Apricot N. Fox
Apricot N. Fox (a.k.a. Wielder of the Braveheart Sword)
It was a wonderful Friday morning on West Side Island, and most citizens were on their way to work or school. West City was bustling. The tall office buildings are steadily being filled with occupants and the small houses with fathers and mothers saying goodbye to their children going to school. Everyone was awake and ready for yet another amazing day on their beautiful island. Everyone except Apricot and Citrus, of course.
It was 9:00 AM, and neither of them had awoken yet. Their house was calm, with just the noises of city life outside disturbing the peace. Inside one of the bedrooms lay a young female fox, named Citrus. As she slept peacefully, her pajama-clad chest rose and fell. Just then, her alarm went off. It rang for a while until finally Citrus heaved herself out of bed and turned it off. She stretched her orange furry arms and yawned a bit. Her sharp teeth glistened in the sunlight. Rubbing her eyes, she looked out of her window.
The city was already wide awake, and it was rush hour. Walking over to the window, she stopped in front of the mirror. She was pretty short but fit. Slightly muscular arms, medium-sized chest area, curvy hips, and thick legs. All covered in soft light-orange fur. But this morning, her fur was a complete mess and she had bags under her eyes.
"Ugh, I look terrible! What happened?" she asked herself while inspecting the rest of her body.
Her best friend/roommate Apricot was in the bedroom across from hers, but he was still asleep. Since Apricot and Citrus had moved away from their parents, they had no choice but to buy a house together. They've been living in this new house for a year now and had some scientific equipment installed in the basement. Citrus twitched her ear trying to make out any noises from her friend's room, but unfortunately, all she heard was soft snoring.
"Aw man, he's still asleep. I guess I'll make us some breakfast. What a wonderful day it'll be!"
Citrus jumped out of her bed and crept out of her bedroom. The hallway was quiet. Citrus looked at the framed images of her various adventures hanging on the wall and smiled, remembering those fun times. She headed into the kitchen and opened the refrigerator. Her tail wagged a little bit as she looked at all the scrumptious food.
"Mmm. I wonder what to eat this morning…"
Citrus stuck her whole head into the refrigerator, in search of a decent meal. After a while, though, she had gathered some food and began to eat. By this time, she had gotten worried about Apricot. He hadn't gotten up yet, and today he had a very important meeting to attend.
"Why isn't he getting up? I don't want to upset him, but I gotta wake him up. Hehe, maybe a kiss might do the trick!"
Citrus stood up and walked down the hallway to Apricot's room. The door was open a little bit, so she peeked inside. She was normally not allowed in his room, so this was a rare opportunity.
"Hey, Ap. Wake up. You're late for your meeting."
She crept closer to his sleeping body. Moving her face closer to his, she prepared to take her chance.
"This'll definitely wake him up."
She climbed on top of the sleeping fox and lowered herself. As she was right about to plant her kiss, Apricot woke with a start. His beautiful orange eyes blinked several times as he collected his bearings. He also had orange fur, albeit darker than Citrus.
"Huh, what? I'm up!"
His eyes met with Citrus' eyes and they locked.
"Well, this is awkward."
Apricot said. He smiled and blushed. "Wait, what're you doing in here?"
"Ah, nothin'. I was just trying to wake you up. You're late for your meeting!"
Apricot looked at his clock. It read 9:30 AM. Apricot's eyes widened as he got out of bed. Quickly, he began taking off his pajamas. Then he stopped midway.
"Wait a minute. Citrus, I'm gonna need you to get out."
He pointed her out the door, and she walked out slowly. She closed the door and went back into the dining room.
"Meh, I'll get another chance later. But for now, I'm gonna have me some breakfast!"
She ate her food cheerily, all the while Apricot went into the bathroom. He looked in the mirror. Some of his fur was messed up in the night, and his teeth needed brushing. He grabbed his toothbrush and got to work. While brushing his teeth, he thought of the day ahead. Would the people he was meeting accept his offer? Would they be friendly, or even nice to talk to?
He'll just have to deal with it later. After brushing his teeth, Apricot took a nice shower. The hot water flowing across his skin and through his fur felt really good. Steam rose from the water, and Apricot could relax. Apricot was in there for ten minutes, just enjoying the heat. Finally, he stepped out and dried off. Citrus was in the living room watching TV.
"Oh, hey Citrus. What're you up to?" he asked.
"Oh, I'm just-WOAH!"
Apricot was shocked.
"What? What happened?" he asked.
"You're only wearing a towel! Go and get some clothes on!" she complained.
Apricot looked down, and yes indeed, he only had a towel to cover his manhood. He blushed and ran back into his room and grabbed some clothes. He chose his usual outfit: a brown aviator's jacket, beige cargo shorts, and some running sneakers. He looked at himself in the mirror and smiled.
"I'm lookin' pretty good. Now, what time is it?"
Looking at the clock, he was surprised. It was almost 10:00 in the morning.
"I'm super late! I gotta go now, Citrus! See ya!"
He yelled as he grabbed an attache case and ran out the door.
"I wonder what he's got to do today…" Citrus thought to himself as she continued to watch TV.
Apricot ran down the street, dodging people walking along, and steadily making his way to the meetup location. He kept looking at his watch, and every time it got later and later.
