Many, many, many thanks to my wonderful reviewers! c:

Dixxy: Thank you so much! I'm so glad you're enjoying it! :3
bryan mccloud: It's gonna be SO much fun! XD
LnCpl. Luke Tamaken: Yep! And I've taken note of your requests! c:
WvHawkvW: Oh yes. Far too short.

I love all of you so much. You bring the biggest smiles to my face. :)
Thanks again, as always. *lots of hugs*

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(Sometimes it's best not to get drunk.)

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Krytal's Adventures

Tales of the Cobalt Vixen
A Collection of Cornerian Shorts

Chapter Six: "Intoxicated"

"This is it!" Krystal called out, relieved. The walk back to headquarters from Café Jesperia seemed much longer than it had this afternoon. She blamed Lux for that.

Well, mostly his cosmic coladas.

"Thank you for walking me back," she told her new friends, giving them a big, drunken grin.

Divya, Hazel, and Lux all smiled back.

"No problem!" Lux clapped a hand on her back. "Come hang out with us again soon!"

Krystal waved goodbye to the three of them, then turned to face the darkened doors of the lobby.

"I hope this works," she mumbled under her pineapple-scented breath.

She pressed her hand against a panel to the right of the door. Immediately, it lit up, engulfing her hand in a square of blue light.

"Identity verified," stated a calm computer voice. The lock clicked. "Enter the premises."

Krystal breathed a sigh of relief, opening the door and stepping quickly inside. It shut with a hiss, and the locks clicked back on.

A few lights flickered as she stepped into the lobby, illuminating a path to the elevator. She stumbled through the room.

"I'm worse off than I thought," she said to herself, miserable. I shouldn't have had that last one. I could have done without. But the flavor still caressed her tongue, and she knew she wouldn't have refused it. Not in a thousand universes.

"This one's on the house," said Lux, pouring her the third luscious cosmic colada. Krystal stared at it in horror.

"I couldn't," she protested, but her voice was weak and her inhibitions were even weaker. Even as she spoke, she was pulling the glass to her lips. The bartender grinned.

"No one can resist my cosmic coladas."

Krystal scoffed.

"I will next time!" she told the darkened lobby, a little too loud. "You can count on it. Stupid Lux." She gave her hair a drunken flip.

Then she fell over.

Inside her own mind, it felt like slow-motion. She fell through the air, too-graceful, almost as though she'd planned it. It took far too long for the floor to meet her.

But when it did, it hurt.

"Ow," she moaned, squeezing her eyes shut. "Oh, wow, that hurt." She rolled over, pressing a hand on her tender bruised hip. Her buzz masked the pain. Not good. I can't even tell how injured I am.

That was when she heard his confused voice. "Krystal?"

She looked up, head swimming.

Fox.

"Oh, hi there," she said, slurring a little bit. "You're awake."

He just stared at her, bewildered. "Are you just … Were you … out?"

She nodded. It made her dizzy. "Yep."

He was frozen in place, staring at her. "… Are you okay?"

She shook her head. "Nope."

"Oh, no." His eyes widened. "Are you drunk?"

She smiled up at him sheepishly.

"Wow," he sighed, his voice low.

"I know." She looked at the floor. "I feel ridiculous," she mumbled, her cheeks growing hot.

Fox stepped up to her, kneeling down beside her. "It's okay," he said gently. "It happens to all of us, right?" He reached out to help her up, then hesitated. "Do they even have alcohol where you're from?"

She nodded, scooting closer to his outstretched arms. "Of course. Now help me," she said, reaching out her arms to meet his.

Still bewildered, he wrapped his arms around her and helped her to her feet. She wobbled as she got up, finding her balance.

"Oh, no," she mumbled, falling against him.

"Easy," he said softly, propping her up. "Just take it slow."

She tried to stand on her own again, leaning hard against his arm.

"I'm so embarrassed," she confessed, her voice quiet.

Fox looked at her with soft eyes. "It's okay. Don't worry about that."

She met his gaze. Her eyes flickered between his. "I can't help it," she said. She stared up at him, suddenly desperate. "I don't want you to think bad things about me," she murmured, moving closer.

Fox blinked. He tried to pull away before remembering he was holding her up. She stumbled closer to him, wrapping her arms around his waist for support.

"I'm not usually like this," she continued, her lips touching the fur of his neck.

He shivered. "I believe you," he said softly.

Her arms tightened around him, and he could feel her take a deep breath.

"You feel strong," she murmured.

"I… don't know what to say." He was frozen in place, unsure of what to do. Her arms felt warm around him; her body was soft against him. Her breath was hot, warming his neck.

His thoughts were frantic.

