It's been so long! Yikes! But I finally managed to get my laptop problems fixed... well really the store exchanged me for a whole new computer, so I'm back in business! Work hours have picked up slightly, but I'm still going to try to write! Thank you so much for your amazing reviews on the last chapter, I hope you all enjoy this next one just as much! :) It's a continuance of the last chapter. Hope you all enjoy! :)
Felix was so excited at the prospect of his next date with Calhoun that he could barely sleep. Their first date had gone so well, and he briefly wondered if it were possible to die from the honey-glows. When he awoke the next morning he spent a good few hours fidgeting and pacing, staring at his clock. He tried distract himself by cleaning up around his apartment, but nothing ever seemed to fully relax his mind. He momentarily considered going to talk to Ralph for a while, to start building a real friendship with the wrecker, but then remembered that Ralph would have already left for Sugar Rush to spend the day with Vanellope before her race.
"Well it's…10am." Felix sighed in annoyance. Surely he had spent more time than that cleaning! "I'll just read…yes! I'll read!" he hopped over to his bookcase and pulled out a book he had only just started a few days before his big adventure. However not even the adventures in his book could keep his mind from straying back to a certain beautiful blonde woman. Several times he caught himself staring off at nothing, the words a blur under his eyes. He turned again to the clock and sighed heavily; barely an hour had passed. This was going to be a very long day.
"Hey Ralphie! You came! You came!" Vanellope ran out of the sugar-coated palace to meet her friend. She glitched onto his shoulder and he chuckled, patting the top of her head.
"Of course I did kid, didn't I say I would?"
"Yeah yeah yeah, now come on! You gotta see this place! There's like a bazillion rooms! And it's huge! And you should see my bed! And oh man there's even a bowling alley Ralph!"
"I see someone's adjusting well." He teased good-naturedly.
"Well it's not exactly the volcano, but since some stinkbrain blew it up, it'll have to do for now."
"Alright kid, now why don't you stop yacking and just show me around this great place of yours before we miss your race?"
"Kohut, I'm going out for a few hours, you're in charge of the troops."
"Yes ma'am." He tipped his head to her. As soon as she had approached him he had noticed the distinct lack of armor; she had traded it for a pair of black pants and a plain black shirt. "Meeting up with the little guy again?" he asked, not a trace of teasing nor malice in his voice.
"Maybe." Was her response.
"C'mon Sarge. Don't act like you're not at least a little bit excited." He smirked. She turned to him, her face set as stone. A single eyebrow arched upwards.
"Are you really teasing me Kohut?"
"Not at all Sarge; I'm just sayin'; you hide your emotions too much sometimes. I'm just happy for you."
She was silent for a moment as she regarded the man she called friend, a moment went by and then she nodded; Kohut knew that is was her own way of saying thank you. She was quiet, and kept her emotions close to herself, but he had known her long enough to pick up on her subtleties.
"Good afternoon Tammy." Felix blushed as Calhoun exited her game. He had been waiting for her on one of the benches near the entrance of Hero's Duty. Instantly her shoulders relaxed and her lips curved up in a small smile. There was something about him that instantly lightened her; he was a breath of fresh air. She flicked the brim of his cap over his eyes.
"Hey there Fix-It. Sorry to keep you waiting, had to make sure everything was in check before I left."
"Oh not at all ma'am." He peeked at her shyly from under his hat as he straightened it back upright. "Shall we?" he gestured gallantly with his arm, knowing that he was far too short to place her hand in his arm and lead her there like a proper gentleman.
"Well we've got a way to walk, if you're not opposed to it we could go by glider." She gestured to the hoverboard on her back.
Vanellope had spent a great deal of time showing Ralph around the castle. She'd told him about her plans to 'fix the place up'.
"Pink's not really my color; that's more Taffyta's style."
"Haven't you heard kid? It's salmon." Ralph teased.
"It's pink, g'doy! That stupid Turbo wouldn't know style if it hit him in the face. I'm thinkin' a nice minty green and maybe some blue. I'll keep a few pink touches.. for accents." she chuckled and leaned back on his broad shoulder. As their walk returned them to the throne room Vanellope grew quiet, and she twiddled her thumbs in her lap.
"You alright there kid?"
"Hm? Oh yeah..just thinkin' is all."
"About?" he grew concerned.
"Just the race Ralphie! I can't wait to see the looks on their faces when I come in first place!"
It had been over two hours since then. She had made the excuse that she needed to go look into something concerning her cart and told him to not break anything while she was away. Naturally he became concerned at her not returning and went around her new home again, searching every room that he could find. He'd even asked the sour little jaw breaker Sour Bill if he had seen the President, but the little candy glumly shook his head and kept on walking.
"Guess he's still sour after our last encounter." Ralph said to himself before walking outside. He had one last hunch of just where she might be.