Physical Description
General Physical Condition
Apricot Nectaroy Fox is a 30-year-old male fox. He is quite tall for his age and is very strong as well. He has sturdy limbs and a thin frame. He has very quick reflexes and is quick-witted. Apricot has one long, fluffy tail that is mostly dark orange and has a black tip. On his hands and the bottoms of his paws, he has pink paw pads that are very sensitive to temperature.
Body Features
Apricot has one large fluffy tail that he can use as a weapon. Despite its supposed virtual uselessness, the fox has trained himself to be able to control the tail's movements and move at speeds hard enough and fast enough to deal damage to a target. Apricot also has two large ears that are perked up almost all the time. He has adapted himself to do this in order to keep himself alert for any threats.
The fox has slender limbs that, at first sight, may seem to be weak and puny. But, Apricot is not one to be underestimated. His body is extremely sturdy; his fists able to deliver punches fast and hard, all the while taking minimal damage. That combined with his natural prowess for fighting strategically, makes the perfect warrior.
Facial Features
Apricot has a long muzzle that extends from the rest of his face at a length of two and a half inches. This muzzle is covered in soft white fur. On the end of his muzzle is his nose; black and oval-shaped. Right above the muzzle is Apricot's two stunning orange eyes. These eyes are more often than not covered by dark orange bangs hanging from the fox's forehead. When he smiles, you can see two sharp canine teeth on the top row. They poke out of his mouth when it is closed, but they aren't very noticeable unless you were looking for them.
Identifying Characteristics
An identifying feature that Apricot is known for is his long and bushy tail. Although it doesn't really cause problems in daily life, Apricot finds it annoying when it drags on the floor while he walks. He is also identified by his tall body, but skinny arms and legs.
Physical quirks
A physical quirk of Apricot's is that he bites his nails when he's stressed.
Special abilities
Apricot the Fox specializes in the art of sword-wielding and Chaos control. He knows where to hit the enemy to make them fall for good. He can craft objects with just scraps of metal and he has a metalworking station at his house. Apricot is also an adept hand-to-hand fighter, able to hold his own in a fight against people that are stronger and faster than him.
Apparel & Accessories
For his upper body, Apricot wears a grey tank top with a black aviator's jacket on top of that. This jacket has white faux fur around the collar and wrapped around the lower sleeve (where the hand pokes out). On his hands, he wears dark-red fingerless gloves. There is a set of brown goggles on his forehead at all times. He wears beige cargo pants and black combat boots.
Around his waist is a yellow belt. The most unique of all accessories that Apricot has is his sword sash-belt. It is red and wraps around Apricot's chest, going up and over the right shoulder. This sword is a longsword, with a 3 ft, 10-inch blade. The hilt of the weapon is wrapped in brown leather for better grip. The blade itself is a shiny metallic silver color and is extremely sharp. It is kept inside of a grey scabbard that rests on Apricot's back.
Mental characteristics
Personal history
Apricot the Fox was born on the 26th of August, 2091, to parents that were avid steelworkers. They often brought their work home with them, which inspired Apricot's appreciation for fine metalwork. His mother's name is Clementique and his father's name is Tangerino.
Apricot's childhood was one of intense turmoil. Before he reached the age of 15, Apricot and his family moved seven times. As it turns out, his father was under threat from a crime organization that he once was part of, and his time to pay his debts was up. His dad was once a member of the Alliance of Assassins; the most feared crime ring on the planet. In his early life, Apricot did not know of his father's criminal history, and for the most part, he was completely clueless. That all ended when he was 13 years old. The family was inside a restaurant, enjoying a delicious lunch. Suddenly, the sound of breaking glass, a shout, and his father lurched over.
He had been shot in the back by a sniper. Naturally, Apricot and his mother automatically assumed the worst. After all, a back shot is usually fatal. Fortunately for Tangerino Fox, an ambulance was at the scene in no time flat, and his life was saved. That's not to say that he would be perfectly fine afterward, however. Due to the nature of the injury and its proximity to the spinal cord, Apricot's father would have trouble walking for the rest of his life. This was the Fox family's first exposure to Tangerino Fox's secret former life. A few more attempts on Tangerino's life were made, and eventually, the entire family had to go into witness protection. They were completely relocated, their former lives nearly completely erased. All this occurred before Apricot was 13. After his family's entrance into witness protection, Apricot had to find some way to be considered normal.
After all, how can you call yourself 'normal' if your father was once an assassin and was nearly killed five times? By this time, Apricot was 16 years old. It had been a while since anyone tried to kill his father, but he was still sour about it. How could his own father, his own family member, neglect to tell his wife and son about this terrible thing? It was all a bit crazy, to be honest. Around this time, Apricot had begun to feel normal again. He was in high school, chugging along just fine. In the tenth grade, he met a female fox named Citrus. She was friendly and very energetic. Apricot found it funny that both of their names were a play on the name of the orange fruit. They quickly became the best of friends and hung out all the time. Sometimes Citrus would come over and they'd play video games together, sometimes Apricot went to her place and they watched a movie.
