepy. “You are a man now? Even after all the times you could’ve shown me that?”
“I didn’t know if that was what you wanted.” Fox said, tilting his head in the same direction as hers. Nala nodded, straightening up, “I didn’t want that…”
She pushed her body onto his, holding the back of his head with her forearms. “I needed that— you.”
“And you. You knew it was like that, I could see your gaze, feel your breathing when I fell asleep. Would a woman sleep in your bed if they’re not asking you to let her accompany you?” Nala stood up from straddling him and stepped back twice, putting her hands on her hips. Fox stood up, a little taken aback by his hunger, “Yes, I did. But I’m damaged like that. Couldn’t help myself.”
Nala relaxed her posture. She looked at him with her natural expression, but Fox only felt endearing from it. She stepped back up to his front and placed her hands on his torso, where his lungs could be felt via breath. “Yes… you are hurt, damaged… Doesn’t matter. It’s not a reason that you should’ve used before, and it won’t be. Again. Understood?”
“I…” Fox blinked twice, startled. Nala tilted her head before locking hands behind his neck. She let her body fall, using him like a pillar, and tilted her head, waiting for a reply. Fox held her upper sides, “No more bullshit.”
“That’s the way to talk. Now, let’s go. The President has something for you, again.” Nala leaned her body on his chest.
“Really? What now? Is he making me vice president? Don’t tell me he likes me now?” Fox looked upturned, not even trying to hide the good mood he felt. Nala continued to lean from him with her elbows around his neck. “No, and… definitely no, but… Something like that…”
“Hey…” Nala suddenly stood up and tilted her head again. Fox looked at her in askance. She lightly uttered, “You didn’t say it back.”
“I was about to say it first, but you stopped me.” Fox defended himself, but she stopped him. This time by placing her forehead on his. Fox was flabbergasted. So this was Nala Loba no longer trying to hint and seduce him, when he’s already on the bag? It was nice…
“I love you,” Fox uttered with a straight face, blinked, and kissed the bridge of her nose with his. “I didn’t know if my hands would tremble had I gone out for you, and that night, at the gala…”
Nala closed her eyes, hearing him all he wanted, every word he spoke. When he arrived at that point, she looked up, staring at him as usual, cold and indifferent. But indeed, there was now… care in there. No longer hidden, masked, or doubtful. She spoke out first, almost in a hurry, “It wasn’t Nauer’s, but But-… Butler’s.”
“Butler’s?” Fox arched his eyebrows and tilted his head, curious. Nala blinked profusely before looking down, her hands on his nape. “Yeah… Those things don’t matter now. The President has a word for you, and you better not miss it.”
“Is it that important?” Fox nodded but asked. Nala looked at him for a few seconds, seeming serene, before nodding. “Very. More so for me. And also a bit unfair, but yes. You must accept. No matter what you think, got it?”
“…” Saying nothing, Fox looked at… at his woman. He took in all her features into his 8 polycoria pools in his eyes. He caressed her face with his right hand before spitting nonsense, “Is our lifestyle going to be like this from now on? I thought all bossy wives were obnoxious and mindless. Why are you… We… Me… Making me like this change so much?”
“At least appear excited. Not every beautiful woman takes the decisive step for her man.” Nala lifted her left knee slightly, leaning her head near his left jugular. “Beat, beat. Beat, beat…”
“Well, we should go… This outfit?” Fox caressed her golden blonde, cocoon styled hair. The feminine, exotic, and seductive hair he’s always stared at was now held and gently tousled by his fingers. Nala lifted her face, surprising him with a half-asleep expression and drowsy eyes. “Eh?”
“Oh, it was made for me. Colmillo said it’d match with yours. It does… it looks a bit… wintery, but she convinced me with the first words…” Nala looked down at her outfit. It was like a thicker version of Fox’s suit, with metallic dull green at the contours inside out. There was a ‘hoodie’ behind that looked like fur but was simply more fabric.
“Semi-empowered…” Fox looked down at it and nodded, darting his eyes left and right. Nala looked at his actions and commented, “It might look thick, but it’s not heating up at all. Although it can do that. It can also become as thin as your suit… it’s very fun to take off, too.”