Somehow he wasn't surprised to find her in the old volcano, her old abode had been destroyed in the beacon. She was seated atop of a pile of rubble, the diet cola hot springs had calmed once more and broiled in front of her.
"What are ya doin here kid?"
"Just thinkin'" she replied, not turning to look at him.
"Everything okay?"
"Of course it is Stinkbrain. Just..this place was my home for so long… it's kinda weird to not sleep here anymore."
"Yea..." he said, looking around. He'd felt the same when he left his dump for his new home. He'd never been happy in the dump, but it was familiar; the only small bit of comfort he had known in years. "But, sure must be nice being all warm and cozy in that nice big castle of yours; not sleeping alone with the garbage, no diet cola to explode and burn you."
"Well when you put it that way." she chuckled.
"Come on, President Fartfeathers, you've got a race to win."
Vanellope's name climbed up the leader board as she passed by Rancis, leaving the blonde haired boy in a cloud of dust. She tore around the next curve, glitching ahead until she was neck in neck with Taffyta. Ralph, Felix and Tamora watched from the "presidential booth" loudly cheering on their racer friend. Taffyta jerked her wheel sideways, slamming into the side of Vanellope's car in an attempt to knock her to the side and gain the advantage.
"Don't take that sittin' down! Show that sugar-crusted brat who's boss!" Tamora shouted out loudly. From beside her Felix laughed; he found Tamora's spunk endearing. The karts bumped against each other again, their tires rubbing together before Vanellope glitched ahead and passed through the finish line. There was a thunderous applause all around and Vanellope's face flashed across the large screen.
"Yeah! Alright kid! Great job!" Ralph congratulated his friend when he met her near the finish line.
"I was pretty awesome, huh?" Vanellope chuckled before glitching up to Ralph's shoulder.
"Not half bad half-pint." Tamora said.
"Not half bad?! Are you kidding me? I was amazing! I'd like to see you win!"
"Oh really? Is that a challenge?"
"Bring it on, old lady!"
The two ripped around a tight corner, and Vanellope's tires left a long skid in the track. Tamora, atop her cruiser, zoomed above and over the younger racer, passing her. Felix sat nervously in his seat in the stands, biting at his nails and occasionally covering his eyes. The two nearly collided and while the pair laughed Felix covered his eyes and whined.
"Oh c'mon Felix! You're about to miss the finish!" Ralph said. Felix slowly peeked out from behind his fingers in time to see the girls coming for the finish, both with a determined look in their expressions. They crossed at the same time, skidding to a halt. Vanellope turned off her engine and the two looked to one another with a shared respect.
"Not bad." Tamora told her, to which Vanellope repeated in kind. They turned to the sound of footfalls and saw Felix and Ralph hurrying their way.
"My land! That was exciting!" said Felix. "Now I hope you girls won't let this little competition go to your heads-" he was cut off as Tamora lifted him from the ground and pulled him into a kiss. His troubles eased away and he emitted a happy sigh, cupping her cheek in his head.
"Blech! There are children present!" Vanellope gagged.
"No one said you had to watch, kid." was Tamora's response.
Some time later Tamora and Felix were seated just inside of the entrance for her game.
"I gotta say Tammy, the way you just "zoom!" right past her, well it was exciting!" Felix chuckled nervously. "But I gotta admit, I was gettin' pretty nervous up there with the way you were tearing around those corners."
"Eh you don't have to be worried about me Fix-It." she shrugged.
"Well s-sure I do. Y-you're my dynamite gal." he stuttered out; last time he'd called her that it hadn't ended so well; but he really couldn't find another way to adequately describe the woman he had so fallen for. Tamora looked to him and blinked; she had expected some sort of pain or heart-wrenching flashback. But it never came. Something else had replaced it; a funny warm feeling in her belly. Her lips turned up in a smile.
"You really are the sweetest guy, you know that?"
"Well it's only because you deserve it Ma'am." he blushed furiously. Feeling bold Felix lifted himself up from his seat and leaned in to kiss her; and he would have succeeded to had it not been for the voice that sounded from behind them.
"Pardon me, but it's getting rather late. I advise you two to get back to your games. We've had a lot of vandals and don't need any more trouble." droned the Surge Protector.
"Vandals? Really? Does it look like we're about to vandalize anything?" Calhoun snapped.
"I never said you were ma'am."
"Then can it and move out, you flickering windbag." The Surge Protector stared at her a moment, frowning before he turned and flashed out of the area. Tamora let out a short "hah" of annoyance before she turned back to Felix, who was staring at her in awe.
"Well soldier, I'm pretty sure you were about to kiss me...or am I going to have to do that myself?" she smirked. Felix blushed brightly again, sputtering a moment as he shook his head.
"No ma'am!"
And in one of the boldest moves of his life, Felix reached forward, taking Tamora's cheeks in his hands and captured her lips with his.