Over time, they had gravitated closer and closer to one another until they became like each other's second family. At the end of high school, when Apricot was 18 and Citrus 17, they moved out of their parent's homes. Both of them had some amount of money saved up, so together they bought a small house on the southern side of town. The two roommates had amazing times in that house, but when Apricot turned 22 years old, he was forced to sign up for military service. Citrus begged him to stay; she couldn't focus without him nearby. But, unfortunately, Apricot was accepted into the military and he was sent to the training grounds on Farsouth Island. During his service, he was trained with melee weapons. These include swords, knives, clubs, and spears. Unlike most other cadets, Apricot was allowed to choose his weapon. Being the son of two steelworkers, he naturally chose the sword.
This sword would stay by his side for his entire year of military service, and afterward. Apricot's service ended when he was 23 years old. He returned home to an elated Citrus, who seemed to have grown up five years in the past 12 months. Apricot attended a community college for four years and earned a bachelor's degree in statistics. A month after Apricot's college graduation, a man in military clothes showed up in front of the roommates' house at 4 AM. He was specifically looking for Apricot. When he finally went to see the man, he was handed a paper with a message on it.
"We have seen what you are capable of, and we're impressed. Meet us at this location at this time and we can talk it over. P.S., bring your sword. From, S.T.H."
Apricot didn't know anyone with the initials 'S.T.H', but he decided to take up the offer. The next day, he went to the indicated address at the chosen time. It turns out, this was the headquarters of Team Sonic. They had a scout in the military looking for suitable candidates. And Apricot seemed to fit the bill. So, he demonstrated a few fighting techniques and was taken into the fold. Not long after, Citrus was also asked to join the team. Both she and Apricot serve as honorary members of the Resistance and Team Sonic, and they lend a hand when they can.
Gender Identity
He identifies himself as male, and always will be male.
Sexuality
Apricot Fox identifies as both male and non-binary. He goes by the he/him pronoun and the they/them pronoun as well. This decision was made after a long time of careful consideration on his part, and he doesn't regret a thing.
Education
Apricot was educated in a lower class public school in West City. He attended this school through high school. His academics were okay; not the best, but certainly not the worst. He was very good at math and history, but science and English were hard to understand. Apricot got pretty good grades, and never failed a class ever. In his last three years of high school, he slacked off on his academics, choosing instead to hang out with Citrus almost every day. His grades took a hit, and he had to work extra hard to return them to the way they were. In college, Apricot spent three of five days in class, coming home every night. The workload of the community college that he attended was significantly lower than he expected, so he was able to blast through most of it with minimal effort. Using his heightened mathematical skills, he acquired a bachelor's degree in statistics.
Employment
During his early teen years, Apricot worked in his father's store, organizing shelves, restocking supplies, and occasionally manning the cash register. When he moved out of his parents' house, Apricot got a job at a nearby supermarket. His prior experience working in a store became very useful, and soon, Apricot was the top employee in the supermarket. At the age of 22, he signed up for the military. He was away for one year, serving on Farsouth Island. After his return, he went to community college and worked at a call center during his time there. Finally, after college, Apricot was inducted into the Resistance via Team Sonic.
Accomplishments & Achievements
During his time in the military, Apricot achieved the rank of Private First Class, which is still quite low on the totem pole. During this time, Apricot earned a Medal of Honor for saving one of his unit mates during a training exercise.
Another one of Ap's largest accomplishments is getting a bachelor's degree in statistics. Apricot has always been good at math, and statistics was his expertise. He has the skills to become a statistician, but that job doesn't have enough 'flair' for him.
Failures & Embarrassments
Just as Apricot has achieved several things, he's had his fair share of embarrassments and failures. One such event happened while he was in the military. As you know, he was only deployed for a year, but during that year, he had to have five years of military training crammed into it. This massive amount of action thrown at him was, needless to say, quite overwhelming. Apricot had several breakdowns during the one year, and he was considered a laughingstock in his unit. Everywhere he went, people called him 'weak', 'puny', and 'inadequate.'
This went on for months until finally, he proved his worth. It happened during a training exercise. The unit was being shelled from three sides. Nobody could lift their heads to see the surroundings or they'd be decapitated instantly! But, one brave, or rather stupid, soldier decided to lift his head up and take a peek. Surprisingly, he lasted longer than usual. But then, his luck ran out. A mortar round careened toward his face, and he would've been annihilated if it weren't for some quick thinking from Apricot. He grabbed the soldier by the waist and tossed him aside. The incoming shell sailed right overhead and crashed to the ground nearby. For that wonderful save, Apricot was awarded a Medal of Honor and was praised thoroughly by everyone in his unit.
Mental Trauma
Just like anybody, Apricot has had some amount of mental trauma. The majority of it caused indirectly by his father. As you know, Apricot's father, Tangerino, was once a member of the Alliance of Assassins. This group has a strict code of 'assassins stick together'. If broken, the perpetrator is subject to execution by any means necessary. This is exactly what happened to Tangerino Fox. On a routine hit, Tangerino and his group were cornered by armed police. There weren't any escape routes, and the small group was saying their goodbyes. Suddenly, Tangerino spotted a small gap between two buildings; perfect for an escape. So he got to his feet and hauled butt down that small corridor. He managed to evade the police, but the other three men in his group were killed. This action angered the Alliance very much, so a hit was arranged against Tangerino for revenge. That very hit was the sniper shooting that permanently injured him, scarring his son and wife for life.
Intellectual Characteristics
In terms of intellect, Apricot is no better than anybody else. He has a bachelor's in statistics and had pretty okay grades in high school. Nothing noteworthy. He is a hard worker and is dedicated to whatever he sets his mind to. He is courageous and trustworthy, and always a person you could rely on if you need a helping hand.
