FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

Shane waited patiently, his eyes staring down to the bed beside him. On it lay Navixus, the mouse breathing slowly and steadily as the mouse rested. Bandages wrapped around the orange furred midsection of the mouse, blood staining its way through. James, the rabbit dressed almost inappropriately in a nurse's outfit, walked up to stand beside Shane, putting a hand on the raccoon's shoulder.

"He'll be okay, buddy. The kid's tough." James said, smiling and cheerful, but all Shane did was not grimly. The raccoon looked like he hadn't slept in days, and indeed he hadn't, staying up beside Navixus while the mouse lay, wounded, in the Renegades' medical room. Navixus groaned, coughing in his sleep, blood splattering his white gown, and Shane tensed, his eyes panicked as he watched Navi gasp for air for a moment before calming down. Lurianna, in a more modest gown, quickly wiped the blood from the mouse's face, concern showing through her calm.

"Shane," she said softly, "maybe you should get some sleep. You don't want him to wake up just so you can pass out from exhaustion, do you? When he wakes up, we'll let you know." Shane stood, his face pained as he stared at Navi.

"Please," was Shane's barely audible response, choked out as he held in tears. Lurianna nodded, and in a blink Shane was gone, the raccoon's invisibility hiding his body but not muffling the heavy running steps or his pained sobs.

"Thanks, doll," James beamed, but Lurianna looked down at the bloodied cloth in her hands.

"Will he be okay?" She asked, clutching the cloth to her bosom. James, still smiling, nodded.

"Of course, Navi has us, and we both know how to fix this kind of... thing..." James trailed off as he watched Lurianna, the cat's face suddenly on his own, her eyes wide and looking close to tears. He sighed, shaking his head. "You didn't mean Navixus, did you?" The cats eyes fell again, and the cheer left James as he sat down in the now vacant chair, laying back in exasperation.

"It's going to be up to Shane to figure out his feelings. All we can do is make sure Navixus heals, and if I'm right, which I usually am, our friend here getting better will be all it takes for Shane to feel better too." Lurianna smiled, making James smile too, though his smile looked tired and not half as bubbly as before. The cat giggled, her blue eyes still watery.

"You should get some rest too, hun. I can monitor him for now." James nodded, moving to one of the other beds in the room and laying down, passing out almost instantly. Lurianna giggled softly before turning back to Navi, brushing aside some of his green hair like a mother caring for her child, sighing as she focused her thoughts on caring for the immediate patient.

Shane walked into his room, not bothering to turn on any lights and closing the door, the nocturnal eyes he had since becoming a Mod making light almost unnecessary. He walked to his bed, picking up the picture on his nightstand. It had Navixus and him, smiling and giving a thumbs up; he had just helped the mouse pick out a codename, and seeing that smiling face made him smile for the first time in a long while. He laid down, clutching the picture to his chest, crying openly onto his pillow. Eventually his sobbing calmed as exhaustion took over and drifted into a fitful sleep.

In his dreams, the events of a few days ago replayed over and over, the fighting making him feel tired even as his body rested. The battle had been intense, clashing through most of the city, the Anti-Mod riots having gone completely out of control as Myst, Sharktooth and Lightbane began to attack the protestors, fanning the flames of hatred. What had begun as a peaceful discussion turned to a violent inner-city war, the military called in to handle the out of control Power Mods. The Renegades had shown themselves then, fighting against the trio as best they could while containing the mindless military's violence. Shane's dreams took him down the city streets, made him relive every wound he inflicted, made him resee all the pain he caused, even when his limbs were invisible. Then Myst came, the psychotic pink feline surrounding him with her signature dust, sending his senses on high alert. This was the enemy that had taken Stella, and he felt that today was the day he would may her pay for her senseless crimes, pay for the pain and torture she had caused him.

"Aww, is the little 'coon all riled up?" Her voice came cackling through the fog, always seeming to come from all directions. "Good, because I want your heart to beat as fast as it can while it pumps the blood out of the cuts I make on your body, hehehe!" Shane snarled, crouching and activating his own power, what little light there was going through him instead of reflecting normally.

"Ah ah ah, you powers don't work on me, remember?" The fog suddenly swirled around him, latching onto his body and glimmering as he cursed his stupidity. The cat laughed maniacally again, the sounds of battle drowned out by the mist and her hideous shrieks. Shane waited, hoping he could see or hear her before she struck, but she was suddenly quiet.

