CHAPTER 2

First Steps

After hours, before any of Nicelanders could say anything to hold him up, he hurried off to Game Central Station as quickly as he could. He quietly prayed to himself that Sgt. Calhoun would be there. He peeked out into the station and glanced around. He hurried up to the entrance to Hero's Duty and waited. And soon after, out of Hero's Duty came his object of his affections, Sgt. Calhoun. He smiled upon the sight of her. He tried very hard to hold back the honey glow that was threatening to take over.

"Hello, milady!" he sincerely greeted her. This got a smirk out of the normally stolid Sgt. Calhoun.

"Hey there, Fix-It," she said to him. "What are you doing here?"

Felix gulped and looked away out of nervousness. "I was just sort of wondering if you maybe possibly come back with me to my game. There's a lovely garden behind the apartment building. I was thinking we could, you know, go there and enjoy each other's company. You know, get to know each other better." Felix realized how awkward he must sound. He tried to clear it up a bit. "Because, as you probably know, I'm pretty fond of you! You know?" This certainly didn't help, especially mixed in with his nervous laugh in between a few words. Felix remade eye contact with her. To his surprise, she actually looked delight that he asked her that.

She giggled a bit and asked "Fix-It, are you asking me out on a date?" Felix's heart jumped.

"Well, I mean, not so much, I—Yes, ma'am, I am. What do you think?" Felix was holding his hands tightly together. His heart was racing as he anxiously awaited her answer.

"You know what? That actually sounds really relaxing," Calhoun said. "How 'bout this, I'm going to go change out of my armor, you stay here, and when I come back we'll head over to your game."

Felix gave a very delighted gasp. "You will go with me?! Oh, thank you!" Calhoun affectionately knocked Felix's hat over his eyes.

She was walking back to her game when she turned and said, "By the way, you may want to hit your face with that hammer of yours, it's bright red!" Felix put his hands over his honey glowing cheeks and realized how silly he must have looked in front of her.

"I was wondering why I suddenly got a hot flash." Felix muttered to himself. He waited eagerly for her to return. His heart was pounding. Felix was so nervous; he couldn't keep his mind straight. What if he wasn't ready? What if she ended up not liking him? He kept asking himself questions like this.

Calhoun walked out of her game wearing a black t-shirt and sweatpants. All of Felix's doubtful thoughts came to a halt upon seeing her. Felix had never seen her without the armor. He was sure that she was the most beautiful creature he had ever seen! "Okay, lets go," said Calhoun. Felix, unable to work up any words out of how stunned he was with her beauty, just nodded and led her to his game. They got on the trolley and then went to the big garden behind the apartments. Felix made sure no Nicelanders saw them, he wanted this night all to just him and Calhoun.

The garden was a lovely little area, but very secluded. Though this made it perfect for them. Felix and Calhoun sat down in the 8-Bit grass in the middle of a clearing among some very pretty pixilated trees. Calhoun could see how tense Felix was. She put his hand on his shoulder, which she thought would help, but it just made him tenser. He wasn't sure what display of affection he could or couldn't get away with. "Y-You're looking lovely tonight, Tamora," Felix complimented Calhoun, just as something to break the ice.

"Aw, thanks," said Calhoun. "You're looking…as disgustingly adorable as ever!" Felix chuckled at her compliment. "So, what made you want to ask me out tonight?" she asked, purely out of curiosity. "Not that I mind or anything!"

"Well… I couldn't get you out of my head!" Felix admitted. "All day I've been thinking of you and how absolutely wonderful you are! I mean, you're beautiful, smart, determined, and…oh, I just love that!" Calhoun laughed in her state of flattery. Felix smiled and began to feel more comfortable. He knew he was doing something right every time the normally jaded sergeant laughed.

"You know something, Fix-It?" she said to him. "You're the only one in this arcade who isn't scared around me. Everyone I've met think I'm like the most terrifying person they've ever met! But not you. When I met you, you calmed down almost immediately. It was a bit bizarre."

"I was just so blown away by how lovely you looked I forgot about the firearm pointed at my face. And while I never feel scared around you, I do get a trifle nervous, I admit. Sometimes I'm still shocked that woman as beautiful as you exists."

"You are just a little flatterer!" Calhoun laughed. "But I do have to give you this, you're possibly the nicest person in this arcade." Felix smiled and turned his head to her.

"You really think that?"

"Yes! I don't think I've ever heard a negative word from you." It was certainly a good thing Calhoun didn't know about his little outburst in the Fungeon. Felix was happy to hear Calhoun's feelings about him. He rested his head on her shoulder as she looked up at the starry night sky. "Hey Fix-It," Calhoun softly said while staring into the sky.

"Yeah?" Felix said.

"I really like your game," she said. "It's the first time since my game was plugged in that I've been able to just relax and not have to worry about cybugs or combat or anything like that. Thanks for inviting me out here."

Felix took his head off her shoulder and looked at her with wide eyes. She didn't notice. She was still looking up at the sky. Felix leaned over and gave her a kiss on the cheek. She turned her head quickly to him in one swift motion. She didn't exactly give the reaction Felix was hoping for, she seemed a bit shocked but then smirked a little and gave a sort of 'did you really just do that?' laugh. Felix felt just a tad ashamed and regretted the action. "I'm sorry," he said. "I just thought, you know, since we…Never mind." Calhoun turned his face back to hers. She smiled very sweetly at him. She clearly did not mind his forwardness.

"Felix, can I ask you something?" said Calhoun. "Something personal."

"Anything!" Felix warmly said. She put her hand over his and looked into his eyes.

"Are you bothered by the fact that if things worked out before that I would be married?" Calhoun squeezed Felix's hand. Felix put his other hand on Calhoun's cheek.

"As long as you're not," said Felix. "I wouldn't want you to do anything that you're not comfortable with." Calhoun looked away from Felix. She had to think about this for a minute.

"We'll see," she finally responded. "But right now, let's just enjoy the moment. I'd rather regret doing it than regret not doing it." She pulled Felix forward and kissed him gently on the lips. It was short, she quickly pulled back, but Felix could feel the honey glows coming on as his heart began to race. It was at that moment he knew he did the right thing by asking her out that night.

When the night was over, Felix saw Calhoun off. He blissfully strolled back to the apartments. Once he returned he found Ralph waiting outside the door. "Ralph!" said Felix, surprised. "I thought you'd be back home by now."

"So, how'd it go?" Ralph said, lifting an eyebrow. Felix smiled and deeply inhaled, leading him to let out loving sigh.

"Oh, Ralph," Felix said. "Words cannot express how I feel about her. I mean, I love her to pieces!"

Ralph laughed and jokingly said, "I don't believe you! I'm not convinced! Ha. But seriously, that's great! …Isn't it?"

Felix put his hands over his heart and sighed. "It couldn't be better! I knew I had fallen for her before, but I had no idea how hard! Though it may not exactly work out how I may want it. She has a past, after all, and if she doesn't want to move forward with this, we'll at least have a mutual understanding."

"Well, that's good," said Ralph. "So are you feeling any better? Are you still nervous or confused or the like?

"No…not really. Granted, I'll always have that touch of nervousness, but I think I just really needed to talk to her. Just to clear my head of any doubts."

Ralph looked into his friend's shimmering, love-filled eyes and smiled. "That's good," he said. "I'm happy for ya, Felix."