Morality & Philosophy
Apricot believes that if goodness is to prevail in the world, certain questionable measures will have to be taken. That said, he knows when something (or someone) has gone too far. Apricot is a mature and free spirit who goes where life takes him. Flies by the seat of his pants, so to speak. He is always out and about with his best friend Citrus and is quite the social guy.
Taboos
Apricot finds it extremely uncomfortable to discuss relationships or sexual things, especially around Citrus. He feels that those things should never be talked about in public, or at the very least, done discreetly. He is never one to truly admit these feelings.
Personality Characteristics
Motivation
Apricot's motivation to do what he does is to prevent the terrible events that transpired in his childhood from ever happening again. He knows firsthand the effects of crime and evil on a person's family, and he doesn't want anyone else to suffer that way, especially not the people he loves and cares about the most. He may seem to be angry or a hard-ass, but truly, he is a sensitive and damaged soul that cares for his loved ones immensely.
Savvies & Ineptitudes
Apricot is a skilled swordsman, able to wield blades that weigh tens of kilograms with ease. He knows where to strike and how to strike an enemy to make sure they go down and stay down. He is also a good mathematician, solving complex problems with little issue. Finally, Apricot is excellent at geography. He's able to read maps of virtually anywhere and tell you what kind of land it is, how elevated it is, and the general conditions of the area.
As for ineptitudes, Apricot isn't good with communication. He will refrain from telling a single soul, not even his best friend, about any problems he might be having. This habit is detrimental to the smooth flow of information within the Resistance. He also isn't very good at conveying his emotions and will bottle them up for extended periods of time. This isn't good for his health or others' because if he ever explodes one day, who knows how much damage he'll do.
Likes & Dislikes
Apricot likes going on long walks. They give him a chance to enjoy nature and clear his mind. He also really loves creative writing. In fact, Apricot has an entire fictional universe with characters, settings, and a plot, all inside of his head! He loves to daydream while sitting in his bedroom, and he likes animals.
Apricot dislikes loud noises such as sirens or wailing babies. These noises irritate him immensely, and if he hears them, he'll try to get away from them as quickly as possible. He also doesn't like being snuck upon. He finds that it is incredibly risky to sneak up on him, especially since he is a fighter trained to look out for any signs of abnormality. He avoids getting surprised for fear of injuring a person.
Virtues & Personality perks
Apricot's core virtues include responsibility, reliability, trustworthiness, courage, honesty, and perseverance. A personality perk of his is that he is very casual and laid back, which makes him super approachable. Despite his laid back manner, he has respect for authority and follows instructions given to him by his superiors, albeit reluctantly.
Vices & Personality flaws
A flaw of Apricot's is that he can become too laid back and casual at times, which leads to laziness and procrastination. It often takes a lot of convincing to get him out of bed during these times. Apricot sometimes stays up all night with his phone, and ends up exhausted the next day. Despite his age, he still has the energy and overall 'vibe' of a teenager.
Personality Quirks
A tick of Apricot's is that when he is nervous or embarrassed, his speech starts to stutter.
Hygiene
Apricot Fox likes to keep himself clean. He finds it to be necessary to take a shower right after waking up and right before going to sleep each day. Apricot loves very hot steamy showers, and he also enjoys singing in the shower.
Social
Contacts & Relations
Being a member of the Resistance, Apricot knows some people in very high places. For one, he personally knows the Mayor of West City. As for how he knows him? Oh, nothing really. Apricot once saved the mayor's son's life while in the military. He also has the phone number for every member of Team Sonic on speed dial and follows their social media. He also has his parents' numbers in there.
Family Ties
Apricot's family is very close-knit. He has his mother, father, aunt, uncle, and two cousins.
Religious Views
Apricot is a member of the Chaosian religion; people who believe that the world was given life by the God of Creation, Chaos. Apricot's belief in this is further strengthened by Knuckles, who is literally the legendary Guardian of the Master Emerald. Knuckles often tells stories of his childhood, and how every day, he'd go to the Master Emerald Shrine and learn more about his prophesied future.
Social Aptitude
Apricot is an affable and agreeable person who enjoys talking to others. He has several social media accounts that he updates frequently, each one with a good amount of followers. Apricot belongs to a video game enthusiast club that hosts meetings every other Thursday.
Mannerisms
Apricot walks with his head up high, back straight, and shoulders rigid. He has a long stride length and moves fast when walking. Apricot rarely ever is seen in one place for a long amount of time; he's always on the move. He never settles down and is always in need of something to do, whether it be as mundane as sweeping the hallway, or interactive as taking a bike ride around the city. This fox has many friends, or at the very least, many people to talk to. He is always talking to one of them on the phone or visiting their houses. He isn't one to show romantic affection toward those he harbors feelings for, and those feelings pester him often. He'll never come out and tell someone he likes them, he'd rather they figure it out or he let it go.
Hobbies & Pets
Apricot himself owns no pets, but he does like animals. His reasoning for not getting a pet is that he won't have the time to give it the care and love it needs to thrive. Apricot likes to write fiction in his free time. He finds that it's a good way to express his inner creativity in a healthy and progressive way. Apricot also likes to play video games. He spends two hours per session playing games, and his catalog is quite diverse. He has a few brawlers, some RPGs, and a building game or two.