"Oh, looks like your little friend fell into my trap, too." Her voice came suddenly, and Shane smiled, knowing his team could handle her, before realizing that this fight had a new face to it. His eyes widened and his pulse raced, and her laughter rang out again. "Man, you keep making all these weak friends, you just love watching people die, don't you?" A light to his right made Shane draw his sword, but it wasn't Myst. Navixus ran to him, looking around in a panic as fires floated around him, created a halo of light that died away uselessly in the light-eating dust that was Myst's power.

"Shane, where are you?" Navi called out, and Shane turned off his powers, running to his teammate.

"What are you doing here, you idiot?!" Shane screamed, and Navi looked surprised.

"Finding you, why?" The mouse was suddenly wrapped in Shane's cape as the raccoon looked around, almost mad with fear. "Shane?" Navi's voice was a whisper as he looked up and saw the terror on his friend's face. Then, just above Shane's shoulder Navi saw something move.

"Look out!" He cried, shoving Shane to the side and throwing himself in the way of an oncoming blade, the cat Myst finally making her move. Shane turned, horrified, to watch the sword pierce Navi's middle, the mouse's eyes suddenly wide as he fell backward with the force of the thrust, the blade sticking into the ground underneath him. Shane wanted to scream, but even in his dream he could do nothing but stare, unbelieving, at the cat that stood on her sword handle, grinning wickedly at him.

"Too slow again, Shane. You really suck at this." Her taunted was lost to him, though, as he looked down, unable to feel the tears flowing down his face as he looked at his impaled friend. The raccoon fell to his knees, stunned in disbelief. How could he let this happen again? His mind raced as he followed the cat's sword as she pulled it from the mouse's body, walking over to him with a triumphant smile, the dream twisting her visage into and even more terrifying form.

"Time to collect the head I came for," she hissed, grinning from ear to ear.

"Please," Shane said, his spirit broken as he looked up at her. Her sword lifted, but stopped, hesitating. Myst turned, a twisted and frustrated look on her face. Shane managed to look past her, following her eyes to Navi's body.

The mouse glowed, a heat spreading through the air around him. Navi's body lifted up, and the mouse stood and turned, his whole form glowing a powerful orange. Myst hissed angrily, pointing her sword at him.

"Be dead already!" She screamed as she lunged at him, this time aiming for his heart. Shane wanted to scream as Navi just stood in front of the oncoming attack, the dream slowing his memory down to an agonizing slowness. Then, just as the tip would pierce the barrier of light around him, Navixus' eyes opened, the orange glow blazing from his eyes as well. As the lunge struck, the sword turned to dust, obliterated by the white hot fires that swirled in a sudden burst around Navi. Myst screamed, stepping back, her hand scorched by the blaze, before fading away into her mist. Shane stared, dumbfounded, never having seen such awesome destructive power from Navi before. The fog began to clear, Myst withdrawing and the powerful heat of Navixus' fires both contributing to the speed of the receding mist.

As the sun came back into view, so did the road, and the military forces positioned on it. Roadblocks protected a handful of gunners while a tank blocked the middle of the road, its gun aimed where the mist had been. Shane found he couldn't stand, the fighting and fear taking the strength from his legs as he watched Navi's glowing form turn toward the soldiers. A message blared on the speaker, but Shane couldn't understand it, the blood pounding in his ears drowning out all other sounds. Navixus raised his hand, the open palm facing the military forces.

"No!" Shane broke though his fear to scream, just as Navixus unleashed his powers, the street becoming engulfed in flames. The blast of fire created a deafening roar that barely covered the screams of the dying men, the tank melting into a twisted mass before its ammunition overheated, chunks of burning metal flying all around it, crashing into buildings and cars.

The raccoon found himself standing, open mouthed in horror at the destruction. Navixus turned again, his hand aiming at a building, and Shane realized that something was horribly wrong. The mouse, who was normally terrified of his own powers, was now aiming at a building full of civilians. Drawing on all of his courage, Shane moved one foot, then the other, walking slowly forward, intent on stopping Navi one way or another. The mouse had paused, something causing him to hesitate, which was critical in giving Shane time to stop him.

"Navixus!" Shane leaped, grabbing the mouse and wrapping him in his arms, holding him tightly. The heat was painful, burning the front of his clothes, but the raccoon held on, desperate to bring Navi to his senses. "This isn't like you, please, Navi!"

Navixus continued to stand for a second, arm outstretched, a weapon of untold power waiting to be unleashed, then his arm dropped to his side. The flames around him subsided, and he relaxed into Shane's arms, the raccoon easily shifting his weight to let Navi lay into his grip. Navixus looked up at his friend, the blank look in his eyes fading a bit as they returned to normal.