Hearing Nala speak her mind out, Fox slowly returned his face to hers, looking at the immeasurable beauty move her lips and blink at him with that face. Fox felt privileged. “Bring me there. I’d like to talk about this in a better place than my cell… As you can see, bathrooms here were awkward.”
Nala looked past him into the room, then around her before shrugging her shoulders. Fox blinked before helplessly smiling. Nala stopped him from stepping out, “Here, put these on. A ‘ceremony’ for the SCJ’s pardon. Let me bring you to the entrance.”
Fox turned and saw a different type of handcuffs in Nala’s hands. They were thicker and with a panel of a few tiny buttons as flat as the surface, meant were to be read with a special pencil, which were subsequently meant to inject drugs through blades. Not needles, blades; coated with a dormant venom depending on the subject.
“I am not being rescued out, but I expected that.” Commented Fox. Nala looked up at him and spoke in tranquility, “You were, in a way. Come on. I want to show you there, beside me.”
Nala grabbed his hand and walked him out of the cell. Fox looked at her back and grasped her hand back, letting her guide him like he’s but a child.
A few minutes later, Fox neared the entrance. There was a small increase in the volume outside, as sudden cheers and breathtaking stomps and claps went off. But they quickly calmed down, although many people outside wondered what was truly happening, giving Fox hints.
When turning around the last corner to meet with a very long corridor as the entrance, Fox met a group there already, waiting for him. They weren’t facing him, until the cheers of countless people outside went mad.
Turning around, they looked at Fox. One of them was none other but the fearsomely respected Supreme Justice Minister Vanessa Valyer. She was accompanied by 5 Supreme Court Ministers, of which 2 were the last pair who interacted with him before he was sentenced as guilty. Namely, the Supreme Court Ministers Javier Laran and Jennifer Paws.
“Mr. Phesx Caolia— Fox, it is our grace to announce: the Supreme Court Justice has re-thought and decided a different outcome of your trial’s sentence. You’re free now,” Vanessa Valyer spoke curtly before turning around. “Please walk in front for your handcuffs to fall.”
Fox saw a distinctive key for his handcuffs, with a head that looked a lot like the one Nala used to lock it around his hands and wrists in the first place. He walked forth, but continued walking instead of stopping near the other 6, heading into the outside. Vanessa tried to stop him, “Wait, Phe- Fox! The release of your…”
Nala followed behind him, not shy or apprehensive of appearing beside him. They were no longer a facade, what were they to be guarded up against now?
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CHEEEEEEEEEERS!
Fox looked at the crazed people outside, all carrying posts in their hands or holding tall signs showcasing images of evidence, a movement’s words, and even humoristic cartoons. He frowned, welcoming the bright, strong lights here and there to bring light to everyone as night approached.
Fox saw some music bands waiting within the crowd, and then, he looked down at his handcuffs. Fox turned his head back, observing Vanessa walk to him under everyone’s eyes. She seemed afflicted, but after standing beside him, she somehow found a way to focus.
The crowd frowned, becoming more silent than before. Fox looked at Vanessa and whispered before presenting her his wrists. “This is an awkward birthday present, but I am not going to be petty, although I could.”
“…” Vanessa’s eyes went wide open. She didn’t need to ask. Her memory reminded her, just now, of the information she read about him, specifically that part. Vanessa eyes looked a bit downwards and pressed her lips before reaching out for his hands. She semi-whispered before grabbing his right thumb for precise motions. “With your permission, I’ll release you.”
Fox darted his eyes down at his hands and Vanessa’s face a couple of times as she rotated his hand, uncuffed him, and did the same with the other. She let the handcuffs drop to the ground, and then immediately looked up at Fox. He saw something in her, a desire to be protected. But it was very concealed, and not asking for aid. As for what? The sound.
CHEEEEEERS~~!
Fox smirked, but he did do something. He walked to her right just before the madfolk screamed and clapped, and the music bands went on the move. Nala rolled her eyes and stood on the poor woman’s right, using their bodies to somehow mitigate that noise.
Once it settled down, Fox faced the front, with Nala extending her hand to him. Fox looked at the endless sea of people here. Exchanging a quick glance with Nala, and his hand already having found its way to hers, he tried to picture the sight of these streets before this mad protest.