Speech
Apricot speaks fluent Mobian English, with a noticeable Middle-Mobian accent. He speaks quickly and enthusiastically, especially around people he's familiar with. When he gets angry, his voice can become really intimidating, and some might even say scary. When he speaks, he uses slang often and says 'uhh' and 'uhm' a lot.
Relationships
History
Apricot Fox met Sonic the Hedgehog after he was recruited for service within the Resistance. Sonic had placed a scout in the military, searching for people with extraordinary fighting prowess and impressive skills. After Apricot's quick save of a unit mate, Sonic's scout reported back to the Resistance of this new potential recruit. Sonic and the scout kept tabs on Apricot for the rest of his military career, and it was unanimously decided that the fox would be a great new Resistance member. After he returned home from service, Apricot was approached by Sonic's scout, who cordially invited the fox to Resistance headquarters, so they could discuss this new job opportunity. Needless to say, Apricot was both skeptical and excited about this news. One the one hand, he didn't know any of these guys personally, but on the other hand, this is an opportunity too good to pass up. So he accepted the offer, and attended the meeting the day after. He was asked to demonstrate his skills to the Resistance leaders and he was accepted into the fold. Before Apricot could officially become a trusted member of the Resistance, he had to hone his skills. So, Sonic was assigned to be Apricot's mentor until he could be sure of the fox's usefulness on the battlefield. Sonic and Apricot trained together for six months. After this, Apricot was an official member of the Resistance. His best friend, Citrus Fox, was invited to join the ranks soon after, and they both have been with the Resistance for over five years now.
Nicknames & Petnames
Apricot usually just goes by the nickname 'Ap', which is a shortening of his name. At one time or another, he went by the name 'Orange', denoting his abnormally colored fur.
Relationship Reasoning
At first, Sonic was untrusting of Apricot's laid back and casual nature, thinking that the fox wouldn't take his training seriously. But soon, he found that Apricot took his training as seriously as possible. He genuinely strove to become a better swordsman and a better person overall by joining the number one safety corps in the world.
Commonalities & Shared Interests
Both Sonic and Apricot share a general interest in righting the wrongs of the world. They both also enjoy running, although one clearly way more than the other. Sometimes, both of them go for a run in the park to see who could get from one end of the park to the other the quickest.
Shared Secrets
As part of the trusting nature of Resistance members, no two members may hold a secret between each other, especially if it is one pertaining to other members.
Shared Acquaintances
Both of them share an acquaintance with the other members of the Resistance Board, including Knuckles, Shadow, Silver, Blaze, and Tails.
Legal Status
Legally, the two are recognized as coworkers.
Wealth & Financial state
Apricot Fox isn't rich by any meaning of the word. He's doing well financially, but could always use some more money. He's been told by Dr. Antarius Prower, that if he needs monetary assistance, all he needs to do is ask. The problem with that is Apricot feels like he's mooching off of his friend if he asks for money. As for the amount of money that Apricot has, the total hangs around 20,000 Rings.
Apricot is a free-spirited swordsman and an adept user of Chaos energy. He once served in the military, and is now part of the Resistance. Apricot is a master of melee weaponry, and is a force to be reckoned with in battle.
Character Location
Apricot Fox is a lively, friendly, and outgoing 30-year old that wields a sword. It's nothing to worry about...if you stay on his good side.
Alignment
Chaotic Good
Honorary & Occupational Titles
Apricot is known by few professional titles. First and foremost, he is known professionally as a Senior Resistance Patroller. He earned this rank after five years and many operations in the Resistance. Another title that Apricot is known as is Private First-Class Apricot. He earned this rank after saving the life of one of his unit mates while training in the military. Another, non-official, title that Apricot has earned is Master Swordsman of the 16th UZMM Swordwielder Division. He got this title when he mastered the art of longsword wielding and usage. This sword, known as the Braveheart Sword, is a direct derivative of Apricot's first beloved blade that he used in the military. It is made of a super durable metal that can channel Chaos energy. Apricot has this sword with him almost all the time.
Age
30
Date of Birth
26th of August, 2091
Birthplace
Westpoint Hospital, West Side Island
Spouses
Siblings
Children
Current Residence
7503 West Orange Street, West City
Gender
Male
Eyes
golden orange
Hair
dark orange
Skin Tone/Pigmentation
hidden under fur
Height
6 ft, 0 in.
Weight
130 lbs.
Quotes & Catchphrases
During battle, Apricot can get really chatty. That's just another one of his quirks when under the influence of adrenaline!
- Hey Sonic! I'm done with this one! How about I let you give it a whirl?
- This is the last time you mess with us!
- Ugh, I don't have time for people like you today.
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A Dash of Fluff to Start the Day
5th of February, 2121
As the sun poked out from behind a group of clouds in the early morning sky, South City finally began to stir. It was 7 AM, and most people would be starting to head for work right about now. Cars in driveways started up, husbands kissed their wives and children before going to work, kids were boarding the school bus to head to school. The entire city was wide awake. Well, except for Citrus, of course.