Think about Slippy, think about Slippy …

"You know, the minute I saw you, I thought you were so handsome," she was saying, her voice quiet. "And you saved my life." She laughed softly. "It's like a fairy tale," she whispered, looking up at him with sparkling emerald eyes. His heart pounded. He was very aware of how close they were.

Slippy explaining something complicated. Slippy eating pie.

"What did you think of me?" she asked gently. Her eyes begged him for an answer.

He swallowed. "I think we need to get you upstairs," he stammered, trying to drag them to the elevator.

She frowned. "But what did you think of me?"

He blinked down at her. "What do you mean?"

"The minute you saw me," she continued, pressing closer to him. He tried to pull away. "What did you think of me the minute you saw me?"

Fox closed his eyes. It was a memory he wouldn't have been able to repress if he'd tried. He'd just scaled Krazoa Palace. The last thing he'd expected to see was the most beautiful girl he'd ever laid eyes on…

"Wow," he sighed, staring up at the gorgeous vixen. "She's beautiful."

He opened his eyes to see the girl in question, staring up at him.

"I…" His voice cracked. She was just so pretty.

"I thought you were beautiful," he mumbled, unable to resist.

Krystal's eyes softened. "Really?"

"Yeah," he said, his throat dry. "Really. Now let's get you upstairs."

He helped her across the rest of the room, to the elevator. They stood for a while, quietly waiting for it to arrive. Then it dinged, and the doors swung open. The two of them stumbled in. He pressed her floor on the dash.

They rode the elevator up a few floors, neither saying a word.

"Wait," she said suddenly, breaking the silence.

He frowned down at her, confused.

She was frowning, too. "You thought I was beautiful?"

His face heated up and he looked up at the ceiling. "It's not important."

"But…" She leaned against the railing inside the elevator. "Isn't it?"

Inside, he was kicking himself.

Never say anything to a drunk girl. Never.

"No," he mumbled. "It's not important. Don't worry about it, okay?"

He glanced down at her. She was looking at him with earnest eyes.

"Do you like me?" she asked, frowning again.

"What?"

"I know you like me," she said, slurring. "But you should tell me yourself."

His eyebrows knitted. "Um, we're almost at your floor," he said quickly, glancing at the glowing numbers on the elevator dash. "Once we get there, you need to drink a glass of water and get ready for bed. Okay?"

She closed her eyes, taking a deep breath. "Will you help me?"

Fox gulped.

Don't think about a drunk girl in bed, either.

"No, I think you're gonna have to do it on your own."

She looked lost. "I don't think I can," she mumbled.

A pang of worry crossed his heart. "Can you try?"

She looked at the floor, then back up at him.

"I can try," she said softly.

Relief washed through him. "Okay. Because I think that would be best."

Then she smiled at him. It was a stunning smile.

"You care about me," she whispered.

Fox's face heated up again. "I care about plenty of people." He looked at the floor.

Her hand touched his cheek and he winced away. She frowned.

"Why can't I touch you?"

He shook his head. "I think that's a bad idea, Krystal."

Her eyes were hurt. "Why?"

"Because," he sighed, scratching the back of his head. "You're drunk."

"That doesn't matter," she grumbled. "I like you."

His heart pounded.

What?

"That's just the alcohol talking," he murmured. The elevator dinged. "This is your floor. It's time to get off now."

"No, I really like you," she said softly, trying to get close to him. He held out a stiff arm.

"Time to get out of the elevator," he said, louder. "Come on. I'll walk you to your room." He placed firm hands on her shoulders, leading her out. She twisted, trying to look at him.

"Can I kiss you?" she asked bluntly.

His heart throbbed. "No," he said.

She frowned. "You don't want me to?"

"No, I don't," he lied. "Here's your room." He picked her hand up and pressed it against the panel to the right of the door. She stared at their hands as the blue light engulfed her palm, reading her print. Her door unlocked, sliding open.

"There ya go," he said quietly. "Time for bed."

She twisted around to look at him again, but he pushed her through the door.

"I'm going to ask the computer to monitor your heart rate and vitals. If anything happens, I'll be back. Now go drink that water and go to sleep."

He shut the door in her face.

Boys, she thought.

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Her head was throbbing.

I promised myself I'd never have another one of these…

She winced, sitting up in bed. The daylight she'd loved the day before was now her arch nemesis. She shut the blinds, groaning.

"No more cosmic coladas…" The very thought made her head spin.

Though… I'm glad I met Divya. And Lux and Hazel. She smiled at the memory.

It made her temples throb.

She was in no shape for a flight simulation. Forget it. And the thought of Falco and Fox seeing her like this …

Fox!

Her eyes snapped open.

"Oh my god," she groaned.

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x'3

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