It didn’t even look like a city anymore. There might as well be an ocean, lava, dirt, diamonds, or Mintip below, and nobody would notice. Furthermore, although Fox knew he was the reason they were here, they themselves were the ones cheering to each other.
Fox gave the first step forward, but while he was used to not eating well for weeks, let alone ‘just’ several days, his mental state in the cell these days was more impactful than he imagined. He’d have to go check himself with not just the doctor, but his therapist, too.
Fox’s first step was somewhat shaky, and the people couldn’t help but notice the difference between the Fox from earlier, even as recent as in the trial, to now. He looked somewhat pale. It was a little difficult to confirm without further analysis, but his body also looked a bit thinner.
Nala walked forth quickly, holding his right-handed fingers without pulling, and guided him into the crowd. The people in their immediate surroundings quieted down. They stared at Nala first, how could they dare ignore her? But their eyes religiously found themselves focusing on Fox right after.
Left behind, so to speak, Vanessa looked at Fox depart, not offering any other word than those he spouted before, which she thought were a banter. After remembering his birthday, she thought he was being gloomy. Now, she knew he wasn’t. He was being… humorously sincere.
With a slight frown, she watched the ‘young boy’ walk through the crowd seamlessly, uninterrupted, with the eyes on him much different from when she dared to walk through them the first time. Suddenly, Vanessa, the Supreme Justice Minister herself, felt like she did not fit nor deserve. She turned and walked back into the building, not looking back.
Nala guided Fox through the people, where even the music bands momentarily stopped and looked at his person, showing some respected as they took their hats off. Although that might be, or also be, because of Nala.
Fox looked around, and around, and around. Suddenly, he felt glad he wasn’t released during the day. He didn’t know if he was born in the deep of the night before the morning, or at noon, or at night. But he felt a strange thing tonight… there was an air that made him… helped him breathe. It was shared, too. From them… to him.
Nala guided him to a small spot, where a truck waited for him. Seeing where they were heading, the people finally cleared a street. The fourth point of view was a marvelous sight. Even though they were strictly speaking undisciplined, they moved away from the street without hitting or tumbling someone else, everyone made space.
She looked back at him, connecting her eyes to his. Fox felt so calm… Heavy duty-burdened, even. Then, he caught a glimpse of an inconspicuous Colmillo sitting at the wheel. He grinned, feeling the upturn of countless eyes before blinking, then nodding at Nala.
“…” Nala went to open the door for him, her pacing slow, while Fox spun on the around a couple of times, slow and with scrutiny. He stopped, looking at both his sides while facing the path whence he came from, before speaking out loud ahead.
“Thank you… I owe… you people, this one.” Fox moved his lips, not bothering to wet their dryness, remembering Lesly’s tips. “I don’t have too many words… And if I did, I’m too tired to speak them. I didn’t… never really expected something. But you gave me everything I needed.”
Fox was sincere. Standing by the open door, ready to kick meters away anyone who wanted to be funny, Nala stared at her man, all besotted. Her guard all up, but besotted nonetheless.
“I promise to repay this back to you, everyone… all.” Fox looked a bit downwards, nodding before turning around to reach out for Nala’s hand. She helped him inside, tilting her head as he tiredly made his way into the seats. Nala ignored the crowd before going in, closing the door quickly and almost as if in a hurry.
The truck slowly drove, with Fox feeling a surge of warmth spread over his body. Nala grabbed his jacket’s hems and pulled him up to sit on the seat behind Colmillo. Fox’s head swayed a bit before recognizing Colmillo’s mask on the side and rear mirrors, “Hey Colmillo… your suits don’t have absorption features, you know that?”
It wasn’t visible, but most likely, Colmillo lifted her right eyebrow when hearing those words.
Nala blinked, accommodating his suit a little. Her nostrils opened and closed like a rabbit’s before easing up. She delicately held his chin with her fingertips and gazed at his mouth. Her eyelids dropped a bit, followed by her low, usual voice, “Let me see them… taste them, too.”
