With stilled breath, a deft crouch and careful steps, Wolf quietly made his way around the hangar's circumference. Around this time, Sargasso Space Station's maintenance crew would have already left on their noon break. The usual hum of voices filling the docking area have all but faded, save for the light droning of idling aircraft.
The moment's quiet was a welcome one, given that the lupine's current mission was one of stealth. He narrowed in 30 paces closer to his quarry; a chameleon with back turned, thoroughly busying himself beneath the wings of his prized aircraft, the Rainbow Delta.
A smirk slowly formed on Wolf's muzzle as he lowered himself behind a supply crate. It was a rare occurrence that he'd have the jump on this teammate in particular, and he would be sure to savor the moment.
He peeked out once more to plan his approach, only to find the chameleon nowhere to be seen.
"God damn it," Wolf sighed as he raised his arms, palms open. He just now noticed the light press of a metal blade to his neck accompanied by a quiet, hissing snicker. "So how long did you know?"
"The moment you passed my quarters and began following my trail." The reptile retracted his switchblade and emerged from his leader's blind spot, unable to hide his own grin.
"The minute I even dare tried, huh?" Wolf couldn't help but mirror his companion. Nothing less was to be expected of Leon.
"I'll get you one of these days."
The lupine had lost tally of their little game, anyway. He leaned in and fondly rubbed his head against Leon's crown. The lizard stilled, eyes flicking back and forth scanning the area, before loosening a little; tentatively returning the gesture. Both were mutually private in their affections, but stealing small moments like this was something Wolf found himself liking more and more.
"It's more likely that I would be the one to catch Leon off guard if that bumbling around was your idea of stealth, Lord O'Donnell."
Leon had practically jumped out of his skin at the foreign voice and Wolf himself could feel his own hairs standing on end. He whipped his head up and spotted Panther casually leaning over the guard rail, tail curling and seemingly pleased to have gotten the jump on the pair.
"Ah, a point for Panther," the wildcat shot them a wide, pearly white grin.
"In on the competition. Fantastic. Do me a favor and forget what you saw." Wolf could feel Leon still bristling 5 arms lengths away.
"How am I to turn a blind eye to my beloved comrade's tame, secret love affair?" Panther gave a mild chuckle, delicately dodging a pebble Leon had thrown. "It's fine, you know. Your secrets are safe with me."
"...though, I would be offended if I were not the one officiating the union to be..."
With that, Panther swiftly strode off out of sight before he could further incite the chameleon to elevated measures.
He really talks too much.
With a sigh, the leader tilted his head side to side, cracking his neck a couple of times before facing a rather displeased looking Leon. To anyone else's eyes, his comrade's face was expressionless as ever, but Wolf knew.
"What? You didn't notice him either," Leon's gaze didn't lift. "Come on, he probably already knew. Guy sticks his nose all up our businesses..."
Leon had already begun walking back to his aircraft, electing to ignore the lupine entirely. Typically this would leave him miffed, but he had already been endeared to that silent huffiness of his. Not to mention, the hangar was still empty and devoid of activity.
Wolf caught up to his reptile friend and, without warning, grappled him; hoisting him up and burying his snout into the curve of his neck.
"Come here, you need a hug."
The chameleon wriggled in an attempt to loose himself from the iron tight grip. He lightly batted at his assailant, but Wolf hadn't any intention of letting him slip off, not while they were finally alone, and eventually resigned to the affections; the soured mood all but dissipated.
Wolf thought to himself it was worth risking another sharp blade to his neck, or worse, Panther's sharper eyes, if he could have another stolen moment like this. But this, this would do.
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