The twenty-eight year old female red fox was still fast asleep in her bed. Her chest rose and fell with each snore and all was silent in her house. Immediately, the peace and quiet were interrupted by an ear-piercing shriek, originating from an alarm clock beside the fox's bed. It rang for a minute before a fuzzy orange hand groped it haphazardly and it clanged to the floor, silenced. The hand returned to the safety of the large blanket and its owner sighed deeply.
"Another day, another car to fix. Let's get to it," she said.
She sat up and rubbed her eyes hard. Her vision disappeared for a second before coming right back. She stretched her long thin arms into the air and yawned, mouth open wide. Her sharp teeth glistened in the early morning sunlight. Citrus stood up and walked to her bedroom door and yanked it open. There was a smell of food in the air, barely noticeable by her small black nose.
"Apricot, is that you cooking? You've never done that before..."
Apricot was her best friend forever and current housemate. He was two years older than her and they met in 10th grade. From the very start, it was clear that they had a relationship like no other. It wasn't completely romantic, but it wasn't platonic either. It was suspended in a perpetual state of 'friends with benefits.'
"Yeah, it's me. Good morning, sleepyhead!" said the cheerful male fox.
As the tired and groggy Citrus walked into the kitchen, she held her arms out.
He wrapped his arms around her entire body in a warm and comfortable hug.
"Mm, that feels good..." Citrus mumbled.
Apricot looked at her with a quizzical expression on his face.
"Uh, I mean, what's for breakfast?"
Smooth.
Apricot put his hands on his hips and gestured to the stove.
"Why don'tcha take a look for yourself? There's bacon, pancakes, and eggs. I also went out and bought some orange juice early this morning. All this is for you! After all, I know how much you appreciate good food!" he said.
He smiled widely, showing all of his teeth.
"You woke up early in the morning just for me?" she asked him.
Citrus's eyes seemed to light up.
"Well, of course I did. As your best friend, I did it to show my gratitude. Take it as a 'you owe me one'. Now, go back to your bed and I'll bring this all to you," Apricot said.
It was almost as if time had stopped completely for Citrus. Here she was, being offered breakfast in bed by her very best friend, and to make it even better, he had prepared her favorite meals! It was like a dream come true.
"Citrus, are you okay?" asked Apricot.
She had completely frozen and resorted to bumbling seemingly nonsense under her breath.
"I'll take that as a...no? Here, come with me," he said as he grabbed her shoulders and gently pushed her back down the hallway and into her bedroom.
It was a rare opportunity for Apricot since he was seldom allowed into her bedroom. He gently lifted her off her feet and placed her into the bed.
"Ok then. Just stay here and I'll be right back," he said.
Apricot exited her room, leaving her there with her thoughts.
All of a sudden, she snapped out of it.
She had been surprised by Apricot's sudden demonstration of his affection for her, and it caught her off guard.
"What a gentleman he is. Still, it is pretty weird that he suddenly started doing things like this..." she thought.
Her contemplation was interrupted by her bedroom door opening. Apricot walked in with a wooden tray of mouth-watering food stacked sky-high upon it. It looked like a king's feast!
"Oh wow, look at all this! It's all mine?" she asked him.
He nodded cheerfully.
"Aw, thank you, Ap! You're such a good friend."
She threw her arms around him and took a bite. It was, needless to say, a heavenly meal.
Apricot grabbed the TV remote from her nightstand and turned the TV on. A movie was playing. But, he paid no attention to it. All he could think of was all the things his best friend had done for him ever since they met. Now was the time he paid her back.
The fox pondered for a moment, then he asked the question.
"Hey, why don't we go somewhere today? Just you and me?"
Citrus gulped down the remaining food in her mouth.
"Well, I have to finish working on the car today. The customer's gonna be real mad if it's not done by 9:00 tonight. Sorry," she said.
Apricot had known that she'd decline all along. He sighed and continued to watch the television.
"You know what? I think it can wait. I'll just have to tell the customer that there was a delay in a part delivery. Let's go somewhere today. Somewhere fun!"
Apricot's face lit up and his tail swished from side to side.
"Really? That's great!"
His plan was working just as intended.
"Well, what'd you have in mind? I'm sure your sneaky self didn't just spring a question without having a backup plan," Citrus said.
He smiled smugly.
"You know me all too well. I hereby decree that laser tag or bowling shall be our activities for today," Apricot jokingly said while pretending to be a judge.
"Sounds like a plan! I vote for...laser tag," Citrus said.
Apricot nodded.
"Good choice. I was thinking the same thing. Besides, you don't wanna get destroyed in the alley by yours truly. My dad and I used to go bowling every other Sunday. I kill at that sport," he bragged.
Citrus rolled her eyes and shoved another helping of scrambled eggs into her mouth.
Apricot shifted himself off her bed and walked to her door.
Before he left, though, he said something.
"Oh, and by the way, there's a little something special at the bottom of that glass of orange juice. Don't swallow it!"
At that, he exited her room and closed the door behind him.
Citrus quickly grabbed the glass of orange juice and chugged it in no time flat, making sure to watch out for any foreign objects within the delectable liquid. Finally, she came to the bottom of the glass. Splayed out on the floor of the cup, and soaked in orange juice, sat a long silver necklace with a large silver heart attached to it.
She grabbed it with her nails and carefully extracted it. On the back of the silver heart were three letters.
"C. B. F."
Her initials.
Apricot had gone out and presumably, spent hundreds of Rings on this gorgeous necklace for her.