Nala hunched her back a little, being all mellow and clingy. Fox looked at her, his impenetrable black pools dancing, big and small, over and over again. He opened his lips, showing his ultra teeth. Nala looked at them, fascinated, and then, while passing through the crowd of countless people carefully sliding their hands on the windows, she licked his ultra teeth.
Colmillo silently drove out of the massive group of people, and slowly drove to the presidential precinct as half the people surrounding the SCJ building went after them. It… looked a bit like a march back, in triumph, to the presidential district. Other ‘lumps’ of people around the city,
None of that mattered for Fox, who was catching up in all the kissing and dumb apologizing, vocal or physical, with Nala. To Colmillo, whatsoever, did matter, as she drove and even considerately slowed down some times. While it had nothing to do with her… she had her fun leading the flock.
… Arriving at the presidential precinct, Fox was further helped by Nala, who brought him through uniformed women and men into the main building and towards Luis’s office. There were also some military uniforms around, giving Fox a sensation of… strange comfort.
With Preut's experiences, he naturally didn’t want anything to do with such things, but through these years, and knowing what kind of boss he was following. It only felt right they were finally showing up around… and they were ‘welcoming him back’, so that also gained them some points.
Fox stood before the President’s office doors again, with Colmillo knocking on them while Nala held his arm over her shoulders. The doors were opened by Roam, who welcomed in with a gesture. Fox checked the boss, who stood in front of his desk with Lesly and the rest of his cabinet.
Fox stopped. He looked at Nala, his nose in her right cheek as she darted her gray, light blue eyes at him. She looked too damn adorable and attractive at the same time. Then, he looked ahead, fearful. The last time he saw this scenery was when he became a political party’s president.
Seeing the look in the young man’s face wasn’t a surprise, but it still made the cabinet, specially Lesly and Sona, smile. Fox was brought before the President, who looked downwards at a Fox slightly bending his back, and nodded a bit before walking to his seat.
Nala let go of his arm and stood beside him, supporting her hands on Luis’s table as Fox did the same. He had to, to keep standing. Luis looked at this and gestured to Fox after a little small, “Take a seat, you won’t bleed honorably for refusing something so simple.”
“Then I refuse whatever charge you are to give me. Am I honorable now?” Fox looked deadly into the President’s eyes. The people around glanced at this with a soft jolt of their heads and feeling strange. Luis’s motions of his arms grabbing a pen and some papers from his desk drawers were halted. Then, he looked up while holding his chin with a hand.
“Would you dare?” Luis spoke in a grave tone, vibrating from his hand. Fox looked at the President for a few seconds before blowing from his nostrils, “Of course not.”
Luis smirked. He couldn’t help but straighten up and look at the young man before him, studying his visage and remembering ‘some’ things. He placed the things on the desk and turned them to Fox’s reading direction, although the latter was already going through them before he did.
Luis snapped his fingers, almost like a quiet burst of air, and grabbed Fox’s attention. Fox looked at Luis, who complained, “Don’t ruin the fun. Let me show you some people first.”
“This is Edgar Plomo, the General, Defense Secretary,” Luis gestured to a man who stepped forth and nodded at Fox, appearing solemn, but more than anything, cooperative. Fox nodded at the man who was ‘second’ in command of the army, below Luis, the Supreme Commander of the Ly forces. Edgar Plomo was a brown man, slightly old, and a little short. His black military hair and eyes were quite unextraordinary.
“This other great person in my cabinet, Fox, is Admiral, Admiral Secretary, Commander Valentino Peralta.” Luis pointed to another person. Valentino Peralta is a white, tall man, also slightly old, with balding gray and white hair. More gray than white. He stepped out of his spot and seriously nodded at Fox, which Fox also returned the gesture to.
Fox also saw a young woman and man standing near Edgar Plomo, who seemed to be better regarded than others who also stood beside the slightly old man.
“What… just what kind of thing did you prepare for me, President?” Fox looked at Luis, feeling more caged this time. But at the same time, ignoring the sensation of being captured with better food in the new, larger prison called duty; feeling intrigued.
“I am naming you my last trump card and ticket for the incoming elections,” Luis darted his eyes away, “A very important failsafe. For the first time in Ly history, you, Phesx Caolia, Fox, will become the Chief Secretary of Security of the nation… of my cabinet!”
…