"Shane?" Navi asked weakly, and Shane nodded, smiling down at his friend.

"What is it?"

"I got her, right?" A weak smile spread on Navi's face, and Shane's tears started anew, but he laughed and nodded while he cried, nuzzling his mouse friend's muzzle with his own.

"You were beautiful." Shane found himself saying.

"Thanks." Navixus said before collapsing into Shane's arms, his eyes closed. The raccoon sat and sobbed with his dying friend in his arms for only a moment before standing, his strength renewed, sheer willpower driving his every step. His dream began to fade away, until it was just the two of them, Shane holding the one thing he loved most in his arms.

A crash woke him, and Shane sat up, looking around. Finding the source, Shane picked up the broken picture frame from the floor, the picture bringing back the fear and pain, but now a sense of calm as well, an assuring feeling that this was not the end. He had worked so hard, Shane thought, that there was no way Navi could give up now.

shane was brought from his thoughts by a knock on the door. He jumped a little, not much got past the raccoon, and even less surprised him anymore. He stood, still holding the broken picture frame, the shattered glass piercing his hands as he moved numbly toward the door, not even noticing his blood falling to the ground. He pushed the button for his automatic door, and with a whirr it slid back, a small, multicolored mouse standing shyly. Shane's jaw dropped as he dropped the picture frame again.

"Navi?!" Shane cried, and the mouse smiled weakly. Before he could stop himself Shane fell to his knees, sobbing and hugging Navixus, crying onto his shoulder. "You're alright. You're okay," Shane repeated over and over softly as Navixus pressed his cheek to Shane's affectionately.

"Yup," Navi said weakly, "I'm alright, in more ways then one, thanks to you."

"How did I help?" Shane asked, "It's because you were looking for me that Myst even attacked you. You got hurt because I wasn't fast enough." Shane stopped as Navi pressed a finger to his lips, smiling and shaking his head.

"No, I wanted to save you. You saved me after, when I wasn't who I really am." To Shane's confused look Navi continued. "The sword activated a deeply buried combat program in my head. If you hadn't snapped me out of it, I would have destroyed everything around me, even the people I love." Both boy's cheeks turned rosy as they blushed at each other, unspoken feelings passing between them. Navi slid his hands into Shane's, and the raccoon flinched, forgetting about the cuts he had accidentally inflicted on himself. Navixus panicked, "Shane, what happened? Your hands are all cut up!"

"It was an accident, that's all. I'm just too happy that you're alright. I missed you." Shane looked into Navi's eyes, and the mouse blushed harder.

"I missed you too, Shane. I kept dreaming about you."

"Did you now?" Shane smiled, his heart racing, "I dreamed about you too." Navixus looked down shyly, and Shane just couldn't help himself anymore. His finger traced up Navixus' neck, bringing his muzzle back up, and before Navi could ask Shane moved forward and kissed him. Navixus was started for a moment, but quickly returned the passionate gesture, wrapping his arms around Shane's shoulders and pressing their bodies together. As their lips pulled away, both of them whispered the same thing.

"Ow..." They looked at each other, grinning ruefully as they clutched their chests. Shane was the first to move, grabbing Navixus by the hand and pulling him inside and closing the door. The mouse squeaked as Shane lifted his gown, blushing at first but enjoying the attention as the raccoon kissed the area he could around the mouse's wound, above and below the bandages. To Navi's surprised, Shane stopped for a moment to take off his own shirt, revealing the burned area on his chest, a large pink fur-less scar striking from his right hip to his left shoulder. Navixus reached out gingerly, touching the exposed skin gently, and Shane sighed softly at the touch. They looked into each others eyes, their hearts beating madly.

"Navi?" Shane said.

"Yes?"

"Please don't be that reckless again."

"what? Why?" Navixus asked, panicking.

"Because I love you too much to lose you." Shane's words struck Navixus to the heart, and the mouse cried with joy, leaping forward and kissing Shane hard. Their scars hurt, but they didn't care, the pain was worth it to make the other happy.

Outside the room, James and Lurianna stood, their sensitive ears picking up sounds of clothes rustling and heated breath, and the cat girl blushed, turning and walking away to give them privacy. James smiled, putting his arms behind his head before turning the other way, walking back to the infirmary.

"Told you," James said under his breath, "They love each other too damn much to let something like this stop them. Fix one, and both will be fine." He smiled to the ceiling as he walked away, leaving the reunited couple to themselves.