Chapter 64: Last Name Bases
"...Oh, but enough me. Tell me about yourself, ma- I mean, Sergeant Calhoun," Felix suddenly asked as casually as he could, catching Calhoun completely off guard. "Have you always lived in Arcadia," he further pressed, somehow walk forward without tripping over his paws, "or are you new to the town...?"
The doberman spoken to halted in midstep and eyed down at the corgi beside her, who had been steadily prancing beside the much larger dog. Up until now, Felix had been going on and on about his own life- he had never stopped to learn more about Calhoun herself. Which she honestly preferred it be that way.
Realizing she had paused in walking herself, Felix stopped his prancing and turned to look up at the doberman, his eyes so scarifyingly soft and sincere.
"Or were you raised in Arcadia as a pup," he voiced in possibly as she dully eyed back at him, "then moved away but then back again?"
Her ears flat up against her head, Felix was surprised to see that Calhoun almost looked irritated by his questioning, offended at it, even.
Shrinking a little in place, Felix felt his own ears plaster up against his head. He was just trying to get to know Calhoun better- they were partners in crime, after all, right? Buddies in action? Pals on a mission to save the world?...or at least the guard dog of the corgi's pet shop.
Why was Calhoun acting like he had asked something distasteful, rude, even? He'd never ask anything too revealing or intrusive- especially to his newest and prettiest friend.
The beyond awkward silence growing between them and one of her sharply raised, unamused eyebrows glaring at him was enough to make Felix about to apologize for ever asking, tell Calhoun to forget he even said anything-
"I was born and raised in Arcadia," the doberman suddenly mumbled, her head pointing straight forward as she marched onward once again. "And I'll more than likely die in that town as well."
Watching with huge, round eyes as she walked past him, Felix blinked a few times. His little mouth gaped open in awe, he felt it twist up into a slowly growing smile.
He was getting to know Calhoun! Felix the corgi was actually getting to know the most beautiful canine on the earth!
Beaming with unhidden joy, the corgi began shaking he was so excited. Quickly realized Calhoun was getting a little ways ahead of him, Felix snapped out of his euphoric state and raced to catch up with her.
"Well, that's just awesome to know! That's amazing- being born one place and being raised there- oh, the memories you must have of our town!" Felix chuckled as he picked up his pace to keep up the doberman's long strides. "It must be so awesome to have that kind of past-"
Blinking back the dewiness in his eyes from a light mist sprinkling down on him, the small dog could've sworn he saw the strong doberman pincher flinch ever so slightly...as if she beyond disagreed with his last few words, as if they physically pained her somehow...
Cocking his head slightly, Felix continued to peer up at the slick police dog, her eyes harder than before, rougher than before...
"It's not really her fault," that one greyhound's voice filled Felix' mind again, recalling the level of mysteriousness of the pooch he was dealing with here."Calhoun has suffered through one of the most unspeakable pains one police dog could ever suffer through..."
Shaking his head and quickly deciding to abandon trekking into the uncharted territory of Calhoun's past (or to even bring up such a possibly uncomfortable conversation for her), Felix pressed forward, eyes his focused on the sidewalk ahead of him.
"Sorry I talk so much or were too push in my questions...," he suddenly whimpered up to her, sincerely apologizing. "I just-"
"It's fine, Short Stack," the doberman surprised him by interrupting him- and shocking him more to hear the genuineness in her voice. "I've dealt with more chatty and pushing animals than you- trust me."
Realizing she wasn't upset with him -and that he hadn't blown his chance to get to know her more- Felix smiled heartily.
"Well, that's great! I mean, it's not great you've dealt with chattier and pushier pets than me and all, but it's good to know I didn't offend you in any way..."
Snorting slightly, Calhoun rolled her stunning dark eyes down at him, her steps a little lighter than before- pleasing Felix greatly.
"It takes a lot more than that to 'offend' me, pup...," she commented, her tone joking yet serious in a way.
"Great! I have so many questions to ask you!" Felix then chirped. If she was ok with him asking questions, then he was going to ask questions.
"Cause I'd love to get to know you more! Like, why did you decide to become a police dog, anyway? That's such an intense occupation if I've ever seen one! You're obviously very good at it! Is that why?
" Oh, and does your family live in Arcadia as well? I mean, if you have a family...," Felix continued to ease as slyly as he could, although his voice was a lot more cautious this time around. He didn't want to strike another nerve in her- and although he honestly didn't want to find out if she was in a relationship, the infatuated corgi somehow needed to.
Before Calhoun could even think of a response, Felix abruptly froze in his steps all at once, blinking repeatedly before a cheeky and wry smile surfaced on his adorable face.
"Oh, and what is your first name?" He laughed good-naturedly as he quickly found his feet moving again. "I just realized I don't know it. I mean, I know your last name, and refer to you as such," he rolled his own eyes at his words, his deep southernness evident in his tone. "But I don't know your real name. I bet it's just as beautiful as your last name, though!"
He chuckled again and turn to further stare up at Calhoun- to see she wasn't beside him any longer.
The garrulous corgi paused in his walking to look over his shoulder...and completely turning around, he saw that Calhoun was frozen in place- and was giving him the worse evil eye he had ever seen.
She had never narrowed her eyes at him like that, nor hunched her eyebrows that sharply his way. It was beyond clear she was angry. More than angry, even. If looks could kill, Felix would've been digging his own grave right about then with the way she was scowling at him then.
And he knew solely by her gorgeous yet infuriated face that he had offended her somehow.
She stomped towards him, and other than the first time they met, Felix sincerely thought Calhoun was about to chew into him... and as he lowered closer to the pavement and squeezed his eyes shut, fully prepared to lose a limb or two-
"I didn't 'decide' my occupation because I'm good at it- it decided it was for me. I don't have a family- and never will...," she hissed as she approached, then leaned her head way down deep into Felix' scared face to state simply a bone-chilling truth about herself.
"...And it's Tamora, but until further notice, it's Sergeant Calhoun. To you."