Citrus's heartbeat sped up seemingly a thousand times and her head felt lighter than air. She cleaned off the necklace and placed it around her neck. The metal traced a line of cold around her collarbone.
"Oh my Chaos, this is beautiful! He actually spent all that money on me..."
She jumped out of her bed, making sure to not spill any food onto it. She went into the living room of their shared apartment and saw Apricot on the couch with his phone. He turned his head and looked at her. At once, his eyes widened and the tips of his ears became warm.
“Whoa, that looks great on you. I knew it’d be a perfect fit!” he said.
Citrus blushed and giggled.
Apricot heaved himself off the couch and approached Citrus. She looked into his sparkling orange eyes.
“What are you doi-”
She was interrupted by a hand brushing the stray hairs from in front of her eyes, and stroking her cheek.
“I know we’ve been friends for a really long time. Over ten years at this point. And I also know that we’ve had our ups and downs over the years, albeit rarely. I just want to say that I’ve finally realized that all this time, the friendship we have has grown to heights I never dreamed could be possible. The point is…”
Apricot grabbed both of her hands.
“...I really care about you, I might even go as far as to say that I love you, Citrus. Yes, this is sudden, but it’s been plaguing me for weeks, and I had to tell you sometime. I hope you can understand…”, he concluded.
Citrus was shocked at what she was hearing. Apricot was never one to confess his affection for another person, no matter how much he wanted to. This must’ve really meant something to him.
“Aw, Apricot. I care about you a lot, too. You’re so kind and generous and sweet, and I just love being around you. I totally understand the feeling you have, believe me, I’ve experienced it. With that said, I don’t want any relationship we may enter with each other to ruin our friendship. What we have is special. You don’t want that to be ruined, do you?”
He shook his head.
“So, if this feeling ever resurfaces from now, all you need to do is remember that I am your best friend and I will support you with anything you set your mind to. There’s no need for a romantic relationship when you have everything you might need or want right here.”
She extended her arms for a hug, which Apricot graciously accepted. The embrace lasted for a full minute before it was broken. Both of them had expressed their true feelings to each other for the first time in years, and it felt surprisingly good.
Apricot grabbed his backpack and slung it over his shoulder. He walked to the front door.
"Where are you going? I hope what I said didn't make you angry or anything," Citrus told him.
He waved a hand at her.
"No, of course not. You said you wanted to do laser tag, right? Well, let's go!"
Citrus smiled widely and followed him out the door.
The two of them walked down the busy downtown streets, looking at all the tall buildings and sculpted statues that laid about.
"How far away is the arena? I don't want to waste my energy walking before we can even get started!" Citrus said.
Apricot pointed down the block. It was about 500 feet away.
"It's just over there. I hear that it's one of the best in town. Did you know that Sonic is a frequent visitor to this place? Heck, maybe we'll see him!"
With his long legs and large feet, Apricot walked with a quick step. One of his steps is two of Citrus's. She had to jog to keep up with him. Today, however, he walked slowly, with his head hung low, his tail abnormally saggy, and his shoulders slouching.
Apparently, Citrus's response to his emotional spillage was less than optimal for him.
Citrus took notice of this and thought about how to cheer him up.
"Aw, man. I didn't mean to rip his heart in half like that. Maybe I could try something that shows him I still like him, as a friend of course," she thought.
Suddenly, she made a decision. Reaching her hand down to her waist, where Apricot's hand hung sadly, she grabbed it and held it firmly.
"Huh? What's this all about?" he asked her.
"I just felt kinda guilty about shooting you down earlier, so I just want you to know that we're cool. Nothing's changed between us!"
Apricot smiled weakly and continued to walk down the sidewalk, his other hand buried in his sweater pocket.
Finally the two of them came across their destination. "Red Eye's Laser Tag Arena" it was called. They entered the building and were greeted with a modern marble and glass desk. It had LED lights lining its underside which repeatedly flashed the colors of the rainbow. Sitting at the desk was a bored-looking clerk. He was a wolf and had grey and black hair that fell across his eyes.
"Good afternoon and welcome to Red Eye's Laser Tag Arena. What can I do for you?" he asked.
"Hi. Two tickets for a one-hour intermediate session. We'll join any team you put us in," said Citrus.
The clerk typed that information into his computer and read out the price.
"That'll be forty Rings please," the clerk said.
He held out his hand impatiently.
Apricot dug into his backpack and retrieved two small square-shaped boxes called Ring Monitors. Each one was grey with a computer projection of a spinning ring on its front.
"Thank you very much and have a fun time."
Apricot and Citrus walked through the doors next to the clerk's desk and entered a room filled with people. They were all queued up in order of difficulty rating. Citrus had asked for an intermediate difficulty. That queue was luckily the shortest.
Standing on that line were several people, some seemed to be athletes, as evidenced by their brightly colored clothes and bulging muscles.
"Oh boy, we're gonna have some good competition today! Let's hope one of those ripped guys are on our team," Citrus said.
She looked at Apricot, whose mouth was turned down into a frown. He looked all around the room, scanning with darting eyes.
"Mhm, yeah, let's hope one of them is on our team..." he said, sounding distracted.
"Alright, people! Everyone lined up for Intermediate class, please enter the arena!" said an announcer from somewhere above.
The queue moved quickly and everyone filed into the arena in an orderly fashion. A woman at the front of the line turned to face everyone else. She was probably the game master.
"Ok, we're gonna be splitting everyone into teams. There's gonna be three teams. When I tap you on the shoulder and say either A, B, or C, you move off to the side. That will be your group. Let's get started."
She moved down the line, tapping people's shoulders and calling out letters as she went. Finally, it was Citrus's turn.
"You're gonna be an A..." said the lady as she tapped Citrus's shoulder.
"Are you two together? Would you like to be part of the same team?" the woman asked.
Citrus looked at Apricot, who still had a general air of sadness and regret around him.
"Why, yes we ar-"
"No, no we're not," interrupted Apricot.
Citrus looked at him, horrified.
"What do you mean, we're not together? Yes, we are!" she said in a firm voice.
"I'm aware of that. I just want a change of pace. Let's see how being on your opposing team feels for once. I might even have a hint of regret when I eliminate you," he said with a cocky sneer.
Citrus couldn't tell if he was joking or not, but she didn't like where this was going.
"Okay, then. I'm in group A and you're group B."
She and he split off, both walking in different directions. Group B consisted of all the athletes they saw earlier. They greeted Apricot with a high five and a slap on the back.
"Glad to be on your team. Let's show the other guys what we're truly made of," he said.
Citrus, on the other hand, watched her supposed best friend from the other side of the room, confused as all heck and fuming at his little stunt. Her team was composed mostly of teenagers. She was the oldest person there.
"Oh, Apricot... What are you doing? I thought we were friends," she said to herself while she watched him participate in the athlete team's motivational cheer.
"Alright! In a moment, I will open the doors to the arena and the game can begin! Remember these rules: no fighting, no pointing the laser beams at other people's eyes, and most important of all, no cheating! If you're hit, your gun will deactivate for thirty seconds and a score will be tallied against you. The first team to 20 points wins the game! Ready, go!"
The doors mechanically swung open and all the teams rushed through their dedicated door. There were laser guns hung on a rack next to each door, so everyone grabbed one. Citrus was stuck with a tiny pistol.
"What? A pistol? I bet I won't ever score any hits with this thing! Ah, whatever! Viva la group A!" she said as she ran into the arena.
Immediately, there was chaos. People were falling left and right, getting hit on their chests, shoulders, and sides. Nobody was coordinated and it was every man for themselves.
A few of her teammates ran past, barely visible laser beams trailing after them. They were hit in the back and fell to the ground.
Realizing that her chances of winning were slim, Citrus ran full-throttle through the crowd and clutched the trigger of the gun. She aimed and fired recklessly hoping for any shots to land. Surprisingly, about half of her randomly thrown laser beams hit a target, scoring her team 4 points.
"Alright! Let's do this thing! Random laser shots, go!" she said as she once again bolted through the crowd, shooting random things until something hit.
She screeched to a halt behind a large pillar to catch her breath. She poked her head to the side but immediately retracted it because a volley of laser beams strafed by. She squinted to try and see the shooter in the dark.
Then, her face fell as she saw a familiar blue sweater coming towards her.
It was Apricot, and he was thirsty for blood. Metaphorically, of course.
"Come on out, Citrus. It won't hurt one bit. My team and I just need a few more points to win, and who better to get them from than my very best friend?" he said.
His voice was filled with hatred and malice, but more than anything, sadness.
Citrus ducked and rolled to another pillar just as her previous hiding spot was blown. He was hot on her trail.
She dipped and dodged under stray laser blasts and over fallen comrades in an attempt to evade her crazed friend.
She looked behind her, thinking that she had escaped when she slammed into something soft. She hit the ground with a thump and looked up. An expression of pure horror crossed her face as she realized that she had played right into Apricot's hands.
"Heya, friend. It's been a while. How about I take those points from you and nobody gets hurt?" he asked.
Citrus was terrified. She tried to fight back by kicking and punching, but none of it seemed to faze him. He grabbed her by the scruff of her neck and lifted her off the floor. He pinned her against the wall in the far back of the arena, where none of her teammates could find her.
"Wh-what are you doing? Let me down! You wouldn't hurt me!" she said.
He smirked and rolled his eyes.
"Oh really? Would you like to test that theory?" he asked as he bent closer and closer to her face.
She could feel his shaky breath on her face. His snout was mere centimeters from hers.
She thought it was all over. She thought that her friend had resorted to murder to get what he wanted.
"It's over for you now. I've won," Apricot said, maliciously.
She closed her eyes and waited for the end.
But it never happened.
Instead, she felt a vibration on her chest as her laser tag vest lit up with a red color.
"Welp, I'll take those points from you and be on my way. I'm a great actor aren't I?" he asked her.
Citrus slumped to the floor, face in hands. She shook subtly, her heart racing at a million miles per hour.
"That was good. You got me. Wooo!" she said.
He extended his hand and helped her to her feet.
"Man, I actually felt like I was in a movie. Sorry if I scared you. But I doubt I could scare someone as hardcore as you. Anyways, let's continue. Good luck to ya!" Apricot said as he ran off, blasting opponents on his way.
Citrus leaned against the wall and laughed.
"Heh, good ole Apricot. Tricking people with that weird sense of humor of his. What a guy," Citrus remarked.
She dashed from her spot, dodging the opponent's blasts as she went.
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